Hey, Y'all,
So far today has been really great...I was up last night until about 1 a.m. You see, I was not really sleepy when eleven p.m. rolled around...I was playing a game on my computer, with the television playing nearby, not really paying a lot of attention to it, when all at once, I realized a movie was beginning. I turned to look, and there was one of my favorite movies of all time ready to be shown. It was Secondhand Lions, with Robert Duvall, Michael Caine, and Joel Haley Osment along with Kyra Sedgwick. I had to stop and just watch the movie. There are places in the movie where one has to just laugh aloud, it is so funny, and places where it is so poignant, that you just want to cry. Of course, it was not over until one a.m. and when I finally crawled in between the sheets, I was just about ready to go to sleep.
I really slept pretty well last night, so this morning I felt refreshed and ready to face another day. That is one really nice thing about living alone - it doesn't matter when you go to bed or when you get up. There is no one to answer to, and no one to wonder when you are coming to bed, or what you are doing while you are still up.
So this morning, I made myself a pretty good breakfast, and after I got dressed for the day, Carol let me know that grandson, Ben was coming over to mow my yard for me. He was also going to take me out for lunch. How sweet is that? Mighty sweet, I would say. Anyway, he came over and we went to LePeep for lunch (mine - his breakfast) and had a lovely time just sitting and chatting about movies and other things.
When we came back to the house, he mowed the yard for me (it really looks great) and put up the wind chimes that I have been delaying putting up, because I didn't realize until this morning when I went out on the back deck that there were hooks overhead that i could use for that purpose. Now, I will be able to sit in my dining room and hear the wind chimes tinkling. How wonderful! Ben also fixed an o-ring in my water hose outback so it won't spew water everywhere when I use the hose to sprinkle flowers or water the back yard. My grandchildren are really wonderful to help their old grandma with stuff around here, aren't they? Of course, Daryl and Carol come over and help me as well. I feel so blessed to be out here where I can have close contact with all of them.
This afternoon, I guess I will spend some time working on my Bible study class on Wednesday. I am hoping to hear soon from the eye doctor's office telling me my new glasses are in and ready to be picked up. Of course, it has not been a week yet, so I am just going to have to be a patient patient. ha ha.
I don't remember if I said so or not, but the other day I purchased a ticket to go see "To Kill a Mockingbird" production at the Artisan Theater in Hurst next Saturday. I will be going alone but I am sure I will meet some interesting people when I go to see it. I may eat lunch out that day, and then go to the theatre from the restaurant. Of course, I will be taking a paperback with me to read while I eat. First I have to locate a restaurant not far from the theatre. I am sure Carol can help me with that particular idea.
Well, that is about it for today. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you, my dear friends and family. More later. Bye for now.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sneezin' Time Again
Hey, Y'all,
Didja ever do a lot of sneezing at one time? I am a master at it, believe you me! I never know when it is going to hit me, but when it does, it is an all-nighter, with drippy nose, itchy sinus area (you know back in the back part of the upper palate in the roof of your mouth). The more it itches, the more you sneeze, and the more you sneeze, the more you have to sneeze. It is terrible and if you have never had such a thing happen to you, you are indeed blessed! It has been a lifelong malady for me, and when it hits me, I am most miserable. (whine-whine-whine).
Well, anyway, last evening about ten p.m. it hit me good. So, here I was, trying to stop, and wanting to go to bed and sleep, with no hope in sight for it. Using up toilet tissue (Charmin is really soft on the nose, and I keep a roll of it in my computer room for blowing my nose and wiping drippy nose with it) and hoping the sneezing would stop. Anyway, it slowed down a little bit, and I thought maybe there would be some sleep for me. I carried a piece of tissue with me when I went to bed. Two hours later there had been no sleep, and the tissue was now a ragged piece of paper that looked like it had been through the wars, and still the nose dripped.
Up to the bathroom for a nightly visit, then back to bed, trying to sleep. I did finally get a couple of hours rest, and dreamed that Dubby and I were getting ready to get married and I looked at the engagement ring on my right hand that I still wear (after all, it is a beautiful diamond ring) and told him we could use it instead of buying a new one. He said he reckoned that was a good idea, and about that time I woke up. No more sleep and so when I finally got up about 7, I went ahead and got ready to go to church. I was really dragging, but thought maybe I could make it. I did make it for Sunday School, but decided to come home and have breakfast and then go to bed to rest. Fortunately, after a few sneezes this morning, it seemed to clear up. That is the way it usually does. Hay fever, allergies, etc. have been a life-long plague to me. (Runs in the family, unfortunately)
As refreshment coordinator for my Sunday School class, I have a clipboard with a chart that people in the class sign up to bring refreshment snacks for class on Sunday morning. That way, people in the class don't have to worry about having breakfast at home. They just wait and have snacks just before class begins. People needed to be signed up for the next four Sundays, so that was one responsibility that took me there today. I also had promised to bring some food for the Senior Group for lunch today. So, last night I diced a bunch of tomatoes, and this morning, I carried those with me as well. If it had not been for those two things, I probably wouldn't even have crawled out of bed this morning. Responsibilities lie heavy on my shoulders if I do not carry them out. It is the way I was raised and how I raised my two daughters. Promises must be kept if at all possible.
Well, after I got home, I made breakfast and a little later (after it had time to digest) I went to bed, hoping to go to sleep. No such luck..but I did rest an hour or so. Hopefully, now I can stay awake until real time to go to bed. Autumn is a time of allergies and they will be with me until winter really comes. Then there will be spring and summer to look forward to. Ha ha ha. Then I'll feel like the little dwarf, Sneezy, again. Oh, well.
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. More later. Much love to each of you, my friends and family (they are friends, too). Bye for now.
Didja ever do a lot of sneezing at one time? I am a master at it, believe you me! I never know when it is going to hit me, but when it does, it is an all-nighter, with drippy nose, itchy sinus area (you know back in the back part of the upper palate in the roof of your mouth). The more it itches, the more you sneeze, and the more you sneeze, the more you have to sneeze. It is terrible and if you have never had such a thing happen to you, you are indeed blessed! It has been a lifelong malady for me, and when it hits me, I am most miserable. (whine-whine-whine).
Well, anyway, last evening about ten p.m. it hit me good. So, here I was, trying to stop, and wanting to go to bed and sleep, with no hope in sight for it. Using up toilet tissue (Charmin is really soft on the nose, and I keep a roll of it in my computer room for blowing my nose and wiping drippy nose with it) and hoping the sneezing would stop. Anyway, it slowed down a little bit, and I thought maybe there would be some sleep for me. I carried a piece of tissue with me when I went to bed. Two hours later there had been no sleep, and the tissue was now a ragged piece of paper that looked like it had been through the wars, and still the nose dripped.
Up to the bathroom for a nightly visit, then back to bed, trying to sleep. I did finally get a couple of hours rest, and dreamed that Dubby and I were getting ready to get married and I looked at the engagement ring on my right hand that I still wear (after all, it is a beautiful diamond ring) and told him we could use it instead of buying a new one. He said he reckoned that was a good idea, and about that time I woke up. No more sleep and so when I finally got up about 7, I went ahead and got ready to go to church. I was really dragging, but thought maybe I could make it. I did make it for Sunday School, but decided to come home and have breakfast and then go to bed to rest. Fortunately, after a few sneezes this morning, it seemed to clear up. That is the way it usually does. Hay fever, allergies, etc. have been a life-long plague to me. (Runs in the family, unfortunately)
As refreshment coordinator for my Sunday School class, I have a clipboard with a chart that people in the class sign up to bring refreshment snacks for class on Sunday morning. That way, people in the class don't have to worry about having breakfast at home. They just wait and have snacks just before class begins. People needed to be signed up for the next four Sundays, so that was one responsibility that took me there today. I also had promised to bring some food for the Senior Group for lunch today. So, last night I diced a bunch of tomatoes, and this morning, I carried those with me as well. If it had not been for those two things, I probably wouldn't even have crawled out of bed this morning. Responsibilities lie heavy on my shoulders if I do not carry them out. It is the way I was raised and how I raised my two daughters. Promises must be kept if at all possible.
Well, after I got home, I made breakfast and a little later (after it had time to digest) I went to bed, hoping to go to sleep. No such luck..but I did rest an hour or so. Hopefully, now I can stay awake until real time to go to bed. Autumn is a time of allergies and they will be with me until winter really comes. Then there will be spring and summer to look forward to. Ha ha ha. Then I'll feel like the little dwarf, Sneezy, again. Oh, well.
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. More later. Much love to each of you, my friends and family (they are friends, too). Bye for now.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Really Neat Eye Doctor
Hey, Y'all,
Well, yesterday I had my first "new doctor" appointment, and I must say it was very pleasant. Very painless, too, but then, one does not expect to experience pain when going to get one's eyes checked. She is a very lovely young lady and really seems to know her business (one would certainly hope so, eh?). We chatted about her two children who sound absolutely adorable, and after we finished the eye examination, I went out into another part of the office and did tests with four different machines.
Don't you just hate the part of the eye exam (the really important one) where the doctor says, "Is one better, or is two better?" and they both look equally fuzzy? ha. It is really painful to have to sit there and try to see which is really better.
She was really impressed with the way Dr. Morrill in Jefferson City had taken care of my eyes and how he had sent just the right paperwork with me for my new eye doctor. So KUDOS to Dr. Morrill. He and his wife are two of those wonderful friends that I really miss, and believe me, I consider them friends.
I wound up at the doctor's office buying a new pair of eyeglasses, and I am hoping they will improve my present eye vision. As one gets older, one's vision does decline. It is a given.
Oh, and wait! The getting to the doctor's office was more exciting than the visit. You see, the city is working on "improving" the street that runs past the office (the side street) and thus have blocked off the right hand lane of the street that intersects the street being worked on. That just happens to be the lane that one needs to be in, in order to get to the office parking lot. I inadvertantly turned onto the side street and had to wait for traffic coming down the street I was facing, and upon which I needed to reenter in order to get there. Arghhhhhhhhhh! I finally made it. I had not known exactly where the office was, and how much of the area was involved in the transformation. Well, I made it, but not easily. It looked like I needed my eyesight fixed, that is for sure. ha. Getting home was much easier than getting in there.
Last evening Carol came to have supper with me. We had a salmon loaf, great salad with avocado in it, roasting ears, and were so full we couldn't eat the little apricot pies I had made, so she took some home with her for later. She will probably have then for breakfast this morning. Daryl is in Memphis with his fellow high school graduates from forty years ago. I hope he is having a great time. Carol is at home studying for her big test coming up for advancement in her job of health inspector. I hope she is getting some rest too. I am planning on making a run to Wally world today and purchasing a few items.
Well, folks that is about it for today. Please remember to keep Daryl in your prayers as he travels home tomorrow, and Teresa as she goes through her trials with her cancer, and we all appreciate it so very much. You can keep up with Teresa's progress by checking in on her blog, "Pickin' Up the Pieces", and you'll find the link on this page under "Other Interesting Blogs". This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.
Well, yesterday I had my first "new doctor" appointment, and I must say it was very pleasant. Very painless, too, but then, one does not expect to experience pain when going to get one's eyes checked. She is a very lovely young lady and really seems to know her business (one would certainly hope so, eh?). We chatted about her two children who sound absolutely adorable, and after we finished the eye examination, I went out into another part of the office and did tests with four different machines.
Don't you just hate the part of the eye exam (the really important one) where the doctor says, "Is one better, or is two better?" and they both look equally fuzzy? ha. It is really painful to have to sit there and try to see which is really better.
She was really impressed with the way Dr. Morrill in Jefferson City had taken care of my eyes and how he had sent just the right paperwork with me for my new eye doctor. So KUDOS to Dr. Morrill. He and his wife are two of those wonderful friends that I really miss, and believe me, I consider them friends.
I wound up at the doctor's office buying a new pair of eyeglasses, and I am hoping they will improve my present eye vision. As one gets older, one's vision does decline. It is a given.
Oh, and wait! The getting to the doctor's office was more exciting than the visit. You see, the city is working on "improving" the street that runs past the office (the side street) and thus have blocked off the right hand lane of the street that intersects the street being worked on. That just happens to be the lane that one needs to be in, in order to get to the office parking lot. I inadvertantly turned onto the side street and had to wait for traffic coming down the street I was facing, and upon which I needed to reenter in order to get there. Arghhhhhhhhhh! I finally made it. I had not known exactly where the office was, and how much of the area was involved in the transformation. Well, I made it, but not easily. It looked like I needed my eyesight fixed, that is for sure. ha. Getting home was much easier than getting in there.
Last evening Carol came to have supper with me. We had a salmon loaf, great salad with avocado in it, roasting ears, and were so full we couldn't eat the little apricot pies I had made, so she took some home with her for later. She will probably have then for breakfast this morning. Daryl is in Memphis with his fellow high school graduates from forty years ago. I hope he is having a great time. Carol is at home studying for her big test coming up for advancement in her job of health inspector. I hope she is getting some rest too. I am planning on making a run to Wally world today and purchasing a few items.
Well, folks that is about it for today. Please remember to keep Daryl in your prayers as he travels home tomorrow, and Teresa as she goes through her trials with her cancer, and we all appreciate it so very much. You can keep up with Teresa's progress by checking in on her blog, "Pickin' Up the Pieces", and you'll find the link on this page under "Other Interesting Blogs". This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Settin' 'Em Up
Hey, Y'all,
Setting what up? you ask...Well, I decided it was time to begin seeing doctors again since I am pretty well settled here in little ol' Texas. So I began on Monday searching out doctors. The first one I called said, (the receptionist, that is) "The doctor does not take Medicare patients, but here is a number you may call, who does take Medicare." She then proceeded to give me a number but didn't know what the doctor's name or address. I looked it up on the reverse directory to get more information. It turns out that one of the digits is incorrect and the number belongs to a residential address of a 73 year old man, with no doctor title to his name. Hmmmmm.
So, I began looking for physicians in the area via internet and found a group listed with a number which had only one digit difference belonging to the kind of doctor for whom I was searching. After more searching, I found a cardiologist group that would perhaps provide a cardiologist for me. I was also armed with the phone number for an eye doctor that my daughter's family uses.
This morning, I began my calling and so far have an appointment on this Friday with the eye doctor, and also with the cardiologist that I called this morning on Monday, October 18th. Pretty good for one morning, I reckon. I still have to get in touch with the elusive family doctor group which is the one I began my whole search with on this past Monday. After trying to call them several times this morning, I realized that sometimes doctors offices are closed on Wednesdays or maybe they just take afternoon calls, who knows...I will try again this afternoon.
Today is a slouchy day, since our Bible Study does not meet the first Wednesday in each month, and I am wearing my red chenille housecoat since it was a little cool this morning. Teresa would know exactly what it looks like since I have had it for at least seven years or more. It is my warmest and most comfortable housecoat.
Well, that is about it for today. I do need to get into the kitchen and wash dishes and I also need to file papers and do a few other things. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you. Bye for now.
Setting what up? you ask...Well, I decided it was time to begin seeing doctors again since I am pretty well settled here in little ol' Texas. So I began on Monday searching out doctors. The first one I called said, (the receptionist, that is) "The doctor does not take Medicare patients, but here is a number you may call, who does take Medicare." She then proceeded to give me a number but didn't know what the doctor's name or address. I looked it up on the reverse directory to get more information. It turns out that one of the digits is incorrect and the number belongs to a residential address of a 73 year old man, with no doctor title to his name. Hmmmmm.
So, I began looking for physicians in the area via internet and found a group listed with a number which had only one digit difference belonging to the kind of doctor for whom I was searching. After more searching, I found a cardiologist group that would perhaps provide a cardiologist for me. I was also armed with the phone number for an eye doctor that my daughter's family uses.
This morning, I began my calling and so far have an appointment on this Friday with the eye doctor, and also with the cardiologist that I called this morning on Monday, October 18th. Pretty good for one morning, I reckon. I still have to get in touch with the elusive family doctor group which is the one I began my whole search with on this past Monday. After trying to call them several times this morning, I realized that sometimes doctors offices are closed on Wednesdays or maybe they just take afternoon calls, who knows...I will try again this afternoon.
Today is a slouchy day, since our Bible Study does not meet the first Wednesday in each month, and I am wearing my red chenille housecoat since it was a little cool this morning. Teresa would know exactly what it looks like since I have had it for at least seven years or more. It is my warmest and most comfortable housecoat.
Well, that is about it for today. I do need to get into the kitchen and wash dishes and I also need to file papers and do a few other things. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you. Bye for now.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Pumpkin Patch
Hey, Y'all,
Today I had the pleasure of accompanying granddaughter, Julia and the two great grands while daddy Andrew got his "night's sleep" since he works at night and sleeps in the early daytime. It was great fun! Julia and the two girls picked me up here about 10 a.m. and off we went to the Pumpkin Patch at a little town north of here at a fun place called Flower Mound. There is a large three story house and lots of big open fields and it looked like millions of pumpkins spread out every where.
There were also those big air-filled slides and large cut outs of cartoon characters, little buildings, funnel cakes and corn dogs for people to munch on, and lots of hay bales spread out every where. Also there was a hay wagon hooked up to a tractor that pulled it all around the perimeter taking parents and children on rides. It was a really live, jumping place. Naturally a lot of those there were taking photo ops and clicking cameras were seen everywhere, mine and Julia's among them. :)
We met up with some friends of Julia's who had their children there and one of the children was a two week old baby. Wow! Her little son was a few months younger than two. Of course, Grandma was holding the two week old, while mama watched the older one and snapped photos. A great time was had by all of us. I noticed several day care groups were taking advantage of the occasion. What fun!
About 11:30 we left and headed back home. I had taken my cane with me so that if I got tired of walking, I could lean on it. My back does rather give me fits sometimes, so it was good to have it. We stopped at a Mickey D's on the way back for a pit stop and I picked up a couple of small fries so that we could have a little refreshment.
We were back here by a little past noon, and then I took a nap. Yeah! Sometimes I don't sleep well at night, so the afternoon nap does come in right handy. Ha.
I have posted a few of the pics for your enjoyment. Aren't they just adorable? The temperature this morning was in the upper 60's so it was just a little cool, and the sweaters felt pretty good.
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.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Memories
Hey, Y'all,
Today I am remembering birthdays that Dubby and I celebrated together. You see, we would have been celebrating his 84th birthday anniversary today, had he still been here with us. However, he is celebrating being with Jesus right now, and I am so very happy for him and a little envious, too. I do miss him, however. He has been gone from me for about nine weeks now, but it seems sometimes to be longer, and sometimes not so very long.
I remember his 80th birthday, especially, just after we had moved back to Tennessee from Florida. I had arranged a surprise birthday party for him, and believe me, he really was surprised. I had invited our good friend, Jennifer Chang, to come as well as our nieces, friends from the church, brother Hugh and his wife, Imazo, Mae, and others. Jennifer came first, bringing him a gift, and he was surprised to see her. Imagine his surprise when all the 23 guests came! We had a large driveway and used it and the open garage to have our party. The weather was perfect, and it was such a wonderful memory for us.
We quite often went out to eat to celebrate our birthdays. (That is always a great way to celebrate, isn't it?) We often had a birthday supper with Gene and Judy Rogers and her mama, because Dub's and Gene's and Judy's birthdays all come in a row. Several years, we celebrated birthdays with Allie's daughter, Tanya, who also has a birthday today. Happy Birthday, Tawny! I'm thinking of you...
We ate out with my brother, Hugh and Imazo, and Mae, all celebrating our birthdays when they came, along with anniversaries. Memories are wonderful, sometimes bittersweet, but still wonderful to have.
Church this morning was very refreshing, as always, and it is wonderful to be able to go and worship our Lord and Savior with other believers.
I had lunch today at Carol and Daryl's home and enjoyed that time with them, and after computing for awhile, took a rest in my bed. I had the pleasure of talking with Allie after my rest was over. She was going to celebrate her daughter, Tanya's, birthday with them.
At the top is a picture that Dubby would have loved. He was a dyed-in-the-wool Vol Football fan. Pictured at top is Daryl with his granddaughter, and our great granddaughter, after having watched the football game between LSU and U of TN. that was on yesterday> Yeah, Tennessee lost but Daryl and grandchildren were there, cheering them on anyway. Dubby would have been right there helping them if he had been able.
Well, that is about it for today. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you. Bye for now. More later.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Missing Jonesborough
Hey, Y'all,
The bright blue October skies in Jonesborough, TN call out to me, but I won't be there today or tomorrow, but two of my very dear friends< Gene and Judy, will be enjoying hearing the storytellers share wonderful stories with the thousands of enthusiasts who come each year.
I guess I have attended the storytelling there for at least 25 or 26 years. One never tires of hearing great yarns...funny, sad, endearing, rib-tickling, scary, all kinds of stories - that is, if they like hearing stories - and who doesn't? Many of the years, I went with my husband, Dubby, and he really enjoyed the stories, especially those of Kathryn Wyndham, Donald Davis, and others who tell the "down home" stories. Sometimes, I took my sister, Margaret, my sisters-in-law, Mae and Imazo, my friend, Judy, and many years I took my friend, Ina Ray, on a Saturday when she didn't have to work on that day.
I always buy a pair of tickets for the whole weekend, because, well, I just love spending the weekend listening and enjoying the time with friends. There is nothing like getting out early on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday morning to hear wonderful tales with a friend. There is the joy of just smelling autumn in the air, seeing all the people who come from everywhere to listen, and sometimes seeing those whom you have met previously there. There are always very interesting people that you meet for the first time as well, and carrying on a conversation with them. I never meet a stranger.
The people who arrange the whole thing (International Storytellers Association) set up five or six huge tents (like circus tents) in various places in the little town of Jonesborough which is known as being the oldest town in Tennessee, where the first full weekend of October is the time for the storytelling to take place. It is in those tents that the professional storytellers spin their yarns for us to hear. They also have Ghost Stories in the park on Friday and Saturday nights, and people bring blankets and quilts to sit upon after dark time, and may be literally scared out of their wits. I have gone to that one time, and enjoyed it thoroughly, too.
On Fridays many schoolchildren come to hear stories, brought on "field trips" to get a sampling of stories, and there is always a "youthful voices" session where young story tellers get to share. It is through competition that they get to do a story and there are only six, I believe, who get to do one. It is quite an honor to be chosen.
There are food tents where vendors can sell their wares, and downtown restaurants do a brisk business as well as little ice cream shops and antique stores. Being a small town, it can be covered in just a few minutes and on storytelling weekend, there are crowds of people anxious to spend money.
Sometimes I have been and it has rained for all three days, but does that stop people? I reckon not! We just don our ponchos and open the little umbrellas, put on the rain hats and go!
Well, do I miss not going? You bet your boots (rainboots even) that I do. My friend, Judy, told me yesterday that the weather is perfect this year. Hooray! I am so glad for them that they can go. They both celebrate their birthdays this weekend. Happy birthday, Gene and Judy! I love you guys!
My good friend, Ina Ray, and I will both be missing the event this year. I miss you and all my friends back there in Tennessee, but I am hoping to drive in next spring. It gives me something to look forward to!
Well, folks, that is about it for today. Much love to each of you. My supper is cooking right now, baked chicken, sweet potatoes, and we'll be having baked beans to go with the baked sweet potatoes and chicken. Also the baked apricot pies. I cooked the dried apricots, drained them, added sugar and spices, mashed them up good. I did that yesterday.
This morning, I took 2 whopping cans of crescent roll dough (whopping cans are those that you buy and have to unroll the outer wrap and then whop them against the counter to finish opening them) and then took each one and rolled it a little thinner and put filling in it, and added another to the top as the top crust of the pie. Hence, there were 3 triangular pies that I got from each can of dough. Not difficult to do at all.
Well, that is about it for today. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you. More later. Bye for now.
The bright blue October skies in Jonesborough, TN call out to me, but I won't be there today or tomorrow, but two of my very dear friends< Gene and Judy, will be enjoying hearing the storytellers share wonderful stories with the thousands of enthusiasts who come each year.
I guess I have attended the storytelling there for at least 25 or 26 years. One never tires of hearing great yarns...funny, sad, endearing, rib-tickling, scary, all kinds of stories - that is, if they like hearing stories - and who doesn't? Many of the years, I went with my husband, Dubby, and he really enjoyed the stories, especially those of Kathryn Wyndham, Donald Davis, and others who tell the "down home" stories. Sometimes, I took my sister, Margaret, my sisters-in-law, Mae and Imazo, my friend, Judy, and many years I took my friend, Ina Ray, on a Saturday when she didn't have to work on that day.
I always buy a pair of tickets for the whole weekend, because, well, I just love spending the weekend listening and enjoying the time with friends. There is nothing like getting out early on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday morning to hear wonderful tales with a friend. There is the joy of just smelling autumn in the air, seeing all the people who come from everywhere to listen, and sometimes seeing those whom you have met previously there. There are always very interesting people that you meet for the first time as well, and carrying on a conversation with them. I never meet a stranger.
The people who arrange the whole thing (International Storytellers Association) set up five or six huge tents (like circus tents) in various places in the little town of Jonesborough which is known as being the oldest town in Tennessee, where the first full weekend of October is the time for the storytelling to take place. It is in those tents that the professional storytellers spin their yarns for us to hear. They also have Ghost Stories in the park on Friday and Saturday nights, and people bring blankets and quilts to sit upon after dark time, and may be literally scared out of their wits. I have gone to that one time, and enjoyed it thoroughly, too.
On Fridays many schoolchildren come to hear stories, brought on "field trips" to get a sampling of stories, and there is always a "youthful voices" session where young story tellers get to share. It is through competition that they get to do a story and there are only six, I believe, who get to do one. It is quite an honor to be chosen.
There are food tents where vendors can sell their wares, and downtown restaurants do a brisk business as well as little ice cream shops and antique stores. Being a small town, it can be covered in just a few minutes and on storytelling weekend, there are crowds of people anxious to spend money.
Sometimes I have been and it has rained for all three days, but does that stop people? I reckon not! We just don our ponchos and open the little umbrellas, put on the rain hats and go!
Well, do I miss not going? You bet your boots (rainboots even) that I do. My friend, Judy, told me yesterday that the weather is perfect this year. Hooray! I am so glad for them that they can go. They both celebrate their birthdays this weekend. Happy birthday, Gene and Judy! I love you guys!
My good friend, Ina Ray, and I will both be missing the event this year. I miss you and all my friends back there in Tennessee, but I am hoping to drive in next spring. It gives me something to look forward to!
Well, folks, that is about it for today. Much love to each of you. My supper is cooking right now, baked chicken, sweet potatoes, and we'll be having baked beans to go with the baked sweet potatoes and chicken. Also the baked apricot pies. I cooked the dried apricots, drained them, added sugar and spices, mashed them up good. I did that yesterday.
This morning, I took 2 whopping cans of crescent roll dough (whopping cans are those that you buy and have to unroll the outer wrap and then whop them against the counter to finish opening them) and then took each one and rolled it a little thinner and put filling in it, and added another to the top as the top crust of the pie. Hence, there were 3 triangular pies that I got from each can of dough. Not difficult to do at all.
Well, that is about it for today. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you. More later. Bye for now.
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