Stress. We all have it at times. I have been very stressful for a couple of weeks. My Grandmother (who will be 96 years young tomorrow) fell and broke her hip two weeks ago. The doctors decided to go ahead with a hip replacement, because she was otherwise in good health. After three days in the hospital she was taken to a nursing home for rehab. She is not doing very well there. I think she has just given up. She is so confused and doesn't always even know us when we visit her. It's so hard to see her like this. My Dad is very little help in times like this. He just doesn't want to deal with it. (She's my Dad's mom). My son had all 4 wisdom teeth cut out Monday, and my neighbor (who is also my boss) has been having heart problems.
People do funny things when they are under alot of stress. Some people over eat, some people drink or use illegal drugs. I organize. I become obsessed with things being organized. Case in point. Sunday, Mothers Day, I woke up around 4:30 a.m. no matter how I tried, I couldn't go back to sleep, so I just got up. I decided I wanted to bake Mandarin Orange cake so I went up to my libray loft so I could find the cookbook with the recipe. After looking for about 20 minutes, the obsession set in. I pulled every single book off the shelves. This is what it looked like:
At that point I decided that I was going to alphabatize my cookbooks and also catalog them. I didn't even go to church that day. I didn't cook a meal, I didn't do anything but organize those cookbooks. In my mind they had to be done right now! I spent 15 hours organizing and cataloging. I have found that I have 892 cookbooks! This includes magazines as well. I put them into an Excel spreadsheet and as soon as I figure out how, I will put them on my blog. I guess I should have taken an "after" photo too.
Yngwie is having no problems after his dental work and will return to school tomorrow. My neighbor is on medication for his heart and is returning to good health rapidly. My Grandmother is still showing no signs of recovering from her fall. I have decided that I have done all I can do about her situation. I am now putting that in God's hands. I will stress about it no more.
p.s. I never found the Mandarin Orange cake recipe!
Blessings
Linda
10 comments:
I am so sorry about your grandmother. I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.
Now I have to say - organizing sounds like the perfect cure for stress to me!
hugs, Linda
I am sorry to hear about your grandmother.
I didn't think anyone had as many cookbooks as I do. (lol)
Wow, that's a lot of cookbooks! I hope that stress is easing for you. It's hard when people we love are not doing well.
Thanks for commenting on my blog post.
Lorrie
Glad you are enjoying my photos.
892 cookbooks! That must be a record.
I think for some of us when things outside of ourselves become stressful we try to manage our stress by getting things around us in order.
Thanks for allowing me to peep into your lovely spring garden. Your frogs are a different colour to my pond frogs.
I am sorry you could not find your recipe. Sounds like you are under a lot of stress. You have to look at the positive side with your grandmother. She is a blessed woman to have lived all these years. I just got word a young man (25 years old) my daughter went to school with passed away today from injuries from an automobile accident. I really feel for his parents.
Oh dear, I hope Grandma takes a turn for the better soon. I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts.
It's easy to see why you turn to organization in times of stress - it is really something you can control. Not a bad idea - one I should try . . . I tend to be a comfort eater.
Linda,
I will continue to pray for your grandma. Putting it in God's hands is sometimes all we can do. (((hugs)))
Your cookbook collection is a cook's dream! I would love to sit down and look through them with you! It must feel great to have them all organized and too funny that you never found the cake recipe!
~Kelli
So sorry to hear about your grandmother. I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers. And I hope the stress eases soon! And you can come over anytime and organize away at my house! That's my downside!! And boy you have a lot of cookbooks! I hope organizing kept your mind off the not so fun things going on in your life.
Thanks for visiting my blog!!
You poor baby. You have had a lot to deal with. I'm glad Yngvie is the bright spot, having no difficulties and healing well. Linda, is there a group called "Cookbooks Anonymous" near you? If not, perhaps you can start one!
Love, Nancy
I get organized when I'm stressed too - clean out the junk room, or - as yesterday - do the ironing mountain.
You have even more cookbooks than me, but I haven't counted my magazines!
Sorry your grandmother is not responding. I have a gut feeling it's because she's not in her own home. I have only been in hospital for short spells a couple of times (and to give birth), but I know that I didn't feel right until I was back home.
I will put up my own recipe for Manderin Orange cake on my blog (it is scrumptious, says she modestly!) later on this morning, so you will be able to copy that.
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