Hey, Y'all,
No spooks around here. We don't celebrate Hallowe'en at this home. We don't give honor to such a celebration.
We did, however, travel in to Knoxville and had our late lunch/early dinner with Hugh, Imazo, and Mae at Applebee's Restaurant. I had a different menu item than I have ever had: barbeque riblets. YUM! I am sure that it will be a future dish for me when we go there to eat. Little barbeque pork riblets with very tiny bones that take up little of the amount of serving.
The swelling in Hugh's legs has gone down quite a bit, we were happy to see. He still has a lot of difficulty walking, but it is a plus that the swelling is less.
I called our doctor here in Jefferson City this morning, and while she could not see us today for Gramps' problems, the receptionist said she would pass my message on and the doctor would give me a call on Monday morning and perhaps let the receptionist work him in one day next week. We will keep our fingers crossed (although that will make it rather difficult to do any work in the meantime).
Gramps has been using his cane to walk around with all day, except for using it to go into the restaurant and out again. Then he was using his walker, because it gives him better balance and as he said, "people would move aside for him when he used a walker".
Jennifer is coming for breakfast in the morning and it will be wonderful to see her again. She is such a delight and Gramps and I are always pleased to see her. She is like a granddaughter to us. I will be cooking sausage, eggs, and biscuits for our breakfast.
I was up early this morning working on the quilt for our grandson, Matt, who lives in Texas and is the youngest son of our daughter, Carol, and her husband, Daryl. He is a delightful young man and the only one of their children for whom I have yet to make a full size quilt. When it is finished, I will make a picture and post it for you all to see.
Well, this is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the night. Don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour tomorrow night before going to bed for Daylight Standard Time. Love to all of you! Bye for now.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
End of the Day
Hey, Y'all,
Well, it is the end of (or near the end of) the day. Company is gone, and we had a really great time. Also, I called Mark to come over and have some vegetable beef soup and cornbread after the company had left. He came over and while he ate some soup, we had a great time chatting. I sent some soup and cornbread back with him for Allie.
The company, of course, was our new neighbors who are moving in next door. We had a really good time getting to know each other. Scott and Laurie are the parents and their children are Mitchell, Olivia and Gabriel. Laurie does home schooling and the children are delightful and so very well behaved. I just know that we are all going to get along famously.
This morning I made the cake for my practice Petit Fours. I have yet to make the frosting for them. I put the cake into the fridge to cool and will probably try to make the frosting early in the morning. I also need to get the proper size pan for the real petit fours. I once had the proper size pan (9x9), but cant' find it.
If the petit fours turn out well, I'll put the website on my blog and that way, those of you who are interested in making them, can access the recipe I am using.
So far, I have appliqued the flowers onto thirty two squares. I have just thirty two squares to go. So, I am making progress slowly. I could have finished them earlier, but every once in awhile I run into snags while sewing. Of course, that is just part of projects, isn't it?
Almost 9:30, so not long until bedtime. I talked to Hugh and Imazo today. Her sister, Lois, in Ohio, is no longer in the nursing home, but is in the home of one of the daughters, and as happy as a lark. I know that makes Imazo, Dorothy and Barbara happy as well, too.
Gramps and I will be going to Knoxville tomorrow for a late lunch/early supper and taking Hugh, Imazo, and Mae to eat with us.
The physical therapist came today and worked with Gramps. She is encouraged that he is using a cane now to walk with. We weighed Gramps today and found that he is only 146 pounds in weight now. I don't think he has weighed that little since he was a young man.
Well, this is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the night. More tomorrow. Love to you all. Bye for now.
Well, it is the end of (or near the end of) the day. Company is gone, and we had a really great time. Also, I called Mark to come over and have some vegetable beef soup and cornbread after the company had left. He came over and while he ate some soup, we had a great time chatting. I sent some soup and cornbread back with him for Allie.
The company, of course, was our new neighbors who are moving in next door. We had a really good time getting to know each other. Scott and Laurie are the parents and their children are Mitchell, Olivia and Gabriel. Laurie does home schooling and the children are delightful and so very well behaved. I just know that we are all going to get along famously.
This morning I made the cake for my practice Petit Fours. I have yet to make the frosting for them. I put the cake into the fridge to cool and will probably try to make the frosting early in the morning. I also need to get the proper size pan for the real petit fours. I once had the proper size pan (9x9), but cant' find it.
If the petit fours turn out well, I'll put the website on my blog and that way, those of you who are interested in making them, can access the recipe I am using.
So far, I have appliqued the flowers onto thirty two squares. I have just thirty two squares to go. So, I am making progress slowly. I could have finished them earlier, but every once in awhile I run into snags while sewing. Of course, that is just part of projects, isn't it?
Almost 9:30, so not long until bedtime. I talked to Hugh and Imazo today. Her sister, Lois, in Ohio, is no longer in the nursing home, but is in the home of one of the daughters, and as happy as a lark. I know that makes Imazo, Dorothy and Barbara happy as well, too.
Gramps and I will be going to Knoxville tomorrow for a late lunch/early supper and taking Hugh, Imazo, and Mae to eat with us.
The physical therapist came today and worked with Gramps. She is encouraged that he is using a cane now to walk with. We weighed Gramps today and found that he is only 146 pounds in weight now. I don't think he has weighed that little since he was a young man.
Well, this is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the night. More tomorrow. Love to you all. Bye for now.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Update on Gramps and other stuff
Hey, Y'all,
It seems it is two steps forward and one step back sometimes, doesn't it? Not to sound pessimistic, because that is not my style, as those of you who know me, would be quick to say.
Last night (or early this morning) I got Gramps up to make the trip to the restroom, and then I went back to bed (to give him a sense of some independence, you know).
A few minutes later, I heard him come back into the bedroom, and I can always hear the rustle of the sheets on his bed when he gets in. Well, there was no rustle of sheets, and I kept waiting and then I raised up in bed and saw he was sitting on the bath chair that was too big for the bathtub and I have it in the bedroom at the end of my bed, where it is handy for sitting while getting dressed.
As I sat up and saw him sitting there, I said, "What is wrong, why are you sitting there?". He said, "I'm lost". I said, "Your bed is right over there". So he got up and got back into his bed. I asked if he needed any help in getting covered up and he said, "no". So after he got into bed, I got up and came over and finished covering him up and we went back to sleep till about 8 a.m.
Later this morning, I related the incident to him and asked did he remember it, and he said, "no", so I said, "well, maybe you were walking in your sleep, then". Of course, I don't believe he was.
At breakfast, I asked if he could tell me what day it is if we have two days left in October after today. He went over the "30 days hath September rhyme" and after determining that there are 31 days this month, he still kept saying that today is the 30th. He just couldn't figure it out.
However, he has begun practicing with using his cane that Teresa gave him a few years ago, and I am hoping he can graduate from the walker to the cane. It would be much easier for him, I think, to get around. It will add to his self-confidence, as well.
Well, our new neighbors have told me that they prefer the soup I made for them to be served tomorrow, so they will be coming to supper at our house tomorrow at 6 p.m. I have made the soup and left it in the crockpot and put it in my fridge until tomorrow, when I will reheat it and make cornbread muffins to eat with it.
I also want to try my hand at making petit fours to serve at the wedding shower for Mark and Allie's daughter, Rachael, on November 8. I guess I will get up in the morning to make the cake and then place it in the fridge to cool. I have never made petit fours before, but it seems like a challenge that I can meet. I'll let you know.
As I was coming back from the mail box this afternoon, I stepped in a hole in the yard and almost sprained my ankle, but it seems okay right now. I immediately put an ice pack on it, so there is no pain right now. We shall see.
Today, I was able to applique 17 flowers on the squares for Matt's quilt. Tomorrow, I hope to do 16 more. I have already pinned them onto the squares, in preparation for stitching them on. I have yet to buy the muslin or broadcloth for the backing of the quilt. The batting has been purchased already, but it hasn't been cut into the strips yet. I am hoping (not promising) to have the quilt finished by Christmas, maybe.
Well, that is about it for today. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. May each of you feel God's love and peace in your heart. Love to you all. Bye for now.
It seems it is two steps forward and one step back sometimes, doesn't it? Not to sound pessimistic, because that is not my style, as those of you who know me, would be quick to say.
Last night (or early this morning) I got Gramps up to make the trip to the restroom, and then I went back to bed (to give him a sense of some independence, you know).
A few minutes later, I heard him come back into the bedroom, and I can always hear the rustle of the sheets on his bed when he gets in. Well, there was no rustle of sheets, and I kept waiting and then I raised up in bed and saw he was sitting on the bath chair that was too big for the bathtub and I have it in the bedroom at the end of my bed, where it is handy for sitting while getting dressed.
As I sat up and saw him sitting there, I said, "What is wrong, why are you sitting there?". He said, "I'm lost". I said, "Your bed is right over there". So he got up and got back into his bed. I asked if he needed any help in getting covered up and he said, "no". So after he got into bed, I got up and came over and finished covering him up and we went back to sleep till about 8 a.m.
Later this morning, I related the incident to him and asked did he remember it, and he said, "no", so I said, "well, maybe you were walking in your sleep, then". Of course, I don't believe he was.
At breakfast, I asked if he could tell me what day it is if we have two days left in October after today. He went over the "30 days hath September rhyme" and after determining that there are 31 days this month, he still kept saying that today is the 30th. He just couldn't figure it out.
However, he has begun practicing with using his cane that Teresa gave him a few years ago, and I am hoping he can graduate from the walker to the cane. It would be much easier for him, I think, to get around. It will add to his self-confidence, as well.
Well, our new neighbors have told me that they prefer the soup I made for them to be served tomorrow, so they will be coming to supper at our house tomorrow at 6 p.m. I have made the soup and left it in the crockpot and put it in my fridge until tomorrow, when I will reheat it and make cornbread muffins to eat with it.
I also want to try my hand at making petit fours to serve at the wedding shower for Mark and Allie's daughter, Rachael, on November 8. I guess I will get up in the morning to make the cake and then place it in the fridge to cool. I have never made petit fours before, but it seems like a challenge that I can meet. I'll let you know.
As I was coming back from the mail box this afternoon, I stepped in a hole in the yard and almost sprained my ankle, but it seems okay right now. I immediately put an ice pack on it, so there is no pain right now. We shall see.
Today, I was able to applique 17 flowers on the squares for Matt's quilt. Tomorrow, I hope to do 16 more. I have already pinned them onto the squares, in preparation for stitching them on. I have yet to buy the muslin or broadcloth for the backing of the quilt. The batting has been purchased already, but it hasn't been cut into the strips yet. I am hoping (not promising) to have the quilt finished by Christmas, maybe.
Well, that is about it for today. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. May each of you feel God's love and peace in your heart. Love to you all. Bye for now.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
New Neighbors Coming
Hey, Y'all,
We will be getting new neighbors tomorrow in the house up to our left (from inside our house it is on the left) and we are looking forward to having neighbors in that house. It has been empty for over a year. Mark and Allie, who bought the house we live in and are renting it to us, also bought the house and property next door. So they will also be the landlords for our neighbors, Scott and Lorie. I have already met them and they have three children (whose names I don't have down yet).
They will be moving in tomorrow, and I know they will be worn out by night time tomorrow, so I am making a pot of my good vegetable beef soup for their supper. It will be a labor of love, because as Christians we are to show love to those around us. I know they will be great neighbors, too. I know that they are Christians and they home school their children. I am looking forward to getting to know them much better.
We were up this morning in time for both of us to get showers by nine a.m. We were expecting to see two therapists today, but have only seen one. The one who came told us that the one who didn't make it is having car trouble. The one who is having car trouble must be having phone trouble too, since she didn't have the courtesy to call us and let us know for sure that she wouldn't be here. OH, well.
I am planning on making soup for supper tonight, too, but it will be potato soup and cornbread to go with it. The temperature outside today has been very cool. I don't know if it made it out of the upper 30's today. Definitely soup weather. Yum!
Gramps is continuing to improve, but he is still not walking around without using his walker. It would be so good to see him using his cane instead. I am trying to urge him to practice with it.
Are any of you out there watching the election propaganda? Aren't you just too, too sick of it? Won't you be glad when it is all over? I certainly am not going to be voting Democrat (whether you agree with me or not is certainly your prerogative) because I believe Obama is a socialist, Marxist, Communist, or maybe even sees himself as a Robin Hood (maybe Hood is very descriptive of his actions) taking from the rich and giving to the poor. He calls it spreading the wealth around; I call it dumb.
Well, off of my soapbox, and on to getting to other things.
Our daughter, Teresa, has promised to come with her husband, Tom, to visit for Thanksgiving...Hooray! We look forward to seeing them again. We can hardly wait!
Gramps and I will be celebrating our thirty-second anniversary in a couple of weeks.
We will be celebrating the same time with my brother, Hugh, and our sister-in-law, Mae, who are both having a birthday a few days after our anniversary. My brother,Hugh, was nine at the time that Mae was eighteen and she married our oldest brother, Bill. Hugh and Mae have exactly the same day of the year for their birthday anniversaries.
Well, I need to go peel potatoes, chop them, and chop onions and celery to make my potato soup. Have a great evening and a good night's sleep. More tomorrow. Love to all of you.This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the day. Bye for now.
We will be getting new neighbors tomorrow in the house up to our left (from inside our house it is on the left) and we are looking forward to having neighbors in that house. It has been empty for over a year. Mark and Allie, who bought the house we live in and are renting it to us, also bought the house and property next door. So they will also be the landlords for our neighbors, Scott and Lorie. I have already met them and they have three children (whose names I don't have down yet).
They will be moving in tomorrow, and I know they will be worn out by night time tomorrow, so I am making a pot of my good vegetable beef soup for their supper. It will be a labor of love, because as Christians we are to show love to those around us. I know they will be great neighbors, too. I know that they are Christians and they home school their children. I am looking forward to getting to know them much better.
We were up this morning in time for both of us to get showers by nine a.m. We were expecting to see two therapists today, but have only seen one. The one who came told us that the one who didn't make it is having car trouble. The one who is having car trouble must be having phone trouble too, since she didn't have the courtesy to call us and let us know for sure that she wouldn't be here. OH, well.
I am planning on making soup for supper tonight, too, but it will be potato soup and cornbread to go with it. The temperature outside today has been very cool. I don't know if it made it out of the upper 30's today. Definitely soup weather. Yum!
Gramps is continuing to improve, but he is still not walking around without using his walker. It would be so good to see him using his cane instead. I am trying to urge him to practice with it.
Are any of you out there watching the election propaganda? Aren't you just too, too sick of it? Won't you be glad when it is all over? I certainly am not going to be voting Democrat (whether you agree with me or not is certainly your prerogative) because I believe Obama is a socialist, Marxist, Communist, or maybe even sees himself as a Robin Hood (maybe Hood is very descriptive of his actions) taking from the rich and giving to the poor. He calls it spreading the wealth around; I call it dumb.
Well, off of my soapbox, and on to getting to other things.
Our daughter, Teresa, has promised to come with her husband, Tom, to visit for Thanksgiving...Hooray! We look forward to seeing them again. We can hardly wait!
Gramps and I will be celebrating our thirty-second anniversary in a couple of weeks.
We will be celebrating the same time with my brother, Hugh, and our sister-in-law, Mae, who are both having a birthday a few days after our anniversary. My brother,Hugh, was nine at the time that Mae was eighteen and she married our oldest brother, Bill. Hugh and Mae have exactly the same day of the year for their birthday anniversaries.
Well, I need to go peel potatoes, chop them, and chop onions and celery to make my potato soup. Have a great evening and a good night's sleep. More tomorrow. Love to all of you.This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the day. Bye for now.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Happy Birthday, Whitney!
Hey, Y'all!
Today is a very special day for a very special lady...our granddaughter by marriage, Whitney. She is just as much a granddaughter, though, as can be. Whitney has been in our family for a long time.
Whitney is the mother of four of our great grandchildren and the wife of our grandson, Daniel. Whitney is so dear to us and we love her so very much. If you would like to know her better, go to her blogsite: http://waiting4number4.blogspot.com/
I have just spent a long time looking on my pictures stored on my computer for a picture of just Whitney, but it is almost impossible to see Whitney when she is not holding a child or children. She is such a great wife to Daniel and mother to their children!
At least go visit and see what is going on in her life, you will be hooked on reading it, I betcha!
Happy Birthday, Whitney! WE LOVE YOU!
Today is also going to be a busy day for us. We have two therapists coming to work with Gramps today. I have already been up and folded a basket of clothes that dried yesterday. Now, I have to see to getting him up and ready for the day.
I just heard on the radio that the temperature is 48 degrees and that we might have snow flurries tonight. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I am so not ready for that!
Ooops, it is nearly 8: 30, so I must close out for now..and get busy. Hope you have a lovely day, friends and family, and all those of you out there in blogland. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. Love you, Bye!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
I've Been an Old Sew and Sew Today
Hey, Y'all,
I knew we wouldn't be going to church today. I awoke at 4 a.m. and after taking a trip to the restroom, I went back to bed and couldn't rest. My brain had already activated, so after an hour of trying to go back to sleep, I gave it up and got up. I went into my work/tv viewing/craft/computer room , which also contains my closet and pulled out my housecoat. I sat down at my sewing machine and began working on my grandson, Matt's, quilt.
I had a few flowers to rip off the squares because my work had changed direction. Then I went into the kitchen and took one of my five morning prescription pills so that I could eat an hour later. I take Nexium for acid reflux and then I can eat an hour later with no heartburn problem. Then I came back in here (where my computer is), and started sewing flowers for the squares.
After an hour, I went back into the kitchen, got out my cereal, bowl, and milk, and started eating breakfast and reading my paperback book. Oh, yes, BTW, I just finished reading an excellent historical fiction called Homeland by John Jakes. It is a 1200 page book and makes for interesting reading about our country in the 1890's and early 1900's. It is about a young man who emigrates from Germany and his family who is already established as American citizens in the city of Chicago. It took me a little over a week to read it, because it was so interesting I just had difficulty putting it down for long.
Several hours this morning after breakfast I spent online chatting with my daughter, Teresa, who lives in Alabama. We can spend hours just chatting about anything and nothing important. It is a most pleasant time for me, and I think for her as well.
Gramps is getting better each day. His head is not hurting him much any longer, and I think his neck is getting better as well. He is improving in his walking around too. We are so thankful to the Lord for all the improvements he is making. We are truly blessed.
I have spent the better part of today sewing and am finally making progress (I feel that I am anyway). I have also spent the better part of today sneezing and blowing my nose, trying to keep it from dripping. The quilt pieces that I am using were some that Margaret (my sister) had cut, and they were dusty from being in her apartment for so long while she was in the hospital and nursing home before she passed away. She fell on July 7 of 2007, breaking her leg, and spent six months in the hosptial and nursing home, alternately. She passed away last December 29th.
I only lack making four more flowers to have enough to place on the quilt squares and then after I stitch them all on the sixty four squares, I will be putting them together into the quilt. I will probably be stitching the flowers onto the squares tomorrow. Then I will place the squares in a pillow case and wash them so I won't be troubled with the dust in them anymore. Sounds like a plan, huh?
Gramps was in bed until a little past one p.m. today. I just let him sleep since he will be getting up tomorrow so that he can be up for the therapists coming tomorrow. I had a nice nap about 2:30 today and it was wonderful. I know it won't be long until I hit the sack tonight, because my eyelids are getting heavy.
Well, that is about it for today. I hope to be an old sew and sew tomorrow, too. ha ha.
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. More tomorrow. Love to you all, dear family and friends. Bye for now.
I knew we wouldn't be going to church today. I awoke at 4 a.m. and after taking a trip to the restroom, I went back to bed and couldn't rest. My brain had already activated, so after an hour of trying to go back to sleep, I gave it up and got up. I went into my work/tv viewing/craft/computer room , which also contains my closet and pulled out my housecoat. I sat down at my sewing machine and began working on my grandson, Matt's, quilt.
I had a few flowers to rip off the squares because my work had changed direction. Then I went into the kitchen and took one of my five morning prescription pills so that I could eat an hour later. I take Nexium for acid reflux and then I can eat an hour later with no heartburn problem. Then I came back in here (where my computer is), and started sewing flowers for the squares.
After an hour, I went back into the kitchen, got out my cereal, bowl, and milk, and started eating breakfast and reading my paperback book. Oh, yes, BTW, I just finished reading an excellent historical fiction called Homeland by John Jakes. It is a 1200 page book and makes for interesting reading about our country in the 1890's and early 1900's. It is about a young man who emigrates from Germany and his family who is already established as American citizens in the city of Chicago. It took me a little over a week to read it, because it was so interesting I just had difficulty putting it down for long.
Several hours this morning after breakfast I spent online chatting with my daughter, Teresa, who lives in Alabama. We can spend hours just chatting about anything and nothing important. It is a most pleasant time for me, and I think for her as well.
Gramps is getting better each day. His head is not hurting him much any longer, and I think his neck is getting better as well. He is improving in his walking around too. We are so thankful to the Lord for all the improvements he is making. We are truly blessed.
I have spent the better part of today sewing and am finally making progress (I feel that I am anyway). I have also spent the better part of today sneezing and blowing my nose, trying to keep it from dripping. The quilt pieces that I am using were some that Margaret (my sister) had cut, and they were dusty from being in her apartment for so long while she was in the hospital and nursing home before she passed away. She fell on July 7 of 2007, breaking her leg, and spent six months in the hosptial and nursing home, alternately. She passed away last December 29th.
I only lack making four more flowers to have enough to place on the quilt squares and then after I stitch them all on the sixty four squares, I will be putting them together into the quilt. I will probably be stitching the flowers onto the squares tomorrow. Then I will place the squares in a pillow case and wash them so I won't be troubled with the dust in them anymore. Sounds like a plan, huh?
Gramps was in bed until a little past one p.m. today. I just let him sleep since he will be getting up tomorrow so that he can be up for the therapists coming tomorrow. I had a nice nap about 2:30 today and it was wonderful. I know it won't be long until I hit the sack tonight, because my eyelids are getting heavy.
Well, that is about it for today. I hope to be an old sew and sew tomorrow, too. ha ha.
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. More tomorrow. Love to you all, dear family and friends. Bye for now.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Yes, Today Is Saturday, After All
Hey, Y'all,
Today has been a lovely day...and was Saturday, after all. We were up this morning by 8 a.m. and had our morning showers and decided to eat breakfast out.
We stopped at Hardee's on Asheville Highway on our way to Hugh's and Imazo's home. What a crowd of people there were! On Saturdays people gather next to Hardee's in an empty lot and set up a flea market, which today spread on down to the next lot where an empty business building is located. Of course, a lot of people were having breakfast inside, so we just did the drive-thru thing and got our sausage, egg biscuits and coffee, then went to a parking spot nearby and ate. Yum, it was good.
We then proceeded to Hugh's, where I left Gramps at Hugh's and took Hugh and Imazo to the beauty shop appointment that they had. Once we arrived at the beauty shop, I pulled out my paperback book and proceeded to read for a while, then put it away and chatted with Hugh for awhile about stuff. When the beautician had finished with Imazo, the new hairdo she had looked beautiful and Imazo was happy to have it done. Nothing makes a woman feel better than getting the hair done, right?
After they finished getting the hair done, we left there and stopped by Mae's house and picked her up, then stopped at Hugh's and got Gramps, then the five of us went on to the restaurant known as Louis' and had a great meal (this was about 3 p.m.).
Then we went back to Hugh's and chatted awhile, after which we called John and Darlene and had a really great time talking with John. He was telling me about his memorial service that they are planning for when he passes on. It sounds like it will be a beautiful service. John sounded quite strong, better than he sounded the last time we talked.
Gramps and I took Mae home and left to come back home here in New Market. We arrived back home about 6:30 or so, and it was good to get back into our evening clothes (bed clothes). We are having a bit of ice cream (vanilla, no sugar added) while we are watching tv. He is watching Univ. of TN football team lose, I think. I bought some black walnut pieces today and have added some to my ice cream. Yum!
I may make some cookies some time this week. It has been ages since I have made any cookies. I hope to do a little more sewing on the quilt tomorrow afternoon. (maybe)
Not a lot more to say today. Maybe I will have more to say tomorrow. I do intend to have a good night's sleep tonight. I guess it depends upon what kind of night's sleep Gramps gets. Hopefully the nuts I am eating won't bother me during the night, you know, like making my stomach ache. Well, I guess we will see, huh?
This has been a really nice day, weather in the low 60's, sunshine, a few clouds, and pleasant company to spend time with. It is important to spend time with those people you love, and that is what we have done today.
I didn't have a chance to do my weekend online chat with Teresa, but I am hoping to catch her online tomorrow sometime. I did enjoy talking with Carol today and yesterday. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Hope you have a great night and get an opportunity to go to church tomorrow. God bless you.
Today has been a lovely day...and was Saturday, after all. We were up this morning by 8 a.m. and had our morning showers and decided to eat breakfast out.
We stopped at Hardee's on Asheville Highway on our way to Hugh's and Imazo's home. What a crowd of people there were! On Saturdays people gather next to Hardee's in an empty lot and set up a flea market, which today spread on down to the next lot where an empty business building is located. Of course, a lot of people were having breakfast inside, so we just did the drive-thru thing and got our sausage, egg biscuits and coffee, then went to a parking spot nearby and ate. Yum, it was good.
We then proceeded to Hugh's, where I left Gramps at Hugh's and took Hugh and Imazo to the beauty shop appointment that they had. Once we arrived at the beauty shop, I pulled out my paperback book and proceeded to read for a while, then put it away and chatted with Hugh for awhile about stuff. When the beautician had finished with Imazo, the new hairdo she had looked beautiful and Imazo was happy to have it done. Nothing makes a woman feel better than getting the hair done, right?
After they finished getting the hair done, we left there and stopped by Mae's house and picked her up, then stopped at Hugh's and got Gramps, then the five of us went on to the restaurant known as Louis' and had a great meal (this was about 3 p.m.).
Then we went back to Hugh's and chatted awhile, after which we called John and Darlene and had a really great time talking with John. He was telling me about his memorial service that they are planning for when he passes on. It sounds like it will be a beautiful service. John sounded quite strong, better than he sounded the last time we talked.
Gramps and I took Mae home and left to come back home here in New Market. We arrived back home about 6:30 or so, and it was good to get back into our evening clothes (bed clothes). We are having a bit of ice cream (vanilla, no sugar added) while we are watching tv. He is watching Univ. of TN football team lose, I think. I bought some black walnut pieces today and have added some to my ice cream. Yum!
I may make some cookies some time this week. It has been ages since I have made any cookies. I hope to do a little more sewing on the quilt tomorrow afternoon. (maybe)
Not a lot more to say today. Maybe I will have more to say tomorrow. I do intend to have a good night's sleep tonight. I guess it depends upon what kind of night's sleep Gramps gets. Hopefully the nuts I am eating won't bother me during the night, you know, like making my stomach ache. Well, I guess we will see, huh?
This has been a really nice day, weather in the low 60's, sunshine, a few clouds, and pleasant company to spend time with. It is important to spend time with those people you love, and that is what we have done today.
I didn't have a chance to do my weekend online chat with Teresa, but I am hoping to catch her online tomorrow sometime. I did enjoy talking with Carol today and yesterday. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Hope you have a great night and get an opportunity to go to church tomorrow. God bless you.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Is It Saturday Yet?
Hey, Y'all,
It seems to me like today should be Saturday already! Since we had no therapists coming to see Gramps today, it has been another slow day. I let him sleep late today, so it has seemed like this afternoon would never come.
Last night, I worked on designing an invitation to a bridal shower, using my Print Shop program and addressed the envelopes in which to mail them out. My friends, Judy and Karen, and I are giving the shower for Allie's daughter, Rachael in a couple of weeks from now.
Judy came over this morning and we printed and folded the invitations and stuffed the envelopes and Judy took them with her to mail out. In the meantime, there was Gramps sleeping away in his bed. Judy and I chatted, laughed, and carried on and he never stirred.
He finally arose at about two p.m. when I promised him sausage, eggs, toast and coffee to eat. We had that meal and had a cursory look at the Friday newspaper. No indepth reading there for either of us.
I did a little bit of work today on the quilt for grandson, Matt, and will do some more in a while.
I took a little nap while ago and can't seem to quit yawning. My brother, Hugh, and I chatted for awhile and he tells me that the swelling in his legs is diminishing somewhat, but still has a ways to go. We will be going into Knoxville tomorrow and take them to get their hair done at the beauty/barber shop. Then we will be going out to...guess what? Yes, you got it. To eat, of course, is where we will go.
Gramps and I got our flu shot yesterday and if the drug store where Hugh and Imazo get their prescriptions filled is giving shots tomorrow, we will take them to get theirs. Well, not much left to say today. Thank goodness that tomorrow is Saturday for real. Today has seemed all day long like a Saturday.
Got to get off here and do some more sewing. I am getting excited about how good the quilt is going to look when I get it finished. It is truly a labor of love. More tomorrow afternoon (or evening) when we get home from Knoxville. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Love to you all. Bye!
It seems to me like today should be Saturday already! Since we had no therapists coming to see Gramps today, it has been another slow day. I let him sleep late today, so it has seemed like this afternoon would never come.
Last night, I worked on designing an invitation to a bridal shower, using my Print Shop program and addressed the envelopes in which to mail them out. My friends, Judy and Karen, and I are giving the shower for Allie's daughter, Rachael in a couple of weeks from now.
Judy came over this morning and we printed and folded the invitations and stuffed the envelopes and Judy took them with her to mail out. In the meantime, there was Gramps sleeping away in his bed. Judy and I chatted, laughed, and carried on and he never stirred.
He finally arose at about two p.m. when I promised him sausage, eggs, toast and coffee to eat. We had that meal and had a cursory look at the Friday newspaper. No indepth reading there for either of us.
I did a little bit of work today on the quilt for grandson, Matt, and will do some more in a while.
I took a little nap while ago and can't seem to quit yawning. My brother, Hugh, and I chatted for awhile and he tells me that the swelling in his legs is diminishing somewhat, but still has a ways to go. We will be going into Knoxville tomorrow and take them to get their hair done at the beauty/barber shop. Then we will be going out to...guess what? Yes, you got it. To eat, of course, is where we will go.
Gramps and I got our flu shot yesterday and if the drug store where Hugh and Imazo get their prescriptions filled is giving shots tomorrow, we will take them to get theirs. Well, not much left to say today. Thank goodness that tomorrow is Saturday for real. Today has seemed all day long like a Saturday.
Got to get off here and do some more sewing. I am getting excited about how good the quilt is going to look when I get it finished. It is truly a labor of love. More tomorrow afternoon (or evening) when we get home from Knoxville. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Love to you all. Bye!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Will's Family
Hey, Y'all,
I just received a picture of one of our grandson's and his family a few days ago, and I just had to share it with you, my family and friends! Will is the son of our younger daughter and he is in the U. S. Air Force. We are so very proud of him and have always been. His wife is named Natasha and their baby girl is named Alyssa Peige.
He is stationed in Biloxi right now, but will be going one of these days to another state after finishing his training. We love him so very much, and we haven't seen him in a while. I guess it will be a longer time till we see him again. He and his family are very much in our prayers and will continue to be so.
Gramps is having a therapy session right now with his physical therapist, so I am giving them some peace and quiet. After while, he and I will be going into Jefferson City and getting our flu shots and then will probably go eat at Hardee's or maybe at Shoney's and get some good veggies.
It is pretty cool outside, but it is supposed to be raining tomorrow, so today is really better for getting out to get the shots. Be kind of dumb to go out into the rain to get flu shots and then come down with a bad cold or the flu, wouldn't it?
I did get my floor vacuumed this morning but it took me a good 35 or 40 minutes to do it. I had to stop about every 5 minutes to rest my back. Bummer!
Well, the therapist has gone now and it is time to close this down for today. More later. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. Love to you all.
Bye.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Best of Intentions
Hey, Y'all,
As you may remember from yesterday's posting, I intended to mop my kitchen floor last night...well, I started mopping it about 7:00 p.m., after carrying the kitchen chairs into the living room (to clear the space for easier cleaning). It takes a little longer to clear out the kitchen but it really speeds up the mopping action.
I recently purchased a "Wet Swiffer" for mopping, thinking it would be easier to use than the squeegee type that has to be dipped into the bucket of mop water to rinse every little bit. No more mop bucket, no more sqeezing out the water. SO, I always put my mop outside, since there is no place inside to store it.
The wet swiffer is quite ingeneously made. It has a dispensable pad that is thrown away after use. There is also a place to attach a bottle of liquid which is dispensed a squirt at a time by pressing on a switch (battery operated) on the upper handle. I had put the mop outside after the first use, but had not removed the bottle of cleaning liquid.
Lo, and behold, the liquid had almost all drained out of the bottle, and so when I began using it, it didn't take long for me to realize it did not contain enough to finish my floor. I used all of the liquid and of course, stopped my cleaning. By that time it was too dark to go for more since I don't drive at night very much.
This morning, I got up and drove into Jefferson City at 7:30 and got the refill bottle and brought it back and finished my kitchen cleaning. Then I removed it and placed it on the kitchen counter until later. I got Gramps up and we got his shower taken and had breakfast. I then had time to mop the bathroom and no sooner had that done, and the kitchen dishes done, when his Occupational Therapist, Sarah, came and worked on therapy with his neck, while I took my shower.
As soon as she left, it was time for his Speech therapist, Carol, to be here. She spent an hour with us, and while she was here, I did the kitchen clorox thing. (Cleaning the kitchen counters with clorox disposable wipes).
When Carol left, we had lunch (leftover homemade vegetable beef soup) and Gramps was free to go into the living room and watch television, while I came back into my workroom and catch up on my e-mail and blog reading. Then I had to take my computer nap (yeah, I admit it, I sat here and went to sleep).
I did get some sewing in from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the quilt I am making for grandson, Matt. Time then to make supper. We both absolutely love chicken livers, so I fixed some of them (fried) and made country gravy and biscuits to go with them. Yeah, I know that is not what one would consider a balanced meal, but once in awhile it doesn't hurt to eat an unbalanced meal, especially if that is what you crave. Back to salad and sandwich or something like that tomorrow.
Well, it is time for prime time television, so I guess I will sign off for now, and catch you tomorrow. I don't have any updates on either of my brothers, but when I hear something I will let you know. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. Peace to all of you, my friends. Bye for now.
As you may remember from yesterday's posting, I intended to mop my kitchen floor last night...well, I started mopping it about 7:00 p.m., after carrying the kitchen chairs into the living room (to clear the space for easier cleaning). It takes a little longer to clear out the kitchen but it really speeds up the mopping action.
I recently purchased a "Wet Swiffer" for mopping, thinking it would be easier to use than the squeegee type that has to be dipped into the bucket of mop water to rinse every little bit. No more mop bucket, no more sqeezing out the water. SO, I always put my mop outside, since there is no place inside to store it.
The wet swiffer is quite ingeneously made. It has a dispensable pad that is thrown away after use. There is also a place to attach a bottle of liquid which is dispensed a squirt at a time by pressing on a switch (battery operated) on the upper handle. I had put the mop outside after the first use, but had not removed the bottle of cleaning liquid.
Lo, and behold, the liquid had almost all drained out of the bottle, and so when I began using it, it didn't take long for me to realize it did not contain enough to finish my floor. I used all of the liquid and of course, stopped my cleaning. By that time it was too dark to go for more since I don't drive at night very much.
This morning, I got up and drove into Jefferson City at 7:30 and got the refill bottle and brought it back and finished my kitchen cleaning. Then I removed it and placed it on the kitchen counter until later. I got Gramps up and we got his shower taken and had breakfast. I then had time to mop the bathroom and no sooner had that done, and the kitchen dishes done, when his Occupational Therapist, Sarah, came and worked on therapy with his neck, while I took my shower.
As soon as she left, it was time for his Speech therapist, Carol, to be here. She spent an hour with us, and while she was here, I did the kitchen clorox thing. (Cleaning the kitchen counters with clorox disposable wipes).
When Carol left, we had lunch (leftover homemade vegetable beef soup) and Gramps was free to go into the living room and watch television, while I came back into my workroom and catch up on my e-mail and blog reading. Then I had to take my computer nap (yeah, I admit it, I sat here and went to sleep).
I did get some sewing in from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the quilt I am making for grandson, Matt. Time then to make supper. We both absolutely love chicken livers, so I fixed some of them (fried) and made country gravy and biscuits to go with them. Yeah, I know that is not what one would consider a balanced meal, but once in awhile it doesn't hurt to eat an unbalanced meal, especially if that is what you crave. Back to salad and sandwich or something like that tomorrow.
Well, it is time for prime time television, so I guess I will sign off for now, and catch you tomorrow. I don't have any updates on either of my brothers, but when I hear something I will let you know. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. Peace to all of you, my friends. Bye for now.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
A Slow Day
Hey, Y'all,
Yeah, it has been kind of a slow day today, not that I haven't been busy, but it has been a pleasant slow day. I was able to get Gramps up around 8:30 a.m this morning and get the day started right. It always seems longer when I can't get him out of bed before 9 o'clock.
I was able to get a couple of loads of laundry done, and folded today and I also was able to move our chest of drawers about 10 or 11 inches closer to our closet so that it would give him more room to maneuver his walker when he has to leave the bedroom. How did I do that...a little woman with a bad back and only 5'2" tall? Well, it was like this: I emptied all the drawers of the dresser out and moved the dresser an inch at a time with great effort. Pull out on the right hand side, push to the left, push back in, pull out on the left hand side, etc. Inches at a time, rest, push, rest, push.
When I got it where I wanted it, then I refolded everything I had removed from the drawers and they were much neater as a result. YES!
Gramps' physical therapist from home health care came while we were having lunch and we chatted. Then she helped him with his exercise. She took him outside and they walked around, and he walked without his walker during part ot the time. I am hoping to eventually wean him of the walker and to just use his cane. She is very much in favor of that.
After she left, I was able to carry off the trash to the local dumpsters (no trash pickup out here in the country) and then on to the grocery store to pick up a few things while Gramps rested and watched television. One of the things I bought was a chocolate meringue pie. Yum! Saw it and couldn't resist it.
I am hoping to clean the kitchen and bathroom floor sometime tonight. Probably after Gramps goes to bed. (It will probably be near 11:30 when I get finished with it)
Did you know that wonderful naps can be taken while one sits at a computer? I get some of my best naps that way. I find that I can just close my eyes when they won't stay open any more. Got a wonderful nap about 4:30 p.m. today.
Well, that is about all for today. Like I said, not much going on today and I love days like this. The weather outside is beautiful. I did get out this morning about 11 a.m. and watered the flowers in the yard and on my porch. I have to drag the hose down from the back yard where the faucet is, and then roll it back up after the watering is done. Consequently, I only water every other day.
The weather is so nice right now that during the night I turn the heat on to keep us warm during the night, and then turn it off about 9 a.m. for the day. We have such good windows and insulation that the house stays warm during the day. We are truly blessed!
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the day (and evening). We will be eating supper in a few minutes. A small salad and some homemade vegetable beef soup left over from supper last night. (I have already had a slice of the chocolate pie...just couldn't wait...no self control) Bye for now. Love to you all.
Yeah, it has been kind of a slow day today, not that I haven't been busy, but it has been a pleasant slow day. I was able to get Gramps up around 8:30 a.m this morning and get the day started right. It always seems longer when I can't get him out of bed before 9 o'clock.
I was able to get a couple of loads of laundry done, and folded today and I also was able to move our chest of drawers about 10 or 11 inches closer to our closet so that it would give him more room to maneuver his walker when he has to leave the bedroom. How did I do that...a little woman with a bad back and only 5'2" tall? Well, it was like this: I emptied all the drawers of the dresser out and moved the dresser an inch at a time with great effort. Pull out on the right hand side, push to the left, push back in, pull out on the left hand side, etc. Inches at a time, rest, push, rest, push.
When I got it where I wanted it, then I refolded everything I had removed from the drawers and they were much neater as a result. YES!
Gramps' physical therapist from home health care came while we were having lunch and we chatted. Then she helped him with his exercise. She took him outside and they walked around, and he walked without his walker during part ot the time. I am hoping to eventually wean him of the walker and to just use his cane. She is very much in favor of that.
After she left, I was able to carry off the trash to the local dumpsters (no trash pickup out here in the country) and then on to the grocery store to pick up a few things while Gramps rested and watched television. One of the things I bought was a chocolate meringue pie. Yum! Saw it and couldn't resist it.
I am hoping to clean the kitchen and bathroom floor sometime tonight. Probably after Gramps goes to bed. (It will probably be near 11:30 when I get finished with it)
Did you know that wonderful naps can be taken while one sits at a computer? I get some of my best naps that way. I find that I can just close my eyes when they won't stay open any more. Got a wonderful nap about 4:30 p.m. today.
Well, that is about all for today. Like I said, not much going on today and I love days like this. The weather outside is beautiful. I did get out this morning about 11 a.m. and watered the flowers in the yard and on my porch. I have to drag the hose down from the back yard where the faucet is, and then roll it back up after the watering is done. Consequently, I only water every other day.
The weather is so nice right now that during the night I turn the heat on to keep us warm during the night, and then turn it off about 9 a.m. for the day. We have such good windows and insulation that the house stays warm during the day. We are truly blessed!
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the day (and evening). We will be eating supper in a few minutes. A small salad and some homemade vegetable beef soup left over from supper last night. (I have already had a slice of the chocolate pie...just couldn't wait...no self control) Bye for now. Love to you all.
Monday, October 20, 2008
On A Bridge
Hey, Y'all,
Ever been on a bridge and you really didn't want to be there? I have and I tell you true, that it is an experience not to be repeated.
I was going through all my pictures the other day (as you know if you have read my blog over the last few days) and I ran across this picture which was taken over thirty two years ago. I didn't want to take the trouble of scanning it in to my computer, so I just propped it up on my computer table and took a picture of the picture and downloaded it.
This picture was taken early one morning while Gramps and I were taking a two week Environmental Health course through University of Tennessee and it was conducted at Fall Creek Falls in middle Tennessee by Dr. Paul Wishert. We had a marvelous fun time during those two weeks. We did some "tree-hugging" and learned about all kinds of consevational measures.
One thing we had to do was to cross the swinging bridge in this picture. I have a dreadful fear of heights and walking over that bridge was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my whole life. Gramps was aware of that fear and he did a beautiful thing for me. I went first over the bridge and if you know anything about crossing a swinging bridge, you know that as you walk it bounces. I wanted to go first so that I would have it over with. I stepped onto the bridge and took a few steps. It was bouncing like wild and I turned my head to look back and complain about the people behind me who were (I thought) making it bounce.
To my great surprise, I was alone on the bridge, and Gramps was keeping everyone else back on the ground at the entrance to the bridge. I wound up crawling on my hands and knees crossing that bridge.
This experience makes me think about how many times we find ourselves on bridges to nowhere, crossing to get to the other side, with no other objective in mind. When I was crossing that swinging bridge, I just wanted to get to the other side, without dropping into the foaming water below me. Do I ever want to cross a swinging bridge again? I reckon not!
Sometimes we are in situations where we just want to survive, with no end goal in mind except to get to the other side safely. This is when our friends reach out to help us and we return the favor by helping them when they have bridges to cross. Thank you, Lord, for friends in precarious places! Help us, too, Lord, to reach out to others!
Well, that is about all today from Blabbin' Grammy. Love to all of you. Bye for now.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
A Journey In Time
Hey, Y'all, 
Today at lunch, I took a journey in time, back sixty years to the year I was 15. "How did you do that?", you ask. As well you may. I simply peeled an apple, cored it, and
got out the peanut butter and a tablespoon.
Then I ate the apple with peanut butter smeared on each piece and was transported into a different time. I no longer was a great grandmother, or even a mother, or a wife. I was simply that girl of fifteen summers who had plucked a Limbertwig apple from the apple tree across the road.
I had my book to read, an apple with peanut butter to eat as I read, and I was happy and content. I could actually eat and read in close proximity to the same place I had enjoyed the same pleasures sixty years ago. My husband (who was sleeping in our bedroom in present time) knew nothing of my journey back. I was alone in my reverie.
You see, we now live only a few hundred yards from where my family home was sixty one years ago, when we moved to New Market out in the country. I can sit on my front porch and see where the apple tree once stood and bore the delicious juicy apples.
Simple pleasures never change. We may grow up and move away. We may come back a changed person on the outside. We come back with memories, though, of the past. We return to places we have been before and they may not be the same. We may only return in memory. Thomas Wolfe authored a book entitled, "You Can't Go Home Again" but I beg to differ with him. I can still come back home and enjoy those simple pleasures.
One of the things I enjoy the most and have done through the years, is to read and be carried away to a place where pain from backaches, pain from sorrows, pain from missing children, brothers, sister, parents, grandchildren can not touch me. I am in a different place. I am content and happy.
Well, that is about it today. The picture above is from about sixty years ago, as I was standing on the steps of the old house that was just few hundred yards from where I sit now, at my computer. The house is no longer there, but the ground it stood on is. May your day be joyous, and if you haven't had an apple with peanut butter or read a good book lately, try both and do them at the same time. It is wonderfully pleasant.
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off. Bye for now.
Friday, October 17, 2008
A Pleasant Day
Hey, Y'all,
We had a very pleasant day today. We got out for a while and went to Knoxville to take Hugh, Imazo, and Mae out to eat at one of our favorite places....You guessed it! Yes, the Cracker Barrel. Gramps and I had breakfast which we had not had out in some time. Three or four weeks without gravy and biscuits was remedied this afternoon. I also ordered the coca-cola cake and shared it with the others.
No therapy of any kind today, so we were at our leisure for doing whatever. I did run into Jefferson City this morning, to get the car gassed up ($2.84 per gal.), and carried off the trash, and got the package of pictures that I mailed to Darlene and John weighed and paid for. I took the picture package in to Knoxville so that the five of us could look at them and reminisce about them.
While I was in Jefferson City, I observed an emergency vehicle coming along 11E and saw a pickup truck cross in front of it (going with the light to cross) and thought how foolhardy the driver of the truck was. He had only the green light on his mind and in his focus. He was fortunate that the emergency vehicle didn't get to the light in time to cream him! He missed it (or rather, it missed him) only by tenths of a second.
I was awake last night until 12:30 looking through my collection of photographs searching for pictures to send to John and Darlene that they can use for John's memorial service when it is held. Thank God that John is still with us, but we realize that his time is quite likely no doubt near. We hope that he will enjoy looking at them with Darlene and their children and telling them about each picture.
John and I were best friends when we were growing up and in years since. He was kind of a surrogate father to my children when he was at home and my husband was gone. There is a little less than 3 years difference in our ages, I being the older of the two. He and I walked each day to and from the bus stop and back home after school, for three and a half years after we moved to New Market. In the years before that, when he began first grade, we walked to school together for three years. Then I went to Junior High School and he continued another two and a half years to Belle Morris Elementary and walked with our niece Norma Jean.
I am posting a couple pictures of us at the top of this posting. One picture is of John, our niece, Norma (who is Mae's and Bill's daughter) and of me. The other picture is of my brothers and sister, our Mom and Dad, and my daughter, Carol (the baby). John is in front kneeling near me.
Well, it is time for me to wrap it up for the evening. More tomorrow. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off. Bye for now. Love to you all.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Follow Up Report
Hey, Y'all,
This morning my brother, Hugh, went to see his nephologist (kidney doctor) and spent a good part of the morning talking to him. The doctor told him that he could put him on a drastic amount of lasix, but that would not be good for him, in fact could finish him off. He did tell Hugh that he should restrict his liquid intake to about 22 ounces of liquid a day, and put him on a no salt added diet. He cautioned him about eating sandwich meat (very high in sodium) also canned vegetables and canned soups (which are also high in sodium content).
My brother, John, out in Phoenix is no better, but about the same as before. They are preparing for his memorial service and I am collecting family pictures for them to use in making a picture board. I found twenty-two pictures on my computer and copied them to a folder, then saved them to a cd, and took the cd to Walgreens and had them printed out. I will be mailing them sometime tomorrow to Darlene. I am going to spend some time this evening looking for others that I may have, so I can send them out as well. Of course, I wish for them to keep the pictures that I send as keepsakes.
Gramps and I have plans to go into Knoxville tomorrow afternoon and have a late lunch with Hugh, Imazo and Mae. Probably we will go to the Cracker Barrel or to Applebee's.
We went to have Gramps toenails trimmed at the podiatrist's today and that went well. We got back in time for the speech therapist to help Gramps with his memory activities. We played a game called Memory which is like Concentration, where one matches cards that are turned facedown, and must remember where cards were in order to match them in pairs.
Then after Carol left, we had a sandwich and an hour or so later, I went to check on Gramps and found him snoozing in bed. I spent some time ( a couple of hours) finding pictures on my computer with John in them, saved them to a file folder and then copied them to a cd. I left about 4: 15 to go to the Walgreens' and pick up prescriptions and to have the pictures printed.
I stopped at Hardee's and brought home a couple of the small thickburgers and an order of fries for our supper. Then talked to Hugh and got his results of his visit with his doctor and here I am.
I have some looking to do for pictures and need to leave this off for the evening. I hope each of you has a wonderful evening and a great night's rest. Love to you all.
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the night. Bye for now.
This morning my brother, Hugh, went to see his nephologist (kidney doctor) and spent a good part of the morning talking to him. The doctor told him that he could put him on a drastic amount of lasix, but that would not be good for him, in fact could finish him off. He did tell Hugh that he should restrict his liquid intake to about 22 ounces of liquid a day, and put him on a no salt added diet. He cautioned him about eating sandwich meat (very high in sodium) also canned vegetables and canned soups (which are also high in sodium content).
My brother, John, out in Phoenix is no better, but about the same as before. They are preparing for his memorial service and I am collecting family pictures for them to use in making a picture board. I found twenty-two pictures on my computer and copied them to a folder, then saved them to a cd, and took the cd to Walgreens and had them printed out. I will be mailing them sometime tomorrow to Darlene. I am going to spend some time this evening looking for others that I may have, so I can send them out as well. Of course, I wish for them to keep the pictures that I send as keepsakes.
Gramps and I have plans to go into Knoxville tomorrow afternoon and have a late lunch with Hugh, Imazo and Mae. Probably we will go to the Cracker Barrel or to Applebee's.
We went to have Gramps toenails trimmed at the podiatrist's today and that went well. We got back in time for the speech therapist to help Gramps with his memory activities. We played a game called Memory which is like Concentration, where one matches cards that are turned facedown, and must remember where cards were in order to match them in pairs.
Then after Carol left, we had a sandwich and an hour or so later, I went to check on Gramps and found him snoozing in bed. I spent some time ( a couple of hours) finding pictures on my computer with John in them, saved them to a file folder and then copied them to a cd. I left about 4: 15 to go to the Walgreens' and pick up prescriptions and to have the pictures printed.
I stopped at Hardee's and brought home a couple of the small thickburgers and an order of fries for our supper. Then talked to Hugh and got his results of his visit with his doctor and here I am.
I have some looking to do for pictures and need to leave this off for the evening. I hope each of you has a wonderful evening and a great night's rest. Love to you all.
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the night. Bye for now.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
October Birthdays This Week
Hi, Y'all,
More October birthdays! Happy Birthday to our nephews, David and Jeff. Today is David's birthday, and tomorrow is Jeff's.
Their dad is my brother, Hugh, who has been having a problem with his legs swelling, due to kidney problems. I spent a couple of days haranguing him to call his urologist. His son, David and David's wife, Andrea, follow my blog and called Hugh last night. So, when I called Hugh today, he told me that he called his doctor and told the nurse that he had a bunch of women nagging him to call. So they took pity on him and scheduled a visit tomorrow shortly before Hugh is to see his family doctor.
Hugh was also telling me about someone calling his house to speak to our sister, Margaret, who passed away last December. Hugh told her that she would have to call heaven in order to speak to Margaret. The lady said, "Oh, I'm sorry!" and immediately hung up before stating what she wanted. Hugh said it was probably someone trying to sell insurance or something.
My daughters, Carol and Teresa, grew up with David and Jeff and they were very close and did a lot of playing together. Since I don't have any really good pictures of David and Jeff as they are today, I chose to use school pictures that were made about forty years ago. (I hope they don't mind! I think they were adorable pictures, don't you?)
I guess that Dorothy and Barbara (Imazo's sisters) got back from Ohio visiting their sister, Lois, today but I haven't heard anything from them. When I do hear, I will let you all know.
In the meantime, Happy Birthday to Jeff and David! We love you all. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the second time today! Bye for now.
Come, Little Leaves
Hey, Y'all,
My mom used to recite little poems to us or sing songs to us that she had learned as a girl or in later years growing up. She only went to school through the fifth grade and then quit school to work in a knitting mill. However, while she was in school (1907-1912), they did a lot of memorizing of declamations, poems and other things.
One of the poems that I remember hearing her say is called "Come, Little Leaves" by George Cooper, who lived from 1838 - 1927. He wrote about everyday subjects, and several of his poems are in a collection that I own. I think he must have been a favorite poet in those days of the early 1900's. Of course, when Autumn comes around every year, I always remember that particular poem. So, for those of you who may have heard it and recall it, and for those of you who have never heard it, here goes.
My mom used to recite little poems to us or sing songs to us that she had learned as a girl or in later years growing up. She only went to school through the fifth grade and then quit school to work in a knitting mill. However, while she was in school (1907-1912), they did a lot of memorizing of declamations, poems and other things.
One of the poems that I remember hearing her say is called "Come, Little Leaves" by George Cooper, who lived from 1838 - 1927. He wrote about everyday subjects, and several of his poems are in a collection that I own. I think he must have been a favorite poet in those days of the early 1900's. Of course, when Autumn comes around every year, I always remember that particular poem. So, for those of you who may have heard it and recall it, and for those of you who have never heard it, here goes.
Come, Little Leaves
"Come, little leaves," said the wind one day.
"Come over the meadow with me and play;
Put on your dresses of red and gold,
For summer is gone and the days grow cold."
Soon as the leaves heard the wind's loud call,
Down they came fluttering, one and all;
Over the brown fields they danced and flew,
Singing the sweet little song they knew.
"Cricket, good-by, we've been friends so long,
Little brook, sing us your farewell song:
Say you are sorry to see us go;
Ah, you will miss us, right well we know.
Dear little lambs in your fleecy fold,
Mother will keep you from harm and cold;
Fondly we watched you in vale and glade,
Say, will you dream of our loving shade?"
Dancing and whirling, the little leaves went,
Winter had called them, and they were content;
Soon, fast asleep in their earthy beds,
The snow laid a coverlid over their heads.
While I was doing research on the internet this morning trying to find out more about George Cooper, I found another poem he had written, and thought I would print it here for you.. It is about mothers. It is called "Only One."
Only One
Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky;
Hundreds of shells on the shore together;
Hundreds of birds that go singing by;
Hundreds of bees in the sunny weather.
Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn;
Hundreds of lambs in the purple clover;
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn;
But only one mother the wide world over.
That says it all, doesn't it? I certainly think so, don't you?
Well, that is all today from Blabbin' Grammy. I wish each of you well and hope you have a glorious blessed day. The weather here is going to be in the mid-80's today, but maybe rain tomorrow and a cooling off. I am going to miss this warm weather.
Love to you all. Bye for now.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Heebie Jeebies
Hey, Y'all,
Didja ever have the Heebie Jeebies? Don't know what that is? Well, it is when you just can't settle down to sleep and nothing seems to help. You know something is wrong, but can't determine what it is. You feel all jumpy and jittery inside.
Yesterday, we had a good sized lunch around 1:00 in the afternoon, so that we weren't really hungry when we went to bed. Well, about 1:00 in the morning, I woke up and was tossing and turning, just couldn't get back to sleep no matter which way I turned. I felt jittery. I pulled off my socks (I always wear socks to bed so I don't get cold from the sheets), flipped over a couple of times, turned my pillow over so that there was a cool side to it. The window was already open. I finally decided that I was hungry but didn't want to eat a lot.
I went into the kitchen and made a cup of hot chocolate using one of the instant packages. I sat down to drink it, read a few pages in the huge paper back that I am reading (John Jakes' "The Homeland") and then went back to bed. In no time at all, I was sound asleep.
This morning, I got up at 7 a.m., and took my acid reflux medication, then worked for an hour on piecing the appliques for the quilt I am working on. Then I went into the bedroom and called Gramps to get up. He ignored me, of course. I went on into the kitchen and put on the coffee, ate my cereal and read some pages of my book. Then I went into the bedroom and got serious with Gramps. I got him up, and we got his shower done with no problems this time.
After getting him dressed, we headed for the kitchen and he had his breakfast. Later today, we had three therapists visit to work with him. He is a somewhat reluctant participant in therapies, but he tries to do what is asked of him. All the therapists like working with him. The physical therapist got him outside today to walk around a little bit.
The occupational therapist worked on helping him to loosen the neck muscles so they won't be so stiff. I know he has arthritis in the neck. The speech therapist and he talked about current events and about his life as a boy in Jefferson City. She is working to help him master memory skills.
This evening, I called my brother to see if he had called his urologist today, and of course, he had not. I asked if he was waiting till his leg swells up enough to for him to blow away like a balloon.
He laughed and said no. I finally got him to promise to call said dr. tomorrow. I told him to call me tomorrow after he talks to that doctor.
Gramps' sister and their niece and her husband are supposed to drop by this evening. We haven't seen them since the birthday celebration on Oct. 3rd. We look forward to seeing them.
Well, that is about it for today. Oh yes, I did get my other pansies planted in the porch planters and they look really good.
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. May God's peace and love reign in your heart.
Love to you all. Bye for now.
Didja ever have the Heebie Jeebies? Don't know what that is? Well, it is when you just can't settle down to sleep and nothing seems to help. You know something is wrong, but can't determine what it is. You feel all jumpy and jittery inside.
Yesterday, we had a good sized lunch around 1:00 in the afternoon, so that we weren't really hungry when we went to bed. Well, about 1:00 in the morning, I woke up and was tossing and turning, just couldn't get back to sleep no matter which way I turned. I felt jittery. I pulled off my socks (I always wear socks to bed so I don't get cold from the sheets), flipped over a couple of times, turned my pillow over so that there was a cool side to it. The window was already open. I finally decided that I was hungry but didn't want to eat a lot.
I went into the kitchen and made a cup of hot chocolate using one of the instant packages. I sat down to drink it, read a few pages in the huge paper back that I am reading (John Jakes' "The Homeland") and then went back to bed. In no time at all, I was sound asleep.
This morning, I got up at 7 a.m., and took my acid reflux medication, then worked for an hour on piecing the appliques for the quilt I am working on. Then I went into the bedroom and called Gramps to get up. He ignored me, of course. I went on into the kitchen and put on the coffee, ate my cereal and read some pages of my book. Then I went into the bedroom and got serious with Gramps. I got him up, and we got his shower done with no problems this time.
After getting him dressed, we headed for the kitchen and he had his breakfast. Later today, we had three therapists visit to work with him. He is a somewhat reluctant participant in therapies, but he tries to do what is asked of him. All the therapists like working with him. The physical therapist got him outside today to walk around a little bit.
The occupational therapist worked on helping him to loosen the neck muscles so they won't be so stiff. I know he has arthritis in the neck. The speech therapist and he talked about current events and about his life as a boy in Jefferson City. She is working to help him master memory skills.
This evening, I called my brother to see if he had called his urologist today, and of course, he had not. I asked if he was waiting till his leg swells up enough to for him to blow away like a balloon.
He laughed and said no. I finally got him to promise to call said dr. tomorrow. I told him to call me tomorrow after he talks to that doctor.
Gramps' sister and their niece and her husband are supposed to drop by this evening. We haven't seen them since the birthday celebration on Oct. 3rd. We look forward to seeing them.
Well, that is about it for today. Oh yes, I did get my other pansies planted in the porch planters and they look really good.
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. May God's peace and love reign in your heart.
Love to you all. Bye for now.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Updates on Medical Matters and Other Stuff
Hey, Y'all,
Just got back not too long ago from the appointment with my cardiologist. My stress test came out okay and the dr. said he didn't see any sign of blockages in my arteries in the heart. That was good news, but my blood pressure is not where he wants it, so he gave me another pill to take each day. Oh, JOY! He asked me if I had been checking my blood pressure and I told him, "nope, I don't want to obsess over my blood pressure. Whatever it is, it is."
I guess when I start taking this new pill, (which is supposed to work well with the others I am taking) then I will start checking it once a day or every two days, maybe.
On my way home, I stopped and visited with my sister-in-law, Mae, and we chatted for awhile about this and that. After I left her home, I stopped again on the way home and picked up lunch at Buddy's Bar-B-Que for Gramps and myself. Yum!
A while after lunch, I decided to go back up to Lowe's and pick up the rest of the flowers I need for my porch flower pots. I will pot them in the morning before time for Gramps to be up and about. Speaking of being up and about, I actually got about 8 hours sleep last night. Gramps only had to get up once and when I saw he didn't need any help and he got back to bed by himself, I turned back over and immediately went back to sleep. Thus I was able to get up at 7 a.m. and get ready for the day.
As I drove to Knoxville and back home today, I noticed the turning of the leaves. East Tennessee is putting on her beautiful fall colors and dressing up for tourists and those of us who live here as well. At the top of today's posting are two pictures taken on the road where we live in the country. One has the barn that is on property that once was in my family's ownership. Anytime that you want to see a picture enlarged, simply click once on it, and it will become larger, then to get back to the posting, click on the blue left arrow at the top of the windows explorer. The other picture is of the road in front of my house and you will see the little neighborhood Friendship Baptist Church just down the road to our left.
In about a week, the trees will be in top notch color. There is nothing more beautful than East Tennessee in living color. I will try to get a picture of the color to post in the next couple of days.
I talked to Imazo, my sister-in-law, about my brother, Hugh. He also had an appointment with his cardiologist today. She told me that he showed his doctor his leg that is swollen up to his groin, and the dr. told him that was due to the kidneys and Hugh should see his kidney doctor. He is going to call his kidney doctor tomorrow, or I think Imazo will give him what for. Hugh's other leg is swollen up to his knee.
I talked to Dorothy again yesterday, and she said she had followed my advice and removed the hotshot soaked paper towels and put them in the trash and had slept in a different room from the one that had had the paper towels in them. She is in Ohio right now with her sister and niece right now, visiting their sister, Lois, who is in a nursing home in Enon, Ohio.
Well, I gotta leave the computer right now, or fall over in a deep sleep. I just can't keep my eyes open right now. More later. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the evening. Love to all of you. Bye for now.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
This 'n That - a Potpourri
Hey, Y'all,
Well, I didn't get to go to church this morning, because I couldn't get Gramps up in time to have his breakfast before I would have gone. But I did get some things accomplished.
I purchased a small bookcase yesterday at Wal-mart to assemble and use in front of the living room window in order to place my African Violets on top of it. It took me about an hour after I had my breakfast. My back is not letting me forget that I have been pushing it to its limits. I finally got Gramps up about 11 a.m. and got his breakfast of cereal and coffee ready for him.
Gramps is still having little headaches and neckaches. I bought a small massager to massage his neck muscles with. I heat a towel in the microwave for about 30 seconds and place that around his neck and after it has had time to soak in some heat, then I use the massager on his neck and lower part of the back of his head. Then I have him turn his head a little to the left and to the right. His neck is stiff and I am sure that affects his shoulder muscles and his head. The occupational therapist should be beginning therapy on his neck this week.
I talked to Hugh, my brother, and his wife, Imazo, yesterday. Hugh is still having quite a bit of swelling in his legs and feet. The swelling has gone above his knee in one of his legs. He has an appointment tomorrow with his cardiologist. I have one with my cardiologist as well. I am sure he will be giving me the results of the stress test I took last Monday. Hugh also told me that he had been on the porch a while yesterday, he loves sitting on his front porch and watching the birds that fly and also the crazy ones that drive by like they are afraid they won't get where they are going. ha. He told me that he reached down to lightly scratch his arm with his finger tips, and saw blood appear under the skin. Of course he wound up with a purple bruise.
Imazo's sister, Dorothy, called last night and chatted a while with me. She told me something that alarmed me. She said she has lady bugs that try to get inside her house every fall. She told me they even get in through her windows that are double paned. To remedy that, she had sprayed paper towels with Hotshot insect spray and stuffed them into the cracks around the windows. She told me she had not used a mask or rubber gloves to do it. Of course, by the time she told me about it, she was already feeling the effects of that spray in her nostrils and throat. I advised her to put on her mask, and her rubber gloves and remove the paper towels and throw them away. Then she could just use regular paper towels with nothing on them to stuff the cracks in the window frames. She has COPD and really shouldn't be using Insect Sprays inside the house. I called her a while ago, and got her answering machine. I hope she is okay.
I did some repotting of flowers this afternoon. I had bought some pretty flowers called violas which are supposed to flower through the fall and winter and withstand very low temperatures to 29 below degrees. (my kind of winter flowers). They are beautiful in the pot that I put them into. I am planning on buying a few more pansies or something else for some of the pots on my front porch.
My roses are blooming again and it will probably be the last time this fall. Note picture of them at top of post. I also took a pic of my flower bed with pansies I planted yesterday. Also see pic of my new bookcase that I assembled this morning with two of my four African violets on top.
Dorothy also told me that she and her sister, Barbara, and Barbara's daughter are getting to go visit Lois in Ohio and leaving early Monday morning for the trip. I wish them a wonderful time.
Well, I hope you are having a lovely Sunday afternoon. May you feel God's love and peace in your hearts. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Bye for now.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Great Granddaughter Alyssa Faith
Hey, Y'all,
Just received pictures of our new great granddaughter, Alyssa Faith, lying on the quilt that I made just for her. You will see it at the top of this posting. Isn't she adorable? I can hardly wait to hold her in my arms. She is the daughter of my grandson, Andrew, and his wife, Julia. They live in Texas. She is just a month old.
There is another little Alyssa great granddaughter that I can hardly wait to hold also. She is the daughter of my grandson, Will and his wife, Tasha. They live in Mississippi where Will is in the U. S. Airforce. She is 9 months old, and adorable as well. I don't have a picture of her on the quilt that I made just for her, but I would love to.
I have been a busy woman today. I got up this morning and had breakfast then headed to the local dumpster place to carry off the trash, then went to Jefferson City to the Lowe's store, picked out several flats of pansies to plant later, stopped at the Wal-mart (my place to shop) and got several more items there, including a bookcase to put together. I then stopped at the grocery store to get a canned ham and they sliced it for me. The ham was to take to the church to feed the relatives of a lady in our church who had passed away.
I took the ham to the captain of our group whose turn it was to serve food, so she could take it with her when she took her food to the church. I then continued on home and convinced Gramps it was time to get up for the day. (By this time it was a little past noon). After he had breakfast and I had lunch, I went out to plant my pansies in the flower bed. That took several hours, in between running inside to see that he was okay. Finally about 5 p.m, I finished and went inside to take a shower and get ready to go to the church for the receiving of friends and for the funeral.
This evening I was talking to Dorothy, one of Imazo's sisters, and she was talking about a wedding where her nieces were bridesmaids and how slim and pretty they were. She told me that when she and Imazo had been talking about how slim the nieces were, it reminded them of how slim she and Imazo used to be. Imazo said, "well, we can sing 'Precious Memories' and remember how slim we were once upon a time." I thought, "yeah, I can do that too".
Well, it is about my bedtime. Gramps has already hit the sack. Hope you will have the opportunity to attend a church of your choice tomorrow. I may go and leave Gramps for a while. I don't know yet. God bless each of you. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for tonight. Bye for now.
Friday, October 10, 2008
We Had our Ears Lowered
Hey, Y'all,
Never heard that expression about having your ears lowered before? We went to the beauty shop today and had hair cuts (raising the level of the hair so that the ears look a little lower.)
I also had a pedicure and it felt so wonderful! Gramps will have his pedicure at the podiatrist's on Thursday afternoon and Medicare will pay for it.
It seems as though we are going to have some more rain tonight. The day has been so warm and nice, and the leaves are beginning to change color to the beautiful reds and golds. I think maybe we will go out to a family restaurant this evening and have some catfish. (If I can convince Gramps that it is a good thing to do).
Well, hey, we just got back from Lisa's Kitchen in Jefferson City, and the catfish was very good! Gramps did just fine, too. Every time that I can get him out, gives him more practice with the walker that he uses.
Tomorrow, I have plans to let Gramps sleep in and I will go carry off trash; go to Lowe's to get pansies to plant in my flower bed for the winter. Then I hope to come home and plant them. We also had a death in our church family, and I will be taking a ham to the church tomorrow to help feed the bereaved family lunch before the "receiving of friends" to be held at 5-7 p.m. I have plans to attend the receiving of friends and then the funeral services at 7 p.m. Gramps will be just fine sitting here and watching television in the evening.
Speaking of flowers, it is the last fling for the wildflowers that are blooming in the flower bed. (see picture). I will be uprooting them and planting the pansies. My laundry is done and put away, the kitchen is clean, and that is really all that has to be done for the time being.
We had a visit from the speech therapist, Carol, today and Gramps and I enjoyed that, as always.
I worked on my quilt organization for a while this morning, and the stitching together of pieces for the appliqueing. I have about fifteen of them done, with only 66 more to go. Then they have to be appliqued onto the squares (81). Then the 81 squares have to be stitched together with the backing and batting in between the squares and backing. I have yet to cut out the backing squares and the batting squares. But, it will eventually all come together, it is just a matter of keeping on plugging on.
I guess you may have noticed the new picture in the upper left hand of the blog of me in a red suit and hat. That picture was made almost four years ago, at Easter of 2005, when I had recovered from my bypass surgery that I had in September of 2004.
That is about all I have to say for right now. More tomorrow, after I have planted my pansies. I trust each of you will have a good night's rest and have a fun work day (or rest day) tomorrow. May God bless each of you. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for tonight. Bye now!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
A Hundred Things About Me
A Hundred Things About Me seems a little (maybe a whole lot) egotistical. I am not sure anybody really wants to know all this, but here goes:
1. I love the Lord, and I belong to Him.
2. I really enjoy reading.
3. My favorite food is probably hot bread with butter.
4. I also love the taste of anything chocolate.
5. I am a quilter.
6. I enjoy crafts (looking at and doing them)
7. I have a daughter in Alabama, and one in Texas. I love them dearly along with their spouses and children and spouses, and their grandchildren
8. I have a friend that I love like a daughter (I call her daughter) who lives nearby.
9. I have many family members scattered everywhere around the globe and I love them all
10. I have honorary grandchildren and great grandchildren and love them all.
11. I have always loved to draw and paint.
12. My mother taught me to crochet and to embroider
13. I have done ceramics and enjoyed it (my ceramics phase was in the 1970's)
14. My sisters-in-law are my friends as well.
15. Three of my siblings are no longer living on earth (they are in heaven, I know)
16. My birthday anniversary is May 16.
17. I was born in 1933
18. I enjoy cooking when I am in the mood.
19. It is a great pleasure of mine to have people over to dine with us
20. My husband almost 32 years is 82 and very dear to me.
21. Teaching was my chosen profession.
22. I have taught almost every subject and also was an elementary school librarian
23. I once took a semester of learning to play the guitar, but you wouldn't want to hear me play.
24. I had to learn to play a song on the piano in order to pass the class when I was in college. You wouldn't want to hear me play that either. The song I learned to play (very slowly) was "Work, for the Night is Coming". I am not sure that 'night ever got there'. ha ha.
25. Some of my more courageous teacher friends and I did a song and dance routine in a school talent show. It was great fun!
26. I have almost 50 games from Real Arcade on my computer.
27. I am not really fond of housework, but I love it when my house is clean and I can look on it with real enjoyment.
28. I can not swim, but goodness knows I have really tried, with a semester of it in college, and a dear friend also tried to teach me. I think I just have a mental block (as well as an intense fear of the water).
29. I enjoy telling stories
30. I have gone to hear professional storytellers at Jonesborough, TN for maybe 25 years
31. I have Cherokee blood in my ancestry.
32. My grandmother (my mom's mom) was half Cherokee from North Carolina band
33. I had triple bypass surgery four years ago
34. I began school in a one-room schoolhouse
35. I learned to read from big charts that were on an easel.
36. My teacher called me the "cow's tail" because I was always last in line. I think maybe because I always let the other kids line up first.
37. I once took my mother's lipstick to school and got into trouble over it. It was a lipstick that changed color when you put it on and was called Tangee ( pronounced tan-jee)
38. My first computer was an Apple II e
39. I have picked blackberries, wild strawberries, dewberries in my younger years
40. I have always loved kittens and cats.
41. I am a procrastinator
42. I am a very social being
43. I have never met a stranger who remained a stranger
44. I love to write
45. Countries that I have visited include: Brazil, Venezuela, Greece, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Italy, Taiwan, Germany, Yugoslavia, Japan, Netherlands
46. I have hay fever and asthma
47. I have been a G. A. (Girl's Auxiliary) leader at church
48. I have been an R. A. (Royal Ambassador) leader at church
49. I have led children's choir at church
50. I have taught in Bible School
51. I have taught children's sunday school
52. I have directed the adult choir
53. I love teaching adult Sunday school class but can no longer do it.
54. I used to sing in the adult choir
55. I love to sing
56. I love to drive and go places
57. I have driven to Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Virginia, Canada, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Washington DC, Kentucky
58. I was 33 years old before I learned to drive
59. Spring and autumn are my favorite seasons
60. I have a master's degree in Library Science from University of Tennessee
61. I have a bachelor of science degree in education from Carson-Newman College
62. I am interested in many different things
63. I love to work crossword puzzles
64 I love flowers and growing them
65. I will not purchase and plant a rose that has no pleasant scent. I gotta be able to smell them.
66. Teaching of math was one of my favorite things to do
67. I have tutored children and really enjoyed it
68. I have a good friend, Ina Ray, who has laughed and cried with me during good times and bad times. There is not anything that I could not share with her.
69. I have other wonderful friends that I love and could not survive without
70. I have wonderful nieces and nephews whom I love dearly.
71. I love chatting online with our daughter, Teresa.
72. I really enjoy the calls that I get from our daughter, Carol, when she is on her way home from work or just calling to see how we are.
73. We once lived in Florida with our daughter, Teresa, but had to come back to East Tennessee because we just missed our family and friends here, and we also missed the mountains and the changing of the seasons.
74. The world of blogging has opened up a brand new world to me, and I am so glad to be here.
75. We once took a airline flight to San Antonio, where our daughter, Carol, and her family lived at the time. We decided to cash in our tickets for the return trip, and came back by Greyhound. Don't ever let anyone tell you that those dogs are fast! It took forever!
76. I enjoy taking part in the "Festival of Tables" at our church each spring.
77. I have a bad back, but it doesn't keep me from doing much of what I want to do.
78. I take eleven pills every day, plus use eyedrops every night for my glaucoma
79. I love visiting people
80. Our family was poor in material goods but rich in love for one another
81. I only had a couple of good dresses to wear when I was in elementary school. I would alternate the days I wore them and was laughed at at school, but I reckon I survived that okay.
82. I love watermelon and home-made ice cream
83. My eyes are blue, and I have an olive complexion. (I can't wear green, yellow, orange, or brown)
84. I am only 5'2" tall (don't ask me what I weigh)
85. I love playing Mahjong games
86. I enjoy challenges
87 I am very competitive - Don't tell me I can't do something.
88. Scrabble is one of my favorite games to play
89. The game show network is one of my favorite channels to watch
90. Unfinished projects are a bane of mine
91. I was reunited with a friend of mine a couple of years ago that I had not seen since college days of 1966. It was wonderful!
92. I love having my bedroom windows open at night when the weather changes and becomes a little cool, especially for sleeping at night.
93. I am a lover of hats. I have about two dozen Sunday hats and I wear one to church each Sunday morning.
94. Dominos is a game I love to play as well. We have lots of fun when friends come over to eat and then we play dominos.
95. I am learning more patience since my husband became ill.
96.The mountains are in my blood. I really missed them when I lived in Indiana during my first marriage.
97. I enjoy spending time with my brothers, and sisters-in-law. We all have a great time together.
98. I miss being near my relatives that live too far away to visit often.
99. We are living on a parcel of land that once belonged to my family and was sold so that I could begin going to Carson-Newman in 1963.
100. I'm glad that this list of a hundred things about me is finished, and if you are still reading it, God bless you and I'll bet you are glad it is finished, too.
1. I love the Lord, and I belong to Him.
2. I really enjoy reading.
3. My favorite food is probably hot bread with butter.
4. I also love the taste of anything chocolate.
5. I am a quilter.
6. I enjoy crafts (looking at and doing them)
7. I have a daughter in Alabama, and one in Texas. I love them dearly along with their spouses and children and spouses, and their grandchildren
8. I have a friend that I love like a daughter (I call her daughter) who lives nearby.
9. I have many family members scattered everywhere around the globe and I love them all
10. I have honorary grandchildren and great grandchildren and love them all.
11. I have always loved to draw and paint.
12. My mother taught me to crochet and to embroider
13. I have done ceramics and enjoyed it (my ceramics phase was in the 1970's)
14. My sisters-in-law are my friends as well.
15. Three of my siblings are no longer living on earth (they are in heaven, I know)
16. My birthday anniversary is May 16.
17. I was born in 1933
18. I enjoy cooking when I am in the mood.
19. It is a great pleasure of mine to have people over to dine with us
20. My husband almost 32 years is 82 and very dear to me.
21. Teaching was my chosen profession.
22. I have taught almost every subject and also was an elementary school librarian
23. I once took a semester of learning to play the guitar, but you wouldn't want to hear me play.
24. I had to learn to play a song on the piano in order to pass the class when I was in college. You wouldn't want to hear me play that either. The song I learned to play (very slowly) was "Work, for the Night is Coming". I am not sure that 'night ever got there'. ha ha.
25. Some of my more courageous teacher friends and I did a song and dance routine in a school talent show. It was great fun!
26. I have almost 50 games from Real Arcade on my computer.
27. I am not really fond of housework, but I love it when my house is clean and I can look on it with real enjoyment.
28. I can not swim, but goodness knows I have really tried, with a semester of it in college, and a dear friend also tried to teach me. I think I just have a mental block (as well as an intense fear of the water).
29. I enjoy telling stories
30. I have gone to hear professional storytellers at Jonesborough, TN for maybe 25 years
31. I have Cherokee blood in my ancestry.
32. My grandmother (my mom's mom) was half Cherokee from North Carolina band
33. I had triple bypass surgery four years ago
34. I began school in a one-room schoolhouse
35. I learned to read from big charts that were on an easel.
36. My teacher called me the "cow's tail" because I was always last in line. I think maybe because I always let the other kids line up first.
37. I once took my mother's lipstick to school and got into trouble over it. It was a lipstick that changed color when you put it on and was called Tangee ( pronounced tan-jee)
38. My first computer was an Apple II e
39. I have picked blackberries, wild strawberries, dewberries in my younger years
40. I have always loved kittens and cats.
41. I am a procrastinator
42. I am a very social being
43. I have never met a stranger who remained a stranger
44. I love to write
45. Countries that I have visited include: Brazil, Venezuela, Greece, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Italy, Taiwan, Germany, Yugoslavia, Japan, Netherlands
46. I have hay fever and asthma
47. I have been a G. A. (Girl's Auxiliary) leader at church
48. I have been an R. A. (Royal Ambassador) leader at church
49. I have led children's choir at church
50. I have taught in Bible School
51. I have taught children's sunday school
52. I have directed the adult choir
53. I love teaching adult Sunday school class but can no longer do it.
54. I used to sing in the adult choir
55. I love to sing
56. I love to drive and go places
57. I have driven to Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Virginia, Canada, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Washington DC, Kentucky
58. I was 33 years old before I learned to drive
59. Spring and autumn are my favorite seasons
60. I have a master's degree in Library Science from University of Tennessee
61. I have a bachelor of science degree in education from Carson-Newman College
62. I am interested in many different things
63. I love to work crossword puzzles
64 I love flowers and growing them
65. I will not purchase and plant a rose that has no pleasant scent. I gotta be able to smell them.
66. Teaching of math was one of my favorite things to do
67. I have tutored children and really enjoyed it
68. I have a good friend, Ina Ray, who has laughed and cried with me during good times and bad times. There is not anything that I could not share with her.
69. I have other wonderful friends that I love and could not survive without
70. I have wonderful nieces and nephews whom I love dearly.
71. I love chatting online with our daughter, Teresa.
72. I really enjoy the calls that I get from our daughter, Carol, when she is on her way home from work or just calling to see how we are.
73. We once lived in Florida with our daughter, Teresa, but had to come back to East Tennessee because we just missed our family and friends here, and we also missed the mountains and the changing of the seasons.
74. The world of blogging has opened up a brand new world to me, and I am so glad to be here.
75. We once took a airline flight to San Antonio, where our daughter, Carol, and her family lived at the time. We decided to cash in our tickets for the return trip, and came back by Greyhound. Don't ever let anyone tell you that those dogs are fast! It took forever!
76. I enjoy taking part in the "Festival of Tables" at our church each spring.
77. I have a bad back, but it doesn't keep me from doing much of what I want to do.
78. I take eleven pills every day, plus use eyedrops every night for my glaucoma
79. I love visiting people
80. Our family was poor in material goods but rich in love for one another
81. I only had a couple of good dresses to wear when I was in elementary school. I would alternate the days I wore them and was laughed at at school, but I reckon I survived that okay.
82. I love watermelon and home-made ice cream
83. My eyes are blue, and I have an olive complexion. (I can't wear green, yellow, orange, or brown)
84. I am only 5'2" tall (don't ask me what I weigh)
85. I love playing Mahjong games
86. I enjoy challenges
87 I am very competitive - Don't tell me I can't do something.
88. Scrabble is one of my favorite games to play
89. The game show network is one of my favorite channels to watch
90. Unfinished projects are a bane of mine
91. I was reunited with a friend of mine a couple of years ago that I had not seen since college days of 1966. It was wonderful!
92. I love having my bedroom windows open at night when the weather changes and becomes a little cool, especially for sleeping at night.
93. I am a lover of hats. I have about two dozen Sunday hats and I wear one to church each Sunday morning.
94. Dominos is a game I love to play as well. We have lots of fun when friends come over to eat and then we play dominos.
95. I am learning more patience since my husband became ill.
96.The mountains are in my blood. I really missed them when I lived in Indiana during my first marriage.
97. I enjoy spending time with my brothers, and sisters-in-law. We all have a great time together.
98. I miss being near my relatives that live too far away to visit often.
99. We are living on a parcel of land that once belonged to my family and was sold so that I could begin going to Carson-Newman in 1963.
100. I'm glad that this list of a hundred things about me is finished, and if you are still reading it, God bless you and I'll bet you are glad it is finished, too.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Interesting Day
Hey, Y'all,
This morning started out okay. I got up and had my shower and decided it had been long enough since Gramps had had a shower. So then I got him up and helped him get set up for his shower. Got out the washcloth for him, adjusted the shower water, and helped him get undressed and into the shower. I washed his back for him and kind of kept close by in case he needed anything.
Then I went into the bedroom and got his shaving kit and helped him get dried off so that he could get over to the basin and shave.I got out another washcloth and ran hot water over it so that he could get his face wet to shave. I went back in a few minutes and he was sitting on the closed lid of the toilet, kind of bent over and I asked what was wrong. He said he thought he was going to be sick. I said, "no, no, no, just swallow, swallow". In the meantime I was thinking, "now what do I do? No telephone close by. I can't call 911." So I was holding him up and trying to reach the wastebasket in case he did need to throw up and I couldn't get it past his leg (very small bathroom) to get it under his face.
Finally, I grabbed the washcloth and washed his face and kept asking "do you want me to call 911?" Of course, he said, "no". In about 5 minutes he was okay and I got his walker close by and helped him into the bedroom where he got dressed. I was worried that maybe his blood sugar was low and when we got into the kitchen for breakfast, we checked it and it was okay. I found out that instead of using the shower stool to sit on and wash, he stood up most of the time. I then told him, next time to sit on the stool to wash everything except for what he was sitting on, and then he could stand up.
After breakfast, he went back to bed and slept for about 2 and 1/2 hours. He woke up just in time to have lunch and talk to the physical therapist, a very nice lady named Sharon and to do the exercises that she helps him with. We always have a really nice time talking to Sharon. She is a very caring person who really knows her stuff, and she is really helping Gramps to gain his strength back.
This afternoon, he watched some television and I spent some time reading blogs and playing a mahjong game. I also worked on a list of a hundred things about myself. I had been challenged by a fellow blogger to make the list. I guess I will post it tomorrow.
Well, that is all for today! I look forward to a good night's rest, I hope. May you have a peaceful night and a good day tomorrow. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off. Bye for now.
This morning started out okay. I got up and had my shower and decided it had been long enough since Gramps had had a shower. So then I got him up and helped him get set up for his shower. Got out the washcloth for him, adjusted the shower water, and helped him get undressed and into the shower. I washed his back for him and kind of kept close by in case he needed anything.
Then I went into the bedroom and got his shaving kit and helped him get dried off so that he could get over to the basin and shave.I got out another washcloth and ran hot water over it so that he could get his face wet to shave. I went back in a few minutes and he was sitting on the closed lid of the toilet, kind of bent over and I asked what was wrong. He said he thought he was going to be sick. I said, "no, no, no, just swallow, swallow". In the meantime I was thinking, "now what do I do? No telephone close by. I can't call 911." So I was holding him up and trying to reach the wastebasket in case he did need to throw up and I couldn't get it past his leg (very small bathroom) to get it under his face.
Finally, I grabbed the washcloth and washed his face and kept asking "do you want me to call 911?" Of course, he said, "no". In about 5 minutes he was okay and I got his walker close by and helped him into the bedroom where he got dressed. I was worried that maybe his blood sugar was low and when we got into the kitchen for breakfast, we checked it and it was okay. I found out that instead of using the shower stool to sit on and wash, he stood up most of the time. I then told him, next time to sit on the stool to wash everything except for what he was sitting on, and then he could stand up.
After breakfast, he went back to bed and slept for about 2 and 1/2 hours. He woke up just in time to have lunch and talk to the physical therapist, a very nice lady named Sharon and to do the exercises that she helps him with. We always have a really nice time talking to Sharon. She is a very caring person who really knows her stuff, and she is really helping Gramps to gain his strength back.
This afternoon, he watched some television and I spent some time reading blogs and playing a mahjong game. I also worked on a list of a hundred things about myself. I had been challenged by a fellow blogger to make the list. I guess I will post it tomorrow.
Well, that is all for today! I look forward to a good night's rest, I hope. May you have a peaceful night and a good day tomorrow. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off. Bye for now.
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