Beautiful Day in Christ

Today was so nice. When we finally got out of bed, I made homemade biscuits and cooked some ham. We had homemade fresh Apricot Jam with the biscuits. Not a good day to test for sugar levels.
To make the morning better. After David went to bed last night, I mopped the floors, started my sour dough starter to souring, and cleaned the tables and rearranged the furniture. (in the living area).
I finally went to bed around midnight. When we got up I sent David in to see what I had accomplished at night. His question (Why?)
Because I wanted to and I wanted to get up to a clean house, with nothing to do but eat and get into the yard.
As soon as we ate, we began on the yards. I continued to work on my flower beds, My new flower bed and transplant herbs, Cannes, and lavender.
I have to say it looks nice. Once everything is big it will be a nice border to the edge of the lawn. To separate it from the big open field.
David mowed the lawns and kept emptying the lawn cart of weeds and rock I had gathered up.
We then jumped into the hot tub.
I have to remember to send Aaron a note to again tell him what a blessing that tub is to us. When we have worked all day or several hours in the yard. we can sit and let the water jets calm the aching muscles.
I have to say, Not one time did my back freeze up today, a few little pains but nothing at all, like locking me in position. So I say it was a great day.
We then came in, ate a bite and sat down. I finally went to the bedroom to rest and David watched John Wayne movies. As a matter of fact he is watching one right now and it is 9:30 at night. This must be John Wayne Weekend.
I finally made chicken tenders, (baked) and baked the loaf of bread and that was dinner.
That and a V-8 and we are set for nourishment.
Tomorrow is church and we will be up and running again. Not bad, we go in at 1030 and home by 1200.
My goodness if we can't give God two hours or our time, what kind of people are we?
I would say we would not be very appreciative of his love and life he gave us.
I am so happy to know God and have him in my life, I grew up with God as the forefront of all decisions in our home and I am proud of my heritage.
Sure we had times of difficulty and times of despair but never times of lost faith.
Our God always guided us though and in all things I give him Thanks.

Funny

Fifty Dollars is Fifty Dollars

Morris and his wife Esther went to the state fair every year,

and every year Morris would say,

'Esther,I'd like to ride in that helicopter.

'Esther always replied, 'I know Morris, but that helicopter ride is fifty dollars,

and fifty dollars is fifty dollars'

One year Esther and Morris went to the fair, and Morris said,

'Esther, I'm 85 years old. If I don't ride that helicopter,

I might never get another chance.

'To this,

Esther replied, 'Morris that helicopter ride is fifty dollars,

and fifty dollars is fifty dollars.

'The pilot overheard the couple and said,

'Folks I'll make you a deal. I'll take the both of you for a ride.

If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say a word,

I won't charge you! But if you say one word, it's fifty dollars.

'Morris and Esther agreed and up they went.

The pilot did all kinds of fancy maneuvers,

but not a word was heard.

He did his daredevil tricks over and over again,

but still not a word.

When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and said,

'By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't. I'm impressed!

'Morris replied, 'Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Esther fell out,

but you know fifty dollars is fifty dollars!

I was telling the Truth

It is not easy for me to give up, give in or give out. I am a "Get er done" person. "Just do it"
"No slacking off". "A job worth doing is worth doing RIGHT"
So many phrases one that still ticks me off is, "Whatever it takes". I have that on a paperweight from Montgomery Ward. Well what ever it took, was my health.
It was not worth it. I recall one district manager telling me "I am not going to die at my desk. There is too much life to live and my life does not revolve around Montgomery Ward."
I worked many eighteen hour days, just go get the job done. I opened and closed the store on numerous occasions. I was a patsy for any thing that needed to be completed. I felt no one could do it if I was not there supervising and pushing and shoving on the merchandise myself.

So on to the truth. I said in a previous post it was difficult for me to stop. Well today I was out again, raking dirt and dead grass and piling rock. I wondered at how I was fine, no pain at all.
I will send photos but at teh west sides of our pool, we have, (had) no landscaping. We both tried to figure out the best approach.
When Alan was here yesterday, Mowing the field, I asked him to bring up shovels of dirt and sand and build a mound. He did, I believe it was at least ten buckets of loam, sand rock and weeds. Now we have to get some form to it, as in sweeping around, and add plants. I may have a few holes dug to hold trees, That will come later.
On top of the mound, I am planting Red Cannas, My Red Cannas are big, at least 5 foot tall and right now they are perfect for replanting. (They produce better than rabbits.)
I started my cannas with maybe ten feet planted I now have at least 300 feet of them, no kidding I have them surrounding my drive, and the center bed of the circle drive is full of cannas. Not complaining at all. All I hve to do is water and in the winter I mow them down.

I also have a few lavender to put on the hill plus I am moving my herb garden to it. Great loacation for an herb garden. I will surround with Marigolds or petunias or somthing that is low growing and easy up-keep. Plus we will put bark and landscape fabric out. Make keeping it up a snap.

So now I am stopped, had to almost crawl to the shower again, My sciatica is so bad right now, but I am forbid to take anti inflammatories. At least for a few more days. I had the biopsy, yesterday. Believe me, I felt nothing, I must be made of steel, I barely felt the needle go in my neck. The doctor told me It usually hurts pretty bad but I never even flinched. I told him I had lived with pain so long this was just another tiny pin prick to me.
Theytook four samples, He said in about 1 out of 200 they have to redo the biopsy, and that is why he takes four samples from several areas of the thyroid. I know this is a common procedure. personally he said he does about 3 a day. That is a lot of biopsys on thyroids and over 90 % are nothing. Which I belive mine is Nothing, My family has the corner on Heart disease, we do not have other problems.
Am I concerned? Not really, it is just another obstacle that I have to hurdle and I do quite good at running and jumping and missing the obstacles.
So have a good day as I get my back into shape again.

Double Delight and Love

OK that is the name of my roses or at least two of them. I am putting some photos on this post. I can not even think today, I need to post but not sure how to start. Bet that surprises my children Mom with nothing to say. LOL I was tellign my brother about Davids statement about my noise, (voice) He laughed and laughed. He said that is a perfect combination. "A pretty woman that cant talk". He is so sweet to say I am pretty. Not that it is true but it is sweet and he make points. One photo of the rose with red and white is "Love" I truly love this rose. It makes me smile, Hey what rose does not make me smile? The yellow and pink is "Double Delight" The red and black one is my "Black Rose". This is truly an unusual rose. The Roses will not fall off the bush. I have to cut them off, They die and stay on until they are removed. However the roses are sturdy and are amazingly beautiful. I have a yellow rose, a tiger stripe one in purple and so many many. After all with 38 rose bushes it is not easy to name them all. Roses give me so much comfort. They are beauty amoung thorns. My yellow rose is a long stem variety and almost thornless. Yes this is where I spend my time, enjoying my garden early in the morning. Smiling as I look at each sweet face of each rose. Look deep into the rose, it has a story to tell, A story of hibernating beneath snow and ice, just waiting for spring so a beautiful bud can open to absorb the sun. Enjoy the show.

Each Step I Take

That is the song I thought of as I made my way to the house.

Each Step I take the Savior goes before me,

Each step I take just leads me closer home.

Man did I want to get to the house. It has been a few years since it has been out but I know what to do to get it back in shape. One thing I have to do is walk a lot. I have to walk, to build those muscles back up.
Why? My back is out again and it was all I could do to walk. It happened yesterday too, I was in the kitchen making a pie for David, (Strawberry Rhubarb)As I turned my back locked up, I could not move for the intense pain. I could not put my weight on my left leg or hip at all. I prayed, I prayed really hard.
As soon as I could move I made my way to a chair, to ease the pain, Finally it stopped. I then make my way to the bedroom for my nitro. I did not have it on me and that pain was so bad I thought I was going to faint. (I am not a fainter).
So today I felt fine, I went outside early, maybe 930. I began mowing, after I silicon ed a wire on the sprinkler system.
I mowed at least an acre, then I moved the sprinklers in the orchard and mowed around those trees. I was still fine.
Problem came when I got off the tractor and bent over. The pain hit. I prayed again. I had a few things to finish so I walked really slow and completed my task and parked the tractor under the shed.
As I walked to the house, I prayed each step I took would not be my last for a few minutes.
It would have been so embarrassing to get stalled in my own driveway.
Finally I got here, it took a while too, I walked like a little old lady.
I then prayed I could get clean before it totally locked up, I showered and whimpered. I could not raise my leg to wash it so I sat down, that in itself was a chore.
Finally I get out and then I can not dry my legs, I still cant bend over. I let them drip dry.
Now on to clothes, That was horrible. I thought about going nude but that was not a good idea. Not really but it was something to see, to watch me try to put my clothes on.
I had to drop them take one foot at a time and the other foot had to help out.
It was hilarious, I am sure.
My walk is fine now, slow but so much better, I am totally dressed and I even walked to the drive to check on a sprinkler.
Now I have to rest that nerve and you all know me, that is not something I like to do..

Lonesome sound

"Words and music by Hank Williams"

Hear that lonesome whippoorwill

He sounds too blue to fly

The midnight train is whining low

I'm so lonesome I could cry

I've never seen a night so long

When time goes crawling by

The moon just went behind a cloud

To hide its face and cry

Did you ever see a robin weep

When leaves begin to die?

Like me he's lost the will to live

I'm so lonesome I could cry

The silence of a falling Star

lights up a purple sky

And as I wonder where you are

I'm so lonesome I could cry

On nights like this when I hear the train I think of this song. So old but so fitting. It came to us over a battery operated radio and the sound was so mournful.
Hank Williams had a sad mournful tone.
We always listened to the Grand Old Opry. A wonderful time in history of country music. A time when it was really taking hold in America.

Right now It is ten o'clock and I should be asleep.
However I am not restful tonight, I am feeling a lonesome, mournful feeling.
In the distance I hear a train whistle. It reminds me of a time long ago. I am not sure when I heard that sound so often, but I know in my childhood it was there.
When I was really young, before school age, we lived in Leola in a mill yard. I have vague memories. When we say children cant remember, we are wrong, so wrong. I remember but all the pieces do not fit.
I hear a train whistle, I hear a rumble, I smell logs and newly cut wood, I remember the sounds and smells.
One day I was visiting a cousin of mine. He is lots older and more like an uncle in age.
I asked him, "Did we ever live by a train and by a log stack?" He looked at me and said
"Yes you did, I can show you where the little white house stood. It was at the mill in Leola."
I again asked, "Did the logs ever roll?"
Again "Yes they did , a few times," I can remember that. I remember my Mom was worried about the kids getting on the log stacks and the danger that was involved. I am snot sure how long we lived there but I am sure it was not long.
One we had the train in our back yard, and two it was unsafe for children to roam a mill yard.

Memories are so precious.
I love to hear that train whistle blow. It is so nostalgic.
When David and I married, we moved to California, our first night in California, we stayed by a train track and a whistle stop. I never remembered the train tracks we crossed that night as we arrived at our little house.
In the middle of the night, the train came through. I came out of bed Screaming and shaking. It took a few minutes for David to grab me and calm me down.
I just knew the end of the world had come and I was being punished for leaving my home where I grew up and my Mom.
It was a long night and every night the train came though and every night I was out of that bed screaming and startled.
Needless to say we did not live there long. It was too hard.

My memories are so precious, each whistle, each fragrant odor of newly cut timber.
My memories make me who I am, a person in touch with my past. A person who appreciates the beauty of a train whistle or the sound of a mill whistle, we also hear that every day.
I lived it, I have it embedded in my memory.
Sweet Sweet memories.

Samuel An Inspiration

Today I look at a little gift from God, his life and how he smiles through all of his pain. He asked his Mommy last week for a Tylenol, He had a headache. I am sure pain is as much a part of his life as is breathing .
His name is Samuel, he is three years old and was born with Spinal Bifida, among many other problems. He has no rectum, and may never have, He has a club foot, he has a tether on his neck muscles that pull his beautiful head to the side. He has no use of his lower limbs.
He smiles through all this. He is a much loved, adored and intelligent child.
He loves his new wheels, His wheel chair. His skateboard, his dad made him, He can stand (I believe he kneels) at the window and look outside now.
He gives me hope for a better tomorrow.
We say "Why would such a merciful God bring this on a child?"
To be honest, we as humans have no answer. We can only guess at the reasons.
When Samuel was born, he was already adopted by a young man and his wife. I have known Mark since the day he was born. When Samuel was born with all these problems, the Doctors were wondering what would happen to this little child?
Would the adoption stop. When the kids saw the baby they decided that is what God had for them, to take this handicapped child into their home and hearts.

The doctors marvel at his progress and his happiness. Samuel has been an inspiration to us all, All who know him or cross his path. He is old enough now to know when he is going back to the hospital. He does get upset, but he settles down, He never knows if he is having more surgery, to straighten a leg or put a cast on his foot or operate on his bowel or work on the spine.. Sam can not eat, he vomits a lot of food up so he survives on drinks and feedings.
If you want to read of this little gift please go to www.caringbridge.org
You will be blessed to read his story.

When Samuel was a few months old, I dreamed of him running and playing. I told his Grandmother a few weeks later. She told me, her daughter, Donna had the same dream.
Donna is the aunt to Samuel. I saw Samuel running and playing. He will do that. He may do it in Heaven but he will do it, I saw a yard full of children, all running and laughing.
Why did i dream this, I had only seen him one time and that was when he was newborn, I did not know his prognosis. I believe God sometime gives us a glimpse of How Heaven will be. A small glimpse, a time when there will be no pain, only laughter and lots of love.
If you visit this site, please say hello.
Be ready to smile as soon as you open the site to his book.

232 years Ago

This is Washington's Address to his troops.
Before the battle of Long Island in 1776.

The time is now near at hand, which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves' whether they are to have any property they can call their own' whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed and themselves consigned to a stare of wretchedness;from which no human efforts will deliver them.

The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army.

Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of a brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We therefore resolve to conquer or die.

Our own, our country's honor, calls us for a vigorous and manly exertion' and if we now shameful fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world.

Let us then rely on the goodness of our cause, and the aid of the Supreme Being, in whose hands victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble actions.

The eyes of all our countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings and praises, if happily we are the instruments of saving them from the tyranny meditated against them.

Let us therfore animate and encourage each other, and show the world that a freeman contending for liberty on his own ground is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.

Liberty, property, life and honor are all at stake, upon your courage and conduct rest the hopes of our bleeding and insulted country' our wives and children and parents expect safety from us only. and they have every reason to believe that Heaven will crown with success so just a cause.

The enemy will endeavor to intimidate by show and appearance' but remember they have been repulsed on various occasions by a few brave Americans. Their cause is bad- their men are conscious of it' and if opposed with firmness and coolness on the first onset, with our

advantage of works, and knowledge of the ground ,

THE VICTORY IS MOST ASSUREDLY OURS

Every good soldier will be silent and attentive__ Wait for order___ Reserve his fire until

he is sure of doing execution.

Memorial Day

To Their Memory

To the memory of the dead,

Lay above the honored head,

Over hearts that ceased to beat,

In the battles smoke and heat,

Scatter flowers, rare flowers.

To the memory of that time,

Brave soldiers touched the battle line.

Gather flowers, bright flowers,

let their fragrant incense rise,

To greet their souls in Paradise,

Where flowers never die.

To the memory of those years,

So full of sadness, yet how dear;

Offer flowers, pure flowers,

Not a gold or silver flower,

But from Natures fairest bower,

Cull the flowers, true flowers.

To the memory of the woe,

That filled a nation long ago;

Bring flowers, sad flowers.

But for the victory nobly won,

By a Nations Bravest sons,

Lay immortelles o'er each one.

Frances Mailette Hawley

circa 1900

Memorial day is a day of remembering the young men that have fought valiantly for our freedom.

They may not always agree with the war, but they did love their country.

You live free today because of the sacrifices made, many years ago.

This poem is a remembrance of those brave sons.

TGIF

Thank Goodness, David gets to sleep in for three days. I am sure he will do just that. The weather is conducive for a nice rest. Cool nights, and cool days. Today it looked like rain, I am not sure it did not rain somewhere local but Rain is predicted tomorrow.
Tomorrow is also the Strawberry Festival. We went last year and were disappointed in the shortcake and berries. Too commercial (nothing homemade) and the berries were not sweet.
We did enjoy the entertainment. There was an old time gospel band and they played fiddles and banjos and guitars and a mandolin.
It was great, We did cut the day short as it was too hot to stay out in the heat, plus it was just a time to get out of the house.
I bought a ham today, anyone want to come over for a bite, no a big mouthful. I am sure we will freeze most of it, but I figured I could make David ham and eggs for breakfast. (yuck, does not sound good to me). I go for cereal.
If the wind ever quits blowing I need to water, but it will do no good, the wind will blow the water to Anderson, (joke).
I had the pipe fixed that I broke. Cost 50 dollars, The repairman told me I should have David build a box around it, I said "I know I should but he won't do it, David is the best accountant anyone could ever have, (even at this age he remembers numbers) but he is not good with a tool."
That is a fact. Not that it is bad. It is just the way it is. I am not complaining, I am glad he has brains, better brains than brawn.
Both would be nice but I take brains any day.
Besides, what is important is that he Loves me and Adores me and I return that admiration and Love. I could find no one in the world to love me this much and put up with me. I am not the easiest person to live with, I have a champagne appetite with a beer budget.

Right now he is asleep and has the remote in his hand. I keep waiting for the channel to begin changing really fast. He does that sometime.
His arm has been bothering him a lot lately. It locks up, he is sitting and suddenly he yelps in pain and has to get the kink out of his arm. That plate must be shifting.
So that is our day, not much going on here. Just a lot of nothing.

Blu Friday

I jumped out of bed this morning with a cramp in my leg. I needed to stretch and when I did, I wished I had not. Man that hurts. I have to stand to relieve the muscles that are stretching taut. Whew I hate those.
I then wash my face and hands and say, "Heck I am not awake yet, Go back to bed."
I did for about 30 minutes. Now I sit here looking for someone to talk to.
No one, not a soul is on line.
So my next chore is getting showered and making a trip into town. Maybe a little shopping will cheer me up.
David and I finished planting the melons yesterday. I plan on a big melon patch.
I also sat a lot yesterday. Just working my puzzles. I am never happy with the weather, it is either hot or windy or cool. The wind this year is so bad. Yesterday it was a north wind and that brings in cool air. Not over 75 yesterday. When I got up it was 57. Today looks like more of the same. This weather makes for good sleeping but not much else. You certainly don't want to be out in it.
Memorial day sales are in full force and maybe I can find a new swimsuit. I know I bought one last year. A one piece with a little skirt. I can not find it, I have looked about everywhere.
David does not remember it but I do, I remember, I hated the way the water clung to it and make your legs cold. So I guess the hunt is on again for the right one.
It would not fit anyway, My behind has shrunk and my suits I did find are droopy in the seat.
(Not a pretty picture.)
So again keep us in your prayers, we know the hand of God has to be with us. We could not make one more day without him.

Update

I am sitting here yawning today. not a good day to get out of bed. I want to go back but I need to get something done. Not sure what, but something.
The house is clean due to showing yesterday.
So this is update.
I have the biopsy on Thursday next week. My doctor if i understood correctly will have the results on Friday.
I will go into MD imaging for yet another sonogram. This makes three in as many weeks.
The reason behind this one is "The tumor is in the back of my thyroid and it is low and partly under my clavicle, My doctor can not do it because he can not feel it, It has to be done with the sonogram in place to see where they are insert the needle. he again told me it is pretty big and solid. No sure what solid means but there you have it.
I told someone, not to worry, Our family does not have cancer, we have the market on Heart Disease.
So on to better things.


I was mistaken about what group was looking at it. It is Teen Challenge. Bill called me later.
Teen challenge is an organization based out of Sacramento that works through local churches to take care of teens. In this case it is teen girls. These girls are kept out of the CPS system and prepares them for life and more of God in their lives.
I am just unsure how it all works.
Bill is really pushing this place as a place for the girls to raise animals, work in a garden and still have a pool to relax in. More of an office setting.
They were just thinking it is too small, However they can easily add several bedrooms in the insulated and finished Garage. (one attached to the house) plus they have the old garage to use as a separate living or office area.
As usual Bill is out of town now, right when he can influence and push ours.
He is on his way to Nashville. Summer is recording a track, One of the songs on it is "Chocolate is a Vitamin". Very cute wording and fits a young teen.
I told him I want my autographed copy, she has quite a few she is recording for her first CD.
Keep them in your prayers as they travel.
Wish I could travel. I need need to get away from here. It will be warm enough to make a trek to Lassen, so maybe that is my next trip.
Last weekend it was so hot, you wanted nothing more than to hop in the pool (which we did) but this week it is downright cold. I tried to sit onto porch last night to work puzzles but was too cold. My hands were too cold to hold the pen.
I guess we are never happy with the weather. It is a subject we can all relate to.
Ever notice how conversations are started? Even greeting a stranger we can refer to the weather.
"Hey how is the weather"? "Nice Day Huh?" "Man it sure is hot"
A topic we can all discuss from our point of view.
So that is my update. Not much going on here. Oh I do have more melons to plant and will get that done sometime today or this evening.
If the wind stops blowing so hard.
This has been the windiest year. I never recall having such wind gusts. My yard box is lying on its side. The huge umbralla was blown into thepool As
David ws within inches of it. My small umbrella was literally picked up and dumped in the rose garden. No it was not up, it was just strong wind gusts.
Last night was so cool, we pulled up the big heavy comforter.
So everyone have a great day.
Love you so much.

Wednesday

Today I showed the house.
Imagine my surprise when Pastor Tilley was the one looking. As soon as I opened the door, Bill introduced us, I said"Oh I go to his church".
They are looking at it for a home for Ladies, to prepare them to move into the public. So they can attain custody of their children.
I am not sure how they felt about it, but they seemed interested. Only time will tell.
They are checking out the roof line for add on.
I hope they buy it, I have a selfish reason for that.
My home has never been a place of contention. I believe it needs a Christian organization buying it.
I am pretty protective of my past homes.
David tells me I have to let go, I hate to drive by my old homes and see them in disarray.
They spend so much on a home then do not take care of it. Why? not very smart.
When we sold the last one, The buyer was a former ministers daughter from North Carolina. She said she could feel the peace in the house. That has always been my goal for my home. Peace and Tranquility.
That was a selling point for her.
The night she came to check it out, after buying it, she and her son slept in the house. She later called me and she was amazed at the peace and quiet you feel there.
isn't that amazing?
I have to say, I am almost afraid to sell, I love it here but I know this has to happen. I can only see now the work involved with the move. I have so many things to sell out, so you all don't have to do it.
It is going to be a big chore and we are hiring most of it done. But some things I do not let other people be responsible for. For example my Lamp and Clock. My computer, my China and Oh
my See I am already deciding what I personally have to take care of.
It is all in God hands, and I trust him totally.
So Sheri I may ask you to fly back to help me out. I am sure that won't hurt your feelings. LOL just kidding, that would be too much to ask of anyone.
But someday it will sell, In Gods time.

God will Catch You

This week's promise: God is our security

God will catch you

There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor. The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.
Deuteronomy 33:26-27 NLT When you are at the end of your rope, God is there to catch you—but not before.
Erwin W. Lutzer

God's everlasting arms

Our world seemed to be falling apart. My husband was severely depressed, and his business was crumbling. As I tried to support and nurture our children, help my husband, and take up the slack financially, I became drained physically, spiritually, and mentally. I cried out to God in exhaustion, and I felt his everlasting arms underneath me. Quieting my racing heart, the Lord reminded me that although my own resources might be exhausted, his resources were limitless.
During that difficult season I experienced God as my refuge when there was nowhere else to turn, and I felt his security in the middle of a very uncertain, insecure time.

In today's passage, Moses praises the Lord and assures the Israelites that God will be with them no matter what adversity or trial they encounter—that he is their refuge and underneath them are his everlasting arms. Do you need to feel God's everlasting arms carrying you today because your strength is exhausted? Do you know someone who is in desperate straits and needs God's help? Pray these verses for yourself or for someone else, and proclaim God's faithfulness.

LORD, there is no one like you! You ride across the heavens in majestic splendor to help us when we cry out to you. May we experience you today as our refuge and sense your everlasting arms of protection and love holding us. I praise you for your faithfulness and unparalleled power!

Sketch Tuesday

Over at http://www.theshadesofpinkblogspot.com/ you can view sketches of phones.
I find this amusing, as phones have changed so much, since I was a kid.

This is exactly like our phone, from 1956. I wish I had a rotary dial one now. David has such a hard time with buttons, (he has no feeling in his fingers). So maybe I will ask Santa for one.

So here goes,

Our phone was a black unit that sat on our telephone table.
In fact the furniture industry built phone tables expressly for the Telephone. It was a Telephone not a phone, not a cell, not a camera, A simple Telephone.
The telephone table was usually just a small table, nice height that would hold the telephone and beneath it was a small shelf for the telephone directory.
Our directory in Sheridan Arkansas was pretty small, about the size of a comic book. All the telephone numbers were four digits. Later they added things like "Call Cherry (CH) 9242."
That was the numbers you dialed but that was in bigger cities like Pine bluff Arkansas.
One day the town of Sheridan had to add a 2 in front of the numbers so now it is 5 digits long.
Later they had to add 94 now we have 7 numbers to dial. (I still remember our old number)
Changes are so good or are they?
Simplicity is over.
Next technology for us was going to be a cell phone to use in the car. That to us was the height of luxury. To be able to call from the car and look important. LOL
Our phones had a definite Ring Ring.
when we played telephone, (yes a game) we would call someone and would say," Ring Ring." Now what do kids say? They have to think of a song to sing to the telephone ringing. LOL

We did not have a song to warn us or a buzz , no just a ring!!! ring!!!!.
Our phone was simply that, a way to communicate in emergency or to just chat. (but not too much).
We also had a party line, Meaning several people used out line. I could call my friend and have another friend call and we could have a three way conversation simply by picking up the phone.
One day Charlote Carter, (my doctors daughter) called me and told me to hang up and pick up the phone in two minutes, she then called Helen Fletcher and I picked up the phone and we had a conference call. It was fun. This was in 1962, way ahead of the times.
Or phones never took pictures or videos. Our phone had one use. And it was easy to hold on to and it was easy to dial, The dial was a spin dial, not push button.
So Technology has caught up so much and I am sure Alexander graham Bell had no idea what his invention would turn into.

God is Like

This was sent to me by my sweet Niece. Wanted to share it.

A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God. Here are some of the results:

God is like BAYER ASPIRIN

He works wonders.

God is like a FORD

He's got a better idea.

God is like COKE

He's the real thing.

God is like HALLMARK CARDS

He cares enough to send His very best.

God is like TIDE

He gets the stains out that others leave behind.

God is like GENERAL ELECTRIC

He brings good things to life.

God is like SEARS

He has everything.

God is like ALKA-SELTZER

Try Him, you'll like Him

God is like SCOTCH TAPE

You can't see Him, but you know He's there

God is like DELTA

He's ready when you are.

God is like ALLSTATE

You're in good hands with Him.

God is likeVO-5 Hair Spray

He holds through all kinds of weather.

God is like DIAL SOAP

Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did? (that one is my favorite)

God is like the U.S. POST OFFICE

Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from His appointed destination.
God is like Chevrolet. . . .

the heart beat of America
God is like Maxwell House. . .

Good to the very last drop

God is like Bounty. . .

He is the quicker picker upper ...can handle the tough jobs... and He won't fall apart on you

Watching Him Sleep

Some days when I am so tired, (which is every day) I think I just want to sleep a few minutes.



Always on the weekend.
When I lie down, David joins me. He is as tired as I am and he sleeps so good.
(He would never forgive me if I had the front view. )
He sleeps so peaceful. I love to watch him sleep.
Don't you just love this head full of white hair? Sheri this is who Gavie has hair like. His photos of him as a boy showed a head full of unruly hair.


I often just lie and watch him sleep, I watch the movement of his eyes and listen for his deep breathing. I cant help but wonder how many more days we will have this opportunity.



For a season, for a moment in time.


I could stay awake just to hear you breathing,

watch you smile while you are sleeping,

while you're far away and dreaming,

I could spend my life in this sweet surrender,

I could stay lost in this moment forever.

Every moment spent with you

is a moment I treasure.







I don't wanna close my eyes

I don't wanna fall asleep

cause I'll miss you babe

and I don't wanna miss a thing

cause even when I dream of you

the sweetest dream will never do

I still miss you babe

and I don't wanna miss a thing.

Another broken Pipe

I did it. I accidentally hit the sprinkler system valve with the plow on the tractor. When I hit it i was backing up and forgot I had that big blade on the tractor. How could I forget? Easy I had my head in the clouds and was watching David motion me to stop or move over or what ever I was doing. (so I can say , His fault).
No really it was me. All Me.
So we checked and the pipe seemed fine. No water was flowing out, We figured no break. Boy were we wrong. We let it go, I checked it and it seemed fine, until I walked out to the system. I stepped in awfully mushy ground.
Why? The water only flowed out when the system for that section was on.
Now for another problem, The two systems are timed together. When one is on the other is on, to save power. So with the water flowing freely from the broken pipe, the other system did not get enough water.
Therefore I have a section of lawn that is almost dead. I never walk to that side of the house.
Oblivious me did notice the herb garden was looking kind of sad, but I always thought that sprinkler was not good enough anyway. So for tonight my sprinkler on the east side of the house is running and the herb garden is getting watered,
And
And
And
Now:::: We have to hire the pipe fixed.
Reason: It is connected to a system control.
Me and my tractor always get into trouble.
We start fires, we cut up snakes, we run into pipes, we get awfully dirty.

But But But,

He thinks my tractors sexy,
It really turns him on,
Hes always staring at me.

Snake!!!!!!!!!!!

As you know I hate snakes. I detest the way they look at you and more than that I hate the way they run up on our property.
Snakes are cold bloodied reptiles. We have a green lawn and cool dirt. They want in our yard. I do not want them in my yard.
Yesterday, as David cleaned the pool, I walked all over the place, I moved sprinklers and hoses and watered my plants. I did not rally watch where I was waling. I just never thought about a snake.
As David came out to bring up the propane tank, he stopped.Of course I ask what was it, he said A snake.
I had no rattles, so I think it was a bull snake. Big dude too.I debated on having him kill it, it was not harmful, The only harm would be when you hurt yourself getting away or running scared.
David finally got a hoe and killed it. He kept saying it is so hard to tell it from a rattler, they are the same color.
I know beyond an shadow of doubt I stopped over him several times,. I had been all over that spot where he lay.
Now I will look where I walk , I am very aware.
Stupid me.
In addition it was about four feet long. I am sure it is the mother of all snakes. It was big and healthy.
Last summer we found two by the house, again in the cool grass and out of the hot field.
I Just pray I see no more, I am so sickened by them, it took me a good four hours to realize it could not come into the house., it or his brother or sister.
The snake was approx four beet long. I think longer but I was not getting out a measure to win a point. David said it was at least four feet.
Thank god he sees them, I walk around with my head in the clouds.
Looking to ward the next chore.

Nite Lites to Nite Lites

When we are young, we often have a source of light for our parents to check on us, without turning the bedroom lights on.
In our day I am sure that light was the light from another room, Night lights were not common.
Before our children came along, we were finally able to sleep in the darkness, no scary monsters around or need to be checked on by our parents.
As the years progressed, Things begin to change. First with the birth of babies.
When we had our children, we had night lights, As those lights needed replaced or we felt night lights were not necessary any longer.
we often heard. "Leave the Bathroom light on" or "Leave my door open more"
At that point we knew they had a scary night or felt they needed more comfort.
We left the doors open, our door open and the lights on and the bathroom door opened more than a crack.
Now we are in our golden years. Too many times i wake to hear David run into something or feel his way to the bathroom.
It was time for a night light again.
I rummaged through my old lights and found two that had working bulbs. One is now in each bathroom and it is easier on both of us to get up in the middle of the night.
I personally have always had eyes like a cat. I can see in the dark and my sense of knowing tells m where every piece of furniture is and I just don't run into things.
I showed him one time How i could get out of bed with my eyes closed and go to teh bathroom wash my hands and walk back to bed without seeing a thing. He relys on his sight, I rely on feel. As in touching things he can not feel it, He has to see it.
Now we have our night lights.
Last night, David went to bed about an hour before me. I was working puzzles and was not wound down enough.
I turned off all the lights and walked down the hall. The glow from the bathoom lights was all I needed, plus the moon is 3/4 and beautiful.
As I crawled into bed he was snoring, peacefully and looked so handsome laying there.
As soon as I lay down, he never missed a snore and reached for my hand and held it.
He knew my presence. (ahhhhhh)
Then while still snoring I leaned to kiss him he responded with a kiss. (he was asleep).
I lay a while listening and watching him sleep and felt like the luckiest person in the world.
Here is the man I have spent almost 45 years with, he has a few bad teeth some that are crooked, he could lose a few pounds, he is white haired, where black used to be, he is wrinkled, (no more smooth skin of youth) He can not always find words to say, (forgetful) but I adore him so much.
I moved in for one more kiss and he again responded with a kiss. He was still snoring.
I giggled. He opened his eyes. I said "How did you know to kiss me." he said "I can feel you in the room"
Now if that isn't love, there's no stars in our sky.
If that isn't love the oceans not blue.
I will love him forever and a day.

Charley Horse

Muscle spasms often occur when a muscle is overused or injured. Working out when you haven't had enough fluids (you're dehydrated) or when you have low levels of minerals such as potassium or calcium can also make you more likely to have muscle spasms.
Some spasms occur because the nerve that connects to a muscle is irritated. The classic example is a herniated disk irritating spinal nerves as they exit the back, causing pain and spasm.

When Sheri was about four years old, she decided to come to our room in the middle of the night. I usually sleep with my right leg up. Bent at the knee. That night, when I felt her on the end of the bed, I pulled back the covers and said, "Come on in" She stood to walk on the bed and slipped. Her little neck hit my knee. She cried a little but I held her in my arms until we both fell asleep.
The next morning when she woke up, she screamed in pain. She could not move her neck. We tried all sorts of things, Baby aspirin, Rest and finally I called the Doctor. I took her in immediately. He said she had a simple "Charley horse" in her neck. I saw nothing simple about it. It was painful. Horrible for a four year old.
As a doctor he had to question why this happened.
Where were you? Huh? it was like two in the morning I was in bed asleep.
How did it happen? she slipped and hit my knee with her neck.
Sheri was my active one. She was always bruised. ALWAYS.
Her kindergarten teacher even caller her Klutzy Sher, Not a good name but I was not the only one to recognize this in her.
So the doctor sent her back home with me assured I did not abuse her and assured me in a few days she would be fine, just rest the neck.
Did we ever rest the neck!!! We held it so she could rise to go potty, we held it so she could eat or drink, We piled all the big fluffy pillows we could behind her so she could at least set up.
I then enrolled Sheri in Ballet and tap dance classes to improve her grace.
Did it work, well the general walking through the house and falling improved but the Tom Boy ways did not leave her.
On another trip to the doctor, she was again bruised. He asked "Sheri How did you get those bruises on your legs?" Her answer, (after removing her finger from her mouth) "I jumped off a cut up tree." (meaning woodpile).
He looked at me I laughed and said, "Sheri is an outdoor person and she is referring to a woodpile."
I say Like Mama Like Daughter. I have lots of scars to prove my tom boy days.
Now on to the Charley Horse.


I don't know what I did or if I had to do something. My neck is so sore today. I had a hard time sleeping last night. I switched pillows numerous times, My neck hurt at night but I figured it was the pillow.
Nope, today I woke with a "Charley Horse."
All I can say is 'IT HURTS" It is sore to the touch. I do have disc out and pray to God that is not why it hurts. I have been told a simple sneeze can cause them to shift. I have not done any thing major, anything at all. I spent yesterday in the beauty shop and came home and worked crossword puzzles.
( I do that a lot)
I made a semi decent dinner and again got sick at my stomach. I made hamburgers. I swear it is the beef that makes me so sick.
So I sit here with a heat pack on my neck in 90 plus temp outside.
I just hope it goes away, I cant turn my head to the side, I have to turn my entire body.
Darn it.
(one positive, turning my entire body is good exercise)

Brillo Pad

My hair looks like one. In fact Andy used to call me that. When I had one of my curly perms.
Today I treated myself to a perm. I just could not see me all summer, fighting the stringy hair in my face.
As you may or may not know I let my hair rest a lot. I perm it, and then wait a year or two before I do it again. I color it and now have waited 2 years since I did that. Not yet. Not to say I won't but sometime a new style is all I need to cheer me up.

Now on to something besides Me Me Me.
Today I planted a 72 foot row of potatoes and one of Golden beans. Yes, Sheri I planted goldbeans this year. They are so good. I still have to get my tomato, pepper, squash and eggplant in the ground. My tomatoes are blooming so I have to nip them and plant really deep.
I am much slower this year. I usually can do it in one day, but an hour is all I want to handle. All I need to handle.
I plant when I feel like it. I do not do anything after David gets home. He is still not feeling well, and I don't want him to feel like he has to help.
I work in the cool of the morning, often in my Pajamas. (which look like shorts and a top). I then come in take a shower and eat my breakfast.
Tomorrow I hope to plant the peas and the tomatoes, who knows? It looks like I need to make another row or two with the tractor. I will see.
i just have to decide. I will have enough food to feed an army. Lets see, all rows are 72-75 feet long. I have a row of Green beans, Yellow beans, Potatoes, two rows of corn, and two rows ready to plant but not sure how to proceed. As in what do I put where?
I may just decide on another spot for the running plants, as in squash and melons.
So that is my day for tomorrow or NOT. I will know when I start the day, all according to how I feel when I get this old body moving.
So you all have a great day ahead and sleep well tonight.
Oh Yes, Good night, sleep tight, Don't let the bed bugs bite.
Love you Mom

Big Evening

As you may have read my mail, Last night was pretty stressful. The young man next door, (14 years old) was physically thrown out of his guardians home. His guardian being his grandfather. I was so sad for him. I have never heard it from a persons mouth. But Bill told me this.

"I have never been allowed to go to other peoples home. I never could go anywhere but school and with my Grandpa.
A few weeks ago I had a sleep over with a friend. I saw a happy family."
He just beamed. He was elated to think of the laughter in that home. I believe that home gave him the courage to step up and say I have had enough abuse. He said he has been punched in the mouth and had nose bleeds. He has been hit up side the head. He has been shoved down, many times.
What did I see? Nothing or I would have reported it. I did hear a lot of yelling. Cursing him out, by his grandpa. I would just cringe when he yelled at him.
A few weeks ago David was out and he heard Jim yell at Bill, He came home and said,
"Hey Billy is yelling back now."
that in itself is not good.
As we counseled Billy last night we impressed on him the need to make good choices. I asked how old he is now, He said fourteen. I said, "OK Bill from this day forward every choice you make will influence your life, choose the right friends, choose the right path and choose to follow God.."
He told us he does believe in god but his Grandpa believes we were all put here by aliens.
These aliens come back every so often to check on us.
I said, "You are just trying to make me laugh, He does not really believe that." Bill assured me that is exactly what he has been taught.
But he saw Christianity in other things. D was a big influence on him for God in your life. Did Bill say that? No but he has alluded to it several times in the past. He saw a family, something he did not have, he saw people going to church, he saw a Mom cooking meals, He saw unity. He saw laughter. Something I never heard from that place.
I asked what he watch on Television at night, he said, "Nothing" I just sit.
I was stunned. I knew he was kept close tabs on but this was a surprise. I figured games, He said No I don't get to do that either.
Now in saying all this. I have to wonder how much is true, how much is a child telling things to get his way.
The police asked if we saw that as a norm at that house. We said, No we can not say a word, we had seen nothing. I did say, Bill is a good kid and he is really scared.
They took him to a safe house for the night. I only pray he is OK.
I do love that little boy.
My heart breaks for him and any child that is Left Behind.

Left behind in so many ways, NO real Love in their lives. No comforting or hugs or laughter.

Somebody slap me

I always open my mouth and say things without looking around. I just think it and I say it. Usually it is perfectly innocent. 99% of the time it is innocent, people just wear their feelings on their sleeve, and again I repeat. I do not deliberately hurt anyone on purpose.

You know you look for a size in something and it sounds like you mean something else.

Case in point.

On Saturday we went looking for crocks to wear around the yard. We often have to just step outside and don't want to tie shoes.

As I was scrambling around in Walmart going through all the shoes, I could not find a size six(6 ). Yes I have a small foot. By the time I had gone through several boxes I stated.

"I guess they don't know there are size six women".

As soon as the words left my mouth I looked up and there was a size 18 lady in the aisle. Darn it!!!!

I told David to slap me, he asked why. When I told him he had a good laugh.

Then last week, I was in Walmart, again, in the garden shop. I have a tan skort. You know with shorts under it. It is mini, Yes, but it is decent. I would never show too much.

As I left the store a little girl, (again with a heavy Mom,) walked by me.

She said "OH a Mini skirt".

She said it in a sweet, innocent, voice, (she liked my skirt). I decided that day. "I will not wear my mini skirt/skort to town again. I will wear it at home.

If a child thinks it is a skirt then maybe it does look too much like a skirt and not enough like shorts.

I wear shorts a lot.

Over the years, I have made many blunders, Many many.

While managing the fashion dept, Marie Keen worked for me. We have been friends for over 35 years. As we were discussing a clerk that tells me when she will and wont work. I made a comment. Marie said the reason she could do it was because she was married to a colored guy. Yes the clerk used her color card a lot. If she did not get what she wanted she said we discriminated against her.

Marie was discussing a day off, I said in my most southern voice.

"Wy Honey your face is the wrong color to do that."

I did not know a colored lady had jsut entered the dressing room to try on clothes. Marie could barely stand, she was laughing so hard. I went to my office and hid until the customer left the store.

I am not predjudice at all, under any circumstances and the color card does not impress me at all.
I am sorry if I ever say something without thinking, I swear I do not mean it the way it comes out sometime.

Photos of my Grandchildren

I must give credit where it is due. I have griped and moaned and groaned and complained and mumbled quite often.
"I want photos of the grandchildren."
I am sure Mashelle did not want to open mail from me. She knew what was going to be there.
So today, for Mothers day I got photos, lots of photos.
Not an overload either. It is wonderful.
Charles and Shelle sent me a Digital player for a camera card. It is great.
Now to add to the story, when I was plugging it in, I saw a camera card in the slot.
I was thinking,
"That is nice, another camera card. I did not know they included those with the players, But this is great, now I have another card."

I took it out, and put my camera card in. I had it sitting on the end table when David walked in. He looked at it, and he stopped.(He probably figured I had been shopping).
I said "Charles and Shelle sent that."
He loved it. It was running through about 50 photos I had on my card. Most of which was the visit from Charles and the trips to Kens on Easter.

About 530 the phone rang. It was Charles, I told him a big Thank you and he said, "Mom that camera card that was in it, You know you say you never get photos, well they are on that card."
While holding the phone in one hand I was able to remove my disc and put his disc in.
Yep, I now have photos of the boys. Finally.
I had to tell Charles they are off the hook for now, but this is for now, I want the photos to keep coming.
So now, for a while, Mashelle can open her mail and not wonder if I am going to say,
"I want photos of the boys."
I also have to say, I love the photo of Joe asleep, and Josh with the speakers on his ears. That was so funny. Nic's glasses. He looks good in them. Very handsome Nic.
So Thank you all for the great phone calls and cards. I love each of them.
Not as much as I love each of you.
Thank you for a Wonderful Life, and I am Proud to say I am your Mom.
Love You
Mom

Broken Plans

Today I thoroughly planned on getting into the garden early. When I woke, it was cool, too cool for me to be outside. It was 50 degrees, I just checked and it is up to 57. Very soon I can go out. It will not take me long to plant the corn and beans, If I can stay ahead of the birds and get it covered before they eat the seed.
We seem to have a lot of wind this year. More than I can recall in the past. Perhaps that is contributing to the dry season. If it were not for the winds I could stand the cool air, since the sun is shining bright.
You know California Sunshine. It is everything you hear it is. Warm, comforting, spirit lifter. Then it is Hot hotter and hottest.
David felt much better this morning. After nursing a temp of 101 all weekend he said he felt fine today. I have to claim it.
As he slept yesterday,( nearly all day.) I walked into the room, stood at the chest of drawers and prayed for him. I stood there for a few minutes just asking God to heal him.
When he got up that time, He said he still felt bad. As the four hours wore off from the medicine. I took his temp again. It was 98.6. Perfect.
I told him I had prayed for him.
In a few minutes I said, "You know do you want to take another aspirin, just in case?"
As I started to the room to grab the bottle, I stopped. I said, "That is not practicing faith"
So no aspirin and no more temps.
In the middle of the night, on one of his many trips to the bathroom, He did get two more, just because he was aching. I checked, he did not seem to have a temp.
So today, we are just waiting for it to warm up, and I can get the garden planted. I am not letting him out there for a while. I think I wear him out.
When my battery runs down, I stop. I just have to make myself stop, I will keep going and going and going.
Most of mine is from nerves, I can not sit or I think too much. If I sit and think I will worry and I can not accomplish one thing by worry, it will not add one nano second to my life.
God knows each hair on my head, he knows each sparrow that falls, he surely knows my heart..

Long Ago

Long ago, and, oh, so far away
I fell in love with you before the second show.
Your guitar, it sounds so sweet and clear,
but you're not really here.It's just the radio.
Don't you remember you told me you loved me baby?
You said you'd be coming back this way again baby.
Baby, baby, baby, baby, oh, baby.
I love you, I really do.
Loneliness is such a sad affair,
and I can hardly wait to be with you again.
What to say, to make you come again?
Come back to me again, and play your sad guitar.

A wonderful artist preformed this many years ago.( Karen Carpenter.)
Today as I was thinking of the day. I thought of a time Long Ago.
Yet not so long ago either. Where did the years go?

I recall very vividly, the first Mothers day breakfast I had with my children. Charles we about six years old. Dad and he made breakfast for me. It was scrambled Eggs, coffee, milk, toast, jam and a single rose.
Every year Charles would make the trek to the garden to cut one rose he wanted on my tray. It was presented in a small vast and was more beautiful than any rose I had ever seen. Every year another rose would appear and be more beautiful than the last.
When Ken was old enough he was in there helping. I recall one day, they came into the room, each holding a side of the tray so each could say they helped.
When Sheri was older she too joined in. I had breakfast in bed every Mothers day. One day I suggested enough be made for all of us, (in secret to their dad) We all sat on my bed and ate toast and laughed and talked.
What a special day it was. A day that never leaves my memory. A day that continued on each year.
The little kids carrying a tray bigger than they were.
Then one day,Dad did not have to help, The kids were on their own and the tradition never ended.
Today as I was talking to Ken, the kids told me they made breakfast for Mommy.
That made my heart proud. A tradition carrying on. A time Mommy will never forget no matter how old she gets or how old the babies get.
Today is a day for each of you Mommies.
From experience I can tell you,
Memorize each smile and treasure each little stumble, they only make you grow.
One day from the depths of your memory this day will pop up and you will smile.

Tribute to Mama

When I lost my Mom to God, we asked each grandchild to write something about their Grandmother.

My daughter sent this.

It describes her more perfect than anything I can write.

I write in sadness and she wrote this from her heart.

Mama made each grandchild a quilt and they each still use these quilts as a source of comfort.

I too use my quilt my Mama hand stitched. When I feel low or sick, I pull the quilt out and I can almost feel her big strong arms around me, If I snuggle really close I can smell her. I can feel her ample chest comforting me.

With her whispering "It is all right".

Grandma

When Mom called this morning and asked me to write something in remembrance of Grandma.

I sat here all day wracking my brain .

What could I write?

What would I say about a woman I hardly knew, but that raised the most incredible woman I know.

How do I express what she meant to me, to people who saw her every day of her life?

And so I thought .... and thought... and nothing was coming to me.

What do I know about Grandma?

She was a woman who, without complaint, took over the total responsibilities of her family when her husband was taken away over 40 years ago,.

So I know she was strong.

She raised 8 children who stood by her everyday of their lives and gathered around her as she died, so I know she was loving.

She had porcelain like skin with an incredible rosy glow, (I saw that for myself)

so I know she was beautiful.

She had a quiet voice and a strong constitution...

What could I think of, that would represent her to me... then suddenly it came to me... literally.

My two year old daughter had wandered down the hall and opened the linen closet, from the depths of the closet she pulled out the most perfect item I own..

It is old and graying and battered.

It has strong straight seams, as strong as grandma must have been.

It is created from scraps and pieces of this and that.

What she had on hand, which when all together formed a beautiful piece of work. ...

It is old and worn from a hard life but still soft and comforting when we need it.

This My quilt, this is My promise from My Grandma,

I will remember her always.

Sheri Sears July 1999

What a Day!!!!

We have had a very busy day. My day began at 230 up and sick sick. I finally went back to bed at 4 am and felt much better.
Then at 7 we had to get to work before it got too hot.
David began working the garden rows. They are fertilized and furrowed for the seed. I will do that on Monday. (he is worn out)
Right now I am watering the dirt. It is so dry I call it dead dirt. No life at all in it. Not one drop of moisture.
I planted several Shasta Daisy and cleaned out one of the flower beds. I also planted more petunias, and transplanted several clumps of Violas. They are running rampant in my front flower bed. I then proceeded to the garden to help cover the fertilize. We completed that task so we could work on a broken pipe.
Yes, a pipe Mark put in, It is the one by the side of the driveway. I noticed it was awfully slushy around the faucet and told David we had a break. I was sure. He dug down and found the elbow was not secure. No breaks, in the line just the elbow was not secured to the pipe when he installed it. (when he tried to install it)
David had to go into town to buy the pipe glue, when we could get it finished. After a lot of crawling around in the mud, and pushing the pipe together, We finally called it a day.
we put everything away. It was NOON
We had not ate yet. So we treated ourselves to breakfast and lunch at I Hop. Cereal would have been better and much cheaper.
But we felt it would do us good to just sit and let someone else serve us.
At least now the faucet is fixed and the flowers are planted and I can plant the garden on Monday. At least it is ready to complete all we need to complete. I used 32 lbs of fertilize on the garden.
While in town we shopped for seed. Not one package of black eye peas did we find. I have to search further.
I also talked your dad into a pair of Mens Crocs, He has to slip his shoes on to go to the back yard and this is so much easier on him.
Also keep him in your prayers, and pray we sell this place before it kills him.
I can see the age difference now, A few years ago it was nothing but now, He can not keep up. (Marie calls me the Energizer bunny and I am getting tired.)
When we were closing up outside I watched him walk across the yard. He is bent to the left. Not all time but when he gets tired. His entire body drops to that side and his shoulders are definitely dropped. I told him he walked like Leon, his brother. Poor thing.
I feel so bad when I see him like that. It breaks my heart. He wants the garden too or I would say "Heck with it". But as he said, "once we are eating the fresh veges we will be glad for all the hard work."
So on to a fun.
Ken and I have discussed writing a new vocabulary. You know David-isims.. Like my noise thing which is my voice. One is you know what. (from the doctors visit)
So all have a great day.
And you ladies, Sheri, Mashelle and Kristina, Have a wonderful Mothers Day.

Friday Noon

Well I feel like it should be noon. I had a busy morning.
When I got up, I said, "you are accomplishing something today, no lying around. The sun will be good for you."
As I walked outside it was not the sun I felt but cool air, I seem to chill so easily. That will soon end as it heats up in Beautiful Redding California.
I intended to start some working the garden with the tractor but got it stuck in a pile of dirt. All I was doing was throwing dirt with the back wheel and most was ending up on me. I finally gave up. I can usually work it out but not today.
I guess I was not meant to work the garden.
I then turned all the sprinklers on the places we do not have irrigated. My next chore was to start planting and weeding my flower bed at the front of the House. As I progressed I decided I was tired of the Shasta Daisy that take over my sidewalk every year. This year it is getting moved. I dug it out and the wheel barrow is full of daisy plants. It is overflowing with plants.
Now when David gets home we will decide where to plant them. I am thinking on the west side of the pool. My Herb garden really needs work and perhaps I will get it done in a couple of hours. I have to rest a while.
I really should be mopping the floors. That can wait until this evening when I seem to have more energy for housework, Besides there is no better feeling than to get up on a weekend to a spotless house and not have to do any housework or dishes. That is one thing that makes me feel relaxed.

I planted petunias, dusty millers, a squash in my flower bed, (a squash plant is a beautiful plant) and saliva, (red). I worked the moist soil in the beds. They look really nice now. No overgrown look, other than the daffodils that I am still waiting to die back. You are supposed to leave the tops until they die back, that is how the daffodils get nutrients for next season.
I don't like looking at them but I had beautiful daffodils for three years in a row, so I wont cut them back. (just yet).

I was so hungry yesterday, I wanted Colonel Sanders chicken. You all know I do not like eat out food as a rule but I was just hungry for it. I took two buckets to Patty's on Sunday and when I got in line to eat, it was all gone, and I had my mouth set for some. You know how it goes you think of something to eat and you get hungry for it.
So to make a long story short last night I ate three drumsticks. I guess I was hungry. LOL
Call me piggy. I never eat three pieces of chicken, but a drumstick does not have a lot of meat on it. I guess that justifies my piggishness.
So tonight I am making Panini with Havarta and grilled chicken breast. (got the idea from my daughter) That is one thing David will eat, actually he eats anything but he just cant taste it. He says his taster is gone. He eats to live not to like the food.
Sad huh for someone who used to love food and flavors and thoroughly enjoyed his food.

Tomato Plants

I can go wild in a garden shop. Someone has to stop me. I bought 7 tomato plants.
Well you know, Early Girl so we can have tomatoes early, then the big ones (up to one lb) for slicers. Roma for Salsa, Heirloom for the most wonderful flavor, Cherry for popping in your mouth when outside and a stripe one and a gold one. (love the unique colors and yellow tomatoes do not have as much acid). It was all I could do to put some back, Yes I had more on my cart. I had a purple one, a black one and Lord knows what else.
I have yellow and zucchini and butternut squash. I have cucumbers and Bodacious Corn and Yolo Peppers, I did find potatoes, they are the organic ones at the local market. Not exactly a seed potato but they have not been sprayed with a growth inhibitor. A local gardener suggested I do that.
I also bought blue lake green beans to plant. I have to soak the beans and corn overnight to break the husk and promote faster germinating.
Some people are putting in their third garden for the year. Can you imagine that? I often wish I had started earlier but if I had, everything would have frozen. That is why they are on their third. Too early planting.
Ricky, (garden shop lady) told me she never puts hers in until May 15th. So we are right together on our planting.
I usually buy Squash seed but I want to see instant results.
I am trying to decide how to finish my yard. I just have a hard time looking at the back freeway side of the yard. It is so blah.
I have to see if Ron has any more plants started. He usually has them in gallon containers and gives them away.
He gave me 5 Rose of Sharon which are now 5 feet tall. several Heavenly bamboo, Gardenia and several other species. If I can get several plants I will just plant there and not worry about the spacing. Just to have some color and something going on there.
OK I have to rest now, I have spent my morning between resting and getting my gardening supplies, I am not working outside until it cools down. It is in the 80's. Not awful and supposed to be cooler tomorrow. I have a few loose ends to tie up before it gets into the 100's. Everything is so dry here. I dread the fire season.
Oh I almost forgot.
As we were sitting in the living room on Tuesday I smelled smoke and when I glanced out the door I saw white. Just white. I was getting up to close the windows when I saw the fire on the freeway. I guess someone had thrown a cigarette or something out. It was on the South side. I kept wishing it would jump the freeway and burn our field. It does need burned off. That is good for a open field, Once in a while.
I just know this year is going to be horrible.
I do not recall our field looking so bad so early. And I did nto get it mowed and I am not mowing it.
We have a large area around the house we keep green and it is under sprinklers so we are not concerned about our home or any thing on it, it is just the horses next door, and the kids next door do not keep theirs mowed. The dead grass is right up to the house. That is a big worry.
So another fire already and I did NOT start it.