Decorations with a Flair!

I cannot believe that November has come and gone so quickly. Now, we only have 24 shopping days left until Christmas and I have so much more to do! I finally finished getting the interior of my home decorated but I have absolutely nothing outside. I'm not sure how much I will do since we are almost hidden from the highway. If you look at the right time, you may be able to see just a little. The grandchildren may want some lights outside, though, for when they come visiting, so I may come up with a little something.
I remember when we lived in Panama. Decorating for Christmas was the highlight of the season. Since the weather was warm all year long, it really didn't feel like Christmas, not the way it does in the upper 48; therefore, people absolutely went crazy decorating their yards. The extravagance was something to behold and we loved it. We saw Santa Claus climbing in and out of "artificial" chimneys; elves were making toys and riding trains in and out of their workshops; Santa would get out of his sleigh, walk the roof with his bag of toys, place them in the chimney, and walk back to his sleigh; and, other unbelievable, amazing, and entertaining venues. The "Zonians" (Americans living and working in the Panama Canal Zone) were mechanical geniuses!! I would love to see some of those decorations again. There is also a small town just off I-85 in North Carolina south of Charlotte and Gastonia (called McAdenville I think) that goes all out with decorations and lights. Many people go down by the bus loads to view the amazing sights. If you get a chance sometime, you may want to venture that way.
I hope that your Christmas will be lighted with good health, happiness and that you will be surrounded by family and friends!

I'm Back!!

I'm back! No, I really haven't been gone, just busy with Thanksgiving, then Christmas shopping all day Friday! I am still recuperating!! We went to my oldest daughter's on Thursday and had a grand time. Young folks will really keep you laughing and enjoying yourself and that's exactly what my 3 grandchildren, a boyfriend, and my own children did! (I literally had indigestion while listening to them joke around during lunch!) Laughter is good for the soul, though, and now I am looking forward to a repeat performance on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day when they will visit in our home.
On Friday, my sisters and 2 nieces spent the entire day shopping! I think we tried to figure out which stores would be the busiest and have the longest checkout lines and that's where we headed! For us, that was Kohl's! The lines actually went almost all the way around the interior of the store and came within 100 feet of meeting in the back of the store! It did move along rather nicely, however, and we took turns shopping along the way! (The problem was, we bought more while standing in line than we had while walking around looking! Hmm, maybe that's the reason for fewer lines??) The best part is eating lunch and dinner together and returning home around 11:00 PM or later. My older sister's husband is not well, so she and her 2 daughters left for home earlier this year (around 6:00 PM).
Saturday, I did absolutely nothing but try to catch up on my rest, go through my packages, and sort through all the gifts to determine which ones needed to be mailed to California and Quitmo, Cuba.
Last night, my daughter and I put up my Dickens village, which will remain displayed until the end of March. It takes so much time to put the village up that we leave it up all winter. Maybe we will post a picture on this site at a later date.
Today, although still tired, has been a day to help my niece with a school project, decorate my Christmas tree, and wash clothes. (Yes, Monday is "wash day" for me as my mom taught me). I even decided to go back to Curves today since I have been missing the past 3 weeks due to my very serious case of bronchitis. (I went through 3 rounds of antibiotics and a round of steroids before finally getting better). Tonight, we decorate the church for Christmas.
Maybe tomorrow, I will have something more interesting to write about. Some days are just easier than others to write about. Good or bad, I'll be back!

Thank You, Readers!

I just wanted to get on the blog this morning to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. May you enjoy your day with your family and/or friends; may you have a bountiful celebration; may you enjoy a healthy, happy, and safe holiday season; may you, today and always, give and receive kindness; may you remember the sacrifices our ancestors made, the hardships they faced in coming to this country, and their reasons for enduring those traveling hardships to get to this country of religious freedom; and, may GOD BLESS YOU REAL GOOD!

Thank You, Readers!

I just wanted to get on the blog this morning to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. May you enjoy your day with your family and/or friends; may you have a bountiful celebration; may you enjoy a healthy, happy, and safe holiday season; may you, today and always, give and receive kindness; may you remember the sacrifices our ancestors made, the hardships they faced in coming to this country, and their reasons for enduring those traveling hardships to get to this country of religious freedom; and, may GOD BLESS YOU REAL GOOD!

Retirement: It's What's Happening!

I know that I am behind in my blogging due to a very busy day yesterday, but what a nice day it was, at least for the most part! The county's school district office, from which I am retired, always hosts for its employees a Thanksgiving luncheon at an excellent restaurant. The even more wonderful part is that they always invite the retirees from the office! I retired from there in 1999 and have enjoyed this tradition for 22 years now. With a new superintendent, I was afraid that this would be one tradition she would forego; however, with some convincing from other co-workers, the tradition is being continued. Eleven of us retirees attended and we were given the opportunity to speak briefly (impromptu!): we were asked to tell what our job here entailed, how long we worked here, other places we had worked, and what we had been doing since retirement. In case you are interested in my past, these were my paraphrased words plus more: "I began my teaching career in this county as a sixth grade teacher for 5 years, became a language arts consultant for an additional 2 years and started working on my Ed.D in UNC-Chapel Hill before marrying a military man and leaving the state and country. I taught 6 years with the Panama Canal Company before returning to the 'land of the big PX'. I worked on my Ed.D while in Panama through Penn State University and after moving to Oklahoma, I was able to finish my doctorate at the University of Oklahoma (yea, Boomer Sooners!). Following my husband's retirement from the Air Force, I was hired as Associate Professor and Director of Teacher Education at a college where Don was also hired as an Assistant Professor of Business. We remained there for 7 years prior to my being hired as Associate Superintendent in this county where I finally retired, but continued to help them out on a part-time basis for an additional one and one-half years. Since 2000, Don and I have been traveling in our 38' motorcoach (in which I do most of the driving), t0 Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, all 48 states, and twice to Alaska and mid- and western Canada. (We also spent 2 weeks in Hawaii) For the past 7 years, we have enjoyed spending about 2 months in southwest Florida during the winter months. Since retiring, we have also gained 2 wonderful little grandchildren, camped across country with my brother and sister-in-law to CA to visit our son and his family, and just enjoyed being with our family and friends."
With the exception of losing my wonderful mom, my brother's and my recent heart problems, and my brother-in-law's sickness, we have enjoyed our retirement, and we look forward to enjoying many more of our retired years together...!!

Today is a very rainy day in the Southeast. If you read my Friday's blog, you would have noticed that one of my 67 things to do or see was rain. Well, it has been doing that all day long and is still pretty soggy outside; however, we needed this so badly since we are almost 10" below our normal. Places had begun to ration water by scheduling days to water lawns: odd-numbered homes one day and even-numbered another day. Fines for disobeying have been quite high too.
Now, that leaves 66 things on my list but I do hope to see many more rainy days and Mondays. For some, such days get them down, but, personally, I think they are beautiful days; really, I do. It's just something about rainy and snowy days that make them beautiful to me (even an icy day although I do fear them). Everything outside looks so different: a glistening, cool-to-cold appearance. When the clouds are low, I get a wonderful feeling, a feeling of being embraced by the world. It's almost a snuggly feeling, as I often get when I relax in my recliner with a soft, fuzzy throw or blanket on a lazy Sunday afternoon. If you want to experience this feeling, look out your window; notice the closeness of things outside (which often feel more distant on a warm, sunny day). Let the day embrace you. Say a prayer of thanks for...
another day.

When I grow up, I want to...

All day, I have planned to blog; yet, when I read the happy birthday blog from my daughter, I have difficulty knowing what to say. No mom could be prouder of her daughter than I, and when I read her "Ode to Mom", it melted my heart. Please take a moment to check out Kendra's blog. I cannot live up to her high praise but I was so glad to read her thoughts. Boy, does she know her mom!! I was surprised!!

On her birthday 2 weeks ago, Kendra listed 33 things she wanted to accomplish or to do in her lifetime and I told her that I would love to come up with 67 things on my birthday. I have already had so many wonderful experiences. She encouraged me to give it a try, so here goes. (Maybe I will think of 67 things I would like to see, do, or purchase):
1. To see all my children secure in their futures
2. See all my grandchildren healthy, happy, and hopefully grown
3. Get to CA again to visit my son
4. Travel to southern Texas, NM, etc. and visit the western museums
5. Enjoy many more of our family reunions
6. Travel to northwestern states
7. Visit my friends in Oklahoma City again
8. Visit Prince Edward Is. again and see our friends from Nunviut (sp.)
9. Visit Univ of OK and see my college professors and colleagues
10. See Livvy's baby tooth drop back into place since the accident
11. Have lunch with my son in Greensboro many more times
12. Visit our friends in Gaffney, SC
13. Trade motorcoaches at least one more time
14. Take a cruise
15. Win the lottery (a small one would be fine; of course, I would need to buy a ticket-haha)
16. Learn some Chinese
17. Hear Livvy play as a talented musician
18. Go gem mining in the West
19. See my brother-in-law, Marcus, feeling well and his cancer in remission
20. See my grandson safely home from Gitmo, Cuba
21. War in Iraq ended
22. More evidence of our country believing "In God We Trust"
23. See rain!! (It's dry here)
24. Read through the Bible again with more understanding and concentration
25. Write a children's book for my grandson, Clay
26. Lose 10 + pounds (and not be sick to do it)
27. Visit my daughter in Charlotte
28. Take another bus tour with our church
29. Get another new car (or 2 or 3 or 4)
30. Lose another 10 + pounds (same stipulation as above)
31. See my daughter, Kendra, finish her Master's degree
32. Spend many more winters in Florida
33. Take a nice camping trip with Kendra's family
34. Meet Billy or Franklin Graham
35. Enjoy an old-fashioned picnic with the family
36. Travel to Hawaii again
37. Run into more of my old high school buddies
38. Visit my other college alma maters
39. Visit Panama
40. See "Spirit of the Dance" again
41. Get a new computer
42. And a new printer
43. And become more computer literate
44. Finish all of my scrapbooks
45. Get a digital camera
46. Visit Charleston, SC
47. Travel the entire Route #66
48. Cruise down the Mississippi River on the Delta Queen
49. Travel to British Columbia and the Yukon Territory
50. Spend more time in Skagway, Alaska and camp along the Bay where the ships dock
51. Have my backporch screened in so that I could enjoy it more in summer
52. Travel the Natchez Trace
53. Visit the Cowboy Hall of Fame in OKC
54. Visit Roy Rogers' Museum in LA
55. Camp in the Redwood Forest
56. See the whales off the coast of Washington and Oregon
57. Visit St. Thomas, VI
58. Tour all the landmarks in North Carolina
59. Visit Biltmore House when decorated for Christmas
60. Visit St Augustine, FL
61. Travel to the tip of the Florida Keys
62. Travel to Santa Fe, AZ
63. See all the colorful balloons in New Mexico
64. Enjoy lots of Cajun music in Louisiana
65. Write a Christian novel
66. See my son, Thom's business continue to grow and flourish; and, finally,
67. Stay healthy, happy, and be surrounded by healthy, happy family and friends!!

Well, if I had more time, I could probably make a more desirable list but this was fun. Hope you enjoy!

Counting Blessings in the Midst of Pain

I would like for you to read my daughter, Kendra's blog today if you will. She is blogging about her little two-year-old daughter, Livvy, who fell last night and damaged one of her front teeth. Kendra does a wonderful job of giving the nightmarish details of the accident and the experiences that follow. I don't know if you can highlight her name here or go to one of my comments and her name will be highlighted. Click on that and it will lead you to her blog: I think. People say this happens to children all the time but it doesn't happen to mine every day. I have a hard time dealing with tooth and mouth accidents, especially since my son, Thom, had a really scary trail bike accident when he was 15. His tooth was knocked out and lost for several hours in a field near home. I was at work but my hubby and brother-in-law took him to the hospital. When I arrived, Thom was in terrible state, with the wires from his braces entangling his mouth and face! I panicked and would not relax until they called in his special orthodontist, Dr. Davis, who rushed over in a formal white suit (he was on the way to a special dinner engagement). I admire that man to this day for all he accomplished for my son: by the time he finished, his suit resembled a candy cane! And, after many, many hours of tedious work, Dr. Davis would not accept one penny! How many doctors are so dedicated that he or she would make such sacrifices! I thank his wife for not being upset at his absence. Thom still has his tooth due to the sacrificial work of his orthodontist, his endodonists who also was very actively involved and other dentists. When he was in college, he did have to have some bone implants but today, at the age of 35, I thank God that he still has a beautiful smile and all of his teeth still intact.

I also have a very special niece, Teresa (born on Valentine's Day and always called herself a "little valentine") who had an accident when she was around 2 and lost both of her front teeth. You know, she was just as cute and sweet then as ever! In fact, to this day, she is one of the prettiest members of our family (and she has very pretty teeth too).

Now, my beautiful granddaughter, who happens to adore her Uncle Tommy, is experiencing some of the some pain and appearance. Both of them and Teresa are such beautiful people on the inside and outside, that nothing can destroy the things about them that so many people love. I am so thankful to God for having them in my life and in my family.

Ahhhh, family...What a blessing!!

What Day is It?

All day I thought it was Wednesday except things are happening a little differently than usual. First of all, our choir director is in the hospital and not doing real well; therefore, there will be no choir practice tonight. That's okay because Theresa needs to take care of herself, especially at this time of year when she is so busy with the adults' and children's cantata. She just takes on so much and doesn't do anything halfway; it must be perfect. We are so fortunate to have her because she is nothing but talent packaged in a little over 100 pounds! (the best we've ever had by far! AND, she can transpose musical keys in a flash without even thinking about it! This is great because many of us, especially me, have a low voice and she can correct that problem so easily! I hope she never leaves us!)

Second, I was watching this weird movie on Lifetime (and I mean weird!) and the doorbell rang. It was the Schwan's Ice Cream truck! He always comes on Thursday evening!) My diet kept saying, "don't buy anything", my eyes said "Buy!", and the salesman kept begging. So, I broke down and bought a box of the leanest steaks he has. No ice cream though. You know, it just dawned on me: Friday is my birthday. Why didn't I buy myself a birthday cake? That would have been a real treat for me since I haven't had a birthday cake since I was 13 years old! I keep telling my hubby that but still no cake; my children know, still no cake; many of my best friends know, and still no cake! (Last year, one of my friends decided to surprise me on my birthday, so she baked me a pie). I guess I'm not supposed to have another cake; frankly, I don't want one this year since I'm on this diet. Maybe, when I reach 70 (I'll be 67), someone will remember me with a cake. I just hope that when someone else remembers to present me with a birthday cake, I will have enough wits about me to remember why I'm getting a birthday cake! (Just kidding. I don't need a cake anyway)

Getting Ready

This week started off with a bang in that, once again, I spent half a day trying to get a flu shot, but couldn't get it due to this lingering case of bronchitis. Now, I'm on a high -powered medicine that will hopefully solve my problem. Who wants to feel bad this week, expecially when one has a birthday coming on Friday!! I'm supposed to feel good for that! The important thing is that I am celebrating a 67 th year! Wow, do they pass fast! Let me suggest that you enjoy every day the Lord gives you, cherish each of them and build your memories (while you can still remember them).

Speaking of memories, I am writing many of them down in case my mind won't let me remember them. I want that legacy to pass on to my children and grandchildren. I know my mom eventually had dementia and I so wish that I had written down much of what she said to us. She was such a special, funny little lady who enjoyed life and treated everyone with much dignity and worth. One a wealth of advice and love she had to offer!

Saturday, we had an all-day scrapbooking party as I mentioned earlier. Well, I ended up doing 14 pages, all of which tells a story of my college life. I still have one year of college, several teaching years, and dating days before I get to the heavy stuff: marriage and a family!! I'll make it though. I have all photos organized chronologically in file folders just waiting to be written about. But now, I have to return to the present: getting ready for Christmas! My family loves the season but no more than I, and I have lots of shopping to do, beginning the day after Thanksgiving! Yes, I am one of those people who loves to get out in the real rush of things! My sister and I will spend all day, from 8:00 AM until 11:00 PM shopping, eating and loving every minute of it! I need to start resting up for that day but I need to start back exercising so I can lug all those packages!! Woe to sore Muscles!!

"Thanks for the Broccoli"

I am trying to stick to the South Beach Diet and am at the end of my first week on this very strict diet. Today for lunch, we had raw broccoli to add to our salad. I had some in my salad when my grandchildren, Clay and Livvy were here. Clay came and sat down beside me and said, "That's broccoli", to which I responded, "Yes, it is. Would you like some?" He immediately said, "No, thanks." I would say that is a typical response from a 2 year old. Most adults don't like the stuff but I happen to be one who does. After watching me a few minutes, Clay again told me that was broccoli and once again, I responded, "Yes. Would you like some?" This time he wanted to try it but wasn't eating it like he thought too much of it. (He had just finished enjoying his potatoes, green beans, corn, etc. which was more to his liking). Then Livvy decides she would like to try some broccoli too so I shared with her. It was time for them to go home for their naps and, as they went out, Clay turned around and said, "Thanks for lunch.". But Livvy said, a surprising, "Thanks for the broccoli!" At least one of them thinks that broccoli can be something okay to eat! If I could be just a wee bit as active as those two, maybe I wouldn't have to eat so much broccoli and I could have some of that great -tasting Southern cooking! Oh, how much fun it is to eat; yet, what misery it is to try to lose those pounds! If you smoke and quit, be prepared to gain at least 10 + pounds, whether you eat more or not. Now, I am trying to lose those unwanted jiggles. Not smoking is much better for me and I WILL shed these pounds. Think encouraging thoughts for me, please!

Scrapbooking Day: A Day of Fun!

My bronchitis is better tonight and hope that it will continue tomorrow.

Tonight, I have been busy trying to get my study cleaned up so that I can start thinking about wrapping Christmas gifts in here. Also, we are having an all-day scrapbooking crop tomorrow at a local restaurant and I needed to prepare my photos, pictures, stickers, and ideas tonight so that I can be ready to get started fairly early. Actually, the crop started tonight and will continue all night, ending at 9:30 Saturday night! I just didn't feel like going tonight but Kendra and my niece did go, not to stay all night but to get started. I hope they can save my sister and me a place to work alongside of them. I really need the help of Kendra because she is so creative and craftsy. I have finished my parents' family history scrapbook, my book through 1956-57, and now planning to begin with my college years. I am also working on our travel scrapbook. I have years and years of cropping to do, mainly because my mom was so good at making and saving photographs, even when other folks didn't (back in the 30's and 40's!). I won't plan to blog tomorrow. Catch you Sunday.

A Quiet Day is a Good Day

With today being a holiday, there isn't much going on around the neighborhood of which I am aware. I thought my bronchitis was improving and I guess it was for awhile; however, today, my cough seems to be worse. Perhaps it's because it has, once again, turned rather cool. That's okay with me because I love all weather, rain or shine.

Today is a very important holiday and I'm so glad our state made Veteran's Day a required holiday for school-students and teachers (no workdays allowed anymore). We tend to forget all the men and women who have served in our armed forces, but today makes us remember the sacrifices made, not only by the the service people, but their families as well. I, for one, am proud to be an American who honors this day. My hubby is a retired AF officer and he had to be separated from his family at times. We were once stationed in an unsettled country filled with strife. Living in Panama during the Coup of 1968-69 was quite an experience we were happy to live through and be able to talk about today. The radio station in sight of our apartment was bombed; we were unable to leave our apartment for several weeks (fortunately, some Panamanians living in the building would bring us groceries); when we were finally able to leave the apartment, the Guardia Nationale (their police force) would search our car while holding the muzzle of their rifles in our faces, our children's too! Things were very scary for quite some time there. (I will take more time to tell you more experiences in a later blog.) I cannot fathom what our service people in Iraq and Afganistan are having to deal with today but I know they are in my thoughts and prayers. Won't you say a prayer for them today too?

Children in Restaurants

I just caught a little of a report on NBC about restaurants that have been and/or are beginning to make serious decisions about how loud children can be in their restaurants. Some mothers seemed very upset about this new trend. As for me, a grandmother now, I would like to know more details. Please accept my following comments as my personal opinion only with no intention of altering anyone else's. I have eaten in restaurants where no children were present and I was barely able to hear due to acoustics of the building and/or loud-mouthed adults in general. First, I want to know if the noise level of the building will be considered as a factor in these decisions. How loud is too loud? Will there be decibel monitors set up to determine this? How many adults will have to first complain or how many warnings do the guardians get before asked to leave?

Second, what behaviors of children constitute being too loud? Is it crying and temper tantrums, running around yelling, or laughter? (The laughter wouldn't bother me). Noise of children (unless it is totally out-of-control, excruciatingly loud, or kicking, hitting, on the floor, etc) doesn't bother me, BUT NURSING IN RESTAURANTS DOES! I believe that is something that is private for the parents and needs to be taken care of prior to entering or after leaving the restaurant. That habit is offensive to me and many others people, too. Smoking in most restaurants and public places has been curtailed for its offense to people (for which I don't mind since it is physically offensive). Is all of this happening because we are an aging society who wants more tranquility in our lives? (As a snowbird, one thing I miss seeing in our Florida park is children! Instead, what we often see is too many adults walking around with dogs on leashes picking up poop, too often using our space as their place of relief. Then, too, dogs like to bark at each other, cry in their RV's when left alone, etc. Now, I have nothing against dog lovers because I love them too. I just feel there are appropriate and inappropriate places for them: dogs have become a status symbol to some retirees. It seems that a new equation has been written: Retirement and RVing=1 or more pets. (No offense intended. Many times I believe people equate the two because they miss their little children so much).

Finally, what if the family is already eating when misbehavior begins? Will they get they meals in take-out boxes? Will they be forced to pay for the meal before leaving? (Hmm, that's an idea!).

I know these are issues with which many are concerned. What is going on today? It seems that almost everything is an issue for somebody today. Do we just voice our opinions more or are we becoming so self-centered that we want our ways about everything? I do have a few issues as everyone does, some to which I have alluded in this blog. What can we do to help solve all these problems? How can we help the parents with unruly children? How can we help others become more tolerant of other people's rights? I know what I will personally do: I will pray for this country, this people, this democracy in which we live. I will pray for God's blessings on us all and ask Him for forgiveness for our actions!...Perhaps you would join me in this venture?

Behaviors of a Child that Warms the Heart

It's great to see children with manners these days and I praise all parents who are teaching their children how to act. I bring this up for 2 reasons: first, I visited the local post office the other day and, as I opened the door to exit, a guy, probably in his late teens or early twenties, practically knocked me down to come in before I could walk out. He looked at me, the 66-year-old lady with the bum leg, and mumbled, "thanks." Am I missing something here? Was he not to step back and let me enter, perhaps hold the door for me? Why, he didn't even hold the door after he walked in; it was if he were saying, "Let the door hit you on the way out." I turned to watch him enter, then re-opened the door a little wider when, lo and behold, a girl in her mid-thirties repeated the performance, except she didn't say a word of gratitude! I wonder if I look like a doorperson or a post office greeter. (I am tempted to apply to Wal-Mart now as a Senior greeter since I have such first-hand experience plus I must look the part dressed in my jeans and sweatshirt!)

Now, let me recall for you the actions of my sweet little 2-year-old grandson who was visiting with his mom and sissy on Monday. Since it was almost dark when they were going to walk home (about 1000 yards I'd guess), I took them over in my golf cart and pulled up next to the front door steps. As Clay disembarked, he climbed a few steps, turned back and grinned that special dimpled smile of his (that melts my heart) and said, "Thanks, MaBoo!" Then he climbs to the porch, but before entering the house, he turns back to me and says, "I love you... You be careful." Why, those words won me over, heart and soul! What beautiful sentiments coming from a little boy who happens to be "all boy". I am so proud of his thoughtfulness and for his parents who are teaching him the best way to behave in a world that needs a lot of love shown. (I am also proud of his Sunday School adult friends who show their love for him and help to teach him the need for love.)

We can all use a good lesson on manners from a little child. This is so much better than being a rude, crude adult, young or old, who expects the world to revolve around him or her. I was so blessed by the behaviors of a little child that my heart still rejoices. May we all brush up on our manners today and show others a caring smile. Remember the words to that old song, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love..."

Tuesday: Too Good Not to Share

Today,Tuesday, would be "iron day" for many but not for me! I may press a few things but NO ironing. If the clothes tag says, "needs ironing" or "dry clean", it stays on the store shelf. (I have a friend who loves to iron...everything!! Underwear, towels, socks and the usual bed linens. She says they feel and smell so good and she is right, but I can live without that feel and smell, I think) I have other things I prefer to do other than stand over an ironing board and a hot iron. Speaking of standing over an ironing board, let me recall the ironing contraption with which my dad spoiled my mom. I had never, nor have I ever since, seen one of these! Maybe some of you older readers have. Tell me if you have and where it was; I would like to see another one. (For non-bloggers, hit "comment", write your comment in the block on the screen that comes up on the right, hit anonymous; put in the code shown and hit publish. But, let me know who you are so I can thank you).
I don't know what this contraption was called, but Mother sat in a comfortable chair in front of this monster (at least that's what it looked like to a young child); then, she would run the clothes through and between these 2 large, hot metal rollers. Presto! Ironed garments! That was amazing but, wow, that thing would heat up the whole house (which was good in the winter months).
Now, there were some things Mother still wanted ironed on the old-fashioned ironing board and iron so that's where the lady, Juliette or her daughter, Alma, came in. (Juliette was the cutest little lady, probably around 4 feet and a couple inches tall, so the ironing board was as low as it would go. She would entertain us with all sorts of black American folklore while she worked, just as Iona, who also loved to sing, did on the days she came. I loved those ladies dearly and miss them to this day! What a treasure they shared with us and they loved us just as they did their own children and grandchildren whom we enjoyed playing with then and still enjoy seeing today, especially Bobby and his wife, who are excellent caterers.)

Today, we still use that old-fashioned ironing board, but better, hotter, lighter irons which we can fill with water. Mother used to use an old RC cola or a Pepsi bottle filled with water and topped with a sprinkle cork-like thing and she would wet the clothes before ironing. I also have a built-in-the-wall ironing board but it's so small and doesn't work as well as the real big, bulky board that I have trouble storing, setting up, and re-storing. Again, I wonder what my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will use. I don't think this chore has come a very long way in the last 15 years, do you, if you're old enough to remember? Okay, someone, what can you invent to lighten this load?? Help my legacy!!!

Mondays, Moms, & Memories

Mondays, according to my mother, are reserved for a lot of hard work, mostly for washing clothes. I have about 3 loads to wash and I can do other things while that is going on. But, in the days of my mom, I remember the following happenings:
First, a lady named Iona would arrive at our home around 7:00 AM, cook and eat breakfast with my mom (they would laugh and have the best time for awhile), then they would begin the ordeal called "wash day". Down to the basement, Iona and Mom would go with baskets of dirty clothes (there were 7 of us to wash for). There were homemade block-type tables that held huge wash tubs which they filled with clean water, one of which had soapy water in it, and scrub boards (or washboards as some called them). In our basement, there was a round hole in the floor about the size of a barrel where the dirty wash water would be thrown. It would fill up the hole and be all over the floor too. (I wonder now if there was any danger that I or my siblings, or our little friends, might have been washed down that hole; but, at the time, I didn't think about it and neither did any of the other children. Evidently, my overly-protective mom knew that we were safe playing while they washed). My dad bought my mom a wringer-type washing machine later on which replaced the tubs and the washboards (Everyone always said Daddy spoiled Mother, and he did because he loved his "little wife", who was 10 years his junior, so much. In fact, once, when dating, they went to the movies, and she was so small and cute that she was admitted in the show for half price! She loved to laugh and tell us about that event!).

Back to my story: even with that new contraption, much work was still involved for Mom and Iona. Up the steep, dark steps, they would then trod to the clothesline which was triple-stranded and went all the way down one side of the yard (Mom lost her princess ring out there one day which was never found. My husband tried to find it many years later with his metal detector but to no avail).
Oops, I digressed again! After many hours, clothes were taken down, folded and placed in huge baskets, to be ironed by Mom and another hired lady, Juliette (or sometimes her daughter, Alma, filled in for her). This chore was an all-day Tuesday affair. (I'll tell you about that experience tomorrow).
I should feel guilty sitting here blogging while my clothes are being washed and dried...Why don't I? Maybe, it's partly because my hubby spoils me too, as my dad did my mom, with all the latest and greatest inventions. She thought her days were made easy but I didn't; I think the same thing; BUT, what will my grandchildren think when their wash days roll around, I wonder!

Sunday: "This is the Day...Be Glad in It"

Today has been church day: Sunday School, Preaching and Business Meeting tonight. Overall, it has been a very good day though, with tough decisions being made tonight concerning our new Fellowship Hall (should be finished soon after Christmas I hope).
The most exciting thing that happened today was that my great-niece made her public decision to follow the Lord. This is great for she is only 7 years old and will have many years to grow in her faith. Her first cousin also made her decision public. They will be the first 2 to be baptized in our new baptismal.
It is so cute to watch the little children (from the choir loft) during the pastor's children's message. The smallest ones don't want to sit still but they want the treat that follows the message. Sometimes the older children will aggravate the younger ones by trying to hold them (and they don't think they are babies) but that's all part of growing up. I feel sorry for those who don't sit in the choir and are unable to watch the cute little antics of their children. During their closing prayer, they struggle to be the closest to the pastor; I'm not sure if that is to hold his hand or to be the first to get the treat!
The pastor preached on being more than conquerors. What do I have to conquer? I'm retired, have pulled my load in the work field and am now free to do whatever. BUT, I do need to be a conqueror; I need to work hard to overcome evil and to defeat the enemy. That's a good lesson for all of us. Being a conqueror is difficult to say the least, but more than a conqueror cannot be done without divine guidance and assistance. Upon whom do we depend? I will rejoice and be glad in the day!

"Shop Around the Clock"

Yesterday was our annual shop-all-day trip to the outlet mall on I-95. We, the 6 girls and I, left at 8:00 AM and returned home at 9:00PM, after eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner out! What a day! And the vehicles were loaded with gifts of all kinds! Valinda and I sat in the back seat and talked but were unable to see each other due to the packages between us, around us, and beneath our feet! We also had to be aware of packages behind us which may have come tumbling down on our heads at any time! This year, we were wiser and used 2 SUV's instead of the standard one; yet, once again, we were packed to the ceiling in both. When Mary called Jeff, her husband, she told him that he may need to bring another vehicle down for us. (Just kidding) He laughs at us because it's surprising that we have room for the occupants. He says that all he can see when we arrive home each year are a few eyes, then he fusses that we didn't drive an additional vehicle. Jeff is a retired Major with the Highway Patrol so safety is a real issue with him, plus he thinks we are a bunch of silly girls. I guess we are but we are definitely fun-loving ladies! The stores should not complain about the lack of sales so long as there are folks like us who love to shop until we are broke! And, we still have more than 6 weeks left to do more damage! Isn't giving and sharing our hard-earned dollars with our loved ones why we worked in the first place? (Well, maybe that was the second or third place.)

Last year, we had so much that we literally forgot a couple of packages in the stores. The problem was that I discovered my package missing the day after we returned and, after calling each of the girls to see if it was mixed in with their packages, I called the store where I thought I had left mine and they had found it! So I made the 1 and 1/2-hour trip down to get it. Two days later, one of the other ladies called each of us looking for one of her packages. Fortunately, when she called Tommy Hillfiger, they were holding hers, so she had to make the same trip. I wonder how much we actually saved on those 2 items after we had to make the extra trips down to pick them up! Whatever! We enjoyed the laugh and we tried not to make the same mistake this year; however, we haven't been through all our purchases yet to confirm our actions! I'd better do that right now! Wish me well!

A Trip of a Lifetime

It was 33 years ago today that our beautiful daughter was born to 2 very proud parents, 2 awaiting brothers, and 1 enthusiastic sister. At that time, we were living on a military base outside the Land of the Great PX. It was about 2:00 AM when she decided she was going to wake up the family (and the neighbors). Her sister was going to look after her 2-year-old brother while Dad took off for the hospital and she was at the window looking at the scenery unfold below on the street. It seems that Dad was quite nervous although he wouldn't admit that. He went out to start the Chrysler and in the process, flooded it. (Not excited?) Then he went to the little VW that needed a new battery and tried that. In the meantime, our neighbor across the street must have spotted me on the sidewalk holding my suitcase, so he came barreling out his driveway and said "hop in". Now, this is a "man" thing: Daddy said, "no!" "No" with me standing on the street ready and willing to ride with this neighbor in his big luxury station wagon. But Daddy said "no, I'll do it". He then pushed the VW down the hill to start it, stopped long enough for me to jump in the car holding my suitcase, and off we went! That was the bumpiest ride I think I have ever taken other than on a carnival ride when I was younger! But, the great news is that we made it in plenty of time and in great condition. Our daughter was born several hours later and was, without question, the most beautiful little 7 lb. 8 oz. baby girl I had ever seen! (I wish I could post a baby picture of her but I don't have the capability).

Since that time, our daughter has brought us much happiness for she has been such a blessing to all of us. She is grown, married, has a family of her own; yet, she is still our pretty little baby daughter of whom we are so very proud. What wonderful memories we hold of the past 33 years! My advice to you, the reader: build your memories while they are in the making, cherish them all, and store them in your heart for future reference. What great company they will be for you in the future!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KENDRA!

Do the "Hello" Scene

Today has been one of those uneventful ones but a nice day. I had lunch with my niece who is expecting her third child, this time a boy. We visited the Mexican Restaurant in town which I think everyone else was in the mood for the same. (I didn't order flan this time, however, nor did I order any dessert!). Usually, we have a lot to laugh and joke about but today, we stayed on more serious topics (ie, trick or treating, antics of the children, etc). We were very interested in why some churches (hers, for example) doesn't believe in trick-or-treating, or Halloween in general. We are aware of myths about the celebration being Satanic; however, Joette recalled the story of its beginning in Ireland where the families would visit one another during the lean months of Fall and leave something to help them through the hard and cold months to come. Well, that sounds like a great practice to me. We have also heard of many evil things taking place on Halloween; we have only heard, not witnessed even a mild trick, thank goodness. I have seen more "tricks" pulled by our retired neighbors in the RV park than anywhere else. We have one neighbor who enjoys passing an old shoe or a dead frog around the neighborhood. You may awaken some morning to find a "For Sale" sign on your RV or an "Open House" invitation (complete with lunch!) posted on your RV site! No one gets angry because everything is done in fun. We just pass the signs around and go about our business. Oh, what fun we snowbirds have, right Bo! Maybe we just need to change the name from "Halloween" to "Hello Scene" or some friendly name (Some call it Fall Festival). The bottom line is let's just learn to be good neighbors in all situations.

"Oh say...Can you see?"

This morning, I had to go back to the optometrist's office to have my eyes dilated. After a 30-minute wait, my eyes were filled with these burning drops. I had to wait another half hour while my eyes finished dilating before the doc would see me. I tried to read my book while I waited but that was nigh impossible due to the enormous amounts of light traveling into my pupils. When the doc examined me, he decided he needed to add more of the burning firewater to get a clear reading of possible glaucoma. Fortunately, I have none of that but the cataracts are still growing (still not enough for the laser surgery).

Now, for the humor of the morning: I told the doc that I was having trouble reading with my new glasses they had made for me. When the lens were checked, the reading portion was so far South that I had to literally put my glasses on my forehead to read! Needless to say, they will make me new lenses. They did tell me that, in the meantime, I will have to put my glasses up very high on my forehead to read anything. I knew that already; however, the opposite is true when trying to see at a distance (glasses have to be lowered to the opposite extreme). In fact, you should try to watch TV with your glasses hanging off the end of your nose! It's especially rough when you have Bronchitis and are prone to have a coughing or a sneezing fit. My glasses sometimes will get in the way of the kleenex and sometimes even become airborne! I never thought I would have fun with a kleenex and a pair of very lightweight spectacles!! (Did I say fun? Maybe, the correct word is "amusement").

Like a Good Neighbor....

What is your favorite thing to do? I guess one of my favorite things is to spend time with a dear friend. Today, I did just that; however, the circumstances for our visit were not choice ones because her husband (who is also a dear friend) was having surgery and we shared our time together in the hospital waiting room. I am so happy that he came through the surgery fine but I know that he will feel uncomfortable for a few days. (I will be praying for this dear family during this time of recuperation.)

Sometimes, we more often than not, put off visiting with friends. Perhaps we communicate over the phone but everyone has so much going on all the time that we don't take the time to visit as we should. Is this good? I don't think so.

I remember, when I was small, my parents visited friends all the time and we had friends visit at our home very frequently too. In fact, there was one couple who used to visit our home every single Monday night and usually, they would arrive rather late for a week night (around 9:00PM). They were a very nice couple but lonely I think. At any rate, my parents always enjoyed seeing them and would make them feel very welcome. We also knew all the children who lived within a 15-mile radius of us because we, and everyone else, made visitation rounds routinely. That was a lot of fun though. We didn't wait until Halloween to visit either. Visiting was a way of life. Prior to last night, our doorbell has been rung very few times this year (other than the couple of weeks I was recuperating from my catherization and New Year's Eve when we have several friends over for the evening). Next question: have I rung anyone else's doorbell lately? And would it be a welcome sound at this busy time? I think many folks would be so shocked to have "company calling" that they would have trouble recovering. I think a surprise visit to friends would be a fun thing to do just to see the reactions. Hmm. Maybe we'll give it a try. What do you think? "Wanna go be neighborly?"