Today I had some friends over to bring their hand work, exercise and listen to a Joyce Meyer CD.
Originally I had thought we'd meet down in the basement where the exercise equipment is, but it was such a beautiful day, who'd want to be in a dungeon??? So we spent our time on the sun porch...part of the time we even had the sliding door open, so as to be able to enjoy some of that wonderful air.
We're planning on getting together the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month...the 1st and 2nd Wednesdays, are when we cook at the church.
I started out embroidering a tea towel, but didn't like how it looked...I was using three strands of thread, but think I'll take it out and try two, or maybe even just one strand. Then I got out some of the "Peaches and Cream" yarn, and started a simple skull cap for Laurel. So I didn't really get much done, but we all enjoyed the day and each others company.
A while back, a friend of mine was talking about having a piano for sale...I asked how much, and she said $100...a Kimbell with a Lowery organ in it...said that it needed tuning, and that the organ didn't work, so I told her I'd take it...well today, I finally got it moved over here...I hired Three Men and a Truck. It was well worth the $125 I paid them so I didn't have to worry about a friend or relative hurting their back(s) trying to get it moved. So the only place I have for it is in the walk way between the living room and the dining room. Next step is to get it tuned...hope it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg.
We've decided we're not going South this winter...When I woke up the other morning in my nice warm bed, in my nice warm bedroom, in my nice warm house, I decided I can make it. I'll just have to lay in a large supply of ice melt for the drive way, and get in a stock of food when I see bad weather is on it's way.
Enough for tonight...I need to get to bed, as tomorrow is already filled up.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Birthday Weekend
It was a good weekend.
I got to sleep in on my birthday! Yeah! Now being retired, you'd think I could sleep in any day I wanted to...not the case...and it's not all the dog's fault...too often I'll make an early morning appointment so as to just get it out of the way...or I start thinking about stuff I "need" to get done and I just get up and get the day started...that doesn't necessarily mean I'll accomplish all those things I was thinking about when I was horizontal, but it quite often gets me out of bed, thinking I WILL get something done.
The best part of Saturday was the Sweet Adelines Show. Way back in August, when my friend had called me to see if I wanted to buy some tickets...and I realized it was the night before my birthday, I spontaneously decided to have my birthday party there, and told her I'd take 16 tickets. Aside from the three last minute cancellations, (with good reasons) everyone else showed up.
The best part of the whole evening was when the 1998 Queens of Harmony, put their quartet (Classic Edition) back together for the evening. That was the best birthday present I could have gotten...I was soooo upset when they broke up. They now are in three other quartets and although they're all doing very well with their new quartets...(all in the top 10 and 20 quartets in the world), I still wasn't hearing a sound like I'd heard with "Classic Edition". They said they practiced for about 5 minutes before going on, and honestly...you couldn't tell they'd ever been apart...what great voices!
OK...I realize if you're not acquainted with "Sweet Adelines" those last two paragraphs probably won't make a whole lot of sense to you...but believe me, it was a night to remember.
On Sunday morning, instead of going to an earlier service, we did the 11:00...after which, Wendell's sister and brother-in-law and nephew, Arliss and John and Perry and our friends Sandy and Walt took us out to dinner at the Longhorn Restaurant.
When we got home, I decided I needed to take a power nap before choir practice. I laid down, and almost immediately dozed off, only, to all of a sudden become wide awake, remembering I hadn't brought in some of my plants, and we were supposed to get a freeze...so jumped up, changed my clothes and hurried out to grab the plants...then before I knew it, it was time for choir practice.
Monday I worked at Republican Headquarters for a couple of hours. I came home, fixed lunch for Wendell and our cleaning lady...she usually gets here just before noon, and now knows I'll have a tasty lunch ready for her. After lunch, JoAn came over to exercise, then Bonnie dropped by for a visit...after they left, I ran an errand, then went over to Arliss' for a cup of tea.
I was ooing and aahing over the cups we were drinking out of, telling her how much my daughter-in-law would like them, and when I got ready to leave, she wrapped them up and gave them to me...I tried to not take them, but she insisted...I told her I'd probably give them to my daughter-in-law, and that was fine with her...Arliss likes to use the ones she's bought along her travels because they have good memories attached to them.
Monday evening, we had "small group" over at Sandy and Walt's. Sandy had made Weight Watcher's stew. It was great!
Today (Tuesday) I got to sleep in again! I managed to give Mollie, our 15 year old Carin Terrier, a bath. I should do it more often, as she's easy to bathe...I just have to get myself in the mood to do it...usually it's her scent that encourages me to "get er done".
This afternoon we drove out to Leatrice's to get our hair cut...she lives in the country. She's a lot of fun...tall skinny redhead with an outgoing personality...somehow that just doesn't describe her well...she's sooo much more than that.
On our way home, I decided we should stop at Dominoes and pick up a couple of sandwiches for dinner...when I got back out to the van, I opened them up...they were huge, so I called JoAn and invited ourselves over to share our sandwiches...we had them and a salad she made and ice cream for desert.
OK...now it's time to go down stairs and watch TV with Wendell and take our pills...(my pills are all vitamins and food suppliments)...that reminds me of a story, but I'll spare you tonight.
I got to sleep in on my birthday! Yeah! Now being retired, you'd think I could sleep in any day I wanted to...not the case...and it's not all the dog's fault...too often I'll make an early morning appointment so as to just get it out of the way...or I start thinking about stuff I "need" to get done and I just get up and get the day started...that doesn't necessarily mean I'll accomplish all those things I was thinking about when I was horizontal, but it quite often gets me out of bed, thinking I WILL get something done.
The best part of Saturday was the Sweet Adelines Show. Way back in August, when my friend had called me to see if I wanted to buy some tickets...and I realized it was the night before my birthday, I spontaneously decided to have my birthday party there, and told her I'd take 16 tickets. Aside from the three last minute cancellations, (with good reasons) everyone else showed up.
The best part of the whole evening was when the 1998 Queens of Harmony, put their quartet (Classic Edition) back together for the evening. That was the best birthday present I could have gotten...I was soooo upset when they broke up. They now are in three other quartets and although they're all doing very well with their new quartets...(all in the top 10 and 20 quartets in the world), I still wasn't hearing a sound like I'd heard with "Classic Edition". They said they practiced for about 5 minutes before going on, and honestly...you couldn't tell they'd ever been apart...what great voices!
OK...I realize if you're not acquainted with "Sweet Adelines" those last two paragraphs probably won't make a whole lot of sense to you...but believe me, it was a night to remember.
On Sunday morning, instead of going to an earlier service, we did the 11:00...after which, Wendell's sister and brother-in-law and nephew, Arliss and John and Perry and our friends Sandy and Walt took us out to dinner at the Longhorn Restaurant.
When we got home, I decided I needed to take a power nap before choir practice. I laid down, and almost immediately dozed off, only, to all of a sudden become wide awake, remembering I hadn't brought in some of my plants, and we were supposed to get a freeze...so jumped up, changed my clothes and hurried out to grab the plants...then before I knew it, it was time for choir practice.
Monday I worked at Republican Headquarters for a couple of hours. I came home, fixed lunch for Wendell and our cleaning lady...she usually gets here just before noon, and now knows I'll have a tasty lunch ready for her. After lunch, JoAn came over to exercise, then Bonnie dropped by for a visit...after they left, I ran an errand, then went over to Arliss' for a cup of tea.
I was ooing and aahing over the cups we were drinking out of, telling her how much my daughter-in-law would like them, and when I got ready to leave, she wrapped them up and gave them to me...I tried to not take them, but she insisted...I told her I'd probably give them to my daughter-in-law, and that was fine with her...Arliss likes to use the ones she's bought along her travels because they have good memories attached to them.
Monday evening, we had "small group" over at Sandy and Walt's. Sandy had made Weight Watcher's stew. It was great!
Today (Tuesday) I got to sleep in again! I managed to give Mollie, our 15 year old Carin Terrier, a bath. I should do it more often, as she's easy to bathe...I just have to get myself in the mood to do it...usually it's her scent that encourages me to "get er done".
This afternoon we drove out to Leatrice's to get our hair cut...she lives in the country. She's a lot of fun...tall skinny redhead with an outgoing personality...somehow that just doesn't describe her well...she's sooo much more than that.
On our way home, I decided we should stop at Dominoes and pick up a couple of sandwiches for dinner...when I got back out to the van, I opened them up...they were huge, so I called JoAn and invited ourselves over to share our sandwiches...we had them and a salad she made and ice cream for desert.
OK...now it's time to go down stairs and watch TV with Wendell and take our pills...(my pills are all vitamins and food suppliments)...that reminds me of a story, but I'll spare you tonight.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
I'm Baaaack!
Since I don't think anyone is reading this blog anyway,...and who could blame them, after all I'm always going AWOL...I feel more at ease to write whatever...whatever pops into my head, instead of trying to be somewhat structured.
I had a great call from a granddaugher lastnight...she's been trying to get her computer back on the road. After 5 or 6 trips to the computer store where she bought it, where she also has a, what is evidently an unconditional "Fix-it-or-get-a-new-one" guarantee. (that's not the word I'm looking for, but if I think of it before I post, I'll change it...if I don't, I won't.) Oh...the reason I think this "guarantee" might be unconditional...she spilled hot chocolate on the key board.
It was my great pleasure to be invited to join "Facebook"...by one of my 13 year old grandsons. I had heard of Facebook, and one of my friends told me she had joined to keep up with her kids. I now have 13 "Friends" on Facebook. What really surprised me, was, after I had been a member for only about a day, I got another invitation from my nephew's wife in Texas, who had just joined...did I say surprised? I meant thrilled.
Every year around my birthday I seem to gain about 10 or so pounds what with all the celebrating I'm doing...Lunches with friends, etc...Actually, I don't need the excuse of my birthday, I can gain 10 pounds all on my own. So I've gotten a head start this year...
Fortunately for my weight gain, some of the functions I'm to attend all happen at the same time, so I can't possibly have dinner at Topeka Civic Theater, go to a church soup supper, attend a Fall party at some friends (I hated missing that one)... and I'd have to go look at my planner to remember what the other two things I missed were. I selected TCT, as I had paid out good money for a season ticket (with meals) and didn't want to miss the meal or let down my friends who had changed the date to accomodate me last time...the play was ok.
I could be a blimp, if I could just figure out how to have all the fun that's happening.
I had the opportunity to drive to Leavenworth today...it was a beautiful day for a drive. No sun in my eyes, and the recent moisture caused the colors of the fall leaves to be outstanding.
Let's see...what should I be doing right now...well, actually, I should be doing right what I'm doing right now...Watching TV with Wendell, playing on my computer and getting a back and shoulder rub...does it get any better than this? (why do I always feel like I should be doing something I would enjoy less?) I used to put off my ironing, because I liked ironing, but since I liked doing it, I should be doing something I enjoyed less, thus, I never got to my ironing.
What I should have said is...What I should put on my "to do list"...the first thing I think of is playing my violin...that then makes me think of re-learning my sasophone. Those are not vital things to do, just my more preferred ones...more preferred than cleaning out my closets, or the utility room (my two main "stash it" places) I also need to finish the stained glass project I started last August...then we went to Colorado, and I haven't touched it since. I also need to bring in some plants...I'd better go do that before I go to bed...I'll check the weather again, but my sister told me earlier today it may freeze tonight...that might be for Lawrence and not for Topeka. OK...that was probably my subconcious nagging at me about "what should I be doing"...I'd better get at it...
Later
I had a great call from a granddaugher lastnight...she's been trying to get her computer back on the road. After 5 or 6 trips to the computer store where she bought it, where she also has a, what is evidently an unconditional "Fix-it-or-get-a-new-one" guarantee. (that's not the word I'm looking for, but if I think of it before I post, I'll change it...if I don't, I won't.) Oh...the reason I think this "guarantee" might be unconditional...she spilled hot chocolate on the key board.
It was my great pleasure to be invited to join "Facebook"...by one of my 13 year old grandsons. I had heard of Facebook, and one of my friends told me she had joined to keep up with her kids. I now have 13 "Friends" on Facebook. What really surprised me, was, after I had been a member for only about a day, I got another invitation from my nephew's wife in Texas, who had just joined...did I say surprised? I meant thrilled.
Every year around my birthday I seem to gain about 10 or so pounds what with all the celebrating I'm doing...Lunches with friends, etc...Actually, I don't need the excuse of my birthday, I can gain 10 pounds all on my own. So I've gotten a head start this year...
Fortunately for my weight gain, some of the functions I'm to attend all happen at the same time, so I can't possibly have dinner at Topeka Civic Theater, go to a church soup supper, attend a Fall party at some friends (I hated missing that one)... and I'd have to go look at my planner to remember what the other two things I missed were. I selected TCT, as I had paid out good money for a season ticket (with meals) and didn't want to miss the meal or let down my friends who had changed the date to accomodate me last time...the play was ok.
I could be a blimp, if I could just figure out how to have all the fun that's happening.
I had the opportunity to drive to Leavenworth today...it was a beautiful day for a drive. No sun in my eyes, and the recent moisture caused the colors of the fall leaves to be outstanding.
Let's see...what should I be doing right now...well, actually, I should be doing right what I'm doing right now...Watching TV with Wendell, playing on my computer and getting a back and shoulder rub...does it get any better than this? (why do I always feel like I should be doing something I would enjoy less?) I used to put off my ironing, because I liked ironing, but since I liked doing it, I should be doing something I enjoyed less, thus, I never got to my ironing.
What I should have said is...What I should put on my "to do list"...the first thing I think of is playing my violin...that then makes me think of re-learning my sasophone. Those are not vital things to do, just my more preferred ones...more preferred than cleaning out my closets, or the utility room (my two main "stash it" places) I also need to finish the stained glass project I started last August...then we went to Colorado, and I haven't touched it since. I also need to bring in some plants...I'd better go do that before I go to bed...I'll check the weather again, but my sister told me earlier today it may freeze tonight...that might be for Lawrence and not for Topeka. OK...that was probably my subconcious nagging at me about "what should I be doing"...I'd better get at it...
Later
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
AWOL (again)
Where DOES the time go!!!
Life is good...Had "Small Group" over here last night...since the group is sooo small, it's easy to have them over for dinner before our meeting...broiled chicken, green beans (fresh), tossed salad...Sandy brought potato salad and Earlene cake. The content of the lesson was making room for God in your day at work.
Today Sandy and I are doing shopping for the Wednesday evening meal we prepare at church every other week...Wednesday morning is Bible Study at the church, then home to fix lunch for Wendell, then back to church to cook...meatloaf, green beans, baked potatoes, rolls and pumpkin cake for desert...it's the recipe where you make the pumpkin up like for a pie, pour it into a 9" x 13" cake pan, mix a yellow cake mix with one stick of chunked up butter, sprinkle it over the pumpkin, then sprinkle chopped pecans over that...OK...I'm this far into the recipe, I might as well finish it...Bake at 350 F for 45 minutes to 1 hour...there...that's it...all but the..."Enjoy!" Truly yummie!
OK...I've got to get my recycling out to the curb, grab a shower and be on my way.
Later...
Life is good...Had "Small Group" over here last night...since the group is sooo small, it's easy to have them over for dinner before our meeting...broiled chicken, green beans (fresh), tossed salad...Sandy brought potato salad and Earlene cake. The content of the lesson was making room for God in your day at work.
Today Sandy and I are doing shopping for the Wednesday evening meal we prepare at church every other week...Wednesday morning is Bible Study at the church, then home to fix lunch for Wendell, then back to church to cook...meatloaf, green beans, baked potatoes, rolls and pumpkin cake for desert...it's the recipe where you make the pumpkin up like for a pie, pour it into a 9" x 13" cake pan, mix a yellow cake mix with one stick of chunked up butter, sprinkle it over the pumpkin, then sprinkle chopped pecans over that...OK...I'm this far into the recipe, I might as well finish it...Bake at 350 F for 45 minutes to 1 hour...there...that's it...all but the..."Enjoy!" Truly yummie!
OK...I've got to get my recycling out to the curb, grab a shower and be on my way.
Later...
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Seasons
Is it me, or is there a problem with setting the font on this blog...In order to get the font I want, I have to first start writing...or would that be typing...or would that be keyboarding??? Anyway...in order to get the font I want, I have to start in, then highlight what I have, then select the font...this just doesn't seem right, but it works, and it's with no big effort on my part, I can accomplish what I need to get...it's just irritating, what with this world of instant this and that, and the amazing abilities of the computer, that there should be a program that is less that perfect.
I was awaken this morning by the approaching thunderstorm...I looked at the clock...it was 4:08 am, and in four minutes I could hear the rain on the tree outside my opened window. My first thought was..."Oh no...I forgot to turn off the automatic lawn sprinkler system!" I meant to do it several days ago, but it seems as every time I head for the garage, where the controls are, I encounter something in my path to make me lose my focus...so here I am at 4:13 am, putting on my shoes and headed for the garage!...after which, I decided to check the weather on the TV...I tuned in just in time for the advertisements, so decided to surf the channels to see if I could find the weather anywhere else. I got to channel 8 and my attention was diverted to the, causes, symptoms and cures of stress...not only in humans but in a couple of different kinds of monkeys too...some of it had to do with hierarchy. Then there was inflicted stress. They even studied the effect stress had on the fetus of extremely stressed mothers. It all came down to the need to lighten up and seek out what we enjoy, and to laugh...that laughter really is healing! Then I went back to bed and slept for another couple of hours. In the meantime, the cold front had pushed it's way through, letting us know Fall is here.
Speaking of Fall...that was always my sister's favorite season...I couldn't understand why, because my dread of cold weather was so all consuming, I completely missed the enjoyment of the beautiful leaves, the wonderful weather...it only meant to me that Winter was on it's way...the terrible dreaded Winter.
Yesterday a friend called whom I hadn't talked to in over a year...I told her we were able to miss most of the awful Winter, Kansas and most of the rest of the country had to endure last year, as we were in Florida...she laughed at me and said..."I loved it...it was wonderful!" (I was reminded...it's all in your perspective.)
Actually I'm not all that crazy about HOT weather either...My husband would go to New Orleans or San Antonio (his two favorite cities) in the heat of the Summer...but after doing it a couple of times, I've decided they're on our Winter itinerary from here on out.
I love the Spring when everything is renewed...in the early Spring, you'll find me spending every spare minute on the sun porch, watching for each new plant awakening. Never before this year, had I had the opportunity to just set and watch Spring unfold, but I was convalescing, having had double knee replacement March 31. It gave me the perfect excuse to lay out here and watch hour by hour, each and every little leaf and sprig of grass pop through and grow.
...and now...here I set...on the computer...eating a pear from our own pear tree. I noticed a couple of days ago, the leaves in the top of the maple tree are beginning to turn red ...beautiful, but still a little ominous...Winter IS on it's way.
I was awaken this morning by the approaching thunderstorm...I looked at the clock...it was 4:08 am, and in four minutes I could hear the rain on the tree outside my opened window. My first thought was..."Oh no...I forgot to turn off the automatic lawn sprinkler system!" I meant to do it several days ago, but it seems as every time I head for the garage, where the controls are, I encounter something in my path to make me lose my focus...so here I am at 4:13 am, putting on my shoes and headed for the garage!...after which, I decided to check the weather on the TV...I tuned in just in time for the advertisements, so decided to surf the channels to see if I could find the weather anywhere else. I got to channel 8 and my attention was diverted to the, causes, symptoms and cures of stress...not only in humans but in a couple of different kinds of monkeys too...some of it had to do with hierarchy. Then there was inflicted stress. They even studied the effect stress had on the fetus of extremely stressed mothers. It all came down to the need to lighten up and seek out what we enjoy, and to laugh...that laughter really is healing! Then I went back to bed and slept for another couple of hours. In the meantime, the cold front had pushed it's way through, letting us know Fall is here.
Speaking of Fall...that was always my sister's favorite season...I couldn't understand why, because my dread of cold weather was so all consuming, I completely missed the enjoyment of the beautiful leaves, the wonderful weather...it only meant to me that Winter was on it's way...the terrible dreaded Winter.
Yesterday a friend called whom I hadn't talked to in over a year...I told her we were able to miss most of the awful Winter, Kansas and most of the rest of the country had to endure last year, as we were in Florida...she laughed at me and said..."I loved it...it was wonderful!" (I was reminded...it's all in your perspective.)
Actually I'm not all that crazy about HOT weather either...My husband would go to New Orleans or San Antonio (his two favorite cities) in the heat of the Summer...but after doing it a couple of times, I've decided they're on our Winter itinerary from here on out.
I love the Spring when everything is renewed...in the early Spring, you'll find me spending every spare minute on the sun porch, watching for each new plant awakening. Never before this year, had I had the opportunity to just set and watch Spring unfold, but I was convalescing, having had double knee replacement March 31. It gave me the perfect excuse to lay out here and watch hour by hour, each and every little leaf and sprig of grass pop through and grow.
...and now...here I set...on the computer...eating a pear from our own pear tree. I noticed a couple of days ago, the leaves in the top of the maple tree are beginning to turn red ...beautiful, but still a little ominous...Winter IS on it's way.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Poetry Night...
MY ADDRESS BOOK
My address book,
done in pen;
Is a history,
of my kin.
While some have traveled,
near and far;
Others have stayed,
right where they are.
Some continue to roam,
and roam;
Others go away,
then come back home.
Although I’ve lived,
in many places;
Of those addresses,
there are no traces.
Joan E. (James) Wyatt
MY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
My guitar, it sets,
in the corner alone;
While in another room,
I talk on the phone.
My violin, it hangs,
on the wall, gathering dust;
While somewhere else,
I do what I must.
My Saxophone, it lays,
in it’s case dark and locked;
While checking the cupboards,
I make sure shelves are stocked.
My keyboard, it plays,
all by itself;
Within it I think,
there must live an elf.
Joan E. (James) Wyatt
My address book,
done in pen;
Is a history,
of my kin.
While some have traveled,
near and far;
Others have stayed,
right where they are.
Some continue to roam,
and roam;
Others go away,
then come back home.
Although I’ve lived,
in many places;
Of those addresses,
there are no traces.
Joan E. (James) Wyatt
MY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
My guitar, it sets,
in the corner alone;
While in another room,
I talk on the phone.
My violin, it hangs,
on the wall, gathering dust;
While somewhere else,
I do what I must.
My Saxophone, it lays,
in it’s case dark and locked;
While checking the cupboards,
I make sure shelves are stocked.
My keyboard, it plays,
all by itself;
Within it I think,
there must live an elf.
Joan E. (James) Wyatt
Monday, September 22, 2008
Grandkid Story...
OK...I can't help it...after all, I AM a grandma...
In cleaning out my van, after hauling grandkids, I picked up a piece of paper with a lot of drawing and writing on it...I knew it had to belong to Nora, who at that time was a 10 year old.
She and her friend had been drawing house plans and creating families.
On one side of the paper were the house plans with names in each bedroom, on the other side, each family member was named with their age.
I had to take a second look to make sure...then turn the page over for verification...
The family teenager's name was Logon... as in Log on. I'm sure she meant Logan, but in this computer literate generation, she became a bit confused.
Of course I have many mannnnny grandkid stories, as any grandma has...I'll try to refrain from turning this into a grandkid appreciation blog...but maybe that wouldn't be so bad...after all, Art Linkletter seemed to do OK appreciating what kids said. (now I've dated myself)
I've just decided to give one grandkid story each post...you know they do like hearing about the cute things they said and/or did.
Today was good...We managed to get in a mile walk with our friends, Sandy and Walt. Then I had them and Donna over for left-overs before "small group". Sandy brought pumpkin bread for desert. Yum!
It's waaaaay past my bed time again...I have a number of things to do tomorrow, so I'm signing off...
In cleaning out my van, after hauling grandkids, I picked up a piece of paper with a lot of drawing and writing on it...I knew it had to belong to Nora, who at that time was a 10 year old.
She and her friend had been drawing house plans and creating families.
On one side of the paper were the house plans with names in each bedroom, on the other side, each family member was named with their age.
I had to take a second look to make sure...then turn the page over for verification...
The family teenager's name was Logon... as in Log on. I'm sure she meant Logan, but in this computer literate generation, she became a bit confused.
Of course I have many mannnnny grandkid stories, as any grandma has...I'll try to refrain from turning this into a grandkid appreciation blog...but maybe that wouldn't be so bad...after all, Art Linkletter seemed to do OK appreciating what kids said. (now I've dated myself)
I've just decided to give one grandkid story each post...you know they do like hearing about the cute things they said and/or did.
Today was good...We managed to get in a mile walk with our friends, Sandy and Walt. Then I had them and Donna over for left-overs before "small group". Sandy brought pumpkin bread for desert. Yum!
It's waaaaay past my bed time again...I have a number of things to do tomorrow, so I'm signing off...
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Sunday....again already?
I can't believe how the weeks just flip by...I know I'm getting older...but that old?
I remember the year I noticed time "speeding up". I was in the 8th grade...it's like I had awaken...
Another time when time seemed to speed up was when I had three little ones. It seemed like life was swirling.
But now the weeks just spin by.
Today we had Greg, Rachele, Zach, Nora, Laurel, Joan and Jim Brown over for lunch. I needed to try out a new almond chicken casserole recipe I got off the Internet for the Wednesday evening meal at church. It got rave reviews, but I think it could use some garlic salt. I also made the Orange Jello/Cool Whip/cottage cheese/Mandarin orange salad, butter horn rolls (from scratch) and strawberries over angel food cake with Cool Whip.
I've spent most of the afternoon setting on the couch with Wendell watching TV while on the computer. I was spending time on the computer in any other room because of the noise of the TV, but was missing time with Wendell, so decided I'd try really hard to concentrate over the noise of the TV. It's a work in progress.
I'll be wanting to sleep-in tomorrow...it's way late for me to be up...
I remember the year I noticed time "speeding up". I was in the 8th grade...it's like I had awaken...
Another time when time seemed to speed up was when I had three little ones. It seemed like life was swirling.
But now the weeks just spin by.
Today we had Greg, Rachele, Zach, Nora, Laurel, Joan and Jim Brown over for lunch. I needed to try out a new almond chicken casserole recipe I got off the Internet for the Wednesday evening meal at church. It got rave reviews, but I think it could use some garlic salt. I also made the Orange Jello/Cool Whip/cottage cheese/Mandarin orange salad, butter horn rolls (from scratch) and strawberries over angel food cake with Cool Whip.
I've spent most of the afternoon setting on the couch with Wendell watching TV while on the computer. I was spending time on the computer in any other room because of the noise of the TV, but was missing time with Wendell, so decided I'd try really hard to concentrate over the noise of the TV. It's a work in progress.
I'll be wanting to sleep-in tomorrow...it's way late for me to be up...
Saturday, September 20, 2008
AWOL
I've been "missing in action"...that's because I had very little action this week...aside from going to Zach's (Greg's oldest child) foot ball game, and over to Jim and JoAn's for a picnic on their deck afterward, I did very little that was of interest.
I was flattered when one of my blog readers (and maybe the only one, who knows for sure) emailed me to check on me since I hadn't blogged all week.
My energy was at it's best on Monday and Tuesday when my computer was down...I think my cleaning lady must have unplugged the extension cord running to my router and modem, as it happened when she was cleaning in that room. Of course when she plugged it back in, it wasn't done in sequence, so I lost my Internet connection...I'll have to put a note on the outlet to the effect it's not to be unplugged.
So anyway, this has been a "low energy" week...although I've accomplished a few things, it seems more like I've just sort of stood by and watched the week disappear...and here it is Saturday morning...I'm going to give Molly (Carin Terrier) a bath this morning, then shower and go to the farmers market.
Nora (Greg's middle child) has a soccer game at 1:00, after which, her other grandma, JoAn and I plan to go to Cider Days, a fun fall festival held each year at Expo-Center here.
The above spelling of JoAn is really Joan, but she spells it that way so people will pronounce it right...it also helps in writing, as we do a lot of things together, and it helps keep it straight, as to who I'm referring to when I write about what we do...not to mention that is would sound really funny if someone would read "Joan and I went to..." It could be construed as I had multiple personalities". ;-)
I did manage to go out into my back yard and "dead-head" the roses and work on the butterfly bushes. It seemed to get me back in touch with the yard, which got waaay out of control the two weeks we were gone to Colorado...and the week after when it was cold and rainy. That will be my prime objective for this coming week...to uncover the flower beds from the weeds.
OK...so now I must execute my plan for the day.
I'll try to not go AWOL for so long again.
I was flattered when one of my blog readers (and maybe the only one, who knows for sure) emailed me to check on me since I hadn't blogged all week.
My energy was at it's best on Monday and Tuesday when my computer was down...I think my cleaning lady must have unplugged the extension cord running to my router and modem, as it happened when she was cleaning in that room. Of course when she plugged it back in, it wasn't done in sequence, so I lost my Internet connection...I'll have to put a note on the outlet to the effect it's not to be unplugged.
So anyway, this has been a "low energy" week...although I've accomplished a few things, it seems more like I've just sort of stood by and watched the week disappear...and here it is Saturday morning...I'm going to give Molly (Carin Terrier) a bath this morning, then shower and go to the farmers market.
Nora (Greg's middle child) has a soccer game at 1:00, after which, her other grandma, JoAn and I plan to go to Cider Days, a fun fall festival held each year at Expo-Center here.
The above spelling of JoAn is really Joan, but she spells it that way so people will pronounce it right...it also helps in writing, as we do a lot of things together, and it helps keep it straight, as to who I'm referring to when I write about what we do...not to mention that is would sound really funny if someone would read "Joan and I went to..." It could be construed as I had multiple personalities". ;-)
I did manage to go out into my back yard and "dead-head" the roses and work on the butterfly bushes. It seemed to get me back in touch with the yard, which got waaay out of control the two weeks we were gone to Colorado...and the week after when it was cold and rainy. That will be my prime objective for this coming week...to uncover the flower beds from the weeds.
OK...so now I must execute my plan for the day.
I'll try to not go AWOL for so long again.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Good Night!
OK...It was a very busy weekend, and I'm entirely too tired to write anything tonight, but still wanted to check in...I'm headed for bed, and maybe tomorrow I'll be filled with spunk and energy...I hope...I'm looking forward to it anyway. Good Night!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Today
My Mom used to observe the weather, and sometimes say, "This is a Colorado morning." Which meant it was sunny, and warm or cool, with low humidity.
I looked out this morning and thought..."This is a Seattle morning." Drizzle with pleasant temperature. Now is has gotten a little lighter outside, so maybe it's not a "Seattle afternoon".
One day I was driving down a familiar street in Seattle, when I noticed something was strange... I had my drivers window slightly opened, and all of a sudden realized I didn't hear the normal "tires-on-wet-streets" sound. The streets were dry! It was that same year I got one of the worst sunburns I've ever had. The sun came out one day in June, (their one day of summer) so I decided to get a sun tan...in no time I was burnt to a crisp, due to the clear atmosphere and my skin having not seeing the sun since I had left Kansas...not to mention the lack of sunblock.
The big thing here at the house today was the sump pump running constantly...now it runs a lot when it's raining, but it didn't quit. My diagnosis was a stuck float, and as I grabbed a hammer and starting for the basement door, the phone rang...it was my handyman with a bid on replacing the rotten wood on our front porch. So I asked him if he had time to run over and look at the sump pump. With in 15 minutes he was here. In the mean time I had gone to the basement and unplugged the stuck sump pump and let the back-up pump take over so as to not let the stuck one overheat and burn up.
I decided to have him put up the ceiling fan I had bought for "Amanda's Room" ( I need to rename that room now that she's married and gone from here) And I'm going to have him replace the fan in our room, as I don't like how this one "wobbles"...so now I need to run out and buy the second fan...
Gotta go...
I looked out this morning and thought..."This is a Seattle morning." Drizzle with pleasant temperature. Now is has gotten a little lighter outside, so maybe it's not a "Seattle afternoon".
One day I was driving down a familiar street in Seattle, when I noticed something was strange... I had my drivers window slightly opened, and all of a sudden realized I didn't hear the normal "tires-on-wet-streets" sound. The streets were dry! It was that same year I got one of the worst sunburns I've ever had. The sun came out one day in June, (their one day of summer) so I decided to get a sun tan...in no time I was burnt to a crisp, due to the clear atmosphere and my skin having not seeing the sun since I had left Kansas...not to mention the lack of sunblock.
The big thing here at the house today was the sump pump running constantly...now it runs a lot when it's raining, but it didn't quit. My diagnosis was a stuck float, and as I grabbed a hammer and starting for the basement door, the phone rang...it was my handyman with a bid on replacing the rotten wood on our front porch. So I asked him if he had time to run over and look at the sump pump. With in 15 minutes he was here. In the mean time I had gone to the basement and unplugged the stuck sump pump and let the back-up pump take over so as to not let the stuck one overheat and burn up.
I decided to have him put up the ceiling fan I had bought for "Amanda's Room" ( I need to rename that room now that she's married and gone from here) And I'm going to have him replace the fan in our room, as I don't like how this one "wobbles"...so now I need to run out and buy the second fan...
Gotta go...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Drippity do da...
When it rains, as it has been doing, and probably will be doing for a while, I am reminded of 1993...the year of the big rains...
It seems only a short time ago...I lived in Holton at the time. I was on my way to work...in the rain, and, as most of my work was done outside...I began singing..."Drippity do dah...Drippity a" (to the tune of Zippity Do Dah)..."Me oh my, what a drippity day...Everything's slippery, everything's slop...Drippity do dah, drippity drop... Mister Rain Crow on my shoulder..." (now all of this had come so quickly...then all of a sudden I was stuck)
I stopped in to pick up my daughter Rhonda, as she worked with me at that time. I sang it for her and told her I was stuck...she said sing it to Matthew...her husband, my son-in-law, who at that time was working nights, going to school days...full time church...full time father of four. He stumbled into the room, in some what of a stupor, somewhere in between asleep and barely awake...and I sang it for him... by the time I was through, he had his face in a bowl of breakfast cereal...I walked into the living room and told Rhonda I thought he was unimpressed...in a few minutes, he staggered into the living room and sang: "Mister Rain Crow on my shoulder...It's a fact, I'm weary...everything is dark and dreary"...then I could finish it.."Drippity do dah, drippity a... looking for sunshine, along my way."
Drippity do dah, drippity a,
Me oh my, what a drippity day;
Everything's slippery,
Everything's slop.
Drippity do dah, drippity drop.
Mister Rain Crow on my shoulder.
It's a fact, I'm weary,
Everything is dark and dreary.
Dripity do dah, drippity a,
Looking for sunshine,
Along my way!
What with all the moisture and cooler weather this summer, for the first time in my life, I have been able to keep my fuchsia plants not only alive, but they are thriving. What a treat!
Today was "Women's Connection" at the library...they always have interesting speakers and a good lunch. My friend and co-grandmother of three of my grandchildren went with me. It's always a pleasure to spend time with her. My sister-in-law, Arliss joined us there. It's a friendly group of women...I always feel happy when I leave.
Enough for tonight...
It seems only a short time ago...I lived in Holton at the time. I was on my way to work...in the rain, and, as most of my work was done outside...I began singing..."Drippity do dah...Drippity a" (to the tune of Zippity Do Dah)..."Me oh my, what a drippity day...Everything's slippery, everything's slop...Drippity do dah, drippity drop... Mister Rain Crow on my shoulder..." (now all of this had come so quickly...then all of a sudden I was stuck)
I stopped in to pick up my daughter Rhonda, as she worked with me at that time. I sang it for her and told her I was stuck...she said sing it to Matthew...her husband, my son-in-law, who at that time was working nights, going to school days...full time church...full time father of four. He stumbled into the room, in some what of a stupor, somewhere in between asleep and barely awake...and I sang it for him... by the time I was through, he had his face in a bowl of breakfast cereal...I walked into the living room and told Rhonda I thought he was unimpressed...in a few minutes, he staggered into the living room and sang: "Mister Rain Crow on my shoulder...It's a fact, I'm weary...everything is dark and dreary"...then I could finish it.."Drippity do dah, drippity a... looking for sunshine, along my way."
Drippity do dah, drippity a,
Me oh my, what a drippity day;
Everything's slippery,
Everything's slop.
Drippity do dah, drippity drop.
Mister Rain Crow on my shoulder.
It's a fact, I'm weary,
Everything is dark and dreary.
Dripity do dah, drippity a,
Looking for sunshine,
Along my way!
What with all the moisture and cooler weather this summer, for the first time in my life, I have been able to keep my fuchsia plants not only alive, but they are thriving. What a treat!
Today was "Women's Connection" at the library...they always have interesting speakers and a good lunch. My friend and co-grandmother of three of my grandchildren went with me. It's always a pleasure to spend time with her. My sister-in-law, Arliss joined us there. It's a friendly group of women...I always feel happy when I leave.
Enough for tonight...
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
End of the Day Post
It has been a hetcic day...Dogs got me up at 5:46...they wanted to go out, then to be fed. I know better than to try to go back to bed, as Molly fusses and barks until I get up.
I needed to keep going today anyway, as I had Bible Study at the church at 9:30...we thought it was 9:00 and arrived early enough to get to help set up... It was a good time, the first of the session where everyone introduces themselves. We were to tell about our lives between the ages of 3 to 12, as when Samuel was left at the synogauge. It was very interesting, as most went beyond.
After Bible Study was over, my sister-in-law, Arliss and I went to Hy-Vee to shop for the Wednesday evening dinner at church...we cook every other Wednesday. Usually there are four of us, but one is taking two months off, and the other was sick. We got along OK, as the meal was pretty simple, but after cooking and serving, then we had clean up duty, where normally we have someone in the kitchen cleaning so we can all leave after we're through serving. It's OK, though, as you can see, I have enough energy left to be on the computer.
When I stepped outside to wait on the dogs to come back it, I noticed the air was perfect in temperature, and having rained earlier, everything was looking wet and lush. There was a chorus of many different insects which were sounding quite mellow and happy.
The dogs are making little sleeping noises...I suppose a form of snoring. I guess I should follow suit. Good Night.
I needed to keep going today anyway, as I had Bible Study at the church at 9:30...we thought it was 9:00 and arrived early enough to get to help set up... It was a good time, the first of the session where everyone introduces themselves. We were to tell about our lives between the ages of 3 to 12, as when Samuel was left at the synogauge. It was very interesting, as most went beyond.
After Bible Study was over, my sister-in-law, Arliss and I went to Hy-Vee to shop for the Wednesday evening dinner at church...we cook every other Wednesday. Usually there are four of us, but one is taking two months off, and the other was sick. We got along OK, as the meal was pretty simple, but after cooking and serving, then we had clean up duty, where normally we have someone in the kitchen cleaning so we can all leave after we're through serving. It's OK, though, as you can see, I have enough energy left to be on the computer.
When I stepped outside to wait on the dogs to come back it, I noticed the air was perfect in temperature, and having rained earlier, everything was looking wet and lush. There was a chorus of many different insects which were sounding quite mellow and happy.
The dogs are making little sleeping noises...I suppose a form of snoring. I guess I should follow suit. Good Night.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Hello Cyberworld!
So OK...I've been inspired to "blog" by my granddaughter, Becca,who recently spent a couple of months in Alaska on an internship. I so enjoyed hearing what she was doing, and in her special way of delivery...I wish all my grandchildren and friends would "blog", so I could keep up with what's going on in their lives.
I won't have nearly the excitement in my life...in fact, at my age, too much excitement could be detrimental.
Right now I'm setting in my kitchen, a handyman is fixing a number of things around the house, the sun is shinning brightly, my musical clocks, one in the living room and one on the sun porch, have just announced another hour has passed by. Right now, that passing hour means another $40 to the handyman, but that's OK with me, as I feel he was cheap at twice the price...after having some other repairmen here for other problems.
Molly, our Carin Terrier has just announce to me it's time to take a trip to the back yard...I'm glad she did that...too often she doesn't say anything, and if Itty Bit, our Chihuahua, doesn't get the urge, I may have clean up duty.
Back to my reason for blogging...Becca was the first inspiration, but then I found out my friend Sharon had a blog...she is always interesting to read...then I found a distant cousin, through my genealogy work...actually, her mother found me...anyway I enjoy her blog...she is a glass bead maker, and has been for years, and makes little glass bead people and mermaids...she is sooo talented!
What am I doing here in the kitchen??? I'm moving to the sun porch...
...aah! Much better. From here I see a large yellow butterfly fluttering around on the second level of my back yard...wonder if he'll find my butterfly bushes...If he does, I'll have to grab my camera and get a picture. My butterfly bushes are bait for my camera.
Earlier this year I saw some volunteer sunflowers come up in one of my flower beds...I had been feeding the birds on the rock retaining wall, and some had sprouted...I expected sunflowers with huge flowers on them, but instead, got wild sunflowers who's tops are above the eves of the house...guess someone slipped some wild sunflower seed into my thistle birdseed...anyway, they are filled with bright yellow flowers, and look especially cheerie as the sun bounces off them today...
...today is Wendell's (my husband) 74th birthday. His daughter had some snack goodies delivered from the local grocery store in a basket with balloons tied to the handle. I got him some pretty glass hummingbird feeders...it's too late to hang them outside this year, so I'll hang them in the sun porch and put them outside next spring.
Guess that's all for now...I need to handle the mail that came here during the last two weeks when we were in Colorado...Love Colorado, especially around Estes Park...actually, where ever I am in the mountains is a treat.
Gotta fix lunch...
I won't have nearly the excitement in my life...in fact, at my age, too much excitement could be detrimental.
Right now I'm setting in my kitchen, a handyman is fixing a number of things around the house, the sun is shinning brightly, my musical clocks, one in the living room and one on the sun porch, have just announced another hour has passed by. Right now, that passing hour means another $40 to the handyman, but that's OK with me, as I feel he was cheap at twice the price...after having some other repairmen here for other problems.
Molly, our Carin Terrier has just announce to me it's time to take a trip to the back yard...I'm glad she did that...too often she doesn't say anything, and if Itty Bit, our Chihuahua, doesn't get the urge, I may have clean up duty.
Back to my reason for blogging...Becca was the first inspiration, but then I found out my friend Sharon had a blog...she is always interesting to read...then I found a distant cousin, through my genealogy work...actually, her mother found me...anyway I enjoy her blog...she is a glass bead maker, and has been for years, and makes little glass bead people and mermaids...she is sooo talented!
What am I doing here in the kitchen??? I'm moving to the sun porch...
...aah! Much better. From here I see a large yellow butterfly fluttering around on the second level of my back yard...wonder if he'll find my butterfly bushes...If he does, I'll have to grab my camera and get a picture. My butterfly bushes are bait for my camera.
Earlier this year I saw some volunteer sunflowers come up in one of my flower beds...I had been feeding the birds on the rock retaining wall, and some had sprouted...I expected sunflowers with huge flowers on them, but instead, got wild sunflowers who's tops are above the eves of the house...guess someone slipped some wild sunflower seed into my thistle birdseed...anyway, they are filled with bright yellow flowers, and look especially cheerie as the sun bounces off them today...
...today is Wendell's (my husband) 74th birthday. His daughter had some snack goodies delivered from the local grocery store in a basket with balloons tied to the handle. I got him some pretty glass hummingbird feeders...it's too late to hang them outside this year, so I'll hang them in the sun porch and put them outside next spring.
Guess that's all for now...I need to handle the mail that came here during the last two weeks when we were in Colorado...Love Colorado, especially around Estes Park...actually, where ever I am in the mountains is a treat.
Gotta fix lunch...
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