Thursday, June 30, 2011

Exposure Unexpected

Hey, Y'all,
This has been an interesting day, to say the least...I had an appointment for a check up with my family doctor. There are always interesting people waiting to see a doctor at the office. One was of particular interest today. He was sitting on the couch that I was facing as I sat in a chair against the wall. He looked to be in his late forties or early fifties in age. He was wearing jeans and a tee shirt, and when he was called, he got up and his back was facing me as he turned to go through the door with the nurse. Believe me when I say, I saw more than I bargained for at that time. His pants were at half mast, and there was more flesh than one sees when a plumber works on the pipes under ones kitchen sink.  He pulled them up, seemingly without a thought of what a vast expanse he had revealed. Enough said!

By the way, my blood pressure was good this morning. 120/74 were the numbers. When I left, I was on my way to the hospital to visit one of my Sunday School class members who had fallen in her home yesterday and broke her shoulder bone, and hurt herself on the opposite side near the hip bone. 

Now that search to find the hospital was another adventure. I knew where the hospital area is located, but there are many professional buildings associated with the hospital and they all cover what seems to be a 3 square block area, with all kinds of ways in to it. Holey Moley! It was near a hundred degrees out there today and I stopped at four different buildings and parked three times, looking for the right one. After asking directions several times, I finally found the right one. Now whether I can find it again or not is a questionable idea. Carol would say that I have expanded my area of experience. Ha. Yeah, right...

Tomorrow is Friday and Daryl gets home from Kenya, following about 30 hours of travel to get here. I will be having supper with them (along with the grandkids) tomorrow evening. I look forward to seeing all of them. 

Well, that is about it for today. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later. 

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Just Catching Up Stuff

Hey, Y'all,
Well, it is just a little past noon, and the temperature outside today is supposed to reach 101, so I reckon I won't be a'wanderin' around out there today for any reason. I went outside about 9:30 and checked out a package containing a bookcase bed that Carol and I purchased last Saturday with the intention of seeing if I could assemble it.

While I was out there, sitting on my little folding stool in the garage, a couple of young ladies walked up and asked me about purchasing some educational books from a company they are representing. I said that I reckoned not and they asked if they could use my restroom. I replied that they sure could and would they like a drink of water, too. 

I came back inside with them, and we stood in the kitchen a few minutes (after they used the rest room) and I gave them some water and some chocolate chip cookies that were on a plate. They were cookies that I had left over from having the grandkids over on last Friday evening to watch a movie. I had not eaten any of them. They ate six of them and I put the other four in a plastic baggie to take with them. The two girls are here in the area on an internship and are from North Carolina and Virginia. They  left and I was once again alone in my garage with the instruction booklet to the bed assembly.


The booklet showed that there were about a jillion parts to the bed, and being the sensible person that I am, although I consider myself quite experienced at assembling products purchased at Walmart, decided that the bed could wait until I have another pair of hands and another head (someone else's) to do the job. 


I came back inside and soon after I sat down at my computer, I was delighted to see my grandson, Daniel, Skyping me to chat for a few minutes. So after we enjoyed our chat, I decided I should do my blog for today, and here I am. He told me that I should be able to sit out front and see the fireworks from Boys Ranch here in Bedford on Monday, the fourth. So, I will sit in my garage (in my Cracker Barrel rocking chair) and watch the fireworks. 


I enjoyed eating out on Monday night at Fuddrucker's with some of the Seniors from my church. We always have a good time together and I look forward to it each time. We are a very congenial group. 


Tomorrow morning I will have the questionable pleasure of my quarterly visit to my family doctor. Oh yeah....ha. 


Carol will be back from Arkansas this evening and they will be going back there on Saturday with a load of goods to take to Jenny and Jimmy for their home. They found a rental home the next day after Carol and Vanita got there. We on this end are presently collecting items to send back. We don't know yet how the fire started. Those of you who are friends on facebook can see the video Carol made of the burned out house. It is quite heartbreaking to view it. 


Well, that is about it for today. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Reflections

Hey, Y'all,
Well, I have several things to talk about this morning...Will make it fast because breakfast is calling to me via my innards. I have been up since around 5 a.m. and it is now 8:30  a.m. 

I went out to water my flower beds this morning and noticed that there is some grass growing in those in front...Going to be a hundred degrees today, but will try in a little while to get the grass pulled up before it takes hold. It is only 80 degrees right now. It won't take long to do it. Out back when I went out to water the flower bed around the bird bath, I decided to rest a couple of minutes and sat down on the bench, reflecting on the size of my home...a lot of house for just one person, but I enjoy the room and space available to me. Believe it or not, I enjoy the solitude as well. I spend a lot of time reflecting, and I don't mean looking in the mirror.

Tragedy abounds, and life does as well. There was a wreck near Rockwall over the weekend when a family's car ran into the back of a semi that was stopped in traffic. The father was killed, mother and baby died later in the hospital, and their four year old is in stable condition in the hospital. The father was a teacher, the mother an assistant principal in another school and they were young, well-loved people. 

Night before last, my daughter Carol's brother-in-law (Daryl's brother, Jimmy and wife, Jenny) lost their house to fire. Jimmy and Jenny are okay, but without a home now. Carol has driven with Daryl's sister, Vanita and her husband to Arkansas where Jimmy and Jenny live to help them in this time of tragedy. Daryl is out of touch on a mission trip in Kenya and may not yet be aware of the fire.

I would caution all those taking trips over the next couple of weeks especially, to take extra care. Traffic will be heavy and people will speed; some will be on drugs and alcohol. 

Carol was asking me the other day if I am going to do the fourth of July with them. I thought at first she was asking if I was going to come to their home for a cookout and I said "sure". She said, "Really?" I realized then that she was referring to a thing they do every year, which is go to some place out in a field (I think Boy's Ranch) to sit on folding chairs or blankets and watch fire works. It usually involves parking the car and walking a distance, carrying stuff and then fighting off the mosquitoes. NOT my kind of thing to do. I told her that on second thought, I reckon I'll just be happy to sit in my new recliner and watch the Boston Pops celebration and fireworks on tevee. Ha. I leave her kind of celebration to the younger folks. (Actually, I never did care for the outdoor stuff). 


Well, it is now nine a.m.  I will be going out with the seniors for supper this afternoon, so a late breakfast will be perfect. Blueberry pancakes, scrambled egg, and coffee will be on my plate in just about fifteen minutes. I have a murder mystery to read while I enjoy my breakfast and life is good. Amen. My cold is better; I was able to sing in the choir yesterday and teach my class in Sunday School. I was going to have lunch with Carol, but she had to head to Arkansas, so I had lunch at the Cotton Patch and no supper. It has been close to 24 hours since I have eaten, but that is okay. 


This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. More later. Bye for now.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Movie Party with the Grandkids

Hey, Y'all,
Saturday morning and I have much to be thankful for...had a good night's sleep in my bed and woke up feeling pretty good for an older lady. Did not cough during the night (that I know of) and did not take a cough suppressant at all yesterday. Sometimes, I think that all the cough medicines and suppressants just make a cold linger longer than it would normally. We take a cough medicine to make us cough, a suppressant to make it stop for awhile, and a combination to confuse the cough so that it doesn't know whether to be active or inactive. Who knows what to take any more. Oh, for the good old days when you just mixed a little "bottled-in-bond" and some salt and took a spoonful at time to cut the phlegm and help get rid of the cough. That is what we did for coughs back in the old days when I was a kid. (In case you younger whipper-snappers don't know what that is - it is whiskey and salt.)  Whew! It really worked. 

When I was only six weeks old, I had the whooping cough, and would have died, had it not been for a drop of that at a time to keep me breathing. Mom has told me that story many times. She was a firm believer in its restorative powers. She was also a firm believer in not drinking the stuff, too. My dad's father and brothers were all afflicted with a love for the alcohol, and she told my dad before they got married that he was not to be drinking ever, or they would not be getting married. Needless to say, he didn't touch the stuff and they had six kids, and celebrated over fifty years of marriage.

Well, enough about that...for a long time, Ben and Emily and Matt and Amy have been planning to come and spend an evening with me to have supper and watch my favorite movie, "No Time for Sergeants" with me. Last evening was the time and we had a wonderful time. 

 They took a chance that they would not get my cold again. You see, when we all had the get-together at Andrew's for Mother's Day and Julia's and my birthdays in May, I had a cold. Granddaughter Emily caught the cold, and gave it to Ben. Then Amy got it and gave it to Matthew, and last Saturday they came over and helped deliver the recliner to my house. Matthew and Amy also mowed the yard and helped me clean some air vents. Of course, Matthew was still fighting the cold, and I hugged him of course. Well, two days later I was sneezing, and then coughing....and I had it back again. Ha ha ha. 

Anyway, you get the idea...the cold that lives on forever...Say, that would make a good movie title, wouldn't it? Last night, we  had salad, Domino's Pizza, freshly  baked chocolate chip cookies, soft drinks, popcorn and a good time. It was wonderful having them over...kind of kids that make grandparents proud...Dubby would have loved it. Being able to do things like this makes the move to Texas well worth all the difficulties..
Left to right: Emily, Ben, Amy and Matthew
Well, folks, that is about it for today. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. More later. Bye for now.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

In Recovery Mode

Hey, Y'all,
Well, I decided this morning that I was going to get out "amongst em'" and so, after I showered and dressed, I went down to the corner and had my weekly gravy and biscuits at LePeep's Restaurant, then on to the Public Library to return and check out three murder mysteries, after which I journeyed to the local Tom Thumb grocery store and renewed my auto license tag. Then it was time to go to Kroger's supermarket and get a few goods to put in my fridge and pantry.

I came back home and put the things away, and decided I needed to get a smaller coffee maker than the 12 cup I have been using, so down to the local Big Lots I moseyed and did not find what I was looking for. That called for a trip to Wal-mart, which I did and it was about 2:30 at that time. I thought, "Man, how crazy is it to be out in the hot sunshine, to get something I really could do without, but want."  It must have been somewhere in the upper 90's this afternoon. I must be getting used to the heat out here, hmmm? Actually, maybe the sunshine gives me a dose of Vitamin D and makes me feel better.

I found a coffee pot that has an automatic turnoff after an hour (which is much better than the one I have) and also has a stainless steel carafe which will keep the coffee hot. 

This afternoon, I picked up Carol at her home and we went to eat supper (which was a late lunch for both of us) at Spring Creek Barbecue and it was quite delicious. We left the restaurant and headed to an auto repair place to pick up Daryl's truck which had been repaired this week, and I left her to drive it home and returned home myself.


Tomorrow, Ben and Emily, Matt and Amy are coming to have supper and watch a movie with me. We have been planning it for several months and looking forward to it. I know we are going to have a great time, too. I have cookies to make in the morning, for our dessert. 


Well, that is about it for today. I know it will be another night or two in my recliner, until I can sleep without coughing. I actually rested really well last night. I have Delsym to take as a cough suppressant. 


This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Kinship to the Seven Dwarfs

Hey, Y'all,
I was just thinking this morning about Disney's Seven Dwarfs and their names and how much I resemble them this week. Started out the week sneezing - hence, Sneezy - then I was Sleepy because I wasn't getting any sleep that night or the next night, therefore felt quite Grumpy and out of sorts - Today, I feel kind of Dopey, because I got a little more sleep but still feeling kind of fuzzy in the head. I am also Doc because I am self medicating, taking Tylenol for the fever, and cough syrup for the cough, and I hope soon to be Happy that it will be over with. Now as for Bashful...ain't no way, cause I have never been bashful (as anyone who knows me will be sure to verify.) Thus, I have been like one or more of the Dwarfs at a time. There should be one called Dizzy because the coughing makes my head dizzy. Ha.

One other thing that sneezing does is- it makes your rib cage so very sore - and makes the lungs hurt as well. The coughing doesn't help much either. I bought a recliner on Saturday and it has been so very valuable over the past few nights, because I can rest in it at night, keeping my head elevated. Haven't even felt like playing at my computer this week. 


Well, that is about it for this time. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. More later. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now.

Monday, June 20, 2011

What Kind of Sneezer Are You?

Hey,  Y'all,
Well, I reckon maybe since I began sneezing last night around bedtime, and the back inside of my throat near my sinuses feels itchy, there will be more...that I have my cold back from about a month ago (or one very much like it...ha). I had hoped to go eat with the seniors this evening, but right now, I am not sure I will make it...sorry, y'all. 

When I was thinking this morning about what to put on my blog today, I thought "what about the kind of sneezes that people do?" So, here goes. First, there is the smothered sneeze...wouldn't you hate to be a smothered sneeze, where you never got to express yourself? Poor little sneeze, dead before it got to be a sneeze.

Then consider the little sneeze that sounds like a kitten hiccupping. Those poor little sneezes never get to achieve their full potential either. 


A little bit more assertive are the ones that sound like you are telling a cat to scat, and somewhat meaning it to go for sure. 

Then you take mine....(Please! ha ha)...mine are the kind that when one sneezes, people know it...kind of a Whattt-Chooo sound...now those are so satisfying...I do cover my mouth and nose (it takes both hands). I  reckon maybe I can do a pretty good sneeze, but not as good as my daddy's sneeze was. Jim Campbell could sneeze and there was not any doubt that it was a sneeze. I also inherited my propensity for allergies from him. Gee, thanks Dad..and passed it on to my kids...Sorry kids... Oh, yeah, and my sneezes never come just one at a time, but in series of great number. It was so embarrassing at school, that I couldn't sneeze just one time and stop. (Now those, I did try to smother, but without much success)

You are welcome to comment here about your sneezes, if you've a mind to. I reckon I'll just stay in today and nurse my nose and try to catch it before it runs away...ha ha. I expect this to be over with in about three days or so. I'm expecting some of my grandchildren to come over on Friday evening to watch a movie with me. 


Carol and I went to my church last night for a performance by a men's quartet. They are called the Penny Loafers and began singing in 1985 while in college at Berea, Kentucky. They still live in Berea and are in Dallas for a music conference. They happen to be friends of one of our church members. I really enjoyed having Carol sitting next to me and introducing her to a lot of my friends. 


After church, I went to Braum's Ice Cream parlor with some of my friends from church. Carol was invited but had to decline because she really needed to get back home and finish up some things before going to bed. It was really good to go out with them, and I enjoyed it tremendously.


This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you. Bye for now..More later.  

Friday, June 17, 2011

We Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Hey, Y'all,
Friday dawned this morning on a hot, windy note and will continue being hot and windy. Yesterday was hot also, and I reckon maybe that is the way it will be from here on out till a cold snap hits in about five months or so. I think maybe we are going to be seeing some stormy weather soon. 

Well, yesterday I was picked up at my house by one of the Sunday School members and we traveled on to pick up another member and proceeded on to the house of our hostess. I saw a part of Bedford that I hadn't seen before, but hope to see again soon. We have decided to meet once a month to play games. 

Here are pictures of the ladies who were there (well, except for me, of course, because I am the one behind the camera, if you look really close, you just might see me, ha). We certainly had a lot of fun, talking, laughing, and playing "Chicken Foot" Dominoes! Don't they look like absolute dolls? I guarantee, they are delightful friends.


There were just six of us, because some of the ladies in our class were not up to coming.

 Today will no doubt be a quiet day, unless something unforeseen happens (which, of course, would certainly change matters). I plan on doing a little paper filing and I know that will please me to get it done, and my daughters also. Breakfast in a little while will take up some time, and I have a book to finish reading during my breakfast. Gotta solve that murder mystery. I don't know if any of you ever read any books by Patricia Sprinkle or not, but they are quite entertaining.  I have just recently discovered her at the public library but she has been around for quite a while.

I also have my Sunday School lesson to study on some more so that I will be ready to teach in a few days. There is never any lack of things for me to do. Oh yeah, the Dallas Mavericks have been dominating the news around here for several days, and had a really big parade with two hundred thousand people there to watch them. I was not one of them. Fortunately the people of the area did not have to pay for the cost of the parade. Lots of chatter about the heat prostration and transportation problems of the chowder heads who went to see them. (No offense intended, folks).

Daughter Carol is staying busy while her sweetie pie husband, Daryl, is in Kenya on a mission trip teaching. Carol is cleaning closets and doing that kind of cleaning that can only be done with a single mindedness. I know she is missing Daryl a lot, too. Please pray for those on the mission trip; I know they will appreciate your prayers.

Well, that is about it for today. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Flower Beds - A Done Deal

Hey, Y'all,
I am finally getting around to posting pictures of my Texas family putting in my flower beds in front of the house while I was in Tennessee visiting family and friends back there. Like good little worker bees, they really got busy and did the job for my birthday and Mother's Day. It was so wonderful to get back and see the finished product. 
   Before
Cutting timbers



While the guys were putting in the flower beds, Carol and Emily were putting together the bench and table on my back deck for me. Now I can sit out back in the mornings and have my second cup of coffee and watch the birds take their bath...voyeurism?  ha ha.




Here are flower beds and birdbath flower bed planted. Now all I have to do is keep them watered each morning, and hope they survive this hot Texas sunshine.

Well, today has begun with a busy time for me. I couldn't sleep well last night, so at 2:45 I got up and sat at my computer for a couple of hours playing games to occupy my mind and body, then went back to bed at 4:45 and went back to sleep until around 7:45. Fortunately, I went to bed last night with a clean kitchen so I didn't have any dishes to do this morning. I sat at my computer for awhile and then got up and got ready to head down towards LePeep's and Kroger's. After I had my weekly gravy and biscuits at LePeeps, I decided to have my hair cut today and stopped at the place where I always have it shorn. So now I look like I am ready for a long, hot summer. Ha. Then I went to Kroger's and bought my weekly supply of Banana Popsicles plus a few other grocery items and headed home.

Today, our Sunday School class is having a monthly get together at one of the member's home and play some games. We are bringing snacks to munch on. I bought some cheddar cheese flavored rice cakes, since the others are having popcorn. I don't do popcorn because the husks always get caught on the back of my tongue or tonsils, and I have to spend time with my finger stuck back in my mouth trying to dislodge them. Enjoying the flavor of the popcorn is not worth the trouble of dislodging the husks. One of the ladies is coming by to pick me up since I don't know where the member lives who is having us over. Next time I will know. :)


That is about it for today, so this is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Clasped Hands

Hey, Y'all,
Not much shakin' around here today...yesterday I did laundry, and cleaned the kitchen and mopped all the floors, so the house is in fairly good shape. I have been watering the flower beds every morning to keep the flowers alive in this hot Texas sunshine. It hit a hundred yesterday (or was it day before yesterday?) who knows or even cares actually. It is hot.... ha

I forgot about eating out with the seniors on Monday evening, as I had other things on my mind at the time. You know two thoughts can't occupy the same space at the same time. I thought about it when I was chatting with my sister in law, Darlene, who is the widow of my youngest brother, John, and lives in Phoenix. Her mom is suffering from dementia...well, actually Darlene and her sister are the ones suffering and their mom is lost in her own little world. It is always the family that suffers the most, you know. 

I was thinking this morning about clasped hands...I was sitting and clasping my hands together. I looked down and saw them clasped and remembered how my husband had clasped his together when he had nothing to occupy them. Then I thought of all the people in nursing homes that one can see sitting in wheel chairs, clasping hands together, nothing to do to occupy them. When I looked at Dubby resting in his coffin, I could see the dents in between his fingers where he had held his hands clasped together. I hope that I will always be able to keep my hands busy, helping others when I can and keep my mind busy, using it until I don't have breath left. As the saying goes, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." 

I love to interact with other people, but am never alone in my mind even when I am alone in actuality. I am never lonely because I am happy inside and content with who I am. Perhaps one day I will be, but not so far. I thank God for that and know that I am blessed...

Well, tonight is choir practice at church and I always look forward to that. I still have shower to take and The Closer to watch at one o'clock. I have seen all of the episodes but I still enjoy watching Kyra Sedgewick close out the crime and get the confession. It is one of my favorite shows on tevee. 

This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later. 

Monday, June 13, 2011

An Early Father' s Day

Hey, Y'all,
Yesterday was a lovely day in our family...We celebrated Father's Day a week early in Carol and Daryl's family since he is going to be on a mission trip to Kenya next Sunday. He went on a mission trip thirty years ago to what is now Bourkina Fasso and what then was called Upper Volta. On that trip he helped to build an earthen dam, so the people who lived in the area could have clean water. On this trip he is going to be teaching, which he does very well. Needless to say, he is quite excited about going.



We were fortunate to have Ben's parents (Emily's mother-in-law and father in law) visiting for the past few days and they spent their visit in the home of Emily's parents (Carol and Daryl). I was glad to be able to spend some time with all of them. It was a very congenial group and we had lots of fun. Marlene and Todd (Ben's parents) had to return home last evening. 
 Grandpa Daryl and Granddaughter
Amy, Matthew, Todd, Marlene, Little Granddaughter, Grandpa Daryl, Great Grandma Ruby, Mommy Julia, Todd, and Emily.
Grandma Carol and youngest granddaughter
Ben's parents, Todd and Marlene
Game time - our family is big on games at family get togethers, when there are enough of us to play.
  Aunt Emily has a nice lap to sit in
Daryl opens a Father's Day gift

As you can see from the pictures, we  had a really great time and we had a delicious meal as well. They grilled hamburgers and we had all the fixings to go with them. 

This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. I hope each of you had a really wonderful weekend as well. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later. 

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Expanding Territories

Hey. Y'all,
Well, I am going to do a passing along of a couple of blog awards to five people and hope they each will do the same for five more bloggers. 
The awards were given to me by Caitlin of All About Growing Up and Becoming an Author.

Also, I am supposed to give seven facts about myself. So here goes:
1. I am the fifth child in six born living children to my parents. There would have been seven if my mom had not picked up a washtub of water not knowing she was expecting, and miscarried. I would have had a second sister.

2. I am a Tennessee Hillbilliette who is now a transplanted Texan and I'm okay with that. If it weren't for people transplanted to Texas from Tennessee, there would be a lot fewer Texans. 

3. I am a procrastinator

4. Biscuits and gravy is my favorite breakfast food (thus my rounded shape).

5. I am a devoted viewer of "The Closer"

6. I am a devoted follower of Jesus Christ

7. I love to "people watch" and interact with them.

Here are four people I have chosen to pass on the blog awards to:

Better is PossibleCathy, Lost and Found   Susan Swiderski at I Think; Therefore, I Yam  Ella's Edge 

I am kind of new at this kind of thing, so please forgive if I make mistakes. :)

This week I have been expanding my territory or borders of familiarity where I travel. On Monday, I went to a new place (for me) to eat, called Rosa's Cafe and Tortilla Factory. As you might guess, it is a Mexican restaurant, and the food was excellent. I even ordered Sopapillas for dessert. Yum!

I have not been spending much time out of doors this week because of the intense heat. The weather has been HOT, and promises to increase in rising temps. Two weeks till summer officially begins, but I believe for all intents and purposes, summer is already here. Ha.


Yesterday, I had a late lunch/early supper at a little Italian place, and I feel like I "struck out" when I ordered the spaghetti. It was very disappointing. When you have had spaghetti in Knoxville at Louis' Original Restaurant and enjoyed it, you are spoiled for eating it anywhere else. I had spaghetti there again when I visited a few weeks ago.  Hmmm. Oh, well. 

Today, I had my favorite breakfast (see above) at Denny's and went from there to Home Depot where I purchased flowers for my new flower beds and also to put in the flower bed around my bird bath. I will try to plant them in the morning. I also stopped at Walmart to buy a small folding stool upon which to place my little round behind while planting the flowers. 

Well, that is about it for today. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. More later. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Number 700 Yeah! My Home

Hey, Y'all,
Yeah, this is post number seven hundred...Who would ever have thought three years ago, when I began blogging, that I would ever have reached this number? Certainly not I!

Anyway, I wanted to write today about my home and what it means to me to be living here. 

I live on a quiet street, only seconds away from a busy street where the speed limit is 40 mph. When you reach the end of my street (I only live seven houses in), you immediately know that you are entering a busy thoroughfare. But here, in my street, there is very little traffic, and I like it that way. The only people who come onto my street live here or are visiting people who live on it. I have really great neighbors, too, who look out for me and are most helpful.

When I get up in the morning, there is no clamor outside, and I know that the chances of my being disturbed by salesmen or noisy traffic are almost nil. If I want to go back to bed in the morning, there is no problem. I go into the kitchen and prepare my breakfast, and when it is ready, I sit at my dining room table and look out the window to see the birds flying around and alight in the bird bath. I can eat and enjoy the quiet and beauty of my backyard. It has a privacy fence around it and it delights me to sit in my dining room and look out at the flowers in the flower bed circling the bird bath.  There is also a deck in the back where I can sit and have a second cup of coffee in the morning, while I read a book (preferably a murder mystery...ha).

I am so blessed to have a home that is close to family, where I can have my grandchildren to visit, a new thing in my life. This is the first time in years that I have lived close enough to them to be able to see them often.  They take turns each weekend coming to mow my yard for me, and to do any other tasks that I can't do for myself. I also can now go to family gatherings and see them.


The room where I spend a lot of my time is where I am sitting right now, watching tevee, and working or playing at my computer. If I like, I stay in my nightgown until I am ready to go out somewhere...or just stay in it all day...and not go out. There is also my sewing machine, which I eventually plan to get back to using. 


Right now, the guest bedroom has a folding worktable that I am using to study my Bible and work on the Sunday School lesson that I teach on Sunday mornings. Home is so much more than a building...it is connecting with others of like minds and enjoying the fellowships.


During the past ten months, my home has been a place of refuge for me, a quiet place where I can reflect on personal matters and, with God's help, receive healing for my hurts.
Healing has also come through encouragement from family, and from friends, both here and in other places.


I am most blessed....


This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Class Predictions

Hey, Y'all,
Did your elementary school class ever do the forecast thing where there was a prediction of the future of the kids? Well, I was going through some of my memorabilia today and came across the one for my sixth grade class at Belle Morris Elementary School in the 1945-46 school year. It is faded to almost extinction, so I am going to print it here. It is hilarious, and not very flattering to me, but I don't care. It is too good to keep to myself. (I am a blabbermouth, don't you know?) (My apologies to anyone this might offend who is mentioned herein).

Here goes: It is supposedly written by Anna Ruth Barr, one of my classmates.
"As I venture into the years of the future, I find myself, after graduating from college, a professional fortune teller. I am sitting now in my small mobile with my crystal ball before me. I think I shall look into it and spy upon some of my former classmates of '45. Yes, yes, I see them very plainly. There is Maurine Spurling and Carolyn Holiday emerging from the side door of the Tennessee Theater where they are employed as stage dancers. Right behind them is Warren Boop and Wayne Cravans who are ushers but spend most of their time watching the shows.

Now I look on the other side of town into some of the side shows of the circus and there I see Ray Hodge as the tall slender man and Ruby Campbell as the short fat lady. Indeed they make a lovely couple. Over here I see David Bayless and Billy Damewood swinging gracefully through the air. Of course, they sometimes catch hold of the trapeze, but not too often. Well, if here doesn't come Tim Prater and Bobby Dalton with a bucket of water hanging from each arm. I hear they are making pretty good watering the animals. Now I think I'll look around town some more and see who else I can see. Here comes a fine looking couple. I wonder who - oh yes, that's Alfred Ball and Jeanette Chesser. They are married and living in a very beautiful cottage on the east side of town. Well, well, here comes Clifton Cox with his Bible under his arm. I hear he has become a preacher, and there is Joann Cockrum, who, they say has become a choir leader.

I now cast my eye a bit northward and into a large room where many are gathered to see the world's most famous dancers, Eldon Barnes and Betty Jane Dobbs. The show is now underway, and I believe, yes, it is George Dyer who is directing it, and over there is Eric Patterson, playing the piano for the dancers. Now I will drift way down south, and who do I see but Marilyn McClain and Benny Fowler living on  a plantation. (deletion here). Marilyn is reading the newspaper and imagine what the headlines are: Carl Booher and Carl Turner have been nominated for President..wonder who will get it? Jimmy Massengill is Charles Lindbergh the second... doesn't he look handsome in that aviator uniform? 

What's this I see? Why, it is Ernest Elston playing a guitar at the Midday Merry-go-round. Martha Derioux is owner and editor of the New York Times. Now I look into the Station WXIB and whom do I see but J.T. Mealer. What's that he's announcing? Yes, he says they will have a song by Clara Ruth Fitch. Isn't she lovely in her blue and white evening dress, coming out from behind the curtain? I believe that takes care of about all the pupils - no, there's Virginia Hutchison working as a saleslady in a large store and Elizabeth Bales running the elevator. Seems the owner of the store is familiar - yes, it is Mrs. Oldham, our sixth grade teacher. Now I guess I have seen them all, and will put away my crystal ball."   Anna Ruth Barr

Well, folks, was that entertaining or what? I am sure she had quite a bit of help writing that long epistle, aren't you? Hopefully, if any of my old classmates read this or hear about it, they won't mind my reprinting for public view. I hadn't thought about many of the people represented by the names herein for a long time, but it did bring back a lot of memories. As I said, it was not very flattering to think of myself as a fat lady in the circus. I was very short and have always been. But if one can't laugh at oneself, there is not much substance to one is there? I thought this posting to be very apropos, since school is just now out for the summer. 

Well, this is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. More later. Bye for now.  

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Grammy's Morning Out

Hey, Y'all,
Well, I decided it was time for me to escape from my house for awhile, since I have been recovering nicely from my cold. I took my shower (I'm sure the people with whom I came in contact should have been pleased about that..ha). I climbed into my little red batmobile and headed out of my bat cave after electronically lifting the door to it. My first stop was at one of my favorite eating places (Le Peep's). 


While I was in there, a couple came in with their little granddaughter and she was absolutely adorable. She had her little box of crayons and they sat behind me, so I had a good listening post to hear what they were saying. She was coloring in circles that her grandpa was drawing for her, along with butterflies and other simple drawings. When I was ready to leave, I turned around to speak to them (of course) and complimented the child on her coloring. I heard her complain that she had no purple or orange, so I told her how to use red and blue together to make purple, and how to use yellow and red to make orange, and how to make green by putting yellow and blue together. She was excited to know that. I also told her to put her three primary colors of red, yellow and blue together to make brown. 


Her grandparents told me she is only three and a half, which surprised me, because she is about the size of a regular five year old. They told me her dad is six foot tall and apparently she takes after him. I know she is quite precocious, too. Soon we were all on our way out. 


I then traveled on to the post office to get some stamps and mail a package, and from there to the public library where I returned some books and checked out three more murder mysteries. 


My last stop was Kroger's and I took my time going through the store, but when I got to the check out stand, a lady using one of those motorized buggies was in front of me, and she could not reach the card swipe thingy to swipe her card or to sign it. I felt quite compassionate toward her, and in a few minutes my groceries were checked through, and she was still sitting in the seat of the buggy. The cashier and I discussed the fact that she might need help or might have been left behind by her ride. After I got my grocery cart, I rolled it up to her and asked if she needed any help and she had some dollars in her hand. She replied, "No, I'm just waiting to play lotto," and it floored me momentarily. 


I wiggled my finger at her as if to say, "Why are you wasting your money in such a manner, when you could do so much better to save it?" She said, "I know," and I just shook my head and went on out of the store, thinking, "Yeah, you have trouble reaching the card swipe, but apparently no trouble reaching the card slot to play Lotto." Judgmental? Yeah, probably, but it just really irritates me to see people throwing their money away hoping to get more, when they could save it and have more. My brother, John, who passed on in 2008, would go walking and looking for coins as he walked. When he got a dollar, he would buy a lottery ticket. Did he ever hit the big one? Nah. 


I'm off my soapbox now, and you may disagree with me, but that is your right, just as it is the right of people to throw away money in hopes of winning more. I just can't see the good in it. I know that much of the money spent on lotto and lottery tickets comes from the pockets of people who can ill afford it, and would be better spent on milk, eggs or bread to feed their families. 


This evening is choir practice at church, getting ready for Sunday's international service. More about that later. 


Well, this is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. More later. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now.