High School Football
We went to the game at our local high school this evening. What an exciting game it turned out to be. We played the Oil City Oilers. They won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. Our Beavers kicked the ball right into the open arms of one of the Oilers and he sprinted down the field, unstopped, for touchdown! That wasn't a very good start to our Homecoming Game.
But soon we got a touch down and the score seesawed back and forth a bit. There was never a point in the game, until there was about a minute and a half remaining in the game, where we knew for sure who would win. It was a well played game and in the end, the Beavers won, 18-14.
It kept getting colder as the night settled down around us. Many of us wore sweaters and jackets, and wrapped ourselves in blankets. Some of the younger set toughed it out without warm clothes, but they didn't really look comfortable.
It was a good game and we came home to hot cocoa and bed time. Good night!
The Grimm Way
In our first pastorate, one of the members of the congregation was named Mrs. Grimm. I remember sitting with her on her porch swing one late fall day. In the flower boxes on her porch were beautiful coleuses.
Mrs. Grimm said to me, "I just wishing it would freeze and get it over with. I'm tired of protecting those flowers."
I would have brought them indoors if they'd been mine but Mrs. Grimm told me that was too much bother. She just wanted them to freeze and get it over with! That is a Grim Way!
The Vanishing Plant
I have three poinsettias, one from last year and two from the year before. I didn't really mean to keep them, but since they didn't die, I couldn't pitch them. I just couldn't. I set them outdoors this spring.
One of them looked like it was done for and I set it outside and pretty much forgot it. And then one day I realized that it hadn't died. It was starting to put out new leaves. I moved it to a place where it would have the best chance to survive.
At the end of summer the three of them all looked really healthy and I brought them all together at the edge of the steps on the front porch. The one sitting on the porch itself blew over repeatedly one day. I brought it indoors and watered it well, then left it indoors. That left two poinsettias on the porch steps.
But suddenly, I could only find one. For almost a week I've promised myself that I'd look around and find what happened to the other poinsettia. Today was the day. Sarah and I walked around looking at all the plants on the porch, over and over again. I looked over the porch railing to see if one had fallen down there.
Just before I gave up, I started moving the plants around at the porch steps. I have a grouping of Gerbera Daisies there, some potted mums and the poinsettias there. But when I picked up the poinsettia, I discovered that I had set it down on the edge of the second poinsettia's pot and the two plants just blended into one big mass as I looked at it. Mystery solved!
I was just a little bit hoping that the plant had blown away somewhere so I wouldn't have to bring it back into the house. I have SO MANY plants to bring in.
But I found it, hale and hearty. And you know, I can't just toss a healthy plant. I'll make room, somehow.
Unusual Names
I have long been interested in names. Some names are very unusual and this makes them interesting to me. My own name is unusual where I live but it's very common in the area where I grew up. My maiden name is not a common name, neither here, nor where I was born and raised. I always perk up in interest when I hear of someone with my maiden name. It doesn't happen often.
Lately, I've seen or heard a couple of names that are unusual to me. One is the name Picklesimmer. When I tried to find out something about this name, I only found that there are people of talent who have this name. I can imagine the very first person of this name canning pickles, probably bread and butter pickles, simmering them in a big vat before getting them into the canning jars. I wonder.
Another name I heard recently, also tagged to a person of real talent, is the name Turnipseed. This name, I think, might come from a farmer who propogated Turnips.
And that reminds me of when I was a child and went with my grandmother to a church service in Gary, Indiana. We were both visiting that city, and that church. My grandma shook hands with a woman and told her name. The woman replied, "I'm Mrs. Beanblossom." I had never before, nor ever since, met anyone with that name. But there you go, it's another name that brings up a picture of a person involved with garden produce.
My maiden name probably means son of Haffey or Haffy. My married name means Sword Smith. Most people have no idea what either of my names mean.
I like to know the meanings of names.
You're Calling Whom???
I got a call today from the place where the builders bought siding to finish up our house this summer. They wanted me to come fix their air conditioning! I said that I was just a person, a private person. They checked again. It was my name and my phone number they wanted. But I neither fix air conditioners nor send anyone to do it.
I wonder if there was a mix up because of the siding. They now think I'm some kind of contractor!?
Excitement on Our Street
I heard the wind kick up last night. I wakened and thought about my plants on the porch. I thought especially about the fuchsia and wished I'd brought it in already. But I never thought of getting up and doing it in the night.
This morning when I started to take the trash out to the curb, I discovered that a tree was down in our street, just below our house. It's not the whole tree, just one third of it, but it was a big, old, maple tree. It also pulled down the electric wire going into the neighbor's house. Because there was a wire down, neither the school maintenance people nor the firemen could do anything about removing the tree until the Penelec people had come to take care of the wire.
That's been done now and the chain saws are going to get the tree cleared out of the road. There was a two hour school delay because of this tree.
My husband had talked to me about this tree. He thought it ought to be taken down several years ago, but it's not on our property. The split where it broke shows a lot of deadness inside but there were still lots of green leaves. It's sad to see this old giant go. I think that since so much of it broke off, the rest of it will be cut down. What a wonderful gift from God that it came down when no one was around to be hurt, and it didn't fall on the house. It's created an inconvenience but no real damage.
My porch plants were all fine. My back door neighbor lost her two arch trellises. They both blew down, completely.
High School Home Coming Game
Friday night will be our high school's home coming game night. The weather has been cooler now. I'm hoping to go to this game and I'm hoping it won't be too cold or raining that night.
A Fuzzy Day
I've felt fuzzy and low functioning all day today. I think it may be some offshoot of the allergy shots I had yesterday. I think I could have slept all day and everything I did do took a lot of effort to get it done.
My head is a little clearer tonight and I'm hoping that tomorrow morning I'll feel more like rising and shining. That would be great.
I have my big yellow stone house almost completed now. Maybe tonight I'll get it finished up.
Cooler Temperatures
This morning before 7 when I logged onto the computer, I saw that our temperature was 45 degrees. No wonder it felt cold in the house and I just wanted to snuggle down under the covers instead of jumping out of bed to face the day.
This temperature tells me that now I really must get serious about bringing plants back into the house. So far, I've brought in two of them! What a lot I have outside yet. Soon it will be like a jungle again in several of my rooms.
Fudge in the Fall
It seems like every fall I get a craving for fudge. It's happened again. Today I gave in and made the easy kind of fudge with chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. It takes just a few minutes and it's foolproof.
I think there is something fundamental about the urge to bulk up for winter. I'll have to curb that urge because I don't want to bulk up. I'll put on an extra sweatshirt if necessary. But I really like fudge in the fall!
Spelling
When a Southerner says, "Help me," it sounds like, "Hep me." I wonder, when he's writing it, how does he spell it?
Morning Humdrum
I had thought about getting my morning started early today but it turned out to be a good morning to sleep in a little. However, by 9:30 I was on my way to get my allergy shots. I had no trouble finding a parking place, but the waiting room was filling up with people and I wasn't surprised that I had to wait about half an hour. When I get there before 9, I often have a very short wait but by 9:30, they were very busy.
After my shots, I went to the grocery store, hoping that it would still be early morning for most people. There were less people shopping but in almost aisles there were people stocking the shelves from dollies piled high with products, clogging up the aisles. I tried not to be annoyed by this. It wouldn't do any good to be annoyed except to bring me down a little so I skirted the areas where the stockers were working and instead felt glad that I really didn't need very many things.
When I checked out, I found a nice box to bring my things home in. I was pleased to find such a nice box because I've been needing one to put things in that I'm going to be getting rid of.
Now I'm home again and I'll soon be indulging in a little more painting (rocks) and then housework.
Advice that Helped Me
Sometimes I find it very difficult to discern what is the right thing to do in making decisions. This is especially hard when the choice involves two different directions which seem equally worthy, --but, I suspect, they probably aren't. Therefore, which is the correct choice?
While making one of these decisions recently, I was reminded through one of the radio programs that I heard, that it's God's responsibility to guide us, and it's our responsibility to commit ourselves to doing what we know is what He would have us do.
That means to me that if I have the commitment to doing God's will, God will keep me from making mistakes. If I have no specific direction, I am free to do what my reasoned decision leads me to do. If it's wrong, God will show me that it is wrong and steer me in the correct direction.
What a relief that brings to me. My responsibility is to do what I know is pleasing to Him. My submission to His leadership opens the way for God to give me the guidance I need.
I'm sure there will be many changes of direction for me in the year to come. I want to always go in the direction that God steers me.
Nature, Up Close
This morning while I was pinching off the dead leaves and flowers from the African violets, I saw a groundhog come down my stone path and sniff around. It started to come up onto the porch but then changed its mind and went around the porch steps and then under the porch.
Later today, my back door neighbor told me that there is a groundhog that lives across the street but has started visiting her place. They didn't want it at their place so they had been chasing it with a squirt bottle. I suppose it's the same one.
You can't say a groundhog is really beautiful but it has its own kind of attraction. It's neat to see wildlife up close and natural but it's not much fun when they destroy plants or make holes in fields and cause farmers problems.
Rainy Monday
It's very dark and raining this morning. Rusty ran eagerly out to the pen and put on the brakes hard when he stuck his nose out into the rain. But I told him he had to go out anyway.
It's after 8 o'clock here and it's still so dark that I need lights on in the room to see well. It may have been raining all night. I think we need this rain. I just wish it didn't have to be dark, too. But, it's not getting me down. I have lots of things to do that will keep me busily occupied.
Day's At the End
It's been a very good day for me. Sundays are usually emotional for me and today was no exception, but I was able to deal with it for the most part.
This evening after I got home from church, and checked my email, I changed into my night clothes and for the first time in a couple months, I put on my fleecy robe. It hasn't been cool enough here for me to wear it but tonight it's been a little cooler. In fact, we are having a bit more rain. It felt really good to curl up in my warm robe and drink a cup of cocoa and watch the mystery on Hallmark.
Now it's time to end the day.
Accountability
We all do better if we have someone we have to be accountable to. Sometimes we can successfully be accountable to ourselves, but often if we don't have someone keeping tabs on us, we let things slip.
In that vein, I have recorded that I've neglected to sew the seam in my skirt for quite some time now. Because I wrote about it, I felt the need to be accountable to get that seam sewn.
I sewed the seam! It didn't take long and I'm so glad it's done.
While I Was Out
What happened at home while I was out this morning? I suppose I'll never know.
Before I left the house, I put Rusty's pan of food, which he hadn't finshed, up high where I thought it would be saved for him for later. When I got home, the pan was on the floor of the kitchen, and of course, it was empty. I don't know which one of the two did that. Desy is driven to eat and it's possible that she could have made a huge effort and pulled the pan down. Rusty wouldn't have had that much difficulty to get his food, but he has NEVER before taken his food down when I put it up to save it for him. If I leave it on the floor where it belongs, Desy will eat it and he won't get it. Now I really don't know who ate the food.
And, in the dining room, one of the chairs was knocked over! What wild party were these two having that these unusual things took place?
Unless my back door neighbor happened to notice something happening over here, I'll probably never know who ate the dog food and why the chair was down on the floor.
Faded Jade
I've had a jade plant for many years. It sits in a big, big flower pot on the floor in the front bedroom. I've pinched it back many times, to make it branch out. I've had to put it in a bigger pot.
This week I discovered the lower part of the jade plant is, ---how to describe it? The lower stems are just shells! They have no substance! I don't know what happened to it. I've cut off the upper branches that are still solid. Usually the jade plants roots rather easily. I shall get new soil in the pot and see if I can get the healthy branches rooted. If it doesn't work, it's the end of the line for the faded jade.
More Pictures
I've added more pictures to My Flickr album. If you have time, check them out. Scroll down toward the bottom of this page and click on the Flickr pictures there.
Apple Time
What is better than apple blossom time? Harvesting apples time is better! And that's what time it is here in our area. I'm hearing that this has been a really good growing season for apples.
I set out this morning to get some apples at the farmer's market. And then I remembered that they don't sell apples in small quantites. My friend reminded me of this fact. And then she gave me some of the apples that she'd purchased earlier this morning. What a good friend she is! I have cut up and cooked one of my apples in oatmeal. It was really delicious.
Thanks, Friend.
Good Progress Today
I did make good progress today in getting some necessary things worked on. In addition to the work in the study, I was able to get some outdoor work done, too.
This summer has been really good for a number of the outdoor growing things. Among them are the raspberries. I had pruned the bushes back early in spring but now as we go into fall, the bushes are grown out in great long sweeps of branches. I worked at the edge of the driveway and cut back the bushes there. I carried three big armloads of thorny branches around to the back, out of the way. It was a good start. Maybe next week I'll get to prune back more bushes in the interior of the patch.
The Cook Out Baked Beans
Thompson’s Baked Beans
You can use a crockpot or a casserole dish but it is best is baked in an oven. A crockpot that can be placed in the oven is ideal.
1 lb bacon
1 small onion, chopped
1 can baby
1 can butter beans (drained)
1 can kidney beans (drained)
1 large can pork & beans (DON’T drain)
½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 cup brown sugar
1 can durkee onions
1) Fry bacon. Saute onion in bacon grease. Drain
2) Combine beans and sauted onions in crock pot or casserole dish.
3) Mix worcesterhire, vinegar, brown sugar, simmer, thicken a little, pour over beans
4) Crumble bacon and durkee onions on top
5) Bake at 350 degrees until hot and bubbly or cook in crock pot.
The Wrong Conclusions
My dogs are pretty smart and they know me pretty well but today Rusty jumped to the wrong conclusion.
I started last evening to work in the study again, looking for things that should go to the Columbus Church. I found quite a lot of things again, (and there's still more). They are things that I think the church people would be interested in such as my husbands records of various services, year end summaries, notes on meetings, etc. And there are Bibles and hymnals that he collected down through the years. A friend at the church knows of a missions group that collects Bibles and hymnals to send to other countries where people have learned to speak English and welcome our old books because they don't have them so abundantly in their countries.
I've made at least three trips to the car this morning, each time with a big armload of books and binders to go over to the church at noon. Rusty jumped to the conclusion that I've been loading the car to take a trip! He wants to be sure that he isn't left behind. I'm trying to tell him that I'm not going anywhere special. No, no, no, he can't go with me. But he is ever hopeful!
He'll get over it when he realizes that I'm not taking a trip after all.
The Bean Recipe
I got the recipe this evening, --the recipe for baked beans that I was trying to come up with to make the beans this morning. My beans were OK, but I knew that they weren't as good as the ones I had at the Labor Day cook out. When I got the recipe, I could see why. There were things in there that I hadn't realized. For example, I knew there was bacon in it, but a pound of bacon!!! I didn't put anywhere near that much bacon into my beans.
OK, you don't make these beans very often. They are for very special occasions. They aren't dieter friendly at all.
Getting Ready for Fall
Fall is here, not just because school has started but because the calendar says so, too. In order to get my house plants back indoors without a lot of effort, I need to start bringing things in a few at a time now.
Today I deadheaded the Brown-eyed Susans in the curbside bed. I hated to do it but most of the blooms were spent now and I don't think the birds eat those seeds as much as they do the cone flower seeds. I leave the coneflowers heads because I know the finches do come and get those seeds.
Night Blooming Cereus
My night blooming cereus bloomed several times this year and I missed seeing the blooms. I have the plant in the front bedroom and keep the door closed there. Rusty likes to go in there and look out the window, which is fine, except that when he sees a dog outside, he gets excited and jumps around and knocks plants over. Therefore, I keep the door shut. Therefore, I didn't realize when the plant bloomed and only found out later when I saw the spent blooms.
This plant is very true to its name and blooms after dark. And, the bloom is spent by morning. It's really easy to miss seeing this plant's special blooms.
Earlier this week I saw that the plant had one more bud, and I hoped that I'd remember to look for it when it bloomed. I don't remember that it ever bloomed this late in the summer, but I was happy that I'd have one more chance to see this season's bloom. It bloomed last night and I almost missed it. But since I got up before sunrise this morning, it was still open most of the way. It is a beautiful flower. That's why I keep the plant!
Here's a link to a picture of the plant's bloom. http://rfovell.bol.ucla.edu/cereus.html
Procrastination
I read a long while ago that the most usual reason for procrastination in doing a job is that you don't feel confident that you know how to do it well. I have thought about this from time to time and I've discovered that in many instances, it's true. If I knew just how to do the job, I would do it and get it over with.
But some of my procrastination is that some jobs take too much effort and I'm tired. Would either of these explain why I haven't sewn the seam that came undone in my skirt? There's no reasonable excuse. I just haven't done it.
Maybe soon.
A Big Haul for Trash Day
Some time at the end of last week I suddenly realized that there was a big pile of building junk at the side of my driveway. I inquired of the builders if that really was stuff that they couldn't use and I should throw it away. Yes, they said. All scraps.
I didn't realize what a big job it was to get it all ready for the trash collection in the morning. When I saw how much I needed four hands, I called my friend, Carolyn the artist, and she came right over and helped me. We tied some of it in bundles, put smaller pieces in black trash bags, and there was one box that I could use for smaller pieces, and we got it all piled at the curb for the morning pick up. Whew! It was a job that went so much better with two people. She held a bundle while I wrapped twine around it and got it tied up.
I really appreciate my friend's help this evening.
Tureen Dinner
Tomorrow is a tureen dinner for the XYZ group and I'm working on what I should take. When I was at the cook out on Labor Day, someone brought baked beans topped with canned French fried onions. It was really delicious. I think I can do that without an official recipe but I'm trying to get the recipe. I've done a Google search and none of the recipes that I found were exactly like what we had at the cook out, but it's given me ideas as to how to make it. I bought the ingredients while I was out today.
Car Report
I drove the car around town today while I did some errands. It sounds great. No more roar. I called the shop to find out how much the bill is and found that it's $150. (Rounded up) I've been told this isn't a bad price for what was done to it. I am very pleased to have this problem fixed. I saw the old muffler. It was a mess. Now my Echo has a shiny, new muffler. I'm pleased about that.
Expectations
About a week ago I saw an ad on TV for a chew bone for dogs. The ad said it was good for their teeth and they loved it so and had hours of enjoyment with it, like a toy. I thought I'd buy my dogs one.
When I was at the store last Friday, I looked for this chew bone. I didn't find that brand but I found something else that looked really good. There were two of them packaged together. The package said they were shaped especially for the way dogs hold bones in their paws and chew at them. The package said it was better than a nylon bone, I think it was.
I thought it was a chew toy that would last until it was lost. I wrestled the two bones out of their sturdy package while the dogs waited patiently for the treat that they knew was coming. They took the things tentatively but soon discovered that it was something they really liked. And indeed, the things did fit right between their paws just as they were meant to do. Soon both dogs were chewing earnestly and with contentment while I went about my own affairs.
In half an hour, Rusty gave up on his. I thought. I went to see where he'd put it. It was nowhere to be found. He'd chewed it up completely. He'd eaten it. Desy was still gnawing hers. But in another half hour, hers was gone, too.
I thought it would give them chewing fun for days and within an hour both of them were completely gone! But they did enjoy the experience while it lasted.
Catching Some Zs
My doctor told me that I could get my allergy medication very economically at Sam's Club. I finally got to try it out. However, the medication I am used to taking wasn't available there, but Benedryl was, and I couldn't believe how inexpensive it was. I know that when I used to take Benedryl, I would get very sleepy and couldn't fully function. I drifted through many spring days at home or at school, fighting to focus and living in slow motion. I've taken Benedry more recently, when I was really sick and fighting hives and didn't realize that it stillmakes me so drowsy since I was sick and in bed anyway.
So, I bought the stuff and this morning I really needed something for the sneezing. I had intended to take a pill last night before bedtime, but it slipped my mind. I didn't really need it at the moment. So this morning, I took a pill. Within an hour, I was gone. I was wondering how I could be so sleepy, and why I couldn't focus, when I remembered the Benedryl. I'm still out of it but I'll sleep it off and get back to functioning again soon. And after this, it's Benedry at Bedtime and that's that!
Car Talk
As I started my vacation trip, the muffler on my car went bad. It started with a gentle roar. By the time I was heading home, the roar wasn't very gentle. I knew I had to get it cared for. I called the garage on Friday and they had me bring it in this morning.
That was inconvenient but I knew the car needed attention. So, I took the car at 9 this morning. I parked it and went inside and Harry was in his office. "I brought the car," I told him. "Muffler." "I know," he answered. "I heard you drive up." I should have known!
He took me to the Y for Aquarobics. When I was done at the Y, Eleanor took me to check on the car. Gary said he was making a pipe for it, trying to save the muffler. He wouldn't be done for another half hour. Eleanor took me to the hospital for Auxiliary meeting.
After the meeting, former president Lucy took me to check on the car. It was still up on the hoist. Gary told me that he couldn't save the muffler. He'd discovered a really bad break between it and the pipe that goes into it. He had to put a new one on. He wasn't finished yet. He'd bring the car to my driveway when he was finished. Lucy took me home.
The car is home now, having arrived in the afternoon when I wasn't paying attention. It must not roar any more! How much did it cost? I haven't a clue. There was no bill with it. I'll have settle up with them tomorrow. But I'm wondering. How much will it be? Still, I'm glad to have the job done and I'll find out tomorrow how much I owe.
Done
I've done the job. It took me about 55 minutes to do the minutes on the computer. It would have gone faster for me but I discovered that there were things I didn't know. For instance, what happened to the Membership Committee? New members and resignations were discussed during the report of the Financial Secretary. Was she now also doing the membership?
That took four phone calls and I never did get a real solid answer. Some people think the membership committee head is still functioning. But they don't really know. She wasn't at the meeting today. I even called her, but of course, no one was answering.
I haven't attended this meeting for over a year so I'm really out of the loop. I didn't even know who the Vice President is. Who is it? I could only get a guess! I finally gave up and wrote the report with a guess about the membership committee.
After I got the minutes recorded and printed, I wrote a report for the newspaper. When I left office at the end of 2002, the new secretary did not write reports for the newspaper. I know that's really part of the secretarily duty for this group so now that I'm doing the secretary thing again, I wrote a report. I'll get it to the newspaper tomorrow. I also wrote the report about the Artists' Guild's anniversary party. Now I feel free from those tasks. What a good feeling that is!
Playing Secretary
I've been asked to finish out the year for the secretary of the Hospital Auxiliary who resigned at the beginning of the summer. I'd been secretary for several years some time ago and on my computer, I still have the format I used then. I'm hoping it's still a working format. I'll check it out later this afternoon.
Being secretary today was very much like it was those years ago. There were lots of new faces and new people in the old job slots but it was like fitting back into a comfortable uniform that I wore years ago. I don't like to have the pressure of being at every meeting but it's a job I can do well and because I use the computer, it's easier for me than for many of the other members.
The second thing I don't like about being secretary is that I should come home and type up the notes that same afternoon so that I'll get it done correctly while it's very fresh in my mind. As you can see, I'd rather write about it than actually write up the minutes.
I'll do it. Soon!
Moon Madness
Did you notice the moon this evening? It's huge and very round and silvery white.
Which reminds me that during the week I saw an Outer Limits show on the Sci Fi channel and it was about the moon being extraordinarily bright. Suddenly the man watching it decided that it was because the sun had gone nova and the moon was reflecting that brightness. The whole world would be destroyed before 24 hourse was up.
One of his fellow workers conferred with him and he'd also come to the same conclusion. The first man decided that it was time for him to declare his love for a woman he'd admired for so long. The tension and suspense mounted.
At last the dreaded firey flare reached them in bursts of incredible heated wind. They took refuge in the woman's loft apartment. The man stood right in front of the floor to ceiling windows to watch what was happening. Even I knew that was stupid. The windows were blown out and he was impaled on a wooden stake of some kind.
But to make the long story shorter, it wasn't a nova sun, just a solar flare. Everything around them was in ruins and he was badly wounded but they knew now that they loved each other and they had been prepared to die together.
The punchline of the story was that sometimes it's easier to die than to face rebuilding life. I was very let down. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't that.
Any how, the moon is full and bright tonight, but I'm not expecting any news of a nova sun or solar flare that reaches earth.
Compliment or Insult?
I was listening to a radio program this afternoon and heard, I think it was, Lee Smith tell this story about her mom. One Sunday morning after church her mom seemed very annoyed about something. They asked her what had happened. She said she didn't know whether to be angry or not but that June had told her this morning, "You know, Virginia, you look really pretty from behind."
Snort!
Sunday Morning Music
During September, I've been going back to the Columbus Church. It feels like going home and it's what I need right now. The choir sang, "Standing on the Solid Rock," today and I was able to play for them as they sang. Shirley would rather sing with the choir, which she can't do as well when she's accompanying them at the piano. So it suited both of us very nicely.
One of the songs the congregation sang was "How Can I Keep from Singing." I heard someone sing this on WQLN many years ago. I really liked it and I was pleased to discover this song in the new hymnals which are used at Columbus. The refrain says, "Since Christ is Lord of Heaven and earth, How can I keep from singing?" He really does put a song in my heart!
My Brother Told Me
My brother called this evening and we talked about the football game. He told me that it's OK for the ball carrier to be brought down by grabbing his clothing, but it's not OK to tackle a player without the ball that way. That is called "holding" and is not allowed. If I keep watching football, I'll probably remember that. If I don't watch again till next year, I'll probably forget it.
A Bowl of Cherries
Since I watched the high school football game last night and for the most part knew what was going on, I saw a football game on TV today and decided to tune in to it.
It was a college game, Nebraska vs. Pittsburgh. It was held at Nebraska. Their team colors were red and white. It looked like the fans were all wearing red. When they did an aerial view of the stadium, it looked like a bowl of tomatoes. Then I realized that wasn't quite accurate. It was really a bowl of cherries.
Did I understand it all. NO! It got very weird at the end and I'm not sure what happened. But I do know that Nebraska won by one point. And the brilliant red was beautiful!
First Grade Thinkers
Rereading my 1991 journal, I found the little story of trying to teach first grade what it means to be a late bloomer. In the reading class we had a story about Leonard being a late bloomer. The author, as I remember, compared Leonard's late blooming with the idea that a "watched pot never boils."
Both of these ideas were new to first grade. I tried to help them understand the concept but they didn't have any experience with either of these ideas that they could draw on that would help them understand. After I explained, I asked them to tell me what it meant to Leonard to be a late bloomer. Ryan answered, "It meant that he watched a pot to see when it boiled."
It was really difficult to get the right meaning into their thinking but I kept trying. Teaching first grade was difficult for me because it seemed like we didn't speak the same language. It was always a moment of triumph when we both understood each other.
The Game
The game was a blast! It was the Beavers against the Dragons. We are the Beavers. The weather was perfect for a football game.
Kaylee hadn't been to a Beaver football game before but she caught on really fast that there's lots to be interested in at a game. She went to the concession stand twice, and each time she offered me some of what she purchased. And before the game was over, she even got caught up in the excitement of the game.
The teams, in spite of the disparity of their names, were pretty evenly matched. Our team scored first, and their team answered with their own touchdown. Back and forth it went. There was a lot of excitement and we were sitting in the student section, right next to the band. There were a lot of students attending tonight and they really rooted for the home team. It was great!
It looked like we would win but in the last three minutes, the Dragons got the ball and one of them sprinted down the field for a touchdown that we couldn't echo. We lost, 27-22, but it was a really good game. Kaylee had a very nice time, and so did I.
You know what I was gonna do instead of the game? Just sit at home alone, doing a little housework, and a little painting. This was so much better. What a great way to spend a Friday night. Thanks, Kaylee for going with me.
Going to the Game
Yesterday afternoon I said to my sixth grade friend, Kaylee, that if she wanted to go to the high school football game and it was OK with her parents, I would take her. She said that she didn't like football.
I said, "I don't go for the football! I go for the band." And of course there's a lot of friends to see and talk to. She didn't seem really interested but I told her to think it over and let me know if she decided she'd like to go.
I just got a call from her a few minutes ago and she said she wants to go to the game! I had given up because she really seemed very uninterested. I'll have to shake a leg to get myself ready to go in about an hour, but we should have a nice time.
And, the sun is shining right now! I think the rain is over for the day.
Come Rain or Come Shine
It started raining in the night. That's fine. We need rain. I was wondering if it would rain enough to affect the high school football game this evening. It was raining this morning when I went to Aquarobics. It's not a cold rain and it wasn't unpleasant to be out in the rain.
It was gloomy when I got out of Aquarobics but it had stopped raining. Still later the sun came out. Then after lunch, I went to the store. When I came out of the store, having completed my shopping, it was raining again. I went to my car through the rain, --again, not unpleasant, just wet. But when I got home, the rain was stopped again. Now, a half hour later, the sun is shining again.
I wonder how it will be for the football game tonight. I think I'll plan to listen to it on the radio.
The Right Count
When I was measuring out the sets of three cups of elderberry juice to make jelly, I thought I had gotten three sets of three out of the first bag of elderberries and five sets of three out of the second bag. That would be eight batches of jelly. But later when I was cooking the jellies, I only counted seven batches. I counted and recounted but couldn't find eight sets. Finally I decided that I hadn't counted correctly and there had only been four sets of three cups each in the second bag of berries.
Then today when I was looking in the refrigerator, I saw that there was a jar of elderberry juice at the very back of the top shelf. I hadn't seen it there. I counted right in the first place, ---and I really didn't finish the job yet. It won't be hard to do the one more batch of jam, except that I used my very last jelly jar in getting the seven batches of jelly made. It's possible that I have some more jars in an obscure place in the cellar. But I really don't think so. I think I should freeze the juice and process it later, when I have some empty jelly jars again.
I gave up my more energetic plan for today and spent time doing quiet, restful things instead. The body must know best. I balanced my bank statement for August. It took roughly a half hour but it came out right on the first try. Hurrah!
I wrote a thank you letter, and read several of the piled up newspapers from when I was vacationing. I went to the library and got out some more books. The library is right beside the Salvation Army so I took a load of give aways and dropped them off there.
I got a call that I was needed today to have the two children come after school, --the boy and girl that were spending some time with me before school let out for the summer. So I rested for an hour or so in order to be more energetic when they came.
This early evening, after I had my meal, I felt that I could do some yard work, and I went outdoors and worked at pruning the giant trumpet vine. It's a gnarly old thing now. I'll have to get a ladder out to reach the upper places where it's too close to the house. I worked for about an hour doing the pruning and weeding around the vine, then it was getting dark so I collected some of the branches from the front and piled them in the back and put the pruning shears away for the day. I'm glad that I got some physical labor done this evening. It is better to be active than to sit quietly for very long.
Brain vs. Body
My brain had busy plans for me today and I got up early to get started. I did get a number of things done as I planned to, but my body says that I got up too early this morning and I've got to do something restful about it. Sometimes my body speaks louder than my brain.
The Day Takes a Different Direction
Today my artist friend, Carolyn, told me that she had to make an afternoon run to Erie and wondered if I'd like to go too. Yes, I did want to, even though I hadn't planned ahead. My allergy doctor told me that I could pick up some effective medication at a great discount price at Sam's Club and Carolyn is a member. Carolyn got grocery items and paper products and I got pills!
I really take very few pills but I do need the allergy meds rather often. From time to time I need aspirin for general aches and pains, and I got more aspirin than I hope to need in four years, for just under $6. My other purchase was cough drops. I usually buy 30 for around a dollar, give or take. I got 200 for just a little over $4 and I think it should last me through the winter. I need cough drops a lot in public buildings where the air is probably more dry than I'm used to at home. I could even share lots of my cough drops, --like with the church choir. I've learned that in choir, sometimes a cough drop can be a life saver. Teehee.
Marlin always liked to buy things like that in big quantities. He would have liked that I bought these things. I should be all set for a long, long time.
Quotes
Here are two Quotes that appealed to me. I found them in Christianity Today for August 2005 in a set of Quotes that were compiled by Richard A. Kauffman.
If you must curse, use your own name!
--God
Never understimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
Remembering
I just finished ladeling the 7th batch of jelly into jars and washing up all the equipment. I was remembering while I worked. It would be so much easier to do a job like this if there was someone else to do the little jobs that go along with it. My brother and I always did the little go-fer jobs for Mom.
I thought of Mom a lot while doing this job. She's the one who taught me how to make jelly.
And I thought of how we had to skimp and save on the use of the water. We never had enough water in the well. So we had to learn how to wash up the canning things using the least amount of water that we could. I use an eight quart kettle to boil the jelly in and it has to be washed and rinsed after each batch. Otherwise, it would stick and burn in places and it would be much harder to clean. And the jelly might taste scorched.
I was thankful for my memories of kitchen work with Mom in the distant past. I was also very grateful that I could keep washing up the pan time after time without having to skimp on the use of the water. What a blessing it is to have enough water.
The Color of Elderberry
The elderberry juice that I worked with today is a rich, deep purple. It's really a very pretty color. I was wearing an old tee shirt while I worked, --something that it wouldn't matter if it got blotched and stained. The color of the juice was so rich that I wished I could dye my tee shirt in it, but that would be pointless because I know the dye wouldn't stay richly purple in the cloth. And, even if it did, I would have to have a mordant to set the dye so it wouldn't fade out in the first washing. I was part of a spinning and weaving club for a year or so and I learned a little about dyes and mordants. If the splashes on my tee shirt remain as stains, they won't be purple. They will be dull brown. Odd, eh!
What Was I Doing?
What was I doing today, almost all day? I was processing elderberries to make elderberry jelly.
My friend, who let me pick elderberries at her place last year, picked the berries for me this year and brought them to me in two big, brown, grocery bags. That was a lot of berries.
It took a long time to clean and stem them. There were so many of them that I had to do it in two sessions. I got the first set cooked and strained and it made enough for three batches of jelly. I measured it out into containers but didn't make the jelly. Then I did the second bag of berries. It was even bigger than the first! When I finally got all the juice strained, I had enough for four more batches plus one cup left over to freeze to put with other juice for some other jelly later on.
Then while I had everything elderberry juiced, I did make two batches of jelly. It only takes three cups of juice for one batch and it only makes about five cups of jelly. So, it's a lot of work. I'm done for today but I have five containers of juice for another day to finish up the job. I will need to buy more pectin and more sugar. I hope some people I know really want some elderberry jelly!
Curious
I guess I could say that I slept fitfully last night. I kept waking up and I didn't know where I was. I've been home two nights now, and last night made the third. I know I slept in different places, different beds, while I was away for two weeks but most of the time I knew where I was. But last night, it took me a while to figure out that I was home in my own bed.
I felt like I was lying on the hard sand on the beach at Myrtle Beach. Then I would realize that it wasn't sand, it was my bed. And finally I would realize that I was home, and then it would happen again. I would wake up thinking I was on the hard sand on the beach. Finally I just lay there trying to enjoy the feel of it. Then I would drift off to sleep again.
Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, I didn't feel that I was ready to get up this morning. But I'm doing OK now.
Crazy Eights
Tonight was the anniversary party for our Artists' Guild. It marked the end of 8 years, the beginning of nine years. We were asked to bring something to do with the number 8 to share with the group.
It was interesting to see how every single one of us came up with a very different 8. It varied from the simple, --a box of 8 Crayola crayons, an 8 track tape, to more complicated, as Kevin's contribution. He showed all the ribbons he's won at the local fairs in the last four years, two fairs, making an 8. He's earned roughly $1,200 in those years, and he's still in high school.
Gertie received a round of applause when she told us that her 8 is that it's her last year in the 80s. Next year she will be 90!
My back door neighbor just joined the guild and she took pictures of 8 wonders in her back yard. Her flowers are fantastic and her entry was much appreciated.
There were many more, and none were duplicated. I made a poster with 8 tips for painting landscapes, tips gleaned from a teaching video featuring David Dunlop.
One fellow picked 8 dahlias from his flower garden, and they were lovely deep purple in color. They made a nice bouquet for the table where the president was sitting.
Oh, yes, the toureen dinner was great, too. And another big plus for me is that I wasn't elected to any office. That should give me more time to write and paint. It was a good party.
Keeping Busy
One of the first things I had to do after coming home was to pay bills again. I had everything right up to date when I left but being away for two weeks gave the bill senders opportunity to have their envelopes in my mail and waiting for me to return.
I wrote out six checks this morning before I left the house for Aquarobics. The water bill was due on the 15th, in order to get the small discount, --which we all want. Today is the 12th. That didn't give me any time to think about it at all. I had to dig in and do it.
I also had to water the violets, though they weren't as bad off as I'd expected. The house must have stayed cool while I was gone. They didn't die!
I haven't begun to work through the pile of newspapers yet. Maybe I'll start that tomorrow. But there are still a few more big jobs to do, so maybe I won't get to it till later, but I'll go through them.
Swashbuckling Noodle Duel
Today when I was at Aquarobics, a young woman went into the equipment room ahead of me and when she came out she wielded her noodle dramatically and said, "Odd. I feel like I want to sword fight!"
I said, "Have you been around young boys lately?"
"Oh, yes," she replied. "My son is four."
"Aha!" I said. "That's where you get it."
She overcame her urge to run me through with her noodle sword. I hope her son has self control, too.
Thy Catch on Quickly
While I was on vacation I heard about a woman who had two dogs. Once when a friend was visiting her and the dogs were in the other room and she and the friend were talking in the kitchen, she said to the friend, "Watch this." Then she said, "Oops!"
The two dogs came running, thinking that she'd spilled some food!
What Was That?
While I was at the girls' softball game yesterday, I heard one of the coaches yelling a command, "Alligator Hands!"
I thought that over. I thought of "alligator hands" as being their front feet. What about the front feet of an alligator has anything to do with softball? I drew a blank.
I asked my granddaughter. You probably know the answer. It's really "alligator jaws." The coach wanted the girl to catch the ball with her hands held like an alligator's jaws, ready to clamp shut on the ball. This command was given as hands because it's what they do with their hands. Now I understand.
At Home
How come the house collected dust while I was away and there was no one here to make it dirty? Isn't that odd?
I came home to a number of duties which must be done, both indoors and out. I am indebted to my two Carolyn friends who watered my outdoor plants. Apparently the house was cool during my absence and my indoor violets relaxed and waited for me. Nice!
But, I want to do creative kinds of things. I was able to talk to a painter at the one store in Myrtle Beach and he gave me some ideas that I really want to put to use.
While I was at my son's home, we got a DVD about painting landscapes, --from the library. I watched it one evening and took notes. I am ready to begin to work on some of these ideas.
But first, I have to deal with chores and get through Monday which has it's own shape and demands that I have to fit into. I'm not used to that, having been on vacation for such a long time.
Flikr Pictures
I've added a few more pictures to my Flickr album. Scroll to the very bottom of the blog (till we get it moved to the top) to see some thumbnails. Click on the title, Flickr pictures, to get to all of the pictures.
My New Habit
I picked up a new habit while I was on vacation: Drinking chocolate coffee. It's a sort of cappuccino. I read the label on a bottle of sundae toppers and I learned that the chocolate syrup could be added to coffee to make a pleasant drink.
I don't like coffee but I have had some cappuccinos before and really liked them and others that were too strongly coffee and I could not drink them. I made my own brew by putting half and half into about a fourth cup of coffee and adding about 2 tablespoons of the chocolate topping. I know it's not particularly diet fare, but I only drank one cup of it each morning while I was at Myrtle Beach. I had one cup of it since I came home this afternoon, so I think I have this new habit under control.
Home
We got past breaking Rusty's heart. One grandson didn't go to the game with us and he gave Rusty some attention when we left for the game. Rusty was frantic at first but he calmed down again and was OK.
When I got back from the game, both dogs were estatic to be able to get into the car with me. We had an uneventful trip home. I have my suitcase unpacked and a few little chores done. Now I need to make a grocery run for milk and fresh foods. I'll be settled back in by evening.
It was a good vacation. It was one I wouldn't have taken without the prodding that my family did. Now I'm glad that I did it. It was a very special two weeks.
Potential Problem
I have my suitcase packed again and I decided to have the car loaded before I go to the softball game. I'm going to watch my youngest granddaughter in a game and then begin my three hour trip to home.
The problem is that Rusty and Desy know what packed bags mean. As I headed for the door with some things to put in the car, Rusty determined that he was going with me. In spite of everything I did to deter him, even STAY, which he usually obeys very well, he slipped past me, opened the door with his nose and raced around the house to the parked car. I knew he was just going to the car but I still had that concern about the road. However, he did as I expected and waited at the car. He was so eager to get into the car, that he was going to jump into the trunk to be sure he got to go with me the next time I leave here.
After that we used the front door to finish loading the car but it was just seconds till Desy and Rusty were at the front door, too. They really, really want to make sure they go with me.
But I still have to go to the ball game and I'm not planning to take them to the ball game. I'm afraid that they will be frantic when I go to the ball game without them because they will think I'm going home and leaving them again. They were well cared for her and seemed to be doing OK but they REALLY want to go home with me.
I knew Desy would be desperate to go with me but I thought Rusty would be contented to be here with the other dogs and the man of the house and the children to fuss over him. And it turns out that he's more intensely showing his need to go home with me than Desy is.
How do I explain that I will be back for them in just a couple hours? I can't. I feel bad about their worry and concern. I think they would be upset about my leaving without them even if I hadn't packed the bags.
Welcome Home
Tonight after 9 I arrived at my overnight destination, where my dogs have been cared for these last two weeks. What a royal welcome I received! Rusty, when he saw that it was me, came running to me and before I realized it was happening, I got this big, wet kiss. Desy cried with happiness for a long time. She's at my feet right now, about as close as she can get and she's very relaxed and comfortable. Rusty is near, but watching what other family members are doing. There's no doubt about it, they missed me. What a welcome they gave me.
Universal Language
I've been thinking about the universal language of love and friendship. Of course I'm thinking about it because of the woman I met who was going to school to get her little one or little ones as I was going to get mine. I don't know if there is more than one child. We couldn't talk to each other but we did communicate. The smile was more than curving the lips. It was a smile that lit up the face. I hope mine did, too. What a brief encounter we had but how precious is a friendly greeting. I'm sorry that I can't tell her goodbye.
The Dog and Me
We've made progress, the resident dog and I. As the day wears on, she becomes more and more accepting to me. But she is still very skittish with me. Yesterday I dozed off while I was sitting in the easy chair. She came over and put her nose on my knee. This startled me and I jumped and she feld in terror. I feel sorry for her to be in such fear of me when it's so unneccessary. Later she came back to me and I scratched behind her ear and she was OK with me.
This morning, it started all over again. When I came downstairs, she barked and growled at me. It took a while before she calmed down. Poor girl. I wonder what her babyhood was like. I think that could explain a lot to us.
A Little Catch Up
I was away from a computer today and couldn't keep in touch with online friends. Now it's late and I can't write much, but maybe tomorrow I will be able to write again.
I saw my friend who doesn't speak English again this afternoon. She was ahead of me today but she turned and looked back at me and smiled a special greeting. Smiles are universal.
Tomorrow I start for home, but I won't get there until Saturday afternoon.
On the Way to School
Yesterday when I was waiting for my grandsons to be let out of school, I waited in front of a shady yard where I could lean on a sturdy chain link fence and admire the lovely plants. While I was waiting, a woman passed me from behind. I think she touched my shoulder and smiled at me and perhaps said hello. I'm not sure now.
She is a small woman with jet black hair, cut straight across and falling just past her ears. She may be Korean. I really am not sure. A small boy ran to her from the school and she walked home with him. I was too far away to hear any conversation.
Today as I approached the intersection where I would make the turn to head to the school, the woman was approaching the intersection also, from my left. She was walking in bright sunlight and carrying an umbrella for shade. She was wearing dark blue plaid trousers that came well below her knees but not as far as her ankles. Her overblouse was printed with bright fuschia flowers and lime green stems and paisley designs in straw yellows on a black background, very pretty. I called hello to her and said something about us going to school. She smiled but didn't offer to chat. She stepped ahead of me as we entered the sidewalk and I didn't try to talk any more. I got the impression that she maybe didn't understand me.
At the main road where the traffic is heavy, we were again side by side. I said it was a busy highway and she looked at me and shrugged apologetically and said, "No Ing-lash-a." I said, "OK" and pointed at the cars and said, "Lots of cars. Cars." She smiled and nodded but perhaps didn't understand.
I was still watching the last car approach when she touched my arm and said a short word, that evidently meant either "now" or "come on" and we crossed the road together. Then she walked ahead of me again. I wished I could communicate with her. She looked like a really nice person. Maybe I'll see her tomorrow. We know how to smile at each other.
Resident Dog
Ripley, the resident dog, has still not completely accepted me as belonging in this household. Yesterday when I had more cake than I could eat comfortably, I hand fed the remainder of it to Ripley, letting her lick my fingers till it was all gone. I hoped that this would help her to bond with me, and it did, for a while. She was pretty much OK for the rest of the evening. But this morning she has been doing her barking standoff again. Perhaps I'll have to let her eat more cake.
Blooming Cactus
I was certainly wrong about it being a while before the second bud bloomed on the cactus. It bloomed last night. Before I went to bed, I went outside with my camera and took a picture of it. It really is a pretty bloom. If the picture turns out well, I'll post it to Flickr and it can be viewed from my blog site.
Cactus Flower
My son has a big, old cactus sitting out on his front walk at the foot of the porch steps. It's had this developing bud that he's been watching to see it bloom. It bloomed last night and the bloom was still pretty nice this morning.
It's a big, white, waxy bloom, very like the bloom of a night blooming cereus, even though the cactus itself is vastly different. It's nice that I was able to see this bud bloom. There's still another bud coming along. It seems like it will be a while before it opens.
Happy Birthday
I was trying not to say anything about my birthday, but you know how it is when you try not to mention a subject, --it fills your mind and clamors to be said. So, I'm saying it after all.
Today is my birthday and I'm celebrating it far away from home in a place that is new to me and therefore holds no memories, ---yet. I was wishing I wouldn't have a birthday this year because it's just hard to deal with. Marlin wasn't big on celebrations but we always had a special meal together and I'm remembering that.
I've already received many birthday gifts, all of them early, and I'm so grateful to each giver. I appreciate that we are going to make this a special day, even though there is this mourning within me.
It's a beautiful day here in Maryland. It's one of their cooler days, which is great for me because I'm not used to the heat.
It's going to be a great day.
Chosen
I am this week in a household with three cats and a dog. Two of the cats have accepted me but the dog will not give up the idea that I am an intruder. She will come and sniff my feet when we are at table together and it seems like she's getting used to me, but then the next time I walk through the room, she reams me out for being in the house at all and is terrified of me.
But the cat is a different story. The gray kitty chose me tonight while I was sitting at the computer. She jumped up on my lap, kneaded my leg with her soft front paws, tried to cuddle up on my lap, which wasn't big enough for her, and purred and purred. It felt good to be chosen and approved. The Good Kitty seal of approval. How nice!
A Cook Out
My son and his family were invited to a cook out this afternoon and I was allowed to go, too. It was a very nice get together. It was hot on the deck but it was cool in the yard under the trees. Since I didn't know anyone very well, I thought I wouldn't be included in the conversation so I took my book with me, planning to read a little if it wouldn't be out of place to do so. But I read very little. The group joined me in the shade under the tree where I located soon after we arrived and I laid my book aside and we all talked together. It was good.
The food was very good also. Someone brought what I was told some time ago is Chinese coleslaw and I really enjoyed it. The baked beans were topped with crispy onions like people do with green bean casserole and they were delicious. Shelby helped her mom make turtles for dessert. They were scrumptious, and of course, very rich. I talked to Michelle about Derby pie and she told me that her sister makes it and she'll get the recipe her sister uses and get it to me through my son. I hope she will remember. I'm very interested in how this dessert is made.
I had a very nice time with new friends this afternoon.
Labor Day
Labor Day has always been a special holiday to me but it's different this year. I think perhaps it was special at first because it was the last holiday before school started but for many years it would be the first holiday after school started. Corry always starts school during the last week of August. We would have four days of school and then the weekend with Labor Day and get back to another four day week of school. It makes the beginning of school very choppy. The third week would begin the real thing for most of us.
When I was a teacher, Labor Day was for me a time to get last minute work caught up.
One of my favorite Labor Day memories is of the year that my youngest son and I went out looking for elderberries. We drove around country roads looking for elderberry bushes here and there. We got enough for me to make something, jelly or pie, I'm not sure which. I remember the fun we had driving along country roads and looking for them.
There are no elderberries in my day today, and no country roads. I will not catch up on my work but maybe I'll sketch some. I'll read some, for sure, and I'm visiting with family, and that's fun.
After a whole week of holiday last week, Labor Day doesn't have quite the same holiday feeling for me this year as it has other years. Tomorrow is still another holiday for me.
Another Miss
I have been having this problem with my glasses. The frames are very old and periodically, the frame comes apart at the temple piece and the lens drops out. I've had this problem every several months lately. So far, the lens hasn't broken but I know it could some time if it falls and hits a hard surface.
I thought about this weakness in my glasses yesterday morning when I was still at Myrtle Beach. If my glasses came apart while I was at the ocean, I would surely lose the lens. The waves never stop, you know, and they would scoop it up and the lens would be gone forever.
This evening, in the kitchen, just as we were preparing to go out for a walk, the frame let loose again and the lens dropped to the floor. Once again I was fortunate. The lens didn't break and my son was able to get the piece screwed together again. But he has told me that this over ten year old frame is definitely wearing out at that place. Sigh. I was hoping it would last for at least another year.
Meeting a Friend
Yesterday was a red letter day for me because I was able to meet one of my online friends. We have been writing to each other since 1998 and Lorie has moved a couple of times since we started writing. Now she's living an hour and a half from my brother's place.
Although I was with my brother and his wife for just over a week, we weren't at his home much during that time so we couldn't work out a plan to meet before yesterday. On our way home from Myrtle Beach, he went a different route as we got to Virginia in order to take me to meet my friend.
It was great. We all enjoyed talking together. Lorie and I had so much to say to each other. The time went too fast, but what a wonderful memory I have now. Some pictures, too!
Games
I don't as a rule enjoy playing table games and I usually do drag my feet about being involved in that kind of games. All week last week, my sister-in-law kept suggesting that we should play some games. I always hoped she'd change her mind.
But she didn't! I wanted to be a good sport so on Thursday night I joined them for a game of Balderdash. That's where you make up meanings to very obscure words and try to fool others into thinking that yours is the real definition. It can get to be a really funny game. I admit that I really did enjoy playing that game.
On Friday night we played UNO. That turned out to be more fun than I thought it would be. I was afraid it was a math game.
The next time the game of Balderdash or Uno comes up, I will probably join in if I'm invited.
The End
Some stories are so good that you don't want to come to the end of them. Some vacations are like that. This has been a really good vacation and although I'm really ready to get home again, I do have this sense of the sadness of this vacation coming to an end. My brother and his wife and her parents have been very enjoyable companions during this time together. I've heard great stories from Fran's past and my brother and I have talked about our own memories. This week gives the five of us some great shared memories.
So, this morning I was up and out on the balcony one last time to see one last sunrise at the beach. It was a good one this morning, the sun like a great, red, basketball coming up out of the water. That really doesn't sound beautiful, does it! It wasn't very poetic, the way I worded it. I'm not feeling poetic this morning, --just straight forward.
I have my camera out and have taken another round of pictures. Digital cameras are wonderful. I can take as many silly pictures as I like without the concern of wasting film. One of the things I'll be doing soon after I get home is downloading my pictures to look them over.
I'm writing one last blog from Myrtle Beach and we'll be on our way before long. The End
Closing Up
We are packing up our things tonight, anything that we don't need to have out for tomorrow morning. In the morning we'll have breakfast and finish loading our cars and head north and back into the real world.
This has been a haven where time almost stands still and one day blends into another seamlessly. The activities are recreational and enjoyable. Some of us will head back to work after the holiday weekend, but I will enjoy a little more leisure before I head home. I'm sure that there is a lot of work waiting for me when I get home, and I have some ideas for creativity, too.
Today when we shopped at The Gay Dolphin, named for the Gay Family who were its founders, I got to talk to an artist who paints scenes on sand dollars and small pieces of slate and light switch plates and other things like that. He told me how to prep a light switch plate and what paint to use to paint it. I can do that, too! This man is a pastor of a church in Georgetown and does this to supplement his income. I had an interesting chat with him. Now I'm ready to get home and try out some of the ideas he gave me.
Beach Incident
While I'm thinking about Wonder Woman and her duties, I'm reminded of the incident yesterday. We were under the canopy together, situated a little bit behind the life guard chair. What with the roar of the ocean waves, we don't hear conversations going on under other umbrellas near us.
I was ready to return to the room but didn't have a key. When I asked for a key, Poppa was reaching into his pocket to get his key out and his beach chair tipped over. Poppa isn't a young man. The chair was tipping slowly and he was falling to the soft sand. We knew he was having a gentle fall but we were reasonable concerned that he wouldn't be hurt. His wife and daughter got him settled again, he seemed fine, I got the key and went on to the room.
They told me later that Wonder Woman took her break shortly after that incident and walked past them. She asked, "Are you all right?" in a soft Southern accent. Wow! She really is Wonder Woman, with some kind of bionic ear. How did she know that Poppa fell when it happened behind her back? Did she hear us mention Wonder Woman? If she did, she probably wouldn't realize that she is Wonder Woman,--would she?
Poppa asked her about her T-bar and she said that lots of people ask her how much it weighs. She thinks it's about 8-10 pounds but the one they use farther up the beach is about 15 pounds and is much more difficult to use. She sometimes helps out up the beach because her T-bar is so much easier to use.
Mama Trigg teased Poppa, saying that he ran down to the water pounding his chest as he went, showing off for Wonder Woman. Teehee
We like knowing about Wonder Woman. And, Poppa is really all right, but his knee hurts a little this morning. I wonder if it's from the fall.
The Life Guard Station
Every morning I have noticed that the big chair which Wonder Woman the Life Guard sits in after she's finished with her task of setting up the beach chairs and umbrellas has been moved from its overnight spot midway on the beach to down nearer the water's edge. I wondered who moved it but I didn't know the answer until this morning.
I've watched the "setting up the beach" activities each morning but I always missed the positioning of the life guard chair. This morning I saw it happen, and who else, but Wonder Woman herself to move the chair!
Today I saw the beach being raked as well as the clean up of the beach by the early morning crew. I thought they would move the chair. It looks heavy. But they just worked around the chair.
Then, when Wonder Woman came on duty at 8, she put her back pack with things she would need for her watch at a spot near the water's edge. Then she went to the big, heavy chair. She brushed the sand off the bottom rungs, like a careful housekeeper. Then she went to the front of the chair and tilted it forward, resting it on her back. She grasped the rungs of the chair firmly and dragged that thing down to the spot beside her back pack. She looked more like Wonder Woman than ever as she did this. I'm telling you, this woman is STRONG!
We were down on the beach one day when she took down the life guard umbrella and flag and left her post to go inside for a break. When she was out of sight, I went over to her chair and picked up the T-bar she uses to poke holes for the beach umbrellas to stand in. I wanted to know for myself how heavy it actually is. I think it's more like 8 pounds than 10. I don't think it's as heavy as the sledge hammer I use to pound stakes in around my garden plants and I know it's 8 pounds. I don't heft my sledge as effectively as she does her T-bar.
I didn't want her to know I was messing with her tool. I didn't wipe off my fingerprints, but I did try to disguise my footprints. I went over to a couple who were watching me from under an umbrella and told them laughingly what I was doing, then took a circuitous path back to our canopy. But as I was heading back to the canopy, Mamma Trigg came with her camera. She wanted me to go pick up the T-Bar again and let her get a picture. Are you kidding? I did it once, and do you think I want evidence that I did it? Isn't it bad enough that I left my fingerprints there, and footprints, too? I wouldn't go back again to the T-Bar for a picture.
Yellow Butterflies
Today in the water exercise class, which is held in an outdoor swimming pool, Jane, our instructor was noticing the yellow butterflies which were flitting around. There are a lot of them now around here. She said that it's a sign of fall when these butterflies arrive. No one knew the name of them, except "yellow butterfly." I couldn't find the info online to tell me their real name. I guess "yellow butterfly" is going to have to do.