IT ALL FALLS INTO PLACE

Today the Merriam-Webster word of the day is: "Scour"

My horoscope of the day is: "Big questions are on your mind -- thanks to someone close who can't stop asking 'why'. You almost certainly need to spend some time meditating or philosophizing today; action can come later."

So when I'm sitting still and Ron asks me "why?" I will say: "I am scouring my mind".

Plus the daily devotional adds this bonus: "Free me from guilt and shame"

So, let the meditation and philosophizing begin. It is going to be a good day:)

GIVE UP THE GOPHER

Speaking as an arthritic, overweight, older person, I have great difficulty with the bend and the stoop. It has become very easy to rely on a Gopher to pick up those constantly dropped items rather than putting myself out to remove them from the floor. Food dropped is easy because Slim races to pick that up (isn't she helpful?). But I find myself relying on The Gopher far too much for little objects dropped. Sometimes I will walk around the house for several minutes trying to find The Gopher to pick something up and I could have picked up 50 things in that time frame.

Today, unless something is too high for me to reach, I'm giving up the gopher. If I can manage to ride my exercise bike for 40 minutes a day, surely I can add bending over to pick up something as part of my fitness program. I will get a genuine workout when the grand kids visit because I am constantly picking up socks, CDs, DVDs, magazines, Game boy games, dolls, tiny plastic parts, etc.

Ron and I both will occasionally find ourselves staring at something in the middle of the floor and you can tell neither of us wants to feel the pain of retrieving it but if we don't pick it up, it will cause the other pain. From now on, I'm going to rush to pick up the item as part of my calling in life. Last week I was late with my fitness report so now I'll be early. Tomorrow will the my 9Th week anniversary and as of this morning I have lost 12 pounds. This new bending exercise should also help make some changes.

Other than required equipment for medical reasons, do you rely on any technology that softens you and you could and would be better off without? Do you use gophers/grabbers in your life?

NOW AND THEN

My son's three prize children certainly clean up nicely but they still act like the monkeys in the first picture (along with their father). I found that early photo on grandson Dillon's facebook and had to borrow it.

BROWN PAPER PACKAGES TIED UP WITH STRINGS

........These are a few of my favorite things.

I took a survey recently about raising chickens. There was an inquiry on the survey regarding the type of chicken collectibles I might own. As I began to look around my home at the things I have acquired and the gifts others have given me I was astounded at the number of chicken knick-knacks that fill our home. These four pictures are only the tip of the iceberg.

Some people keep their collections in glass cases and some scatter the items throughout their homes. Once word is out that you collect something, you will begin to receive those items for every occasion. I don't seem to tire of my chicken collection but I know a lot of people wish they had never started collecting. Can you relate to this post? If so, what do you collect?

I missed my eighth week update yesterday but let me assure you today that I am still exercising and still feeling GREAT!

MAME IS MAIMED

Mr. Gibson II turned out to be a hen. Mr. Gibson is one of Elenore Hen's surviving chicks after the first Mr. Gibson, Chicklet and Rebecca were killed by a predator.

Chicklet II is the fine rooster shown here (also one of Elenore Hen's survivors from the second batch). He is a young rooster and thinks he's in charge of the girls. Jack Bauer, the Cock Of The Walk, is letting Chicklet think he is hot stuff.

Mame came to us all fluffy and beautiful as shown above with Jack Bauer. The next photo of her shows what was left of her when a dog or coyote got a hold of her recently. She is recovering nicely but it will be a while before she gets back those lovely black tail feathers.

It feels strange to be Easter and not have new chicks. We decided to only add grown hens to our flock after the predators took 29 of our 30 new Golden Comet chicks last year. The adult hens know how to stay with the flock for protection. The chicks usually learn it but for some reason the Golden Comets never did. Our chickens free range and need some street smarts before they arrive. Mame survived her attack because she is older and heavier.

10 BRAVE ADVANCE

Today those of us participating in Ily's 10/10 project move forward with page 2 in the sketch books. As I become familiar with the work of the other artists I become more aware of the phrase "What am I doing here?".

My work is all done in mixed media but primarily permanent markers. Here are a couple of my past "markerings" but these are not going into the books. I will show the others when I get my own book back in October. The 10 brave, confident and talented participants are:

Shay
Doreen
Coby
Serena
Carmen
Holland
Annie
Valeria
Paul
Ily


If you (Adults) wish to see more of my art work click on my side bar under Blog Links Art Bistro EAGHL.

IN CASE YOU DO NOT KNOW

Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday, Black Friday, Great Friday, is a holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, his death at Calvary,and his resurrection from the grave. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday and often coincides with the Jewish observance of Passover.

Passover is a Jewish and Samaritan holy day and festival commemorating the biblical event of Hebrews' escape from enslavement in Egypt.

Passover is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays (Yom Tov), and is commemorated by many affiliated and nonaffiliated Jews alike as a time to contemplate the endurance of the Jewish people throughout history.

Blessings to all this Easter and Passover season.

Don't miss my previous post on the bridge update: What About That Bridge

Also enjoy my April lst post if you missed it: O.M.G.

O.M.G.

This is my seventh week since the exercise regime started. This past week I really blew it and failed to spend the time on my bike that I should have. I also pigged out and ate too much of the wrong foods. Of the weight I had lost, I gained back five pounds in just one week!
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APRIL FOOLS! LOL

Actually this seventh week has been a good one and I lost another pound for a total of 10 pounds. WhooHoo. I am riding my exercise bike 40 minutes and will probably hold my time right there. I love April Fool's Day:)

There is a birthday party going on over at Dani's Gardening Under The Florida Sun. Go wish her "Girlz" a happy second birthday.

WHAT ABOUT THAT BRIDGE

REMEMBER OUR HISTORIC IRON BRIDGE TAKEN OUT BY FLOODS JULY, 2007?

WE SHOWED YOU THE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS ALMOST COMPLETE FROM JULY, 2009 TO SEPTEMBER, 2009. WEIRD WINTER AND OTHER COMPLICATIONS CAUSED A DELAY IN THE BRIDGE COMPLETION.

TONIGHT WE VISITED THE BRIDGE. IT IS ALL THE WAY ACROSS AND SEEMS TO ONLY NEED ENTRANCE AND EXIT RAMPS ADDED. SOON WE WILL HAVE OUR SHORT CUT BACK AND ALSO OUR BEST FISHING HOLE. YOU CAN SEE AS SOON AS THE WORKERS LEAVE, THE FISHERMEN ARE ALREADY GATHERING ON THE BRIDGE FISHING.

ONLY IN AMERICA

If you know the truth and have proof positive of that truth, people will still swear it is a lie.

If you know a lie and have undeniable proof that it is a lie, it will still be embraced as truth.

BREAKING NEWS

If you did not get this follow up comment on my previous post, here is my report on Slim:

Thank you dear friends for your concern about Slim. Today we report back to the vet and it appears we will be telling them that Slim is 100%. We probably will never know what caused this sudden ailment but at least we won't be as frightened if it happens again. Rachel, your guess might be a good one. Slim runs and jumps and goes at life with great gusto. She thinks that she can fly and sometimes we believe she can. She is our kid and as much as we want to keep her safe, we have to let her do her thing or she wouldn't be the happy girl she is. Thanks again everyone!

Other big, big, breaking news for today is about granddaughter Beth. She had her final try out for the Broken Arrow Pride Color Guard and the names of the girls who made it were posted on the school website yesterday. Much to our delight and happiness, Beth was on the list. Now my son has three children participating in Oklahoma's most outstanding high school band The Pride Of Broken Arrow Marching Band!

Today was a highlight day for me in my marker art. I mailed off my first sketch book as part of Ily's another day in paradise, 10 for 10 creative art project. We have been invited to prepare ten books with ten artists of varying venues. These books are to be forwarded around through November, 2010 when the project will come to a close. It sounded like fun when first mentioned but I had no idea how thoroughly exciting this would actually be to see off the first package and await the first that will come to me this week. Some are showing their art work, but I might wait a while to post mine on my blog.

MONEY WHEN IT IS LIFE OR DEATH

The first and greatest fear was we might be facing a life or death situation. The second underlying fear was what this was going to cost. Certainly there would be x-rays and blood tests and probably several nights in the hospital, the veterinary hospital.

Slim had suddenly lost the use of her back legs. She managed to get on the couch but she could not get up after that. We had to wait until morning to get her to the vet and Ron and I both felt overwhelming concern. Slim is 4 1/2 and this was our first medical emergency with her.

I had looked on the internet and researched various things that could be causing Slim's symptoms. Rabies was ruled out because she had her shots. Worms ruled out because we give her medicine and she is checked regularly. Lyme disease was partially ruled out because we dose her once a month with Advantix. We wondered if she could have been hit by a car the day before when we were at the grocery store. She is usually good about staying off the road but a deer or coyote on the other side will often cause her to break the rules. Since it came on so suddenly, we thought she might have had a stroke.

The doctor and his aids were wonderful. The vet put her at ease with his soft touch as he searched her body for signs of the problem. Slim seemed to know we were all there to help her. She did have a fever and the doc mentioned one of my fears, Lyme disease. But, he went on, she definitely had pain in the lumbar region and first he would try a shot and some medications. We were to take her home and check back with him on Monday. If she wasn't better we would pursue further with x-rays and blood tests. The shot alone made it possible for Slim to walk out of the clinic.

We are supposed to keep her in and quiet for 48 hours. She has improved so quickly that she spends her time looking out the window, barking about her unprotected cats, chickens and guinea fowl as she feels her call to duty.

The dollar total $68.00. The end result, priceless!

AND I'LL NEVER, EVER DO IT AGAIN!

How well do you manage to place guilt trips on others? My children tell me that I am the queen of guilt. If I have turned out only half as talented as my mother was I will know I am good. Remembering that look on my mother’s stern face that said, “Haven’t I taught you better?” has probably saved me from making bad choices on more than one occasion.

I recently read a strange sentence about guilt. It was: “…guilt, in a way, is God’s gift to us.” This thought had never occurred to me before. Until that moment I had only thought of guilt as a burden in our lives that plagued us with this thing called conscience.

Can you see guilt as a gift? Who has served (or still serves) you up the best plate of guilt?

YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN

What does the expression, “You can’t go home again” mean? We moved so often when I was growing up and I craved returning to each previous home for a visit. Those visits only left me recognizing I had become a stranger. Friends had either filled in or smoothed over the space I left behind.

Other blog posts about friends today:
Stella by Starlight
Past Imperfect

(Exercise continues. I am up to 40 minutes on exercise bike and 9 pound loss reported at this sixth week.)

HIDDEN CAMERA VIDEO

Here is a Spring break tale. Our granddaughter Hope (the brunette) and our neighbor's granddaughter Trinity (the blond) did not know I was videoing them from the kitchen door with my camera on zoom. I swear no children were harmed in the making of this video and the hole is not as deep as it appears. Seems like the girls had carved out a nice slide in Rooster Hill.

THE SURVIVORS WILL BE??????

Goliath

LIL' BEAR

New people are coming your way, and you might find that someone changes your mind about something big. Expect to go through a bit of confusion though! Work through it and you'll be fine soon. Gemini Horoscope for March 13, 2010

In case you wonder why I posted my horoscope for today it could have to do with five grandchildren being here for their Spring break. I shall be absent from blogger for at least this next week -- maybe longer depending on how much recovery I'll need.

If you missed my last post it has lots of reading linked to it. I celebrated my fifth blog anniversary and listed titles of some of my favorite posts. You can click on those titles if you happen to need a Granny Annie fix. LOL

Also just to update you on my fourth week of exercise, I am up to 35 minutes on the bike, still stretching, still feeling lots better. I have plateaued at the 7 pound loss but I know more will follow if I continue my efforts. Holding myself accountable to all of you, my blogger friends, keeps me motivated.

LET'S SHARE A FIFTH

Today marks my Fifth BlogAversary. March 9, 2005 FOOLS RUSH IN by Granny Annie was born. My initial idea was reporting on children and grandchildren then it almost became a Chicken Annie blog as I updated on my fowl friends. Now it is simply a montage of potpourri.

My God daughter Jessi introduced me to blogging and she ran circles around me in the beginning for the number of posts. Both of us inspired other family members to start blogs but alas I am the only one remaining who posts on a regular basis.

Today I celebrate my 1655th post. I cannot celebrate the exact number of visitors to my blog because I lost the original counter in November and had to start fresh. However just in the past four months I have been visited over 5,000 times.

My blog is full of children and grandchildren stories, pictures, events and awards they have won. There is a bit of our time in Kansas as well as events surrounding our move to Oklahoma. Many of Ron’s ship reunions we have attended are documented here. Some of my artwork is displayed.

Here are a few of my favorite essays posted over the last five years. (Click on each post title to read.)

WHAT IS YOUR MAKEUP COMFORT LEVEL

APOLOGY REJECTED

IN SEARCH OF CLEAVAGE

SHADOWS OF MY MIND

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE (Pictures and stories about this were published in Countryside Magazine)

BUTTERMILK MORE THAN THE NAME OF A HORSE

IS FIFTY THE SEASON FINALE

EXPRESSING THOUGHTS FOR NO REASON

CHANGED FOREVER

PERFECTION IN PEELING FARM FRESH EGGS

ABOUT THIS DREAM

THE YOUNGEST GODFATHER

TODAY AND YESTERDAY

THERE GOES JESUS

DEAD CHICKEN EPITAPH

“You do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while then vanishes.” -James 4:14 NRSV

SEE UPDATES WITH PICTURE AND YOUTUBE LINK OF MY GIRLS AT THE OSCARS BY GOING BACK TO AWAITING THE REST OF THE STORY

AWAITING THE REST OF THE STORY

CHELLE ON THE RED CARPET. SHE IS IN THE BACK AND HAS A SMALL STAR OVER HER HEAD.

HERE IS YOUTUBE LINK TO JESSI AND CHELLE ENTERING THE RED CARPET AT 1:05.

The girls sent me periodic texts from the 82ND Academy Awards last night. They walked in with Cameron Diaz and George Clooney. Jessi spoke to Clooney and he returned a comment. Later they made close contact with Quentin Tarantino and then made actual eye contact with Woody Harrelson. Now it is simply a matter of finding photographs of Chelle and Jessi lurking behind celebrities and hearing stories about the after party they attended, etc. What I learn I will share with you.

This glamorous Hollywood life is second nature to Jessi as she encounters celebrities often. The Academy Award show is just another day for her. Chelle returns to boring Oklahoma today but I have a feeling she will embrace the real stars in her life, her children and spouse. I know that Jessi and Chelle will forever treasure this adventure.

THE GUINEA FOWL TAKE THE FIELD

All we have to do to gather the guinea fowl in the evening is start a game of ball with Slim. You can tell I'm already out of breath when the birds decide to join us. They begin to take the field and Slim hates to share our game. The pearl grey guinea almost gets the ball in the last frame.

INTRODUCING E.B.

No E.B. doesn't stand for Easter Bunny. E.B. stands for Exercise Buddy. Rachel of Sliding Through Life decided I needed all the encouragement I could get for this exercise program so she sent me this active yellow duck to keep me motivated. What a surprise when I opened the big box to this uplifting, joyful critter. Rachel has once again proven Bloggers are the best.

This is my three week exercise anniversary and I'm still on the right path toward fitness. As an added bonus to feeling good, I have lost 7 pounds.

Now my eyes are on the upcoming Oscars. I will have two of my girls on the red carpet this year. My God daughter, Jessi, who works for the Academy and my daughter Chelle who will be Jessi's guest this year. I'm hoping to get some photos as good as the previous years. Chelle flies out to LA tomorrow.



Better scheduling of my computer and blog time to work in my fitness program has also allowed me to finish reading QUICKIE by James Patterson, LONG LOST by Harlen Coben and I've started reading THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett. I also finished listening to audio book THE WOODS by Harlen Coben and I am managing to keep my blog reading and commenting up between my own weekly post.