A portion of our lumber delivery arrived the first of the week for the new project…

Sadly, Keith tore the back deck down while I was at work so we don’t have a recent ‘before’ photo, but here is what the back of our home looks like, minus the deck

Unfortunately the weather is not cooperating so it is not going to be completed as soon as I was hoping. I am not sure what these little flowers are but they are all over the back yard.

Yesterday my daughter ran a couple of errands for me while I was at work, and left me a little surprise in my car…and let me tell you, after a horrible 16 hour shift at work yesterday, I needed this!

My husband and I had some errands to run today, one of them being a trip to the mall, and I was so surprised to find that a Pandora store opened in the mall, yesterday! Of course, I could not leave the store without a new little charm…

Sadly this would normally be my three day weekend off from work, but due to my promotion at work, and the necessity to move to a new unit, my work schedule is changing, and this is now my weekend on, and I have to work tomorrow, and short day, Monday…so I am going to close down this post, and enjoy the last few hours of this beautiful day. Until next time…

-Jenny

Hello Friends! Can you believe that I went out of town and forgot to take my camera with me!? My colleague and I had a wonderful time. She introduced me to my first meal at Cracker Barrel, and Panera Bread. Cracker Barrel didn’t really ‘wow’ me, but Panera Bread…lovely!

Our seminar was well organized, and informative, and I learned a lot. So great to have finally found someone who has similiar aspirations as I do…not to mention her level of stamina for shopping!

Next week is National Nurses Week.

Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers. As nurses, we work in emergency rooms, school based clinics, and homeless shelters, to name a few. We have many roles – from staff nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher – and serve all of them with passion for the profession and with a strong commitment to patient safety.

National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, also known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

Each year during Nurses Week a Reception and Tea is held at The Blaine House [the Governor's Mansion] to recognize and honor nurses in the State of Maine. One representative from each of our states healthcare facility or Nursing school is invited to participate, and I am pleased, and proud to announce that I will be representing Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center.

I am sure our Governor is much too busy to participate, but just in case I requested my husband to do a watercoloring for me, and I will either present it to the Governor, or to the keynote speaker…

New course began today. Promoting and Preserving Health in a Diverse Society. 12/17, Practicum I and Practicum II.

Listening to; Springsteen, Fly Over States, Better Than Me, Give Me A Sign, One Last Breath, If You Only Knew, Falls On Me…

Well friends, the next two days belong to me, and I have a list a mile long to attempt to accomplish, so for here I must run along. Here’s to a beautiful week ahead of us. Until next time…

-Jenny

My brand new iPad arrived via Fed Ex today…

and I am in love.

I ended up working 16 hours last night, got home minutes prior to midnight, and was certain I was dead. I had committed myself to a workshop from 9a-4p today, and it was pretty painful. The best part was I was able to spend the day with my husband right beside me while we were learning negotiation skills.

Tomorrow morning myself, and a collegue are heading to Portland for a day of shopping, and for a seminar on Friday. It’s my weekend on so I have a feeling I am going to be exhausted by time my day off on Tuesday arrives.

Other happenings:

• Keith’s car decided it had been some time since it visited the mechanic, so it chose to break down. Thank goodness my brother is a mechanic is all I have to say, because the bill was for parts only, and it was a small fortune.
• Taking advantage of no rain for a few minutes, Keith ran out back and measured out the size of the new deck that we will be building this Spring. I am so excited. I did not spend much time out there last season due to the concern of the deck collapsing [I may be exaggerating slightly here, but not by much].
• Matthew hurt his arm last week while at work. Initially told by ER that he sprained it. A couple nights later received a call from the radiologist stating he reviewed Matthew’s x-rays and he was concerned that there may actually be a fracture but due to the amount of swelling it was difficult to discern for certain, so he advised Matthew to keep the sling on, and come back in for another x-ray once the swelling subsides. The poor kid. Between not being able to continue with enlising in the Army due to being diagnosed with Mono, and now the possibilites of a possible fracture, I worry that he will not be accepted to enlist…
• Speaking of the Army, my son, Reggie is getting settled in at Fort Stewart, and is doing well.

Well friends, for here I am going to get myself ready for some much needed sleep. Until next time…

-Jenny

God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done.  -Unknown

I had great plans of a beautiful weekend filled with outside work, and picnic lunches…unfortunately the weather did not allow any of this. I looked outside this morning, and the two clumps of lupine are growing wonderfully, so knowing that my gardens need the rain, I won’t complain…though would prefer to have the rain when it is my weekend to work!

I could get used to not having any school responsibilities. One more week of freedom, and onward to Promoting and Preserving Health in a Diverse Society. I began looking thru the textbook the other day, and it looks pretty interesting.

RN to MSN: 62 credits to completition. 37 credits completed thus far = 11 courses completed, and 25 credits remaining. 6 actual  courses, and Capstone Practicum I and Capstone Practicum II. Amazing how breaking it down like this makes it look so much closer/easier…kind of.

Somewhere on your journey don’t forget to turn around and enjoy the view.

• This is going to be a crazy week. Heading to Portland this week with another RN for shopping/girl time, and to a psychopharmacology seminar. Hoping it inspires me to get my nose back to studying for my certification…so much to do, so little time to get it all accomplished! Must focus.
• I ordered a cool tote bag [yes, I have a problem/addiction to purses, and tote bags], Keith ordered me my new iPad, and an iPad cover, and I am hoping they will all be delivered before I head out on Thursday, but I don’t think UPS/USPS is going to cooperate. Fingers crossed.
• I received a promotion at work last week –> Nurse II to Nurse III. I am looking forward to being trained to work in the nurse supervisors office. Sadly, I have to leave my unit and move onto another unit for this promotion…
• I have not finished painting that diningroom table/chairs, and my sister gave me two new pieces of furniture that I plan on painting. Must find time, and the energy necessary to complete all of these projects!

On that note, time is ticking, and I need to close down this laptop. Here’s to a wonderful week ahead of each of us. Until next time…

-Jenny

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.  Now put the foundations under them.  -Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854

My business plans are still in process, and today I received the return address rubberstamp that I had ordered.

So, there you see it, the name of my business is Perkins Health Care Training. We really need to settle on my logo so I can order the business cards, and postcards, and so I can begin working on my brochures. I’ll share more information as progress is made. I have my outline created, unfortunately, the process is slow…

I hinted to my husband, and children for a Mother’s Day present. UPS delivered a box in my husbands name this afternoon that I paid no attention to. When Keith came home tonight he opened it up, and asked me if I would like my mothers day present early…well, of course! The Buxton Madison Tote…she is even more beautiful in person! Thank you, Keith!!

I need to get ready for the next two days on at work. Until next time, friends…

-Jenny

My family are all working, and I have the day off, so Oliver and I had a lunch date together on the waterfront. Here is a photo of the beautiful view…

I have completed all requirements for Integrating Theory and Research for Evidence-Based Practice [our Professor is still a few weeks behind, so I doubt I'll have my final grade anytime soon]. I am looking forward to my next class; Promoting and Preserving Health in a Diverse Society. Of course I say this now, and once I read the syllabus I often have different feelings about the course.

After supper tonight, Keith and I walked around Fort Knox. Loving this weather. A view from across the river [I forgot to bring my zoom lens with me]…