(The sound of Spring being Sprung)
Which reminds me of the first poem I ever wrote. I think I was seven.
"Spring Has Sprung
The Grass is gris
Uncle Denny is wondering
Where all the fishes is"
**************
Well, I was just 7!
And I have no idea how I knew what "gris" meant.
*****************
The first day of Spring is our dog's birthday. Jaffa is 13 (or 14?) today.
No doggy party is planned, but maybe he can have some extra meat tonight.
*************
Some big changes are headed our way.
Our Grand daughter Nickole has asked to come and live with us. She's supposed to move here once school is out for the summer. We look forward to having her, and ask prayers for all of us as we adjust- including her Mom and Grandpa she is leaving behind.
The timing of waiting until school is out for the summer may make it easier for Nickole, as she has come and stayed with us during the summer for a number of years now.
I have a lot of hopes, and a number of fears regarding this.
We will lay the fears into God's hands, and trust Him to fulfill our hopes as well.
*****************
Kids grow up SO fast. They have so much to learn, and time does fly.
Thank you for praying for us!
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Friday, March 15, 2019
Ides of March
In reading Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in high school, I wondered about "The Ides of March", and looked it up. Back then, no internet! I learned it referred March 15.
How's that for a bit of trivia from more than 40 years ago? (May 28 will be 40 years since my High School graduation.)
A more recent anniversary is coming up. March 24, 2008 was the start date of this blog!
(Leave a comment, I'll send you something!)
Today, I have a few pots of seeds starting for our garden this year.
I have the house in decent shape, no longer a terrible struggle to stay on top of everything. I have fewer balls to juggle these days. All of my kids have finished their Home Schooling. All but one have found time to "prove up" on their education and gain a GED.
Just one grown child left at home, plus Mr C and myself. I am no longer babysitting... I had Matthew T. when I began the blog here. He is graduating Jr High in May. On to High School this fall! I am currently not holding any job outside of the home.
I am trying to be a good wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, or friend, to those I encounter.
God has been teaching me things, whether I wanted to learn them or not. How to listen for His voice, when trying to encourage others. How to walk out grief... though it seems more He is dragging me through some days when I fall in a heap and refuse to move.
I wonder if He ever rolls His Eyes at me in exasperation? I remember how one of my kids would RUSH though school work, completing every assignment in minutes. In grading the assignment, I would find most answers incorrect. Giving the assignment back to the child, with instructions on correcting the wrong answers would send the child into a tantrum (there isn't any other word for it that comes to mind) where said child would lay in a sobbing heap on the floor, screaming I 'only marked the answers wrong because I hated (this child). I didn't mark brother's answers wrong! I love brother more than (this child)'! (Brother who took three hours on a ten minute assignment made me as exasperated as this child who rushed through, but for other reasons.)
No amount of explanation of why a subject had to be mastered for ones own benefit would penetrate the tantrum.
So, I lay in a heap and cry. I scream and question, "WHY?"
God is teaching me the things I need to know to further His plans for the Earth. I have to walk the walk (or be dragged along like a recalcitrant toddler). There is a reason for all we walk through. We may or may not ever know how it all fits together in this lifetime. God already knows, and we just have to accept that, as my kids had to accept that they would someday need to know the lessons they learned in their school work. (Except maybe algebra. I have never used it in the 40 years since graduation... but that's beside the point.)
May you have a blessed day, no matter where your circumstances of the day land you.
How's that for a bit of trivia from more than 40 years ago? (May 28 will be 40 years since my High School graduation.)
A more recent anniversary is coming up. March 24, 2008 was the start date of this blog!
(Leave a comment, I'll send you something!)
Today, I have a few pots of seeds starting for our garden this year.
I have the house in decent shape, no longer a terrible struggle to stay on top of everything. I have fewer balls to juggle these days. All of my kids have finished their Home Schooling. All but one have found time to "prove up" on their education and gain a GED.
Just one grown child left at home, plus Mr C and myself. I am no longer babysitting... I had Matthew T. when I began the blog here. He is graduating Jr High in May. On to High School this fall! I am currently not holding any job outside of the home.
I am trying to be a good wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, or friend, to those I encounter.
God has been teaching me things, whether I wanted to learn them or not. How to listen for His voice, when trying to encourage others. How to walk out grief... though it seems more He is dragging me through some days when I fall in a heap and refuse to move.
I wonder if He ever rolls His Eyes at me in exasperation? I remember how one of my kids would RUSH though school work, completing every assignment in minutes. In grading the assignment, I would find most answers incorrect. Giving the assignment back to the child, with instructions on correcting the wrong answers would send the child into a tantrum (there isn't any other word for it that comes to mind) where said child would lay in a sobbing heap on the floor, screaming I 'only marked the answers wrong because I hated (this child). I didn't mark brother's answers wrong! I love brother more than (this child)'! (Brother who took three hours on a ten minute assignment made me as exasperated as this child who rushed through, but for other reasons.)
No amount of explanation of why a subject had to be mastered for ones own benefit would penetrate the tantrum.
So, I lay in a heap and cry. I scream and question, "WHY?"
God is teaching me the things I need to know to further His plans for the Earth. I have to walk the walk (or be dragged along like a recalcitrant toddler). There is a reason for all we walk through. We may or may not ever know how it all fits together in this lifetime. God already knows, and we just have to accept that, as my kids had to accept that they would someday need to know the lessons they learned in their school work. (Except maybe algebra. I have never used it in the 40 years since graduation... but that's beside the point.)
May you have a blessed day, no matter where your circumstances of the day land you.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
And speaking of time...
Mr C has been working on replacing the timing belt in our Honda. (I use the term "our" loosely. All of "our" vehicles are Mr C's. But he lets me drive them.)
I got to help mostly by holding the flashlight. And making suggestions, most of which were shot down. Some were received and, surprising to some, actually worked. But mostly, I held the flashlight and kept company. As long as it is as disassembled as it is, Mr C may also check/ replace the brake pads.
*****************
In other news, today is the hard day. 7th anniversary of Bill Joe's passing.
I have been laying awake at night, bombarded by so many thoughts. One was about the most elementary of things we learn in Science class in grade school.
Matter and energy cannot be created nor destroyed, but only changed in form.
I thought of the glucosamine tablet we give Jaffa every evening. I put it into a mortar, and crush it to dust with a pestle.
The essence of what it IS remains, but its form is gone. No longer the familiar capsule shape, but a fine powder. Turn the wind upon it, and it blows away. Is it gone? Yes, and NO. The form has changed, but the glucosamine is still what it was before.
What about us? Are we gone because our earthen vessel is destroyed?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
********************************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I started this post on Sunday, the 10th.
This is Wednesday the 13th.
The Honda remains on the jack stands, as the timing belt cover had been broken. We had to order a new one, so the repair project is on hold.
Thank you to all who have been praying for me.
I got to help mostly by holding the flashlight. And making suggestions, most of which were shot down. Some were received and, surprising to some, actually worked. But mostly, I held the flashlight and kept company. As long as it is as disassembled as it is, Mr C may also check/ replace the brake pads.
*****************
In other news, today is the hard day. 7th anniversary of Bill Joe's passing.
I have been laying awake at night, bombarded by so many thoughts. One was about the most elementary of things we learn in Science class in grade school.
Matter and energy cannot be created nor destroyed, but only changed in form.
I thought of the glucosamine tablet we give Jaffa every evening. I put it into a mortar, and crush it to dust with a pestle.
The essence of what it IS remains, but its form is gone. No longer the familiar capsule shape, but a fine powder. Turn the wind upon it, and it blows away. Is it gone? Yes, and NO. The form has changed, but the glucosamine is still what it was before.
What about us? Are we gone because our earthen vessel is destroyed?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
********************************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I started this post on Sunday, the 10th.
This is Wednesday the 13th.
The Honda remains on the jack stands, as the timing belt cover had been broken. We had to order a new one, so the repair project is on hold.
Thank you to all who have been praying for me.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
March times on... er, Time marches on
Today is my Dad's 82nd birthday. I called to wish him a good day, and many more to come. He pointed out that he hasn't got many more to come. I wish I could spend more time with my parents.
Today is known as Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, 40 days before Christ's resurrection (mistakenly referred to as Easter... but you can look that up yourself if you are interested.)
Many religions use Lent as a time to "give something up", in remembrance of Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness. Less religious folk sometimes observe this period for various causes, and make use of the time period to make changes in their lives.
One such thing going around is to de-clutter, tossing/ donating one bag of items from ones home every day for forty days. My life can use less clutter, and I have nearly 35 years worth of various collections to go through. I am thinking, pick one drawer per day. If I am keeping stuff from the drawer, it goes back in... or to an assigned "home" for that object.
I have many "floating" items. Not gravity defiant- but objects I have never decided a "home" location for. I pick them up from where they are sitting- in my way at that moment- and not having a "home", they are set down in another location... until that too is in my way. I must assign homes to these items... and not just stuck into some random drawer to be forgotten about until I get "a round tuit" and clean out the drawer again... which might be years.
I need to deal with sentimentality. Most of my kids could not care less to keep some toy that they favored as a toddler. I have boxes of photographs, many as blurry as my brain. Random scenery... of places no photo can do justice to capture... and I don't recall where half those places were. The task seems too large to tackle. But maybe, one drawer at a time. One box at a time, one day at a time, in a committed manner... I can overcome. I am prone to continuing to hold on to special things- cards from my kids, a gift from a friend, items that made my grandmothers smile.
I don't HAVE to keep 10+ years of just the mundane letters, as much as I might like to. Many of these are already burdensome simply by volume. Keep the special ones, let go the rest.
I am trying to stay busy, as the anniversary approaches. It's just an anniversary of some stupid random day. I should be able to breeze though by now.
I wanted today to be a productive day, and I have made a start on general cleaning/ maintenance. I will have to pick a very easy drawer or hot-spot to de-clutter today, or it isn't going to happen... and then, knowing myself... I can't do it every day because I didn't start on the proper day! So, may your day be blessed. Say a prayer for someone on your heart.
Today is known as Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, 40 days before Christ's resurrection (mistakenly referred to as Easter... but you can look that up yourself if you are interested.)
Many religions use Lent as a time to "give something up", in remembrance of Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness. Less religious folk sometimes observe this period for various causes, and make use of the time period to make changes in their lives.
One such thing going around is to de-clutter, tossing/ donating one bag of items from ones home every day for forty days. My life can use less clutter, and I have nearly 35 years worth of various collections to go through. I am thinking, pick one drawer per day. If I am keeping stuff from the drawer, it goes back in... or to an assigned "home" for that object.
I have many "floating" items. Not gravity defiant- but objects I have never decided a "home" location for. I pick them up from where they are sitting- in my way at that moment- and not having a "home", they are set down in another location... until that too is in my way. I must assign homes to these items... and not just stuck into some random drawer to be forgotten about until I get "a round tuit" and clean out the drawer again... which might be years.
I need to deal with sentimentality. Most of my kids could not care less to keep some toy that they favored as a toddler. I have boxes of photographs, many as blurry as my brain. Random scenery... of places no photo can do justice to capture... and I don't recall where half those places were. The task seems too large to tackle. But maybe, one drawer at a time. One box at a time, one day at a time, in a committed manner... I can overcome. I am prone to continuing to hold on to special things- cards from my kids, a gift from a friend, items that made my grandmothers smile.
I don't HAVE to keep 10+ years of just the mundane letters, as much as I might like to. Many of these are already burdensome simply by volume. Keep the special ones, let go the rest.
I am trying to stay busy, as the anniversary approaches. It's just an anniversary of some stupid random day. I should be able to breeze though by now.
I wanted today to be a productive day, and I have made a start on general cleaning/ maintenance. I will have to pick a very easy drawer or hot-spot to de-clutter today, or it isn't going to happen... and then, knowing myself... I can't do it every day because I didn't start on the proper day! So, may your day be blessed. Say a prayer for someone on your heart.
Monday, March 4, 2019
Disrupted routines
I think that I get a little too comfortable with my routines. I have never adapted well to change. Today is Monday- our regular shopping / errand day. I don't know if we are even going out today- we are generally in the store by this time.
Mr C has been sick for several days. He is somewhat on the mend, but not 100% yet. And the roads are covered in slickery. We got about 1/2 inch of snow yesterday. It won't get above freezing until tomorrow- and then, barely so. It is 6* right now ("feels like -3*"). Sam went to work in his nice, front wheel drive Subaru. He said there ARE patches of black ice, but those who take it slowly won't fall off the road. Between sickness and ice, I really don't think we HAVE to go to town today.
We had a wonderful visit with Ben and Paula and their offspring last week. Milo decided he really CAN walk while they were here. He also warmed up to me... on Thursday. (They left Friday morning.) That's how my kids always were. When grandparents came to visit, they were aloof and wary until the last day or so of the visit.
It really was a nice visit.
Even if Cowgranny scared the shrieking bejeebers out of Milo, and made Althea SO sad. I told Paula, "Althea says I can keep Milo here when you go home." Althea had said no such thing, and burst into tears, she didn't want to leave her baby brother behind. (Most of the other grands would of argued with me as I teased. Althea took my word as fact. I felt bad!)
One afternoon, Milo and I were playing "peek". There was a recliner between us, and we would peek at one another. We would try creeping around and peeking from a different point at the other, and laugh and laugh. So, knowing how much Milo loved playing "Monster Roar" with his Dad... I stayed hidden behind the chair. He came wandering around- I wasn't there. (I kept the chair between us.) Then as he was rounding the chair, I popped out with a "boo". Poor baby! He screamed- which brought Mommy running from another room- and burst into tears. Granny was no longer a fun person. (He forgave me and snuggled shortly afterwards.)
I am coming up on my grand daughter Alana's birthday tomorrow, and my Dad will be 82 the day after. I had mailed Alana's card early, as they were going on a cruise. But I completely let Dad's slip my mind until yesterday. In Becky's facebook feed was a picture taken 7 years ago, of the family gathered for Dad's 75th birthday.
It was our last family gathering with Bill Joe. Roger was there. My cousin's DIL was there. Those three are no longer with us. Sunday will be 7 years since we lost Bill Joe. I try to let March slip past me without dwelling on it... but I am not quite successful. Six years, eleven months and 20 days ago.
The clock keeps ticking. So I remind everyone once again- give your family a hug. Tell them that you love them. We aren't promised tomorrow.
Mr C has been sick for several days. He is somewhat on the mend, but not 100% yet. And the roads are covered in slickery. We got about 1/2 inch of snow yesterday. It won't get above freezing until tomorrow- and then, barely so. It is 6* right now ("feels like -3*"). Sam went to work in his nice, front wheel drive Subaru. He said there ARE patches of black ice, but those who take it slowly won't fall off the road. Between sickness and ice, I really don't think we HAVE to go to town today.
We had a wonderful visit with Ben and Paula and their offspring last week. Milo decided he really CAN walk while they were here. He also warmed up to me... on Thursday. (They left Friday morning.) That's how my kids always were. When grandparents came to visit, they were aloof and wary until the last day or so of the visit.
It really was a nice visit.
Even if Cowgranny scared the shrieking bejeebers out of Milo, and made Althea SO sad. I told Paula, "Althea says I can keep Milo here when you go home." Althea had said no such thing, and burst into tears, she didn't want to leave her baby brother behind. (Most of the other grands would of argued with me as I teased. Althea took my word as fact. I felt bad!)
One afternoon, Milo and I were playing "peek". There was a recliner between us, and we would peek at one another. We would try creeping around and peeking from a different point at the other, and laugh and laugh. So, knowing how much Milo loved playing "Monster Roar" with his Dad... I stayed hidden behind the chair. He came wandering around- I wasn't there. (I kept the chair between us.) Then as he was rounding the chair, I popped out with a "boo". Poor baby! He screamed- which brought Mommy running from another room- and burst into tears. Granny was no longer a fun person. (He forgave me and snuggled shortly afterwards.)
I am coming up on my grand daughter Alana's birthday tomorrow, and my Dad will be 82 the day after. I had mailed Alana's card early, as they were going on a cruise. But I completely let Dad's slip my mind until yesterday. In Becky's facebook feed was a picture taken 7 years ago, of the family gathered for Dad's 75th birthday.
It was our last family gathering with Bill Joe. Roger was there. My cousin's DIL was there. Those three are no longer with us. Sunday will be 7 years since we lost Bill Joe. I try to let March slip past me without dwelling on it... but I am not quite successful. Six years, eleven months and 20 days ago.
The clock keeps ticking. So I remind everyone once again- give your family a hug. Tell them that you love them. We aren't promised tomorrow.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Best laid plans of mice* and Moms
*No mice are involved in this post!
So, Ben and Paula decided to take an extra day in arriving, so they can detour by and introduce Milo to his Great Grands in East Texas!
That's OK... but I went into crastination mode.
I think my elementary school science is coming into play in my life. I'm becoming inert. (An object at rest tends to stay at rest unless acted upon by an outside force.)
I'm getting so that I don't leave the house unless acted on by an outside force. In today's case, my outside force is that we have guests coming. My floors need to be swept, as one of these guests is still basically a crawler. My broom is broken. For real, not like a child's retort, "Do it yourself, your leg's not broken!"
Jaffa seems to have intestinal parasites, which has cause some vomiting. I had not associated vomiting with parasites, but he exhibited other telling behavior and I looked up treatment- and found vomiting is also a sign of parasites.
Anyway, Jaffa vomited by the front door. Mr. C was forced to deal with it, as I am a sympathetic puker. Despite being asked to use the ratty "porch broom" (about a dozen times in the past!) for clean ups of this kind, he grabbed my 'good' kitchen broom. During the course of the clean up, the broom's handle bent, almost in two pieces. It is rendered useless.
So "broom" was added to the shopping list. And I need it TODAY.
The shopping list has grown. It is longer today than it normally is for an entire week's worth of shopping- and we just went Monday! We had skipped buying fresh fruit, thinking we had "plenty". Found we had a couple of apples and one orange when we got home. Not cool! Didn't have any yogurt left, when we thought we had several on hand. So- to market I go. Today.
Then, floors and bathrooms remain on my to-do list. (Laundry is caught up, horizontal surfaces are purged and cleansed.) I have bedding and such set into the "guest" room, but not set up. Mr C has boxes of car parts that need toted OUT of the living room to his tool shed tonight. I need to locate the stored box of toys and bring them in from storage, and we will be all set.
I suppose I better get myself in gear and GO!
Have a blessed day.
So, Ben and Paula decided to take an extra day in arriving, so they can detour by and introduce Milo to his Great Grands in East Texas!
That's OK... but I went into crastination mode.
I think my elementary school science is coming into play in my life. I'm becoming inert. (An object at rest tends to stay at rest unless acted upon by an outside force.)
I'm getting so that I don't leave the house unless acted on by an outside force. In today's case, my outside force is that we have guests coming. My floors need to be swept, as one of these guests is still basically a crawler. My broom is broken. For real, not like a child's retort, "Do it yourself, your leg's not broken!"
Jaffa seems to have intestinal parasites, which has cause some vomiting. I had not associated vomiting with parasites, but he exhibited other telling behavior and I looked up treatment- and found vomiting is also a sign of parasites.
Anyway, Jaffa vomited by the front door. Mr. C was forced to deal with it, as I am a sympathetic puker. Despite being asked to use the ratty "porch broom" (about a dozen times in the past!) for clean ups of this kind, he grabbed my 'good' kitchen broom. During the course of the clean up, the broom's handle bent, almost in two pieces. It is rendered useless.
So "broom" was added to the shopping list. And I need it TODAY.
The shopping list has grown. It is longer today than it normally is for an entire week's worth of shopping- and we just went Monday! We had skipped buying fresh fruit, thinking we had "plenty". Found we had a couple of apples and one orange when we got home. Not cool! Didn't have any yogurt left, when we thought we had several on hand. So- to market I go. Today.
Then, floors and bathrooms remain on my to-do list. (Laundry is caught up, horizontal surfaces are purged and cleansed.) I have bedding and such set into the "guest" room, but not set up. Mr C has boxes of car parts that need toted OUT of the living room to his tool shed tonight. I need to locate the stored box of toys and bring them in from storage, and we will be all set.
I suppose I better get myself in gear and GO!
Have a blessed day.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Tuesday Morning (not the store)
I have a rough outline for this week.
Yesterday was our routine Monday grocery shopping and errands, followed by the blood drive in the evening. I had possibly the worst time ever for the blood donation.
The tech stuck the needle in my arm, but missed the vein. She slid the needle back, without removing it from my arm, and gave it another jab. Missed again. Fished around with the needle under the skin, jabbed again. Another miss. I offered that she could remove the needle and try the other arm.
Nope. She was determined. It took about four tries before she got any blood to flow. It wasn't my usual quick pint. The next person in line behind me was brought in, set up, and finished five minutes or more before my pint was full. Today my donation site is so sore I can hardly use my arm.
Today's plan: laundry and laundry room. (I already have a load of segregated clothing in the machine!) Yesterday, my DD Becky joined an internet debate on whether or not to sort clothing. My kids were all taught to sort! So... in ten or fifteen years, if my grandchildren do not sort laundry and are posed the question: "Didn't you ever learn to do laundry?" well then, it's not MY fault!
I may try to get to "floors"- I got a new squirty wet mop.
Tomorrow: Bathrooms, and finish floors
Thursday: Set up guest room and make sure the house is reasonably baby-proofed. (We got new guest pillows, Hooray!)
Friday: Thrift shopping and fun stuff with Ben and Paula
Depending on the weather, we hope to have a bonfire while Ben and Paula are here. Mr C is talking about Rusty and Randy Roosters being a featured food, rotisseried over coals. We are both fed up with being challenged as to which of us (Human or rooster) is cock of the walk every time we go out to the pen.
I need to bring the box of toys in from the storage shed.
Those are my basic "plans" for the week.
May your week be blessed!
Yesterday was our routine Monday grocery shopping and errands, followed by the blood drive in the evening. I had possibly the worst time ever for the blood donation.
The tech stuck the needle in my arm, but missed the vein. She slid the needle back, without removing it from my arm, and gave it another jab. Missed again. Fished around with the needle under the skin, jabbed again. Another miss. I offered that she could remove the needle and try the other arm.
Nope. She was determined. It took about four tries before she got any blood to flow. It wasn't my usual quick pint. The next person in line behind me was brought in, set up, and finished five minutes or more before my pint was full. Today my donation site is so sore I can hardly use my arm.
Today's plan: laundry and laundry room. (I already have a load of segregated clothing in the machine!) Yesterday, my DD Becky joined an internet debate on whether or not to sort clothing. My kids were all taught to sort! So... in ten or fifteen years, if my grandchildren do not sort laundry and are posed the question: "Didn't you ever learn to do laundry?" well then, it's not MY fault!
I may try to get to "floors"- I got a new squirty wet mop.
Tomorrow: Bathrooms, and finish floors
Thursday: Set up guest room and make sure the house is reasonably baby-proofed. (We got new guest pillows, Hooray!)
Friday: Thrift shopping and fun stuff with Ben and Paula
Depending on the weather, we hope to have a bonfire while Ben and Paula are here. Mr C is talking about Rusty and Randy Roosters being a featured food, rotisseried over coals. We are both fed up with being challenged as to which of us (Human or rooster) is cock of the walk every time we go out to the pen.
I need to bring the box of toys in from the storage shed.
Those are my basic "plans" for the week.
May your week be blessed!
Friday, February 15, 2019
February, still.
How can the shortest month of the year feel like the longest? I don't know.
(Since my Texas trip, I think I have left the house three times, so that might account for it.) We have had many forecasts from the weather guessers, predicting snow and/ or ice. Thus far, we really haven't had much more than a dusting.
I am grateful that we have all remained well! Our local grocery store had two managers running the entire (small) store, as all their employees were out sick. Even the one manager checking us out was working ill! (Bad idea, how many more people were exposed? But in a corporate world, he had little choice.) Our local school called off today, Monday and Tuesday to disinfect their entire school and give those out sick opportunity to recover. They asked people if they are sick, to PLEASE not return until they are well.
I have a nice supper planned for tonight. Roasted root veggies (beets, carrots, onions) with mushrooms, butternut squash (& whatever else we have on hand) with baked stuffed chicken, with a cheese sauce. (Deciding on stuffing ingredients. Spinach, onion, + something for crunch)
I made some simple GF peanut butter cookies this afternoon. Gluten free, dairy free, sugar free... not too bad. I don't care for a chewy cookie, but the taste isn't bad. I'm thinking of making a filling and turning them into whoopie pies, to feel more like a dessert. (The filling may not be DF, SF, we will see what I can do). The link above is the recipe I sort of used- it said honey or cane sugar could be used, but I used coconut sugar. It worked.
Monday is the blood drive that the twins and I have been participating in for several years now. The blood Bank never fails to call me- I didn't realize how relatively rare O- (universal donor) blood is. Only about 7% of the US population is O-. When you read down the list of constraints AGAINST donating blood at all, it's no wonder they call! Types of medications you take, recent piercings and tattoos can all be reasons they cannot accept a donation. I encourage those of you who CAN donate blood of ANY type, to do so. And pray over your donation! Life and Health to the recipient.
Grand daughter Alana is selling Blue & Gold (sausage, bacon, breaded chicken) as a fundraiser to get new uniforms for her high school band! Contact me if you are interested and I will get you in touch with her. (Orders must be in by 2/22). (2lb. sausage $7; 3 lb. bacon $16; 5lb. bag breaded seasoned chicken $21)
We are 10 days from grand daughter Nickole's 10th birthday! If you need her address to send her a card, contact me. Her birthday is the 25th.
May your day be blessed. Remember to lift up others in prayer, the unlovely as well as the beloved!
(Since my Texas trip, I think I have left the house three times, so that might account for it.) We have had many forecasts from the weather guessers, predicting snow and/ or ice. Thus far, we really haven't had much more than a dusting.
I am grateful that we have all remained well! Our local grocery store had two managers running the entire (small) store, as all their employees were out sick. Even the one manager checking us out was working ill! (Bad idea, how many more people were exposed? But in a corporate world, he had little choice.) Our local school called off today, Monday and Tuesday to disinfect their entire school and give those out sick opportunity to recover. They asked people if they are sick, to PLEASE not return until they are well.
I have a nice supper planned for tonight. Roasted root veggies (beets, carrots, onions) with mushrooms, butternut squash (& whatever else we have on hand) with baked stuffed chicken, with a cheese sauce. (Deciding on stuffing ingredients. Spinach, onion, + something for crunch)
I made some simple GF peanut butter cookies this afternoon. Gluten free, dairy free, sugar free... not too bad. I don't care for a chewy cookie, but the taste isn't bad. I'm thinking of making a filling and turning them into whoopie pies, to feel more like a dessert. (The filling may not be DF, SF, we will see what I can do). The link above is the recipe I sort of used- it said honey or cane sugar could be used, but I used coconut sugar. It worked.
Monday is the blood drive that the twins and I have been participating in for several years now. The blood Bank never fails to call me- I didn't realize how relatively rare O- (universal donor) blood is. Only about 7% of the US population is O-. When you read down the list of constraints AGAINST donating blood at all, it's no wonder they call! Types of medications you take, recent piercings and tattoos can all be reasons they cannot accept a donation. I encourage those of you who CAN donate blood of ANY type, to do so. And pray over your donation! Life and Health to the recipient.
Grand daughter Alana is selling Blue & Gold (sausage, bacon, breaded chicken) as a fundraiser to get new uniforms for her high school band! Contact me if you are interested and I will get you in touch with her. (Orders must be in by 2/22). (2lb. sausage $7; 3 lb. bacon $16; 5lb. bag breaded seasoned chicken $21)
We are 10 days from grand daughter Nickole's 10th birthday! If you need her address to send her a card, contact me. Her birthday is the 25th.
May your day be blessed. Remember to lift up others in prayer, the unlovely as well as the beloved!
Friday, February 8, 2019
Travels!
Traveling solo is an awesome time to pray and spend time with the Lord. I
have been doing the "Pick a person and pray for them every day for a
month" idea. I can't just choose one person. I usually pick two or
three. Due to a comment Mr C made to me, this month I chose some of my
least favorite people, to pray for.
God has been whispering in my ear about the grating people in my life. The ones who shred my last nerve, the ones I'd just as soon not ever be around, much less pray for. Should they not be a priority on my prayer list? If I am not praying for them, who IS?
Last week, I drove to Texas to attend the annual H.O.M.E. (Heart of Motherhood Enrichment) Retreat in Brownwood. I went with my daughter & daughter-in-law, and got to see many old friends. As long as I was "in the neighborhood" (HaHa, Texas is a BIG neighborhood!), I stopped to see as many family members as I could in the short time frame. Most of the people I got to spend 20- 30 minutes with. It seems like you stretch time pretty thin when you are traveling on a deadline.
I got to see Daniel's cute little garage apartment! Ben and I got to visit a short while, with him up well past his bedtime. (It was after 7 when I got to his house, he had to be up for work by 5!) I rode to Retreat with Paula. She and Becky and I sat at tables nearby one another. Becky was a kitchen helper, and mostly was NOT able to visit.
She and I had adjacent bunks in the Young Helpers cabin, where we were more or less supervising half a dozen young ladies from 9-15 years old. I helped a little bit in the kitchen, but required directions. Someone later remarked on Facebook they would rather have had some of the experienced Young Helpers than half a dozen people like me that had to be told what to do next. *Sigh* I was trying!
I rode back from Retreat with Becky, and stayed the night at her house. By the time I had retrieved my (Sam's) car from Ben and Paula's house, it was after 7 when I got back to Becky's. We stayed up later than we ought, visiting. I was on the road the next morning by 8.
The drive to Ft. Worth was awesome, especially along the minor highways as I headed towards I20. The early morning sun was coloring the foggy mist that cloaked the scrub oak, cedar, and mesquite trees. That far south, the trees are already beginning to bud. The skunks had come from hibernation- and many greasy black and white mounds of fragrance dotted the roads. Like many creatures, when the mating pheromones are heavy, they aren't as cautious of their surroundings as they might otherwise have been.
I stopped in Ft. Worth and got to spend a short allotment of time visiting my son Christopher at the jail. He is warehoused not far from my Aunt's house, so I stopped in to visit her afterwards. We talked 90 miles an hour for our short visit, trying to catch one another up on family. She had an afternoon Doctor's appointment, and I had to get to Dallas to see son Tommy (Stephen!) at Christ For The Nations International. We had been planning to have lunch together, but I was so late we only had time to visit for his afternoon break. He made me a cup of Turkish coffee. I was there just long enough to drink it. (Tommy heads to Peru this afternoon!)
From Dallas, I went to East Texas. It was growing dark when I got to mom's house. We visited awhile as she made supper, and stayed up a wee bit late... 10 or so. The "late nights" were wearing on me! We were both up early, and went over to Dad and Kathie's for coffee. I stayed a couple of hours visiting with them, then dropped Mom off and headed back home.
It was a wonderful trip. (All 1387 miles of it) It has taken all the rest of THIS week to get more or less recovered from it!
Thank you to all who had a hand in the trip- I enjoyed seeing all of my children and 3/4 of my grands.
Be blessed today!
God has been whispering in my ear about the grating people in my life. The ones who shred my last nerve, the ones I'd just as soon not ever be around, much less pray for. Should they not be a priority on my prayer list? If I am not praying for them, who IS?
Last week, I drove to Texas to attend the annual H.O.M.E. (Heart of Motherhood Enrichment) Retreat in Brownwood. I went with my daughter & daughter-in-law, and got to see many old friends. As long as I was "in the neighborhood" (HaHa, Texas is a BIG neighborhood!), I stopped to see as many family members as I could in the short time frame. Most of the people I got to spend 20- 30 minutes with. It seems like you stretch time pretty thin when you are traveling on a deadline.
I got to see Daniel's cute little garage apartment! Ben and I got to visit a short while, with him up well past his bedtime. (It was after 7 when I got to his house, he had to be up for work by 5!) I rode to Retreat with Paula. She and Becky and I sat at tables nearby one another. Becky was a kitchen helper, and mostly was NOT able to visit.
She and I had adjacent bunks in the Young Helpers cabin, where we were more or less supervising half a dozen young ladies from 9-15 years old. I helped a little bit in the kitchen, but required directions. Someone later remarked on Facebook they would rather have had some of the experienced Young Helpers than half a dozen people like me that had to be told what to do next. *Sigh* I was trying!
I rode back from Retreat with Becky, and stayed the night at her house. By the time I had retrieved my (Sam's) car from Ben and Paula's house, it was after 7 when I got back to Becky's. We stayed up later than we ought, visiting. I was on the road the next morning by 8.
The drive to Ft. Worth was awesome, especially along the minor highways as I headed towards I20. The early morning sun was coloring the foggy mist that cloaked the scrub oak, cedar, and mesquite trees. That far south, the trees are already beginning to bud. The skunks had come from hibernation- and many greasy black and white mounds of fragrance dotted the roads. Like many creatures, when the mating pheromones are heavy, they aren't as cautious of their surroundings as they might otherwise have been.
I stopped in Ft. Worth and got to spend a short allotment of time visiting my son Christopher at the jail. He is warehoused not far from my Aunt's house, so I stopped in to visit her afterwards. We talked 90 miles an hour for our short visit, trying to catch one another up on family. She had an afternoon Doctor's appointment, and I had to get to Dallas to see son Tommy (Stephen!) at Christ For The Nations International. We had been planning to have lunch together, but I was so late we only had time to visit for his afternoon break. He made me a cup of Turkish coffee. I was there just long enough to drink it. (Tommy heads to Peru this afternoon!)
From Dallas, I went to East Texas. It was growing dark when I got to mom's house. We visited awhile as she made supper, and stayed up a wee bit late... 10 or so. The "late nights" were wearing on me! We were both up early, and went over to Dad and Kathie's for coffee. I stayed a couple of hours visiting with them, then dropped Mom off and headed back home.
It was a wonderful trip. (All 1387 miles of it) It has taken all the rest of THIS week to get more or less recovered from it!
Thank you to all who had a hand in the trip- I enjoyed seeing all of my children and 3/4 of my grands.
Be blessed today!
Thursday, January 24, 2019
In today's episode of "But First"...
All the little things. I don't even know what today's goal IS! That is, a specific thing I want to have accomplished by the end of the day. OK, yes I do.
I started out this morning with the end result in mind: moving the big file cabinet out of my closet and into the "spare" bedroom. Tom has been saying for a week that he would help me move it, but we seem to forget about it when he is home. It is big- maybe 54" tall, 30" deep, and 20" wide. Steel. Not a flimsy steel, but heavy duty gonna last forever steel.
It would be easier to move if I actually go through the files first.
In looking yesterday for a specific document (which I did NOT find)... drawers got opened that have been closed for... shall I just say "awhile"? I found "keepsake" packets from Becky, Ben, and Tommy's days at Central High Elementary school. In some of the files, we have instructional and warranty packets from appliances and such, older than Becky. Which we haven't owned in at least a decade.
Clearly, I need to purge the filing cabinet!
It isn't just the simple matter of transporting from one room to another. If I do THAT- the file cabinet isn't going to be 'dealt with'.
Before I can sort through the file cabinet, I need to move the stuff that has been crowded into the closet in front of it. These things need a place to BELONG.
"If everyone would just put things back where they belong!"
My trouble is not having an assigned place for many items. I just move them around so they aren't in my way "right now".
I tried to get "something" accomplished. I start by getting dressed. I am one of those people who can't function in pajamas. I go to get dressed... but first I need to shower. This is the point where I (usually) make my bed. I decide the sheets need washed, so skip making the bed. SHOWER. But first go get the phone, because I may get an important call today and I don't want to miss it. Oh, I better gather dirty clothes- I can catch laundry up today.
SHOWER! I am going to shower. I stayed on track long enough to get showered and dressed. The dirty clothes are gathered, laundry is started.
I assess the spare room. Tom and Sam want it left "open" so they can work out in there. I decided to also move my chest of drawers into there- better than the living room, right?
I empty the chest and redistribute the contents- thinking of better places for 90% of the stuff. (Not that I actually PUT anything away "elsewhere"- it sits on the table and couch for now, because the "elsewhere" places also need cleaned first.)
In all my shuffle drag shuffle shuffle drag shuffle, I once again conclude I have too much stuff. I really don't know where to begin with so much of it.
I am dealing with sentimentality. I deal with, what? That I finally HAVE?
I don't know how common it is among people growing up NOT having much. The holding on to "EVERYTHING".
I have my Granny's collection of ceramic chickens, as well as many of her other small knick knacks. They meant things to her due to the people who gave them to her- or the places she visited. To me, they are my Granny's treasures- how can I just get rid of them? They don't have their original sentimentality attached, but a second generation sentimentality.
I hope my kids don't feel the need to hold on to things just because they were mine. I am given all sorts of little things that I do enjoy, and I treasure them because of the person I associate these things with. But they are just THINGS. I have tried getting rid of so much stuff, only to find I have hurt someones feelings that gave me the item. My kids need not continue to hold on to these things... and they are all just THINGS.
In dealing with MYSELF over getting rid of stuff, I am trying to consider both functionality as well as sentimentality. Why don't I get rid of the stack of ugly plastic bowls, and USE the beautiful antique bowls I have? They are stacked up high, safe from harm... but doing nothing except collecting the greasy kitchen dust and taking up space.
I have been reading about how young people do not want "old" stuff- they want brand new, matchy matchy items. They aren't sentimental about Grandma's dishes.
Sam says I should start every task with the end result in mind. But first...
I started out this morning with the end result in mind: moving the big file cabinet out of my closet and into the "spare" bedroom. Tom has been saying for a week that he would help me move it, but we seem to forget about it when he is home. It is big- maybe 54" tall, 30" deep, and 20" wide. Steel. Not a flimsy steel, but heavy duty gonna last forever steel.
It would be easier to move if I actually go through the files first.
In looking yesterday for a specific document (which I did NOT find)... drawers got opened that have been closed for... shall I just say "awhile"? I found "keepsake" packets from Becky, Ben, and Tommy's days at Central High Elementary school. In some of the files, we have instructional and warranty packets from appliances and such, older than Becky. Which we haven't owned in at least a decade.
Clearly, I need to purge the filing cabinet!
It isn't just the simple matter of transporting from one room to another. If I do THAT- the file cabinet isn't going to be 'dealt with'.
Before I can sort through the file cabinet, I need to move the stuff that has been crowded into the closet in front of it. These things need a place to BELONG.
"If everyone would just put things back where they belong!"
My trouble is not having an assigned place for many items. I just move them around so they aren't in my way "right now".
I tried to get "something" accomplished. I start by getting dressed. I am one of those people who can't function in pajamas. I go to get dressed... but first I need to shower. This is the point where I (usually) make my bed. I decide the sheets need washed, so skip making the bed. SHOWER. But first go get the phone, because I may get an important call today and I don't want to miss it. Oh, I better gather dirty clothes- I can catch laundry up today.
SHOWER! I am going to shower. I stayed on track long enough to get showered and dressed. The dirty clothes are gathered, laundry is started.
I assess the spare room. Tom and Sam want it left "open" so they can work out in there. I decided to also move my chest of drawers into there- better than the living room, right?
I empty the chest and redistribute the contents- thinking of better places for 90% of the stuff. (Not that I actually PUT anything away "elsewhere"- it sits on the table and couch for now, because the "elsewhere" places also need cleaned first.)
In all my shuffle drag shuffle shuffle drag shuffle, I once again conclude I have too much stuff. I really don't know where to begin with so much of it.
I am dealing with sentimentality. I deal with, what? That I finally HAVE?
I don't know how common it is among people growing up NOT having much. The holding on to "EVERYTHING".
I have my Granny's collection of ceramic chickens, as well as many of her other small knick knacks. They meant things to her due to the people who gave them to her- or the places she visited. To me, they are my Granny's treasures- how can I just get rid of them? They don't have their original sentimentality attached, but a second generation sentimentality.
I hope my kids don't feel the need to hold on to things just because they were mine. I am given all sorts of little things that I do enjoy, and I treasure them because of the person I associate these things with. But they are just THINGS. I have tried getting rid of so much stuff, only to find I have hurt someones feelings that gave me the item. My kids need not continue to hold on to these things... and they are all just THINGS.
In dealing with MYSELF over getting rid of stuff, I am trying to consider both functionality as well as sentimentality. Why don't I get rid of the stack of ugly plastic bowls, and USE the beautiful antique bowls I have? They are stacked up high, safe from harm... but doing nothing except collecting the greasy kitchen dust and taking up space.
I have been reading about how young people do not want "old" stuff- they want brand new, matchy matchy items. They aren't sentimental about Grandma's dishes.
Sam says I should start every task with the end result in mind. But first...
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Hobbling along!
My third broken toe in under 13 months! It is interesting colors today. This is the same toe I caught on Benjamin's bathtub on Christmas Day 2017. This time, I stubbed it on a heavy duty metal bench clamp I had moved out of Daniel's (former) bedroom. I had left it near the front door until such a time as I felt well enough to cart it out to the tool shed. If you know me, I seldom go barefoot. This incident was after a hot soaky bath I sat in, hoping to feel better from a bug I had picked up in Texas. The dog was barking to get inside, and I went to let him in before putting my shoes on. That was all it took! (Someone has suggested I may need to wear steel toed boots, even to bed!)
Since my last post, Mr C reconsidered, and says I can go to the H.O.M.E. Retreat in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to attending.
I am homesick for Daniel... it's going to take awhile to adjust to just three people at home.
It's amazing how much "presence" a person has. I know it is true not only of our family, but of other large families as well... You might have five or six kids still in the house, but you feel the emptiness of even one less person. I can't imagine how lonely the empty nesters are, who only ever had one or two children grow up on them.
Or maybe I am projecting. Maybe they miss it less because they didn't have as much "psychic" space being used.
Thankfully, I have had adjustment time with each of my kids leaving home. They didn't all go at once.
It's "funny" (weird funny) that, while I love and miss my family when we are apart- I seldom to never feel lonely. Have you ever just felt like someone was with you all the time? I once accidentally made two cups of coffee, and was on my way to sit and drink coffee with ???? I had a cup in each hand and had left the kitchen, when I realized I was home alone. Had been all day. Back then, we didn't even have a pet. I have no idea who I poured that second cup for.
I spent six days home alone over Thanksgiving. I never felt the pall of loneliness. I'm sure I would feel much more alone if that was all I had. I knew my family was coming back. I wasn't going to STAY alone for a prolonged time.
My fall in the woods last year did make me feel old. All the "what if" scenarios. If I lived all alone, I would have to be hyper vigilant about walking in the woods. It was scary enough to have fallen into the ravine and knowing it would be hours before anyone even missed me... had I lived alone, it could be days.
Well, I best hobble on down to the mailbox. Our postal person has been coming way earlier, and I missed getting letters sent yesterday!
Since my last post, Mr C reconsidered, and says I can go to the H.O.M.E. Retreat in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to attending.
I am homesick for Daniel... it's going to take awhile to adjust to just three people at home.
It's amazing how much "presence" a person has. I know it is true not only of our family, but of other large families as well... You might have five or six kids still in the house, but you feel the emptiness of even one less person. I can't imagine how lonely the empty nesters are, who only ever had one or two children grow up on them.
Or maybe I am projecting. Maybe they miss it less because they didn't have as much "psychic" space being used.
Thankfully, I have had adjustment time with each of my kids leaving home. They didn't all go at once.
It's "funny" (weird funny) that, while I love and miss my family when we are apart- I seldom to never feel lonely. Have you ever just felt like someone was with you all the time? I once accidentally made two cups of coffee, and was on my way to sit and drink coffee with ???? I had a cup in each hand and had left the kitchen, when I realized I was home alone. Had been all day. Back then, we didn't even have a pet. I have no idea who I poured that second cup for.
I spent six days home alone over Thanksgiving. I never felt the pall of loneliness. I'm sure I would feel much more alone if that was all I had. I knew my family was coming back. I wasn't going to STAY alone for a prolonged time.
My fall in the woods last year did make me feel old. All the "what if" scenarios. If I lived all alone, I would have to be hyper vigilant about walking in the woods. It was scary enough to have fallen into the ravine and knowing it would be hours before anyone even missed me... had I lived alone, it could be days.
Well, I best hobble on down to the mailbox. Our postal person has been coming way earlier, and I missed getting letters sent yesterday!
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
And now, this!
I am going to start with a very good report, before breaking down into (probably needless) whining. Just so you are warned!
With Daniel's hiking adventure cancelled, he got busy looking for a place to live in San Angelo. Since he was still here in NE Oklahoma, that was an online search. He'd found several, though most were not returning his calls or messages due to the New Year holiday. One in particular he really liked. They finally returned his message- an open house was to be held Saturday from noon-2 pm for potential renters to attend. He got this message on Thursday afternoon.
There had been major snow and ice- with some great accumulations- in the 580 miles between NE OK and San Angelo. It is normally about a nine and a half hour drive. This is the south. People cannot drive on snow and ice. Nevertheless, we scrambled to get Daniel ready to move on down to Texas. Tom was really fretting about the scramble- we had originally planned to leave on Saturday instead of Friday. The warm weather would have the roads clear. Daniel chafed at the delay- he really liked the place. He finally agreed that it would be better not to hurry down in bad weather to see a place.
Then, God began to open doors. Or perhaps I should say, we saw the doors begin to open as God had already set into place. Another small garage apartment was listed. It was $200 LESS per month, PLUS all the utility bills were included. (The place showing on Saturday did not include bills.) Dan contacted them, and they responded at once. Their application process was just a bit different. They asked Daniel for a brief paragraph or two about himself. What was his lifestyle, where did he see himself in five years?
It was an answered prayer- I had actually said, if anyone would get to know Daniel, ask him a few questions about himself, they would see he would be a great renter. All of the apartments we had looked at on a previous trip had only been interested in rental history. Dan has paid rent to us for about four years... but THAT doesn't count. There were either massive fees for first time renters, or you needed a co-signer.
The viewing of the apartment was set up for Monday. We learned from Benjamin, the address was actually in a nicer part of town. Tom and I went down with Daniel, as Tom's truck was better for pulling the UHaul trailer. We left his belongings stored at Becky's until Dan would be able to get a place of his own. Tom and I had a nice visit with the San Angelo area grandkids. We headed home bright and early Monday morning.
Becky went with Daniel to look at the apartment. Becky and the person showing the property recognized one another. Becky knew the lady from Tyrel's baseball team a couple of years back, and from Tyrel's Trail Life group. (Trail Life is an organization for Christian boys akin to what the Scouts used to be.) The lady also knew the Zesch family, which was among Daniel's references. Daniel liked the place, the lady liked Dan. She verified his credentials... and Dan now has his very first apartment of his own.
And now, for my whine.
Every year, there is a Mother's Retreat. I got to go once. Daniel asked if I would like to go this year. He was going to sponsor my fee. I was really excited to go.
Mr C asked how I planned to get there. I told him I would borrow Sam's car. Sam was good with that. So Mr C just flat said I can't go. The trip costs too much in gas and sundries.
I don't have an income. (He did NOT point that out.) We are down a rent-paying son... so all the burden of support falls on Tom. This just isn't a good time for me to spend ANY money.
I will suck it up, and look forward to getting to have Camp Cowgranny, saving my pennies in the meantime!
With Daniel's hiking adventure cancelled, he got busy looking for a place to live in San Angelo. Since he was still here in NE Oklahoma, that was an online search. He'd found several, though most were not returning his calls or messages due to the New Year holiday. One in particular he really liked. They finally returned his message- an open house was to be held Saturday from noon-2 pm for potential renters to attend. He got this message on Thursday afternoon.
There had been major snow and ice- with some great accumulations- in the 580 miles between NE OK and San Angelo. It is normally about a nine and a half hour drive. This is the south. People cannot drive on snow and ice. Nevertheless, we scrambled to get Daniel ready to move on down to Texas. Tom was really fretting about the scramble- we had originally planned to leave on Saturday instead of Friday. The warm weather would have the roads clear. Daniel chafed at the delay- he really liked the place. He finally agreed that it would be better not to hurry down in bad weather to see a place.
Then, God began to open doors. Or perhaps I should say, we saw the doors begin to open as God had already set into place. Another small garage apartment was listed. It was $200 LESS per month, PLUS all the utility bills were included. (The place showing on Saturday did not include bills.) Dan contacted them, and they responded at once. Their application process was just a bit different. They asked Daniel for a brief paragraph or two about himself. What was his lifestyle, where did he see himself in five years?
It was an answered prayer- I had actually said, if anyone would get to know Daniel, ask him a few questions about himself, they would see he would be a great renter. All of the apartments we had looked at on a previous trip had only been interested in rental history. Dan has paid rent to us for about four years... but THAT doesn't count. There were either massive fees for first time renters, or you needed a co-signer.
The viewing of the apartment was set up for Monday. We learned from Benjamin, the address was actually in a nicer part of town. Tom and I went down with Daniel, as Tom's truck was better for pulling the UHaul trailer. We left his belongings stored at Becky's until Dan would be able to get a place of his own. Tom and I had a nice visit with the San Angelo area grandkids. We headed home bright and early Monday morning.
Becky went with Daniel to look at the apartment. Becky and the person showing the property recognized one another. Becky knew the lady from Tyrel's baseball team a couple of years back, and from Tyrel's Trail Life group. (Trail Life is an organization for Christian boys akin to what the Scouts used to be.) The lady also knew the Zesch family, which was among Daniel's references. Daniel liked the place, the lady liked Dan. She verified his credentials... and Dan now has his very first apartment of his own.
And now, for my whine.
Every year, there is a Mother's Retreat. I got to go once. Daniel asked if I would like to go this year. He was going to sponsor my fee. I was really excited to go.
Mr C asked how I planned to get there. I told him I would borrow Sam's car. Sam was good with that. So Mr C just flat said I can't go. The trip costs too much in gas and sundries.
I don't have an income. (He did NOT point that out.) We are down a rent-paying son... so all the burden of support falls on Tom. This just isn't a good time for me to spend ANY money.
I will suck it up, and look forward to getting to have Camp Cowgranny, saving my pennies in the meantime!
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
2019
We have trudged into the new year. It has been cold, wet, and blustery. I have scarcely been outside- though I did twice walk back down our trails in the woods yesterday, to check out the expanded trail Sam has been working on.
While Tommy was here last week, I was discussing how, between the time Tommy was a few days shy of his first birthday, and the time he was twelve or so, we had not been camping at all. My reasons for boycotting camping for so long were entirely selfish, I realized last week. I had spent that entire trip either cooking, preparing to cook, or cleaning up from cooking for Tom and I and the five kids. When I wasn't in the middle of food work, I was chasing a toddling baby and fishing debris out of his mouth. Rocks, bottle caps, metal pull tabs from cans- the kind that had a 'tongue and ring' that detached entirely from old steel and early aluminum cans-, trash from nasty people who just totally ruin campsites... or chasing a three and a five year old who wanted to go find Daddy and the older brothers fishing down by the water. It was not fun.
Our family outings began to be more "day hikes". We lived about 30 miles from The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The day hikes were usually packing up a lunch, and driving to the refuge. I would stay in a picnic area and chase the three youngest away from the water, while Tom and the older boys got to go boulder hopping and climb up the mountain trails. (I only ONCE ever got to climb up any of the mountains without a child... and had to do that by myself.)
Sometimes, we would ALL go hiking down an easier trail.
For those of you who have not hiked with very young children, it was viewed pretty much as a death march. They were not keen on a long drive, followed by a long walk through some trees. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then another long, long drive home... which takes even longer when the parents keep pulling over to see such ordinary things as buffalo, elk, and longhorn cattle.
Our kids were tormented at least twice a month by these drives, up until we moved within a couple of miles of the Refuge. Then, we were there pretty much at least once a week.
By the time the twins were born, we were a good hour away from the Refuge, and the visits there all but stopped. The twins were about seven or eight before they ever got to camp anyplace other than our own yard. (As we all know- the fearless duo began camping out alone at four years old in our yard! Next thing we knew, they were off on the Appalachian Trail!)
While Tommy was here last week, I was discussing how, between the time Tommy was a few days shy of his first birthday, and the time he was twelve or so, we had not been camping at all. My reasons for boycotting camping for so long were entirely selfish, I realized last week. I had spent that entire trip either cooking, preparing to cook, or cleaning up from cooking for Tom and I and the five kids. When I wasn't in the middle of food work, I was chasing a toddling baby and fishing debris out of his mouth. Rocks, bottle caps, metal pull tabs from cans- the kind that had a 'tongue and ring' that detached entirely from old steel and early aluminum cans-, trash from nasty people who just totally ruin campsites... or chasing a three and a five year old who wanted to go find Daddy and the older brothers fishing down by the water. It was not fun.
Our family outings began to be more "day hikes". We lived about 30 miles from The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The day hikes were usually packing up a lunch, and driving to the refuge. I would stay in a picnic area and chase the three youngest away from the water, while Tom and the older boys got to go boulder hopping and climb up the mountain trails. (I only ONCE ever got to climb up any of the mountains without a child... and had to do that by myself.)
Sometimes, we would ALL go hiking down an easier trail.
For those of you who have not hiked with very young children, it was viewed pretty much as a death march. They were not keen on a long drive, followed by a long walk through some trees. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then another long, long drive home... which takes even longer when the parents keep pulling over to see such ordinary things as buffalo, elk, and longhorn cattle.
Our kids were tormented at least twice a month by these drives, up until we moved within a couple of miles of the Refuge. Then, we were there pretty much at least once a week.
By the time the twins were born, we were a good hour away from the Refuge, and the visits there all but stopped. The twins were about seven or eight before they ever got to camp anyplace other than our own yard. (As we all know- the fearless duo began camping out alone at four years old in our yard! Next thing we knew, they were off on the Appalachian Trail!)
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