Arianna is Engaged!

Late Friday evening Sharon and I received a text from Arianna with the following photo:

My little girl is going to marry David.

Sharon and I couldn't be happier.

BBK RIP

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Bruno passed away on January 21, 2022 in the 1 o'clock hour. Sharon and I were at his side. Bruce and Christine were away from Sheridan at Tyler Creek, but were as quick to rejoin us as possible. 

It was Sharon who wondered aloud whether her Dad was still breathing. Throughout the morning he had grown weaker.

Confirmation of his death took what seems like an inordinate amount of time.

The priest did no arrive until after Bruno passed, but nevertheless conveyed a blessing over him and sought to comfort us, who were all still weeping.

When we moved Bruno out of the house to Tyler Creek in November neither Sharon nor I imagined that Bruno's decline would be as quick as it was. It was his dementia, I think -- more than the effects of the stroke -- and his unmanageable sleep habits that convinced us he would be better off elsewhere. And I think he was. 

When we visited him the night before he died the nurse told us that we should expect his death soon. He was struggling -- loudly, somewhat violently -- to reconcile himself with the next stage of his soul's journey. Still, I hoped. And was not wholly prepared for his death.

The twenty years we lived together shaped us both. The turmoil of the initial years of our lives together are especially regrettable. Although we had no lingering arguments, and for the past few years -- certainly since Arianna left for UD -- we were at peace. I'd like to think I was even a bit of a help to him as his mental state, his vision, and physical stamina declined.

He is now in God's hands.  

Bruno's Stroke

 Sunday, July 18, 2021

As Arianna and I were rushing to get out of the house and drive to O'Hare, Sharon was attentive to the fact that Bruno was not quite right. He lost considerable mobility on his right side and for a time he became more disoriented than usual. We both imagined he'd had a stroke. Three days after his 99th birthday. A stroke . . . .

After I returned from O'Hare, we took Bruno to St. Joe's Hospital. He was resistant. Of course. We spent hours and hours at the hospital and in the end there was no firm diagnosis. 

99 Years Old

 Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Today was Bruno's 99th birthday. Bruce was on town. Lester and Myra, Greg and Barb, and Linda come to the house for cake. Naturally Arianna was in town too.

It's been increasingly difficult caring for Bruno. Sharon spends hours upon hours sitting with him at the dining room table fitting the pieces of a puzzle together that -- in contrast to even a year ago -- Bruno cannot manage on his own.

He's on and out. By that I mean he may or may not know who's talking to him. Today was no different and it was painful to watch him interact with his brother and his son. 

But . . . it was not a bad day. We opened gifts, and joked, and had cake. 

It was a day to celebrate.

 The two brothers: Bruno and Lester.

Linda and Barb putting candles on the cake.

Happy Birthday to you . . . .

Time to open gifts.

Turn of the Season

Wednesday, work-from-home day. Grey, Misty. A midday check of the mailbox inspires me to capture a few images in front of the house.

Foxglove planted under the Red Bud tree. In July this plant was a lost cause at Menard's - and discounted.

Sheffield Chrysanthemum: it keeps on giving every Autumn. And, has been extraordinarily amendable to being divided over the years.

Sheffield is, I think, the last of the bloomers. Here it is mid-October and it's just beginning to hint at blooming.

This year I sowed zinnia seeds between the Blue Fortune and Monarda and the lightpole. Sharon thinks the flowers are too tall. I am inclined to agree. However, late Summer / early Autumn rains encouraged tremendous growth and blooms. 

I moved the two peony shrub at the back fence of the Cottage Garden (see previous photo, above) and plan to sow zinnia seed next Spring. I am curious to see if the flowers grow as tall.

Notice the white clematis bloom (Henri) at the post. I missed it completely when I took the photo! And of course the morning glory too. Aren't these Summer blooms?

Still blooming . . .

The insects really astonished me . . .

Robin's eggs

It never fails . . . Robins find someplace on the property to nest. We don't mind. It's curious to see the birds dart about building their nests. Typically they nest on the elbow of the downspouts under the eaves. Since the eaves of the house are a couple feet deep, this provides more than enough protection from the elements and marauding Blue Jays. This year however . . . 

Arianna helps Daddy plant Impatiens