HAPPY NEW YEAR

Here it is New Year's Eve and it is hard to believe another year has gone by.  This one seems to have sped up and went way too fast.  But in one way, I'm glad it is behind me as it wasn't the best for me.

In January, Melanie and I had to make an emergency trip to Iowa to take care of my mother and got her safely settled into the nursing home where we knew she would receive the care she needed.

We also received a record snowfall after we returned and for a week were housebound, literally.  My car was in a 2 foot snowbank for almost a week as the cold temps wouldn't melt the snow.  Mail service was suspended for 4 days due to bad road conditions and Melanie and Zach were unable to get to work as the roads were closed.  We just aren't prepared for weather like that so it just crippled the whole area.  We received a total of 27 inches which was a record for a short time period as we got it over the span of 24 hours.

In February, there was chaos at the beginning of the month and controversy about the care my mother was receiving by her youngest daughter.  She was removed from the home after lies were told and promises made to her and then I received the sad news that she had passed away in March.  It was a blow that my brother and I were not expecting and has caused us both a lot of heartache but it has brought us closer together.   I think the hardest part is the Sunday phone calls between my mom and me.  It was our day to chat and for a long time I wanted to pick up the phone to call her and there are still times when something happens that I think I should call her.  I do miss her terribly.

I was glad to see spring come but Melanie's job grew precarious when they made some rather sudden and extreme changes so she began to think about moving back to Tulsa and when she found a job, she sold the trailer and packed up to move there.  It was rather lonely at first but I talk with her daily and she's been back to visit.

Then summer arrived and believe me, we thought we had it bad in the winter but summer showed us just how hot we can get too.  With temps of 100+ for 27 days and some days we saw 114 or 115 on the thermometer, it was HOT!  The yards died and we had the threats of fire so it wasn't an enjoyable summer but I think I appreciated it more than the cold and snow we'd had earlier.

The only nice thing about the summer and the heat, I didn't have to mow my yard each week. LOL!  But when the heat cycle broke and the rains came, it became a chore as I'd have to try to mow between the rainy days and hope the grass was dry enough to cut.  

In August, my friend Betty, suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital.  We all knew she was having problems with her memory and suspected Dementia.  She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Alzheimer's and once she was stabilized from the heart attack she went to a nursing home. But the first of November she was moved back to the house and home health service came daily to tend to her plus Spike took care of her the rest of the time.  I would go sit with her so he could go to the store or Dr. appointments and it was so sad watching my friend slowly slip away to a world only she was aware of.

She was hospitalized after the first of December when she developed bed sores.  Even though she was being turned, she still had some and with her diabetes, they got worse so the doctor finally admitted her and they did surgery but the said the diabetes was affecting the healing and she grew steadily worse.  She had also become incapable of swallowing so had to have a feeding tube inserted.  But the week before Christmas, the doctors told the family that it was hopeless and they removed the tube and called in Hospice to take care of her. Sadly my friend passed away peacefully on Christmas morning.  I will miss her. 

We moved here in 2005 and made friends with Betty and her husband Spike and during the past few years we have been good friends as well as neighbors.  My husband Harold and Spike shared a lot of the same interest and Betty and I always found things to talk about and when the four of us were together, we had a good time visiting and laughing.  Spike and Betty continued to show me that friendship after Harold passed and now I hope to help Spike through this period.

As this year comes to a close, I want to put all the bad memories behind me and look forward to the new year.  I'm thankful that I have survived another year and I pray that my ailments will not worsen this next year so I might enjoy another year and hopefully one not so full of woes and pain and losses.

If all goes well, my brother Bob, will be coming to visit me in the spring.  We plan to just relax and enjoy the solitude and catch up on our visiting.  Of course, we will try to get some fishing in too. LOL!  And hopefully I can adjust my budget so that I can replace my old car with a new or newer one.  Got my eye on one kind but will have to see what I can get.  But the Taurus is getting old,  at 14 years and a lot of miles.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful new year ahead of them with all good things and blessings coming your way.  I thank God each day for the blessings I do have and try to look on the positive side if I can.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Every year I try to write a poem or short story for the family and this year I've been kind of lax but while working around the house this morning, I started thinking and came up with a silly little version of Twas The Night Before Christmas.  So for all my family and friends, enjoy and may that big old boy in the red suit visit you.  And when you are finished opening your gifts, remember this day and the real reason we celebrate.  Light a candle and sing Happy Birthday to our savior, Jesus.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas

And all  through the house.

Not a creature was stirring as

The cat’s asleep all curled up with the catnip mouse.

The stockings were hung with care,

But with no chimney,

They hang from the back of the chair

Hoping Santa will fill them there.

The kids were in bed

With dreams of presents swirling in their heads.

Momma was in her flannels, and me in mine.

Were all comfy and fine.

Just as I lay down, I heard such a clatter,

I jumped out of bed to see what the heck was the matter.

I peeked out the window to see the lights all aglow,

And a big ole sleigh sitting out in the road.

There was no runners but big wheels that

Crunched the gravel below.

The reindeer were pawing and

Munching on dry grass as there was no snow.

I heard noises coming from downstairs,

So quietly I tiptoed down and avoided the squeaky stair.

I heard the back door open and close,

There was a man all dressed in red from head to toes.

I watched and I waited to see what he was going to do,

I noticed a sack with packages in red, green and blue.

He placed them under the tree,

Oh, I hope there is one for me.

I missed the bottom step and fell

Sprawling all over the floor.

The jolly old man with his rosy cheeks

And a belly that shook like a bowl full of jelly

Took a look a me and turned to flee.

I started to yell but he ran out the door and

I could see him no more.

I ran to the window as he jumped in his sleigh

Yelled at those reindeer to be on his way.

But I did hear him holler as he drove down the street,

Merry Christmas to all.  Now get back to sleep.

Copyright (c) 2011 by Barbara Foster

May the blessings of this day be with you and your family all year.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Tis The Season

It is the season of holiday cheer and it is filled with excitement and anticipation, colored lights and decorations, shopping, parties and most of all, a time for families to gather to celebrate not only the gift giving but also the true meaning of this special day.  Whether you attend an evening service on Christmas eve or an early morning service on Christmas day, it is one where we all come together and celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus.

A few years ago, I ran across a little article about the symbols of Christmas.  It has stuck with  me and when I decorate, I look at the colors and decorations and it comes back to me.  I'd like to share it with you.

CHRISTMAS SYMBOLISM

Evergreens - Everlasting Life

Wreaths - Christ's never ending Love

Candles - Christ, Light of the World

Straw - The simplicity of the Manger

COLORS

Red - Blood

White -Purity

Green- Everlasting Life

I think everyone gets into the spirit of the holiday with the brightly wrapped presents under the tree and the secrets passed around and of course the fun part of the season with Santa Claus.

When my two daughters were growing up, we always had the traditional Christmas with presents from Santa and hanging of the stockings in anticipation of his visit, but we also had one other thing.  Each year the Nativity set was placed in a special place with an open Bible in front of it open to the story of the Jesus birth.  We always tried to let them know it was Christmas and it was fun with Santa but the real meaning of the day was Jesus birthday.

I remember growing up myself knowing it was a two fold day and my mother used to bake a cake or maybe  cupcakes so we could celebrate his birthday.  I did for a few years but as the girls got older, we eliminated it and now I wish I had kept up the tradition.

In the times we live in now, the true meaning of Christmas is getting lost.  But at the same time, I see little deeds being done that is keeping the true meaning alive.  The red kettles and bell ringers are still here and I see people putting in change and bills.  Which means that they know giving is better than receiving, especially for those who are in need.  And these days, there are many who are in need.  I see people giving gifts to those who are in need, whether it be food, toys for the children or money to help their fellow man.  It is another symbol of this day - Giving.  Just as God gave us his son and the wise men gave him gifts, we give gifts to each other and to strangers in need.

I cringe when I hear "Happy Holidays" and shout back "Merry Christmas."  This is Christmas and we shouldn't try to hide it or disguise it.  December 25 is the recognized day to celebrate the birth of Jesus and it should be revered just as any religious holiday regardless of beliefs.  No one should condemn another because of the way they celebrate the day or what they call it.  Politically correct does not apply here.  Just as Christians do not condemn or belittle another because they do not celebrate the way we do or respect this day.  We are not here to judge once another but to respect and honor each other and at this time of the year, we should all be peaceful and loving and giving and not spiteful or disrespectful.

Since when did the Christmas tree change to a holiday tree?  It is the tree that is set up for Christmas and decorated with Christmas ornaments, so therefore it is a Christmas tree.  The same thing for lights, although I know some use the colored lights for decoration all year.  But for the special displays and lights, they are Christmas lights.  They reflect Christmas, not a holiday. 

To me, holiday is a day that is a special day, a day off from school or work but it should not be used generically.  Each holiday has a name and should be called by that name.  I've never heard anyone say Happy Holiday for Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day or Labor Day or even Thanksgiving.  So why should they refer to Christmas as "holiday"?  It may be but it should also be referred to by the name of the holiday, not as a generic term because someone is afraid they might offend someone.  That is showing the ignorance of the person saying it and also very disrespectful.    I wonder if they also refer to birthdays the same way.  It is time for everyone to stop being so politically correct and to use common sense but mainly to respect the rights and beliefs of others.

So to those of you who do not celebrate the way I do, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa.  To all my family and friends I wish you a Merry Christmas.

My Favorite Time of the Year

Thanksgiving is over and I will say that even though mine was quiet, it was very nice.  Both of my daughters were unable to come home this year so I spent most of the day with my good friends and neighbors.  Spike and I split the cooking chores and between us put together a very good dinner.  We kept it simple with a turkey roast, mashed potatoes and gravy from the roast, corn, dressing, Waldorf salad and cranberry sauce and of course rolls.  Since we were only cooking for three, there weren't a lot of leftovers but I had my fill plus.  I don't know why our eyes are always bigger than our stomachs on these feast days.  So after a respectable time and some good visiting, I excused myself to come home leaving most of the leftovers for their late night supper.  I admit I took a nap which probably wasn't the wisest thing after a meal but I was sleepy and I admit I had a good nap and was feeling chipper when I awoke so got busy getting the tree set up so I could decorate it.

I had put the outside decorations up over the past couple of weeks when I could get a nice day to work outside.  The timers were set and as the sun went down, they clicked on the colorful display.  All the lights had been checked out and everything was working but naturally the night they were to come on for all to see, I had a couple of burn outs so today will have to make the repairs and keep fingers crossed they will work tonight.

Now one thing I refuse to do during this holiday frenzy that is up on us now is the "Black Friday".  It has been years since I've fought the crowds on this day to end up buying one thing on a list of several items and getting irritated at the shoving and waiting in line.  I decided I would go back to my idea of buying throughout the year and finding things on sale during the year and stay home during this day of so called "bargains".   Years ago I got up at 4 AM to get ready to go out with my daughters.  We had to drive to the nearest town about 30 miles away and then when we got there, stood in line, fought the crowds inside, lost each other and think we only came out with one item we were after since they were limited and we just weren't first in line.  I decided right then that this is not the way to shop and never went again.

So now, the frenzy is on as we head towards Christmas.  I'm sure there will be more sales and more enticements but for me I've decided to be old fashioned and make several of the gifts I'll be giving.  I have had to purchase a few but I'm still keeping it simple.  In these hard times, I really can't afford luxurious gifts plus most of my family have what they want so I think it will be a pleasant change to give them something totally unexpected and made with love.  Maybe we can all get back to the real meaning of Christmas.

So today I will be putting the finishing touches on the tree and decorating inside the house.  I will admit when it comes to decorating, I might go a little overboard but I just love all the colors and lights and sounds of Christmas and yet I always make sure that the real reason we are celebrating is prominently displayed.  

I have my grandparents Nativity which I put out each year and have bought or received other Nativities through out the years, so all will be displayed on the library table with the open Bible to the story of the blessed birth.  This has become a tradition with my decorating and always in a prominent area so it can be viewed and the story read.

I know for some this has been a sad and trying year and that there will be an empty chair at the table.  This is the second year of our empty chair but we have not forgotten and try to include him in our holiday celebration.  We have a special ornament on the tree and we have our memories of the past which we seek comfort from.   Fill that empty chair with your memories and know that our loved ones are watching over us and are with us in spirit.

I want to wish all my family and friends a very Merry Christmas and that you will find the love and comfort of this season and celebrate the birth of our Savior.  Remember he is the reason for this season and we shouldn't forgot him at this time.

11-11-11

11-11-11.  A memorable date in our history but also a very memorable one in my life.  It is Veteran's Day and I thank all the veteran's in this nation for their service and dedication.  But it is also the anniversary of the day I married my husband.

He was in the Navy and it just happened that he got a leave during this time and the 11th happened to fall on a Saturday in 1961.  Since he had just returned from a 10 month cruise to the east and would be making another long one, we decided we were going to be married.  We really didn't think too much about it being Veteran's Day until later.

We first met in 1957 and dated off and on for over a year.  Of course, I was only 14 1/2 when we met so was pretty young to his 16, almost 17 years, but we dated and we got pretty serious.  Maybe that is why we broke up as we both were too young to make that big commitment.  My family moved from the area in 1959 and I lost track of him.  

I went to visit my aunt and uncle in Wichita in September 1961 and I wanted to find out about him so contacted his family.  I learned that he had been looking for me as well before he joined the Navy.  I got his address and we began writing and he called me a couple of times and then he got a leave and came to flew in to Kansas City on November 7, where my dad and I went to pick him up.  It had been over 2 1/2 years since we had seen each other, even though we just recently started corresponding and talking on the phone, but there was something that happened when we did see each other that day.  It was if the time had stopped and we had been together always.

We talked and talked and decided since he would be making another long cruise, that we wanted to get married and when he got back we would move to Alameda where he was based.  He was 21 and I was 18 and I think both of our families knew that we were going to get married so really weren't that surprised but maybe because it was in such a short time.  We got our license and talked to the pastor of a church near by and on Saturday, November 11, 1961, we exchanged our vows with just our family present.

He left on November 16, so we only had a few days together but it seemed as if the time we had been apart was forgotten.  We felt as if we were just picking up where we left off.

I wrote a letter to put on the special flower that I will place on his grave today.  In that letter I wrote, "Years ago, the stars aligned and brought us together in ways we didn't know at first, but as we grew and after we met, we discovered how many times in our lives that our paths had crossed and how we both were set on this path to be together."

He was born in southeast Nebraska and I was born in southwest Iowa, not many miles apart.  Our families had made acquaintances before we were born and in later years, the families both moved to Wichita where we lived next door to one another.  Even the years we were apart, there was this bond that we would remember each other and when the opportunity came, I knew I had to find him just as he had looked for me.

I truly believe that it was meant to be that we would be together and for forty eight years we worked together to raise our two daughters, to love and support them and each other.  True, like any marriage, we had our little bumps in the road but the one thing that stayed true was our love for each other and our fidelity to each other.   We were soul mates from the first meeting until the very end.

His passing took a part of me with him and I only wish the fate hadn't been so cruel to separate us after all those years together.  He looked forward to this date as it was a milestone for both of us.  We would have celebrated our 50th anniversary with all the love we had for one another and looked forward to more years together.  He used to say that in this day and age, we were the unusual, we stayed together and honored our vows and fifty years is something to celebrate.

So today, I will celebrate, but it will be with the memories I have of the life we shared.  He was my first and my only true love and he was my friend and my confident, my rock but most of all he was my husband who loved me as much as I loved him.

Happy 50th Anniversary Honey.   ILYTMTYLTT  "Angel"

1961

1961 was a year of excitement and dreams come true for me.  And did you know that it is the only year that can be read upside down and still be 1961.

But 1961 was an exciting year as it was my senior year in high school and I was going to graduate.  It was an exciting time and yet there was a touch of sadness.  For over twelve years, I got up and went to school to learn and be with my friends and now it was going to be all over.  Oh, I would see my friends, but what would I do for the rest of the time.

I knew that I had to get a job and the idea of college was not an option as my family just couldn't afford it.  I considered a trade school but I would have to work to earn my tuition.  And as much as I hate to say it, during that time, there was not as much emphasis on young women going to school.  There were two options, go to school or get married.  That pretty much sums it up and those who went on to school were the lucky ones who could afford it and I will say they also may have had more determination to have a career.  

I wasn't interested in becoming a teacher or nurse, doctor, lawyer or having a professional career.  I wanted to be a secretary and I had the skills to do that.  But going to a trade school would give me a few more which would help with advancement but it was always what I wanted to be.

Through all the excitement of the end of the school year from our Senior Banquet to the commencement, we shared our laughter, our tears and our remembrances.  With the largest class ever to graduate from William Chrisman High School, 523 students faced a new future.

I kept in touch with a few of my closest friends for a while but as we all moved forward with our lives, we began to lose touch.  Just as we all scattered with our school, jobs and even military, we also scattered all over the country.

It was a good time but it was also a bad time during our country but we seemed to forge ahead and do what we had to do.

I made contact with an old boyfriend and as we wrote and talked on the phone, we discovered that the feelings we had years before when we were much younger were still there and on November 11, 1961 we were married.  He was in the Navy so I was one of those classmates that scattered as we moved to California to live until his discharge.

So this year brings back a lot of memories of what was going on in my life fifty years ago.  I was young and looked at the future as being bright and prosperous and I will say that it has had its ups and downs but it has been a good life.

I had two lovely daughters and now have four wonderful grandchildren.  So I've been very prosperous with my family.  

Recently my graduating class held a 50th school reunion.  I was unable to attend due to the distance and cost factor and I also discovered that most of my closest friends had either passed on or had disappeared so no one knew where they were.  It would have been nice to go back to see the school and it was one thing my husband had promised that we would do but we planned to make it a double celebration.

However, in October 2009, we got the diagnosis that he only had a short time and even with treatment, the cancer won the battle and he passed away on January 14, 2010.  The one thing he had looked forward to so much was our 50th anniversary which would be on 11-11-11.  He wanted to do something very special because of the unusual date.  I will not forget though and even if I couldn't attend my 50th school reunion, I will go visit my husband that day and I will remember and make it a special day.

But 1961 will always be a year for me to remember.

A Birthday Remembrance

October 18, 1940 was my husband's birthdate.  He would have been 71 today.  

Over the years the month of October meant Birthdays to our family.  Our oldest daughter was born on Oct. 14 and the youngest on Oct. 28.  So, it was just our thing to celebrate one big birthday for all three of them.  Of course, when the girls were smaller, they did have their own parties for their special days but for the family, it was one big celebration.

Now, he is gone and the girls are scattered so today has been a quiet day but not forgotten by any means.  It is one of those days that will always be remembered and celebrated in one way or another, mainly like it has been today.  Quietly, as we remember him and the birthdays past.

I want to wish him a Happy Birthday and I know he is watching over us and knows we are thinking about him and remembering him today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!   I miss you and love you .

OCTOBER -Facts & Trivia

When October arrives, we usually think it is Fall, even though the official first day of Fall is in September, somehow October just seems like the beginning of Fall, just as we think of December as the beginning of Winter.  But October has its own distinction, somewhere between late Summer and early Fall.  With the roller coaster of temperatures, it eases us into the cooler months as well as giving us a colorful exit of Summer.

October is also noted for some notable and some not so notable celebrations.  October is Class Reunion Month, Frugal Fun Month, National Crime Prevention Month, National Positive Attitude Month, National Cookie Month, National Seafood Month, National Dessert Month, National Popcorn and Popcorn Poppin' Month, National Pretzel Month, National Pork Month, National Stamp Month and National Chili Month.

Of course, we all know about Columbus Day on October 12 and Halloween on October 31.  But did you know there is also Mule Day on October 26 and Punky Night before Halloween.  Punky Night is when the pumpkins are carved and in ancient times, the children would carry the carved pumpkins throughout the village asking for candles to light them up and then they would carry them as lanterns.

More presidents were born in October than any other month: John Adams (1735), Rutherford B. Hayes (1822), Chester Arthur (1829), Theodore Roosevelt (1829), Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890) and Jimmy Carter (1924).

A few interesting facts:

Henry Ford introduced the Model T on October 1, 1908.

The first message sent between two computers in California on October 20, 1966 (The first E-Mail)

The Great Chicago Fire started on October 8, 1871 and lasted for 30 hours.

Thomas Edison had his first successful demonstration of the electric light on October 19,1879.

Sam Houston was inaugurated the First President of the Republic of Texas on October 22, 1836.

The Erie Canal opened for traffic on October 26, 1865

The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886.

The moon in the month of October is called "A Hunter's Moon."

Opal and Tourmaline are the birthstones.   Calendula is the flower. 

Folk Lore Sayings:

Rain in October

Means wind in December.

If the October moon comes without frost

expect no frost till the moon of November.

When birds and badgers are fat in October,

expect a cold winter.

When berries are many in October,

beware of a hard winter.

If ducks do slide at Hallowtide,

At Christmas they will swim.

If ducks do not slide at Hallowtide,

At Christmas they will slide.

Always will there be Twenty-Nine fine days in October

October Quote:

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundred came;

The Ashes, Oaks and Maples,

And those of every name.

Source: George Cooper - taken from World Book Millennium 2000

Happy October!

REFLECTIONS

Today, September 11, 2011, is the tenth anniversary of one of the most atrocious attacks on America ever.  True, Pearl Harbor was atrocious but at the time it was not part of our country but the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11th was on American soil and not only were innocent Americans killed, but many who came from different parts of the world, so in a way, it was not only on Americans but on the world as a whole.  Only because one man thought he had the power and was doing God's work.  The only problem was he worshiped a false God, one who has the principles of Satan.

It was a beautiful September morning ten years ago.  As I sat in my living room watching TV waiting for the local station to come on with a weather report before my husband and I started our morning gathering of eggs.  We were living on the farm at the time and he had gone to check the poultry houses so I was alone when I heard the first report.  I was watching the Today show and I can remember Matt Lauer saying, "A plane has hit one of the Trade Center towers."  His voice echoed his concern and the curiosity as to why a plane would hit one of the towers.  They went to a film footage taken by someone, I don't even remember who now, as the shock of seeing the plane hit was so overwhelming.  The Today Show managed to get a live shot of the tower and then with horror, not only to me and millions of people watching but to the cast of the Today show itself, we saw the second plane come in and head straight for the second tower. It was like it was a movie and it didn't seem real at first and yet we knew it was.  

My husband came in and I told him what had happened.  We sat there as they replayed it and talked about it while trying to get information.  Just as we were about to leave, they broke in with the news that the Pentagon had been attacked.

We sat there looking at one another and then to the television screen, not saying a word.  I think we were in shock and numb from the visions before us.  How could this be happening?  What was going on?  Were we under attack and by who?  Were we safe?  What about our children and the rest of our families?  The thoughts racing through our heads were limitless and the fear inside us was nothing like we had ever felt before.

It was a feeling of shock and horror.  It was unbelievable.  How could anyone attack us?  I can remember that it wasn't just us who felt this.  We could hear it in the voices that came from the television set.  They were as numbed and shocked as everyone watching.  It was the unspeakable and it was hard to believe that it had happened even as we watched, it just didn't seem real.  But it was.

We had to go to our gather and rushed through it so we could get back to find out what was going on.  Our propane delivery man arrived just as we finished and was going back to the house.  I went on as my husband stopped to talk to him.  He hadn't heard the news as was out on his route.

I turned on the TV to hear about the plane crash in Pennsylvania and that they thought there could be more attacks in our large cities.  I hurried back to tell my husband, breaking down in tears as I thought about my brother and his family in Chicago, my oldest daughter and her family in Tulsa, his family who lived in the Dallas area and Wichita, Ks. area.  Friends we had over the country and the fear was almost more than I could bear.

We stayed in front of our television set as much as we could during that first day and the days following.  We watched in horror again when the towers fell and again the silence as we could find no words to say.  Our hearts were heavy as we thought about all those innocent victims on the planes, those in the towers, the Pentagon and on the plane that went down.  We prayed and hoped that more had survived.  We prayed that there would be no more planes with terrorists who had no regard for life, not even their own.

The days that followed were as numbing as we watched them clear the rubble from where the two towers had stood.  We saw the ground where Flight 93 went down because of the bravery of the passengers who knew they had to do something and gave up their lives in doing so.

It was a time when all America came together as one.  We had been violated and it affected every single one of us whether we had a loved one or not in the tragedy.  It was our fellow Americans so it was a strike on us as well.  The flags flew, people gathered together and prayed and our country was strong as we forged ahead.

The evil man who thought he could bring us down was hunted down and his henchmen were eliminated and it took longer but in the end he was caught and eliminated as well. But the terror does not end as he seeded the hatred in many of his followers so they continue to fight his war.  Yes, it is a war.  As part of his belief, he felt that anyone who didn't believe as he did was an infidel and needed to be killed.  That is not God's way.  But it is Satan's way.

We have been fighting this evil for ten years and will go on fighting it.  The bonds we made immediately after that horrific day have lessened but as we remember today, perhaps some of them will return to us and we can become strong again and continue this fight.  We can't let the devil win.

I sat quietly this morning listening to the quiet outdoors.  No one was moving about and only the birds were signing, as I imagine they were on that fateful day.  The sun was shining and the sky was clear.  It gave me time to reflect on that day and what has happened since then.

I don't think I was alone in my thoughts and even my prayers for those who died and the families they left behind as it was later when I first heard a vehicle and then the sound of children's voices as they came out to play.  For two hours, the quiet was a time for reflection, for prayer and for a renewed hope that our country would be safe and we would never face such horrors again.

Sometimes I think television has opened up a whole new way we see the world.  During WWII, we didn't have that option.  We relied on the radio and newspapers with reporters who were on the front lines giving us details and descriptions.  The news reels we saw in the movie houses showed the horrors of war too.

But then television made it possible for them to be there and record the events, good and bad.  The assassination of John Kennedy.  People were horrified and again when we watched the shooting of the assassin.  All from the comfort of our living rooms.  How could this be happening?  We asked ourselves then just as we did ten years ago.  We watched the funeral procession of the beloved president.

We watched the news every night about the war in Viet Nam and the demonstrations against it.  We watched as the Trade Center was hit before, the embassies around the world, the ships, the planes.  It was all there before us.

But on September 11, 2001, it was a horror beyond horror and we need to find that strength and courage we had following that attack on our country and stand together as Americans to defend our freedoms and our way of life or those who died on September 11 died in vain.  Our soldiers who have been fighting this battle on foreign lands and who have given their lives because of this atrocity have given them in vain if we do not stand together.

I saw something this morning that I want to end with.  GOD BLESS AMERICA -- AMERICA BLESS GOD!

Septembers of the Past

I think I like September the most of all the months.  It is the only month with so many changes but they are usually subtle and most enjoyable.

As a young girl, it always meant that school would start the day after Labor Day.  I always looked forward to that first day of school so I could wear my new dress and shoes and socks and carry my tablet and pencils and crayons in a sack.  We didn't have backpacks and a plain brown sack worked just as well for all that we needed.  As I got older, I remember adding a ruler, a compass and eraser to the supplies.

And we never knew what the first day would bring.  It could be a warm day, the lingering of the summer as fall peeked around the corner.  Or it might be cool so that a sweater was needed for early in the day.  I don't remember a rainy day but I'm sure there was one or two.

But the excitement and just the feeling that summer was over made September a welcome month.  I could even smell the difference in the air.  It was crisper and seemed fresher.  The cooler temperature made the days pleasant even though it was sad not to have the long evenings of summer.  It seemed that as soon as September arrived, the sun wanted to set early so the time we had after school was really the only play time we had.  Once supper was over and chores done, it was dusk so we seldom went out plus the evenings were effecting a chill with just a touch of dampness.

It wasn't just the start of school and the end of summer, but it was the beginning of the change between summer and winter.  Fall.  That beautiful time of the year when the trees display an array of color and the grasses turn from green to beige, the Mums burst forth in multiple blooms and the best of all, the smell of burning leaves as the smoke curls upward and hovers over the neighborhood.

September is the month that brings these changes and allows us to make that transition from those hot lazy days of summer to the pleasant days of fall and before the hibernation of winter.

To this day when I rake up a pile of leaves, I can hardly resist that temptation to run and jump right into the middle of them.  I can laugh about it now but when I was young, I can remember being told to help rake up the leaves and then either my brother or me would immediately jump into the middle of the pile scattering them again with our laughter and glee until our parents called out to quit playing and start working.

There is no spookier sound than to be walking alone with a wind blowing making the leaves travel down the road with their swishing sound.  You can almost hear the footsteps of the unknown and the heart quickens and the breathing becomes labored until you reach your safe destination and feel the relief that you have escaped the unknown whisperer out there.

But my biggest memory is the burning of the leaves. All the color has disappeared leaving the dry brown leaves littering the ground waiting to be raked up into piles. The crackling of the flames as they devour the dry leaves along with the smoke rising from the burning piles signal fall is here.  And by the end of September as we look forward to October, the air was always heavy with the smoke from the numerous piles of leaves.

The cool mornings and evenings are like a sandwich for the warm day in between allowing us to get out and enjoy long walks, children playing or just sitting on the porch watching, listening and smelling the scents of the approaching fall.  September will always be my favorite month and bring back those many memories of childhood and the innocence it held.  September, the gateway from summer to fall.

Throwing in the towel!!!

I really hoped that Maggie and me would make a pair.  We started out good but once she was "at home" her true colors came out.  I'm happy that she is attached to me but she is my shadow and that is our problem.  She will not let me get out of her sight and she has discovered she can climb the chain link fence.

The first time I thought she had jumped it as I parked the golf cart close to it but the other evening when I went to visit my neighbor to inquire about his wife and how she was doing, I watched as she literally climbed over the gate.  Once she was in his yard, she found a place where she could climb over his fence and when I came out of the house later, there she was laying in front of his front door.

I put her back into the yard and we stood there and watched as she climbed up and over and was right back to where we were.  I managed to get her home and into my yard and scolded her and for a couple of days everything was fine.

Well, as fine as it could be.  Since she is a puppy she is in to everything but she decided the cats bowls were something that needed to be destroyed and she did a good job on them.  I started putting up the others overnight but have to keep an eye on her during the day.  Since the cats are nibblers, their food lasts most of the day while she manages to gobble hers down in nothing flat.

Since Maggie has discovered she can go over the fence, anything or anyone who attracts her attention is fair game and she is gone.  Having a neighbor who thinks he has to be the best friend to every dog in the area by giving them treats or special attention, he has aggravated the situation since she has learned how to get into his yard now.  He has been warned by every dog owner around here to please not give treats or try to make friends with their dogs as some have them as watch dogs and when he does that, he is ruining them as they will overcome their protectiveness thinking a stranger will give them a treat.  He just doesn't understand and insists he is doing nothing wrong. 

Well now he has ruined my dog and I am going to have to throw in the towel and find her another home or take her to the shelter so maybe they can find a home for her.

She was out this morning and I got a call at 8:00 AM from another neighbor to tell me she was out.  I tried to get her back but a trash company came and she was off again with the men petting and loving on her and she refused to come home.  I had to leave as I had to go to the grocery store and she only came back so far and laid in the yard but would not go into the fenced yard.  I left not knowing if she would be here when I returned or not.

To my surprise, she was in the neighbor's yard.  The gate was open and I don't know if he purposely opened it for her to go in or not.  But he was paying her attention as I drove up.  I opened the gate and drove in and left them open in hopes she would come home.  Instead, he went around the side of his house and she followed.  Not sure if he coaxed her or not.  When I saw him go inside later, I went out to call her and finally got her home.

It is a shame as I thought maybe she might be what I was looking for and needed but I don't think it is going to work out for us after all.  I just hope we can find her a home where she can have the attention she needs and the freedom to run and not be a bother to anyone

I know I'm not the most patient person but I have tried and now I will give up.  I've done all that I can do but until I can control the outside sources, our relationship will never work.  The saddest part is that I really like the dog.  But she is still a puppy and I'm not sure the two of us can survive each other for another year and a half or maybe more.  And she may never grow out of this as she is a very friendly dog who does not know a stranger.  I guess I should have realized this the day they brought her and she just came in as if she owned the place and never once was leery of me or barked at me.  But I chalked it up to being a puppy and wanting to explore new surroundings.

I want the best for her.  She deserves it.  So I'll throw the towel in and guess I'll buy a security system since I can't find the right dog for me.

Maggie

It has been a week since Maggie arrived.  She was dumped at a friend's house so we have no idea where she came from or what kind of life she had.  But when they couldn't keep her, I volunteered to take her since I've been looking for a dog and finding that she was a German Shepherd mix was perfect as I wanted a German Shepherd.

When they brought Maggie into the yard and let her go, she immediately took off like gang busters to see the cats.  Well, that didn't go as well as she planned as several ran for the trees while a few brave ones hissed and spit and ran towards her.  So then it was off to explore the new surroundings.  She had to check every corner and every inch around the fence, the outer shed and buildings and then moved back towards the house.  She hadn't discovered that there was more yard on the south side of the house.

Her attention was brought back to the cats.  Now, she only had good intentions.  She saw them as playmates but of course they saw her as a threat and since this was their territory, they were going to hold it and let her know they were in charge.

The first day was her day to investigate and that she did.  She finally discovered the whole yard and when I would go check on her, she came running, so glad to see me.  That evening, as I went out to water the Cherry tree and shrubs, she climbed up on the golf cart with me and rode for a ways.  She didn't seem to mind it but when I got off, she got off.  She had to help as I filled the watering can.  She thought the water was for her and tried to drink it from the sprayer.  I think she must have some Lab in her as she sure loves water.

I wondered how she would do that first night as I had not heard a whimper or bark out of her since her arrival.  She was so curious about those cats and learned in a hurry that she was not to invade their territory.

When I got up the next morning, I had to go to the store to get some food and I wondered how I would get the car out without her running out the gate.  I did find out that she knew a few commands, one being "Stay" which she would move away from me and either sit or lay down until I moved and then she would come to me.  As much as I hated to do it, I knew I had to let her know that the open gate was off limits.  So I got the BB gun and it only took one pop to the hip and she didn't come near it.  Now, all it takes it the shaking and she knows she has to go back and stay away.

When I returned, I managed to get back inside the fenced area and when I got out of the car, I could hear the cries of a kitten.  I went to investigate with Maggie walking along side of me.  I saw the kitten high up in a tree, along with two other cats who were a little older.  Two of the mama cats were on the ground, worried about the crying kitten so high up.

Maggie felt safe by me but as I walked closer to the tree, the mama cats didn't like her being there at all and came at her.  I heard a loud yelp as they both got to her.  She tripped over the cement blocks that were stacked up from my daughter's trailer spot and as she got up, the two females cats went after her as she ran for her life around to the back of the house to hide somewhere.

I came inside, put my groceries away and went out to give her some of the puppy food I had bought.  She was being very cautious and had learned to make a wide berth around the cats.

The one thing I have noticed was that Maggie never does anything slowly.  It is fast and faster.  She will run and not walk, unless I am with her and she has to walk with me.  The rest of the time, she is on a trot or run.  I found some dog toys that I had from my other dogs and gave them to her.  The favorite is a rubber bone that squeaks.  She will run back and forth with it, not wanting to play catch, but just running back and forth until she drops.

She was still trying to get those cats to play with her but due to the heat, she found a cool place and spent most of the afternoon into early evening lying in the cool spot.  We went out to do the watering and I decided I wanted to see how she would do on a leash.  No problem.  She walked along as if it was the most normal thing ever.  I was really pleased but still had a doubt since I had not heard her bark and I was concerned that maybe she couldn't bark.  I wanted her to train as a watch dog so I was trying to think of something that would make her bark but nothing was working.

That evening I went next door to visit my neighbor and parked the golf cart near the walk through gate between our yards.  I told Maggie to stay and she sat down next to the golf cart as I went through the gate and over to the house.  I was about ready to step up on their porch when I heard her bark.  I was pleased but hoped she wouldn't bark the whole time I was there.  She didn't because when we came out a little later, we found her in their yard.  We still haven't figured out how she got there unless she got onto the golf cart and jumped over the fence or gate.  But she was there waiting for me to come out.  She came with me and rode on the golf cart on the way back to our house.

Since then, it has been a daily routine of feeding her and then the cats and making sure she understands that she has her own food and has to leave theirs alone.  She rides with me to go water and we have play time in the evening.  And she has barked a few times since then so I keep hoping with some training, she will learn to bark to warn me if there is danger.

She knows her name now and when I tell her 'no', she seems to learn after a couple of times, except for the jumping but today she was better so again, maybe we are making progress.I think one day we will be close friends and will understand what each of us wants and will have a great relationship.  Just as she is working towards one with the cats and has made friends with a couple of them. Again her only problem is that she comes up on a run and they aren't sure what her intentions are so are on the defensive, but I'm sure that will end soon too, once she realizes they don't like her running up to them or maybe they will just get used to it and ignore her and she will stop.  I'm leaving that up to them to work out as I don't want to be in the middle of a mad cat and a playful dog.

I admit I'm not a person with patience and since I'm not a real big dog fan, this is a trying time for both Maggie and me, but I will say this, she isn't going to leave me alone and demands my attention and maybe there is a soft spot in this old heart because I may get angry with her when she is being kind of bad, but I can't help but love her.  I know she loves me.

Sunrise to Sunset

Being alone gives me a lot of time to think.  Now, that might be a good thing or maybe not but at least it keeps the mind active and that is good.  When I'm not sitting here at the computer writing, I like to do something to keep the cobwebs away.  I have a stack of books just waiting to be read but will probably save those for the winter time when I can just curl up on a cold day and get lost for a few hours.  I enjoy working Cryptograms and try to solve a couple of them every day.  The rest of the time, I find some way to "think".  Even watching TV will trigger thoughts some times and remembrances.

I think this really hit home last week when my very good friend collapsed and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.  I've watched over the last few years as she has slowly slipped away into her own world, one in which she couldn't share with anyone and occasionally try to come back into ours.  The world of Dementia is a cruel thing, it destroys the mind in such a way that the person is still there, still caring, still being cared for but not completely whole.

But my friend refused help from her family and friends.  I think she knew and was afraid to admit it was taking over.  She was losing control and I think all of us would fight as long as we could too.  But when she fell and still refused help, her husband knew it couldn't continue and called for help when he couldn't get her up.  She's been put through test after test and discovered she'd had a small heart attack.  She'd never had any heart problems so it was a shock to all of us.  However, medication and rest seems to be helping her and now that she is back on her Diabetes medication, which she had not been taking, her physical health is improving.  But not the mental health as with Dementia, there is no cure.  They may be able to give her something to help a little while but it will never go away and it is only delaying the inevitable.  But with our loved ones, we want to do everything we can and keep them with us as long as we can.

So as I sat on my porch one night enjoying the warm night, I thought about life.  It is kind of like a day.  We rise at Sunrise and we go to work or school or play during the day and then after Sunset, we go to bed.  Life is a lot like a day.

Sunrise is the birth of a day and also represents our birth and just as the sun inches its way up over the horizon, as infants we slowly grow and change until the day dawns bright and we continue to grow.  We learn, we work, we play and we spend the daylights hours living our life.  Sunset brings that time when we begin to slow down.  We retire and become less active as we reflect back on what the day has produced and as the sun sets we go off to slumberland.

So our lives are like a day.  Just as the sun rises and sets each day and brings with it the sunshine and the rain, the warmth and the cold, we laugh, we cry, we love and we grieve.  And when the slumberland comes, I know that I will have lived my day to the fullest.

I've had my Sunrise and I'm having a wonderful day as I head for the Sunset.  I have the love of my family and my friends and wonderful memories that can never be forgotten.

Surviving!

I've had a story in my head but just haven't been able to sit down and write about it yet.  Somehow, I still feel the need to tell the story.  As you all know, I love cats.  I think they are the most interesting creature God created and if I could, I would take in every one of them but I know that is impossible.

Over a year ago, I noticed a stray cat in the field behind my house.  One day I heard her mewing and noticed she was watching as I put out food and water for my own cats.  I called to her but she continued to stay crouched down and kept her distance.  I decided to put out a special dish of food and water for her and as she moved towards it cautiously, watching me, I moved back to give her the space as I could see she was hungry and thirsty.  She began to eat and alternated between the food and the water dish.

I had to keep my own cats away as she would run off each time one would come near and they weren't all that friendly to her either.  But every day, I would make sure there was food and water put in a special place just for her.  She came and gave me a look of gratitude but as soon as one of my cats would appear, she would take off.  I even caught one of my females chasing her away one day so I moved the food and water to another location so she would feel safer about coming to it.

It was late in the fall and this daily routine kept up until mid winter when she disappeared.  She didn't come in to eat or drink and I didn't see her again.  But then one day I saw her prowling around the neighbor's house and learned that she had been coming up to share the food they put out for their cat.  Their cat, Bashful wasn't as agressive towards her and even allowed her to stay around.

Once in a while she would venture over into my yard and if my cats weren't around, she would sneak food or a drink but would run if she saw them or me and there were times when she was chased away as well. 

My heart was breaking as I knew she was relying on catching her food or stealing food wherever she could find it.  She was a pretty thing, long hair with multi colors and big green eyes that seemed to penetrate as they looked at you but yet gave away her feelings.  I knew when she was glad to see me as the eyes weren't searching or looking around but actually watching me and as I said, I could see the appreciation in those eyes.

When spring came, she disappeared again and I learned later that she was living in a shed at the neighbor's house and then he told me that he had heard the sound of kittens and knew they were hidden somewhere in the shed.  He continued to put out food for his own knowing she was eating it as well.  But he really didn't want the mama cat and her kittens and scaled back.

I was busy keeping up with my own brood of cats and new kittens but one night I noticed three little yellow kittens playing with some of my kittens and had no idea where they came from.  When I went out to look at them, they took off and then I saw the mama cat sitting off at a distance.  She began to walk away and the kittens followed her.

There were several days that she and the kittens appeared, mainly at night but then she began coming during the daytime.  I again put out food and water in a special place for her.  She kept her distance from my cats who still didn't like her presence but yet they accepted the kittens as they ate and played with mine without problems.  Mama began to leave, leaving the kittens here to sleep, eat and play but would return as they weren't completely weaned.  But after about a week or so, they were roaming the neighborhood again.  They would appear here, or across the street or would go back to where she had been living.  Then, they all disappeared.  I didn't see her or the kittens.

I learned from my neighbor that he had found one kitten dead in his yard but hadn't seen the others.  I accidentally scared one out of its hiding place and it scampered away so fast that I didn't see where it went too.  I haven't seen the other remaining kittten or the mother for several weeks.

With the excessive heat we have had and knowing how hard it has been on my own cats as I make sure they have a cool place to lay and have fresh cool water, I worry about the mama cat and her remaining kittens.

The one thing I have learned and I really think the reason she was coming around here.  She was looking for a home for her kittens as I don't think she was capable of caring for them.  She was weaning them early and it could be due to her own lack of nutrition, she couldn't provide for them and she was trying to find them a home where they could survive.  However, they loved their mother and followed her.  I discovered again the feelings between mother and children as I've seen so many times with my cats.  The mama cats are protective and provide not only food but protection and care for their offspring just as we humans do and they do it in such loving ways that a person cannot be touched by the scene of a mama cat with her babies nursing and her paws kneading the air and the contentment on her face, or how she gently wraps her paws around them to hold them as she bathes them.  I've watched as they play with their kittens and later as they began the training of the hunt and survival.

I'm sure this mama cat was trying to train her own kittens and at the same time provide the best she could for them.  I can only hope that the mama cat and her two remaining kittens are surviving as she has a strong sense of survival and I'm sure she has passed this on to her offspring.  Feral cats are so prevalent and it is a shame we can't catch them to prevent additional kittens but they also serve a purpose.  With even my own, I know that they catch mice and snakes which only helps me or my neighbors.

And I have to admire her determination to survive and to provide for her offspring.  Not only is she a pretty cat to look at but is pretty inside as she has compassion for her young and as with any mother, wanted only the best for them, even if it meant leaving them with strangers.  That is love.

Just Chattering

A few years ago when I first saw the word "blog" I had no idea of what it was and later when I found out, I thought I could never do that.  I really didn't have anything to contribute.  But I have changed my mind.  I may not blog about current affairs or products and services, but I do love to write and so I created this blog to be used as a tool for me and hopefully entertainment for those who read it.

I may write something silly and inconsequential, or I might get serious and just write about what I am feeling or what is going on in my life.  Either way, it is my tool of expression, my way of continuing my craft and my love of writing.

I have been a writer since way back.  I have written short stories and little poems for the family and never ever thought about becoming a writer as a profession.  I just love to write and have people read what I write and enjoy the story I tell.

I've said it many times but it is true.  When my brother and I were growing up, we lived on the edge of a small town and there weren't many neighbors, especially children so we only had each other.  Our mother always read to us but sometimes she would just sit and spin a tale for us.  I can still see her sitting on the porch or perhaps we were traveling in the car and she would be telling a story.  She had a knack of entertaining us with her stories of children or animals.  But it came naturally to her as well.  She had grown up in a large family, long before every household had a radio or if they did, it was limited to what was broadcast and certainly long before television came along.  So her mother entertained her children with story telling.  My grandfather could spin a tale as well.

Maybe that is why I have wanted to write.  I like to tell a story and I know I have a huge imagination.  But that comes from my brother and I growing up together and playing.  We used to watch the clouds in the sky and both of us would visualize shapes and animals and then we would start making up a story about them.  We had imaginations that extended beyond our actual toys.  We could live in mansions or he would use his cars to build roads and race.  We went to the matinees as we got a little older and of course when we came home, we had to re-enact the movie we had seen.  Most were westerns but there were some gangster type we saw occasionally.

When we got our first TV, a whole new world opened up to us as we watched the cowboy shows, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Cisco Kid and others.  We watched space shows, circus shows and theater presentations.  It just fed our imaginations as we pretended we were those characters or were with them.

When someone asks me, "Why did you become a writer?" I tell them, there is something inside me that just has to be said.  Whether I'm telling a story or writing, there are times when I feel I will bust if I can't get the words out.  I may be grocery shopping or driving my car and an idea will strike.  I can hardly wait to get to my computer and start to work.  I have let my housekeeping slide at times as that need to write is so overwhelming that I cannot concentrate on anything else.

I am very fortunate in the fact that I had a lot of support from my family.  My mother always encouraged me and for years my husband kept after me and when I did finally published my first book, he became my biggest supporter.  He even made sure I had a place where I could write without to much interference and overlooked the fact that I might not have got the vacuuming done or there were still breakfast dishes in the sink.  He knew I would get to it but he also knew that I had to get those words down on paper.

I can't say it is an obsession with me but when the muse is teasing my thoughts I have to stop what I'm doing and start writing.  It is my outlet for my emotions and allows me to reach deep into my mind and soul to express my feelings.  I am a part of every story I've ever written and I hate to see a story end as I feel I'm losing friends and maybe a part of me too.

But there are times when I have no thoughts to write down.  That is when I feel anxious and at a loss as to what to do.  I get my housework done, I may watch television or go visit with a neighbor or when it is cool enough, I work out in the yard.  But I'm still thinking about my next story and looking for something that might spark an idea.

This morning I woke up early and decided to go out onto the porch to have my coffee.  It was about 78 degrees and a little muggy but not too bad.  I sat there listening to the birds singing, watching the outdoor kitties play knowing they were enjoying the coolness of the morning and would be in a shady spot later.  I watched as the sun emerged shining its orange and gold colors through the clouds and breaking through to form that bright yellow ball in the sky.  I also knew it would be another hot day.  I enjoyed those few moments of peace and quiet.  There were no cars, no voices from neighbors and even the dogs on the next block were quiet.  It was a perfect morning to start the day.

I've let my blog go without much to add.  It isn't that I don't want to come here, but I haven't taken the time to just let my hair down and chat away.  But now, I've chatted long enough and it is time to get busy here.  The dishes are done, the pets have been fed and watered so now it is my time and so I will plug in the flash drive and escape into another world.

Take Me Away!

The other day my muse was after me to finish up this story I'm working on so I was switching back and forth from the story to searching for information on the internet.  I may write fiction and have a huge imagination but I do research when I'm writing about a location or an event.  I want to make sure that my imagination doesn't take over and distorts the truth.

In this case, I have my characters living in Athens, Greece.  But they travel to other cities or countries near by so I had to be sure of the correctness and also the sights they were seeing.  Since I have always wanted to go to Greece, I picked it as my central location and I enjoyed doing the research almost as much as I did the writing of the story.

But while I was browsing the net, a thought came to me.  I remembered an old commercial about a bath product that advertised "Take me away!"  

That is exactly what my computer was doing.  It was taking me away from this quiet existence I have here to an exciting new place.  A land that I could only dream about.  So I looked at my computer and said, "From now on, I will call you Calgon."  You take me away.

It is so true.  Whether we are browsing far off lands or our favorite shopping site, we are being whisked away for a few minutes from our ordinary lives.  The computer is becoming more and more a huge part of our lives and opens up new worlds and we can see exciting places and things.

So I have named my computer, Calgon and it is going to take me away!

4th of July

I know the 4th of July is behind us now.  I haven't had the time to come here to let everyone know how we celebrated and to wish you all a Happy 4th.

I worked for weeks getting the porch ready for our 4th of July party.  I put up colored lights along with some white lights, decorative flag lights and even some stars.  We had the big Flag out front waving in the breeze, plus I put my two small Uncle Sam's out, one on the north side of the house, the other on the south side.  Inside, we had two standing Uncle Sam's holding their flags proudly. The two dining tables had large flag bandanas on top with candles while the buffet table was covered in a blue and white check with a red,white and blue centerpiece.

We were decorated all right.  The stereo was moved outside so we'd have music and we did have the variety.  The mini bar was set up along with an ice chest so everyone could have their refreshments.

The grill was fired up for the burgers and hot dogs.  Potato salad and Kidney Bean salad were staples along with chips.  And off course we had a platter of sliced tomatoes, sliced onion, cheese slices and dill pickles for all the relish to put on those burgers.

It was a hot evening with little breeze so the big oscillating fan was put into use and made it bearable.  But the main focus was the camaraderie with our guests.  Only three weren't able to join us but we still had a good time eating, talking and later watching our own fireworks display.

Since it is so dry and of course, we didn't get any of the rain that day, it all went around us, so my daughter manned the water hose as my grandson fired off the rockets and fountains.  Luckily we didn't have any fires or mishaps and had quite a showing.

Earlier in the day, my grandson came out early and we went to a fireworks stand so that I could buy a few that I wanted.  So we ended up with a pretty good selection.

Since he had to go to work the next day and daughter had to head back home to Owasso, they had to leave around 10 PM, then two more of our friends left around 11 PM, but my good friends and neighbors next door stayed and we visited until almost 12:30.

Everyone had a good time and are looking forward to our next party at the new "party central".  The screened in porch is kind of nice as we don't have to contend with the skeeters or gnats and usually there is a good breeze blowing through but if not, the fan seems to do a good job of making it comfortable.

And we all remembered why we were celebrating.  It was the birth of our nation.  So many people have forgotten the meaning of the 4th of July but we were not only celebrating the fireworks, but a birthday. 

I waited a couple of days before taking down the Uncle Sam's.  I enjoy having them up and will leave them as long as I can.  They come out on every holiday, except Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, so they will be back.

I hope you all had a great 4th of July as well. 

Here are some of our party pictures:

Half Way!

I can't believe it but as today ends, June 30, 2011, so does the first half of this year.  Where has the time gone?

It seems it was only a few weeks ago that we were buried in snow drifts and it was freezing cold and now here it is summer time.

The beginning of the year started nice but by the second week, it was cold and blustery and then the snow came and it came and it came.  We were snowed in for days, no mail service, stores closed as people couldn't get in to work, let alone customers being able to get in to make purchases.

But by the end of February, it was all behind us as we looked towards March and a pleasant change of weather and it wasn't a bad March.  We got a lot of rain and I mean a lot of rain.  I worried at the time that it would rain itself out and by summer time, we'd be sweltering in the heat and dry as a bone.  Guess what?  We are sweltering in the heat and dry as a bone.

April wasn't to bad and we got some good rains during that month but then May came along and it began to warm up, a lot warmer than usual but nothing like this month has been.  We made the record books for the second hottest month with temps over 90+ degrees for 29 of the 30 days.

And a lot has happened in my personal life during this first six months.  My brother, my niece and my daughter and I made a trip to Iowa to move our mother to a nursing home in January.  However, she was removed by our younger sibling in February and sad to say, passed away in March.

It has been hard for me to accept her passing and I still think I need to call her when something happens or especially on Sunday afternoons.  For years, every Sunday afternoon we had a nice long visit by phone and I miss those calls and miss her voice and I miss telling her what is going on or what is happening and I miss her telling me what she has been thinking about or doing.

Then in May, my daughter decided she was going back to the city.  She just isn't a country girl and was not happy here and I felt bad with her living in that small trailer.  She got it sold, packed up her things and she and my grandson loaded the truck and she is settled into her new apartment and is working part time at a local television studio as she looks for full time work and today she had a good interview so we are keeping our fingers crossed it will work out for her.

It has been a little hard going out and not seeing the trailer there or seeing her every day but we talk on the phone and I know she is happy and that is the most important thing.

I thought about selling off the place and moving to an apartment but the more I thought about it, I knew I would not be happy.  I am a country girl and I do love the rural living and having a neighbor so close and being in town, I know I'd feel like a fish out of water and regret it so I've decided to stay right here for as long as I can.

So the first half of the year has been full of ups and downs, some health problems but are being taken care of and I'm finding a new side of myself.  It gets a little lonesome at times, but yet I manage to stay busy and keep occupied and the way time is going, I must be doing something right.

Now that is what happened in my area of the country.  However, elsewhere, there have been huge destructive and killer tornadoes.  The worst I believe so far is the one at Joplin, Missouri.  I lived there for over 10 years and very familiar with the area that was hit as I even lived in that part of the city for a while.  It is devastating to see the destruction and to hear the stories and worse the loss of life.

There have been horrible fires out of control in the Texas  and the southwest.  I'm sure there will be more in other states if it continues to be so dry.  People have been evacuated from their homes, business closed and loss of property and land mass has caused more problems.  And they are battling a fire that is jeopardizing a nuclear facility.

On the other hand are the floods to the north.  Whole towns being devastated and suffering loss to property and crops.  From North Dakota to the southern edges of Nebraska and Iowa, the river has risen higher than it has in years and has wrecked havoc.  A small town not far from my home town was covered in waters and the farmers watched as their fields filled with water and the crops gone.  A cousin who lives in Omaha has evacuated her home and is waiting and it could be another two months before she will know or even be able to get back to her home.  She and her husband also lost their travel trailer that they set up along the river.  The waters came up faster than anyone thought and they weren't able to get to it in time.  There is a huge nuclear generating plant that is in danger from the flood waters as well.

The earth is a changing and growing planet and weather changes are just a part of it.  We all try to understand and there are a few who get some grandiose ideas that we are the cause or that it is near the end time, but in actuality, this has been going on for eons.  Long before man walked upon the earth, it went through weather changes and it has survived.

We will now but we will have to suffer a little through cold, snow, rains, flood, heat, fires and tornadoes.

So as we end this first half of the year, what can we look forward to for the next half? I'm hoping and praying that it will be better, but somehow I know that whatever is to come, I can't change it, nor can anyone else, so we will complain about the cold and the snow and we will complain about the rains and again about the heat and the dryness.  After all, what is a better conversation starter than, "Isn't this weather something else?"

In The Good Ole Summertime!

Summer is officially here, however we have been having summer type weather for the biggest part of this month.  It has been unseasonably warm for June here and dry.  We haven't had the fires like they've had in Arizona and Texas but if we don't get some relief soon, it is quite possible we will be seeing more fires in our neck of the woods.

I know a lot of people think I'm nuts but I actually enjoy this warm weather.  True when it is unbearably hot and humid, I do seek relief inside but if I can, I'll be outside every chance. 

Just like yesterday.  I keep my thermostat set at 82 degrees and there are warm spots and cold spots in my house and I try to stay away from those cold spots as I just can't handle that cold.  Yesterday was kind of a cloudy day so it was very cool in the house and I got so cold that I actually went outside to "thaw out".  No kidding.  I was so cold, I felt as if I were moving in slow motion and was beginning to ache all over.  I stayed outside and soon felt good again.  I didn't do a lot of work out there as then I would have really felt the heat but just sitting on the porch wasn't all that bad.  We had a light breeze which helped.

Now today is entirely different.  We started out pleasant with a south wind that felt really good this morning but as the day has worn on, the temp has gone up and the wind isn't quite as appealing.  Feels like someone is blowing a hair dryer on you.  But at the same time, if we didn't have the wind, it would be utterly miserable out there.

The humidity isn't as bad today so I have been in and out several times and didn't have the breathing problem I sometimes have when it is high. 

I remember growing up without air conditioning and only the use of a fan that just seemed to blow the hot air around.  Our house had a lot of trees and on hot afternoons my mother always thought we should rest.  My bed was placed so that I was right in front of the only window in my room.  If we had a breeze, it really wasn't that bad, otherwise, yes it was hot and about the only resting we got done was to lie there and wish it was cooler.

The nights were always cool unless there was no breeze at all but for the most part, sleeping wasn't all that bad.  And during the daytime hours, my brother and I played outside, usually under the shade of a huge old Elm tree we had in the front yard.  We really didn't mind the heat.  Maybe it was because we were interested in playing with our toys or just sitting watching the clouds in the sky.

I remember riding my bike across town to go to the swimming pool and how good that water felt when I first got in it.  And I'd be all cooled off by the time I had to leave to go home, only to be sweating and hot again when I got there but yet still feeling the effects of an afternoon in the pool.

Every now and then my brother and I would get to go out to the farm to stay with our cousins.  Now, none of us were bothered by the heat.  We ate breakfast and was out the door and sometimes I'm not sure we even came in for lunch unless my aunt yelled loud enough for us to hear her.  And other times, we'd take a sandwich with us to eat out in the "wilderness," that is what we called being out in the field.  We all had great imaginations.

We would play outside all day and well into the evening.  The heat just never seemed to be a problem when I was young so maybe I'm conditioned.  LOL! 

As a young woman, I would lie in the sun to get my tan.  Of course, now I realize that was not the smartest thing to do and I guess I am one of the lucky ones that didn't ruin my skin but I'm sure it didn't help it either, nor did I get any cancer which is one of the biggest dangers. 

I don't mind the summertime and the heat if I don't have to do a lot while outside in it.  I do try to stay in the shade and I will admit that I do stay inside a lot but when I get chilled, outside I go.  True, if I had my druthers, I would take spring or fall but I can withstand the summer time.  And for me, winter could just disappear entirely and I wouldn't miss it one little bit. 

I grew up in an area which had harsh winters and didn't like them then and don't like them now.  I've seen snow and played in it and now I don't care if I see it again or not.  I've been in freezing temps where my fingers and toes got numb and I definitely don't care for that. 

So guess I'm weird but I still like the good ole summertime and I hope you have a great summer too.