Turning The Big SEVEN O......

On Friday, May 4th, I will be turning 70. Here are some thoughts about the occasion.

"When Will I Be Old"?

When I was three, it seemed to me

I simply could not comprehend,

The ancient age of twenty-three...

(Or any age past six.)

Of course, when all the years between

Had passed, and twenty-three arrived,

I realized I wasn't old at all,

But youth personfied.

And somewhere down the distant road,

Lay forty-three, the sunset age of life.

When "young" was truly past,

and "old" was firmly fixed, I thought.

But at forty-three, you see,

I scratched my head in disbelief....

Because I knew I wasn't old,

And youth was still at hand.

Aha! Sixty-three! Yes, Sixty-three.... That's when I'll be old beyond recall

At last the truth had dawned on me.

A man's not old 'till sixty-three.

Will I be old at eighty-three?

Most likely not, you see.

If I should reach that golden age....

Still young at heart I'll be!

"TO ME"

Columbine Square.....

This square goes out for the month of April to my partner Lynn in North Platte, NE. It's called the Columbine Square and was orginally made in the color blue for the Columbine High School and was designed by: Susan Ann Smith.

GRANDMOTHERS...This one is for you Grammie....

GRANDMOTHERS.....Grandmother-grandchild relationships are simple. Grandmas are short on criticism and long on love~~~~ Author Unkown

Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of our children~~~~Alex Haley

One of the most powerful handclasps is that of a new grandbaby around the finger of a grandparent~~~Joy Hargrove

A garden of love grows in a Grandmother's heart~~~Author Unkown

A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend~~~Author Unkown

The history of our grandparents is remembered not with rose petals but in the laughter and tears of their children and their children's children. It is into us that the lives of grandparents have gone. It is in us that their history becomes a future~~~Charles and Ann Morse



What is it about grandparents that is so lovely? I'd like to say that grandparents are God's gifts to children And if they can but see, hear and feel what these people have to give, they can mature at a fast rate~~~Bill Cosby

"You're more trouble than the children are" is the greatest compliment a grandparent can receive~~~Gene Perret

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

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

Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation~~~Lois Wyse

It is as grandmothers that our mothers come into the fullness of their grace~~~Christopher Morley

Everyone needs to have access both to grandparents and grandchildren in order to be a full human being~~~~Margaret Mead

If becoming a grandmother was only a matter of choice, I should advise every one of you straight away to become one. There is no fun for old people like it~~~Hannah Whithall Smith

Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old~~~Mary H. Waldrip

You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your Grandmother~~~~Proverb

Few things are more delightful than grandchildren fighting over your lap~~~Doug Larson

Tree House.....

Bill and I went for a drive down by the river today. This tree house caught my eye. I can see children climbing into it and making a play house. The river is just in front of the house. Things like this are the only things I had to do as a child. We never had a TV, Nintendo, M3 Players, Game Boys, Cell Phones..... I didn't even have a phone at all until after I married. How times have changed......some for the better.......some not!!!!

Prairie Star Afghan.....

I finished my Prairie Star. Thanks to Rachel...she sent a picture of one she had seen on e-bay. I knew I had the directions somewhere. It took me over a week to find them.... I had all of the yarn....but ran out of one color and went to my Crochet Partner List and found Christina in California. She sent me enough to finish it. I enjoyed working on this one very much.......Maybe because I remember my Mother making a quilt from this pattern. This one belongs to Ryan (my grandson).

Global Warming?????

What do you think?????

Beautiful Sunshine.....

I have never been so happy to see the sunshine. It seems the last "snow" and little cold snap just about got to me. It is so nice here this morning. I can hear the birds singing and carrying twigs to build their nest. I am working on an afghan called Prairie Star. I lacked TWO small diamonds and ran out of yarn. I belong to Crochet partners on line, so I wrote and ask if any one had any of the yarn . A lady from California is sending some to me. I think I will call it my California Prairie Star. I will post a picture when it is completed.

Enjoy your day...wherever you are!!!!!!

When The Snow Is On The Lilac....

It's Sunday afternoon, April 15th at 4:43 in the afternoon. The temperature is 32 degrees. The ground is almost completely white. It has snowed MORE since I made these pictures. I think I will put my Christmas tree up again....which reminds me of a story! It was April 1998 and it snowed 17 inches. I put up a tree out in my front yard with lights and all. Bill said I had lost my mind! I told him if that caused one person to laugh, it would be worth it. Just about that time, my phone rang and it was the 85 year old man who lived across the road from me. His voice was slow and quaint. He said, "I just called to wish you a Merry Christmas". I wish he were still alive...I would put the tree up just for him!

Sunday, April 15th, 2007 Snow

Tagged With Wikipedia MeMe!

I have been tagged by Dot at little bits of georgia for this Wikipedia MeMe....

1...Go to Wikipedia and type in the month and day you were born. (For me...May 4th)

2...List three events that ocurred that day.
A..Abraham Lincoln buried in Springfield, Illinois, three weeks after his assassination.
B..The National Association, the first professional baseball leaque, opens first season in
Fort Wayne, Indiana.
C..The 1924 Summer Olympics opens in Paris, France.

3...List two important birthdays.
A..Audrey Hepburn
B..Roberta Peters (American Soprano)

4...List one death.
A..Isaac Barrow (English mathematician)

5...Tag five friends to do the same (if you want to, if not, ignore)
Rachel.....Sliding through life
Claudia.....Claudia's Place
Marci......Down on the farm
Tina....Blessings in the South
Grammie....Awaiting Buddha

A is for Apple, and B is for Boat......

That used to be right, But now it won't float!
Age before Beauty is what we once said,
But let's be a bit more real instead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now A's for arthritis;
B's the bad back,
C is the chest pains, perhaps car-d-iac?
D is for dental decay and decline,
E is for eyesight, can't read that top line!
F is for fissures and fluid retention,
G is for gas which I'd rather not mention.
H is high blood pressure...I'd rather it low;
I for incision!(s) with scars you can show.
J is for joints, out of socket, won't mend,
K is for knees that crack when they bend.
L for libido, what happened to sex?
M is for memory, I forgot what comes next.
N is neuraligia, in nerves way down low;
O is for osteo, the bones that don't grow!
P for prescriptions, I have quite a few, (Just give me a pill and I'll be good as new!)
Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu?
R for reflux, one meal turns to two.
S for sleepless nights, counting my fears,
T for Tinnitus; there's bells in my ears!
U is for urinary; big troubles with flow'
V is for vertigo, That's "dizzy", you know.
W is for worry, NOW what's going 'round?
X is for X-ray, and what might be found.
Y is another year I'm left here behind,
Z is for ZEST that I still have......(IN MY MIND)

I've survived all the symptoms, my body's deployed,
and I've kept twenty-six doctors fully employed!!!!!

"Alter~ations" On Hymns......

The Dentist's Hymn... Crown Him With Many Thorns
The Weatherman's Hymn... There Shall Be Showers Of Blessings
The Contractors Hymn... The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn... Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn... There Is A Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn... Standing On The Promises
The Optometrist's Hymn... Open My Eyes That I May See
The IRS Agent's Hymn... I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn... Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn... Send The Light
The Shopper's Hymn... In The Sweet By And By
The Realtor's Hymn... A Mansion Over The Hilltop

And now for those of us who like to speed on the highways........
45 MPH... God Will Take Care Of You
55MPH... Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
65MPH... Nearer My God To Thee
75MPH... Nearer Still Nearer
85MPH... This World Is Not My Home
95MPH... Lord, I'm Coming Home
100MPH... Precious Memories

Have a Good Day Everyone!!!!!!

GETTING OLDER~~~~~~

"TELL ME THIS WON'T HAPPEN TO US!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lost In the Darnest Places
An elderly woman called 911 on her cell phone to report her car had been broken into. She is hysterical as she explains her situation to the dispatcher: They've stolen the stereo, the steering wheel, the brake pedal and even the accelerator!" she cried.
The dispatcher said, "Stay calm, an officer is on the way." A few minutes later, the officer radios in....."Disregard, he says, "She got in the back seat by mistake."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FAMILY
Three sisters, ages 92, 94 and 96 live in a house together. One night the 96 year old draws a bath. She puts her foot in and pauses. She yells to the other sisters, "Was I getting in or out of the bath?"
The 94 year old yells back, "I don't know but I'll come up and see." She starts up the stairs and pauses... "Was I going up or down the stairs?"
The 92 year old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says, "I sure hope I never get that forgetful, knock on wood." She then yells, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh MY!!!!! TELL ME THIS WON'T HAPPEN TO ME!!!!!

Mamaw and her favorite daughter-in-law.......

Of course, I'm the only one she has.......I think I've been around her so long, we are beginning to look alike.....LOL

Easter sunday.....

Lisa and her family came home today. It has been a wonderful Easter. We colored eggs when they first came and then........

Lisa made hot cross buns. We had a wonderful lunch of Party Chicken, mashed potaotes with cheese on top, green beans and slaw. The dessert was four different kinds of cheese cake. Yummy. I hated to see them leave, but we made some good memories.

When The Snow Is On The Tulips.....

I'll be standing by the fire!!!!!

My house this morning. 22 degrees

Here is what was going inside.....

Bristol Virginia's Veteran's Memorial Park....

located adjacent to the City Courthouse, was built to honor the veterans of all our nation's armed conflicts and provide a respectful and peaceful setting in the downtown area. The City of Bristol acquired a AH-1F aircraft for display in the park and it was emplaced in the park on August 2, 2002. It is barely visable in my picture.

The other picture is a stage for entertainment.

New Library.....

Well, it isn't that new.....it opened last year. The library is located at 701 Goode Street.....on the Virginia side of Bristol. It offers books, videos, DVD's, CD's and paintings for checkout, as well as provide internet access. It's really nice....come on down.

Euclid Avenue in Bristol.....

This is one of our main streets. It is known for it's beautiful pink and white dogwood trees. Yesterday Bill and I took a drive to see the beauty and the wonderment of Spring.

SURGERY BEGINS ON OLD HOSPITAL IN BRISTOL.....

Although the city's official position is that the old structure can't be saved, work began Monday to repair and renovate the Kings Mountain Hospital State Street structure. Of course it will never be a hospital again, but it has been said the building would be an "ideal" location for a bank, other professional offices and a restaurant.
This is the Kings Mountain nurses' quarters. Work is also expected to begin soon on refurbishing the nurses' quarters into transitional housing for homeless men. I don't have a record of these buildings, but I think they were built in the 1920's.

Mamaw gets a break.....

Here's a picture of my MIL, my daughter and my husband, Bill. Bill's sister took her Mother to her house for two days this past week-end. They won't let you keep them over night, but she had two good days visiting with everyone. She didn't even cry when she had to go back. I'm glad!

Another Crocheted Square.....

This is the latest square I sent out to Karen in FL. It is called Magnolia Blossom Square......designed by: Glynda Irby. The colors didn't come through as good as I wanted. The center is peach with one row of peach around near the edge.

New words for an old song from The Sound of Music.....

Okay, you know the movie. You know the song! Now sit down and sing the tune of "My Favorite Things" while using the following lyrics.... Oh..go ahead...Laugh with me! (It keeps me from crying)

MY FAVORITE THINGS:

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up with string,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Cadillacs, cataracts, hearing aids, glasses,
Polident, Fixodent, false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, mobility chairs and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak...When the bones creak...When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things...
And I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and aspirin, and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food, no food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pain, confused brain and a fear of sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin'.
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames
When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache, when the hips break, When the eyes grow dim,
I simply remember the great life I've had, and I don't feel so bad.
I SIMPLY REMEMBER THE GREAT LIFE I'VE HAD, AND THEN I DON'T FEEL SOOOO BAAAAD.

Old Country Sayings....(All Gussied Up And No Where To Go).

I heard someone on the Radio say (I didn't just fall off the hay wagon). Which I gathered he meant he wasn't stupid. My Mother always said when she got dressed up, that she was all gussied up. And when she was frustrated she would say (For crying out loud) rather that swear. Judge Judy says (Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining) Which I gather means don't lie to me. I have a collection of old sayings that I have been writing down on paper for over ten years. I have over 600. What's some of your old sayings, from your past or now? Here are a few more of mine.....
She was all over him like a dog on a pork chop.
She's sharper than a tack. (smart)
Stuff that in your pipe and smoke it. (Think on it)
"Bye, bye and keep the shiny side up" (Means to drive safely and not flip your car)
I'll be there in three shakes of a lamb's tail"
I'll give it a lick and a promise. (In a hurry)

Now, tell me some of yours.

Crocheted Friendship Granny Square.....

This is the square I crocheted for my exchange this month. It goes to Dena in Florida. Everytime I send out a square, I make myself one of the same. That way, when I put them together, I will be able to see all of the ones I have sent out.

Crocheted Hat and Scarf.....

I just finished crocheting this hat and scarf. It will go into my "Christmas Box" to use as a gift ....unless it gets cold this week-end, and I want to wear it.

Spurts of Spring......

With flowers peeking through the soil and tempertures expected to hit the middle 70s today, it seems spring has arrived a little early in my home town.

But the weatherman tells us not to get used to it. Temperatures are expected to drop 30 degrees by the week-end, and there's even talk of snow.

We really could use some rain. Normally, the area has about 10 inches of rain by this timeof year, but so far there have been only about five inches.

But whatever happens, it's a fact...Spring can't be very far away!!!!

Appreciate What You Have.....

One day, a wealthy man took his son on a trip to a small village so his son could see how the poor villagers lived.

They stayed one day and one night in the home of a very humble farmer. At the end of the trip, when they returned home, the father asked his son. "What did you think of the trip?"

The son replied, "Very nice, Dad."

The father continued by asking, "What did you learn?"

The son responded, "I learned that we have only one dog in our house, and they have four. Also, we have a fountain in our garden, but they have a stream that has no end. And we have imported lamps in our garden....where they have the stars! And our garden goes to the edge of our property, but they have the entire horizon as their back yard!"

At the son's reply, the father was speechless.

His son then said, "Thank you, Dad, for showing me how poor we really are."

Isn't it true that it depends on the lens you use to see life?

One can ask, what would happen if we give thanks for what we have instead of always asking for more?

Learn to appreciate what you have. Wealth is all in one's point of view!

Meet Janis and Carolyn......

Here are two of my dear friends. I went to Janis' house today....Carolyn was there also and they proceeded to show me what they had crocheted since Christmas. I want to make one now. They are beautiful. And here is Carolyn. At one time we got together once a week, but as of late something has kept us from doing that. It's like a "pause that refreshes."

Bill's MAMA.....in Life Care Center...

This has been a busy and sad week. My Mother-in-law is now in the Life Care Center . She will be 95 this coming September. Her sister was living with her and could no longer take care of her . Living by herself was no longer an option. She seems content and happy so far. Her daughter lives about fifteen minutes away from the center and will go often to see her. Bill and I will go as much as we can. Lisa (my daughter) made the Heart Quilt for her. I think she is going to feel "right at home". I pray that she does!
This was made the day before she was taken to the Life Care Center. Doesn't she look pretty? I love her dearly. She has always treated me like her daughter.

The Holston River.....

Read Post Below!!!!

The Holston River..

Yes Rachel, there is a Holston River. It is a major river system of Southwest virginia and East Tennessee. The three major forks of the Holston river (its North, Middle and South Forks) rise in southwest Virginia and have their confluence near Kingsport, Tennessee. From there the river flows roughly southwest, just north of Bays Mountain, until it reaches its confluence with the French Broad river just east of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. This confluence is considered to be the headwaters of the Tennessee river.

The Holston River valley is greatly developed for electrial power generation, both with hydroelectric dams and coal-fired steam plants. In its upper reaches some of these plants are controlled by private interests; in the downstream portion they are owned by the United States Goverment's Tennessee Valley Authority.

The river was named after Stephen Holston, who built a cabin on the upper reaches of the river in 1746. Holston Mountain was named after the Holston River.

You didn't know you were going to get a history lesson, did you? LOL

Holston Mountain....

Want to see our mountain? This is Holston Mountain. It is just behind my house and it was beautiful today. It makes me think of the song "Go Rest High on A Mountain" Before I posted the picture you could almost count the trees. Now it looks blurry.... but you get the idea. It was covered with snow last week.

My Valentine Present.....

I know I am late posting this, but I wanted to show you what Bill gave me for Valentine's Day. It is georgous.

Below is what I gave him.

Bill's Badge.....

I told Bill that if he loved me he would wear this badge on Valentine's Day...he has worn it every day since.

Crocheted Square.....

I belong to a crochet exchange group called Crochet Partners. We exchange one or more squares a month depending on how productive you are feeling...LOL.

This is the square I crocheted last night. It goes to Fairfax, VA. This is so much fun. I have squares from all over the US and abroad.

If you want to join in on the fun, go to www.crochetpartners.com and join.

Then the fun began......

Ryan and Lucas have been at my house the past several days. They just bring joy to my life. This picture is before we got the "big" snow. The next day we had around three to four inches. I took them home Monday and things aren't the same around here....but life goes on. Spring Break is coming up next month! YEAH!!!!

Celebrating My 100th post......

which occured last November, but only today did I take notice to that. In celebration, I am going to post 100 things about me. Don't feel it necessary to read them, but if you want.....go to it.
1..I love the Lord.
2..I am a crochetaholic (my husband says he's going to put a crochet hook in my hand when I die)...I say "Please do, the angels can always use more lace".
3..I love to cook.
4..Eating is WONDERFUL.
5..I have gained 20 lbs since I retired 10 years ago.
6..I despise for someone to blow their nose where I am cooking or eating.
7..I mow the yard.
8.I get up on the roof and clean out my gutters.
9..I puddy in my windows....when needed.
10..I can lay ceramic tile and linolum.
11..I can't stand for anyone to tell me how to drive.
12..I love to read.
13..Knitting is a favorite pastime.
14..I love babies. I have two little angels in Heaven.
15..Years ago, I could sing...but you know the old saying "If you don't use it, you lose it...well, I lost it.
16..I miss singing.
17..Photography is one of my hobbies.
18..I dyed my hair for 30 years...now it's all natural....White of course. I earned every one of them..LOL (I've never had a perm)
19..I love white hair.
20..I love to grow things...inside and outside.
21..I would hate to give up my computer.
22..I like to live simple, but still be comfortable.
23..I have a lot of patience...so everybody says. There is a plaque hanging on my wall that says "Grant Me Patience Lord, But Hurry".
24..I love Christmas.
25..I love bright, sunny days. I used to lay in the sun, but don't do that any more.
26.I love snow.
27..I like to hang my clothes outside to dry.
28..I love to go to church.
29..I love people...(most of them)...I pray for the rest of them.
30..I love to sleep...(at one time, I could sleep 10 hours without waking up, but not now. I wish I could!
31..I have a sweet-tooth. (It's false, but I still have it) LOL
32..I am a diabetic.
33..I hate to fish.
34..I don't like sports. (sorry)
35..The sunrises and sunsets fasinate me.
36..I hate card games.
37..I have dandruff.
38..I love Gospel Music and Country Music (most of it)
39..I can play the piano.
40..I can follow directions.
41..I can't swim.
42..I can hang wall paper and paint.
43..I painted the outside of my house...(when I was younger)
44..I can't work as hard as I used to.
45..I love big Victorian Houses. (Had one and sold it) Boo Hoo!
46..I can use a chain saw.
47..I lined the brakes on my car.
48..I used to sew a lot. When my daughter was small, I made her a new dress every week until she was around five.
49..I'm in the process of making a quilt.
50..I would have liked to be a nurse.
51..I didn't go to college.
52..I graduated from high school.
53..Diet Coke is my favorite drink. (Bad)
54..When I first get up in the mornings, I don't like to talk. I just want silence.
55..I love a fireplace. (Gas)
56..I hate to carry out ashes.
57..I love a wood stove.
58..Read 56 again.
59..I do not cut my toenails or fingernails straight across.
60..Sometimes I forget to clean my face before I go to bed.
61..I go to bed between 9:30 and 11:00.
62..I get out of bed between 6:00 and 8:00.
63..I talk to my oldest grandson on the phone every day (sometimes more). He lives two hours away.
64..I love my grandchildren with every ounce of my being. Ryan, 21...and Lucas 12. They were both preemies. Ryan weighed 1 lb. and 8 oz.
65..I pray every day.
66..I wait on my sick husband every day. He has been sick for 13 years.
67..My Mother-in-law is 94. I keep her groceries and medicine up to date.She lives about 26 minutes from me.
68..I never sleep during the day.
69..I am afraid of wind, and somtimes I have scary dreams.
70..I take 8 pills a day.
71..I have high blood pressure. (controlled)
72..I like to sleep where it is totally dark.
73..I love my two children. Lisa 45, Gary, 41. I love them also... with every ounce of my being.
74..My husband says I look like I'm pregnant....(You should see him) LOL
75..I keep my medicine in a pill box and sometimes I forget to look at the box.
76..I have two cats...one inside and one outside that sleeps on a heating pad in the winter. He is 16 years old.
77..I love to do the garden thing..
78..I like to visit my daughter's third grade class while she is teaching. (Don't get to do that very often)
79..TV is O.K. , but don't watch it that much. I like the Health Channel and the Food Network. Every once in a while, a good movie on Lifetime. Oh, I like Super Nanny.
80..I love my blog. You are here. clarascorner.blogspot.com
81..I have a web-page. www.picturetrail.com/crochetclara
82..At the moment....I am "racking" my brain, to think of 18 more things about me....or is that "wracking"?
83..I can't spell worth a hoot!
84..I wish I were better with words. Some people are so gifted with words and know how to write them down on paper. I lost out on that!
85..Did I mention I loved my Grandchildren?
86..I'm getting wrinkles around my mouth (and other places).Lucas calls them stripes.
87..I wear glasses.
88..No Make-Up...unless I go to church or the funeral home.
89..I just now "unstopped" a commode.
90..I love hot tea...Constent Comment.
91..At the fair last year, I won "Best Of Show" for a painting I did on wood.
92..Did I mention I like to paint on wood material and walls?
93..I hate Gossip...altho I have been know to engage in it.
94..I love to read the Bible...need to read it more.
95..I hate stacks and stacks of newspapers. I never know what to do with them.
96..I like comfortable clothes...especially the ones that have elastic around the waist.
97..I hate high heeled shoes...especially the ones with the pointed toes. They are the ones my daughter likes.
98..I love purses.
99..There are two things I can never be without...Poly Fiber Fill and Coffee...(and yarn comes in there also.)
100..My hands are never idle...nor my mind for that matter..(unless I am having a senior moment, which seems to be happening more lately) My husband says I could build a house....I probably could....if I were younger....and had directions.

Ham and Bean Soup with Tomatoes.....

Rachel, your bean soup made my mouth water the other day. I found this mixture of beans with ham flavoring at my grocery store.....I added some ham of my own and some diced tomatoes. Very soothing and filling on a day like today. Of course, there was cornbread on the side!

A STRANGE OLD LADY......

A very weird thing has happened.

A strange old lady has moved into my house.

I have no idea who she is,

where she came from, or how she got in.

I certainly didn't invite her. All I know

is that one day she wasn't there,

and the next day she was.

She's very clever. She manages to

keep out of sight for the most part;

but whenever I pass a mirror, I catch a glimpse of her there;

and when I look into a mirror directly to

check my appearance, suddenly she's hogging the whole thing,

completely obliterating my gorgeous

face and body. It's very disconcerting.

I've tried screaming at her to leave

but she just screams back at me, grimacing horribly.

If she's going to hang around, the least she could do is offer to pay the rent.

But no, Every once in a while I do find a couple of dollar bills on the kitchen counter, or some loose change on my dresser, but that certainly isn't enough. In fact, though I don't like to jump to conclusions, I think she steals money from me regularly.

I go to the ATM and withdraw a hundred dollars, and a few days

later, it's gone. I certainly don't go through it that fast, so I can only conclude that the old lady pilfers it.

You'd think she'd spend some of it on wrinkle cream.

God knows she needs it. And, the money isn't the only thing she's taking.

Food seems to disappear at an alarming rate. Expecially

the good stuff...ice cream, cookies, candy.

I just can't keep them in the house.

She really has a sweet tooth.

She should watch it; she's really putting on the pounds.

I think she realizes that,

and to make herself feel better,

I know she is tampering with

my scale so I'll think that I'm gaining weight, too.

For an old lady, she's really quite childish.

She also gets into my closets

when I'm not home and alters all my clothes.

They're getting tighter every day.

Another thing...I wish she'd

stop messing with my files

and the papers on my desk. I can't find anything

anymore. This is particularly hard to deal with

because I'm extremely neat and organized;

but she manages to jumble everything up so nothing

is where it's supposed to be.

Furthermore, when I program my VCR to tape something

important, she fiddles with it after I leave the room so it

records the wrong channel or shuts of completely.

She finds innumerable, imaginative ways to irritate me.

She gets my newpapers, magazines and mail before me and blurs all the print;

and she's done something sinister with the volume controls on my TV, radio, and phone. Now all I hear are mumbles and whispers. She's also made my stairs steeper, my vacuum cleaner heavier, all my knobs and faucets hard to

turn and my bed higher and a real challenge to climb into and out of.

Futhermore, she gets my groceries as soon as I shelve them and applies super glue to the tops of every jar and bottles so they're just about impossible to open.

Is this any way to repay my hospitality?

I don't even get any respite at night. More than once her snoring has awakened me. I don't know why she can't do something about that. It's very unattractive.

As if all this isn't bad enough, she is no longer confining her malevolence to the house. She's now found a way to sneak into my car with me and follow me wherever I go.

I see her reflection in store windows as I pass, and she's taken all the fun out of clothes shopping because her penchant for monopolizing mirrors has extended to dressing room. When I try something on, she dons an identical outfit, which looks ridiculous on her and then stands directly in front of me so I can't see how great it looks on me.

I thought she couldn't get any meaner than that, but yesterday she proved me wrong. She had the nerve to come with me when I went to have some passport pictures taken, and she actually stepped in front of the camera just as the shutter clicked....DISASTER! I have never seen such a terrible picture. How can I go abroad now? No customs official is ever going to believe that old crone scowling from my passport is me.

She's walking on very thin ice. If she keeps this up, I declare, I'll put her in a home. On second thought, I shouldn't be too hasty. First, I think I'll check with IRS and see if I can claim her as a dependent.

Finished Holly Afghan.....

I promished a picture of my Holly Afghan when completed. Well, here it is. Ignore the stack of books on one side of my bed and a box of candy on the other side. Just two more of life's pleasures!!!!

Bristol Tennessee among top 100 places for young people....

The city has been named one of the best communitiies for young people in America, an honor that recognizes the work of a number of agencies and their efforts to support the city's youth. America's Promise, a national organization that advocates for youth, received more than 1,000 applications last year. Bristol was one of three in Tennessee chosen for the honor. The picture above was made last summer of some young people. I don't even know who they are. I stopped to make a picture of the swinging bridge and they wanted in the picture. The sign that hangs over State St, downtown says it all..."BRISTOL, TN. VA...A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE".....

Meet Otis....Our Cat.....

This is Otis...sleepy and lazy. He came to our house just over a year ago as a stray. It didn't take him long to decide this is where he wants to live. Who can blame him?????? He eats better than me, and has a cat heating pad to sleep on. Why would he want to leave? Bill thinks more of him than anything around here (including me, I think) But that's O.K. Cat's need love too!!!!

Gary....Our Son....

Gary, the History buff, has started back to school at East Tennessee State University!!! It has been 20 years since he got out of college. This was his first day of class. He would love to teach History and I would love to see him accomplish his goal..

A CROCHETER'S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT...All in FUN!!!

• Being of sound mind and body (a statement which does not bear close examination)..... I, Clara Melvin, do hereby record my last will and testament.

Knowing that Bill, my dear husband hasn't the least appreciation for....or for that matter KNOWLEDGE of my extensive yarn collection....which is deposited in sundry places for safe keeping. Knowing also that Bill has already notified the local dumpster....that should I precede my beloved to the Great Crochet Shop in the sky....to pick up and dispose of the before mentioned collection "willie-nillie", the thought of which causes me a most severe case of hives.

Therefore, I do will this collection and all other collections related to it, to my dear friends and fellow yarn collectors Janis and Carolyn. It is my wish that Janis and Carolyn, upon hearing of my death and obtaining clear proof that I did not manage, although goodness knows I tried, to take it with me.....would come to my home, before the dumpster, search out my collection which is scatterly stored. That said collection should be rescued and put in my crochet studio along with my crochet needles, knitting needles, sewing machine, frames, old buttons, lace, crochet books, quilts, dolls and works in progress.

And after this has been done....refreshments should be purchased for my friends not yet departed...and every last one of them shall be in that room and they shall hold a wake and say lovely and kind things about me until they run out and then they shall divide amongth themselves, by lot, my wonderful collection.

I shall be hovering over that very spot until this is done. Janis and Carolyn shall then leave this spot and close the door, leaving the car, the house and all the stocks and bonds and other worldly things to those who don't understand.

This is my wish in the matter.

Signed: Clara Melvin Date: 01/23/07

Crocheted Holly Afghan.....

I started this afghan before Christmas and have been working on it when time permits. Here the squares are placed on the bed, but I don't have it stitched together. I will post another picture when finished.

Close Up Of Holly Afghan.....

PACEMAKER

Bill had his pacemaker implanted today and is doing just fine. His heart rate is staying right on 60. Its been forever since it has been that high and especially stay that way. He said he felt better already..... They are keeping him overnight to monitor him but I'm sure he will get to come home tomorrow. Thanks for the prayers!!!!!

Bill Gates vs GM...Technology Bow.....

For all of us who feel only the deepest love and devotion for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on..... At a recent computer (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated "If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon. In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release stating, "If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics (and I love this part): 1..For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash.....Twice a day. 2..Everytime they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car. 3..Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this. 4.. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine. 5..Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive....but would run on only five percent of the roads. 6..The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation" warning light. 7..The airbag system would ask "Are You Sure"? before deploying. 8.. Ocasionally, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna. 9..Every time a new car was introduced buyers would have to learn how to drive all over agin because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car. 10..(and this is the BEST one)... You'd have to press the "START" button to turn the engine off. This is for the people who LOVE .....but sometimes HATE their computer.

I FOUND ANOTHER QUILT BARN....

and it's not far from my house. I knew it was there, but hadn't made it's picture. Note how you can see all the way through the barn and also, how grey the clouds were that day. I like this one for some reason.

Kittens and Mittens.....

I'm in hopes the kittens have found their mittens.....because it is ~COLD~ This morning it was 18 degrees and now has warmed up to 26 degrees. How cold is it where you are?

Yeah!!!! It's snowing....It's pouring.....

and the old man is snoring!!! LOL. (I wish I were) Now it seems like Christmas. This is the first time our ground has been white all winter. The picture is made out my back door. I want to get out and build a snowman. If Ryan and Lucas were here, that is where I would be right now! I love it.

Bill gets a PACEMAKER.....

This is Bill waiting in the Doctor's office. The good Doctor will call and set up an appointment for implanting a pacemaker. He was not a candidate for the defibulator. The pacemaker will keep his heart rate up in order to increase some of the meds he is already taking. Heavens!!!! If he has to take many more pills, he won't ever have to eat any food. He will be full of pills. He already rattles when he walks. (24 pills a day )

Winter of 2005.....

Wonderful Snow. I want to see some this winter!!!!!!

In Times Past.....

I want some SNOW!!!! this picture was made in December, 2005.

Where's The Snow?????

I miss seeing the snow. This picture was made last year on the road going to Lisa's. Wonder why Blogger won't let me post more than one picture in a single post? Does anyone have any ideas?