This N That

HOW....Dee! Did ya hear Minnie Pearl? Instead of wearing a hat with tags I have jewelry with tags. I have been busy getting my display of Premier jewelry (proudly made in TEXAS!) organized and also getting a presentation that I feel comfortable with.  The next show I do I'll take some pictures. I think you'll like it! It's  been a challenge to book shows but the shows I have given have been fun. I learned a lot from the first one and each one teaches me more about how to do it better. The main thing is for the hostess and her friends to have fun!
I will enjoy making some money too. I am still recovering my investment. I got a great deal on real black velvet at Hobby Lobby and some decorative wire tree stands, some lights, some bling and then all the sparkleys; are you feeling it?

It's not all glam around here though. I have been tackling fur balls that look like tumbleweeds and little piglets in the pigsty. Mess, dust, grime, more mess.  When the mom gets out of commission for a LONG time the dwelling begins to take on the feel of a barn.  Letting the puppy jump on the bed wasn't too bad before he got to 70 pounds, now he can bust the springs. He sounds like a horse galloping when he runs his "hooves" pound the dirt, and then track it into the house.  I plead temporary insanity for picking oatmeal frieze carpet. Drugs mess you up prescription or not.

Hum and my other news is that I ordered my grand girl in the snow a warm coat and some very cute waterproof snow boots. Charged it courtesy of HSN. Of all the times in my life to rationalize the use of credit, keeping that girl from freezing seems reasonable.
I just can't even begin to think about Christmas. There are 6 weeks until Christmas. I don't want to shop,  decorate, or do any of it. Just call me Eb.  My idea of a great Christmas this year would be to go to all the ballet's and musicals and just enjoy.  My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because it isn't commercialized very much although the stores are sure trying. We have decorations for everything.  I saw Christmas decorations out in late August when it's hot! I'm tired of being rushed. The week after Christmas the Valentines go out. I am feeling like stepping off the band wagon and just enjoy the way I want too. I had hoped to get some sewing done. The 6 week target on that ought to light a fire under me. It's all I can do to get done what I have going on now. Don't even say one word about that un-sentence, it's the drugs I tell ya!

I have a new toy. A lap top. Midge won it and was going to sell it on Craig's List because she didn't need it. I told my Hunny to buy it for me in an off hand way and he DID! I don't have it set up yet but when I get it done and buy one of those air conditioning lap pillows I just may be a regular blogger again!

Fall is officially here the trees are gorgeous, the air is cooler but still lots of sun shine. I'm ready for soups and pies, if someone else would do the work. I hope you are all enjoying this great time of year. Did anybody else besides me eat way to much candy after Halloween? I never get it right. Last year I ran out of candy so this year I bought candy and had 2 door knockers. We finished off the last peanut butter snickers bars tonight.  If I could swing my hips walking up the stairs I could probably do the bump with the walls.....just sayin.

Eat Candy and Have Fun!

Neighborhoods

 I woke up this morning to cool air and rain. It was 80 yesterday and still felt like sweaty summer but in a nice way. It stays warm in the South for so long.  Watching your blogs over the years the reality of how cold most of the states are has become a living picture.  Reading your posts I often think, "How can they be getting cold so soon it just got warm there?" I think about how each one of us has  some kind of struggle where we are.  Some of us are too cold, and some of us sweat.

Do you remember when you were young hearing old people talk about their bones? My grandparents did. They talked about old bones and rheumatism. My Grandpas hands were gnarled up and they were the hands of a gardener. He was the one who toured me through his massive gardens showing me cute surprises and asking me what I liked. I loved him. I loved those walks in the gardens. It was my first experience as a child of quiet communing. I enjoyed my time with him because he settled me, he quieted me and we walked and talked together. I suppose you could say my grandpa treated me like a person when I was a child.

This year is almost over and I am thinking of how long we have been here, almost 12 years.  For twelve years I have been miserable in the long hot summers with the deluge of bugs, until this year.  This year I made a conscious decision to avoid negative thinking. I haven't accomplished this but I'm working on it.  I can't take credit for this but I heard somewhere, "My mind is like a bad neighborhood, I should never go there by myself."  I love that. Who to take with me into the hood? I can't think of anyone better than the Holy Spirit.  Murmuring is serious to God. Really when we are complaining we are in God's face about our circumstances. The current trend today is to talk about God as Daddy and all the love and grace. That is true, but God is also God, high, holy, and lifted up.  In His physical presence we would be undone.  The appearance of angels causes men to fall down as if dead, how much more so the God of the universe?

That helps me with being a whiner, complainer, negative thinker; when I realize that really I am letting God know in a most disrespectful way that I do not believe.   You might be thinking, "How did she jump to that?"  If I complain about my circumstances then I am not believing and resting in God's sovereign plan for my life.  He is either all knowing and all powerful or not. He is either on His throne and I am in the palm of His hand or not. I either solidly believe He has a purpose and plan for my individual life or not.

That's why the Israelites were in so much trouble in the wilderness. They kept looking at where they were instead of who God is. They forgot about all that He had done before and complained. The consequences for that were a 40 year march instead of a 6 month trip.  Do you think that maybe God takes unbelief seriously?

Each week that I teach my small ladies Bible group I grow in amazing leaps. I don't understand why God is blessing me with this. He is faithful and I am not. Each week He takes my meager portion of study, my two fish and a piece of bread and He makes a feast for all of us.  Jumping in to serve has taken me to places I never thought I'd go.  The Word of God is more alive to me than it's ever been and I am applying it to my life.

My mind is a hood and I don't need to go there alone. My circumstances are not important.  My focus CAN be a sacrifice of praise. When is the last time you really thought about what that means? A sacrifice of praise.  Sometimes we are praising God when what we really want to do is a have big bitch session. We have the choice about what we offer. The miracle happens when we offer the sacrifice.

When we enter that throne room and come into the presence of the Lord of all, and praise, something happens to us. His presence comes upon us like a soft cloud of peace and light drifting gently, enveloping and comforting, it's so soft quiet....holiness.  A place to rest, a place of quiet holy prayer.
There in His presence fears vanish, problems shrink, complaints depart, we are strengthened, and hearts are mended. When we go out from there we are ready to be wherever we are. We are ready to go wherever we need to go. We can endure whatever it is, cold, heat, pain, sorrow, or stress, because we do not go alone and that is reason enough to praise.

It Just Doesn't Look Like Much.

Howdy. I am still a part of planet Earth.

Some days I feel like I'm working on a sinking ship.

I've been so busy. It's ridiculous how long it takes me to get anything done. 

It takes so long there isn't energy to write about it.

Or it's embarrassing to admit it, or both.

Seriously, did I just wake up one day and become an old lady?

I moved back upstairs. I wish you could really see this color, it's just gorgeous and the photo doesn't do it justice. I rolled the walls and my friend cut in with the brush. It's amazing what I can do now compared to six months ago, sort of. 

YES, it put me in bed for a dang week. 

I should NOT have done it but it felt so good to pretend that there is something normal about me. 

 This is the new love in my life. I used to work 12 hours a day. Now I try and work 12 hours a week split into 3 afternoons. I have not had the best attendance record. A real job would have fired me. BUT my girlfriend loves what I do with her sweet little mama so much she doesn't care!  Works for me.

I love taking care of her. She can walk so NO lifting. I get her up bathe her, dress her, give her a pedicure a  couple of times a month and then we go into the kitchen. Oh yeah and I do her hair.

We listen to music while I cook our breakfast. I get to eat too!

FOOD IS LOVE.

After we eat we play puzzles, identify words, play matching games with cards, try and count, talk, cut up and giggle and just have fun.

That's her "therapy."

She is severely demented but her response has been outstanding.

She is talking in short sentences, smiling, laughing, and responding.

IF she is upset which is very rare she babbles like she's speaking in tongues and I just reassure her.

She's sweet and pleasantly confused. 

A perfect patient.

Truthfully I don't know WHO is getting blessed more.

I think it's me.

I make a small amount of money which helps us get gas and a bit of food. 

I don't do it for the money,I used to make that much in 3 hours.

I used to work 12 hours a day. Repeating myself again.

How did I do that?

Seriously, I can't even comprehend doing that much work in day, or a week or a month.

Now I work for the love and the pure joy of it. 

My gardening has changed as well. How do you like this? It's all from the dollar store and doesn't require any water or fertilizer. It took me FOREVER  to just clean up the side yard. Argh....the frustration is intense. To work 10 years establishing an amazing garden and not be able to keep it up is just gross. I want to move. The timing isn't right yet but maybe in the future.

The kids are doing great and they are so much more comfortable in the big room. We tried to have David use the utility room as his bedroom and that just didn't work. We were back to putting the vacuums in any available corner and stepping over toys to wash clothes was too much for me! Man do I remember those days. I think one of the hardest parts of getting laundry done when you are a young mother is the stepping over, clearing a path, wiping snotty noses, and answering the phone..... on your way to the washer; where you never get.

There are some advantages to age.

Here's my latest project or part of it. I am PURGING! Barfing up stuff, gobs of it. I have too many books, too many pictures, too much wall art, an excess of baskets, 3 sets of dishes, and all the stuff my grandmother asked me to "take care of".  

I am over it!

IF I have learned anything in this process it is that too much stuff is a ball and chain around my neck. Yes Ebeneezer Jacob Morley was right.

My brother is coming to get a bunch of Grandma's things my family isn't interested. Then the burden will be his. I haven't even really bought my own style of things because I have so much from other people. I am grateful but I just don't care about keeping all of this. It's work to have things. They have to be dusted and they take up space. I am just over it!

I'm repeating myself. It's a symptom of dementia. I sometimes think my best meeting of the minds is with my sweet demented lady. Hummmmmmmm. I have remembered recently though that I have a blog and I used to write on it, and I liked it. A short moment of clarity and a brief window of time. I am on vacation this week.  The plan is to pack up everything I don't want and get it out of here! and post.

OK the SQUIRREL. I kept the squirrel for 3 weeks. My cats and my dog wanted to eat her.

Yes, this 66 pound handsome boy really wanted a squirrel snack.  Aint he a handsome boy?
 I kept her by herself unless I could guard the cage because it's a lot of stress to feel like a little hamburger with feet. I don't know if squirrels have the brains to realize that a cage keeps them safe. Really.
I found a wild life rescue and turned her over to them. I didn't want to release her and have her come over for a bottle or a slice of banana and become cat food, nawww not.
However the story does have a funny twist to it. I said I thought I had a 5 or 6 week old baby squirrel that was still taking a bottle. When I dropped her at the vet they told me I had a much older squirrel than that. She was a "teenager". MY question was, "Then why is she still taking a bottle?' After all she was still very small and I was feeling like a perfect idiot!

Answer.    

 BECAUSE you are giving it to her!

Naturally, the story of my life, spoil everything in my touch, spoiled rotten.

Squirrel-y News Flash

There are no AA batteries in the house. There are pictures on my camera that I cannot upload. Pictures of a pocket sized baby squirrel in my pocket. I now have a little nipple on a 10 cc syringe to feed a baby squirrel with. I have to admit that it's fun. Peanut makes a lot of cute noises and can suck that syringe down in a flat hurry. I suppose squirrel mothers are pretty busy and move pretty fast. Those little fellas learn to eat quick!!


We checked on the internet about what to feed him and how much. Fortunately for us this baby is about 6 weeks and fully furred up so he stands a good chance. We actually started out with two but one had been bitten by the cat and didn't make it. Cats have a lot of bacteria in their mouths.  I really can't get too excited about going to a vet with a squirrel. Sorry if that upsets you but I think we need to have rational perspective about critters.  Poor Roman got into a red ant hill and has one very sore foot and we did go to the vet for him, poor boy was going crazy from that! AWFUL!  You have to be higher up on the food chain to go to the vet around here.

Lest you think I am heartless I tried everything to save that little fella, even shaved a tiny fraction off of Romans antibiotic to give him a chance.   I put a heating pad under their cage and let him curl up on the nice soft bedding and he passed quietly in his sleep.

Squirrels falling out of their nests too soon is probably one of natures population control measures, which by the way doesn't work around here. We are INFESTED with squirrels. We just happened to find these. It wasn't hard when they were screaming because of cats. Peanut was not hurt. He is on his 3rd day and very lively. He has a good appetite. It's so funny to see how fast they can eat and when they are full that's it, DONE! He is very cute holding onto the bottle nipple and sucking away. All babies hold their bottles, in this case a syringe. Peanut takes 6 cc's at each feeding. Amazing isn't it? The website suggested adding a bit of banana to the formula and that was the ticket. He isn't ready for solids yet and won't eat a little piece of banana. The website said to give him formula soaked monkey biscuits and little bits of fruit one at a time just like a baby, when he's ready for solid food. I am grateful it can go potty by itself and I don't have to rub it's little nether regions with a wet cotton ball to get it to go. You have never in your life seen such tiny little poops.

Am I rational to be carrying around a squirrel in my shirt pocket?

Why do I have a squirrel nursery set up in my room?

Why am I syringe feeding a rodent with a tail?

BECAUSE IT'S a BABY and it's CuTe..... no other reason.

I'd say it's hormones but my ovaries are gone. I guess somethings never leave a woman's system.

Peanut also likes to snuggle down into the bottom of a sock and go to sleep. He loves Jennifer she talks like a squirrel to him. He loves riding in my pocket. His cage is big and full of that soft shaved bedding. He loves to burrow under it and run across, or climb around the cage. I was thinking we should put a tree branch in there for him to climb on. Maybe toys?

I wonder though what will happen when he grows up because if we try to release him here and he comes to visit, two cats will greet him. Not a good plan. Think think think.

I can just imagine a squirrel tearing up my entire house. The kittens gave the couch it's battle scars.
Oh well one day at a time.

This video is more like Peanut, he's part piggie.





How about a wild story? A true story! An AMAZING story.

Yesterday Heather sent Papa a text. The text read the following words.

Just woke up to a nekkid woman in my room trying to steal my Jujitsu robe.

Pa texts back, "Are u dreamin?"

Heather texts back, " No the cops are here she's been in a lot of houses up and down our street. She already had a pair of my shoes.   The cops are trying to cover her up but she won't let them."

Pa calls Heather, this is too much information for texting.

Apparently this woman was very high on some kind of drugs. She had a big stash of stuff from the neighbors. It's pretty hard to get away with a crime when you are nekkid in public in broad daylight.

Heather told the cops that in the South someone would say to them, " bless your heart". They had to smile at that.  Some days there just isn't enough pay for the job you do.

Never Forget

No we will never allow a Mosque to be built on this sight as a trophy to the death of these people.
Americans died ten years ago calling out for God.  Ten years later the mayor of New York is allowing no clergy and no prayer to commemorate the day.

That is another shame.

I'm Here

I feel like a who in whoville, on a little dust speck. I'm heeerrrrrrreeeeeeeeee. bloggin has almost fallen off of my radar. I can't sit!

Can you believe that? How can you blog is you can't sit? I am sitting right now and there is a pole in one of those billowy cheeks, can't see it but sure do feel it. Not pleasant.
HOWEVER I am  endeavoring to re enter the land of the purposeful. The once completely empty calendar is beginning to have activities in it on a regular basis. Wowzas. Now I know most of you cannot relate to that at all because your calendar is chock full of too much. Be careful what you complain about because an empty calendar is only a relief for a short time. I think most of us humans like stimulation of some kind.  We are created to work, and we work to create. I am trying to do a bit of work.

The best thing is teaching a Bible study at church. I have been teaching in Jude and what a book that is! Teaching makes one dig deeper and we have been in this book for 6 weeks. I am learning so much. It is a joy to do it.

and  ta da da!!! I have a cute little old lady to help out a bit. Not a lot of hours at all and no lifting but it is such a joy for me. My friend was struggling taking care of her 96 year old mama who suffers from dementia but is otherwise very healthy. I started out by helping her now and then and giving her phone advice. Then I went for one afternoon and now we try for 3 afternoons a week about 12 hours. Absolutely stunning when you think that was my shift for ONE DAY. I've only done the 12 hours once.
This week is my second time. my back gave out, of course. The little I do is so enjoyable for all of us.
My friends home is so peaceful and so full of grace. I look forward to just going over there. I have thought a lot about what happens to a home that is prayed in the way hers is. The home becomes a holy sanctuary where the presence of God dwells. If there is nothing in your home that would quench the spirit of God, then the spirit remains.

This week I heard a profound statement on the radio. We need to live as supernatural beings in a human world; instead of living like humans in a supernatural world. BECAUSE we are immortal and this world is not. Chew that for awhile.

That's my little update. My family is fine. I hear from Kayla often but she is not ready to come home. I wonder about all the homeless people. how many of them have families that wish they would return? Why is it that some people in our culture cannot find acceptance except in the culture of being homeless?
It breaks my heart.

I am ashamed that I have still not sent a new baby gift to the new grandson he is a beautiful fat cherub.
I have a little pair of booties but I want something else to send along with that. Something handmade.

Would you believe I haven't taken hardly a picture? Life is changing again and it is good.
Except for the sitting issue. That makes it hard to read and write on a computer. I miss all of my bloggy buddies. I really do and I wonder what is going on. It takes me what feels like forever just to catch up on one blog. I have quite a few that I like to read so I am WAY WAY WAY behind.
However I am saving up for a little notebook or something I can type on while reclining, and then I'll be back full steam ahead at a slow pace, something I can manage. GAH what a bore!

Howdy

We have been sweltering in the heat. With 97% humidity a person can break a sweat inside the house. Either that or I am having uber hot flashes. This week the humidity dropped to the 80's and it feels like paradise.
My week has been very interesting. Roman got sick and had a big BLOW out of diarrhea in my Hunny's man cave. not once, twice, but three times. Seventy pound Roman still lives. I was looking into adopting a beautiful basset mix and I had to shut up about it. Even I know when I am just licked.

This is Ginger isn't she beautiful?

It's time to start cleaning up the yard. It's a jungle out there. It's been too hot to do anything at all so I am way way way behind.
I have been trying to catch up on your blogs. Watching Heather move to the middle east has been cool. I'm green with envy over the beautiful clothes she is buying there. GORGEOUS http://wattsfamilybythesea.blogspot.com/2011/08/all-things-new.html

and then reading about Connie's traumatic fire!!!! http://overgoodground.blogspot.com/2011/08/leaving-my-heart-to-flames.html  and while your there read her post "Seeing Red" she explains how to have your e mail address in your return so it's not "no reply to comment" you don't want to know how many replies I typed a response to that went into cyber space. My brain is blonde. I'll give proof by the end of this post.

Our newest grandson born one day before my birthday. He actually missed being on my birthday by a few hours. Got some chubba cheeks on him doesn't he? Another one out in California what a heartache to have so many babies out there. This one is named Caleb. I can smell his little newborn smell in my imagination.

Oh and Katie has a big fun surprise. http://paintsplashes.blogspot.com/2011/08/little-or-big-behind.html
Her mom is going to be cooking with Ree and she is going too. I told Katie if she doesn't make something I might be sick. She is a fabulous cook in her own right. Her sourdough bread's are beautiful and she makes tons of home made gourmet foods.

I'm sittin with a little old lady a couple of afternoons a week and luvin it! It's about all I can manage but it gives me a pick me up mentally. I'm also teaching bible Study on sunday mornings to a small woman's class.
Jojo broke her ribs in a fall and that about killed me to read and I am really behind catching up on Trudy--my sweet bluebird. I don't know why but I am just struggling to keep up with life. I think of ideas to write about and don't. I see pictures to take and don't. I still can't sit for hardly any time since the trip to the beach. Riding in the car really set my hips back.

Jen has been rearranging and redecorating the whole house and it looks fabulous. No, I haven't taken pictures.
No news from me usually means I don't feel good. I would rather blog when I'm up! So there you have it. People are moving and changing and having all kinds of struggles so who am I to whine? PASS.

Focusing on what is good and making that lemonade out of lemons is still what I think makes us better it helps me and I can be the biggest sourpuss of all. Except for being with my daughter which can be so hilarious. The following is a real life joke.
TWO BLONDES AT THE MALL.
The two of us went shopping at the mall. When we were ready to exit we went up to the glass doors to leave. There are 4 sets of double doors there. Jennifer walked up to the first door and stood there waiting and nothing happened. I followed her. She moved to the left to the second set and stood there, nothing happened and I followed her. At the third set she started getting upset and said, "MOM all these doors are broken how we get out of here?" At which point my brain kicked into gear and I said, "push it." It opened. Jen took a rapid glance over her shoulder to see if anyone had seen us and said, "Let's get out of here!" Yes this is true, and yes we laughed. We laughed for three days and now I am laughing again. Sometimes real life is better than anything.

Why We Love the Beach

 Dauphin Island has a plethora of hermit crabs.

 There is also evidence of Katrina that is sharp rusty iron.

 Oyster shells.

 Don't you want to dip your toes in?

 It's still fun to sink in the sand no matter how old you are.

 This little dude is just truckin.  I love the sea!!!!!

 Prettiest diamonds of all.

 Beach houses for rent.

 Someone's beach bathroom went into the ocean and is coming back again.

 Crab hole!

 Gotta love drift wood.

This pelican on the pole became quite the bird model he really showed off his moves for us.

 I had worried he might fly away. no worries mate.

 My college friend we met when our girls were 4 years old.

 When we quit paying attention to Mr. Pelican he started moving around so we would take his picture again. Happy to oblige!

 awhhhhh feels so nice.

Sporty flippers and a good pedi! She definitely has on the beach theme.
We had a great time. I have more pics but this is enough for today.
It is so hot out I hope everyone is finding ways to keep cool.