'A Strange Dog in our midst'; Five Dogs in the Kitchen.

July 3, 2012.

 

I was planning to take it easy today, as I was a bit tired after a very busy weekend. But I needed to do a load of my laundry, so I did that, washed my dishes, and spent some time with my computer.

About 4:30, Jennifer phoned me and said they were all planning to go out for dinner this evening, wanted to know if I would like to join them. Of course, I said YES. I do enjoy dining out, but more than that, I enjoy spending time with the family.

She came to pick me up around 5 o'clock, and took me to their house.

Bill and Melanie had been at Tim and his friend's place, to help move their furniture out of one little apartment into another small apartment, and they would bring some of the things to Bill and Jen's to store in the attic for a while. We waited for them to come home and shower because of the awful heat of today and moving furniture and loading it into the trailer that Bill had rented. 

While we waited for the showering to be done, we were experiencing a fifth doggie in the kitchen, because the friend's puppydog, Lily Rose, came for a visit. It was quite interesting, to see eleven-year-old Princess, and nine-year old Lily, and good ol' Lucky, Jennifer's dog, and Em's young dog MoJo, welcoming and investigating the personality of Lily Rose. 

Lucky, the manager of Bill and Jen's home, barked relentlessly because Lily Rose was 'a strange dog in our midst', and yet he was very much interested  in Lily Rose. Lucky didn't put up such a fuss when Em's dog MoJo came to join the canines for the wedding weekend. I think that was because MoJo is 'a man', whereas Lily Rose is 'a nice young lady'. There are many things to consider when one is introducing a strange dog to the earlier canine residents of a home. 

We were engaged in the actions of these five dogs  for quite some time. Then Bill  and Jen decided to have Lily Rose outside in the back yard, and the other four dogs to be in the kitchen while we were gone to have dinner. 

Showers over, we finally got into two vehicles, three of us in one, and four of us in the other vehicle. We went to a restaurant close by, and got out of the cars to enter the place, when it was discovered that they were just then closing up for the evening. DRAT! 

We got back into the autos, and drove another mile or so to another restaurant, a Mexican one. We spent a lot of time looking the menu over, and chatting, and having a great time, and then finally we all were ready to give our orders when the waitress came back. Bill was having such a grand time speaking Spanish to the waitress. She could hardly keep her laughter hidden when he would say something in Spanish, I noticed. He did know many Spanish words, though. His accent may have been a bit off...

We had to wait for quite a while, but we were drinking our beverages, and reminiscing, chatting, teasing a bit, and just truly enjoying each other's company. There were seven of us, Tim and his friend, and Melanie, Emily, Jen, Bill, and I. We enjoyed the camaraderie so much. As I said, I love being with the family.

Our food finally came, and it was very good food, different, and so tasty. We were in no hurry to eat and run, so we leisurely dined and conversed. It was very nice, and I am so glad I said 'YES' to Jennifer!

It was almost 9:30 when we arrived back at the house. Then Jennifer said she would bring me right home while the men were unloading the trailer into the house. I said goodbye to Emily because she is leaving for Atlanta early in the morning. I'll see Melanie a few more times before she goes back to Pennsylvania. Tim and his friend, I hope to see now and then during the rest of the summer. 

My eyelids seem to be getting a bit heavier, and that is a signal for me to go to bed. So good night, all, and happy dreams to you. 

          I'll see you at the Corner Post...

Awake In the Wee Hours; "Scribbler's Disease".

June 28, 2012.

Restless leg syndrome, or hunger pangs, or something else kept me from falling back to sleep. I got up, thought I'd spend time in the kitchen. I had a half cup of leftover dinner, then a couple of small cookies,  then later, a drink of water. I've had some experience with bad nights. I know the routine.

I went to the computer to check my emails. A few were sent after I had gone to sleep, so I went through them. Decided to check out Facebook, and I saw a bit of conversation where someone mentioned "Scribbler's Disease." Hmmmm. Never heard of that before. What is that, and when did it come to be? I thought about it for several minutes. I thought it might be people always jotting things down in their notebooks, or making lists of something, like 'things to do'.

I do think that I have that disease, as I make notes all the time, about this, or that, and wondered how long I've been doing this. Oh, yes, I think I know just when I first showed signs of that.

At the age of seventeen, I was working as a filing clerk in a large insurance company. We had to work with small cards with the names of insured people on them, and would file them in the narrow drawers of a filing cabinet. You know, somewhat like the library cards that were used many years ago to show the names and authors of all of the books in a library.

It was a tedious job, but I did like filing things in alphabetical order, and I did like reading all sorts of names. When I came across a name that was unique, humorous, or strange, I would write it down on my list. For instance, there was one that was Rhainey Knight; and then Thunder Jackson; and James Jimmijam.

Something that was to me very unusual, I wrote down and kept. There were so many names that took my fancy. One name, truly, was Ethel R. Shitty. I don't think I shall ever forget that one. I have no idea whatever became of my list, but I wish I had it now.

When I hear someone mispronounce a word or use it in an odd way, I like to write it down. I have a list somewhere of quite a few of that kind. I don't ever mean to be unkind and mocking someone's pronunciation, it's just that I have this disease. I really can't help myself. I do not tell on anyone who  makes these mistakes. After all, we all make mistakes. We're human.

Well, it's been a couple of hours, maybe I'll fall asleep now. Back to bed I go.

G'night.


I'll see you at the Corner Post...

At the age of 17, I was working as a filing clerk in a large insurance company. We had to work with small cards with the names of insured people on them, and file them. You know, somewhat like the library cards that were were used to show the names and authors of all of the books in a library.  

It was a tedious job, but I did like filing things in alphabetical order, and I did like reading all sorts of names. When I came across a name that was unique, humorous, or strange, etcetera, I would write them down on my list. For instance, there was one that was Rhainey Knight; and Thunder Jackson; and James Jimmijam. Something that was to me very unusual, I wrote down. One name, truly, was Ethel R. Shitty. I don't think I shall ever forget that one. I have no idea whatever became of my list, but I wish I had it now. 

When I hear someone mispronounce a word or use it in an odd way, I like to write it down. I have a list somewhere of quite a few of that kind. I don't mean to be unkind and mocking someone's mispronunciation, it's just that I have this disease. I just can't help myself. I try not to tell on anyone who makes this mistake. After all, we all make mistakes. We're human.  

 

My Sister and I Took An Auto Trip; Visiting Relatives.

June 18, 2012.


We wanted to visit an elderly aunt and uncle who are not feeling well, and also our brother whom we hadn't seen for a few years. We also wanted to see a few of our friends from the past, and some more of our relatives.

Our trip was done by auto, with my sister driving, and a good driver she was. We traveled in several states, namely Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Tennessee.
Ohio seemed to be quite flat. West Virginia was very mountainous. There was road construction and repairs of routes in every state, it seems.

Since I enjoy riding in automobiles and watching scenery as I ride, my head was almost like a revolving door, or it felt as if it were on a swivel, while I was looking on both sides of the road, trying to see everything. I like seeing fences, houses, trees, clouds, animals, old barns, bridges, cattle grazing in open fields, churches, railroad stations, quaint buildings, and so many other things. I appreciate that my sister drove the whole time.

Our first stop was in Maryland, and we were so very happy to see our aunt and uncle. They are in their middle eighties now, with some medical problems. A few members of their family ~ our cousins, came to the house to see us, as well. That was very pleasant. Another uncle and his good friend came to visit at that time too, and it was a grand sort of reunion for a few hours.

When our visit with them came to an end, we went 'on the road again' and visited my sister's good neighbors from many years ago. They, too, are quite elderly, and she was so glad to see them. The four of us went to have real crab cakes in a seafood restaurant. I have never before tasted such good food as
those crab cakes.

We saw relatives from both sides of our family, and more cousins, in Pennsylvania, at our brother's home, and two of his daughters. That was an exciting and happy day.  My sister and I stopped to visit her sister-in-law, too; that visit was short, but so sweet.

By this time we were up in central New York and stayed at my daughter's house for a couple of nights.
This was also a very happy stop, with my long-time neighbor from years ago coming to see me. We did manage to see almost everyone we had planned to see.

We were on the road quite a few days, and we feel that our 'mission' was accomplished.

 

It's Getting Dark Before Three O'Clock!

May 31, 2012.

I have been unwell for a couple of hours, so I didn't do much except to sort junky papers, and it began to get very dark outdoors. I wasn’t paying a bit of attention to the outdoors, and was listening to some music to cheer me up.

I put on my shoes, and went out to the recycle bin with a 4 or 5 inch pile of junk, old newspapers, etceteRAH, and to see why it was getting dark all of a sudden. The sky was full of roiling, boiling, swift-moving, bunches of puffy dark clouds! I felt a couple of little raindrops, and I stopped to look all around at the sky, as it is ever so interesting!

The storm is coming from the west, towards the east, but covering north and south at the same time.

Thunderstorm! Thunderstorm! bringing possibly damaging hail, and this particular storm is hovering right over my portion of Mississippi! Right over Southaven! Can you believe it! I wasn't paying one bit of attention while I was doing that monotonous chore, and was most surprised when I realized it was very dark outdoors.

Now it's even DARKER than just a few minutes ago! I went back into the house, and said to myself: “OOOOH! I want my mommy!"

Gee, isn't it pitiful when you become frightened, and there's no one around to comfort you with a few nice words, or even a short hug, and your mommy has been gone these many years!    

Then it got really dark, and I quickly went out on the mini-porch. That heavy, roiling large cloud is right over my house. I went out on the sidewalk, and there were raindrops pelting down on me. The western sky is brighter, because this mass of clouds is heading east now. I didn't want to stay out very long, because I didn't want to be hit with a sudden lightning strike.

'S funny, about two hours ago, it was very sunny and nice out there. Now it is thundering a bit, and sprinkling, and it is also much cooler.

I think I'll put some happy, peppy music on, like polkas, to take my mind off the bad weather.

That's the news from Lake Wobegon ...  no, wait ..., that's a different program.

That's the weather news from my mini-porch in Southaven, Missipp.

You might notice that I enjoy talking about the weather!

I'll see you at the Corner Post...

My Walk; Pretty Yellow Flowers; Lawn Watering.

May 26, 2012.


Good Morning, all of you many, I took my walk at 7:30 a.m., and it was good... sorta ...  I had to stop about four times to catch my breath. I was walking at a brisk pace, as brisk as I could make it. It took me fifteen minutes to get back to my front door. I took the regular route. 

There is a very pretty bright yellow, not as deep as the dandelion, a little lighter, but oh, so pretty! It seems to be a weed that is growing on several lawns. I noticed this morning, that each plant has a single, flowering tall stem, about 7, 8, or 9 inches high, each is different in height. They were, each and every one, turned to the sunrise! Such a beautiful stance of worship. I wanted to pick them all. Would any of you know what that pretty flowering weed is? 

I don't pick anything that is not on my property. Of course, now and then, I pick a little flower or sprig from the space next to the street, but not many. 

No dogs did I see, and only three people. One was a man using the weed eater on someone's place, his truck was parked out at the curb, with lawn equipment on it. The next person was a woman with a helmet on a bike of sorts, it squeaked as it went by. The third was a young man walking fast behind me, with a school-type backpack, and I stopped at the edge of the sidewalk to let him pass because I had to catch my breath. He passed by, his arms tattooed with what looked like graffiti, and a lit cigarette between his righthand fingers. 

Eeewwwww, then I had to follow him quite a few feet with that objectionable odor lingering because there was no breeze this morning. I wish that every single smoker would realize how dangerous cigarette smoke is. I know, do I ever  know! My dear Dad Joe died at the age of fifty-eight because of coal mining in his early years, and smoking for so very long. He couldn't breathe very well as the years passed. It broke my heart.

OOps, almost forgot, I must water the lawn, be back in a few minutes...  I'm baaaaack ~  oooohh, that was nine minutes, the hoses were all tangled up from their overnight wrestling tournament. Shoot! forgot about that tournament...  I should have put it on my calendar!

The lawn guys also removed the sprinkling stake that is in the back yard, I hope I get it put in properly. It's one of those that spurts water in a semicircle. I can handle recipes, cooking and baking, but I cannot understand these plumbing, yard work, and carpentry chores that men do. Bless 'em.

Now for my breakfast. You all have a lovely day, and a very pleasant weekend. 

All this morning, I spent reminiscing on a little farm.

May 21, 2012.


Hi, I was out on a farm all morning, into the afternoon, sitting in a beach chair, watching some cows in their little fields and pastures. I was also watching a few horses of different breeds ~ a very young foal and his mother, a larger shetland horse, and the larger still chestnut horses. The young foal would stay close to his mother. That was especially sweet to see. 

I was studying some old old scattered piles of weatherbeaten lumber, and a few pieces of rusty metal, but they weren't active at all, so my glance switched to some real live chickens of various breeds, a few "you tell 'em, Sam!" roosters strutting around with deep red combs atop their head, crowing to hear their own musical voices.

There were many chicken hens of various colors and patterns of feathers, in two small chicken-wire enclosures, in which they all had enough space to stretch and flap their wings as they scratched the grassy earth looking for tidbits. There were at least fifteen in each of those pens, all very busy pecking here and there, looking for little insects. There were also about a dozen chickens who were loose, they went wherever they wanted to. One rooster suddenly ran as fast as possible from his strolling around near the pen, out toward the several maturing young heifers, quite a distance, and when he stopped running, he began scratching for some insects in that grass. It had looked like a very important job he had to do. 

Back by the wired pens, there was a small weather-beaten shed/building/shelter in which were the laying hens, probably only several. When a chicken laid an egg, she made a sound of 'success, at last!' and the rooster crowed his congratulations. Come to think of it, those cocky roosters did quite a bit of crowing their best.

There were many goats, probably at least ten, possibly more that I didn't see. Some had horns, some had none, many colors of goats, some a little bigger than most. They were eating grass and delectable other plants or weeds, among some pieces of very old farm equipment. I know that the goats seem to have the run of the small farm, because there was 'evidence' everywhere. That evidence was an abundance of smooth, black, oval pellets scattered wherever they walked, frolicked, pranced, and meandered during their day. Those ovoid pellets are what is left of the food they've eaten through the day.                     

There was a young calf, perhaps several weeks or a couple of months old, still 'on the bottle' for his meals. The mother was in another enclosed space, sometimes watching me watch her, and sometimes looking at her sweet baby in his little pen. She was also waiting for her master to come and 'milk' her to ease the mild pain of a full udder. Some of that milk was then poured into a very large square bottle with a three-inch long, 3/4-inch-in-diameter nipple. And the growing calf was so delighted to drink his meal from that nipple. That in itself was a most beautiful episode to watch. 

The cows and maturing calves leave behind some nine-inch wide circular, more than one-inch-deep patties out on the grass or paths, of the food that they have eaten throughout their day. These patties eventually dry up and can be used as fertilizer for one's gardens. 

All of these sights and sounds of today took me back immediately to my young age. When I was only one or two years old, my parents would visit my maternal grandparents, but no doubt I cannot remember that far back. What I do remember is being a child of four to nine years old, going to these grandparents' farm, and seeing the chickens and roosters having free range of that little area near the house and barn. They would scratch the soil, and find some tiny insects they could eat. That little activity kept them busy for a very long time. And when it was time for feeding chickens each day, I would enjoy so much seeing the 'poultry-club-members' running from wherever they had been, to the place where the cracked corn would be thrown. They were so eager to be present at that most delectable feast. 

This morning, those same feelings came rushing back to me as I heard and saw these activities. I feel blessed to have spent most of today enjoying this exposure to the 'little-farm' life again. 

I'll see you at the Corner Post...

I Have News ~ not terribly important, though.

A small piece of news, not terribly important, but only to me. 

I went for a walk this morning at 7:30 a.m., much to my surprise! I had been noticing flab on my belly, and other places, and decided it has to leave me. I had lost weight with my daily walks last year, I think, but I stopped taking walks during the winter. I was getting too lazy, or too busy, or something. I was lacking in energy, too.

The walk this morning was 23 minutes long, because on the way back, I noticed that there weren't too many minutes used up. I then took the longer way home, on Richland, that 90-degree angled side street. It was simply great. I made a promise to myself that I have to walk almost every day from now on, until June First!  All together now, please yell "Yay! Hooray!"

I was working on some poetry yesterday afternoon, and this afternoon, also. It seems the muse has stopped by for the last couple of days, and I just cannot ignore her. When she is around, I notice that the words come out so much easier. Strange, but true. 

For the past few days I have needed to watch some of my old videos of TV programs I liked, years ago. I've been stressing out recently, and I needed something else to think about. Two evenings ago, I watched the history/documentary of the Polka King Frank Yankovic. He really was the Polka King, writing so many songs, and playing them in so many venues. He pleased millions of people over the years. He passed away some years ago.

I dearly love the polka, and like to listen to the Polka programs I can find on the internet. I also like to listen to my old audio tapes that I had taped many years ago in Pennsylvania, where I lived, and in Michigan when I went to stay with my Mom from time to time because of her illnesses. Polkas are cheerful, and uplifting to so many, including me. I also love East European music, as well as all of European music, and there is much of that on these audio tapes. That also helps me to get rid of stress.

I was going to take a power nap, but I suddenly remembered that I wanted to write about my lovely walk! Everyone knows that I need it to retain my balance, and I neglected to walk often, to my regret. So perhaps you all may just as well telepathically hint to me that it's time for a walk, will you? I know that I have pooh-poohed the idea so many times, but please do persevere with me. 


I did take my morning drink yesterday and this morning. It was suggested to me, and I think it is a very good idea. It has settled in with me to my satisfaction, and I would like to continue it. It's a teaspoon of ground psyllium husks in a half cup of water or almond milk, a teaspoon of chia seeds, and a teaspoon of ground flaxseed, stirred together in the half cup of liquid, and allowed to sit at least five minutes to gel. It goes down very well, and I am quite pleased. 

It seems that I feel better because of that special drink; I've been needing something like that for quite some time. I am grateful for the advice. 

The weather has been calm, but a hot 91 degrees. Just a few minutes ago, the weather forecast changed, to 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms this late afternoon. I do hope it will rain for about fifteen minutes, not a cloudburst, mind you, just a nice steady rain to freshen the area. There is a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms tonight, and Sunday night. 40% by Monday. We welcome the rain, but we want no damage or injuries! In other words, no storms!

There, that's better. I think I'll close here, and take my Power Nap: I love those naps, they're short and very sweet, and so refreshing. 


It feels so good to come back to my blog. I have missed writing it, and I apologize to those of  you who have looked forward to it. I had been so busy with several other priorities, and going through several boxes of papers: our children's school papers and drawings, many of my old papers to look over, shred, or put away. Not culling, through the years, leads to such a mountainous job now. 





I'll see you at the Corner Post...