Another Week and Lots of Irish Soda Bread

This has been a very busy and tiring week for me.  As you know, I spent a week in New York at a friend's side in the hospital. I was delighted to help her feel more comfortable and more agreeable to eating, taking her meds, and having some diagnostic tests done. We are still waiting for results, and her future is unknown at this time, but I felt better leaving her in a rehab facility to get her strength that in that hospital she dreaded.  

It does remind me though that everyone needs to have advocates in their corner. Her sons are lovely wonderful men who I am delighted to consider family, but neither was equipped for this degree of medical challenges. Even my daughter, who has my gumption and doesn't let herself get pushed around, even she wouldn't have enough experience to know what to ask or when to ask when it comes to healthcare.  I am the medical power of attorney for a friend of mine here in North Texas with no children of her own. My medical power of attorney (called proxy in some states) is a dear friend who also has had a great deal of hospital experience due to her now passed parents.  It's really important to pray and believe for a peaceful end after a very long life, but it's equally important to have a plan if you become hospitalized in a less than stellar mental state. I am thankful to whoever it was in my life that mentioned setting out chocolates at the rehab facility to encourage nurses and aids to pop in and check on the patient more often!  

I am however very proud of myself for spending a week in New York eating hot italian bread, and pasta, and pizza, and ohhh so good Irish Soda Bread - I talk about it in my Hart Land Series but have never found decent soda bread in Texas. I had to enjoy a piece just about every night I was there, and am thrilled to be home and not have gained any weight. Didn't lose it - but didn't gain is just as satisfying under the circumstances! 

now. book talk!  I am finishing edits on Quinn today so I should have more news on him by the next blog post!  I also have Sweet Surprise, book two of the new series waiting for me to start on those edits!  I am hopeful that I can do all that AND finish book three before the family leaves for Disney World.  I can't believe that our Disney trip is less than a week away! Though I won't have much to report next Monday as that will just be the start! 

Now - below are a few photos- I know it seems weird, but with no 'real' diners in my part of the country, I took a photo of a favorite diner where my friends and I meet up while I'm in NY - my one disappointment, they had no boston cream pie this visit...sniff. The other photo is the tubs of chocolates and candies. I sure hope they do the trick. And lastly - my Irish Soda Bread. I took one last slice and had in my purse to eat on the plane ride home. I am so going to miss that. Will have to have my friend ship me some next St. Patrick's day season! 
Though, I do admit, hubby and I are curious to discover if we're going to find soda bread in Ireland!  Will let you know the answer to that puzzler this summer!  We have our first seven nights of hotels booked and after that, it will be a 'see where we go' trip and hopefully, we won't be sleeping in the car! lol. 

All right - I need to get back to work.  Everyone have a good week!