Dinner Due to Sheila Hemphill.

 Dinner Due to Sheila Hemphill.

 

Yum and other expressions of satisfaction. My kitchen smells a tiny bit like cabbage and some kind of pepper sauce, but the crunchy ones are the very best. Have to listen to the chief cook and bottle washer complain that hers are not nearly as good as Sheila’s, but such is the complaint from someone who does not cook that kind of food as often as Sheila! To me, it is just plum laripin’. That’s an old folks’ expression of appreciation for a meal created and cooked for the one who does not have to lift anything other than a fork!

 

Just finished washing my hair and scrubbing what needed to be scrubbed that required a minimum of stretching and leaning on the shower walls. Feeling hot despite the extreme cold around outside. It was six degrees early this morning. And the sleet sounded like a gravel truck speeding by at 80 mph throwing out the little stuff. At least nothing got hit hard enough to do any damage. Can’t imagine the State Hospital getting any work done this coming week, so maybe the roads will be somewhat quieter for a change. Or not.

 

We keep seeing posts online about a revival or at least a new stream of Christians coming out of Pakistan and the Philippines. It’s just amazing. Even saw one post about some Christians in one of the Muslim countries that we never see. Just looked back through some information about how many countries consider it illegal to be Christian within their country. Wow! We are SO blessed here in the U.S. to be able to follow our faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Tomorrow requires a couple of phone calls to doctor’s offices. Dr. Kern wants to see me on the second of February—the same day as Dr. Vietenheimer. Then the eye doctor has me set up for the fifth day of the month. Who knew that February would be such a busy month! At least my new knee is not bothering me very much at all. The back surgery just provides a new wiggle to my wobbly walk. Taking the meds alternately seems to help somewhat. Once in a while my sentences make a little bit of sense. Ahem.

 

Kinda hoping that this last line of sleet and freezing rain will be all we get this month. Bet the farmers are clinching their uppers and lowers together in hopes of the ground getting the moisture it needs to grow a wheat crop. If you ever want to meet a sure ‘nuff gambler, just let me find you a farmer. Told Jennifer if her mom ever bought a ticket for the lottery, it would have to win something, but it won’t happen since the ticket has not been purchased—ever.

 

Like a fat little baby, the old woman has been bathed and fed and is about ready for sleep. Will hope not to hear more clicks and clacks on the windows tonight. Will pretend it is just rain.

 

Consider our blessings and pray for those who God has put in charge of our government. May God lead them and guide them along with our thoughts and prayers.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Stirring Up Old Memories.

 Stirring Up Old Memories.

 

Gary Adams and his sweet lady Jo Lynn would have appreciated my conversation with Sterling this morning. Seems that Stacy Parker missed the rump and hit on the tops of Gary’s legs when he applied the board. Gary was limping around when his grandmother noticed and he showed her the bruises on his legs. Fury is known as Maggie Ruthledge. But they took her shotgun away from her before she left the wash house. Not that she didn’t leave old Stacy shaking in his shoes after she opened the doors all the way back to his office. Now Stacy was as good a principal as we could have had back then under the Brewster mafia, but seeing him years back in McDonald’s made me smile. He really was a good guy.

 

Sterling had to recalibrate my calendar when wishing him a happy Sunday. Jennifer exclaimed, “Don’t take one of my days off away from me!” Yep, she does not work weekends except at home! They got oodles of snow in Gentry, Arkansas, but we got all we need currently. And the low temps to keep it from melting. Sterling told me that he had to take their sweet friend Polly to the doctor’s office where he and a couple of older gents were “entertained” by the tantrum of a little sh*t. All three men were thinking along the same lines of attitude adjustment. Good thing that they were not left alone with him, or he definitely would have received some encouragement from the older generation. Tae Kwon Do on ice skates!

 

Jennifer has been telling me the temps as they dropped last night. Then she let me know when it began to snow. SO glad not to have to be outside in this mess. Too old to play in the snow! And she just informed me that it has begun to snow again! Oh well. The soil needs the moisture! Hope all the little toads, the spiney lizards, and assorted other critters have the insulation they need right now.

 

Have one of those cup warmers on my desk here in the office. Jenn brought me the coffee, and it was hot, but my mind is slow this morning. Last night was nightmares from the book “1984” that made me wake up thinking of the s/he mess currently being suggested by the “theys” in this world. My brother’s term is “dumbass.” If you were born with one, you know it. Otherwise, it takes some education and exploration to figure things out. Hello from someone who had very little education concerning sex and sexuality. Gotta figure, my parents were teenagers when they had their first child. They got married on July 31, 1944. Daddy was drafted and Mom had Sterling on June 27, 1945. Dad was supposed to be in a tank replacement unit being sent to replace all the tanks put out of service in the war. But instead, he was in the service (army) just long enough to qualify for the VA Loans so that he and Granddad Pollard could build their first little three-or four-room house there in Petrolia. Then some years later, they built on two more rooms. It was a pretty little house. We had gas heating, but the couple who bought it had to bring in a big electric panel because they had to heat with electricity. They didn’t know that gas could be piped through the ceiling like mine is. Still wish I had insisted on one more drop in the living room. But $500 is a lot of money tacked on to a few thousand. Saw two little children in the back yard when the old woman drove by. Reminded me of the two who grew up in that yard. Great memories.

 

Let us be grateful for electricity and heating from the earth’s resources. May the electric lines stay uncovered by ice and may the snow not turn to ice on the roads.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

A Bit of an Update.

 A Bit of an Update.

 

Just for the record, took a TUB bath tonight for the first time in years. The tub has only been used for the dogs at least since 2022 and the last back surgery. Jenn had me watch a couple of YouTube tutorials on how to get out of the tub. It worked. Nice, hot soak with Epsom salt. Maybe one tomorrow night. We will see.

 

Carol Thonton has an arteriogram on Thursday. Please pray for her. She has had this more than once in the past six years. My guess is that the procedure is not any kind of fun. So glad her sister Donna is able to get her from one place to another.

 

Jennifer has been cooking today and now has a few days’ worth of topper stuff to put on the dogs’ kibble. She also cooked for us as well. SO nice to have meals handed to me! Hoping that the recovery from this procedure will be quick and relatively simple so that she can return home to her family soon. Love having her here, but she has quite the pile of responsibilities as mother, wife, and worker for the family company. Tomorrow, we have to change the sheets and mop the floors to settle the dadgummed dog hair around here. Such fun. Still have no idea what time we will have to be at the hospital on Tuesday. Oh well.

 

Granddaughter Rachel and her guy Damien got in this evening from Japan. Can hardly wait to hear the stories of what she has seen and heard. She was very impressed by the CLEAN roads or highways. Jenn reminded me that the country is so overpopulated that if only one percent of the folks dropped something on the ground, the country would be inundated with trash. Living here in Texas makes it very difficult to imagine not having space for turning around without bumping into your neighbor. We have elbow room! Even Edinburgh and Paris seemed crowded compared to Ft. Worth or Dallas.

 

Saw another video about the many nations in which Christians are being persecuted. Amazing and horrifying! But most of the persecution comes from Muslims—besides places like China and North Korea. So very sad. May God bless those who turn to Him.

 

Going to bed soon. Seems as if fatigue keeps pace with the old woman. Hoping that the naps Grandmother Pollard used to take every day will work out the same way for me as it did for her. No problems sleeping after a nap when age walks with us.

 

Keep those who mourn and those fighting cancer and other diseases in your prayers. Let us remember that only God can make the difference in this life and in the next one with Him.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Accepting What Comes.

 Accepting What Comes.

 

Living and dying have always been pretty precarious and not easily faced, but more and more, as we age, we see that neither is to be a cause for concern. God allows both in various ways. We can ask for comfort, for peace, and for whatever it takes to get by in either situation. Not easy: just how things will be.

 

A friend of many of the folks the old woman has known left us today for God’s kingdom. Tami Yonts was—much like her sister Paula—one of the most positive and cheerful individuals around! She always came and sat down beside me when Lewis took his old nag to Pioneer for a meal. She teased with Lewis and made me feel special with her warmth. We met her husband Mike while he was still a motorcycle cop. We got to hear about their son and his exploits while she grinned and shook her head. We laughed about her fishing trips. Tami was the kind of person it was easy to love. Oh, if only all of us could be such as she was!

 

Have not heard from Diann Dennis about her granddaughter Raye and her eyes, but when cancer shows up anywhere in a person’s body, it is not a good thing. Let us continue to pray for little Raye and her family.

 

Meanwhile, Mariellen Showhalter Rose let us know that the leukemia is back in her blood again. May God bless her and the family as they take her back to MD Anderson.

 

My granddaughter and her special guy Damien are headed back to the U.S. tonight from Japan. We are looking forward to hearing all about her trip and the different things that they have experienced.

 

A post online showed that Pakistan is having a wonderful revival and introduction to the Gospel so that millions have come to know about Jesus Christ. It makes me wonder if this might be one of the signs of the end times when the gospel makes it to all corners of the globe. May God make His presence known!

 

Jennifer is slowly trying to get my house and the bathroom back together after Maria had to remove everything out of that room when the hot water heater flooded the bathroom. The old woman is not supposed to bend, lift, or twist (B,L,Ts), and let me tell you, that is very difficult to remember!! Feel a bit like a child being scolded, but that is the reason this sweet girl is here. Just wish someone who is a good chiropractor could help her put her rib back in place! It takes so little to get her rib to pop out. This was a gift from her last son’s position in the womb. Such is life.

 

Watched some TV with Jennifer this afternoon. British TV requires us to have closed captions on simply because it is a bit difficult to understand—especially if a person does not hear well. Anyway, good programs!

 

Trying to remember to drink lots of water to go with the pain pills, but tonight begins baths with extra soap scrubs. Such fun. By Tuesday maybe all the evil little bugs or bacteria will be choked up with soap so that they can’t cause any infection in the surgical site. Here’s hoping anyway.

 

Sterling and George are switching jobs in the shop so that George’s (one) eye will not be irritated. He needs to use some kind of eye salve at night to prevent dryness. Seems like a stuff called Systane would work, but this ol’ gal is not a doctor. With only one eye, it would make a difference.

 

Tonight let us remember those who mourn and those who are dealing with sicknesses and diseases. Let us pray for our president and those who will be making the decisions that affect our lives. Let us trust that God can help us see His Hands in all things.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Update on Recovery.

 Update on Recovery.

 

Sometimes we hear what we WANT to hear, don’t you see? Well, Jenn looked up on ChapGT or something like that and searched for the timeline for recovery on this upcoming surgery. She won’t be going home for a while.

 

We had wonton soup today that Sheila Hemphill made for us. Oh boy! It reminds me that those wraps can be fried and are so good when they crunch—and now know that they are good in wraps around chunks of stuff and cooked in soup base. Wow! Anyway, love that kind of food. We never ate any kind of shrimp for years, and this old person still does not make an effort to buy the stuff, but it is pretty good mixed with pork or whatever. Asked Jenn if it could be done with chicken, but she said it would not make a decent ball to put inside the wrap stuff. Guess that would make a big difference. But then, some of us tend to be cheap! (ME!)

 

My very first grandchild, Grayson Ostand, will turn 29 tomorrow. It seems strange to think that it has been that long. Lewis had a picture of that little guy in his tool box for years. He was SO proud of that little man. Grayson’s first word was “truck.” He loved going out to sit inside Lewis’ truck and turning all the knobs and playing the radio or, after he could walk somewhat, playing in the bed of the truck. Good memories.

 

John Rhoads stopped by with a yellow rose today and handed it to Jennifer. She had no idea that he brings flowers every year on January 13, the date we lost our youngest boy. They were fond of each other. Some folks are just special in your life. It has been eight years now.

 

Keep finding cords and plugs for various things like phones and a Kindle or two. It would be so wonderful if these things were all the same size or at least interchangeable. Someone needs to invent a plug that will allow a person to go from one size to another without having to buy a new cord and plug thing. Sigh. Can always think of things that need to be invented, but have absolutely no inventive powers of my own. Such is life.

 

Put up a schedule on the cabinet to remind us when to leave the doors open to prevent freeze damage under the sink. Never really mind winter all that much as long as the electricity does not go out or the roads don’t freeze over. Jenn reminded Dr. Kern that the last time he worked on me, he nearly got wrecked just trying to get to work. We had a really bad freeze that February! And here we go again! Pray for decent weather for next week, please.

 

Thompson has been working overtime on barking. Think he is going blind—or at least the cataracts are progressing to a greater extent. He got out yesterday, so Jenn closed the gate on the east lots to keep him closer to the house. He is not a happy camper. Sweet ol’ boy!

 

May each of you feel gratitude for the peace given to us by God each day.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Off to See the Wizard!

 Off to See the Wizard!

 

Jennifer took the old woman up to Dr. Kern’s office this morning. One of the nurses asked some kind of a question about one or both, and the first thing that came to my wobbly mind was the knee surgery, so she was told, “Just the right knee, and it works like a charm!” Apparently, that is NOT what the question concerned. She wanted to know if this pain was on both sides. All that connected with my beady brain was the phrase “both sides.” Pointed at the right knee and said it worked like a champ! Oh well.

 

Anyway, tomorrow is blood work and more paperwork, and then NEXT Tuesday will be the surgery. Dr. Kern will let me know when to be at URHC that day. We should be home the same day because he explained that a piece of bone has splintered off and is poking the nerve from above the last surgery site. How’s that for making life interesting?

 

Jennifer is working from “home” at my kitchen table. If all goes well, she can go home sometime next week after we get me settled down with these two crazy dogs. They have been having barking fits ever since we got home earlier. Not sure just what they think they are scaring off, but it should be sufficiently warned by now.

 

This is going to be a short blog. Jenn put din-upper on to cook in that new pot she got for me. Then we will also have some of her friend’s Chinese food that she made for us to eat while Jenn is here. Sheila is a fantastic cook! Her mom and grandmother were good at making this stuff as well, so it’s not like we have to guess if the food will be tasty!

 

Will attempt to let Sterling and a few others know about this upcoming surgery, but if you read the blog, you know that we trust that God has this in His hands. Meanwhile, please pray for Raye (granddaughter of Diann Dennis), Tami Yonts—head waitress at Pioneer on Maplewood for many years, and those in England who have been assaulted by winds in 100+ mph. Life can really be tough sometimes.

 

Let us be loving towards others and give them the kindness we would need in our own lives.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Enough Breath to Bitch.

 Enough Breath to B*tch.

 

The wind is blowing again, so that means the pollen in the air is as thick as maple syrup before it boils. Patty just has one lung anyway, but with the pollen count this high, it is nearly impossible to take a deep breath and do any talking. Being a long-winded Texan takes practice, but on days like this, it is pretty difficult to get all one’s moaning and groaning done before running out of air. But she assured me that if she got her “second wind,” she would have plenty to b*tch about. A niece (on HIS side of the family) came into town and did not even call her after having made special arrangements to spend the night with her. Anyway, Patty was somewhat ticked off. At least she got it out of her system by telling me all about it.

 

Pictures from Japan today made quite the impression on me. The first thing that impressed me was the shiny, clean roads! And then, the scenery was all at a ninety-degree angle—all up, in other words. It is such a tiny country that they don’t really have much grass or many trees. Maybe they train their dogs to use the facilities like a child would? Small dogs, too! Have heard that so many people are impressed with the cleanliness—even when they have a “protest” and pick up their mess! Simply can’t imagine. Years ago, we worked on a 2-mile section of road as a group and with our students so that they could earn and learn at the same time. Just the enormous amount (pounds!) of cigarette “remains” was horrifying. Two of the younger students just picked up cigarette butts to fill a trash bag. And yes, someone had to go along behind them to really clean that section. We even found money in a small bag that someone had thrown out with their trash. To think that my granddad used to buy hay that had been cut and baled from the side of the road! Maybe folks were less trashy back then.

 

Lance has been feeling better today. He thinks the steroids have kicked in to help the muscle aches. He does not know that you all have joined with us to pray for him. SO many people are having problems currently. In fact, you may see that Tami Yonts has decided to just go on Hospice and let God and the pain meds take care of the rest of her life. Feel so sorry for her, but at the same time, we can know that she is totally assured that her life is in the hands of the master creator.

 

Speaking of the Creator—saw an article today that talked about how pine pollen is designed with tiny little balloons to help it navigate over the oceans through the wind storms that buffet it about. It could never stay afloat without those balloons. And you know who decided that they needed to be there! It is simply wonderful and amazing that He said, “Let it be so,” and His creation was perfect from the get-go! How could anyone see the world in all its many glories and not believe in the Creator?

 

Had some groceries delivered today that included two packages of bottled water. Have been using the Britta water filters and reusing the water bottles most of the time. THOUGHT the old woman had ordered the new filters, but looked for the order and did not find it. Argh! Anyway, the man brought my groceries inside for me. For sure those big 40-bottle packages would be too heavy for most people to pick up and put somewhere. But this guy had plenty of muscles, so he just had bottles in one hand and several bags in the other hand. Wow! But those bottles should last quite a while.

 

My cousin Betty called this evening, and we got to visit for a while. Love that we can still have so much in common after all these years. And some of the same attitudes!! For her age, she is in very good shape—92 or there abouts. She still drives and goes wherever she wants to go. She is hoping that her granddaughter and her husband can have a baby sometime in the near future, but they are already in their 30s, so it may not happen. Didn’t think it would be fair to brag about my great grandson, so just didn’t mention Josiah. But then, she knows that the hens are gone and the dogs are as spoiled as any grandchild ever could be!

 

Really pretty tired tonight. Only did a little bit of rearranging, but it does not take much to wear me out. Guess getting older has to be given some liberty to cause a person to slow down somewhat. Anyway, will try to behave myself at least until Jennifer gets here on Sunday. Will be praying for her safe trip up here. The roads just keep getting scarier by the day—at least for me. Big trucks are something else! The kids seem to just take things like traffic as part of life. But then, none of them learned to drive in the sheep pasture on a standard shift without power brakes or power steering!! Here’s one to the old folks!!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

How Things Get Done.

 How Things Get Done.

 

Got a message this morning that Rachel and Damien arrived in Tokyo around 1 a.m. So glad the kids are getting this experience! Carol Thonton said that her sister Donna spent 30 years over there teaching ESL classes and loved every minute of it. And everything points to the difference in how the children are taught from the get go to be respectful of others and to maintain cleanliness around themselves. Saw a photo of the “aftermath” of a protest in which the grounds were swept up and looked wonderful after the protest was over. Here in the U.S., we can’t even drive cars without throwing something out the window or leaving messes on the table in the restaurants! It is easy to see who cleans up things at home when the mother starts clearing the plates and stacking them on a table at the restaurant.

 

Need to go make a piece or two of toast this morning to use up the avocados on the kitchen table. Not about to let those things go to waste! It just seems like nothing is all that appealing for meals right now. Maybe some fajita soup tonight.

 

Patty called yesterday to brag about how good Roxie smelled and felt after the groomer came to brush and bathe her fur. He told her he removed an entire dog’s worth of fur! That’s really easy to believe. My dogs got a fairly good brushing yesterday, but the wind was blowing enough that the fur went right onto my sweat pants! New style! HA!

 

My oldest child reached down to hug and kiss his wife goodbye yesterday morning and pulled something in his back. He is now on muscle relaxants and trying to work while in pain. Know how miserable that can be. Appreciate prayers for him.

 

Shone finally got in to see the new doctor for her granddaughter who has to have a wheelchair. They went through covid and flu with her doctor right about the time he was supposed to be filling out the paperwork for a new chair—and then he retired before getting the stuff filed!! Anyway, now they have a new doctor for the kid and maybe they will be able to get her a new wheelchair that fits her size now. Meanwhile, Shona’s mom, Barbara, has some other issues with social services not providing the tables that attach to her wheelchair. Nothing is ever simple, is it.

 

Feeling somewhat overwhelmed by all the crap that needs to be done around here this morning and just called Maria to see if she can come this afternoon to help me reorganize—with emphasis on the organize—and get rid of a bunch of stuff. She will clean up the mess the plumber left as well. He did not make too much mess, but then, he is not taking care of the floors around here. The $1500 was just about enough to take my breath away, but then Sterling told me that he went through something similar when his well pump went out this past November. Shona just reminded me that we should be thankful to be able to pay for this shtuff! She is right, of course, and waking up to a flooded bathroom with an inch and a half of water flooding the floor was certainly not a great way to wake up yesterday! Now to get some stuff given away or otherwise disposed of should help my beady little brain.

 

Thinking about colors this morning. Over time, most of us have a favorite color. One of mine has always been a goldish yellow, but that may be because of the beautiful dress Mom made for me back during my eighth-grade graduation. Granddad Pollard told me that his granddaughter was beautiful! This kid hardly ever heard that unless Mom quickly made the comment, “Pretty is as pretty does.” Tell me that does not take any gloss off a compliment in a hurry! Oh well. Then other colors made me happy: turquoise, purple, and honey brown. Yes, brown with a gold tinge to it. Maybe that is a bit strange, but those colors still appeal to me. Know one grandchild who loves purple as well.

 

We got some much-needed rain early this morning. Of course, both dogs were about as restless before the storm hit as dogs can get, but we knew this was coming. The temps are supposed to drop tonight and for the next few days. Just have to remember to open the cabinet doors and let the water drip if it is supposed to freeze.

 

Meanwhile, back at the barn, have to figure out what to do with the dog beds. Sylvia wants Thompson’s bed, and he won’t fuss with her about it. He just whines at me as if to say, “Mom, she got my bed again!” He is such a sweet thing, and she is so very ornery and does not mind me very well. Have had Thompson since he was 8 weeks old, but got her as the final home after four other families decided that they could not handle her. Talk about hyper! Part Beegle and part Pitbull—and part garbage disposal!

 

Have not taken any pain meds this morning and still have two brain cells working, so maybe this should be the way to start my days. Just won’t post anything on the days that my mind is stuck on the crud we see online—or the “news” that comes to us from friends who don’t realize that we are doing the best we can to handle life. Anyway, let us try to be an encouragement to all those with whom we have contact. Remember those who mourn, those whose health or other situations are irremediable, or simply those whose attitude has slipped off into a big ol’ ditch of maladaptation. Life goes on. And God continues to bless and love us.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Sweet Dogs.

 Sweet Dogs.

 

Both dogs have hovered over me today—or gone right through the walker if they let me get too close to them. What a way to manipulate their “momma”! Sylvia has had her head on my feet or on my lap, while Thompson just claimed space on “his” chair. They both have talked about whatever they saw outside, but neither really demanded out except for just early this morning. Then they had their shredded cheese on their kibble. They ate the last of their shredded chicken last night, so it was cheese or no cheese today. Glad they have not been picky.

 

Tried to make some phone calls today and reminded myself of some little ol’ lady who could not remember the names of things that were required to make sense of the purpose of the calls. Patty made me laugh when she told me about all the phone calls she used to take over at the State Hospital. Then she had to hear about the young man at the pharmacy at United who spoke so quickly that the old woman could not listen as quickly as he talked. THEN he exaggerated his words slowly and distinctly. Honestly! My students used to get a lecture at least every six weeks about speaking slowly and clearly when they answered the phone for the businesses who hired them. Reminded them that they would get old someday, too. Who knew that their instructor would get to that point so much more quickly than she expected it!

 

Have never really looked forward to a doctor’s appointment the way this one has come about. On Monday maybe Dr. Kern can set a date for the surgery to get my lower back put into some kind of order. Yes, have been joking about needing a box of baling wire to put things back together, but then Sterling and Carol Thonton have both offered their “come-alongs” to help the doctor get me out of bed! We used to have to use one on a heifer now and then, but who would have thought THIS old cow would need one just to get out of bed! Have a side bar on the edge of my bed to help me pull up or to keep me from falling out some night, but it really has helped to be able to adjust my position on my back. Dread the idea of having the front of my belly cut open again, but at least that one did not hurt since they used a major block on it last time. Apparently, Dr. Kern knows what he is doing because the fall did not mess up what he repaired last time. According to the MRI, those two fixtures were in good position with no extra gaps.

 

Guess you all are going to get awfully tired of hearing about this mess. Meant to ask Sharon Dickerson about the little boy (Morgan) who was in the hospital with a bad infection. She called this afternoon and my head must have been up there where the sun does not shine ‘cause no questions were asked. She had been sick and hupchucking, but her son David is taking good care of her. She is so very blessed to have him with her. She did tell me, however, that her “bathroom” is not even as big as the clothes closet she had in her other house. Understand. Lewis built a nice, big closet in our big bathroom. He had all kinds of good ideas about things like that. He also saw to it that an extra door led to the outside of the house just in case of a fire or whatever. It seems that those were the ideas that came down from his dad and his granddad before him. Fires were horrible back when fireplaces had to be kept burning and kerosene stoves and lamps were simply too dangerous to consider! My great-grandmother lost two homes to fires when Grandmother Pollard was just a little thing. She lost everything to those fires! We are so blessed to have water inside the house and fire engines on call!

 

Messaged Dr. Blackwell’s nurse today and discovered that she had given me two shots that were on my bill. Had totally forgotten about those shots. Had thought that United Pharmacy had charged her office for meds that had already been paid for. Duh. Patty assured me that Alzheimer’s does not come on overnight. Nan Presson told me not to worry about that problem because if a person was concerned about it, the problem was not even in the same category. And Sterling said that words he has known forever just evaporate when he needs them! Welcome to my world!

 

It probably would be a good night not to publish this blog since it sounds more like complaints than anything. Here’s my apology. May all of you have sharp minds, happy thoughts, and the comforts of being able to read and enjoy your family.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

BreakUp Oven Cleaner!

 BreakUp Oven Cleaner!

 

Maria came today and started on the kitchen first. She usually starts at the back of the house and works forward, but things were a bit different for various reasons, so the kitchen got her attention first. Some oven cleaner has made a big difference in how clean the oven looks. Bought some stuff on Amazon called Break-Up. It really did a good job—well, Maria did a good job! Anyway, between the two of us, we cleaned off some shelves that were being used to store roasters for turkeys or what not. Now those shelves are being reestablished as neat places to put plastic containers with lids. Eventually, if my mind and finances meet somewhere in the middle, Barry Thomas Ice is going to be called on to install a new breaker for my kitchen appliances. The current set up has some major faults when the microwave (1200) and even one other appliance are turned on at the same time. Sigh.

 

Having the house all nice and clean, the bed sheets stripped, washed, and put back on the bed, and everything washed that needed a good wash and fluff has made even the dogs feel good. Sylvia appreciated the big fluffy dog bed after it came out of the dryer. She sniffed, circled, and gave a deep sigh. Happy dog.

 

As Maria was leaving, my phone rang and interrupted the nap that was totally needed. But at least it is good to know that Sharon Dickerson is doing well. She told me about a youngster who needed our prayers. Morgan is less than ten years old and got some kind of infection that has gone to his head. He is in the hospital at least. Let us pray that his body can overcome the infection and that he will heal completely.

 

Was happy to see that Maria’s husband Julian had made it back from visiting his mother in Mexico. He said that he and his son would be here sometime tomorrow to get the little six-hen coop at the east end of the house. At least he is not going to try to load it by himself. The old woman may ask him to do a couple of things out in the coops since climbing up on a little bench is not on my list of things that sound possible right now. The electric cord needs to be put back inside the workshop and that takes getting it out of the small hole without tearing up the plastic cover on the wires. Anyway, here’s hoping he understands what needs to be done.

 

Talked to oldest Dickerson grandson today. He was reading some books that his dad got for Christmas. Lance likes to listen to the books, but Landon likes to read a “real” book. Told him that the Kindle app has made it so much easier for me to read since the font size can be enlarged and the lighting adjusted for my eyes. Besides all that, Kindle books do not need to be dusted!!

 

Have been praying for Sterling since he seems to have something itchy on both legs from the feet to the top of the legs. Not sure if it is more shingles or something else, but it is definitely making him miserable. Would appreciate your prayers for him and that his doctor can figure out what to do for him.

 

Was thinking about giving my huge kitchen table to Grayson, but Jennifer said absolutely not. Then she reminded me that they grew up around that table. Plus, when they come to stay with me, that table holds all three of the monitors that have to be used for their “work from home” stuff. Besides all that, every load of clothes gets placed on the table to be folded right out of the dryer! Eight feet of table is a LOT of table—and that isn’t even counting the two inserts on the ends!!

 

The appointment with the back surgeon is for the 12^th of this month. Have a feeling that the surgery itself will take some hours and probably an entire box of baling wire! But at least going by the fact that this last surgery and spare parts stayed in place after the fall, anything Dr. Kern does should stay with the old woman from now on. Now for remaining patient and trying to behave myself. The only real job will be going out to start my truck so that the battery does not run down. Shaking my head here. May get Max to run the truck again when he has time. It’s not like this is something the dogs can do for me.

 

Believe it or not, we need rain. The pastures and fields are dry. Was so very thankful that nothing caught on fire during the fireworks over New Year’s Eve. The dry grass is high behind my house. Not a thing to be done about that, but just pray it does not catch on fire. We have been so blessed this past year with enough rain for the lakes, but we will definitely need more.

 

Let us praise God for all His blessings to each of us and to this nation. It is obvious that all decisions are in HIS hands.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.