My name is LesleyAnn. I've lived in southwestern West Virginia for 51 years ... all my life. I live with a dog, Samson (10-1/2 years); two cats, Miss Cleo (11 years) and Mister (10 years); and a Quaker parrot (14 years) named Baby. We're all AARP-eligible in this house.
While riding a motorcycle in 1981, I was hit by a drunk driver. I have a traumatic hemipelvectomy amputation. I was comatose and semi-comatose for almost three months in ICU and total hospital stay for ten months. Plus four months in rehab. All before I ever saw 19 years of age. My mother had been killed in an automobile accident in August 1980, buried on her 48th birthday. It's been a stressful life but I've honestly done the best I can. My maternal Granny dedicated the last years of her life to make sure I healed and lead as normal a life as possible. She always said I could do anything anyone else could. I did for the most part. Whitewater rafting. Hiking. I loved the outdoors activities. Still do. I'm just a spectator now for most of it. I use a wheelchair 100% now.
I worked as a cartographic technician for the US Army Corps of Engineers before I took disability retirement in 2001. I loved my job. It was difficult, emotionally, to leave. I was the only person I knew who never wanted to retire. My plan was to work until I died.
I own my home on the property I grew up on in Plum Hollow. I moved back here in 2004. I live independently for the most part. I do have a friend stop by every now and again to replace a ceiling lightbulb or the batteries in the smoke detectors. I like where I live but it's lonely. I rarely see people and in this age of electronics, I only hear the voices of the people on television or radio. Texting is as close as I get to people. Unless, of course, I take a trip to the local Walmart or vets office. It's difficult during winter months when I get snowed in ... like now. But, when the weather is warm ... I'm going to the local lake or friends' houses or just sitting on my porch admiring my flower and vegetable gardens.
Thank you for stopping by. I'll be having a giveaway posted in the next few days. I do hope you stop by again.
It is wonderful that blog parties introduce people to such wonderful people in the world. It is great to meet you.
ReplyDeleteHugs and Sparkles
A fellow West Virginian..........love the birds!
ReplyDeleteHey LesleyAnn! I am dropping by via the GYB party.. I love meeting new folks.. I love your heart and your faith walk.. Always great to meet fellow Sisters in the faith... Beautiful pics and nice blog. I am following with you... Stop by and visit with me! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteHI LesleyAnn!
ReplyDeleteI popped over here from the GYB blog hop. So nice to meet you. I don't see a place to follow you or i would. I only use Google Friends Connect GFC. But i hope you'll pop over and visit me! Hugs! deb
i love your birdie shots ... some of favorites. always a fan of a chickadee. hi there. i'm Beth from E. Lizard Breath Speaks - so nice to meet you through the Grow Your Blog get together/party. ( :
ReplyDeleteI understand!
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful to find you through the GYB party! I love your photographs and intend on returning... to that end, I will be Following you on Bloglovin! Have a wonderful time at the event; I hope you find lots of new friends here!
ReplyDeleteGlad to meet you via this Blog Party :-)
ReplyDeleteGood post; good pics of the birds. We enjoy watching the birds here too.
~Val
Lesley Ann- So glad to meet you! I love that you have furry friends to keep you company- they are often better than people.:) I'll be following you as I'd love to get to know you better! Please stop by my blog and enter my giveaway- it's a fun one! Feel free to follow me, too.:) Lori
ReplyDeletei am a new follower of your blog via email. i love the way you tell stories of your life. have you ever thought of a career in writing. i just adored the story about samson going to the vet. he is such a cutie. i have a boxer/pit bull miix named heidi. she is so silly and sometimes dumber than a sack of hammers. when i let her out and she sees a bird fly over, she jumps trying to catch it. i am so sorry to hear about your accident. i hope you are doing better even though is has been a while since your accident. takke care of yourself and feel free to write anytime. barbara babscorbitt@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLovely to meet you, LesleyAnn - I'm still working my way through the GYB party list :)
ReplyDeleteWinter is a tough time for those of us with disabilities, but your gorgeous photos show that you can still enjoy the season!
Take care x
Hey LesleyAnn,
ReplyDeleteWe're still trying to visit the blogs that participated in the GYB party! How wonderful that you have your fur and feather friends to help pass the time in the winter. Your bird photos are wonderful!
Cheers,
Deb and Kathy
Your blog is a delight - I've added you to my Feedly.
ReplyDeletePopped by from GYBH. Stop by and give me a visit some time ~
thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com
Golly you've coped with such a great deal, all credit to you and lol your grandma for making you stretch your potential.
ReplyDeleteThe rest now is up to you and it must be hard and frustrating at times but life is a gift as Im sure you know all too well.
Im a GYB visitor but am staying lol and following along with you.
Looking forward to seeing your posts.
Hello LesleyAnn, Your lovely bird pictures enticed me in ( we don't get anything as spectacular as your red cardinals here in the UK!) I'm another bird/animal lover - and feeder. West Virginia is beautiful, I can understand why you love it despite your isolation. I hope you get lots of new followers and on-line friends from GYB. I'm following you on Bloglovin' .
ReplyDeleteWarm wishes Jules x
http://adventuresinthread.blogspot.co.uk
So glad to meet you at the GYB party! Your blog is lovely and your story very inspiring. I will be following:-) Hugs, Terri
ReplyDeleteBirds in the snow, I love it! So nice to "meet" you and looking forward to reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteBrrrrrrr!
ReplyDeleteHowdy Neighbor; I'm across the line in Tazewell County, VA. Visiting via Vicki's GYBP and am sorry for your struggles. Life surely isn't fair and a lot of time it sucks pond water. I'm snowed in, unless you count going to the barn or mail box; cabin fever is just about ready to sit in. Until then, I'll keep moving forward; you too, you hear?!
ReplyDeleteHi, I am so happy to meet you. You have managed to create a wonderful life for yourself. Such courage and strength! You have some very lovely photos on your blog. I live in Western Canada and we do not have as much snow as you this winter. Hope it gets better soon. Happy hopping!
ReplyDeletejust popping in to say "hello".I live in North Wales in the UK.Hope you will pop over and see my blog.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to meet you. I added you to my feedly reader but I can't follow your blog via the google friend connect for some reason.
ReplyDeleteHello LA, It is so nice to meet you through your blog, some day we will meet in person as I travel to the Us to visit my daughter and grand yuppy children. Your grandmother and mine must have been connected in some sort of way as they have both accomplished amazing jobs with the girls they had to work with. I'm a crafty person as well however our crafts seem to be diffferent. I bead and wre wrap seaglass and love to also watch the birds and take photos of them. I believe you are in right close to me at this moment. I winter in my RV in North Carolina at my daughter's in a little place called Hurdle Mills. Almost as nice as Plum Hallow sounds. In the Summer months I live in Prince Edward Island a little island on the East Coast of Canada. I shouldn't say we Winter here s this time our on the road is only 2 months.
ReplyDeleteI am book marking you in my newsreader as one of my new follow friendships and I hope that you will do the same with me. I have a giveaway on myblog of one of my crafts and pictures and more about me. I hope you will visit. I also like to write hand written letters somethign that has been a long time art that we are losing.
Hi LesleyAnn, lovely to have found your blog through GYB. Thank you for sharing your life and experiences with us. Your photos are beautiful x Keli x
ReplyDeleteMy friend --- I am so happy that you are participating in this year's party- and I can see that you have already made some new friends! If it ever gets to be spring -- we must meet for lunch and a chat!
ReplyDeleteVicki
Hi Lesley! Greeting from Portugal. Your photos are so wonderful that I'm now following your blog. I'm having a giveaway in case you want to visit me. Enjoy the day. Ana
ReplyDeleteHi Lesley, You have definitely got fortitude and determination on your side and I look forward to following you and reading more about your crafting and four legged and feathered friends.
ReplyDeleteLove and best
RedSetter
Craft blog http://gonebeading.blogspot.co.uk/
Cat blog http://pepsimaxaddict.blogspot.co.uk/
Hi, LesleyAnn! I am still making the rounds for the GYB party and I still have many more folks to visit. I have really enjoyed my visit this evening. I read your introductory post and would you believe we have one, not so happy, thing in common. We were both hit by drunk drivers. I am older than you and the collision occurred in December, 1968. My pelvis was broken front and rear on both sides of my body and I sustained other fractures, including the left clavicle and some broken bones and cuts on my hands. I feel blessed to have not only survived, but was able to recover well enough to give birth to and raise two great daughters who have given us a total of 5 well-loved grandchildren. I am probably not as physically active now as I should be. Aches and pains, probably many as a result of the incident, still plague me, but certainly not to the degree of yours.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy just about every artsy and craftsy technique you can think of and this, among other things, keep me moving forward in life.
I am now a follower of your beautiful blog and it is my earnest hope that you might find a moment or two to visit with me at my blog. Have a beautiful and blessed week ahead!