HOW TRUE IT IS

Another year has passed
And we're all a little older.

Last summer felt hotter
And winter seems much colder.

I rack my brain for happy thoughts
To put down on my pad,

But lots of things that come to mind
Just make me kinda sad.

There was a time not long ago
When life was quite a blast.

Now I fully understand
About living in the past.

We used to go to friends homes,
Baseball games and lunches.

Now we go to therapy, to hospitals
And after-funeral brunches.

We used to have hangovers
From parties that were gay.

Now we suffer body aches
And sleep the night away.

We used to go out dining,
And couldn't get our fill.

Now we ask for doggie bags,
Come home and take a pill.

We used to travel often
To places near and far.

Now we get backaches
From riding in the car.

We used to go out shopping
For new clothes at the Mall.

But now we never bother....
All the sizes are too small.

That my friend is how life is,
And now my tale is told.

So enjoy each day and live it up....
Before you're too darn old!

UPDATE ON YOUNG MAN....

My good friend and her neighbor went in together and bought several boxes of groceries.   And the neighbor had two quilts, a sweat shirt, another shirt, two tobaggons, and one hand crocheted tobaggon  (from my friend) for the smallest child, a new toy for each child.  I have another on-line friend who is sending him a box.    He had information on a local church that was having a free dinner and presents for the children.  This was supposed to happen Saturday, but it came the snow storm and I think they had to cancel the dinner.  I'm sure it will be  sometime later.  The young man has been so appreciative and thankful for everything.  I think he is really trying.   He said he had an appointment in Jan to see if he could get on WIC.   Thanks to everyone who commented on the post.  My heart has been blessed!

I'M MORE THANKFUL TODAY THAN I WAS YESTERDAY.....HERE'S WHY.....

Thursday I went to a Silver Sneakers Christmas party.   That is the name of our exercise class.   The house where we went was magnificient.   It set on 100 acres and had anything and everything a person could ever want or need.  I could have put my house down in their swimming pool. It was a showcase house in all it's glory!  I came home feeling just a little deprived as I stepped into my house.  How does a person accumulate that much in a lifetime?    THEN on Friday, God slapped me square in the face.  Here is how.   We had an old car that hadn't run in two years and the back end was burned out of it.  (Remember when I caught it on fire, burning leaves?)  The A/C was frozen up and it didn't have a belt.  I thought it was beyond fixing.  We were asking 100.00 for it because it had some good usable parts. ( It's a Lincoln Town Car)  A young boy (25)  (HE LOOKED LIKE 16)  contact us and said he had borrowed 75.00 and would we let him have the car for that amount.   I told him yes.  Later, he showed up at my door and told me he had a little problem.  He had to spend some of the 75.00 to buy kerosene  for a heater inside his mobile home.  He said his wife had left him and their three boys.  He was laid off from his job.  He didn't have a car and 61.00 was every penny he had.  He was going to work on the car to see if he could get it running.  He didn't have on gloves or hat and a very thin jacket.  I found him some gloves and a toboggan..  It was 20 degrees outside.  After he had been working for about an hour I went out and ask him if he wanted to come inside to get warm.  He said he was O.K.  I then made him a cup of hot chocolate and took it to him.   Around lunch time I took him a bowl of chili beans and some bread.   I also took him the 61.00 dollars and told him...well, it's Christmas. I told him to take it and buy his boys something for Christmas or milk or a few things they needed.  He cried and I cried.  He said, "THE LORD WILL BLESS YOU."   Well, you know what....my house didn't look so bad after that.   Going from somebody who has everything to somebody who has nothing really opened my eyes.  My house looked pretty good today and  I am more thankful today for my good warm house and all the food I need and for my health...and for a car to drive...And would you believe...he got the car running and drove it home.  He went to Advance Auto and bought a belt..by passed the AC/ somehow.  I signed the title over to him and you would have thought it was a 2010 Ferrari...if you could have seen his face.  Sometime God has a way to make us even more thankful.  Yesterday was one of those days for me!

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS....EVERYWHERE YOU GO!

My Christmas cactus is blooming nicely.   Geraniumns are blooming in my window box....with the Christmas Wreath behind.  A first for me!Mrs Claus resting quietly on my front porch!Another view of my porch.

Oh Christmas tree with the sun shining through.  It looks  pretty at nighttime.   And a look at the snow in my yard this morning.

HATS ON THE BRAIN......

This is what has kept me busy for the last little while!  The frog hats are for Lisa's students in her class.  The theme in her room is frogs.   She has frogs everywhere...even several live ones!   I wish I could see their faces when they get their hat.  The red hat is mine.  The brown one is Lisa's.....and I'd better not tell who the rest of them belong to lest they see my blog!  

 

I DIDN'T FALL OFF THE ROOF....AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 I promise you, I came down off the roof safely.  The past week or two has been very busy.  I have  all my Christmas decorations completed and have been cleaning like a mad woman.  Lisa and her family will be here tomorrow for thanksgiving and I have been cooking for two days.  Such a happy time and I am enjoying it tremendously

  I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.   Enjoy the love and thankfulness in your hearts.  

UP ON THE HOUSE TOP!!!

And it's not OLD SAINT NICK......Yep, that's me. cleaning out my gutters!

FAREWELL TO FALL....

I spent the week-end with Lisa and had to make one final picture of the beautiful colors. Click to make larger.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.....

HALLOWEEN WISHES!!!!!
Since this is the time for Goblins and Bats....
Weird spirits and ghosts and cats
These are the things I wish for you
May the only ghost that comes to stay,
Be the Holy Ghost to guide your way.
May the only spirits you chance to meet..
Be the spirit of love and warm friends sweet.
May the tricks that you are asked to do
Be the tricks of making a friend or two.
And of helping another along the way
To add happiness into their day.
These are the Halloween Wishes just for you....
And may God bless you in all you do!

My T-Shirt

    The picture was too big in the next post...... sorry!

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH......

  This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.    I went to a luncheon today for the occassion.  It was held at The Centre on 421 HWY. and the food was prepared by Slater Center. The attendance was many and the speaker, Brenda White Wright was awesome.    It was worth the time just to hear her speak.     The food was good and being with friends was even better.   Thanks to everyone who had a part in preparing for this day.  I won the above T-Shirt as one of the 40 some door prizes.

PLEASE HELP ME I'M FALLING!

I used to be green

But now I am brown.

Why do I keep falling

All the way to the ground?

I was happy up in this tree...

Please try to explain

What's happening to me!

My friends are all gone...

I see them below.

It won't be long

'Till they're covered with snow.

I wish it were Spring

It won't be long

'Till Ole Man Winter

Has come and gone.

Then I'll be back with all my friends...

But somehow this falling just never ends!

  I wrote this poem for Ryan when he was two!  I was sitting in the yard and it was raining leaves on my head.   That was in 1998.

A DORKY FROG HAT......

I crocheted this frog hat for Lisa.  Her classroom theme is frogs and she is dressing like one for Halloween.  Here's the link for the directions if you ever need a frog hat.   http://crochetroo.blogspot.com/2008/02/frog-beanie-for-dorky-kid-free-crochet.html

CUMULUS CLOUDS....

This is what our sky looked like this morning.  Cumulus clouds are puffy clouds that sometimes look like pieces of floating cotton.  The base of each cloud is often flat and may be only 1000 m (330 ft) above the ground.  The top of the cloud has rounded towers.  When the top of the cumulus resembles the head of a cauliflower, it is called cumulus congestus or towering cumulus.  These clouds grow upward, and they can develop into a giant cumulonimbus, which is a thunderstorm cloud.

NOW THAT'S A POTATO.......

and that isn't a bird egg.  It is a  jumbo white egg.  I bought two bushel  of these potatoes.  Just about everyone of them were this size.   I mean, one potato is enough to feed four people.   They were grown in Shady Valley, TN

"FAREWELL TO SUMMER"

This is blooming in my yard.  It is a member of the Aster family. I posted a picture of it last year too!

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

We made it to Virginia Beach and back without any incidents .  Bill made it better than I thought he would.  The weather was almost perfect.  It rained a little going up Thursday and a little sprinkle as we were coming home Sunday.  What more could you ask for?  The temperature was in the 70's.    The Shriner's kept food out at all times for three days.  We went out to eat seafood one time with a total of  $56.35.   That's the only money we spent for food.   The rest was on the house.  And it wasn't "junk" food.  I mean real food like chicken, shrimp, barbeque, ham, turkey, and just about anything you can mention.   Thank You Shriner's.  The parade was terrific.  It lasted three hours.  You have never seen a parade until you see one of their's.  Below are a few  pictures I made.  Click on any picture to make it bigger.

Ryan, me and my son Gary.

Our Motel...SandcastleThe Highlanders Band.

My Shoes and Ryan's.We left footprints in the sand.

Bill and me...

Shriners Convention....

 

The Shriners Convention is this coming week-end on Sept 17, 18 and 19th at Virginia Beach. We will be leaving early Thursday morning. Bill says he is able to go. I hope he makes the trip O.K. Ryan is going with us. I will go after him on Wednesday. The picture is The Highlanders Band where my son Gary plays the bagpipes.It was made two years ago in Va Beach. The Shriners always have a terrific parade. I can't wait.

WE REMEMBER!!!!!!

Fish and Their Pond......

I'm practicing uploading pictures because I upgraded my post editor.   Before I could post only five pictures in one post and I sometimes I needed to post more.   This is my fish pond that I cleaned out this morning.   Remember the Koi Lisa bought me for my birthday?   They are growing.

O.K.  Lets see if I have this right!

It will take a while to get used to this.   Bear with me!  Please!

Our Family Reunion.....

eThis is a root cellar.  

We had the Melvin family reunion at Loretta and Dean's house this past Sunday.  A good time was had by all. The food was wonderful.  thanks Loretta and Dean for your hospitality and sharing your home.