Things have gone to hell in a handbasket

Where to start?
So much has happened in the last week or so that I want to just make a note here to help me keep track of it all.
First of all, I have two sisters. The oldest will be No. 1 and the other No. 2, I also have two brothers and I will identify them as bro.1 and bro. 2.

On the 8th the 3 of us sisters went together for No. 1's consultation after her testing and we were not surprised to find out that she had a malignant tumor in the abdomen. She has been sick along time and many tests, till she had this one which gave a confirmation. She was told that it is inoperable and that she would be terminal from it. It was decided that she would be put on hospice and she was to get her affairs in order. She is doing a very brave thing. She has done the paper work to donate her body to a medical school in Kansas City.

So we notified her 2 daughters and son, who all live in other states. Also bro. 1 lives in an eastern state. We did do a get-away trip, the 3 sisters to Branson Mo. as mentioned in the prev. post. That was the 13th. and 14th. On the 18th her "kids" arrived and were able to spend 2 days with her. On Fri PM the 19th within an hour after the last one left she got pretty sick and I went to her house and called the hospice nurse. We stayed till things were under control and felt she could rest. Sat. was so so for her, not great but not to bad. Bro. No 1 got here on Sat. Then Sun things got worse and hospice came in the morning, then later in evening a neighbor had to call them again and both of us sisters went too and it was really bad. The pain could not be relieved by any measures that the hospice nurse had so she called the Dr. and we got an ambulance called and took her to the hosp. This was around 9pm. Sis No 2 and I went up together and stayed while they did xrays, gave her "good" stuff to stop the pain and other drugs to try to get her BP down. Got her admitted after midnight. ER Dr. told us she was totally obstructed in her bowel and gave us a pretty poor prognosis. I had Sis #2 go home {she had just been in ER the night before for a bad UTI and really needed to be home in bed} I stayed the nite. Brothers and sis showed up next morning, Monday. Oncology Dr. made rounds and felt we could work on this and try to resolve at least temporary some problems. They gave suppositories, also started a med called lactulose thru her NG tube to help loosen the stool up on the upper side.

Now on Mon late afternoon her husband is in the room and shows her his finger. Find out that one of their little dogs had bitten him a couple days before and just broke the skin good. Well his finger was badly swollen and red streaks going up his arm. So he was to go to Urgent Care on his way home. About 7:30 sis no. 1 got a call from Urgent care, they were concerned about the husband as he was unsteady and was to go to the local hosp to be admitted for IV antibiotics. Sis no 1 had just gotten to sleep but she called me, I am closer to their house, Can't reach him on the phone, so I head out to his home and find him, a little bit confused and I take him to the hosp ER. {Oh, if you are still with me, it just gets better and better}

ER was slam full, {many folks use ER for their family medical needs} So I left him there with inst to have them call me if they don't admit him. Went home, exhausted, went to bed. Guess what? At 11PM the phone rang and I had trouble trying to figure out how to push the right button to answer it! ER said he was ready to be taken home!! My hubby said," stay in bed I will go get him and take him home." He had gotten a shot and sent home with a script. Grrrrrrrr why didn't Urgent care to that?? So I find out about this after I had gone to the hosp where Sis No1 is at 6 AM so I could be there when the Dr. came in. A niece had come in and Sis was doing much better this AM so I left to go help husband of No 1 with his script. I was afraid they had ordered some real expensive RX and there are many Walmart scrips that are only $4.00. So I get there and we decide he will go to his primary Dr. and then go get the scrip filled. Wellllll, he forgot to tell them he needed a 4$ scrip. I get a call, that his scrip is $60. So I tell him to let me call the Dr. and try to get another scrip. By this time I am here at my store.

So that is where we are at this moment. The brothers are headed to pick up the husband to go visit at the hospital and then pick up his scrip. I am crossing my fingers that they followed thru and got him an appropriate scrip. Finger still looked pretty bad this morning. Needs soaked I think but they didn't tell him to do anything, {he says}

Not sure if I left anything out. I probably need to go out to check on him this evening and make him soak his finger and put a dressing on it if the Dr. office didn't. Need to see what kind on instructions they gave him. {ER had sent home a nice pre printed instruction sheet on what to do for a dog bite and the signs and symptoms to watch for.} DUH! A little late for that info!

One more night's sleep and I will be A-OK Ready to face what ever is next.

Girls Gone Wild

This is what happens when you try to take your sisters to a respectable resort for a little sister get-away!!

We had a great time. Took in a show, Pierce Arrow. WOW!! They are awesome. Great music and a bunch of good looking guys to boot.

The comedian was very entertaining, kept us laughing too.

Then Sun AM we went down to the lake front to The Landing, and did a leisure stroll thru the area and had breakfast in old downtown Branson. Had rained 4 inches while we slept so the lake was up and we couldn't go on the walkway on the edge of the lake.

Having lots of family in this week to visit with Sister No. 1. I know she is looking forward to seeing her family.

Quote for the day: May you live all the days of your life. _ Jonathan Swift

Well, lets see: Got the window repaired in the pickup. Had forgotten that I didn't carry comprehensive on it as it is an older truck, so had to pay $193 out of pocket for the pleasure those boys had in knocking out the window. Hope they are real proud of themselves. Hubby thinks I should park out in the street about 1/2 block away from the store. But I decided I wouldn't be held hostage and feel I couldn't park right behind my store in plain site of all the folks that travel the alley and the local police dept just up the alley. So There!

Had a little scare Sat nite. We stayed out to the farm, been trying to do that a couple nites a week. Anyway, got a call at midnight on my cell. I figured it was the nursing home looking for some help. But it was my sister in law. She said her heart had been racing and skipping for over an hour and thought she should call an ambulance. We told her to unlock her door and sit on the couch till they got their and we were on our way. They kept her in ER for an hour or so and she had another short burst of this arrhythmia. Sent her home with some pills and to follow up with her cardiologist. So far no more incidence but at 83 you never know. We think that she over did it Sat. Was cleaning the window screens with the hose and a long handle brush. You think??
Of course that sounds like something I would do. We always think we can keep doing stuff that we shouldn't.

Thats it for now. Reading Memoirs of a Geisha, very good book if you get a chance to read it.

Waiting the the left over rain from Hurricane Gustov. Supposed to come in tonight and last a couple days. Sure have have had more rain than usual for this time of year. Grass will grow clear up till we get a hard freeze.

Thought for the day: Why do you have to "put your two cents in".... But it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going?

NOT AGAIN!!!!

Well here we go again. Small town crime hits us again. Notice anything unusual about our little farm truck?

Yea, the window is broken out. Happened Wed. I drive it to the store alot, saves having my better auto sit out in the hot sun all day. I park in the alley way behind my store. (The police dept. is just one block up the alley) I have 3 witnesses that saw 3 boys going up the alley with baseball bats just before someone came in and told me my window was broken out. The city cops got here right away and one went to find the boys and talk to them. Of course they didn't know ANYTHING about any broken windows. And no one saw them do it. So that is pretty much the end of it. All you have to do is deny that you did something and you won't be punished for your crime. Hmmmmm sounds like some of our politicians doesn't it. Maybe thats how they learn. Amazing that people think that being dishonest is an OK thing. Our little local police won't do anything. They are still "investigating". Isn't that a joke. It will just be paper work for them to file away. Just like the break in out at the farm in June.

Not much more news, Oh, we did trade in the big FJ Cruiser for a Subaru Outback. Much more practical for folks our age, we don't need big 4 wheel drive vehicles anymore, (if we ever did). Love the new car. I broke it in driving to my grand daughters wedding last Sat. in the rain all day! Well back to my weaving. Lets hope we have had our share of law incidence!

Thought for the day: Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom....

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

Can Do

Don't let someone tell you that you can't do something just because you are a female. I had 2 electronic items sitting that I thought were shot. Yesterday, I decided what the heck, they are going to get trashed anyway so I sat down and guess what. Both are fixed and work fine!
One was a VCR that we have packed around for several years with a movie stuck in it. Ended up buying a combo VCR/DVD unit that I like. Well I got the trusty screwdriver and opened the case up and got the mangled movie "Dances With Wolves" out and plugged it in, popped in an old movie I didn't care about and it worked just fine.
Second one was my printer/copier that I had for several years and a few months ago I put in a new ink cartridge (first time that I had one refilled by Walgreens for me) Thought I would save about 20$. Well I couldn't get it to stop printing test pages, then give me an error and do it again, over and over. Silly me, I just unplugged it and went out and got a nice new little HP printer/copier that is real cool, and it takes your camera chip and you can view your pictures on it or download to computer, only costs about 129$. Well I had an extra color cartridge for the old unit and decided what the heck I would change it too, and guess what. It printed the page to test and accepted it just fine. I didn't know that the color ink was out too, when I put in the new black one. I was blaming it on the black and figured it just was fowled up. So now I have an extra printer. Think I will take the new one home and put my old one back in the store for now.

I guess the moral of my long story is that sometimes we throw things out to quick and it sure can't hurt to tear in and try to fix them. (Just unplug them first)

Had tried to plan a little get away with hubby this last weekend, (Sun and Mon for me) And he blew it by saying he had to much to do, so I said well heck I guess I will show you and just stay home and clean house all day. Boy did I show him. Even shampooed some area rugs, filed 4 months of receipts, moved some furniture around. I was glad to come to work today!

Finally got our hay field cut (first cutting) at the farm. We had to cancel out with the neighbor who was getting it free but has had all summer to get it baled and haven't done it. You know sometimes enough is enough, you give and give and get kicked in the teeth, but that is a long story as it ties in with the gal that lived at the farm (she is friends with the neighbor) for 6 weeks and left us a mess with a break in and theft plus all the cleaning, mowing, and weeding we had to do to catch back up. Oh, did I mention that she cleaned out all my "stuff" from the house, you know towels, silver wear, cups, glasses, and such. I know it sounds petty when you think you are helping someone out, but I am so glad she is gone, oh, even left a garage can half full of beer cans. Anyway another older neighbor is baling it and we get firewood from him in exchange and the field will be clean. Maybe I will get a picture soon.

Boy I have really rambled on, Thought for the day: When somebody does you wrong, be actively angry with them. (from a little Be-Good-To-Yourself Therapy book.)

Ohhhh! A new Grandma!

Isn't she sweet? No not the grandma, the baby!

Still can't believe my little girl is a grandma. Little Miss Sweety Pie is a great baby. Sucking down that good breast milk and sleeping and pooping just like she is supposed to.

Had a great day visiting with daughter and all her girls. Grandma just can't stop smiling, actually giggling most of the time and with good reason, but I can't tell you. Did I mention Love is in the air? Well you didn't hear it from me!

Thought for the day: Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

A new baby girl!!

Will have pictures next week of our new baby girl. Born Wed PM. 7 lbs. 8 oz. Khole Marie. Quite possibly the red head that I predicted and wished for!! Yes that makes me a great grand mother, but what blows my mind is that my daughter is a grandmother. How can THAT be? Everything went well and from the picture I got on my cell phone, I think she looks like her Mama. I will be down to see her next week.

Now Being an old coot that I am, I have to use my space here to gripe, right? I have been going to a new chiropractor for 3 weeks, that's 9 visits, and he did a re-evaluation today. I filled out a question sheet and indicated that I felt no better, pain in back muscles still the same. The re exam lasted about 3 minutes, measured neck flexion and commented that it was better, then did my treatment. The shocker was when I checked out they charged me 44.00$ more for the exam!! What is wrong with this picture. Well I dumped on the gal at the desk, and let her know that I thought this young Dr. needed to learn to listen to his patients or they would not be back and I wasn't so sure I would be back. The fee for a re exam was totally out of line. After 9 vi sites I feel I should be better, is that so unreasonable? So I am going back for a massage treatment from the gal I went to last month, and just stew on this awhile. Don't know what to do, but don't want to just take meds for pain, and don't want to line the pockets of the chiropractor. I have tried to do everything they tell me, ice, exercises, and I go to the gym and am very active. Almost no pain during the day, just when I lay down or sit and lean back for more than a few minutes. Its in the muscles, many tender points and seems when I press the muscles against my ribs it triggers the pain? Is this fibromyalgia? And what is fibromyalgia? When you break the word down it means muscle pain. But I know there is alot more to it than that.

OK I am done. Got stuff to do.

Thought for the day: Time and trouble may tame a wild, YOUNG woman; A wild OLDER woman is uncontrollable by any force.

New Garden Spot

This is our little garden so far. Of course Molly had to get in the picture, she is checking out to make sure no squirrels have been nosing around. Have baby cucumbers setting on, they are climbing on the rack to the right and the one on the left is vining okra. I think you can click on it to make it larger.

The gal and her daughter moved out yesterday from the farm, so we are back to where we were the first of May. Hubby mowed the whole yard this week and now has alot of tree trimming. Guess we just thought we should have stayed away and not bothered her but that was a mistake. We still needed to be taking care of some of the stuff. Oh, well we will get it all straightened out. Think it will actually be better to have it empty again. We will probably go out and stay once in awhile. I have alot of weeding to do in the flower beds. I was waiting for her to leave as she had a puppy and I was afraid he would be to much help with the weeding.

We listed the farm with a different agent this week and lowered the price a little so hope that will help.

Oriented my new "employee" yesterday. I think she will be just fine here. She will run the store for me on Thursdays. That is usually the slowest day of the week. I will only be a phone call away so she can reach me. She was excited to have something to do and has all the books she can read. She is another old Iowa gal, so we have alot in common. Might even take her with me on my next trip up there.

Thought for the day: Never argue with an idiot, they will bring you down to their level and beat you.

Smile, it will all work out

This is our little utility shed in the back yard. We are starting to enjoy our yard now. It was a big open yard when we moved in last winter. Now we have this, plus some flowerbeds and a garden we made with railroad ties. I will take a current picture soon of it. We have tomatoes big as golf balls and tiny cucumbers setting on.

We are listing our little farm with a different agent today. I think the gal that's been living there since the tornado is moving out. Looks like she got a double wide and put it on the same site. We still haven't found out what the remote from the air conditioner will cost. I mentioned in the last post about the break in. Spent Sunday, 3 of us installing a new door. Well Brother did most of it, but took all 3 of us to get it set. Been out twice to paint the trim. And the flower beds are all full of weeds, but hate to pull to many till she moves, as she has a pup that will try to help me and it will be worse than having weeds.

Worked Sat pm and Mon. days at the nursing home. Surprise! I think I like it. Sad to say I went in with the attitude of just getting thru it and making some extra income. Give me 20 lashes!! But I did all the treatments Mon on my own.(that's how I work best anyway) and I enjoyed it and enjoyed the patients. So think this will be a good thing. I have an older customer who is going to train with me here at the store and I will be letting her work at least one day a week here for me. Cool, I will have one employee! She knows the pay will be poor but she gets to read all the books she wants for free, and she was excited to have something to do. She says she gets so bored. So it is a win/win.

Thought for the day: Kindness makes you feel better inside, it makes you smile. When you smile you use more muscles, which helps to prevent wrinkles. It all works together!

DAMN THEIVES

I hope there is a special place in Hell for anyone who would steal from someone who has just gone thru a disaster and lost everything of value! Yesterday someone KICKED in the back door of our little farm house. I have mentioned before that we are letting a single mother and her daughter live there after the tornado on May 10th wiped her out. The house is full of hand me downs that have been donated to her. Last week a friend bought her a new stereo unit. The first new thing that she has that is really hers. She got home from work and found the back door kicked in and the stereo gone along with several speakers that came with it. They also broke a couple glass framed pictures just for fun. We went to Lowes this morning and got a new door to install and I called to tell her we would be out tomorrow to install it she said, "more bad news, they stole the remote control to our new air conditioner unit" (That we just had installed last summer) Guess it was laying on the table with the remote to the stereo so they grabbed both of them. Don't know what that will cost to replace.

Called the county sheriff Dept. and they came out and wrote up a report. That's all they will or can do. It had to be someone pretty stout to stand on a lower level in the mud room and kick uphill. One muddy boot print on the steel door.

I just checked with our insurance agent last week to let him know that someone was living at the house and he said that was good. It is not good to have a house sitting empty. I doubt they would have broken in if it was empty. Almost looks like they knew what they wanted, as there was other stuff that could have been taken easily.

Our listing on the house expired last week so we are going with another agent. Sure be glad when it is sold!!!

So that's my sad note for today. Working (after work at the store) this evening at the nursing home. Still getting some orientation time.

Thought for the day: Everything works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, its not the end.- Unknown

Life is Good

Yea!! I sold 6 rugs this week. Boy I am going to have to get busy now. Business has been pretty slow this past month in my little book store kingdom. But seems to be picking up this week. Maybe with gas so high, folks are looking to shopping local. Dang they should be doing that anyway. I see a little hamburger joint opened up the road but have already heard bad stuff, like greasy fries. They probably won't be there long. It is funny, the building has been many different things over the years. Back in about 1975 or so when I lived here with hubby no. 1, he managed a feed store in that building. Its been a restaurant several times, second hand store and for the last couple years a day care center. We really don't need another hamburger place in this little town. Have 3 other restaurants that are struggling to keep business going.

Well here is a pic. of my denim rug that I plan to put on my e-bay store.

More rain storms came thru this week but nothing damaging in our area. Garden is growing, have little tomatoes set on and the cucumbers are starting to climb up their wire. Will do a pic soon to post.

Headed to Ar. tomorrow to spend some time with Daughter and Girls. Looking forward to seeing them and patting a certain tummy. Yeah, I am going to be a great grandma soon. Probably the youngest one ever!! Supposed to be a little girl, and I hope she has bright red curls!!

Thought for the day: No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.

Still finding time to read

Just finished a good book. Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende. It is a historical novel, seems that's what I read any more. The setting starts in Chile, 1843 and follows this girl into adulthood and her journey to find her sweetheart who went to the gold rush in Ca. A great way to learn some history that is not found in the history books and get a feel for what life was like back then.

Have started another one that is a sort of mystery that jumps back and forth from the present to the 11th century and linking these 2 women together to reveal a secret. The title is Labyrinth by Kate Mosse.

I am sure I will get off on some other subject soon. I have a couple of Deepok Chopra's newer books, but have to read them in bits and pieces and then read it again. The Third Jesus is very interesting and I think he has some real insight that we can all learn from without taking anything away from what you may already believe. That is what I like about him. He is not trying to browbeat anyone into accepting his beliefs. Just opening the door to make us think for ourselves and follow our own journey.

Had my first massage therapy session yesterday. I can tell you it won't be my last. Have been having alot of trouble with the muscles across my back and shoulders and neck. I am fine all day and can work in the yard and at the gym but when I lay down in bed it starts hurting and really messes up my sleep. Have tried the chiropractor and no change. I followed my gut feeling (something we need to do more often) and felt I needed the muscles worked on, not my spine. So we will see. I know that it made it worse for last nite I slept very little after 2 AM. So I am hoping that a couple sessions will loosen up the muscles and get the knots and tightness out of them.

Thought for the day: "Spirituality isn't something I believe in. It is what and who I am: a spiritual being having a human experience, as the French philosopher and priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin profoundly said."

Guess we will just have to walk!

Gas just went up 20 cents per gal. in the last 2 days!!! That makes it 3.79 in our little community. How can they do that? It is crimminal! Of course it has nothing to do with Memorial Day Weekend, right. We are so stupid if we believe that. Of course IF it goes down it will be by 2 or 3 cents at a time and we will be so grateful.

I have no thought for the day, I am just MAD.

Girls with beer bellies

Did you ever post something that you regretted later. That was what I had done with this post, so now I am deleting it and leaving this apology. I think I was a little judgemental and could have been hurtful to some folks, even if I don't know you I have no right to do that. So there you have it. My first retraction.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Its off to work I go!

Well I did it. I broke down and applied for a job, (only the "partest" time job I could get) I really don't want to work. (beats fist on table) But business has been so slow at the book store I just felt I needed to dust off my nursing skills and pick up a little work. Actually I am looking forward to getting back in the swing of things. I will be working one shift a week at a place called Health and Rehab. It is a skilled nursing facility. I put my application in Mon. and did the pee test, and they called me on Wed to ask when I wanted to come in and get orientation started. So there you have it.

Things are going well with the gal that moved in out to our little farm. We have been getting the rest of our stuff out of the garage. I was out there this morning and it was so sad to see her stuff piled up, all covered with mud and so much has something broken. Bless her heart, she was happy to have her two old rockers, just need to do some gluing and cleaning. It is strange to see what got ruined and some fragile things like ceramic birdhouses not a chip. She is in love with the place and really wants to buy it, so I hope when the dust settles she can do just that. Maybe this was meant to be. She is getting the electricity switched to her name today. Maybe if she can buy it, I can negotiate with the agent and say, hey I found my buyer, can you come down on your commission?? Seems fair to me. When we sold our house in Nv. we found our own buyer and the agent got all the commission. I thought that was stinking. Boy I bet those folks are sorry they bought that place, it was when the market was high and now I know it is worth alot less than they paid for! So glad we got out when we did. Nevada is one of the states that has had the most foreclosures.

Thought for the day:Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up.

Tornado! Wow, where to start?

Saturday's big tornado in SW Mo was too close. It is true what they say. It sounds like a train coming.
There are many stories and there are 14 dead in our county so far. More when you count the ones in Oklahoma. So my story is pretty insignificant, but to say I am here and unharmed and family is OK. But here it is.

We were having a family gathering at my Brother's house for our oldest brother who came in from NC. I have 2 sisters in the area also. We were seeing the sky looking bad and knew we were in for a storm. So both sisters headed home. One a few blocks away and the other about 12 miles. Just after they left the sirens started, so we 4 that were left at the house started watching the sky. Suddenly we heard the train sound and the lights went out. We crowded in the bathroom with the dogs in arms. (one was hiding under the bed) In a few min. we peaked out and the sky was real bright. Found some huge hail balls in the yard. And started hearing all kinds of police and ambulance sirens. I went home about 10 miles to the so. and was shocked by what I saw. I will post a couple pictures here but it is just the tip. Seems the tornado came out of Oklahoma, and made a path across country and hit the west and south side of our little town and then kept going. Many houses lost. Haven't heard a count yet.

We have one family that we heard their story and our old neighbor from out to our farm is a very good friend of this gal, Debbie is a single mom with a 7 year old daughter. She, her daughter, her boyfriend, and the Old neighbor with her 2 kids were in Debbie's trailer house so of town when it hit. They tried to get out and it was to late, the boyfriend was sucked thru a glass door and cut real bad. The rest were all thrown out on the deck and as the trailer began to twist apart, they were all, and I repeat ALL thrown into a huge hole where just a few min before a big tree had stood. Then the trailer house rolled over the top of them!! I still get chills just thinking about it. Debbie said she just knew she was going to die. The boyfriend spent a couple days in ICU and is home now to recuperate.

You know how when you hear about a disaster you always wish you could do something to help. Well we decided that we have a house sitting empty waiting to sell out to our little 20 acre farm, which is on the north side of town. So we offered it to Debbie to live in for awhile. It sure won't hurt us any and will give her some time to get things figured out. She has a couple of horses and they are OK and will be put in the pasture. I just feel grateful to be able to do something that will help someone.

So that is it for now from SW Missouri. My heart goes out to everyone who is suffering from their losses. There was 2 families who lost multiple lives. One was husb, wife, and 2 kids that the house fell in on them. And another that had 3 family members. We saw on the news this morning that a 21 year old firefighter died in the hospital yesterday from injuries. We was spotting the tornado and getting warnings out to help others.

IF you are safe and sound, count your blessings. We have many!!

Better think before you spend that IRS rebate check!

Folks, here is what will happen to your money:
If we spend the money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.
If we spend it on gasoline, it will go to the Arabs.
If we purchase a computer, it will go to India.
If we purchase fruits and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala.
If we purchase a good car, it will go to Japan.
If we purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan.

None of which will help the American Economy.
We need to keep that money here in America.
The only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it at yard sales, since those are the only businesses left in the U.S. where the money still stays in America.

Beer is cheaper than Gas??

Someone sent this to me in an e-mail. Made me remember the local gas station that quit posting its price. His sign just says Gas is High, Beer is Cheap. I laughed about it then asked my husband what would a gallon of beer cost and realized we could put beer in the gas tank cheaper! Now there is a thought.

Had a beautiful 2 days off. Built planter boxes, yes that was me out with the power saw and hammer. I am sort of handy that way. Makes me real proud of the results. Only needed help with the landscape timbers that I used across the front of one of the boxes, hubby had to fire up the chain saw to make my cuts for me. But used recycled redwood fencing boards for the rest. We have a recycle place locally that we can get a good soil mix real cheap. I think I mentioned it before. And we got several huge bags of Miracle Grow potting soil for 2$ a bag. They had been damaged and have tape over the ends. Who cares. They sell for around 15$ a bag in the store. Still having fun feeding the orioles. Have a nephew who is a photographer who wants to come over and stake out a spot to get some pictures. I figure we can take the screen off the window and open it up and he can sit in the kitchen real quiet and they will come right up on the porch rail. Should make him bring his own oranges!!

Thought for the day: The 20% rule, You only wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time. I think that is true!

Orioles eating us out of house and home!

This isn't a very good pic. but hope to get better ones this weekend. I put a bowl with a chunk of orange on the railing of the back porch this morning and had 5 fighting over it plus at least 4 more in the tree and on the grape jelly. I don't mind the cheaper grape jelly but hey, these oranges are a little expensive. But they are sure pretty birds. I will try to get a short video of them if I can.

My thought for the day came from a friend in Ia. He told me about this message on a tombstone he saw years ago in Texas. Read it slowly and think about it. The poor guy must have suffered alot in his life:

For all the happiness mankind can gain

Its not from joy or pleasure

But relief from pain

How can I find time to read?

Well its not easy, but seems I am in the mode to read stuff about the 11th century. I had reported on reading The Other Boleyn Girl. Now I am into another book from that era. It is The Pillars of The Earth, by Ken Follett. I have had so many customers tell me it was the best book they ever read. Sooo I am into it now. The next one that I have read a few pages of that looks good is one of Oprah's book club books, Daughter of Fortune, by Isabel Allende. It has a setting in Chile in 1849.

Seems as you get older you just can't find time to do everything you want to do. The days seem to go by so fast. Guess we need to make the best of each day and fill it with everything we can.

Thought for the day: Life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer to the end the faster it goes!

We've Gone to the Birds!

Beautiful weekend, lots of yard work, and sore muscles! We are developing quite a bird sanctuary in our back yard. We have 4 different kinds of woodpeckers. The most gorgeous one is in this picture. It is the Red Headed Woodpecker. We have seen at least 2 of them. This view is from his back, he came up to the little pan that we put birdseed in, on the porch railing.

The other pic is of the Red Head on the ground with some doves.

Then we spotted hummingbirds so got a feeder out for them. Well these Orioles showed up. As near as we can count there are 5 males and one female. They were trying to hang onto the hummingbird feeder to drink, so we found our oriole feeder and put it out. Then we thought that there were so many of them and they were hanging around, we put some jelly out in a bowel on the railing of our little porch on the utility building. Then we put a bowel with some oranges pieces out. Well they just hop from one to the other and slurp up the jelly. Not sure but think the strawberry is winning out over the grape! I will get some pictures of them soon. Have to sit out in a chair quietly and wait for them.

Plus there are lots of blue jays, robins, gold finch, and then in the evening the doves and cowbirds come in. We may have to take out a loan to buy bird feed. This is almost as bad as all the quail we fed when we lived in Nevada. There was a flock of over 100 that swarmed the back yard every day to get their share from us.

Thought for the day: Put yourself first. You can't be anything for anybody else unless you take care of yourself.

Rugs for Sale!!

OK I am ready to sell some rugs.

Got 3 more in. of rain last nite, lots of lightning. Scared dog had to sleep huddled next to my legs. Sort of hard to sleep with a big dog quaking and shaking. We got 4 in just a few days ago. sure making the grass grow. And the trees are leafing out so nice. Glad when they get fully leafed out, Then the neighbors can't see me sitting on the back porch in my nighty.

Any one wants to buy a rug, leave me your e-mail address. I will prob list some on e-bay in my e-store. Want to get restrung this week and make a batch of table runners and placemats.

Thought for the day: When governments fear the people there is liberty, when people fear the government there is tyranny: Thomas Jefferson

Now where was I?

Been busy and seems the busier you are the less you can think of to write. Now that doesn't make much sense. So lets see. I have joined the YMCA. That was a good thing. Did the pool exercise Mon. They sure have a nice pool. Was going today to use the weights but it was such a beautiful morning I just headed into town where my store is and did my walk thing. My sister calls me a street walker!! But there are alot of hills and it really does make a good walk and if I take different streets I get to be barked at by different dogs! The weather is warming up though and they gym will be alot nicer to workout in, as it gets pretty hot to be walking after 9 AM.

Been weaving rugs, Got a cute green plastic tub to put them in for selling.

Spent my "weekend" off working on our garden space, will take a pic later. It is Railroad ties stacked 2 high. We had alot of ground up tree stumps rotting down all winter and then hubby hauled a couple pickup loads of this great soil from a recycle place. It is part potting soil, manure, and top soil. Only costs 10$ for a big front end loader scoop. I think we got 3 scoops in all and will make great garden soil. Then got my wave petunias planted. Sun did a book sale in the driveway to get rid of some excess books, then hauled the rest, about 20 boxes, to a guy for this little auction that he does weekly. I don't care what I get, just want to be rid of them. They are the left overs from the 3,000 books I bought last fall from the flea market booth that was going out of business.

A week ago went down to Ar. to see my daughter and grand daughters. Was a good trip. The twins will be 15 later this mo. and the oldest (19 year old) one is going to be a mama this summer. Soooooooo I guess that will make me the youngest great grandmother in history!! Can't believe it. Gee, I can't believe my daughter will be a grandma! Well on that note, I best get busy here and do something productive.

Food for Thought:
"You don't need organized religion to connect with the universe. Often a church is the only place you can go to find peace and quiet... But it shouldn't be confused with connecting with one's spirit." -- Alice Walker

Meet my Baby!

Well there it sits on it's new throne. Ain't she perty? I am all ready to start. I will try to add another picture of the favorite rug that I made. If you click on the picture you can get a bigger one to see better.

Oh, I need to correct something that I posted earlier. I did not go to Ia. to learn to loom! I learned to weave! I guess thats like saying I am going to car, when I mean drive. Laugh is on me.

I had a great vacation. I highly recommend including learning something new on your vacation. Makes it so much more memorable. Of course all the midnight chats and gallons of coffee that I was "forced" to drink only added to the frivolity. I took alot of pictures of the little town of Bentonsport. Found out that there are about 50 residents there now. Not sure how many during its hay day back in the late 1800's. It was a thriving river town with a mill and many industries. Most of the homes left are the old 2 story brick homes built at that time. Will add some of those next time. Lots of history there including a little of my own. As I lived for a short time in one of the little buildings on main street when I was about 8 years old. It was always called Dolly's House, ( I think Dolly was a naughty lady) Anyway it was just one room down stairs and one upstairs. It was moved a few years ago and is now a little shop that is open in the summer. The old bridge was converted to a walking bridge a number of years ago, I great part due to the efforts of my friends there. They saved it from being torn down to put the new bridge in. Now the new bridge is down stream a little and makes the entrance into town seem strange. I have walked across that old bridge many many times. It was a one way bridge, which meant that if you drove up the approach and another car was coming you had to back up to let them cross first. See later on when I was about 14, I lived in a house on the other side of the river. We are talking about the Des Moines River.

Thought for the day: Be willing to learn from your friends and family.

Whats it worth?

Total 943 miles driven.

Gas for trip $137.75.

Store closed 1 week. Lost Revenue ###$.

Price of used loom ###$.

Time spent with old friend and learning new skills, PRICELESS!!

Wish you were here!

Having a great time. I am still in Iowa and just have to share my "stuff" so far. Trip so far:

Saw a sign on a rural building, "Chop Shop, Custom Butchering."

Knew I was close to Ia. when I started noticing folks doing the little "wave." That's where you just lift your hand or a few fingers from the steering wheel to acknowledge the oncoming driver. Its an Iowa thing.

Was able to find the old "home place", well the place I lived for about 4 years at one time growing up. Haven't been past there for many years. Only thing left to recognize is a huge pine tree in the front yard and the old barn, oh and the 2 ponds. Amish have bought it now and there is a huge white house on both sides of the road. I stalked them a little and took a few pictures from up the road.

Met up with my sister in law yesterday and we took a little trip up thru farm country to a town named Kalona so I could get some cheese curds to take home. It is a huge cheese factory, and if you have never had fresh cheese curds, I just can't explain them to you. But they are the fresh product in the production of cheeses, and the squeek on your teeth. Wonderful.

I am getting the knack of weaving. Love it. The biggest job was to learn how to string up the loom. But I have the best teacher and if I make a mistake, I am sure its because we are yakking too much. Don't get to bed till almost midnight. Weather has been great, cool, but mostly sunny. Have taken alot of pictures around this little town. I will put some links up later to direct you to this little county that boasts either one or no stop light in the county. Look up Villages of Van Buren County and you can find it. I am in Bentonsport. Now that's all the info I can give out to protect the innocent, ya know? I will post pictures when I get back to my computer

Oh, the boss is getting up, so I have to get out of here and get busy, {she is a slave driver} but don't tell her I said so.

Thought for the day: If you have a price to pay, the sooner you pay it, the less it costs you. (those words of wisdom, fresh from the mouth of the "boss" as she came out of the bedroom!

PS Hi to my sis in Mo. that reads my blog. And to her and to my friend Jan, send me an e-mail and I will pick it up from here and can send a reply. I didn't bring any e-mail addresses with me.

Leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again!

Actually I am driving. Headed out Sat on some alone time for 8 or 9 days! Well sort of alone. Headed to Ia. to spend time visiting old friends and some family, too. But mostly to stay with my "girlhood" friend and learn how to loom rugs. Yea, thats right, never know when that skill may come in handy. Been wanting to do this for years when I was up there last spring I found that she has a table top size loom and I told her that was just the right size for me, to hold onto it and I would be up. Promise to bring back some pictures. There is a long story here so maybe someday I will write it.

Just finished a very good book. If you want a really good read, pick up The Other Boleyn Girl! By Phillippa Gregory. Learn a little history too, The setting is in the 1500's. Women we have come along way, let me tell you. I know there is a movie, is it here yet? I never know when I see one advertised if its here or coming soon, as I rarely go to movies. I did see a movie for TV coming in April that is from the book I read last month, so hope I remember to watch it or tape it. The Memory Keepers Daughter. It was a good book so I look forward to seeing what they did to make it a movie.

Well got lists to make and them I am hitting the road. Now do I want peace and quiet or CD's to listen to, hmmmmmmmmmm?

Thought for the day: Whatever we Think about, Thank about, We bring about!

I love "Bare" jokes!

Gotcha! But I really do love bear jokes. These are my favorites. Another favorite is the campers in a tent, and a bear is reaching under the edge feeling around with his paw, and the Lady says,"George, cut that out." Well there is my humor for this Friday foggy day.


Thought for the day: Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says "Dam!"

I Am Getting All Techy!!

My horoscope for today. Pretty cool!

Your creativity will really be luminous today, and your mind will be drawn to light. If you can, get up extra early and watch the sunrise. You will see the world in a way you never saw it before, and who knows? You might realize that you are a morning person after all!

I just updated my Yahoo page and have all this personal stuff on it now for my home page, like local tv listings for the day, movies at local theaters, weather, and even Garfield. Now I am trying to figure out how to transfer all my favorites over so that they are not just stored on my computer. I live in a fear that the computer will crash around my ears one day and all the neat sites and files I save will go with it. My computer Geek tells me I should be storing everything off site. So maybe I will get that figured out one of these days. Baby steps!!

Got my new little mp3 player set up yesterday and loaded most of my music that I had stored on My Music onto it. Worked real well. Amazing to have something so tiny hold so much info, plus its an FM radio, can download audio books to listen to. I know I am way behind alot of folks here but hey, I am traveling at my own pace and it feels good.

On the Up side,weather is awesome, sun shining, clear, and going to be up in the 70's today. On the down side, gas is too high! Yikes over 3$ and going up everyday. Guess we all need to really think before we get behind the wheel!!

Thought for the day: Once you get people laughing, they're listening and you can tell them almost anything". :)

Amor fati (Love what is)

I swiped that from a book that I just finished and feel the need to put my thoughts down about it. The title is: Drinking the Rain, by Alix Kates Shulman. Printed in 1995, it covers 10 years of her life from age 50 to 60. In her younger years she was very active in teaching, writing, and marching for women's rights. At age 50 she feels the need to have some solitude to really learn more about herself, so she goes to spend the summer totally alone in a cabin at the end of an island off Maine. She ends up pretty much living off the land, and learns all the bounty that the sea and island has to offer. She returns year after year. She opens her eyes to see the beauty in living so simple and close to the earth and it changes her and how she views everything.

I reallly enjoyed the book and found it really not so mysterious why I chose it to read. Actually I have a stack of books that I plan to read and this one was pulled out randomly and when I started it was amazing how it tied in with what I have been thinking and feeling myself. It seems everywhere I turn I see these "signs" that are directing me. I have been reading Depok Chopra for some time and just finished one of his books and am anxious to get his new one, and am now reading Ekart Tolle's book, The New Earth. Some will scoff at this as nonsense but one of the statements in the beginning of the book, if you are not already becoming "awake" just put the book down and don't waste you time or money. You have to be ready to be awakened and truly See. And I think that is what this book Drinking the Rain was about. And the Amor fati, was a quote from the book.

So I stop with that thought "Love what is" Couldn't that just change your whole perspective on life. And as Ekart says, "Accept what is< then action can follow"

Thought for the day: "Happiness is not something ready made...It comes from your own actions."---Dalai Lama

Zumba! Me???

Oh, I can't believe I got talked into this! A friend came by yesterday and asked if I wanted to go to an exercise class that one of the Joplin hospitals is sponsoring 2 nites a week. Another friend was going with her and they are both a few years older than me, so I thought "What the heck, I will give it a try." Well if you don't know what Zumba is, look it up in google!! Its a little Merengue, Salsa, and Samba. Oh, my!

But what a HOT instructor. 6 pack abs, tanned. A mother of a 12 year old! She was amazing. If I can make my butt move 1/10th of the action she has going I will be thrilled. I was really pooped about 10 min. from the end, so was basically down to just stepping in place by that time, boy what a slug. And here I am so proud of the fact that I have hardly missed a day on my tread mill since Jan 1. Maybe I should put down my book and increase my speed a little!

So a little IBU and I will give it another try tomorrow nite. Wish we had more than one day to recup..

Thought for the day: If swimming is so good for your figure, how do you explain whales?

You know someone is getting old when you see cars zipping by your intersection at 30 miles an hr. and you hear, "Damn, they sure drive fast thru here!"

Well that is what I have heard, not that I think its true, yet.

Doing OK, dropped off papers to have taxes done. Had a tooth filling replaced. Hated to have it done when nothing hurt. But it was loose on the edge last cleaning and again this time, so I gave in and had it redone. They use a nice white filling now. Sort of wish I had asked to have the other fillings replaced in that area while I was numb. Wonder if he would have done that?

Got a taste of spring again, Sat. and Sun. Up in the 70's, then a blast in the bloomers with a cold rain and down in the 20's and 30's again Mon. But we are lucky as the bad weather went south and north of us.

Had to replace my printer, so got a new HP Photosmart all-in-one. Wow. What a deal. For 88$ plus tax, I got a neat little machine that scans, copies, prints. Plus has ports to plug dig. camera card in and view pictures on a little screen and print photos. Big bonus, the ink refills are about half the cost of my old machine. What a deal. Sort of makes me glad the old one bid the dust.

Been reading Echart Tolle's book "The New Earth" Me and about a million other people. Going to log onto Oprah's site and view the big webcast that they did last nite.

Did I mention I am planning a week long get away for later in the mo. or the first of April? Going to Iowa to visit a friend and learn to loom rugs. She has a small table top loom she is selling me and has promised if I come up she will teach me how to use it. Sounds like fun, besides I can get my Iowa FIX. Visit some old friends and maybe even find some really alone time.

Thought for the day: A man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them......Mark Twain

Stealing ideas again!

I stole this idea from another blogger, but sorry, I don't know how to link to the site that I got the songs from. :)
The idea is to type in a date of importance to you and you get the no.1 song of that day. Some is interesting. Here is my "hit" list.

Date of my birth: The Old Lamp Lighter; by Sammy Kaye

Date of first marriage: hard Day's Night; by The Beatles

Date of Son's birth: Monday, Monday; by the Mama's and Papa's

Date of daughters birth: We Can Work IT Out: by the Beatles

Date started nursing school: Tie a Yellow Ribbon Around Ole Oak Tree: by Dawn

Date seperated from first husband: I'm Leaving it Up to You: by Dale and Grace

Date met 2nd husband: Rise: by Herb Alpert

Date Married second husband: Family Affair: by Sly and Family Stone

So there you are. I thought it was sort of fun. Geeze, I must have too much time on my hands.

Oh, also decided I want to add to each post a little Food for Thought at the end. (so get used to it, O.K.?)

Food for Thought: The more you complain, the longer God makes you wait.

Fairy Tale

This is the fairy tale that should have been read to us girls when we were little:Once upon a time ~~~~~~~~in a land far away,~~~~~~~~a beautiful, independent,self-assured princess~~~~~~~~happened upon a frog as she satcontemplating ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pondin a verdant meadow near her castle.~~~~~~~~The frog hopped into the princess' lapand said: " Elegant Lady,I was once a handsome prince,until an evil witch cast a spell upon me.~~~~~~~~One kiss from you, however,and I will turn backinto the dapper, young prince that I am~~~~~~~~and then, my sweet, we can marry~~~~~~~~and set up housekeeping in your castle~~~~~~~~with my mother,~~~~~~~~where you can prepare my meals,~~~~~~~~clean my clothes, bear my children,~~~~~~~~and forever feel grateful and happy doing so. "~~~~~~~~That night,~~~~~~~~as the princess dined sumptuously~~~~~~~~on lightly sauteed frog legs~~~~~~~~seasoned in a white wine ~~~~~~~and onion cream sauce,~~~~~~~~she chuckled and thought to herself:~~~~~~~~I don't think so.

Classics??

I am looking for some help out there. I know you are there, I see you lerking around. :)
I am wanting to read the "Classics". I know I have missed out on alot of them over the years and since I didn't take regular college courses I didn't have to read them there. I am trying to compile a list of what would be consider "Must" reads. I have pulled some from my book shelves to start a list. Any input from folks who read me would be appreciated. Tell me what your most Favorite book is. I really don't want to read Shakespear but maybe Mark Twain, Pearl S Buck, and who else? Will look forward to some feedback.

Why do little boys whine?

They are practicing to be men!


Saw 3 pair of Canadian geese on a pond this morning getting ready to make woo-woo. Guess its that time of the year, so they can nest and hatch those early spring babies. So spring is a coming, just hold on. Last week went from a 73 one day for a high to a 40 for a high, so guess it is practicing.

Someone sent me a cute little joke about a little 1 1/2 year old girl who was playing with her tea set and kept bringing her Daddy a cup of "tea" to drink (water) and he would drink it and she would do it again and again, Finally the wife came in and Daddy said watch this, isn't this cute? And the toddler brought another cup of tea. Finally the wife said, "you know the only water in the house that the baby can reach is the toilet" :0)

Had the farm shown again this week, I did make a little wish on that leprechon that was going around on e-mails. You know if you forward it to 10 people your wish will come true in 2 weeks. Well a few days left. LOL

OK enough silliness for one day. I feel good except for the back tweak that I got pulling my boot on the other day. Its the little things that get you down isn't it?

How do you keep your husband from reading your e-mail?

Rename the mail folder "Instruction Manual."


Hey I have a terrific chili receipt to share, Have made it twice now and it is really GOOD!

It is Bush's Best Three Bean Chili: Makes a really big pot of chili, but I freeze the extra.

2 cans Kidney Beans
2 cans Pinto Beans
2 cans Black Beans
2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 small yellow onion, chopped. (I use a large one)
1 small green pepper, chopped
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes
3 tsp. chili powder (I use 4 to 5)
1 1/2 tsp. salt (I omit this)
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1/2 tsp. cumin ( I use 1 tsp, as I really like cumin)
1 can (6oz) tomato paste
I add 1 lg. can of tomato sauce, because it is so thick
Cook beef, onion and green pepper til meat is browned. Drain excess grease. Ad all the rest and let simmer for 20 min. ( I like to simmer for like an hour at least) Also I used our ground elk meat and it is great.

So there is my cold weather idea. Nothing like a nice bowl of chili, served with sour cream, or I like grated cheddar cheese, and hubby likes diced green onions on his.

Oh, and today is my birthday, just thought I would mention that :0)

Bhagavad Gita, one more post

Just want to document my findings about the book I mentioned in my last post. I looked in my library of books at home and found this one big book I bought years ago when I joined a book club, but honestly have never looked at it. It is called Great Thinkers of The Eastern World. So I went to the section on India and found this: Bhagavad Gita, written between the fifth and first centuries B. C. Type of work: Religious epic, metaphysics, ethics. I quote:" It means "The Song Sung by the Lord", It is one of the great religious classics of the world. It is perhaps the earliest attempt by man to arrive at a comprehensive view of existence. The poem consists of 700 verses divided into eighteen chapters. The Gita is a dialogue between Krishna, an incarnation of God, and Arjuna, a warrior. According to Indian tradition, the Gita embodies the essence of the most sacred Hindu scriptures, the Vedas." Very interesting reading, I won't go into it any more here. Anyone interested will be doing their own research.

As my friend says, "We each have our own path to follow"

Just call me weird !

I know I have mentioned in the past how I find it interesting to notice coincidences or synchronicity in my life. ( I have just recently learned that they are similar but different too)
Anyway I try to read (would love to call it study) what I call metaphysical "stuff" for want of a better word. It is rather diverse, from Deepak Chopra to Ramtha, to Whitley Strieber, to Sylvia Brown, to quantum physicis. Ha, would love to say I know alot about all this stuff, but I really don't. I just keep an open mind and deep in my own being I know there is so much more out there that we just can't quite wrap our minds around at this stage. At least most of us can't. All we can do is continue to struggle with what feels right and keep learning. Man has been around this world alot more than the past 2,000 years and I just have a hard time buying into the Organization that modern religion has become. There I said it! That certainly doesn't make me an atheist, on the contrary, it actually makes me believe more firmly in a God. So rather than go off on all that, what I really meant to write about was this coincidence that happened to me.

I list books on e-bay to sell. I try to list the unusual stuff that I don't think will sell in my store and I had taken a photo of this one book several weeks ago, but kept putting it back in the stack.
Yesterday I was reading Deepak's blog site, which I highly recommend.(I think it is: choprablog.com) Anyway there was mention of this book, of the ancient Vedic culture of India. ( I know folks will think I have gone off the deep end here) But hear me out. This morning I was pulling a stack of books to put on e-bay and there was this book, I had forgotten about it and at the time I put it in the stack I had no idea what it was, just that it was a little strange. Well there it was in my hands, Bhagaqvad-Gita, The name of the book that I just read about yesterday and even looked up on the internet to find a site about it. Will leave that site later. Now as I read the back of the cover I find this quote from Henry David Thoreau: "In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad-Gita, in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seem puny and trivial." And from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "I owed a magnificent day to Bhagavad-Gita. It was the first of books; it was as if an empire spoke to us, nothing small or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voice of an old intelligence which in another age and climate had pondered and thus disposed of the same questions which exercise us." One theologian, wrote"reminder that our one-sided culture is faced with a crisis that may end in self-destruction because it lacks the inner depth of an authentic metaphysical consciousness.

Amazing, well at least I think so. So I will try to read some of it. Seems it consists of 700 "verses" that are to define a guide to the science of self-realization. Well when you see me levitating around my bedroom you will know I have reached my self-realization!! Just kidding, I do take this stuff serious and know that there is just so much more that we need to learn and do in our lifetimes here on earth. When I come back I want to be one more step up the ladder!!

PS Later same day: Just had a strange and real neat experience that related to this post so had to add this. A (like-thinking) friend came by this afternoon and gave me a tape to listen to and guess who it is about??? Ralph Waldo Emerson!! Honest. Now what are the odds here? Something is telling me to listen up, don't you think?? Maybe he is who I am to be drawn to and not this Hindu fellow. Well food for thought.

What the heck is the Book Lady reading now?

Guess I haven't written about what books I am reading, maybe I should do this more often so I don't forget. You know my Recaller is not as sharp as my Forgetter any more!

1. Just finished Some-Where in Time by Richard Matheson. That is the one that Christopher Reeves starred in. I ended up going on line and ordering the movie. I know I have seen it along time ago, but just wanted it. I had read his other book What Dreams May Come not to long ago. These are different type love stories, as they take on a rather supernatural aspect to them.

2. Have read 2 of Kaye Gibbons books: A Virtuous Woman, and Ellen Foster. Both very good books.

3. The Extra Man: by Jonathan Ames: Quite a different book. About a young man living in New York area I think back in the 50's maybe. And he rents an room with an older very eccentric man who manages to live by escorting older rich ladies to dinner and events in order to live his life style at no cost to him, even though they live in horrible conditions. A very visual book. Anyway he teaches this young man how to be the extra man. A good read. Oh, and the young man is trying to figure out his sexuality.

4. At present reading: Black and Blue, by Anna Quindlen: Spousal Abuse is not usually my cup of tea, but when I started it, it is hard to put down. About a woman who hooks up with a group that rescues abused women when their life is in danger, and about her leaving all behind and starting over.

5. Next book on my stack is Cold Mountain.

So there you have it. Lots of reading going on this winter. Been reading the soft backs while I use my treadmill every morning (well almost every morning) Actually have different books for that. One there now is Silver City (something) Caught my attention because the setting is in NV back in late 1800's during the silver mining days. It is a rough book that holds my interest, a little smutty, so I stay on the treadmill longer. LOL!!

Was going to do a post about drivers that drive me crazy, but guess everyone deals with that. But its the ones that pull out in front of you, (when no one is behind you) then can't get their speed up to the speed limit for at least 2 miles. Mean while I had to drop my speed from 60 to 40 to keep from rear ending the duffas. Where is the courtesy? Oh, and frequently they do that then stay slow because they are turning off about a mile down the road, and have to almost come to a stop on the highway to make a right hand turn. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr......

Its Friday, What Can I Say??

My big brother sent this to me. Hope you enjoy it, and ain't it true? Well I suppose its true. Actually we all know HE is the expert in this department!

Sunny and a little warmer today. Sorry but I wish winter was over and done with, just don't do cold very well. Besides I can't wait to start doing flowerbeds at our new home. We sort of rushed to transfer some rose bushes and hostas last fall from the old house and some starts of favorite ground covers. But I have some ideas for a garden and several flower beds. We had little brother build a cute little porch on the front of the utility shed. We can pull the BBQ grill out onto the porch. Want to make plantings around the porch and do some kind of walkway to the back porch. Will have to do some pictures, before and after. Right now there is a huge pile of firewood in the way.

Oh, we love our fireplace, it is huge and has blowers, so it is saving alot of electricity for us. Besides we always prefer wood heat when we can. But it is so nice to put huge rounds of wood in and close the doors and watch the fire and feel the heat.

We ended up buying a new single bed to put at the farm house for either one of us to sleep on when we stay out there so I could get my bed brought into the new house. So now I actually have a bedroom. Have room in it for the treadmill, and have been pretty faithful on it. (Of course that was my New Years resolution)

Well I am just rattling on here. Not much to say really, just hanging in there. We are doing OK.

Now come on SPRING!

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IS IT 2008 YET?

Well Christmas is over, and I am always glad. Not because of what Christmas stands for, don't get me wrong. But for what it has become to stand for. All the commercialism and guilt heaped on us. About the 15th of every Dec. I start to feel a little panic feeling in me. Not sure just what it means, but I always dread Christmas. I guess it holds too many memories of what was ,and should have been, and never will be. As families shift and change over time things get complicated.
I end up most of the time, letting it sneak up on me and then its like, Oh, my! Christmas is tomorrow and I haven't sent cards or bought any gifts! Darn. Well maybe next year!! Well I am not really quite that bad, but almost. I do manage to get gift cards out to the grand kids before Christmas. BUT, never get to spend Christmas with them, and rarely get a thank you.

Well this is a really Ba Humbug post isn't it. I just know that Christmas is like this for lots of people and we are afraid to talk about it because it makes you feel like a bad person for not having all this warm fuzzy feeling. Instead you feel guilty, feel little or no family connection. In my "previous" life, it was about cooking lots of goodies and indulging in the fudge, divinity, and cookies. Putting up a tree and decorating it. Family around and the excitement of buying presents and watching them be opened and the mess and clutter and laying around playing with the "toys". Now that was warm and fuzzy. Now its like, "Oh, lets eat out, so you won't have to cook or do dishes" Right! no mess or clutter in my life. Come home to a clean house, no gift paper on the floor because there were no gifts, no left overs to snack on, because nothing was cooked. Well it sort of chokes me up, really.

This year I did cook most of the dinner for Sunday and had siblings over and it was fun. We did a traditional turkey dinner and it was nice to have everyone around the table together.

Well I have wallowed in my self pity long enough. The new year is coming, along with another birthday soon after. Maybe I can post a grumpy post about that later!!

A naughty joke from by big sister!

OK, I promised to post this since my sister doesn't have access to her blog anymore.

Do you know what Viagra is made of??
Well here is the breakdown.
You may not want to use it anymore after this!
3% Vit E
2% Asprin
2% Ibuprofen
1% Vit. C
5% Spray Starch
87% Fix-a-Flat


Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I can't believe I put this info out there!

Not much time to write any blogs, Been busy yet with moving into new house. Really dragging it out aren't we? We finally listed the farm with an agent. We did show it 5 times ourselves with just our sign on the corner. And folks wanted it but most had property to sell first. So now I am ready for that out of state person who has already sold their property and have cash in hand! I just posted a picture here of my little dinette area in the kitchen. You can see the new hardwood floor that took so long to get done. But I really like it. The rug I found to put under the little antique table has a rooster in the center. But mostly I just liked the colors.

Had a scare of a repeat of last winter's ice storm but it went mostly north of us, we got just a little damage from it. Some folks are still waiting for power to get hooked up after a week later.

Book store business has been a little slow but I think it was this time last year. Everyone is out shopping at Walmart for all that stuff made in China. My E-Bay store has been pretty consistant with daily sales so I am pleased with that. I try to list a few books every day to keep the inventory up. Anyone interested, the site is:
http://stores.ebay.com/read-again-books53 So everyone go there and order some cool books!!!

And in case I don't get back this week, Merry Christmas to all.

Are we Crabby??

I DON'T USUALLY ADD THESE DITTY'S TO MY BLOG BUT THIS ONE WAS TO GOOD TO PASS BY:

This is a question that is on very MAN'S mind and some women but here's your answer to why women are so craby.




We started to 'bud' in our blouses at 9 or 10 years old only to find that anything that came in contact with those tender, blooming buds hurt so bad it brought us to tears. So came the ridiculously uncomfortable training bra contraption that the boys in school would snap until we had calluses on our backs.




Next, we get our periods in our early to mid-teens (or sooner). Along with those budding boobs, we bloated, we cramped, we got the hormone crankies, had to wear little mattresses between our legs or insert tubular, packed cotton rods in places we didn't even know we had.



Our next little rite of passage was having sex for the first time which was about as much fun as having a ramrod push your uterus through your nostrils (IF he did it right and didn't end up with his little cart before his horse), leaving us to wonder what all the fuss was about.




Then it was off to Motherhood where we learned to live on dry crackers and water for a few months so we didn't spend the entire day leaning over Brother John . Of course, amazing creatures that we are (and we are), we learned to live with the growing little angels inside us steadily kicking our innards night and day making us wonder if we were preparing to have Rosemary's Baby.



Our once flat bellies looked like we swallowed a whole watermelon and we pee'd our pants every time we sneezed. When the big moment arrived, the dam in our blessed Nether Regions invariably burst right in the middle of the mall and we had to waddle, with our big cartoon feet, moaning in pain all the way to the ER.




Then it was huff and puff and beg to die while theOB ? says, 'Please stop screaming, Mrs. Hearmeroar . Calm down and push. 'Just one more good push' (more like 10), warranting a strong, well-deserved impulse to punch the
%$#*@*#!* hubby and doctor square in the nose for making us cram a wiggling, mushroom-headed 10 pound bowling ball through a keyhole.



After that, it was time to raise those angels only to find that when all that 'cute' wears off, the beautiful little darlings morphed into walking, jabbering, wet, gooey, snot-blowing, life-sucking little poop machines.


Then come their 'Teen Years.' Need I say more?


When the kids are almost grown, we women hit our voracious sexual prime in our early 40's - while hubby had his somewhere around his 18th birthday.



So we progress into the grand finale: 'The Menopause,' the Grandmother of all womanhood. It's either take HRT and chance cancer in those now seasoned 'buds' or the aforementioned Nether Regions, or, sweat like a hog in July, wash your sheets and pillowcases daily and bite the head off anything that moves.



Now, you ask WHY women seem to be more spiteful than men, when men get off so easy, INCLUDING the icing on life's cake: Being able to pee in the woods without soaking their socks...


So, while I love being a woman, 'Womanhood' would make the Great Gandhi a tad crabby. You think women are the 'weaker sex?' Yeah right. Bite me.

Never ask a man the size of his spread!

Now that I have your attention, this is the title of a cute little book that I found. It is "A cowgirl's guide to life" it is full of cute quotes.

Whenever you go away, always come back before they learn to get on without you.

Alot of what a man knows, a woman knows better. (I love that one)

Horses always start, they never run out of gas, and they will not get you greasy.

Men, you can't live with 'em, and you can't shoot 'em.

Ok enough for now. Still real busy, will it ever slow up? Guess not till we get all moved and the 20 acres sold. Going to finally list with an agent. We have showned it several times, just from our sign on the corner. Still have alot to put away and still moving stuff from the farm. It helps to take a load at a time and find a place for it before he take more. Will take some pictures of the kitchen now that it is back together again. Hope everyone is having a great weekend even if the weather is icky.

Red Oak flooring

This is a Quicky

Just wanted to share my picture of my new hardwood kitchen floor, down to the home stretch so there is lots to do. Movers coming Mon. And still have kitchen cabinets sitting in the family room! Just have to take a deep breath and not worry, as I know it will get done. One thing, our carpenter does a wonderful job.

Penny Poo

No I didn't get another dog, but my brother did. Isn't she a cutie? She is a cross between a maltese and a sitzsu (I know I spelled that wrong) Anyway they are called Poos. She is 8 weeks old. Looks like a lot of fun in a bundle of fur!

Meet Penny Poo