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!......