Frankie and Slim

Frankie and Slim
Happy New Year

Thursday, March 31, 2005

TRAV'S BIRTHDAY

The Birthday Boy is in COL–O-RAD-O
What Travis is up to, none of us know.
Is he on his bike far away?
Is he busy with work or with play?
Maybe one of these days he will show.


HAPPY 26TH BIRTHDAY TRAVIS
Hope you get your card I sent. I love you!

Since I cannot call you, go to my old blog (Spontaneous Overflow) and read the entry for 3/31/04. Exchange “25 years” for “26 years” and you’ve got your birth story for today

Wednesday, March 30, 2005


Remember this salad? Only mother would never have given us two pineapple rings. Posted by Hello

POTS AND PANS AND DRYERS

I have been thinking about pots and pans. When I wash the dishes I scrub and scrub on the stainless steel, the aluminum, the cast iron, even the glass pots and pans. They come fairly clean but never sparkle. I have decided that if Tandy, Jessi and I were in a pot cleaning contest, I would come in first, Tandy second and Jessi third. Then, if Mother, Chelle and Elenore were in a pot cleaning contest, they would all tie for first. Why is it that I can scrub and scrub and apply all the elbow grease I have, but pots still come out with a smudge or a burned place. Then Elenore or Chelle can come for a visit, help with the dishes, briefly rinse over the same pot and it sparkles like a diamond. I guess they inherited mother's magic.

About the dryer. Grandchildren carry things in their pockets. You should always empty their pockets before you wash their clothes. I encouraged the children to throw out corn for Ivan the peacock. They had a grand time strewing the corn around and I enjoyed watching them. Ivan, of course, enjoyed eating the corn. Grandpa Ron is now on the porch trying to fix my dryer that seems to be stuck from being jammed with wet corn.

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Monday, March 28, 2005

Another Broken Spring

Saturday, March 19, 2005 we picked up the Oklahoma grandkids for their Spring Break.
Our first stop was at Mother's for a brief visit. The children enjoyed seeing their Grandma GG.

We arrived home and Ron immediately put Ryan on the tractor. It was fun to see Ryan looking like a farmhand, enjoying driving the tractor all by himself.

The children were given credit for $10.00 each and were then instructed that their between meal snacks at NOL-NOC Estates would all be twenty-five cents. Whatever they didn't spend of the $10.00 was theirs at the end of the visit. It was amazing how satisfying meals became when the snacking was limited to what they were willing to buy. Plus they ate all their snacks and drank each can of pop that they paid for, rather than leave it laying around half complete.

We missed the California bunch this year. The past two years Terri, Joey, Ian and Jasmine have joined us here for Easter. We had so hoped it would be an annual tradition.
Now that we have our new mini-van we should be able to hit California around August.

Beth was my company in church on Palm Sunday. She looked so beautiful and I enjoyed hearing her sing. Not just at church, but everywhere she goes, Beth sings.


Actually all of the children sing and they draw and they write. Talent abounds! Mike sells his artwork. The original agreed upon price was $1.00 and he tried to switch to $1.50 but this Granny wouldn't budge. Dillon is a stand-up comic and he also performs quite a balancing act as he attempts to keep Ryan and Beth on track.

Ask the children who the "City Girl" is. It will be surprising. Also, who was the guy with the string holding his glasses together? Didn't it need a cool colorful bead attached?

Reading her dad's blog Beth said (about her soccer sign up), I just wish he would quit blaming himself. It couldn't be helped and it's not his fault.

Chelle and Elenore took up the blogging gauntlet and kept things going in my absence. Plus, you just have to take a look at "in print".

Speaking of Print(ing) -- Tandy won't be anymore. Say a prayer as he finally breaks free of miserable job in search of a new wonderful job.

Another happening -- you can go back to DEAD CHICKEN'S EPITAPH and replace "Little Blackie" with "Peep-Peep". Yep, now I'm missing two of the girls. (Mike ask Grandpa Ron is Granny Annie ever talks about anything but chickens and blogs?)

Mike stayed behind after his cousins returned to OK. He was with us until today. Chelle and Hope came to get him. He enjoyed some one-on-one time with us and Grandpa Ron took him to Bob the Barber this morning before he left. Hope wanted to stay with us too and will get to when she is potty trained.

Things will gradually get back to normal around here. We'll rest up and return to routine and we will start missing those kiddos again. Meanwhile, Ron and I are just sitting in all this lovely quiet and smiling. P.S. Elenore we'll get back to you on the "possum poop" soon.

Sunday, March 27, 2005

EASTER MESSAGE

My Easter message was received this morning on Meet The Press, of all places! A group of scholars (?) and theologians-politicians (?) were gathered to speak on Faith. A Catholic priest, two Protestants, One Jew, One Islam were there and Jon Meacham, who I assume is Christian. I always search the messengers for the voice of Dad. I heard it this morning in the voice of Jon Meacham, NEWSWEEK Managing Editor. Most of these men (notice ALL males invited to speak) were arrogant and puffed up with their own agendas. They were trying to answer the questions of politics and religion i.e. government involvement on life or death issue in the news. (I learned from Jessi not to mention the name on my blog to keep out searchers.) Meacham's words of wisdom were founded in the following simple statements:


For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. I Cor. 13:12 KJV

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 7-19 KJV


Psalm 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Finally he paraphrased Job with
"....you simply won't understand this -- endure so we will prevail."

Dad always told me that he would not give me the answers. He would provide scripture to search and articles to read that pertained to my questions. I was then to derive my own answer. He shockingly told me that I might never have all the answers in this lifetime but my continued search was the important thing. I know how desperately I wanted him to simply outline the answers for me. I remember yelling at him once, "You're a preacher. You stand up in front of all those people on Sunday and they listen to you and look to you for answers. Why won't you give them to me!" That's when I realized he only gave them more food for thought too. The search is tiring, the arguments are tiring, but I always come away with new insight and basically am happy to keep looking if only to see through the glass darkly for now.

HAPPY EASTER TO ONE AND ALL ON THIS MOST HOLY DAY..

Spring Break report to follow :-)

Friday, March 18, 2005

Blogger Be Gone -- TGIF

It is Friday. We leave in the morning to pick up three grandchildren to bring them her for Spring Break. Next week we get a fourth grandchild to join his cousins here for Spring Break. My blogging will be on hold for the next week unless I can get the children to spare me a few moments on the computer. (Yeah, like that would happen!) If you drop by and miss me, go ahead and leave a comment. Meanwhile, since a couple of you have a lighter load with your kids here, maybe you could find time to catch up writing in your own blogs. Wouldn't that be an idea!

Thursday, March 17, 2005

G.C.C.V.

Instead of Grand Caravan it is our Grand Children Carrying Van :-) Sorry for the wierd photo. I can explain if I have to. xo

Here it is.  Posted by Hello

Jimerick Limerick

Happy Birthday to dear brother Jim.
His chance for relaxation must be slim.
He’s such a busy DS
But I mustn’t digress
Hope he’ll at least take time out for a swim.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM PRINT!
AND
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL IRISH FROM THE IRISH!

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

AND THE WINNER IS

Jessi has crowned herself "Most Productive Blogger" and I must agree that she has made a proper pronouncement. We have also agreed (and thus decreed) that I run a close second. Now what does this mean? Do we blog because we like to write? Because we have more time than others? Because our creative juices run rampant? Whatever the reasons, we would still like to see the rest of the family participate and we will continue to view their sites in hopes of some surprising new epistle. Oh yes, the Dodge Grand Caravan has arrived and is a jewell. We are very happy with our purchase.

Wide Awake!

It is 4:54 a.m. My blog posting probably says it is 2:54 a.m because I can't get the time set to CST. Anyway, I am awake. Wide awake. Staggeringly awake. I was waking on and off starting about 2:00 a.m. and finally the awakening won over sleep and I simply got out of bed. Now what? I guess I'll start getting ready for our trip to Tulsa today to get the van.

Sunday, March 13, 2005

F.Y.I.

I have added your links to my blog. If you would rather not have your link there, let me know and I will remove it. Also, I have added a taste of home by putting Boston Avenue's link on my blog.

If you are wondering about O.D.D. fellow, he has been working extra long hours, plus his phone lines are out and he hasn't had time to contact phone company. He hasn't posted on his blog because he can't get online. It's a good thing he has cell phone.

We are looking forward to getting the grandkids next weekend. Cross your fingers that we get van on Tuesday so we can transport the tribe.

Saturday, March 12, 2005

CHAMPIONS

Hooray for the Blackhawks! Last night Mike's team played their final game and WON. The score was 38 to 32. Mike got an assist in the game. He has had a wonderful season making one of his scores on a free throw. His team received third place overall. They only lost two games the entire season. The only thing he got 100% was the number of games his Granny Annie and Grandpa Ron missed. Boo Hoo, we'll be there next year for sure. We did get to see video of a couple of his games and that Mike gets right in there, watches and really hustles for his team.

How do you spell clomp..klomp...?

I am a clomper. When I walk, I klomp through the house. My beloved spouse has made me aware of my clomping. He walks quietly and stealthfully, practically sliding and/or shuffling through the house. Last night after a no-no dinner of chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy and corn (sometimes ya just gotta have it) I actually heard him klomp across the living room. As we enter our sixth year of marriage, the klompers are winning :-)

Friday, March 11, 2005

DEAD CHICKEN EPITAPH

Little Blackie Girl is gone.
Taken by some natural wrath.
Thus comes this rendering of
A Dead Chicken's Epitaph.

A slight little sex-link hen,
Among her peers the least weight,
Enabled her continued escape
In flight over the pen gate.

Half-eaten, clipped wings grow,
She was determined to explore.
Whole-eaten this time,
To return no more.

Bye, bye black(chicken)bird..........

Feel free to set this rhyme to music with the last verse as repeated chorus.

Grand Opening

It finally happened! Home Depot in Pittsburg held their grand opening yesterday. Ron has been absolutely frozen in time and space awaiting this special day. We got all purty and joined the traffic flow from here to Pittsburg to get in on the festivities. We missed the highschool band, the balloons, the refreshments. We found a Home Depot almost exactly like every Home Depot we've ever entered. That was good. A gentle calm came over my spouse as he could now relax knowing this wonderland was only 45 minutes away from us.

Thursday, March 10, 2005

JUST CALL ME DORA

My daughter called the other day. "Is this Dora?" she asked. "Si" was my response. Two-year-old Hope came on the line next. "Hola Hope" Dora said. Hope responded in her sweet, strong, rehearsed voice, "Hi Dora! I went poop in the potty!" "Muy Bien" Dora exclaimed. "Bye Dora" Hope said with the smile still in her voice. Dora The Explorer has now been added to my multiple personalities.

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Blog Favorites

Please put this in your favorites and stop by from time-to-time. You can comment on what I'm up to or you can tell me what you are up to. What is happening in your life is most important to me. Give me your blog link and I can check on you there. Also, I might do a little bragging on the grandchildren, so be prepared :-)

Checking In

This is an effort to set up a blog that will allow comments.