Then Part Way Through....

I kept looking for signs of homesickness from Katrina and Logan. But to my delight they loaded themselves in the back seat of the car and gladly and expectantly came home with me.

Their Mom and Dad went toward Sioux City, and their cousins toward Oklahoma, but they were heading to Arkansas and that was fine.

We spent the week-end Thursday through Saturday together in Branson, and what a joy it was to be with the two daughters and their families. We went to a Rodeo the Friday night before Branson while they were here, then to Bailey's graduation, then a family get together, and another one on Monday before going to Branson where we attended the Dixie Stampede & the Silver Dollar City. I'm glad their parents are young enough to keep up with them. Dad and I took our time and strolled - the rugged terrain is hard on my walking ability. Good exercise to be sure. My daughter did her magic on me by giving me a therapeutic massage, but I need more than one adjustment I've decided.

Today is Sunday , and our day has been a happy one. Logan is so funny - typical boy wanting to play cops and robbers - with me no less. He has no clue I'm ancient and bending to his level is almost more than my bones can do. However, I was determined not to be outdone, when we went to the park at the river to play awhile.

While Katrina and Papa were playing catch, he got me engaged in a war. He told me I was on his team, but I never did figure out who the enemy was. I just followed his orders, by climbing under the tree house, slide, ladder or whatever in the world it was, just to show myself I would not throw a wet blanket over his jubilance of having someone to play with him. Since he was clueless of the difference in our ages, I tried not to destroy his image of me!!

We went for ice cream at DQ before going home and playing in the sprinklers. Of Course the future Veterinarian found a toad that she is mothering. I can only hope he survives on the care she is giving him now. She searched for bugs, worms, grass - you name it to feed him tonight, even got on the internet to google what toads eat!!!

As long as Logan has a gun of some kind in his hand - he is happy. Be it a double barrel water gun or a pump gun - anyone is his target.

Later we had a tea party. Logan was the server at first, then he decided we were having too much fun for him to "take our order" so he laid his title of Waiter aside to join in the party.

An Added Note: You must understand these two live too far away for me to have the bonding time I've longed for. They are both adopted and even though I was there to help bring Katrina home from the hospital, it was only a few days later she moved with Mom and Dad to Sioux City. We've visited a couple times a year, and though a few days at a time helped the ache in my heart to be with them, it did not nor does not take the place of spending a whole week with just the two of them. Maybe one day while they are still young enough to enjoy being with Grammy, God will grant they live closer to Ark. Until then, I will take what I can get.

Going swimming - see ya later.

Grammyof13

It Was In The Beginning...

I know I'll have a wallop of a story to share with you by the end of next week. I am being re-educated by the children of this generation, who were born as little Einsteins.

I guess it would be an interesting, maybe even boring read to know a little about Einstein's youth. I wounder if his mother did a lot of laughing or crying, or was he such a book worm he had no time for antics?

So far things have gone great - no squabbles (I promise with my hand up). With the four who are basically the same age, 7 & 5, then adding a neighbor boy about 7, and a nine year old who is the leader regardless of where he is (could I say instigator)
my flowers are still in tact and only once did I put the fly swatter to use.

By the way, I have two fancy fly swatters that have never been used so this was my chance to break them in. We had moved all the cars aside so they would have the dry garage and driveway for ball playing, bike riding, walking-cane walking, crutch managing, and walker walking. (do you have the picture yet?)

Two coolers kept the bottled water and drinks at easy access for all my company, as well as an easy temptation to little boys. I had given them all a lecture on the rules of dos and donts. They could recite them back to me - but I'm not smart like they are. They needed me to say something about "everything" they "might" find to do - and I stopped short.

There is always a tattle tale in this age you know - so the door from the washroom to the garage opened with "The boys are popping the water bottles!" (she is the only girl among all the male species)

"WHAT!!??" I used my high pitched sreeking voice. To which she repeated, "The boys are popping the water bottles!"

"Full of Water?"

"Yes".

"The Full water bottles?"


"YES"

"The ones from the cooler with lids on them bottles?"

"Yes."

Without stopping to think I went into Mother mode - I forgot the grammy mode, (you know the gentle - they can do no wrong - grammy mode) I reached for my fly swatter and out the door I went to find a garage of water - several almost empty bottles that had been thrown against the concrete enough times to pop the top or bust the bottle - I didn't stop to examine the evidence.

"What are you doing?" I used my high pitched sreeking voice again. Two were close by - one was enclosed in some kind of fort for his safety. They spoke up and said, "Katrina started it".

wasn't she the one who just came and told me I mused, and yet she was the instigator?

I made her stand still and across her shorts I gave her a swat.

Then the next one who was guilty was a 5 year old. I had a little harder time catching him, but his mother happened up and made him stand still for his punishment. I swatted him across his shorts.

I reached for his brother and gave him a swat.

Then came the lecture. To which I had a captive audience. Then I gave them the push broom and made them sweep the water out.

Back in the house I'm telling everyone with much demonstration (and trying to contain my laughter) the goings on in the garage.

Then the last one that got swatted came in so dejected and forlorn and looked up at me with, "Grammy why did I get a spanking when I didn't do anything?"

"uh - Oh". I grunted "Then I'll just have to take that swat back," I said embracing him with a bear hug.

So I reached for the swatter again, and swatted him on the same spot I had swatted him before. "Now I took it back, buddy. Grammy is sorry!"

I can get by with a lot - for Mother smarts never go out of style. He went on about his play satisfied that I had made things right with him.

Oh the memories we are making. Soon we had lunch ready so we had them all corralled
momentarily.

They are so funny, and watching them is like being in the middle of a bunch of house flies. There is no keeping an eye on them for they move to fast and too often. I don't mean to bore you with all this grammy stuff - but I am having a blast, and wanted to share it with other grammies who understand the thrill of Victory, when we have those little ones around us again, and remember when...

Grammyof13

It Does No Good to Whine!

The continuing saga of the book shelf. My life has a way of getting complicated I've decided.

Picture this - telephone on speaker - instructor giving me step by step directions - I'm to the point of calling my husband for help in holding section A so I can attach it to section B - it was a struggle but we made it only to find there was a big chip out of the board at a very significant place.

"Doris," the speaker blared as Donna with such patience said, "I want you to take this back to Walmart..."

"But I have it all apart, and almost together" I almost wailed.

"But that doesn't matter. Take all the sections and parts", she continued with such fortitude I stopped to listen to what began to sound like a good idea.

"...take them back - put all the screws in a plastic bag - be sure to put the instruction sheet in with it, and tell them it has a broken board."

"The box is mostly torn up"

"It doesn't matter - just tell them to replace the book shelf and have them assemble it for you"

Duh, why didn't I think of that?

So I laid aside my book shelf project for awhile, taking her advice. I have it ready to go to Walmart, but it was put farther down on my list of "to do's" getting ready for my company! I think she was trying to tell me something, like "you need help sister - more than I can give".

Then yesterday the mulch came. I was ready as I had all my plants in the ground and carefully marked so as not to cover them up unintentionally. Therefore I made two pictures to show the world my handy work. (Notice I haven't bothered to show my shelf project - I ain't that dense! (hee hee)

The most difficult part was putting down papers before mulching. Especially in the grassy areas where weeds grow after being fed with the mulch. It took three and one half loads, and I'm still finding bare spots that will need attention. I figure that yard work is a full time job. So I've adjusted to working in the yard and neglecting the house.

This is how it looked when we finished. Too bad I can't show you the big hole a friendly (too friendly) neighborhood dog dug during the night or early morning. What he was looking for I have no clue. However one of my hostas was laying on top of the hole with its roots exposed.

I know which one it was - however I can't imagine what he was retrieving! Maybe he likes hide and seek.

You know, I just thought of something - I might should make a new hole in the back fence so he would have no need to come into the front yard. However that still leaves the squirrel problem. A fence is useless where they are concerned. I'll have to admit, the holes they dig are much smaller, for an acorn doesn't take up much room.

Anyway, must get busy - you are probably tired of my whining. It is like listening to someone drone on about their ailments. One time - we make it through their story, the 6th & 7th time it is whining that grinds on the ears and nerves.

Have a good day!

Grammyof13

Not "Screw Loose" but "Screw Lost"!

I'm seeing signs that my initial spring/summer yard work is almost done. The heavy and constant rains have kept me from doing much more than look out the window and wish. So I set out some impatients as well as Salvia splendens Saturday. I slept like two babies Saturday night from exhaustion.

Today the mulch was placed around the plants, and on Wednesday this week, the rest of the flower beds will get mulch.

I got a much needed bookcase at Wal-mart last week. I was determined that I could follow the directions and assemble it. Well - reading directions would have been nice, but Pictures? I had to interpret pictures. I realize pictures are drawn in Spanish or German or English. However they may have well been. So I carefully dialed the 1-800 # only to get a recording that said I could go to www such and such and get a virtual demonstration of someone putting one together.

I hung up, and went to the computer. Only to find the company has changed names and a virtual demonstration was no where to be found.

I went back to the phone and dialed 1-800 and waited past the introduction and information and into 3-4 minutes before I got a person.

I didn't admit to the age of my brain, I thought about it, but decided against it at first - I wanted her to think she had a middle aged lady with brains still in tact.
She said, "well if you don't mind, I can walk you through the steps."

"Wonderful," I agreed. "I'll put you on speaker phone and I'll follow each step you give."

She was more than glad to wait for me to get to my working station and so she began.
It wasn't too bad as the parts were listed a-b-c-d-e-f-g. There were two a's, 2-b's, etc. etc. Then the ever loving screws were in different pockets of the cellophane separated for easy access.

We were going along so well when she finally said, "We are almost ready to start putting it together. We just had to get all the hardware in place first."

When I was about to see the finished product, she called for a screw that was no where to be found. The bag had 5, should have had six and so the project stopped just 10 yards to the field goal!!!

Long story short, the one of a kind screw came in the mail today. I chased around town with the screw in my purse Friday trying to find a match. Lowes? no. Wal-mart no. I gave up before going to Home Depot and opted to be patient and wait for the one they were to send.

Anyway, I am ready to assemble the remaining parts to the much needed book shelf/case. I hope I can get Donna on the phone again. She sure was patient as well as a good instructor.

Do you ever have projects that you take on instead of "paying" someone else to do it?

Grammyof13 - heading to my work station.

Southern Mail Boxes

Now and again, someone sends me pictures that are so worth sharing. I trust I'm not infringing on copywrite laws. Rest assured I will not take credit for these so maybe I'm safe. Here Goes

HOME BUILDER IN GEORGIA

FISHERMAN IN SOUTH CAROLINA

RURAL KENTUCKY

SELF EXPLANATORY!

ONLY IN FLORIDA!

ALABAMA FARMLAND

YOU BE THE JUDGE!



Grammyof13

This Ain't The Least Bit Funny Anymore!

I've sympathized with Judy and her squirrel problem and Thanked the Lord that I'm not the only one with this dilemma. I have my shepherds rod in the front yard with three feeders of various sizes. We so enjoy watching the variety of birds that come to feed while we are at the dining table. Sitting one place on the couch in the Living Room also affords a great view of our feathered guests.


I noticed last year the squirrels that came to reek havoc on my feeders were young - babies even. There is no sign of the elders, just these small little things whose body is no longer than six inches with the tiniest feet and tail - really they are barely old enough to have left the nest. No one has taught them where to find food, I think it is an instinct to follow the birds and help themselves as well.



These pictures are not very clear, as I stood in the front door and made them through the storm door, but I watched as he perched himself on the extended rod and waited - not sure just what for except for me or my husband to go running out of the house like mad people yelling to the top of our lungs.

Really, theyhave to be immuned to either of us. I had the bright idea of using a squirt gun to get their attention. Well lot of good that did, they just thought it was raining, looked up, shook it off and kept on eating!


I am watching Judy's blog to see if she has had suggestions that are usable thus far. I need all the help I can get.

I took time on Saturday to make the promised Strawberry Jelly. It is beautiful. My pictures aren't doing so well downloading, so will post a picture another time.



Until then, Grammyof13 sigining off for the day.

Time Capsule!

I think I've mentioned that our family has made a park on our farm where we grew up. The spot holds so many memories, and for the last few years the area is making new memories for the next generation. The men have built a pavilion and there is ample parking in the field for everyone coming from everywhere several states around, like Kentucky, all points of Tenn, Ark., Georgia, Oklahoma, etc, etc.

A log house stood there back in the 30's. Eventually Daddy built a two room home for his parents on the spot. It was here where the spring water flowed from under the bluff and joined the creek on another side of the yard. The house was below the road - meaning it set in bottom land under the hill, so the driveway that came into the yard was a pretty steep grade.

It was on this land where Mother did her week's worth of wash so many times when there was not rain enough to fill the containers under the edge of the porch at home. Gathering kindling and sufficient wood to build a fire under the big black kettle, preparing the big washtub and the scrubbing board she would start removing the dirt and grime from our clothes. My sisters and I may have helped some, but mostly we played in the creek, or the spring branch.

In was in the spring branch that I decided to baptize the cats. I had engaged my two youngest sisters into rounding up my candidates for baptism. They each brought a cat so I started the ritual of what I had seen the preacher do down on a creek-bank as he baptised people.

"In the name of the father, the son and the Holy Ghost, I baptize you my sister..." and under the water I held the wiggling cat. I was determined that he be fully immersed, so in my struggle to do so, I held him under, head body and tail. Momentarily he quit struggling, and I thought I had done a good job.

To my astonishment, and two scared sisters mortification, we watched the cat go floating down the branch when I released him. I'm sure we promised we would never never never tell. That unnerving experience caused our "Shall we gather at the River" to cease and I've never tried baptizing anything anymore!

Memories. Memories of lunch at the spring around the bend from Grandma's house during wash day.
Memories of Grandma making a pan of cornbread for our lunch.
Memories. Memories of wading in the creek - holding our dress above our knees so it would not get wet.
Memories of walking the "foot log" often covered with algae, making our walk slippery.
Memories of skipping rocks across the water.
Memories of collecting pretty rocks.
Memories of a creek swollen over its banks, from days of spring rains.
Memories of watching the water come closer and closer to the little two room house, Grandma, and Grandpa called home.
Memories of Grandpa's sundial clock, carved on the porch of the little house.
Memories of replacing the cane bottom in chairs.
Memories of setting on the porch with Grandpa, listening to him whistle.

Several years ago, I suggested that it would be a good idea to have a time capsule. The thought caught on so fast that everyone looked forward to the family reunion that year. My Dad did for sure, and gathered a few things to place in the time capsule. From letters to children, to money that was supposed to be outdated by now (and almost is if you think about it,) we watched as the back hoe dug a huge hole for our container of treasures.

It is not quiet time to open it, but my Dad ask my sister if this was the year. She sent out an SOS and we all surrendered to doing it for him. Then things got funny. No one seem to have the presence of mind as to when we were supposed to dig it up.

Then it dawned on us how ironic the whole thing was - that our 101 year old father remembered when his children and grandchildren did not! Now ain't that a hoot!? One thing I'll have to say for those of us who are admitting our memory is not as good as his, is that we are also wondering if we need to try to remove our contribution before anyone sees it, as we were planning on our not being here when it was opened! Or something like that!

This should make for good blogging material after Father's Day. Had it not been for Daddy we may have forgotten we had buried a time capsule!!!!!

Happy Mothers Day to all my blogging friends.

Grammyof13

"Let's not meet like this anymore!"

I could call this post Burr under my saddle # ?, but I've had second thoughts. Today was grocery day. I've waited until today to get the senior discount at Kroger's. I really thought I would be one among many, however there were very few Seniors shopping. Now upon reasoning about those there, I did decide that they probably came early, (Seniors that is) and got it behind them.

Naturally the parking lot was full and it took awhile to find a parking place. I decided to wait on a truck to move who had just loaded the bed of the truck with their grocery find. He saw me waiting patiently, and instead of placing his basket in the stall a couple spaces down from his car, - he decides to take it back inside the store!! Good Samaritan he was - I waited for him to slowly walk back to his car. He must have had trouble getting his seat belt on - or getting his wife to put hers on or something. It was awhile before they started backing out. I think he was trying to get my dander up - but it didn't work.

I found a basket just outside the door and opted for taking it in. My grocery buying started almost as soon as I run into the first sale bin that I had to either walk around or purchase something.

Down the baking isle, there was a family. At least I assume they were family. Three kids in the "kar" type basket, two little girls and one boy. Close to the same in age I might add. Mother had the list. Father absentmindedly pushed the cart while grandfather followed along with the grocery basket. Imagine this entourage - all discussing the list. "If I put plain flower in the canister, she'll never know the difference"! I overheard her say. "Well I guess she would know when she went to cook with it" her husband quipped.

Grandpa just kept his cool and did his job of pushing the grocery basket. I waited to pass. No one noticed. The kids thought my glasses down on my nose were funny. I entertained them with "Old MacDonald" while the adults were doing their thing. The little boy started it, so I joined in. And then they laughed at my reading glasses. "You're funny!" "You have funny glasses!"

"Not only are my glasses funny, I am funny too." I added to their delight.

I really didn't come into the store to entertain kids, I wanted to get my shopping done and go home. So I waited some more praying that I would get past them and stay ahead of them for the duration.

Without an I'm sorry, they allowed me to go by so I hurried down another isle and then up another! OH No! They were on the can food isle alright, discussing the list.

"These will be better for her, don't you think?"
"Read the label. How much fat does it have?"
"5 grams"
"Well that isn't too bad. They will be good for her, She'll like that too."

I never did figure out who "she" was. I did get the impression she was not able to come to the store, and they had taken on the responsibility of shopping for "her". They may have been spending grandpa's money. That is none of my business either.

I wanted to say, "We're going to have to quit meeting like this" each time I encountered them - in the way of my shopping. That happened to me last year, and I finally asked the lady her name. We had bumped into each other at first, apologized, and with each turn I made, she was there. So I finally said, "I think we should be on a first name basis as we keep bumping into each other. My name is Doris". She gave me her name, (I don't remember now what it was) nice lady though. Too there were too many of them today for me to remember had I got into a conversation with them. Better for people to think your dumb, than to speak up and remove all doubt, is what I say.

Well, my groceries are safely in the house and put away until I'm ready for them. Really, all the inconveniences or what I thought were inconveniences was just blogging material. I'll take it anyway I can get it.

Be blessed.

Grammyof13

I know I have a Problem!

Another love of mine is making jellies. Now you thought I was a full time Grammy - sorry about that - I do have another life, even though they are the recipients of my labor. I missed out on the strawberries last year, and have not made any grape in a couple years.



I think the freeze last year - and then the wet, wet spring made for a bad harvest of Grapes. The place where I get my grapes did not salvage very many after the freeze,So the few we bought to eat was it.


I did learn one could take the pure Welch's Grape juice and make as good a jelly as with the grapes themselves. I'll probably try that if there is a shortage on Grapes this time.


Being diabetic, this is the first year I'll have to fight temptation when it comes to tasting the finished product. OH! - for a cure for diabetes in my life time. I'm not insulin dependent as yet, so I'm trying to be a good girl and follow Doctors orders hoping it will never come to that.

My trip to the foot Doctors was simply a hoot! I've gone to him before when we lived in Little rock, and as it has been awhile my pea brain did not hold on to the knowledge of his bedside manner, which he could use some lessons in. Mind you he is probably a few years shy of my age, so to be as wise as I he has a few more years yet!!

I'm overweight. Everyone knows I am overweight. Only my husband knows how I have tried to counter act a medication I Must have daily, whose side effect is weight gain! The Dr. had not seen me in years, but best I remember his message was the same.

First off - let me describe him to you. - This is truth with my hand up! He is probably 75lbs over the top of his weight chart. He may have lost a few pounds, but he still has double rolls all around his body when he sets down on the stool to give me my lecture.

While he checks my feet for nerve damage, he begins: "You know the best thing you can do for yourself is to loose some of that weight."

Here we go again, I say under my breath while breathing a prayer for the right response.

"You really do need to eat vegetables and no meats."

"I'm down to chicken and fish and yes I do eat lots of veggies."

"Well chicken has fat, and fish - forget it. It isn't fit to eat. Now that Talapia everyone is talking about, that is the worse fish in the world."

He's on a roll, so I don't interrupt just yet. I'm still waiting to hear from heaven as to how to handle this.

"You should stay away from dairy products, cheese, yogurt..."

"Now you've just named everything a diabetic should eat. Dairy products, cheese yogurt... What's left?"

"A bowl of oatmeal for breakfast! And remember dairy products are bad for you. You should only eat whole wheat bread..."

"I eat nothing but whole GRAIN bread..."

I was getting testy he could tell, but that didn't stop him.

"You know," I started and wouldn't let him interrupt (and believe me he tried) until I finished. "I have been battling my weight for at least a year and half. I lost 45 lbs in 2006, and '07, and I put it back on plus more last year from taking a medication that I can't live without."

He looked over my medications, and called none of them by their correct name. I instructed him on how to say Lyrica and it was NOT la-reek-a.

"I am very conscious of what I eat,I was even president of my local chapter in TOPS, and decided to step down when my weight started going up at each meeting. I don't like it, I won't stop fighting in this battle, but I will not get so stressed over it that I make myself sick."

Believe me, I didn't stop there, but eventually I did put the breaks on for he got the message that I had come for diabetic shoes not a nutrition or dietary lecture. He did his job of clipping my toenails, then he sanded them. In doing so, he got the skin on two toes, and had to wrap them up with gauze. It did bleed through the bandage on my sock. I figure he was getting even with me.

I know they deserve a certain amount of respect, but all his other lectures from over the years came to a head at once. I was not disrespectful. I only informed him in a subject he knew nothing about - ME!

I guess there is a moral to this story - don't judge me until you've walked a mile in my shoes! Fair enough?

I have so much fun some days.


Grammyof13

Bahama Straw Market

Oh My how it has rained, which could mean a dreary Saturday. However I've chosen instead to stay in and enjoy it. I didn't really have many plans that couldn't be changed anyway.

Clay came yesterday to stay a couple days. Our plans (his plans really) were that we go to a church meeting last night, then "we'll go to bed by 10", he says and I almost laughed. "for in the morning you will take me to my baseball game, and after the game we'll go to McAlisters to eat...." and he kept going filling in the two days with everything he wanted to do.

If I interrupted, he would start all over. I realized my job would be to ask what came next on his agenda! Well, things changed - his schedule/agenda went out the window. His game was called off, it rained about 10 inches during the night so we slept late and after breakfast, we lounged in our PJ's watching a movie he brought.

Going to bed at 10 never happened either. I declare he and his brother wake up at 10pm, and can't get their eyes shut or their mouth closed. I think I last glanced at the clock at 12:45. So not a word out of any of you for me sleeping late today! I got a feeling you would have too! It was dark outside from the heavy rain clouds and the rain steadily pouring down made for a restful sleep (when I finally got there.)

Anyway, his brother's baseball tournament was rained out. His parents came to pick him up this afternoon to take him to a birthday party. Before he left we made plans for his return after school is out next week (he is home schooled) so he can help me with my yard. Of course his price was kinda high, as he suggested with a twinkle in his eye, the job he would do would be worth $100. I felt like I was at a Bahama Straw Market dickering over a basket. I finally won at a much much lower price for his help, which is how I would have come out at a Straw Market! I don't mind dickering - it can be fun!

I'm glad I had soup in the freezer - that is what I'm having for supper. Have a good week-end.

Grammyof13