Mom and her 5.
Grannie and 6 of her nine grandchildren.
Alex, 3; Emma, 4; and Olivia, almost 3 loved getting to know each other. The two girls got together leaving the boy to fend for himself!
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Sunday, December 9, 2012
A Very Thankful Heart
Thanksgiving, 2012, was a beautiful couple of days. I knew my daughter, son-in-law, and their two, were driving to Mom's but I had no idea my son, daughter-in-law and their 3 month old would arrive, too. They surprised me! So I was surrounded by my children, grandchildren, mother, all my siblings, their spouses, assorted nieces and a great grand niece. It would take more than two kernals of corn for me to say all I was thankful for, so I'll share pictures instead.
Gammie and her youngest greatgrandchild, Kennedy. My grandchild.
Gammie and 4 of her 6 great-grandchildren. My grandchildren are the first three. David's granddaughter is on the right.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Being Kind
Yesterday I watched a man who uses a walker reach over and button the sweater of a man who was sitting in a wheelchair. It struck me as being very tender, but I know most men wouldn't want to be thought of as being "tender" to another male, so I'll use the word "kind". It was most definitely a kind act.
This morning as I thought about watching that yesterday, I recalled another kind act from an almost-three year old toward a two month old. Older child wanted to show younger child a toy which was a water-filled tube with plastic fish in it and his mother wanted him to be safe around the younger child. He moved the tube away from the child, but still talked to her. He asked her if she liked toys. I loved watching him be kind and thoughtful towards his younger cousin. He wanted to share his toy, but he knew to be kind about it and move it away in case she reached out and it crashed down on her.
Another day, his sister spread out her favorite blanket and told her Uncle he could put the baby down as he brought his baby daughter over to his sister's house to spend the day. Uncle looked at niece knowing how much she loves her blanket and asked, "Where?" Four-year old pointed to the middle and as she smoothed out her blanket, Uncle knew this was a kind act and one of selfless love.
Kindness looks a lot like love, as a matter of fact. As kindness is spread, so is love. May we keep it going.
This morning as I thought about watching that yesterday, I recalled another kind act from an almost-three year old toward a two month old. Older child wanted to show younger child a toy which was a water-filled tube with plastic fish in it and his mother wanted him to be safe around the younger child. He moved the tube away from the child, but still talked to her. He asked her if she liked toys. I loved watching him be kind and thoughtful towards his younger cousin. He wanted to share his toy, but he knew to be kind about it and move it away in case she reached out and it crashed down on her.
Another day, his sister spread out her favorite blanket and told her Uncle he could put the baby down as he brought his baby daughter over to his sister's house to spend the day. Uncle looked at niece knowing how much she loves her blanket and asked, "Where?" Four-year old pointed to the middle and as she smoothed out her blanket, Uncle knew this was a kind act and one of selfless love.
Kindness looks a lot like love, as a matter of fact. As kindness is spread, so is love. May we keep it going.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Yankee Ingenuity….. after you've had surgery
Ed. note: I wrote this two days after surgery (May 17th) but didn't publish it. Now it's May 30th and I've got the video up and running so will publish today.
Two days ago, I had two surgeries. The first was to repair an abdominal hernia and the other was to remove a large (can we say softball sized?) lipoma on my back/right shoulder. It was an all day affair, and I knew I'd come home with a drain from the lipoma which I'd need to empty for 5 days, but since I couldn't "void", I needed to have a catheter inserted. Ouch. That was just too much. Things weren't working out, so there were two nurses who had to attend to this procedure. I was in tears…physically hurting and emotionally hurt from the lack of dignity having this done.
Now to go home. (I've just reread what I'd written the day after surgery, but I'll skip that now.) I'll just say that coming home with a catheter "bag" was not to my liking. That done, now how to get into bed?
My bed is high and requires a two-step stool to get in. But with the hernia surgery, I came home wearing a 10-12" elastic tummy holder-inner. That meant I couldn't bend forward comfortably. With a grenade-sized plastic thingy pinned to the top of that and the drain line coming down my right side, I also had the wonderful catheter bag…now what to do with that? Nurse had said to put it in a pillow case and tuck under the mattress. Not allowing me enough room to move around….line wasn't as long as we needed. Now comes the Yankee ingenuity.
We assembled the following:
one pair of crutches
a step stool with the bar that goes up and around so to brace your legs when you're on the thing, or gives you something to hold onto when you move it
a pillow case
a length of sturdy rope
a plastic hanger
a walking stick
Now to assemble. Normal steps (used to get into bed) are put midway down the side of the bed. Step stool is opened and placed between wooden steps and bureau at top of bed. Rope is doubled, and looped around the bottom post on bed, knots tied at 12" intervals and brought up to the step stool. This is used to pull on to let me gingerly sit down and when I'm lying down, I pull on this to get me up to a seated position on the side of the bed. What to put it (rope) on so once I was in bed, how did I reach it when I needed it? We slid the hanger down over the stick-up part of the step stool and I drape the last knot across the neck of the hanger and it stays within my reach. Now the seat of the step stool is the resting place of the catheter bag within the pillowcase. Covered up, yet within reach. When I got up from the bed, I used the step stool as my "walker" getting into the bathroom the first day. Now I don't need it. Walking stick goes with me. It helps me gingerly sit in chair in my room, or downstairs, and helps me get up from same chairs. The crutches are not used as a pair. One is in the downstairs bathroom, to assist me getting down or up from the toilet. No counters there to help me. Then in my bathroom upstairs I keep the other crutch for the same purpose. That toilet is next to a counter, so I can use the counter under my right arm and the crutch in my left hand to do a good job getting on and off the toilet.
Now this next part is not for the faint of heart. Hey, I'm finally tired after getting up to take a pain pill, so I'll finish later.
New day. I started writing this a day or two after surgery and then the video wouldn't download, so I'm now publishing the post since I got the video to work today. It's now 15 days after surgery and I'm pretty much "all better", but wanted to share the post.
Two days ago, I had two surgeries. The first was to repair an abdominal hernia and the other was to remove a large (can we say softball sized?) lipoma on my back/right shoulder. It was an all day affair, and I knew I'd come home with a drain from the lipoma which I'd need to empty for 5 days, but since I couldn't "void", I needed to have a catheter inserted. Ouch. That was just too much. Things weren't working out, so there were two nurses who had to attend to this procedure. I was in tears…physically hurting and emotionally hurt from the lack of dignity having this done.
Now to go home. (I've just reread what I'd written the day after surgery, but I'll skip that now.) I'll just say that coming home with a catheter "bag" was not to my liking. That done, now how to get into bed?
My bed is high and requires a two-step stool to get in. But with the hernia surgery, I came home wearing a 10-12" elastic tummy holder-inner. That meant I couldn't bend forward comfortably. With a grenade-sized plastic thingy pinned to the top of that and the drain line coming down my right side, I also had the wonderful catheter bag…now what to do with that? Nurse had said to put it in a pillow case and tuck under the mattress. Not allowing me enough room to move around….line wasn't as long as we needed. Now comes the Yankee ingenuity.
We assembled the following:
one pair of crutches
a step stool with the bar that goes up and around so to brace your legs when you're on the thing, or gives you something to hold onto when you move it
a pillow case
a length of sturdy rope
a plastic hanger
a walking stick
Now to assemble. Normal steps (used to get into bed) are put midway down the side of the bed. Step stool is opened and placed between wooden steps and bureau at top of bed. Rope is doubled, and looped around the bottom post on bed, knots tied at 12" intervals and brought up to the step stool. This is used to pull on to let me gingerly sit down and when I'm lying down, I pull on this to get me up to a seated position on the side of the bed. What to put it (rope) on so once I was in bed, how did I reach it when I needed it? We slid the hanger down over the stick-up part of the step stool and I drape the last knot across the neck of the hanger and it stays within my reach. Now the seat of the step stool is the resting place of the catheter bag within the pillowcase. Covered up, yet within reach. When I got up from the bed, I used the step stool as my "walker" getting into the bathroom the first day. Now I don't need it. Walking stick goes with me. It helps me gingerly sit in chair in my room, or downstairs, and helps me get up from same chairs. The crutches are not used as a pair. One is in the downstairs bathroom, to assist me getting down or up from the toilet. No counters there to help me. Then in my bathroom upstairs I keep the other crutch for the same purpose. That toilet is next to a counter, so I can use the counter under my right arm and the crutch in my left hand to do a good job getting on and off the toilet.
Now this next part is not for the faint of heart. Hey, I'm finally tired after getting up to take a pain pill, so I'll finish later.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The Day I Gave Up Sugar
Narrowing. Harrowing. Spraying. Praying. Trees. Trucks. More Trucks. Mountains. Fancy Gap.
Oh my. It's the day after, and I'm still worn out. Not exactly sleepy, but tired. Bone tired. Weary. On Tues. morning, I left here at 4 am to drive to the Charlotte airport to leave my car and fly to Boston, via Detroit, all "stand-by". Did that. Met my sister and got in her car and we started driving back to Charlotte. She is moving here, and I offered to do the trip with her. (husband comes later) I had my triptik and GPS, a few clothes and was excited to do a road trip with this sister.
By 7 pm, we needed to call it a day. I used my GPS (more than my tour book) and tried to find a place to lay our weary heads...and the rest of our bodies! GPS (I'll call Milli) gave me names of non-regular places...Bob and Betty's Bed and Breakfast and Salvation Army Camp and other camps and camping areas. Where was Day's Inn? Hampton Inn? I finally called the main Hampton Inn number after being told several times by local Inns that they were full. Why couldn't they tell me BEFORE they asked me how many people/nights, that sort of stuff? There was no room. Period. Me alone. Me with my sister. It shouldn't matter. Either you have a room or not. But the worst, was when the Hampton Man asked me if I wanted to stay in "Downtown Pennsylvania". I told him Pennsylvania was a state and there was NO downtown in a state. When you are tired, hungry, and in a strange area, you are not in the mood for this kind of talk.
Got a room in Easton, PA at the Quality Inn. Not quite Allentown, and not quite the Hampton Inn, but we were out of NJ and that had been our goal. No energy for supper, so ate peanuts, Nabs, and drank water. Sleepy time. Beds felt good.
Wed. we were on the road by 7. Rarin' to get on our way. After the first hour or two, it began to rain. No storming, but the kind that made trucks kick up a blinding spray every time they passed. There were many trucks. There was much passing. I didn't feel 70 mph was appropriate for winding, unfamiliar roads covered with many, many trucks, so I did get passed.
I'm usually a fast driver, but this was not the scene for that. No eating a sandwich while driving. No answering the cell phone. Hands on the wheel. Serious driving and holding my own with the steady hard-driving traffic.
We were on I-81 headed for I-77, not routes I'd driven before. I'll tell you straight up, I'd been concerned about the mountainous driving and had been told the alternative, I-95, was way worse. Too much traffic.
I honestly, don't remember just where (WV or VA) but the terrain and the construction area made me very nervous, almost terrified, but I didn't tell my sister. I didn't want to spook her out. I had sweaty hands and feet, and I just held on to the steering wheel for dear life. After a bit, I thought, "whew, maybe I'd passed the worst" and began to relax a bit. Then when I felt sort of relieved, I asked my sister to read the description on the Triptik page and it sounded smoothed-out and I had made it through the bad part. Then she mentioned "Fancy Gap" and I just about screamed "NOT Fancy Gap!!??" and she replied, "Yeah, it's right here on the map." I then asked if the green marker went through Fancy Gap. "No, it's a little to the right." I think I then told her I'd read online where people said "Don't go through Fancy Gap." Then I saw a sign that said something about trucks needing to go to a lower gear for the next seven (7) miles and I knew. This must be Fancy Gap, and I was stuck.
We started the descent and she said, "Go as slowly as you want," and I thought it was because of the trucks, rain, and steep road. Next thing I knew her hands were grabbing the sides of her seat, and she told me to Slow Down. We never mentioned the truck run offs. Scary in itself! I kept seeing the signs.."For the next 6 miles"...For the next 5 miles" ...and I'd think I made it through one more, all the time holding on with all I had. By the time we'd passed 3 grassy sloped run-offs up huge banks, and reached the bottom, and saw a rest stop, I pulled in. I wanted to stand on solid ground and cry! I was a mess. She said she didn't know whether to throw up or cry or do both. I got out of the car. I didn't know what to do. I looked around at the other people at the stop, and they seemed "normal." My sister and I just sat there practically screaming, "What was THAT???"
As our adrenaline settled and we got back on the road, I thought, "Boy, I want some coffee ice cream!" and then began to realize that from now on, I'm going to have to come up with something besides food at stressful times. Drat!I (Earlier in the day I'd used my sister's decision to give up sugar several weeks ago as the incentive for me to do the same.) Well, on this final section of driving home, we did a lot of laughing and I probably acted like a spoiled kid as I realized carrots and even fruit do not have the same appeal at times like this. What a revelation.
Well, I accomplished this harrowing drive/ride, and I didn't eat as much as a piece of candy on the whole trip.
And that's the story of the day I gave up sugar.
Oh my. It's the day after, and I'm still worn out. Not exactly sleepy, but tired. Bone tired. Weary. On Tues. morning, I left here at 4 am to drive to the Charlotte airport to leave my car and fly to Boston, via Detroit, all "stand-by". Did that. Met my sister and got in her car and we started driving back to Charlotte. She is moving here, and I offered to do the trip with her. (husband comes later) I had my triptik and GPS, a few clothes and was excited to do a road trip with this sister.
By 7 pm, we needed to call it a day. I used my GPS (more than my tour book) and tried to find a place to lay our weary heads...and the rest of our bodies! GPS (I'll call Milli) gave me names of non-regular places...Bob and Betty's Bed and Breakfast and Salvation Army Camp and other camps and camping areas. Where was Day's Inn? Hampton Inn? I finally called the main Hampton Inn number after being told several times by local Inns that they were full. Why couldn't they tell me BEFORE they asked me how many people/nights, that sort of stuff? There was no room. Period. Me alone. Me with my sister. It shouldn't matter. Either you have a room or not. But the worst, was when the Hampton Man asked me if I wanted to stay in "Downtown Pennsylvania". I told him Pennsylvania was a state and there was NO downtown in a state. When you are tired, hungry, and in a strange area, you are not in the mood for this kind of talk.
Got a room in Easton, PA at the Quality Inn. Not quite Allentown, and not quite the Hampton Inn, but we were out of NJ and that had been our goal. No energy for supper, so ate peanuts, Nabs, and drank water. Sleepy time. Beds felt good.
Wed. we were on the road by 7. Rarin' to get on our way. After the first hour or two, it began to rain. No storming, but the kind that made trucks kick up a blinding spray every time they passed. There were many trucks. There was much passing. I didn't feel 70 mph was appropriate for winding, unfamiliar roads covered with many, many trucks, so I did get passed.
I'm usually a fast driver, but this was not the scene for that. No eating a sandwich while driving. No answering the cell phone. Hands on the wheel. Serious driving and holding my own with the steady hard-driving traffic.
We were on I-81 headed for I-77, not routes I'd driven before. I'll tell you straight up, I'd been concerned about the mountainous driving and had been told the alternative, I-95, was way worse. Too much traffic.
I honestly, don't remember just where (WV or VA) but the terrain and the construction area made me very nervous, almost terrified, but I didn't tell my sister. I didn't want to spook her out. I had sweaty hands and feet, and I just held on to the steering wheel for dear life. After a bit, I thought, "whew, maybe I'd passed the worst" and began to relax a bit. Then when I felt sort of relieved, I asked my sister to read the description on the Triptik page and it sounded smoothed-out and I had made it through the bad part. Then she mentioned "Fancy Gap" and I just about screamed "NOT Fancy Gap!!??" and she replied, "Yeah, it's right here on the map." I then asked if the green marker went through Fancy Gap. "No, it's a little to the right." I think I then told her I'd read online where people said "Don't go through Fancy Gap." Then I saw a sign that said something about trucks needing to go to a lower gear for the next seven (7) miles and I knew. This must be Fancy Gap, and I was stuck.
We started the descent and she said, "Go as slowly as you want," and I thought it was because of the trucks, rain, and steep road. Next thing I knew her hands were grabbing the sides of her seat, and she told me to Slow Down. We never mentioned the truck run offs. Scary in itself! I kept seeing the signs.."For the next 6 miles"...For the next 5 miles" ...and I'd think I made it through one more, all the time holding on with all I had. By the time we'd passed 3 grassy sloped run-offs up huge banks, and reached the bottom, and saw a rest stop, I pulled in. I wanted to stand on solid ground and cry! I was a mess. She said she didn't know whether to throw up or cry or do both. I got out of the car. I didn't know what to do. I looked around at the other people at the stop, and they seemed "normal." My sister and I just sat there practically screaming, "What was THAT???"
As our adrenaline settled and we got back on the road, I thought, "Boy, I want some coffee ice cream!" and then began to realize that from now on, I'm going to have to come up with something besides food at stressful times. Drat!I (Earlier in the day I'd used my sister's decision to give up sugar several weeks ago as the incentive for me to do the same.) Well, on this final section of driving home, we did a lot of laughing and I probably acted like a spoiled kid as I realized carrots and even fruit do not have the same appeal at times like this. What a revelation.
Well, I accomplished this harrowing drive/ride, and I didn't eat as much as a piece of candy on the whole trip.
And that's the story of the day I gave up sugar.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Single Woman vs. Snake in Dining Room
As I prepared to go upstairs for the night (last night at 9:45), a good song was on the radio, so I started to dance around the dining room. Then my eyes beheld a slithering snake on the floor about 3 feet from the french door. Oh no! What to do? (I'll stop here and say it was about 12 inches long, about the size of my little finger in diameter, but his head kept coming up like they did in those snake charmer scenes when I was a kid.)
This was what came to my mind.
1. Cover with a pot cover? No, Mamma did that for a mouse one time.
2. Smother with salt? No, that's what I did for slugs in Texas.
3. Squirt with ammonia? No, that would damage the hardwood floor and might upset him.
4. Douse with clorox? No, that, too, would damage the floor.
5. Call the fire department? Can't find the number. Too nervous.
Aha, call my sister. She'd call a friend of hers. She called me back and told me her friend suggested I call "311" and ask for animal patrol. If that didn't work, call 911. I did the 311 call. Nothing. I called 911 and explained the situation. "Is he aggressive?"
"No."
"Is he outdoors?"
"No, he's in my dining room."
"Dining room??"
"Yes."
She would send someone over to help.
Sister called back. She was coming over, but before that, put on her L.L. Bean boots. I went to put on my green gum-rubber style boots. All the time, watching Sammy Snake slither around trying to get out the door to the patio. He first slid into the space at the bottom of the door and the threshhold, but I could still see him. Then he slithered up the door between the door and the frame. At times I couldn't see him but then his head would poke out. I tried to do the dishes to make use of the time I was having to stay up, but I really wanted to know where he was at all times.
My sister arrived and felt my lounge-around-the-house-cotton-shirt was too short. I agreed. She went up to get me something longer and the doorbell rang. I let my sister's friend and one of his boys in, grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around my waist. The guys took my broom, opened the door, and scooted said snake out! Whew!!
There we girls were with boots on and me with a blanket around me looking pretty foolish. The "boy" is a visiting young man from Japan and my sister told him my get-up wasn't "normal" American garb! It was his 30th birthday and we all got a good laugh over the incident.
Thank God for sisters and friends.
This was what came to my mind.
1. Cover with a pot cover? No, Mamma did that for a mouse one time.
2. Smother with salt? No, that's what I did for slugs in Texas.
3. Squirt with ammonia? No, that would damage the hardwood floor and might upset him.
4. Douse with clorox? No, that, too, would damage the floor.
5. Call the fire department? Can't find the number. Too nervous.
Aha, call my sister. She'd call a friend of hers. She called me back and told me her friend suggested I call "311" and ask for animal patrol. If that didn't work, call 911. I did the 311 call. Nothing. I called 911 and explained the situation. "Is he aggressive?"
"No."
"Is he outdoors?"
"No, he's in my dining room."
"Dining room??"
"Yes."
She would send someone over to help.
Sister called back. She was coming over, but before that, put on her L.L. Bean boots. I went to put on my green gum-rubber style boots. All the time, watching Sammy Snake slither around trying to get out the door to the patio. He first slid into the space at the bottom of the door and the threshhold, but I could still see him. Then he slithered up the door between the door and the frame. At times I couldn't see him but then his head would poke out. I tried to do the dishes to make use of the time I was having to stay up, but I really wanted to know where he was at all times.
My sister arrived and felt my lounge-around-the-house-cotton-shirt was too short. I agreed. She went up to get me something longer and the doorbell rang. I let my sister's friend and one of his boys in, grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around my waist. The guys took my broom, opened the door, and scooted said snake out! Whew!!
There we girls were with boots on and me with a blanket around me looking pretty foolish. The "boy" is a visiting young man from Japan and my sister told him my get-up wasn't "normal" American garb! It was his 30th birthday and we all got a good laugh over the incident.
Thank God for sisters and friends.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Spring: White, Green, and Pink
Sunday, March 25, 2012,
..... outdoors on my garden-patio, admidst the bursting leaves and flowers, sun on my back, listening to chirping birds.... the prettiest day since I've lived here.
I'm in the beginning of spring. Well, more accurately, nature is in the beginning of spring and I'm an excited observer. Living in southeast Texas for 30-plus years pretty much separated me from spring. Well, not really, but the spring I'd known in New England. Charlotte's spring is beautiful and colorful and a complete surprise to me. This is what spring should be. This is one of the reasons I moved here and I've not been disappointed. In fact, as I already wrote, I'm excited!
First of all several trees on my street bloomed into white flowers in about three days. Then as I drove down other streets, I'd see one-after-another pristine white trees and they reminded me of maids of honor walking down the aisle with their bouquets. What a sight!
Then two of the trees on this patio began to bloom with greenery just this week and yesterday's rain helped them open up last night, so this morning, when I looked down onto the patio from my windows, I couldn't see all the bird feeders and I realized the trees were filled with leaves. Tiny leaves, yellowish green, and oh so fun to watch open up. Just now, I'm seeing shade on this patio. A new thing. And now one more tree is turning pink with delicate, spikey flowers on each branch. Maybe it's a bush that went wild, but it's a "tree" now and it's beautiful. Some birds are talking from it right now.
Which brings me to something I've just paid attention to today. I knew the birds that come to feed here, like black sunflower seeds, but they are pricey, so last time I bought food, I bought two bags...one of sunflower seeds and one of a mixture. On Thurs., when I filled the feeders, I put the mixture in. BAD choice! Over the weekend when I had my brother and sister-in-law here, I wondered why the birds weren't flocking here, as usual. I figured it had to do with the rain, or that I was in and out more, and not paying attention. Today when I came home from church, I realized the feeders were practically full, and THEN caught on. They didn't like my menu choice! So I put sunflower seeds in and now they are probably spreading the word, but won't come to eat while I'm out here. The sun's getting hot on my neck, so I'll go in soon when I finish this.
I wanted you to know how much I'm getting filled up on the beauty I see here now. God is putting on a show for me and I appreciate it immensely!
I hope you have a beautiful show going on outdoors where you live. Enjoy it. Appreciate it. Thank God for it.
..... outdoors on my garden-patio, admidst the bursting leaves and flowers, sun on my back, listening to chirping birds.... the prettiest day since I've lived here.
I'm in the beginning of spring. Well, more accurately, nature is in the beginning of spring and I'm an excited observer. Living in southeast Texas for 30-plus years pretty much separated me from spring. Well, not really, but the spring I'd known in New England. Charlotte's spring is beautiful and colorful and a complete surprise to me. This is what spring should be. This is one of the reasons I moved here and I've not been disappointed. In fact, as I already wrote, I'm excited!
First of all several trees on my street bloomed into white flowers in about three days. Then as I drove down other streets, I'd see one-after-another pristine white trees and they reminded me of maids of honor walking down the aisle with their bouquets. What a sight!
Then two of the trees on this patio began to bloom with greenery just this week and yesterday's rain helped them open up last night, so this morning, when I looked down onto the patio from my windows, I couldn't see all the bird feeders and I realized the trees were filled with leaves. Tiny leaves, yellowish green, and oh so fun to watch open up. Just now, I'm seeing shade on this patio. A new thing. And now one more tree is turning pink with delicate, spikey flowers on each branch. Maybe it's a bush that went wild, but it's a "tree" now and it's beautiful. Some birds are talking from it right now.
Which brings me to something I've just paid attention to today. I knew the birds that come to feed here, like black sunflower seeds, but they are pricey, so last time I bought food, I bought two bags...one of sunflower seeds and one of a mixture. On Thurs., when I filled the feeders, I put the mixture in. BAD choice! Over the weekend when I had my brother and sister-in-law here, I wondered why the birds weren't flocking here, as usual. I figured it had to do with the rain, or that I was in and out more, and not paying attention. Today when I came home from church, I realized the feeders were practically full, and THEN caught on. They didn't like my menu choice! So I put sunflower seeds in and now they are probably spreading the word, but won't come to eat while I'm out here. The sun's getting hot on my neck, so I'll go in soon when I finish this.
I wanted you to know how much I'm getting filled up on the beauty I see here now. God is putting on a show for me and I appreciate it immensely!
I hope you have a beautiful show going on outdoors where you live. Enjoy it. Appreciate it. Thank God for it.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Being locked in the garage
Once upon a time, (Ok, last week) a woman (who shall be left nameless) was getting ready for some relatives to come visit her home. She was emptying boxes from her recent move and trying to put away all her stuff. She had more to do than time to do it, but as she'd empty two or three boxes, she'd put them in the garage.
The door to the garage from the kitchen has two locks. One needs a key. One is a button lock. (Don't get ahead of me.) The lady (who shall still be left nameless) was usually careful to not shut the door, for the button lock was locked. Somehow she felt safe leaving that button lock locked. Well, on this particular day when she went to put the boxes in the garage, the door shut. Oh oh. She tried and it wouldn't open. Here she was in the garage. With her car. But with no key to the car. She could push the garage door opener button and get outdoors, but then what? Go to a neighbor's? She'd only met them enough to say "Hello".
Ahha, she had her phone in her pocket. Smart. Call her sister and have HER bring her key to the house and let said woman in. No problem. Ooops, sister was on an errand. She is running a business, for heaven's sake, and had things to do for a customer. Okay, sister would come in about an hour.
Nameless woman retrieved blanket in trunk and wrapped it around her shoulders. 40s in the garage was taking its toll. Ladies, you know what's coming next....the need for a little girls' room. Now what?
A quick glance around the garage netted cardboard boxes. No help. A wooden barrel sort of thing. It was a possibility, but not water-tight, or any-liquid-tight, for that matter. There was a recycle bin and a trash bin, but stood taller than the woman's waist. How could she hoist herself up that high? Then she spotted a plastic waste basket. Enough said.
After a bit, she slid into the driver's seat of her car and let the back of the seat down. Time for a nap. Later the back seat seemed a better spot, and lo and behold, there was a fleece vest! That felt good and then the blanket went around her shoulders again. Stretching out on the backseat felt more comfortable than the front seat, but oh oh, the cold seat made the need for "the little girls' room" again. I'll stop here.
Sister finally came to let her in to the warm kitchen.
Keys have now been hidden, and button lock stays open.
Hope nameless woman can always enjoy a good laugh!
The door to the garage from the kitchen has two locks. One needs a key. One is a button lock. (Don't get ahead of me.) The lady (who shall still be left nameless) was usually careful to not shut the door, for the button lock was locked. Somehow she felt safe leaving that button lock locked. Well, on this particular day when she went to put the boxes in the garage, the door shut. Oh oh. She tried and it wouldn't open. Here she was in the garage. With her car. But with no key to the car. She could push the garage door opener button and get outdoors, but then what? Go to a neighbor's? She'd only met them enough to say "Hello".
Ahha, she had her phone in her pocket. Smart. Call her sister and have HER bring her key to the house and let said woman in. No problem. Ooops, sister was on an errand. She is running a business, for heaven's sake, and had things to do for a customer. Okay, sister would come in about an hour.
Nameless woman retrieved blanket in trunk and wrapped it around her shoulders. 40s in the garage was taking its toll. Ladies, you know what's coming next....the need for a little girls' room. Now what?
A quick glance around the garage netted cardboard boxes. No help. A wooden barrel sort of thing. It was a possibility, but not water-tight, or any-liquid-tight, for that matter. There was a recycle bin and a trash bin, but stood taller than the woman's waist. How could she hoist herself up that high? Then she spotted a plastic waste basket. Enough said.
After a bit, she slid into the driver's seat of her car and let the back of the seat down. Time for a nap. Later the back seat seemed a better spot, and lo and behold, there was a fleece vest! That felt good and then the blanket went around her shoulders again. Stretching out on the backseat felt more comfortable than the front seat, but oh oh, the cold seat made the need for "the little girls' room" again. I'll stop here.
Sister finally came to let her in to the warm kitchen.
Keys have now been hidden, and button lock stays open.
Hope nameless woman can always enjoy a good laugh!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Greatly Blessed and Highly Favored
On the car radio this morning when I was driving back from taking Mom to the airport, the Gaithers were singing "Greatly Blessed and Highly Favored" about "a forgiven child of God" and I am that, but the title also expresses my feelings about my weekend with my mom and my two sisters. I am absolutely "greatly blessed" and I am absolutely "highly favored" with these three women in my life.
Once a year we four get together and call it the "Girls' Weekend". Last year we met the day after Christmas in Florida and enjoyed a condo, the ocean, the sand, and sunrises while bundled up under blankets. Boy, it was windy and cold! Inside we ate candy from Len Libby's in Maine, played Banana Gram and Hand and Foot, ate out, and totally enjoyed laughing and hanging around together. This year, we spent the week after Christmas at Mom's and shared the week with our two brothers, doing our fair share of eating, laughing, playing Scrabble, and telling stories.
This long weekend was just for us girls and we spent the time at my new home. We'd planned to divide the time between my sister's home and my place, but she decided to leave everyone here and not make our out-of-town guests pack up and move to her house. So we ate here, we ate out, (a Mongolian Grill was fun and a new experience for our guests), we went to antique stores, and we put two jig-saw puzzles together. We worshipped together at my church on Sunday. Greatly blessed. We watched videos on youtube and laughed our heads off! We skyped with my two grandchildren and my sister's granddaughter. We told stories of our childhood and asked Mom about her childhood days. We prayed together for a cousin who's very sick. We took turns cooking. We made peanut butter fudge and ate it warm off spoons while doing the puzzle. We stayed up late and no one wanted to go to bed before the others for fear of missing something to laugh about. We barged in to another's room in the morning, again, for fear of missing the conversation. We laughed over silly things. We laughed over familiar things. We laughed over old stories and new stories and just about everything else.
We shared serious parts of ourselves. Bodies growing older. Medical needs. We shared our concerns of hair loss, memory loss, and hearing loss. We consoled each other with "it's not that bad", or "I do the same thing", or "you can't really tell". Sharing lightens the concerns. "We're in this together" is our chant.
We shared hopes and dreams and plans. We listened to new business ideas. We listened to wants and needs. We asked questions of each other. We are each other's compass. We are each other's sounding boards. We are in our 50's, 60's and 80's, and we travel this life together, listening, encouraging, loving and laughing together. We are single, married, divorced and widowed. Three of us are mothers. Some of us are mothers-in-law. We are all readers. We are each creative in unique ways. We are similar in looks, and different in personalities. Most like strong coffee. One didn't have a coffee maker to make said coffee. Ugh. One needs it perfectly dark when she sleeps. One stays up late. One goes to bed early. We all like putting puzzles together, though one of us talks about each piece she's looking for and the others tell that one to stop talking! One likes to do the edges. One likes to do a subject within the picture. We all like to finish and be the one with the final piece!
We are different. We are the same. We laugh together. We sometimes cry together. We love each other and like each other (there is a difference!) and enjoy spending a weekend (or more) together. We would each say we are "Greatly Blessed and Highly Favored."
Once a year we four get together and call it the "Girls' Weekend". Last year we met the day after Christmas in Florida and enjoyed a condo, the ocean, the sand, and sunrises while bundled up under blankets. Boy, it was windy and cold! Inside we ate candy from Len Libby's in Maine, played Banana Gram and Hand and Foot, ate out, and totally enjoyed laughing and hanging around together. This year, we spent the week after Christmas at Mom's and shared the week with our two brothers, doing our fair share of eating, laughing, playing Scrabble, and telling stories.
This long weekend was just for us girls and we spent the time at my new home. We'd planned to divide the time between my sister's home and my place, but she decided to leave everyone here and not make our out-of-town guests pack up and move to her house. So we ate here, we ate out, (a Mongolian Grill was fun and a new experience for our guests), we went to antique stores, and we put two jig-saw puzzles together. We worshipped together at my church on Sunday. Greatly blessed. We watched videos on youtube and laughed our heads off! We skyped with my two grandchildren and my sister's granddaughter. We told stories of our childhood and asked Mom about her childhood days. We prayed together for a cousin who's very sick. We took turns cooking. We made peanut butter fudge and ate it warm off spoons while doing the puzzle. We stayed up late and no one wanted to go to bed before the others for fear of missing something to laugh about. We barged in to another's room in the morning, again, for fear of missing the conversation. We laughed over silly things. We laughed over familiar things. We laughed over old stories and new stories and just about everything else.
We shared serious parts of ourselves. Bodies growing older. Medical needs. We shared our concerns of hair loss, memory loss, and hearing loss. We consoled each other with "it's not that bad", or "I do the same thing", or "you can't really tell". Sharing lightens the concerns. "We're in this together" is our chant.
We shared hopes and dreams and plans. We listened to new business ideas. We listened to wants and needs. We asked questions of each other. We are each other's compass. We are each other's sounding boards. We are in our 50's, 60's and 80's, and we travel this life together, listening, encouraging, loving and laughing together. We are single, married, divorced and widowed. Three of us are mothers. Some of us are mothers-in-law. We are all readers. We are each creative in unique ways. We are similar in looks, and different in personalities. Most like strong coffee. One didn't have a coffee maker to make said coffee. Ugh. One needs it perfectly dark when she sleeps. One stays up late. One goes to bed early. We all like putting puzzles together, though one of us talks about each piece she's looking for and the others tell that one to stop talking! One likes to do the edges. One likes to do a subject within the picture. We all like to finish and be the one with the final piece!
We are different. We are the same. We laugh together. We sometimes cry together. We love each other and like each other (there is a difference!) and enjoy spending a weekend (or more) together. We would each say we are "Greatly Blessed and Highly Favored."
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