Claudia's Place

I am proud to be a Southern Lady

2010-08-02T09:00:00.003-06:00

Southern women know the summer weather report:

Humidity
Humidity
Humidity

Southern women know their vacation spots:

The beach
The rivuh
The crick

Southern women know everybody's first name:

Honey
Darlin'
Shugah

Southern women know the movies that speak to their hearts:

Fried Green Tomatoes
Driving Miss Daisy
Steel Magnolias
Gone With The Wind

Southern women know their religions:

Baptist
Methodist
Football

Southern women know their cities dripping with Southern charm:

Chawl'stn S'vanah
Foat Wuth
N'awlins
Addlanna

Southern women know their elegant gentlemen:

Men in uniform
Men in tuxedos
Rhett Butler

Southern girls know their prime real estate:

The Mall
The Country Club
The Beauty Salon

Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins:

Having bad hair and nails
Having bad manners
Cooking bad food

More Suthen-ism's:

Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them,
You "PITCH" them.

Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."

Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."

Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, as in:
"Going to town, be back directly."

Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular, sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.

All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.

Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad.

If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin'!

Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece."

They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.

Only a Southerner both knows and understands the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and Po white trash.

No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.

A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.

Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, ... And when we're "in line,"... We talk to everybody!
Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage.

In the South, y'all is singular, all y'all is plural.

Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.

Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.

When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuineSoutherner!

Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.

And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway.
You just say,"Bless her heart".... And go your own way.

To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southerness:

Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your heart!

And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff....bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language!

Southern girls know men may come and go, but friends are fahevah !

Now Shugah, send this to someone who was raised in the South or wish they had been!

If you're a Northern transplant, bless your little heart, fake it. We know you got here as fast as you could.

May God Bless you All~

God's Wings...

2009-11-02T12:59:00.003-05:00

God's Wings -A little something to put things in perspective...

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park , forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.

One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.

She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast ...because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.

'He will cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you will find refuge.'(Psalm 91:4)

Being loved this much should make a difference in your life. Remember the One who loves you and then be different because of it.

Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special. To realize the value of a friend...lose one

(writer unknown)

More pictures in today...

2009-10-18T15:23:00.010-05:00

These are some pictures my son sent today. I am posting a few of the ones he sent from their trip to New York. I am trying to get back into blogging, a little at a time. Jerrell and I are quite busy with Mrs. B as her Alzheimers is progressing. We need a full time telephone operator. Three trips a day to check on her and then phone calls until bed time makes for long days. Please keep us in your prayers. I went through a procedure last week and had my throat stretched because I just could not swallow my pills without getting choked and the same with some foods. I also have several ulcers, one of which I have a picture the doctor gave me and it is quite large, so I have as expected, lost over 30 pounds. Please pray that my appetite will come back soon. Thanks for the inquires about where I have been Clara, Marci and Sandy.

God Bless!

Cynthia, our step granddaughter, and our son in front of United Nations. These were taken two weeks ago when Cynthia played in Carnegie Hall.

Cynthia in front of the Statue of Liberty...

Cynthia and our daughter in law Silvia in Times Square...

Cynthia in front of the United Nations...

Cynthia outside of Carnegie Hall...

Cynthia outside of Majestic Theatre (Phantom of the Opera)

Some Pictures...

2009-10-17T19:07:00.009-05:00

Caroline in a wedding a week ago...

Caroline, Luke and Nick are really growing!!

Our oldest son giving his speech in China. I found the picture on Google images.

Our two sons...

C 4 C

2009-10-17T18:47:00.002-05:00

The POSITIVE results of "Cash for Clunkers":

It’s taken 95% of the Obama bumper
stickers off the road...

KOO, you were in my heart and prayers...

2009-09-09T11:28:00.010-06:00

Koo spreads his wings and takes a break in the nest. (note his left leg goes backward)

Bye bye KOO...Death of the Bird by Alec Derwent Hope

For every bird there is this last migration;Once more the cooling year kindles her heart;With a warm passage to the summer stationLove pricks the course in lights across the chart.

Year after year a speck on the map, divided By a whole hemisphere, summons her to come;Season after season, sure and safely guided,Going away she is also coming home.

And being home, memory becomes a passionWith which she feeds her brood and straws her nest,Aware of ghosts that haunt the heart's possession And exiled love mourning within the breast.

The sands are green with a mirage of valleys;The palm tree casts a shadow not its own;Down the long architrave of temple or palaceBlows a cool air from moorland scarps of stone.

And day by day the whisper of love grows stronger;That delicate voice, more urgent with despair,Custom and fear constraining her no longer,Drives her at last on the waste leagues of air.

A vanishing speck in those inane dominions,Single and frail, uncertain of her place,Alone in the bright host of her companions,Lost in the blue unfriendliness of space.She feels it close now, the appointed season;The invisible thread is broken as she flies;Suddenly, without warning, without reason,The guiding spark of instinct winks and dies.

Try as she will, the trackless world delivers No way, the wilderness of light no sign;Immense,complex contours of hills and rivers Mock her small wisdom with their vast design.The darkness rises from the eastern valleys,And the winds buffet her with their hungry breath,And the great earth, with neither grief nor malice,Receives the tiny burden of her death.

Unedited text and picture was with text.

This crippled osprey in a nest in Finland amazed me with his disability of having his left leg being broken in the knee and was more of a hindrance than any benefit. He tried and showed his sisters that he too could learn to stand, eat and fly just like they did. Rules are so different in different countries. When Koo was banded, something should have been done then, possible surgery at that young age. I timed Koo many time when he flew off the nest and his average was 1 minute and the maxium time was 4 minutes. As it gets dark in Finland at 3 pm EST, I was watching one afternoon and Koo flew off which concerned me as I had never seen him fly at night. He did not return for 16 hours and I thought since he only stayed at the nest for 30 minutes he was going to be fine. Instead Koo flew off the nest and after 30 hours of not seeing Koo, I became concerned. He left the last time on a Tuesday and on Saturday according to newspaper article in Finland, Koo was found in a ditch by a hunter and was taken to the local Zoo hospital. For whatever reason, it was to be 09-09-09 before Koo could even be xrayed. Today Koo was driven two hours to the vets office and assisted by another vet. The very next news was that Koo was gone, they chose to euthanize Koo. Koo would have been fine in the zoo and used for educational purposes. I never imagined crying over Koo, but this literally tore my heart out since learning how wonderful many of the things in wildlife interested me. I am very upset that Koo could not have continued being a lovable bird even in captivity. I told Jerrell I cannot take this anymore, having to worry through Tiny falling from the nest, Bandit fledging early due to a huge limb breaking in his nest tree. Losing another bird that got tangled in her mother's feathers, the mother desperately trying to get her loose in human ways seeming very unconventional. Had she waited til Dad got back, his sharp beak could have cut the feathers and saved Echo. I never watched that nest again. During the time of watching the cams ( 4 months) I lost 30 pounds and began having hair loss, both of which my doctor attributed to stress and diet.

Sorry for the long post, but this is my tribute to my Koo, who gave me so much joy and never let his handicap stop him, but when in the wild, he just could not catch his food and no way to eat on a branch with only one leg. Bless all wildlife, pets, etc. How can people think there is no God????

God Bless

Watching this should make us all proud...

2009-06-19T10:38:00.004-06:00

I have for a good while been watching Eagle cams. I have caught a couple as the parents were brooding and waiting for the eggs to hatch. I have seen many hatch and there is a baby eagle of which I immediately become attached to. One nest had 3 eggs and I am especially attached to the runt. It is nature at its best. It also has it tragedies, one was lost by falling out of a not very well built nest built by new parents. The other somehow got wrapped around the mother's leg and after trying to get the chick loose, the panicky mother flew from the nest and the baby came loose. I have followed some to fledging and the cams do well to keep up with them once they leave the nest. Currently I am watching Sutton, Sidney, Norfolk Botanical Gardens and Delta.

You can see in the video how beautiful they are and why I have become, along with thousands all over the world, interested in these precious birds and the struggles they have to survive. Thanks for letting me share this with you.

God Bless!

Checking in...

2009-05-20T15:28:00.006-06:00

I do not feel like correcting this, nor do I know why the pictures are not side by side as I had placed them so please overlook me. I will try to do better next time.

I am soooo late in putting anything on here, I am ashamed. I have had a couple comments asking about the twins. These are the most recent pictures, I got them yesterday. One smiles in one picture and the other smiles in the other. Caroline is still thrilled with her "little" brothers. Nick is on the left and Luke is on the right. She helps her mom a lot with the boys.

Nick is fighting a nasty cold and has right much congestion so hoping that will begin to clear soon. Stephanie is quite busy as you can imagine, but handles it with laughter and happiness and grabs her a nap when she can.:) She always says how blessed she is to have these three.

Mrs. Bunting is getting to a point that Jerrell is beginning to think of what is best for his mother at this time. She only does two things a week, get her hair done and go to church "if" she is not draggy and most of the time she is! She is still excellent at working a telephone. Some evenings up to 10:00 we get calls to see what day it is and if she gets her hair done tomorrow and it is only Monday or Tuesday and her appointment is on Thursday. I just tell her to look on her clock on the mantle and it will tell her what the day is. I do help by taking turns with the phone calls.

Some things are comical, but over all, it is stressing Jerrell to the hilt.

I talked with Paulette today and she has bought a house at the beach and will be moving sometime in June when she closes on the house. She is my best friend and I will miss her, but she is happy with her decision and she has good doctors down there as she had her last heart failure while she was down there and found they had as good or better facilities and machines than did the hospital at home. She can also get her defibulator checked down there and not have to drive back to Concord. Remember her in your prayers that she won't overdo it with the packing and all involved with moving. I assure you, she will still read her regular blogs, she so much enjoys them.

Didn't sleep much last night and we went looking at cemetery lots and

mausoleums today and I am literally worn out. I will try to put something up here more often than I have recently. Love you all.

God Bless!

Love, love and love...

2009-01-19T19:35:00.008-05:00

"See, I am number 1"...

"So I am number 2"...

"I am so happy to help Mommie feed Nick and Luke"...

At this point, I do not know which one is which. Steph says when she is feeding one, she has to think "which one am I feeding"? More later.

God Bless!

Luke and Nick

2009-01-15T11:46:00.008-05:00

I am slow. So sorry I have not gotten some pictures up sooner. The first three pictures are made in the hospital. They were born on January 5th and came home on the 7th and both are doing well, as is Steph. The last two pictures were made at home on week 2.

I will make this short. I have an appointment soon. Hope you all are doing well and I will be back soon. Love you all.

God Bless!

January 5, 2009 - Luke & Nick

2009-01-05T18:59:00.002-05:00

The boys, Luke and Nick are here! Stephanie and the boys are all doing fine! Steph called me this morning and she was looking so forward to going to the hospital and waiting for 2:30 for the boys to arrive. She was so excited because today was the day since she has had such a painful and tiring 9 months.

David called about 30 minutes ago and told me that all went well with the surgery and Steph and both the boys are doing wonderful. He had come home to get Caroline and take her to the hospital to see her little brothers. I know the 5 of them will have some bonding time tonight. I am so happy and wanted to let you folks know that they are finally here.
Baby #1 weighed in at 7lbs. 3oz. and 20 inches long.
Baby #2 weighed in at 7lbs. 2oz. and 19 1/4 inches long

We all are thankful that things went well and both the boys are healthy and Stephanie hopefully will get some broth soon, as she was starving this morning when she called. I will of course post any pictures as I get them. Right now I am just thrilled and thankful that everything went so well. Take care all and I will be back and post when I can.

God Bless!

Oh no....

2008-12-23T14:53:00.001-05:00

This is exactly NOT the way it showed when I wrote this and added the pictures. I think you can figure it out. I guess it has been too long, I have forgotten what little I knew. :)

Happy Holidays..

2008-12-23T13:45:00.002-05:00

I will by no means even attempt to try to catch up on all the news. So much has happened and is still happening that just does not allow me to to blog very much. It is the time of year that family and friends are on the minds of most, therefore I wanted to come here where so many of my friends that I care deeply for come by occasionally.

As for me and Jerrell, we are doing very well and we are quite blessed and thankful for everything ,even the worries over Mrs. B, the Lord has given us the strength to give her the attention she so desperately needs at this time in her life. She is still living alone and as of this moment Jerrell does not see the need for any changes to be made which would be totally against her will. We also recognize the fact that "soon" we have spoken of is becoming more of a reality than we like to think it is.

Our sons are both doing well. Kevin will not be in this year, but fortunately Jeff lives close enough that he will be home and he does come every two weeks as well. Kevin is faithful to call us on Sunday nights to check on us and will call again on Christmas Day. He recently had an International Meeting in China for two weeks and he called us 5 times from China. I picked two of the 300+ pics that he made.

Stephanie is doing ok right now. She has had such a rough pregnancy with the boys and so much pain in her rib area. As of her doctor's visit yesterday she is going to be home for Christmas, which she so wanted to be. The tentative due date for Luke and Nick is January 8, 2009 unless she should go into labor before, then the c section would be done at that time. Caroline is so excited about her brothers and I personally think she will be a mother hen to them. Stephanie has been very concerned about me since my colitis has come out of remission and the pain and weakness it creates just makes me pretty much useless, but I do appreciate her love and concern about me.

I will post a few pictures if I can remember how...

Kevin at Tiananman Square Kevin in front of the Bird Nest

Stephanie and Caroline David and Caroline

May you all have a wonderful Christmas and all a Happy New Year.

God Bless!

minds of their own...

2008-09-30T11:26:00.005-06:00

When you take a three year old to the Fair and the Dad wins a stuffed animal; sure you let the little one pick out the one they want, right? Well as you can see Caroline did just that as you can see in the picture on the top. The problem was what to do with it when they got it home.

Caroline had a big ouch on her face when one of the dogs she was leading got in a hurry and pulled Caroline down. A small wound is showing a little in the other picture but will tan over and never know that little eye was swollen shut. They bounce back, so unlike us old folks do.

I know you are shocked to see that I am here, but I really have been busy. I will catch you up on some of the things I think you might be interested in. Stephanie is now a few days over 6 months to the due date. I am in the baby pool and I chose Christmas Eve as it is a feasible date since she will have a C section and Christmas Eve will also be the 41st wedding anniversary for Jerrell and I. She has found that carrying twins is much different than carrying one. She will be delighted for these two boys to be here and so will Grandma Claudia.

My friend Paulette has had two bouts of heart failure and both happened while at the beach. She now has a fine team of heart doctors down there as well as at home. This last time they put in a defibulator and having just talked to her the other day, she is feeling better and getting her strength back. Please keep Paulette in your thoughts and prayers.

Mrs. B is getting somewhat worse, but is still staying at her home. She is just not to the point of coming here to stay at this time. Jerrell is still going down there three times a day, going to the grocery store for her, picking up her meds, etc. I can see that this is taking a toll on him, physically and emotionally.

Both sons are doing great. The oldest will be going to China in a week or so for a meeting and will stay for two weeks. He has to give two different talks at the stem cell meeting . The youngest son will be attending a wedding in two weeks for a couple that he introduced. However, he is not dating anyone at this time. The girl he was dating that moved to California will be in town for the wedding, but it is impossible to have a cross country relationship.

As for me, I am doing well. I do not get out except with Jerrell's help we go to the grocery store. The buggy helps support me enough that I can walk throughout the store. The last time I went shopping which was well over 6 months ago just about did me in, so as much as I have always enjoyed shopping or just looking, I am no longer able to do that so I find that ordering online works out fine for me. I also quit going weekly to get my hair done at the salon. I do it myself which is very tiring and it certainly does not look as good. I will however go for haircuts and highlites when needed. I miss the fun and laughter we all had on Thursday afternoons!

I told Steph that I thought in my prior life that I might have been a convict because of my interest and enjoyment in live trials and how our legal system works. I am currently watching the OJ Simpson trial in Las Vegas. Closing arguments should be Thursday. Also the Phil Spector trial II is going to allow cameras in the courtroom and that comes up the latter part of October. I am very involved and interested in the Caylee Anthony case in Orlando Florida. The missing 3 year old still has not been found. I do not expect a happy ending in this case.

Thanks ALL for the comments and I do still read all the blogs of all my friends. I do not always comment, but I try to do that first thing in the morning and keep up with what is going on. Grammie, congratulations on the latest addition to the family, she is another beautiful little girl. You are truly blessed!

I have much more to tell, but will save it for another post. Hope all of you are doing well and will update again real soon.

God Bless!

some great news!...

2008-06-16T08:31:00.002-06:00

Things are going pretty well around here. We are trying to stay cool as are many others. The temperatures here have been really high and along with the humidity, it has kept me in the house.

I had a tooth to abscess a couple weeks ago and of course had to take antibiotics to clear the infection up. I got really upset with my dentist because he did not do the root canal on my next visit, instead I was scheduled for Friday the 13th and of course it abscessed again before I finally got the root canal done this past Friday.

Jerrell and his mother are both doing well. Things are going smoothly around here. Just not lots going on to blog about lately. Until.....

A couple months ago Steph told me that she and David had decided to make an addition to their family, so the IVF process began. She has been at the beach with families for two of the last three weeks and the week she was home which was week before last, she and Caroline came over and visited us for the day. She had hoped to have a songram picture for me, but the doctor changed plans to do it on Friday instead of the previous Monday. Since boys were inserted, we knew it would be a boy this time!

She was leaving the day after seeing the doctor for the beach for the week so she said it would be a late email but she would email and let me know what the doctor said. It was the first day of my second week of the throbbing tooth, so I shut down the computer early that night. The next morning I checked my email and got the news, I immediately tried calling Steph but could not reach her at home or on her cell. Later in the morning she called me from the beach. She was still thrilled and shocked as the sonogram picture that she sent to me and explained was a picture of TWO little boys!!!! So Caroline will be having two little brothers and I am very happy for Steph and David and like David, I had felt like it would be two this time! Steph is of course having lots of morning sickness and already getting a little tummy, but just thrilled and thankful.

I talked to her briefly on the phone yesterday as they had just gotten back from the beach earlier yesterday. She sent me some pictures of Caroline and I will share this one with you.

Caroline goes around saying "two boys, two boys". She is tickled about these little chaps as her Dad calls them. We are very happy for them and of course are looking forward to the arrival of the little chaps!

While I was having the tooth problems, of all things I had to fall. I fell about 5:00 one morning and hit my head so hard that for the first time in my life everything went black and I saw white dots and shooting white lines for what seemed like minutes. I hollered so loud as it hurt so bad and I had a terrible headache all day. Also my neck hurt for days I guess cause my head bopped up and down on the floor. I went to sit down down on the bed and I guess the bed moved and the next thing I knew I was on the floor. :) Getting older is not fun yet. I am still waiting for things with my health to get better but I have not gotten there yet. With all things considered I am blessed and I know I am a failure at blogging, but as I have mentioned before, most days I just do not feel like it and rarely getting out, I really do not have much to share with you folks. I am still reading blogs as I can never forget any of you and I will pop a post here as I can. I hope you all have a great day and I shall return...

God Bless!

another tired day...

2008-04-21T13:26:00.003-06:00

I am just not a good learner apparently. After Jerrell took me shopping last week and it tired me so bad and he and I seeing just how bad my back and breathing is; nothing would do me but get Jerrell to take me back again today. We did go here in town rather than out of town this time. I had gotten some money from three different people for my birthday and I guess it was just burning a whole in my pocket! I really thought just two stores and it not being too crowded on a Monday I would fair better, but that was not the case. As before, Jerrell was better at finding my size and what I like better than me. I did find a pair of capris before I had to get home. I do not plan on doing that again. I will just have to shop online.

I had such a good time with Stephanie and Caroline when they visited last week. Caroline had grown since I had seen her last and is making complete sentences, it just fascinates me at how well she talks. She is also potty trained now and has been for a while. She is such a big girl .
Here is a recent picture of she and her dogs, Maggie and Gracie. They are big and hard to lead, so when she comes here she loves to go outside and she takes the leash and walks Roxy! She will walk her til Roxy's tongue is hanging out..

I had a telephone call while I was posting this, so I am going to make this one short today. I hope you all have a good weekend.

God Bless!

catching up...bit by bit...

2008-04-18T07:32:00.004-06:00

I have so much to tell since I have taken a blog break that I will just have to pick up where I am now. I do have many new pictures but of course cannot post them all. I really want to figure out how to make the pictures smaller, yet viewable.

My overall health and not feeling well is and was my main reason for not posting. Many times I would come and sit down and draw a blank as I am sure many of you have, so I just decided to leave it for a while- which I did. It is certainly not that I am too busy some days or that nothing is going on in my life, exactly the opposite. We are much busier with Jerrell having retired the first of February and he has been such a help and a blessing to me. He has stuck with me for 40 years and I can truly say we are closer in our older age than ever before it seems. I try so hard not to take him for granted and thank him for all he does for me and always let him know I appreciate him.

I sometimes neglect to share my oldest son, Kevin and his family with you all and because of his job I have to be careful not to mention names, work places, etc. His name is on the internet only in professional and work related articles, book and journal entries, etc. However, I can share some things. They both do extensive travel, both in the US and other countries. They recently spent spring break in Puerto Rico, along with my daughter in law's parents. I am posting a few pictures as it is a beautiful place. They have asked and tried to get Jerrell and I to go on a cruise or visit some place, but neither of us feel like our health will permit it. Also, Jerrell just refuses to fly again and riding is one thing that I just cannot do, therefore we are even unable to vist them in Ohio.

This is my son, daughter in law, step granddaughter and my daughter in law's parents in San Juan.

This is a beautiful view of El Morro with the ocean in the background.

Speaking of pictures, somehow I found a way to break my camera. I cannot get the screen up that is "to take pictures". I think it is too complicated for me and in trying to fix it, I clicked on just too many options. I have my camera phone that my neighbor gave me a cord to use to upload them from the phone to the pc and she also loaned me the software to download to make it possible. I have decided I am just not a good picture taker. Our azaleas are just beautiful so I went outside and took a picture and had my finger over half of the "eye" and therefore only had half a picture. I will practice some more. :)

I have got to get dressed and Jerrell and I have to go to the grocery store, so I will stop for now.
I hope you all have a great day and I hope it is a pretty day where you all are as it is here today!

God Bless!

my day...sorta

2008-04-17T16:30:00.006-06:00

I am here to share a piece that touched my heart. I received this today and it especially touched me. This being my 64th birthday I felt totally blessed anyway and after reading this I wanted to share with as many folks as I could. Thanks to Grammie I have felt inspired to post to my blog although I have been very busy this week. I had a doctor's appointment on Monday and had some bloodwork done. Yesterday the doctor's office called and told me I was dehydrated. I am constantly drinking something, usually bottled water so I was a bit surprised. I was blessed with Steph and Caroline coming over on Tuesday. We went out for lunch and came back and Caroline enjoyed walking Roxy. On Wednesday my best friend Paulette came over and took me to lunch, so I have had a wonderful but tiring week. I want to thank Marci for the pretty birthday card I received in the mail and for all she does for me and for all she means to me, I love you. Also my thought and prayers have been with Clara and I am so thankful they have her cancer under control. And to my wonder friend from Texas, Connie I appreciate your emails and prayers and I love you my friend from Texas.

Robby's Night True Story Worth Reading !!!

At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music teacher from Des Moines, Iowa. I've always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons-something I've done for over 30 years. Over the years I found that children have many levels of musical ability.. I've never had the pleasure of having a prodigy though I have taught some talented students. However I've also had my share of what I call 'musically challenged' pupils. One such student was Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single Mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys!) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano. So I took him as a student. Well, Robby began with his piano lessons and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavor. As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed to excel but he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary pieces that I require all my students to learn.Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he'd always say, 'My mom's going to hear me play someday.' But it seemed hopeless. He just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped in.Then one day Robby stopped coming to our lessons .I thought about calling him but assumed because of his lack of ability,that he had decided to pursue something else. I also was glad that he stopped coming. He was a bad advertisement for my teaching! Several weeks later I mailed to the student's homes a flyer on the upcoming recital.. To my surprise Robby (who received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital.? I told him that the recital was for current pupils and because he had dropped out he really did not qualify. He said that his mother had been sick and unable to take him to piano lessons but he was still practicing 'Miss Hondorf, I've just got to play!' he insisted. I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital. Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was something inside of me saying that it would be all right. The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, friends and relatives. I put Robby up last in the program before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my 'curtain closer.'Well, the recital went off without a hitch. The students had been practicing and it showed, then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked like he'd run an eggbeater through it. 'Why didn't he dress up like the other students?' I thought. 'Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?'Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo. From allegro to virtuoso. His suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people his age.After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo and everyone was on their feet in wild applause.Overcome and in tears I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. 'I've never heard you play like that Robby! How'd you do it? 'Through the microphone Robby explained: 'Well, Miss Hondorf, Remember I told you my Mom was sick? Well, actually she had cancer and passed away this morning and well. .. She was born deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play. I wanted to make it special.'There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into foster care, noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy and I thought to myself how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil.No, I've never had a prodigy but that night I became a prodigy . . Of Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the pupil for it is he that taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone and you don't know why.Robby was killed in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995.

just dropping in...

2008-02-21T12:27:00.003-05:00

We have been so busy for the last few weeks. Jerrell has been retired for 3 weeks now and you would think that with retiring things would slow down, but getting all these medicare plans and supplements and prescription plans takes some thought and some time.
He qualifies for all three, but I am unable to get a supplement until I turn 65 and I will be only 64 this April.

It sure has been nice having Jerrell at home. We seem to go more and do things together and that is good for me to get out of the house some. He is getting used to me being on the computer alot. Since he does not have any use for one, it is hard for him to relate to the amount of time that I stay on it.

Our youngest son Jeff will be home this Sunday. He missed a Sunday because he went to California for several days to see a friend he had met in Charlotte and dated for a few months before she was transferred back to her home town in California. He enjoyed the visit and got to see alot of sites. He flew into Burbank as that is where she lives, but got to see LA and other places. I am posting two pictures from his trip. I love the palm trees in the background. Reminds me of our South Carolina beaches here.

This one is Jeff and Rosalie in LA but I do not know exactly where. The one below is of Jeff.

I do not know why these pictures turned out so big; I have totally forgotten what I have learned from blogging. If you do not use, you do forget!

In reading some of my regular blogs, I have noticed that many people were giving their reasons for blogging and the reaction of those that know nothing about blogs and I found it interesting that we all seem to have the same purpose in blogging. For the friends I have made through this blog is something that will always stay with me. Many of you I email with and we have gotten to know each other that without the blog, we would never have met. I thank you all for what you mean to me. You have been here for me when I needed someone and all seem like a blog family to me.

Will have to make this one short, I have an appointment in a little while, but I did want to blog and let you all know that all is well and I am still reading your blogs, but have fallen behind in my blogging. I hope you all have a great day!

God Bless!

a nice day...

2008-01-28T15:27:00.001-05:00

Stephanie took Caroline to the mountains to ice skate last Monday. I have missed posting Halloween and Christmas pictures. I am bad...

A comment from a dear friend and fellow blogger Marci led me to begin this blog. Thanks Marci! I do not know how far I will go or what I am going to say, but I know I have missed you all. Our home seems to be filled with burdens and our plates are full right at this time . I will also admit that I am in a real low point in my life that only time and faith that God will take this burden from us and give us grace to accept what results come about. However, I do still have the light of my life, Caroline, to bring me joy and make my heart flutter when she hugs me and tells me she loves me. She will be having a birthday February 1 and will be two years old! Oh, I must also congratulate Grammie as she is expecting another grandchild. She is to me the perfect grandmother and I wish the family the best with the upcoming new addition.

Jerrell has only 3 more days to work, then he will be officially retired. He is going to have to renew his old hobby of woodworking or he is going to be terribly bored. I have tried to get him interested in the computer and he absolutely has no desire to touch one. And you all know there is hardly anything to watch on tv anymore. Keep getting more channels added and still nothing. Which reminds me, our television bit the dust and the days of going out and buying a tv, bringing it home, plugging it up, turning it on, is over! Since we had a 35" picture tube tv, we did at least want something a little bigger. We liked our Mitsubishi so good that after looking at many, many other ones, we settled on a widescreen LCD Mitsubishi. What a lesson did I learn. We upgraded with our cable company to get the digital receiver and within less than two weeks, we had a service tech out here 7 times. I have watched them reboot and refresh that I am now qualified to be a cable tech! I do not call now, I just reboot and I even know how to do it two different ways :) We have for the past two weeks been able to enjoy watching it after what we hope is that all the kinks are removed. The main cable line into the tv was small as it was the cable line put in many years ago. The knitwit tech, instead of cutting the tv cable line, he cut my computer cable line and tore out our telephone lines, so he had two cables to replace and we had no phone service. Jerrell did run the phone line until he found where BIGFOOT must have caught his foot and pulled the wires out, so Jerrell fixed that without a service call having to be made for the phone and without Time Warner getting a bill for it!

Mrs. Bunting is still staying at her house at this time. She fairs ok so far, but calls us several times a day. If we bring her up here, she may stay an hour and she is ready to go home. She complains about having nothing to do, but will not agree to come on up here and live with us and believe me, we have some kind of action all the time. No time to be bored around here. Jerrell brought her up here Saturday night to eat fish with us and just as soon as she finished eating, she asked Jerrell to take her home. I realize there is no place like home and she will stay home just as long as she can. As her condition mentally is getting worse, it proabably will not be long until she will have to come.

Time for me to get some supper started. Hope you all are doing well. Take good care.

God Bless!

so now I know...

2008-01-05T15:22:00.000-05:00

SPECIAL POEM

A row of bottles on my shelf
Caused me to analyze myself.
One yellow pill I have to pop
Goes to my heart so it won't stop.
A little white one that I take
Goes to my hands so they won't shake.
The blue ones that I use a lot
Tell me I'm happy when I'm not.
The purple pill goes to my brain
And tells me that I have no pain.
The capsules tell me not to wheeze
Or cough or choke or even sneeze.
The red ones, smallest of them all
Go to my blood so I won't fall.
The orange ones, very big and bright
Prevent my leg cramps in the night.
Such an array of brilliant pills
Helping to cure all kinds of ills.
But what I'd really like to know...........
Is what tells each one where to go!

There's always a lot to be thankful for if
you take time to look for it. For example
I am sitting here thinking how nice it is
that wrinkles don't hurt...

where did the year go?...

2008-01-01T18:12:00.000-05:00

Suddenly it is December......again - and we realize that with giant strides we started in January and within a blink of an eye, 2007 is on its back!

A big 'Thank You' to each and everyone of you, for the huge impact you had on my life this year. Especially for all the support and e-mails I received.......without you, I'm sure that 2007 would have been extremely boring.

From my side I wish you all a magical Festive Season filled with Loving Wishes and Beautiful Thoughts.

May 2008 mark the beginning of a Tidal Wave of Love, Happiness and Bright Futures.

And to those who need someone special, may you find that true love.

To those who need money, may your finances overflow

To those who need caring, may you find a good heart

To those who need friends, I am still here for you .

To those who need life, may you find GOD .
Thanks for being my friend!!

God Bless!

Merry Christmas!!!

2007-12-23T09:45:00.000-05:00

Partridge in a Pear Tree

Did you know this?

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? Today, I found out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember. - The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish."

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone.....

oh where is she?.....

2007-11-30T14:22:00.000-05:00

I do not know why this picture is so big, nor do I know how to correct it. I am not too familiar with Photobucket. :)

I am here and I am well. Thanks to all that took the time to inquire and check on me. Things have been busy and just moving right on around here.
I flat missed posting Caroline dressed for Halloween and then came Thanksgiving and a blessed day that was. Our oldest son and his family did not make it in, but they will be here for Christmas.

Jerrell's mom is getting so much worse, I don't even know what to say. The doctor did tell Jerrell last week that she did have Alzheimer's disease and soon she will have to come stay with us. She has always been such an independant person that she just refuses to come right now. She does not want to impose on us and says she wants to go to a nursing home which makes no sense at all to me.

Stephanie, David and Caroline spent the week of Thanksgiving at Disney World. On Saturday before they left on Monday, they came by to see us. It was our first time meeting David and he is all that I expected him to be. A wonderful young man and just as nice as can be. Very, very tall and slim. We were so pleased to have him in our home and get to meet Caroline's dad. They are a precious, happy family. I am inserting one picture of them at Disney World. Caroline is growing sooooo much.

Here are my girls at Disney World...

I have not, nor will I be able to blog as often as I would like. I can only do that or stop the blog entirely and I really do not want to do that. I do still read all my regular blogs and miss blogging, but my health and other things have taken me away from blogging and until things change-- a post here and there will have to suffice.

I am looking forward to having our oldest son and family home for Christmas since it has been two years since they have been here for Christmas. At other times, just not for Christmas.

Again, thanks those that emailed or commented as to my well being. I appreciate you all.

God Bless!

i am ready...

2007-10-10T11:15:00.000-06:00

From what I am hearing, Caroline is really enjoying the tricycle. She has the neighborhood all amazed at how well she is riding it at her young age. She also has learned to steer it, much to the delight of Steph and David. I could tell from the day she first got on it and rode short distances, that she would master it well and soon!

Here is a little video of her in action! :):)

I missed them yesterday by about 15 minutes. Steph was running late and didn't email and her phone wasn't working so I really didn't know they were coming, so I took Roxy with me to pick up some medicine and when we got home there was a note stuck in the door. I sure hate I missed seeing them, but they will be back soon. Steph said Caroline was saying "see Roxy", lol, she does love Roxy.

I do have some more pictures that I will post later. I have been on the phone with Mrs. Bunting who insist that she DID start her car yesterday, but couldn't get it to back out of her garage. If you tell her that the car will not start, she firmly believes she did start it, so I just let it go at that. We are learning to agree with her as it is a losing battle to convince her once she sets her mind on something. She is going to church tonight and it is good for her to still be able to go to church, cause that has always been a very big part of her life.

Gotta make this short, I have to scramble around and find something to cook for supper. Oh what will it be? Hope you all are having a great day!

God Bless!

tuesday...

2007-10-09T10:44:00.000-06:00

I just came in from walking Roxy and happened to notice the car in the garage and had to just chuckle. I thought of the comment that Janet left on my last post suggesting that maybe I back my car in the garage. I cringe to think of what damage I most likely would make to the car and the garage, but Janet I appreciate the suggestion just the same. :)

My life is good, just nothing at all going on that is blog worthy. Pretty much the same, day in and day out. Our biggest attention giving is to Mrs. Bunting who is really taking a toll on Jerrell, but she just refuses to come live with us, as she does not "want to impose". It would actually be so much better for she and for us. Jerrell is running himself ragged, going down there and running her around. Also the worry of seeing his mom like she is, I can tell is really worrying and tiring him. I feel terrible for him to have to see his mom like this. We make it by- by laughing some of it off, but in reality none of it is truly funny. He is quite firm in saying he is not going to make his mother do something as long as she has mind enough to say no. I do not agree, but it is his mother and I am afraid something bad will happen before a move is made so please keep them in your prayers.

Stephanie called yesterday and she and Caroline plan to come over one day this week. It has been about two weeks since I have seen them, so I am having withdrawl. I am looking forward to my Grandma Claudia hug!

Our step granddaughter, Cynthia was playing in the yard with a friend on Sunday and according to our son, they had been playing basketball a bit rough earlier; so when they moved their play to the front yard they ran into each other and Cynthia broke her collarbone. She has her left arm in a sling and as the day went on her mom got mad at her because she cannot take her tennis lesson and cannot practice and play her piano. They now have two pianos, my goodness. They got a new one just a few years ago, but this is a Grand, whatever that is, have heard the term tho. Anyhow while I was talking on the phone with my son, he giggled and said he heard Cynthia playing her piano with one hand. I am quite sure that idea was her moms. :)

While in my blogging lull, I flat out missed posting on my youngest sons birthday on Sunday, but I had not taken an updated picture to post anyway, but I just let it slip my mind. He was home and we had a good meal and visit with him. Mrs. Bunting got him a Thank You card for his birthday which made it even more important to him and he also went by and visited her for a bit before heading back to Charlotte.

Although I have not blogged regularly, I am still reading you folks blogs. I might comment or I might not, I am a hit and miss type of person. Not that I don't always enjoy you alls post, I just enjoy reading and seeing what is going on in your lives. I enjoy all my blogging friends and I hope you all have a great day.

Thinking of a title for a post sometimes is hard for me, is it hard for ya'll?

God Bless!

back in service...

2007-09-28T06:43:00.001-06:00

I wish I had made a before and after picture of this 36+ year- old tricycle that both of my sons rode when they were little tykes. It has been retired for a lifetime in our basement. Stephanie was looking for one for Caroline and wondered if by chance we had one. I thought we did, but since Jerrell was not here, I had to wait and ask him when he got home.

He said it is somewhere in the basement which means in our house, it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Jerrell went straight to the basement and looked for over thirty minutes; so I asked him if he wanted me to come down with the flashlight and help him look- and he did. Our basement is made into three rooms and the middle room being the larger room. Not only is everything stored down there, Jerrell has wood, wood and more wood stacked for the wood stove in the winter.

I held on to the rail, went down the steps and we began our search anew. First we came across the hobby horse, then the porta crib, then the large crib and finally we eyed the tricycle, but getting to it was gonna be a big problem. Jerrell got together a game plan and he headed through little openings that I just knew his now slim body could never be able to get through, but believe it or not, he got to it, took off a roll of plastic wrap for packaging that was on top of it and dug out the tricycle. It had over 30 years of dust on it, but I had a mission, which turned into a happy project.

Early the next morning before it got hot, I took it outside and had my bucket of cleaning materials and I took the hose pipe and rinsed it off and the work began. With toothbrush in hand I cleaned the spokes good and gave it a good wash down. After it dried I was not happy with the rust on the handle bars, so late in the afternoon I started. I used first a screwdriver and the round of it rubbing on the rust took a lot off, but the two kinds of sand papers worked the best and I worked til I got the rust off the handlebars. I also took that tire stuff to blacken the tires and the paint job was excellent. It shined like it had been waxed.

I was not feeling well enough to make the trip to the park with Steph and Caroline on Tuesday as we had planned so they came here in the afternoon after their outting at the park. Oh my! was Caroline thrilled when her mom went in the house and came back out with the tricycle. She got on it and to mine and Steph's surprise, she pedaled that thing pretty good. I was shocked in fact.

Yes, I took pictures, but somehow the thingy got moved over to video and I had five videos that were so large I could not even send them. Therefore, I only have one picture of Caroline on the tricycle. However, Steph did take some of her in the house with Roxy. It was so much fun to see her riding that tricycle and left a joy in my heart and mind, that I will truly never forget. At one point, we were clapping for her and she just stops riding and stands up and starts clapping with us. I thought I would die with laughter when she did that and so did Steph.

So Tuesday was a great day for me. I think life is good and I have so very much to be thankful for and it just shows how love for one another can make all the difference in the world. I try to count my BIG blessings like the hours spent on Tuesday with Caroline and Steph and also the small blessings, like having to cook supper. I am thankful I have food to prepare a meal. I never want to get to an ungrateful for everything point in my life, because it would take all joy and happiness away.

Now I ain't saying that the road don't get rough at times in one way or another, cause it does. Course my latest crisis was of my own creation. Since I have had this SUV, which is larger than any vehicle I have ever owned, I hafta admit, cause I know the garage ain't got smaller. At any rate several months back as I was backing my car out, my passenger side mirror hit the side of the garage door and left some white paint on the mirror, but I didn't tell Jerrell cause it just looked like some bird doo doo unless you got up real close. Welp a couple weeks ago I was backing out and I saw I was too close on the passenger's side again, but being me, I just knew I could easer on out so I did and the mirror fell outta the arm. I was in a hurry so I got out and hurridley tried to pop it back in. I popped it all right, I broke off two thingys that hold the mirror in.... believe it or not, but the mirror itself did not break.

Later when Jerrell got home, I had no choice but suck up and tell him what happened and asked him to try to get the mirror back in. To make a long story short, the mirror is back in, but is worthless as I cannot move it with the power button or by hand. I finally broke down and called the dealer. The entire mirror, arm and all has to be replaced to a tune of $164 just for the mirror, no idea about the labor. So I go online, find one for $49.50 and after talking with our neighbor who is a Jack of all trades said for me to order the cheaper one and he would put it on. So I ordered the mirror, with power and puddle mirrors. Our neighbor Charlie is a truck driver and was leaving out on Wednesday morning, the same day the mirror was spose to get here by UPS and it did. He will put it on when he gets back in, which was a short run and will probably be this weekend. Also I might add, I was quite impressed with the service and the mirror was an exact duplicate of the factory mirror, even to the mirror images may appear smaller than they actually are or whatever it says. I will really hafta be real careful now, cause I dare not knock another mirror off. :)

I am late getting a post done I know and ice cream time is approaching so I am going to shut up for the night. I hope all you folks have a good evening and thanks to all that have visited and commented. I love all my blogging friends!!!!!

God Bless!

thank you...

2007-09-21T11:05:00.000-06:00

I want to thank Janet for thinking of me and for giving me this award. I think getting a "Nice Matters" award is a stretch for me, it should be a "Blog Once In A While Matters" since I am so slack in doing that. However, the thought behind the award is very important to me. I do not feel I deserve it, but I do thank you Janet and I have some folks that I want to pass this on to.

I pass this on along to Grammie , Clara , Marci , ~Kristi , Livey , Sassy , k and Jan . There are so many more but I think I have my limit.

God Bless!

from the mountains to the sea and more...

2007-09-17T08:46:00.000-06:00

I am sharing some of my many pictures. As Grandma Claudia I think I am a real, real grandmother and what a great feeling it is. I know I have not used my camera to take pictures like I probably should. As a matter of fact, just this past week when Caroline was here, I got my camera out and started to take a picture and she had stopped coloring and had moved on to something else and that moment that I wanted to catch was gone. I just cannot think fast enough!

Steph and David took Caroline to the mountains of NC and to Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock, which is a highlight of the mountains for the children. I well remember taking our sons there when they were small. I got some pictures in an email from Steph this morning and also we have made plans for me to go with she and Caroline next week to Dan Nicholas Park and I am looking so forward to going. My sons both have been many times, but I have not been, so not only will I have something new to see, I will have a fun time watching Caroline see all the new things they have added and the old things too.Thank you Steph for asking me to go along!!

We are having cool temperatures here right now and I am just absolutely loving it. I talked to our son in Ohio last night and he said it was down right cold at nights there, but warm enough during the day. They are settling into their new home and are busy with hanging pictures, buying extra furniture due to the extra rooms than their prior home in Maryland. The basement has a built-in entertainment center with a big screen built in tv and surround sound so they have ordered some theater chairs, a small sofa and table to use there. The yard chairs I think are becoming a tad uncomfy. :) I am hoping to visit them next summer, no way am I going to Cleveland in the winter. We cannot go as a family because of Mrs. Bunting and Roxy. Since I love flying and Jerrell refuses to ever fly again, I am quite willing and excited about flying to Ohio next summer and spending some time with my oldest son, Silvia and our step granddaughter, Cynthia. Cynthia is so active in so many things, I will shoot for a week that she is not in a camp or something else. I was hoping she would really get into basketball as we are all big basketball fans, but her love is tennis, which ranks high for us too. She is getting private lessons from what I understand is a very good instructor, so with her given talent, I know she will do well.

Life is good. I am so thankful for all my many blessings and the top on my list is my family and friends. Without them and Roxy, my life would not be complete. I thank the Lord for all his goodness and mercies to me every day! I thank you all for being here and making my blogging all worthwhile. I hope you all have a great day!

God Bless!

good day folks...

2007-09-15T10:33:00.000-06:00

Got lots of things on my mind today. I am winding down from a "gone by too fast" week. Must be my age, but I declare the weeks just seem to fly by for me. The week was a good one, expecially on Wednesday when I had the pleasure of a visit with Stephanie and Caroline. They had planned to come a different day, but Steph's mom was wanting her to come get her earlier if I remember correctly. At any rate when that car drives up Roxy starts a totally different bark and cry cause she knows it is CAROLINE and I just open the front door (without her leash) and she heads wide open right for Caroline. I never once worry about her going anywhere other than directly to Caroline and Steph.

After all the sugaring was over, we came in the house for a bit, but later since it is finally cooler here, we went outside so Caroline could lead Roxy. She loves to do that and she also now says Roxy instead of just Roc. She can also say Grandma Claudia pretty doggone good and will give me the crooked smile if I ask her to. I see such wonderful parenting skills in Steph, that I wish I had used when mine were Caroline's age. She and David have chosen to let her be independent and NOT have everything she wants and to be honest, when they are in a store, she looks but does not ask for anything. Of course Steph said she usually gets her something, usually a book as she loves loves books and then Caroline says 'pay' .. : ):) They just cannot come back soon enough is all I gotta say!!

I rarely give any thought to myself anymore, but I have been thinking how different I am now that I do not work and am not well. All in all I think I am a better person and have so much more patience. I am so unlike the norm that I might be odd or 'quare' as some folks say, but do I care? When I worked and for a couple years after I always and I mean always put on make up whether I was going anywhere or not. I certainly would never go out in public without it. You think I give a flying flip now. NO. As long as my legs are shaved in weather that bares my legs, why the bother to shave them since I only got a couple. I have a friend that says she doesn't shave hers so they will keep her stockings up on Sunday.

After saying all that I totally surprised myself by noticing a neighbor of mines makeup looking unusually nice when I ran upon her at the grocery store. She goes into this spill about these new beauty products she was now using. Yes. I was quite impressed so later that afternoon I go over for a beauty consulation. She brings out a basket full of goodies and explained the process and I got all excited, knowing full well that all I needed was my newly bought jar of Noxema! She kept on and I went straight the next day with each item listed in hand and bought the WHOLE nine yards! Of course for the first week, I did exactly like I was told and I still do on a hit and miss basis. BUT even at that with all the bottles of ingredients and the new makeup I honestly can tell a difference in the feel of my face and only in the looks when I muster up the energy to apply makeup and those times have been few and far between. I knew full well that it would be like most everything else I start, I never follow through on it, unless it means life or death. The moral of the story was that I was one broke woman, but pretty for a month. Uncle Sam pays me next week, thankyouUncleSam.

I hafta be honest I have given my life to nothing since April. I have watched this trial until finally it is in deliberations and I told Jerrell to smack my face IF I ever started watching another trial! Ever! I have it on the tv, on live stream on the pc and chatting in the court tv chat room, ALL at the same time. Making a situation worse, the trial is in California which is a three hour time difference so my trial day does not finish here on the east coast til 7 pm. Please tell me again that I need to get a life. My husband has forgotten me totally, as he is in the den watching tv and resting and only calls me when it is ice cream time! I enjoy our supper and ice cream time together cause that is just about the only time I have spent with him since April. I am not sure that he can handle the jolt of a verdict or not. I will let you know.

He has his mother to keep him busy. The State of NC finally pulled her license at the age of 91 due to her age and health. The biggest problem the first week, is that she cannot remember she ain't gottem, so she drove for 3 days until a watchful eye of a neighbor that Jerrell had alerted to call him if she saw her driving again called and said "she just went up the road" so Jerrell jumps in his truck so he could be there when she drove up. He hated to have to do it, but he disabled the car where it won't start. So we know she has already called Raleigh twice, like they gonna do sumpin, plus she has already forgot Jerrell made the car undrivable and although she has not said, we just know she has been to that garage a couple times trying. :) Sure we feel for her, but when she called me yesterday asking for someone's phone number and I give it to her, she turns right around and ask me whose number is that?, then I think NC did the right thing. She absolutely cannot remember nutin.

I see I have gotten carried away, but I am in such relief to be free from some worthless, time consuming stuffssssss that I feel I am about 5 months behind.

Have a great weekend ALL.

God Bless!

U S A ...

2007-09-11T12:58:00.000-06:00

a nice day...

2007-08-31T15:30:00.000-06:00

It was not quite as hot today and we even had a little breeze. I must be feeling better, I actually had the desire and actually went shopping this morning! For me, that is really good. That hasta be a sign of feeling better as I have not even wanted to go anywhere for such a long, long time and only went when I had to!

I always loved a good sale anyways and today Belk had a super good sale and I needed some bedrooms shoes in the worst of ways. I had gotten Jerrell to glue the soles back on my old ones day before yesterday and after he brought them to me, he told me to go buy me a pair and he would pay for them, so I did! lol.. I sure hated to let go of my old ones, but I let him have the honor of tossing them in the trash can after we finished supper just a little while ago.

I did buy two pocketbooks as I had been needing a larger one and they had them reduced so low that I got two pocketbooks and my bedroom shoes and saved a total of $69 so I am a happy camper.

I honestly do not know what to think of Mrs. Bunting. Jerrell mailed her license to Raleigh on Tuesday as the DMV had pulled them due to her age and her mind. She did well on Wednesday which was her first day of not driving, but yesterday when Jerrell went down there, she had told him she went to pick up her medicine. Her mind is so bad, she had forgotten she no longer has license. Jerrell won't take her keys, but told her if she did it again, he would take the battery outta the car. I can not imagine how much longer she should even be staying by herself.

We had a good supper, what I call a good ole southern type meal. We had some black eyed peas that I cooked, not in no can :) and I had some cabbage and a cake of cornbread cooked in my freshly treated iron fryer. I treated two of them today because when things start to sticking, I can't like that so I hafta treat them. I think things fried in iron fryers are just so much better than a teflon pan. Fried okra is hard to beat cooked that way. I got all the dishes all done and thought I would come in here and rest a bit and post to my blog.

I know Grammie is having a good time bout now visiting with her now one year old grandson, Owen. He sure is a pretty little fellow and you can tell that Grammie is really proud of him. I hope she gets plenty of hugs and kisses. I will miss her blog, but she will make up for it when she gets back and hopefully will have lots of pictures of Owen. I hope to see Caroline soon, they may have a beach trip planned for next week, so if the do, next week will certainly be out. She is growing so fast and I can see changes in her every time I see her. She is my joy for sure.

Welp gotta get a few things done, I hope you all have a great evening!

God Bless!

just in case...

2007-08-30T13:24:00.000-06:00

That I have any readers to see this post, I feel like I must post something as I have received many emails inquiring as to "if I am ok?". I have not been for several months, especially the summer months and rather than blog and complain, I chose to not blog. Also with real life we have been busy with Mrs. Bunting. She is no longer able to drive and of course that creates someone to have to get to her places that she feels she must go on a regular basis.

Also with the heat I have tried NOT to be out anymore than necessary. I thank the good Lord for the fact that finally my feet are no longer swollen and I can actually walk without being in pain with just bending my ankles. Of course since the medication was the culprit, when I stopped the med, then my blood pressure shot up too high. Trying different meds and going every week to get a BP check, the doctor finally got a combo of meds that as of yesterday gave me a great BP reading and I truly thank the Lord for all his mercies and blessing to me during this trying time .

I really think when the heat breaks that I will be back to a similance of my old self. I can say I already feel much, much better but have gotten behind in my household duties though light ones they are, they still must be done. Jerrell helps out so much with the mopping and the vacuuming that I honestly do not know at this point just how I would do without him.

I thank you all that have emailed me and you all know who you are and Malinda hon, I realize the year date is nearing and you and Todd will certainly be in my thoughts and my prayers. Your email today made me realize I did need to get something on this blog or delete it. My mind is not always in blog mode although my heart is still in full force, so I have no excuses except for sickness and real life has really overpowered me the last few months. I want this blog to be fun and I realize from my counter that I am losing readers, but that is not what is important to me; not the number of readers but the friends I can depend on that still come and I have nothing here. I am not trying to built up a fan base by any means. I cherish ALL the friends that I have made from this blog. I am not a writer by any means and only want to blog to help me release thoughts and events and mainly let folks know what goes on around here with my friends and family. At the same time I do not want to bore folks, so I have got to get back to the idea that I started with, sharing myself and my small life with you folks.

Stephanie did call me today and I got to talk to Caroline, she calls me Grandma Claudia, but it comes out in sound as Genda Taudie. She also told me 'Love you' and nothing can sound any sweeter than an almost 19 month old darling little girl making me smile with pride.

Please pray for us as we are facing in the near future the fact that Jerrell's mom will not be able to stay alone. She does not want to come here as she feels that to be an inconvenience, which it certainly is not, she wants to go to a nursing home, so we are just praying that she will come on up here willingly when that times comes as that is what we want and feel will be the best for her in all respects.

Thank you all for coming by and I do hope things are going to improve daily and I will be able to put something on here for you folks to read. I hope those of you who have had temperatures will soon get some relief and those in the drought areas will soon get some rain. We have had a bit and we will get some cooler temperatures next week. It wouldn't bother me a bit if it got so cool, I would hafta get outta jacket. God Bless you All and I do hope you all have a great evening.

God Bless!

hello...

2007-08-15T09:06:00.000-06:00

I do my posting in my email and I just went to see when I had posted last. Seems like it has been a while.
A lot has been going on, but nothing important enough to tell about.

I just got back from the doctor's office to see how my blood pressure was doing since I have been off one of my blood pressure meds for a week. It was a tad high, but not enough to be concerned about. I will go back again next week and have it checked again.

Stephanie called me yesterday and they had just gotten back Monday from Charleston (Isle of Palms beach) and she also sent me some pictures that were made on their trip and I have added them today. Caroline had not been to the beach since June and this time she was not afraid of the ocean. She would walk out into the water until it knocked her down and then she knew she had gone far enough :) She does love the water.

Hopefully I will be seeing them this week. I can tell in the pictures that Caroline has grown in the three weeks since I have seen her. I must tell you folks that Grandma Claudia LOVES Caroline's little crooked smile in some of her pictures. Those are the times I wanna just squeeze the puddin outta her. She is my joy!

I also want to thank Connie for sending me this Moobear and especially for her husband, Jim, for taking the time to make these names and for mailing it to me. I put it on the tv for the picture, looks pretty good there, so most likely will leave it there. Also Connie is sick with a virus at this time, so folks please remember her in your prayers. Connie is truly a blessing to me. Thanks so much Connie!

I hope you all have a great day!

God Bless!

many thanks...

2007-08-10T13:20:00.000-06:00

I sure do appreciate the kind comments and the emails. I can say that I am much better today. My heart doctor took me off one of my meds that was thought to be causing the swelling and today is the first day that I can see any noticeable difference. Jerrell went with me to the grocery store as he took today off and it was the first day in a good while that I could walk without my feet hurting me so bad to bend them. I am very much encouraged in that respect, but am a bit concerned that I am now only on one blood pressure med and I have never ever just been on one since I was found to have it in 1977 at the age of 33.

I will go to the doctor next week for a blood pressure check and check on the swelling and we will go from there. I could certainly attribute it to the heat if they had not been swollen for so long. It hit 109° yesterday, but is suppose to be only in the 90's over the weekend so that will be really nice.

I do not know what the temperture is in Cleveland, Ohio this weekend, but I hope it is not hot since my son and family will be moving into their new home tomorrow. I wish there was some way that I could help with the move, but that is just not to be. However, his father in law is there to help with the move and that makes us feel better. I am just hoping that Jerrell and I both will be able to make the trip to Ohio next summer to visit them. I wish Jerrell would fly, but he won't. As for me, I love flying, however have not flown since 911 so I know there is a bit of a hassle involved as opposed to pre 911. It would be such an easy trip on us if he would just fly.

I personally have little hope for the trapped miners and just heard of another mine cave in in Indiana that took three lives. I know many thoughts and prayers have been sent up for the miners and their families.

Oh, bout forgot ... on the pictures, I first chose the first picture, but ended up telling Stephanie that I wanted the second one, the crooked grin that I love!
Stephanie said none of that one was left so she went and had me one printed out and I will also get a 5 x7 of the one of ther sitting with her feetssss sticking out from under her dress, so needless to say Moobear is thrilled beyond words, so the middle picture is the one that I actually picked first!!!

All of you folks are do dear to me and as I mentioned the comments mean so much to me. Nancy, I appreciate your comment and stopping by. You are so right about Livey and k, they such precious folks that love to do for others and I am so proud to have them as my friends right along with all my other blogging friends. I feel like all of you are family, tho it is a blogging family, we still are here for one another and stick together to encourage if neccessary and to help in any way we possibly can. Love you all! Hope you all have a great weekend!

God Bless!

today...

2007-08-07T12:20:00.000-06:00

This post is totally spontanous. I have no idea what I am going to say other than what I am feeling right now and that is not good. I called my heart doctor's office yesterday and he was booked, the PA that I see was off yesterday so I was told she would call me today. So here I am waiting on what is to me a very important call. With no help from my internal doctor last week other than doubling my fluid pill to 80 mg a day I am only swelling worse and also having daily angina attacks.

Getting very near the end of my rope emotionally, I decided to give my heart doctor a try. It is amazing how little doctors care about their patients even if you relate to the receptionist the immediate concern of what is going on with my body. It all falls on deaf ears.

As I get to thinking about it, it has gotten to the point in life that I can really depend on no one, but the good Lord. I know I must take charge of whatever needs to be done and do the best I can with or without any help or cooperation. It is very depressing to say the least when you feel quite alone in this real world and depend only on the good Lord to help me maintain what little sanity I have left.

The only highlight in my life lately is hearing from Stephanie and seeing Caroline. Stephanie called yesterday just to see how I was doing. She or no one else knows how much that call meant to me. She also said that Caroline had finally got Grandma and Claudia together and as I was on the phone with her, I heard her say it. Granted it was not perfect, but I could tell exactly what she said and it just made my heart jump with joy. Stephanie also told me that she had three pictures of Caroline she was going to send that they had made of her for her 18th month picture and wanted me to pick out which of the three I wanted a 5 x 7 in. The grandma in me of course wanted them all, but I settled on one of the pictures. I am going to post the three pictures and if any of you think you know which one Moobear chose, drop me a comment and lemme see how many gets it right. Caroline was a bit outta sorts and did not like the BIG black camera coming toward her, so she was a bit reluctant to be all smiles. :)

I do love her dress in these pictures!

I will let you folks know which picture I did pick! Hope you all have a good day!

God Bless!

when it rains...

2007-08-02T09:11:00.000-06:00

LOL, the picture is too big, but I am gonna leave it like it is. :)

I find this Thomas Kinkade picture very relaxing. I believe when it rains, it pours and I also believe it rains on the just and the unjust. I am not versed in art, but when I was visiting with Steph and Caroline, Stephanie had a beautiful Thomas Kinkade painting over their mantel and a smaller one in another room. As I looked at this picture, I got to thinking about how things happen to folks that are not always in our eyes fair or just, but how we react to them is of utmost importance. Which gets back to the rain on the just and unjust.

What makes folks want to be hurtful to others and in general be rude, ugly people, I never will understand their reasoning. Are they bitter in their own personal life and just take joy in hurting others? The internet can be a cruel place especially on message boards or in chatrooms. Either way, they are miserable folks and will in the end have no true friends. I have a tremendous problem with folks like that and I prefer at my stage in life to stay away from those people as they could possibly drag you down to their level. So I have learned a life lesson in such a short period of time. Folks that you think are friends, see me as only a screename. I am glad that I see behind each name a person who has a real life and real feelings.

I need to thank Livey from NorthWood's Woman for helping me with some things on my blog. I kept having a problem signing in and once I got in and posted, I could not get it to publish. Livey was willing to help me. I gave her my screename and password and come to find out, I had put my title in my link line!! Oh yeah, I did it! Not only did she correct that and tell me what she had done, she also fixed my header as only half of Claudia's Place was showing. I am so thankful for her help and all the many kind emails we have exchanged. She is a special lady and dealing with many health problems herself. I thank you Livey for helping out a dummie like me!

I also want to mention her blogger friend, k, from ksquest for all the emails and good advice that she has given to me. She traveled quite a distance to visit with her blogging friend and she is not a healthy lady either. I admire both of these women immensely, as they do not allow their serious health problems to interfer with them enjoying life to their fullest. They get more done in a day than some healthy folks do. I am glad to have them both as friends. :) They are having a great time together and it just goes to show that true friendships can be made and last a life time via the internet. I still miss my friend in California that passed away a few months ago. I cannot make myself delete her from my mailing list, but I must let go and move on.

I think having a blog is the best way to make good, true and fun friends. I treasure all my blogging friends and sure do appreciate you understanding my hit and miss posting. I have an appointment soon, so will close for today. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

God Bless!

I Miss Her

2007-07-31T09:35:00.000-06:00

It has been over a week since I spent the day with Caroline and having spent pretty much the entire day with her, I am now beginning to miss her so much.

Stephanie is now into golf and biking. She got a new mountain bike for her birthday and she and her husband ride vigorously, even competition style :).
It brings back many memories of playing tennis and basketball with her and how competitively she was then and it has not waned.

I have had some repercussions from the fall, it has just taken a while to hit I guess. I always land on my right side as that is the side with the numb leg and always land on my right hip which is already a mass of fractures, so I am assuming I just created more fractures, hence the increase in pain.

I do have a doctor's appointment today, but I want more than anything for him to do something about my left foot swelling so big. It really hurts to bend, touch or walk. If I know my doctor, he will only double my fluid pill. I do not think that will make it better as the one pill is not doing very much.

I will post some pictures below made this past weekend. Caroline loves to go to the park while they bike and also to the golf course. No doubt she will be athletic as her mom and dad.

This is my girls on the golf course!

This is Caroline with her dad and her Pop Pop.

I am running late, but I did want to get something on my blog. May you all have a great day!

God Bless!

i have been tagged...

2007-07-25T07:30:00.000-06:00

I have been tagged by Connie to do a meme telling 8 things about myself. I must apologize to Connie for being so late in getting this done. Sorry Connie!

RULES BEFORE DOING THE ME ME ME

01. Post rules before giving the facts

02. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves

03. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.

04. At the end of the your blog you need to tag eight people and list their names. Leave them a comment on their blog, telling them they have been tagged and not to forget to read your blog.
******
01. As required, I took and passed swimming in college and for the final exam we had to swim the length of the pool. The pool was Olympic size with lanes. I passed the test, those that didn't got pulled out with a long pole they poked down to you to pull you out with . Although passing swimming, til this day I CANNOT dog paddle and as hard as I try I go right to the bottom. I just never could get the hang of that.

02. Amongst my family members, most all are college graduates. I went to two different colleges, but I never liked it, well the learning part. I was the black sheep of the family, BUT I did win the Spelling Bee in the 8th grade.

03. Since I am a tad over 6 feet tall, when my mother died and I moved to Albemarle I was quite shy and entering the 9th grade; my junior high school gym teacher took an interest in me and basketball. She encouraged me to try out for the varsity team at the high school. We were bused up there for tryouts. I made the team and actually by my senior year I made All State and was honored to get to play in the East-West Allstar game. After 45 years also, I still hold the school record for the most points scored in one ballgame.

04. I did not get my license at 16 as most all my friends did. I waited until I was working in Charlotte. At the age of 23 I took a '63 straight drive Rambler of a co-worker of which I had never driven before and went and got my license on a Friday. I caught the bus as usual on Friday afternoon to come home for the weekend and on Saturday morning I bought my first car and I have been driving ever since. btw I thought I was hot stuff!

05. Even for my height I was a good size woman in the year 1987 and my best friend and neighbor at the time had cancer. I devoted an entire year of my life to her and missed many meals, and lost 40 pounds that year. I kept that weight off until about two years ago when I dropped to 119 due to colitis and when it went into remission, I ate every sweet known to man I think and I am weighing in at an uncomfortable 170. I maintained 145 for almost 20 years until the sugar got me.

06. I was an extremely shy person until I got into my 40's. It was a miserable feeling, yet I could not seem to do anything about it.The most embarrasing moment I can remember and how scared I was. I was about 12 years old and had been raised in a Baptist church. It was night time and mama was in the hospital and a preacher was taking us somewhere and he asked me if I was a "staunch" Baptist. I literally was nervoused to death. I was so shy I never ever spoke, first -cause I was shy and second at that age.I had no idea what staunch meant. Til this day, I still don't think he shoulda asked a shy 12 year old youngun that question. Finally I came to a point that I really just did not care what people thought as I was who I was and I had nothing to lose and I found out I lost nothing but I gained a lot.

07. I was a tomboy as a young girl and it didn't bother me at all to beat the boys in races, hopscotch, basketball and they always wanted me on their team. I felt best when I won both pockets full of marbles. I liked the cateyes! I was good and every boy in my little town knew it. I didn't have rough knuckles for nothing.

08. I was not always perfect, nor am I now. Not that I was a bad person either, but in 1977 I made the biggest decision of my life, I was a sinner, saved by grace on a October Sunday night at a revival. Sure I have failed many times, but I still have my strong belief in the Lord and try harder each day to please him. I am no better than anyone else, I am just at peace with myself, others and most important, the Lord.

Here is the list of eight that I am tagging. I want you to know that you do not need to feel obligated to do this me me me. If you do, be sure and let me know so I can come read yours.

1. Clara from TN
2. Grammie
3. Ordinary Janet
4. Jana
5. ~Kristi
6. Sassy Sistah
7. Barbara from Ramblings from an English Garden
8. k from ksquest

It has been fun! Have a wonderful day!

God Bless!

yesterday was wonderful...

2007-07-24T07:59:00.000-06:00

I had mentioned to you folks that I was going to go and spend the day with Stephanie and Caroline sometime soon,so yesterday morning I felt pretty good; getting two good nights sleep in a row with me really does make a difference! So we had talked about either Monday or Wednesday since I had appointments on other days and Steph was busy all the other days too. I picked up the phone and called Steph and it was a good day for me to mosey over there and so I did!

I got to her house about 10:00 and left right around 4:00. I can truly say that was the most fun I have had in many, many years! To be around Caroline in her home, I got to see just how smart and how well behaved that precious girl is. Also, Steph and I got to do a lot of talking and looked at pictures and of course we ALL got in the pool! They have a beautiful home and I just made myself at home as I am just very comfortable with Steph and she with me. Stephanie had just had 24 folks over on Sunday, yet she was willing and able to take on Moo for the day. I will post some pictures and a video at the end of my post today.

Steph ordered pizzas for lunch and they took a long time to get there, but finally they arrived so I went into the house to get my meds as it was time for me to take them. The dork that I am- had thought of something to ask Steph when I went back out the door to the patio there at the pool and had my mind on that instead of watching where I was walking. It has a rounded little area outside the door and ONE step. Of course Moo forgot the step and there the fall began. I started my fall and went the entire length of the patio, taking out if I remember correctly one chair, one cooler, cleared out two dogs, one of Caroline's tables and landed in David's big, nice, covered grill which was up against the brick wall. I remember trying three different times to get control, but didn't do no good. Steph said if the wall had not been there I woulda ended up in the neighbor's yard. Yep, I hurt, I had a knot on each shin, which Steph put ice on and already some visible bruises, just not as bad as today. I am flat out surprised that I did not break a bone.

Both the dogs were there, so me being on the concrete laying there, they thought I wanted to play, so they were licking me and I was trying to get my wits, Steph was in a panic and precious little Caroline was crying. That was the very worst part, that it scared her. Before leaving I went back out to gather up my stuff and bless Pat if I didn't stump my foot on that step up and fell up the same step I had fallen down. I didn't have far to go and just flopped right into the brick wall. That one I admit did jerk my back and my back is still sore today, but overall for all I have to hurt I came out pretty good!

These are just random pictures so I won't need to tell ya what each one is. :)

I will have to explain this video a bit. Stephanie loves to read Grammie's Blog because of little Owen and she likes to keep up with Owen and see how he is growing and she enjoys Grammie's blog as well, so therefore this video is kinda for Grammie. :) Also Steph knows that this will be in my blog. By the way, there is a float under that whale. I bout never figured out how to maneuver that float and bout flipped a couple times when I first got my big self on it. You will need to have your volume up a bit to hear it all. At least I had too.. lol

I hope you all have a great day!

God Bless!

totally worth sharing...

2007-07-19T08:54:00.000-06:00

A friend sent this to me and it is something I have not seen before, so I wanted to share it with you folks.

It Was Only a Quarter
Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston , Texas .
Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area.
When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.
As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it."
Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter.
Who would worry about this little amount?
Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it.
Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet."

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the quarter to the driver and said,
"Here, you gave me too much change."
The driver, with a smile, replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town?
I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship.
I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change.
I'll see you at church on Sunday."

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said,
"Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."
Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read.
This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians and will put us to the test!
Always be on guard and remember that you carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself "Christian."

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not PROTECT you...

Stay FAITHFUL and Be GRATEFUL

COPIED

God Bless!

a much better week...

2007-07-18T08:26:00.000-06:00

I have had a wonderful week so far. Last week I was nauseated all week from wearing the contraption called a partial in my mouth. Finally after lunch on Saturday I said no more and removed it until I went back to the dentist on Monday. He removed one piece of the bubble gum from the roof of my mouth, trimmed down some other places and it made all the difference in the world. I think when I go back to see him Tuesday I will just flat out hug him!

Before going to the dentist on Monday, I had a morning visit from Stephanie and Caroline. We as always had a wonderful time. Caroline is talking lots more but cannot say C's too good, so my name Claudia comes out as taudia which is just fine with me. We had a real good visit and when Stephanie was putting her into her seat in the car to leave, Caroline started crying cause she didn't want to leave. I hated to see her cry, but my heart was happy to know she enjoyed being here that much and didn't want to leave.

We have made plans for me to go over and spend a day with them soon. I told Steph that I wanted to get in the pool if I can still get in that Big Mama bathing suit that I still have. I think the water would be so relaxing and make all my achy bones feel so much better, plus I can play with Caroline in the water. I am wondering if they make Big Mama wings cause I can swim, but I just cannot dog paddle so I do not plan on going to the deep end unless I am hanging onto the edge.Also I bet it has been 20 years since I have been in any water, so Jerrell wants it on video. :) Steph I am sure will be sure to oblige him. lol

I normally do not vaccuum but do mop the kitchen and the bathroom. So yesterday Roxy had an appointment at the groomers so I gotta wild hair to mop and vacuum cause Roxy does not like either one so I thought I'd take advantage of her being gone. All went well and as I usually do, I went gingerly back down to the basement to use the sink down there to empty my mop water and wash my mop out. Jerrell always shaves down there and has a hanging mirror there at the sinks. I leaned in to squeeze the mop and my head came up and hit the wooden frame with the mirror in it; out came the mirror and it hit on my right arm. It was 1/4" mirror and fortunately it had polished edges or it woulda cut my arm bad. It immediately made a knot on my head and a huge bruise on my arm, but ya know my arm hurt lots more than my head. That outta tell you sumpin right there. :) I am truly an accident waiting to happen and that is why Jerrell does not want me going to the basement in the first place. But my intentions sure were good.

Our oldest son and his wife that live in Ohio have finally found a house that they like and have bought a home.I am gonna post a picture of the front and the rear of the house. The inside is really, really pretty. I think I like the rear of the house the best. It has a nice deck and I think that will be where Moobear will be found most of the time.I know they will enjoy it and hopefully we can make a trip to Ohio in the near future.

This is the front of the house...

and....this is the rear of the house...

My son's wife is a pathologist and she has taken an MD job on staff at a hospital which is a long drive from where they presently live and she hasta live within a 30 minute drive so this will put them about half way between each of their work. She starts her new job on August 1. She has taken a month off to be at home with Cynthia and run her here and there as she is in lots of summer activities. We hope to be able to make the trip to Ohio and see their new home.

I bout run outta news so I will hush for today. Hope all you folks have a great and blessed day.

God Bless!

still trying...

2007-07-13T13:02:00.000-06:00

If this works, this is Caroline "swimming" in her pool with her cousins. :)

here today...

2007-07-13T12:06:00.000-06:00

I have missed blogging, but I have had a lot going on in real life and I still am really, but I am going to try to take a break from the routine and check in with you folks.

I do appreciate those that have visited and commented lately. I feel like I have let myself down for neglecting to blog as often as I wanted to when I started this blog, but the truth is, real life does require a lot of my time right now. Also given the days that I just do not feel well- leaves few days to blog.

I have had a really tough week trying to wear this partial. I stay nauseated, but after I eat, I get really sick on my tummy. I go back to the dentist on Monday and see if it can be tweaked or something. I am a right side chewer but I find it feels more natural on the left side with the one tooth. The right side has two teeth and I think my bottom teeth are hitting the top two teeth as well as the gum part so I think it needs to me a bit thinner like the left side. I am sure there is something they can do to help me.

Mrs. Bunting is neither better or is she is any worse. Jerrell has really gotten onto her because she wears what he calls her "uniform" which consist of a long sleeved white blouse (has two just alike) and her black pants ( has three pairs she says) and a wool sweater vest. YES in the hot summer. SOOOO a couple different days that he went down there, she had on a pink blouse one day without that vest and another colored blouse without that vest another day. Her sister told us that she used to know this old lady that wanted to wear the same thing every day, hence the "uniform" that Jerrell calls it might just be common for old folks with dementia.

We are blessed that she is not worse, but no plans have been made because she has in her old age gotten very stubborn, which in normal times, she was never that way. Therefore, when she is made to stop driving or made to come up here, she will be very mad and upset with Jerrell and that is the main reason he keeps putting off the inevitable. I just pray that nothing happens to cause her to hurt herself or someone else til Jerrell finally makes the decision and follows through with it.

Our neighbor, Pearlie, brought us the prettiest mess of freshly picked green beans and some corn this morning. I am really looking forward to cooking them as we love both in the summer when it is fresh out of the garden. She had even strung them and there were lots of shellies in them, which makes them even better. We have been getting a gracious plenty of tomatoes off Jerrell's vines and even a tomato sandwich taste awful good. I also love to slicem up with fresh cucumbers and onions and have them along with a meal.

I know you folks understand my lack of blogging, but I do want to blog more often so I will make a special effort to get something on here whether it is very newsworthy or not. I am just not talented enough to write anything other than something that is happening in my life at the moment. I would hate to lose the wonderful readers that I have. :)

today at Moos...

2007-07-10T08:51:00.000-06:00

About all I got to share with you folks is some more pictures. Nothing exciting is really going on here and for us right now, that is good.

I did get my partial yesterday and since my son had a orchestra concert to go to on Sunday night, he didn't call us til last night. Having much difficulty getting used to this being in my mouth, not only have I been nauseous, but my speech ain't too good. It feels like I got two pieces of chewed up Bazooka Bubble Gum stuck on the roof of my mouth. Kev said last night that it is good that he calls on Sunday nights since he knows now that I am drunk on Monday nights. lol... He laughed, Jerrell laughed and I got the giggles, but we still managed to talk our usual hour. I am thinking it is gonna take a long time for me to get used to this.

A neighbor of Mrs. Bunting gave us some squash which Jerrell does not like, but I love them fried, but thought I might like a casserole so all I did was google 'easy squash casserole' and the very first one that came up- I used, cause I had all the ingredients. That is the best way for me. It is just now out of the oven and I am gonna try it for my lunch today. I generally eat things for lunch that Jerrell does not like since he is at work. I love pizza so I have that often. I even like cucumber and onion sandwiches. If you soak them in vinegar for a bit, not too long, so they will still be crispy and put them on mayonaised bread, that makes a pretty good sandwich.

OK, now for some pictures:

I like this one of Caroline, cause I have no idea what she is doing :)

This is Stephanie's mom, Alice, at her 70th birthday party just a few weeks ago.

This is Caroline with her mom and Dad. David is a tall fellow. He has a 37" inseam, so he got long legs!!

I hope you all have a good day and try to stay cool as best as you can. I think it is hot in most places. Even in Ohio, it was 90 yesterday, so those that are not used to the heat seem to be getting it too.

God Bless!

Happy Birthday America...

2007-07-04T07:31:00.000-06:00

Moobear wishes you all a wonderful and a safe day.

Click on Moobear and enjoy! Thanks to Brother Michael.

God Bless!

for the record... :)

2007-07-02T13:33:00.000-06:00

Many of you good folks have been reading my blog for as long as I have been blogging. That is not the case for some of my newer readers. Just for the sake of keeping the record straight, lol, as much as I love Caroline and Stephanie, they are neither any blood kin to me. Many of you good folks nice comments led me to post this to my blog. :) Thank you for them too!

I might add though that Stephanie is like a daughter to me in so many ways. I love her dearly!
I consider her the daughter that I never had. She and my youngest son Jeff, were married for over 6 years, so Stephanie is a former daughter in law. Stephanie has since remarried and she and her husband, David, had Caroline. God blessed me with having a good relationship with Stephanie during her marriage to my son and has remained the same since the divorce. Therefore, Stephanie remained in my life even before Caroline came along. Once Caroline was on the way, Stephanie began with sending me pictures of the ultra sounds via email and since Caroline's birth, she has wanted Caroline to be a part of my life and Jerrells as well and nothing could or does make me any happier.

To many that may sound odd, but fortunately there are no hard feelings in anyway on either sides of the families. Sure that is unusual to some, but it is the way it is and I think it is the right way, the way the Lord would have it be. Neither her husband nor my son have any problems with Moobear; therefore all is well.

Speaking of Moobear I finally found out last night just when and how my two sons and now many others call me Moo, Moobear and Moobearski. I had the pleasure of going to Chicago back in 1985 for the Thanksgiving season to visit with a head honcho out of the home office for the company that I worked for which was located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ann, the lady sent down here to teach me on the computer happened to live in the Chicago area and we hit it off the entire week that she was here, we had a ball and continued to keep in touch after she went back, so she invited me up for Thanksgiving to visit with she and another employee in a district office in Portage, Indiana.

Both my sons at that time were still at home and both were real big Chicago Bears fans and after returning home I had a car accident which later involved my first back surgery. I was not able to walk well and I kinda shuffled along. Kevin told me last night that Moo to him meant Mama, but actually it was Jeff my youngest that began saying when I walked that I was doing the Moobear shuffle as the Chicago Bears had done some sorta shuffle the year before when they won the Super Bowl in 1984. So for the past 21 years I have been called either Moobear or Moo, but actually I had forgotten how I had obtained the name until I asked Kevin last night when he called. lol, I was glad to know myself cause after all these years I had flat forgotten. I never get an email from either son that does not start with Hello Moo. Nor do they call me mama or mother when home, always MOO.

As a matter of fact Kevin had ordered a Sharper Image deskclock for Mrs. Bunting which has the date and the DAY on it, thinking it might help her keep up with what day it is, as she never knows. All she will have to do is place it on her table beside her recliner where she always sits, glance over and see what day it is. When the UPS info was forwarded to me yesterday Kevin had it sent to me by UPS. Along with my correct name and address, there was also a place for receivers name and UPS had Moo in blue typed in there. I sorta chuckled as I thought it was cute, but to Kevin I am Moo so he had no second thoughts as to who was to receive it. :)

Therefore folks,I have let you in on some news that you might already know or did not know at all. I am just thankful that Moobear is here and thankful that Stephanie and David care enough about me to share Caroline and all her love with me. I also hope to be Kev and Jeff's MOO for a few more years, the good Lord willing!

I hope you all have a safe and Happy 4th. Stay safe, have fun and love one another!

God Bless!

sweet Caroline...

2007-06-26T11:44:00.001-06:00

The younguns spend the week at the beach and I wanted to post some pictures. Above of course is Steph and Caroline. They had a real good time and when they got home Steph bought Caroline a little kitchen set with the sink, stove, mircowave, etc. and she said Caroline was beside herself, she was so excited. When Steph called her down from the playroom, she tried to bring it with her, but it was too heavy :) I would have given anything to have seen that child's eyes when she got it . :)

Caroline is taking a little break under the unbrella. She is so tanned but Steph keeps enough whatever you call it on her to keep her from blistering! She looks like she is too pooped to poop!

Moobear loves her little outfit too.

This is a picture of the 'kool dudes' in their sunglasses. "Like father, like daughter". Not exactly like the saying goes tho. Can you tell he is just a bit proud of his little daughter here? I can!

This is the happy, precious little girl that she always is. She loves everything and everyone. Her love shines right here. I wish I could squeeze her this very minute!!! Hey Caroline, Grandma Claudia loves you and talk mommy into coming to the hood this week ! That's my girl!

This is proud dad, David, with his precious one, Caroline. I imagine David is explaining just what the ocean is in great detail in story form and Caroline is absorbing every word dada is saying, as they both look into the beyond. They are inserting teaching in everyday life with explaining things as they happen or objects that attract Caroline's attention. Wonderful parents they are!

This looks like Caroline is beaming in on something with her something, that Moobear has no idea what it is, but intends to ask when I see them, which, (cross my fingers) might be this week. Stephanie likes to come to come to the "hood" as she calls it as often as she can as her mom and dad live here. Although her mom and dad and sisters were all at the beach for her mom's 70th birthday last week, Steph still likes to drive over and check on them often. Happy Birthday Alice! God Bless you and may you have many, many more!

Along with happiness sometimes there too is sadness. Jerrell's mom had a really bad day yesterday. I got a call from the doctor's office where she goes and they said she had made numerous calls to the pharmacy that she gets her medicine; telling them she was dizzy and needed to see the doctor. After so many calls the pharmacy became concerned and called her doctor and then a nurse called me telling me to get in touch with Jerrell at work and have him come ASAP to the doctor's office. The doctor's office had called her after the pharmacy called then and told her to come up there, but in no uncertain terms, she was NOT to drive. As I was on the phone with the nurse, she walked in and yes, she had driven to the office. A little later, they called to see if Jerrell was coming. I told them he has enroute and that it takes him almost 30 minutes to get there.

In the meantime, my nerves were shot, as I had offered to go up there and they already had her sister enroute, I called my neighbor, Pearlie, just to have someone to talk to. Later she called me back and said we needed to go down there because someone would have to drive Mrs. Bunting's car back home, so off we go to the doctor's office.

The doctor tried his best to convince Mrs. Bunting to go ahead to Jerrells and stay and she flat out told him NO, she was staying at home. He told her that not all old folks had people that loved them enough to want to care for them and should she fall and break a hip that she would go to a nursing home. After repeated tries she was determined to stay at home, so the doctor put her on two weeks probabtion, under the conditions that she not drive for two weeks and also told her that the dizziness went with the age.. I think not, but what do I know. After two weeks he told her that Jerrell will then have to decide what is to be done. She said firmly that she would do her very best to do everything right for the next two weeks, she promised. LOL, like she can make her mind get better. It is truly sad, but honest to goodness it can be funny at times. Please all my praying readers, we ALL need prayers at this time. I just pray nothing happens to her or someone else until some finality occurs with this sad situation.

Ok, enough of you good folks time. May you have a good and a blessed day!

God Bless!

PS Please lemme know, do you all have problems with paragraphs? I have them there and once I publish, the suckers are gone. Any suggestions if you all have the same problem. No need to ask Blogger for help. Been there, done that.

have a little laugh...

2007-06-23T09:05:00.000-06:00

Just for you folks.

Moobear does not do windows

guess what....

2007-06-22T10:39:00.000-06:00

As behind as I am I made it here today and have very little to report on. Jerrell's mom is continually getting a little better. She is not as dizzy or as nauseous as she had been, but still complains of being weak. We know that is true as she has not been out of the house all week and has not been to her hairdresser for three weeks, which is just unheard of with her.

She says she does not want to burden us and prefers to go to a rest home, so that is all still up in the air and certainly between she and Jerrell. I would rather she be here, but her wishes surpass mine as they should.

We had a chatter in our chatroom to have her little 12 year old daughter to go missing yesterday. We all were certainly concerend and many of us prayed and had her name put on prayer chains. The police had been with her most all of the night and about an hour or so ago, she came into the chat and her daughter was found and was unharmed. I took a sigh of relief. We just hear so many bad stories that when one turns out good, we are truly thankful and blessed.

I am just in awe with the 24/7 space shuttle live footage and I have enjoyed watching them hook up with the International Space Station and exchange a crew member to return her to Planet Earth. If any of you folks want to watch the landing which was postponed yesterday due to rain and heavy cloud coverage in Florida, it is on go again for Florida today with an alternate landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Of course this is all subject to change. I pray the Space Shuttle landing will be a safe one, as we all remember the Columbia in 2003 on re-entry. Let's all pray for a safe landing for our astronauts . It is due to land at 3:18 Central Time and 2:18 Eastern Time. They are saying now it is raining there and will come back to the astronauts with a decision on whether to land at Kennedy Space Center or not.

Although I have not weighed Roxy recently, I can still tell that she has lost even more weight. I can stand and hold her now and not feel like my back is breaking. She is actually getting used to us eating and her not. She also seems to like her dog food a lots better than she used to. :)

I hope you all have a good weekend and I hope for those that are in need of rain, that you soon will get some.

God Bless!

a hot day is coming...

2007-06-18T08:19:00.000-06:00

I am here and pretty much down to the hubs. Hope you all had a good Father's Day. We had a good day, had our youngest son, Jeff , home and got to talk with our oldest son. Jerrell had a restful day and that is really what he needs lately.

I had to post my most recent picture of Caroline, she has grown in just the last few weeks since I have seen her. This is Caroline and her little friend who found her daddies poker chips. They are going to be at the beach this week, so I expect her to be even tanner than she is now. She and Steph spend a lot of time working in the yard and also in their pool. Steph always liked to swim so I am sure that had a lot to play in them deciding to have a pool put in.

Jerrell's mom is very dizzy now. She called him at work on Friday morning early so he got off work to take her to the doctor and when they got there, they found he is closed until the 25th. She has some medicine she has taken before for this problem so she is taking that until she can get to the doctor. She has really kept us hopping for the last couple weeks. We are more and more thinking seriously our options as to what should be done and when it should be done. Whatever Jerrell decides, we do know that his mom will not agree to, so that is always in the back of our minds. Sometimes in life, we get tween a rock and a hard place and that is exactly where we are now.

I can already see it taking a toll on Jerrell and myself. He is worrying too much and I guess I am to cause the angina. I think once he makes a decision, he will feel better or at least I am hoping he will. She does not realize what worries she is causing nor would she ever want that if she remotely realized what she was doing.

It is suppose to be 94 here today, so I am pretty much prepared to stay inside in the a/c. I hope you all are getting enough rain where you are. We have finally got enough to tide us over for a while. We had a bad electrical storm the other night and Roxy is terrified of storms, unlike our other dogs, so I had to get up and stay up with her until the storm was over. Wow, what we do for our pets, but she is totally worth missing sleep over.

Have a good day folks. I will make this one short, I got some things I have to get done. Until...

God Bless!

roxy has lost five lbs...

2007-06-13T10:08:00.000-06:00

It has been so hard but we have stuck with the diet for Roxy for over three weeks, so I decided I would weigh her this morning as the curosity was just about to kill the cat? So I put my big self onto the scales, noted the weight (with a gasp) and then went over and picked up Roxy and I held her on the scales and I was just plain delighted! We have noticed her having more energy and doing more running around through the house like she used to. We still would like for her to lose maybe two more pounds which she will probably do real soon. It has been so hard on us and her, but overall we think it will be best for her and we are quite surprised that we are indeed sticking to it as hard as it gets at times.

I do wonder what goes through her little mind when she is so accustomed to her little bowl of rice and stewbeef or her pintos like she used to have and no longer has anything. I do not dwell on it while we are eating or I will cry and there is no need for me and Roxy crying cause she will sorta whine at us begging for some of the good stuff. So my advice to anyone is to never start something that is so hard and hurtful to stop. She does not go hungry, usually either in the early morning or late evening, she will attack her dog food bowls and have a chow down and eats it like it is good anyways. She will not eat the dog food when it is first set out. We use dry food, but she wants it to harden so it crunches, which I find strange cause it is kinda crunchy to begin with, but she won't touch it til it set out and dries out some.

We had a good day after all with Jerrell's mom yesterday. Jerrell went down there after supper to check on her and she did not mention the refrigerator. We are just hoping she will forget about it and hope she does not jump onto something else.

Last night was quiet around here, our cable went out around 3:30 which meant we had no television or computer to use. At first it upset me, but then after a while I got to thinking it was a good thing. I did things that I would never have done with the tv and computer in service. So what times I was not literally twindling my thumbs, I cleaned out my computer table drawer and organized some cds and did some general pc house cleaning. I also piddled around the house and saw some things that needed attention that I had totally missed and neglected before. Jerrell and I also had time to talk, which is a good thing, we have so little time for that anymore or maybe I should say we do not take the time. I didn't realize he shaved every night in the basement. There is a double sink and mirror down there as it was used as a living area by the prior owners many years ago now. I thought he shaved in the bathroom some, so after he told me he shaved in the basement all the time; see I learned something I didn't know.

I also found that I can do some reading which I rarely do, but only small things, nothing in depth and I did a little of that. Right after the second call from a neighbor asking if our cable had come back on, right around 9 p.m. the cable was back on. That is usually about my shutdown time, so I came and checked my email and shut it down for the night, so maybe it was a good thing indeed.

I am thinking about doing one of those Did You Know post like Connie did on her blog. You list 9 things about yourself and one of them is false. The trick is to try and guess which of the nine things is the FALSE one. I found it to be so much fun that I really don't think she would mind if I borrowed her idea. :) Of course I picked the wrong one, lol, but it sure was fun seeing which one all the other folks picked.

Ok, I am through, I have run outta noise so I will hush for now. Have a wonderful blessed day.

God Bless!

PS--I cannot like Blogger NOT letting me do my paragraphs, when they are plainly there! OK, I vented. Bye

mamaw justa few weeks ago...

2007-06-12T12:48:00.000-06:00

is this the end of my rope?...

2007-06-12T11:51:00.000-06:00

I feel like I need to be here and put something on my blog to help me keep my sanity- And I ain't found one thing to laugh about at all so far today, but my intent is to find something to force a chuckle outta me and I am assuring myself that will happen.

Sometimes life can just drag you down to the hubs, specially when bad seems to go to worse and everything jumps on you at one time. I also remember that the Lord did not always promise us a rose garden, but He did say that He would not put more on us than we could bear and I believe that with all my heart. Yes.

Other than my more than usual angina I am doing ok, but we are really concerned about Jerrell's mom. So I am once again here asking for some help in praying for her. Cause I do know that many of my readers are prayer warriors and we need help. She mentally is going down so fast and it has us worried and decisions that are made are totally up to Jerrell and he of course always has her best interest in mind as we discuss her daily demise. Physically, she is doing so good, but for about two weeks she has been obsessed with her refrigerator running all the time. It only ran like it should. But she would not sleep a wink and would get up and unplug it. After doing that for two weeks, Jerrell cleaned it out, went to the store and bought her a brand new one and specifically asked for a quiet running refrigerator. He took off work on Friday for the purpose of getting her a new one so she could sleep and we could not have constant phone calls.

The phone started ringing Saturday morning before 6 a.m. and it was her calling us to tell us that the new refrigerator was not right, cause it too ran all the time. Oh me oh my. There we were both up bright and early and nothing and I mean nothing we said would satisfy her. Jerrell did fix it where she couldn't unplug it, but she used the temp control and shut it down. SOOO we thought for sure all was well as she did not mention it yesterday. This morning it is all starting over again. She is back on the fridge again. She refuses to turn on her tv, radio or anything that might entertain her or make her not sit in a quiet house and listen to things run. All she does is sit in her recliner and listen to that oh so annoying police scanner and take naps. After each nap, then she is totally lost in time, thinks it is another day. That is another thing, she never ever knows what day it is. Ever. She has a 9:15 standing hair do appointment every Thursday morning. She calls me last Thursday at 8:40 and says she went and they had a CLOSED sign and they must have closed and moved and didn't tell her. After she told me she was there at 8:30, I told her that they had not opened yet and for her to go back over there. Later that afternoon when Jerrell went to check on her as he has to do daily now, she had done just that and guess what, they were open and they did her hair. Whewwwww

The doctor told Jerrell last week that she does not need to be driving and I agree, but that means I would have to go every day and take her to Harris Teeter and The Medicine Shop and I am not able to do that. Bringing her up here is not something she is wanting to do nor does Jerrell think he can take both of us at the same time. He is hoping to make it til February when he will be fully retired but we both know that she is not going to be able to stay alone for much longer. A nursing home was not in our plans, although Jerrell has mentioned now that as being an option. I do not want that, nor does he, but if she kills us both , then she will be there anyways. So Jerrell, me and Mamaw really do need you alls prayers right now. Pray for Jerrell to make the right decisions as I do not advise him when it comes to her. Also prays for her, that she will be safe and not hurt herself or someone else until Jerrell finally gets her off the highway.

It ain't that none of you folks want to hear all this, but it is just a fact that I need to get it off my chest and that was the purpose of my blog in the beginning. I am holding up much better than Jerrell cause it ain't my mama, but it hurts and scares me to see him all upset with her as he has been "Mr. Calm" ever since his heart attack and I am afraid it is going to hurt his health worrying and dealing with her. If she were in her right mind, she was not the kind of lady that would ever for a second want to worry Jerrell or be a bother, but now it goes in one ear and out the other, ain't one bit of reasoning left in the lady. I love her, but she drives me nuts and I know that is why Jerrell won't go ahead and bring her up here. Fraid I'll go off the deep end and can you imagine that poor fellow having to live with two nuts? Poor man.

I am not taking this lightly but both Jerrell and I have laughed at a lot of her stuff cause if we didn't, he just might crack under the pressure too. Even Roxy goes and gets under a table when she comes up here cause she says the same thing to her over and over and over and Roxy senses something ain't right with her I guess so she just moses under the nearest table. Please remember us and all thoughts and prayers will be so much appreciated. I am praying for patience cause with her I ain't never really had a whole lots, but I gotta remember she is 91 and her mind is going or gone and I must be stronger and more patient with understanding her.

OK, I have made you folks miserable, but I declare I believe I feel better. Not cause I made you miserable, but cause I got it off my chest. I love you all and hope you understand where I am coming from. Have a wonderful day and if one of you gotta a funny you wanna share with me how bout emailing me at chbunting at carolina dot rr dot com .. :P~
Thanking you!!!

God Bless!

happy birthday son...

2007-06-11T11:51:00.000-06:00

You may or may not see this, as you are busy and are a hit and miss reader, but you were the first of two wonderful sons that Dad and I were blessed with. Being the first child is good. Yes. Because we got to practice with you so when little brother came along, we were pros or so we thought, as you took us around all the scales of parenthood. :P

Just as you came into this world crying, you continued to exercise and make your lungs healthy. Yes. We always commented- that as we looked down into the crib with you on your stomach as you were waking up , that you looked like a little drawn up frog and screaming like a hienie. We learned to love that sound and actually thought it was quite normal until your brother came along cooing and gooing when he awoke. :)

As a kid you made us laugh so many times and as you grew you began to take on a style of your own. You were always respectful to us, not once did I ever hear you sass us or have I ever heard a curse word come out of your mouth in 38 years. Although you had a little mischief in you for sure! We had to tell you that you just don't go into the neighbor's house and rearrange her furniture when she wasn't home nor should you shove your brother literally through the wall. Oh don't worry, he will be having a birthday soon! :) I also wonder just how many times that I wasn't here that you threw a Magic Marker at Polly the parrot when you were studying and she was screeching !

As you grew into a young man and began excelling in sports and in academics, you made us proud. It was a joy to see you on the baseball field on first base, stretching that 6'4" frame and scooping'em outta the dirt. Although I was in the bed with a bad time with my back when I got the call for us to be at the school at a certain time that week and Moo hobbled along with Dad to the school to see you tapped into the National Honor Society. We were there for you. You made us proud. We were also honored to have you named as a North Carolina Scholar. After high school you continued on to college, to graduate summa cum laude with making all A's and that one B for all four years.

After college it was your goal to continue on for four more years at Wake Forest, Bowman Gray School of Medicine. We were proud of your accomplishments there and then you decided to continue your studies for a post doc. You chose St. Jude Children's Hospital Research Center to pursue your field of research in gene therapy and stem cell research. Oh how we loved going to Memphis and you taking Moo more than once to Graceland and Beale Street. You excelled there and left Brian with a lot to work with as you moved on to a job!

In 1999 you married and brought to us an entire package, a wonderful wife Silvia and a precious 4 year old Cynthia to love. You and Silvia have worked together in your careers and you just fell right into being a wonderful Dad. I cannot see that you have changed very much, as you are the still the same Kooner now when you are home, as you were back then; it is almost da ja vu all over again. You have the same work ethics, same morals and same kooky sense of humor that make us all still laugh at times. So, all in all you are the same fellow you have always been, just a bit older, a bit wiser and we are glad you are our son. Have a great birthday today son and know you are loved. And btw folks, he favors his Moo and the younger favors his dad :)

God Bless!

who woulda thought it...

2007-06-10T09:56:00.000-06:00

ONE YEAR OF BLOGGING

One year ago today I clicked on the start blog button never giving a thought to what I was actually doing. I have shared some of my life with you folks and many of my boo boos.

Along the way I began to meet each one of you folks sorta one by one. As I began to read your blogs and email with many I became friends with you all. So much in fact, that when you hurt or are sick, that bothers me and all I can do and will do is to pray for those of you when that happens. I truly believe that the Lord led me to blogging as I have only had the best of readers and rarely have I had anyone pester or spam me. He has sent folks my way that has affected me positively and I need that as I do enough of the joking around in real life and in my chat with friends in the courttv chatroom. I have been spiritually fed from your blogs and I have laughed myself silly at some of your blogs too.

The Lord knew I had nothing but time as I cannot do the things that normal folks do so he allowed me to use this blog as an outlet which helps me personally, but most of all he led to so many of you good down to earth folks. Most I might add are Christians or of faiths that lean towards love and peace towards one another. This is very important to me. To love one another and try to have peace with everyone as we should want to do and as our Lord requires us to do.

I have also met some really fun people, blogs that makes me laugh out loud and some that make me ponder over and touch the strings of my heart. It all makes a circle, surrounds me with all kinds of folks and a complete circle of friends from which I learn something from each one of you, all in different ways at times. One of us often are troubled or extremely happy over an event in your life and we are ALL here to support you in sorrow and glow with joy for you in your happiness. * I have also been known to repeat myself ever now and then.*

Just outta curosity I checked to see just how many times I have posted in my year and the count says 213. Thankfully this will make it 214. I like even numbers btw.

I have all my life tried not to do anything constructive for long periods of time just because that would not be Moobear. Therefore, I am a bit surprised I am still around and blogging. As you all know I fly by the seat of my pants. I used to plan ahead a little, but now it is entirely on a day to day basis. I do what I want or what I feel like doing and all of that amounts to very little. I probably over share my family and my precious Roxy with you, but that is all I have at times to tell you about. I cannot ever tell you how much I have appreciated each of you and how much you have all become special folks to me. I love each one of you individually and I appreciate every visit, every encouraging comment and every laugh you have tossed my way.

Who knows, maybe next year I will still be here blogging my nonsense and sharing my life with you. In the meantime, I'll continue to take a day at a time and be very thankful for it. You have All touched my life in some way. Thanks for the wonderful year, without you folks it would have all been in vain.

God Bless!

America...

2007-06-09T10:21:00.001-06:00

I thought this should be enjoyed by all! Enjoy and be thankful for our great AMERICA!

God Bless America

Roxy gotta haircut...

2007-06-06T10:55:00.001-06:00

I have gotten myself all behind in so many things and my blog in particular. Other than not feeling too good for the past week or so, I still have had things to do whether I felt like it or not. As you can see here, Roxy got a much needed haircut on Monday. She has been on her diet a little over two weeks and we can already see a difference.

Not only us, but Roxy seems to be more energetic and she will now jump on or off things that she would or could not do before. It is so hard, but we are determined and Roxy seems to be adjusting well to it. She has learned that there is no need in begging, although she will sit and stare you down; she just don't grunt like she first did.

I was suppose to have gone to the dentist today to get my permanent crown put on, but after calling yesterday morning to remind me, they called me later in the afternoon and said it had not come in. That was just fine with me as I do not feel like going today anyways. After that I will have the impression made for a partial. I am a bit leary of having one, because I have heard that some folks just gag and just cannot wear them. Mark said he would make the mouth part very little and fit right behind my front teeth so I should be able to handle that with no problem.

Also I am allergic to stainless steel so he is going to have to talk with the lab to see about using titanium or a type of plastic. Really does not matter to me. It is all just such a hassle, but a necessary one!

I found the best recipe for pimento cheese that I wanted to try, so early this morning I went to the grocery store to get some of the ingredients that I did not have and made a big bowl of it this morning. I also made some homemade chili so we could have some chili dogs for supper. Jerrell had rather have them if the chili is homemade than to have a hotdog. The standing at the cabinet and stove just tires me out, but the chili is simmering now, so I can cruise the rest of the evening.

We finally got some much needed rain here over the weekend and it has really helped folks gardens around here. Our tomato plants have taken off and we have some blooms now, so they are looking just great right now. A neighbor of Jerrell's mom gave us some fresh cucumbes and they sure are good. He has plenty of okra, corn, you name it and he said he would make sure we had our share. We really do appreciate that. They are so good to look after Mrs. Bunting and many evenings they take her a good warm supper as her neighbor is a born cook and cooks everyday anyways.

Our oldest son and his wife are looking for a house closer to her new job, so he sent some links today. I will post the link when they finally do buy one. I know the one I want, but they don't listen to Moo when it comes to picking out houses.. :) errr to be honest, they do not listen to Moo period. :P

Ok, I am still behind so I will make this one short. I hope all of you have a good day and are enjoying this beautiful weather. Good day all my friends!

God Bless!

on my mind right now...

2007-06-02T00:38:00.000-06:00

Since I have gotten a camera, I was able to take a picture of the pin I mentioned in this previous post on my blog. Also, the locket was given to me by a neighbor in 1956. It too, is very special to me. It has a place for four pictures, which I have one of me, my brother and mama and Dad. I wish I could have had the camera then, so I just decided to rerun this post as some of my readers were not reading then.

(Repeated post from September 23, 2006)

I do like to write and let you folks know just what goes in my life and oft' times what goes in my mind which sometimes would have been wise not to have shared just now, just yet. But this is classified so I feel very content in telling you all about it. Just whether it is of interest to anyone other than me is just beside the point at this particular moment as I am back in time a bit, as I was last night bout midnight sitting in the dark on my thinking stool.

My lovely husband was sent on a mission about 30 minutes ago and I might add that he is the best finder of all things I bout ever met. Anyhow, from remembering from my thoughts last night, I hollered at him down in the basement if he would please bring up mama's suit from down there as I am forbidden to up or down the steps. Of course the room it was in is now full of wood. So I told him I thought it was in the cedar chest over there in the room with the washer and dryer. Welp sure nuf up he comes with mama's suit. Now, it is the same suit as in the picture. Soooo although it will never be worn, I am going to have it cleaned and stored.

Since the picture was made in 1951 as other pictures made the same day, same place ; one picture was made of me, my brother and my cousin in front of a car with the cartag showing as 1951, so that makes the suit 55 years old at least and in better shape than I am. Also you may note the pin worn on the suit. This was given to mama for dad's service served and death while enlisted . He had been in for 7 years and was a Staff Sgt. at the time of his death. When Congress started the Veterans Benefits in 1947 to take care of the widows and children of deceased service men, they sent mama this pin. I wear it proudly now. My brother had it for many years and gave it to me about 2 years ago. It is a gold star inlaid on a purple background with a gold leaved border. On the back is engraved. Since it is round:
At the top says:
Act of Congress
RWH (my mama's initials)

At the bottom says:
United States of America
August 1, 1947

The pin is still in the original box and though the sponge has yellowed, it is still intact. So I know mama got the pin after 1947, as dad was killed in 1943 and Congress passed on the benefits in 1947. To make a long story short I am very proud of these items of my mamas and I wish I had more things of hers. In all the pictures made prior to my birth mama wore suits and even back then wore pants suits but more classy looking than the ole polyester ones I usta wear. I think I took her style as I like the tailored look and casual vs all them jim dandy frills. No, ain't gonna happen. I am not a ruffle sort of person.

Oh and btw that picture is of me, my brother Ron and mama made in 1951 which woulda made me 7 fingernail biting years old. I do not ever remember ever biting my nails. Musta just been way back then.

well I gotta go, the smoke alarm went off, smoke everywhere and a mad hubby. I burnt the beans and we airing out the house. Have a good evening and I have no idea what we gonna have for supper now. This is really the closest to crying I been in a long, long time...

God Bless!

a long, long morning

2007-05-31T10:20:00.000-06:00

Welp I cannot see good apparently. I woke up this morning and was nauseated, which is not uncommon for me. I looked over at the clock and saw it was 8:12 and I got up, much to my rather nots. I had not gotten in bed til 12:30 so I felt fairly ruff. I go to the kitchen and notice the coffee is on and hot cause I always make coffee at night for the hubby in the mornings. So I sit and read the newspaper a bit and glance up at the clock and it says 6:30. I shook my head and looked at the microwave and it had 6:30 so there I sat two hours fore I needed to be beginning another wonderful day in the life of Moobear.

I had some extra time so I usually like to check my email first thing so I come in here and I see something that tickles me pink. As I mentioned I have been searching and searching for some info on my dad that was killed before I was born. Mama and Dad had just found out that this wonderful "me" was on the way and bam- he gets killed.

All my life the two families have been kinda like the Cowboys and the Indians as not so much as to how he was killed, as he was hit by a car, very simple, but differed on why he got hit by the car. My mother having being there; I figured knew the correct version better than the Indians did. The Indians kept telling me he was a working on his car, had the hood up and turned to walk to the back of the car to get a tool out of the truck and bam he got hit. Well my mama told me he was breaking up a fight and got shoved out in front of the car. Close, but not exactly right. Sparing me maybe....

So I finally made some contact with a live chat person at a Colorado site and they referred me to the Pikes Peak newspaper who might could help me- so off goes an enquiry to them about the death of my dad on September 4, 1943. Thinking it was so long ago I knew it was a long shot. I gave them the needed info and went on my merry way.

Well bless Pat this morning I see an email from them, opened it and they told me that they had the details on my dad's death. I bout croaked. It was in PDF form which I detest to the nth degree, cause I do not know how to wiggle around that place. Anyhow I opened the PDF file and there it was... on the front page even! Well I hafta be honest I got the cold chills and as nervous as I possibly coulda been, yet excited even at 6:45 in the morning. Yay me! I proceeded to read about my Dad. I am also waiting on his military records. I requested them online and they will come by snail mail. The other item is a whole nother story.. :) I had folks wanting to see both, so I killed two birds with one stone.

The bottom line is this, if he had been home that Saturday night at 9:30 with his pregnant wife and his two year old son, he might not have gotten hit by no car. Now that is just my opinion.

Mamamouse and Connie you are both right in your comments and thank you for them. Thank you for straightening me out! And I do generally make somebody laugh if I happen to get out and be around folks. It just happens, cause I am truly witty in more ways than one.. thank you both so much for reading and commenting. Mamamouse I am so glad you back and Connie what would I do without you? You are precious and I love you both!

I gotta run, gotta get my hair done today and even with getting up early I am still running behind.
Have a good one folks!

A PS... Mamamouse I am sorry that you are not in good health and I hafta understand also that I am not on disability for the fun of it. I had far rather be well as I am sure you do, so if this is about all we can do, then I am just going to be blessed that I can do this much and Thank the good Lord for giving me the strength that I do have. I fail in being more thankful, more in my mind than in my heart. Also Jana, thank you hon as your comment just came in. You are loved as well! Have a blessed day all of you. Hang in there Mamamouse and Connie please remember me and Mamamouse in your prayers. Good day.

God Bless!

this is why I am worthless...

2007-05-30T12:01:00.001-06:00

FOLKS this and this is why I am totally worthless. I spend entirely too much time either at watching tv or at my computer. If you will notice, yes I have Court TV on my television, because yes I am addicted to trials, but only live trials. I stay on this compuer what time I am not at the shown tv. I do have a tv in the computer room so I can never miss anything.

The point I am trying to make is that I need to be doing more things around the house and also getting outside and walking more than I do. But what must one do when they so much enjoy exactly what they are doing?? This is not to say that I do not do the bare necessities around here. We do still enjoy eating and I always try to have Jerrell a hot meal when he gets home from work. He had three days off for Memorial Day and I spent most of those three days right here. Now something must give. I realize I have been doing alot of research on my dad and the 10th Mountain Division that he was with at the time of his death, but the rest of the time, I am running my mouth in the Court TV chat channel and I have concluded that spending that much time in chat is worthless even with as much laughing as I do and fun that I do have. I must set my priorities, so starting today I am curbing my chat time and my research time and spend more time doing something constructive with my life.

Right now my phone is not working. The landline is, but I think the surge protector has bit the dust for the cordless and I am just not up to rounding another one up. Hoping with all hope that Jerrell will take care of that when he gets home, but that could turn out to be another round like getting the toliet fixed was, so I might as well get it done myself. I just know too that I will have to reset the answering machine and it took me two days to figure it out when I first set it and of course I have no memory recall at all.

I do have some good news though. We put Roxy on a serious diet a week ago this past Monday. I mean a "feel so sorry for her" kinda diet and she is really losing some weight. It takes a lot of will power to not feed her table food, but the longer we go, the more she will adjust to it. She gets her haircut next week, so then we can tell better just how much she has lost, cause she has such thick hair.

A tid bit...I think the Blog of the Day folks have folded, so I will remove the code when I get around to it. Don't think folks pay too much to what is on a sidebar noways or at least I don't. I got some dusting done and now I need to move on to something else in the house. Wanted to toss a post on here. Have a good day folks! Wish me luck. :P

God Bless!

monday or tuesday?...

2007-05-29T11:21:00.001-06:00

Here is Stephanie and Caroline. Her little cheeks are red, I think she must have been out in the pool earlier. Her bangs are getting too long so she likes to wear bows in her hair. She does not want that hair in her eyes. Yes, she is just my kinda girl. Moobear is the same way.

There is just something with children that they like to wear their mommie's shoes; so Caroline is no exception. It is like, "Look at me, I am a big girl'.

I got these new pictures of Caroline this morning and I wanted to share with you folks. I am glad her hair is getting long enough for a "ponytail". She is also getting a tan as you can see!

I also want to mention that some of my wonderful readers think that Stephanie is my daughter, as has been mentioned in my comments. I love Stephanie like a daughter, but she is my former daughter in law. She and my youngest son were married for six years and after their marriage ended, Stephanie met and married a wonderful man in 2001 and they have this little bundle of love, Caroline. The Lord works in all ways and these families are proof of that.

I have many more pictures, but wanted to post a few. I am sure she was outside a lot over the long holiday weekend. As for us, we did not do anything special. We mostly just rested and Jerrell enjoyed his time off from work. For me, as I tell Jeff, I took off Monday too and since I had to go to the dentist this morning, I also took today off . :)

The first thing they told me when I got there was that no longer do heart patients have to be premedicated for dental procedures. I told Melanie, the dental hygeniest that cleaned my teeth today, that I was still going to take the meds, because I had rather be safe than sorry and they certainly will not hurt me. I had a good report of having no cavities and proceeded on over to Mark to get my impression made for my permanent crown. I will go back next Wednesday to get that put on. We also discussed a partial -which I will get the impression made for after the next visit. I am doing what needs to be done and get that all behind me.

I dunno about all you folks, but here, we are in a drought and in desperate need of some rain. If we do not get some soon, the gardens are not going to be doing well at all and the folks that gives us okra, corn, green beans and crowder peas every year will not have an abundance and of course will not be able to give away as much. I pray soon that we will be getting some rain.

I am still not sleeping much at night so I do feel pretty draggy during the days and today especially since I had Jerrell get me up at 6 a.m. so I would be conscious enough to drive and get to the dentist at 10:00. I made it there and back safely and on time! I did well. But I will stop for today and hope you all have a wonderful day. It is suppose to hit 89 ° here today so the air conditioning feels mighty good. Good day folks.

God Bless!

(Blogger is not letting me do paragraphs, do any of you folks have that problem sometimes? )

a time to remember...

2007-05-25T13:58:00.001-06:00

I HOPE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOLKS HAVE A SAFE, HAPPY AND THANKFUL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

MAY WE ALL REFLECT ON OUR GREAT NATION AND REMEMBER THE ONES SERVING OUR COUNTRY NOW IN PRAYER AND THE ONES BEFORE THEM IN OUR HEARTS.

GOD BLESS!

always thankful...& my three girls...

2007-05-24T10:59:00.000-06:00

Although some days are not so good, I am so thankful to be here. God is good.

( Notice this picture is not centered, but I have an excuse, I am just learning :P~ )

Yesterday was a great day as I mentioned that Steph and Caroline came for a visit and that always makes for a good day. She called while on the road and here I sat in my jammies so I hurried and dressed and it wasn't long before they were here. In just a couple weeks time I can see Caroline growing and saying more words and always so happy. Roxy loves Caroline's visits and we were sitting outside, so of course Roxy just had to be out there with us.

Roxy has to be on a lead because if she should see a kitty, squirrel or dog, she will shoot like a bullet to it never knowing not to cross the road. Yesterday was the first day that Caroline really wanted to hold the lead and walk Roxy around. Of course she doesn't have to walk far as Roxy cannot let Caroline out of her sight and sticks pretty much with her buddy.
They are so cute together. They exchanged kisses a few times, but they are getting over kissing constantly, thank goodness. :)

In her talk, Caroline can say Grandma Claudia, it just does not sound like it yet, but as time goes on, she will say it well. There are so many words I can understand. She is saying a lot of words for 16 months!

Stephanie thinks like my oldest son that I need to see another doctor. Steph offered to drive me to Charlotte if I wanted to go to one there. I could not ask for a better or sweeter former daughter- in- law than Steph. We have a special bond that I feel we will have the rest of my life. Love conquers all and there is lots of love to be given for those with loving hearts. Thanks Steph for being all you are to me.

Also, many of my pictures did finally get removed, I have replaced many if not all of the missing ones. They may or may not be the ones that were there initially, but these will suffice.

Hope all you good folks have a good day and I want to welcome back my friend from when I first started blogging. Mickey has a new blog now and I am so glad to see her back to blogging. Also, I am so glad to meet a new reader of mine from London, GB. It is nice to have Barbara visiting and you folks should check out both of their blogs as they are outstanding. Barbara shared a recipe that sounds so good that I want to try it. I appreciate both Mickey and Barbara for visiting and commenting.

I got a late start today, have been trying to get some things cooked early for our supper because I have to go get my hair done today. So I will make this one short.

God Bless!

a follow up...

2007-05-23T11:52:00.001-06:00

LUNAR ECLIPSE OF SATURN: Last night, the Moon passed directly in front of Saturn, producing a rare lunar eclipse of the ringed planet visible from Europe, parts of Africa and the Middle East: map. "Such a unique event must be photographed!" says Hanno Falk who sends this picture from his backyard in Flensburg, Germany.

I had a wonderful time this morning! Stephanie and Caroline came by and stayed a few hours with me. I will post on their visit and maybe have a picture later. I am running a bit late today, but wanted to get this up for you folks.

Have a safe and blessed day!

God Bless!

most likely...

2007-05-22T08:55:00.001-06:00

I have messed up ALL of my pictures on my blog, but if I can get them back I will and if I can't, then I won't. :) I think maybe that good night's sleep last night caused me to come up with one of my bright ideas.
I did get the pictures back on the post below and I did find that it is much easier to do them that way than trying to do one, write a bit and do another, although the post is scrambled and makes no sense, but I am not up to taking that on this morning.

I have a feeling soon all the pictures will disappear as I accidently deleted all my pictures. I can either go and put them all back in or I could give up and just quit blogging, but I am choosing to not let it bother me. Actually I am more afraid it is annoying to you folks than to me. As in all my life, I have usually had to learn by my mistakes, which is good because it sticks a bit better or it does for me.

Happy Days are here again! We finally got our toliet fixed cause I threatened Jerrell within an inch of his life. NOT. The plumber had gone to school with my sons and was such a likeable fellow. He had this neat little camera that he uses to see where it is blocked and you can look and even see what it is that is blocking.

Of course I keep lotions, creams, hairspray and colgone bottles on the toilet top. Guess you folks do that?? I dunno... Welp of course Jerrell was just sure that I musta knocked one of my little bottles of something into the toilet. When I looked at the screen on that neat plumbing camera, I saw something very familiar, could even see the gold edging I well remembered and I was elated at what it was. He was having a really hard time getting it out though and decided to go one more time through the top. I heard it clunk and we knew it had come unwedged. Had he not gotten it out, a new toliet would have had to be purchased.

Several months back, as a matter of fact as I think about it, around the same time the toilet started acting up, Jerrell had accidently knocked off our porcelain toothbrush holder and broke it in a million pieces. It was special to me, not only because it was so pretty, but was given to us when we got married so was very old too.

Mean me just couldn't hardly wait for Jerrell to get home from work. When he got here, we stood in the kitchen and talked about Ray and what all he had to do and all the fetches I did for him that wore me out.
He then asked what was it. I told him it was sitting in the bathroom on the sick. Awwww he was so casual and calm and just happy we had it fixed. I wonder if it would have gone down that way had it been that little bottle of cologne that my daughter in law gave to me. :)

The main thing is- it is fixed. We are happy and I am glad the toliet did not need replacing.

What an interesting thing to blog on, a broken toliet. See, I told you nutin much goes on around here. I am going right now to give Roxy a bath and then fix us some lunch.

Should all my pictures disappear, just pretend they were never there, but should that happen, I will try to replace them a few at a time. Have a wonderful day my blogging friends!

God Bless!

company came to town...

2007-05-21T07:41:00.000-06:00

This is me and the the two men folks in my life yesterday. And YES I made these pictures posted 'cept for this one. I said I would never have my picture made again and I told my brother that and he got a bit huffy with me, so I sucked up; after all he did drive for 2 hrs. just to see his wonderful sis. :) We just do too much to please our men folks.

This is my sister in law, Michelle, and this picture should have been under the others, but seems like now I remember someone saying they would appear in reverse order than the way you load them. I'm sorry, I just cannot think backwards. :)

(This was suppose to have been the first picture. I think I will get better, but you folks don't hold your breathe!)

My brother and his wife came yesterday and I actually took some decent pictures, or at least I think so. I am going to see if I can get some of them on here. Good luck me! The one above is my brother. He brought his tripod so he could use the timer and get a picture of all of us, but never got the timer set, so no group pic today. He is two years older than me. Can ya tell?

We had a very good visit with them. We went out to eat and Ron called and invited a friend of ours and his wife. His wife had to go out of town to babysit some of the 11 grandkids, but Jim said he would meet us there. We had a nice meal and we did a lot of talking and laughing and remembering our younger years. The three guys had all graduated high school together and Jim and Ron had both attended and graduated from NC State in Raleigh together, so we did not have any loss for words.

I was all keyed up and did not go to bed until 12:30 and about 2:30 I heard the loudest noise and I jumped out of the bed thinking someone was banging on the house as that is exactly what it sounded like. But noooooo, it was Jerrell in the bathroom working on the now broken for 2 months toilet and he had knocked a mirror off. I immedately took a terrible, terrible headache and just could not go back to sleep- so me and Roxy got up and stayed up, so I am running on two hours of sleep and I will admit, I do not feel worth a toot. And a plumber was called and I am waiting for her to call me back to tell me what time her husband will be here. You have heard the old saying, "why put off two months, what you can do today?" That's what I'm talking about!

Roxy was hopping last night for some reason, but today she has slept until just about 15 minutes ago and I took her outside and her leg or foot or whatever was bothering her last night is fine today. She is just a bit draggy like Moo is today. Jerrell will have leftovers tonight, that is my punishment for him delaying getting the toliet fixed. :P~

Welp I am gonna go and I hope these pics will be in the right place after I publish. As we know with Blogger you often get little surprises! I hope you all have a good day. Spose to be in the 80's here today, so warm weather is back and I am glad. Just hope the nights stay cool for a while longer. Our tomato plants are really growing now too! Outta here...

God Bless!

PS -I have these in paragraphs but Blogger surprised me and took them away.

amazing, is it not?...

2007-05-20T10:41:00.000-06:00

VENUS AND THE MOON: When the two brightest objects in the night sky get together, not even clouds can hold them back. Cran Lucas took this picture last night in Shreveport, Louisiana.

It shows Venus and the crescent Moon barely 10 ° apart, combining in brilliance for an unforgettable display. In Wallsend, Australia, David Hough saw the pair in broad daylight while photographer P-M Heden found that they rivaled the streetlights of Vallentuna, Sweden. "It was marvelous," he says.

Now the Moon is moving away from Venus en route to another close encounter--with Saturn on May 22nd. Stay tuned!

I found this to be just fascinating so I wanted to share it with you folks. I am already looking forward to seeing Venus and Saturn on the 22nd. OK, so I am excited just a bit. :P~

God Bless!

a blogging bit...

2007-05-19T08:46:00.000-06:00

I do not like Picasa, if you remove a picture, it removes it from your blog. I do not like that. I thought I had it saved somewhere else but didn't , so therefore something else. :)

Since my one year of blogging is rapidly approaching; yesterday I read about why folks blog and things folks post about. One of the first things that I read was to never post about blogging. Duh! Welp there was an instant idea for something for me to blog about. I found too that it is not always wise to click next post too many times. You will without a doubt run across a blog that should not have been written and certainly not to my kinda liking as far as its content is concerned. Also the content flag is always missing.

I also read that you should never blog about your kids or your cats. This was at an 'advice on blogging site'. Well -what if all you have is one little kitty cat and 14 children? Should you post about maybe wishing you had just gotten a dog instead? Oh it whirls my mind to see the different sorts of writings and the people behind them. Some blogs are blog worthy of course, but I was shocked to read that right now there are 81 million blogs and thousands being added by the day. Also reflected that many of them are of course rated quite abit out of my comfort zone. Also there are many policitical and rant blogs of which does not interest me in the least.

One of the most intersting thing I did was to follow some of the blogging memes created by Uisce ; they are called Worthless Wednesdays and Thougthless Thursdays, etc. I read enough of these type blogs to see why it is so popular. It is a simple way of not having to think of something to post on that day. No thinking involved totally impressed me, but it still did not lure me into that way of blogging. It is fine for those for which it tricks their triggers, but there is absolutely no substance in them. Therefore, I am glad I do not have my regulars that choose to do these whatever they ares! I guess I could be called a selective blog reader as I am drawn to the down home, Christian, family type blogs as mine falls sorta into those catagories.

I gotta call from an old high school friend yesterday just insisting that I go to our 45th class reunion. Now that is something I have never done or really cared to do. There is not one person that would give a flip flop over seeing me after they figured out who I was. I understand tho that they do have name cards for those that have changed so much they are not easily recognized. On the other hand, I would love to see them. I see most all of the ones I was friends with and have kept up with through the years. I just might take it on out of sheer curosity as to what a class reunion is really like.

Oh , I also read that folks tend to not read long post on a blog, so I will make this one short. :) Have a safe and blessed weekend...

God Bless!

20 Things to Remember...

2007-05-16T18:20:00.000-06:00

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

TWENTY THINGS TO REMEMBER

(author unknown)

1. Faith is the ability to not panic.

2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you prayed, don't worry.

3. As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.

4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.

6. Do the math. Count your blessings.

7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.

9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

10. Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.

11.The most important things in your home are the people.

12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open. Come on in .

14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

16. We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.

17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.

18. Its all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage.The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.

20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. Leave gentle fingerprints on the soul of another for the angels to read.

I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it, I want to have lived the width of it as well.

today...

2007-05-15T11:13:00.000-06:00

I got some new pictures! Caroline loves books and one of her favorites is this one, Dick and Jane. She can say both Dick and Jane, but she prefers to just say Dick. She is learning so fast and loves to just sit and look at books. Of course her mom and dad read to her a lots too, so you can point to a book and she will say what it is about. :)

Stephanie is introducing her to gardening as
Steph had rather be in dirt than eat when she is hungry.
She loves to do yard work; set out flowers, put out bags and
bags of pine needles and has the yard looking picture perfect!

Caroline went with her mom and dad on Mother's Day to play golf and had a ball! The only problem was getting the golf club out of Caroline's hand when Steph needed to use it. She is going to be a well rounded little girl. She does not have to be entertained, she will find something to do and be totally absorbed in it.

I did such a dumb dumb today. I had a dental appointment at 10:45 so I had Jerrell to get me up at 6:00 so I could get my wits and be sure to be dressed and conscious enough to drive to Norwood. A friend of mine, Bob Harris, who is the Voice of the Duke Blue Devils and you folks have heard me mention him before, called me and we had talked about an hour when I had to tell him that I needed to get on the road to Norwood. So we ended our conversation. It was so good to talk with him, he is such a nice man. I get to the dentist on time and Melanie ask if I had taken my pre med and NO I had not. I flat out forgot it, so she said she could not clean my teeth since I had not taken it due to my heart. I was so disappointed and left to come back home. I will now get my teeth cleaned prior to Mark doing the impression for my permanent crown later this month.

I had never had a post put in and then the tooth attached to the post before although I had heard of it. It was not bad at all, but I was a bit apprehensive since I had not had this exact procedure done before. The other crowns were not done on post. Silly me tried to make a picture of me and let you see if you could tell which tooth was not mine, but it ain't easy or it ain't for me to take a picture of yourself. I am having a hard enough time taking a picture at a distance and I actually thought I could take one of my ownself. Some of the things that I think of!

I gotta mess of fresh green beans cooked and stopped at the grocery store and picked up some cube steak to go along with it for our supper. The rain beat down our tomato plants so Jerrell staked them all up yesterday and we will be glad when we can have some good ole tomato sandwiches. Not nothing much better than that.

I want to thank all you good folks that commented on my post from yesterday. I posted on what was truly on my mind and in my heart and your comments made me feel so good. I love you all and thank you for being my blogging friends.

I have a phone call I feel like I need to make. Just something that has been bothering me. I don't know if I am just getting sentimental or I am fixing to croak, but don't want to leave no loose ends because we just never know.

Have a wonderful evening. Bless you all!

God Bless!

my mother is on my mind...

2007-05-14T09:50:00.000-06:00

Some of you folks have seen this picture, but since I have some new readers, I am inserting it. :)

I hope all of you had a good weekend and all you mothers had a wonderful Mother's Day. I was pleased to have my youngest son with us and to talk with our oldest son in Ohio. I am truly blessed with two fine sons that love the Lord and give so much pleasure to me by seeing them happy and productive in their fields they chose in life.

I also thought about my own mother yesterday. August of this year, my mother will have been gone for 49 years. I was only 14 when she died, but I clearly remember many things as if it were yesterday. I remember her being diagnosed in 1953 and saw her suffer for the next five years. She had her surgery done at Duke University Hospital in Durham and spent many days in the hospital for the next five years, either at Ft. Bragg or Walter Reed Army Hospital. The times she was home was the best of times. I was the type of person that got homesick very easy, although I had to spend many nights away from mother. For those that have been homesick know it is truly a terrible feeling of helplessness.

We have come so far in treatment for cancer. Had we had then what we have now, I feel sure my mother would not have died from the cancer. The ironic fact that my oldest son is a scientist in cancer research just makes me proud in the right sorta way. From the time my dad was killed when she was pregnant with me, me and my brother was her life. We had little in material things, but we had much in love and enjoying our time together. I remember when my mother got down and was in such pain that she would pray to die. Even as a child, it hurt my heart to see her suffer and I could not do anything for her. My brother was two years older and he could drive at the time she was the worst and did so much more for our mother than I did or could. He called him "her little man" and he really was!

Mother was a tough lady to the very end. She did not want to die at home so she had told the doctor there in our little town to be sure and tell her when to go to the hospital. My brother knew lots more than I did, but mother sent me to church camp for a week, so I would not be there when she left for her final trip to Walter Reed.

My brother took her to the train station at Hamlet and they said their goodbyes. It takes a brave mother to see me leave for church camp knowing that would be the last time she would see me, yet she did not shed a tear or let on in the least and she did it all for me! That is a mother! I will always love my mother for being such a brave and strong woman far beyond one could imagine just because of us children.

Years later I learned that mother's cancer had spread so much that she waited so long to leave that something happened to her on the train and it left her addled, but even without full thinking capacity, she managed to catch a cab and get to Walter Reed. The odds of knowing someone at the hospital were slim to none, but in the Lord's plan, mother had a second cousin named Ruth who was a nurse at that time at Walter Reed. Mother wrote us letters except the last one which Ruth wrote for her. That letter was written the night before she died. Mother had been to Walter Reed a number of times but on her final journey, she died on the 13th day of her stay. Ruth was with her and was actually pulling her up in the bed when she died. I have peace in knowing she died in Ruth's arms.

Many years later I saw Ruth and we talked at length about mother and she told us all that mother was worried about was us children and what would happen to us. I do not think we let her down, I think we have lived lives that would make her happy and maybe a little more proud of my brother as he was the successful one. I was and still am the black sheep of the family. :)

This was on my heart and on my mind and has been since yesterday. I just want you folks to know that I had a mother that lived only 46 years and a dad that lived only 28 years, but I had the best mother and daddy in the world in my eyes! I miss my mother so much to this day. Never having seen my dad, it is like a void on that part of my life. Do we ever get too old to not need our mothers? I think not. For those that still have your moms and dads, please cherish every minute that you have with them and tell them how much you love them.

I wrote what I felt today. I am very thankful for this beautiful sunny day and I am thankful for life and all the good things I have and most of all I am thankful for the memories etched forever in my heart and memory.

God Bless!

Happy Mother's Day...

2007-05-12T07:59:00.000-06:00

Momisms

Every mom has a favorite quote and a special tone to scold or teach a lesson to their rambuncous kids. We might dislike this momism as a kid but we all so much miss them when we grow up. These harsh sounding and yet so sweet advices from mothers is what makes our childhood so special. These motherly sayings go a long way in building us strong and making us a better person. Though we loathed our moms for being so harsh in their statements, ironically we all use the same momism that we received from our mothers on our kids. Oh, how much we appreciate our mothers for coming up with such perfect one liners.Here is list of most common and popular momisms. These motherly advice transcends the borders of time, space, language and culture. For kids are kids everywhere and Moms are always Moms...caring, concern, all knowing and full of love.

*
Money does not grow on trees.

Don't make that face or it'll freeze in that position.

If I talked to my mother like you talk to me....

Always change your underwear; you never know when you'll have an accident.

Be careful or you'll put your eye out.

What if everyone jumped off a cliff? Would you do it, too?

You have enough dirt behind those ears to grow potatoes!

Close that door! Were you born in a barn?

If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

Don't put that in your mouth; you don't know where it's been!

Be careful what you wish for, it might come true.

Don't eat those, they will stunt your growth.

If you don't eat those, you will stunt your growth.

What's meant to be, is meant to be. (Mom only used this when something bad happened or when you experienced a disappointment.)

It doesn't matter what you accomplish, I'll always be proud of you.

I hope that when you grow up, you have kids "Just Like you"! (Also known as the "Mother's Curse")

Because I'm your mother that's why.

This is why we can't have nice things.

If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times.

Eat your vegetables, those children in China (Africa, Vietnam) would be happy to have some broccoli to eat!

If you fall out of that tree and break you leg , don't come running to me.

"Cheer up, the worst is yet to come." Usually said in advance of grounding.

Someday your face is going to stick like that.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Yes, I *AM* the boss of you.

Because I said so.

Just wait till your father gets home.

No dessert till you clean off your plate.

I brought you into this world and I can take you OUT !!

(Mostly said after one of us 5 had done something really bad.

I've got eyes in the back of my head, that's how

Get that thing out of your mouth! (or nose)

Just you wait until you have kids of your own - then you'll understand

You tell that bully to cut it out or you'll tell the teacher...

I slave for hours over a hot stove and this is the thanks I get?!

Honestly... You'd lose your head if it wasn't screwed on!

Honestly, that cardigan looks great on you - the girls had better watch out with you around!

Bored! How can you be bored? I was never bored at your age.

Who'll end up walking, bathing and feeding it...?

author unknown

(Blogger will not let me space some of these.. :) )

I sure do remember many of these being said by my mother and me saying some to my two sons. Do you all remember any of these?

I hope for all you folks a wonderful, blessed and joyful Mother's Day. Thanks for being a part of my simple life.

God Bless!

it wasn't too funny yesterday...

2007-05-10T09:26:00.000-06:00

As I finished my post yesterday, I had told you that I was going to go fix me and Roxy some lunch and that is exactly what I did.

I was sitting in my recliner eating and watching the trial on Court TV as I usually do and I had fixed Roxy a little bowl of stew beef that we had left over from supper the night before. I had it all warmed up for her and we was just getting starting good. All was well until about half way through my lunch.

I had not eaten much when I felt something in my mouth and I have to admit I immediately thought of 'Wendy's', then it hit me. Uh oh, I got it out and bless Pat it was a tooth and it was my tooth. I coulda cried right then and there as I was pretty much panicked sitting there holding my tooth in my hand.

Of course I immediately quit eating and actually did not have an appetite for the rest of the day. I jumped up and called the dentist office and it being right at lunch time, I only got the answering machine and told them desperately what had happened and asked that they call me back.

So around 1:20, the phone rang and it was the dentist office and she asked me how long it would take me to get there, I told her as quickly as I could safely get there, I would be there. I went ahead and premedicated as usual and of all times, I had to stop for gas and got on my way on down to Norwood. During the 20 minute or so ride, I had calmed down quite a bit and was wondering if the tooth could be glued back on, as I still had tooth in the gum.
When Mark took a look at it, he said there was no way the tooth could be put back on. So here I sit right now with no tooth and no smile apt to happen today! It just hadda be a front tooth of all places. My eye tooth. And to top it off, Jerrell wanted to take my picture last night to 'put on my blog' cause he thinks all that happens round here ends up on my blog. :)

What choices did I have? Mark said I know you want a tooth there as soon as possible and I said OH YEAH! I ain't really a vain person, but I am not one to hanker a chance of folks making fun of me or laughing at me behind my back.
So, fortunately Mark had a cancellation tomorrow at 2:00 and since it will be a lengthy process, he said he could do it tomorrow, so I only have today to deal with. I am going to get my hair cut today, but them nice folks ain't getting no smiles today.

Another fortunate thing is that the tooth had been root caneled as I was wondering why no heat or cold stuff hurt it. I have had so many I cannot remember which have been root canaled and which ain't. Anyhow tomorrow he will put a post into the bone and put on a temporary crown which will suffice til the permanent crown is ready to be put on. I am still hunting all our piggy banks.

I still think the worst part is I have a new nickname around the house now. Jerrell keeps calling me "Snaggy", like I thought that was funny. Welp to be honest I did! I laughed til I was silly on and off last night, but that won't the case earlier in the day.

So now, all you folks help yourself to a good laugh, cause laughter is good medicine and this happening to me just might make you feel better. I almost hate to say this, but I gotta run and start getting me and Roxy something for lunch. Not likely I will post tomorrow cause I will be in another one of my tithers.
Thanks for coming and putting up with me.

God Bless!

when is venting ok?...

2007-05-09T08:55:00.000-06:00

First of all I must say that I removed the prior post as most of you folks that even know who Nancy Grace is, know that she is gone from Court TV and I could hardly bear to look at the picture. It does amaze me how much better a person can look when on tv where they are pet and pampered with makeup and hair folks to make you look good when in fact, you are not too much to look at all. Then you put a picture of someone who is having to do their own hair and makeup on their own, it is just not a pretty sight, therefore I removed the picture and the article.

I had to take Roxy to the vet yesterday for her shots and since I was there I wanted the doctor to check the cyst on her head. He took a needle type thingy and tried to aspirate it, but it did not totally get rid of the cyst. He told me it was nothing to be worried about and best to just leave it alone unless it began to increase in size, then he would would local anethesia and remove it. In the meantime we would just keep an eye on it. Roxy as usual was a good girl and did not whimper with the three shots or the needle jabbing he did. I am sure it is quite sore today.

I have no idea how many of you folks order from LLBean. I do know that one of my readers does and she and I a couple years back would email and complain about the fact that they used Fed Ex SmartPost. For any of you that are familiar with that way of shipments know exactly what I am complaining about. For the last few years LLBean has been using Fed Ex Home Delivery which is a delight as they are fast and you can expect the shipment to be at your door the day the tracker says it will. What I did not know is that if you order something that happens to be on backorder, which is no fault of ours, when the order is filled, it is then sent to the customer via SmartPost. LLBean notifies you by email when an order has shipped. I had placed an order for some shoes on April 28 and out of the color that I wanted. The color apparently was the most popular as it happened to be on backorder but was due to ship on the 4th of May. Yesterday, the 8th I got an email saying it had shipped and had shipped by SmartPost and with an ETA of May 16. I was irritated so I called customer service and voiced my complaint and I told them that it was not my fault the item was on backorder and why further punish me by sending it via SmartPost. On prior orders they have sit in a post office for as many as 5 days with no movement. In my opinion, this is ridiculous. Fed Ex transports it to the nearest USPS facility and it is snail mail the rest of the way. However, my complaint was noted and I was told that in the event of another backordered item, I should request that it not be shipped by SmartPost. At least I learned that I have an alternative next time. I normally do not get upset over too much, but the horrors of previous purchases and lengthy delivery time just upset me. I was very nice to the lady and she actually agreed with me and told me that I was not the first person to complain over this situation.

Does not sound like much to get in a dither over, but I did and could I have avoided it; probably not or I would have. Takes a lot to get my dander up, but the fact that they admittedly said they did it because it was cheaper for them was exactly what I was thinking. :)

Today I am calmed down and got other things to worry about. I do not fret long, nor do I hold grudges and hold ill will towards a person for too long. However, I may like a person, but do not like their ways. My husband brought up something last night that really concerned me. He is still carrying a grudge and has bitterness over something that happened almost 20 years ago, but will not talk to me about it. It does not involve me. I worried about that alot last night and couldn't go to sleep. I prayed for the situation and would appreciate your prayers that he will let it go as it has affected his life far more than it should. It is water under the bridge and nothing will change it. I am thankful when I cannot carry something or should not, I turn it over to the Lord and let it go. Please keep Jerrell in your prayers over this.

It is time for me to go and fix some lunch. We do not have no sunshine today, but I am thankful to have this day as dreary as it is, cause it is a day of my life for which I am thankful to have.
Hope you all have a good day and enjoy it too!

God Bless!

just too complicated for me...

2007-05-07T13:15:00.000-06:00

I have been working all morning trying to figure out how to undo a mess that I made with my camera. I got this one picture made and then it goes to a menu of which I know nothing about or do I know how to get out of it. It has many more features on it apparently than a simple minded person like me should have. I luck up once in a while and get it back to where I can take a picture. I took it with me on our walk this morning, but saw nothing picture worthy.

I had bought some rechargeable batteries and I cannot see that they are any better than the others. They are charging as I speak. I used regular batteries to get this picture of Roxy. So I can see that I will be taking few pictures or be doing a lot of reading in that camera book. It wouldn't be quite as bad, if it didn't make me shaky nervous just messing with it. I am not sure I am up to the task, so when you folks get a picture on here that I took, consider me lucky and --well ya'll lucky or not. :) If I squeeze out one just once in a while, I will be so happy.

Had a good weekend, the sun finally came out yesterday, but it is still a bit cool here compared to last week with the hot days that we had. I had ordered me some walking shorts from LLBean and they came on Saturday, but it is not shorts weather right now, but should be about Thursday. I like them cause they have a 9" inseam and come to just above my knees. I do not like my shorts short. I also ordered two pair of shoes, one pair ate my socks and I didn't like that so I returned them. The other pair is on back order and should ship this week. I still prefer shopping online rather than going out to a store. Although since I had gotten a coupon in the mail from JCPenny for $10, I went over to the store and they had their t-shirts made out of really soft cotton on sale 2 for $12, so I got two shirts for $2.13. They were normally $14.99 a shirt and I do like a bargain! I figured that was worth the ride over there, but would not have gone had it not been for the coupon.

Speaking of coupons, I had bought enough that I had received in the mail a $10 coupon from LLBean and used it on the shoes that I returned. So now I hafta wait til the return is processed and backed off my card and then another coupon will be mailed to me. I would hafta use the coupon on the only purchase I have ever returned to LLBean. Just call me Lucky...

I talked to our oldest son as usual last night and they have been house hunting and hope to move before Silvia starts her new job August 1. They have both found one they really like and if they should buy it, I will share the link with you. They have looked at some pretty ones and I like this one and another as it has such a beautiful sun room, that I would love to just sit in and enjoy when we go to visit them. My son has also written his first book and it is in publication right now. It will be out January '08. I am really proud of him, but since it is a medical book, would do me no good to think about reading it, but makes me proud all the same.

Welp folks, I am tuckered out from fiddling with that camera and gonna take a break before I start supper for Jerrell. I hope you all have a good evening and are having good weather. Until, take care and stay safe...

God Bless!

a day made brighter...

2007-05-04T18:34:00.000-06:00

Does Caroline look a bit bewildered at what Grandma Claudia is telling her? I like her little dumbfounded look as she is looking at me. That is sorta the way my entire week has been.

The best day I had this week was yesterday when I had a visit with Stephanie and Caroline. Steph had needed a little wood work help from Jerrell. So Jerrell was delighted to be able to help and had her needed piece of work for her bonus room ready, so she and Caroline stopped by to pick it up and visit with me for a while. Words cannot convey the wonderful feeling I have with each visit I have with them. I love them both dearly as all you folks know.

Fortunately, yesterday was the first and only day so far this week that I have not had an angina attack as soon as I get out of the bed. I absolutely do not understand why the timing unless it is the just the sheer exertion of coming from a total relaxed state to the exertion of getting out of the bed, going to the bathroom and heading for the kitchen. I no longer panic when they begin, I just immediately reach for my nitro pills and pray as it is dissolving.

Caroline was asleep when they arrived so Steph and I sat outside and I looked at some picture albums that Steph had brought to show me. She has always been a picture taker and I am so glad she is taking so many of Caroline. I had fiddled with my camera until I had it where I could not take a picture so Steph had to fix it back for me and went ahead and took a picture of Caroline for me. I honestly don't think I will ever get the hang of picture taking. I pick it up so rarely, that when I do, I have already forgotten what button does what and that is what got me in all that mess. LOL, Steph said I needed a disposable one.

Along with the visit Steph had brought me some lasagna and some pineapple cake she had made for dinner the night before as she had a family of 5 over for dinner and had made plenty of lasagna and cake. I finished it off today. She is still a good cook and I have always enjoyed her pineapple cake.

It went from hot to cold overnight here and frankly I am glad. For two nights in a row, I had to stay up with Roxy until it cooled off enough to go to bed, sometime after midnight, cause cold natured hubby just didn't think the heat to me and Roxy justified cutting on the air conditioner quite yet. Suffer unto us!!

I do not normally post at night, but it has been so long I thought I'd sit down here and take the time to say hello to you folks and try my best to try to do better and muster up something to share with you and start using that camera before I completely forget how to use it.
Wanna see our tomato plants? :) Jerrell got them set out this week.

Ok, getting time for some R & R, hope you all have a good night.

God Bless!

a day of silence...

2007-04-30T06:09:00.000-06:00

I lost a friend today...

2007-04-29T12:50:00.000-06:00

Juanita Joy Work
nee Doyon

June 8, 1936 – April 29, 2007

Beloved mother of Patti and Bud
Grandmother of Lynnea,
Sister to Jackie and Bertine.

She loved and was loved, and she will be missed.

A Question

A voice said, Look me in the stars

And tell me truly, men of earth

If all the soul-and-body scars
Were not too much to pay for birth.

---Robert Frost

hello, claudia,

my mother died this morning in her sleep, very, very peacefully, which is what she wanted. she was surrounded by love to the end.

she wanted me to contact you at the end, and so i have. i send along this picture of her. she was a beautiful woman.

thank you for all you gave to my mother. she mentioned you with great affection and esteem. i know that your friendship meant very, very much to her, and she thought you a wonderful person. she wanted me to tell you this, and to thank you for all you gave to her.

i thank you, too, as friends might well be the masterpiece of life.

blessings,

patrice

I got this email today and although I never met Anita, I knew her. I had asked for prayer for Anita just a short while back and I emailed Patrice with the words I was led to say. I got a brief response, "will be in touch". Through my tears as I write this, I can truthfully say that folks can make close and binding friendships through emails and blogs and other ways. I pray that Anita found her way as God can work through mysterious ways. Thanks to you folks that prayed for Anita. It was appreciated so much. God Bless you all...

just been too busy for me...

2007-04-25T12:57:00.000-06:00

Since this blog was started under the premise that I would write about my day and the events happening that day; the truth is- in almost now a year of blogging, less and less is happening in my life that I can truly consider blog worthy. The things I want to tell right now I have to wait. Therefore, I have to deal with the hand I have been dealt on the day that I blog.

I have been busy this week. I went to the doctor on Monday as I had to move mine and Jerrell's appointments to April instead of May because come May 1 our insurance will be changing and it will not cover the bloodwork that our current insurance does. I got a good report back on mine today. Jerrell will be going this afternoon. I could write an entire post just on health insurance, but that is just not proper and I am not up to typing for a couple hours on my feelings and dealings with insurance companies!

My doctor did put me on a different fluid pill that is really pulling alot of fluid off of me. Also gave me something to help me get to sleep. He also chose to take me off the angina med that the heart doctor gave me and put me on a nitro patch. I put it on yesterday morning at 7 a.m. and removed it at 10 p.m as directed by my doctor. By 10:30 I had my first angina attack and had three more last night with the last being at 7:00 this morning. Needless to say, I will go back to the medicine and will not use another patch. Although I did feel better and have more energy as my heart was getting more blood and oxygen than I did taking the pills, but once removed, it was bad from then until I got the pills back into my system. I was a bit leary when he told me, but since he's the doctor and I'm the patient, surely he knows more about it than I do. NOT. this. time.

I read many blogs and I have one blog that I truly enjoy. Linda has been battling with her elderly dog as to have her put down or not, as at her age she was in lots of pain, but Linda backed out and medicated the dog enough to keep her getting around and pain free. Finally she firmly decided to have her dog put down yesterday and I have worried and thought about Linda ever since. I have been there, done that and it is something I can never do again. I told her about the Rainbow Bridge and gave her the website to go read and she would feel better about it. Also there is a Memory Wall site that I added my last two dogs names to. The neat thing is that the page never ends, it is continuous and has such pretty music and every time I go there and run my cursor over my pet's name, I always shed some tears and feel the joy that those two special dogs gave to our lives. I pray that Linda will hang in there and understand there are many folks thinking and praying for her.

I have slap run out of trials that was at least interesting. This Phil Spector trial just does not get my interest. My husband asked me today if I was ready to practice law yet as I watch trials so much. lol... I told him I hadda take the test first, but I am confident that I could pass. I was pleased with the Mary Winkler verdict and hope she gets the least amount of time possible. As for the Melanie McGuire case, I honestly think she commited the crime, but I saw too much reasonable doubt for me to have cast a guilty verdict. I find it amazing that 12 people can agree on much of anything, much less something as serious as a life sentence or freedom. I hope to be called to serve jury duty once before I leave this earth. Many do all they can to get out of it and I keep hoping I will be called. I dearly love learning the laws and seeing lawyers in action. Quite educational or a waste of time? To each his own, eh?

I have not seen the first thing worthy of getting my camera out for. I was a bit late to get the pictures of our azealas made before the cold snap and the frost killed them. Brown ones are not too pretty. I am sure I will run across something soon as those things normally just happen, not something you plan.

Since Jerrell got off work early today, I cooked dinner and we ate well, so tonight we will have a sandwich or a "make do". Then tonight I can't wait to see who gets voted off on American Idol. They are down to only 6 remaining and in my opinion Malinda Doolittle has a fabulous voice and whether she wins or not, she definitely will be making money doing what she does well. At this time, she is my favorite pick. How about you folks that watch it, who is your choice? I would love to know!...

God Bless!

Melissa Greer Polksy ...1979 - 2007

2007-04-21T07:14:00.000-06:00

Melissa lost her courageous 6 month battle with cancer yesterday morning. Please remember her husband, Roger, son, Connor and her entire family. She will be greatly missed by her WBTV family as well. There is a Remember Melissa site at channel 3's website. She fought a good fight and was able to attend a shower given to her only 3 weeks ago. Although Connor is nearing 4 months of age, he will have many things to remember about his mom. May all you folks remember this fun, happy and optimistic ladies loved ones and friends at this time. Melissa lived a full 27 years and as one of her co-workers said, "she did not fear death, nor did she ever ask why". God Bless!

a great few days...

2007-04-19T08:11:00.000-06:00

Amidst the tragedy at VT this week, I have had the students and family of the victims and the gunnman in my thoughts and prayers. It is sad that we have so much hate and turmoil in and around us.

Life goes on for all of us and maybe it was good that I have been busy and did not have the time to dwell on these things as I normally would have. I was pleasantly surprised on Tuesday when the phone rang and it was Stephanie calling me and telling me she wanted to take me out for lunch for my birthday. I was delighted to say the least. She said she had her mom and Caroline with her and would be here shortly.

I had to hustle a bit to get somewhat ready and within just a few minutes they were here! During their long visit, her mom and I were talking about Caroline and me being a grandma too. Stephanie has and always will seem more like a daughter to me than a former daughter-in-law.

We were sitting in Pizza Hut and Caroline does not have a shy bone in her body. She would wave to anyone that came by her and Stephanie spent a lot of time talking to some folks she knew and lots of strangers that would come to our table to see and talk to Caroline. Caroline has the most precious smile, showing all of her little "toffies". She is a very happy and very, very outgoing little girl. I do not think there will ever be a problem with shyness. I would be quite surprised if she ever shyed away from anyone!

I am picture posting illiterate!!! I just cannot seem to put on more than one picture without them being scattered all about. Now I see I cannot space and write between them. Any free help please??? When I read a blog and they have their pictures just as neat and straight in a row, I truly am impressed and wonder what in the world am I doing wrong.

Since my batteries were low, even the charged up rechargeable ones, I had to get Steph to take a few pictures before they died. I will try to post some, but have no idea if I will get it done or not.
I also bought some new rechargeable batteries for the camera when I was out phone shopping!

We had three telephones in our home. One landline and two cordless ones and one answering machine. They ALL had died. I was always fearful of not getting through a conversation for fear of the phone dying in mid conversation. So yesterday I went and bought new phones and one with a built in answering machine (less wires to deal with). Did you folks ever realize just how many wires it takes for three phone???? Well I didn't either until I had to crawl under this table and this desk and that table to untangle and dig out all the wires. I threw two phones and the answering machine away. I no longer wanted to deal with them and certainly saw no need in keeping them.

I have already found that I am not a good picture taker. I am used to the old kind where you look through the viewfinder and click away. Although you can do it this way, it is more cool to just snap away. So all mine are either off center, too light or totally worthless. I now see why it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. I will now proceed to post a few.
Good luck to me!! Have a great day folks!

God Bless!

a day to enjoy...

2007-04-17T11:59:00.000-06:00

After leaving our house week before last, our son, Kevin and his family left to go on to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to see the beaches that neither Silvia or Cynthia had never seen before. They had pretty weather here as they visited with us. It was in the high 80's and was just down right hot, but the temperatures at the beach were much cooler, but still warm enough for Cynthia to get in the water. The picture on the top were taken on Thursday and the bottom one is what they returned home to on the following Sunday. Quite a difference, but such a beautiful site as I love snow. I love to see it fall, I love to be outside in it and also like to ride in it if the roads are not slippery. I was so happy to get these pictures in my email and I also got some new pictures of Caroline too. I cannot think of how much I enjoy getting pictures of my grandchildren. I will post some of Caroline later.

It just does not take much to make me happy. Friends remembering me today on my birthday with ecards and also snail mail cards. To those folks I saw thank you. I also got an email from Jeff, our youngest son this morning. He needed to remind me that I am 63 years old today as I was dead set on being 64 until a couple weeks back when he corrected me. I have no idea what I was thinking, but most likely I was doing as usual, not trying to think at all. I have already been blessed on and before my birthday. I have gone to sleep and slept the night through for three nights in a row. What more of a birthday present could I possibly want. Yesterday morning I was reading the paper thinking what a wonderful difference it makes to get a good night's sleep. I felt so good. I also found out that angina does not always have to be for a reason as feeling as good as I did yesterday morning as I was taking my meds the pain started started first in my left arm, then to my chest and I quickly got my nitro and put it under my tongue. Within 5 minutes the severe pain had stopped and I as usual was left weak and pretty much was for the rest of the day. As I was letting the nitro dissolve, I just asked the Lord to help me through it and as always he did. I am learning to accept them as now being a part of my life as nothing can be done that hasn't already been done. I am just thankful it is not every day.

My best friend Paulette had asked me to come over to her house this week, but I told her I was just not up to it. I hated to not go, as she and I always have so much fun together. Also my check engine light was on and would not go off on my SUV, but I learned something that may help some of you folks. First, I do not like cars that talk to you! But I am used to the beep and my message center saying "low fuel" as I never get gas until that happens and at times I wait for the final warning which means "now or never". I was riding along and the low fuel warning was given and then later the check engine light came on, so I mentioned this to my beautician friends and one of them told me that her Four Runner would do that and usually the gas lid is not on properly and if I get gas and make sure the gas lid is on right and disconnect the battery that the check engine light would go off. I was telling Jerrell about it and he got the manual out and it said only to put gas in tank and after a few starts and stops the light would go off, but in my case it did not go off. So yesterday he said he might as pull my car outta the garage and undo the battery not really believing it would work. After doing that, yep the light went out. Who woulda thought it? And why in the world would a car have such a kink in it to start with. However, I am so glad to get rid of that check engine light. It has a screen and a system check where you can check all the things that could be a problem and all things had checked out OK, so with it coming on right after the low fuel light, I have to believe it is a kink in the computer system on the car.

I plan on spending my birthday today as I do all other days. I have a trial with closing arguments today on tv, then the jury will get it. On the computer I have a live trial of Mary Winkler the pastor's wife in TN that I am keeping up with at the same time. I can multi task some things, as long as I can sit and do it. :) I am saddened to hear of the shootings at Virginia Tech. This is America's worst event like this and I pray for all those involved. So much going on right now in the news and none of it is good. Nothing shocks me anymore, but it certainly does upset me. All I can do is pray for the folks in all these terrible situations.

So far I am having a good day, it is already 10:30 and here I sit, still in my jammies and robe. Roxy is still asleep. My mother in law just called and she is dressed and raring to go, so I guess if at 91 she is dressed, surely this ole 63 year should get up from here and dress. So I am outta here for today. I hope you folks all have a wonderful day...

God Bless!

i have been tagged...

2007-04-15T15:49:00.000-06:00

Howdy! I have been tagged by Clara for the Wikipedia MeMe....

First, you are to go to Wikipedia and type in the month and day you were born.

April 17, 1944 (tis me)

Second, you are to name 4 events that occurred on that day.

1492 - Spain and Christopher Columbus sign a contract for him to sail to Asia to get spices
1861 - American Civil War: Virginia secedes from the Union
1864 - American Civil War: Battle of Plymouth begins – Confederate forces attack Plymouth, North Carolina.
1865 - Mary Surratt is arrested as a conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Third, you are to name two important birthdays on that day.

1923 - Harry Reasoner, American journalist (d. 1991)
1972 - Gary Bennett, American baseball player

Fourth, you are to name one person whose death occurred on that day.

1790 - Benjamin Franklin, American inventor, diplomat, and printer (b. 1706)

Fifth, you tag five fellow bloggers. You are chosen, but if you don't want to play,
no problem at all.

~Kristi~

Janet

Helen

Ingrid

Jana

Hope the weather is not too stormy where you are...

God Bless!

i am defeated...

2007-04-10T16:41:00.000-06:00

I have been meaning to post all day, but have been stuck to the tv waiting on DNA results. I really gotta life, eh? Also, I flooded the bathroom, water ran through into the basement for so long that 3 pieces of ceiling tile came loose and the water dripped all over Jerrell's tool boxes.
I had no idea this was going on. It isn't like the toliet has not been working right for several weeks and I was never given a lesson in proper flushing with a broken toilet just yet, but I sure did get a nice one this afternoon. :)

That paragraph was written yesterday as I tried on and off all day to get a video to go along with a post. I have even tried this morning. It works fine at the site I have it uploaded too, which include -You Tube, Photobucket and Google Video. The video works on the sites, but when I put them on here, when you click play, it says " oops no video" ! Is there anyone that can or will help me with this? I don't know if the file name has something to do with it or not. I even compared the code that I had used in a prior video post that did work and I saw no difference. Most of you folks have my email address, so any help would truly be appreciated.

I am just about water logged inside and out today. It has rained pretty much all day long. It just let up long enough to take Roxy on a good walk although it was misting enough that I needed an umbrella. Tomorrow will be warming up some and also the sunshine will be back. I did not get very much sleep last night and had just gotten up when Jerrell called home this morning to check on me. I told him I most likely would not have a cooked supper, but would try to have him something to eat that was warm. It is hard to cook for Jerrell now more than ever as he has always been a very picky eater and likes no variety in his meals. I am just plain sick of pinto beans and I honestly think he could eat them every day of his life. I have beaned out!

It is almost 2 pm and I have not made all my blog rounds yet. I have been running behind all morning. Had to run to the grocery store once and then run and pick up some prescriptions and that is just enough to wear me out. Therefore, I am going to make this one short. I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend and are back into the groove this week. Have a good day and I am now going to read some blogs.

BTW Janet I have not gotten Roxy to the vet yet this week and I may even have to wait until next week. Things never work out as planned around here. Thanks for your concern. It needs attention, but not immediate, but I want it off as soon as I can. Please lemme know on Spot's results.

God Bless!

Happy Easter...

2007-04-08T07:26:00.000-06:00

For each of you, I wish you peace, love and joy. Love one another and hugssss to you All...

God Bless!

I have been tagged...

2007-04-07T09:31:00.000-06:00

Ok, I have been tagged by Grammie and I am going to do my best to list my favorite or most listened to songs. Thank you for the tag Laurie. I do love music, most all kinds, but gospel music is my all time favorite and most of my CD's are gospel. Nevertheless, here I go. No particular order here, but I will say #1 is #1 and the rest are just some of my favorites.

1. Learning to Lean - The Blackwood Brothers

2. Bridge Over Troubled Waters - Elvis Presley

3. After All Is Said And Done - O.C. Smith

4. Red High Heels - Kellie Pickler

5. God on The Mountain - The McKameys

6. Only You - Michael Crawford

7. Oh for a Thousand Tongues - The Nelons

Just a little -add to- here, I have to say the hymn Learning to Lean has always touched my heart and I do not think I have ever heard it sang or listened to it that it did not bring a tear to my eye. I am constantly leaning on Him and want it no other way. In fact, that is one song for sure I want sung at my funeral.

There are numerous songs that I like to hear, might not even know the name of it or the artist, but still I like the song. Many of the songs of the 60's when I was a teenager, I now see on the public broadcast station still singing the "oldies" and never knew at the time they were African American, nor would it have mattered. I am always in awe with their age now; how I cannot tell any difference in their voices from then and now. Blows my mind at times.

I am rested up some now as it does take quite a bit out of me when I get out of my routine. LOL, I sound like I am old, eh? Well I ain't too far from it! Anyhow I gotta email from Kevin this morning saying they were having a good time and he was having a hard time getting an internet connection. His laptop is wireless and he has to keep up with his work even while away, so he was at an internet cafe this morning doing some work. I pray for a safe flight home for them tomorrow.

This cool weather is gonna be with us for the next several days. That is why they call it an Easter cold snap as usually happens, one good cold front moves through right about Easter time each year. Thanks to you that stop by and a special thanks to those that choose to comment.

God Bless!

what a fun-filled week...

2007-04-06T13:12:00.000-06:00

Believe it or not, but I am all in one piece and yes I took this picture. Yay me!! Am I good or what? :) My younguns got in without any problems about 2 pm on Tuesday. The weather here was more than cooperative and was just down right pretty and a tad even on the hot side. The pretty weather allowed us to be outside alot and that of course makes one feel so good!

Yeppers, I had a mini course in the use of the camera and I still gotta long ways to go, but I thought I would try getting one as they were leaving yesterday morning to drive on down to Myrtle Beach. As you see -the jackets had to come out; after all they are Buntings and were headed for the beach and as a Bunting we always have been known for our bad luck so Kevin took it in stride. After being in the 80's, the temps have dropped to day time of 50's at the beach. Actually he said, it is beautiful here compared to home as it was snowing in Cleveland yesterday. A happy trio they were to be away from home, work and to have a little vacation. Does one good to get away from the grindstone once in a while.

On Wednesday our youngest son came over from Charlotte so we had the entire family, small as it is, here for supper on Wednesday night. We enjoyed just being together, reminicsing about the "good ole days" when the boys were young and I was trying really hard to embarrass Kevin with all my might. He was such a stinker when he was growing up. I just thought Silvia outta know what a rascal he really was so I did my best... :)

We made several pictures and since they had recently gotten a camera phone we was picture happy! No joke, I even have pictures from tree trunks and roots to nose nostrils and everything in between. I did find out real fast I ain't as photogenic as I once was, so I ain't never gonna be in no more pictures. Nope, not me. I am thrilled to say the least to have the camera and got it tucked away in the nice soft leather case and I will be ready now if I can find something to take a picture of. Oh and it gotta video thingy too and I do have a little video of Roxy if I can figure out how to get it on my blog. I did it once, but cannot figure out again how I did it. Oh well, who woulda thought it? I may hafta change the name of my blog to Roxy's Place cause she is about all I most likely will get pictures of, unless I run across something better and I would be hard pressed to beat her!

Welp I gotta go, but I did want you good folks to know I appreciate the comments on Mrs. Bunting's birthday and that this has truly been a good week. She had a good birthday and thankful to the good Lord she is as well as she is and we are thankful to Him for allowing us all these wonderful years with her. Take care folks and stay safe...

God Bless!

happy birthday Mamaw and a little more...

2007-04-02T13:02:00.000-06:00

Oh what a beautiful day. And it also happens to be my mother in law's 91st birthday. She is quite a lady for her age. Does not have an ache or a pain. She has certainly led a Godly life and lived her entire life living for the Lord, doing his service. God has truly been good to a very deserving woman. She only has the one child, Jerrell and I thank her for that.... well
at times I do... :)

I April Fooled myself yesterday and didn't even know it. I was reminded by my son that I too would have a birthday coming up on the 17th. I told him that I would be 64. Jeff quickly corrected me and said " no Moo, you will be 63." Oh really!!! I declare I was happy all day for having that extra year that I had already lost. Sometimes I wonder whether I am going or coming.

Our oldest son and his family will be coming in tomorrow and yes I am a bit excited and nervous all at the same time. Of all times for me to start back having angina attacks, but I did yesterday morning. The first one woke me up at 4:11 as I saw the clock when I reached on the night stand for my nitro and then another one got me around 8 right after I got up. It worries me more since I am taking 4 pills a day for it and it had been working really well. I think the combo of that fact and also getting things ready for Kevin and his family has gotten me all dithered up. I was up until after midnight last night and was up at 5:30 this morning. I had too much to try to do today; had zero energy to do it, but I got all I wanted to do done and Jerrell will finish up with the vacuuming when he gets off work today. He will work tomorrow and take off on Wednesday since they will be leaving out on Thursday morning for South Carolina.

The last thing I told Kev was to be sure and pack the CAMERA, so I will try to get some pictures to post for you folks while they are here. Hope old dogs can still be taught new tricks. That's what I am a thinking.

I had a phone call smack in the middle of this, so I am outta here. Will be back soon as I can. Have a great day everyone!

God Bless!

oh what a happy day...

2007-03-28T09:31:00.000-06:00

Due to a boo boo on part, many of my pictures are not on my blog as they first appeared. Long story. :)

Our Afternoon with Caroline

Oh YES, Stephanie and Caroline came by to visit us yesterday afternoon. Jerrell and I were just thrilled to have them spend some time with us. Caroline loves to be outside since she is now walking and we got to see her in action! She of course immediately started looking around for Roxy, as Jerrell had taken Roxy on a walk when they first got here. Once Roxy got here, she wanted to spend some time with Roxy and of course give and get sugar! She also had other things she needed to check out. How handy that walking has become for her! She walks so fast! The grandmother in me was so afraid that she would fall and get hurt.

As you see here I am taking me a sit down break and watching Caroline cause she don't watch the speed limit all the time! She always seemed to land on her little bottom most of the time, but the few times she did fall on the pavement she did not skin her little knees. I guess they are much tougher than I had remembered them being.

Caroline of course had to have her a break and just sit down once in a while too. But when she would sit down, it was just the right time for Roxy to get him some more sugar. I can say it was indeed a happy day yesterday and as I always say, I am already looking forward to them coming back. She is 13 months old and can say a large number of words for her age. She had on some little yellow sunglasses when they got here and which they also left and Jerrell could not catch Steph before she pulled onto the highway to leave. It made my day complete! I came on in the house and washed up the dishes I had not gotten washed and relished the evening knowing I am truly blessed.

I would be amiss if I did not thank Connie for the help in getting these pictures on here. For some reason I just could not figure it out. Thanks so much my friend!

I hope you all have a great day. I also hope your weather is as nice as it is here. Truly spring is here and I love to be outside! God is good!

God Bless!

a little laff...

2007-03-27T13:18:00.000-06:00

A LOVE STORY

Thanks~M~

An 80 year old woman was arrested for shop lifting. When she went before the judge in Cincinnati , he asked her, "What did you steal?" She replied, "A can of peaches." The judge then asked her why she had stolen the can of peaches and she replied that she was hungry. The judge then asked her how many peaches were in the can. She replied 6. The judge then said, "I will give you 6 days in jail then."Before the judge could actually pronounce the punishment, the woman's husband spoke up and asked the judge if he could say something. The judge said, "What is it?"
The husband said, "She also stole a can of peas."

hectic round here...

2007-03-26T12:50:00.000-06:00

I just never seize to amaze myself. Granted I ain't got the best memory in the world, but I best get my act together. I found myself waking up at 4:45 this morning with another angina attack and as you folks know, I have only had two since I started on this new medicine after my heart cath.

Now since I do not function when I first get up, I was still in a stupor when I started taking my morning meds and I noticed my angina pills were not there because I set them in a different place so I will be sure to see them to take at 2 p.m. as I am sposed to take two at 8 a.m. and 2 @ 2. Welp, then I knew why I had the attack, cause I missed my afternoon pills yesterday. It made me feel better for a second, but at the same time it was scary to know that I was so dependant on those pills to ward off those terrible angina attacks. It really, really do make me think.

Well for the good news. Our oldest son Kev and his family will be in- a week from tomorrow. They will fly into Charlotte on Tuesday around noon, get a rental car and drove the 45 miles to here. They will be here until Thursday morning and then drive down to Myrtle Beach, SC and fly out of Myrtle Beach back to Ohio on Sunday.

Of course we are looking forward to spending some time with them. It will be exactly a year since we have seen our daughter in law and grandaughter. Kev was in by himself in the fall of last year. Unless we can make some unknown quick changes, they will be staying nearby at a motel. That way it will be much easier really on them and on us. Cynthia of course wants to stay with us, which is great! Of course she will sleep with me as she usually does, but I mentioned to Kev about Roxy sleeping with me and would that be a problem with Cynthia? LOL, he said no, actually that is why she wants to stay here so she can sleep with Roxy. Now ain't that sweet? I am looking forward to it, but my cooking will have to be limited as they are aware I am not what I used to be healthwise or otherwise.

Kev also mentioned he would be bringing the camera and Cynthia could show me how to use the camera and he would show me how to get the pictures from the camera to my computer. I may even take some of them while they are here so I'll have some to post for you good folks.

Welp, we had a murder here in this little town. It is bad in more ways than one. Jerrell's mom is all in a tizzy as the murder happened in the house directly across the street from her. She lives and has lived on a dead end street since Jerrell was in the 8th grade. She and a couple more elderly folks are all that are left of the originals when they moved there. The street is narrow with sidewalks and until recent years, on any given day as many as 9 or 10 younguns would be playing or riding their bicyles up and down the street or sidewalks.

Now, mostly middle age to younger folks live in the houses. Eddie and Kristi had lived across the street for 10 years and according to the police, she was killed either Wednesday night or Thursday evening. She did not report to work either Thursday or Friday. She just recently had gotten promoted to assistant manager at one of the local chain clothing stores here in Albemarle.
News14 camera crew were filming on Sunday morning and of course police cars have been going and coming and I can see why Mrs. Bunting is all upset over it. According to the police, Kristi who was 40 years old was beaten to death with a barstool. Eddie, 36 has not been located at this time. This morning when Jerrell called home, he said a former neighbor of Mrs. Bunting who works with Jerrell said he had seen Eddie Thursday afternoon with his mother at a convenience store and that Eddie was acting odd and had blood on his shirt. Of course Donnie reported this to the police. Apparently he went to his mothers immediately and possibly now with some relatives in Louisana. Of course this would upset anyone whether you knew them or not, but I just hope Eddie will turn himself in and face his punishment. Please pray for this entire family.

Do any of you folks belong to Classmates.com? I just be doggone if I am going to pay $2.95 to be able to email some of my old classmates. Bless Pat, a girl I know was added and the site let me take the time to email her and then wanted me to sign up for $2.95 to send it! Oh no, not gonna happen. Not me. I would be curious to know if some of you folks are members and is it worth a dime to join? I guess I could ask my brother since he is foolish enough to join most anything, but never think about it when I talk with him. Oh well...

K, I am outta here, I gotta get something started for supper to go along with my leftovers from Sunday lunch. Ain't quite as hot today here. Got to 88 yesterday and I had to break out my shorts. Not today...

God Bless!

just a thought...

2007-03-23T12:01:00.000-06:00

Today is such a beautiful day here. It is already 80 degrees if not more. It was so warm that I have opened some windows and letting the fresh air in and the musty air out. I cannot think of a nicer day that one could have.

I went on early to the grocery store and got that out of the way. There were very few folks shopping that early so I just whizzed through and thought I had gotten a modest amount until I got to the register. It is unreal how much you can spend on things that are not edible, but I have learned to just go with the flow, as if I could do anything about it anyways.

I got lots of things I need to do around the house and days like this inspires me to give an extra effort. I just went through and dusted and thought I must get something on my blog. The court room is dark today, so I have no excuse to keep me from doing things since court will not resume until Monday. I have watched trials, lawyers, journalist talk to the point that I am so thankful neither of my sons chose to become a lawyer. It would be really hard to swallow, but I didn't so I don't have to worry about that.

Roxy has done well with her little head and it has completely healed and just as flat as it should be. She doesn't even mind having her head rubbed now. I gotta admit I was very concerned about it being a malignant cyst, but the vet assured me it was a normal cyst and I worried no more.

Although I have not been posting much lately, I am still reading my regular blogs and notice most everyone else is a bit slack as well. I think real life often takes most of our time and we just have to do the best that we can. Also for the bloggers that work and have jobs, I have to really admire them for being so faithful to let us hear from them when they can. I firmly believe age and health affects ones effectiveness with blogging. Speaking for myself, I can see how much I have gone down in the last year. So much in fact, that Jerrell and I are praying that his mom can make it on her own until next February when he will fully retire because I cannot physically or mentally handle her alone. She will be 91 a week from Monday. This is a big concern for us, but so far our needs have been met and we trust that it will all work out.

I am gonna go enjoy this warmth and sunshine and I hope all of you folks have a great weekend!

God Bless!

a first for me..... and Caroline!

2007-03-16T11:55:00.000-06:00

Today has been a wonderful day with a little panic thrown in too! I got an email from Stephanie this morning and she said that Caroline was walking really good now and most important is that she loves basketball. Yay!! She takes that after her mom and I could not be more delighted. Steph says when the little 10 year old neighbor is outside playing basketball, that Caroline wants to get out and play with her. The pictures here are new and shows Caroline all dressed up. Actually her first birthday, just a bit late in getting the pictures. In the picture to the right she is *winking* so her mom says, not acting "spastic". :) I was thrilled to get them and of course wanted to share them with you folks.

I have been so busy today and had to get out in the heavy rains that we are having here. Also the temperature is much much cooler. I did wait until the rain let up a bit and went to the grocery store. I wanted to hurry in and out as I had something else I was in a hurry to do. Since it was raining I had my umbrella up and rather than unlock the rear door on my SUV I used the key thingy locker and all of a sudden the horn on my SUV started blowing. Now to be downright honest here, this is the second car that I have owned that had the burglary device or whatever you call it on it and my last car, my BMW, which I miss so much, had an alarm on it, but all the 6 years that I had it, not once did the alarm go off. So when I got this SUV it had one too and I had often wondered what am I suppose to do if it should go off and pondered it a few minutes and never thought of it again.

Welp as I clicked to unlock the rear door the horn started blowing and my personal inside alarm in my brain panicked plus the closer I got to it, the more people were looking. My first reaction was to blow the horn thinking that might stop it; shucks the horn wouldn't blow or to be precise, I am not sure where to hit to make the horn blow. Anyways I saw a man sitting in his car, pointing his key thingy towards my car, so I walked towards him and asked him if he knew how I could stop my horn from blowing. About that time the man beside him joined in and they asked me for my keys and said all you gotta do is push this panic button. He clicked it and my horn stopped, but my inner panic button was still going and I was even more embarassed. They both explained that apparently I had hit it by mistake. I have had this vehicle for 3 years and this was the first time this has happend to me, so the moral of this story is that I learned today just how handy that little thing could be if a bugger got after me in my car or as I am getting in it. Goodness, I hope I never have to use it for that reason. I was worn slap out when I got home. Up to my eyeballs with nerves and embarassment!! I am like the saying "country comes to town" I guess.

I got my collards paraboiled and good Lord willing I am going to have some collards and cornbread for supper. Standing and washing and looking the collards was bout more than my back wanted to take today, it always hurts worse when the weather is wet.

I got bunches and bunches of things to do yet so I best be out of here for today. I hope you folks are having better weather than we are here, but do like me and try to enjoy it, make the best of it and thank the good Lord for giving it to us.

God Bless!

Awesome day...

2007-03-14T13:14:00.001-06:00

Whatta beautiful day and a busy week! I just came in from walking Roxy and it is actually hot outside. It was also so hot yesterday that I had to cut on the ceiling fans. Last night I had to turn my fan up, I hafta run one on me at night as it helps my breathing. I also have a blanket folded on the bed for Roxy and had to ditch that last night as she told me it was too hot! I had to take Roxy to the vet on Monday; she had a little growth that came on her head and we noticed it was growing. The vet looked at it and said it was a cyst and that we will get that off now and I was expecting him to cut it out or burn it off, but he just scratched and flakey looking stuff started coming off and them with a little pressure the cyst came out. He said it is gone and I felt and it was flat. I felt the biggest relief because as I told him I was so worried it might be something malignant. He said he didn't think it would come back and gave her a shot in her little head which was to prevent it from returning. Should it come back, it then will hafta be cut out. She didn't even flinch or make a sound. She has always been a good dog at the vet, unlike our prior two dogs.

I gotta tell ya'll that I ain't used to having to do a whole lots of thinking anymore but my granddaughter Cynthia emailed me and said that she had a science project and she had selected plastic as her topic and asked me if I would answer some questions for her as was required by her teacher. Well first off Cynthia is only 11 but knows far more about computers than I do. She had sent the questions in PDF form. I had no problem opening it in Adobe Reader, but could find no way to answer them in there so I had to cut and paste them over to an email.

Then the thinking began. The person she asked the questions had to be over 55 or so years old so my son suggested Grandma Claudia, although he suggested she just call me Grand Moo which she did! lol...
So here comes 20, I mean 20 questions that I had to think and use my brain on. I took it seriously and did my best as I answered them. I only wish she had chosen something other than plastic. According to my son when he called on Sunday night, he was surprised at my answers (he didn't really think I was as smart as I am :) and Cynthia told me I was very helpful with her project.

As you folks know I have two granddaughters but really do not have any. I do not like to say step granddaughter, so Cynthia to me is just our granddaughter. She was only 5 years old when my son married her mom and she was accepted and loved immediately. Of course Caroline is my granddaughter in my heart and always will be. I can love children whether they are blood kin or not. They are precious gifts from God.

We are crossing our fingers that they will get to come to North Carolina on spring break which will be the first week in April. It is kinda pending as they have other obligations around the same time. I do hope they get home as it has been almost a year since we have seen Cynthia. Oh that reminds me Kristi I haven't got a camera yet, but my son will bring it when they do come home :) I just can't wait. I know I will enjoy it for the blog and other times too!

Welp I gotta go and get ready to start some supper for Jerrell. He is doing well with keeping his sugar in the norm range, but it sure is a burden on me trying to come up with something to eat. I had to run some errands and stopped off at the grocery store to pick up only two tomatoes (hothouse) and the checker out girl said $5.45 and Moo bout croaked right there! WOW, I will be glad when Jerrell sets out our tomatoes!

Thank you all for the comments on Caroline, she truly is as sweet as she is pretty. I have lots to be thankful for!! Yep, God is good!

God Bless!

chillin out...

2007-03-11T15:32:00.000-06:00

Now this my kinda girl, just kicked back and taking it easy. This is one of the last few pictures of Caroline that I got and although it has been a few weeks, I am just now getting around to posting it. Have several more I will post later. As you folks know I have been so busy that I just ain't posted too frequent lately. I have no excuses or shall I say I will not use any at this time. Maybe later I might. I do fly by the seat of my pants and always have!

The best of them all is always old age. My neighbor Harriet and I have met in the yards and talked the last two days and the subject of age has come up both days as she is nearing 65 and I am nearing 63. She has an older sister who she said refused to age gracefully and took it so far as to not go to the doctor when at times she really should have. Her ole sis started having nose bleeds and was forced to go to a doctor. After having her blood pressure checked, found it to be extremely high and is now depressed because she has to take blood pressure medicine. We laughed as we both take it ourselves. Harriet was a bit shocked to learn I started on blood pressure meds when I was 33 and have been on them since. Seems a bit young I admit, but nevertheless that is when it was discovered.

We also talked about our lives and how she became our neighbor as she was born in California and lived most of her adult life in Oregon. Her husband drives a tractor trailor for a living and is gone for weeks at a time and as we had talked about different eating places around town, she asked me to go eat with her some as she goes out everyday to a different place and thought it would help me to get out some and also to get a chance to eat many things she and I like that Jerrell just ain't gonna eat, so I told her that sounded like a winner to me.

I have found that friends are very important to me. I have many and I am thankful for all of them. There are some folks that do not want friends and are sorta like loners. It is these folks I can't understand and feel the sorriest for. Like my new neighbor, she just ain't gonna be friendly. Now what does a person do when they run outta sugar or flour or an egg right in the middle of cooking something? All I gotta do, is dart out the door and ring a neighbor's doorbell and the same with them. I am always ready to oblige anyone if it is something I can do for them. I see tho God didn't make all folks alike, but as I told another neighbor today when she came to visit, I have done for others all my life until I got in this shape and now I can't, but folks are now doing things for me. There is lots to the meaning of brotherly love and what goes round, comes round. I believe if one does from the heart, they will be repaid 10 fold. I have been more than blessed in my life and my only regret is that I was not old enough, nor mature enough to have helped my mama more when she was sick and dying. Yet, knowing my mama, she had far rather me be outside playing than being in the kitchen learning to cook when I really didn't have sense enough.

Since I know you will be reading this at some point P, congrats on Carolina winning the ACC today. I watched part of it, til Pearlie came. I did think about you and hoped you got home safely from church in time to see all the ballgame. Again, my mind must be on friends today, as P is as good as they come.

I know I have readers from many states and I am gonna put this in here, just cause I never know who might read this and know this person. One of my desires before I die is to get in contact with a former college friend of mine. Due to sheer memory loss, I cannot for the life of me remember her married name. Her maiden name was Nancy Slaughter and she was born and raised in Lancaster, South Carolina. The last time I saw Nancy was in Myrtle Beach, SC and the last time I heard from Nancy she was at Hilton Head, SC. Nancy had always worked at resort areas and had married a school teacher when in Myrtle Beach. I have searched and searched and seem to be unable to locate her, so if anybody happens to know her, please let her know I am looking for her. It is a mere chance this will happen through this blog, but stranger things have happened I suppose.

It is hard to believe it is so late in the day. I cannot get used to the time change and frankly I wish they would leave it one way or another. So I am outta here for now, but wanted to check in with you folks.
Hope you have had a great day..Until....

God Bless!

Nancy Grace on her way out?...

2007-03-10T09:39:00.000-05:00

I read two interesting things I wanted to share with you folks. One of which is very low on the tottem pole and the other a very serious situation with folks like me and possible many of my readers.

As you folks know I am a Court TV viewer as I like the live trials. As all stations, changes are made from time to time, some better than others. I have never seen the lady that is going to now appear regularly on Court TV, Star Jones, formerly from the tv show, The View. All I know about Star is that she was born and raised in Badin, just a stones throw from my house. That of course makes me a bit more interested. As it stands now, she will be taking the 4 p.m. time slot placing her in between the best, Catherine Crier and the worst Nancy Grace. I have always thought and said that Ms. Grace was on her way out at Court TV and I do think this is a great start. This will be trimming Ms. Grace's Closing Arguments from a two hour period to one hour.

Most disturbing is this article written about us folks on disability. I am a member of the Disability Coalition headed by Linda Fullerton and I back her response to this article 100%. I wish this lady had researched and interviewed many of us who are on disability and I think she would not have written this article. Although now I am at retirement age, I had much rather get up in the mornings, dress and go to work than to be disabled. I would not want this lady to walk in my shoes for one day, but I wish she would have come and spent the day at my house just one day prior to writing this article:

Mar 5, 2007 2:00 AM by Melanie Scarborough

WASHINGTON - Congress and President George W. Bush agree on one scourge they’d like to tackle: the outrageous compensation packages given to some corporate executives.
Sure, many “golden parachutes” are absurdly lavish — but boards of directors should answer to stockholders, not politicians.
Lawmakers’ concern ought to be for their own culpability in squandering money on the undeserving. They could start by addressing one of today’s biggest rackets: Social Security disability payments.
Most Americans probably assume that to qualify as “disabled,” an individual must be physically unable to work for a living. In fact, the Social Security Administration deems individuals disabled if they cannot continue working in their chosen profession and “cannot adjust” to a different job.
So if a basketball coach blows out his kneecap and can no longer run up and down the court, he might collect a disability check even though he is perfectly capable of selling insurance or managing a hardware store.
It’s even possible to collect payments for being disabled from a job you were never able to perform. A few years ago, a Newport News pipefitting apprentice was fired for cause after earning failing marks in her training courses.
But because she injured her wrist before she was terminated and would have been unable to continue in the job, had she been able to do it, a judge ruled that she established “a prima facie case of total disability.”
The SSA’s guidebook, which might as well be entitled, “You, Too, Can Be Disabled!” walks applicants through the steps to collect their jackpots. The first requirement is not to have traceable income of more than $900 a month.
Next, one must present a malady that is either among the listed impairments or is equal in severity. The lists are so exhaustive that almost everyone has some condition by which they could claim to be disabled.
For example, the guidelines say that in determining whether an individual has a musculoskeletal disability, the “inability to walk on the heels or toes, to squat, or to arise from a squatting position may be considered evidence of significant motor loss.” It also may be considered evidence of being older than 40.
Among the disabilities listed under “skin disorders” is dermatitis — i.e., dish-pan hands. Some skin conditions can be deemed disabling merely because they’re upsetting.
The SSA says, “Facial disfigurement or other physical deformities may also have effects we evaluate under the mental disorders listings in 12.00, such as when they affect mood or social functioning.” Ah, the catch-all category.
The guidelines say “social functioning’ includes the ability to get along with others, such as family members, friends, neighbors, grocery clerks, landlords or bus drivers.
“You may demonstrate impaired social functioning by, for example, a history of altercations, evictions, firings, fear of strangers, avoidance of interpersonal relationships or social isolation.”
Why should anyone collect a check from taxpayers just for being a jerk?
In determining mental disabilities, examiners also consider the applicant’s “concentration, persistence or pace.” So work slowly and give up easily, and you might be rewarded with a monthly check.
Mentally disabling conditions also include depression, anxiety, substance addiction disorders, and “oddities of thought, perception, speech and behavior.” Now there’s a capacious category.
Last month Congressman Michael R. McNulty, D-N.Y., held a hearing to address the crisis of backlogged applications for SSI benefits. The numbers alone — more than 1.3 million claims — indicate how many people are trying to take advantage of the system.
Genuine disabilities are relatively rare. About 400,000 Americans have multiple sclerosis; 350,000 have Down Syndrome. The number of people in this country who are totally blind is about 150,000. If they all applied for benefits at once, they couldn’t account for a million claims.
Moreover, the backlog adds expense for taxpayers because successful applicants almost always get back pay for the months they waited for their claims to be approved.
Yet the biggest travesty is that chiselers are clogging a system designed to help individuals who drew the genetic short straw and, through no fault of their own, cannot work to support themselves.
Before Congress gins up too much indignation against the extravagance of corporate America, members ought to stand up for the genuinely disabled — as well as the taxpayers stuck with supporting slackers who could work to support themselves.
No individual deserves to be disabled, but this system certainly does.
Examiner columnist Melanie Scarborough lives in Alexandria.
********************************************************
We did not ask to be disabled and I found this very harsh on folks that are. Linda Fullerton has written a response to this article and I just hope it too will be published.
It is going to be a beautiful day here and I am going to do my best to enjoy it, hope you folks do too.

God Bless!

a week later...

2007-03-03T12:42:00.000-05:00

and here I am. It has been a very hectic week and for one reason or another I never had the time to post or if I had the time, I just didn't feel quite up to it. Monday was a good day. My best friend Paulette came and we of course went out to eat and also did some shopping. Or maybe I should say, I struck out and she did some shopping. We musta been in a rare serious mood as nothing happened that we got a good laugh over. I think serious talks sometimes are needed and appropriate.

After Paulette left I quickly fixed Jerrell some supper as we had to be at the funeral by 6:00. We lost a very dear friend a week ago today. I do not normally go to visitations or funerals on the advice of my doctor, but I wanted to go, so I did! Although we were there early, there was already a long line that had formed. After being on my feet right much shopping, it didn't take standing long in the line for my back to start hurting really bad. I leaned against the wall as best I could and sat down in a chair each time we neared one, rested and caught up with Jerrell in the line. David was blessed with a wonderful wife and a daughter and a son. I am a hugging person and I thought so much of his son, Mike, that when I got to him the mother in me put my arms around him. Having two sons and knowing Mike personally made him extra special. I actually had never met David's daughter, but she was a very nice young lady. David will be greatly missed in our community, but he will be remembered as being a good man and only good things will be said about him. God Bless his family.

There is a slight possibility that our oldest son will be home on our granddaughter's spring break. If not then, they will definitely be home for Christmas. Either way is fine with us. We just miss them, but understand how busy they are and the distance it is to travel. My son told me he has the camera and all the necessary things that I will need and will bring it when they come home, show me how to use it, etc. All I know is it is a Canon and he said it was easy to use. He was going to mail it, but I told him not to that I had rather he wait so he could show me how to use it. My mind ain't as young as it used to be.
So be forewarned for when I get the camera to be picture crazy til the new wears off.

On Wednesday after getting an email from Paulette telling me about a good sale on at Belk, I actually shocked myself and got in my car-truck, btw what do you spose to call a SUV? Anyhow, I was badly needing some dress pants. Not that I don't have any, just that I have gained weight and cannot get in many of them. So I venture out which is another back breaker and find me some dress pants and a couple tops. Spent little money actually, but got three nice items. Clothes as well as most everything is marked up out of sight. When you get a pair of $58 pants for $14 that tells you something for sure!

As we are literally eating hardly anything anymore, Jerrell is losing weight and really does not need too. I am eating the same as he is, but the weight is coming off me much slower. Of course he works and gets exercise and I cannot literally do exercises and most likely wouldn't if I could, although I do try to walk Roxy on a couple long walks everyday, cept when it rains! I can tell I am loosing some inches and a few pounds , but not enough to write home about just yet. My goal is get back to where I was before I hit a glutton stage and my weight shot up.

OK, ya'll know I am still here and a kicking so I will get back to enjoying this beautiful day. The last time I looked it was 65 degrees and that is my kinda weather. Have a great weekend all you good folks!

God Bless!

joy and sadness...

2007-02-24T09:39:00.000-05:00

Today I am totally amazed at myself, it is early and I have not even dressed for the day, yet my mind is on things I need to relay via my blog. I find many times that just small ordinary things in life often can lead you to a thought about what just might be my content for a blog one day. Since I do not get out a whole lots and do not want to dwell soley on my family, I have at times run out of things to blog about. But not the case today.

I am joyful to hear that Melissa Greer, the WBTV weather girl I prefer to call her, has arrived home with Baby Connor. They were flown back to Charlotte on Thursday on a medical jet provided by Carolina's Medical Ctr in Charlotte where Baby Connor will remain until he is able to go home. Melissa had to finish up some treatments in Iowa and is now weighing her options on possible treatments in Europe. Her cancer is not gone. Therefore, please continue with your prayers. She and Roger are just proud parents of this baby and Melissa is eagar to get back to work and to her normal life. I hope and pray that will be possible for her and her family.

One of my regular blogs that I read and such an inspiring blogger, Beverly, over at Butterflies has written a blog about her life with James, who was stricken with cancer. She and James had so much faith in God and love for each other, that each post was filled with blessings and her thankfulness and love for James. James went to be with the Lord on 02-24-07. Although James is from America, Beverly is a New Zealander and they lived happily and simply in New Zealand. May you also remember and keep Beverly in your prayers. She has been one of the most positive and loving wife that James could have ever had. Though it is sad, knowing James is no longer suffering makes it so much easier to accept. God Bless you Beverly, fellow blogger and dear friend.

Things are going so much better healthwise around here for us. Jerrell's vision and blurriness is getting better as his body is adjusting to the sugar shock he went through and leveling out which means his eyes are accepting the correct sugar level now as opposed to the sudden change in it. I have been more than blessed with those 4 little pills that I take daily for the angina. It is wonderful to get up in the morning without the dread of having an attack. I realize that in a sense it is only masking the angina, but quality of life often is better than quantity.

I am adjusting quite well to cooking and eating differently although my body is craving some of the good things I love. My good friend Paulette is coming down on Monday and we have already decided we care to pig out on pizza and do some shopping and I think that is just what the doctor ordered for me. I am really looking forward to her visit. I am also looking forward to going to see her as she just bought her a new leather sofa, chair, ottoman and another new chair for her bedroom. She decorates like a professional and I know she will have her new curtains and tablecloth, etc and it will be lovely to see when I go to her house. Also, just maybe something funny will happen. Will be a first, if not. :)

I do declare I think I must get going and get me some clothes on and meet the day head on, although a bit behind, but time is all I have right now, so I never had a need to hurry. I can like that! I hope you all have a great weekend!

God Bless!