Yesterday I got three messages from blog friends making sure I was okay. I am very touched. I haven’t given up the blog. Life just got a little crazy – some good, some not so good. A short “highlight reel” to catch you up on all the events of the past 2 or 3 months . . .
It started so well. In July, I hosted a garden party wedding at my home. Although 14 guests seemed modest for a wedding, it was the most I’d ever hosted for a sit down dinner and I wanted it to be perfect. The strawberries were freshly picked from one of our berry gardens. It was a delicious dinner and a beautiful occasion!
Later that month, we enjoyed a nice long visit from my wonderful mother-in-law. Here we are, doing a crafty little project on the patio while we enjoyed Mimosa and laughs. 
Then there was a 1700 mile drive to Oklahoma to pick up my mother who is unable to live alone any longer. (but PLEASE don’t say that to her) The trip took three days of hard driving, but I got to stop and have lunch with my dear friend, Lea Ann, from Mangos Chili & Z. She surprised me with a box of her “Fist Fight Brownies” and friends, they are fabulous!
We spent a few days in Oklahoma, packing Mother up to head north and then started the arduous trip home. About 20 miles from our hotel in Wyoming, we had a gnarly wreck when a semi truck lost an entire wheel that bounced across the median into oncoming traffic. 
We were the first of three vehicles to collide with this giant wheel, and were blessed to survive with only airbag injuries. My little sister managed to steer the truck, U-haul in tow, off the interstate with zero visibility! Thank you, baby sister, you will always be my hero.
After arriving back in Montana, I worked for four days before heading to California to attend the home birth of my new granddaughter. What a miraculous event! She came on the first day of autumn and while we were discussing a name, toying with the autumn theme, we looked out and saw the brilliant maple trees. My son-in-law suggested the name Maple and my daughter and I exchanged a look I will always remember. We instantly loved it! Maple Ann is such a beauty.
Things are slowly getting caught up, but dealing with an aging parent is daunting. Any spare time I would have spent blogging, is spent trying to give my sister a break as she is doing the lion’s share (meaning almost all) of the work to care for our Mother. 
I did take Mom fishing on the first weekend after getting back home. This was Mom’s favorite pastime before her mobility and eyesight became so impaired. We didn’t even get a nibble, but enjoyed a magnificent fall day in Montana which is an amazing experience in itself. Add in a couple of egg salad sandwiches, some fruit and a cold ginger-ale and we had ourselves a delicious afternoon. Mom joked on the way home that I had to clean the fish.
So, in answer to your questions, I haven’t disappeared. I’ve just been on a necessary blogging break and hope you will not give up on me.
Hope to be blogging soon!
Vickie
It is so good reading of your adventures while you were away. Lea Ann did tell me of your lunch together so I knew that you would return to blogging soon. The wreck was such a horrible thing to have happened on your trip. Thank goodness for your sister’s driving skills. So glad you are all ok.
Thank you, Karen. It has been an action packed summer/fall and the accident was pretty intense. I’ve been reading your blog on the fly – and will be getting caught up soon. Thanks for stopping by to read my little saga.
Vickie! Glad things are calming down…you are a good daughter, mother, grandmother. You will have these stories to tell Maple Ann. Thinking of you and your very fortunate and special Mom.
Nancy! Do you have any idea how comforting it is to be told you are a good daughter, mother, grandmother?? Thank you!
Thanks for the update Vickie and so sorry about the accident, but glad you came out ok. These events always remind me of how tenuous life is – if you’d been a few seconds earlier you may have missed the whole event. Congrats on the Grand and good luck with your mom – Bev and her sis did a great job with their mom in a similar situation. Hope to hear more from you soon.
That is exactly how I felt after the accident – such a confluence of events to make that happen! Hard to shake that eerie feeling, too. I will be catching up on my blog reading. Thanks so much for stopping by and for emailing to check on me.
Whew! I’m needing a nap after just reading about all that. Exhausting!
Take some time for yourself — that’s important. We’ll be here
when you get back.
Wow, Russ! That last comment almost made me cry. Very nice words. Thank you.
I love Russ’s comment! Very nice post Vickie. I’m still reeling over that car accident that you survived. An incredibly dangerous situation that turned out luckly to be fairly minor. I actually take a deep breath everytime I think about it.
I’m so glad you had time to stop in Denver for a lunch visit. It was so good to see you and Becky.
I love that photo of your mom. LOVE it. I see where you get your marvelous sense of humor. What an adorable comment about cleaning the fish.
Great photo of you and Maple Ann. What a little angle. She’s just prayshus!
And I like your hair curly.
I’ve already carried on and on and on and on about that wedding party you put on. Fabulous.
Thanks LA! It felt good to put up a post.
As for my hair, it does it’s own thing in that coastal humidity. Some days it can get pretty wild.
I have to agree that little Maple Ann is prayshus!
I love that shot of Mom as well. She is now adjusting to assisted living and is almost a week in. She’s not very keen on it, but will adjust eventually. It’s a great place. Thanks for keeping up with my crazy summer.
Oh my goodness… I’m so glad no one was seriously hurt in that awful wreck. It doesn’t look like the truck was in any shape to continue, so I imagine you had a hellish time getting back on the road to home. I’d still be shaking! That is a precious picture of your mom fishing and Maple is a beauty. I *love* her name! Glad you’re home safe and sound now.
Thanks Karen! Lucky for us, my sister’s husband is a car dealer. He delivered a different truck and had hers hauled back the next day. It gave us a day to shake it off and prepare for the deer infested drive home.
Thanks for the photo compliments – and I’m in love with little Maple’s name, too.
Wow Vickie, I hardly know what to say after reading this post! You are one strong woman! Not only are you a wonderful daughter, mother, and grandmother, but a very special and much missed and loved friend. I am glad to hear you are ok. Congrats on the birth of Maple, love the name! Look at this time with your mom as a time to give everything back that she gave you growing up – she was there for you and took care of you, now it’s your turn (((hugs)))
Thank you, Martha!! Good to see your comment pop up! I don’t know about ME being strong – my little sister is the strong one right now. I’m just doing my best to be a good sister and give her all the support I can muster. Thanks for the hug!
Oh my gosh, Vickie, you have had your hands full! Congratulations – it’s so exciting to have a new little granddaughter. I love her name, so perfect for her autumn birthday. I know what you are going through with your mother. I’m in the same situation. It’s a blessing to be able to take care of her, but it can be exhausting at times. Remember to take good care of yourself too.
My sister is the one taking care of our mother … I am just the relief pitcher. (did I mention that my sister was my hero??) Still, it is so nice to be able to drive 45 minutes to see her on the weekends instead of having her 1700 miles away! Thanks for stopping by, Cathy – it was good to see your name pop up!
We had a semi tire just miss us about 12 years ago and then plow into a subcompact car behind us, quite scary. Glad you guys were okay!
I was super glad we were in my sister’s car instead of my Beetle! Thanks for reading, Chris.
I miss you more than spiked eggnog. xoxoxo Happy Holidays, Vickie!
Marianne, I miss you, too! Hope your holidays were delicious! xo
Still miss you. Hope things are going well.
Things are going well, and I’ve almost adjusted to the new schedule. Thanks for checking in! Happy New Year!
HELLO…hello………………..hello……………………………………..hello.
Seems to be an echo in this empty place.
I just came over to try and find that popcorn recipe. I must have accidentally deleted your email.
Miss reading your posts, Vickie! Hope all is well, and that you return to blogging one day.
Hi Vicki, I saw your pretty red shoes on a comment on Lea Ann’s blog and recognized them as you. I wanted to stop by and say hi. We miss you. Hope all is well.
Sam