Frankie and Slim

Frankie and Slim
Happy New Year

Monday, December 31, 2012

A BLESSED MESS

Question Of The Week 12-31-12

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

When have you worked hard and loved every minute of it?

I have never worked as hard as I did sifting through at least four feet of debris in one room of an old Kansas house Ron had purchased.  I had to wear a mask and gloves and dig through toxic waste to clear the room while uncovering small vintage treasures along the way.  Being able to sweep the cleared floor after hours and hours of work was a rewarding event.  After cleaning the found items I wondered what to do with them.  Thus began my seven year venture of being an eBay seller and a M.S.O.D. (Master Sifter of Debris or Miss Odd).


HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 
  

Friday, December 28, 2012

TO REHAB OR NOT TO REHAB?

My cardiac rehab is every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Monday and Wednesday sessions are at 1:00PM and just for the girls.  Friday is at 11:00 AM and consists primarily of men who are on a maintenance program and can come and go and do whatever they want without supervision from a therapist. What they primarily do is sit and drink coffee.  (My therapist said their wives don't want them at home so they are killing time.)

Few, if any, of my lady friends show up on Friday.  The one fellow last week who was actually working out was next to me on the treadmill and was going so fast it made me think I needed to keep up with his pace.  There was no way.  Often the coffee drinkers break out in raucous laughter and it makes me wonder if they are laughing at me.

Usually I can mix well in any crowd and I'm not sure why this is so intimidating.  I think if the majority of them were at least exercising too, it might make more sense.  Instead they are having a coffee time with free coffee instead of hanging out at a cafe and having to pay.  (Actually they pay $32 per month for the maintenance program and  to use the facility so I guess the coffee isn't really free, but shouldn't someone suggest they use the time to exercise?)

Here is it Friday again and I really should go.  To rehab or not to rehab, that is the question ... and I must answer it before 11:00AM.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY

We gave ourselves a Kindle Fire HD for a combined Christmas and  anniversary present.  We can read books, listen to audio books, listen to Pandora radio (Ron can hear all the Ernest Tubbs he wants), we can play games etc.  It will especially come in handy in our doctor's waiting room visits.  (Should I admit that it was my idea and my purchase and the only one surprised with the gift was Ron?)

Meanwhile my favorite thing is to listen to audio books. I used to carry around my CD player in my pocket and listen with the headphones.  How was I going to carry my Kindle?

The design was in my head and I shared it with visiting niece and grand-niece.  My quandary was how to put it together without a sewing machine (and especially without any knowledge of sewing)?  They made the wonderful suggestion that I put it together using decorator duct tape.  And sew so I did:)  I used a padded envelope for the base of the project. Now I can carry it around on my Zoll LiveVest monitor belt and later just on a regular belt. Plus it just makes a nice carrying case for the Kindle.

This little padded carrier also fits nicely in the front zipper pocket of my new purse.
The Kindle slides in and out of the carrier nicely and is a perfect fit,

There are loops on the back but your can barely see them.
My  belt for the Life Vest monitor threads easily through the loops.
And here I am wearing my Life Vest monitor and my our new Kindle with ear phones attached.


Monday, December 24, 2012

AND THE ANSWERS!

Question(s) Of The Week 12-24-12
Already answered for you. 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Where did the saying "Jimmy Christmas" come from?

"Jimmy Christmas" or "Jiminy Christmas" is a direct reference to Jesus Christ and dates back to 1664, when it was first recorded as "Gemini," a twist on the Latin phrase Jesu domini. The name of the Walt Disney character Jiminy Cricket was probably based on this phrase.

Is the Christmas tree a Christian symbol? Where did it come from?

Decorated trees were used in winter celebrations long before the advent of Christianity. Plants and trees that remained green all year had a special significance for people who lived in cold-winter climes.

Ancient people hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. Some believed that evergreens kept witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness away. Romans decorated evergreen trees with trinkets and topped them with an image of their sun god. Druid sorcerers hung golden apples and lit candles on oak trees to celebrate the winter solstice.

It is generally agreed that the use of an evergreen tree as part of Christian Christmas celebrations started 400 years ago in Germany and spread to most of northern Europe by the 19th century.

How can we keep our cat away from our Christmas tree?

Folks have suggested a lot of things over the years, and you may have to try several until you find a method that fits your cat's personality. The most direct route may be to keep your cat out of the room where the tree is.

If that's not possible, try lining the tree's lower trunk with aluminum foil. Some cats hate the sound and feel of it and won't try to climb up with the foil there.

Another trick may be to keep a pot of ryegrass or catnip near the tree to act as a diversion. Cats may respond to loud noises or the popular method of spraying water at them when they begin to attack the tree, but we've found that their little cat brains forget this message pretty quickly, and they're soon back to cause trouble again.

In what language and what era was the word Yuletide used for the Christmas season? How did the word originate?

The word Yuletide originated from the word Yule, which was recorded In Latin writings as early as A.D. 726 At that time, the form of the word was guili. Both terms refer to a 12-day pagan feast celebrated around the time of year that has come to be known as the Christmas season.

Scholars can't agree on exactly when Christ was born, but how long has Christmas been celebrated on December 25?

The exact circumstances of the beginning of Christmas as we know it remain obscure. The oldest existing record of a feast to celebrate the birth of Christ is in the Roman almanac called the Chronographer of 354 or the Philocalian Calendar.

This almanac noted that a festival commemorating Christ's birth was observed by the church in Rome in the year 336. Chronographers of the third century were the ones who reckoned December 25, around the winter solstice, as the most likely day of Christ's birth.

Many historians believe that the church stirred up interest in a festival at this time of year to counter the pagan festivals surrounding the solstice, but no historical document proves Rome's involvement. The record shows that such a festival was adopted throughout the Christian world by the year 458. The word Christmas comes from "Christ's Mass."

Where does the saying "I wish you Godspeed" come from?

This dates back to a 15th century song sung by English ploughmen on Plough Monday, the first Monday after Twelfth Day, the end of the Christmas holidays. Before farm laborers went back to the fields, they dressed all in white and went from door to door drawing a plough and soliciting "plough money" to spend on a last celebration. The song lyric "Godspeed the plough" expressed a wish for success and prosperity and was soon shortened to just "Godspeed".

How long have people been sending out Christmas cards?

The first Christmas card is thought to have been printed in England in 1843. Wood engravers of the time often produced prints with religious themes, but this was the first time anyone produced these prints in quantity and sold them (1,000 copies in London). The design was of a family party, beneath which were the words "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You." In the mid-19th century in the United States, the owner of a variety store in Albany, New York, produced a card carrying Christmas greetings from "Pease's Great Variety Store in the Temple of Fancy."

How did the custom of giving Christmas presents originate?

The ancient Romans gave each other gifts on the calends (first day) of January, and the practice spread throughout the Roman Empire. Eventually, Christians moved the custom to December 25, although many Christians still give gifts on January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, commemorating the manifestation of Jesus' divine nature to the Magi.


Do you know other questions and answers about Christmas?

Saturday, December 22, 2012

COMFORT AND JOY

This is my annual Christmas header for my blog. I designed it in 2009 from a Google banner image and inserted  my  portrait of Christ in the bulbs.

I am wishing each of you a 
Merry Christmas 
and hoping your personal faith, from whatever your source of strength, will bring you comfort and joy this wonderful season.

Friday, December 21, 2012

BONNIE HAS A GIRLFRIEND

I haven't mentioned Bonnie a lot on my blog.  Here is an early picture of Bonnie and Clyde.

As you can tell, Bonnie is another one of my birds that was named too soon.  Thought I knew the gender and was wrong...again.  Her sibling, (both hatched by our loving Mr. Gibson) was of course Clyde. The great, short-lived Clyde, gave his life in protection of the flock in his early adolescence, leaving Bonnie to become second in command to RC (Rooster Chicklet). Bonnie is a mild mannered gentleman who keeps a low profile and does not fight or argue with RC but helps keep watch and warns of intruders.

Also remember my mention of the renegade little band of chickens we have being led by Rooster King Kong.  They (King Kong, White Shadow, Chicken Little II and Lucky)  roost alone at night in the barn rafters and keep to themselves during the day.  

The other evening routinely counting the chickens at bedtime I came up with an extra in the hen house and was one short of the renegades in the rafters of the barn.  It seems Lucky had joined the main flock.  How strange that was until the next day when I saw Bonnie and Lucky spending all their time together.  Perhaps, like the Hatfields and McCoys, this love affair outside their own kind will bring the two fowl families together. 


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

HOP, HOP, HOPPING A'LONG

Visiting bunny rabbit fountain.
I believe it was 2005 when my siblings and I decided to share the expense of a fountain for our mother's apartment in a retirement home.  It seemed like a good idea at the time.  However, mother was not pleased...though she graciously attempted to pretend she was.  The first tactfully stated objection was that the sound of the water kept making her run to the bathroom.  We disconnected the water. The second mention was, if she fell she might impale herself on the taller rabbit's ears.  Not a pleasant vision in any of our minds, and so the fountain had to go.

We had all paid a portion so it was decided the rabbit would visit each of us annually.  My sister took it first.  My brother and I forgot about it.  I'm pretty sure my sister forgot about it also and had it outside their home somewhere. Recently it dawned on me that the rabbit existed and inquiry was made of my sister.  She remembered we were to share the fountain but I told her not to worry about it.  We didn't have a place for it anyway.  

Recently we had a sibling gathering for our early Christmas celebration and, you guessed it, here came the rabbits.  My poor bil nearly had an attack carrying it to this little table.  (It is a very heavy fountain.)  My sister does everything with flair and had to put some festive touches on the fountain.  She commented that she hoped the rabbits didn't lose the glitter on their balls. 

Next year it is going to our brother...unless we forget about it for another 7 years. 


Monday, December 17, 2012

BROKER OR BANKER

Question Of The Week 12-17-12

Did you meet a fork in the road?


What’s a quick decision you once made that changed your life?

It was my primary goal to work for Merrill-Lynch-Pierce-Fenner and Smith when I graduated.  I put in my application, interviewed and tested for a position and was awaiting their call.  Instead a local bank called me, interviewed me, offered me a job and I took it.  Two weeks after starting with the bank, Merrill-Lynch called and made an offer.  The salary and benefits were almost identical.  I did not feel right about leaving the current position after only two weeks and stayed in banking...for 32 years.

I just made a quick decision to post this link to ALWAYS NESTING for some amazing gift wrapping ideas. Don't think it will change my life but it sure will help me out.

Friday, December 14, 2012

FORTUNE COOKIES AGAIN

Seeing this made me realize I needed to re-run this post from 2007

  FORTUNE COOKIE ETIQUETTE AND/OR RULES

The fold of the cookie faces the person it is meant for – not the crimped ends. (Make sure you pick the correct cookie.)

Do not touch the other fortune cookies – only yours. (It negates a fortune if you touch it and it is not yours.)

If the fortune cookie tastes good, the fortune will be bad. If the fortune cookie tastes bad, the fortune will be good.

NEVER open your fortune cookie until you are completely through with your meal.

Always add the words, “in bed” at the end of reading your fortune aloud. Example: You are ready to take on the world…….in bed. Do the right thing, regardless of what others think…..in bed. You have a friendly heart and are well admired……in bed.


DO YOU KNOW OTHER FORTUNE COOKIE RULES?

I always collect the discarded fortunes of our group in restaurants. I fold them and keep the fortunes in a jar by the front door. When someone leaves, they can read their fortune on the way out. .

Always go to Chinese Restaurant after Thanksgiving
!


Re-run from November 23, 2007 post.

Monday, December 10, 2012

IMPATIENCE

Question Of The Week 12-10-12

My husband's pet peeve is probably that I am always in such a rush. 
Slow motion is my pet peeve.  When I'm ready to go I want everyone ready to go.

What is your greatest pet peeve?




Monday, December 03, 2012

EAVESDROPPING

Question Of The Week 12-03-12




What is the funniest or strangest thing you, or someone you know, has overheard in a public place?

My friend Karen and her sister overheard this in a stall in a public restroom: "Corn!  When did I eat corn?"

My daughter Chelle overheard in a department store dressing room: "Why did my mother have to pray that I wouldn't have chicken legs?  That was her one concern that I not have chicken legs.  She couldn't pray for my health or for beauty but for no chicken legs and now I'm stuck with these tree trunks!" 

Saturday, December 01, 2012

SOAPBOX

It is time to get off my soapbox and get back to information of interest to all.

Everyone carries their own share of burdens. Not everyone will share theirs with the world like I do. I have often noted that I will even tell the postal carrier my troubles if they will hold still long enough.

Today my thoughts and prayers are for those who suffer in silence yet carry tremendous trials and tribulations. We must keep looking for a positive light as we all climb this steep medical mountain together loaded down with bags of heavy emotions.

Thank you for you cares and concerns and awesome prayer.  My email link is in the "About Me" section for any interest in our health matters or to share your own issues.  

Be sure and look for the Question Of The Week on Monday:)

(Comments are closed for this post.)

Thursday, November 29, 2012

When it rains it pours

Our news is not good. We were totally blindsided yesterday when we went to Urologist before going to the hospital for Ron's procedure and we were told that Ron's bladder tumor is back and in the muscle of the bladder. Because of his other health issues the hospital would not do the nephrostomy tube procedure with a local as planned and we had to reschedule and will go back today with general anesthesia. Needless to say we are both devastated and will not know more before we see Ron's oncologist.

The appropriate devotional prayer for yesterday was: "Dear God, Help.  Amen"  

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

HOW FAST? THIS FAST!

Just a little touch up.
I work in permanent markers and am proud to be a member of  JKPP an online portrait party.  (I am their token, untrained folk artist.)  This was a rendering that I could not be satisfied with so I decided to work on the statue and make it appear more glossy.  Why I thought trimming it in paint would be a good idea is beyond me.  You see there is a reason I work in marker pens instead of paint.

To add insult to injury, these slight adjustments were made in my living room seated on my off-white couch.  The paint tip was clogged and instead of sticking in a pin, I decided to squeeze the bottle real hard.  In an instant POW!  It was like blood spatter from a crime scene.  Specks on the couch, the rug, me and the dog.

Still in shock I called my daughter (the real family artist) and inquired about how to remove the paint.  It seems I was using fabric paint.  Fabric paint is made to remain on fabric...of course.  Nothing to do.  I will reverse the cushions, flip the pillows and maybe when she comes next time she can turn the splatter into a design of some sort.  Meanwhile my once brown dog Slim and I are both spotted:)

Monday, November 26, 2012

BUTCHER, BAKER, CANDLESTICK MAKER

Question Of The Week 11-26-12



What did you think you were going to be when you grew up?

Sunday, November 25, 2012

COULDN'T SKIP THIS ONE

Had to participate in this meme challenge from LL Cool Joe.

1.What was your favorite food when you were a child?
Fluffy and sticky white rice.

 2.What sound do you love?
The tractors running.  That means my husband is well.

3.If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be like and what would it be for?
Right now it would be an appreciation party for family and friends who are supporting us through these rough times of health problems.
It would be very elaborate with lots of chicken wire and crepe paper.

4. If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to? and Why?
Hilda because she was my alter ego who helped me raise my children.  This imaginary character would take over when I was overwhelmed.

5. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?
C.S. Lewis


6. What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?
Waltz Across Texas,  I Will Survive


 7. What was the last movie, TV show or book that made you cry or tear up?
I am going to be truthful here but it is embarrassing.  I sat all the way through EVAN ALMIGHTY and could only think what a silly, idiotic movie it was and then found myself crying at the end.  Yikes!

8. What do you miss most about being a kid?
Family vacations.


9. The best part of waking up is?
Ron


10. What story does your family always tell about you?
The Brownie Parade always comes up.  I have never forgiven them for failing to wake me up in time to get to town and join my fellow Brownie Scouts in the annual parade.  If I start acting angry about anything, they will usually say, "It's the Brownie Parade again".


Saturday, November 24, 2012

MURDERING TIME (a rerun)

Mame and Jack Bauer
Everyone knows that Rooster Jack Bauer crossed the road to live with the neighbors.  Mame was his best girl and she became the prize of Rooster Chicklet immediately.  Sadly, Mame was killed by an unknown intruder on Wednesday evening and I was reminded that Fall is upon us and decided to rerun a post from November, 2005,

Thursday, November 10, 2005

 

MURDERING TIME

It is that time of year again. The cold weather brings out the hungry, wild predators and they stalk my chickens. Last night I went down to close the chickens in their house, only to find the remains of the day. The living chickens were packed tightly in the house and I could not get an accurate count, but it appeared that two chickens were missing, though only one chicken body was on the ground. It is a sad event for me to find a murdered chicken. I have been so proud about my cautious care and attention to the 30 chickens, only to learn that the predators will prevail if determined enough.

This morning in the light of day Inspector Ron will join me in the pen to investigate and see if any tracks were left that will identify the assailant. I guess my only job will be to make the chalk outline of the deceased chicken, try to identify the body and count the survivors. I make light only because it truly pains me so.

On a happier note, we are expecting a blessed event as any day now the broody hen should begin hatching her chicken children. The cycle proceeds as new birth follows death.

BACK TO THE FUTURE 11-24-12

Finally managed to capture a photo of our youngest rooster, King Kong, who is a son of Jack Bauer.  He is going to be a giant of a fellow pretty soon.


 

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

SO MUCH!!!

Despite all our troubles, we still have so much to be thankful for.  Our day will be filled with loving family and we are both on our way to good health again.  Here is wishing all the best to you and yours for a Happy Thanksgiving.



Tuesday, November 20, 2012

MOUNTAIN OF TROUBLE

I made a mountain of trouble for my blog friend MOUNTAIN MAMA.  Please visit her if you can and let her know that her blog is working okay for comments.  It is a long story and has to do with unsolicited advice (from me) making matters worse.  Yet she has been kind and did not place blame.  And I have learned a valuable lesson...at least until next time:)

Monday, November 19, 2012

CHAOS AND HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Question Of The Week  11-19-12

The open book of our lives.


If your life was a novel, what would be the title and how would your story end?

Saturday, November 17, 2012

EVEN THE BEST INTENTIONS

My big sister had "patient duty" last week.  She took me to my gynecologist appointment and to my cardiac appointment.  She has always been my caregiver since the day I was born.  The only restriction I have at this time is from the gynecologist to try not to lift anything much over 5 lbs.

We stopped at the grocery on the way home and I ran in for a gallon of milk.  When I carried it out of the store my sister went into panic mode.  The minute we reached my house, Sis grabbed up the gallon of milk and carried it straight to the bathroom.  She put it on the bathroom scales and pointed out the weight 8.6 lbs  that was beyond my limit.  I was very properly admonished and promised to exercise greater caution.  (My doctor had bluntly stated that violation of the rule could cause my guts to fall out.)

Sis's tour of duty was over and we said our good-byes.  She left with the assurance that all was well in my world of recovery.  Hugs, kisses and lots of thanks were said and done and she was out of our driveway and down the road.  

My next step was to go to the bathroom...where I found the gallon of milk still setting on the bathroom scales!!!  Very cautiously I carried it to the refrigerator laughing all the way.

Friday, November 16, 2012

BRIDGES FALLING DOWN

There is no bridge over our troubled waters. We cannot bridge the gap and we shall be a country forever divided by labels and name calling.

TODAY AND YESTERDAY
An adamant right
And an adamant right
Deadlocked
In an adamant fight.

Listing each wrong
Creating a song

Each quite certain
Who does not belong.

One says “I Win!”
The other “I Win!”
As they interpret
And categorize sin.

Neither admits a mistake
Both sincere -- not a fake.
None to bend,
Each attempting a break.

For the subject at hand
Each takes a clear stand
Determined to know best
For this land -- My land.

This adamant right
And that adamant right
Taking aim at a target
Moved out of sight.

Granny Annie aka
Angie Worth
© 11/07/02
I am weary of crying about it. I see that my friend Talon mentioned in my previous post had the correct idea to go into hiding.

WHERE O WHERE

Come back someday Talon,  You are missed:)


Looking toward
The moon
The stars
The birds that swarm
I miss our friend
 
Who touched us
With nature links
Memories form.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

A HORSE OF COURSE, OF COURSE

Where's Waldo the horse? Can you find him in this picture?
Posing for picture.

On the move...
What do you do when one of the neighbor's horses is living in your field for the third day and the neighbor's are not home?  You and hubby are both disabled and cannot return it yourselves.

First you think, the horse will be fine grazing in our field.  Suddenly you realize there is no water out for the horse and it could become dehydrated.  Then you realize your property is not fenced and if the horse get's thirsty enough it could head for the lake.  You also realize it could head for the well-traveled road in front of your house and be hit by a car resulting in a dead horse or a dead driver.

Perplexed you call another neighbor who brings the horse water.  The visiting horse, now rejuvenated decides to begin foraging near your barn and finds it can flip the lid off your chicken feed and help itself. We could place a large concrete block on top of the feed but  we are able to lift anything.   We both managed to hobble out to the barn.  I got on the tractor and Ron guided me to park it in front of the chicken feed so the horse had to stop feasting.  Meanwhile Slim held the horse at bay.

Our helpful neighbor finally got word to the owner's granddaughter and she came to get the horse after dark last night.  She was a tiny little thing having to retrieve this Goliath by herself.

It turns out that another neighbor's pack of dogs have been terrorizing the horses and caused this horse to jump the fence in an effort to escape.  

P.S. There is a day or two left to get in on 155 Dream Lane's Holiday Header giveaway.  See the link on my sidebar if you want to be entered in the drawing.

Monday, November 12, 2012

DEPENDS ON THE QUESTION

Question Of The Week 11-12-12



Where or who do you turn to when you need good advice?

Spouse, parents, children, business associates, church, pastor, friends, internet, gypsies, etc.?

Friday, November 09, 2012

KING KONG's WILD BUNCH

Here is Mr. Gibson with her seven last June.  Lucky is the one trailing behind.

May, 2012 Mr. Gibson hatched seven of eight Araucana eggs that had been fertilized by the famous counter-terrorist Rooster Jack Bauer.  (Remember Jack Bauer had crossed the road to live with our neighbors and they gave us these eggs.)  Very soon after these seven hatched and were starting to roost with the other chickens, Mr. Gibson became broody again and abandoned them to sit on another clutch of eggs.  I should not have let that happen.  

Finding themselves motherless too soon, this little band of renegade chicks left the hen house and began roosting alone in the barn rafters.  Only one of them had a name and that was Lucky.  She was the one I managed to save from drowning soon after they hatched.

Four of these six month old chickens remain and they refuse to interact with the other flock.  They are a feral renegade flock and they will not let me get near them. Their leader is a gorgeous rooster I have named King Kong.  Two of the hens are Chicken Little II, and White Shadow.  The third hen is Lucky. 

Chicken Little II, King Kong, White Shadow and you can just barely see Lucky behind and in the middle.  I had to zoom just to catch this snapshot.
  Rooster Chicklet would like to steal the girls and bring them in with the main flock.  Someday soon there will be a Clash of the Titans.  I hope they can agree to live in harmony

(P.S. On a very sad note, our dear Mr. Gibson died in a nest box last month trying to hatch another clutch of eggs. I believe she may have been egg-bound, She was like her mother Elenore Hen, a constant nurturer.)

Thursday, November 08, 2012

A GOOD HEALING PLACE

Yesterday I took a brief walk around our property.  The changing leaves, the fresh air, the fleeting glimpse of birds, squirrels and once in a while a deer. This is definitely a healing place.

West side of our house.
South side of our house.
East of the house.  When I can make it to the trees at the back I will be able to view the lake

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

HOME ALONE

Parenting The Parents 101.  Our daughter Chelle left yesterday but really did not trust us to be home alone.  I promised not to do laundry but she left this reminder over the washing machine anyway. 

As well as the sign, don't you just love my dust paw?


She  left us with the house in order, the beds made and everything straightenedShe also left delicious spaghetti as well as chicken chili and a big salad in the fridge.  Plus she had pork chops and scalloped potatoes in the crock pot for our dinner last night.  I believe all of that will hold us until her return this weekend.

I had to promise many things.  And when I would ask why she kept making me promise, she would say, "Because I know you mother."

Hum...What can one very small load of laundry do if I gently lift the items out of the machine and move them to the dryer one at a time? 

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

CALIFORNIA LOVIN'

Our California daughter and grandchildren hit us with a big shot yesterday.  The florist arrived and began the parade into our home with floral arrangement after floral arrangement.  It was a shocking hoot.  They are so grateful for our caregivers who are close and they are sad to be so far away at such a critical time in our lives.  It was too much. 

It was wonderful.  Terri, you, Joey, Jacob, Jasmine are WONDERFUL!  Thank you

Beautiful bouquet for Mom's healing from two surgeries:)
Bouquet for Sister Chelle for her home care of parents -- perfect!
Something for Aunt Elenore and her care all week at hospital.  Couldn't have picked better.
Arrangement and box of chocolates for Dad for his birthday tomorrow.
Grill full of candy bars for brother Tandy for being a good helper to folks.
And I get to enjoy all of them until the other take theirs home.

Monday, November 05, 2012

ADDICTION NOT AGE

Question Of The Week 11-5-12

Oops, I got so busy I forgot.


Which activities make you lose track of time?

Saturday, November 03, 2012

BLESS BE THE TIE THAT BINDS

My dear friends thank you for sending me off to my surgery with  your prayers and well wishes.  Those prayers were definitely needed as I went from a very successful robotic hysterectomy directly into a massive heart attack.  Just coming home after five days with two new stents in my heart.  It will be slow going but the good news is I'm alive and I'm home and I have the best family in the world surrounding me.  What about dear Ron, well he was supposed to try to manage one night home alone while I had the first surgery and ended up here for five days fending for himself, working through is own pain and depending on the kindness of neighbors. We are both richly blessed.

Monday, October 29, 2012

SKIPPING CLASS

Question Of The Week 10-29-12


What life lesson did you learn the hard way?





Wednesday, October 24, 2012

HELLO, IS IT ME YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?


Hello.  You have reached the famous Medical Balancing Act of Ann and Ron.  We are either in a doctor's waiting room, in the lab for blood draw, x-ray or radiology or one of us is probably being admitted to a hospital for some sort of surgical procedure.  Leave a message and we will get back to you....assuming we survive all this:)

Meanwhile Slim is in charge.

(P.S.  I will try to find a couple of challenging Questions Of The Week to post automatically during my absence.)

Monday, October 22, 2012

FEEDING THE HUNGRY HEART

Question Of The Week 10-22-12


Are you and emotional eater?

But those mashed potatoes with creamy butter look so good!



This HEART SISTERS post will help  you decide.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

MENTAL PICTURE

I do not have a snapshot for this post so you are going to have to use your imagination.  Slim and I went out the back door.  Slim immediately started barking and then set off toward the back of the field at a dead run.  Two deer were standing at the back of our property and the smaller of the two took off at a dead run TOWARD  Slim.  The two reached the middle of the field and were almost nose to nose when they abruptly turned and Slim ran to stand by me while the small deer ran to stand by the larger deer. The four of us stood there for quite some time just wondering what the heck had happened.

Not Slim, not our property and not the deer but maybe this google image will help your mental picture of what occured:)

Thursday, October 18, 2012

JUST RIGHT

Now the couch is just right:)
Slim takes a while to settle for her nap(s).  Sometimes she will burrow under a pile of couch pillows and you can't even find her.  Most often she will remove all the pillows from both sofa and loveseat before she can relax and really spread out comfortably.  We have a couch and loveseat in our den as well and a small couch in our home office.  There have been times she has gone through the entire house trying each potential resting place and leaving all couches pillow free.  Thinking about changing her name to Goldilocks.

Monday, October 15, 2012

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, MOOOOONEY!

Question Of  The Week 10-15-12

$1,000 Smack-a-roos


If I gave you $1000 and told you that you 
had to spend it today, what would you buy?

Friday, October 12, 2012

ONE OF THE FAMILY

My sister and bil's dog Tikka died Wednesday evening.  She was 17 years old.  (Actually one month short of 17).  While she was my sister's beloved pet, she was  my bil's best friend and fishing buddy.  Tikka was a loyal family member.  Our parents loved this grand-dog and Tikka spent many hours visiting our mother in her retirement facility.  All of the children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends loved Tikka who, like Will Rogers, never met a man (woman or child) she didn't like.  

Our family mural holds the sketches done by family members grouped by age, starting with the oldest which would have been Tikka who was around 90 in dog years at the time.
Tikka's paw print in ink.
Tikka loved the woods in the back of their house and enjoyed many a picnic in her 17 years. ( In the following photo know that the beer was not for Tikka or the granddaughter:)
Tikka and Nora on a picnic,
I can picture Tikka now resting peacefully at our mother's feet.
R.I.P.. Tikka
1995 - 2012

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

HUMBLE HOME

Deer grazing in front yard.  There were seven standing still and I don't know how many running in woods across the road.
Slim happy to be headed home.

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

AMERICAN GRAFFITI

My dad was the pastor of this church.  If we wanted to see him during the day, we would go to his office and most memories are pleasant of visits with him there. Often I was able to assist him or his secretary in the office.  I am sure this is what compelled me to enter the business world.  I found this professional aspect of his career more interesting than the ministry part.
This was our home.  Girl friends, boy friends all joined us here.   Sleep overs in the huge basement of this house are all memorable among my friends. The town had a busy Rock Island Railroad Line and transients showed up at every door on this house on a daily basis looking for hand outs.
Imagine it is night,  The cars are lined up on the street both directions preparing to circle the already packed drive in. Horns are honking, teenagers are waving, cigarette smoke is billowing out of every car and music and laughter are the theme.  Almost every night you could find whoever you were looking for by "dragging Jobes" as we called it.