My muse has been lazy the past couple of days so I haven't been here to post my thougths. However, I managed to get her to work for a bit yesterday as the idea that has been floating around for days finally started coming to life on paper.
We had some rainy weather and I was sure the muse would want to work but no, it just wouldn't come out to play, so to speak. But every night, it was there teasing and tormenting as the thoughts flew by while trying to find sleep.
I should be catching up on some of the work I had planned around here, but when the muse is in this playful mood, it is hard for me to concentrate on anything but what she is dangling in front of me. So if she decides not to play today, I'll start on another project. She is jealous when I devote my thoughts to another direction so it may make her come out to help me write down these thoughts she so cleverly puts in front of me in pieces, like a jig saw puzzle and I am to put it all together. Actually when she feels like working, we make quite a team. She is there with all these exciting tidbits and I am at my keyboard putting it all together until it makes sense and then we can sit back and look at it, fix it where it needs it or continue on looking for what lies ahead of us and what excitement or drama we can discover.
For now, it seems it is just my muse and me enjoying our little chats here, but I'm hoping as time goes on, that more will join us and comment or maybe contribute as I would love to share some of my friend's work or comments.
Today is Friday, and I saw a post on FaceBook that tickled me and I thought how appropriate. Someone wrote a letter to Dear Week, explaining that they were leaving for Weekend and it wasn't their fault or was it. It got my attention as so many times we face the beginning of the week all full of hope and promise but by Friday we either have forgotten or have put it behind us as we look forward to the weekend. The weekend holds a promise too. Sleep, fun, parties, travel, shopping and so much more. Why is it we pack so much to do in such a short time and then when Monday comes along, we grudgingly go back to work facing the week with determination to make it through to the next weekend?
When I was sixteen, a wise old man told me, "Time goes faster as you get older, so slow down and enjoy each day as it comes. Tomorrow will be here soon enough and once it is gone, you only have yesterday." Very good advice and I have tried but I know that I get anxious and push the time while I wait for a special day or event.
Now, that I am older, not sure how much wiser, but at least I'm older and I am retired, I have a lot of time to reflect and some days go very slow for me, while others speed by like they are in a race. I try to take each day and make it special in some way so I don't waste time or hurry time but to enjoy it as it comes.
As a parent and now a grandparent, I think I view time in a different light. I stop to think that it doesn't seem like it was that many years ago that I was young and had my first child and now she is grown and has a full grown child of her own. I look at my grandchildren, watching them grow up and wonder how quickly the time can go as they seem to be babies one day and young people the next.
There is no magic potion for time so we can't slow it down or speed it up. We can only take it and make the best of it while we have it right now. Maybe we all need to slow down and smell the roses, but I wonder if even that would slow time. I think we should just enjoy the time we have a little more than being in such a hurried and frenzied mode, looking for that next break time that we can do what we want, when we want and how we want.
Just a few of my thoughts for today. Now, I'm off to find that muse to see if she wants to work or if she is busy looking for that free time. Writers don't have the option at times to have much free time. When the muse and writer team up, they can work for hours or days and really don't care about time or breaks. They are on a mission and until the mission is accomplished, they are hard at it, forgetting time, forgetting play and sometimes even forgetting sleep.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain
This summer has been one of the hottest we have had in years as well as very dry. The triple digit temperatures and hot sun literally dried up the earth and turned the green grass brown as well as affecting the trees, flowers and shrubs.
No matter how much water we used, the sandy soil here only acted as a heater boiling the roots below the ground and actually cooking away the shrubs and flowers.
Each time we thought we might get some rain, it seemed to veer off into another direction missing us. It was as if someone had placed a bubble over this area and we couldn't get it to burst.
But yesterday, that bubble burst as we received over 2 inches of the most beautiful rain. It rained off and on overnight and has been that way today. I sang a little song all day yesterday, "it's raining, it's raining and I'm not complaining." Even Ms Kitty and Shadow appreciated it as it also meant that I could open the doors so they could look outside.
The cooler temperature that accompanied the rain is very welcome as well. Getting fresh air into the house and being able to cut the air conditioner is grand.
Today, I managed to slip in between the heavier showers and go to town to do my weekly shopping. I had some light rain, but it wasn't bad and I didn't have to use the insulated bags to get the refrigerator and freezer things home.
Now, I can sit back and relax and watch as the rain falls ever so softly, bringing life back into the grass and what flowers have survived. I can sleep through the night as the soft drops fall outside lulling me into a peaceful and deep sleep. Yes, it is a beautiful rain and just a start for the beginning of Fall.
No matter how much water we used, the sandy soil here only acted as a heater boiling the roots below the ground and actually cooking away the shrubs and flowers.
Each time we thought we might get some rain, it seemed to veer off into another direction missing us. It was as if someone had placed a bubble over this area and we couldn't get it to burst.
But yesterday, that bubble burst as we received over 2 inches of the most beautiful rain. It rained off and on overnight and has been that way today. I sang a little song all day yesterday, "it's raining, it's raining and I'm not complaining." Even Ms Kitty and Shadow appreciated it as it also meant that I could open the doors so they could look outside.
The cooler temperature that accompanied the rain is very welcome as well. Getting fresh air into the house and being able to cut the air conditioner is grand.
Today, I managed to slip in between the heavier showers and go to town to do my weekly shopping. I had some light rain, but it wasn't bad and I didn't have to use the insulated bags to get the refrigerator and freezer things home.
Now, I can sit back and relax and watch as the rain falls ever so softly, bringing life back into the grass and what flowers have survived. I can sleep through the night as the soft drops fall outside lulling me into a peaceful and deep sleep. Yes, it is a beautiful rain and just a start for the beginning of Fall.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Taking down a portable pool.
Earlier this summer, my daughter bought a portable soft sided pool. It was 15 ft. across and 3 1/2 ft. deep. Not a big one, but enough to get cooled off and float on the lounges.
It was fun figuring out how to get it laid out and then of course, it took a while to fill it. We put the ladder together, hooked up the filter system and by the 4th of July it was in full operation and we were enjoying it.
But along, comes fall with its cool nights and not as warm days so it was time to take it down. Now, how hard can it be to take down a pool. I mean, you drain the water, dry it and fold it up. Right? Wrong!
It took almost as long to drain it as it did to fill it. We opened the drain yesterday morning and it drained all day and night so by this morning, there was only a little bit on the bottom which was below the drain hole which was on the side.
She got in it and using her sponge mop, push the remaining water towards the drain while I tried lifting to get it to go towards the drain. It was hard work for her pushing all the water and my back was killing me from all the stooping to push down so the water would drain or the lifting to try to get it to go out.
I got the bright idea that we should grab the top of it and pull it over on itself until we had it upside down. Good idea and it was working until we had about half the pool waist high and a gust of wind caused it to bellow out and I thought we were going para sailing for a moment.
It startled both of us and then all we could do was laugh. She thought it was really funny when I said, "I thought you were going to have to help me get down out of the tree."
But we tried again, fighting the wind which kept trying to catch it and send us all flying. But our mission was accomplished as we got it turned upside down and got all the water out. Then we flipped it back so she could wash it all down with bleach water.
Round and round we went with me lifting the sides so she could wipe them down and when we finished, we were going to rinse it but then would have the water drainage problem so decided we would just flip it again.
This time, we remembered and tried to keep it low enough so the wind couldn't grab it and pull it and us along with it.
We flipped it back and straightened it out as much as we could and left it to dry in the sunshine and with the wind we had today, that helped too.
This evening we were going to fold it up and move it into the covered porch as we are to have rains come in this week and didn't want it filled with water again. But it was kind of heavy and bunglesome so we folded it as much as we could and left it sitting in the middle of the undercloth that went under the pool. So now we will wait for another nice warm sunny day when it can dry off and then we can refold it and move it inside for the winter.
Of course, whenever you do something silly or stupid like we did with the wind catching it and trying to make us airborne, we hoped no one had seen us. But our dear friends and neighbors were enjoying their morning coffee on their front porch and had seen it all.
Later, I went over to talk to them and he told me, "I thought for a minute that I was going to have to rescue you and Melanie from the tree. I thought you were going to go kite flying." HA! HA! Although he was right and we even laughed at ourselves.
So now we know how to set the pool up and we learned how to take it down. Maybe next year, we will be able to do it a little more efficiently and won't be sailing off into the tree tops.
This is how it looked when we got it filled and ready for use. I didn't take a picture of it as we emptied it. But I think we will remember and the first thing we'll do is not pick a windy day to empty the pool.
It was fun figuring out how to get it laid out and then of course, it took a while to fill it. We put the ladder together, hooked up the filter system and by the 4th of July it was in full operation and we were enjoying it.
But along, comes fall with its cool nights and not as warm days so it was time to take it down. Now, how hard can it be to take down a pool. I mean, you drain the water, dry it and fold it up. Right? Wrong!
It took almost as long to drain it as it did to fill it. We opened the drain yesterday morning and it drained all day and night so by this morning, there was only a little bit on the bottom which was below the drain hole which was on the side.
She got in it and using her sponge mop, push the remaining water towards the drain while I tried lifting to get it to go towards the drain. It was hard work for her pushing all the water and my back was killing me from all the stooping to push down so the water would drain or the lifting to try to get it to go out.
I got the bright idea that we should grab the top of it and pull it over on itself until we had it upside down. Good idea and it was working until we had about half the pool waist high and a gust of wind caused it to bellow out and I thought we were going para sailing for a moment.
It startled both of us and then all we could do was laugh. She thought it was really funny when I said, "I thought you were going to have to help me get down out of the tree."
But we tried again, fighting the wind which kept trying to catch it and send us all flying. But our mission was accomplished as we got it turned upside down and got all the water out. Then we flipped it back so she could wash it all down with bleach water.
Round and round we went with me lifting the sides so she could wipe them down and when we finished, we were going to rinse it but then would have the water drainage problem so decided we would just flip it again.
This time, we remembered and tried to keep it low enough so the wind couldn't grab it and pull it and us along with it.
We flipped it back and straightened it out as much as we could and left it to dry in the sunshine and with the wind we had today, that helped too.
This evening we were going to fold it up and move it into the covered porch as we are to have rains come in this week and didn't want it filled with water again. But it was kind of heavy and bunglesome so we folded it as much as we could and left it sitting in the middle of the undercloth that went under the pool. So now we will wait for another nice warm sunny day when it can dry off and then we can refold it and move it inside for the winter.
Of course, whenever you do something silly or stupid like we did with the wind catching it and trying to make us airborne, we hoped no one had seen us. But our dear friends and neighbors were enjoying their morning coffee on their front porch and had seen it all.
Later, I went over to talk to them and he told me, "I thought for a minute that I was going to have to rescue you and Melanie from the tree. I thought you were going to go kite flying." HA! HA! Although he was right and we even laughed at ourselves.
So now we know how to set the pool up and we learned how to take it down. Maybe next year, we will be able to do it a little more efficiently and won't be sailing off into the tree tops.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
When Will The Tears Stop?
Today my daughter and I went to the cemetery to visit my husband's site. We didn't get to go for the 4th of July as we had hoped my younger daughter and grandchilden would be here so we could all go and they didn't come and we didn't get to go. I could have gone by myself but was busy with things around here and didn't but I was determined that after the long hot spell we had in late July and for the month of August that I would go up on the first cool day we had.
So today, the day before Labor Day, we made the trip. It is always hard on us when we go but for some reason, today was especially hard for me. I almost didn't go as I wasn't sure I could but I did and now I'm glad. The tears are still flowing as I think about him but I imagine they will continue to flow for a long time.
He wanted to see the military cemetery at Ft. Gibson after he found out about it, but because of his chemo treatments and the illness they caused, he never got the opportunity to actually go see it in person. I know he would have been delighted to know that would be our final resting place.
It is kept up meticulously and when you drive in through the wrought iron gates, you immediately feel the reverance there. Looking across the field of perfectly placed stones, a lump comes to the throat as you know each and every stone has its own story, one of the brave man or woman who died during battle in defending our country or later as a veteran of serving his or her country. You can't help but feel the pride and wish that you could honor each and every one of them there for what they have given. It truly is a place of honor.
When we found out my husband's cancer had returned with "a vengence" as the doctor told him, it was shock beyond belief. He'd been doing so well with good checkups every three months and then to have this smack us out of the blue was almost beyond belief or comprehension. It turned our lives upside down and inside out and we started on a roller coaster that we knew would crash but not when.
It was late October, 2009 when we got the diagnosis that the Melanoma had spread into the liver and spleen and lymph glands around the esophagus. He'd had surgery to remove the lymph glands in his left groin in April of 2008 and they took all of them in hopes that they had got it all and it was over, but there was one tiny, microscopic cell that must have escaped and found its way to the liver where it hid in the folds, undetected until it had divided and spread taking over.
He started chemo the first of November 2009 going every two weeks for a week at a time. At first it wasn't to bad but then as the chemo began working, the pain grew and only morphine would help. As the dosage of morphine increased, he began losing his sense of time and had to be reminded of the simplest things, when it was time to eat or take his medicine or even to go to bed, although he gradually took to his bed, a rare thing for a very active man to lie down, almost as if he had given up. He hadn't as he was still fighting but the medicines were taking over now, controlling him and he couldn't stop them.
In December, he spent a week in the VA hospital due to a blood clot. He came home for the weekend only to have to go back to start a week of Chemo and was in a weakened condition so that he shuffled when he walked as he felt his legs and feet were to heavy to lift.
On Christmas day, he got up and came out to the living room to unwrap the gifts he had and watched as we unwrapped ours as my daughter and grandson were here with us. But then he told us he wanted to go lie down. He had looked at his gifts and laid them on the table next to his chair and never held them again.
The only time he would leave his bed was to eat, go take his medicine or go to the bathroom. The rest of the time he slept or would lie there listening to the TV in the other room or visiting with me, his daughter who had moved next door to us or on occasion when a friend would stop by. He never got out of the bed even to visit as he felt sick when he did.
We knew our time was short but didn't know how short and on New Year's Eve, he got up to come out to the dining room to wish us a happy new year and then right back to his bed.
It is the most helpless feeling a person can have when they see their loved one slowly fading away and there is nothing that they can do. Just be there for them, hold their hand, talk to them and give them all the encouragement to keep fighting and positive thoughts.
It was the second week in January and he rallied around some. A long time friend from Arkansas had driven over to see him and he did sit up for a little bit but then laid down and he and John sat in the bedroom to have a long visit. My husband was awake and very talkative and seemed to be a little better. The next day he seemed even a little more stronger, getting up to see what was going on with the trailer being set up for our daughter. I had my hair done and he remarked how he liked it and that it looked nice and that evening he even ate some solid food as said he was hungry.
The evening was pleasant and he was in a good mood. He got a good nights sleep and awoke the next morning getting up to fix some breakfast of toast and some of his homemade jelly. For lunch he requested some left over from the night before and ate a good helping but within an hour, he became violently ill and when we got him settled down, he went to sleep.
Seeing him sleeping and hearing his snoring, my daughter and I decided to let him sleep the rest of the afternoon and when I went to wake him at 6:00 PM, he was gone. He had slipped peacefully away in his sleep without a final good bye or hug but he was at peace.
I cried, I felt I was in a bad nightmare and begged him not to leave me, not just yet as I wasn't ready to let him go. I don't think I would have ever been ready to let him go, but to have him go so quickly was unbelieveable and for days I lived in a bubble, not really noticing what was going on around me. I had my daughter and grandson here with me but I felt alone.
I've been to the cemetery several times and each time, the tears come and stay with me. I know they are tears for me and my loss as I know he isn't in pain, he is at peace but it hurts to know I will never hear is voice, see his face or feel his arms around me. I try not to cry and to be strong but the pain inside won't let me. I ask, why he had to leave us so soon. It wasn't fair. We had so much to talk about and we wanted more time. We wanted to say a proper good bye.
We had over 48 years of marriage and living and working together and it was gone just like that. We had known each other for over 52 years having met as teenagers. He was more than my husband, he was my friend and he was a part of me as I was a part of him. One day we will be together again as he found out when he learned about the cemetery, that I will be there with him one day. It gave him a peace knowing that we might be separated for a while but that we would be together again for eternity. Maybe then, the tears will stop.
So today, the day before Labor Day, we made the trip. It is always hard on us when we go but for some reason, today was especially hard for me. I almost didn't go as I wasn't sure I could but I did and now I'm glad. The tears are still flowing as I think about him but I imagine they will continue to flow for a long time.
He wanted to see the military cemetery at Ft. Gibson after he found out about it, but because of his chemo treatments and the illness they caused, he never got the opportunity to actually go see it in person. I know he would have been delighted to know that would be our final resting place.
It is kept up meticulously and when you drive in through the wrought iron gates, you immediately feel the reverance there. Looking across the field of perfectly placed stones, a lump comes to the throat as you know each and every stone has its own story, one of the brave man or woman who died during battle in defending our country or later as a veteran of serving his or her country. You can't help but feel the pride and wish that you could honor each and every one of them there for what they have given. It truly is a place of honor.
When we found out my husband's cancer had returned with "a vengence" as the doctor told him, it was shock beyond belief. He'd been doing so well with good checkups every three months and then to have this smack us out of the blue was almost beyond belief or comprehension. It turned our lives upside down and inside out and we started on a roller coaster that we knew would crash but not when.
It was late October, 2009 when we got the diagnosis that the Melanoma had spread into the liver and spleen and lymph glands around the esophagus. He'd had surgery to remove the lymph glands in his left groin in April of 2008 and they took all of them in hopes that they had got it all and it was over, but there was one tiny, microscopic cell that must have escaped and found its way to the liver where it hid in the folds, undetected until it had divided and spread taking over.
He started chemo the first of November 2009 going every two weeks for a week at a time. At first it wasn't to bad but then as the chemo began working, the pain grew and only morphine would help. As the dosage of morphine increased, he began losing his sense of time and had to be reminded of the simplest things, when it was time to eat or take his medicine or even to go to bed, although he gradually took to his bed, a rare thing for a very active man to lie down, almost as if he had given up. He hadn't as he was still fighting but the medicines were taking over now, controlling him and he couldn't stop them.
In December, he spent a week in the VA hospital due to a blood clot. He came home for the weekend only to have to go back to start a week of Chemo and was in a weakened condition so that he shuffled when he walked as he felt his legs and feet were to heavy to lift.
On Christmas day, he got up and came out to the living room to unwrap the gifts he had and watched as we unwrapped ours as my daughter and grandson were here with us. But then he told us he wanted to go lie down. He had looked at his gifts and laid them on the table next to his chair and never held them again.
The only time he would leave his bed was to eat, go take his medicine or go to the bathroom. The rest of the time he slept or would lie there listening to the TV in the other room or visiting with me, his daughter who had moved next door to us or on occasion when a friend would stop by. He never got out of the bed even to visit as he felt sick when he did.
We knew our time was short but didn't know how short and on New Year's Eve, he got up to come out to the dining room to wish us a happy new year and then right back to his bed.
It is the most helpless feeling a person can have when they see their loved one slowly fading away and there is nothing that they can do. Just be there for them, hold their hand, talk to them and give them all the encouragement to keep fighting and positive thoughts.
It was the second week in January and he rallied around some. A long time friend from Arkansas had driven over to see him and he did sit up for a little bit but then laid down and he and John sat in the bedroom to have a long visit. My husband was awake and very talkative and seemed to be a little better. The next day he seemed even a little more stronger, getting up to see what was going on with the trailer being set up for our daughter. I had my hair done and he remarked how he liked it and that it looked nice and that evening he even ate some solid food as said he was hungry.
The evening was pleasant and he was in a good mood. He got a good nights sleep and awoke the next morning getting up to fix some breakfast of toast and some of his homemade jelly. For lunch he requested some left over from the night before and ate a good helping but within an hour, he became violently ill and when we got him settled down, he went to sleep.
Seeing him sleeping and hearing his snoring, my daughter and I decided to let him sleep the rest of the afternoon and when I went to wake him at 6:00 PM, he was gone. He had slipped peacefully away in his sleep without a final good bye or hug but he was at peace.
I cried, I felt I was in a bad nightmare and begged him not to leave me, not just yet as I wasn't ready to let him go. I don't think I would have ever been ready to let him go, but to have him go so quickly was unbelieveable and for days I lived in a bubble, not really noticing what was going on around me. I had my daughter and grandson here with me but I felt alone.
I've been to the cemetery several times and each time, the tears come and stay with me. I know they are tears for me and my loss as I know he isn't in pain, he is at peace but it hurts to know I will never hear is voice, see his face or feel his arms around me. I try not to cry and to be strong but the pain inside won't let me. I ask, why he had to leave us so soon. It wasn't fair. We had so much to talk about and we wanted more time. We wanted to say a proper good bye.
We had over 48 years of marriage and living and working together and it was gone just like that. We had known each other for over 52 years having met as teenagers. He was more than my husband, he was my friend and he was a part of me as I was a part of him. One day we will be together again as he found out when he learned about the cemetery, that I will be there with him one day. It gave him a peace knowing that we might be separated for a while but that we would be together again for eternity. Maybe then, the tears will stop.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Yard Sale - Day Two
I was up early after a very good night's sleep but when I did get up, I felt the chill as fall is trying hard to make itself known. I've been waiting for the cooler weather and hoped it would come on gradual and stay long enough so that we could enjoy it.
It was chilly most of the morning and then warmed up later in the day, but still comfortable and at least we didn't have that humidity and triple digit temperatures.
It was a strange day for being a Saturday as we didn't have the early shoppers and those who did come seem to come in groups. We would have several and then no one. But we did sell a lot more stuff. However, we noticed a trend. People were buying more wisely. They bought the cheaper items and most were buying something they could use, either a household appliance or pans, dishes or clothes. We did sell a few of our trinkets but not all.
One lady had towels and sheet sets and sold out. Another had several household appliances and sold out. I sold all my pans and a desk plus an old TV as well as a few smaller things.
Again, it was a fun day with friends who just happen to be my neighbors too. We laughed and joked and just enjoyed the beautiful day. Spike grilled hamburgers and hot dogs on the hickory grill and made his chili for the hot dogs so we enjoyed a nice lunch which also brought on the sleepiness, causing a discussion where we could find a shady spot under the big tree to take a nap.
I did have a good nights sleep so wasn't nearly as tired as I was yesterday. When it appeared that we wouldn't have any more customers, we began to pack up the rest of our "stuff". It is all put in the shed to remain until next spring when my thoughts will turn to having another yard sale, having forgotten the hard work to set them up and the hours spent sitting waiting for someone to buy that "junk" I have that will be a "treasure" to them.
Yard sale, garage sales, flea markets, it really makes no difference. We are all out looking for that special thing that we just have to have and take it home to marvel over our wonderful find and great bargain. That is all a part of the fun of the sale for the buyer and of course the seller is quite happy with the bonus they have made to sock away or to buy that special thing they've been after. So, they will continue and we will continue to enjoy them and take home those treasures only to put them out one day for someone else to take home the new found treasure.
It was chilly most of the morning and then warmed up later in the day, but still comfortable and at least we didn't have that humidity and triple digit temperatures.
It was a strange day for being a Saturday as we didn't have the early shoppers and those who did come seem to come in groups. We would have several and then no one. But we did sell a lot more stuff. However, we noticed a trend. People were buying more wisely. They bought the cheaper items and most were buying something they could use, either a household appliance or pans, dishes or clothes. We did sell a few of our trinkets but not all.
One lady had towels and sheet sets and sold out. Another had several household appliances and sold out. I sold all my pans and a desk plus an old TV as well as a few smaller things.
Again, it was a fun day with friends who just happen to be my neighbors too. We laughed and joked and just enjoyed the beautiful day. Spike grilled hamburgers and hot dogs on the hickory grill and made his chili for the hot dogs so we enjoyed a nice lunch which also brought on the sleepiness, causing a discussion where we could find a shady spot under the big tree to take a nap.
I did have a good nights sleep so wasn't nearly as tired as I was yesterday. When it appeared that we wouldn't have any more customers, we began to pack up the rest of our "stuff". It is all put in the shed to remain until next spring when my thoughts will turn to having another yard sale, having forgotten the hard work to set them up and the hours spent sitting waiting for someone to buy that "junk" I have that will be a "treasure" to them.
Yard sale, garage sales, flea markets, it really makes no difference. We are all out looking for that special thing that we just have to have and take it home to marvel over our wonderful find and great bargain. That is all a part of the fun of the sale for the buyer and of course the seller is quite happy with the bonus they have made to sock away or to buy that special thing they've been after. So, they will continue and we will continue to enjoy them and take home those treasures only to put them out one day for someone else to take home the new found treasure.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Yard Sale - Day One
My good friends and neighbors invited me to join them in having a yard sale. They also invited his sister and another neighbor to join in so in all we had quite a variety plus a lot of stuff.
We had it all planned that we would set up the night before and be ready for the early bird shoppers the morning of the sale. But Mother Nature decided to play games which meant that we had to rethink our strategy. There were storms predicted with heavy rain, wind and possible hail so we knew that even if we had things under the cover of the carport, things could get blown away or wet so we piled everything into the adjoining garage and decided to get up early the morning of the sale to put everything out.
Thank goodness the weather wasn't as severe as predicted but we still would have had a problem with things getting wet had we set up. So we were to get a good night's sleep since we wouldn't be up watching the weather.
No. First, I couldn't get to sleep. My mind went from thinking about what I had taken over to what remained to be taken in the morning to what else was I forgetting. By the time I was able to go to sleep it was after midnight with the alarm set for 5:30. But the inner alarm went off at 4:30 and I dozed for the next 45 minutes before getting up to shut off the alarm. I was tired but I knew after a couple cups of coffee I would be awake and ready to go.
I fixed my coffee and got dressed. Then it was time to feed the cats, inside and outside. I fixed a thermos of coffee to take with me and filled my insulated cup to take as well. Grabbing a couple of mini donuts, I was ready to gather up what I still needed to take over. I stepped outside to feel the chill in the air from the cool front that moved through, so back inside to get a denim shirt to wear for warmth. Now, I could be on my way.
It was dark as I headed the golf cart loaded with another box and a couple of large items I had delayed in taking over to my neighbors. I could see the light was on in the garage and the gate was open. I turned into the drive and headed for the carport. I greeted two of the sellers as they came out of the house headed for the garage.
We discussed the storm from the night before and the much needed rain we had received while we drank a cup of coffee together. They had fresh donuts but I declined at the time as I wanted to get started setting up. It was after 6 AM and I knew there would be early shoppers out and about as daylight broke.
It didn't take as long as we thought as we moved out tables and unloaded our boxes with our unwanted stuff. Then it was time to look over the other tables and do our own shopping for those items we just felt we had to have and couldn't live without.
It was 7:30 AM when our first shopper arrived and we were still unpacking but had most of it out for the most part. She walked around looking at everything and then walked away without making a purchase. We stood and watched and hoped it wasn't a sign of what the day might bring.
But as the morning wore on, the sun came up on a gorgeous day with a heavenly clear blue sky and a gentle north breeze. And the customers began to arrive, looking and searching for that hidden treasure they just had to have. It wasn't long before the buying began and we watched as our treasures we no longer wanted left to find a new home and make someone happy.
We took turns fixing our sandwiches for our lunch while we waited on the customers who seemed to come in droves and naturally were there while we were trying to have our lunch. After the lunch, the afternoon began to warm and the sleepiness began to sink in. The short night before was taking its toll on us as we joked and moved about to try to ward off the nap time that was plaging us.
We had our moments of complete exhaustion only to be revived by a sudden sale or onslaught of people or even one of our own cracking a joke. We had several moments like that but I think the funniest came about mid afternoon when an gentleman in his mid to late 60's arrived in a bright red convertible. We remarked about the car and he promptly told us that at his age with the gray hair and pot belly he felt he needed something to keep him young.
Two of my friends and I went to look at the car a little closer and he mentioned that there was room for three of us if we wanted a ride. We laughed and thanked him but told him we had to stay there due to the sale. But it gave us the giggles thinking that he was trying to pick us up. Now, most people wouldn't think to much of it, but my two friends and myself are in our late 60's and early 70's so it was a compliment to our egos and I'm sure it was to the gentleman who offered us the ride as we oogled over his car.
Later as I told my daughter about the incident, she jokingly said, "Do I need to have a chaperone for you?" But even she thougth it was funny.
So even though the day has been long after that short night and I'm fighting off the sleep that is insisting on coming, I have had a wonderful day with good friends and laughs and meeting and talking with new people. So I will sleep tonight and be up early to do it all again tomorrow.
We had it all planned that we would set up the night before and be ready for the early bird shoppers the morning of the sale. But Mother Nature decided to play games which meant that we had to rethink our strategy. There were storms predicted with heavy rain, wind and possible hail so we knew that even if we had things under the cover of the carport, things could get blown away or wet so we piled everything into the adjoining garage and decided to get up early the morning of the sale to put everything out.
Thank goodness the weather wasn't as severe as predicted but we still would have had a problem with things getting wet had we set up. So we were to get a good night's sleep since we wouldn't be up watching the weather.
No. First, I couldn't get to sleep. My mind went from thinking about what I had taken over to what remained to be taken in the morning to what else was I forgetting. By the time I was able to go to sleep it was after midnight with the alarm set for 5:30. But the inner alarm went off at 4:30 and I dozed for the next 45 minutes before getting up to shut off the alarm. I was tired but I knew after a couple cups of coffee I would be awake and ready to go.
I fixed my coffee and got dressed. Then it was time to feed the cats, inside and outside. I fixed a thermos of coffee to take with me and filled my insulated cup to take as well. Grabbing a couple of mini donuts, I was ready to gather up what I still needed to take over. I stepped outside to feel the chill in the air from the cool front that moved through, so back inside to get a denim shirt to wear for warmth. Now, I could be on my way.
It was dark as I headed the golf cart loaded with another box and a couple of large items I had delayed in taking over to my neighbors. I could see the light was on in the garage and the gate was open. I turned into the drive and headed for the carport. I greeted two of the sellers as they came out of the house headed for the garage.
We discussed the storm from the night before and the much needed rain we had received while we drank a cup of coffee together. They had fresh donuts but I declined at the time as I wanted to get started setting up. It was after 6 AM and I knew there would be early shoppers out and about as daylight broke.
It didn't take as long as we thought as we moved out tables and unloaded our boxes with our unwanted stuff. Then it was time to look over the other tables and do our own shopping for those items we just felt we had to have and couldn't live without.
It was 7:30 AM when our first shopper arrived and we were still unpacking but had most of it out for the most part. She walked around looking at everything and then walked away without making a purchase. We stood and watched and hoped it wasn't a sign of what the day might bring.
But as the morning wore on, the sun came up on a gorgeous day with a heavenly clear blue sky and a gentle north breeze. And the customers began to arrive, looking and searching for that hidden treasure they just had to have. It wasn't long before the buying began and we watched as our treasures we no longer wanted left to find a new home and make someone happy.
We took turns fixing our sandwiches for our lunch while we waited on the customers who seemed to come in droves and naturally were there while we were trying to have our lunch. After the lunch, the afternoon began to warm and the sleepiness began to sink in. The short night before was taking its toll on us as we joked and moved about to try to ward off the nap time that was plaging us.
We had our moments of complete exhaustion only to be revived by a sudden sale or onslaught of people or even one of our own cracking a joke. We had several moments like that but I think the funniest came about mid afternoon when an gentleman in his mid to late 60's arrived in a bright red convertible. We remarked about the car and he promptly told us that at his age with the gray hair and pot belly he felt he needed something to keep him young.
Two of my friends and I went to look at the car a little closer and he mentioned that there was room for three of us if we wanted a ride. We laughed and thanked him but told him we had to stay there due to the sale. But it gave us the giggles thinking that he was trying to pick us up. Now, most people wouldn't think to much of it, but my two friends and myself are in our late 60's and early 70's so it was a compliment to our egos and I'm sure it was to the gentleman who offered us the ride as we oogled over his car.
Later as I told my daughter about the incident, she jokingly said, "Do I need to have a chaperone for you?" But even she thougth it was funny.
So even though the day has been long after that short night and I'm fighting off the sleep that is insisting on coming, I have had a wonderful day with good friends and laughs and meeting and talking with new people. So I will sleep tonight and be up early to do it all again tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
A Day with my Daughter
Today was a wonderful day that I got to spend with my oldest daughter. We woke up to rain but it stopped so we loaded her car with the rack and totes filled with her craft items and headed for Tulsa. We had a rainy trip but by the time we got there, it had let up a bit.
We set up her booth in the Made In Oklahoma Craft Mall in the Promenade Mall of Tulsa, Ok. We visited with the shop keepers and then headed out for lunch.
We had a good lunch, ate to much and knew we needed to do some exercise so was a great excuse to do some shopping.
Our first stop was at a fabric and craft store and we found a surprise. I do some crafting and have had a hard time finding ruffled lace in bulk, but we found it. In fact, we both discovered it at the same time and remarked on it and reached for a spool of it. We were delighted as now I can finish some of my projects.
She found the ribbon she needed for her crafting and then we leisurely looked at all the fall decorations they had out. Oh, it was so hard to resist but we knew we had one more stop so we were good and didn't spend all our money in one place.
Our next stop got us more of the supplies we needed and then we again took a look around the store. We checked out their fall decorations but didn't find anything we absolutely just had to have but when we rounded a corner and noticed the Christmas decorations, something caught our eye.
My grandson loves M and M's and we found the cutest tree decoration. It looks like a bag of M and M's that is open and they have spilled out. So seeing that this will be his first Christmas in his own place, we knew we had to get him something to commemerate it and have fun too. I'm sure he will be delighted with it.
We did a lot more looking and wishing but were good and again didn't buy anything we really didn't need.
But the fun part was just being together and sharing our thoughts and ideas and laughing. We just have fun being together. It was a great day with good company, as she is a best friend as well as my daughter and I enjoy just being with her.
This is a picture of her booth at the craft mall. She makes fabric covered albums, embroidered towels and bibs with the cutest sayings on them.
We look forward to these outings and will be having another one this month. It is something we both look forward too.
We set up her booth in the Made In Oklahoma Craft Mall in the Promenade Mall of Tulsa, Ok. We visited with the shop keepers and then headed out for lunch.
We had a good lunch, ate to much and knew we needed to do some exercise so was a great excuse to do some shopping.
Our first stop was at a fabric and craft store and we found a surprise. I do some crafting and have had a hard time finding ruffled lace in bulk, but we found it. In fact, we both discovered it at the same time and remarked on it and reached for a spool of it. We were delighted as now I can finish some of my projects.
She found the ribbon she needed for her crafting and then we leisurely looked at all the fall decorations they had out. Oh, it was so hard to resist but we knew we had one more stop so we were good and didn't spend all our money in one place.
Our next stop got us more of the supplies we needed and then we again took a look around the store. We checked out their fall decorations but didn't find anything we absolutely just had to have but when we rounded a corner and noticed the Christmas decorations, something caught our eye.
My grandson loves M and M's and we found the cutest tree decoration. It looks like a bag of M and M's that is open and they have spilled out. So seeing that this will be his first Christmas in his own place, we knew we had to get him something to commemerate it and have fun too. I'm sure he will be delighted with it.
We did a lot more looking and wishing but were good and again didn't buy anything we really didn't need.
But the fun part was just being together and sharing our thoughts and ideas and laughing. We just have fun being together. It was a great day with good company, as she is a best friend as well as my daughter and I enjoy just being with her.
This is a picture of her booth at the craft mall. She makes fabric covered albums, embroidered towels and bibs with the cutest sayings on them.
We look forward to these outings and will be having another one this month. It is something we both look forward too.
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