A Stranger Came to My Door (A True Story)

Hey, Y'all,
 
Yesterday, I was sitting in my living room, working on a quilt, when the doorbell rang. You know, when you are expecting someone to visit, you almost always know it will be them at your front door. However, when I opened the door to a stranger, my surprise must have shown on my face (unfortunately, what I am thinking almost always registers on my face). Looking at the man, I took in his unkempt appearance, and I'm sure he could see my reaction clearly.

However, when I said, "Yes?" he replied, "Ma'am, I'm not a salesman, well, actually, I guess I am. I am trying to sell these candle holders so I can buy my children some gifts for Christmas."

I looked then at the contents of his hands. He was holding two of the ugliest Christmas decorations I have ever laid my eyes on. To describe them: they were two sections of wood about eight inches in length, that had been cut from the kind of timbers one puts around flower beds. You know, the kind that is flat on two sides and rounded on the other two sides. A hole had been cut about an inch and a half into the center of the wood. The hole held a small candle, and the one side of the wood had a painted with tempera paint decoration. 

He then proceeded to tell me that he couldn't find work, and that he was a convict and wanted to buy his children some presents and was selling those decorative candle holders for ten dollars each. 

While he was talking, I noticed he had a tattoo on one of his arms that said "Rattlers". He was wearing a white tee shirt and wrinkled blue jeans. He also had one of those badges that attaches to the wearer's clothing that stated his name and that he had a permit from the city of Bedford (where I live) to sell his goods. 

We talked about the tragedies that had taken place recently and (I was the one who brought them up, not he) I told him I would take both of the things he was selling, and asked him to wait right there. He was still outside the house, of course. 

Within a minute or so, I was back with twenty dollars and handed it to him. His response was a hearty thank you, and then he said, "ma'am, are you sure you can afford this?" I said, "Yes". Then he said, "Last chance to change your mind, ma'am." I think he believed I really couldn't afford it, because I was wearing my old red dress that has seen better days. 

I assured him that I wanted him to have it, and told him I would be praying for him and his family. He thanked me again, and said he was glad I would be praying for him. I sent him off with a "God bless you."

After he left, I had many thoughts about him, wondering about his situation. Did I do the right thing? I don't know...All I know is that perhaps I had a visit from Jesus seeking help. I couldn't turn him away.       

Happy Birthday to My First-Born, Carol

Good morning to you, my friends and family. I am taking a break from my fictional scribblings today to wish my first - born, Carol Deanna Grey Bennett, a happy birthday. It is a big one for her since she will be turning a zero at the end of the number. I'm not saying what number is in front, for that is for her to say if she wishes. 

Carol is a very busy woman, very much taken up with family and friends, doing, always doing for others. She is loving and giving, caring and beautiful. 

We are so blessed to have her in our lives. 

We will be celebrating her birthday at her and Daryl's home this evening, with most of her family.

Teresa and Tom in back. Me, Carol and Daryl in front

   This is a photo taken last year when our family from Alabama came in to spend Christmas with us. Teresa is my dear youngest daughter. We had a really great time then. But then, we always have great times together. 

Happy Birthday, Carol! I love you!

Blessings All Mine, With Ten Thousand Beside

Hey, Y'all,
Since today is the time we stop and reflect on our many blessings, I thought that instead of writing and adding to my fictional story, that today's edition would be true. 

So many things I have to be grateful to our Lord and Savior, Jesus, and the Heavenly Father for providing for me. I know I will not be able to list them all. 

First of all, for my salvation, so freely given to me - 
For the Word of God that I can read anytime I choose.
 
Next, for the long life I have had and for the family given to me, I am truly grateful.

My  husband of so many years, who has gone on to be with Jesus, was so good to me and for that I give thanks.

My children, their mates, their children and grandchildren and all mates are so very dear to me. 

Friends that I have made throughout the years, so many that have become family to me, for all of them, I give thanks. 

For a home that provides shelter, for food that provides strength, for clothing to cover my old bones, for strength that is given to me daily, I give thanks. 

For the skills and gifts that God has endowed me with. 

For rhe gift of reading and writing, I am so very thankful.

For the patience I have learned, (still learning), I am grateful.
  
For the laughter that God has filled my life with, to enjoy the friends and family that He has given to me, I give thanks. 

My great grands in Illinois have just received the quilts I made for them for Christmas. Here are their pictures. 

Noah

Ellie

Hannah

Austin

They do look happy, don't they? It makes me feel so happy to see them so delighted with their gifts. Each quilt was created to suit their tastes. 

I will soon be in the process of making twin sized quilts for Andrew and Julia's two little girls and most likely their little brother.

Which brings me to the fact that I am thankful for the ability and the finances to be able to make quilts. 

Yes, God has truly blessed me, and for that I am so very thankful.
"For His Faithfulness, Mercy and Love; Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside."            

Ouch! That really Hurts!

Hey, y'all!

I wanna tell you about my experiences this week (since all my Facebook friends already know about it).  On Tuesday after lunch, accompanied by daughter, Carol, I went to my dentist's office, on a mission to have him extract my remaining seven natural teeth.   The final objective was to leave with a full set of new choppers.

Well, he was using Nitrous Oxide ( laughing gas), but believe me, it was really no laughing matter. To begin with, dreading the impending extractions, my blood pressure was close to dangerous levels. This was due to my allergies regarding some of the Caine injections normally used by dentists for numbing the gums. I am never sure when I go to a new one, that they won't forget and use a topical anesthetic and that they will also use Carbocaine which is acceptable to use. 

Anyway, along with the elevated blood pressure, which they waited for it to lessen, then began extractions, the first tooth broke off at the gum. The Dr. had to pick and drill out the pieces. The gums began bleeding profusely, so after five extractions, and closing the gums with sutures, he decided to wait until yesterday to pull the final two.   

That went without a hitch, and he put my new dentures in my mouth. Now, I'm dealing with a sore mouth and gums (which always comes with extractions) attempting to adjust to the dentures. The dentist did a beautiful job and I'm looking forward to having a healed  mouth.  I am using Vicodin to help alleviate the pain and taking a few days break from my "Jack" story. 

Best regards to all of you. Ruby. 

What's Happenin'

Hi, I haven't reported lately on my personal life (for those of you who are not Facebook pals), so I thought I would kinda catch you up. Recently, I have been having quite a bit of pain in my right hip and upper thigh, so I consulted my wonderful family physician. She first felt it was bursitis in the hip, then when I went back, she sent me to have an x-ray, and the resulting diagnosis was arthritis in the joint.

That really was not a surprise since several family members have had that same malady, including my mom and dad, brother and sister, also an aunt had the crippling kind, which apparently is the kind I have. My doctor asked if I would like to have a prescrip for hydrocodone, and my answer was, "I reckon not, at least not for right now." 

It causes quite a bit of pain when I sit, walk, stand, get up, or lying down. In other words, mostly all the time. Ha. But not unbearable.
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13. 

Another thing that has happened recently is the fact that my seven natural teeth are going to be pulled on the last of this month, just before Hallowe'en. (Say, I could really do the toothless old hag then, couldn't I?) ha ha.

I'm going to visit my grandchildren in Illinois soon and I'm really looking forward to that (before my teeth are yanked out).  I;ve been making quite a few quilts over the past several months. Probably at least twenty during the last year. I've kinda lost count. I just began making another one yesterday. 

Daughter, Carol, suggested that when I die, she can have those people for whom I've made quilts bring them so that they can be displayed at my funeral. I thought it would be funny (I'm always thinking what would be funny), if everyone started saying things like "Hey, her's (his) is prettier than mine is - or bigger, or whatever" Ha ha. 

It also reminded me of the story of Dorcas in the New Testament, (book of Acts) where she died and the widows were all weeping around her door and showing all the things Dorcas had made for them. Then Peter came along, and raised Dorcas from the dead. Say, wouldn't that be something? I could sit up and say, "Now, no arguing." ha ha.

It was a very sweet and thoughtful suggestion on Carol's part, and I appreciate it. Thank you, Carol, you are really always thinking of others, aren't you?  I am so blessed to have wonderful daughters and family, along with so many great friends!

I enjoyed a nice long chat with my good friend, Ina, last night. Also, I have a friend here in Texas who is going to have surgery on Wednesday for a brain tumor. Her name is Jo Rodgers. Please keep them both in your prayers. Thank you so much. 

Well, I reckon maybe that is about it for right now. I hope you all are enjoying reading my fictional story as much as I'm enjoying the writing of it. It is about time for my shower and breakfast; since I am going to be getting ready for Sunday School and Church. We are studying Peter in Sunday School right now, and I need to give it a once over again before teaching. 

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

In Case You Were Wondering.....

Hey, Yáll,
Well, I know you may have been wondering where in tarnation I was. Here is the skinny: my computer quit connecting to the internet and I had to purchase a new one. Go figure! There is quite a story connected to how I replaced it with a new laptop (of course, I know you would expect there to be, knowing me....ha). I won't enchant you with it right now, because it isn't quite over yet. 

Needless to say, I have really missed blogging, and I promise to begin my new fictional story tomorrow. I know it is at least two weeks late, but just couldn't be helped. (No excuses, just reasons, you understand.)

In the meantime, I have completed two quilts, and am ready to begin a new one. Also, I have been using my cell phone to keep in touch via "Facebook" and texting. 

This week, I have a date with a dentist to have my teeth cleaned and some fillings done. He is going to use gas when he does the fillings, to relax me. It will be a first time experience for me, so I will report to you on Friday about how it was. You may know how much I love to laugh, so with the "laughing gas" I may just laugh myself out of the chair and just float away. Ha...

I have begun helping with the children's choir at church, by helping them memorize Bible verses that are connected to the cantata they are doing later this year. 

Yesterday, the choir had a retreat at our church and went over the cantata we are preparing for Christmas. Our music director provided a yummy catered lunch for us to enjoy following our practicing. 

I have been having some difficulty with my right upper thigh when climbing stairs or preparing to sit down. It is quite painful to do either. I guess I am just going to have to see a doctor about it. It has become quite problematic. I reckon my Dubby would just say, "Baby, you're gettin' O-L-D." Ha ha. I reckon maybe he would be right. My bones and body are getting old, whether I want to admit it or not.

Well, that being said, I suppose I need to shut up and finish getting ready for Sunday School and church. I hope you are planning to get together with other Christians and enjoy a worship time today. 

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

Gunboats Versus Sporty Cars

Hey, Y'all,
Well, I just returned from a trip to Wally world where I had my usual breakfast at Mickey D's when I go there early in the a.m..

Of course, I bought two apple pies and gave one away to a couple of elderly people, who had never eaten one before. So they thanked me and a little later told me how good it was. We talked for a few minutes about books (I was reading, of course) and then they went on their way. What a pleasant way to begin my day!

When I came out, a little old lady was getting into one of those huge cars that look like they were built for tall and big people. I call them "Gunboats" because they look like you could attack anything when you are in one. It took her a huge amount of space to turn it around and get out of the parking area. Verrrrrrry slowwwwwly at that.

That reminded me of one of my pet peeves: husbands putting their wives (especially older wives) into those huge cars to protect them in case they are involved in an accident. I have a clue for them: most usually if you have to put your wife to driving one of those big boats to protect them, the wives should maybe not usually be driving. It is the other drivers that need protection. 

Picture this: little old lady, in a car made for large drivers, barely able to see above the dashboard, driving into traffic, maybe not even knowing where she is going (or how to get there)...watch out, other drivers. Hazards ahead! 

Or picture this: Little old lady angry because she has to drive gunboat when she would rather be able to choose her own vehicle, (a sporty little two door, that zips around). I thank God that my husband never thought it necessary to decide for me what I would have to drive! (He would have had a dickens of a time trying, anyway. Ha.) 

Well, anyhow, I think that when it comes time for me to turn over my keys, I will do so without too much of a fuss. (We'll see, won't we? HA) But I know one thing for sure, you won't find me driving a "gunboat". Give me a sporty little jitney anytime!

Well, that is it for today. Gotta listen to my CD for Church Choir, and do a little more sewing. It is also day to visit with my 3 great grands that live about ten minutes from me. Who knows, we might go up into a space ship today! Wouldn't that be exciting? 

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

Happy Birthday, Madora!

Hey,  Y'all
Quite a few birthdays in my family over the next week or so. It is almost unbelievable. Birthdays include BJ's wife, Madora, (my new grand-daughter) today,  and a couple of days later, BJ's (Tom and Teresa's son and my grandson)birthday, then the day after that is Daniel's (Carol and Daryl's oldest and my grandson), and a few days after that we are celebrating Daryl's (my son-in-law)and little Brooke's (Andrew and Julia's little daughter, Carol and Daryl's grand-daughter, and my great grand). Whew! Did I leave anyone out? 

Anyway, this is a Blanket HAPPY BIRTHDAY! wishing all of you many happy returns of the day!

Oh, Oh! Just started sneezing.
Apparently this is going to be one of my "sneezy days"! I have those every once in a while. 

Well,  yesterday, I finished almost one full section of Mae's quilt. One more to go and then connect them, add the binding and label, then "Voila"! It will be ready to photograph and then send off. Hopefully by next week (or sooner), depending on how well it goes in completion. 

I hope to have "Cookie Jack" on the way on September first. I'm a thinkin' about him and how he is going to be doing in this episode. I reckon that story will just have to unfold like the rest of them have. I won't really know until it begins weaving itself. Sometimes I have very little control over them. Ha.

Well, that is about it for today. Happy Birthday, Madora! Love to you

Madora with son, Roman, and quilt I made for him

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

You Crazy Squirrel! That's Not Food!

Hey,  Y'all,
Well, you know how squirrels are, they run around and jump from limb to limb of trees, run on the fence tops, jump into bird feeders, jump into bird baths... and on and on. 

Yesterday, I saw one of my back yard friends sitting in the bird bath, holding something strange in his paws and nibbling on it. It was one of those "environmentally safe" tablets that are shaped like doughnuts,  for killing mosquito larvae that you put in standing water. 

Apparently he didn't care for the taste of it, or it was too hard for him (or her) to bite. Anyway, he put it back down in the bird bath. Of course, he might never have noticed it if there had been water in the bird bath, but I had not replaced the water that had been emptied from the bath before I put the tablet in. I wasn't going out among the skeeters to put more water in. Fortunately, the sprinklers filled the bird bath with water soon after that.

Started working on my sister-in-law, Mae's, quilt yesterday. I'm moving right along on it. Hope to have it finished soon, then will begin working on another great grand's quilt. Have to get all them done before Christmas. 

I got the quilt I made for Madora sent off this morning and she should have it by end of day on Wednesday. 

Met with the children in the Children's Choir at church last night. I am going to be working with them helping them memorize Bible verses over the next few months. Really sweet kids! 

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

Saturday Doin's

Hey, Y'all,
I finished Madora's quilt last night about 11:30, and am making the label this morning. Her birthday is on Tuesday, but I know the quilt will be a couple of days late. It is a lovely quilt, I think. Will post a picture after she gets it. 

This neck of the woods is really up in arms about the West Nile Virus. A lot of airplane spraying is taking place in parts of Northeast Texas, and I don't blame them for being concerned. Of course, there is a great controversy going on about the use of the chemicals used killing the mosquitoes, and its effectiveness versus the effects on the environment. I don't know about all of that, but I do know that I don't want to be infected by the virus. I stay indoors after dark and before dawn. In fact, I've been so busy quilting, I don't even think about going outside. 

This morning, I am making labels for a couple of quilts. Then I have some greeting cards to make. I have had my four to four and a half hours of sleep. (I'll probably grab a few more in the middle of the day. Ha.) In fact, I may even go back to bed in a few minutes. It is only 5:30 a.m. right now. The labels are finished sewing and nothing is urgent to do right now. 

My living room looks like a disaster area, but it won't take long to clear that up. When I am sewing, I don't worry about how it looks. I lost a small needle either yesterday morning or the night before, and I have looked everywhere for it. It is only an inch long or maybe an inch and a quarter, but it is perfect for hand sewing. I am thinking it may have fallen into the trash can I keep under the sewing work table. Hope that is what happened to it. :) I still have quite a few quilts lined up to do. 

I am traveling up to Illinois in a month or so, then hopefully to California in November to visit friends who live out there. I am looking forward to both trips. Might as well go while I can still travel, right?

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.  

A New Moniker

Hey, Y'all,
I now have been assigned a new name by little Brooke, a two year old great grand. When children are fortunate enough to have a bunch of grandmas and grandpas hangin' round, there comes the catch of what to call them, so the little ones don't get confused as to which grandma and grandpa is being addressed. So, to one set of great grands, I am Grandma Young; to another set, I am Grammy; to yet another great Grand, I am not quite sure what he is calling me, since I have not really seen him in person. 

Now to little Brook and her sister, Alyssa, they have been calling me Grandma Young. Apparently they have just spent time with another great grandma who insists on being called Grandmother. So yesterday, during my weekly visit with them, I heard Brooke addressing me as "Grandma Mother", which must be her version of "Grandmother". It was so sweet coming from her little mouth. I have always felt that calling a grandparent "Grandmother" was cold and formal sounding, but "Grandma Mother", now that is just adorable! She must have gotten me confused with her "Grandmother" since we are both ancient. (to her) Don't you just love it? 

Well, I slept about three hours and then couldn't rest any more, but since I operated yesterday on about the same amount of sleep, I know I will have to go back to bed some more in a little while. Yesterday, I very nearly completed the quilt I am working on. I have a couple of rows to finish on one section of it, then I will be putting the two sections together and binding it today. It should be ready to send off by in the morning. Yay! Got a little bit of housecleaning to do today, as well. Also, some birthday cards need to be created today. 

That is about it for now, folks.  Blabbin' Grammy, over and out. Much love to each of you, my friends and family.  Bye for now.

My Unexpected Visitor

An Unexpected Visitor

Yesterday, I had a visitor
No, I had not expected him,
And he entered quietly,
So it was a surprise, you see.

He didn't say a word, 
He was mute as he could be,
In fact he could have been a she,
It mattered not at all to me.

He appeared quite suddenly 
Upon my bathroom floor,
Underneath a washcloth,
When I gathered my laundry.

No, not a spider,
Not a little snake,
It was a tiny gecko,
Lying flat as a little cake.

No bigger than a quarter,
He ran when I moved the cloth,
And flattened himself once more,
When I became so wroth. 

How dare that little fellow
Invade my private space!
I'd certainly give him "what for"
If I only had some Mace.

Alas, I couldn't do him in,
He was too fast for me,
Would he bite me on the bum,
When I used the lavatory?

Later Carol told me,
He would be a friend, you see,
And eat up all the skeeters
And help keep me West Nile Virus free.

My contribution (if you can call it that) to the world of poetry. Ha.

New Week Ahead

Hey, Y'all,
Well, here it is Monday morning; I don't know yet about the weather for today, except it is supposed to be cooler this week than last, (only in the upper 90's), and I predict this will be a busy week, Praise God!

Don't you just hate weeks that drag along without any activity? Several things coming up this week... I began yesterday evening working on a new quilt... actually two new ones. One for a sister-in-law, and one for Tom and Teresa's daughter-in-law, who.. along with their son and grandson, is living with Tom and Teresa till they find a house of their own. 

The quilt for my sister-in-law, who is more a sister than an in-law (she has been in my family since I was four years old and I've always known her), will be finished for her birthday in November. I will be doing the granddaughter's first. I hope to have it finished by the end of this week, so I can get it to her around her birthday (or a few days after). I also have quilts in the making for three of my great grands. All cloth has been purchased for them and some has been cut. 

Next Sunday evening, I begin helping with the children's choir at church. My job will be assisting them with learning Bible memory verses that they will be saying in the musical they are presenting in late October. That should all be fun!

Laundry to do today, and the kitchen to clean up this morning after (or before) breakfast. Depends on how I feel (motivation) at that time. It is only 4:30 a.m. right now. When I can't sleep, I get up. Then later in the day, I take a nap. Ha. Or go back to bed sometime later in the morning. 

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. 

Storytelling, Again

Hey, Y'all,
Well, if you ever feel a little "down" or at loose ends, go spend some time with little ones. Yesterday was my regular time to visit my three great grands who live about ten minutes away from me. I took some little tubes of bubbles with me that we spent some time blowing. Little Brooke, who is somewhere close to two (I think) was fun to watch, pursing her lips to blow and getting the wand very close to her mouth. She wound up spilling a good deal of the bubble mixture, because she didn't realize that tipping the container with one hand while holding the wand with the other hand would cause it. 

Then I read a book called "Arthur Loses A Tooth" to Alyssa, who is 3 and 1/2. We talked all about teeth, and how we begin losing our baby teeth when we are around 6 or 7 years old, and our grown up teeth begin coming in to replace the baby teeth. We talked about the tooth fairy (some why's came in during the discussion - she loves to ask why) and I removed my upper plate of dentures -thankfully, they were clean , ha. You should have seen the look of amazement on her face. It was priceless!!! 

Her mother, Julia, and I had a good laugh. I know Alyssa will have a lot of questions for her mom and dad. Ha ha ha. Julia told me then about how her great grandmother had lived with them when she was a little girl. The grandma had Alzheimer's and would remove her teeth at the  table. They would all say, "put your teeth in, Grandma" and she would just laugh and say she couldn't remember anything and had no worries. 

I have been enjoying doing a little bit of storytelling at church. On Saturday, I provided the program for our seniors pot luck with three Cherokee folk tales. Then last evening, we had a talent show featuring mostly kids, some singing by a male trio, and a folk tale by yours truly. The pastor was the emcee. We had the talent show and ice cream in the fellowship hall. It was all great fun!

Today, I'll be going with one of my Sunday School class members to visit a former member (that I have never met) who is in a nursing home. This evening is when I get together with some of my friends for our evening meal and to play dominoes. 

Well, that is about it... I think I may begin a new quilt sometime this morning, after I put together the salmon loaf I am making for this evening's meal. I bought some Sister Schubert's dinner rolls for bread tonight. Yum!

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