What My Christmas Was Like This Year - an Essay

Hey, Y'all,
Yeah, here I am again, just like the proverbial bad penny, I always turn up somewhere. Ha.

I've been thinking about how my Christmas was this year and I am going to pretend I am back in school writing an essay on "What My Christmas Was Like This Year".

This year, we spent Christmas mostly at Carol and Daryl's home and it was a lot of fun, like it always is, but had something special added. Teresa and Tom were able to come into town and visit with us. They came from far away in Alabama and had to drive two days to get to see us. Teresa is Carol's younger sister and Tom is Teresa's husband. Tom and Teresa came to my house some too, and did some things around the house for me. Teresa and I played with my new Cameo Silhouette cutting machine and Tom fixed an inset for a sewing machine cabinet that made it possible for me to use it as a desk. (The old sewing machine had been removed from the cabinet, leaving a hole in the top of the cabinet). He also hung a picture for me that used to be over my mantle in the house where I used to live in Tennessee.

At Carol's house, we exchanged gifts (that was a lot of fun), and we ate, and we played games. We enjoyed watching the little kids open gifts and play with them. There was a lot of talking and catching up on stuff that had been happening since we last saw one another. We ate some more, and played some more games. We looked at each others gifts. We enjoyed our time together. It was over too soon. 

I loved all the gifts I received, but even more so, I enjoyed the wonderful times together that we had. Carol is a gracious hostess and Daryl is a great host, as well. The spirit of love lives on in their home.  Of course, we missed having Daniel, Whitney and their four children being there with us, but we did visit with them via Skype and enjoyed that tremendously. We loved having all of the rest of us there together.

Of course, we all missed my Dubby but we know he is with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so there was no sorrow for Dubby, just happiness in knowing that truth. 

That was what my Christmas was like this year.  

Now for a few pictures.

Quilt I made for Roman, Teresa and Tom's grandson

Quilt I made for Teresa

Cool Kids Keeping Warm

Daryl, Ben, Emily, Teresa and Tom Playing Board Game

Matt and Carol

Carol, Grammy and Teresa (Mom with two daughters)

Emily, Ben, Matt and Amy (a lovely group of some of my grandchildren)

Teresa, Tom, Carol, Daryl and Old Grammy in front

Those are the pictures that I had on my camera. Unfortunately, I didn't get pics of Andrew and Julia with their two sweet children, but I have the pictures in my head. Sorry, I can't share them with you. 


I have some wonderful memories of my church family during this season as well. We had a Christmas party a week before Christmas and had a lovely time. I also had my family come to church with me on Christmas day and that was wonderful as well. I feel so very blessed. 


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

Tender Hearts at Christmastime

Hey, Y'all,
Well, I was lying in bed this morning watching the early news (about 4:45 a.m.) and saw a story about a little girl who had called the open line to the station the other day. She asked Santa for some gifts and told how they were not going to have any Christmas this year. It turns out that she and her brother are being raised by grandma, and she  has been out of work for several months. The little girl asked for food among other things. The response was overwhelming, of course. 

It got me to thinking about how our hearts are so tender towards those in need, especially around this time of the year. It is very touching to see such stories, and I know much of it is due to the fact that many of us know what it is like to be without. We also find it sorrowful to think of those who don't have basic necessities of life, and also those who don't have any gifts for their children. 

There are those people who object to having a nativity scene in a public place on public property and want to add non-Christian objects to the scene (like Santa, or Frosty, etc. ) This happened in a small town in Texas. What is wrong with people? Don't they know that without Christ there would be no Christmas? Duh! 

I believe it is just naturally built into our hearts to want to help others. God created us and we are just naturally "programmed" to reach out to help our fellow man, if we have not succumbed to the evils of thinking only of ourselves to the exclusion of others. We are affected by the sorrows of those around us, and want to relieve their suffering. 

How long has it been since you shed tears over the plight of someone else? Did it stop there, or did you do something about it? Just asking...

It is only two more days until we will awaken on Christmas morning and get ready to exchange gifts. I hope you will have a lovely day. I have talked with Teresa this morning and they are in Arkansas and should be here soon. It will be wonderful having us all together on Sunday. I trust we will be able to visit with Daniel in Illinois via Skype. 

Well, that is about it for today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Thank you for all your prayers this year on our behalf. More later. bye for now. 

Party Time in the Neighborhood

Hey, Y'all,
Well, I have finally almost finished all my Christmas gift making. I am still working on great grandson Roman's quilt. I am still waiting to receive the binding I ordered a week ago. It is supposed to be here today by FedEx. I did get through wrapping all of the Christmas gifts that were ready to wrap. I finished them this morning. I just about ran out of ribbon, though. I thought I had purchased enough the other day, but nope. I have been reduced to scrabbling through old ribbon to finish up. My wrapping techniques leave a lot to be desired, but I think it is what is inside the package that counts, don't you? Don't you hate getting a beautifully wrapped gift and finding the inside doesn't live up to the wrapping? 

Yesterday afternoon, grandson Matt came over and did some cleaning up of viruses on my computer or at least installing a program that does take care of finding and letting me get rid of them. Thank you, Matt! Between him and Son-in-law, Tom, my two computer gurus, my computer stays pretty healthy. 

Last evening I went to Carol and Daryl's annual neighborhood Christmas party that they have been doing for the time they have lived here. This year was 23rd one, I think. There were about 25 people there last evening. (I did not do a head count, but I think that must be about how many were there). Everyone brought snack food, and if anyone left hungry, it had to be their own doing. I took a tray of crackers with some dip in the center. The dip was made of a mixture of Underwood deviled ham, Philly Cream Cheese (Cream cheese with herbs and chives) and some well-chopped pecans. Very simple and quite yummy. Of course, I took pictures and here they are. 

 As you can see, we had people of all ages there at the party.  We had a lot of fun, and did the game where you get to take someone's gift away from them if you like the one they got better than the one you got. 

Just a few more days and the old fellow with the white beard and red suit makes his way around the globe in just one night, leaving gifts for those who have been good this year. Have you been good? I certainly  hope so. 

Well, this is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Teresa and Tom will be here in a few days for a short visit. We look forward to it. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.

Busy Grammy!

Hey, Y'all,
Just to let you know that I am still in the Land of the Living....I have been quite busy making Christmas gifts for great grandchildren and am still on it. I know I have been neglecting you all, but you know how it goes when you have goals to meet. :)

I have also been doing the regular stuff, like spending some time with Andrew and Julia's two little adorable girls, going to Sunday School and Church, choir practice, etc. 

On Saturday, I decided it was time to get out and go to the Artisan Theater, so I called them and got my reserved ticket to see Scrooge, the Musical. It was really quite excellent (as always) and I sat beside a lady named Annie. I spoke with her quite a bit and also with her husband, whose name I did not get. He and I talked about our memories of World War II. Isn't it wonderful how one can meet such interesting people, if we take the time to interact?

I got to spend some Skype time with daughter, Teresa, on Friday and that is always a pleasure. I showed her what I had completed of her grandson, Roman's, quilt that I am making for him. I only had two rows completed at that time and now I have eight rows finished, with just seven to go. I should have that finished by Wednesday. I had to order binding to go around it, because I couldn't find the color I wanted at Hobby Lobby. 

Last evening, I went to see the children at my church perform a musical, and it was delightful. Don't you love to see the little ones appearing onstage? I loved it. You never know what they are going to do instead of what they are supposed to do. So cute! They did not disappoint. We gave them a standing ovation. 

Well, it is 5:30 a.m. and I have been up since 5, and it won't be long before the innards are awake, yelling for food. Ha ha ha. They will just have to wait awhile, because I want to get on with my work. I think I will just kind of hibernate today and get some more stuff out of the way. I hope to get the house cleaned up this weekend. (I can hear it shouting...."YES! YES! IT IS TIME YOU DID!") ha ha ha. I do have clean laundry to fold, floors to sweep up sewing scraps from. I do have a waste basket next to my sewing table, but somehow, all the scraps don't make it into it. Go figure!

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

I Didn't Know Nothin' 'Bout Birthin' No Babies!

Hey, Y'all,
I didn't realize how long it had been since I last posted, until I was reminded by Carol and Daryl this morning. I have been so very busy acting like one of Santa's elves (making Christmas gifts) that I just hadn't taken the time. 

HOWEVER....today is Carol's birthday and when I called her to wish a happy one, she reminded me and I said, "Oh yeah, I guess I better let my friends, and neighbors, and family that I am still kickin' up the dust." 

I wanted to tell you a little bit about when Carol was born. Her dad, Charlie, and I lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where it really gets cold, and we did not have a car. He rode to work with one of his fellow employees, and when we went anywhere else we traveled by city bus. Usually, after the first snow fell, we didn't see the ground until springtime. So, since it was December when Carol was  born, there was snow on the ground and some ice on the sidewalks. My sister, Margaret, was up in Indiana to help me out when Carol was born. She had come up the week before, so she rode with me on the city bus to the doctor's office. 

When I went to the doctor's office that morning, she told me that they were going to do a Caesarian section delivery and that I should go from her office to the hospital, which was not far from her office. My blood pressure was elevated to a dangerous level, and I was in a preeclampsia state. Carol was born at 9 p.m. that same evening, and the doctor said she came into the world crying. 

I had never been in a hospital until that time and had no idea what I was in for. The needles, the transfusions, the bedpans, all those wonderful experiences of hospital life that I have experienced in the years in between then and now. Life for me changed forever with the birth of Carol, and I learned what it was to become a mother. I still don't know much about birthin' no babies, because Teresa who came along three and a half years later was born by C-section as well. I don't know nothin' 'bout no labor pains, thank God. 

I do know about pain from surgery, however, and when I was in the hospital with Carol - Charlie, Margaret, and Harold (Charlie's brother) came up to visit the next evening and they were telling me how Harold got lost coming up there and got on a one way street. Harold was saying that he saw someone coming toward him, and shouted out of the window to them, "Get out of the way, you idiot!"
Then they looked up and saw a sign that said one way and they were the ones going the wrong way. I laughed so hard, and had to hold my tummy to keep from hurting.

If you can believe it, I was in the hospital for a week, which was not unusual for those days. Nowadays they send you home without enough time to recover. We named her Carol for two reasons: Carol is the feminine form of the name Charles, and she was born near Christmas which made her our Christmas Carol. 

Here are some pictures:

Newborn Carol with Charlie and Ruby

s

Looks Like She is Getting Ready to Say Something

From 1952 to 2011- Bennett Family

Big Sister, Carol - Little Sister, Teresa

Happy Birthday, Carol. I love my girls (and all their families). Mom.

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.

Raisin Pie Recipe and Rabblerousers

Hey, Y'all,
Well, I reckon that the weather is going to be getting cooler. The leaves on the trees are beginning to turn brown. They were pretty for a couple of weeks. I am hoping that it will be getting so cold that all the rabble rousers who are camped near city hall in Dallas will be driven indoors somewhere else. I know that a lot of riffraff has joined the idiots who are "occupying" Dallas and other cities. A lot of them seem to have the same ideals as those who were affiliated with ACORN, which is supposedly extinct. There are a number of homeless persons who have joined those in the tent city. I feel for them, but I am convinced they are just there for the shelter. It is alarming to see how they all form a mob of ranters and lawlessness. 

 Here is the recipe for old fashioned raisin pie, which came from the back of a commodity box of raisins over forty years ago. By the way, the pan came back empty after the supper last night. 


2 c. water
2 c. raisins (packed into cup)
1/2 c. sugar
3 TBSP flour
1/4 c. real lemon
1/2 c. chopped pecans
unbaked pastry for 2-crust pie


Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Bring water to boiling, add raisins; cover and cook for 5 minutes. Mix sugar and flour; stir into raisins. Lower to medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Cook one minute. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice and add nuts, if used. Let cool a little bit (maybe five minutes). Pour into unbaked pie crust. 

 I like to make a lattice top crust. I do this by cutting top crust into strips and then weave it as I place it on top of pie. 
You will need to do this quickly because the heat from the mixture will cause the crust to get very soft. Start in the middle of the crust and work outward. 


When you have placed top crust on pie, bake for 30 minutes or until crust is browned.  YUM!


Well, that is it for today. I have a lot of sewing projects going right now as Christmas gifts, so time is getting short. 
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.

Robbed at Church

Hey, Y'all,
Well, they say a person can't be real trusting of others and I guess I discovered that for myself (again) today. After Sunday School this morning, I had a need to stop off in the ladies "necessary" room. We have a traditional service at 8:15, then everyone has Sunday School. So, I was about ready to leave the church. I hate to take my pocketbook and Bible and choir folder into the stall with me, so I just leave it on the wash basin and pick it up after I wash my hands. 

Well, I decided to have a KFC snack (one piece of chicken/one side dish with a biscuit) and proceeded to KFC. I got there and opened my purse to take out my little change purse/credit card holder. LO and behold, it was missing. I thought back over the morning and realized I must have taken it out in the classroom to remove the little eye drop packet I had to take with me. (Eye drops every hour) so I went back to the church and searched in the classroom. It wasn't there. I proceeded to the back pew where I had been sitting during church - not there either. Then on out and into the rest room. There next to the wall, and on the basin sat my credit card holder/purse. With great relief, I picked it up and came back out into the atrium. A couple of ladies that are friends of mine were sitting there and I told them about my plight, and said, "thank goodness, I found it". 

I opened it then and saw my credit cards were okay, and then opened the other part of it, and saw that the cash I had in it was gone. I am not sure how much of it I had, but it was at least $40.00 and could have been as much as 60. Apparently that was all they took. I am fortunate that they didn't have time (apparently) to take my credit cards. I guess they were just after fast cash.  (I guess the temple that Jesus cleansed was not the only one with thieves and robbers, eh?)

Well, that was my little misadventure of today. I made the raisin pie last evening and am making the squash casserole after while. I have a couple of hours before I need to begin that. 

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

Still Have the Contact Lens

Hey, Y'all,
Well, it has been a few long days since I last posted. I have been doing a lot of eye drops. Three kinds had to be dropped in four times a day, and another kind had to be dropped in every hour that I was awake. There were also goggles which fit closely to my face and had to be worn at night to protect my operated eye. I have been sleeping in my recliner and not doing too badly at that. Some times when I awakened I didn't know where I was at first (disoriented, so to speak) and it took a few seconds to figure out that I wasn't in bed. 

During the day, I was busy sewing, making a baby quilt for Andrew and Julia's new baby (not here yet) boy. On Monday, Mitzi picked me up and we went to eat with the seniors at Cotton Patch Cafe. That was the last day I was out of the house until yesterday, when I drove for the first time and went to spend some time with Julia and their two little girls, Alyssa and Brooke. I got to hold them and read to them. Andrew was just getting up from sleeping to go to work. I am so glad that Julia is able to be a stay at home Mom for their children. She is a really great mom. 

I went to the eye surgeon today so he could check my eyes and have the clear protective contact lens removed from the operated eye. OOPS...not healed enough yet to remove the contact lens, so I have another appointment for next Thursday. It still is about ten percent lacking in being healed. 

On my way back from Dr. Ranelle's office, I stopped at Kroger's for groceries, and some more of the drops that I have to use every hour. I also bought a pair of sunglasses to help me see driving in the sunshine. 

Our church is having a Thanksgiving supper on Sunday evening, and that way members will be free to celebrate Thanksgiving together without worrying about getting together closer to the actual holiday. I am going to be making a squash casserole and an old=fashioned raisin pie. Yum!

On last Saturday morning, I ordered an embroidery sewing machine and it arrived on Tuesday by UPS. I unpacked it, but haven't set it up yet. Right now, I have two work tables in my living room, each with a machine on them. I still have to read the instruction books and clear off a place to set it up as I read. 

Well, my appetite tells me that lunch time has come and gone, and I need to prepare something to eat. I think I may have a tomato, mayo, onion, cheese sandwich. Chicken for supper sounds good, too. 

I will probably be sewing this afternoon. I hope to spend some time today or tomorrow visiting with Teresa on Skype. I also hope to go to a yard sale sometime this weekend with Carol. On Tuesday, I had a piece of furniture from the yard sale delivered to my home. It is a sewing machine cabinet that must be fifty years old. They removed the machine because I did not want it; I just wanted the cabinet which I will be using as a desk for my guest bedroom. It will be a good place to do my Bible Studying and teaching preparation. 


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. I would appreciate your prayers on behalf of Teresa, who is having knee surgery to repair some torn ligaments on Monday of next week. I know she would as well. Thank you so very much. Thank you for the prayers lifted up in my behalf as well. Bye for now. More later.

Recovering Very Nicely, Thank You

Hey, Y'all,
Well, I am in "recovery mode" and seem to be doing pretty well. There is some pain in my operated eye, but Tylenol works really well. Didn't really need the hydrocodone that was prescribed for pain. After all, a tough old bird doesn't really need the high pain control. Ha. Thank the Lord that I have a high pain tolerance!

I have been sewing some, but discovered last evening that since I can't really see with both eyes, I need to wait a few days before resuming a lot of sewing. For one thing, I am staying busy just putting eyedrops into my eyes. I have three different drops that must be put in four times a day, and I have to wait at least five minutes between drops. There are other eye drops that must be put in each hour to keep my eye moistened. Speaking of pains...what a pain that is! Ha. 

I have a clear contact lens in my operated eye, and that lens will be removed when I return on Friday morning to the doctor so he can remove it. If it comes out before then, I am to immediately notify them so I can get it replaced. I haven't tried driving yet, but will do so on Friday to return to the doctor. 

My repairman, Scott, will be returning sometime today to repair the leaky commode in my guest bathroom. He did a super job on the garage ceiling, and I am so thankful for that. 

My sleeping in the recliner has been going fairly well. I can sleep as much and as well in the recliner as I have been sleeping in my bed, thank goodness! 

Mitzi is coming by this afternoon to take me to eat with the seniors. We are going to the Cotton Patch Cafe for supper.

Are you coping well with the time change back to Standard Time? It doesn't make a great deal of difference to me, except for the earlier darktime. I really do love the Daylight Savings Time, though. 

Well, that is about it for today. More rest today, I guess. I need to fold clothes from laundry I did the other day, and will do that after breakfast. Right now, I need to do the eye drops. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.

Come Fly With Me

Hey, Y'all,
Well, I have been to the eye surgery today and it was not a bad or unpleasant experience. The people were wonderful at the surgery, and the doctor was really quite excellent at what he does. He is a very nice person, too.


When I went back to have the surgery (into the surgery suite), they gave me a Valium to calm my nerves and I expected to really feel the effects of it - you know that calm all over feeling of drowsiness when you are on a sedative - ha! no effect as far as I could tell. But that is okay.. didn't even feel sleepy when I got back home. They helped me to lie down on the narrow padded bed thingy, and he taped my eyelids down so they would be out of the way, and put a shield over the non-operative eye. Then he inserted a clamp under my eyelids to keep my eye open. Next he proceeded to use the laser to remove as much of the epithelial cells as he could. Then he stopped a couple of times and we went out into an examining room so that he could check the results. Then back into the surgery room to continue with the same procedure, until he got what he felt was the best results. 


He washed my eye with saline solution, and added more drops of medication, and finally put the clear contact lens into my eye, which will remain for a week. Tomorrow morning, Carol will return with me for him to check my eye, and I have three eye drops that must be used four times a day, along with eye drops that must be used every hour while I am awake. Of course, that doesn't count the eye drops that I used each night before bed time for my Glaucoma. I am going to be "dropped out" before all this is over. Ha ha. So far my eye is not causing me any pain to speak of. I do have some Hydrocodone if I need it, but will probably be taking only regular stuff for pain. 


They gave me some really cool protective eyewear for night time. I feel like I should have a scarf around my neck to protect me against the wind when I am piloting a little pre-world war II airplane. Don't I look really cool? Ha. 

Yeah, I just had to have Carol take my picture. I couldn't pass up the opportunity. You know me... Ha ha. 


Carol did the drive through thing at KFC for our lunch, and brought me home and got me settled for my lunch, then went home to fix lunch for Daryl. He is on the sick list with a fever and feeling much worse than I do, I am sure. She came back after lunch and we sat and watched an episode of "The Closer" rerun. She has really had to do a lot of running today, bless her heart. 


I thank you all for your prayers on my behalf; I am sure they helped a whole lot as always. I may sleep in my recliner for a few nights, to protect my eye, (even with the flying glasses). I don't feel too comfortable sleeping in bed wearing them. Unfortunately, I am a left side sleeper and it was my left eye that got the surgery today. 


I will be waiting a few days before working on Teresa's quilt again. I am just going to take it easy for a few days. 


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

 

KA-BOOM!

Hey, Y'all..
Well, it was another escape for me, I know. Thank you, Jesus! The LORD is good, all the time. I wasn't actually under it, but I could have been, because it could have happened anytime I was in the garage. It just happened yesterday morning while I was still in bed, around 6 a.m.

Yeah, if you read my posting yesterday, you know that I heard a big ka-whomp! and didn't know what it was when I was posting. I had gone out to the garage before posting and looked at the huge spring over my garage door, thinking it could have broken again like it did last year. But that wasn't it. So I went out to the garage again after I posted, just to look around again. I happened to look over at the ceiling of the garage and saw the big gaping hole in the drywall ceiling. GASP! Yep, like I said, it could have happened as easily while I was under it, either getting into or out of my car. The falling plasterboard grazed the side of my car but doesn't seem to have damaged it. 

Of course, after moving some of the plasterboard that was lying beside my car, I went inside and got my camera. No need to waste a Canon Power Shot moment, was there? Ha.
Here it is. 

Scary, huh?


I called Carol and she and Daryl came over and cleared a bit of it away and then Daryl called a friend of his who does this kind of work and is out of work right now. So, Scott (his friend) and Daryl came over around 11:30 and we made arrangements for Scott to do the work. He is supposed to come over around 1:00 this afternoon and work on it. He would probably have come this morning, but I have errands to run today. 


Yesterday, my friend, Mitzi, and I went to lunch at the Cotton Patch Cafe and she is going to come by for me on Monday to take me out to eat supper with the seniors. Isn't that sweet of her? We had a really nice time getting acquainted and just generally having a gabfest. It was very good.


I am working on row 7 of the quilt. It is getting a little more difficult wielding it, but I got the muscles, I reckon.


Yesterday, I got a phone call and as usual, didn't know who he was on the other end when he asked for Ruby. (me) I said, "You got her!" He identified himself as Casey from Texas Toyota where I take my car to be serviced. I said "yes?"  He very meekly asked, "Would you like to buy a new vehicle?" He took me by surprise asking me that, and I laughed and said, "I reckon not, but thanks for calling." He said, "okay" and we disconnected.  I thought to myself that I bet he doesn't sell many cars with an approach like that. He didn't even give me any kind of sales pitch. He kind of acted like the fellow on radio who was a traveling salesman on a show. He would knock and say, "Nobody home, I hope, I hope, I hope!" I don't remember the character's name. Maybe some of you all do.  (It was a radio show from the 1940's, folks).


Today, a visit to Walmart, to the Library and to Kroger's, in that order. I am going to have a sausage, egg biscuit for my breakfast and a late lunch, early supper. Which reminds me, I need to take some chicken from the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw to cook for supper. I plan to be out of the house in about thirty minutes. Lasik surgery on my eye in the morning is taking place. Thank you for the prayers that I know will be going up in my behalf.


Cold weather has hit Texas, and it is supposed to be down to freezing tonight. I am going to leave the heat off as long as it is comfortable. I have pretty good insulation in my house. Well, that is about it for Blabbin' Grammy today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.
 

Quilt Picture

Hey, Y'all,
Well, I am posting some pictures of first four rows of quilt so that those of you who are interested can view it. I am hoping to get it finished by Thanksgiving. I think I have a handle on it now. I am posting three pics. One of left side, one of right side, and a longwise pic of the four rows from the end. The final eight rows will be a repeat of the first four two times. 

I call it a zig-zag quilt. 

This morning I have been up long enough to clean my kitchen and make my bed. I have plans for lunch today, and also expect to hear from my eye surgeon's office to see what time I am being scheduled to have the lasik surgery on my left eye on Friday. My house kind of looks not too neat today but maybe by lunch time, it will look better. I will be sewing again tomorrow, and am taking today off. 

I still need to put the first pre-surgery eye drop in (four of those today and tomorrow). Also a shower is in order right after breakfast. Tonight is choir practice and supper at the church. Wednesdays are always busy. 

A big lambanging this morning startled me, and I still don't know what it was. I thought at first it could be the garage door again. (Last year the big spring broke at the top of the door and was replaced). I don't know if it was an earthquake, a car hitting something or what it was. I may never know. Anyhow, that is what got me out of bed this morning. 

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

A Sewing Grammy

Hey, Y'all,
Well, I have been thinking over the past few days about what I would like to post when I can get around to it. My hands have been busy for the last little while, working on Teresa's quilt and not really considering anyone would miss my ramblings. However, I got a reminder from a dear friend of mine that people do become concerned when they don't hear from me. (Imagine that?)

I have begun assembling the quilt and yesterday I moved the sewing machine into the living room so that I can watch the big tevee as I work. Also, I am realizing that this quilt is going to have a lot of "character". Character in a quilt is when it has flaws in the workmanship. Ha. The first strip I put together, I was not happy with the first time I stitched it together. I ripped it out twice and stitched it a third time, and still am not happy with it, but it will have to be as it is. I wanted perfect and am not getting it. I know it is because of the applique stitching around the pieces. Too late now. 

Three strips were assembled and I had pinned the fourth one when I quit at nine o'clock last evening. I did stop for breakfast, and lunch/supper. I did have some wonderful company yesterday - me and the tevee. The Lord was with me as well, as always. I did not go out anywhere yesterday and will not do so today. Tomorrow, however, is another matter. I have plans to go to lunch with a friend of mine named Mitzi. Aren't friends wonderful? I don't know her very well yet, since we just met a few weeks ago, but plan to get to know her better. 

I watched House last night, and enjoyed it again. Last season was not too good, but this one is better. I'm looking forward to seeing The Closer when it returns for a new season the last of this month. The seasons are just too short for that one. 

The weather is turning cooler and I have put my electric blanket back on my bed. Not turning it on yet, but it is ready any time the weather turns cool enough. It is supposed to be near 80 today, but turning cooler tomorrow, with a cold front moving in. I enjoy staying in and sewing, and just kind of hibernating. We are still in a drought in northern Texas, and in some counties, they have placed a restriction on watering lawns to one time every two weeks until in March. According to the weatherman, we are eleven inches behind on rainfall this year. All the lakes and rivers are down.

I reckon it is okay to announce that Andrew and Julia are expecting a little boy. (Another adorable great grandchild, and we are all looking forward to welcoming him!) He will have two older sisters, that I know will probably have a great time with him. Congrats to all of them! I love you all. 
I will love making a quilt for him, of course.

Well, that is about all the news for today. I am going to go have some breakfast in a bit. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later. (Hi, Dot!...love you!)