2011

The last few hours of the year are here.  It's been a good year.  I haven't spent most of it in the hospital as in past years.  I wrote and published a book, and continue to work on another one.  We acquired a new dog and lost one to old age.  Mom is stable and well taken care of.  So this year is wrapping up and a new one will start.  Happy New Years to all my followers and readers. 

Computers!

One of my favorite things in life is my computer.  Not that I understand it totally, but I can make it do some of the things I want it to.  I wanted to put my pictures on a flash drive and his on his passport.  Yesterday I had time.  Now how hard can this be?  I put the flash drive in a port, then hit a few buttons and waited.  It said something so I hit a few more buttons and it started to do something.  The folder I was in it duplicated all the pictures.  Not what I wanted.  So I tried something else being the computer expert, I am not, it made another copy of the same pictures!  Now this isn't good.  Guess I didn't pay attention to how Stacy started it the last time. 

Stacy, my computer needs you!  In she came and after explaining what I did she snuffed at me, took the computer and started hitting buttons.  No they weren't the ones I hit.  A different screen came up and all of a sudden the pictures were moving.  Yes!  Good job!  Now the next thing is to put Dad's on this, as I pulled the passport from hiding.  Sure, no problem.  It was a good thing I blogged early yesterday, she tied the computer up for hours.  I sat patiently crocheting hats for the Preemie Hat Project.  She finally put mine down and grabbed Dad's to do something.  I asked if I could now use my computer.  The words were "No, it's defragging."  I didn't know my computer defragged - must look this word up to see what it did.  I didn't want her to know that I didn't know what it was.  Oh well, I have it back, it works and I am happy it was defragged!.....

Preemie hat project!

I did have plans of going to the craft stores yesterday.  When I got up the forecast was iffy.  Possible snow!  So I wasn't too sure I wanted to venture out.  I pulled out my yarn and started working on another item for the Preemies.  The longer I worked, the worse the urge was to go out.  Finally I jumped up, got changed and told everyone I was going out.  I only wanted to get a few things.  I did have good intentions.  I came home with more yarn and of course more fleece.  I finished the last of 75 fleece blankets that were already cut.  They are all in a box ready to be delivered.  So I don't want to be idle, heaven forbid should I have a moment that is not claimed by a project. 

My serger was down for 24 hours due to a threading problem.  The holes are too small for me to see.  Yes Stacy knows how to thread it!  I did try for the longest time before I called for reinforcements!  Now I have more to do.  This is so much fun......

Winter Break

The kids get a break from school from Christmas to New Years.  Christmas morning we would open our presents and then we would go to Grandma's house for supper and more presents.  After all was done, it was time to go home.  Bob's brother would invite Bobby to go home with his son to play and Grandma would ask if the girls could stay.  Okay, I guess none of the kids want to play with their own toys.  We always let them stay.  They would come home after a few days.  We always told the kids we never did that, but when we look back, we sure did.  Don't tell them that!....

Christmas Is Over!

Last night I walked by my frig and noticed that all the decoration were removed.  Yes, the culprit was Mckee.  She said, "Christmas is over!"  I usually leave them there till I put Valentine's Day decorations on it.  This morning, all the decorations are off the front door.  Wow!  I know what is coming.  We got a large tree this year and it takes up quite a bit of the living room and blocks the TV off.  When Stacy and Mckee got up, she decided to remove the tree from the house.  She is sick of the clutter.  All the toys were all over and the place was a disaster area.  I learned years ago you don't clean up till the kids go to bed because they will only mess it up again.  So we all pitched in and took the tree down.  The room looks so big, and oh so clean!  Now we can all see the TV.  And the realization hits - Christmas is over for another year....... 

Making cookies and fudge!

First, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas like I did.  I am enjoying the time with my granddaughter.  She is so much fun to be with.  She still has the belief in Santa Clause, but for how long. 

The other day she wanted to make cookies.  We do this every year.  I do know what is going to happen but it is okay.  We get everything out that needs to be put into the cookies.  She is having fun with the mixer until it is time to hand mix.  She let me take over at that point and disappeared!  After they were all baked she returned to eat!  This is not fair! 

The day after Christmas she wanted to make fudge.  My fudge needs to be cooked.  Once again I got all the ingredients out and started cooking.  I was making a double batch.  She came in to assist, which meant she came in to see the progress.  She stirred the fudge for about two minutes and said her arm was going to break off.  Yep, I took over!  Her arm wasn't hanging or anything!  Off she went.  Grandpa asked her later if she was helping me.  Of course.  She once again came and checked on me as I was putting it in the frig.  A few minutes later she came in and said it was ready.  No it isn't, it needs to cool.  She wanted to return to the frig and watch it until it cools.  Get out of the frig!  Really it does need to cool longer than one minute.  Oh no, here she comes again.  Excuse me while I guard the fudge from an eight year olds' fingers.  Love being a Grandma!.......

Christmas

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house.  All the kids and their Grandma were quiet as mice.  The stockings are hung from the railing again, with hopes that Santa will remember them all.  The dogs have even settled down for a long over night nap.  The cats are napping down on the couch.  So that means turn out the lights and say goodnight.  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.  It may be a day or two before I blog again.  Please check back for the latest on Christmas.  Happy Holidays!....

Help! I am being held captive!

Christmas is two days away.  Guess who wants to go and shop tonight?  Stacy.  She must be nuts only the crazies are out tonight.  They are mean and hate the holidays.  Yes, she insists I go with her.  No, please, leave me here!  Don't make me go with you!  Help! Save me!  Bob helped her drag me out the door.  Off we went, with me dreading this all the way.  First stop is the Mall.  Traffic isn't too bad, but look at all the cars!  The Mall was busy, get me out of here.  Next is the book store.  We parked in the Mall lot and walked over.  At least there are no lines here either.  Last is Walmart.  Once again traffic isn't bad.  But parking is unbelievable.    The store has lots of people in it.  What do we need.  We got the things we needed and then some.  Walking around the store was fun.  People want you to move around them but they are in the middle of the aisle.  After being in there for 45 minutes, we had enough.  Get me out of here.  I want to go home.  Please!  Yea!  Get in the car fast before she changes her mind.  Yes she is pointed in the right direction.  We are going home.  Yes!  Finally.......

Stop!

The Everready bunnie is here.  I wish I had her pep.  I can't keep up.  She wants to learn everything in 5 minutes.  We have tried learning to crochet - gave up for now - she was only making knots.  We made cookies - after they were mixed she dumped me.  Next was hanging stockings - no names were on some so she did that.  They are drying on the table.  The other railing is done beautifully, by her.  We serged preemie blankets - she helped with two before she ran back to Mom.  Needless to say with all the other things I do all day, it is 8:00 and I am just sitting down now.  But don't worry her feet are still going!....

Presents

When the kids were young it was fun hiding Christmas presents on them.  We had a large attic that had pull down steps.  After buying the presents I waited until they went to school to wrap all the presents, put them in a box and drag them up two flights of steps to hide them.  They were all in one spot so nothing got forgotten.  So every Christmas Eve it was tradition, Dad would take the kids to look at all the decorations on the houses.  He had instructions to stay away for at least an hour.  While they were gone, I would get the box from the attic and drag it to the basement, three flights of steps.  Upon their return home we discussed all the lights and I watched those three kids to be sure they didn't go anywhere near the basement.  After getting all three kids settled in their beds for the night, I would drag the box back up the stairs and wait until there were no sounds coming from the kids and put all the presents under the tree.  By this time I was exhausted.  Santa's job was done, for this year......

Anyone there?

Bob and I were in the auto shop when my cell phone rang.  No one answered on the other end.  Since I have caller Id, it said it was Stacy.  For a minuted I didn't hear anything, then all of a sudden I hear Mckenzie and her baby talk.  We talked for a few minutes before Stacy realized someone was actually on the other end.  I always enjoyed my surprise phone calls.  When I got a new phone I put my old one minus the battery, in the toy box.  Every time they were here she would grab that phone and talk up a storm in the language that only she knew.  Now that she is older, she is a whiz at cell phones.  She texted me one day about these little cartoon figures that are on the phone.  She told me how to get them but of course I couldn't.  Oh well.  These kids are better at electronics than the adults..... 

I donno

I know that when the kids were young they would do something and of course I wasn't suppose to know that they did it.  When questioned who did it, "I donno" came out of that little mouth.  I donno was always into things at my house.  Who spilled the cereal all over the floor?  The oe who is eating the very same cereal pipes up, "I donno".  Now it couldn't be them.  They are so innocent.  Yes, I know better.  I was always the first person to admit my child could have done that even though they insist, I donno did it.  It was even more interesting to have the three kids together and ask who did it.  I would get two I donno's and one would squeel on the other two if she knew. Now I donno isn't staying at my house too much anymore.  I do kind of miss him or her.  I use to claim him on taxes and buy him food.  Oh well, I know that the ones who said "I donno" are getting paid back by their kids.  Revenge is sweet.....

I have to transfer what?

Bob's computer wasn't let him load his pix into his file.  See I have learned something!  So I loaded them on mine.  I don't know why.  There are lots of pictures of the deer in the woods that come to his feeders.  He loves doing this as long as it isn't hunting season.  So every few days he brings this little card in, I shove it in the computer and download any new pictures.  10 to 150.  Okay, so now he is cluttering my computer.  So today he wanted me to take them and put them on this little square contraption called a Passport.  It is a portable hard drive.  I have done it before, so I can do it again.  I had it all hooked up and it didn't do anything.  I tried numerous ways to no avail.  Oh well, I will try it tomorrow when he isn't standing over me watching, waiting to say - Stacy can you do this?...

Need an apron!

Do you remember back in the 50's and 60's, our Mothers always wore aprons to keep their clothes clean.  The aprons never got dirty, or so we thought.  I don't know how they did it.  Even my Mother-in-Law wore a smock and I never saw it get splashed with anything she was cooking.  When I cook I get right in it.  If I leave the stove to eat supper and my shirt isn't dirty, everyone is shocked.  Some days you can look at my shirt and tell what is for supper.  One day I was so proud of myself, I had not a spot on my shirt.  While cleaning up I got it all slopped with sauce putting it in a container.  I do keep the pre-wash companies in business......

Weather

I can't believe it is December 16th and it is still relatively warm for us here.  Usually by now we have snow on the ground and it is about 10 degrees.  We did have a few inches of snow but the 40 degree days melted it.  It would really be nice if we got no more snow and the temperature remained above 40.  I know Bob would like no snow because he is the one that has to move it from one place to another.  I just sit and watch it fall.  So lets hope no more snow this winter.  I know, one day I will wake up and it will really be winter, snow and all that goes with it.  Ugh....

Where are you?

I was always use to going shopping with the kids in tow.  Some days it was a challenge.  If we were in a clothing store, Bobby liked to hide under the racks of long clothes.  I would drag him out time after time, then threaten him with bodily harm, worked every time.  Grace would go off on her own to look at the clothing and Stacy would - stick to me like glue.  As they got older they each wanted to go in their own direction in the store, which was okay, but Stacy still - stuck to me like glue.  Then they got to the age that they wanted to stay home.  Okay by me.  The first time I went out like that, I felt like I forgot something and I had no one to keep an eye on or talk to, but let a kid say Mom, I looked!


Now years later, Stacy likes to go with me.  Every once in a while I will be standing there talking to her and when I look she is half an aisle away.  She does this deliberately to see if anyone says something.  No one has yet, but I do get some looks!  And it doesn't help for me to say, I'm with her because she acts like she doesn't know me.  Maybe I should pretend I don't know her at supper time.....

What is that red spot?

When watching the kids one night while I was working, Bob was trying to entertain Stacy in her high chair.  He had fed her and she wanted to get down, but he wanted to clean up first.  She had a toy that was suction-cupped to her tray.  It was the only toy she couldn't get loose.  Bob did and entertained her for a while.  He was putting it on and off his forehead.  The next day at lunch, his fellow workers were looking at his forehead and wanted to know what was wrong with it.  He had a perfectly round red mark in the middle of his forhead.  At first he didn't realise what it was.  All of a sudden it hit him and he started to laugh.  He explained to his fellow workers that it was done by a suction cup on the baby's toy.  He tried to hide it but couldn't.  By the time he came home it was dark red and very prominent.  Good thing he wasn't going anywhere cause it really looked funny.  He never did that again!....

Premmie hats!

I added a picture to go along with today's blog.  I have 12 tiny hats done.  I read some info on what the Nurses want.  I was shocked to find out some of the hats should fit an egg.  So I just stopped crocheting a little earlier and came up with a hat that will fit an egg.  How tiny that baby will be.  I have two volunteers now.  I sure could use more.  If you happen on this site and have knitting or chrocheting experience, get a hold of me.  I have patterns that work and would love the help.  Check out the picture.  I should have put something next to them to show how small they are.  Five inches across is small.  Join the fun and give us a hand......

Yesterday's worries gone!

Today is a new day.  Yes, I still have all of those things to do.  I know they will all get done before Christmas.  I hope they do.  Maybe I can con two people to help.  So now I have gone off in another direction.  I am making hats for babies in the NICU.  I have enlisted the help of another person, but I need more volunteers to help.  These babies do better if their little heads are covered.  Anyone willing to help please let me know.  They can be knitted, crocheted or sewn with soft material.  So in between all my other projects I am doing this.  Grandma is even helping.  Mckee is helping by sewing up the sides.  She is doing a great job with her sewing.  So who else wants to help?....

Can we postpone Christmas?

It seems that Christmas is right around the corner.  It creeps up too fast.  I have good intentions every year and say I am not going to wait till the last minute to do everything.  Guess what?  It has happened again.  The tree is up and decorated and that is it.  No cookies are baked, no presents are bought, let alone wrapped, cards, did I hear someone say cards?  Maybe this week.  Stockings aren't hung, the decorating isn't finished.  You say there are fourteen more days till Christmas.  I think I can do this.....

Don't touch the tree!

Now that the tree is up, the cats and dogs must go and investigate it.  We do have one cat that loves to climb them.  He hasn't been near it yet.  The other cats just want to play with the ornaments and drink the water from the stand.  In the morning the floor needs to be cleaned because of all the needles on the floor.  Bella likes to help clean them up - she eats them!  This is not allowed so it is a fight to see who is going to get them.  Sally doesn't care about the tree.  We just have to be sure there are no breakable ornaments in the way of her tail when she wags it.  Well, at least I don't have to tie it up like we did when the kids were young.  I don't think the dogs or cats will knock it over, do you?.....

Tonight is the Night!

Christmas season is here.  It's time to go to the tree farm and get a tree.  Not too small and not too big!  Yea, right!  Off we go to get a tree.  All four of us are in the car singing Christmas carols along the way.  Mckee is all excited.  She wants a small tree, until she saw all the trees and then it was what one do we want.  Walking along the path with everyone else, we eyed all the trees.  Short needles or long needles.  I always liked long ones, they don't hurt as much.  We found the section with long needled trees.  Next is the size.  No I don't want the eight foot one, here this one is just right as everyone walked elsewhere.  The girls picked one out, I okayed it, we all agreed that this was our tree.  All the way home we had our ideas of what our tree will look like.  No ones idea was the same.  The first thing to do is get it in the stand.  Guess what doesn't fit!  Now we must go and hunt for a tree stand.  We had our choice of two.  We voted and brought it home.  Now as I sit here Blogging, the three of them are decorating the tree.  Usually it is Mckee and me doing the tree, this is a first.  Now if I can pretend that this isn't done, I can sit here until they are done and cleaned up.......

Imaginary Friends!

I saw a sign in a Doctor's office today that stated things that were okay to do.  Wear glasses, wear braces, and have imaginary friends.  When we were younger and we had imaginary friends we were almost locked up in the Kookoo house.  I always thought if you have an imagination that kept you busy and out of the parent's hair, that it was okay.  On occasion we had these imaginary friends when the kids were young.  Things were fine until you went to sit down and you would hear this shriek and jump up only to have one of the lids tell you you almost squashed their friend.  We would have to feed them, bathe them and kiss them goodnight.  It was really challenging.  Our little friend even went to day care with Stacy.  The ladies looked at me funny, but Stacy didn't like quiet time so she had someone with her to talk with while the other kids slept.  Our friend didn't hang around too long so it was fun while it lasted.  I wonder if I can still have an imaginary friend!....  

I find live people too!

In my searches for dead people, I do also find live ones that are related too.  This last year I have been in touch with at least four people that I have found out are related.  Just recently I have found a few more.  They were searching locally and got in touch with me.  We met today.  Very nice family members.  I am claiming them as cousins.  See, I can find live ones too!....

Sharing!

The dogs share everything.  The big dog has a bone and holds it so the little dog can chew it.  If one gets a tidbit or treat, the other gets it.  The big dog can eat the little dog, but the big dog is a gentle giant with the little dog.  Bella likes to bite Sally's legs, she thinks she is playing with Sally.  At times Bella growls and goes after Sally's leg.  To get even with Bella, Sally will get a bone that is big enough for her mouth and sit and chew it and not give it to Bella.  Bella cries and whines as she is turning Sally in to the humans!  I feel like I have young kids in the house again.  Bob can you settle their dispute?......

The Cemetery

Beautiful days like this are great for taking pictures.  Yes, of course, cemeteries again.  I needed a few more pictures of stones of persons I have connected to my tree.  I am getting to know my way around the cemetery.  Sad isn't it.  At least no one is around to try to figure out what I am doing and why.  I do get some funny looks when they see what I am doing.  One cemetery done again.  On to the next one.  I get the feeling I am being watched as I enter the gates.  I caress the old stones with care wondering about the person buried there.  Some were so young.  Some fought in the Revolutionary War.  Some were wives waiting for their loved one to return  home and never did.  This is an old cemetery.  1800's.  Still feel like I am being watched.  Wow, is it cold right here.  The leaves sound like they are moving but no wind  is blowing today.  Someone is dragging their feet through the leaves.  There are no leaves in this section, they have all been cleaned up.  Okay, one last picture and I am heading toward the gate checking out as many stones as I can.  The noisy leaves continue.  The gate is in sight.  "Who are you?  I'm not here to hurt anything.  I'm here to help."   I want people to find this cemetery.  Would you like to help?  Donations accepted......

Sharing

Years ago when the kids were young, we always went to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving dinner.  Usually the Sunday before or after Thanksgiving we would have our own turkey dinner for just us.  Stacy had some friends that were coming over after dinner to play.  Kids that lived down the street and didn't have much.  We were saying the prayer prior to eating our feast and said if we could share this meal with someone who doesn't have any, please let us.  That exact second the doorbell rang.  It was the two girls two hours early.  They saw the turkey and all the fixings and their eyes were like saucers.  They said they ate but we set a plate for them anyway.  They ate a little of everything.  It was so nice to share that meal with those two girls because I knew  they wouldn't be eating turkey at home.  I even talked them into "doggie bags!"  Their smiles were all the thank you I needed.  What a wonderful day!.....

Using binoculars!

Last night when Bob and Stacy returned after dark they told me about seeing the Space Station and the craters on the moon.  They used their binoculars.  I have a hard time seeing through binoculars to begin with and also have a hard time finding the object.  Now, I want to see these things.  Bob and I hopped in the car with binoculars in hand, to the open spaces to see what we could see.  Upon arriving it was amazing to see the cloud free sky with the stars and planets close enough to reach out and touch.  I put the binoculars up and started to look.  "Wait I have to find it first before I can clear them."  It takes me a while.  Bob in the mean time was commenting about how awesome the space station was.  "Wait! I found it!"  I could actually see it, it had panels on each side!  Yes, it was awesome!  Now he tells me to find the moon.  That also took a while.  Bob was being patient.  I finally found it.  All I could say was "Wow!"  They were so close to Earth, and so majestic to view!  When we got home, Stacy asked if we looked at the other bright object, possibly a planet.  No.  Then I picked up the binoculars to find it.  I know she couldn't find it because she was too busy laughing at me trying to find it.  Finally a sighting, still don't know what it was.  Now she wants me to find the moon again.  No, I am not falling for that, she just needs another good laugh.  Not today......  

Bugs!

Oh how I hate bugs, bugs that bite and burrow.  I hate mosquitoes.  Their bites itch until you are insane.  Did you ever try to not itch a mosquito bite?  You can only take that so much then you scratch it till it bleeds.  Now everyone will say that's not good.  Well it is one way to stop the itch - till next time.  I hate spiders.  Some spiders bite too.  Their bite also itches.  Then it swells.  You must keep an eye on it so it doesn't get infected.  No see ums bite.  They come in the house through the screens, they are that small.  Their bites also itch until you scratch them open.  The worst one is the tick.  Now this is a bug that doesn't bother me.  Bob on the other hand, they love that Italian as much as I do.  They torture him.  He can't even shower them off.  He always has one attached at times.  I thought I was the only life sucker he had!...... 

Return from "Hunting Camp"

Bob finally returned from hunting camp.  He was shocked to see what I did and he had to undo.  He took the remainder of the groceries in, some of them really smelled.  There were two large bags of garbage in the kitchen that had to go out, plus the five bags of paper to be burned.  The one counter was lined with recyclables, the other had dishes - they were clean, along with the pots that I placed there.  The cats had picket signs waiting for him - don't ever leave us again!  The chickens were trying to learn how to swim due to all the flowing water.  They at least didn't starve but then again, neither did the small little creatures that got in.  It didn't take him too long to clean up his chores, but I do think he will think twice before telling me to leave the stuff to do until he gets home again.  I had fun, I don't think he did though.....      

Compliments!

Keeping in mind the computer literacy that I don't possess, I was on Facebook today and was hitting on some of the items on the side.  I found a message someone posted about how could they market their self published book.  Someone gave her my name.  I guess they think I know how to do this.  I gave her all the hints that I have used - start a Blog, blog daily the way your writing is, go on Twitter, see who follows you on Twitter.  I did hear that there were people who got contracts for books on Twitter because of their writings.  Schedual a book signing in the local book stores.   See if you can get a reporter to put something in the newspaper about your book.  Having told her all of this, I guess I do know something about marketing.  This is really fun......

Warm weather!

We are really being fooled this winter so far.  It is in the 50's and 60's yet.  We had snow once and as fast as it fell it was gone.  We are still getting rain every couple of days.  At least we don't have to move it from one place to another.  This is great.  We got all the leaves, including the oaks, off the green grass this year.  Usually they are hidden under the snow before we can get them.  The lawn looks like it could be the beginning of spring.  I don't have to freeze doing all the outside work, like pulling up all the dead flowers and plants.  Now if I can just con someone into changing the Christmas lights before we do get cold cold weather.  Any takers?...... 

Cemeteries

Love my Cemeteries.  So peaceful to sit in and listen for what the ancestors want you to know.  So much information to be taken from the headstones.  People look at me strangely in the cemeteries.  I have a camera and an ink pen in one hand, a tablet in the other and a backpack on with all my other trinkets I use.  Years ago they always said to use shaving cream on stones you can't read.  I don't want to damage them so I use aluminium foil and rub the inscription.  If I can't read it, Bob usually can!  We make a good team.   I write everything down from the stones, number it on my tablet, and take a picture.  A lot of times I go alone but always stay alert to who is around me.  I really like the days that I figure out I am not alone.  This doesn't mean a human is with me either.  I know someone is with me.  They make noise because they want me to know I am not alone and they have a story to tell.  What could it be?..... 

Batteries!

There are flashlights in every room of the house, cheap ones for when the lights go off.  They will last 5 minutes once you turn them on.  After one power outage as they are now called, I looked all over for a good flashlight.  I found two rechargeable spotlights in one store.  Then I went on the search for batteries, D batteries to be exact.  "Not today!" was frequently heard when I asked about them.  Then in one store I found this really nice flashlight, it takes 4 D batteries.  It had some different features and I liked it so I bought it.  Now to find batteries.  None in this store either.  I really need batteries, I have no power and I don't want the batteries that Bob saves.  They are used and don't last long.  Bob loves using them.  I guess for today I have no choice.  The following weekend I found batteries and installed them in the flashlight, then played with the new features and put it on the top of the frig so I know where it is at.  I went to get it today to go and get the mail.  It didn't feel right and when I moved it up and down, I realized it was minus some batteries.  Yes, my first place I ran to was where Bob was.  "Oh, I don't know how that happened!" as he laughed.  I knew he did it!  He needed new batteries and remembered mine and forgot he took them.  Now what?  The only batteries left in the house are used ones.  Yes, I took them so the flashlight goes on.  I surely hope the power doesn't go down tonight.  If it does we are really in trouble because the flashlight won't work for long......

Happy Thanksgiving

Holidays are here again.  The two biggest of the year.  Time to have all the relatives together so they can share everything that has happened since you saw them last year, some good, some bad.  You get up early to start the preparations and that means making sure the place is clean.  Last minute things must get done.  Watch the turkey and make sure it's done.  Mash and heat whatever needs it.  Okay, it's time to sit while it's hot.  Hello, time to eat!  Hey, come and eat, it's getting cold and if you eat cold food, it's not my problem.  The food is wonderful, all has gone well.  Now the clean up starts.  It takes hours to cook, half hour to eat, and another hour to clean up.  Finally everyone leaves with leftovers in hand and you get to sit and replay the day.  Hopefully it was good for all.  Guess what?  We don't have to do that for another year!  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Hunting camp continues!

No, he may never come home if he knew what this place looks like.  I have been going out to the car to get some of the groceries.  I needed some things okay.  There are still a few bags out there.  The counters are hard to find.  I keep using some of the dishes, but yes they are multiplying.  Soon there will be no pots or dishes left in the cupboards if he doesn't return soon.  I switched to a large garbage bag so I don't have to take that out.  Maybe he isn't coming home because he knows how much work he has to do when he gets here.  Bob, if you are out there, don't read this!..... 

Black Friday!

I know a lot of the stores are advertising that they will be open on Thanksgiving.  I guess they want to let the people get their shopping started one day earlier.  I had to work on the holiday being in the health care field.  These stores don't need to be open.  I feel sorry for all the people who will miss that traditional dinner with their family because the boss said they have to work.  Now you know, he won't be there.  I do know a few people that will be disappointed because the store will already be open and they won't be able to stand in line to shop at 2:00 AM, like they have for the last few years.  What next?  Will they be open on Christmas?..... 

Great accomplishment!

I was notified today that I have been accepted into the DAR - Daughters of the American Revolution.  This means I have a blood relative that fought in the Revolutionary War.  His name was Peter Stevens.  He died from a bullet wound received in the War.  After him there were numerous others, male and females that have fought to keep us free.  I thank each and every one of them......

Please return from Deer Camp!

Oh how I miss him.  Oh how I miss his help!  He gave me permission to leave the groceries outside until he comes home.  Do you think they will go bad?  Well if he gave me permission to let the groceries go, then that also means - I dry the dishes and set them on the counter.  The cat pans get emptied and I don't have to take it out.  Garbage can stay where it is too.  The compost will just go in a bigger bowl.  The chickens can have running water, I'll use the hose, and I cut a bag of food down the middle and tossed it into the coup.  Yes, this makes my life a little easier.  I don't think he will like it when he comes home.  Please make it soon, I can't find the counters or tables.  The pots and dishes are piling up!  When is Deer Camp over?.......

Cooking

I have always enjoyed cooking.  I plan in the morning what supper will be.  By the time I go to make it, it would change numerous times.  Chicken - BBQ - marinated - chicken Marsala (one of our favorites) made by Julia Childs, using Marsala wine.  A little for the chicken, a little for the cook.  Hamburgs - Sloppy Joe's - meatballs - meat loaf.  Now, I make the worst meatloaf going.  A friend and I discussed making meatloaf and since I follow a recipe, she encouraged me to use a package mix.  My next shopping trip I bought a mix.  A few days later hamburg in bowl, mix added and other ingredients added, formed into a meatloaf in the oven it went.  Yes, I did taste it and I'm not a fan.  Time for dinner.  Grandma has been finicky, I hope she likes this.  I added mushroom soup to the drippings and it made a great sauce for it.  Yuck, I don't like it.  Gram pipes up that it is good.  Well she can eat it because I know I won't.  Funny she likes the meatloaf and doesn't like my chicken Marsala.  Figure that one out......  

Hunting Camp!

The big guy is gone to hunting camp.  Yes, I miss him, and all the things he does around here to help.  I am exhausted trying to keep up.  Cat pans need to be cleaned daily, fish need to be fed twice a day - they are goldfish but are huge.  Take the garbage out, burn the papers, feed the dogs twice a day, and don't forget to give them water - Sally will drink gallons if you let her.  Take the recyclables out - can't believe there are so many cans and bottles.  Make supper and clean up - the pots can't just sit on the counter, I must put them away.  Take the dogs out, let them in.  And then add on my usual duties.  When is hunting camp over?......

Writers!

I never thought I would be taken to task on what I write on my Blog.  Aren't writers allowed to modify the truth a little to entertain the reader?  So sometimes to make my Blog a little better, I blow up the real facts a little.  I want readers to be entertained and read my blog and hopefully buy my first book.  I am thinking about a second book and if it isn't humerous why write it?  Yes, this does depress me, but life goes on.  My writings will be the same.  Yes they will be humerous and I hope you enjoy them.  People who don't, do me a favor and stay off and don't read.  I do love my followers.  See you tomorrow.... 

Why?

Why do they call my name when I am super busy?  I can't do anything without someone yelling, "Mom, come here!"  Yes, they expect me to drop whatever I am doing and run to them or they get mad.  Then I get punished by them for at least a day or two.  I can be in the shower, washing dishes or have just sat down exhausted from running all day and they yell for me.  My thing is - if you are bleeding call 911, not me.  If it is something that can wait - give me a minute.  If it is something I must see - take a picture of it.  If I yell for them to come running right now, they laugh and most of the time I have to wait.  I have been in some predicaments and yelled and had to suffer before they came, certainly not running.  Come on, I want someone to run at my beck and call too.  Can I hire a slave?.....

Rewards card!

All the stores are starting to use "Rewards Card" to give you points to use on whatever you want.  You can sign up in the store or online.  I always liked using these "Reward Cards" in the casinos, so why not in the store.  The other day I signed up in the store, or I think I did.  I needed to add a prior purchase on it so I went to the internet site.  Yes, you know me and these internet sites.  I filled all the information in and excitedly hit the button that says continue, and got the message that my password doesn't match the one that they have.  I tried again and again, no luck.  I then called the 800 number and we tried together, still no luck.  Okay there is a place on there that you can hit and they will send your password.  Let's see how long it takes to send my password.  In the mean time I will continue to try, maybe I will hit on the right one.  Help....... 

Microwave?

My microwave is twenty seven years old.  I use and the kids abuse it.  It cooks everything and reheats everything.  We especially love making popcorn in it.  Mckee makes her own popcorn now.  She asks me what to put it on and away she goes.  It's great.  Only now it is starting to burn things especially my popcorn.  Mckee isn't impressed either when hers burns.  Yes, we have a good laugh on it but we still aren't happy.  This is really getting bad.  I thought maybe it was the type of popcorn.  All brands were burning.  Do I have to go out and get a new one?  Yes, I must break down.  I put it off long enough.  Today is the day.  Armed with a type I want off we go.  Now I have put some thought into this, but not too much.  Into the store we go.  I was looking at the over the stove ones, they were really nice, not too pricey, maybe.  They have a light and they vent the stove.  It would give me more space.  Bob looked at them and thought that they were too big.  Nope, they will fit, I measured.  Then I talked with the sales lady.  You must have it installed, that will cost $140.  That made my mind up to go and get one, put it on the counter and call it quits.  On the way home Bob said I did the right thing because Mckee likes to cook independently and she wouldn't reach it, but looking later I wouldn't have either.  Oh well, I came home with a new microwave and all I have to do is open the box and put it on the counter.  Tea anyone?..... 

Sleep! I need sleep!

Thanks to my darling "bed hog" I don't get much sleep.  No it isn't Bob it's Bella.  She likes to sleep right next to a warm body.  Then last night I took her to bed early with me and all she did was whine to go and get Stacy.  I finally asked Stacy to come and get her.  So I settled in, was almost asleep and Bella returned.  She settled down for a few minutes and then started whining again.  By now it is 1:00 AM.  I texted Stacy to come and get her again and don't return her.  I need sleep, and Bella isn't allowing it, but she sleeps like she's dead on a hammock with the covers going up and down every time someone moves.  We have even pulled on the sheets and watched her sleep as we toss her around.  I sware she smiles!...... 

"Traditions"

Aren't family traditions fun.  We make certain things for certain holidays.  We put ornaments on the Christmas tree that have been passed down through the generations, with hope that it is passed again and again.  I think I have finally found our "Family Tradition."  Sleeping in the woods.  Yes, Bob's Father did it, Bob does it, I have, Stacy has, Bobby has, and now he takes his girls in the woods and sends me pictures of them sleeping in the woods.  The girls take blankets with them too.  Some days it was so cold in the woods, it's a wonder we didn't freeze while we slept.  Then we would wake up and wait for the game to go by, eat lunch and nap again.  So, I will take that as our tradition that has been passed down through the family and hopefully it will continue.....

The tree

Bobby was attending Kindergarten at the local school.  It was so local he could actually walk to school.  I was expecting that year so I was able to walk the block to get him to and from school.  There was a crossing guard there also, so if I couldn't make it the other Mothers would make sure he crossed.  He liked to dawdle.  I did know that he was the "Class clown" in school.  I got a note home from his teacher almost on a daily basis.  Conferences were the same.  I use to hate going.  What can you do with them?  Then all of a sudden the notes were getting less and less.   I thought maybe he was behaving.  Then one day I was in the basement with the repairman and could see Bobby walking home after school.  He stopped at the neighbors large tree, took something from his pocket, put it in the tree, smiled and came home.  When he reached the basement I told him to go and get the paper he put in the tree.  If the neighbor saw him do that he would be mad.  He sticks his little hand in and out comes lots of papers.  I can't wait to see what this is.  It was all the notes that his teacher sent home with him expressing how bad he is being.  From that day on I walked him to and from school.  No more notes in the trees, or so I thought......

Unusual notes

I do love telling stories about the kids when they were small.  After having Bobby I returned to work when he was three months old.  Now Bob was in charge of the house, the kids and everything that goes with it.  My first night away I spent wondering how they all were.  I called at lunch break and Bob said all was well.  Okay, he could be telling a story.  Upon arriving at home all was quiet.  Everyone was asleep.  The house was in one piece.  That's good because we all have to do this again tomorrow.  Bob and the kids were settling down to a routine.  It made me feel better.  Then the fun started.  I went to feed the baby in the middle of the night and change him.  When I pulled up his shirt, he had writing on his belly.  Bob wrote me a note on his belly.  It did give me a big smile.  I washed it off and away we went.  Then one night he couldn't find a pen and used black marker.  I scrubbed at his belly and it didn't come off.  I wouldn't care but he had a Doctor appointment the next day.  Good thing the Doctor knew us for years......  

Marks in school

When my kids were in school, they thought it was for social interaction not learning.  When report card time came it was unbelievable.  Bobby always thought he did good because he had one of everything. He was the class clown.  Grace thought the lower the mark the better.  Stacy would goof off till progress reports came then pull her marks up.  The two older ones have actually hid their report cards until a neighbor asked how they did.  They would even try to get the mail before me to intercept them.  Caught again.  Now I sit back and listen to Bobby checking up on the girls marks.  He insists that they bring home C's and above, which they all do.  Shoe is on the other foot now.  Paybacks are fun!....

We are in trouble.

Here it is November 8th and it was 60 degrees outside today.  Listening to the weatherman it is suppose to remain warm for another week at least.  It hasn't rained here in 10 days.  I'm sure a drought watch is right around the corner.  Now when I was a child, we were already knee deep in snow.  I do remember the one year the snow was falling on my birthday in November and my Mother slipped in the snow, falling on my cake.  Yes, of course we ate it.  It came from the best bakery in town! 

So the rest of the nation is getting snow and we are getting warmer by the day.  The only problem with that is when the temperatures drop it goes down in the 20's.  We don't get use to the gradual decline in the coolness.  We go from air conditioning to wood burning in a day.  I much rather a gradual decline in the temperature.  I do dread the cold temperatures, but enjoy watching the snow fall as I sit inside my nice warm house, knowing that I don't have to go out in the nasty weather.....

Marketing!

A new book store opened today in Borders place.  I had fun browsing.  Bought some of my favorite magazines and some new books.  I was finally done and went to the counter to pay.  I was practicing my marketing speech all the while.  When the associate was done I started my pitch.  I had her full attention. Then all of a sudden I saw the look and I stopped and said, "I must tell this to the manager, right?"  Of course she said yes and went and paged the manager.  In the mean time we continued to discuss the book.  She was really interested.  I gave her a business card and told her where to get the book.  She wanted it as soon as possible.  The manager arrived and I started my pitch all over.  He was interested in what I had to say.  Of course he said I have to go through corporate.  I said my thank yous and left the store with the phone number in hand.  That goes on tomorrow's to do list.  In the mean time I will continue to practice my speech.  Good afternoon, my name is......

New appliance!

My electric stove died.  The heating element in the oven melted one day while I was cooking supper.  The roast wasn't even done.  I had to cook it in a pot on the top of the stove.  The drip pans were a pain to clean.  The wire that held one of the elements in place was broken.  I had to wiggle the burners when I washed the stove to get them to sit right.  Alright I will break down and get a new stove.  I just hope I can get one that isn't all electronic.  You know how I am with that stuff! 

I hopped in the car, this was an alone shopping trip, he had better things to do.  I walked around the stove section in the store.  Wow, there were some that you need to read the book every time you go near it.  Count them out!  Ah, here are two I like.  One is steam clean and one is self clean.  The salesman explained the difference.  I want the self cleaner, but I like the color of the other one.  He did have the one I liked in the color I liked.  It has burners that are built in, no more drip pans.  I wonder if I will like it.  Okay deliver it.  I was hoping within a day or two.  Delivery was five days away.  I guess I have to cope with no oven till then. 

Friday came and it was delivered first.  It fit and looked great.  Bob asks, "Where's the burners?"  He was amazed as to how it worked too.  Now come the instructions - no glass on the top, and this is the cleaner for the top.  Then he tells me to read the instructions before I use it.  Not if you want supper now.  Yes, I got away with it.  Just don't tell him I needed to get the book out to bake and time the cake I made today, part is electronic.... 

"Don't Slam the Door!"

I know how many times a day I would yell the words, "Don't slam the door!" when the kids were mad, how about you?  The kids would get mad or upset, run to the room and take their frustrations out on the door.  Sometimes I would overlook the slamming but some days, like everyone else, I can't take anymore.  Yes, I would threaten the kids with bodily harm, that scared them for a few minutes!  Finally one day I came up with a good one.  "Slam that door one more time and I will take it off the hinges!"  I knew how to do it too!  So one day Stacy slammed the door once too often.  Time for action.  With screwdriver and hammer in hand, I threw open the door and proceeded to take the dowels out of the hinges.  Finally I had the door in hand.  She sat on the bed watching, shocked that I actually did that.  I was proud of myself.  "When you learn how to shut not slam a door you can have it back.  Fair enough for me.

Dad got home and of course instantly saw the door and thought it was broke.  Nope, it's mine.  When she earns it she can have it.  She tried to plead innocence, but it didn't work.  Dad did see the humor in the situation.  It took a few days but she finally came to me and apologised for slamming the door and could she have her door back.  Between the two of us we returned the door to its proper resting place to be slammed at some future date.  Yes, I know it won't last forever, but at least it worked.....     

Confusion!

Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed.  Gram becomes confused at times.  It really must be awful.  We all try to keep her in a good mood, but some days it is impossible.  She throws things when she is fustrated.  Usually it is her glassess, today it was her walker.  When I was a child she liked to throw things even then.  I remember one day she got mad and threw a plate of spaghetti at the wall.  Yes, even the plate broke.  Spaghetti stains aren't easy to get out of paint either.  I won't give her a baseball or bat any time soon!  She still has a good arm.  I talked with her and hopefully this will be the last time she does that.  I know, reality orientation for me: it will happen again in three days.  Help me....

Cable TV

When colored TV came out years ago, we looked forward to getting one.  The TV came "cable ready."  That was something new.  The kids were jumping with anticipation.  They can now see shows clear and in color.  After it was delivered I was reading the directions and there was a switch you could flip to lock stations out that I don't want the kids to watch.  Good, I can lock out HBO and some of those channels.  I put the book away and never showed it to the kids.  Little did I know that whenever I went out they played with all the switches and buttons to see what they did.  I came home one day and they switched the channel as I came in the room.  Okay, what were you watching?  Just a different cartoon.  Why I believed them I don't know.  This seemed to happen quite often.  Then I started to find the switch was flipped.  Caught like rats!  I caught them one day with HBO on and they told me they knew about the switch.  Punishment time.  No TV for the day.  Yes, this works but now they will be watching whatever they want when I leave.......

Weather

We just received the word - 2011 was the wettest year and October 2011 was the snowiest.  This doesn't surprise me.  We had snow and a frost all at once.  All my lovely flowers are now dead.  It just means another season is upon us.  One thing I like, no blasted bugs to fly in your eyes or ears.  No more bites.  Now I can go and continue my outside work.  It turned into the perfect day today.  No wind blowing, sun shinning brightly, and so quiet and peaceful.  The urge hits.  I feel the local cemetery calling.  As I am grabbing the camera Bob is asking where I am off to.  He sees the look and really knows but must ask.  Yes, the local cemetery.  Look at the weather, it's perfect.  All equipment is in hand and a wave and off I go.  There isn't a breeze or any  weather problems.  There is still some snow in the cemetery, but that won't stop me, not today.  I'm on a roll and have my list.  It doesn't take long now that I have figured out how to accomplish doing pictures and copying writing.  All too soon I am done.  At least this time I was alone and stayed alone.....

Who's with me now?

I love doing genealogy.  I eat, sleep, and talk genealogy anytime someone will let me.  I went to one of the Historical Societies today.  The staff is getting friendlier since they have seen me quite a bit lately, plus I am behaving.  Upon arriving today the parking was atrocious.  I found a spot but there was a car parked too far from the curb, so if I tried to get into this spot I would hit the car.  So I was trying to get in the spot my way when someone else came and moved their car.  Yes, I pulled in only to get the wrath of some elderly couple that had to wait three minutes till I moved my car.  Very impatient people.  I continued on my quest and was sitting at my table all alone reading a book, I hear this noise.  I couldn't see anyone around so I ignored it.  Then I hear another sound, okay, what was that.  When I heard it the third time I just figured someone was with me again.  They are at least friendly!  What better day than Halloween.....

What do we leave our children?

As we age and get to the point we are unable to live independently, what do we do with our personal things.  Oh, but wait a minute, we are now too old to even sort through these things that we needed so bad when they first made them.  We used the items, then something new came out and the first item sat on the shelf collecting dust.  Now along comes the only adult child left and this person is elected to clean out your apartment.  Will this person know what to keep, or what to throw out?  Usually they don't.  All of these things meant something to you, but not to them.  You must also wonder if that child has room to take all your worldly possessions with them.  This becomes a problem in many homes.  I guess you just go in and do your best.  What else can you do?  It sure isn't easy.  I think it is time to clean out the house - myself.... 

Snow already!

We have been hearing about the big snowstorm all week.  Usually the forecast changes by the day.  We are expecting about 6 inches of that white stuff.  Snow was suppose to start in the wee hours of the morning.  Just great, I must be 30 miles away by 8:30.  Oh well, we will take the big 4 wheel drive - mine, not the wimpy one - his.  The first thing I did when the alarm went off was to look outside to see if the snow was there.  Ah, bare ground.  Let's go!  We finished our project two hours later, and when we left the building the first flakes were falling.  Within minutes it was coming down fast and furious.  We agreed to get closer to home before we stopped for breakfast.  The closer we got to home the less snow was falling.  Maybe it will bypass us.  Upon arriving at home it really started falling.  Now hours later it is still snowing.  It was suppose to stop at 6 inches, so why is it still falling?  Any volunteers for moving snow from one spot to another?  The more the merrier......

Friday

Do you have a certain day that you do things?  Okay, what do you do on Friday?  I try to set aside Friday for grocery shopping.  Why Friday?  Habit!  Bob will ask what I plan to do the night before and I laugh - shop for groceries of course.  What would happen if I didn't go shopping for a week?  Believe me, we wouldn't run out of food.  I have a pantry down stairs and there is an array of extra food, just in case of an emergency, like floods or lots of snow.  Even if I am sick I still show up at the store.  I can say very few times have I had to go to pick something up during the week.  Now I do have a friend that does certain things on certain days at certain times.  I am not that bad, yet.....

Nothing to write!

I am a writer and today I have nothing to write.  I just can't come up with a subject today.   I feel like I am back in school and the teacher would make us write a composition.  Sometimes it would take quite a bit of thinking to come up with a subject.  At least now I can use the excuse, "writer's block" if I can't think of something and I won't be judged and given a bad mark.  So stay tuned and please check back with me tomorrow.  Have a good one.....

The Island!

How would you like to go to an Island get away with people you don't know for 40 days.  For those days you must go without food unless you catch it or win it.  You aren't allowed to take your normal personal supplies or changes of clothes.  A vacation?  I don't think so.  I need my soap, shampoo and deodorant.  I would really miss my bed, food in frig, and the use of a stove.  Now if I am in a motel it is okay but to be on an Island without the comforts of home, I can't do it.  Flushing toilets are also a necessity.  Guess I wouldn't make it in the wilderness..would you?.....

New Game!

I love playing games on my computer.  I bought some games at the local store and installed them.  I got to be a pro at this.  It is easier than I thought.  It also came with an offer to buy another game for $2.99.  So I went and looked and found one, used it for the trial period and decided to load it on the computer, Mckenzie will like this one too.  How hard can this be.  Okay, I have to give email address, next is a password, okay, next is payment, okay, then send order, not bad, all done.  Just at that moment the internet shuts down.  Okay, now what.  I got the internet back on and tried to get back into the game center and it won't take my password.  Ah, come on.  I just did this.  I hit the "don't remember password," even though I do remember it, and they will send me a new one.  I liked the old one.  Now back into the email.  Yes, there it is, and one that confirms that I bought it.  Good, lets hit on this one.  Wow, now all I have to do is go to this site and there is my game.  Oh no, it wants my password again and it won't take it.  Back to email to retrieve the new password.  Okay, let's try again.  Yes, it worked! I now have a new game.  Is it usually this hard?....  

Rewards!

Remember when our children did a good deed or did a great job on something, we rewarded them.  Well one day I decided to reward myself.  Now, it's not what you think.  You see, my Mother's apartment is rented till the end of the month.  She is too frail to clean everything out herself, so it is left to me to do.  How do you decide what to save and what to throw away?  I don't have room at my house to store everything, I already have a garage full of Stacy's things.  So slowly every day I can, I have been going down to box things to give to someone who needs these things.  Then one day driving home, I decided, I should get a reward because I am working myself to death, and drove into the Dairy Queen that I pass by.  They have a caramel milk shake that is so good!  So that is what I do.  When Bob went down with me, I told him he needed a reward and I took him there.  Then I told him I had just started rewarding myself.  Hey, this way he will come and help me.  He does love ice cream too.  Oh, by the way don't tell the Doctor, I think he would get mad.......   

Yard work!

All summer we have tended to the flowers and grass to make them look better than the next persons.  And all too soon it is time to do fall clean up.  Some of the flowers have died back already so they needed to be cut.  My job of course.  Some of the evergreens need a trim, also my job.  Then there is the rhodadendrum, his job, I got there before he did.  When he does it it looks like the tree cutters got it, he cuts it right down.  That is not a trim!  So if I can get it before him, I trim it and hide the clippers so he can't go finish it off!  This is how we do the yard work.  I want to cut the forsythia bushes down but he doesn't want them cut like I want.  They also come up every year and go wild.  Oh well, till next year they will stay the way they are, and we get to start all over.  Isn't it easier to live in an apartment and let someone else do all this work?....

Indian mounds

Paybacks are fun.  After Bob fooled me with the swamp fire it was my turn.  We were driving one day past the field that held mounds of rocks.  From the looks of it they were piled by the farmer so he didn't hit them with the plow.  Bob said "I wonder what those rock mounds are?"  This will be fun.  I told him that it was an old Indian burial ground and the Indians buried their dead that way.  I am into genealogy you know, so I should know about these things.  He took it hook, line and sinker.  For days he marveled about those Indian fields.  I snickered every time I went by.  Days later when we were passing the same spot, he started to laugh.  It hit him what those rocks really were.  Hey, I did have the upper hand for a few days and it was fun.  Stay tuned..... 

Swamp fire

I use to be a city girl until we moved to the country.  We use to take rides in the country but it just isn't the same as living there.  When the lights are turned off for the night, it is pitch black outside.  No we don't have street lights.  We are lucky to have telephone poles!  This one night looking out the window after dark the woods appeared to be lit up.  It was really pretty.  It looked like the trees were glowing in the dark.  It was so cool I called Bob over to see it.  He called it Swamp Fire.  It only happens on clear nights.  There is a chemical in the trees that glow in the dark.  Wow, I was amazed.  The next day I went to work and told everyone who would listen about the swamp fire.  Some really laughed.  I couldn't wait to see if it was there again tonight.  Yes, it was a clear night and it was there.  Yes, a clear moon lit night, with the moon shining between the branches on the trees and ground.  Okay, he won that one.  I will pay him back before I tell him I figured that the swamp fire was a tall tale.  Find out tomorrow what I got him on....

Recouperation

Well I guess I have to do the dishes.  I woke this morning to a toe that no longer hurt.  Wow, whatever he did it helped.  It's not swollen or sore.  I am suppose to put a band aid on it twice a day.  Can't get any sympathy for it.  Bob asked this AM how it was.  I had to say fine because he was watching me walk without grimacing!  So back to doing all my usual house hold duties without  a day off.  Guess I'll have to find another reason...... 

Toes!

Going off the beaten path a little tonight.  I have been nursing an ingrown toenail for weeks.  Of course it hurt and I never showed the doctor.  After trying to heal it myself, knowing it wouldn't, I finally made an appointment with the foot doctor.  Now, him and I go way back, he was the foot doctor where I use to work, so he knows I an a coward when it comes to shots.  Yes, I know he has to do it to numb the toe.  I hid my face.  If I don't see it it doesn't hurt.  Wrong again.  Okay he is done with that.  We talked while my toe got numb.  He moved his tray in front of my foot so I didn't have to watch.  I would have passed out.  He was done rather quickly, it was bandaged and off I went.  I could walk fine.  Later when the numbness wore off it started to hurt somewhat.  Now, if I limp around I am sure I can get some sympathy, maybe even get out of doing the dishes for a while.  I do have to stand you know......  

Beggers!

It's not easy chasing the dogs away from the table when we are eating.  We have one that will sit back a little waiting for food to be thrown her way because the little dog sits on her hind legs looking like a meercat, begging for food.  Now, neither dog is starving, they just want people food.  I have tried chasing her away but the second she begs, she gets rewarded, by him, not me.  Sally gets a reward for being there. Yes, he is helping ruin the dog.  I have told him when the dog gets too big to walk, he gets to pull her around in a wagon...... 

Normal life!

There have been times in my life I have said the words, "I'm bored."   After that I got sick and was no longer bored because I spent my life at Doctor appointments and tests.  Then Stacy and the kids moved back to help me.  There went any boredom that I had.  It was fun.  I never knew what the kids were going to do next.  Take me here, take me there.  I used the calendar to keep me posted as to who was where.  Then the routine settled down, either that or we just got use to the new routine.  Now I have Grandma here too.  I get no peace.  I haven't seen the end of a show or heard the punch line since she got here.  I think 8:00 is quiet time to watch my shows.  She thinks it is time to have a conversation, the same one we had last night and the night before.  I want a normal life, but what is normal?.....

The cute little puppy

This cute little puppy is the Queen of the house.  I have been demoted from the throne.  Whoever goes to bed first gets the puppy.  She loves being on our bed.  So she also likes to cuddle up right next to you and won't move.  She has claimed her spot for the night and don't try to move her.  She will jump right back in the spot before you can sit.  I shove her and she returns.  So someone gets to sleep on very little bed while she lays in the middle.  By morning she is belly up and covered with her little blanket!  She is so cute.  My life has gone to the dogs!....

Electronics

Everyone knows what I am like with electronics!  The eight year old has an iphone (this is what the kids call it.).  To see her use it is a riot.  She is a wiz at it.  She whacks the buttons and really knows what she is doing.  She loves showing Mommy and I what she can do with it.  Yes, she then hands it to me and says, "Here Gram use it!"  "Yea, right."  I can't even turn it on let alone use it.   Please don't make me get a new phone.......

Who's driving?

Bob's car is in for repairs, so I am driving him around at times.  It is my car after all.  Well, of course I am driving too fast, taking the corners too close, and doing jack rabbit starts.  I took the car for an oil change and he was looking in the glove compartment for something and came across my insurance card and registration and both were expired.  I just brought down the insurance card that I got in the mail.  No, I never looked at the dates.  They send it and I put them in the car.  Then he tells me the registration is from 2009.  I know it was there because when I got the car inspected I had the correct one.  Oh well, I will be getting a new one in a few months.  No this isn't good enough.  He is telling me it is illegal to drive it without them.  I laughed!  Do you know how many people are on the road driving illegally?  Lots!  Well, to stop the carrying on I went to the car registration place and got a new registration and also got a new insurance card.  He feels better now.  Wait till he finds out he drove the car without those things in the car, they were here in my purse!  I'll tell him tomorrow..... 

Ancestors

I have a good time looking for my Ancestors.  It is fun to collect them.  So far I am not nobility but there was a castle at one time that has since become a Bed and Breakfast with a haunted gate.  An Earl also graced us many years ago.  Now we have accumulated nurses, engineers, wood workers and numerous other occupations to be proud of.   We each had our own paths to walk and walk we do.  Not one horse thief graces the family.  There were plenty that had towns that were named after them.  Some were land barons and gave land to the community for churches and schools.  I have some who lived a mile away and am having fun finding them.  For anyone who says they want to find their roots - I say go for it.  Just watch the people in the cemeteries, they may try to haunt you.....

Old shows!

Grandma likes all the old shows.  I don't mind watching some that aren't reruns that I remember, but I have seen the same rerun three times in a week.  Yes, the Lucille Ball Show is funny, but not after the third time.  At least some of the Little House on the Prairie shows aren't reruns.  I didn't see them when I worked second shift.  Then, when we are watching a new show she wants to talk, especially when they are saying the punch line.  I haven't seen the ending of a show in days.  She stays quiet during commercials and talks when the show comes on.  I do try hard to listen but sometimes it doesn't work.  Oh well another show is on, hope I can find out who wins - tonight.......  

I'm hot, she's cold

There is no happy medium, I'm hot, she's cold.   I turn the air conditioner on.  It is 80 degrees in here.  I can't breathe.  She has a sweater and a blanket on.   I am in shorts.  It's hot outside so there is no relief out there.  I tell her if she had some meat on her bones she wouldn't be so cold.  She laughs.  She tells me the same story every day about animals being destroyed.  I can't take that.  I live my life up, she lives her life down.  Every few days she likes to argue with me and make me feel guilty.  I remind her I am only thinking of her.  Of course this is the aging process and I know it well from working with the elderly for so many years.  Now I live it on a daily basis.  Just don't let me lose my scense of humor.  Please......

Sleepless in Nicholson!

Another sleepless night with Grandma.  I, once again was exhausted and was in bed by 10:30.  Ah, the soft sheets, the warm covers, the dog hogging the bed, yes, bedtime.   Bob was already asleep.  I got comfortable and still couldn't sleep.  About 11:15 Grandma was talking loudly in her sleep.  Yes, we are now awake.  She stopped for a while and all of a sudden out of the dark we hear a howl!  We have heard this before.  Stacy comes flying out of her room!  "What was that?"  We laid in bed and answered, "Grandma!"   "That didn't come out of her."  "Yes it did!"  She chuckled and returned to bed.  We just laid there wide awake and laughing.  The dogs were even scared.  Bella stayed close to Bob like something was going to get her.  The cats took off downstairs.  It was really funny.  We finally fell asleep again only to be roused again with Grandma talking.  Oh well, the only one that was sleeping was Grandma, we were all waiting for the next scene.  It is a full moon after all.....     

My house, quiet?

Quiet!  I don't know what quiet is.  My house is bouncing at all times.  I seldom get a chance to sit now that Grandma is here.  Bob and Stacy are great helps for me, but she does keep me busy.  With a case of occasional confusion it sometimes really gets interesting.  Once she is in bed I do get a little peace.   Then there are nights like last night.  It doesn"t do any good to go to bed early because I always lose sleep anyway.  So I went to bed at 10:30.  I am exhausted and fall asleep within 15 minutes.  At 1:30 I hear someone hack.  It is the puppy.  She ran off the bed went to the gate, hacked and barfed on the floor.  Bob cleaned that up.  I tossed and turned and finally fell asleep again only to be woken by Grandma yelling from the living room for Bob to come help her.  She needed some reassurance and settled down.  Back to bed we went.  Yes, more tossing and turning.  Along comes 5:30 and once again Grandma is calling.  She is up and in the hallway.  We both jump up and run again.  Back out we go and settle her down again.  We both need sleep.  She catches cat naps but we don't.  All I have to do is sit on the couch and shut my eyes and she calls my name or the phone rings.  Help, we are sleep deprived!....

Gone!

What a beautiful day!  It was on the cooler side but once again the sun came out.  It dried up the grass.  The grass was on the to do list.  The yard was starting to become over run by leaves.  Maybe it will get cut today if it stays like this.  Wait!  What is that sound?  A lawnmower?  Yes, the grass and leaves are gone.  Wait!  The papinkies!  What papinkies?  Oh no, the papinkie patch is also gone!  What happened?  The aliens made me do it!.....

That bright thing in the sky!

Wow! That bright thing in the sky came out today.  Yes, they call it the sun.  It felt warm and dried up the morning dew.  The clouds even moved out of the way to accommodate the beams of sunshine.  Now we can see what needs to be done outside.  The new chore list will include: cutting the grass, clean the rain gutters, pull up the remainder of the garden, unhook the pool filter and drain it, and that is just the beginning.  I also want to cut the forsythia bushes and the rhododendron bush back this year.  The next few days will be clear and dry, we will see what really gets done.....

Papinkies

We are now over run with papinkies.  They are mushrooms.  We never had them before.  I thought they stayed small.  Not mine they are growing bigger by the day.  More are now popping out.  I have looked under them to see if there are little faries under them but haven't found any so far.  I will keep looking.  When I find one, I will put her in a little jar - no lid, she needs oxygen to breathe.  Maybe if I catch her, no more mushrooms will grow.  They really are taking over the lawn.  Quite interesting.  Where are all the mushroom pickers?.... 

Aliens

Someone said that the sun will return in two days.  Wow!  I thought the Aliens came down to Earth and took it away a months ago and left the Earth rain in it's place.  We have had the wettest September since 1950.  Very few days had that bright thing in the blue sky.  Even when it wasn't raining it was cloudy.  So tell me did anyone see the aliens that took the sun.  Maybe if we ask them nice they will return it.  It sure would be nice.....

Yard sale?

Yard sale day is all over.  It started with a sleepless night on my part because all I was doing was thinking of the great day we were going to have.  Hopefully the rain will stay away.  I got up at the crack of dawn.  It took a while to get the ladies up, they had a late night the night before.  Eventually Stacy showed up and then Mckee got up.  Set up was done and we were waiting for our first customer.  It didn't take long.  They bought a few items and off they went.  It was quite a while between customers.  There were a few sprinkles but the real rain held off.  It was chilly enough that we needed the little heater on.  It was a slow day.  Mckee kept begging for customers.  All I can say is the next time I decide to have a yard sale, slap me.  I never do any good.  Needless to say it should take at least two trips to take all the leftovers to the Salvation Army.....

Clean House Yard Sale

Today was a busy day and I am not done yet.  Tomorrow is the big yard sale.  Yes, it should be fun even though it is suppose to rain at some point.  I have it set up that I can just stay in the garage if necessary.  Bob hates yard sales.  He thinks they are a waste of time.  No, he is not sticking around for it, but I know at some point he will come around to help.  Hey, my thing is make me an offer and it can go home with you.  Most of the stuff is good and usable.  Lots of baby clothes and things.  Wish me luck, I am hoping to get rid of most things someone else can use.....

Thunder boomers!

We had a dog years ago that could hear thunder boomers a mile away.  She would smile with her tongue down to her toes.  Then she would pace.  Then it was time to hide and shake in her shoes till it passed.  Along comes Bella, all eight pounds of dog.  If is during the day she isn't too bad, she paces, but come night fall, she's a wreck.  From the time it started last night all she did was whine, shake and pace.  It wouldn't have been half bad but she was doing it on the bed.  We tried covering her up and petting her, nothing was working. The storm lasted two hours and for those two hours there was no sleeping.  As soon as the storm passed Bella laid down, put her head down and went to sleep.  We just looked at each other.  Wish it was that easy to go to sleep.....

Life as we know it

Today all is calm in your life.  Tomorrow it is turned upside down.  We just don't know when it will happen.  Then you have people who must fight you every step of the way and won't stop.  I'm sure their day will come too.  If you are carrying the world on your shoulders you don't need someone to come along and upset the world.  Why can't people just stop.  No, push someone over the edge instead.  Thanks!

Rain

Yes, it is raining again.  We don't need it.  My grass isn't dying back, it is actually rotting.  Yes, rotting.  I have never seen this.  Too much water.  Will have to put that on the Spring to do list.  There is an added two inches in the rain gauge from today so far and it is still coming down.  It was really a wet summer and now Fall is starting out the same.  Please let it stop before winter or we will all be in igloos....... 

EEK! Bugs, bugs, and more bugs!

I decided to go outside and do some yard work today.  I do a little at a time so I don't get too out of breath.  So outside I go this morning.  The sun was out and less humidity made the day better.  After rounding up the hedge clippers and electrical cord off I went to finish some trimming.  A few mosquitoes were out and biting.  Can't put the clippers down just to swat the darn bugs.  I just kept moving my arms and legs around so they didn't land.  Some did land and bite.  People going by must have thought I was having seizures.  I got done what I planned to do.  Bob helped me wrap it up for next time.

After supper I went out to weed whack.  Wow, where did the bugs come from?  I was swatting every two seconds.  I felt like I was on one of the commercials and the bug spray is not working.  I was moving as fast as I could.  I really need to get this done and clean up.  The faster I went the more I sweated and the more the bugs bit.  I surrender!  I quit!  No more!  I can't take it!  I'm done!  I put the weed whacker away and ran in the house.  No I didn't clean up.  Hope Bob doesn't go outside till tomorrow.  I promise to clean up the sidewalks tomorrow.  I was nothing more than bug bait tonight.  Excuse me while I go itch.... 

Plastic containers

Ah!  You made the greatest meal for supper and there are leftovers.  Yes, like me you put them in those plastic containers that we have in the cupboards.  Then we stack them in the frig hoping that someone eats them.  Of course the ones we save for ourselves are the ones they sneak eat.  Stacy does take some of the leftovers with her but forgets to return them in a timely fashion.  Of course in the winter I don't mind, but in the summer, in the heat!  She brings the containers in all at once, drops them and runs.  Yes, they are gross and of course smelly.  I get to open them and get the stench!  I have asked why she can't just return them on the same day, "I forget" is always the answer I get.  Maybe I should forget to make meals.  What would she do then?....

The passing of a pet.

We treat our pets like they are part of the family.  We no longer keep them outside on coops.  When they were small we ran with them and shared their energy.  As time went on and they aged, we walked with them.  We felt their pain when they had pain.  We held their hand when they were leaving us.  We grieve them when they are gone.  It's hard to say good by to these wonderful pets.  We love you.....

Rain and more rain!

The weatherman has learned a new forecast.  It is sunny with rain.  What he really means is you might get three minutes of sun shining through the rain you are going to receive all day.  It has been a rainy September.  I think we have gotten 15 inches of rain this month.  The forecast for the next few days is sunny with rain.  Places are flooding again.  Can't someone please stop the rain for a while.  We will need an ark soon....

Relaxation

I actually got some time today to relax.  All the daily chores - make the bed, do dishes, dust, eat, feed dogs and cats, check laundry - were done.  Now I can spend a little time with my "dead people" as I call them, before anyone puts demands on me.  I did get three pages in the computer, I'm proud of myself.  I did answer the phone at least five times, had to take the puppy out twice, ate lunch and finally had to stop to make supper.  Is this really relaxation?  I think it is and no one will tell me I'm wrong......  

Flash drive?

I needed to burn a CD.  My first stop was another store where you can buy these things.  Well, they had CD's +R and -R.  What does this mean?  There were no visible associates so off I go to see the Geek Squad.  They amaze me.  The guy who sold me the computer and some other things came to my rescue.  They had the same thing here.  I told him what I was after and what I was going to do with it and he names something else, "A flash drive."  Now how easy is it to use?  He makes it sound so simple.  No, they won't let me take him home to do it.  He did say it was easy to do, so I bought one. 

Upon arriving home, I am really anxious to use it.  I put it in one of the "ports" and it came on the screen that there was a set of instructions, 12 pages of them and you call this simple!  I fiddled around for a while, and another screen came up.  Ah, this looks like what I want.  Yes, it is transferring the pictures to this little one and a half inch thingy.  Hey, I learned something new and did it myself.  Never did read the directions....  

Good intentions

Upon awakening this morning I found Stacy had emptied the laundry hamper.  This is a good sign.  I guess that she has intentions of doing laundry.  That is great because I want to can the tomatoes that I bought yesterday.  I got busy with my project as soon as I finished my second cup of tea.  I had all the tomatoes in jars by the time her eyes opened.  Her first words were, "Did you start the laundry?"  "Oh, I thought you were doing it since it is in your basket!"  She started naming things she needed to do and then she was gone.  Oh well, down I went and started the laundry.  Most was done by the time she returned.  She did remove all the clothes from the laundry room to the closets.  At least I don't have to do that....

We need a burn can!

I can't count the weeks Bob has been saying, "We need a burn can."  The old one was a galvanized garbage can and they don't last long.  It got to the point it broke in half and who knows what the bottom looked like.  Last week I called a number from our local paper that advertised burn cans.  I told them I didn't need directions because Bob was there before.  Him, forget how to get somewhere!  Never!  Well it was close.  He had me put a place into his GPS.  You know me and electronics.  Why me?  Just because you are driving!  I tried, numerous times.  I hit every button I could.  It didn't give me a direction, it did give me an hourglass.  What is this?  It's looking for a satellite.  Yea, right.  Here take it back.  He tried doing it and it gave him the same hourglass.  He set it so it would show where we were at.  We drove for quite a while and saw some of the same sites twice.  Yes, I asked if we were lost and the answer was "No."  I just had to get that in there.  He finally turned up a road and found the campground he was looking for, and said, "It's right up here!"  And lo and behold it was.  Good, we can now get our burn can.  Not yet, no one is here.  So back home we went.  I called the number and found out when someone will be there.  So back we went at the appointed time and away we went.  "Bob, Bob, where are you?"  Oh, he's out christening the new burn can.... 

Fall

Bring out the warm sweaters, there's a nip in the air.  The air smells different.  The mornings are now foggy.  The air conditioner sits unused most days now.  The weatherman is calling for possible frost.  I guess fall is here, sneaking in with all the usual changes.  The leaves are falling in layers on the grass.  Can't wait till we have to start picking them up.  No more cutting grass.  We will expect a few more warm days before the snow flies.  Another summer is in the past.  It will leave behind memories that will , be in our minds forever, things we saw, things we did, people we were with.  It leaves us a little sad for the season that is gone and happy for the season to come.....       

Pets

We have finally found peace among the pet world here.  The dogs would get sent to their room at 8:00 so the cats could come out and eat and have free run of the house.  One by one the cats have walked right up to the dogs and there hasn't been any problems.  The boldest of the crew is Pumpkin.  You wouldn't think so because he is so big.  He walks past the dogs like they aren't there.  Big Boy chases Bella now.  Lucky and Bella are good friends, Mama cat just watches from the sidelines.  So we have declared this house a peace zone for pets.  Even when Grandma was here with her cat, they were all fine.  Now to make sure no one brings home any more strays......

You left us alone!

Most of the time when Bob goes away on business Stacy and I get into some kind of trouble.  This time she wanted to change the twin bed to a queen bed, but needed a frame.  We did find one in a long box.  The box was as long as the car.  Certainly it won't fit in the trunk.  She pushed and shoved and with the final push got it in the car.  Too bad it was taking up room on my side of the car.  With a little rearranging we got it in so I was comfortable.  I felt like I was in a child's car seat.  It was funny.  We finally got home with it and she dismantled one and put up another.  Then she laid on it and it sagged in the middle.  Down to the lumber store we go.  My car this time it is bigger!  She got plywood cut to size.  Great, put it in the car and lets go home.  Supper is ready.  It took quite a bit of rearranging to get it in my car.  We pushed the front seats as far forward as we could and the back door finally shut.  Take me home!  On the way home we both sat on the dashboard.  We really looked funny sitting straight up and that close to the window.  Home at last.  She brought in the plywood and got it set up while I reheated supper.  Mission was accomplished.  Wait till Dad sees what she did.....

Everyone has one!

What does every Mother or Father have?  The squealer.  It is the child that will tell everything you don't want them to, usually at the wrong time.  One of the kids just turned another year older and we said the younger year.  Of course we turned green when they blurted out the correct age.  Ok, who spilled the food on the floor and didn't clean it up?  No one did it so the squealer said who did it.  Who ate the last cookie?  Once again no one.  Squealer said who did it.  Tell them not to tell Daddy what you just bought for his birthday and they will run around yelling, "I have a secret!" till Daddy gets mad and makes them spill their guts.  Once they start school they can't do this and keep their place in society.  They are no longer the squealer but the tattle tale.... 

Let's go to the fair!

Going to the fair with kids is always a challenge depending on their ages.  Little ones can be put on a leash and guided around.  Once they hit a certain age you can't, so you must grow eyes to watch them.  Why does each child want to go in a different direction?  We need to stay together.  To them that means wherever they want to go you will follow.  Bobby was the one we always kept an extra eye on.  He liked to wander more than everyone else.  He never looked to see where anyone else was.  On occasion he would disappear and we would be frantic, of course he was looking at something and enjoying himself.  Now that he has his own kids he often wonders how we did it.  I just tell him all my grey hairs have a name, and he caused a lot of them....

Quiet time

My house for the past two weeks has been busy.  My Granddaughter came back to the states from overseas and was staying here.  Then my Mother and a lady from her apartment building were here because of the possible flooding where they live.  Add on the three people who live here, three dogs, 5 cats, because Mom has one too, we had a house full.  Everyone got along well and there were no problems.  I spent most days cooking and doing laundry, I was behind because of the excess water
coming from the skies.  Little by little people were able to go home.  Britt left this morning.  My house is quiet again.  I shut the TV volumn off once in a while to listen to the silence.  Wow!  I know enjoy it while I can, I'm sure it won't last long....

I love my baby brother!

Bringing home baby is always fun.  Such a memorable day in your life.  As the days go on everyone has to get use to a new little one in the house, especially the children that were already there.  There was three years between our first and second children.  Therefore there shouldn't be too much getting use to.  Grace would always say, "I love my baby brother."  That was a plus.  Every once in a while I would hear Bobby scream bloody murder.  I would go and make sure he was okay.  He was in the carriage and nothing was picking him.  Couldn't figure it out.  Finally the one day, there stood Grace looking in the carriage.  "Do you know why he is crying?"  Yes, he was going to cry so I smacked him in the head and gave him something to cry about.  I really wanted to laugh but kept it in.  Yes, children learn what we say and she followed through.  After that we really kept an eye on her when she was around him.  We never had a problem like that again....

Birthday greetings!

Bob's birthday is today.  We aren't sure how old he is though.  He said his birthday was the day he was concieved.  We say it is the day you were born.  So whatever he wants it's his day.  He is having fun doing what he wants.  So Happy Birthday to the greatest man around!  I love you more than you can believe.....

I went down town with Britt today in her car.  I said I forgot my helmet.  She wanted to know if I needed to go back for it.  It took her a minute to catch on, then she started to laugh.  Got cha Britt.....

Almost time to go back down town for my jug.  Oh I hope I got some donations.....

Update

The pie was great.  We did wait till it cooled off a bit to eat it.  The sun finally came out.  A blue sky came with it.  Haven't seen that in a while.  The river crested and the travel ban was lifted.  People are now able to return to their homes.  We did return Bonnie to her apartment and kept Grandma here for a few more days.  She isn't really happy with that but maybe it will help my sanity, or put me totally over the edge.  Britt will be leaving to go to her next base and maybe the house will be returning to normal?  In my house, what is normal?  Will I ever know?

Tomorrow is Nicholson Bridge Days and the Heritage Society has invited me to bring down a jug to see if they can collect more donations for me.  Wish me luck!.... 

Making a pie.

Mom's friend wanted to make the family a pie as a thank you for bringing her here during the evacuation.  She went first to the apple tree and picked her apples to use.  Next was the recipe book.  As she was naming ingredients, I told her what I had.  No crisco use margarine.  She then asked for a flour sifter - I never had one.  A pastry cutter was next - what's that?  No I don't own one.  Use a fork.  Okay now she is in the kitchen busy making the crust.  We are watching and wating patiently to taste test it.  Do we really have to wait that long?....

Evacuation!

As you know we have been having large amounts of rain in the last few days.  We knew it was going to cause problems.  We are at the beginning phase of flooding.  The creek down the hill went over last night.  When I got up this morning it was still raining.  I put the news on to see what was happening.  They were starting to evacuate the areas that were affected years ago during Hurricane Agnes.  Okay, that is Grandma.  I called the office where she lives and they said all residents need to be out by 8:00 PM.  Britt and I jumped in the car and went down and got Grandma and another one of the ladies that is close friend.  The air was full of excitement and fear.  We suceeded in getting our two ladies out.  Next was the drugstore so we had enough meds.  That done, we need to get back on the highway.  Looking at the traffic ahead, it was bumper to bumper.  It took a while to get out of town.  The traffic going into town was three lanes and bumper to bumper.  Glad I wasn't in that.  The road was clear all the way home.  Now we have the two ladies settled in for the duration.  We are now waiting for the river to crest and see what floods.  Oh by the way, it hasn't rained in three hours.  Hope this is the end of it.....

More rain!

Ok, can someone make the rain go away?  Do the "stop the rain" dance.  We have recieved 6 inches of rain in four days.  The creek is really high and expected to run over tomorrow.  We just went through this last week with all the rain and it is being repeated.  I'm tired of seeing no sun, just clouds and wet stuff falling down.  We surrender.  Don't give us any more.   Make the weather forcaster say sunshine.  Wait here he is, oh no, more rain to come!.....