A Bathroom Commode in My Front Yard???

Hey, Y'all,
This week, I had a bathroom commode replaced in my guest bathroom, (so if you come to visit, you will have a place to use..ha). On Monday, I went to Home Depot and met with the young man who did the work for me, so that we could get the new commode and get it here. So, as we were walking through the store, we started discussing the old commode and what to do with it. He said he would carry it off for me, or I could just keep it if I wanted to. I replied, "Hey, I could just put it in the yard and plant daisies in it!"  He said, "Yeah, you would soon have the Homeowner's association meeting to discuss it." Then I commented that would be nothing compared to the reaction I would get from family.

A few minutes later, I just got so tickled, I started laughing out loud. A few of the other customers kind of looked at me like I was a little looney, because I was kind of by myself, since Scott had walked on ahead of me a ways. The more I thought about it the funnier it became as I pictured the commode sitting on my front lawn with flowers growing up through the seat. Ha ha ha ha. 

Anyway, Scott carried it off, so please don't worry. ha. Yesterday, Scott came back and installed grab bars in the shower in my bathroom and the guest bathroom as well. 

Don't those grab bars look really nice? 

Well, I was able to use the grab bars this morning, and they are wonderful and make me feel so much safer while in and getting out of the tub.

I have finished Teresa's quilt (one of them) and am on to other projects during these pre-Christmas days. I have quite a few of them to do, and I reckon keeping busy keeps me out of trouble. Ha (pretty much, that is). This morning, I am so hungry for Sausage gravy and biscuits, and I need to do some grocery shopping, so I am going to Le Peep's this morning for breakfast, then on to Kroger's for groceries. 

Yesterday afternoon was spent pressing cloth that I had laundered in preparation for some of my projects. Today is Wednesday, so I will be going to eat supper at the church and then staying for choir practice. I hope to get started on at least two of the projects today during the afternoon. 

Well, that is about it for today. It has turned cool here in northeast Texas, and I have turned the heat on in the house. I turn it off just before bedtime and turn on my electric blanket. Ahhhhhh! I love a cool room and a warm bed. 

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

Thanksgiving - 2011

Hey, Y'all,
Well, I don't know who wound up the most stuffed all over America...people or turkeys...but we were pretty full when the day was over. I am sure there are people out right now, shopping like there was no time left tomorrow to do any shopping, and for some of them, there probably won't be. An interesting note...police are going to be on the lookout not only for drunk drivers but people driving like they are intoxicated because they are texting. (My computer doesn't recognize texting as a valid word...ha). 

Speaking of being stuffed, we certainly got our fill of food last evening. I tried to be very good and only had a thin slice of yummy chocolate bundt cake as dessert, and did not eat a lot of the supper, although it was very tasty. 

We celebrated two birthdays last evening because, even though it was not the actual birthdays but very close to them, it was an opportunity to do so, because most of the family was together. If we had had Teresa and Tom, and Emily and Ben, then it would have been complete. After we celebrated the birthdays with cake and gifts, we sat in the living room and told of some of the things we are grateful for. I can understand why people get depressed around holidays, because it would be so easy for me to do so. When you get together with family, you remember the ones who have gone on ahead of you. I miss my Dubby, and my siblings who have gone on, but especially Dubby. 

Here are some pictures from last evening.

Julia

Cousins

Whitney and Carol

Austin Playing Piano

Hannah Playing Piano

Proud Papa Andrew, Brooke, and Alyssa Enjoying Piano

Deep In Conversation - Carol, Daniel, Patrick, Matthew

Amy and Mama Jan (Look Like Sisters, don't They>)

Daryl, Carol and Matthew

Honorees, Carol and Matthew

Group Picture

  Well, there were lots more pictures taken, but these are some of the best. Needless to say, we had a good time. Carol did a beautiful, tasty supper with the help of others bringing some of the food. Everything was good, though. 

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

Someone I Saw

Hey, Y'all,
I never know who I am going to meet. She was sitting alone with her head resting on her arms, and she looked quite worn out. I was in McDonald's getting ready to have my usual Mickey D's breakfast and looking for someone to give my extra apple pie. I decided to give it to her. She had two rolling suitcases sitting on the floor next to her and her coat was flung across her shoulders. When I offered the pie, she gladly took it and slowly ate it. She thanked me for it and said it hit the spot.

I admit it....I was quite curious about her (so what else is new? ha) and so I struck up a conversation with her. She told me she had walked from the corner of Central and freeway 183 and had not slept much last night. I got the idea that she had spent the night there in Wal-mart and the more I talked to her, it became obvious that she is homeless. 

She revealed to me that she had once been an administrative assistant, and that her parents are both well-educated and successful and that she had laundry that needed to be done in the suitcases. It also became clear to me that she could very well have been tossed out on her ear by her parents. She said that she is following God's directions in some job that He has for her to do, and that it is a secret that she can't reveal. According to what I gleaned from her, she has some money that she uses sparingly for small meals and for doing her laundry. She appeared to be in her forties age-wise, and looked healthy enough to be working. Anybody that can walk as many miles as she apparently does, is able-bodied enough to hold a job. I told her that I guess if I were in her place I would be making a list of the jobs I could do and getting a newspaper to check the ads. That was when she said she was waiting for God's directions in the secret project that he has for her to do.

I did learn also that she is waiting to be approved for government assistance. But I was wondering how she is going to get that help if she has no permanent address. Hmmm. 

I wished her well with a "God Bless you" and left to do my Christmas shopping. This took place on Tuesday morning. 


Yesterday, my friend Wanda called me and asked if I would like to go to the Outback for lunch, and I said, "Sure!" So we went and had a great time, laughing and talking. She and I are almost the same age, she being almost a year older than I. I had a yummy filet of steak, and a baked sweet potato. 


Last evening, I went over to Carol and Daryl's and had some (a small amount) of Spaghetti and salad. Matt and Amy were there and then Daniel, Whitney and their four children arrived from Illinois to spend Thanksgiving with us and Whitney's folks as well. Tonight we are celebrating Matt's and Carol's birthdays. Getting together is what it is all about, folks, with loved ones and just enjoying the fellowship. 


Well that is about it for today. I am hoping each of you has a blessed Thanksgiving, and don't eat too much today. Have lots of good sandwiches with the leftovers. ha. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.

The Audi Commercial

Hey, Y'all,
Say, do you watch commercials? A lot of people don't, but I do. I find humor, pathos, silliness, and all the foibles of mankind in them. They are a miniscule picture of our society as it exists today. There is one that has just begun to be shown (at least, I first noticed it the other day) and it really bothers me. It is the commercial for the Audi and other automobiles in that group. A  young man arrives home for the holidays, and as soon as he enters the house, it is empty, and the parents are just taking off for the holiday in their new automobile. The father looks at the mother and smiles, saying, "He'll be just fine!" 

Now, to me, that commercial is a sad commentary on our times.  Families apart, each one going their own way, with no thought of others in their family. Thank God, it is not representative of all families, but the trend does seem to grow each year. I praise God that our family comes together instead of each going their own way. The people in the commercial are obviously wealthy. Hey, maybe that is the difference between them and my family. 


Another commercial that really bugs me is the one for Target, where the woman in red is exercising getting ready to shop, (getting in shape so she can run over everyone else to get to the Black Friday bargains) and then she screams, "IT's here, it's here!" when she looks at the sale paper. PLEASE! Give me a break!


What it all boils down to is: we are a nation of shoppers...give me, get me, I want....I got to get this or that....Oh, my I don't have my shopping done...what can I get for?....We are a nation that is the wealthiest in the world and we are out to shop and get more....do we want to look at pictures of people in the world who have nothing...who live in tents or on the streets with nothing? No, it is too uncomfortable for us to see. 


Where am I going later today? Christmas shopping... go figure. We have a Christmas Angel tree at church. I am buying gifts for a 12 year old little girl who would have nothing otherwise. It makes me feel a little better about others. The Lottie Moon Christmas offering will be getting something from me as well. I would urge each of you to do something for someone not in your family that is less fortunate than you. It will give you a measure of good feeling.


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

They Wuz Pickin' and I Wuz Grinnin'

Hey, Y'all,
Last evening, friend Joe and his sweet wife picked me up and took me with them to hear a group of country/bluegrass singers and pickers. It was really heartwarming to see and hear them. After they played the Star Spangled Banner, they ripped into Rocky Top. Now, anyone who has ever seen a University of Tennessee Football game knows that is the number one song played during a game, especially when UT scores a touchdown. During the week preceding a football game, fans get revved up when they hear it played on Tennessee radio stations. Hearing it played and sung last night just warmed the cockles of me heart. Made me feel like crying, too. Just for a bit, you understand. The group playing was honoring Decca Records who were a big producer of country and bluegrass music back in the 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's. Music I grew up on and still love to this day. Along with others in the audience, I clapped enthusiastically, cheered, sang along, tapped my feet and just generally enjoyed the whole shebang. 

Today, I am going shopping at the mall with Carol. She will be here in a few minutes so I had better close this one off. Teresa is doing well and is able to walk without pain. Ain't God Good? This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later. 

Dreams and Complaints

Hey, Y'all,
Have you ever awakened crying or whimpering? I did early this morning. Of course, I was dreaming. I remember the dream so clearly, even now. Yesterday, my head was itching from fall and winter dryness. Naturally, having been a teacher for twenty-eight years, the first thing I always think of when my head begins to itch is lice. I have never had them, but as a teacher I lived in fear of catching them. I used to have my beautician check my head when I would go in for a haircut and my head would be itchy.  

Anyway, that must have been on my mind when I went to sleep. I was dreaming that Dubby and I were in our home, and our heads began to be itchy. We discovered that a family had taken up residence in our home (we must have had a large house, ha ha) and there was a mother with three children. I thought at first that the kids had lice because they had these rough places on their heads. It turned out to be some kind of sores that were caused by allergies of some kind. But they were staying at our house, and it was meal time, and I was looking in my fridge and freezer for something to feed all of us. 

There was no meat, and when I looked for potatoes to prepare there were only a few - not enough to feed all six of us, and not much of anything else. I was beginning to feel desperate...that was when I woke up whimpering. Wow! What a dream. There was much more to it but that was the main gist of it. 

(Regarding the Occupiers of Dallas): When I was watching the news this morning, I saw that the police had moved in around midnight last night and emptied the camp outside City Hall. The city had given the occupiers notice to evacuate and some had already left. There were those who thought they had a long time to leave, so some left peacefully and about 18 others were arrested and carried off in squad cars. A huge amount of trash and a number of tents were left behind. Now there is a huge mess to clean up. Crime had begun to run rampant throughout the encampment. People were urinating in places that were not meant to be used as such. Good riddance, I say.

On to another subject: I have allergies to many things, and among them are colognes and perfumes. I can't even go down the aisle in the store that has air fresheners and detergents without sneezing and wheezing. I get the fabric softeners that are unscented. When I get close to people that are wearing perfumes, colognes, etc. the same thing happens: I sneeze and then my nose begins to drip and run. It is very embarrassing when I am trying to sing in the choir room with the other members and my nose begins to drip and I stand there trying to stop it with my finger and thumb. Last night, I finally just had to go into another room and get some tissues and blow. Then I was able to come back in and take my place again. Of course, by then I was choking up...hard to sing when that happens too. Ha.

Well, Teresa had her surgery yesterday and when I talked to her hubby, Tom, he said she was doing well (in pain, but not intolerable), so I hope I will get to talk to her some time today. Today, I go back to the eye surgeon and hopefully will get the clear protective lens removed from my eye. It is very annoying, but necessary, I know.  Thank you all for prayers on our behalf. 

I am also going to bake some "Lottie Moon Cookies" like those made by Lottie Moon, the missionary to China so many years ago. Any Baptist can tell you who Lottie Moon was. Every year we take up money to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering to help our foreign missionaries. All the money collected goes into a fund to help them with their work and none of it goes to administration of the funds. 

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. 

Hey, Y'all,
Well, last night for the first time in almost two weeks, I slept in bed instead of the recliner. I was concerned that I not dislodge the clear protective contact lens in my operated eye, because I am  a left side sleeper and I sleep quite often with my hand curved under my cheek.
I slept quite well last night, too. I had left my tevee on in my bedroom when I went to sleep and I woke up shortly after 1:00 a.m. when the power went off. I had gone to bed around 7:30 (quite an early time for me, you know.) So, I got up and walked through the house to see if all the lights in the neighborhood were off, and they were. (Yes, I have been living here long enough to walk through the house in the dark without running into anything). So I sat down in my recliner to wait for the power to come back on. It was not but about fifteen minutes till the lights were back on, and I went back to bed then. 

Today is Wednesday, which is always a busy day for me. I go to a Psalms Bible Study at Countryside Bible Church this morning and then this afternoon (or evening rather) I go eat at the Woodland Heights Baptist where I am a member, and then have choir practice. In the middle of the day, I usually am busy quilting or some other activity. I will probably trek to the library today and exchange my books for more. My reading has been somewhat suffering lately because of my left eye vision being rather blurry. It kind of messes up my binocular capabilities. 


Weather is supposed to turn cool again today. Teresa is having her knee surgery today, so please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I appreciate it and I know she will, too. 


The protestors are still in Occupation of Dallas. I defend the right of citizens to protest, but I think these people are carrying the protest too far. Many of them are hiding behind masks. I think if a person is going to protest against something, they should have the chutzpah to stand up and be counted as him (or her) self. I also think many of them are not really there to be protesting but because they think of it as a lark, and have nothing else to do. (In other words, not everyone there truly believes in the cause). A lot of criminal acts have taken place in these occupations, and a tent city like they have actually is a breeding place for criminal activities. 

Well, the minutes are passing and I need to move my self from the computer chair, take a shower and have some breakfast, then get outa here. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.