Cleaned Just in Time!

Cleaned Just in Time!

 

Ever got the floors cleaned and the house semi-dusted when a brand-new wind storm blew through? Well, just in time for another blow, the floors have been vacuumed and mopped through out the house and the counters cleaned off. And then the wind hit again. Dad gum the works! And believe me, it truly is work. Such is life in Texas—and according to Sterling, just as bad on his hill in Arkansas. Some places are getting rain. We get more wind. The poppies and irises are blooming in their full glory. Guess that won’t last long. Gusts from 13 to 20 mph are even hard on hens.

 

Maybe we will get rain tomorrow as the forecast claims. Hope lives eternal, doesn’t it? If not hope, at least most of us have the ability to get out some good gripes. And some of us are champion gripers!

 

Will remind you tonight to pray for those who don’t even have hope and have found griping to be dangerous. We are so blessed to live with a history of freedom. Let us pray that God will keep us free and able to at least gripe about what happens around us.

 

May you and yours be blessed with good health and happiness.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Half a Job.

 Half a Job.

 

When cutting grass around here, it takes the old woman two days, at least. The west side it bumpy and has things that cause quite a bit of maneuvering. The east side is just larger and more time consuming. Then there is the weed eating. NOT my favorite job. And today it became quite obvious that we are really in need of rain. One kind of “weed” out there makes seed needles that turn brown before they shed the seeds. And the yard and the east lot is just full of those brown things. Maybe it won’t take too much time early tomorrow to get the worst of them cut. Then a path through the buffalo clover needs to be cut in the front yard. Have been enjoying the poppies as they bloom out there next to the bluebonnets. But the actual flower bed needs some work. Sigh

 

Thought the house would get vacuumed and mopped today, but that just did not happen. It’s not like it will suddenly get clean, ya know. But at least laundry and clean sheets happened. Can’t ask for too much these days.

 

My brother Sterling seems to be doing fairly well. His minister brought over some kind of pump that keeps cold water circulating around his knee. And after four days, he finally got a shower. Said it was such a relief. One of the ladies who he knows came to see why he could not get the syringes to work so he could take a shot of that blood thinner stuff. It had directions in the bottom of the bag, but he had not seen them. Guess they figured it out since then.

 

Talking with a friend about the seemingly enormous number of folks who have some form of cancer, Chrohn’s, Parkinson’s, or various other diseases. Maybe it is because our population has exploded, but it does seem that nearly everyone knows someone with a serious disease. We can do only so much for ourselves by trying to eat natural foods, attempting to remain calm in the face of stupidity, and being as careful as possible when we travel from one place to another. But we still have to deal with our world as it is. When drugs are there to help with diabetes, mental illnesses, and age-related weaknesses, we should be willing to use them as needed. But we also need to remember that our attitude makes so very much difference in how we feel and think. Let’s think of some ways to help our attitude:

1.  Prayer

2.  Exercise—with common sense

3.  Reading

4.  Art work

5.  Animals—(chickens, dogs, cats, birds)

6.  Music

7.  Rest

8.  Movies with wholesome portrayals

9.  Visiting with friends 10. Planting flowers

 

Maybe some of you would like to suggest other ways we can help ourselves. It seems that Keith Mattson reads poetry and takes pictures, but he also visits a local café and watches people with kindness. Maybe we just all need to be more aware of the needs of others when it is within our ability to help.

 

Remember that all blessings come from the Father above.

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Mental and Physical Reflections.

 Mental and Physical Reflections.

 

What we think about affects the physical body—both immediately and over a span of time. Resentment, or that “oh woe is me” attitude either one can make one physically ill. It is almost like the physical reflects the exact amount of venom that resides within the mental outlook. For that reason, sometimes it is best to avoid—when possible—those that have that nasty, “I’ll do what I want” attitude. Disrespect for others is a hallmark of a bad mental or spiritual attitude. It is almost impossible to totally avoid those with that kind of attitude. Finding fault with others really begins with disrespect, in case you did not know. And sometimes those faults are the kinds that could make a person really hot under the collar, but the best thing is to look first at our own faults before we start railing about someone else’s faults. Or, better yet, consider that God loves the faulty as well as those who have to deal with the person.

 

In the past 50 or so years of this life, so many things have changed—not necessarily for the better. It pretty well frosts my flakes that some folks who know me rather well expect me to change my way of thinking to accommodate their way of thinking.  Being kind and considerate of others is one thing, but don’t ask me to change what my mind tells me is true about any given situation. For instance, a friend whose son needs help does not receive any help from his step-father. In fact, he does not even ask about him or his situation. Yet his own children receive help and gifts whether or not they are needed. Stingy, cheap, uncaring, crud person! How is this even expressing love for his wife and her child?  Disrespectful! Whether it is a child, adult, parent, or grandparent, we all need to practice being respectful and caring.

You know, whether or not you believe in God or Jesus Christ His son, it becomes one of the first lessons we learn as a child to respect others and their belongings. But if you include the commandments of God into your personal behavior, you will find that treating others as you would want to be treated works out very well. How are you treating others today? Are you being kind and considerate? Do you respect other’s property? Or are you considering yourself and your opinions as infallible?

 

Let us remember to treat others as we would want to be treated. Let us consider the needs of others, as well as, or before, our own. It may be something as simple as creating your own meals when it is so much cheaper to eat at home while cleaning up one’s own mess. Or it might be taking care of little chores around the house on a dependable basis. And if you work for some company or individual, be dependable and willing to do what needs to be done. YOUR mental health will be improved and kept stable by doing your very best to consider others in your everyday work, play, and involvement with others.

 

Let us pray for those who need medical help, for those who are surrounded by lawlessness, for those who have family frustrations, for those who need friends who are trustworthy. Let us never be part of the problems in this world, but may God help us to keep peace whenever possible.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Bad Habits.

 Bad Habits.

 

Yup, the old woman has a few bad habits. Barnyard language is about the only one that most people will see right off the bat. If it can be stepped in around the corral, it has been mentioned quite emphatically at least once or twice when she is ticked off. Otherwise, if her driving is somewhat erratic, it is not quite the same as road rage. If you ask her to do something for you, a positive answer means for sure that thing will get done. Now, don’t expect a smile on the old woman’s face if she gets too tired. She has a tendency to get pretty cross when she is tired or otherwise frustrated. But she doesn’t go around kicking dogs—her own or other folks’ dogs. But on the other hand, she does have a very definite sense of what is fair or unfair. Retribution can be pretty hasty and definite. And right now, she is thoroughly ticked off at a couple of people.

 

Once upon a time, many years ago, a job was offered to me by a company about which not much was known. Taking the job was probably the best thing to do under the circumstances, but it was not long before it became obvious that a “hostile work environment” was in full force in the company’s office. That hostility dribbled all over the workforce. Vindictive people can be less than pleasant to be around, but one in particular wanted everyone on her side of the situation. Little bits of information were kept from the head position so that the manager looked pretty ignorant. And the secretary/finance officer gloated at how badly she was able to make the manager of the head office look. Honestly, you might have thought she was out to divorce the guy and take him for everything he owned. Since that time, both have moved on to other occupations, but the bad taste was in that company for a long time. Lately, something has happened to some folks in my acquaintance that made me think of that vindictive woman at that company. Anytime someone wants you to take their side of things, be sure you have ALL the facts, and then ooze on outside the boundaries of their influence if at all possible. Taking sides, even when it seems warranted, can cause all kinds of problems.

 

Family relationships can be pretty wonky at times. Never let anyone talk badly about your family! Protecting others from someone’s temper is one thing, but YOU be the one to suggest caution, not someone who does not have a very close relationship with your family. In all the days that my family had some problems with in-laws and each other, no one said anything about my parents or my grands, my brother, my kids, or my husband without getting a pretty good telling off. No one’s family is perfect—and criticism of someone else should not come out of your mouth unless YOU are perfect—fat chance!

 

Talking to someone today about the influence of the time changes on those with unsettled minds or those who are bipolar. Now, we are not talking about my idiot chickens at the moment, but the sunshine and darkness make a definite difference in how they behave. It makes sense that changing folks’ getting up and going down time could influence people, too. Never think about bipolar that memories of my youngest son do not swamp my mind with regrets. Still, if you think drugs make a difference in how someone acts, remember that sunlight and darkness can have similar effects.

 

The pollen count is still too dadgum high, so my head aches. The dogs gave me a mighty good workout yesterday, so my back, arms, and legs are sore. Kinda gripey is about the best description. Still, at least pain pills are not necessary. Jacqui told Sterling to take a pain pill this morning, and he did not listen to her. He will from now on! Stubborn Pollards. Told her to tell him to listen and behave or his sister would be shouting at him. Don’t think he is too afraid of the old woman, but still. He found out very quickly that Jacqui was not going to let him overdo the pain pills, so he did not have to worry about taking too many or too often.

 

One of these days the old woman may tell you what got me on such a kick and ticked off, but at the moment it just would not do. Will remind you to pray for Kimberly, Sharon Dickerson’s niece who is just hanging on. And then Amee Hodges’ daughter Madison is in Cook’s after having a seizure. Madison lost the last kidney transplant, and now she is having blood pressure problems. Madison is such a sweet girl, but this would have been her second kidney transplant. It is just so hard to watch her not have the life she should have. So many young kids are dealing—and their parents are dealing—with different conditions that make life scary and hard. Let us pray for those with these terrible situations and diseases. May God bless their lives.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Dogs' Day.

 Dogs’ Day.

 

About an hour from now, both my dogs will be at the vet’s office with me. Toenail clipping for Sylvia and rabies shot for Thompson. They are both currently wearing their harnesses and have a chain attached to the back of the harnesses so they can be clipped onto the headrests in the back seat. Have learned something from my grand niece’s experience with what happens to dogs in a wreck. So sorry that she and her husband had to lose three dogs and quite a bit of time to recover, but from now on, these two dogs will be clipped into the back seat to protect them and me should we have to come to a screeching halt.

 

Currently it is 79 degrees of warm! Whew! Probably will turn the AC on this afternoon when we return from the vet’s office. It has been so funny to watch the dogs get the zoomies and then go plop down in the big black water tub to cool off their tummies. Know exactly how they feel. That is why the old woman sent off for some Bermuda shorts. Now may have to use some of my oldest tshirts and make sleeveless tees out of them. It’s either that or go to one of those resale shops and find some cute tops in my size. Hmm.

 

Sterling called and said he goes to Springdale for therapy tomorrow and then will be able to go to therapy closer to home after that. He said he had to give himself a shot to keep from having blood clots. Same thing that Jacqui took after her chemo and all. Not any fun whatsoever! Think son-in-law may have had some of those. Oh joy. Anyway, Jacqui was trying to sweep the floor up after he drug in grass on his walker. Think he was feeling guilty, but he knew he could not get up and sweep!

 

Asked Sterling how full the workshop was and found out it was not totally full yet. Their church sells all the donations and sends the money with their mission folks to Honduras or somewhere. Last year they had $800 to take with them. They got there and found out that was exactly what was needed. Sterling is convinced that God does exactly what is needed where it is needed. Kinda feel he is right about that. Too many times we have seen things happen that only God could have controlled.

 

Some strangers are walking down on the highway, and these dogs are NOT impressed or happy about it. Can’t say that they are not the best watch dogs around! Of course, all they have ever been allowed to do is watch and bark or growl. Not sure what they would do to a person, but dear hearts, they would take out anything with four legs or with feathers!

 

Think the old woman is going to have to water tonight. We really need rain again. Was looking at an article on drought yesterday and it seems the entire U.S. is in some kind of drought conditions. Eventually we will have to figure out how to make better use of the water we have and how to make clean water from the oceans. Technology needs to be better in every field, but especially the ones that provide for the basic necessities.

 

Not sure the two dogs feel the trip was worth it, but took them by Whataburger for a couple of “doggy burgers”—that is just plain bread and meat on the small side—juniors. Anyway, now their nails are trimmed, Thompson has had his rabies vaccine, and the old woman is one tired ol’ gal.

 

Forgot to turn the oven off before leaving, so the meat in there got a wee bit brown and dry. Oh well. The dogs won’t care in the long run. They can’t have the bones this time, however. That is what made Thompson throw up last time. Argh.

 

Will ask that you remember to pray for those who are recovering from surgeries, or those like Sharon Dickerson’s niece who is still in the hospital. It seems the longer we live, the more things fall apart on us. Not going to gripe too much. It is pretty nice to get this old and still be able to enjoy life.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Is It a ME Generation?

 Is It a ME Generation?

 

Families seem to have changed drastically over the past 70 or so years. Remembering how my family was at one time as a youngster and how it changed over the years has made me think about how families have changed since the old woman married a young man with strong family ties. Don’t know about others, but we seemed to go into the situation with certain expectations. And things did not always work out the way we expected—especially as our own children got older and began their families. But sitting here thinking about it, we hardly ever heard of divorce among the families whose children grew up with ours. And then we did—more than just one or two divorces. Men my husband worked with sometimes divorced, but generally they had stable marriages. Most of the people in my group stayed married—well, except for a few. But more and more marriages are going down in flames or will burn up the children in the legal system—splitting them up like property. When children are older, it is one thing. But young kids need a stable home life. Oh, if one or the other partner is hateful, it might be best if children are not around that attitude, but the ideal is that parents actually ACT like parents instead of spoiled children. That spoiled attitude is what makes me question if this is a ME generation.

 

Teenagers are not known—in general—for their serving attitude. But when prompted, they used to know how to help others with a good attitude. Attitude. What is it that gives a person a decent attitude? Is it realizing that the individual is not the ONLY one involved in this life? Is it taking that extra step to remember to do something when asked to do it? How much effort does it take to help with things around the home or at work? No amount of “tired” is justification for letting things go undone that the person should do instead of expecting others to do it for them. Life works out best when everyone involved does his or her part not only willingly but with careful attention to doing it every time it needs to be done.

 

Honestly believe that we had three of the best kids around. At least they cared or seemed to care about what they were asked to do. The old woman knows times have changed. Folks in my children’s generation are pretty much thinking about themselves most of the time—but not all the time. Consideration. Think my grands have some consideration for their parents. They just do not realize how blessed they are to have parents who have stayed together and made a family a whole instead of fragments of selfishness. Who knows how things will change within another generation.

 

May God bless our families and those who are torn apart by selfishness.

 

By the way, my brother has to have a test run this evening to be sure he has no blood clots, but if everything is clear, he goes home tonight with his new knee. Praise God!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

A New Knee.

 A New Knee.

 

Talked to Sterling and laughed with him about trying to be sure that both feet pointed in the same direction when he wakes up from his surgery tomorrow. Wouldn’t want that knee surgeon to put one on backwards and torque it down with an impact before they are sure it is heading north rather than south. We made a few silly remarks before he told me that the church is getting ready to load up his workshop with all the jumble of shtuff that they plan on selling for the mission trip to the Honduras. He laughed about all those folks being in his workshop and opening his little ice box in there where he keeps a case of PBR (beer). Last time some lady asked for one. Well, of course, he handed her one! He pointed out that our daddy used to say that if all the Baptists stopped drinking, the liquor stores would all go out of business.

 

Anyway, don’t think Sterling will be doing any dancing anytime soon. He reminded me that he had planned to teach line dancing back in the senior center before Mom and Dad began taking up so much of our time. He had to give up teaching and working to help the elderly stay fit. Here we are now, both of us, still trying to stay fit ourselves! No line dancing around here, but a bit of weed eating goes a long way!

 

Had thought about cleaning out the chicken coop today, but just didn’t really want to mask up and rake it out. Lazy ol’ woman didn’t get much done at all today. Didn’t even vacuum the house or mop up anything other than the mess where some old person knocked her water bottle off the desk. At least it went on the floor and not into the keyboard! One towel mess was all it took for today. The dog towels from yesterday are already washed, dried, folded and put away. And the dogs still smell good from their baths.

 

Have not even looked at anything on FB much except to notice some had posted Easter greetings while a few of my friends had posted Passover pictures. Sometimes the two don’t correspond by dates—but these were just a few days apart. Noticed that Chris O.’s picture included the ram’s horn and some matzo. We used to spend some time making unleavened bread each year, but matzo can be used for the Passover anyway. Never was as shocked as the day in a different church when they passed around pieces of hamburger buns—definitely not unleavened bread—to represent the body of Christ. But that isn’t even what they taught anyway. Someone put a post on FB about there being 42,000 different churches—but only one Jesus Christ. Guess you can pretty well know where the old woman stands.

 

Will just remind you that folks like Sterling and others are having surgery every day. We might should be holding the surgeons and nurses and technicians in our prayers. They serve us just as much or more than anyone in any position of helpers. It might not be as dangerous as a police officer’s job or that of a military person, but the hours and long and hard on them. Praise God that He gave us the intelligence to make good use of our technology and the wonderful healing power of the human body.

 

Remember that this world needs you—YOU. No one can do what you can do for others or for yourself. Thank YOU for serving in prayer and in giving love.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.