Family Restaurant

[Phaedra]

How is your Father in Law, P? He used to be in these photos but I know that his mood was transitioning in the wrong directions recently. Hugs.

Yes, his situation deteriorated quite quickly. We removed most of the devices and utensils from the kitchen and had to lock the main door and some windows when we left him in the evening. Although weekly, he goes to the Daycare for three days and has a companion from us and the church volunteer, when he has to stay at home alone, no matter in the evening or weekend (we can't stay there 24 hours), we are always worrying about he might hurt himself.

Another concern is staying in a house alone almost every evening, with no one to talk to (although he can no longer make a meaningful conversation)...it's stressful for him, too. He used to say recently, almost every day - I wish I could die as soon as possible.

He already can't recognize his home and always asks when we can bring him home. So we applied and were on the waiting lists of several nursing houses in the surrounding. Yesterday, we got a confirmation from the one in our town. This afternoon, we went to check the environment - it's clean, bright, simple, but comparatively safe. His room is ready, and we will start to bring some more furniture and paintings he loves. We will visit him daily like we are doing now, but not spending two to three hours in a car is really good news for us.

 

[Phaedra]

Friday night - our weekly treasure hunt in Lidl.
Last Friday and today, I got 50% off smoked fish products, which are really "convenient food" for us. Last Friday, I got ten packages of smoked skinless, boneless trout;

Today, I got ten packages of smoked salmon.

This Lidl will generously put the 50% off stickers on such packaged and cooked fish products about one week from the best-before date. When I saw them, I brought them all back home and directly sent them into the freezer. They can be used in so many different ways.

Our dinner is salmon and zucchini pizza today, yummy.

 

[Phaedra]

That duck looks so good!

I got Muscovy ducks, was going to raise them. My Great Pyrenees Trip, the sweetie I recently had put down because of cancer, put them on HIS menu! Turned out that he liked duck too. I may try them again some day. My new farm has 2 ponds.

I also want to raise ducks...but we already have chickens and quails. DH might be upset if I keep adding family members.

Ducks are not so popular in Germany yet, so the most available choices we have are the frozen duck breast and thigh. When it's close to Christmas time, the entire frozen ducks will be available - it seems most of them are raised in France.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, his situation deteriorated quite quickly.

Many of us on this forum have been in similar situations. We understand. It can be a hard decision to make but from what you describe it is the right one.

 

[baymule]

I’m really sorry for your father in law. He has a loving son and daughter-in-law, he is so loved and blessed and doesn’t even know it anymore. The new nursing home sounds like a much better environment for him and I know it will bring y’all greater peace of mind.
Big hugs.

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

Ah....So it progresses. Its such a sad disease and can rip families apart. I'm glad you and your DH made the tough decision - he will be comfortable and safer after all. He may not get used to it, but time is on your side as he settles in there.

 

[flowerbug]

it is never easy to see a loved one go away in such a manner.

 

[Phaedra]

So, on my last day as his private chef - He went to the daycare, and I stayed home to clean and cook as usual. I made him a new bouquet with colorful flowers picked from the small garden, arranged a yogurt with fruits, and prepared the scrambled eggs he loved the most.

What I felt was a mixture of heaviness and relief at the same time. But we all have to move on.

The urban garden shows her beauty and how much joy and life she can offer under proper maintenance. I am glad to have the chance to renovate and know I can create a paradise like this.

The vertical planting idea works well on this wooden wall. The peas and bush beans look happy.

The eggplants in the bottomless pots - are very impressive!

All of them are fruiting, including the young plants bought from the nursery and the ones I grew from seeds.

Tomatoes are also growing well - one of the best lessons I learned from planting in this garden is container planting, especially the bottomless planters - they share some similarities with raised beds and can create abundance, too.

Foxtail amaranth from microgreen seeds took a long time to grow at the seedling stage, but eventually, they became such pretty plants that can offer lovely colors in the landscape.

Dahlias and peas

At the lower deck, the beans, peas, and garlic (for harvesting garlic greens) sowed in early July still can produce a lot of food in the coming months.

Fresh sunflower seeds for the chickens

I knew the "Goodbye" was approaching; this time, it would be a permanent leave from this place, where I spent my first three years in Germany. This small garden is where my gardening journey began, and I wish I never needed to say goodbye to her.

But we have to, as always. We move forward for the next strange new world that is already waiting.

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

Very bitter sweet. Hugs to you and your father in law.

 

[baymule]

What a mixture of sad and relief. No one could have had better care or more love than what you and your husband provided for your father in law. Because of you, he was able to stay in his home much longer. Now he will be closer and y’all can rest a little easier knowing that he has 24hour care. It has to be so hard to take him away from his home, but it is best for all involved. Bless you and your husband for being so kind and loving to him.