Spread your goodness!

Last week I had sent a message to my daughter telling her the list of all the things I had going on that week, one of them being the teaching at the Fiber Guild meeting on how to do Zipper art.  I make flowers that can be worn in hair or pinned on and I enjoy doing the zipper art.  You can see some of them in this picture.  Anyway her response to my litany was:  "Spread your goodness Mamma"
I just thought it was the sweetest thing anyone had said to me.
So YOU go out there and spread your goodness!  We are to materialistic, share something of yourself, maybe teach someone how to do something or just be there to listen if thats what they need.

OK enough of this mushy stuff.  Back to work.  Making the little sleeves with elastic on each end to store plastic bags in.  Have a customer who ordered at least 5.  Of course I have to embellish them.  Will take a picture later.  Also got more orders from a gal I met at the last craft show.  She has ordered 3 sets of 6 mug rugs before Christmas plus she wants a rug or 2.

Thought for the day:  A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed: Henrik Ibsen

Don't mess with our Turkey!

This is a few pictures of a wild turkey hen that has sort of adopted us.  She has come about twice a day for the last week or so.  Did I mention that we live in town?  But there is an acre of wooded land next to us.  We have seen fox, deer, and assorted rodents.  There was a story in the local paper about a big tom turkey in a town about 30 miles from us that had become a community pet till this last week when some guys caught it and choked it.  One lady confronted them and they said they were "putting it down" as it had been hit on the road.  Pretty doubtful.  I hope they choked on it when they cooked it!  Pretty sad when you catch a turkey bare handed and not think it might be a pet to someone. 
Who know how long this one will hang around, but she has it pretty good as our yard is protected and quiet, plus there is always grain put out for whoever wants it.

Is this me being so cranky??

The week that hubby was in the hospital with his new total knee surgery  I drank way toooo much coffee and soda (already was drinking too much coffee)  Ended up with stomach pain so decided I better drastically reduce it all.  So I cut to just 2 cups of coffee a day.  Went thru some headaches but not bad.  The worse, and it surprised me, was that I felt like the chicken in this cartoon.  I felt very emotional, edgy, and irritable.  Seems I dropped everything and lost the rest.  Starting to feel better today.

So enough about me.  It was so good to get hubby home from the hospital.  Surg was on Tue. at 9 am.  By 2 pm he was up in a chair and next morning walked down hall and sat up for over an hour.  Took only 2 hits on the morphine (makes his nauseated)  So went to pain pills and had last one on Wed night. Also the Dr. has changed his routine and started him on Celebrex the day before surg, and resumed the day he got home.  He has had almost NO swelling other than a little dependant swelling between knee and ankle. He uses his ice machine for pain that is stirred up by his therapy treatments.  His therapy has been ahead of schedule and he will probably be ready for out patient therapy by late next week.  He thought he was pretty smart and went down the stairs to visit his sister on day 8 of surg.  Hasn't done it again and I wasn't home when he did it.  But appetite is good and he will be back to normal real soon.  Thanks for the get well wishes we received.

Feels good to be back to the store at least the last 2 days.  I think my customers forgot me but thats OK they will be back.
Have one more craft show to do at a local Elementary school that should be good, next Saturday.  We actually set up Fri evening and folks have bought tickets to get early previews and buying.  Small space but it should work out and be fun.
Well headed home.  Monday to Dr. to get his staples out, he will walk in with no cane just like last time.  MEN  such show offs!

My kind of brew

Yes, I talked him down!

Hubby had this all set up Sunday to go up and cut that lower limb off.  Yes he did and he is scheduled to have his right knee replaced in about 2 weeks.  I managed to talk him out of it.  No. 1 it kills his knees to climb ladders.  No. 2  it just plain wasn't safe,  and No. 3  there was no good reason to take the limb down.!  At least not to my way of thinking.  But he has been in this mode for a couple weeks.  Sort of getting his ducks all in a row.  Getting the lawn mowers all cleaned, the vehicles all checked out with oil changes and new batteries in 2 of them.  I think he goes around looking for anything that might need repaired before winter.  Poor guy, I don't really blame him, cause he has been thru this with his other knee about 18 months ago so he knows what he is facing.  He has some limitations with the knee replacement that was done.  Like he can't kneel down on a hard surface on it.  So if he ends up with the same with this one it makes it hard to do alot of the things he likes to do. 
Oh, and he would banish me from the kingdom if he knew I told this on him so shhhhhhhhhhh!

Living History Loop

Last Saturday I was honored to participate in the Prairie Jubilee event at Prairie State Park about 30 miles north of Joplin Mo.  I realized that when we think of state parks we think of mountains, rivers, water falls, trees, and such.  But the Prairie State park is a reminder of what a huge chunk of the US looked like many years ago.  It turned out to be such a beautiful day. The park puts this event on every other year.  Each presenter was given a tent station and this mowed lane that run thru the prairie above the visitor center. This is me at my station.

The sign on this second photo said Walmart of the Prairie.  The guy was showing how the buffalo was so vital to the native Americans and how they used every part of the buffalo.
A little boy had just heard this guys speech and when he got to my weaving table he watched me a few minutes then said "which part of the buffalo are you using"

 

There were several covered wagons that were driven  to the park and allowed to set up camp.  So I got my picture taken by one of the wagons.  I was milking this costume for all it was worth!
 

Two Sisters Recycled

Last Saturday my sister and I did our first craft show at the local college.  It was their "first" annual craft and rummage sale in their parking lot.  What a beautiful day it was.  Perfect weather and the kids did an awesome job with organization.  EXCEPT they didn't advertise very much.  Lots of vendors but not many customers.  But it was a good experience for us to learn how to set up the awning and display our stuff.  Here are a few pictures.

We sold a couple totes and a couple rugs.   So now we will know what all we need for the big craft fair in October that is a well established event.
I am off tomorrow for my weaving demonstration.  I like to say that the Grasshopper is now the Master!  LOL!  Anyway it is fun to show off some of what I have learned.  It is a state park north of Joplin.  They celebrate the prairie thus Prairie State Park,  (you can google it)  An all day celebration with music, hay rides out to see the buffalo and the living history loop (That would be me)  in my prairie dress.  Please let it not be to dang hot.  Mid 70's is forcasted.  I am sure I will have pictures next week.  I will also be ready to take a picture of my weaving from class that I took off the loom this week.  I can taste that buffalo BBQ right now!  Woo Hoo,  or is that Moo Moo?

Go West they said, so we did!

Back from a week long trip/vacation.  We spend 2 days in Wyoming at Saratoga.  Here is a pic of the Platte River, it was low enough that you could walk across it.  Weather was beautiful. Got a sprinkle the first nite there.  Ate at the old Wolf Hotel.

Mountain range east of Saratoga in the Medicine Bow Range.

Next is a peak into the bar of the Wolf Hotel.

We got a private tour of the old museum in Saratoga,  Hubby's cousin is a volunteer there and here is an older picture of her modeling their grand mother's wedding dress from around 1900. Their grand parents homesteaded in Saratoga and later he built a butcher shop to provide meat to the miners and she built a hotel called the Palace Hotel which she ran till she died in 1960 and it was torn down by her last wishes.

We left Saratoga on Wed. and dropped down into Colorado on the western side of the Rockies so missed the rain that Denver had.  We had beautiful weather the rest of the week. 
Here is a picture of the lake where we spend 2 days.  It is north of Gunnison Colorado, Taylor Lake.

We stayed in one of these rustic cabins.  You can see part of the lake in the back ground.  We were at 8,000 ft. elevation. It was 27 degrees both mornings we were there so had to scrape a little ice from the windshield before we could go fishing.

We caught a total of 10 trout to bring home.  Very good eating! The lake level was really low here also.  We drove our vehicle down to the lake edge where we used to park 20 to 30 ft back up the bank.
As we left this area we drove over Monarch Pass, and the trees were beautiful.

As we got over the pass we saw the first fresh snow that fell in the night mountain tops a couple days before.

Over all we had a good trip and hubby's sister was a good sport for staying in a rustic cabin for 2 nights.  We love that stuff but she missed her Fox news fix everyday.  Last night we stayed in Dodge City Kansas at a decent motel and she had that TV on so fast she could hardly eat any dinner! 
Me?  I could have cared less.  But we made it home safe and sound. 
Short week at the store this week.  Will be closed tomorrow so I can do my first craft show.  Anxious to see how it goes.  My sister and I are working together on this with our hand made crafts.  Will take some pictures and post next week. 
Where the heck did September go???  So glad to be having nice fall weather at last!

My Toad cactus (Star cactus)

This was the first bloom before I moved it out onto the front porch.  I don't think it liked the heat but it was my only option as it is in the shade at least.  Poor plant is used to 76 degrees in the house and its been in high 90's this week.  Glad it is about done blooming.  It really smells up the porch and attracts these really big flies.

As you can see in this close up picture.  I feel privledged to have such an unusual plant and enjoy tending them and watching them grow big.  Have a couple other unusual plants I will mention later.

Been getting stuff ready to do my first craft show later this month.  Will post some pictures about that.

Almost ready to give birth!

Well not me but my toad cactus!

I have only had one blooming about 7 years ago from the plant that I took this start from.  The old plant got a fungus on it and I finally had to give up on it.  So this plant is about 4 years old.  This morning I could cup the biggest pod in the palm of my hand. Its about 4 to 5 inches long. 

Here is a picture of the old plant when it bloomed. The bloom measures 12 inches across and I wish you could feel it.  Sort of a cross between velvet and rubber.  But oh, the smell is terrible.

I have 10 good bloom pods on my cactus now.  About 5 tiny ones dried up.  I copied the following from a site that I looked up for more info.  There seem to be several varieties as some blooms are fat and more toad like.

  "Orbeas are a genus of succulent plants in the Apocynacea family, they're evergreen- leafless plants native to Africa. Starfish Cactus and Toad Cactus are misleading common names because this plant is not a cacti-it is a succulent. A better common name for this Orbea is Carrion Flower or African Carrion Flower."

From reading this article I learned that the smell of a "rotten mouse" is to attract flies to help pollinate the plant.  It also said that to get the blooms you need to let it get pretty dry during the winter then put in more sunlight (hot hot sun) and give more water in the spring to get it to bloom.  So guess I just accidentally did something right to get it to bloom.  I know I have killed some of my starts by watering them to much.
So there you have my Toad/star cactus which is not really a cactus.

Visit me on my other blog

I seem to have trouble trying to decide which blog I should write on.  I started my second blog to be about my book store and then it morphed into being about my crafts and anything related to my store. Didn't know that their would be a link between the 2 blog sites so its not a secret that I have the second blog.  But sometimes I feel like I am loosing out on the folks who read this one.  Can't believe I have had somewhere around 1200 hits on this site.  I enjoy chatting away with my computer and it serves as a great place to keep track of whats going on in your life.  This blog site is 5 or 6 years old now and I like going back and reading some of the events I was living thru several years ago.
Just think when I get senile I can read my old blog entries and it will all be new to me!
So here is my link to my other life: http://readagainbooks.blogspot.com/.  Hope to see you there!

I think the gal on the left is the one I will be when I get old!  Don't say what I know you are thinking BIG Brother!

Guess I can't go to this store anymore

My trip to the store.

>>> > There was a bit of confusion at the store yesterday. When I was ready

>>> > to pay for my groceries, the cashier said, "Strip down facing me."

>>> > Making a mental note to complain to my congressman about Homeland

...>>> > Security running amok, I did just as she had instructed.

>>> > When the hysterical shrieking and alarms finally subsided, I found out

>>> > that she was referring to my credit card.

>>> > I have been asked to shop elsewhere in the future.

>>> >

>>> > They need to make their instructions to us seniors a little clearer!

>>> > How embarrassing was that?!!! ):

Go away you unwanted advertizements!

I hate all these ads showing up on my blog site.  Even when I go to the page to edit something, there is a big ad right across the upper part of my postings so I can't even access the first one without clicking on the ad and opening it up.  Anyone know how to get rid of this crap???  Don't want it!

Just Shoot Me!

Had a guy in the store this afternoon,  he talked non stop for 1 1/2 hours!! I knew I was in trouble when I asked if he lived in the area and I got a detailed map of how to get to his home.  He rambled on and on and on about his claim to fame being a historical photographer.  Many outbreaks of tears and looking at the ceiling talking to his wife who I assume is in heaven.  Finally a phone call saved me and I got him out of the store.   I sat and ripped up some denim waste bands that were in a sack.  Glad I had something to do!  Well I do get characters come in.  I feel he was harmless, just wanted an audience.  He gave exact dates for every event and every make of car he owned.  His trip down the lane with cancer, treatment by treatment.  Ect!!!!
Makes me feel so good to be normal.  Not sure where his mental state falls.  Any ideas?  Don't think its Schizophrenic.

OK I am out of here for a few days.  Got to feed the cat and water a couple plants.  Hope we get some more rain tomorrow.
And YEA on the VP pick for the Republicans!

Welcome! My Foot!

Been getting my "Welcome to Medicare" "free" medical work up done.  Since I already had my Mammogram this spring I didn't need that but I did the bone density test last Monday.  Got a call from the Dr. office a couple days later and the nurse wanted to know what pharmacy to call a script in to for some Fosomax.  I said WHOA!  I would like to wait till my apt with the Dr. to talk about this. 
Since then I have talked to several women who have taken this drug and not a single one had anything good to say.  Every one had bad side effects, mostly bone pain and one had her 4 lower front teeth loosen so much she ended up having them pulled and getting a partial!   Besides I am doing most of the things that they recommend and want to look at beefing up my routine.  Calcium with D, weight bearing exercise, and stop the soda.  So I am going to increase my treadmill at the gym and give up the one can of soda that I drink a day.  Plus will go on line and see what else I can do.  I really don't think I fall into the usual risk group.  I am not short and petite like most people with osteoporosis are.  Of course I couldn't believe that I have early cataracts either!!  Damn! Don't we hate to admit we are getting old? 
Next Monday I go for the carotid ultrasound, so lets hope I am getting enough blood to my brain!

Crikey!

Crikey! Isn't she a beaut! "Crikey means gee whizz, wow!"
A quote from Steve Erwin.


 We aren't to wild about them nesting under our utility shed so we have caught 2 of them now and they have been relocated, along with all the chipmunks I caught in my tiny trap.  But I just thought her fur was so pretty with the silver tip and she was so docile, not like the 2 raccoons that we caught and released.  Now we live right in town!  We are in deer alley too as they travel thru our property to get to a couple small ponds that are across the street.  We never know what we will see.  The birds have sure hung around the water  pans and bird baths.  Sometimes they just sit in the water. 
Finally got an inch of rain last nite.  So thankful.

48 years and a life time ago

How many of us have Other Lives?  This is me in my other life.  48 years ago today I married this guy.  I was all of 17 and he was 19.  The year was 1964.  This picture was taken I think 1970.  The kids were 1 1/2 and 3.  No we didn't have to get married, at least not in the traditional way.  See my folks were moving out of state from Iowa to Va. to live with my older brother and I was getting ready to start my start my senior year. Since I was "in love" I didn't want to go with them, so they signed for me to get married instead. Also Bill was on the list to be called up into the military and prob end up in Vietnam. Being married gave him an exemption. 

I was remembering my wedding this morning and realized how poor we were.  I moved my belongings into a little cottage house that was on his step-dads farm.  Bill had actually already moved there and had a few hogs he was raising.  Someone loaned me a short veil, I bought an inexpensive dress that I could wear for church later and (gasp) I wore pink heels as that is what I had from my prom and couldn't afford to buy another pair of shoes. Its a wonder that I didn't wear the pink prom dress that I had made the prev. spring.    It was a church wedding and only a few friends of the family present.  Aug 2nd and it was so hot!  For a "honeymoon" we went to the drive-in about 20 miles away then went "home".   I started my senior year but by Nov. dropped out.  Back then you were not allowed to participate in any extra activities if you were married.  There were 2 of us married by our senior year, and sadly the other gal was a star basket ball player about 6 ft tall.  So anyway I got booted out of FHA and I had been vice president the prev year.  Since I didn't play sports other than a short stint in track, I was to be manager of the concession stand that year so that was nixed too.  Guess I was just disappointed and decided to take a full time babysitting job for Bill's boss and that extra $15 a week was alot back then.  Our first year was very rocky and should have been a sign of things to come and we should have gone our separate ways then.  But I am a stick with it kind of girl and hung in there.
Just for the record I did sign up and take a correspondence course to get a certificate of graduation then 10 years later went to college for an LPN nursing degree, and even later in "this life" I finished my RN degree.  So not bad for a high school drop out. 
Life is strange isn't it?  When I look back 48 years and try to remember that young girl in the borrowed veil and pink heels I still remember how she felt even though I have forgotten alot of the little stuff.  The marriage barely lasted 14 years. 
I still look back and feel this was my "other" life.  I am a different person now, finally grew up and have learned my worth.

New job

So after landing my new job as a store greeter, although a good find for many, I lasted less than a day. Here's the story....


About two hours into my first day on the job a very loud, unattractive, mean-acting woman walked into the store with her two kids, yelling obscenities at them all the way through the entrance. I said pleasantly, 'Good morning and nice children you have there. Are they... twins?' The ugly woman stopped yelling long enough to say, "NO, they ain't twins. The oldest one's 9, and the other one's 7. Why in the world would you think they're twins? Are you blind, or stupid?' So I replied, 'I'm neither blind nor stupid, Ma'am, I just couldn't believe someone slept with you twice. Have a good day and thank you for shopping here today.'

My supervisor said I probably wasn't

cut out for this line of work.

Breakfast on the deck

We love our new little grill.  Had pork chops on it last nite, then this morning we woke up with no electricity.  The power company was out in our back yard at 6 AM.  Seems there was a break in the underground wiring that they put in 10 years ago.  They were able to pull in a new line from about 5 houses down.   In the mean time, hubby was so happy to fire up that generator so I could make coffee.  We cooked oatmeal on the BBQ grill, did I mention that I love this little red beauty?  Then he fired up the generator again so I could make toast.  So we ate on the deck and watched the crew work on the power.  By 9 AM we had electricity again.  It was 85 degrees by then.

It is going to be 102 here today, So if you have a cat, give it a shave like this one and it will feel so much cooler, guaranteed!

Now tell me, does this look like a Great Grandma??

Well I am and this little gal is # 2.  She has a big sister that just turned 4!  Was fun to just cuddle this little one.  Oh, and big sister noticed that Great Grandma had crabs in her ears!!