Greetings from The Hill,
It rained today and it got me thinking about other times it rained. It rained the day they buried Daddy. That made me feel good because I heard somewhere once that the angels cry with joy when a good person dies. Therefore I am always comforted when it rains when someone I know dies.
When I was young I helped my parents work in the garden. One time a storm came up. There was thunder and lightening and it was sprinkling rain. Mom was in the garden gathering something and wanted to get it done before the hard rain came. I was so scared. I just knew she was going to get hit by lightening. Of course she didn't.
There was a big tree on the hill above our house. When a storm came up Mom was always afraid the tree would fall. We would go to the other side of the house and lay down on the bed until the storm was over. Can't count how many times we did that during my childhood.
It also rained on our wedding day. Actually it was a downpour. We were married in the sanctuary of the church but folks had to go outside, up some stairs and across the road to the fellowship hall where we had our reception. Folks were running and sharing umbrellas, it was a site. Somewhere along the way I heard that it is good luck if it rains on your wedding day. I don't know about luck but we have been together over 28 years.
Then when we built our house Ran wanted a metal roof. Of course I was all for it. I liked the look and the durability. The very night we moved in it rained and we discovered the joys of rain on a metal roof. It lulled our son to sleep for years. And when it comes a hard rain it is so loud it roars. You can't get that with shingles.
Later ...
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Kidnapped to Anderson, SC
Greetings from The Hill,
My Sweetie works hard for a living. So this weekend I decided to do something out of the ordinary for him. Thursday I told him to pack an overnight bag because we were leaving for an adventure on Saturday and I didn't tell him anything about the plans. In the meantime I went to work laying out my plans for the weekend.
I found a place to stay. I chose a place to have lunch and dinner. I learned there were lots of antique stores on main street and then found out there was a large flea market nearby. Plans done. But we all know what happens to the best laid plans....
We left Saturday morning right on time and had a lovely drive up. Fortunately Mother Nature decided to bless us with a sunny, warm weekend. We arrived in downtown right at lunchtime and found the restaurant I had chosen only to learn that they don't serve lunch on Saturday. WHAT !??!!?!!! Disappointment No. 1. OK plan B - we walked up the street to a restaurant called J Peters Grill and Bar.
While this wasn't a fine dining experience turns out the food was very good. And the best part were the honey butter croissants. I have never bitten into any food that literally made me close my eyes and sink into the experience. It was pure heaven. I ate mine, half of Ran's and asked our server if she could bring me one more before we left. As good as all the other food was, the croissants were the most satisfying. LOVED IT! Disappointment averted.
After we ate we decided to do a little shopping up and down main street to walk off our lunch. As it turns out downtown Anderson is a town in the middle of a major renovation. There were more storefronts that were empty than full. We did find one antique store. On unusual thing about downtown was the fish. Every so often we saw fish on a stick. Very interesting.
We left downtown headed toward our hotel to check in. On the way of course we had to stop by the local Walmart. (I know, it's a redneck thing but we always do it.) We had several gift cards from Christmas so we spent them on a netbook case for me and a camera part for Ran.
We got to the hotel, walked in and saw the following "Welcome" sign.
I've never had a hotel do that before. That's me, Rhonda Lindsey.
We spent the evening relaxing and getting ready for a big day of flea marketing today. The desk clerk told us about a huge flea market not far from where we were staying. So we got up early this morning, had a quick breakfast and checked out so as to be at the flea market shortly after it opened at 8:00am.
We arrived at Jockey Lot, parked and started walking the buildings. Jockey Lot is the biggest flea market in the South and covers 65 acres. It is HUGE. Trouble is, we got there so early that not all the vendors were there yet and it was cold. I had left my coat in the car but we finally found a vendor selling jackets made from Indian blanket material. I picked out a blue stripe and put that puppy on. We walked and walked and walked but because the place was so empty and things were so spread out we weren't having a great time and decided to leave. Trouble is, we had not really paid attention to where we parked the car. And when we came out to our surprise we found a huge yard sale kind of atmosphere with rows and rows of folks, and cars and booths. Where did all this come from?????? I was turned around and scared we were not going to be able to find the car. Well Ran to the rescue. He remembered a few landmarks and was able to get us to the car.
We did have one really fun experience while there. One vendor had the most unusual thing for kids to do that I have ever seen. He had these big plastic balls the kids got into and the balls floated on water. We watched the kids running and falling inside these big clear balls. It was hilarious. Don't worry there was a 5 minute limit per child so they didn't suffocate.
As we were leaving Ran suggested that we drop by the Pendergrass flea market near Gainesville on the way home. We have been there before and really enjoyed it. On the way over we saw a billboard for a large electronics outlet. Well we couldn't resist. We hit that first and spent more money than we planned but got some cool stuff. My fav is the software program that teaches piano. It's been a few years since I took lessons and I'd really like to learn some new songs. I'm very excited.
Then we crossed over the expressway and it was on to Pendergrass. I really love this flea market. It is all indoor, warm in winter and cool in summer and every stall was packed with stuff. Even if we didn't buy anything I love to just walk around and look.
We ate lunch at the food court then decided we were tired and ready to go home. I took a risk at lunch and ate some Chinese food. It was really good but triggered a migraine on the way home that went full blown when we got home. I took a two hour nap and woke up feeling much better. It was good to be home.
All in all it was a very fun weekend. Some things went the way we planned and some didn't but we rolled with the punches and had a good time anyway. The best part was just being together and doing something different. We didn't go far from home but it was far enough away that we could put our day to day life behind us for a while and forget everything except just enjoying each others company. Ran is so much fun to travel with and after more than 28 years of marriage I love him more today than I did the day I married him.
Later ...
My Sweetie works hard for a living. So this weekend I decided to do something out of the ordinary for him. Thursday I told him to pack an overnight bag because we were leaving for an adventure on Saturday and I didn't tell him anything about the plans. In the meantime I went to work laying out my plans for the weekend.
I found a place to stay. I chose a place to have lunch and dinner. I learned there were lots of antique stores on main street and then found out there was a large flea market nearby. Plans done. But we all know what happens to the best laid plans....
We left Saturday morning right on time and had a lovely drive up. Fortunately Mother Nature decided to bless us with a sunny, warm weekend. We arrived in downtown right at lunchtime and found the restaurant I had chosen only to learn that they don't serve lunch on Saturday. WHAT !??!!?!!! Disappointment No. 1. OK plan B - we walked up the street to a restaurant called J Peters Grill and Bar.
While this wasn't a fine dining experience turns out the food was very good. And the best part were the honey butter croissants. I have never bitten into any food that literally made me close my eyes and sink into the experience. It was pure heaven. I ate mine, half of Ran's and asked our server if she could bring me one more before we left. As good as all the other food was, the croissants were the most satisfying. LOVED IT! Disappointment averted.
After we ate we decided to do a little shopping up and down main street to walk off our lunch. As it turns out downtown Anderson is a town in the middle of a major renovation. There were more storefronts that were empty than full. We did find one antique store. On unusual thing about downtown was the fish. Every so often we saw fish on a stick. Very interesting.
We left downtown headed toward our hotel to check in. On the way of course we had to stop by the local Walmart. (I know, it's a redneck thing but we always do it.) We had several gift cards from Christmas so we spent them on a netbook case for me and a camera part for Ran.
We got to the hotel, walked in and saw the following "Welcome" sign.
We spent the evening relaxing and getting ready for a big day of flea marketing today. The desk clerk told us about a huge flea market not far from where we were staying. So we got up early this morning, had a quick breakfast and checked out so as to be at the flea market shortly after it opened at 8:00am.
We arrived at Jockey Lot, parked and started walking the buildings. Jockey Lot is the biggest flea market in the South and covers 65 acres. It is HUGE. Trouble is, we got there so early that not all the vendors were there yet and it was cold. I had left my coat in the car but we finally found a vendor selling jackets made from Indian blanket material. I picked out a blue stripe and put that puppy on. We walked and walked and walked but because the place was so empty and things were so spread out we weren't having a great time and decided to leave. Trouble is, we had not really paid attention to where we parked the car. And when we came out to our surprise we found a huge yard sale kind of atmosphere with rows and rows of folks, and cars and booths. Where did all this come from?????? I was turned around and scared we were not going to be able to find the car. Well Ran to the rescue. He remembered a few landmarks and was able to get us to the car.
We did have one really fun experience while there. One vendor had the most unusual thing for kids to do that I have ever seen. He had these big plastic balls the kids got into and the balls floated on water. We watched the kids running and falling inside these big clear balls. It was hilarious. Don't worry there was a 5 minute limit per child so they didn't suffocate.
Then we crossed over the expressway and it was on to Pendergrass. I really love this flea market. It is all indoor, warm in winter and cool in summer and every stall was packed with stuff. Even if we didn't buy anything I love to just walk around and look.
We ate lunch at the food court then decided we were tired and ready to go home. I took a risk at lunch and ate some Chinese food. It was really good but triggered a migraine on the way home that went full blown when we got home. I took a two hour nap and woke up feeling much better. It was good to be home.
All in all it was a very fun weekend. Some things went the way we planned and some didn't but we rolled with the punches and had a good time anyway. The best part was just being together and doing something different. We didn't go far from home but it was far enough away that we could put our day to day life behind us for a while and forget everything except just enjoying each others company. Ran is so much fun to travel with and after more than 28 years of marriage I love him more today than I did the day I married him.
Later ...
Friday, January 28, 2011
The Story of The Hill
I added a tag line to my blog yesterday and thought I'd share the story behind "The Hill".
When I was a child Grandmother and Grandad owned 200 acres of land four miles up the road from where I grew up. Their homeplace was there. The homeplace consisted of their house, a garage with a loft, a corn crib, chicken pen for the house chickens, a chicken house for the chickens they raised to sell and a wood working shop where Grandad built things.
Later when a big development was being constructed up the road my Grandad was asked if they could build a lake on his land. And they did. I remember visiting the lake in progress. They moved earth to create the depth and piled the excess dirt up to form the dam. At the dam was a sort of earthen dock that jutted out very high above the dry lake bed. One day we all went down to take a look at the progress. My brother and I went out onto the "dirt dock" and started throwing rocks below. It must have rained because when our rocks hit the bottom they sank into the mud. I remember being so amazed at how high up we were and I couldn't imagine what it would look like when it was finished.
As it turned out the lake became a huge source of entertainment for the family. We spent weekends camping there. Daddy bought a power boat and pulled skiers behind. We swam and had marshmallow roasts. It was great.
There were other things about the homeplace I remember. Often after church Grandmother invited us over for Sunday dinner (lunch) and after we ate Grandad pulled out the cards and we'd play Rummy or Rook for hours. Then we'd pick sun warmed grapes from the arbor and eat them while sitting on the porch. The game was to see how far one could spit the hull after sucking out the sweet, warm pulp.
At some point Grandad sold 100 acres and the remaining acreage began to be divided among the children and grandchildren. Through the years many of us started to build our homes here. My brother was first, then my cousins, we were next, then Mother and Daddy moved here and finally my sister's family. At this moment my entire immediate family lives within a short walking distance from each other. We like it like that.
When we built our house DH wanted to give it a name. He kicked around a few things but nothing stuck. Then when our son moved away to go to college he often brought his friends up for the weekend. Those were such good times having a house full of guests all the time. It was during this period that someone - I can't even remember who or how it stared - began to refer to coming to visit us as "going to The Hill". And it stuck. Then over time "going to The Hill" came to refer to visiting anyone from our immediate family.
So if you're ever in the neighborhood drop by "The Hill". You'll get a hearty hello, a glass full of ice water and the peace and comfort that everyone who has visited knows and returns for.
Later....
When I was a child Grandmother and Grandad owned 200 acres of land four miles up the road from where I grew up. Their homeplace was there. The homeplace consisted of their house, a garage with a loft, a corn crib, chicken pen for the house chickens, a chicken house for the chickens they raised to sell and a wood working shop where Grandad built things.
Later when a big development was being constructed up the road my Grandad was asked if they could build a lake on his land. And they did. I remember visiting the lake in progress. They moved earth to create the depth and piled the excess dirt up to form the dam. At the dam was a sort of earthen dock that jutted out very high above the dry lake bed. One day we all went down to take a look at the progress. My brother and I went out onto the "dirt dock" and started throwing rocks below. It must have rained because when our rocks hit the bottom they sank into the mud. I remember being so amazed at how high up we were and I couldn't imagine what it would look like when it was finished.
As it turned out the lake became a huge source of entertainment for the family. We spent weekends camping there. Daddy bought a power boat and pulled skiers behind. We swam and had marshmallow roasts. It was great.
There were other things about the homeplace I remember. Often after church Grandmother invited us over for Sunday dinner (lunch) and after we ate Grandad pulled out the cards and we'd play Rummy or Rook for hours. Then we'd pick sun warmed grapes from the arbor and eat them while sitting on the porch. The game was to see how far one could spit the hull after sucking out the sweet, warm pulp.
At some point Grandad sold 100 acres and the remaining acreage began to be divided among the children and grandchildren. Through the years many of us started to build our homes here. My brother was first, then my cousins, we were next, then Mother and Daddy moved here and finally my sister's family. At this moment my entire immediate family lives within a short walking distance from each other. We like it like that.
When we built our house DH wanted to give it a name. He kicked around a few things but nothing stuck. Then when our son moved away to go to college he often brought his friends up for the weekend. Those were such good times having a house full of guests all the time. It was during this period that someone - I can't even remember who or how it stared - began to refer to coming to visit us as "going to The Hill". And it stuck. Then over time "going to The Hill" came to refer to visiting anyone from our immediate family.
So if you're ever in the neighborhood drop by "The Hill". You'll get a hearty hello, a glass full of ice water and the peace and comfort that everyone who has visited knows and returns for.
Later....
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Gett'in Better
After a rough start it seems things are beginning to get better for me in 2011. I have new migraine meds and after a few weeks they are finally kicking in. Only bad side effect is they make me sleepy if I take a whole pill.
I'm beginning to enjoy things again - shopping for instance. I know this may sound heartless but shopping for others is not one of my favorite things to do. Don't get me wrong, I like doing things for others but shopping for them makes me have anxiety attacks. I'm really not very good at picking out presents, except for family members. If I have to buy for someone outside the family I look, look and look until time runs out and then I just have to grab whatever I'm close to. I wrap it up but always feel that it is not a good gift. I know it is just the thought but it's just a thing with me. When someone gives me a present it is always something sweet or kool and I always think "Why didn't I think of that?"
Oh well, I digress. Let's get back to my recent purchase. I love collecting things - salt and pepper shakers, cut paper pictures, old beaded items, little boots and more recently novelty cigarette lighters. For a while now I have wanted to have a collection of pink glassware. But not just any old glass. Pale pink and with an interesting shape or design.
This week, I began that collection. I didn't want to spend much so I first went to the thrift store. They had several pink items but they were too dark or not really interesting enough. So I next went to the antique store (across from what was the old hospital). I just felt I would find something here. I walked around and saw several pieces but they were a little more than I wanted to pay. And then I spotted it, a small vase of pink and white with a gold rim. I picked it up and walked through the rest of the store to see if anything else caught my eye. Sure enough, in one of the last stalls I found a perfume bottle - so delicate, intricate with a swirl pattern and a spun stopper. I just had to have it. So I wound up getting both pieces. Thing is once I got home the first piece just didn't seem as lovely as the perfume bottle.
My purchase made me happy - like buying new purse.
Another good thing is that work seems to make me happier these days. I literally walk around with a smile on my face.
DH and I also seem to be getting along better. Matter of fact I told him to pack an overnight bag cause I'm kidnapping him Saturday for a short trip out of town. DH & DD will hold down the fort at home. I am not telling where we are going but I have a lovely weekend planned. Lunch at a nice restaurant, an afternoon of exploring the town to include an antique mall, then dinner at a true Irish pub. Complementary breakfast at the hotel then a leisurely morning before heading home.
Later......
RL
I'm beginning to enjoy things again - shopping for instance. I know this may sound heartless but shopping for others is not one of my favorite things to do. Don't get me wrong, I like doing things for others but shopping for them makes me have anxiety attacks. I'm really not very good at picking out presents, except for family members. If I have to buy for someone outside the family I look, look and look until time runs out and then I just have to grab whatever I'm close to. I wrap it up but always feel that it is not a good gift. I know it is just the thought but it's just a thing with me. When someone gives me a present it is always something sweet or kool and I always think "Why didn't I think of that?"
Oh well, I digress. Let's get back to my recent purchase. I love collecting things - salt and pepper shakers, cut paper pictures, old beaded items, little boots and more recently novelty cigarette lighters. For a while now I have wanted to have a collection of pink glassware. But not just any old glass. Pale pink and with an interesting shape or design.
This week, I began that collection. I didn't want to spend much so I first went to the thrift store. They had several pink items but they were too dark or not really interesting enough. So I next went to the antique store (across from what was the old hospital). I just felt I would find something here. I walked around and saw several pieces but they were a little more than I wanted to pay. And then I spotted it, a small vase of pink and white with a gold rim. I picked it up and walked through the rest of the store to see if anything else caught my eye. Sure enough, in one of the last stalls I found a perfume bottle - so delicate, intricate with a swirl pattern and a spun stopper. I just had to have it. So I wound up getting both pieces. Thing is once I got home the first piece just didn't seem as lovely as the perfume bottle.
My purchase made me happy - like buying new purse.
Another good thing is that work seems to make me happier these days. I literally walk around with a smile on my face.
DH and I also seem to be getting along better. Matter of fact I told him to pack an overnight bag cause I'm kidnapping him Saturday for a short trip out of town. DH & DD will hold down the fort at home. I am not telling where we are going but I have a lovely weekend planned. Lunch at a nice restaurant, an afternoon of exploring the town to include an antique mall, then dinner at a true Irish pub. Complementary breakfast at the hotel then a leisurely morning before heading home.
Later......
RL
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Leaving 2010
The year is almost over and it was an eventful one. Biggest event this fall was that DD is getting a divorce and has moved back in with us. So what was our empty nest is now full again.
I'm still at or below goal weight. I log my weight in every Thursday just to keep me on track.
Been having trouble with my migraines and meds. Meds I was on were making my hair fall out so around Thanksgiving I started coming off of it. Dr put me on a new med, Aplenzin, but it hasn't done anything to help. I'm having migraines every day and for the past few days have had nausea. I'm so tired of dealing with the migraines.
Christmas was good. We had a slim Christmas Eve at our house. Christmas morning here then lunch on Christmas day at Mom's. It was her turn to read the Christmas story so we are starting all over this year.
DD's dog, Biscuit, also came to live with us. She is very sweet and we love having her. Although right now she is whining to be let in. We kept her in while it was so cold but it isn't so cold today but she doesn't like being outside and away from family.
I was surprised and delighted at how well she and Leo got along. They startled each other a couple of times but for the most part they got along fine.
I'm out of work all this week but because of the migraines and nausea have not felt well. What a pain.
Wonder what 2011 will hold. Hope it's better than this year.
I'm still at or below goal weight. I log my weight in every Thursday just to keep me on track.
Been having trouble with my migraines and meds. Meds I was on were making my hair fall out so around Thanksgiving I started coming off of it. Dr put me on a new med, Aplenzin, but it hasn't done anything to help. I'm having migraines every day and for the past few days have had nausea. I'm so tired of dealing with the migraines.
Christmas was good. We had a slim Christmas Eve at our house. Christmas morning here then lunch on Christmas day at Mom's. It was her turn to read the Christmas story so we are starting all over this year.
DD's dog, Biscuit, also came to live with us. She is very sweet and we love having her. Although right now she is whining to be let in. We kept her in while it was so cold but it isn't so cold today but she doesn't like being outside and away from family.
I was surprised and delighted at how well she and Leo got along. They startled each other a couple of times but for the most part they got along fine.
I'm out of work all this week but because of the migraines and nausea have not felt well. What a pain.
Wonder what 2011 will hold. Hope it's better than this year.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Back Where I Began
I recalculated my Weight Watchers points after I obtained my goal weight and learned I am back where I started. I get 21 points now and that is what I was originally assigned when I began this journey. But a funny thing happened on the way to my goal. I learned to eat less. Now that I can eat more I find it sometimes difficult to do so. I have this little fear in the back of my head that I will just keep on losing even when I don't want to. Of course it hasn't even been a week yet since I achieved my true goal on my normal weight in date. So I've got time to get the balance worked out.
I was in an adventuresome mood in the kitchen this weekend. My co-worker brought me a cake pop last week and I thought I'd try my hand at making some. I baked my low sugar soda cake. I mixed in my low sugar icing. I made the balls, though they were a little soft. I melted the white chocolate chips in a double boiler in the microwave and here is where I hit the bump in the road - burnt chocolate. Bonnie had warned me about this but I went and did it anyway. An entire package of chips had to be thrown into the trash. So what to do about the pops?? I wrapped them individually in plastic and put them in the freezer. They didn't freeze solid and are a cool treat to have when I want something sweet but not sinful. Oh well, it took me 3 batches of Bavarian Red Cabbage to get it right. I'm not giving up on this idea yet. I'll just go back where I began and try again.
I was in an adventuresome mood in the kitchen this weekend. My co-worker brought me a cake pop last week and I thought I'd try my hand at making some. I baked my low sugar soda cake. I mixed in my low sugar icing. I made the balls, though they were a little soft. I melted the white chocolate chips in a double boiler in the microwave and here is where I hit the bump in the road - burnt chocolate. Bonnie had warned me about this but I went and did it anyway. An entire package of chips had to be thrown into the trash. So what to do about the pops?? I wrapped them individually in plastic and put them in the freezer. They didn't freeze solid and are a cool treat to have when I want something sweet but not sinful. Oh well, it took me 3 batches of Bavarian Red Cabbage to get it right. I'm not giving up on this idea yet. I'll just go back where I began and try again.
Monday, July 26, 2010
The wait for the weight is over
I have finally reached my goal weight - 137 pounds (actually 136.6 to be exact). I have to admit it feels so good to be back into a size 12 pants and medium shirts. It took five months of slowly learning how to eat properly - and putting that into practice. I thought about it all this weekend. Will I go back to my old eating habits over time? Can I sustain this weight? Only time can tell.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
End of an era
Friday was May 28, 2010, the day we lost our dear dog Chewy. Even though we had prepared ourselves for it it didn't make it easy when it arrived. It never does.
Dr. McGhee had put Chewy on a daily does of an anti-inflammatory for two weeks and then we expected to cut back to once every two days. Today would have been the two weeks. Chewy had been getting around better, not limping so much from his arthritis. And altogether acting normally.
Around 1:00PM Friday Ben called from the house to ask what vet we used. He said Chewy had a seizure. He said he foamed at the mouth, stretched his body out stiff and moved his legs like he was running. I called the vet but when Ben tried to load Chewy to take him he was confused and combative. Ben stayed with him for a while and called me later to say Chewy seemed normal so Ben went on into work. I couldn't wait for Randy to get home to check on him.
Turns out Randy was running late so it was me that checked on him when I got home. At first he was fine. He met me at the steps like always, tail wagging, ready for his supper. I fed him and he ate like normal. I guess I'd been home 15 minutes or so when Ran called and while I was talking to him I could see Chewy beginning to have another seizure. I had looked dog seizures up on the internet before I left work so I knew basically there wasn't anything I could do until it was over except remove anything he could get hurt on. The seizure lasted for a little over a minute.
When he came out of it he was very confused. Not wanting to be bitten like Ben I left him alone and watched. He was pointed toward the railing so I assumed he would turn around or back up and come toward me. He didn't. In his confusion he pushed himself through the railing and fell off the porch into the grass and pavers below. I watched him stagger under the porch.
By this time I knew I had to call the vet. I had already spoken to them several times during the afternoon. I went into the house to get my cell and when I came back out Chewy was on the lower terrace behind the house. He was still confused. He walking straight into the house with his head pointed toward the wall. Then another seizure began. He laid down. Before Randy could get here Chewy had another seizure laying there and could not get up. That was a total of 4 that we knew of and by this time he was very much out of it. As soon as Randy pulled up I called the vet to let them know we were on the way that Chewy was very bad.
Randy put Chewy on a rug to pull him away from the house then picked him up and put him in the back of the car. On the way over Chewy had 2 more seizures and his breathing was constantly heavy.
Once we got Chewy into a room and Dr. Lewis examined him he asked us about the possibility Chewy had come in contact with poisons, a sprayed yard or something like that. Of course nothing had changed around the house so that was eliminated but he kept asking us about it. The only way to confirm would be to give Chewy meds, keep him for observation and do a round of blood tests.
Earlier in the day when Ben called me he asked me if it wasn't just "time". As Randy and I stood there looking at Chewy and knowing he was out of it and anything we do would just put off the inevitable we looked at each other and knew what the other was thinking. After 14 years, 9 months and 2 weeks it was time. He was an old man, deaf with only one eye laying on that table suffering and it was time.
I asked Dr. Lewis what would happen and Randy signed the papers. Randy and I didn't leave Chewy. He was faithful to us all his life and we were not about to leave him alone now. After Dr. Lewis administered the shots Chewy passed away peacefully a few minutes after 6:00pm.
We are going to bring him back here on Monday, Memorial Day, and bury him on the property. It's only fitting. This is the home he loved, the only home he ever knew where people he loved, and who loved him, came and went.
Dr. McGhee had put Chewy on a daily does of an anti-inflammatory for two weeks and then we expected to cut back to once every two days. Today would have been the two weeks. Chewy had been getting around better, not limping so much from his arthritis. And altogether acting normally.
Around 1:00PM Friday Ben called from the house to ask what vet we used. He said Chewy had a seizure. He said he foamed at the mouth, stretched his body out stiff and moved his legs like he was running. I called the vet but when Ben tried to load Chewy to take him he was confused and combative. Ben stayed with him for a while and called me later to say Chewy seemed normal so Ben went on into work. I couldn't wait for Randy to get home to check on him.
Turns out Randy was running late so it was me that checked on him when I got home. At first he was fine. He met me at the steps like always, tail wagging, ready for his supper. I fed him and he ate like normal. I guess I'd been home 15 minutes or so when Ran called and while I was talking to him I could see Chewy beginning to have another seizure. I had looked dog seizures up on the internet before I left work so I knew basically there wasn't anything I could do until it was over except remove anything he could get hurt on. The seizure lasted for a little over a minute.
When he came out of it he was very confused. Not wanting to be bitten like Ben I left him alone and watched. He was pointed toward the railing so I assumed he would turn around or back up and come toward me. He didn't. In his confusion he pushed himself through the railing and fell off the porch into the grass and pavers below. I watched him stagger under the porch.
By this time I knew I had to call the vet. I had already spoken to them several times during the afternoon. I went into the house to get my cell and when I came back out Chewy was on the lower terrace behind the house. He was still confused. He walking straight into the house with his head pointed toward the wall. Then another seizure began. He laid down. Before Randy could get here Chewy had another seizure laying there and could not get up. That was a total of 4 that we knew of and by this time he was very much out of it. As soon as Randy pulled up I called the vet to let them know we were on the way that Chewy was very bad.
Randy put Chewy on a rug to pull him away from the house then picked him up and put him in the back of the car. On the way over Chewy had 2 more seizures and his breathing was constantly heavy.
Once we got Chewy into a room and Dr. Lewis examined him he asked us about the possibility Chewy had come in contact with poisons, a sprayed yard or something like that. Of course nothing had changed around the house so that was eliminated but he kept asking us about it. The only way to confirm would be to give Chewy meds, keep him for observation and do a round of blood tests.
Earlier in the day when Ben called me he asked me if it wasn't just "time". As Randy and I stood there looking at Chewy and knowing he was out of it and anything we do would just put off the inevitable we looked at each other and knew what the other was thinking. After 14 years, 9 months and 2 weeks it was time. He was an old man, deaf with only one eye laying on that table suffering and it was time.
I asked Dr. Lewis what would happen and Randy signed the papers. Randy and I didn't leave Chewy. He was faithful to us all his life and we were not about to leave him alone now. After Dr. Lewis administered the shots Chewy passed away peacefully a few minutes after 6:00pm.
We are going to bring him back here on Monday, Memorial Day, and bury him on the property. It's only fitting. This is the home he loved, the only home he ever knew where people he loved, and who loved him, came and went.
Monday, May 10, 2010
I can just see it now
This has been a wonderful weekend. I typically don't go into town on Saturdays but this weekend there were errands I needed to run that took me there and I'm glad they did. Driving through town and walking around reminded me of a Norman Rockwell portrait of Americana. I'm so blessed to still live in one of those small towns that hasn't been gobbled up yet by big box commerce (though we are on the verge).
It actually all started Thursday on the National Day of Prayer. I met my sister at lunch in front of the courthouse where an event had been planned. Several pastors and others were asked to lead us in pray for various areas that touch our lives; our family, local, state and federal government, schools, etc. I expected a bigger crowd but the moderator said there were more here this year than last and he hoped next year would be even bigger.
Then Saturday morning as I drove through the mass of folks out getting their Mother's Day presents I passed a yard sale at the Methodist church. I didn't have time to stop but would have loved to. Up the road at the Middle School parking lot teenagers were fundraising by washing cars. Two guys were by the road waving homemade signs. A block up from there is our small Saturday morning farmer's market where local growers and craftsmen bring their wares. Homegrown tomatoes, beans, corn and handcrafted birdhouses and pottery are for sale.
By the time I got to Kroger I had a smile on my face already and then it got bigger. There were some little Boy Scouts selling colorful wooden rose buds as a fundraiser just in time for Mother's Day.
As I drove out of town I started thinking about all the Norman Rockwell paintings I have seen and concluded that my little hometown would have been a perfect subject for a Norman Rockwell collage. I can just see it now.
It actually all started Thursday on the National Day of Prayer. I met my sister at lunch in front of the courthouse where an event had been planned. Several pastors and others were asked to lead us in pray for various areas that touch our lives; our family, local, state and federal government, schools, etc. I expected a bigger crowd but the moderator said there were more here this year than last and he hoped next year would be even bigger.
Then Saturday morning as I drove through the mass of folks out getting their Mother's Day presents I passed a yard sale at the Methodist church. I didn't have time to stop but would have loved to. Up the road at the Middle School parking lot teenagers were fundraising by washing cars. Two guys were by the road waving homemade signs. A block up from there is our small Saturday morning farmer's market where local growers and craftsmen bring their wares. Homegrown tomatoes, beans, corn and handcrafted birdhouses and pottery are for sale.
By the time I got to Kroger I had a smile on my face already and then it got bigger. There were some little Boy Scouts selling colorful wooden rose buds as a fundraiser just in time for Mother's Day.
As I drove out of town I started thinking about all the Norman Rockwell paintings I have seen and concluded that my little hometown would have been a perfect subject for a Norman Rockwell collage. I can just see it now.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Hope is enough for today
I had a good day yesterday. It is not the first good day I’ve had since last summer but is one of the few. I feel like I’ve been in a fog. That is what depression causes. You find yourself in a place you’d rather not be and don’t know how to get out of.
I stopped going places by myself, including church. I felt joyless even around the people I love the most. I had anxiety attacks. It’s crazy. I tried to ignore it for a long time thinking it would just go away. It didn’t. Then I tried to handle it myself. I couldn’t. Then I went to counseling and hoped that would change everything. I learned things about myself that no one else understands. Or would believe really.
Who would have guessed I would be someone who feels insignificant. It was a real shocker to me. I’ve had confidence and a perfectly normal healthy self-esteem all my life. Why suddenly in mid-life would that be shaken??? Don’t know. And the counselor couldn’t help me with it to my satisfaction. I’m not going back at the moment.
But then that is the back-story. Yesterday I actually had a song in my heart. I danced – literally danced – in the living room. I took a walk. I got things done without sitting on the couch all day watching TV. It felt good.
There are some lingering questions, some unsolved issues but today I have hope. And hope is enough for me today.
I stopped going places by myself, including church. I felt joyless even around the people I love the most. I had anxiety attacks. It’s crazy. I tried to ignore it for a long time thinking it would just go away. It didn’t. Then I tried to handle it myself. I couldn’t. Then I went to counseling and hoped that would change everything. I learned things about myself that no one else understands. Or would believe really.
Who would have guessed I would be someone who feels insignificant. It was a real shocker to me. I’ve had confidence and a perfectly normal healthy self-esteem all my life. Why suddenly in mid-life would that be shaken??? Don’t know. And the counselor couldn’t help me with it to my satisfaction. I’m not going back at the moment.
But then that is the back-story. Yesterday I actually had a song in my heart. I danced – literally danced – in the living room. I took a walk. I got things done without sitting on the couch all day watching TV. It felt good.
There are some lingering questions, some unsolved issues but today I have hope. And hope is enough for me today.
Monday, March 29, 2010
That's My Girl
We celebrated Baby Girl's birthday yesterday. She brought some of her cutwork over for us to see. I saw the pictures she posted on Facebook but had not seen the real deal. There is a BIG difference.
I was blown away by the intricate detail. Can't believe she has the patience to do that but she loves it. There was one entitled "Rain Barrel" that I thought was one of her best pieces. There is a border with vines and flowers. Inside is a downspout emptying into a stripped rain barrel. The top layer is black and then there are layers and layers of color underneath. It's the same with the Queen of Hearts she did. She took a regular playing card, drew the design much bigger - about 9" x 10" - and did the cutwork in multiple layers.
I guess someone else does this type of work but I've never seen it. I hope she shows her work at Sautee. Having seen her work in person I'm like her DH's Grandmother - she should be selling this stuff.
I am so glad she is using a talent she has discovered. Nothing makes you feel quite like it. Her Daddy wanted her to play music. She did, then put it down. I wanted her to write. She did, then put it down. This is her own thing and I hope she keeps it up for a lifetime.
Later.....
I was blown away by the intricate detail. Can't believe she has the patience to do that but she loves it. There was one entitled "Rain Barrel" that I thought was one of her best pieces. There is a border with vines and flowers. Inside is a downspout emptying into a stripped rain barrel. The top layer is black and then there are layers and layers of color underneath. It's the same with the Queen of Hearts she did. She took a regular playing card, drew the design much bigger - about 9" x 10" - and did the cutwork in multiple layers.
I guess someone else does this type of work but I've never seen it. I hope she shows her work at Sautee. Having seen her work in person I'm like her DH's Grandmother - she should be selling this stuff.
I am so glad she is using a talent she has discovered. Nothing makes you feel quite like it. Her Daddy wanted her to play music. She did, then put it down. I wanted her to write. She did, then put it down. This is her own thing and I hope she keeps it up for a lifetime.
Later.....
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Sweet, Sweet and Sweeter
I have had three nice surprises the past couple of days. First I opened my e-mail to find a note from my DD. It simply said, "I love you today". That is kind of a family thing we do. Randy and I started it. Saying "I love you" seemed so generic so we added the 'today" part to make it specific to right now, in the moment, and all day today. We didn't realize the kids had picked up on it until they were adults. On rare occasions I'll get a little "I love you today" from DD and it makes my day. Especially this time cause I don't know how she knew I was having a rough day. I guess it is that mysterious bond between mother and daughter where you just know stuff.
The other nice surprise was that it was a co-worker's birthday today. I had no idea she was born on St. Patrick's Day. So we took her to lunch. Of course I went to the restaurant's web site, looked at the menu and decided on what I was to eat beforehand. It is amazing that that was the first thing I thought of when they told me we were going out for lunch. I focused on planning ahead what I could eat so when ordering time came around I was confident. (Had the Pressed Veggie Sandwich for 3 points). This is a whole new way of thinking about food for me. And I am finding eating out pretty easy so far.
Surprise number three was an unexpected phone call from my best friend (who moved out of town and left me - whine). It's always so good to hear her voice and she was so excited about some quilting projects she has going. She is a good big younger than me and quilts like a demon. Our Dads passed away within months of each other. This weekend she came home, got some of his clothes and is making quilts from them. I can hardly wait to see the finished product. I'd wanted to do that with some of Daddy's but I have limited sewing ability.
So that's been my day. Sweet that I heard from my bestest friend. Sweet that I got to have lunch out with the girls. And Sweeter that my Baby Girl loves me.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Not gonna do it
You know what I don't enjoy? I don't enjoy folks who blog about their stressful day. (Chirp, chirp, chirp)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Yo Yo
This blog is like a yoyo. I come - I go - but I seem to always come back.
I have started another blog on Weight Watchers (WW). It's called "Too Much Empty Nest". Royston began a "Biggest Loser" contest and I decided I would use that motivation to lose 30 pounds. Some co-workers were on WW so I checked it out. I'm using the online version and love it (except when my computer goes wonky). So far I've had 2 weigh in's and have lost a total of 5 pounds.
DS has officially moved back in with us for a little while. Got too crazy in that house with so many people. He has lived in that type of situation before but this time it was with his best friend since high school and that was a recipe for disaster. He seems to be doing well on the job though and that's good. We don't see him much. He found a new girlfriend as soon as he moved back up here.
Talked to Baby Girl this week. She is volunteering at the zoo. Which I found out isn't a zoo really at all but a rehab place for animals that have been on the road - circus animals and such - or performing in theme parks. She cleans cages, washes tables and whatever they need her to do. I'm proud of her for doing that. Giving back is important and she has a soft spot for animals.
Granny and I were talking about her the other day. Every woman has doubts and fears about motherhood and I'm sure those have run through Sara's mind but Granny and I both agree we think she will be the best Mom. Of course she will struggle at first like we all do but once she gets the hang of it - and she will - she'll be great with those kids. They will be polite, she'll do fun creative stuff with them and she will love them with her whole heart and then some. And when they snuggle into her neck and she smells their baby smell and kisses their little cheek as they fall asleep and she knows that is her baby she will get what all mothers get in return. A bond so strong that until you are a mother you cannot even comprehend it.
Until next time ...
I have started another blog on Weight Watchers (WW). It's called "Too Much Empty Nest". Royston began a "Biggest Loser" contest and I decided I would use that motivation to lose 30 pounds. Some co-workers were on WW so I checked it out. I'm using the online version and love it (except when my computer goes wonky). So far I've had 2 weigh in's and have lost a total of 5 pounds.
DS has officially moved back in with us for a little while. Got too crazy in that house with so many people. He has lived in that type of situation before but this time it was with his best friend since high school and that was a recipe for disaster. He seems to be doing well on the job though and that's good. We don't see him much. He found a new girlfriend as soon as he moved back up here.
Talked to Baby Girl this week. She is volunteering at the zoo. Which I found out isn't a zoo really at all but a rehab place for animals that have been on the road - circus animals and such - or performing in theme parks. She cleans cages, washes tables and whatever they need her to do. I'm proud of her for doing that. Giving back is important and she has a soft spot for animals.
Granny and I were talking about her the other day. Every woman has doubts and fears about motherhood and I'm sure those have run through Sara's mind but Granny and I both agree we think she will be the best Mom. Of course she will struggle at first like we all do but once she gets the hang of it - and she will - she'll be great with those kids. They will be polite, she'll do fun creative stuff with them and she will love them with her whole heart and then some. And when they snuggle into her neck and she smells their baby smell and kisses their little cheek as they fall asleep and she knows that is her baby she will get what all mothers get in return. A bond so strong that until you are a mother you cannot even comprehend it.
Until next time ...
Saturday, January 16, 2010
The Mini Stories of Me: In The Beginning
A while back I started writing a little series I call “The Mini Stories of Me”. Narcissistic I know but if I don’t tell my story who will. I decided to post a few of the “Mini Stories” here on my blog from time to time. Seems as good a place as any. Here is the first installment.
It rained the day Daddy was buried. I wanted it to rain. Somewhere along the line someone told me once that when a good man dies the angels in heaven cry with joy to welcome one of their own home. Daddy was a good man.
In the days around Daddy’s death I took comfort from little things. An old boyfriend showed up at the funeral home and I was comforted to know he cared enough to come. A co-worker unexpectedly attended the funeral. And of course…the rain.
Thanks to Daddy my life had relatively little “rain” as I was growing up. He and Mother saw to it we had a happy childhood. It was post WWII and my siblings and I became known as the Baby Boomers.
My sister, Teresa, was first string having been born in 1947. At an early age she showed the signs of independence that we praise, and sometimes curse, now. She came of age with The Everly Brothers, Chubby Checker, sock hops and the Twist. Life was simple and innocent back then.
My brother, born 4 years later, came of age in the 60’s. The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Steppenwolf and Woodstock. Randall was my protector and I was often the thorn in his side. He tested Mother and Daddy’s limits by getting into more trouble than Teresa did. Then he was drafted into the Army and came back a different man.
I came along in 1957 – the baby. I came of age in the 70’s. The best music of any era came out in my time. There was Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Grand Funk Railroad, “Thick as a Brick” and lava lamps. It was a great time to be a teenager.
The history of our family, to-date, spans over 60 years. Much has happened both good and bad but one thing has kept us going – the love of our parents for each other and for each of us. It is that love that made the good times so much better. And it was that love that made the awful times bearable. Even when our parents had the wisdom to sit back and do nothing but be a safety net – that was love. As a parent myself I now know how much effort that took.
It is by our parent’s example that each of us, Teresa, Randall and I, have learned to exhibit love to others in our own lives. First and foremost for our spouse who stays with us long after the children are gone, but most especially for our children. If we are not the example for our children then who will be?
So I begin this story – this journey – where it all began…when Mother and Daddy met and fell in love.
Daddy was born September 24, 1925 to Eva and Ira Fouts. Most folks pronounced their names E-ver and R-ee (long E, hard R). It was the Roaring 20’s so I assume times were pretty good. Grandpa Fouts worked at the Georgia Marble Company as a crane operator. As far as I know Grandma Fouts was a homemaker raising her 5 children – Gladys, Pauline, Daddy, Erma and Jimey. They owned a 2 story house on a few acres in Marble Hill, GA.
The following February – Feburary 10th to be exact – Minnie and Ed Pendley gave birth to twins. In those days no one knew ahead of time what they were going to have so the twins were a big surprise.
In the small communities that dotted this rural area families helped each other out. And the little Pendley family surely needed help. Here was Grandad who now had not one but two new babies to care for while not knowing if his wife was going to live or die from complications following the birth. Enter Grandma Fouts. Since Grandmother and Grandad Pendley were only expecting one child they only had clothes for one. So Grandma Fouts sewed clothes for the other baby.
Grandmother Pendley recovered and life moved on until Morris and Doris were in third grade. That is when love began to bloom. One of their classmates even made up a rhyme about them:
As they grew older they were not exclusive to each other. Daddy had an eye for one of the Richards sisters and I know that Mother had other boyfriends from time to time. But Daddy was the first and the one that got the girl.
Daddy joined the Navy when he was 17 years old. He wasn’t old enough to sign for himself so Grandpa Fouts had to. Daddy proposed to Mother before he left to go overseas. She didn’t accept then but waited until he returned home. I asked her a couple of years ago why she didn't marry him before he left. After all, there were loads of pre-deployment weddings during that time. She told me that she wanted to go to college before getting married. So while Daddy was fighting the Japanese Mother was attending Berry College in Rome and working in the dining hall for her tuition.
When he returned he asked her again to marry him and she said “Yes” this time. They were wed on April 6, 1946. There is a picture that was taken right after they were married that Sara loves. We all have a copy. They look so young and full of promise. They spent their honeymoon night in Atlanta. Mom told me that at the end of their stay Daddy didn’t have enough money left for the bus ride back home. Turns out Mother had stashed some money back and was able to get them home – good thing.
They walked wherever they went that honeymoon night and everywhere they were they heard the song “Oh What It Seemed To Be”. It became their song. Years later at their 50th wedding anniversary Teresa, Randall and I searched for and found a tape of the song. We surprised them by playing it for them. We kids danced with our spouses and Daddy stood with Mother and cried. It was one of the sweetest moments of my life.
Mother and Daddy were married from April, 1946 to August, 2003 when Daddy passed away. Fifty-seven years of loving each other and building a home. Not a home of wood and shingles but of the stuff that keeps folks together. Laughter, crying, shared good times and bad. Hard work followed by fun vacations. Wisdom, learning, failing, succeeding. Sometimes literally blood, sweat and tears. All this served to bind us together as a family, a strong family. One that has rolled with the punches and jumped back up for the next hit.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. This is not the end, it is only the beginning. So with Daddy at the bow and Mother at the stern they began to sail through this thing we call "The Fouts Family".
XXX
Introduction
Introduction
It rained the day Daddy was buried. I wanted it to rain. Somewhere along the line someone told me once that when a good man dies the angels in heaven cry with joy to welcome one of their own home. Daddy was a good man.
In the days around Daddy’s death I took comfort from little things. An old boyfriend showed up at the funeral home and I was comforted to know he cared enough to come. A co-worker unexpectedly attended the funeral. And of course…the rain.
Thanks to Daddy my life had relatively little “rain” as I was growing up. He and Mother saw to it we had a happy childhood. It was post WWII and my siblings and I became known as the Baby Boomers.
My sister, Teresa, was first string having been born in 1947. At an early age she showed the signs of independence that we praise, and sometimes curse, now. She came of age with The Everly Brothers, Chubby Checker, sock hops and the Twist. Life was simple and innocent back then.
My brother, born 4 years later, came of age in the 60’s. The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Steppenwolf and Woodstock. Randall was my protector and I was often the thorn in his side. He tested Mother and Daddy’s limits by getting into more trouble than Teresa did. Then he was drafted into the Army and came back a different man.
I came along in 1957 – the baby. I came of age in the 70’s. The best music of any era came out in my time. There was Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Grand Funk Railroad, “Thick as a Brick” and lava lamps. It was a great time to be a teenager.
The history of our family, to-date, spans over 60 years. Much has happened both good and bad but one thing has kept us going – the love of our parents for each other and for each of us. It is that love that made the good times so much better. And it was that love that made the awful times bearable. Even when our parents had the wisdom to sit back and do nothing but be a safety net – that was love. As a parent myself I now know how much effort that took.
It is by our parent’s example that each of us, Teresa, Randall and I, have learned to exhibit love to others in our own lives. First and foremost for our spouse who stays with us long after the children are gone, but most especially for our children. If we are not the example for our children then who will be?
So I begin this story – this journey – where it all began…when Mother and Daddy met and fell in love.
The Journey Begins
Daddy was born September 24, 1925 to Eva and Ira Fouts. Most folks pronounced their names E-ver and R-ee (long E, hard R). It was the Roaring 20’s so I assume times were pretty good. Grandpa Fouts worked at the Georgia Marble Company as a crane operator. As far as I know Grandma Fouts was a homemaker raising her 5 children – Gladys, Pauline, Daddy, Erma and Jimey. They owned a 2 story house on a few acres in Marble Hill, GA.
The following February – Feburary 10th to be exact – Minnie and Ed Pendley gave birth to twins. In those days no one knew ahead of time what they were going to have so the twins were a big surprise.
In the small communities that dotted this rural area families helped each other out. And the little Pendley family surely needed help. Here was Grandad who now had not one but two new babies to care for while not knowing if his wife was going to live or die from complications following the birth. Enter Grandma Fouts. Since Grandmother and Grandad Pendley were only expecting one child they only had clothes for one. So Grandma Fouts sewed clothes for the other baby.
Grandmother Pendley recovered and life moved on until Morris and Doris were in third grade. That is when love began to bloom. One of their classmates even made up a rhyme about them:
Morris and Doris went for a ride
Morris fell out and Doris cried
Morris fell out and Doris cried
As they grew older they were not exclusive to each other. Daddy had an eye for one of the Richards sisters and I know that Mother had other boyfriends from time to time. But Daddy was the first and the one that got the girl.
Daddy joined the Navy when he was 17 years old. He wasn’t old enough to sign for himself so Grandpa Fouts had to. Daddy proposed to Mother before he left to go overseas. She didn’t accept then but waited until he returned home. I asked her a couple of years ago why she didn't marry him before he left. After all, there were loads of pre-deployment weddings during that time. She told me that she wanted to go to college before getting married. So while Daddy was fighting the Japanese Mother was attending Berry College in Rome and working in the dining hall for her tuition.
When he returned he asked her again to marry him and she said “Yes” this time. They were wed on April 6, 1946. There is a picture that was taken right after they were married that Sara loves. We all have a copy. They look so young and full of promise. They spent their honeymoon night in Atlanta. Mom told me that at the end of their stay Daddy didn’t have enough money left for the bus ride back home. Turns out Mother had stashed some money back and was able to get them home – good thing.
They walked wherever they went that honeymoon night and everywhere they were they heard the song “Oh What It Seemed To Be”. It became their song. Years later at their 50th wedding anniversary Teresa, Randall and I searched for and found a tape of the song. We surprised them by playing it for them. We kids danced with our spouses and Daddy stood with Mother and cried. It was one of the sweetest moments of my life.
Mother and Daddy were married from April, 1946 to August, 2003 when Daddy passed away. Fifty-seven years of loving each other and building a home. Not a home of wood and shingles but of the stuff that keeps folks together. Laughter, crying, shared good times and bad. Hard work followed by fun vacations. Wisdom, learning, failing, succeeding. Sometimes literally blood, sweat and tears. All this served to bind us together as a family, a strong family. One that has rolled with the punches and jumped back up for the next hit.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. This is not the end, it is only the beginning. So with Daddy at the bow and Mother at the stern they began to sail through this thing we call "The Fouts Family".
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
2010 And In The Kitchen Again
I received a copy of the movie "Julia and Julia" for Christmas. It's the story of Julie Powell cooking her way through Julia Child's cookbook and blogging about it. Movie was really good by the way. But more than that it inspired me to get off my duff and start cooking from scratch again. Sunday, when Sara came over to watch the movie with me, I cooked a big vat of vegetable beef soup. Now that isn't really cooking from scratch - brown meat, throw in tomatoes, corn and peas - but served with warm yeast rolls it was a hearty home cooked meal appreciated by all in the house on a cold day.
Yesterday at lunch I found a recipe on tasteofhome.com for a casserole made with broccoli, carrots, chicken and Alfredo sauce with biscuits on top. I decided that is what I'd make for supper instead of heating a frozen Marie Callender's Al Dente bowl (as delicious and easy as they are).
It was so satisfying to be in my kitchen actually chopping vegetables, cooking raw chicken, mixing up biscuit mix. Not only that, it kept me from sitting on the couch watching TV.
If I have one New Year's resolution it is to sit less and move more. I have been a sedate empty nester too long. I am going to try and find little ways to accomplish my goal. Anything too big and I lose interest. Cooking is the perfect vehicle to get to my goal. It takes energy to cook and last night I was never still. Of course there is that real danger of eating what you cook. However I believe I have enough self control to limit myself to one helping (well, one helping and a donut last night :-)
So as I look forward to 2010 I do so with a new goal in hand, renewed interest in something I can accomplish and gratitude for Julia Child who has inspired one more admirer to get in the kitchen and cook without fear.
Bon appetit !
Yesterday at lunch I found a recipe on tasteofhome.com for a casserole made with broccoli, carrots, chicken and Alfredo sauce with biscuits on top. I decided that is what I'd make for supper instead of heating a frozen Marie Callender's Al Dente bowl (as delicious and easy as they are).
It was so satisfying to be in my kitchen actually chopping vegetables, cooking raw chicken, mixing up biscuit mix. Not only that, it kept me from sitting on the couch watching TV.
If I have one New Year's resolution it is to sit less and move more. I have been a sedate empty nester too long. I am going to try and find little ways to accomplish my goal. Anything too big and I lose interest. Cooking is the perfect vehicle to get to my goal. It takes energy to cook and last night I was never still. Of course there is that real danger of eating what you cook. However I believe I have enough self control to limit myself to one helping (well, one helping and a donut last night :-)
So as I look forward to 2010 I do so with a new goal in hand, renewed interest in something I can accomplish and gratitude for Julia Child who has inspired one more admirer to get in the kitchen and cook without fear.
Bon appetit !
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Christmas Moments 2009
Each Christmas holds special moments that you want to keep forever. Trouble is most are lost because you didn’t write them down or didn’t snap that picture in time. I snapped a few pictures this Christmas but there were far more moments that I just want to hug to me and hold a while.
For me those first moments began at our church Christmas play the week before Christmas. The play was large this year with a cast of 73 and 14 scenes to get through. Most of it went smooth and as planned (except the trial scene but we got through that one and no one but the cast knew any different). In the funeral scene I was the widow whose son was raised from the dead by Jesus. I was to cry and did even at every practice. One little girl was just amazed that I could cry like that. She said I was a good crier. I take that as a compliment.
The little fellows in our play were so cute. Some were angels, some were little pigs and all sang in the youth choir. They got right in there and did as they were asked. The night of the play we were all arriving early and getting our costumes on. The little ones were beside themselves with excitement and I'll never forget the director, Mary Jo, walking around with a camera, snapping a picture now and then and letting these little ones get all their energy out so they could be quiet when it really mattered. What a smart woman she is.
After the play we had a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Clause. It is usually just Santa by himself. What a treat to have Mrs. Clause wearing her red velvet dress and bonnet. Then afterward I got to hold Jalyn Dyer. She is my little surrogate grandchild. She will even reach out for me from her own grandmother. That doesn’t take anything away from Linda, she is clearly loved by all her grandchildren. It just means that this precious little girl knows I think she is special and she feels the same about me. Warm fuzzy …………..
We celebrate Christmas as the birth of the Christ child. In our family we commemorate that each year by having a different member of the family read the Christmas story from the bible. We started with Daddy years ago not knowing it would be his last time to read. Now 12 years later it was 16 year old Caleb’s first time to read. We went through the family once before but Caleb couldn’t read the last time his turn came around. Next year it will be Alex (God willing he is still in the country) and the next we will start over with mother.
We saw most of our nieces and nephews during the holiday. It was so good to see them because we love each one to pieces. For me the memorable moments were those watching the great-nieces and nephews open their presents this year. They actually got simple gifts with the economy being what it is but they delighted over each one as though it was just the present they wanted. It made me feel all good inside.
I may have been sick through the whole holiday but that didn’t take away from the joy I felt. We didn’t ask for or give each other extravagant gifts this year but we celebrated the one true gift God gave to us. The One I celebrate every day because one moment when I was 10 years old that child whose birth we celebrated made His way into my heart and from that moment on my life has never been the same.
Now that’s a moment to remember……
For me those first moments began at our church Christmas play the week before Christmas. The play was large this year with a cast of 73 and 14 scenes to get through. Most of it went smooth and as planned (except the trial scene but we got through that one and no one but the cast knew any different). In the funeral scene I was the widow whose son was raised from the dead by Jesus. I was to cry and did even at every practice. One little girl was just amazed that I could cry like that. She said I was a good crier. I take that as a compliment.
The little fellows in our play were so cute. Some were angels, some were little pigs and all sang in the youth choir. They got right in there and did as they were asked. The night of the play we were all arriving early and getting our costumes on. The little ones were beside themselves with excitement and I'll never forget the director, Mary Jo, walking around with a camera, snapping a picture now and then and letting these little ones get all their energy out so they could be quiet when it really mattered. What a smart woman she is.
After the play we had a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Clause. It is usually just Santa by himself. What a treat to have Mrs. Clause wearing her red velvet dress and bonnet. Then afterward I got to hold Jalyn Dyer. She is my little surrogate grandchild. She will even reach out for me from her own grandmother. That doesn’t take anything away from Linda, she is clearly loved by all her grandchildren. It just means that this precious little girl knows I think she is special and she feels the same about me. Warm fuzzy …………..
We celebrate Christmas as the birth of the Christ child. In our family we commemorate that each year by having a different member of the family read the Christmas story from the bible. We started with Daddy years ago not knowing it would be his last time to read. Now 12 years later it was 16 year old Caleb’s first time to read. We went through the family once before but Caleb couldn’t read the last time his turn came around. Next year it will be Alex (God willing he is still in the country) and the next we will start over with mother.
We saw most of our nieces and nephews during the holiday. It was so good to see them because we love each one to pieces. For me the memorable moments were those watching the great-nieces and nephews open their presents this year. They actually got simple gifts with the economy being what it is but they delighted over each one as though it was just the present they wanted. It made me feel all good inside.
I may have been sick through the whole holiday but that didn’t take away from the joy I felt. We didn’t ask for or give each other extravagant gifts this year but we celebrated the one true gift God gave to us. The One I celebrate every day because one moment when I was 10 years old that child whose birth we celebrated made His way into my heart and from that moment on my life has never been the same.
Now that’s a moment to remember……
Monday, November 30, 2009
Here a tat, there a tat, everywhere a tattoo
I went to Christmas play practice tonight and one of the young men there, Ethan, asked me how Ben was. As conversations always do one topic led to another and we found ourselves talking about Ben’s tattoos. Ethan said he was going soon to get his first tattoo. It will be a cross and in the middle will be the dates his grandmother was born and died. I thought if a young man is going to get a tattoo how sweet that he wanted to get one in memory of his grandmother.
Some who know me might find it a little surprising to learn that I am a secret fan of tattoos. Not getting them, but looking at them on others. My kids have tattoos, as does Randy. When they gather at the house you can bet that sometime during the visit one of them will try and convince me to get one. So far I’ve held out.
I think tattoos are fine as long as you are old enough to get one. I don’t think 16 years old is old enough, or 18 for that matter or really your early 20’s unless it is tasteful, in the proper place and for the right reason.
Tasteful is subjective so I won’t comment on that except to say I have an aversion to skulls and vampires though dragons are good (Go Pickens !!). The proper place is where it cannot be seen while you are interviewing for a job or working on a job unless the folks you plan to work with are more covered with tattoos than you are. Some of the right reasons to get a tattoo in my opinion are to honor something that is meaningful to you, like your branch of the military or your heritage, or in memory of someone who was very special. These are things that don’t change and are a part of you forever as opposed to a girl or boy friend you dated for a while or the fad symbol of the moment.
I like it when someone works with the tattoo artist to come up with an original design. Those are so much more interesting. When our niece’s son passed away Randy and Ben wanted to honor his memory. Little Charles was a one of a kind kid who had a double portion of musical talent packed into his little 3-year-old body. To honor his memory they had the artist draw up snowflakes because his pre-school teacher used to call him a little snowflake. It was tasteful and for the right reason (though I would not have put it on the back of my leg like they did).
Can you really see me getting a tattoo? I’m 52 now, but one day I’ll be 83. My mother is 83 and can you imagine little Doris Fouts with a tattoo? It’s the silliest thing ever. And what would it be??? Randy has the kids so I wouldn’t want to do that. I could get a rose in honor of Daddy because he loved his rose bushes but I really don’t want a rose tattoo and well John Deere just isn’t gonna make it on me. So what to do????
WITHOUT !!!!!!!!!!!
Some who know me might find it a little surprising to learn that I am a secret fan of tattoos. Not getting them, but looking at them on others. My kids have tattoos, as does Randy. When they gather at the house you can bet that sometime during the visit one of them will try and convince me to get one. So far I’ve held out.
I think tattoos are fine as long as you are old enough to get one. I don’t think 16 years old is old enough, or 18 for that matter or really your early 20’s unless it is tasteful, in the proper place and for the right reason.
Tasteful is subjective so I won’t comment on that except to say I have an aversion to skulls and vampires though dragons are good (Go Pickens !!). The proper place is where it cannot be seen while you are interviewing for a job or working on a job unless the folks you plan to work with are more covered with tattoos than you are. Some of the right reasons to get a tattoo in my opinion are to honor something that is meaningful to you, like your branch of the military or your heritage, or in memory of someone who was very special. These are things that don’t change and are a part of you forever as opposed to a girl or boy friend you dated for a while or the fad symbol of the moment.
I like it when someone works with the tattoo artist to come up with an original design. Those are so much more interesting. When our niece’s son passed away Randy and Ben wanted to honor his memory. Little Charles was a one of a kind kid who had a double portion of musical talent packed into his little 3-year-old body. To honor his memory they had the artist draw up snowflakes because his pre-school teacher used to call him a little snowflake. It was tasteful and for the right reason (though I would not have put it on the back of my leg like they did).
Can you really see me getting a tattoo? I’m 52 now, but one day I’ll be 83. My mother is 83 and can you imagine little Doris Fouts with a tattoo? It’s the silliest thing ever. And what would it be??? Randy has the kids so I wouldn’t want to do that. I could get a rose in honor of Daddy because he loved his rose bushes but I really don’t want a rose tattoo and well John Deere just isn’t gonna make it on me. So what to do????
WITHOUT !!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Yesterday was a mixture of the good, the bad and the ugly. The bad and the ugly was that most folks I spoke with had bad days.
My co-worker was late because they had to put her father-in-law in the hospital. My best friend called in tears because her cousin’s child has a dangerous tumor on her arm and they have to do surgery Wednesday. Randy’s day at work was not good. Our church play director's day was not good (not sure if it was work or a bad practice – maybe both). And on top of my day at work being exhausting and still not getting done all I needed to get done I received all the above news.
After work I had to run by the vet’s and then do that chore I really dislike – buying groceries. Though it could have been worse. It could have been raining. By the time I got home I was ill as a hornet and snapped Randy’s head off (sorry Sweetie). It was just really one of THOSE days. But then that was the bad and the ugly. There was also some good.
I did get a little joy out of my trip to the grocery store. You see just about every variety of folks there. My Grandma Fouts was a people watcher and she would have had a field day if she had been with me yesterday.
There were those folks who stand around outside the grocery store chatting, catching up on all the gossip while their ice cream melts. Inside was the lady in the motorized chair. Bless her heart she accidentally knocked over a bag of radishes onto the floor but if she hadn’t been speeding it wouldn’t have happened. I picked up the bag for her and headed around the corner.
Going down the pasta aisle I met a woman with a child in the cart seat who threw up his snack just as he got past me. Poor baby – poor mama. Watching the whole thing with us sympathetic mothers was a single guy, older man – handsome actually. How do I know he was single??? Because later, at the frozen food case, someone he knew asked him over for supper. He declined and said he was going to have a light supper tonight. Does that sound like a married man to you????
There were also the usual suspects. The giggly girls who run into you, act embarrassed, then talk about how funny it was. The rough looking teenage guys buying snacks. Don’t want to know what they will be doing later. The sweet little older couple. The friend on Facebook you hardly ever see in person. The former co-worker. You know how it goes. So while I hate buying groceries I do have to say the trip was interesting.
And here is the icing on the cake. My nephew, who has been out of work for 17 months, finally got a job. An answered prayer - what a great way to end the day.
Later.....
My co-worker was late because they had to put her father-in-law in the hospital. My best friend called in tears because her cousin’s child has a dangerous tumor on her arm and they have to do surgery Wednesday. Randy’s day at work was not good. Our church play director's day was not good (not sure if it was work or a bad practice – maybe both). And on top of my day at work being exhausting and still not getting done all I needed to get done I received all the above news.
After work I had to run by the vet’s and then do that chore I really dislike – buying groceries. Though it could have been worse. It could have been raining. By the time I got home I was ill as a hornet and snapped Randy’s head off (sorry Sweetie). It was just really one of THOSE days. But then that was the bad and the ugly. There was also some good.
I did get a little joy out of my trip to the grocery store. You see just about every variety of folks there. My Grandma Fouts was a people watcher and she would have had a field day if she had been with me yesterday.
There were those folks who stand around outside the grocery store chatting, catching up on all the gossip while their ice cream melts. Inside was the lady in the motorized chair. Bless her heart she accidentally knocked over a bag of radishes onto the floor but if she hadn’t been speeding it wouldn’t have happened. I picked up the bag for her and headed around the corner.
Going down the pasta aisle I met a woman with a child in the cart seat who threw up his snack just as he got past me. Poor baby – poor mama. Watching the whole thing with us sympathetic mothers was a single guy, older man – handsome actually. How do I know he was single??? Because later, at the frozen food case, someone he knew asked him over for supper. He declined and said he was going to have a light supper tonight. Does that sound like a married man to you????
There were also the usual suspects. The giggly girls who run into you, act embarrassed, then talk about how funny it was. The rough looking teenage guys buying snacks. Don’t want to know what they will be doing later. The sweet little older couple. The friend on Facebook you hardly ever see in person. The former co-worker. You know how it goes. So while I hate buying groceries I do have to say the trip was interesting.
And here is the icing on the cake. My nephew, who has been out of work for 17 months, finally got a job. An answered prayer - what a great way to end the day.
Later.....
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Thanksgiving
It is almost Thanksgiving and I am getting that mixture of dread and excitement I always get. Dread for the amount of work that goes into it and excitement that everyone is coming over once again.
Our house has become the gathering place for a multitude of occasions. While Mom’s is still the place to go for Christmas and some birthdays the other occasions are usually here. That was planned when we built the house. Though of course if I had to do it all over again I would make some changes. I’d take down a wall and expand the living room. But even without that everyone seems to have a good time when they come over.
Thursday we will gather again. The usual suspects will be here; parents, siblings and their families, children. One of the highlights of the day for me is the other guests that come. I have always enjoyed it when folks bring their friends over. And I usually don’t know till the last minute who it will be. While Ben was in college it was whoever couldn’t go home for the holiday. Some of them, like Michael and Toniya Stinnett, kept coming and are now part of our family.
You can bet there will be loads of food. There always is: turkey and ham without question and Mom’s sweet potato soufflé, my pumpkin pie. The fun part for me is what everyone else brings. I love seeing what my sister comes up with (though this year she is doing the turkey and helping Mom with the sweet potatoes (thanks !!). Wanda’s casseroles and desserts are legendary. My newest sister-in-law Brenda is doing the dressing this year. I’m glad. It takes it off Mom’s plate. Yum, it’s making me hungry just thinking about it.
The big unknown is the weather. If it’s pretty there is porch sitting and walk taking. If it’s yucky we will be stuck in the house but I have something up my sleeve for that.
The reason we get together this time of year for me is not so much to celebrate the Pilgrims (look what they did to the folks who were here already) but to remember what I am thankful for. All this month I, and other folks on Facebook, have been posting on a daily basis what we are thankful for. Some of it is the big stuff: our salvation, our families. Some of it is the small stuff: a child napping, a warm day.
That is what “Thanksgiving” is. Being thankful every day that you woke up, you have health to some degree, that you can still find a way to be useful, that you can be with folks you love and who love you. There are a million things every day to be thankful for. It’s just on Thursday we get the added enjoyment of a great meal when we say ‘Thank you Lord”.
Our house has become the gathering place for a multitude of occasions. While Mom’s is still the place to go for Christmas and some birthdays the other occasions are usually here. That was planned when we built the house. Though of course if I had to do it all over again I would make some changes. I’d take down a wall and expand the living room. But even without that everyone seems to have a good time when they come over.
Thursday we will gather again. The usual suspects will be here; parents, siblings and their families, children. One of the highlights of the day for me is the other guests that come. I have always enjoyed it when folks bring their friends over. And I usually don’t know till the last minute who it will be. While Ben was in college it was whoever couldn’t go home for the holiday. Some of them, like Michael and Toniya Stinnett, kept coming and are now part of our family.
You can bet there will be loads of food. There always is: turkey and ham without question and Mom’s sweet potato soufflé, my pumpkin pie. The fun part for me is what everyone else brings. I love seeing what my sister comes up with (though this year she is doing the turkey and helping Mom with the sweet potatoes (thanks !!). Wanda’s casseroles and desserts are legendary. My newest sister-in-law Brenda is doing the dressing this year. I’m glad. It takes it off Mom’s plate. Yum, it’s making me hungry just thinking about it.
The big unknown is the weather. If it’s pretty there is porch sitting and walk taking. If it’s yucky we will be stuck in the house but I have something up my sleeve for that.
The reason we get together this time of year for me is not so much to celebrate the Pilgrims (look what they did to the folks who were here already) but to remember what I am thankful for. All this month I, and other folks on Facebook, have been posting on a daily basis what we are thankful for. Some of it is the big stuff: our salvation, our families. Some of it is the small stuff: a child napping, a warm day.
That is what “Thanksgiving” is. Being thankful every day that you woke up, you have health to some degree, that you can still find a way to be useful, that you can be with folks you love and who love you. There are a million things every day to be thankful for. It’s just on Thursday we get the added enjoyment of a great meal when we say ‘Thank you Lord”.
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