It has been almost six months since I have posted, and in that time, I have had a new granddaughter born, ridden my bicycle many miles, and enjoyed life with my awesome husband! Life is good and I cannot say that I would change much in my life. All my boys are doing wonderfully. Ben loves retirement and I am cycling, quilting, gardening (in season!) and enjoying my volunteering. It is hard to believe that I have been at the hospital nearly 17 years, and over 4500 hours. It has been fun and I plan to continue, for sure.
Ben and I went to FestiVELO in Charleston, SC last weekend and had a great time with old and new friends. It was fun. ...but a bit like riding on the trainer for 6 hours in a row! ...FLAT. We rode a century, a half century, and then a 3/4 century in three consecutive days, all the while camping out in the cold, and learning about cycling in the cold. We met some great people, rode with our good friends Randy and Seba and had lots of laughs, lots of good times.
Today I received a check in the mail from RoadID, who gives 10% of sales via my website to Hospice. I do not even know who has bought something but it is wonderful to receive a small check for Hospice each quarter.
Next summer, we plan to ride Bicycle Tour of Colorado with two of our sons. It is an epic ride with big miles and lots of climbs. I feel very confident that I will be up to the challenge. I would NEVER have said that two years ago! Cycling has been the most wonderful addition to my life and health in the past few years. I hope I can continue for many years. We have several rides planned in the spring as a lead up to the Colorado ride. Bring 'em on!
Wishing anyone who happens upon this blog a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Wellmont Hospice House Honor
The newspaper had a wonderful article this morning and I was honored, along with Ben to have the newly renovated lobby of the Hospice House named for us. I have not kept up this blog as I am not doing long rides, only 30-75 miles in our local area! However, do not give up!! I do plan another long ride and this will be where you read about it when the time comes!!! Thanks to everyone who has supported me during the last three years with donations to hospice. They have used the funds well and the Blue Ridge Quilter's Guild has made the most amazing quilt for the house as a tribute to my journeys and to the journeys that are made in the lives of the many people who pass through the Wellmont Hospice House each month. I can never give credit to everyone who has been so generous to hospice over the three years. It has been a humbling experience.
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
January
Well, I have not been very good on the blog this month. From Thanksgiving and the death of Ben's mom, it has been a whirlwind of visitors and family. We had a quiet (?) Christmas, hosting Laura, Robert and their twin 3 yr. olds, and their 5 yr. old for dinner. Laura is the new Hospice and Palliative Care physician for Wellmont, and Ben is totally retired. I cooked food from the 26th to the 31st in preparation for the arrival of all the Cowan clans.
On December 31st, Blair and Reid arrived after driving from Colorado together with Nash, the chocolate lab, in the back seat! They had a layover day in Nashville and swapped cars with the Cowans in Nashville, getting their big van and bringing the four cousins to Bristol. Graham, Sherri, and Morgan also arrived the 31st. This was the first year in over 10 that Hans and Mary were both on call in Nashville and could not come up. The kids would have none of it, so the pickup-carswap plan was hatched! Mary sent a complete dinner with them so I did not have to cook for the whole crowd. Thanks, Mary, that was such a treat!! We loved it.
Aggie arrived late on the night of the first with her two boys and we had our big New Year's Day dinner on the night of the 2nd after Mary arrived from Nashville in Reid's Subaru. Everyone enjoyed the usual puzzle, only this year it was a very hard 2000 piece one with lots of SKY!! Graham brought some movies which the kids enjoyed and we all went for a hike to the spillway.
On Sunday afternoon, the long awaited piano moving took place with Graham, Blair, Reid, and Nicholas putting it in Ben's truck, all of them padding it and tying it down and then driving it to Knoxville. We got to keep Morgan in Bristol, though! Later, Mary left with her kids, and Sherri drove her car back to Knoxville. They unloaded the piano in Knoxville with more help from Sherri's cousin and Blair, Reid, and Nicholas came back in the truck after pizza and a movie!
My boys really enjoyed Morgan and really had a chance to get to know her. After all, it was a full year ago that they saw her, as a one year old. Now she is a potty-trained, talking, walking, and delightful two year old!
It was a delightful, if crazy weekend, but we all enjoyed each other and everyone had a blast. Each year, I get so nervous about having such a big crowd here, but each year it gets easier. The kids all help, Morgan is older, and Ben was here 24/7 and willing to do anything and everything to help me.
On December 31st, Blair and Reid arrived after driving from Colorado together with Nash, the chocolate lab, in the back seat! They had a layover day in Nashville and swapped cars with the Cowans in Nashville, getting their big van and bringing the four cousins to Bristol. Graham, Sherri, and Morgan also arrived the 31st. This was the first year in over 10 that Hans and Mary were both on call in Nashville and could not come up. The kids would have none of it, so the pickup-carswap plan was hatched! Mary sent a complete dinner with them so I did not have to cook for the whole crowd. Thanks, Mary, that was such a treat!! We loved it.
Aggie arrived late on the night of the first with her two boys and we had our big New Year's Day dinner on the night of the 2nd after Mary arrived from Nashville in Reid's Subaru. Everyone enjoyed the usual puzzle, only this year it was a very hard 2000 piece one with lots of SKY!! Graham brought some movies which the kids enjoyed and we all went for a hike to the spillway.
On Sunday afternoon, the long awaited piano moving took place with Graham, Blair, Reid, and Nicholas putting it in Ben's truck, all of them padding it and tying it down and then driving it to Knoxville. We got to keep Morgan in Bristol, though! Later, Mary left with her kids, and Sherri drove her car back to Knoxville. They unloaded the piano in Knoxville with more help from Sherri's cousin and Blair, Reid, and Nicholas came back in the truck after pizza and a movie!
My boys really enjoyed Morgan and really had a chance to get to know her. After all, it was a full year ago that they saw her, as a one year old. Now she is a potty-trained, talking, walking, and delightful two year old!
It was a delightful, if crazy weekend, but we all enjoyed each other and everyone had a blast. Each year, I get so nervous about having such a big crowd here, but each year it gets easier. The kids all help, Morgan is older, and Ben was here 24/7 and willing to do anything and everything to help me.
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