AH... I have had the most wonderful time reading about and enjoying our travelers' experiences in Europe this past week.
The word vi·car·i·ous means (3): experienced or realized through imaginative or sympathetic participation in the experience of another... and that describes me to a T.
I have toured Paris, taken a boat ride on the Seine, traveled the Autobahn, ridden a fantastic train across several countries, tasted the delights of French bread and chocolat chaud, visited the Louvre where I gawked at the Mona Liza, and other amazing museums - Marie Antoinette's bed looks awfully hard; and generally had the experiences of a lifetime -- all without leaving home or computer! Thanks to our amazing technology and our traveling family and friends - this has been an exciting couple of weeks, and "our" trips are not over yet!
I wonder what amazing things we'll find to help celebrate the New Year? Vicariously, of course.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Eve 2008
The week went by entirely too fast ! Our traveling friends and family left on schedule and arrived without too much trouble - on the other side of the world from here (well, almost). They're across the pond, anyway.
It has been a lot of fun to hear from them - family AND friends - thanks to the marvelous technology we enjoy today. Just think, it hasn't been too many years when a flight across the Atlantic Ocean was not even imagined, much less accomplished.
The rest of the family will gather here tomorrow for the traditional dinner, fun and fellowship.
Now that the sun has come out --after a week of rainy, dreary, COLD and otherwise less-than-pleasant days -- I'm more in the spirit of Looking Forward to Christmas.
In Europe now it's past bedtime, so their Christmas Day will arrive much sooner than ours... some 7 hours sooner, in fact. Since I missed telling you all "good night", I'll just say "Merry Christmas, and God bless us, Everyone!"
It has been a lot of fun to hear from them - family AND friends - thanks to the marvelous technology we enjoy today. Just think, it hasn't been too many years when a flight across the Atlantic Ocean was not even imagined, much less accomplished.
The rest of the family will gather here tomorrow for the traditional dinner, fun and fellowship.
Now that the sun has come out --after a week of rainy, dreary, COLD and otherwise less-than-pleasant days -- I'm more in the spirit of Looking Forward to Christmas.
In Europe now it's past bedtime, so their Christmas Day will arrive much sooner than ours... some 7 hours sooner, in fact. Since I missed telling you all "good night", I'll just say "Merry Christmas, and God bless us, Everyone!"
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
One week and counting
One more week til Christmas Eve ! This whole year has zoomed by in a whirlwind of activities and accomplishments ! A friend told me yesterday that her "Christmas Letter" was receiving accolades this year because it was not about all the things her family members did and places they went during the year. Rather, she told about researching their family genealogy and history, giving substance to the family stories and lore that was passed down through the generations. What an interesting idea! I'll have to remember that when Christmas 2009 looms near.
It's always nice to hear from my cousins who live too far away to visit often, and I'm always interested in their various comings and goings, so I hope they won't change their annual letter formats at all.
This week has been less than fun, since a sinus infection has dominated most of each waking moment. I don't like to cancel engagements or commitments, but sometimes it's necessary for everyone's well-being. Nobody wants to be around another who is coughing and sniffing constantly.
Excitement is building for friends and family who are leaving in a few days for the Trip of a Lifetime. Both groups will head for Europe - Germany, Austria and France. I wish I could hide away in one of their suitcases! Since that will not happen, I'll keep watch for emails about their adventures - thanks to the technology that makes it possible!
When I was first married, we were living on an Army base far from home, and even a long distance phone call was a rarity instead of a routine occurence. Who would have dreamed 60 years ago that friends and family could log on to their computers and, using SKYPE, see and talk to each other with just the click of a few letters on the keyboards!
Speaking of SKYPE, a cousin sent a news release from that company announcing the promotions of several head people. I was pleased to see that a 2nd cousin who has lived in California for about 20 years, was named to a top position in that interesting company. Way to go, Christopher!
It's always nice to hear from my cousins who live too far away to visit often, and I'm always interested in their various comings and goings, so I hope they won't change their annual letter formats at all.
This week has been less than fun, since a sinus infection has dominated most of each waking moment. I don't like to cancel engagements or commitments, but sometimes it's necessary for everyone's well-being. Nobody wants to be around another who is coughing and sniffing constantly.
Excitement is building for friends and family who are leaving in a few days for the Trip of a Lifetime. Both groups will head for Europe - Germany, Austria and France. I wish I could hide away in one of their suitcases! Since that will not happen, I'll keep watch for emails about their adventures - thanks to the technology that makes it possible!
When I was first married, we were living on an Army base far from home, and even a long distance phone call was a rarity instead of a routine occurence. Who would have dreamed 60 years ago that friends and family could log on to their computers and, using SKYPE, see and talk to each other with just the click of a few letters on the keyboards!
Speaking of SKYPE, a cousin sent a news release from that company announcing the promotions of several head people. I was pleased to see that a 2nd cousin who has lived in California for about 20 years, was named to a top position in that interesting company. Way to go, Christopher!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thoughts -
"A life without purpose is a languid, drifting thing; Every day we ought to review our purpose, saying to ourselves: This day let me make a sound beginning, for what we have hitherto done is naught!" -- Thomas A. Kempis
This quote from another website made me stop and think- what am I supposed to be doing today that I 'm not doing? I could make a list....
Days like this are hard to deal with. There are many things I should be doing, most of which I don't want to do, so I'm not. Too soon the option of procrastination will run out and force me to action... like it or not.
The volunteer hours at the book store yesterday were fun, with lots of interesting shoppers, browsers and good friends to talk with. Then last night hubby and I made a 180-degree change to our routine by attending the Christmas Band and Choral Concert at a grandson's school. This is his last year there, since Graduation in May will open a whole new chapter for him --and his parents. Their last chick leaving the nest and all that.
The concert was delightful. There was enough mix of new and traditional Christmas music to satisfy even the meanest critic, and I found my toes tapping repeatedly to keep up with the brass and percussion sections. Like the old fire horse, I'm always rarin' to go when a Band performs!
We didn't have a chance to speak to our grandson following the performance, but I hope he knew we were in the audience. He's just the most handsome of all the young men in the band - of course. Of course, I say that about all of our grandchildren - they're the most beautiful, handsome, talented, intelligent and likeable kids ever born !
This quote from another website made me stop and think- what am I supposed to be doing today that I 'm not doing? I could make a list....
Days like this are hard to deal with. There are many things I should be doing, most of which I don't want to do, so I'm not. Too soon the option of procrastination will run out and force me to action... like it or not.
The volunteer hours at the book store yesterday were fun, with lots of interesting shoppers, browsers and good friends to talk with. Then last night hubby and I made a 180-degree change to our routine by attending the Christmas Band and Choral Concert at a grandson's school. This is his last year there, since Graduation in May will open a whole new chapter for him --and his parents. Their last chick leaving the nest and all that.
The concert was delightful. There was enough mix of new and traditional Christmas music to satisfy even the meanest critic, and I found my toes tapping repeatedly to keep up with the brass and percussion sections. Like the old fire horse, I'm always rarin' to go when a Band performs!
We didn't have a chance to speak to our grandson following the performance, but I hope he knew we were in the audience. He's just the most handsome of all the young men in the band - of course. Of course, I say that about all of our grandchildren - they're the most beautiful, handsome, talented, intelligent and likeable kids ever born !
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Two Weeks and counting---
December 10th already! That's hard to believe, but there it is....Two weeks from today will be Christmas Eve.
Ah-- the memories those words bring forth - the childhood days when the whole family gathered at our grandmother's house to hang stockings and the cousins pretended to go to sleep while the grownups did their 'getting ready for Santa' things. The house was too small to hide many secrets, with the grandmother, three daughters and their husbands, and 8 total children - oh my what fun!
Back to the future - Now we have an even larger family to gather for Christmas at our house. A few years ago we had a Christmas Eve supper as well as a Christmas Day supper, to accomodate the groups who had other families to visit. Now it's evolved to just one big Christmas Day dinner with everyone together!
Preparations are still in progress here, but I still need to gather the items that will go with the travelers to France! They'll have quite a different adventure this year, and are getting more excited as departure date approaches. We'll miss them greatly -back here on the 'home front', but are happy that they will be all together over there across the pond.
Yesterday was one of those days when the rain just would not go away. I kept checking the rain gauge in our back yard, and it kept getting fuller and fuller. The 'official' total for our area was almost FOUR inches in a 24-hour period. That's quite enough, thank you very much. Even so, I'm thankful it was "just" rain, and not the equivalent amount of snow! Yep, a quick check of the rain gauge shows 'almost 4 inches' !
Now to get busy with the day's things-to-do !
Ah-- the memories those words bring forth - the childhood days when the whole family gathered at our grandmother's house to hang stockings and the cousins pretended to go to sleep while the grownups did their 'getting ready for Santa' things. The house was too small to hide many secrets, with the grandmother, three daughters and their husbands, and 8 total children - oh my what fun!
Back to the future - Now we have an even larger family to gather for Christmas at our house. A few years ago we had a Christmas Eve supper as well as a Christmas Day supper, to accomodate the groups who had other families to visit. Now it's evolved to just one big Christmas Day dinner with everyone together!
Preparations are still in progress here, but I still need to gather the items that will go with the travelers to France! They'll have quite a different adventure this year, and are getting more excited as departure date approaches. We'll miss them greatly -back here on the 'home front', but are happy that they will be all together over there across the pond.
Yesterday was one of those days when the rain just would not go away. I kept checking the rain gauge in our back yard, and it kept getting fuller and fuller. The 'official' total for our area was almost FOUR inches in a 24-hour period. That's quite enough, thank you very much. Even so, I'm thankful it was "just" rain, and not the equivalent amount of snow! Yep, a quick check of the rain gauge shows 'almost 4 inches' !
Now to get busy with the day's things-to-do !
Thursday, December 4, 2008
A 'big' family
An interesting article in today's newspaper about 'large' families brought back a lot of memories. According to the writer, only 2% of today's families have 5 or more children. I wonder what that percentage was in the '50s and '60s when our five children were arriving. Several of our friends also had five children in the same time frame. Maybe sometime I can dig out the facts, but now I'm remembering ---
Five children in nine years meant a lot of fun, a lot of stress (but I was too busy to know that I was stressed), a lot of bottles and diapers, and a lot of groceries and cooking. I remember thinking, when our 5th child was born: "What if all five of our kids have five kids of their own? We'd be overrun with grandchildren !"
Somehow all five of our kids managed to grow up healthy and did very well in school, all going on to college or post-secondary education, and each one received academic scholarships, too ! And they have provided us with eleven wonderful and beautiful grandchildren.!
Our children were fortunate to have a large and loving extended family, two sets of grandparents, three great-grandmothers and a great-grandfather, oodles of cousins, aunts and uncles. Living in a fairly small town was the greatest blessing; where everybody knew everybody else, and cared about each other.
I served as Room mother for several grades, chaired many committees and served at PTA president. When the kids got older, I was in the Band Booster Club for years, since four of the kids played instruments in the high school band. Serving as Booster Club president meant many trips on the bus with the band when they participated in contests and parades in other towns, manning the concession booth at the football games, and all the things that parents are expected to do in support of their children's activities.
So what's the big deal about having five children? I will be interested to see if there are any responses to the article in today's newspaper.
Five children in nine years meant a lot of fun, a lot of stress (but I was too busy to know that I was stressed), a lot of bottles and diapers, and a lot of groceries and cooking. I remember thinking, when our 5th child was born: "What if all five of our kids have five kids of their own? We'd be overrun with grandchildren !"
Somehow all five of our kids managed to grow up healthy and did very well in school, all going on to college or post-secondary education, and each one received academic scholarships, too ! And they have provided us with eleven wonderful and beautiful grandchildren.!
Our children were fortunate to have a large and loving extended family, two sets of grandparents, three great-grandmothers and a great-grandfather, oodles of cousins, aunts and uncles. Living in a fairly small town was the greatest blessing; where everybody knew everybody else, and cared about each other.
I served as Room mother for several grades, chaired many committees and served at PTA president. When the kids got older, I was in the Band Booster Club for years, since four of the kids played instruments in the high school band. Serving as Booster Club president meant many trips on the bus with the band when they participated in contests and parades in other towns, manning the concession booth at the football games, and all the things that parents are expected to do in support of their children's activities.
So what's the big deal about having five children? I will be interested to see if there are any responses to the article in today's newspaper.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sunday
Cooking, cleaning, waiting, watching, welcoming, unpacking, visiting -- what a busy and joyful Wednesday it was!
Ginny and Bill, sons Shaun -almost 17, Michael, 16 arrived right on schedule Wednesday at about 3:15 p.m., after driving 865 miles in two days' time. They were ready to stand up and walk around for a while ! The boys always look forward to a meal at the Chinese Restaurant, so we gathered up my sister and our other daughter for this 'event'.
Thursday was busy again, with 'dinner preparations' and all that goes with hosting a big family gathering. Twenty-Two of our family were here for a wonderful, bountiful dinner and lots of fun and laughter. We missed the six who were unable to be here this year, but they were with us in spirit. Ham and turkey, dressing, gravy, homemade rolls, several kinds of potatoes and other vegetables, and six kinds of desserts - oh, such a wonderful meal ! We are So Blessed to have such a wonderful family, all of whom bring many delectable dishes to share when we have our family gatherings.
Friday was a busy day with lots of yard work accomplished by the guys, while inside we continued the cleanup from the night before. Lorelei and Daniel came for lunch on Friday and stayed to make a long visit, since they missed being here Thursday evening.
Corky's Barbeque is another "must do" item on our visitors' list, so we enjoyed those tasty ribs and barbeque on Friday evening. Too soon it was Saturday, and the Maryland group packed up to make another long trip back to their home. They were rolling by 3 p.m. in order to make it halfway on the first leg.
Oh, how Quiet this house was after they left, and Empty.
Ginny and Bill, sons Shaun -almost 17, Michael, 16 arrived right on schedule Wednesday at about 3:15 p.m., after driving 865 miles in two days' time. They were ready to stand up and walk around for a while ! The boys always look forward to a meal at the Chinese Restaurant, so we gathered up my sister and our other daughter for this 'event'.
Thursday was busy again, with 'dinner preparations' and all that goes with hosting a big family gathering. Twenty-Two of our family were here for a wonderful, bountiful dinner and lots of fun and laughter. We missed the six who were unable to be here this year, but they were with us in spirit. Ham and turkey, dressing, gravy, homemade rolls, several kinds of potatoes and other vegetables, and six kinds of desserts - oh, such a wonderful meal ! We are So Blessed to have such a wonderful family, all of whom bring many delectable dishes to share when we have our family gatherings.
Friday was a busy day with lots of yard work accomplished by the guys, while inside we continued the cleanup from the night before. Lorelei and Daniel came for lunch on Friday and stayed to make a long visit, since they missed being here Thursday evening.
Corky's Barbeque is another "must do" item on our visitors' list, so we enjoyed those tasty ribs and barbeque on Friday evening. Too soon it was Saturday, and the Maryland group packed up to make another long trip back to their home. They were rolling by 3 p.m. in order to make it halfway on the first leg.
Oh, how Quiet this house was after they left, and Empty.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thanksgiving - more
What a surprise and joy to answer the ringing phone this afternoon to find our granddaughter calling from Paris, France ! We missed having her with us in person for our big family gathering Thanksgiving dinner, but it was exciting to have a lovely visit with her by phone. I'm old enough to remember when a 'long distance call' was for emergencies only, and usually was the bearer of bad news. Now, with technology as advanced as it is, a call between France and Tennessee is an everyday thing rather than a rarity.
Jessica told me about the "pseudo-Thanksgiving dinner" she prepared for her host family, using her ingenuity to create the 'traditional fare' in another land. She's living in a suburb of Paris this year, as an au pair for a family, and revels in the beauty of Paris and France. She said one could live there a lifetime and still not see everything that was 'important' or noteworthy.
Our dinner was more than bountiful, since every family group brought several dishes to add to the menu. Ham and turkey with dressing and gravy, plus all kinds of other goodies graced the table, which really wasn't large enough to hold everything. We are so blessed with a wonderful family and some really good cooks who share their talents for family gatherings. It's hard to keep up with the many conversations going on around the table when we all get together like this. Lots of laughter and joking back and forth make a really fun evening for our family.
Jessica told me about the "pseudo-Thanksgiving dinner" she prepared for her host family, using her ingenuity to create the 'traditional fare' in another land. She's living in a suburb of Paris this year, as an au pair for a family, and revels in the beauty of Paris and France. She said one could live there a lifetime and still not see everything that was 'important' or noteworthy.
Our dinner was more than bountiful, since every family group brought several dishes to add to the menu. Ham and turkey with dressing and gravy, plus all kinds of other goodies graced the table, which really wasn't large enough to hold everything. We are so blessed with a wonderful family and some really good cooks who share their talents for family gatherings. It's hard to keep up with the many conversations going on around the table when we all get together like this. Lots of laughter and joking back and forth make a really fun evening for our family.
Thanksgiving Day
Bright sunshine, lots of family together for dinner this evening, good health, good friends, and a host of blessings.... what a wonderful list of things to be thankful for today -- and every day.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday, Again...
Last week was so full of "Wow" things, I wonder what this week will bring - besides rain. It's hard for me to agree with the old song, "I love a rainy day...." even if it did have a nice beat. Then there's that other song, "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down...". NOT. I refuse to be influenced by a dark sky and dripping tree branches.
All weekend I thought of things I might mention when I posted to my blogspot again, but don't you know I can't recall a single one of those tidbits ! I finished reading another of Perri O'Shaunessy's mysteries, and was sorry when it ended. Now I'm starting another. Just can't get my fill of that genre. Escapism, I guess. The stories provide a total 'change of scene'.
Speaking of changes, notice that I have 'changed' the photo on this blog. The picture was made at our wedding reception mentioned in an earlier blog post. All the furniture had been moved out of a downstairs bedroom at my parents' home and the Bride's table arranged, with candelabra and flowers banked around the wedding cake. Oblivious and " so in love", I have no memory of being aware of what it took to completely rearrange my family's lives in order to carry out the planned wedding and reception with Grandfather so desperately ill and hovering between life and death in the hospital 25 miles away.
Enough of this... dust and cobwebs are calling and Clutter must be dealt with before the traveling part of our family arrives on Wednesday !
All weekend I thought of things I might mention when I posted to my blogspot again, but don't you know I can't recall a single one of those tidbits ! I finished reading another of Perri O'Shaunessy's mysteries, and was sorry when it ended. Now I'm starting another. Just can't get my fill of that genre. Escapism, I guess. The stories provide a total 'change of scene'.
Speaking of changes, notice that I have 'changed' the photo on this blog. The picture was made at our wedding reception mentioned in an earlier blog post. All the furniture had been moved out of a downstairs bedroom at my parents' home and the Bride's table arranged, with candelabra and flowers banked around the wedding cake. Oblivious and " so in love", I have no memory of being aware of what it took to completely rearrange my family's lives in order to carry out the planned wedding and reception with Grandfather so desperately ill and hovering between life and death in the hospital 25 miles away.
Enough of this... dust and cobwebs are calling and Clutter must be dealt with before the traveling part of our family arrives on Wednesday !
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Anniversary
One of the nice things about celebrating a wedding anniversary with a 'dinner out' is -- NO dishes or messy kitchen to contend with afterwards.
The O'Charley's folks couldn't have been nicer --especially after we told them we were celebrating 58 years of marriage-- and we had a lovely dinner. After a while the noise level didn't even bother us - that cacophonous mix of conversations and background music (? that's Music? ).
The manager brought us an absolutely delicious dessert in honor of the occasion, along with many congratulations.
So now it's time to shift gears and start preparing for our big Family gathering for Thanksgiving Dinner.
The O'Charley's folks couldn't have been nicer --especially after we told them we were celebrating 58 years of marriage-- and we had a lovely dinner. After a while the noise level didn't even bother us - that cacophonous mix of conversations and background music (? that's Music? ).
The manager brought us an absolutely delicious dessert in honor of the occasion, along with many congratulations.
So now it's time to shift gears and start preparing for our big Family gathering for Thanksgiving Dinner.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Snakes alive - not!
Yesterday morning hubby came back inside from taking the recycle bin out to the street, saying 'there's a big dead snake out there!'. Huh? Okay, let's go see. The camera doesn't lie - (unless you have photoshop or something like that). Sure 'nuff, I got a couple of shots of hubby holding the very dead snake by the tip of its tail - the thing must have been about four feet long. The mystery continues -- how and why did a snake, probably a Black King Snake, end up on the neutral strip of our yard, dead, and coiled like snakes do.??? We will never know.
In general, snakes are not anyone's favorite animal (reptile), but the Black King Snake is a friend rather than foe, since he is a rodent predator. We have not seen a mouse or rat in our yard (or house) for years! I truly hope that this dead critter was not our resident rodent controller.
I took the pictures with me to the Book Store and amazed several friends with our early morning discovery. Got lots of "wow"reactions, too !
Today, November 21st, is the 58th anniversary of our wedding. Another "wow" reaction from friends here, too! The day we pledged our vows at my home church was a beautiful, mild November day. During the ceremony a cold front blasted through our area, and when we left the church the wind was fierce and straight off the North Pole. My new sister-in-law gave me her fur cape to wear from the church to our reception, so I wouldn't freeze in my gorgeous white satin wedding dress.
November 1950 evokes so many memories I could 'write a book' and still not get everything recorded. Short version: our wedding was written up in the local Small-Town newspaper as "the Social Event of the Season". My dress was hand-crafted by my mother and maternal grandmother, who worked six weeks to create it, complete with 2000 seed pearls sewed onto the Alencon Lace collar. A series of pre-nuptial showers and parties had preceded the wedding, and everything was going along famously until my paternal grandfather fell, suffering multiple skull fractures. He was hospitalized in critical condition, on Nov. 18th. Because of that accident, my uncle from Boston and aunt from Pittsburgh were here for Grandfather and were able to come to the wedding ceremony, too. The planned large reception was quickly reorganized and held at my parents' home on a much smaller scale, instead.
Following the ceremony and reception, hubby's father drove us to the hotel where we spent the night before driving to New Orleans for our honeymoon. Hubby had received his draft notice letter from Uncle Sam prior to our wedding, and had to leave one week later for Army basic training in South Carolina (this was during the Korean Conflict time), so I did not see him again until New Years Day. We had our Thanksgiving Dinner at Antoine's in New Orleans!
Grandfather survived, in spite of having been given too much insulin in the hospital (he was diabetic), and lived another eight years as an invalid. He was the sitting Mayor of our Town at the time, but the vice-mayor served in his stead until the next election.
The rest... as they say... is History. :-)
In general, snakes are not anyone's favorite animal (reptile), but the Black King Snake is a friend rather than foe, since he is a rodent predator. We have not seen a mouse or rat in our yard (or house) for years! I truly hope that this dead critter was not our resident rodent controller.
I took the pictures with me to the Book Store and amazed several friends with our early morning discovery. Got lots of "wow"reactions, too !
Today, November 21st, is the 58th anniversary of our wedding. Another "wow" reaction from friends here, too! The day we pledged our vows at my home church was a beautiful, mild November day. During the ceremony a cold front blasted through our area, and when we left the church the wind was fierce and straight off the North Pole. My new sister-in-law gave me her fur cape to wear from the church to our reception, so I wouldn't freeze in my gorgeous white satin wedding dress.
November 1950 evokes so many memories I could 'write a book' and still not get everything recorded. Short version: our wedding was written up in the local Small-Town newspaper as "the Social Event of the Season". My dress was hand-crafted by my mother and maternal grandmother, who worked six weeks to create it, complete with 2000 seed pearls sewed onto the Alencon Lace collar. A series of pre-nuptial showers and parties had preceded the wedding, and everything was going along famously until my paternal grandfather fell, suffering multiple skull fractures. He was hospitalized in critical condition, on Nov. 18th. Because of that accident, my uncle from Boston and aunt from Pittsburgh were here for Grandfather and were able to come to the wedding ceremony, too. The planned large reception was quickly reorganized and held at my parents' home on a much smaller scale, instead.
Following the ceremony and reception, hubby's father drove us to the hotel where we spent the night before driving to New Orleans for our honeymoon. Hubby had received his draft notice letter from Uncle Sam prior to our wedding, and had to leave one week later for Army basic training in South Carolina (this was during the Korean Conflict time), so I did not see him again until New Years Day. We had our Thanksgiving Dinner at Antoine's in New Orleans!
Grandfather survived, in spite of having been given too much insulin in the hospital (he was diabetic), and lived another eight years as an invalid. He was the sitting Mayor of our Town at the time, but the vice-mayor served in his stead until the next election.
The rest... as they say... is History. :-)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Words of Wisdom
I don't usually post twice in one day, but when this item came in an email from a good friend, I just had to share it.
An Old Farmer's Advice:
* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
* Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
* Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
* It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.
* Every path has a few puddles.
* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
* The best sermons are lived, not preached.
* Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
* Don't judge folks by their relatives.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
* The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
* Always drink upstream from the herd.
* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
* If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
An Old Farmer's Advice:
* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
* Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
* Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
* It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.
* Every path has a few puddles.
* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
* The best sermons are lived, not preached.
* Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
* Don't judge folks by their relatives.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
* The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
* Always drink upstream from the herd.
* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
* If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
COLD
Cold weather has apparently settled in to stay a while. I hope this 'cold spell' is not a sign that our real winter will be even colder. It can happen, even around this part of the country. One fall/winter might be resort-like mild, but the next one resembling the upper reaches of the Artic. We had one of the latter type winters a while back, and it was not fun.
The summer had been one of those extremes - with temps in the 100+ range for days on end. Too soon winter arrived, and the thermometers nose-dived to the minus figures. Pipes froze and had to be thawed - carefully - to keep them from bursting.
Our son-in-law-to-be visited here during both of those seasons that year... coming in August for a family wedding event and enduring the heat with the rest of us; then back that January when he went under the house with hubby to help take care of the frozen pipes. I knew then that that young man was "a keeper"... and I was so right. He has been a terrific addition to our clan -- even if he does have some strange food preferences. Ha! Dumplings and sauerkraut, rhubarb pies... stuff like that is so 'foreign' to our soul-type southern food.
Yesterday's trip to take my sister to the doctor again, 4th time in as many weeks, was a total surprise. Instead of waiting an interminable time to be called back to the exam room, we went in almost immediately upon arrival, and the doctor came in right away. What has been a four-hour visit lasted only two hours yesterday. And the prognosis for my sister was encouraging, even though I still feel that the Symptoms - not the Cause(s) - of her problems are being treated.
Arriving home again - when it was still daylight instead of the dark rush-hour traffic I had anticipated - held another surprise. The Internet provider was having area-wide trouble and Nobody had access to email or the Internet for over three hours. Okay, what to do instead of sitting at the computer? At least the cable TV was not affected, and it was early news time, so TV was the substitute time-killer.
The summer had been one of those extremes - with temps in the 100+ range for days on end. Too soon winter arrived, and the thermometers nose-dived to the minus figures. Pipes froze and had to be thawed - carefully - to keep them from bursting.
Our son-in-law-to-be visited here during both of those seasons that year... coming in August for a family wedding event and enduring the heat with the rest of us; then back that January when he went under the house with hubby to help take care of the frozen pipes. I knew then that that young man was "a keeper"... and I was so right. He has been a terrific addition to our clan -- even if he does have some strange food preferences. Ha! Dumplings and sauerkraut, rhubarb pies... stuff like that is so 'foreign' to our soul-type southern food.
Yesterday's trip to take my sister to the doctor again, 4th time in as many weeks, was a total surprise. Instead of waiting an interminable time to be called back to the exam room, we went in almost immediately upon arrival, and the doctor came in right away. What has been a four-hour visit lasted only two hours yesterday. And the prognosis for my sister was encouraging, even though I still feel that the Symptoms - not the Cause(s) - of her problems are being treated.
Arriving home again - when it was still daylight instead of the dark rush-hour traffic I had anticipated - held another surprise. The Internet provider was having area-wide trouble and Nobody had access to email or the Internet for over three hours. Okay, what to do instead of sitting at the computer? At least the cable TV was not affected, and it was early news time, so TV was the substitute time-killer.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Monday Monday
That "Monday Monday" song keeps flitting around in my head, but I can't remember the rest of the words. Maybe later I'll Google it and find them.
Today is Jonathan's 18th birthday. Seems like just the other day when he was born....our first grandson - what a thrill ! Each grandchild's birth was a thrill for us! Now they're all growing up (or grown already) and they're just as much a 'thrill' when they come to visit. Such precious young people.
Yesterday was a Quiet, blessedly quiet, day after the week of activities - something to do and somewhere to go Every day. It was nice to relax after Sunday School and do almost nothing. I finished the novel I was reading and enjoying so much. Now I'll be looking for another of Elizabeth Lowell's books to lose myself in. I don't usually enjoy the spy/foreign intrigue/money laundering type mysteries, but "Innocent as Sin" was excellent. Lowell writes a lot of page-turners, and this was definitely one of that genre.
The cold spell that blustered in to our area Saturday on a ferocious wind that went straight through my bones, has apparently settled in for a lingering visit. Sunshine yesterday was welcome after a week's worth of cloudy and somewhat dismal days. Even the cold was better than those foggy wet days that preceeded it. Time to put the electric blanket back on the bed and turn it on before climbing in.
In the 'old days', Mother just added another home-sewn quilt to the pile of bedcovers when the temperatures dropped. Houses weren't insulated in those 'old days', and fireplaces warmed you - one side at the time.
When I was very small, we lived in a old house - really old. The water pipes had to be left dripping on cold winter nights to keep them from freezing. I remember seeing a solid chunk of ice in the old claw-foot bathtub one morning, where the dripping water had frozen before it could drain out.
Another time in more recent years, our little above-ground swimming pool had a four-inch thick layer of ice on the surface after an unusually cold night. This was one of those "Wal-Mart special" pools, 12-foot diameter, 4 feet deep, that the then-young grandkids enjoyed as much as I did. There way no way to keep the water from freezing, and freeze it did. We chipped great chunks of ice out of the pool, and it didn't even melt on the ground for a long time. THAT was a cold spell, for sure.
Today is Jonathan's 18th birthday. Seems like just the other day when he was born....our first grandson - what a thrill ! Each grandchild's birth was a thrill for us! Now they're all growing up (or grown already) and they're just as much a 'thrill' when they come to visit. Such precious young people.
Yesterday was a Quiet, blessedly quiet, day after the week of activities - something to do and somewhere to go Every day. It was nice to relax after Sunday School and do almost nothing. I finished the novel I was reading and enjoying so much. Now I'll be looking for another of Elizabeth Lowell's books to lose myself in. I don't usually enjoy the spy/foreign intrigue/money laundering type mysteries, but "Innocent as Sin" was excellent. Lowell writes a lot of page-turners, and this was definitely one of that genre.
The cold spell that blustered in to our area Saturday on a ferocious wind that went straight through my bones, has apparently settled in for a lingering visit. Sunshine yesterday was welcome after a week's worth of cloudy and somewhat dismal days. Even the cold was better than those foggy wet days that preceeded it. Time to put the electric blanket back on the bed and turn it on before climbing in.
In the 'old days', Mother just added another home-sewn quilt to the pile of bedcovers when the temperatures dropped. Houses weren't insulated in those 'old days', and fireplaces warmed you - one side at the time.
When I was very small, we lived in a old house - really old. The water pipes had to be left dripping on cold winter nights to keep them from freezing. I remember seeing a solid chunk of ice in the old claw-foot bathtub one morning, where the dripping water had frozen before it could drain out.
Another time in more recent years, our little above-ground swimming pool had a four-inch thick layer of ice on the surface after an unusually cold night. This was one of those "Wal-Mart special" pools, 12-foot diameter, 4 feet deep, that the then-young grandkids enjoyed as much as I did. There way no way to keep the water from freezing, and freeze it did. We chipped great chunks of ice out of the pool, and it didn't even melt on the ground for a long time. THAT was a cold spell, for sure.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Up too early again this morning, it seemed like a long time before the dark gave way to light. 'On the Road to Mandelay, the dawn comes up like thunder'. Around here today, the sun hid behind heavy cloud cover until it finally emitted enough light for me to go out to pick up the newspaper.
There's just something about walking outside in the dark for any reason, and picking up the newspaper doesn't warrant discomfort. The dropping temperature offers enough discomfort. Walking south in our yard to find the newspaper is chilly enough, but coming back facing north is downright cold, with wind in my face. Brrrr.
Another thought:
The Misuse of words really bugs me. I wish everyone could have the advantage we did, years ago, in my high school, where we learned English literature, grammar and spelling. I notice the frequent misuse of 'amount' and 'number' referring to groups of people or things. Too often 'amount' is the choice, which is totally incorrect.
The other day I read an article in which the writer "sited" her source as so-and-so. HUH? She meant "cited", of course, and those sound-alike words are easily misused, but still......(where are the proof readers, anyway? Oh, they don't know the difference either, I'll bet!)
Maybe that writer was not paying attention that day in class? Mother used to say that she never really learned to print. Her handwriting was nice - but her printing lacked a lot. She said "I must have been absent from school the day they taught printing."
There's just something about walking outside in the dark for any reason, and picking up the newspaper doesn't warrant discomfort. The dropping temperature offers enough discomfort. Walking south in our yard to find the newspaper is chilly enough, but coming back facing north is downright cold, with wind in my face. Brrrr.
Another thought:
The Misuse of words really bugs me. I wish everyone could have the advantage we did, years ago, in my high school, where we learned English literature, grammar and spelling. I notice the frequent misuse of 'amount' and 'number' referring to groups of people or things. Too often 'amount' is the choice, which is totally incorrect.
The other day I read an article in which the writer "sited" her source as so-and-so. HUH? She meant "cited", of course, and those sound-alike words are easily misused, but still......(where are the proof readers, anyway? Oh, they don't know the difference either, I'll bet!)
Maybe that writer was not paying attention that day in class? Mother used to say that she never really learned to print. Her handwriting was nice - but her printing lacked a lot. She said "I must have been absent from school the day they taught printing."
Friday, November 14, 2008
Family things
It's always good to hear from our adult children, and especially when they call to share good news, or stop by to visit for a few minutes during a busy day. Open lines of communication work well.
Sometimes an email or an instant message will be that day's 'talk', but it's good, no matter how or what. Shared news about a business trip/vacation, or an upcoming one, or a business idea that succeeded, or a 'catch up' conversation -- all serve to make my day a little (no -- a Lot ) brighter. Thanks, kids, for keeping me in the loop.
With the grandchildren it's a bit harder, since they are all going so many different directions all at the same time. They still keep in touch when they can, and that is Good.
We'll all be together for Thanksgiving.... at least almost all of the family will be here for a while that day. In the old days, when all the parents, aunts and uncles were living, we might have as many as 35 at the Thanksgiving dinner -- or at Christmastime. Now we're missing the older generation, but we keep the traditions as much as possible.
The other day, one of the children asked about plans for this year's Thanksgiving dinner menu. My response was, "After I get through this week, I'll have time to think about that."
Such a busy week this has been, with a 'calendar event' every day, with no sign of slowing down yet! Even so, it's been a good week, with a lot of varied activities that were interesting, each in its own way.
Sometimes an email or an instant message will be that day's 'talk', but it's good, no matter how or what. Shared news about a business trip/vacation, or an upcoming one, or a business idea that succeeded, or a 'catch up' conversation -- all serve to make my day a little (no -- a Lot ) brighter. Thanks, kids, for keeping me in the loop.
With the grandchildren it's a bit harder, since they are all going so many different directions all at the same time. They still keep in touch when they can, and that is Good.
We'll all be together for Thanksgiving.... at least almost all of the family will be here for a while that day. In the old days, when all the parents, aunts and uncles were living, we might have as many as 35 at the Thanksgiving dinner -- or at Christmastime. Now we're missing the older generation, but we keep the traditions as much as possible.
The other day, one of the children asked about plans for this year's Thanksgiving dinner menu. My response was, "After I get through this week, I'll have time to think about that."
Such a busy week this has been, with a 'calendar event' every day, with no sign of slowing down yet! Even so, it's been a good week, with a lot of varied activities that were interesting, each in its own way.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Parking Lots
I'll bet you never parked your car in the huge parking lot at one entrance to the oversized store, only to leave the store by the Other exit. I did it again yesterday. Too much on my mind, I guess.
SO -- No car where it should be! At least it's not where I thought it should be. A friendly shopper offered assistance, but there was no car anywhere that it "should have been".
Finally the light dawned - Ah ha ! I had parked near the entrance I used to go IN.. not come Out. Retrace steps - inside the building, not in the drizzley rain - to the other end of the world. Well, it felt like the other end of the world, as I trudged along, but it was only the other end of the store.
Sure enough, there's my car, sitting where I left it.
In the 'old days', we tied a yellow ribbon or something to the radio antenna, for easy locating a parked car. No more, with built-in antenna.
I toyed with the idea of using the emergency signal on my remote... but I absolutely hate cars that do that---sit with horns blowing constantly until someone wakes up and clicks the signal again to turn it off.
By the time I located the vehicle again, rain was really beginning to come down. The run in for a couple of items had turned into a length trip after all.
SO -- No car where it should be! At least it's not where I thought it should be. A friendly shopper offered assistance, but there was no car anywhere that it "should have been".
Finally the light dawned - Ah ha ! I had parked near the entrance I used to go IN.. not come Out. Retrace steps - inside the building, not in the drizzley rain - to the other end of the world. Well, it felt like the other end of the world, as I trudged along, but it was only the other end of the store.
Sure enough, there's my car, sitting where I left it.
In the 'old days', we tied a yellow ribbon or something to the radio antenna, for easy locating a parked car. No more, with built-in antenna.
I toyed with the idea of using the emergency signal on my remote... but I absolutely hate cars that do that---sit with horns blowing constantly until someone wakes up and clicks the signal again to turn it off.
By the time I located the vehicle again, rain was really beginning to come down. The run in for a couple of items had turned into a length trip after all.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Veterans Day Ceremony - 2008
The Daughters of the American Revolution, local chapters, sponsored the annual Veterans Day Ceremony today at the park where the famous Doughboy statue stands guard over the monuments commemorating those servicemen and women who have given their lives to preserve our freedom and liberty.
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the peace treaty ended "the war to end all wars". Originally called Armistice Day, the event later became Veterans Day and is honored in many different ways throughout the United States.
The ceremony today was beautiful, with a Marine Corps Reserve Unit taking part in the program. The bagpiper played "Amazing Grace", and the trumpet sounded "Taps" for the fallen heroes. Dignitaries' remarks added to the solemnity of the event. Two DAR officers placed a wreath at the foot of the Doughboy Statue.
Even though rain had been forecast, none came from the gray clouds overhead. Wind tossed fallen leaves around the Veterans Plaza and airplanes flew overhead, following the approach path to the International Airport.
We were glad we attended this Veterans Day Ceremony.
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the peace treaty ended "the war to end all wars". Originally called Armistice Day, the event later became Veterans Day and is honored in many different ways throughout the United States.
The ceremony today was beautiful, with a Marine Corps Reserve Unit taking part in the program. The bagpiper played "Amazing Grace", and the trumpet sounded "Taps" for the fallen heroes. Dignitaries' remarks added to the solemnity of the event. Two DAR officers placed a wreath at the foot of the Doughboy Statue.
Even though rain had been forecast, none came from the gray clouds overhead. Wind tossed fallen leaves around the Veterans Plaza and airplanes flew overhead, following the approach path to the International Airport.
We were glad we attended this Veterans Day Ceremony.
Monday
Yesterday, when I was unloading the bags of groceries from my car trunk, I failed to open the trunk lid ALL the way. Surprise ! The lid started closing and banged my forehead, knocking my glasses askew. I pushed the trunk lid more forcefully then, until it 'caught' and stayed open.
Thinking my face would be streaming blood from the painful injury, I felt and -- Nothing!
Not even broken skin. For anything that hurt that much, I thought there would have been humongous gash. Too bad. Only a small bump and later a slightly red spot.
At least I didn't have the experience that hubby did, a while back. He clicked the remote to open the rear of our van, but failed to move back far enough out of the way of the rising cargo door. He got whopped good and proper. Kinda knocked him winding, and his glasses were sent spinning to the pavement in front of the IHOP restaurant. It took him a few minutes to regain his composure and collect his glasses, too. We were lucky that it wasn't a whole lot worse. Other family members gathered around to be sure he was all right again before we all parted to go our separate ways. Needless to say, I was the designated driver for the trip back home.
Thinking my face would be streaming blood from the painful injury, I felt and -- Nothing!
Not even broken skin. For anything that hurt that much, I thought there would have been humongous gash. Too bad. Only a small bump and later a slightly red spot.
At least I didn't have the experience that hubby did, a while back. He clicked the remote to open the rear of our van, but failed to move back far enough out of the way of the rising cargo door. He got whopped good and proper. Kinda knocked him winding, and his glasses were sent spinning to the pavement in front of the IHOP restaurant. It took him a few minutes to regain his composure and collect his glasses, too. We were lucky that it wasn't a whole lot worse. Other family members gathered around to be sure he was all right again before we all parted to go our separate ways. Needless to say, I was the designated driver for the trip back home.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Sunday morning
It's a nice feeling to just walk away from everything that's pressing down on me, and do something completely different. At least it worked for me on Friday. What started out to be a 'day off' - wasn't, and by the time I had worked on two projects (computer stuff) all morning, I was ready for a change. I walked so far 'away' from obligations that the load of waiting laundry wasn't even begun until after supper Friday night!
A very nice Saturday luncheon and meeting with friends provided a nice respite from the usual routine. Listening to the speaker tell about The Virginia Company regarding the settling of Jamestowne, Virginia in 1607 was enlightening and interesting. As he said, much has been written and researched about Jamestowne (indeed, continued archeological 'digs' are bringing more to light about those earliest years), but we don't hear much about the rise and fall of The Virginia Company. This speaker holds a doctorate in history as well as a masters degree in computer science. I found that to be a curious but logical combination of studies.
Another absolutely gorgeous fall day added more to my enjoyment of 'something different'. Looks like we may be in for a change, though, with early Sunday temps in the low 30s, and rain in the forecast for Veterans Day on Tuesday. I hope that's wrong, since many outdoor ceremonies are planned to honor those who have fought and died to preserve our liberty.
A very nice Saturday luncheon and meeting with friends provided a nice respite from the usual routine. Listening to the speaker tell about The Virginia Company regarding the settling of Jamestowne, Virginia in 1607 was enlightening and interesting. As he said, much has been written and researched about Jamestowne (indeed, continued archeological 'digs' are bringing more to light about those earliest years), but we don't hear much about the rise and fall of The Virginia Company. This speaker holds a doctorate in history as well as a masters degree in computer science. I found that to be a curious but logical combination of studies.
Another absolutely gorgeous fall day added more to my enjoyment of 'something different'. Looks like we may be in for a change, though, with early Sunday temps in the low 30s, and rain in the forecast for Veterans Day on Tuesday. I hope that's wrong, since many outdoor ceremonies are planned to honor those who have fought and died to preserve our liberty.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Thought While Washing Dishes
A tiny bubble bounced
Out of the steaming soapy water --
Escaping --
Caught a draft and floated
Shimmering in the ray of sun
Toward window glass
And freedom,
Sparkling as it settled on the pane.
There it popped,
Leaving but an outline
Of the glory it had been.
I want to leave a mark
When I am gone --
A tracing on some other's
Mind -- or heart --
To note that I was here
And for my moment
Glistened.
(This has been one of my most ‘popular’ poems, and has won several prizes and awards. I composed it many years ago, when Philip was a new Perkins Restaurant employee.
I sent it to him, and he posted it over his desk, where it attracted attention — and requests for copies— from several of his co-workers. It was a first place prize winner in 1992 at Tennessee Federation of Women's Clubs Convention)
And freedom,
Sparkling as it settled on the pane.
There it popped,
Leaving but an outline
Of the glory it had been.
I want to leave a mark
When I am gone --
A tracing on some other's
Mind -- or heart --
To note that I was here
And for my moment
Glistened.
(This has been one of my most ‘popular’ poems, and has won several prizes and awards. I composed it many years ago, when Philip was a new Perkins Restaurant employee.
I sent it to him, and he posted it over his desk, where it attracted attention — and requests for copies— from several of his co-workers. It was a first place prize winner in 1992 at Tennessee Federation of Women's Clubs Convention)
Thursday afternoon ramblings
What a fun day! Lots of interesting visitors came in to the book store. One lady was bemoaning the fact that her husband's job was taking them away from our town for a move to New York. She "loves" our town and is really sad to leave.
As a "native", I appreciated her nice remarks about what a wonderful place this is to live.
This afternoon my husband (of almost 58 years) and I attended the Open House at the newly renovated Health and Rehab Center. Under new ownership now, it's really a different place entirely from the old one with which we were familiar.
For their residents and patients, it's nice to see that the facility has been spruced up so well. If you're in a health situation where nursing is needed, it's wonderful to have a Health and Rehab place close by. Ideally no one would ever have to go anywhere but their own home to recuperate, but things are rarely "ideal".
As a "native", I appreciated her nice remarks about what a wonderful place this is to live.
This afternoon my husband (of almost 58 years) and I attended the Open House at the newly renovated Health and Rehab Center. Under new ownership now, it's really a different place entirely from the old one with which we were familiar.
For their residents and patients, it's nice to see that the facility has been spruced up so well. If you're in a health situation where nursing is needed, it's wonderful to have a Health and Rehab place close by. Ideally no one would ever have to go anywhere but their own home to recuperate, but things are rarely "ideal".
Another Thought
The world is so full of beautiful colors. Why do some only consider the colors of skin?
Happy Thought
The world is so full of a number of things,I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.
--Robert Louis Stevenson
The world is so full of a number of things,I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.
--Robert Louis Stevenson
Thursday
Thursdays are my Fun days, when I volunteer at the used book store at our Library. Lots of people come in during the day to browse, chat and maybe even purchase the books they find.
Enjoying people is a pleasure for me. You run into all kinds of varied interests, and engaging someone new in conversation is quite educational !
Enjoying people is a pleasure for me. You run into all kinds of varied interests, and engaging someone new in conversation is quite educational !
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
