Cold Today - Colder Tomorrow - BRRRRR

Hey, Y'all,
My day started at 2:30 a.m. when I heard Gramps get out of bed. I thought he was headed into the bathroom, so after a few minutes, I sat up and looked to see if he was still in the bathroom. I called out to him and no answer. I got up and looked in the bathroom and he wasn't there. I went into the living room and saw the kitchen light was on. I went on in to the kitchen and saw that he had the bottle of milk on the table along with the Cheerios. He was sitting there eating a bowl of cereal. I asked him if he knew what time it was and said, "Who told you it was time for breakfast?"

He just smiled and rubbed his tummy. So I put the milk back into the fridge and said for him to come back to bed when he was through, but there would be no coffee that early in the morning. I continued on to the bathroom and then crawled back into bed and waited for him to return. He did so in few minutes.

We finished the morning by sleeping a few more hours. It was just too funny. I never know what he is going to do.

I have determined that I actually have a great place to walk and had not really thought about it. My basement will be a great place to walk and it is so handy. Mark has just had it painted a couple of weeks ago, and it is nice and clean. So in the morning, that is what I plan to do. I actually do better walking before breakfast.

ON THE Medical front: It is supposed to be in the single digits in cold temperatures outside in the morning. I didn't want to take Gramps out into that cold. I decided to call my eye surgeon and postpone my appintment. I have called and changed my eye surgery appt. to March. After I called them, Hugh called me to tell me about his appointment on tomorrow.

About Hugh: His son, Jeff, stopped by last night at Hugh's house, and apparently saw that Hugh has a leak on his lower leg near his ankle, and wanted him to see his Nephrologist, Dr, Holmes. It was supposed to be March before he was due to see Dr.Holmes. This morning, Imazo called Dr. Cox (Cardiologist), and asked if they could make an appointment for Hugh to see Dr. Holmes soon. So, they called and were able to make an appointment for Hugh to see Dr. Holmes tomorrow.

I have only been out of the house one time since Saturday evening, and that was to get the mail yesterday morning. Fortunately, we have one of those rural mail boxes, so it will hold a pretty good amount. Sometimes, I get my neighbor to bring it up for me. If that sounds lazy, too bad.

For supper this evening, I put some chicken drumettes in heavy foil, added some barbeque sauce, and put them into my crockpot. I have been smellling them all afternoon. We'll have some leftover mac and cheese, plus a small lettuce salad. Easy to make and oh, so good!

Mark brought over a plumber today to redo the pipes in the house. He will be replacing all the pipes with polyethelene (I think that is what he called it) pipes, which are made of the same material that the tubes used in dialysis machines are made of. They do not freeze or leak, and have no threaded pipes or glue.

The plumbers name is Jerry, and he will be doing the work in February. We may be spending our days when he does that, over at Mark and Allie's house. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Well, I must go and see to supper. Gramps has already come through looking hungry. Ha ha. I have almost finished Jessica's baby quilt. I will post pictures tomorrow, probably. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the day. Love to you all. Bye for now.

Mid-week In Mid-January

Hey, Y'all,

Didja ever think about how people can work outdoors in the coldest weather? Didja ever drive along and look out your car window, and see guys huddled around a car, looking at its innards, and quite often they would all be in shirt sleeves, looking macho? Then you would wonder how in the world they could stand being out there in the cold and not be cold? I have often wondered how they could do that.

Anyway, all that being said, my neighbor and his 13 year old son, have been working today in very cold temperatures closing in the back of my carport, thus turning it from a wind tunnel into a warmer place. It was about 19 or so degrees this morning when they began their work. Of course, they are warmly dressed, but in my book, it would be tooooooooo cooooooooooooold for me to even try to work in those temperatures.

Isn't that a beautiful ramp that they built to my back door. My husband has no trouble at all now, getting in and out the back door. We feel truly blest for having it. I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before I did. But anyway, we have it now, and are thankful for it.

I did manage to get down to the mailbox on the road this morning. I dressed warmly and took the hundred and twenty or so steps down to the box and then back up.

My brother went to see his cardiologist today and the dr. increased his lasix from 60 mg once a day to 80 mg. twice a day. He also had an echocardiogram, but won't get the results from that until next week when he goes back. Hugh had not been out since January 2nd and it was quite difficult for him, but he made it okay. No doubt, he probably had a nap this afternoon. I know I did, but it was in my computer chair. Ha.

I will be going to see my eye specialist on Friday (weather permitting) and get the right eye zapped with a laser to break up a membrane that developed following the cataract surgery that I had nearly eight years ago. Hopefully, it will improve my eyesight in my right eye.

Isn't it amazing how quickly this year has gotten off to a start? We are close to mid January and the days just seem to roll by. I was telling Gramps this morning that we get up, eat, do a few things during the day, and before we know it, time for bed again. The days seem to be quite similar day after day. I'm not complaining, you understand, because some days are quite delightful, and we quite often talk about happenings of the past and remember fun things that we have done.

Sometimes, we sit at my computer and see pictures that come up on it when it is sitting idle. I have it set up so that when it sits idle for about 10 minutes, it performs a slide show, and I have all kinds of pictures from years past on it. It helps keep his memory alert of things past.

Speaking of that, when I got up this morning, about 7 a.m. he stirred and said, "Are you leaving the station? How did you get out of the hamburger place?" I just said, "It was easy. I just went out the door, and now I'm going to have breakfast". I straightened his covers and he went back to sleep. Then he got up about noontime, and had his breakfast.

I think for supper I will probably open a can of white beans, make some mac and cheese, and have a lettuce salad or open a can of greens. Bread will probably be hot biscuits.

Well, I need to stop this and work on the baby quilt. I want to get it finished by tomorrow afternoon, and I can if I get with it. (Pictures later). Tanya, Brian, Kevin, and Adam left today to go back to California - Sarah and Josh headed back to California on Sunday - Rachael and Jason are on their honeymoon cruise - Jessica is waiting in Sevierville for the birth of her baby. Allie is back at work and Mark is working at home.

This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. May each of you have a great evening and good night. Love to all of you. Bye for now.

American Idol is Back!

Hey, Y'all,
Yeah, I know...You are probably not fans of American Idol...But I love watching the tryouts. All that energy...All that enthusiasm...All that youthful belief...It is wonderful to behold. Yes, I enjoy watching them sing. Some of them are really talented. The yearning is there to succeed. I am sometimes embarrassed for those who do poorly, and yes,; sometimes I laugh. One cannot help him or herself.

Well, today Gramps decided he needed a shower (thank goodness) and we got him one. Then I took one whether I needed it or not. Ha. Fortunately, it had not been but a day since I had taken one. Then Mark and Brian (his son-in-law) and little Kevin came over. Brian is an architect out in California and was measuring our basement in preparation for drawing up plans for finishing up the basement and putting in a bathroom, bedroom and family room down there.

I had a lot of fun playing with Kevin, feeding him animal cookies, talking to him, and letting him watch cartoons. He is a delightful little boy, and so very smart.

Gramps was up very early this morning, having slept most of the day yesterday, and so by 8 p.m. he was back in bed. I've worked a good part of today on Jessie's baby quilt. I hope to get it mostly finished tomorrow. She is due to deliver this next week.

Well, I need to stop for now. Time for rest this evening. More tomorrow. May each of you feel God's love and peace in your hearts. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Bye for now.

More Wedding Pictures

Hey, Y'all,

As promised, here are some more of the wedding pictures. I will identify as soon as I can post this and then edit it. Top left is:Immediate wedding party during ceremony.

Top right is complete family of bride

Next one is Jennifer and Tanya (bridesmaid and Matron of honor)

Next left is of the 4 sisters: Tanya, Rachael, Sarah, Jessica

Next right is: Mother of Groom (Drama), Father of Groom (Lucky) and best man with groomsman (I don't know names);

Next pic is of Sarah, Jon B. (singer in ceremony), Allie, and Jessica

Last pic is of the flower girl (Cassidy, daughter of groom); ring bearer (Connor, son of groom)

Well, folks that is all the pictures I am going to post of the wedding. I hope you enjoy looking at them. If you wish to see the pictures a normal large size, just click on the picture with left click and you will be able to actually see the faces and other details. Then click on blue arrow at top of browser (left blue arrow) and it will take you back to the blog.

Gramps stayed in bed yesterday until about 4:30 in the afternoon. I finally got him up and made breakfast for our supper (biscuits, eggs, ham, coffee). Then he went to bed at 8:30, so consequently, he was up at 6:30 this morning. I reckon he finally got enough rest for awhile.

I am working on Jessica's baby quilt in between uploading pictures for the blog. I am finally through with the uploading of pictures (praise God!) and will go back to the quilt when I am finished posting. We had a heavy, heavy frost last night that looked like a baby snow. We are supposed to have snow showers today.

I did get my laundry almost finished yesterday. Yesterday was one of those "in my nightgown and housecoat all day" days. It has begun the same way this morning, but I reckon I will shower and dress a little later today. (If I think it's worth it). Do you ever have one of those days when you just feel (it ain't worth doing nuthin'?)? It seems that when I know I won't be going out it just isn't worth getting dressed.

Well, I reckon I will close this one out for the day and see you tomorrow. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. Love to all of you, my readers, my friends.

Bye for now.

Wedding Pictures

Hey, Y'all,

It was a beautiful wedding...here are some pictures to illustrate that fact. I was so pleased to be given the place of honor of "grandmother" for Rachael in the wedding party. I have been rather filling that place in their lives since about fourteen years ago, when I became their "Aunt Ruby". When they moved to New Market, and we discovered that Mark and my son-in-law, Daryl, are first cousins, we became "family" and I consider Allie as a daughter, and she calls me her "Mom". Her mother and Mark's mother have passed on, and so I am probably the closest thing their children have as a grandmother.

Hence, I was escorted in and seated, then Allie was escorted in and seated next to me, just before the wedding attendants came in. It was so sweet, and I appreciated it so very much. Their family means so very much to Gramps and me.

Well, I have posted all the pictures that the site will do right now. Maybe I can do some more tomorrow morning.

My brother, Hugh, has a doctor's appointment on Wednesday, but I don't know which doctor yet, since he has three that he sees regularly.

Identification of the persons in the pictures: ALSO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW, YOU CAN LEFT CLICK ON PICTURES TO SEE THEM BIGGER, THEN LEFT CLICK ON LEFT ARROW AT TOP OF BROWSER, IT WILL TAKE YOU BACK TO THE BLOG.

top left: Mark and Rachael going toward groom,

top right: Bride and groom after ceremony

center: Mark and Allie (parents of the bride)

lower left: Mark and me

lower right: Rachaels two uncles and Mark. ( Uncle Phil, Uncle James)

As I said earlier, I have many more pictures but am having a little problem with some of them uploading. Will try more later.

This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the present. I am working on a baby quilt for Jessie's baby due this month. More later. Love to you all. Bye for now.

More Rehearsal Pictures

Hey, Y'all,

Had a pretty good night's sleep (well, as good as one can expect, I guess), and I thank God for it. I may have to take a nap today, though. I don't really feel fully awake, but it will be okay for now. If I want to upload pictures to my blog, early morning is best.

Weather is going to be cold this week, down into the teens at night. I have an appointment to have my right eye zapped with a laser on Friday and I hear it is going to be really cold that morning. The weather man is predicting snow showers tomorrow and Thursday. I reckon it is going to do whatever it is going to do. I also reckon I won't be going out anywhere until Friday morning.

I have laundry to finish today, and the vegetable beef soup we had last night was really good. I have enough left over for later in the week. We have enough food stocked back so that I won't have to go out for groceries all week anyway.

Here are a couple of more rehearsal pictures. The top one is Tanya and Brian's youngest child, Adam, who is only a little more than a year old. Tanya is Allie's oldest daughter and sister of the bride, Rachael. The lower one is the daughter of Bob and Julie, who are youth minister and wife. Bob conducted the wedding ceremony. Unfortunately, I can't remember the baby's name. Aren't they adorable? The wedding was held in our church, New Market Baptist.

Well, it is time for my breakfast, and who knows, I may go back to bed later this morning, or maybe I won't. Right now, I just don't know. However, I will be back later this morning and post some wedding pictures. I have a bunch of them and the difficult thing will be deciding which to put on my post.

This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. More later. Love to you all. Bye for now.

Rehearsal Pictures

Hey, Y'all,

As promised here are some pics of the rehearsal on Friday evening and the rehearsal dinner which followed. Tomorrow, I'll try to post some of the wedding pictures.

I had a wonderful time at both events, and am glad I didn't have to miss either.

I will have to post the rest of the rehearsal pics tomorrow because the internet is so busy now they will not upload.

Supper tonight (Sunday evening) is vegetable beef soup, which has been making all afternoon. I have been working this afternoon on a baby quilt for Jessie, who is expecting her baby girl to be born in January.

Pictures today are : (top) bride and groom (Rachael and Jason) at rehearsal dinner buffet, (2) tables set for dinner (3) Jason waiting for bride at front of church (4) Mark walking with Rachael to front.

I had a really nice time chatting with Teresa online today. That is such a pleasure for me. I really miss close contact with my daughters and families when it is not happening.

Gramps did very well last evening while I was gone. I just had to trust that he would be fine. He was munching on a left over cornbread muffin when I came in and happy as a lark. I am sure part of the reason he was happy was to see me at home.

Well, it is time for us to eat supper, so I will leave this for now. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for the day. Love to all of you, my dear readers. Bye for now. More tomorrow.