End Of Year Hugs....

...coming your way!  Take what you need and pass them on!  Happy New Year everyone.  I am so grateful to be here and feeling fairly healthy.  Spent the evening with my niece and nephew having a wonderful and nostalgic remembrance of Chi-town with Portillo's Italian beef sandwiches and one of my niece's wonderful cakes.  Sooooo good!  She even sent some home with me along with a sandwich for the Beast.  One of the pieces of cake is for the Princess whom she called to let her know so that she would pick it up tomorrow.

I came home way before midnight, of course.  We old people don't seem to last that late at night unless we are in our jammies and tucked into our beds and trying to sleep (but it often escapes us for a while!).  I knew I wouldn't last that long, however so I headed home, got the Beast fed and found out that Baron is feeling and walking MUCH better this evening.  Phew!  Such good news.

I have been watching these vet shows on Animal Planet and found out that there is a syndrome that occurs in older dogs at times that they found is not the result of a brain tumor or any obvious neurological problem yet the dog will have, at times, problems with standing, walking and going up or down stairs.  They just call it *Old dog syndrome*.  All  you can do is just give the dog lots of love and comfort when it happens since it confuses the dog.  They don't understand what is happening to them.  But then you must prepare yourself for the fact that the dog may not live too much longer.  It could be months or it might even be a year or two but they are nearing the end of their lives.  The Beast told me that Baron has had several incidents of falling up or down the stairs (and we don't have many of them).  He didn't like hearing about the syndrome but it was like he suspected as much.  

The cold weather is back.  It's already 35 degrees outside and it's only 10pm.  I haven't looked to see just how cold it is going to end up being but I sure am not happy about it.  You know me.  I like it hot....LOL.  It's why I loved Florida as much as I did.  But, alas, the taxes, insurance, cost of living, etc. when you live near the water is just way too high on a retirement income.  I know the Beast misses it.  Not the hotter weather but living near the water.  He truly hated giving up his boat.  We still have our salt water fishing rods and reels as dumb as that is.  All of the fishing line would need replacing if we ever went to use them again.  We have our newer fishing rods and reels but haven't even used them in almost two years since fishing for bass is just not as exciting as salt water fish.  Even the smaller of those give you a lot of fight and it's such fun!

Time to close for now but know this for the New Year.....I wish you all joy, love and happiness.  Thank you for reading my blog.  Most of all, I wish you good health in the upcoming year!  ***Hugs***

I Got To See The Chicks Today!

When I drove Chewlee home today, we made a stop at Cee's apartment first.  Chewlee was curious to see her apartment since I had talked about it from time to time.  The first things she said was *Why is there so much pink?*  I told her that it was her aunt's favorite color so why not?  She just said, *Oh* to that.  She was given a short tour (it's not that big an apartment although it IS a 2 bedroom.  It doesn't have a cramped feeling anywhere.  I think Cee's selection of furnishings is the reason for that.  It has a light and airy feeling to it.

Anyway, while Cee and I chatted, Chewlee went on her computer (with Cee's approval) and played one of her games.  I gave her warning when we were leaving since I told her mother, the Princess, that I would have her home by 3pm.  I DID allow Chewlee to take the second Harry Potter book home although I hadn't remembered to ask the Princess if she did have the first one at her house.  I told her she should read it and let her mother read it also.  Then I expected to get the book back and she could have the third book on loan.

When we got there, we all went out to the garage/shed area to see the chicks.  Johnnycakes had set up a rather large box, complete with the special heating lamp (and sawdust to catch the poop they will generate) to see the newly arrived chicks.  I believe today is just day two or three.  When I saw the size of the box they came in, I was shocked at how small it seemed to hold 25 chicks in it but the Princess said they were all huddled together and actually were in just half the box!  The chicks are adorable.  They are mostly black with some white to them.  She said when they get larger, they will be mostly black, speckled with white.  I've seen those type of chickens.  My great-grandfather had them on his farm since they were good egg layers.  The Princess said they were going to wait to see how many roosters they ended up with and only keep one or two of them.  The chicks seemed so tiny and were so soft.  Chewlee held one for a few minutes ever so gently.  I think she was thrilled to be able to hold one, too.  

I was really surprised when the Princess told me that they should be able to start laying around April.  It only takes 16 weeks for them to reach that level.  Wow!  That seems a bit of a shock but then, the birds that we know make nests in the spring have their offspring ready to fly in just about the same amount of time.  Most are grown enough to migrate to warmer climes by then so why should that surprise me?  Chickens are birds, too.  LOL!  I saw the bag of feed that Johnnycakes had bought that is a growth seed so they were ready.  I don't think the Princess will have a hard time remembering to feed them.  The box Johnnycakes built is big enough to support them as they grow, too.  They will be moved to one of the coops once they are big enough.

I stopped at the store to pick up my creamer (I like it for my first cup of coffee with my breakfast) and ended up buying another corned beef so, of course, that meant some cabbage and carrots had to be bought, too.  I have the potatoes already.  Then, as I went down the freezer aisle, I bought some ice cream sandwiches and then picked up a new type of toaster strudel that I want to try.  It's actually called Boston Creme and it looked interesting to me.  Oh well.  Can't let me in a grocery store without me shopping for more than I went in to buy.  LOL!  

Tomorrow I meet up with Cee at her son, Michael's home.  His wife, Lucia (we call her Lucy) is the most wonderful cake maker.  It's what her family does for a living in Nicaragua and she can decorate like you wouldn't believe.  Her cakes are awesome.  But, what we are going there for is that Michael ordered some Italian roast beef from one of the best places in Chicago, complete with green peppers,  crusty rolls and hot pepper relish.  Lots and lots of au jus for it, too.  YUM!  He invited his mother and me over and said he will send a sandwich home for the Beast when I leave.  Since Michael lives nearby, it should still be hot when I come home.  The Beast wasn't told what was going to be served so it will be a total surprise to him.  And a welcome one.  The whole family loves it and even the Beast has ordered it from time to time.

We will meet around 4:30pm at his house so it means I drive home in the dark (I hate it but....).  Cee laughed and said at least *I* have a shorter distance to drive (true!).  But it should be fun, especially without the Beast there to be a downer.  He can be funny at times but lately,  not so much.  And he has this attitude about people who aren't going to his church that sucks.  Even family members.  Oh well.  It's more than likely why he wasn't invited.  But that's just an opinion.

Poor Baron hurt his left rear paw tonight when getting down from the Beast's lap (in the recliner, of course).  It slipped when it hit the wooden floor and he plopped down and cried and cried when it happened.  It was actually bleeding.  It took about 10 minutes (he was crying the whole time) before he could make it to his feet and he has a slight limp.  The Beast went out and bought a runner rug for in front of his recliner and also one for the bottom of the three stairs in the garage.  Baron has slipped a time or two when going out with the Beast so we thought it was a smart idea.  We ended up putting a large section of non-slip padding under the rug (thank goodness we had it) because the Beast didn't pay attention to the underside of the runner.  It started to slip when Baron was in the Beast's lap earlier in the evening and, thank goodness, when I saw that, I stood on it to stop it.  That's when we went out to the garage to get what we had out there.  It's almost the size of the runner but the rug doesn't slip at all now.

Baron is still limping a bit and he's not laying on that side.  We will see how he is doing tomorrow and, if necessary, we'll take him to the vet's if it's not looking better.  I just felt so awful for Baron.  We both hate to see him hurt at all.  We also are going to clip his nails tomorrow, too.  We think they might just be a bit too long for his pads to work correctly for him.  After all, he never slipped before when getting down.  But he's gotten used to shorter nails on his paws.  The vet that removed his fatty tumor also clipped his nails to a more reasonable length when he was under anesthesia.  I told the Beast about two weeks or so ago that the nails needed clipping but he can be so slow about doing things at times.  I'll let you know how things go with Baron.

Time to post this and get to bed now.  I have a busy day tomorrow.  I want to get a few things done while I am feeling so...normal, whatever that is at my age.  Love you all.  Be good and be careful.  Drive carefully, please.  The life you save may be your own!  ***Hugs***

Ahh...Chewlee's Second Night Of Sleepover!

Chewlee had a fun day today according to her...  She went over to play with a neighbor's little boy and then went  to the store with them.  She gave half of the money to the little one so he could buy something for himself.  It was generous of her since she gave him $5.00, which was half of what she had brought with her.  As for herself, she bought a small diary-like book and a kit for decorating almost anything.  She decorated her little book and decided it was her *journal*.    I'm not sure she actually knows what a journal is but she figures it's for recording dreams she remembers when she wakes up and things like that (her words).  At least she doesn't think it's a diary (which she has and it has a lock on it...LOL).  

We watched both Harry Potter movies and she noticed a few things that she hadn't before.  She even started to cry at one of the sad scenes in the last episode.  THAT requires concentrating and understanding of the story.  She had seen both episodes before so she kept getting distracted by other things and I had to make her watch so that she could find out the answers to several questions that she asked me about but I wanted her to discover for herself.  She would tell me what she thought was going on and I told her if she was right or wrong.  I even rewound the DVD a couple times so she could re-see the event.  

She claims she has read the first Harry Potter book and they have it at home.  I'm going to check on that with the Princess since Chewlee wants to bring the second book home with her to read.  She reads on a much higher level than her grade so I will let her bring it home with her IF she has read the first book.  Then the Princess can read it, too and return it for the third one when done.  There are seven books (although there are eight DVD's due to having to split the movie into two episodes for the last book which was about double the size with all that occurs).   I really hope her interest lasts and she finishes up all the books.  I also hope the Princess is prepared to answer questions about things Chewlee may not be familiar with.  Even after all the times that we have seen the movies, she still had to ask me what a *muggle* was....LOL.  I admit that it's not really something that occupies a LOT of the movie (they are non-magical, hence ordinary, people).

She wants to go play with Sam again in the morning.  I told her we were leaving at noon to go to her Aunt Cee's house before I took her home.  I have to stop on my way home to buy some coffee creamer (I may try the Bailey's Irish Creme one and see if it measures up).  I can't afford to buy Bailey's these days.  Not with the Beast buying a new camera (even if he DID get a trade-in allowance for a camera he sent in) and a new lens and a complete catalog size instruction book on all the various uses and settings for the new camera.  We had to pay our house taxes this month, renew our plates on the cars (expensive) and next month is car insurance for the next six months.  *Sigh*  It never ends, does it?

Tomorrow another fairly cool day albeit not extremely cold (high expected of 52) but it does mean a warm jacket.  I washed Chewlee's clothes tonight along with mine so she will only have the clothes she is wearing and a pair of pajamas that her mother will need to wash from this visit.  I even washed her socks although they were so clean that she probably could have worn them for another day.

Cee said she would let Chewlee play the games she likes on Club Pogo for a bit when we get there.  But I want to get Chewlee back home and myself WAY before dark, especially since I have to make the stop on my way home.  Poor Chewlee wanted to see a picture of her cousin, Hunter, and kept asking me how old he was.  I know Hunter is older than she is but really can't remember how much older.  Wouldn't you know it, there was not a single picture posted of him on FB today when I checked.  I forgot to check his dad's page but I didn't tell her that when I realized I hadn't.

Time to get this posted then take my shower, put on my jammies and join Chewlee in bed.  Love you all.  I wish you better weather than most of us have had over the last few days.  Be careful and very cautious.  Drive with extreme care.  ***Hugs***

No Tornadoes But A Really Awful Storm Hits....

Although we were under a tornado watch in our area, none showed up...thank goodness!  But we were *blessed* (?) with a really terrible storm.  It was the wind that was so bad.  It came in gusts that were 45mph and it drove the rain like you wouldn't believe.  Areas that we had never seen an accumulation of rain that was NOT soaking into the ground was filling up areas like pools and running down to cause flash flooding in many areas.

Of course I chose today to meet up with the Princess to pick up Chewlee and bring her home.  There was a pause in the rain just as I met up with them after Chewlee's piano lesson.  It enabled me to easily get home before dark (we met up around 4:30pm).  I was home a little before 5pm mainly because the way I chose to go home was rain free and the wind had settled down when the rain stopped.

I went to Cee's house around 1pm and shortly after arriving there (raining all the way), the really severe part of the storm hit.  We watched it hitting her patio doors with awful force for about an hour.  The wind relented a bit and it didn't seem so bad after that.  The lot next to her was flooded and you could see it rushing towards a drain at the back of the lot.  The drain wasn't doing a great job but at least it SEEMED to still be working.  She and I just sat around, talking about this and that, until it was almost time for me to meet up with the Princess.  I had a few things I told the Beast that I would pick up on my way home.  Cee and I had thought we might go shopping together until the storm got so bad that we gave up on THAT idea.  I had wanted to go see the new Hobby Lobby that just opened up.                                                     

Chewlee and I ate the spaghetti that the Beast had prepared for dinner.  It was really tasty but he never uses enough sauce.  We will have to add more tomorrow.  I had chopped all the veggies for it before I left to go to Cee's house.  I took my umbrella with me since the rain started before I left.  I discovered that the umbrella is NOT a big help in a high wind like we had.  It flexed and bent a lot unless you pointed it into the wind.  Even then it flexed and bent but at least it wasn't trying to fly into the storm and out of my hands.  The umbrella I bought is over-sized (like the golfing ones) and I still haven't really looked at it to see if any damage was done that will affect it.  I didn't try to close it when I put it in the back after doing my little bit of shopping.

Chewlee chose a couple of Harry Potter movies to watch (her favorite ones) and told me with total shock that her mother and dad were actually watching them!  I think it was her dad that surprised her the most but it DID seem to make her happy that they were sharing her favorite movies.  Tomorrow we get to watch the Deathly Hallows ones (there are two episodes).  She already informed me of that before we went to bed earlier tonight.  I feel bad because I never DID check to see if she had brushed her teeth when she put on her pajamas.  It tickled me that she thanked me for the pajamas and the lip balm I had given her AND they were the pajamas she brought to wear while she is here.  Hopefully, I get to keep her for two days!  Two whole days!  I love it!

We had ten minutes or so of sharing our thoughts on intimate things on our minds when we lay down to go to sleep.  I thought I was having a tough time going to sleep even though I was really tired.  I was so tired that I actually had a problem with waking enough to walk right....LOL.  It took me about two minutes to wake enough to get where I was headed, take care of business and resupply the toilet paper because I used up the last of the roll.  If Chewlee got up and needed to go to the bathroom, I knew she couldn't reach the shelf that it was on.

It was weird for me to open the computer room door and find total darkness.  I mean TOTAL.  If it weren't for the little light on my speakers, I wouldn't have had any perspective of where things were located.  I wanted to get my blog written and off my mind.  I think that was the real reason I woke for the bathroom since I don't usually when I sleep on the guest bed.  Chewlee wanted to know who's bedroom it had been and, when I told her, she was surprised.  It had been the room she shared with her mother when they lived with us after first being moved up here from Florida.  We went down with our trailer (an enclosed one back then) and moved her and her mother up here with the help of the Beast's cousin, Butch.  He had helped US move from our house in Port Charlotte, too.  

One of the things that Chewlee and I shared was how hard it was for me to NOT have her here after having her almost full time while her mother was working and going to school.  Chewlee always went home with her mother on the weekends but it was ME that got her up (at 5am) and got her ready for school, waited with her for the school bus and waited for her when it delivered her after school.  She was like MY little one for a couple years and, suddenly, when the Princess got pregnant with Gunner and she quit working AND going to school, Chewlee was GONE!  It was a real shock not to have her here at all.  Her mother now had to be the one to get her up for school, etc., etc.  

You would think, at my age,  that I would have been relieved but I wasn't.  I really missed her and have no idea now of special days at her school.  If they have a Grandparents Day at her new school, like they did at  her old one, I am not told about it by the Princess.  I don't get the automatic notifications like her old school sent me (via my cell phone).  I felt a real loss almost like she had died or been suddenly snatched away from me.  It was awful and I STILL miss that.

I did find out that she loves the new house (who wouldn't!) and she likes being with her mother....most of the time!  LOL...she is such a child but  you can see that what she is feeling is normal.  It's just a small shot at what her mother will go through with her when she becomes a teenager.  She will be 9 in a few months and the time will fly after that.  It bothers her that her dad doesn't hug her or tuck her into bed and give her a goodnight kiss.  He hugs Gunner and she feels the difference in his attitude towards her.  My heart broke when she told me that.  I know Johnnycakes would love to adopt her but her paternal grandfather would help his son fight that even though her biological father wouldn't have much to do with her except that his father makes him when he has his times with Chewlee.  For the first time I heard her use the word *step-father* when she referred to Johnnycakes.  I KNOW that came from her other grandfather.

Well, time to put this post to bed.  Love you all and please be careful about the weather.  This storm front (Goliath by name and it fits) is just awful and is causing so much harm while it is passing.  Just another couple days of it but the affects I am seeing on TV make you cringe.  Take notice of storm warnings in your area and prepare for it.  Stay aware and, remember, if you see water running over the road *Turn around and don't drown*.  ***Hugs***

All's Right In My World.....

Today I am sure this episode of IBS-D is over and the Beast went and got me a replacement phone.  The only bad thing is that all of my phone numbers are gone.  *Sigh*  Now I have to try to locate them and reprogram them into it.  I know several people (this means YOU, Cee!) tried to call me multiple times, so did the Princess, my son Mustachio and only my daughter, Buttmunch, managed to get through via a text message...LOL!  Love you, too, Buttmunch!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and got lots of good things.  I'm going to see if I can get hold of the Princess tomorrow and pick up Chewlee for a day or two before she goes back to school, which is in about a week and a half.

I need to see if I can find Cee's phone number anywhere since I lost the ones on my old cell phone and, right now, it doesn't look like I put her number anywhere else.  We have all become memory lazy with the advent of storing the numbers in our cell phones and just being able to look up the names to call.  I also don't have my nephew, Michael's any more but I can get that from Cee, if I find hers.  I'm hoping that the Beast programmed it into his phone when she called him a week or so ago.

It's wonderful to feel human again.  I'm not really sure that the way I felt was totally IBS-D related since I don't usually have chills and fever associated with it.  But I DID get my flu shot a few months back so, if it was also a touch of the flu, I am glad I did.  No fever now for two days and no D either!  That alone makes me feel human.

The poor Beast had to drive up to Huntsville to the Target there.  It was on the far side of the city and took him an hour and a half to drive.  Then there was just one person to take care of all the electronics (cell phones) and he spent an hour and a half explaining every single function to this man that was ahead of the Beast.  He was very, very frustrated because he didn't know that anyone in their 30's could be so ignorant of how to use a cell phone.  LOL!  Then he had that long drive back home again.  He was actually exhausted when he finally got home.  At least he did it in fairly clear weather.  It starts again for us tonight, I gather and we are on a flood watch in this area for the next few days.  Since the Beast has already had a taste of it, that idea really bothers him now.  Me?  If I drive out to the Princess' house to get Chewlee, that will do it for me for a while.  I have to warn her about this one road near Walmart.  They closed it the other day and it was tough for the Beast to turn around.  It will be worse for the Princess since her car is bigger than my Yaris.

Of course, she lives closer to the other Walmart near us (a better one...if ours is a C-class, hers is a B-class...minimum!)  The Beast discovered that we now have a Hobby Lobby in our town!  I am so excited about that.  I haven't been in one for about 5 years or so.  I'm anxious to go explore it.  It's in a new shopping center they built near the Burger King in town.  Maybe I will see if Cee wants to explore it with me.  I know Chewlee would go crazy since I do let her paint at my house.  She uses the tray that Cee gave me to use for my painting.  I am so damn grateful for that.  She has no idea just how useful it is to me.

Well, I need to catch up on a few things (like emails) so I will close this for now.  After I do that, I am heading for the shower!  I can use that, for sure...LOL!  Love you all.  Be good.  Stay healthy.  Be kind to strangers.  Remember that smiles are contagious so give yours away freely!  ***Hugs***

A Truly Dismal Day....For Many Reasons....

Where do I start?  I had such high hopes that my IBS-D was over and done with but that was a forlorn one.  I had only experienced a calm before the storm hit.  And hit me it did!   I should have known, actually, since my intestines were not quiet...it was just gathering material.  Considering how little I actually had to eat for the past few days, I think my guts must be pristine right now.  I mean sides scrapped and nothing in there except perhaps the toast and scrambled eggs I finally managed to eat this afternoon.

The truly sad thing about all this misery is that my cell phone will probably need to be replaced.  I won't go into details except that, at one point last night, I was going to try to call Cee but realized, when I saw the time, that it was much too late.  I was exhausted by then and just ended up falling asleep with my cell phone in my lap.  When I woke up in a complete mess (to my horror) and went to make my way to the bathroom to clean up, the cell phone dropped from between my legs to the floor and I was horrified at it's condition.  It appears to have been *sitting* in a mess for who-knows how long?

Later, after I cleaned up, put fresh Depends on (this particular style does NOT fit around the legs and allows a great deal of leakage, BTW).  It might be okay in a hospital or care-giver situation but not if  you are mobile.  It makes it's own mess much, much worse.  But enough of that.  I saw that Cee had attempted to call me several times but the phone had not rung at all.  When I made an attempt to call her back (I had cleaned it off with an alcohol soaked rag, trust me!), it showed it calling but there was no sound...nothing.  So I hung up.  I knew she had the Beast's phone # so I hoped she would call him but she didn't think of it or else he just told her that I was still sick.  I know when Chewlee called (she was waiting for me to pick her up), he told her that I was too sick for company.  I'm glad he did that.  I can't think of anything worse than for her to see me THAT kind of sick.  I think it would have destroyed her love for me...at least her love in the way she DOES love me.  You can accept it from babies, but adults???  I don't think so.

THEN...it stormed like crazy all day long.  The Beast actually experienced his first inkling since we lived in Southern California of flash flooding in Alabama.  He attempted to drive to Walmart or one of the other stores in the area that might have those Cup of Soups.  He was hoping to catch one open so he could buy some since we are down to one package.  He went down this one road we usually take and found an open field that looked like a pool and it was just pouring in a rather spectacular manner down the small hill and he knew it would be both too deep to pass through PLUS the rush of the water would have knocked the poor Yaris right off the road even before he tried (if he had been that stupid) to navigate the dip at the bottom of the hill.  He said it wasn't easy to turn around on the narrow road but he took his time....and didn't drown!  I'm sure you've heard that phrase the weather people are all using....Turn around and don't drown!

He took a longer route to get to the main drag and only found one other trouble spot that he was able to bypass and get home.  It made me worry about Cee getting to Tara's house today since that area is a lot hillier that ours and she's much closer to the lake...which is probably the saving grace since it IS controlled by a dam and they were probably lowering the lake to help with flooding.

SOOOO....as I felt better and was no longer having to get up to clean up (with IBS-D, there is NO control...when it hits, it HITS!).  All you can do is try to move as quickly as possible and then clean up the mess you make enroute afterward.    My innards stopped it's continual roiling and I was actually able to sit upright for longer than a minute or two.  I now truly think the worst of this is over.  My frazzled nerves (which contributes to all this misery since I am biting my tongue a lot of time) have quieted and I am not feeling so frustrated.  Of course, the last couple of days are shot for me (along with my plans) and my dreams of late have not been nice ones regarding the Beast and all he puts me through with his constant spending and preaching.  I've been watching this marathon called *Homicide Hunter* for the past two days (when I was awake) and it perfectly fits my mood....LOL.

I've spent most of the time I could be on my feet,  without it being to rush to the bathroom, washing my various jammies that I have been wearing.  I've worn a week's worth of jammies in 24 hours but you can't let them sit, especially since they are wet from having to be rinsed off.  I may have felt like hell but I wasn't going to let the Beast be the one to take care of that even if I had to crawl.  It's just so humiliating at my age!

Anyway, I am glad the Princess posted a couple pictures and a video of Gunner amongst the carnage of package openings so I could at least see that much.  He is so funny but actually very good natured about what she calls his *tripping on air*.    He really slipped on package wrappings on the floor but it wasn't like he was running.   She posted a cute picture of Chewlee reading him a bedtime story Christmas eve that is just adorable, too.  You can tell they love each other and she can be patient....at times....with him.  There's just a lot of years between them.

THEN...add the fact that we have both satellite TV and internet.  Stormy weather....VERY stormy weather...equals flacky TV and NO internet for hours.  I would have gone nuts except for my  game I love to play.  My TV kept wacking in and out...complete loss of signal..partial loss of signal then TV again.  As soon as the picture started to crack up on me, I knew the next few minutes (minimum) would be miserable.  It wouldn't have been so bad except a few of the episodes on my Marathon were new to me.  Chit!  So, of course, they always fractured up at key points...isn't that always the way?

I better get this posted before I lose my internet again...and who knows for how long this time?  I love you all and hope you had a fantastic Christmas.  I hope to hear about some of it from a few of you...just don't try to phone me for a week or so unless you call on the Beast's phone.  ***Hugs*** and stay well, please.  Be careful driving and give special hugs to those you love.

No Internet Last Night.....

...due to the really bad storms we had here.  No tornadoes nearby, thank goodness, but the lightning was really nasty enough.  I finally gave up and went to bed.  Woke up to a bad case of IBS-D and it was miserable.  Although I am feeling somewhat better, I don't want to take the chance and go over to the Princess' house tomorrow, no matter how much I want to see the stuff the kids got.  They can have their quiet family Christmas with just each other in their new house and I will pray that I actually feel better.

One big surprise is that the box that my bff, Carol, sent me that the P.O. said wouldn't be here until Saturday got here today!  I told her that they might actually make a special effort to get it here before Christmas just because they were really trying to get everything in boxes delivered by then.  I love what she sent me and I will have to call her over the Holidays to thank her for it all.  

There's still some nasty weather around but north and east of us.  I hope nothing happens that's serious to everyone affected by it.  But I am glad that they are finally getting some good rain and snow in the areas around San Francisco and other places that have been affected by drought.  Let's hope they don't have any dangerous mudslides after all the fires, however.

Right now I am just washing some clothes and my comforter (all affected by my IBS-D) so it doesn't make the place stink...LOL.  I worry about that when this stuff happens.  Plus, I don't want the Beast digging into it and discovering anything even though I have rinsed it out as much as I could.

Love you all.  Have a fantastic and Merry Christmas everyone.  ***Hugs***

What A Great Night!

Chewlee was here for a sleepover.  I think her mom really wanted to just get her out of the house so she could wrap Chewlee's Christmas presents without worrying about Chewlee following her around until late at night.  She has this way of just popping up when she gets curious about what you are doing.  And believe me, the possibility of seeing her gifts would make her curious.

What is so cool is that we watched the Dominion's movie (she has the DVD that she brought with her) and then picked out two Harry Potter movies and watched them.  While we were doing that, we were busy with my next project (more painting!).  She's still not good with that but she's learning.  I will have to do a bit of touching up but what she did turned out cute!  

When it was time for bed, we slept on the Guest room bed (sooooo comfy!).  I slept so well that I didn't even wake up during the night to use the bathroom.   Neither did Chewlee, as she told me.   It surprised her, too.  But I guess I was snoring and she forgot what I told her about shaking me so that I  turn on my side and that would make me stop.  Instead, she just went out of the room and fell asleep on the couch.  Later, when I had turned on my side without her having to shake me, she came back into the guest room and fell asleep again.  I don't know why she is hesitant to shake me.  Maybe it's just because I am Grandma...LOL !

My back was hurting me but sleeping on the new (memory foam) mattress seems to have done the trick.  It doesn't hurt me....right now.  I don't know how long it will last to be honest since this was the first night that I slept over 8 hours.  *Blush*  Yes, I slept in.  I'm so used to waking around 1-2am and doing my blog at times that I have no idea if that is the cure.  But I feel good and that is just fantastic.  I've kind of gotten used to it hurting me all the time that it almost seems like a miracle.

The Princess just came by to pick up Chewlee so now I can do a bit of *touching up* of the things that Chewlee painted.  She's not really great at being precise so there is a lot of *white* edges that need filling in.  She still did a nice job...just not really neat....LOL!

Time to get this posted.  Sorry it wasn't available if you checked it out earlier.  But it helped me feel so much better!  Love you all.  Be good.  Smiles are contagious and kindness is free.  *Wink*  Lots and lots of ***Hugs*** for you all!

Almost Done....

It's been tough...waiting for paint to dry and that's no joke!  It's also tough to pick the right colors for everything.  I'm just lucky I have so many to choose from...if that's really luck.  But I am ALMOST done and may just be able to get these to the Princess tomorrow if she is going to be home.  I'll pick up Cee (just have to call her to make sure she gets dressed!).  It's tough to be retired...or maybe not.  You just need to have enough pajamas.  LOL!  Of course, the ideal thing would be for the Princess to come HERE but she only does that when she needs some bit of knowledge from the Beast...or to borrow a lens.  

She sure is turning into quite a good photographer.  She took to it like she was born for it.  She needs just a few more *props* for some of her more creative things she likes to do.  I'm amazed at some of the things she DOES have and, of course, for some of the baby/toddler things she can use some of Gunner's things, I'm sure.  

She sure did some creative things to her big tree in the Great Room (that's Southern for what we Midwesterners call our Living Room).  I just love her new house.  It really has some neat things built into it...and the fireplace is gorgeous.  She, however, doesn't like the fact that the stone work goes all the way to the ceiling but I think it's perfect.  She could use a bigger mantle for it but it's just an opinion.  I would put a nice wooden one to accent the coloring of the stone work.  But I digress.....

I have some touching up to do where I was a bit shaky and got some colors where they don't belong.  It's kind of like coloring in the lines in a coloring book.  I went outside the lines here and there...LOL!

I got an email from my bff, Carol, today.  She's sending me something she made (I think it's one of her amazing glass plates that she has been making).  She said it didn't turn out quite the way she had hoped but I am just thrilled at the idea.  I've never known anyone that actually makes glass ANYTHING!  Her son, who takes the classes with her, has made some very beautiful vases that she shared a couple pictures with me a while back.  She was upset over the fact that the place where they used to take lessons was closing but then I guess it reopened.  It's been a while since she has had the time to get there but I do recall her saying she was making some.  Actually, she bought and installed a special kiln so she might actually be making it at home now.  Oh well.  She will let me know which it is (in case the place she used to go with her son DIDN'T reopen).  

She also said in the package she is sending me are also three small items that are separately wrapped (so I don't mistake them for packing) that she says I had expressed some interest in.  I really can't remember what that could be.  I don't think she's doing any kind of jewelry work since she sent me all the stuff she had so I could pass it along to my DIL, Raven.  She makes (and sells) jewelry, along with her father.  They are both very talented.  My sister-in-law, the one that was recently widowed, makes jewelry but she uses both precious and semi-precious stones in                the things she makes, including rings.  

She made up some tanzanite jewelry that is just incredible.  She watches that program on TV that sells those stones all the time and has gotten some really good deals.   I didn't know that tanzanite was so precious these days.  I don't think she sells what she makes, however.  I may be wrong but I don't remember her saying anything about that.  I do know she's made many things for her daughters and daughters- in-law.  She probably does that for the grandkids, too, now that they are older.  She has this one granddaughter that is so adorable.  She is the only one I actually know because the Beast took some pictures of her that are so sweet. 

My bff told me she was so happy because she was going to have both her sons (and their mates) to enjoy  Christmas Eve and Christmas day.  They would be together to open gifts, make dinner and eat together.  Shoot!  I know how she must feel.  I would love to have my kids together to have ANY kind of dinner for ANY holiday!  It's been more years than I care to remember.  But, unfortunately, it isn't going to happen HERE.  The Beast was always a bear about any Holiday but he's even worse now.  He just sucks the joy out of things like that with his attitude and his newly found religious righteousness.  What's sad about that is that my kids think it extends to ME, too.  I love to watch people, and especially  the kids, open their gifts.  It gives me a joy that I can't even describe.  What makes me sad is that I don't have the money to buy gifts for everyone but I DO make sure I have things for the little ones.  The Beast has bought so much stuff for himself the last few months that we really don't have any spare money with the bills we have to cover the next couple months (car insurance, house taxes, etc.).  I have to renew my driver's license next year and I sure hope it doesn't require me to take tests of any kind.  I'm sure I would pass but I hate those kind of surprises.  But turning the big 7-0 next year is unnerving all by itself!

Oh, and next year is a Leap Year!  Do you remember how it was supposed to be the year that a woman could ask a man to marry her and it wasn't shocking?  That's a real oldie.  Shows you how things have changed.    It wasn't something that was accepted for a woman to do back in the day....LOL!

Ahh...the paint is now dry enough for me to do the touch-ups so I am going to close this missive.  BTW, our weather is supposed to be getting hotter all week long and it looks like we will have a VERY warm Christmas Day (around 73 or so!).  I know a lot of kids will be disappointed but it will make for a nice day to have friends and family get together.  The kids will be able to play outside without heavy coats and boots, too!  

Love you all!  Remember that smiles are contagious and kindness is free!  'Tis the season....  ***Hugs*** and have a great week!

Today I Kept Busy.....

I worked on my little project for the Princess.  Another day and it will be ready for me to bring it over to her house for her.  It's turning out nice, I think.  When Cee saw part of it, she thought so and I am hoping the Princess likes it, too.

Other than that, nothing much went on here and I am so very ready for bed now.  This is probably the shortest blog I have ever done.  Love you all and have a great night.  Sweet dreams.  ***Hugs***

Major Problems Since A New Build Of Firefox....

The past twenty four hours has been a major nightmare for me since I was *told* that I was using an old build of my Firefox (I use that rather than IE for a number of reasons) and said I needed to refresh to the newer build.  BAD< BAD<BAD suggestion for me.  I am pretty sure it was a Beta build (and I did not volunteer to be a tester for those) because OMG!  What a mess it made of my computer!  I mean it cleaned up things it had no business touching and never asked me about, it was just an incredible mess.  I have now lost all my  photos that I had in various folders on my desktop (they weren't even saved as favorites on Firefox so there's no excuse for that!) and ...well, lets just say  that some sites that should have been saved, were not.    It took me a long time to even find where I could email Firefox to find out what the heck happened and if anything could be recovered before more damage was done.  

The fact that I could even get to this site is a major milestone and the reason there was no blog last night.  And what frosts me is that suddenly Google is more than just a site for asking questions or looking for pictures.  It has taken over a lot more things than *I* ever wanted, that's for sure.  If I don't get some answers soon, I may just have to dump my Firefox just because it is no longer the site that I have loved for so long.  I will certainly let you know how this problem goes for me in upcoming posts.

Other than that mess, my dad wasn't too bad.  The Beast hurt his back (again!...just worse this time).  Thankfully, it was after Cee had left but I am convinced that it was partly Karma again.  I asked him (again) to stop burying the coffee measure in the freshly ground coffee that he filled up the cannister with.  He told me that I was stupid because it wasn't buried, it was close to the top.  I told him that HE might have known that but if I can't see the handle, it forces me to dig for it and that is BURIED to me.  I was really  ticked off that he callled me stupid but I bit my tongue because I knew anything further that *I* said would just cause it to escalate into a worse argument than it was worth. 

 In my mind, I said to myself, *Well, there's another example of just how Christian he actually is*.  About 15 minutes later, he twists his back and damn near cripples himself up for the night.  I just said a small *Thank You* to God, if he was gently reminding the Beast of his not-nice way of talking to me.  I know the Beast doesn't even think of how he speaks to me (or about me, trust me, I know that, too)  but I also know he won't see the correlation because he's not the true Christian he wants everyone to think he is.  I'm sure we all know someone like that or have known.  The *Sunday* Christians.   Don't get me wrong.  I have experienced true Christian love from the Beast before he laid claim to that label.  He took care of me when I was ill and recovering from major surgeries.  I cared for my needs and wasn't looking for anything in return from me other than that I got better.  We've done that for each other at different times and I, for one, am grateful, because I truly didn't  expect it from him.  Certainly not in the way he provided it.  I also thanked him for his care of me, more than once.

I have made him some dinner and have gotten the bed set up for his comfort for when he is ready later.  I know that heat will help him and I will just have to move the heating pad from his recliner to his side of the bed once he is ready.    Cee is going to have Christmas Day dinner at Tara's house so she volunteered to make the sweet potato casserole and wanted to check with me to make sure she had gotten all the ingredients she needed.  She tried to find a recipe similar to the one I make (she's seen me make it but couldn't find one with one of the key ingredients I use in mine) so she asked.   I told her what all she needed and in what quanitites and she will do fine, I'm sure.  She has everything she needs (she remembered it all) and it will be another tradition passed along.

I guess I will be stuck here with the Beast (unless his church decides to have some sort of get-together since they don't celebrate ANY birthdays, especially ones they know are incorrect).  Then it will be just me and Baron here.  At least I can watch Christmas movies without any commentaries from the Beast over it having it's roots in a pagan celebration that early Christians used as an excuse so they didn't stick out from those around them.  It's not like it not being the correct date hasn't been known for years and years....sheesh.  Just suck the joy out of sweet family celebration and the joy of giving gifts to those you love.

I'll have to drop by the Princess' house one day during the week to drop off my gifts so the kids will have theirs and I can have the Princess open hers and put it up  (hopefully).  I'm assuming she will like it well enough.  At least I have enjoyed putting it together for her.  

Time to post this before something else goes wrong.  Love you all.  Be good (you don't want to be on the *Naughty List* at this stage of the game...LOL).  ***Hugs***

Maybe It Wasn't A Real Chest Cold....

I am not  sure if it was the cough syrup along with the Sudafed, but I got some real sleep last night.  I woke up around 8am and found the Beast up again (and still complaining about Baron not letting him sleep) but he didn't look like death warmed over so I know he got SOME sleep.  He was sleeping soundly when I checked on him about an hour or so after he had gone to bed.

He had the appointment with the dermatologist this morning but they didn't  do the *light* treatment this visit.  Instead, they burned off a lot of the worst of them with nitrogen.  He hates that worse than the light treatment but he didn't have a choice.  They said they couldn't do the light treatment until the really bad spots had been treated with the nitrogen.  He goes back early next month for that.

I haven't been coughing much today so it makes me wonder if I really do/did have a chest cold, regardless of how I felt.  I wonder if I was just reacting to a lot of sinus drainage having accumulated in my chest area?  I sure felt like I was trying to cough up something or other...LOL.  I haven't taken the cough syrup at all today and have done very little in the way of coughing so....  I still have some that I will take in a bit before I go to bed....again.  I was asleep earlier but the TV was on and it woke me up due to the program that came on having commercials that were almost double in volume.  I'm sure you've had that happen a time or two.

It's gotten cold outside and the Beast actually put the heat on in the house.  Not high but enough to keep the chill down.  I have my little heater on in my computer room here, also not turned up high, and it's keeping the room fairly decent.  I think it's because our humidity here is lower than it's been in a while.  But rain is expected this weekend so that won't last long.

After telling me that he wasn't going to buy any more lenses for his camera, what came today from Amazon?  You guessed it.  He was trying to tell me it was only $29. but I saw the quality of the lens...by that I mean the quality of the pictures it takes.   I was going to show you an example but it seems that my problems with Mozilla earlier today wiped out several of my picture folders and that really upsets me.  It had no business touching those but it also did a few other things that shocked me when it told me I needed to *refresh* my version of Firefox.  It took me quite a while to get a  response from them, too.

I'll get the Beast to give me a copy of the one picture that really impressed me (even though I hate that he got the lens and I'm still pissed because I KNOW he's lying about the price he paid!).    The picture is of our deck area (and it shows most of it!) plus a shot of the cottage just beyond it.

I had to take care of the Beast again today due to his being dumb enough to bend over to try to see behind his one computer he's been working on.  I guess it was the *twist* that did it.  He was trying to see this one connection behind it to make sure the cord was in properly  and in the right place.  After that, he was crippled up and moaning and groaning like men always do.  It's not bad enough they've injured themselves, but they have to make noises constantly so you don't forget they are suffering!  Sheesh.  I kept him fed so he would stop making the noises, even giving him milk and cookies after we are lunch and dinner.  Both of which I prepared and he had no choice in the matter.  We ate leftovers...LOL!

I was glad when he finally decided to go to bed (early, thank goodness!).  No more whining.  I don't do that to him no matter how much pain I am in.  Why he does it drives me nuts.  Oh well.  

Time to get this posted.  Love you all and I sure hope you've had a better week than we have had here.  Keep warm and dry.  Drive carefully.  Get your shopping done!  ***Hugs***

 

I Seem To Have A Nasty Chest Cold....

Last night was a miserable night for me.  I slept in my recliner so that I wouldn't keep the Beast up.  It was really both a good and bad decision but I will explain in a bit.

I seem to have picked up a chest cold somewhere.  I couldn't lay down flat because of my sinuses draining like crazy.  Add to that a cough that wouldn't quit and actually felt like my ribs were being bruised from it.  I didn't want to wake the Beast to look for the medication that the doctor had given us earlier in the year.  Add to that my goofy bladder insisting on being emptied every two hours and you have an idea of what MY night was like. 

I had to try to sleep in almost a sitting position.  I was so damn tired that I could barely stand it.  I did finally end up getting a few hours of sleep but it wasn't easy, trust me!

So, as soon as I heard some activity in the living room, I knew the Beast was up.  It was probably because Baron had to go out to relieve himself.  So I started out of my computer room to find an incredible sight.  The Beast was using my old crutches to get around!  

It seems that he, too, had a bad night.  His bad leg had given him a lot of pain during the night as well as his sciatica acting up at the same time.  He had not gotten a lot of sleep and then found out that he wasn't able to get upright, due to the leg pain.  It didn't want to support his weight!  He felt lucky that the crutches were within easy reach (they were between the bureau and the wall on his side of the bed) and he used them to get up.

Eventually, the leg partially supported him and he only had to use one crutch.  I offered him the use of my cane but he said he needed the extra support the crutch gave him.  He decided that he is going to return to the pain clinic on Friday and go ahead with the injections that he was told he needed (but he had refused).  Men can be so weird about any kind of medication.  They have to maintain that image in their head of them not needing that stuff.  Sheesh!

He can't go tomorrow because he has his appointment with the dermatologist to treat the skin cancer on his arms.  I have no idea if both arms with be treated or one at a time.  It's another thing that men don't do....they don't ASK those kind of questions.  It drives me crazy at times.

As for me, I went and got the cough syrup that the doctor prescribed and started taking it.  It gave me an incredible relief!  I ended up taking care of the Beast's needs after he had soaked in the bathtub for a while.  I put his cream on the areas that were giving him the most pain and I also placed the small electric blanket neatly on the bed for him and the heating pad to try to make the leg stop hurting him so he could sleep.  He had made a real mess of the bed while trying to find a position to sleep.  I neatened everything up while I was doing the placement of the blanket and heating pad.  He had finally taken a pain pill during the night but found it didn't help.

He went to bed about an hour ago and, when I checked a few minutes ago, it seems that the blanket and heating pad are doing a good job.  He was asleep and seems peaceful.  *Fingers crossed*

In the meantime, the syrup has really given me some relief.  When I lay back in my recliner, even my sinuses weren't draining!  Oh, I did take some Sudafed so I am sure that was doing the sinuses the most good.  But not coughing is wonderful!  I may actually get some sleep.  I can take the syrup four times a day and I haven't taken one dose yet.  I will do that shortly before I go to bed for the night!  I stopped drinking any fluids around 6pm and I hope that settles down my bladder.  It's so crazy since, as a diabetic, I am easily dehydrated and NEED more fluids than most.  I miss sipping my ice water to make sure that doesn't happen.  But, for tonight, I will trust that it allows my bladder to be satisfied without having to constantly be visiting the bathroom when I so desperately need sleep.

I found a comment from my granddaughter (Sheepie) about my wax problem on my rug.  She is the one that used to work for Yankee Candle.  I'm going to try her suggestion since I haven't done anything yet.  I didn't want to make a mistake and ruin that section so I have just covered it lightly until I found a solution that would work.  I'm going to take her advice.  I will let you know if it worked for me...but I won't try it until this coughing passes.

I did make sure that the Beast has the crutches within reach if he has a problem getting up again.  I wanted to drive him to the dermatologist tomorrow but he declined.  Another *man thing*.  They just don't want to feel like they NEED someone to drive them anywhere.

Oh, and get this....remember when I told you all that he had sent one of his cameras to that place in New York?  He's dealt with them for years.  It's where he gets his special paper for his photos.  They've always dealt fairly with him.  It seems that with their offer for the camera (a buy versus consignment) plus his adding $300. allowed him to buy the new camera that he was slobbering for.  He even bargained them down on the total price paid.  They finally accepted that and the new camera should be here within the next week.  They only ship regular mail.  It's not like Amazon Prime, which he has since he buys a LOT of stuff from them.

Time to post this.  I haven't done anything on the computer all day except for this.  I am going to check my email before I go to bed and hope that nothing spectacular has happened on my FB page.  I'm better but just not up to THAT today.  I always end up spending at least four hours on it.  I just feel the need for rest and, hopefully, some decent sleep.

Love you all.  Hope your day went well and the rest of the week also.  Looks like my plans for a few more Christmas presents is out the window with the Beast having spent that money.  *Sigh*  Oh well!  ***Hugs***

Ready For My Electric Blankey....

Another good day here for me.  I woke up early, got dressed, checked out my FB page and then put out my garbage from my computer room before the Beast wheeled it out front.  He was in a preachy mood today and he has no idea how much that will drive me away from him.  He seems to be bound and determined to get me to go to church with him and hasn't given up on the idea yet that it is NOT going to happen.  It's not that I don't believe in God, I just don't believe in the same God HE does.  

So, it was in the mind frame of escape that I grabbed my coffee and said *Goodbye* and headed over to Cee's house.  It wasn't until I was almost there that it dawned on me that I forgot to grab her container of soup.  When I called her to let her know I was on my way, I dropped the news that I had done that but she forgave me.  I told her if she was out and about tomorrow (which she probably won't be since rain is predicted), she could just bring my creole container with her and I would fill it up for her.  Otherwise, I am going to separate the soup into some smaller containers and freeze it.  It's too labor intensive to end up tossing out in a couple days.

I had wanted to have Chewlee over on Friday so I could take her to see Cee's apartment with me on Saturday.  But when I talked to the Princess, she told me the fraternal grandfather is going to be picking Chewlee up from school on Friday and spending the weekend with her.  He always stays at a local hotel with an indoor (heated) pool so Chewlee can swim plus he told her he would take her out to do some Christmas shopping.  She is anxious to get her presents for her family so that will be nice because he will put in whatever she is short in her savings.  Chewlee is a bit more aware of what she has now though and what things cost so she might object to his adding a whole lot.  A few bucks, perhaps.  

I did tell the Princess that I wanted to have Chewlee over at some time during her Christmas vacation and she said she would have to check just when she would be going back to school.  Johnnycakes has four days off (I think the Christmas weekend) and she has no idea what HE might want to do as a family so I may have her here during the week after Christmas.  Not that it matters to me.  I won't be trying to take her to MY non-existent church.  LOL.

It's down into the 30's already and I am ready for my bed.  I showered, have my jammies on and I am ready for bed.  I seem to be going earlier and earlier lately but I am sleeping for longer stretches slowly.  I can also go without a nap a lot of times so that I AM ready for bed early.

Time to wrap this up for tonight.  Love you all.  Be good.  Stay safe.  ***Hugs***

My Homemade Noodles.....

Today I made my chicken soup with homemade noodles.  No, this is not a recipe site so don't expect me to list it all.  It's something I learned to make from my mother and I have never measured the flour but I know what I need to put in the bowl to make the dough correctly.  

I digress.  The soup is the favorite of both the Beast and the Princess (and me, of course but that goes without saying).  Today the soup came out wonderful.  Tasty soup base with all the ingredients and spices and the noodles are so very tender.  It was yummy.  The Beast made himself a big bowl of it and so did I.  We also ate some Italian bread and butter with it.  After the soup had cooled, I put some in a container that I am taking over to Cee's tomorrow.  She said she made shrimp scampi today and has some left that we can eat for lunch if I come over.  Her scampi is good so I am looking forward to that.  It will be a nice exchange since she can have the soup for her dinner.  *Grin*

I was drinking some cappuccino earlier tonight.  The kind you add hot water to a powder, I mean.  I found the taste improved greatly when I added some French vanilla creamer to it.  I'm so used to the Kauai coffee that my bff keeps sending me that the slightly bitter background taste of the brew isn't pleasant.  I used  to like it....LOL.

It's cold tonight...just 37 degrees outside right now.  Of course, I am up at 4am only because I had to use the bathroom.  Another day I was up early because I had plans and didn't end up being able to take a nap.  I was folding more clothes today that the Beast decided to wash.  Not that I mind doing it.  It keeps me busy.  At least *I* get to sleep a lot later than the Princess.  It seems that Gunner wakes her every morning around 5:30am and she can't go back to sleep because he doesn't want to cuddle these days.  Poor baby....the Princess, I mean.  Not Gunner.  Give me half his energy and I will be happy....LOL.

Time to post this.  I need to get back to bed.  I am still tired.  Just going to say that I love you all and I wish you a great week.  ***Hugs***
 

Out And About.....

I went over to my sister, Cee's, when the Beast got home from church today.  I  wanted to bring her the shrimp creole I had saved for her and some of the pumpkin pie I made the other day.  I always enjoy the time I spend with her.

When I got home, I asked the Beast what he would like to have for dinner.  I couldn't ask him to have more shrimp creole because that was what he had for lunch.  I gave him a couple choices and he decided he would prefer the chicken lo mein that we had in the freezer.  It was something different so that's what we had along with some Texas toast.  It was actually very good and filling.  

I told him if he would get me some chicken legs or thighs, I would make some chicken soup with homemade noodles.  When he asked what else I would need (I had checked to see what we didn't have), I told him and I couldn't believe that he jumped up and almost ran out the door to the store for the short list.  I guess he REALLY wants me to make it.  Of course, I had mentioned it to my sister when I was there and she wants some, too.  She talked about her bf having it at our house on the Gulf Coast of Florida for the first time and how he really liked it.  He wasn't really big on trying new things so she was surprised.  Of course, if he didn't like it, I don't think she would have told me that but it's okay.  Good manners and all being a consideration.

I read something so very true on FB today.  It was this:  Some day you will be just a memory to people.  Try your best to be a good one.  I really thought that was so very, very true.  A good thing to keep in mind when you deal with people in your life.  Here it is, almost the end of another year, and some of the people we knew and loved didn't make it.  Be thankful that you are still here with your loved ones and let them know that you DO love them.  I think that is another part of being a good memory, don't you?

The sister of my heart, Kay, lost her mother the other day.  The two of them were very close.  She and her hubby took her with them on vacation even and her hubby said he thinks he pushed her across most of Mexico but enjoyed every minute of it.  I am so sad for her just because I know how tough it is to lose a mother.  She was extraordinarily kind to all of us kids when we lost our mother and again when we lost our father.  She had been close to him, too, since he was living with her and my brother (before their divorce).  Dad had become a great father to us as he got older.  I used to have him stay with us in South Florida for a month during the winter when the weather was the worst in Chicago.  I loved having him.  I miss him and mom every day.  I'm just glad I have some good memories of them both.  

Kay and her mom went to plays and things together often.  She was always calling her mom to see if she needed anything.  Sometimes she brought over dinner for her.  She enjoyed just being with her mom.  My heart aches for what I know she is going through now.  It will be worse when she and her sisters have to clean out her house.  I loved her mother's sense of humor and greatly enjoyed the times I got to spend with her when I was in Chicago.  It's so sad when the people we love grow old (like we are doing every day) and leave us behind without them.  It's an empty spot that can never be filled by anyone else.

I'm going to post this now.  I'm tired and didn't get a nap today so I'm heading for bed.  I took my shower and am in my jammies so I am ready!  Love you all.  No advice today other than to drive carefully.  The life you save may be your own.  ***Hugs***



 

I Spent My Day Being Lazy.....

I didn't feel the least bit ambitious today so I spent it pretty much just napping, watching TV, napping some more and then I did wash my clothes, dry them and put them away.  I got to the dryer just before it was ready to stop so I hung up what needed hanging up and folded the rest.  It was mostly my jammies and underwear.  It's colder at night now so I wanted my warm jammies.  

I got mad at the Beast because he dropped a couple rags and didn't pick them up with the *grabber*.  He said it was because he was going to do it after his nap since he was so tired and needed to rest his eyes.  I could understand that since I spent the day pretty much under my electric blanket because MY eyes were tired.  I had a tough time getting and staying asleep last night (which was why I spent the day napping).  My bladder was working overtime even though I had stopped drinking anything around 8 pm.  

I've been watching Dr. Dee, Alaska Vet most of the afternoon.  It's a really interesting show since a lot of the animals she treats are things like Alpacas, reindeer, goats, cows and horses.  Oh she also treats dogs and cats but it's the exotic ones that are so interesting.  You don't think of the people around Fairbanks having them.  She also flies her own plane to other towns that aren't accessible except by boat or plane.  This one episode was funny because a couple of dogs came on their own.  When the owners showed up, the dogs needed shots or to be neutered.  One lady owns miniature horses.  Another has the dairy farm that is the furthest north in Alaska.  It's just interesting but, if you have a weak stomach, it's not for you.  They show the actual surgeries she performs...in full detail.

Normally I watch Treehouse Masters.  I love that show.  He makes the most interesting tree houses.  I would love to have one of them but we don't have the trees for it.  *Sigh*  However, today they were showing all repeats so that's why I watched Dr. Dee.  I've only seen a couple of her episodes.

The Beast was watching religious things on the internet.  I guess he's getting ready for church tomorrow.  He went to bed about an hour ago and I can hear him snoring, along with the dog....LOL!  Fun.

Well, time to put this to bed.  I have to take my shower and get some clean jammies on then hit the sack.  I may go over to Cee's tomorrow if she's home and bring her some of the shrimp creole I made and set some aside for her.  I even saved some for the Princess if she comes over.  I may have a bowl of it before I go to bed.  I'm a little *fungry*....LOL.  And it turned out so good.  I just missed having the bay leaves that should have gone in it.  That's another thing the Beast threw out because of the *use by*  date. He just doesn't get it about some spices.  Oh well.

Love you all.  Be good.  Be kind.  Remember that most people are fighting a battle you may never know about so a little kindness goes a long way.  BTW, in case I didn't mention it, the Beast's brother was cremated and his wife is going to have a memorial service for him before she spreads his ashes.  She wants to wait until after the Holidays to do it (and the grandkids won't be told until after the Christmas Holidays but before the memorial service).  ***Hugs***

Shopping With Cee

Cee and I went shopping together today.  Had a heck of a time finding some things since it was a store I was unfamiliar with.  Along with a few grocery items, I picked up a little something for both Chewlee and Gunner.  It may not be much but I hope they like it.  

I picked up some shrimp, a green pepper and some okra for shrimp creole.  I knew we had everything else so that is what is on the menu for tomorrow's dinner.  I double-checked my recipe and I was right so I will put it on to cook around noon.  The shrimp isn't added until last and the rice isn't added until the end.  Some recipes have it served seperately but this recipe I have is an old one and I've made it many times before (and like it).  I was actually surprised that modern recipes for the dish does not contain any okra.  It's not that I am a fan of it but it has always been a staple addition to most Southern recipes for a couple hundred years.  Like I said, it was the way I learned to make it years ago so I will continue to make it the way I know best.

The Beast wants me to make a cherry pie tomorrow, too, and since the cherries are the canned ones, it's nice and simple.  I can do that easily.  It makes him happy and I don't mind a slice either.  I just make mine a lot smaller than his...LOL.

It was another nice day today.  I think it got up to 62 again.  Even the Beast took Baron on a run and Baron was so very happy.  You could see it on the grin the dog gets when he makes that final run back to the house and beats the scooter.  

I had something happen yesterday that blew my mind.  I had bought a 3 wick candle.  It was in a glass container...a short one...and when it got down to about an inch of the melted wax, the bottom actually broke and all that wax poured out over my desk and onto the rug next to it.  What a mess it made!  I couldn't believe it did that.  Guess you have to be careful and not buy something that is cheap because you don't know where they cut corners.  My desk still smells like pine...LOL.  And I am still cleaning the wax out of the rug.  I used the ice hint on it but, trust me, it doesn't apply when the wax is THICK.  You just have to keep shaving the wax down until you can get it to where you can actually clean it up.

We had a decent dinner tonight.  Meat loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy and some creamed corn.  It filled the hole and not much left over but it wasn't like it was made for a crowd, either.  I try, just not always successfully, not to make so much that I could feed six people well.  I do have mashed potatoes left over but I can use them at lunch for us.  I have two thick slices of meat loaf left and will just add some green beans to it.

I think Chewlee gets off school for the *Winter Break* ... I hate all this *politically correct* crap...it's the Christmas Break for cryin' out loud!  Anyway, I think it starts after next week, Friday.  I have no idea when her paternal grandfather will be here (she said he was coming up from Florida) but I thought I would ask the Princess if she could spend Friday night with me.  It may be the only time during the two weeks she will be off that I can do that.  We can stay up late and camp out on the floor and watch movies.  We haven't done that in a while and it will be fun.  My back may not appreciate it but I'll get over it.  LOL!  She's getting older, bigger and I won't have many of those kind of days with her soon.  *Sigh*  I hate that she's growing up in many ways.  Even her mom does per her FB page.

Well, time to post this.  Love you all.  Be good.  Be kind.  ***Hugs***

Never Take For Granted The People You Love....

....they can be gone in an instant.  Today was a sad day here at the Brat Farm.  The Beast's younger brother, Jimmy, died early this morning of an unexpected heart attack.  He woke his wife, told her what he was feeling and she, having been a nurse, called the paramedics.  It took them 20 minutes to get there and she took the steps necessary that she had learned before she had to retire due to an on-the-job injury.  But, by the time they got him to the hospital, he had passed and couldn't be revived.  He is survived by his wife, Betty, his sister, Bonnie, as well as the Beast and his brother, Ted.  He has three married children, several great-grandchildren and a couple great-grands, too.  I don't remember the exact number at the moment because I am still upset and find myself crying over this at odd moments.  He was just 65.

I chatted with him a few days ago and he was feeling good.  I also am comforted by the fact that I said goodbye and *love you* when we got offline.  I meant it.  I always say that to the people I love when we finish talking or before they or I leave from a visit.   It has become second nature to me nowadays.  A small thing, perhaps, but I feel it's important.  It comforts me now.

The Beast was unsure of what he should do but it all depended on what his wife was planning.  As per Jim's wish, she is having him cremated but won't have a memorial service until after the Holidays.  I'm sure she plans to scatter his ashes on the lake behind their home.  He enjoyed being on the Board of the Association for the lake.  He spent many a day fishing and just showing his kids, grandkids, etc. how lovely it was while riding around it on his pontoon boat.  At least the Beast has had that decision put off for a while.

I caught him crying for a bit but he pulled himself together when he saw me.  I tried to comfort him but he really didn't want it and just accepted a hug before pushing me aside and clearing his throat.  But he teared up during some of the  phone calls he received from a few relatives that he hadn't seen or talked to in a while.  I've kept in touch with them via social media so they aren't really out-of-touch with us entirely.

When I called my kids and two of my sisters (the ones who actually KNEW Jim well from when he was a kid), they were shocked.  Especially Cee, who is only two weeks younger than Jim was.  The Beast said, *Once you start losing siblings, you know you are old.*  I wish my siblings long and happy lives.  Ditto my friends and family.  

I'm going to close this for tonight.  My heart is heavy for Betty, his children, grandchildren and great-grandkids.  It's also heavy for ME because I did love him and Betty both.  I had planned on seeing them next spring.  Life is funny.  Today is all we have; tomorrow is not promised.  ***Hugs***

Really Nice Day Here Today.....

I love when it's bright and sunny.  As long as I have that, I can enjoy my day even if it's cold.  However, it was around 63 when I left the house to go to Cee's.  It's funny but when the Beast asked me what we found to talk about, I told him he would be surprised.  We always find things to talk about and it's not gossip either.  We talk about things we like to do and why we are or aren't doing them. 

I told Cee about what I was painting and how one was a bitch to paint.  But I was enjoying doing it and looking forward to being able to give it to the Princess.  I have one more thing to buy to add to one of the things but I can get those easily here in town.  I hope to get the presents for the two kids in the next week or so.  

It's already 35 degrees outside and feels it.  Its the kind of bitter cold from having high humidity (87%).  It cut right through me when I let Baron out back a little bit ago.  He went down the stairs and very quickly was back and wanted in.  He was gone long enough that I knew he peed but he wasn't going to make a tour around the yard like he would normally do.  It was too cold for him, too.

The Beast is singing the praises of the Grabit thingy that my bff, Carol, sent us.  I'm sure that will make her happy.  I told him *See?  You should have bought one when I told you to!*  He just gave the same old grin he usually does and kept eating.  At least I don't have to keep picking up the things he drops now.  He can do that for himself.  I told him that I think he had dropsy because he really does drop a lot.  I am afraid he is losing control of his hands in some situations but I'm not sure of it.  It just worries me.  He has good days and then some bad days, so it's hard to tell.

Me?  I'm feeling really good and no sign of IBS-D now for a couple weeks.  That's just such a great feeling for me.  I hate that with a passion.  I need to make an appointment with my regular doctor and tell him myself about that damn doctor he had referred me to in Gadsden and ask him to prescribe the new medication for IBS-D that's on the market.  If I have any of the side effects, I can let him know immediately and stop taking it but I think it's worth a try.  If I can go without an attack for six months, I was told that I wouldn't have the problem any more.  I hope it's true.

Well, time to go.  I'm beat.  Was busy when I got home and then was too bushed to paint any more so I'll do that tomorrow.  I should be able to finish half of the items at least.  Love you all.  Be good.  Be happy, be glad that all the problems of the world are not yours to fix.  Take a step back and realize that whatever may be a problem today will pass.  ***Hugs***



 

Today I Painted....

No, not anything like a bedroom or living room.  I painted...or started to...some figurines that I plan on giving as presents.  I really liked them when I bought them but have decided to give them as gifts instead.  One of the items has proven difficult but it is the reason I finally stopped painting tonight.  I was starting to shake because I was tired.  So I will work on them again tomorrow after I get back from my sister's house.  I thought I would go over there for a bit and spend a couple hours with her.  It always helps my mood...LOL.

I may go ahead and bring her over a couple more movies for her to watch whenever TV sucks.  I'll check with her in the morning.  Oh, and I got a surprise from my BFF today.  She sent me one of those pickeruppers that you can use to pick up things you dropped on the floor or even get things down off shelves that are a bit too high (so you don't have to use a chair).  I wanted the Beast to get one for himself but he hadn't yet.  Now he's claimed it and told me to thank her for him.  It means that *I* don't have to go around picking up things he's dropped on the floor now.  He can't bend down without falling over.  He has to get down on one knee and that's painful for him.  Getting up is even harder.  I don't have that problem so he's been leaving things he's dropped on the floor for me to pick up.

That's actually how I hurt my knee last week.  He had dropped a pair of his reading glasses on the floor and not told me.  I came out of the guest bedroom with my arms full of things that needed to be washed and slipped on them.  I actually felt blessed that I managed to come down on just the one knee.  I could have really hurt myself but I try not to think about that.  I'm recovered fully from all the hurt I did myself and I don't even feel like strangling him any more...LOL>

It's 34 degrees outside right now which is colder than originally predicted.  It WILL get colder tonight since it's not even midnight here.  Tomorrow is supposed to warm up to the lower 60's but who knows?  Weather is tricky these days.  At least it's pretty much a clear night and the moon is bright outside or was when I last let Baron out into the back yard.

We had a soup and sandwich day today for a change.  It's been a while and it's always a nice easy fix.  I was glad since I was busy painting.  I'm just going to head to bed now.  I already took my shower and am in my warmest pair of jammies.  I'm ready!  I made sure my electric blanket was turned on since it can be set for up to 8 hours but the Beast usually only turns it onto the 3 hour setting.  I usually turn it off for a while, then turn it on again so that we get the full 8 hours of warm.  

Love you all.  Keep warm.  Be happy.  Smile often.  ***Hugs***

Everything Turned Out Great!

Today was *make the corned beef day* and so that's what I did.  I had originally thought I would put it in our slow-cooker but, after talking with Cee, I decided to just boil it.  I normally do that but I guess I was just being a bit lazy so I wouldn't have to check on things like you do when you are boiling it.  I mean having to make sure the veggies you add to it near the end of the cooking time for the corned beef are done.  It's so easy to underestimate the amount of time you need for the potatoes.

Today, however, everything worked out with just having to add another 15 minutes to be done just perfect.  The Beast had gone to the store to get the rye bread (and also picked up some Chicago Italian bread...Yum!) since he wanted the rye bread to be fresh and perfect, too.  He's a real pain in the butt about *fresh* bread at times but I digress.  Cee set the table, I cut the corned beef and piled up the veggies on a big platter then.....we ate!  OMG!  It was just so delicious.  Even the Beast kept saying how great everything tasted.  Cee and I agreed and we all ate until we felt stuffed.  Cee stayed for a while afterward but felt the need to go home and take a nice nap.  I wanted to nap, too, but had some wash that needed folding and some that needed to be hung up as soon as the dryer stopped so I put it off.  

Unfortunately, by that time, I was awake again so I kept busy doing other things, including getting out the things that I want to get painted (figurines) because I have plans for them.  I had to sort through them so that I was sure I had everything that went together and make sure I had enough sealer for them all.  I did and I do...LOL.  Tomorrow.....I paint.

Once that was done, I made the mistake of going to check my FB page and see the new posts.  I swear, there are more new posts from family and friends on the weekend than all week long.  I spent HOURS on it and my eyes were starting to cross even though I didn't read everything or watch all the videos.  I guess I was helped (a little) by the fact that I could just scroll past a lot of things that had been posted...some many times over...before today.  But I never DID finish up reading everything before I had to quit so I could keep my eyes open to do my blog.

So I am sure you will forgive me for posting this without any more fanfare because I am incredibly tired.  I don't want to end up sleeping the day away since it's supposed to be another nice day tomorrow and I don't want to miss it.  I'm showered, in my jammies and have preheated my part of the electric blanket and am SO ready.

Love you all.  Hope you have a great week and are almost done with your Christmas shopping.  I have to wait for my SS check to come in (direct deposit) before I can figure out what I can spend on the kiddies.  Car insurance must come first, as you well know.  Big fines if you get caught without it being current, don't you know...LOL.  Smile for the hellofit and laugh long and loud.  Laughing is good for your health and well-being it's been proven so enjoy yourself.  Relax and enjoy life.  Don't stress.  Remember...you are LOVED and are worth loving.  ***Hugs***

It Has Been A Good Day.....And Here Are More Pictures!

 The Princess carving up the deep fried turkey she made for us.

                      The front of their new house from down the driveway.

                        The workshop and garage to the right of the house.

 The big Christmas tree in the Great Room.  The Princess designed the topper herself.

              The wood-burning fireplace in the Great Room.  Couldn't get it all in.

                                                The front door.

                                   Half of the front porch with swing at the far end.

                      Some of the food we had on Thanksgiving.  More on counter, too.

                                The start of the Feast!  That's Baby Brat in pink.

                                   Tara's son Keith and his girlfriend filling up.

                                        Our boy, Gunner, next to his daddy.

 This kid was devouring a huge turkey leg like a caveman.  Had to take the pic...

A shot of the back of the kids property, complete with neighbor's cows!

Woke up early to a bright, sunny day again.  Dennis came over early to talk to the Beast (I think he was bored and it was still not warm enough for him to do any work outside).  They both sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and being guys together until it hit around 57 outside.

In the meantime, I got dressed and did a bit of straightening up in my computer room before I left for Cee's.  Once in the car and on the way, I breathed a sigh of relief because it had been a couple days since I was out and about.  Cee and I always enjoy being together and just talking about this and that.  

I talked to the Beast before I left for home to tell him I was stopping at the store to pick up a corned beef brisket or whatever cut they had.  I asked if there was anything else he could think of that he wanted me to get but he wants to get the rye bread at Publix tomorrow since they have the best and he loves it with his corned beef.  I called Cee to let her know I had found some and told her I am making it tomorrow.  Once I figure when it will be ready, I'll let her know so she can join us to eat it.  I DID forget to grab some new potatoes to cook with it but I may be able to get Cee to stop on her way over if she comes over an hour before the corned beef is ready.  I'll check with her in the morning.

I decided to pick up what I needed to make my pumpkin pie that I have been craving.  I didn't get a chance to have any on Thanksgiving so I need to make some.  I'll do that while the Beast is at church and start the corned beef cooking.

I also have to call the Princess and ask her for my egg dish back that she hasn't returned yet.  I've had it for about 25 years and the poor box for it is crying on the cabinet where I keep it.  It's lonely...LOL.  At least she returned my big crystal tray.  I need to get that wrapped back into it's bubble wrap and into the box for it.  I'll do that in the morning, too, since I need to get my stepladder out for that.

The Princess' hubby, Johnnycakes, made her the farm house table that she has been saying she wanted for her dining room.  First I read he was going to make it and then I saw the picture of it that he posted on FB.  He did a nice job but said he had to make some correction or something for the part that the Princess helped him with.  I think that was just teasing on his part since it looks great to me.  She wants to have a bench on one side and chairs on the other and at each end.  It will seat a lot of people, I'm sure.  I'm so glad she has such a sweet and loving hubby and such great kids, too.  It shows how good a mother and wife she is to them.

She's also become a really good cook and she's not afraid to try something new.  I still haven't found chicken enchiladas to beat hers.  Yum!  I could eat them any time.  Of course, now people share many more recipes for various cuisines and they are so easy to prepare (most of them any way).  I'm constantly surprised.  I just wish the Beast were a bit more open to some of them.  He'll try any kind of sweet dessert but he's more hesitant on meal items.  I remember how hard it was to convince him to try artichokes.  LOL!

Well, time to wrap this up for the night.  I hope you liked the pictures I took at the Princess' house on Thanksgiving.  I didn't take as many pictures as I should have because I spent a lot of time talking with Johnnycake's aunts and his dad so time slipped by too quickly.  Cee and I had to leave before it got dark since I don't do well driving at night these days.  Plus I worried about missing the small country road signs we needed to see in order to find our way out of the boonies...LOL.

Love you all.  Be good.  Be kind.  It costs you nothing.  Smile a lot.  Be happy.  ***Hugs***