Tune and such

'In the Bleak Midwinter' is the name of the tune. It's the 3rd verse, you know the one that gets left out when you sing it at church.

It is one of my favorite carols along with 'I Saw Three Ships' and a few more.

Christmas is going to really strange this year. Because Dad is having bypass surgery and I'm going to be up home with them. Christmas here at home will just be passing out gifts.

Bubba is moving into his own place, so that will add to the strange.

Princess called this evening and Axel's little sister has strep throat so we don't get to see them before we leave. I told her that I wanted her to come by and get their gifts after we leave. But now that I think about it Pa will be here to see the fatboy open his.

Princess brought Pa and I the lovest Christmas tree this evening. It is purple and white with large sparkley bulbs. I wish I could post a picture because you just need to see this tree. Well I guess if you did any shopping in a mall last year you did see it.

Pa just looks at it and says Well it's a Tree. I like it but I wouldn't want it to be my every year tree.

Name that Tune?

"Angels and archangels may have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim thronged in the air; But his mother only, in her maiden bliss, Worshiped the beloved with a kiss."

I got my shipment of books and goodies from Dover Publishing this week.
One of the books Princess ordered was "Christmas Carols Complete Verses" this year, for a while I will be along to sing along and get it right. Then I will have to give Princess the book and will go back to putting in my own words.

This remains me of when Princess was little. One Christmas season we had been to church and Bubba was not happy. We wrestled him down to get his coat & hat on, wrestled him into his car seat, out of his car seat and coat when we got home. Then found out what it was that had made him so upset. He was mad because Princess had her own Christmas song and he did not have one. It took Pa and I a while to figure out that he was hearing Princess's name in one of the songs. We had to sing all the songs we had sang that morning a couple of times before he could tell us which one was Princess's song.
Now every year when I hear that carol I can see his little face with the sad look because he didn't have a song.

How could I have forgotten North and South.

Well the day is done and I should have gone to bed but I wanted to look something up. Guess what, I forgot what it was, and that I was even going to look something up.
First I checked e-mail and then looked at some blogs and ended with this. I could blame it on the pain med's but I haven't had any today. So I guess it is just me, yea I'm sure its just me, since I tend to do this a lot.

Patrick Swayze, that's what started all this.
Pa and I were watching Red Dawn and I said that it was made after Dirty Dancing because Patrick was a star when he made it and he wasn't a star until after DD. and that FarmWife and Princess were both swing and swaying to DD. along with 2 other little girls one New Years eve.
I was wrong, I know that is hard to believe but its true. I know that he was in a boy teen movie was it The Lords of Flatbush or the Outsiders and just which one of those was really a good movie?
I like movies, I love movies or at least I love mostly old movies. The ones they make today are lacking, greatly lacking, mostly bad remakes of old movies. One will come out and I will think maybe this time and so I will rent it and after watching will wish I had saved my money.
We did rent Amazing Grace today and I liked it. I think every kid should see it and their parents to. I learned several things while watching it and would like to take some time to read up on that period of history as it put in place some important social changes that we still have today.
I'm off to check out Swayze movies just so it won't bug me all night and I don't get my good nights rest.

Faster and Faster

Did we not just start the month? Why then are we running short of time?
Thanksgiving is in the air and suddenly it seems like it will all be over tomorrow.
I had shoulder surgery last Friday and maybe it was the drugs they used on me that caused a time warp. I never do very well with this going under and coming out from under. Runs in my family I guess we just like the nap or hate the nausea, either way it takes lots of time to get back to reality.
But Thanksgiving is here and will soon be gone and I haven't done one thing to make our house look like we are celebrating. No Pilgrims, no pumpkins or Indian corn and no cornucopia. I love cornucopias I love to see all the bounty falling out of them. I love the color that fills them.Most of all I love the blessing and richness that they represent.
This Thanksgiving will have it blessings, even if our house is dressed in its everyday dress. It will have its color and richness and will fill us as we share our thankfulness.

11/15/1937

Happy Sadie Hawkins day!
Thanks to Al Capp and the folks in Dogpatch USA.
Girls can now run down and catch themselves a husband one day a year.
I think Farmwife should keep my grandson's in the house tomorrow. I will be keeping HT in because you never know some young thing may just have her cap set on one of these good looking boys.
I will however have Bubba out and about. Just hoping.

one for all

Bubba and Pa took the soul test and it turns out that all three of us are 'dreaming souls'
HA HA HA

Oh yes I remember

My niece left me a note and caused me to remember our college apartment. She said "she had me beat in the no storage department". She is so right.
Pa and I lived in one of those apartments when we were in college. They must have figured that you were going to be to poor to have need of storage space. They were right we were poor but we could have used more closet space.
We were living there when Farmwife was born. It was a good thing she didn't have a lot of thing to start out with.
I loved my time at college. I made some great friends there.
Pam and Shirley were my best friends and got me through the first year of school. I was a very shy person. Pam didn't know a stranger.
The funny part was that Pam dated Pa's roommate and best bud and I don't remember meeting Pa until the end of my first year. I know that we had to have spent a little time around each other when P& P were dating. I just think that is so funny because at the end of the year when we did spend the day together we became friends.
After we married and went back to school Shirley's parents had taken the job of houseparents for married students.
The apartments were just being built and I got to pick out the colors I wanted for our apartment.Green or gold it was the 70's I picked gold.
Pa also painted our bedroom a raspberry red because we could do that.
After we moved out a new rule was put into effect and all the apartments had to stay white or off white because someone painted their bedroom some wild color that took a lot of primer to fix before they could rent the place the next year.
Brenda became my best friend when Pa and I were in married student housing. She got me through my first pregnancy. I was scared to death and every time we started talking about taking care of the baby she would tell me "don't worry it'll come to you" and most of it did. I was so surprised.
Funny what one thing can make you think of.
I guess I have spent most of my adult life wanting more storage room. I want a attic like the one in Little Women but I also want a sleeping porch up stairs and I want a dog run and a squared off window room just for the Christmas tree like Grandma Benson had.
IT COULD ALL HAPPEN

Summer is gone!
I can tell because it is getting cold out side.
I know that because I have had to run out to the recycle can 3 times today and I have only cleaned part of the kitchen. Water bottles and baby food containers are my day to day nightmare. They seem to grow when you turn out the kitchen light.
I hate news paper too I can't stand to have it laying around. Makes me nutty. By all this you may think I'm a neat freak Ha Ha Ha not by a long shot. I just don't have any storage space so there are little groups of things here, there and yon.
Our house is so lacking in storage space that I could hide the kids presents in my closet in plane sight. It is a walk-in and you can only make it half way because Christmas,camping, pictures and bedding are stored in the back half of it.
I remember, back in college, having dinner at Pa's professor's house. She told of just moving into their new house, from a trailer, all excited about having so much more room. But filled the house without getting anything new because they had been packed so tight in the trailer.
I look forward to the day when my laundry is not in my kitchen and the bedrooms only have bedroom things.

It's Over

I'm waiting for HT to return from his fun filled weekend with Mom.
I didn't get much done at least not that most people would see. I am free of 2 bags of paper receipts and junk mail that got piled up over the summer.
I spent two days shopping for Christmas. Well, really it was three days. HT and I went last Wed. to check out the up coming sale. Having found out that it was stock merchandise we went on to other things. Sell is Friday at 4pm and I get there early to gather up all my stuff. Pa even meets me there to pick out a few things and off to the checkout we go. Big surprise its Thursday. I didn't want to put back some of my goodies because it had taken so long to pick them out. The nice lady set them back for me and Friday at 4pm we got our goodies on sale.
The good thing about all this is that on friday I also got my new glasses back in to the eyecare place to get them fixed, couldn't see out of them after dark.
well HT is here and wants to help so I'm done000

It's a Holiday

Princess has worked like a mad man this past month and now has 4 whole days off. Princess is the visual person at Macy's up in the big city.
That means she sets up all the displays you enjoy when shopping. Starting in September all this display business gets nuts with change every few weeks until at last Christmas is up and running.
With her 4 days off she gets HT and some sleep and I get to sleep and recover from my new work out program. You know the one, lift the baby, move the baby on and on. Some of these muscle's haven't been used in years. Soon the gates will have to go up, I'm not sure I can even lift my legs that high anymore. Oh well.
Today I get to clean house, pay bills, and go shopping or maybe just take a nap. It's my holiday

no no NO

Guess what HT has found at Grammy's. That's right the VCR and DVD along with the lamp cord and all in the same day. I really thought we would at least make to Christmas before I got to join the Mean Mom's group but no.
I said no at least 150 times yesterday, moved the boy away, gave him a toy, fed him and yes even popped the little hand before the electricity could get to it. Nothing seemed to work.
Pa comes home from work and with just 1 no breaks the boys heart and he doesn't go near the equipment again until Mom gets here.
I must be losing my grip.
This same thing happened to my parents.

Anyone for BBQ

Pa took HT and me to the Jack Daniel's annual BBQ. No we didn't have any Jack Daniel's but I'm sure there were lots of recipes made with it.
Little history JD is produced over in Moore county and that is a dry county. Dry means no liquor is sold there. Smart people.
It was a bright sunny day but still cool and before we could turn to go to Lynchburg we had to go the other way to Wal-mart. Half way over we realized the boy had no jacket. Once that job was done we were off to see what was cooking.
The smell was wonderful and you could have made yourself sick on BBQ but there was also lots of other goodies. We came home with fudge and honey but my big buy was pot scrubbers.
These aren't just any pot scrubbers they are made out of netting and are knitted or crocheted. The best you can buy.
HT enjoyed the people and the farm animals. He and a horse got nose to nose. Then this nice lady let him set on a saddle, that was on a hay bale and Pa took pictures. HT wanted to keep the saddle so I guess Pa will just have to buy him a pony.

I feel like a dish rag that has been hung out to dry. I can't tell what all has been going on this past month because I can't remember. My Dad did well with his surgery and now they are looking at his heart for some trouble. By Christmas we should know everything, no need to get in a hurry.
I did have a good time with FW and the farmhands but we didn't get to play cards or domino's.

Grandson HT has become my new best friend. I started keeping him last month and that is why I haven't posted. I'm out of shape and old, so when he goes home I go to bed, telling myself that all I need is a good nights rest and tomorrow I will get more done. HA HA HA.
Last weekend was a real treat with a house full of Grands. We were busy having a good time. #1 son told me I needed a swing set and I told him I needed a new house first. He wanted to know why and I said so we would have more bedrooms. He said we could put the swing set right here. I don't think he will be much help in getting a new house.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
SilverBell

There are somethings that the cruise lines leave out of their advertising.

Your ticket will get you a room,food and some drinks.

The room is kept real neat, you have the option of fresh towels after each shower. Drop your towel on the floor and in the morning after you leave for breakfast your room is cleaned and fresh when you get back. Use up a towel drop it and after dinner when you return there is a clean fresh towel.

Go to the evening show come back your bed is turned down, there are mints, the news letter for the next day and fresh towels made into a creature of some kind.

The food is wonderful and if you don't like what you picked out, just pick something else off the menu. Go get pizza at mid-day or mid-night, then help yourself to ice cream. I have no idea what time they close those lines down or if they do. You can have meals in the dinning room, in your room or out on deck.


Drinks you have your choice of tea,coffee, lemonade, apple juice, milk and water. BUT if you want a coke it will only cost you 2 bucks tip included.

I like coke but not that much, but I could only take so much of the other stuff and had to give in a few times. Now, I would have been OK if I would have known this before I got on that ship. But somewhere along the line I missed the information about cokes costing extra. I wasn't happy and was even less happy when Pa told me I could have gotten a drink card that would have saved on the cokes. Oh well.

Don't take a travel Iron with you, they don't let you use them. Do take a flashlight with you because even though it could never happen, ha ha, the lights might go out.

Tue.night getting ready for the formal night and the lights go out. I had 2 small ones and somehow the one Pa carries at work. Next time Pa won't fuss about the junk we don't need.Ha ha.

One last thing if you like jewelry take lots of money every place you stop has lots of jewelry shops,Margaritavilles and extra adventures that all cost $,$$,$$$ or$$$$

So if you get the chance go but go with knowledge

Alaska Here They Come

Grandpa & Grandma M&M enjoyed our Caribbean cruise so much that next year they want to cruise North, then off to another fabulous spot the next year.
Who knows maybe they will just become world traveler's.
Maybe they will go to Borneo and find FarmWife's good children. Become explorers for National Geographic. How cool would that be? 80 year old explorers I think it would make a great show.

When we set the cruise up Grandma and I didn't want rooms with a balcony or window. That way if we didn't like the whole water thing, we could hide out in our rooms. On one of the stops there was another ship docked along side of ours and as we looked across at it, G-ma decided that a balcony might be nice. Then on the last day she saw the room across from theirs and said she wished they would have had a big window.
I'll stick with the inside room, but then I'm a big fan of sleeping and those rooms are DARK when the lights go out. You could sleep all day and never know it, by Thursday of that week I tried. My summer fun had reached its limit.

Man all I need to do is change the date on the last post. It is pretty much the same today. I have become HT's part time caregiver.(that sounds so professional)

HT has 5 teeth and one about to break lose.
We have a good time and more are coming down the road.

I should be in bed because I have to be up by 8 am YES that is early if you don't do mornings.

I have HT this morning. Princess is at work and Axel is doing a photo shoot.
The boy is in the play pen singing along with a "Gaither Homecoming Tour" on TV and having a good time. I just hope I can remember to tell his daddy. Axel is all about rock/hard rock.
Wouldn't it be fun if HT grew up and sang in a Southern Gospel group.
I can't say that I am a big fan of SG, but when they all get together on a Homecoming show I do enjoy those.

HT also has a new tooth. The top right one and the top left is just about to pop out. He is such a smiley guy that you don't have any trouble seeing them.

Here is how the cruise came to be.
Every three years we get to join Grandpa & Grandma M&M on vacation. So far we have been to Colonial Williamsburg, Va (loved it) and Mammoth Cave Ky. nice golf courses and caves in all sizes.(no love lost)
This year I wanted to go to Tucson. My family had been there in the 60's and Pa and I have been watching lots of cowboy movies lately, so I just wanted to see it again.
There are golf courses so it was fine with Pa. I got the maps out and planned out the route and was all set.
We went home for Grandma M&M's b-day party and was going to finalize the plans with them. After telling G-ma she said that would be OK, about half hour later Grandpa ask, listens and says "No that's to far".
We picked out another spot and couldn't get it, that's when Grandpa says "You know what I would really like to do"? What? "I would like to go on a cruise". To which I told him "Get over it cause it's not going to happen. I'm not getting on no boat with nothing but water around me".
Grandpa got this look and after a while I said "Lord, I can't do this but you can so I'll do it." A hour or so later we are booked on a cruise.

Is Tucson really so far away?

Is it Fall

Even though fall has not arrived yet, there are times in the day that I think it has.
The little people are in school again. I don't like this, I'm all in favor of Monday after Labor Day to Memorial Day for school.
I say that but our Homeschooling went year round because it help Bubba and Princess. Guess it's the whole going to a school house in the dog days of summer that I don't like.
Then all these doctor visits that I usually set up in the fall, have had to be done early. I'm not sure what I will do with Oct. now that this is out of the way. Guess I will have to go on Fall Brake with Art and gang.
Bucka and Grandma you may want to start getting the hotel ready. Uncle Gick how about a hayride?

I need to get my mind back on today. I have things to do and no desire to do them. If I don't get busy I'm going to run out of time and Grandpa & Grandma M&M will be here and I won't have anywhere to put them. I could set up the tent but at 100 degrees it may be to hot to camp out in the back yard.

Pa and I get to go with G&G M&M on a cruise to the Western Caribbean the first of Sept. I know I told you I would tell you about it but not now I got to get busy.

Were am I now

I just finished cruz'n through a bunch of blogs. I'm trying to get an idea of what's been going on in blogland while I was gone.



Ang, have a great vacation. If the kids start to get to you, just make them count telephone polls and tell them that it will be REALLY dark before you get there.



Zann what does WWHLT mean? I was never good at reading lips and now I have to learn how to read computer. I don't know if I can.



Does learning ever really end?



Grace, Your new house looks real nice and I'm glad you are getting better.

I loved your story about Bee and the eye doctor. It reminded me of my childhood and a shot that I was not about to let the doctor give me.

Dad was with me, I got the shot and more when I got home.



Hallyville, love your bedroom. Pa and I had one almost the same color way back when. I would like to use the color again someday.



I caught up on most of the family when I was with FarmWife and Pa's family.

It doesn't seem like I have been home very long, but it as already been 2 weeks.

Right off I saw Princess, Axel and HT. Oh my has that boy grown. He is 10 months and 22Lbs. He has changed so much in just 6 weeks. He is still a flirt and has such a big laugh but he has added shaking his head no and pushing out his lower lip. He has also started crawling and wants to stand up all the time. The best is the lower lip.



Got to spend time with Art and the gang and have gotten school up dates almost everyday. Mr.C A is giving the teacher a run for the money. He must be the talk of the teachers lounge by now.



I have been going to see doctors, dentist and more doctors just to get all the usual check-up's done. Tomorrow I get my botox shots and that should do me for the next few months. The botox is for headaches not vanity.

In between the check up's Pa and I have been shopping, lots of shopping. We get to take Grandpa and Grandma M&M on a cruise next month and so we have to get ready. I will tell you more about that later. For now it is just nice to get caught up both here and on the farm.

My Million dollar Mom

When I was a teenager the "Million Dollar Man" was a TV show that my brothers watched. I watched it because Lee Majors was the star. He had been hurt and became a government experiment for body parts. The new superman able to do just about anything. So very unreal to me.



Now my mom is part of the bionic crowed.



From the moment FarmWife told me grandma was having her knee replaced it creeped me out.

I thought the doctor would cut her bones off above and below the knee and stick this huge mess of metal were the knee had been. I thought she would be recovering the rest of the summer.



Well as it turned out, all he did was take a small part of the bone, that had been destroyed by the arthritis, and fitted a cuff over the leg bones. The knee hooked into the cuffs some how and ta-da a new working knee.

How it all goes together and works turns out to be kind of cool. Mom even got to keep her knee cap.

She was up and walking in just a couple of days. In two weeks time the doctor told her she could drive.



She wisely waited until she could get by without her pain med's. Driving and sleeping don't go together well. She could have driven off into a cornfield and we wouldn't found her until harvest.



I still get creeped out when I think about it, but I'm glad mom is able to move around a whole lot easier and without a lot of pain.



Who knows she might just have a new hobby now to.

Setting off metal detectors.

She could be the reason for the long lines at airports.

Home

Well what shall I tell you about my new granddaughter.

She has dark hair that may just stay that way and although you can't see any I'm hopeful that there will be just a touch of curl.

She is wonderful just like the rest of them.

She is more like her mama then the others. She has feet just like Farmwife's. We use to go to St. Louis to buy shoes for those tiny little feet but Mr. Markemson has long since closed up shoppe.
So if she follows in mama's footsteps, it will give them a reason to go to the Big City a couple of times a year.

I had a great time with the little people. Swimming, sleepovers and games. We all won lots of Domino's and Go Fish. It was great if you play by their rules everyone wins.

I enjoyed being so close and am all in favor of Pa buying a house up there.
I think it would be great if Princess's, Bubba and Art's could all just move up there too. Then I wouldn't have to miss any of my babies.

Pa you could find a new job. You could be the sticker guy at Wal-mart. Do you think we could live on your pay? You could take up trucking with Uncle Gick.

FarmBoy could put in a Big garden and all the little people could help take care of it.

We could get a dog.

I am glad to be back home. I missed Pa.

Pa is my best friend and dearest love. Talking on the phone just isn't the same as talking face to face.

I missed the others too!

FarmWife and Bitsy

All went well and the little lady is here.
FW did much better with this c-section and thinks she will do well with recovery.

After she was back in her room she called and told each of the kids about Bitsy.

She was drinking Sprite and getting ready for a nap when Pa and I left.

Miss Bitsy is a sweet little thing 6lbs 3oz and 19 inches long.
She looks like each of her siblings and FW saw a little of Grandma M&M in her looks.
She has dark hair.

Farmboy is very proud.

We all thank God that this morning is over and it went well. Now its on to the holding and spoiling.

my pg. daughter

we are sitting at uncle e's.
farmwife is being smart mouth because I am trying to work their lap top and am having trouble.
If she keeps it up she will be going to the hospital sooner then the 26th.

I'm getting ready......well kinda sorta

Come the weekend Art the Omnipotent, her daughter and I will be setting out for Farmwife's. AO and daughter will return home after a fun fill weekend of cleaning and sorting. I will be staying until Miss Bitsy is here and mom has knee replacement.

I can tell you that although I'm looking forward to meeting my newest grandchild, I am not looking forward to the C-section.
The last time around Pa and I were heading to the hospital and I fell apart crying like a baby.
When we got to the hospital, we went were they told us and no one came for us. We waited and waited, finely a nurse ask us if she could help, we told her what was going on and off she went. She came back with the news that BB was already heading for the nursery and FW would soon be in her room. We missed the C-section and what relief, all was well.

I have gone under the knife a number of times and it was no big deal. But that was me.
When Bubba was 4 and had to have minor surgery the doctor said it would be done in one hour. The hour came and went. I started to get very panicky and Pa had to keep telling it wasn't unusual for the surgery to take longer. A half hour later Bubba was back in his room and I was still mad at the doctor for not having him back to me in one hour like he said.

Waiting does not bring out my best especially when it is my child on the table.

I want to do better this time but the truth is that even now when I think about it I start to get queasy. I know it's not just the c-section but the whole birthing thing. I got this way when each grandchild was about to be born. Princess was nice enough to catch me off guard but then so was she.

Way back when I was in labor with FW my mom said "I wish I could do this for you". I thought she was nuts, who would want that pain. Now I know what mom meant.

Well, I won't think about that now, I will think about it tomorrow, after all tomorrow is another day.

Pa and I will post all about Miss Bitsy when she get here. Until then I have lots to do and I need to see Princess's little fat boy to get some loving time in before I'm gone.
So if you think about us say a prayer and I will post on the 26th.

BabyGirl turned 6

We were at her house on Monday, just days before the big day. She and I talked about her birthday. I said "I think you were just born last week" and she gave me one of those "are you nuts" looks. No I was born a long time ago.

Then why does it seem like last week?

You know I love that she is growing up, I would never want to stop that. BUT, I think it hurts my heart more this time around.
I was never in a hurry to see my children grow up. I believe that children need to be children, they have to be adults for such a long time. They need their childhood to learn about the world around them and they need to learn how to play and enjoy playing. So they won't grow up to be worrisome adults who can't relax.
I had friends who seemed to be in a hurry for their kids to grow up. I thought that was sad. Why would you want to miss all those little years.
Now BabyGirl and the boys are in those little years and I wish that I had a big house, big porch and yard just so I could sit and watch them play.

I want to yell " you get back over here and stay, don't eat that, get out of that water, don't fight with your....... one more Popsicle and your going to turn into one and other such things. I want to see them all sleeping on mats on the floor.

Someday I'm sure these dreams will come true. But for right now BabyGirl is six and it seems like just last week she was coming home for the first time.
In ten years when she is off to prom I know it will still feel like she just came kindergarten.

The Real Story

I hope you enjoyed my story. Now the facts.

1. Dad did move north by Aunt R. and their cousin, my Aunt Winnie.

2. Grandpa did change the year of dad's birth.

3. Aunt R.'s boyfriend did get dad a job in the mills.

4.Dad and AR were very good looking.

5.Sunday Travels was a magazine.

6. My great-grandpa did make shine. But he drank up his profits.

7.Dad did tell us stories of the south side and Al Capone.
I have been told that there is a connection between Al and a doctor in the county were dad's family lived.

8. I'm not a heinous lair. I am not a storyteller. I couldn't make up a story if my life depended on it. There are just times when my imagination runs wild.

A long time ago on a farm far far away

My dad made his first squawk. I wish I could tell you how old he is but even after all these years I can't say for sure.
It all started way back in the 1930's. Times were hard and everyone was trying to make a few dollars to feed the family.
Grandma was taking in washing and in the evenings she sat by the kerosene lamp, making lace to send off to Chicago dress shoppes.
Grandpa worked on the farm and if times got real bad he would help his father make moon shine. Then he would run it over to speak easy's in Terra Haute for the college kids.
Dad was a young man, just a little to young to get a job around town. Because, as we all know, in little towns, everyone knows everything about you. He decided to head to the big city, join his sister,a couple of cousins and buddies to seek his fortune.
Dad and Aunt R. were very good looking and that would work in their favor many times over those years.
Aunt R. was a sectary downtown and her boss was taking interest in her. He invited her to one of theses parties were anybody who was anybody would be. She met a man, who,was in charge of a magazine called the Sunday Travels. He was always on the look out for new faces. Aunt R talked to him about the magazine and eventually got around to telling him about dad and the other friends. An appoint was made and everyone meet. To their unbelief Aunt R, dad and a cousin were picked to be in the fall edition. The day came A.R, dad and cousin went to Chicago to meet up with the photographer. The boss, said, he had left and they were to meet him in a small town, just across the state line, up in Wisconsin. Would they please take along some photo supplies to him? The car was loaded and off they went. Just out of the city, cousin stopped the car, he and dad went to check the photo supplies, only to find it full of moon shine. Knowing the law, the moon shine was dumped. What they didn't know was that photographer had friends in Capone places.
That was the start and end of their careers. They just faded into the ebb and flow of the working class people.
Aunt R.'s boyfriend got dad a job in the steel mills. All he needed was his birth certificate. The court house had burned down. Grandpa went in to get a new one and added 2 years to dad's age.
Aunt R took her own sweet time about it and finally married boyfriend. He treated her like a queen the rest of his life.
Cousin went back home and married had lots of kids.
Dad, well he went back home long enough to find mom. Then back to the steel mill for almost 30 odd years.
But even when he tells us how old he is I can't seem to remember if we add or subtract to the number.
Only once in a while will he tell a story of the south side of Chicago.

Happy day DAD.

He and I will get along....except

I had meet Pa's parents one time before we were engaged. Because of that I was more then a little nervous when I was around them.

After I left their house my chin would chatter for 10 to 20 min. on the way out of town.

Summer had come and we were back living with our parents. Pa would come up to my folks house just about every other weekend until the wedding.
I only went to his folks house 2 or 3 times. One, because I'm pretty sure my dad did not think it was proper and second because I didn't have my own car.

The very first weekend I stayed must have been Memorial Day or Labor Day weekend because I didn't go home on Sunday afternoon to be at work on Monday morning.

Pa was a youth minister at that time. His church had different hours then his parents church. We would be back at the house about a half hour before they got back.

Yes.... some kissing did take place, but a pillow fight was the main event. Even then I had the feeling that Grandma M&M wouldn't have liked us pillow fighting , but I was winning and Pa knew the house rules. Their car came in the drive and Pa and I returned to civilized adults.
Popcorn and cokes were fixed and a wonderful show about snakes was National Geo.
Pa and I were laying on the floor in front of the TV. Mom and Dad are sitting in the love seat just back of us. All was calm.... expect when little brother crept up behind me a yelled SNAKE.

And I went to get up, to go do something, and the next thing I know I'm flat on my face in front of dad and mom.

I wanted to die and kill Pa all at the same time. He had grabbed my ankle just as I started to get up. I fell like a tree in the forest.

There were hours in those moments and I wanted to be anywhere but there. When, I did look up, my further father-in-law was just looking at me with this kind of it will be OK kid grin on his face and right then I knew he and I would get along.

And we have except for.......

the one time he raised his voice at me.
We were at the dinner table, discussing problem in which I felt my way was the right way.

His index finger got pointed at me and a "young lady you listen to me" or "young lady I'm telling you"came out of his mouth and that was the end of my rebellion.

And, as in most cases, his age and wisdom knew the right way to deal with the problem causing no undue harm. My way would have.

From that day on I have never wanted my father -in-law to raise his voice to me.
He hasn't, even though, I'm pretty sure I have given him a good number of opportunities.

Thanks Grandpa

Things I know about my in-laws

1. June 1 they will be married 60 years.
2. they have been have been in love for over 60 years.
3. went to same high school and still have high school reunions.
4.he was in the navy in WWII.
5. she quoted grain futures on the radio.
6. they took a vacation every year.
7.she is 80 and has only a few gray hairs. her hair is dark brown. so cool!
8. he does wood working.
9. they worked together and built cradles for each of their first grandchildren.
10.she is wicked at euchre (card game)
11. he loves crosswords.
12. she bakes pies, he bakes cookies
13. they like golf
14. she sews (as in one of the best seamstress's)
15. their eyes glow when they look at each other
16. they were youth leaders, at church, over 30 years ago and their kids still keep in touch with them.
17. they are funny.
18. they put up corn every year in a assembly line kind of way.
19. he hates turkey
20. they understand what the other is trying to say. (because of stroke they have a little trouble with language)
21. I'm glad they became a part of my life.
22. she is a great house keeper.
23. she loves tomatoes.
24. he is a gentlemen
25. she is a lady.
26. i have come to love them very much.
27. they have been married 59 years ......wow

You Are a Snapdragon
"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh."

and Bubba is

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

8 Random Facts

1. If I could pick any car it would be a Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith 1955.

2. My sibling's and I had one of the first sidewalk skateboards back in 1965 or so. I loved it and wish I still had it and could ride it down the sidewalk next to our old house.

3 I love being on my uncle's farm.

4. I rode a tram over and walked back across the Royal Gorge Bridge, in Colorado, with my mom. Then went down the incline railroad to the bottom were the river was at, with mom, my little brother and his wife.
Big deal as I don't like that kind of stuff at all.

5. I want to go to England to see the crown jewels and the lake country.

6. I hate snakes but love to watch nature shows about them.

7. I love to boss my brothers around.

8 I often think, heaven will feel just like it feels in the morning when I first wake up.

Mothers who helped and help me

Pa has read Farm Wife's blog to me. Thank you darlin, it was one of the many things that made my day wonderful.

There are women who have the gift of mothering and women who need help. I needed help and these are some of my teachers.

Shirley was one of my best friends in college. Shirley was the oldest of what ended up being a10 children family. Her mom was wonderfully wise. With out knowing it I learned a lot from her by just watching her and listing to Shirley talk about her mom. Shirley has 6 of her own and I'm sure she is as good a mom as her mom was and is.

Pa and I went back to college. We lived in married student housing, that's were I meet Brenda. She became another one of my best friends. She made mothering look so easy, because she was so easy going. If you watched close you would see her determination.
She got me through my first pregnancy, every time I would say I don't know how to take care of a baby, Brenda would say don't worry, it will come naturally. I found out that rocking, walking, feeding, changing diapers and loving that little person did come naturally.

Farm Wife has a strong mothering gene. She started mothering at a very early age.She mothered her babies and stuff animals. She mothered Pa and me.

She got that gene from my mom who got it from her Mother-in-law.

My mom said she was a great mother and she taught her how to be a mother. Not by setting her down and telling her what to do, but by just showing her and encouraging her. Mom tells the story of Grandma Y being sick and mom went down to help her out. Mom said that she couldn't have been much help since she had the twins and they were a year or so old. She just added to grandma's work but grandma was happy to have her there.

Grandma taught mom well because she is a good mother. You couldn't write a book about her mothering or make a movie about it. She is a great mother in the way that most mothers are great. She wants what is good for us.

Looking at her life and the things she has done you can see that.
She played with us, she laughed at us. She endured us and believe me that took a lot of work. She even let us watch Elvis's return in 68, when dad had grounded us from TV. THAT WAS A BIG DEAL
She watched my brothers go to war and watched the news hoping to see a picture of them.
She did her best to embrace her new daughter's and son's- in -law.
She was broken hearted when her first grandchild was stillborn and delighted with each following grandchild.
She like grandma gathered people in under her wing. She has shown us that blood isn't the only thing that makes a family . Because of that, sometimes, it is hard to explain who these extra kids are.
She has a lot of common sense, she will give you advise and if you want it, take it, if you don't, well don't take it.
She could fix just about anything and will try before giving up and paying someone to fix it.
She is... just a mom.

Farm Wife has been a mom twice now. The first time she was all of 13, 14 and mothered her brother and sister. I was sick in bed most of the time back then. This kid took on the job as best she could and I don't know what would have happened if she hadn't. There are times when I think back and my heart hurts because of what I missed and what she and the other 2 had to go through. She did it, they lived through it, have war stories about it and are strongly bonded because of it.

Now she has her own and she glows in her motherhood. She is mooney eyed about her husband and children. It is fun to read and listen to her talk about all of them and their antics. It makes me happy to watch her walk in her destiny.

Princess is my baby and I wasn't so sure she was going to have the good mom gene from her grandmothers.
She is a bit scattered brained like her mom. SHE GOT THE GENE. Watching her with HT is joy. She gets those same mooney eyes when she looks at her husband and little one.

AO got the gene too. Maybe not from me but someone passed it on to her. She is amazing because she is doing what she has to do, not what she wants to do. Three children, school, job and alone. Yet not alone she tells me quite often that God is getting her through this.

These mothers have been a help to me and because of them I'm happy to be a mom.

Grammy save's the world

I didn't know.

Last night I was picking up a wrist bandage I had dropped and right there at the end of the daybed peeking out from under the bed skirt was Buzz Lightyear.

Finding him has saved the world and made me a hero.

Now to get Buzz home. Maybe NASA could loan him a plane. No that would have to be the Air Force. Oh maybe one of those black ones that goes real fast and no ones sees.

Maybe just the US postal service after all Buzz isn't Speaker of the House.

New

I have a new car?
Van?
Truck?

I'm not sure what they call it but last night I got a new Chevy HHR. From the first time I saw a picture of one I like it, a lot, and thought it would be fun to have one.

That's as far as it went, just thought.

I loved my station wagon and since we tend to drive cars until there is no driving left in them, I figured it was going to be another 5 years before we got a different car.

My station wagon began to act strange this past winter. At first I thought it was just me because Pa didn't feel the funny things I felt when he drove it. As time passed those funny things got more noticeable.

In March I was with Farm Wife when she took her van to have it's spring cleaning. They had a purple HHR on the lot and I jokingly told Pa I found my car.

We took a trip in April, were that funny stuff started up once again in the station wagon. One night we actually went to the car dealer and found one just like what I wanted. There was also a real nice black one with all the extras on it.

After some prayer that night the next day Pa called and said no, now wasn't the time.

Tuesday we were headed into town and the wagon started again and Pa said it was time. So yesterday he called about the purple HHR and I was thinking that I might not like looking at purple for 6 to 12 years.

The purple one was gone.

But they had 2 black ones. One we had looked with all the extras and one that they had just brought in from Alabama. It left off 2 of the expensive extras that we would not have used anyway. We bought it.

On the way home we talked about how once again God had provided just the right car at just the right time.

What must they think

Almost every year in the spring I remember the first time I met Pa's parents for the first time. Then I feel so sorry for them and the way it happened.
My friend Pam ask Duck and me to go home with her. It was a big adventure and we had lots of fun. By Thursday I was getting sick and come Saturday I just wanted to get back to my own bed.
Pa's parents house was on the way to college and we had promised Pa we would stop.

Now my family would drive through Pa's home town to get to my grandma's, so I know just a little about the town.

I didn't want to stop because I was sick and my hair was dirty.

We missed the Lynch road turn off, went to the next one about 5 miles down the road, turned around, went back to the start and drove to their house. Once we got there I told Pam that if I had known were the house was we wouldn't have had to turn around and go back to the start,because they lived between the two roads that we took to go to grandma's.

I tried to talk Pam into not stopping but she said we had to and so we did.

Pa was happy to see us and his parents were nice. I just set on the floor with my head on his knee wishing I could die and loving Pam because she just chattered away like they were long lost friends.

When I think of it I just wonder what they must have thought. Then maybe I don't really want to know. Maybe they were hoping Pa would change his mind and ask Pam.

When the roll is called up yonder I'll be walking down the Kings Highway tell me the old old story I love it better everyday hallelujah I will make you fisher's of men if you only follow me hallelujah what a savior I'm from sin set your from sin set we're all from sin set free.

scents

I love the smell of;

Fresh Cut Roses, Sunwashed Linen, Peppermint Cocoa,Mandarin cranberry, Macintosh and Lemon poppy seed candles from Yankee candles.

Peach,Gold,frankincense and myrrh and blackberry crisp from Colonial candles.

Diva from Tyler candle.

Sweet dreams, Citrus harmony,Northern forest, Escentual love and Clear head collections from Way Out wax.

I don't burn them very often but I love the smell.

I love the smell of;

Cookies and bread baking.

The milk barn that was on my uncle's farm.

Fresh cut wood used in building houses.

the soft scent of evergreen trees in the parks.

Wood burning outside.

Fresh bathed babies with Johnson&Johnson lotion rubbed all over them.

So what scents do you like?

Pa

Today is Pa's happy birthday. I got him a card that would always remind him of his grandchildren's love of Johnny Cash. (Something isn't working right here I can't space with the enter button) I meet Pa at Lincoln Christian College a long time ago. LCC is a small college and in the first few weeks you will pretty much know every one. Well I meet Pa the first week of school and didn't see him again until the last week of school. No big deal except that one of my best friends was dating his best friend. That last week I had taken my last class and was headed back to the dorm. Janice,Patty and Pa were leaving to go to town and ask if I would like to go with them. We went to the Pink Shutter my favorite place, it was a junk/ antique store. We all decided to buy a hat and go see Pam who was working at the Mel-o-Cream. Mine was a wide brim red hat and Pa got a derby hat. He was so cute. Pam was surprised and told us we looked funny and to get out of the store. We went back to the dorms. Janice and Patty had to leave for home. Pa and I joined up with John and Stewie and went to the river. On the river there was a place were concrete from a old bridge had been busted up and left in the river causing small rapids. The boys started to climb all over it, to cross the river. I had a crush on Stewie and wanted to impress him so when he got across the river I was going to join him. I got half way across that river and down I went, I rolled, tumbled and could have drown but I wasn't the least bit afraid. The boys were running along side the river yelling at me and when I came to a stop they came in after me. It was wonderful, just like the movies. That day Pa became my friend and the next year something else. Did I tell you that he was so cute in that derby hat. Sooo Cute

It's Over

I just got back from town and there is no doubt Dogwood winter is gone. I got hot in my stylish warm hoodie and had to take it off while shopping at the Piggly Wiggly.

I wasn't really at the Pig-a-lee a Wigga-a-lee as Princess use to call it. Its on the other side of town. Lots of them are closing but we got a new one last year.

However half through the fresh food section I have decided that my next trip to the store will be to check out Piggly Wiggly even if it is out of the way.

Now there should be a warm spell and then Blackberry winter. Though some say Dogwood and Blackberry are the same cold spell. Time will tell and it won't be long until it's HOT in the Ol' South

New blankets and Flowers

Our trip was over and it was time to get ready for the wedding.

Now most wedding you need to concern yourself with clothes, shoes, hair and such. That was the girls. Pa and I needed to transform my sewing room back into a safe bedroom. #1 son wanted to know early on if we had his bed.

His yes...... BB's no.

The kids sleep on cots and one had worn out during the last visit. It took a while but we found just the right one, got it ordered and then I worried that it might be to small.
Dogwood winter was lingering longer then it should have and I was on the hunt for blankets. Not finding just the right ones, Pa and I headed to town for new ones. Green, blue,nice soft and warm. Green sheets and blankets washed and ready. Pa wanted to set up the cots early but I just knew #1 Son would need to help.

I was busy in the backroom and got a surprise when #1Son said Hi Grammy, we came into the living room and some time during all the excitement the boys gave me a lovely bouquet of flowers. They are made from all the grand babies hand prints. Soo Very Sweet ! (FW can tell you were to see them)

Time for #1Son to check out his room and there is no bed. He is very concerned and Pa tells him, he is just waiting for his help to which #1 son tells him "No thank you" heads out the door.
When bed was made he was happy that it was all green now, because of the new blanket. BB was happy that he had a new little purple bed forget all the sheets and blankets.

Come bed time Grammy was happy that they would be warm and Pa was just happy to go to sleep.

Dogwood Winter and Retreat

Dogwood winter is a term used by Southerners to describe a period of cold weather that coincides with the blooming of the local dogwoods.Typically the trees bloom sometime between mid-April and mid-May (depending on the weather variations of the season) and such a cold spell is often the last winter-like weather of the season.
Well, I certainly hope so ! This has been the coldest Dogwood winter in the past eighteen years, so Pa says. All I know is that I'm cold and have been for a while. OK so if you know me then you know that I'm always cold but this is a colder cold.
I had heard on the radio that Dogwood Winter was coming the weekend that we were to go to Rugby TN. While I was packing I packed flannel sheets and extra blankets just in case. Pa wasn't real thrilled with me. He doesn't understand the cold nature. I just told him I wasn't going to get there and then be miserable the whole weekend because I was cold. Since it was still warm out he just looked at me like I was nuts and sighed.
It was a pretty day for a trip and we enjoyed the drive. When we stopped over at Crossville it was cooler and at Allardt just up the road it was flat out cold. I was dreading our cottage being cold. To my great surprise the cottage was very warm and cozy.
This was the first time Pa and I had ever done anything like this so we were a little nervous about what to expect. There were two bedrooms and a sitting /kitchen area just enough room for 3 people very cozy.
The town is small and we took a walk around it then went home. The church there had Good Friday services.It was after the service that one of the men came back in and said it was snowing, big fat snow.
Pa went to get pictures while I fixed supper and that ended our first day.
The next day we took the town tour, drove up to Pickett State Park and checked out a couple of other parks. The Dogwood trees had gone from spectacular to sad looking because of frost but not the rest of the area.
We spent that evening reading the Bible,talking ,and praying for our children.
All in all we had a Wonder filled time in a very quite place and plan on doing it again and again.
We didn't need the flannels but the blankets were used. Now I want my own cabin on the Cumberland Plateau overlooking the river.

When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.

You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.

Grandsons

In a very long day from now my sweet boys are coming to see me.
Pa will be getting the cots out for sleeping on and I will have to get the sheets out. But I can't seem to remember should I get the baby ones or the green ones.
I will have to think hard about this.

Spring and Dogwoods

After spending a week with my folks last month I headed back south. The trip was just like so many that we have taken over the years, until I reached southern Kentucky. That's were I began to notice bits of green here and there , not a lot just enough to stir up that longing to see more.

Interstate 24 angles south and east thru the state of TN so I didn't notice much change until I got off in Nashville and headed south. Once I was out of all the big city junk the country opened up and it looked like a florist shop. Every tree that could flower was blooming, There were massive amounts of apples, plums ,pear,cherry , crabapple and tulip trees in bloom and the redbuds and dogwoods were putting on their buds. It was spectacular, the grass was greening up and some flowers were in boom we are talking Kodak moment here.
For the next 2 weeks our county was in full bloom. Then a storm came in and the petals were blown away.

Much to my delight the dogwoods began to open.They put on a show......and what a show . They looked like young girls all dressed up for their spring dance.
The trees seemed to reach out as far as possible just so each petal could show off.
Across the road from the Jr.High there is a house that has three trees planted in such a way that it looks like one tree. In the spring it becomes one large fountain of white and this year its seemed even more beautiful then in the past.
While out for a drive a week ago Monday Pa and I saw so many dogwoods all up and down the hills that that is when I decided that I want my very own dogwoods. So now it will be off to find just the right one and bring it to live at my house.

I have changed

I just found out that over the past few months I have gone from being Elizabeth to Elinor Dashwood or maybe that was Elinor to Elizabeth.
Maybe Sybil and I have something in common.
At least the ladies long to be the best that they can be.Or is that the Marines? I'm starting to feel a little Boo Radley here!

Oh Please Lord NO

Farm Wife's computer is acting up and this may be the end.

Morning of Reading

I'm keeping HT today. I thought Mom and Dad were dropping him off but guess not. While I have been waiting I have been reading blogs and oh my.
Grace, Ang and Halleyville I do hope and pray each of you are improving daily.
Ang your a better woman then me I would be wanting to take the doctors heads off by now if my son was going through what yours is.
My question is were is the "House" type doctors when you need them.
Farm Wife has sick kid/s HT is getting over a cold.
When is this all going to end??
Spring is here........ all the crud should have blown away with the March winds.
Well perhaps this week there will be a change around and everyone will be heading down that road of Spring Renewal.

Sorry AO

I'm sure you have read Farm Wife's blog and know that for some strange reason she wants to name her van.
Art the Omnipotent has suggested Medusa.
I'm sorry AO but Farm Wife couldn't possibly use that name for the van.

It all happened a long time ago.

Farm Wife was a tiny little person in every way except her voice. She had been blessed with a very strong, far reaching and at times shrill voice.

There would be times when FW would just charge through our little house for no apparent reason. Now know as toddlers crazies. If daddy should get involved in this it was even more fun.

Until the Voice came out.

That voice could almost brake glass. What it did to your eardrum was torture. She then discovered the The Voice went well with all kinds of emotions and should you throw your arms around you could make a big show.
Christmas 1977 we were at Bucka and Busha's.
Miss FW had decided that if things didn't go her way she would just run her arms extended over her head and finger spread out and screaming at the top of her lungs. None of this was funny until she did it one morning.

She started her day with a meet and greet and then had her breakfast or some of whatever anyone else was eating. This day she wasn't having a good morning and she wasn't getting what she wanted so she just started in. The drama got lost when you saw her hair going every which way and her to big blanket jammie's sagging. We all got tickled and while the rest of them enjoyed the laugh I had to get a straight face and deal with the little miss.
Later that day we took all the grands to the Disney movie. Madame Medusa so reminded us of FW's drama that we started calling her that. For years after that I called her Medusa when she would have a come apart. And then have a flash back of her running, the hair wild,the jammies sagging and the voice trying to brake our eardrums.
So you see Art, if she should name her van Medusa, someday she could be at the store and that van might just get tired of all those diapers throw its wheels up in the air, take off running and blowing its horn so loud that people would think its the end of the world as we know it.

Today is my Anniversary

That's right 34 years ago this very day I walked down the aisle. Pa however walked down that aisle 34 years ago tomorrow.
Pa is right.
For several years I told people that my wedding day was March 23.Pa heard me tell someone that and thought I was kidding, then I'm pretty sure he thought I was nuts.He informed me that our wedding day was March 24 and I said "well we had to be at the church on the 23" and I guess that date stuck.
I have to think about it even now or I may just tell you that I was married on the 23 and if I get it right then I wonder what happened on the 23.
I could just forget it all together I'm getting good at forgetting all the important dates in my realm. Now who has the next birthday? It's in April right? And on the 23

Visting the Realm

I have have had a sabbatical from my little kingdom and wondered up to Mother's kingdom. Mother's kingdom interlocks with Unkie Di's and Farm Wife's kingdoms, so you just have to know that it was lots of fun.
It all happened one day when I was scheduling all my up coming events,appointments and the summer trips. You know how it is, in January the year is so open, and by March you can't get a free day until the next decade. After filling in most of the blanks I found that I had a week and I needed a vacation so off I went.
Now this was a working vacation and a learning vacation. For several years Bubba has wanted to interview his grands but hasn't gotten it done. I did it. Or at least I started it.
Pa give me a movie camera for Christmas years ago and I still don't know how to work(can't work my cell phone either) it but with the Help of Farm Wife I am now the proud owner of four hours of Mother and Dad talking about lots of things. I have plans for more interviews and perhaps a question and answer time with the grand and great-grand children. I'm sure there would be some really good questions maybe even turn a few faces red.
Father's day weekend might be a good time.

Happy Birthday

On this day, a really really long time ago, my great uncle took a drive out into the country to tell his sister that she had just became the grandmother to twin boys.
The world changed. Grandma got many phones. The twins got big but never OLD


HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS!!!!!!!

moorings of the mountains

"Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
And you heard my voice.
For You cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the floods surrounded me;
All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.
Then I said,'I have been cast out of Your sight;
Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.'
The waters surrounded me, even to my soul;
The deep closed around me;
Weeds were wrapped around my head.
I went down to the moorings of the mountains;
The earth with its bars closed behind me forever;
Yet You have brought up my life from the pit,

Pa's kitchen

I made a beautiful pie in the 8th grade and since that time have not been able to make another. I tried and tried but they were just ugly.

One day while we were back in college I came home from work to the smell of a apple pie. Then I saw a pie that could have won at the fair and I was done baking pies. That year Pa started baking. A friend taught him to make bagel's and some breads teaching him that bread baking is good way to work off college stress. Over the years he has spent a good amount of time in the kitchen.

Since the first of the year we have been sharing the evening meal at church. Pa and I drive a ways to get there, so we try to keep it simple a casserole and a cake.

I have learned that carry in dinners are great for trying new recipes. If you don't like it your still going to bring home a empty pan. Well this past week I found a recipe that sounded good and what a mess it made. Pa used every pot in the kitchen, that was after making a cake that used most of the bowls.

Come time to start putting the finishing touches on the cake. Bad news the cakes didn't get done, they looked done but the middle was almost raw. So after all that work and mess no cake.

The casserole was a Russian recipe hamburger, lamb, eggs, potatoes and cheese. Last night we brought home half a pan.

Today I start anew after tossing the Russian recipe I'll look for another recipe. Come the weekend Pa may try his cake recipe again and new casserole, make another big mess and have a wonderful time.

The trip to Normal took longer then I'm use to but I've made it.
People talk about super bugs because of antibiotics.

My question is are antibiotics creating super bacteria or virus?
Do we even have a common cold anymore or have they become super too?

I have spent the past week cruising through the web and reading blogs.
I have decided that the whole country should have to stay home for 2 weeks that way all the crud that is going around should come to an end.

I have enjoyed listening to Farm Wife's children's melt down adventures along with their other adventures.
I'm so glad that she is getting to see the world even if it leaves her living room a mess.
Yesterday I went with Art and her little people to the doctor for Lulu's ear's. Happy news he just needs tubes. (time for a little dance of joy)
The little people went home with father. Art and I went shopping but not before we stopped at famous Deli and Miss Did came by for a visit and more wedding talk.
Shopping was fun because we ended up in the baby dept. and of course I got little miss some new things and HT a new striped t-shirt, one of my favorite things for little boys.
Then to Krispy Kreme for Pa and one more store stop and we headed home.
Even though the moon was full we didn't have time to look for Billy Rae's house.

So long

In just a few short hours I should be leaving the land of Crud and heading to Normal.
I gave up yesterday and went to the doctor. He was kind enough to agree with me. Something he doesn't like to do as he is a cautious doctor who believes its his job to find out exactly what is wrong.
I have sinus infection. So now after another dose of antibiotics the pain should subside and the really hard part of getting well begins. That would be taking all of the medicine, something I have never been good at, once I feel better I start to forget, I try but I forget.
Well its time for chicken soup and another dose of "House" maybe a nap soon this trip will be over and I will have to get busy putting our house back together.

"House" Bound

Pa caught his yearly cold last week. He finely gave up and stayed home Thursday and Friday, by then I had it to. We went to town to get soup, meds and some movies.
We don't have cable or local stations so its DVDs or nothing anyway we got a couple of movies and ended up in the TV section.
I remembered that FW's youngest son said that "House" was his favorite show. We picked up first disc. 4 days and 2 seasons later we have to agree with BB it is one of our favorite shows.
Pa said this reminds me of Sherlock Holmes and what do you know. House lives at 221B and has Dr. Wilson instead of Dr. Watson.
I also thought it had a lot in common with the old Dr.Kildare movies.
At any rate if you find yourself down sick with a cold you might want to check out BB's favorite show. It might take your mind off all the meds, hankies and cough for a hour or so at a time.

Just can't wait to get on the road again

We spent a lot of time on the road this weekend. Big surprise for Grandpa & Grandma M&M and lots of fun for all. That is if you don't think about the packing and unpacking and all the road time, but, if it wasn't for that we wouldn't have our theme song, so "lets get on the road again".
Heir to the Throne and Princess were the reason for the trip north. Big Daddy Axel didn't get to go, he had to work and since he hates cold it's good he stayed home.
When we got to G&G's Pa goes in, while Princess and I are unloading HT, then he comes back out to get us. I just knew that G&G could see Princess. Pa got clear into the house with the baby before they saw her come in behind us. Then they really saw what Pa was carrying and it was like Christmas morning.
Grandma said something about chicken and noodles for a later visit from another grandchild and a pie in the oven because Uncle Greenteeth and Aunt Silver Bell thought Friday night would be a nice night for a visit. She said Aunt Silver Bell said they wouldn't fix dinner they would just have and I said pizza! Grandma said OH and starts to laugh.
After all the excitement died down at Grandpa & Grandma M&M's Grandpa said " do you know how cold it is" Yes we know its cold.
Later that night after U.G and A. SB visit along with the pizza. Pa and I went over to U.G.&A.SB's on way we found out that we really didn't know how COLD it was.

Grandparents

Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you're just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric. ~Pam Brown

Grandchildren don't stay young forever, which is good because Grandpas have only so many horsey rides in them. ~Gene Perret

Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete. ~ Marcy DeMaree

A week can be so long and this house so empty when the little ones don't come to visit.~ Bucka

Honey I'm so glad to see you come and glad to see you go.~ My Grandma Y

What a weekend

The barn caught fire!! But all is well just wanted you to know. That was the phone call just before bed. It was my SIL calling and they were off to hospital to be checked out and would call when back home.
While I waited, and prayed that all would be well with them, Bubba came home with the news that Chicago lost. I said Indy must be having a good time to night.He wasn't poor boy. After that I was feeling bad for my dad and some friends who have been Chicago fans for such a long time. Well maybe next year. It could happen.
My dad is or was a fan of just about every team that came out of Chicago. I guess that is on account of growing up down state.

Well Unkie Di calls and doctor tells them they should be fine except irritated throats for a couple of days. Thank you Lord.
I headed to bed and that is when it started to unnerve me.
Years ago Pa, the children and I were headed home after a day in the park. There was a old barn on fire I wanted Pa to stop so we could watch the fireman put it out, having never seen anything like this. We were a good ways down the road from the barn so Pa stopped. The windows came down and in moments there was a roar that I can still hear. The windows went up and we went home.
Even though I knew that everyone was safe and sound. I started seeing them in that barn fighting that fire. I know that barn and I could picture what was going on and what could have happened. As I started to get all worked up and scared God began to show me how He worked out the good in it, the small things that ended up being big and important things.
I fell asleep thanking Him for His blessings.

Pink, Pink, Pink

I'm so happy I'm getting a new granddaughter. Baby Girl has been praying for a sister for a long time now and I am happy for her.
Farm Wife wanted a girl and I'm happy for her. Farm Boy needs another girl to help teach him the ways of women.
But mostly I'm happy for me. I'm counting on this one having thick black hair with just a little curl. It comes from my dad's side of the family and is so pretty. I wanted one of mine to have it, they all got the thick hair but no black.
I will also tell you that I want her to look just like her mother.Shoot... I just want her to be a little carbon copy of her mom, except for the hair. I love my children and would love to see them as children again. I know it sounds weird but I think it would be so cool to sit and hold the baby and say FW this is you all over again.
Then the next time Princess has a baby it can be her carbon copy and some day Bubba can have his....oh what joy...
If this little dream doesn't come true... so what.
I'm getting a new Granddaughter!
Baby Girl and I need to go shopping. We need to find matching dresses, coats, shoes and hair ribbons lots and lots of ribbons. Maybe even tea party's.

To May be my Birthday

It is officially my birthday.
I was born at night but it wasn't last night.
My dad says it was just moments after mid-night.
Dr. Kretch, who took great interest and care of us, said " we got us a girl." Then When it came time for the paper work he said "I don't want her being called a little groundhog" so he changed the birth hour.
Mother doesn't remember it happening that way and over the years there have been some interesting conversations between the two of them.
All I have is a little card from the hospital crib that says 11PM and a good story.
I am thankful I didn't have to share the day with the hog. There is no doubt that I would have ended up in my fair share of trouble. I was a shy kid, afraid of my own shadow, if I got picked on I would try to get away. If I couldn't then I would get mad start crying and the fist would start flying. I just didn't and don't have the personality it takes to stand up under the pressure of sharing the day with a groundhog. So Thank you Dr. Kretch.
I do have a nephew who does have what it takes. Tomorrow he will be 30.

30 Wonderful years.

Count them 1 2 3 4.........15 16 17......22 23 24.....27 28 29 30!!

30!Wonderful years.

Sesame Street was brought today by the letters J L and the number 30

At least I think it is.

Its Winds Day

I'm not sure but I think the middle of our state is being blown away. I haven't worked up the courage to look out side and see.
At one time I lived not far from the "windy city" and that is what this puts me in mind of.
Do you know how Chicago got it's nick name? I was told that it was because of the wind whipping across the plains and off the lake.
Not true as it turns out "windy" was the name given to the politicians who wanted to host the World's Fair. They sent a group of men to speak to the fair committee and then like all good politician's talked and talked until the newspapers dubbed them "windy".
They did host the fair and they still have the nickname. Today if your standing in Chicago and that wind whips through you, you'll know one of the reason why they still have their nickname. Then if you listen to their politicians you'll know the other.

Your Driving Is is: 37% Male, 63% Female

According to studies, you generally drive like a typical female.You are a careful, skilled driver. And you are patient in sticky driving situations.You may get aggressive from time to time, but normally you're a cool, collected driver.

My Brain

***Your Brain is 47% Female, 53% Male***
Your brain is a healthy mix of male and female You are both sensitive and savvy Rational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headed But you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve
What Gender Is Your Brain?http://www.blogthings.com/whatgenderisyourbrainquiz/

This makes me feel so much better about my self. Even if its just one of those fun sites I accept the finding.
Pa might not go along with the rational and reasonable part. I certainly wasn't rational or reasonable when it came to anyone messing with my children. The truth is I'm still that way.
If I have to deal with so one over the phone and they give me the run a round I can become unreasonable very fast. My bookkeeping isn't rational at all to him.
My world is uncharted territory to him most of the time. Maybe the mixture is the problem. Oh well he the one who says "its not a marriage it an adventure".

Rhymes

Do you have a favorite rhyme?
Farm Wife had a book of nursery rhymes and she loved it. She loved it so much that I could read it with out looking.
A diller, a dollar,
A ten o'clock scholar;
What makes you come so soon?
You used to come at ten o'clock,
And now you come at noon.

The Heir

Today I get to keep Princess's little man. He woke up starving and I couldn't get that bottle ready fast enough.
Pa has a picture of him on our computer. He is wearing a cute outfit, that he could get lost in. Today he is wearing that same outfit and he is about to bust out the seams. I look at him and am amazed at how big he is. I told my mom that he is bigger then both his parents. I just know he'll hit 6 feet or more some day. But not today
Today he is just a little guy who when he finished he bottle and got a dry bottom became real smiley and had lots to tell me and the fringe on the sofa. Oh the stories I have been told.

I have been tagged

1. A Book that Changed Your Life: The Story of Pocahontas ... it gave me a love of reading
2. A Book You've Read More Than Once: Christy
3. A Book You'd Take onto a Desert Island: The Bible.... its got everything
4. A Book That Made You Laugh: Knock Knock joke book or maybe that was Farm Wife's reaction and retelling of the jokes.
5. A Book That Made You Cry: Angel Unaware
6. A Book You Wish Had Been Written: How to get a college degree without writing term papers.
7. A Book You Wish Had Never Been Written: Catcher in the Rye
8. A Book You're Currently Reading: The Priest
9. A Book You've Been Meaning To Read: Our Crowd....just one of half a bookcase full
10. Now Tag Five People You Want to Hear From: Silver Bell, Zann, Ang, AO and Random Grace should any of they come by

Does the weather know it is not riding on a roller coaster? One day the sun is out and the next its gray and rain/snow is moving in.
My head feels like a beach ball in hurricane season. One day in the beach bag the next its being bounced around.
My house looks like a tornado has come for vacation. There is a whirlwind mess here, one there, another over there.
Last night I was nuts enough to decide to take down the Christmas tree, thinking that would help. Yes, that's right the tree and that's another story. So I spent the evening boxing and re boxing the ornaments. Then I just gave up and called it a night. Today the sun is out and I have a new found hope. I will get my house back together.....I will.....I will....I will......I need to go to Jamaica

Wandering mind makes discovery

My parents have lots of siblings. I have known that my whole life. You couldn't miss all those tall people running around grandma's house. I know they are related because Mom was forever saying " go give this to Aunt A B or C, take this over to Uncle D F or G.
Over the years I have made list of all my aunts and uncles names, who they married and their children, like most girls do. I never made any big discoveries in all theses years.
Then one day, while Pa and I were headed to the big city, my mind was wandering and I got to thinking about my family. My Dad's family has had a lot of deaths these past ten years, so I was thinking about who all is gone and who is still here. Then I got to counting my folks siblings again.
For the first time and to my surprise I realized that both families have equal numbers of boys and girls. In Dad's there are 5 boys and 5 girls in Mom's 4 girls and 4 boys.
How in the world did I miss that all these years. I do not know, I may even have known it but forgot it. At any rate I know it now and I think it is really cool.
My grandmothers were quite remarkable women to have worked that out so nicely. OK so it wasn't them. They deserve the credit anyhow.

Far away

Days like these are really hard to live with. Farm Wife and the Farm Hands are feeling low down and I can't go help make things better. I wouldn't really be a whole lot of help as far as the Farm Hands go. Like most little people Mom is the only one who can make their world better.
I could do chores and make a pot of soup and read books things like that but I can't go. I have been to the doctor myself and by the time I get better, I'm sure they will all be right as rain. So I guess we will all just settle in, get on our pjs, take our meds, get our blankies and maybe take a few nice naps and sleep through the night, at least I hope they do at the Funny Farm.
I talked to my mom who lives not to far from FW. She has been feeling bad but is better now. Little Brother lives down road from the folks is sick. None of then have had the same thing so I guess it must just be the air up there.
I know what the problem is, it is January going on February. When we lived up there, this was about the time my hands and feet began to freeze nonstop. I would tell Pa I needed to go to Jamaica to get warm.
I know they have been warm but maybe they need some sea breeze, salt water, sand, tropical fruits,drinks and pink flamingos.

All Most

They are moved... almost ...you know there is just a few more things left and we will get them later.
It was a long day and at the end of it poor Princess still wasn't in her own house. So last night when we left Axel was staying at new house and Princess and baby were going back to Granny and Pops. Today MIL and Princess will spend the day setting the house up the way she wants it. Axel will spend the day running wires from one place to another for heaven only knows what.
Today Pa and I are going back up to the big city for a art exhibit called Bedazzled by Tiffany. I like to look at the sparkly things. I would like for some of the sparkly things that Tiffany makes to come and live at my house. I have places for windows, lamps, sliver, gold,platinum,colored stones and clear stones lots of clear stones. They are all welcome and I could give them such a warm cozy place to stay. Dreaming just dreaming

Moving Day

Today is the day
Princess is already on her way to the old house to finish packing . By night fall her little family should be settled in their new house just a few miles down the road.
Pa is in a hurry to get going, which just shows that after all these years he still doesn't know Princess very well. Late is her middle name and slow is her game

Look Look

See what I did. Over there on the side <- all by my self.
OK so A.O. helped me.
Hey... A..O that kinda of sounds like a song you know the one about bananas and daylight coming.

Do you ever really get the hang of doing this blog thing. I can't seen to be able to leave comments, which is why I started this and I can't seem to think of things to say unless it is late at night and I'm trying go to sleep.

I just read Farm Wife's blog and there is something on it about other people with the same name. Now I ask you how many mothers do you know, would pick the name Farm Wife for their sweet baby girls name. It took me a long time to pick that name You can't just pick a name and stick it on the baby. You have to give thought to the child's future. How will it sound with those important initials in front or behind it? You know Dr.Farm Wife,Farm Wife PhD., President Farm Wife or Farm Wife RFD (that means rural route for you city kids).
I spent many a cold winter night back in 76 knitting diapers, hats and booties in John Deer green dreaming of the day when my little one would jump up on her very own International Farmall tractor.
I just couldn't name her anything else Farm Wife was the perfect name.

I hit the publish button. Now I'm not sure were I was going with the last post. Oh yeah my memory. Well I have lost track so just forget it. My mind is off down another road.
Yesterday Pa and I went to pick up just a few things for Princess, to move to the new house. What a surprise we got when we pulled up and two pickups were full of furniture and bedding. Axel's gramp's was there and going to take advantage of the great weather. The house is now more then half empty and if winter comes this week I'm sure 2 boys will be thankful for gramp's wisdom. They moved last year at this time and if I could only remember I would tell you what the weather was like. I do remember it was a long day.

A peanut sat
On a railroad track,
His heart was all a-flutter.
Along came the five-fifteen,
Uh-oh, peanut butter!
That little poem is in honor of Princess. It is one of the few things that I can remember from her childhood. I have lots of memories but they are locked away and I have misplaced the keys.
For years I have said I have a bad memory and I'm tried of saying that. Our brains are remarkable organs and everything we have ever seen, smelled,tasted,felt and done is recorded there. It only takes a little bit of some stuff, I can't remember the name of it right now,and a little bit of something else to connect and spark then boom you got your memory.

Realm First

Hello
This looked like and sounded like fun until I got started. Setting one of these things up is not easy for someone who only surfs the web and does not really know anyting about computers.
I'm Farmwife's mama and I have been reading lots of blogs for over a year now. From time to time I would leave comments on Farmwife's blog but since this change over I haven't been able to so I'm joining the blog world.