“The RoseBouquet”

Today is May 6th - Gra’ma Kroeker is 112 today; I wonder if they celebrate birthdays in Heaven?

I remember May 6th for another reason. Every spring I would be impatient to get the garden done in April already, and Mom would hold me back by saying, “Wait until Gra’ma’s birthday. If the weather is good, I’ll let you start then.”

Well, I cheated a bit last week. It was so-o nice out, and so I sowed some lettuce and spinach in the small corner under the tree and right close to the foot of the back steps. Those plants don’t mind a cool spring, or chilly nights. I hope to have some fresh salad greens in a few weeks!

I need about another 20-30 minute session of digging up the far end of the garden with my spade, and then I intend to plant potatoes. As you can see, I got nearly done yesterday.

I do my garden work in short 20-30 minute spells after meals, so it may take me a couple of weeks to get finished, but I am so eager - I may snitch more time!

My cat-lover subscribers really enjoyed my story of Snowflake last week. I try to space these out a bit, so as not to lose other subs, but I have been gradually introducing her to the idea of going outside. I think a longer photo story will come of this when we are further along, however, this weekend we have made some progress. I’m bursting to share this with you.

The advice I got was to get a halter and leash and train her to know that this always has to be put on to go outside. I sewed one and have for weeks, on nice days, been taking her out the back door. However, Snowflake, curious as anything, would freeze and trembling through and through, and would crouch and sniff and try to take in all the stimuli around her. Then in a few minutes she’d turn and rush inside again.

Last week I picked her up and held her and cooed to her on the back step. Her sides still trembled and her bones rattle with terror, but she was able to look around with intense concentration, trying to memorize every inch of the view in every direction. Her eyes seek out the birds and follows their every hop and flight. On Saturday, by rocking sideways and taking only one step forward per minute, I was able to get partly down the sidewalk. We made two or three trips outside.

Sunday afternoon she whined and begged by the back door like petulant two-year old. So I put on the harness and leash, but then she would lie down, and wait for me to pick her up. I sat on the back step to have my bowl of soup with her in my lap. By the evening I decided it was time to take a lawn chair out. Yesterday, we had another two sessions. I even carried her to the neighbour’s fence to say “Hi” to Snickers, the chocolate Lab. Snowflake stared her down.

Now I think of her as a very brave seven-month old cat. The burrr of fear in her belly is as strong as her loudest purr indoors, but if I hold her, she is game to go outside and take in all the sights and sounds and smells. You should see how busily her pink nose twitches!

Time for a bit about Snowflake again. She is becoming a cat of sharp contrasts.

Snowflake is often frisky, racing from one favourite window view to the other at lightening speed as if scared by something. In fact, sometimes she takes some corners too fast, and whimpers as she accidentally skids into some furniture. A few moments later, she’s off and running again. (I’ve begun to wonder if there’s catnip in the new bag of cat food I bought, called Friskies). When she’s in this hyper mood, and I make any sudden move, however innocent, she’s off like a flash, her tail whippin’ tall over her.

I’ve got so when I see her tail dancing with that energetic tick going this way and that, I know she’s up to mischief with a flare!

Then there are times after a long nap when she comes up behind me, stands on her hind legs and taps me on the elbow with her paw, and meows politely for some cuddle time on my lap. She loves to be loved and physically handled and tickled, scratched or rubbed and stroked. I fill her food dishes and she ignores them until I’ve handled her a few minutes. So I tell her she’s a sensuous cat and a glutton for love. When I go to the kitchen she jumps up from a deep sleep and dashes in to join me, and whines like a toddler. Nothing shuts her up but to pick her up and cuddle for a while.

The first few days I had her, Snowflake seemed to have no interest in food or milk or water or anything. I tried various food, including people-food, but she sniffed and turned away. Now all of a sudden she checks the floor wherever I eat and if I’ve dropped a crumb, she wolfs it down. If I put it into one of her dishes, it dries up from neglect, but she wants my crumbs. Go figure that out!

Now for the biggie. I do not sleep well with a bed mate, so from the beginning I have refused to take her to bed with me. I’m very strict about the not-for-you-Snowflake zones in the house. She’s not allowed on my desk, or the kitchen counters or table either. But in the last two weeks she seems to be determined to sneak into bed with me after I’ve fallen asleep. The more devious she gets, the more creative I’ve had to become to discourage this.

I should back up to the first instance maybe a week or two after her arrival. One night I dreamt that a black mouse had leaped onto my blankets over my chest and was staring into my eyes. I freaked out and tossed away the blankets yelling for Snowflake to come get this mouse! Once I got the light on, I took to shaking my quilt and sheets to be sure that wee furry thing was not hiding underneath somewhere. All at once it hit me, mice don’t do such huge flying leaps; it must have been Snowflake! Well, my frantic war scared Snowflake to the other end of the house, and I think she remembered for quite a while that it was not a good idea to sneak up on me like that.

However, in the last two weeks she’s tried it several times. I’ve shooed her off, and chased her all the way to the pantry and slammed the door on her. (Then I opened it just to quickly shove in her litter box). She also crawled under the bed a few times and was scratching away there. So the other Saturday I pulled the bed away and cleaned thoroughly and then stuffed all kinds of foam cushions and boxes that fit tightly under the bed, so there is NO way she can get under there. I also rearranged the stuff at the bottom of my clothes closet right beside the bed, so she could not sneak in there and nest. This morning I discovered that she had found a way over my bed and into my laundry hamper in there!

We do take some short cat naps or Sunday afternoon naps together in the recliner. She’s not allowed there by herself, but when I have my pink fluffy housecoat on, she can curl up on my lap and we nap together. My advantage is that when she stirs I wake and can get back to work.

I realize poor Snowflake is just craving more cuddle time, but with her habit of coming and going through the night… nope, I’m still resolved to sleep alone in my bed. She has her towel on the desk by the window in my bedroom. If that’s not good enough… I will be more resourceful yet!

For six weeks I had been mentioning to friends that on Friday, April 11th I would have an eye appointment, and get those dilating drops in my eyes, but I was confident that I would be able to see again in time to drive to that Western Tract Mission Fundraiser in the evening. To avoid driving after that appointment, I caught a ride with my neighbours up to 25th Street; I just had to walk two blocks to the hospital where the City’s main Eye Clinic is run. I was in plenty of time, I had prepared sketches of how my floaters had decreased since that Feb/17/event, so I was feeling up and ready to show the specialist how God had healed me.

Only to discover that my appointment had been for the day before! Somehow - and I still can’t figure how - I mis-read the card and though the appointment card plainly said the 10th, I’d registered it as the 11th in my mind. Boy, did I feel foolish! They made me another one for Monday.

So I walked home and found I could do it in 45 minutes, including a brief rest in front of the bus depot, and that the distance works out to 19 1/2 blocks. I got busy and tried to do as much as I could. (Also got invited out to lunch).

Yesterday I kept that new appointment. This Dr. Ravi (long name) said that eyes just do that sometime - they heal themselves. No acknowledgment to my statement that God had healed my left eye. He didn’t say much about my sketches, but kept that page on his clipboard, so I guess it’s part of my file. I am still to call him immediately if I see flashing lights or a curtain coming down, as that means my retina is detaching.

When he learned that I was going to give computer lessons he was keen to ask me more about that. Seems he would like to learn to put up a database website.

I was grateful for my dark clipon sunglasses as I walked home, and as I worked on this computer. By late afternoon I saw normally again.

Our Music/Dessert Night on Friday was a great success. We had more people show up than we had anticipated, which made for a good problem. The men set up 120 chairs, and had to rustle up 75 more. Some were left standing, so we had about 200 people! Some people left without staying for dessert, so somehow we even had enough to go around. There were only a few pieces left to clear up at the end.

I was at a good position at the front to take photos of the Derksen children as they performed, but I haven’t got the photos ready yet for a photo story on the WTM website. Maybe in a week or two? (I wrote a one page report and stayed up late last night to get the Reflections ready and emailed to the printers).

Actually… if you give me a few moments here… I think I can show you the same page of sketches I gave the specialist yesterday. Here we go; I’ve put it up as a .pdf document, MyFloaters

For myself I usually just make energy bars (basically granola), which I merely press into a pan, chill, and cut. I also bake my high fibre super-duper deluxe muffins about every three weeks and they are a staple of my breakfasts. I cut them in half, and top each half with peanut butter, date puree and a slice of cheese. I also bake rye bread, because I like it for cucumber and raw veggie sandwiches. But these days I’m cramming in some conventional baking of sweets. It is sort of fun, but I also feel a bit guilty as I sample my baking, ’cause I know how much sugar and margarine went into them. After Friday night there will hopefully be no more temptation in my house.

Our Western Tract Mission is having our third annual spring Music and Dessert Night this Friday evening as a fundraiser and a way to mark our anniversary. We used to do a soup and pie supper for a few years, but that was so labour intensive that some ladies had to take off time from work to get all the big buckets of soup and noodles cooked ahead of time. We tried to nab every volunteer we could to bake all the pies needed as well. We usually had a good turnout but the women got weary of the time investment.

So we switched to a musical concert followed by a smorg of desserts, mostly squares and such. This is not so much work and brings in even more donations to the mission in the free-will offering. We all like this fundraiser idea better, but still some of women have to put in some time in advance to make some pans and sheets of squares and treats.

In my sister’s cookbooks (now mine) I found a recipe for a big batch of cookie mix. There are about 8 different recipes of things to make from that basic mix. I’ve done two batches now of sesame wafers. These melt in my mouth!

I did try another squares recipe with the mix, and it turned out quite well, with candied marchino cherries/fruit, and coconut, but I made the mistake of opening an old sealed (!) bag of nuts, and tossing in a handful at the end. Moments later I decided to sniff them. Ugh! Rancid. I baked them but that taste did not go away. Cancel taking those!

So I want to try another squares recipe today, and probably tomorrow, and Thursday too. I have found some back up recipes, and if I can snatch enough minutes over my lunch and supper hours I should have enough to bring a good load of desserts for Friday night.

We are having the Derksen family from Rosthern perform the musical program. They have six children all singing and playing various instruments. You can see a photo here; Derksen Family Of course, you are welcome to come!

My hand is healed up, though I think two small scars will remain.

Perhaps today I should talk about the weather. We’ve had a cool, slow spring for about a month now, so the snow drifts have disappeared, but there is less danger of flooding in basements, for which many are grateful. I see that this week we are going to hover around 0 Celsius, (freezing point), but next week things are to pick up and our temperature will creep higher, like to 6 C.

In other parts of Canada, like the greater Vancouver area, I understand they have temperatures in the two-digits above 0 already, and the flowers are blooming, and so forth. No doubt if you live closer to the equator, you only notice whether it is raining or not. Or if the air feels more hot and humid than yesterday. It’s those of us here in the Canadian prairies who really know how to appreciate spring. We’ve borne through 4 to 5 months of winter, and so every little sign of spring is noticed and welcomed here. Some folks count the summer birds as they arrive back from the south.

When I lived on a farm as a young girl I used to go into the pasture to hunt for crocuses as my sign that spring was finally, fully here. (That reminds me of a poem of mine I should share with you today; I’ll put it in the Ruthe’s Roses section).

Naturally, once spring is really here there is more yard work to do again. So I’m pondering how to adjust my schedule to sneak in some outdoor chores. I can’t count on Dad to do them for me this year. Let’s see, my list looks like this;

clean and turn over the rain barrels
vacuum and wash the car
rake the lawn
dig up the garden to bury the compost (unless someone will come with their rotortiller to do it)
sow the early stuff like radishes and spinach, lettuce, etc.

By that time we’ll have inched our way into summer and there will be even more to do! I just don’t know yet whether Snowflake will join me outside, or stay an indoor cat. Some say that’s best. So far she’s too timid to do more than stand just outside the door and sniff the air with trembling and tense body. I have a feeling she’ll get over that though!

Like I said last week, I’d been slowly introducing Snowflake to the halter and leash and tying it to every effort to go outside. Saturday morning she was begging to go out again and I put on the halter and leash, and attached it to the doornob, while I was going to quickly first vacuum the strip of carpet in the kitchen and then the porch. Snowflake has watched me vacuum before and seems fascinated by it, but this time when she tried to back off to a safe distance she found the leash would not let her. She grew frantic - wild! I was afraid she was going to choke herself so I reached down to grab a hold of her - instantly her claws were in my left hand, with a few scratches on the right. I quickly reached for the leash and slipped it off the doornob, knowing deeply that I’d made a huge mistake.

She was away like a flash and I was dripping blood on the floor.

I rinsed my hands under some rubbing alcohol and then managed to get bandages over all my wounds. I took two Advil and decided I might as well finish up the vacuuming and cleaning the back porch. I put on plastic gloves to keep the dirt out of my bandages. As I vacuumed the rest of that kitchen mat I thought I saw several of Snowflakes long curled toenails.

Well, I had an ad hoc meeting at my office in the afternoon; I managed to go there. During the afternoon I noticed that my left hand was really swelling up high. So when I got home and felt feverish while trying to figure out supper I began to think it might be smart to go to emergency. By Easter morning that could be a serious problem, and it would put a crimp into going to church. When I finished dishes I knew I had better go.

It took 3 hours to get finished at St. Paul’s hospital Emergency. Right, I had to have a Tetanus shot too. The doctor also gave me a Rx for a serious double whammy of antibiotics and that I had to have one that same evening. I found an all-night drugstore to get it filled.

Sunday morning I had a headache and felt so dreadfully sluggish that I decided to have my devotions in my recliner and fell asleep, deciding that I couldn’t make it to church.

I had promised my brother Tom a lunch of wild deer steak and baked potatoes, and I managed to get those started in the crock and oven while I had breakfast and another super antibiotic. Then I went back to the recliner and dozed fitfully until 1 pm. The steak smelled good, so I pulled myself together despite the headache, and packed up the food and went to Tom’s. We enjoyed the meal and I stayed long enough to watch one church service on TV and then came home for more napping - with Snowflake on my lap, who was desperate for cuddle time.

Yes, we made up about an hour after the quick little tango on Saturday morning, and we’ve been closer than ever since.

Last week the snows of winter disappeared at a good pace. There are still dirty clumps and patches of snow and ice here and there, but we have lost most of it in Saskatoon. That’s good! I’m eager for spring.

Snowflake showed some interest in going outside too, but of course, I don’t want to lose her, so I made her wait until the end of last week when I finished a little halter for her out of some pretty mauve polyester scraps that impossible to tear with your bear hands. I finally found a buckle in a button box that I could sew in at the top to hook in the leash. That was Thursday night.

Snowflake allowed me to put it on as she reclined on my lap. She had no problem with wearing it for a while. I wanted her to get used it as I’d read on the internet.

Friday afternoon when I got back from an a morning at the office, I put on the harness again, and tried to go out the back door into the porch. Whoa! My cat had a panic attack and scrambled out of my arms to race to the other end of the house. She seems to have forgotten that she used to live in a barn on a farm and come and go as she pleased outside.

Saturday I tried several more times, but all she would do is sniff and prowl into back porch with the stomach walls trembling. It was like she was dying to explore, but fears slowed her down. When I tried to open the outer door for her, she fled inside again.

Sunday and yesterday were much colder, and blustery with winds and a light snowfall, so I haven’t pushed it.

In my heart I know that once she gets used to being outside, she’ll be constantly begging to go out. My problem will be to bring her in!

Fortunately, Brandi, the little 7 or 8 year old girl next door has met Snowflake now, and I think will be happy to play with Snowflake for hours on end this summer. Things should work out just fine!

A plumber has just come to check out the work that is required here as part of the RRAP plan. It only took him about 20 minutes, and he’s gone again. He says it will be expensive to replace my furnace, and the water heater - ho-boy, he said that could go at any time! That should be done as soon as I have the go ahead from the inspector.

I’m thankful he was willing to come look it over, and will send me a quote shortly.

So far I’ve contacted about 17 contractors and plumbers and electricians. I’ve had one general contractor come week before last to measure, etc. for a quote, and now this one plumber. Some give me a reluctant agreement to come, and then like one who called yesterday, they beg off. There is just so much work on NEW housing in our current building boom, that they can turn down work that isn’t appealing. And some people are already booked up for this whole year!

However, God answered prayers in bringing the inspector in the first place, and so I am determined to pray until I get all the quotes or estimates necessary to turn into the inspector, and eventually that the work will be done too. Just watch!

Some friends and relatives have been asking about my little house in recent days. Slowly the wheels of progress on my reno projects grind forward. As I’ve mentioned the inspector came about mid-January, and I’ve been accepted for the government RRAP plan. (The provincial and federal gov’ts go together to pay for basic repairs needed for a low income home-owner).

The inspector warned me that the hardest stage was ahead for me, as now I have to find at least two contractors for each of the jobs he okayed, to give me quotes on the work and supplies they would need. I have to send these in within 6 months, and then when he has notified me which contractors to call, they have a year in which to get the work done.

He’s right. Getting contractors to come out has been hard. There is a building boom of NEW houses in this area, and most of them are booked up a year in advance, and some others admit that they would rather not do renovations on an old house. Too much bother. New houses are more fun.

However, on Friday afternoon one friend, Dave G., came around and spent a couple of hours measuring things and asking questions. He’s going to bring me a quote when he’s done all the pricing and math. This has been very encouraging to me.

Dave gave me the names of some others to call, and I want to do that tonight, and I am praying daily that the right people will have the time and be willing to come look things over and give me their quotes too.

Since the roof leaks into the living room and bathroom when it rains, I would really love to see the roofing job done before the spring rains come. The water heater has a seam that looks fit to burst and so replacing it is a priority too. My natural gas bill (for the furnace) has almost doubled every month through this winter, so for sure - I want a new furnace in by next fall! There are 16 specific jobs the inspector wrote up, and I’ll tell you more about them as this all comes to pass this year.

Some of them require a plumber and some an electrician so one man alone won’t be doing all of them. There will be a parade of trades people coming through here yet!

First I praise God for some improvement in my eye, and for the many friends who have let me know they are praying for me. Yesterday in my prayer time I realized that the floaters were not as dark or many as last week. The spider is gone. So I suspect now that I had a blood clot in the eye, and it has slowly been absorbed and taken away. Praise God. I think He can take away the rest of these thready blots too.

When I heard last week that others just get used to it (my neighbour Penny has had this in both eyes for 20 years or more!) I was caught off-guard. However, I decided that I would not resign myself to that destiny without first praying and seeing whether I might be healed. The Bible says that we have not - because we ask not. I didn’t want to miss out for lack of asking.

Here’s a few precious subscriber prayers for me;

From Janice: Boy do I understand those annoying floaters & flashes… They are no fun at all. I pray the Lord Jesus will do a work in your eyes so that you may see clearly…no more fuzzy flashy not being able to see… in Jesus Name Amen.

From Kathy O: Are you doing any better today? I’ve got some pain in my back so I called the Dr. who did my treatment,… I’ll put you on the prayer list at church okay Ruth. And yes we do have great God who knows all we are going though & will go though as long as we live, girlfriend. Talk to you soon. YSIC, Kathy

And Robin prayed;
Dear Father God, Thank you for the gift of sight, and thank you for creating us to enjoy perfect sight.

Either way, please let Ruth experience a close sense of your support. Comfort her with the assurance that all will be well. Thank you Father in Jesus name. Amen

There were others too. I’ve just picked out a few samples. They have all been so encouraging!