« August 2007 Main October 2007 »
September 30, 2007
Screening Calls
I heard something today that I disagree with.
It was heavily implied that using an answering machine to screen ones calls is lying and sets a bad example for the children.
I use my answering machine to screen my calls and I do not consider it lying at all. My answering machine is in a woman’s voice and she simply says, “Please leave your message after the tone.”
Now how is that lying? How is that setting a bad example?
Because I don’t want to deal with recruiters or telemarketers or I don’t have time to have a 45 minute conversation with someone who does have the time to chat all day doesn’t make me a liar.
The point was supposed to be you shouldn’t have your kids lie for you if you don’t want to come to the phone. This was said, but then the answering machine was also given as an example and I thought it was silly and a totally different situation.
“Please leave your message after the tone.”
That is a command, not a statement; not a lie.
*****
I will leave you with something funny that happened this morning.
We were at church when the lady who sits next to Kevin every Sunday leaned in and asked him, “Have you been sick? " When Kevin answered in the negative she said, “Well, you’ve lost so much weight. I just wondered.”
I thought this was too funny! Little does she know how hard he's been trying to lose that weight!
Posted by tami at 8:46 PM Comments (2)
September 29, 2007
Under The Sea
I have added one picture to the Low Calorie Foods gallery, previously known as the “Healthy Foods” gallery. I changed the name because most of the foods aren’t necessarily healthy, they are simply low calorie. For my life change, low calorie is all that matters.
I have also added one picture to the Special Occasion Cakes gallery.
Lastly, I have added a new photo gallery called Jesse & Sydnee’s 6th Birthday. There are 28 photos on three pages. Somehow we all ended up gathering at mom and dad’s house for the girl’s birthday. I don’t know how that came about, but we all had a great time.
Posted by tami at 11:06 PM Comments (2)
September 28, 2007
Black Swallowtail Butterfly
On September 16th I showed you the following pictures:
And
Last night the Black Swallowtail Butterfly chose to emerge from his cocooned state. Now you would think I would have seen this butterfly before, but I hadn’t.
Here he is in his entire splendor:
It was just an amazing experience for us to see exactly what God can do:
Keep in mind, we still have two tobacco worms which are cocooned and won’t emerge for probably another 5 months. I guess since this latest caterpillar was so small, he didn’t need long to become the beautiful butterfly he is today.
Posted by tami at 7:53 AM Comments (3)
September 27, 2007
Not Enough Marbles
Since moms return home from the hospital, she has been receiving these two drugs intravenously: Merrem and Vancomycin. Home health has been there to teach her and dad how to hook the bags up properly. The doctors said one cause of her hospitalization was a strand of E. Coli. She seems to be fine now. PTL!
Here is some breed of spotted bird I saw out their kitchen window this afternoon:
Before I grabbed my camera there were four Blue Jays playing together. FOUR! I knew as soon as I had my camera in hand they would all disappear and that is exactly what happened.
Check out what Andrew unearthed a few days ago:
Yes, I am guilty of this monstrous creation which was supposed to resemble a cluster of grapes. There is a marble missing at the very bottom. I must have lost a few marbles to think this was art. At least I can say I was 12 when I fashioned it.
Posted by tami at 5:30 PM Comments (0)
September 26, 2007
E-mail Lessons
My sister sent me this email and I wanted to share it with you. It is so true!! I have no idea who the author is.
Subject: Summary of my last year on the computer
1. I must send my thanks to whoever sent me the email about rat poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet towel with every envelope that needs sealing.
2. Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.
3. I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.
4. I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I
receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.
5. I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's novena has granted my every wish.
6. I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible
mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.
7. I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.
8. Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an email to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.
9. Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.
10. I no longer can buy gasoline without taking a man along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.
11. I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr. Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put "Under God" on their cans.
12. I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.
13. And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup water in the
microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face...disfiguring me for life.
14. I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.
15. I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.
16. I no longer receive packages from UPS or Fed Ex since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.
17. I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.
18. I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica , Uganda, Singapore , and Uzbekistan
19. I no longer have any sneakers -- but that will change once I receive my free replacement pair from Nike.
20. I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe.
21. Thank you too for all the endless advice Andy Rooney has given us. I can live a better life now because he's told us how to fix everything
22. And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00 I
dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.
23. Oh, and don't forget this one either! I can no longer drive my car because I can't buy gas from certain gas companies!
24. Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt.
If you don't send this e-mail to at least 47,000 people in the next 47
minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:47 PM this afternoon and the fleas from 47 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician...
Have a wonderful day....AND
A scientist from Argentina , after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain and sexual activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse.
Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late...
Posted by tami at 5:21 PM Comments (3)
September 25, 2007
Ramsay
If you missed the new TV show Kitchen Nightmares last Wednesday night, you need to make sure to watch or tape it tomorrow night. It is something let me tell you and that is why I am giving you the heads up a day in advance; so you can plan to watch it. It comes on FOX at 9:00 in my area; just check your local listings.
Gordon Ramsay, the famous chef who also does the TV show Hell's Kitchen, visits restaurants that are on a downhill spiral and helps them to step up their game and become the show places they once were. Each week there is a new restaurant, so you haven’t missed anything.
What I want you to see though is the rotten, nasty, old food these places are trying to feed their customers. Last week’s restaurant didn’t have any roaches or bugs, but this week’s show promises to have both rotting food and tons of bugs. It should be interesting.
*****
The only update I have on mom is that she is coming home today. I just found out this moment at 2:48 PM. I wish I knew more, but for now that’s great news.
Posted by tami at 2:48 PM Comments (0)
If I Could Reach Higher
I remember years ago when Andrew couldn’t wait until he was big enough to lay his arm flat on the car door when the window was rolled down as we were riding along. That was going to be a big milestone for him in his mind. To him, he was going to be grown up then.
Years after making that statement as I was driving, I noticed that his arm was in fact flat on the door and he was taller in his seat. I reminded him of the milestone he had set for himself and he smiled a little and kept smiling as he thought about it. He would do that around the house too. He couldn’t wait until he was as tall as this cabinet or that piece of furniture.
These days, Ashley does the same thing. A huge milestone for her was getting to sit in the front seat of the truck. Since they put in airbags, I had heard that 12 was a good age to let children sit up front. Ashley is 11 now and in middle school, so I let her sit in the front seat of the truck when we ride together. I still worry because she’s not 12 and she doesn’t weigh a lot, but it was a colossal deal for her.
Like Andrew, she has been excited over finally being as tall as things around the house such as the hand towel rack in the bathroom, being tall enough to reach a cabinet door without a chair, and being able to reach the top of the refrigerator. Those are all big deals.
It was also remarkable to her when she found she could reach the fan cord in the living room:
I’m glad that she’s glad, but I don’t remember doing this as a child. I don’t remember wanting to be a certain height. My height has never been a factor in anything that I can recall. I’m average height and always have been; 5’4 1/2.
I do remember when I was younger having to climb on mom and dad’s counter to reach things inside the cabinets, but I think their cabinets are taller than the standard. It didn’t bother me having to do that though. I was in third grade and it was normal, but I didn’t obsess about it. Actually, I didn’t obsess about much of anything back then except for Barbies and I am still obsessing over them to this day.
Posted by tami at 10:15 AM Comments (1)
September 24, 2007
Is This Really Berea?
On Sunday, they took a chest x-ray and ran IV fluids in mom all day. We were able to visit with her for a very short time before heading to Berea for a family reunion (Kevin’s dad’s side of the family). It is unfortunate that she was admitted to the hospital the same day we had this event, but it’s one of those things which could not be helped.
This was my first trip to Berea, however I never saw downtown or any of the artsy shops I have heard about. I definitely would like to return and visit the shops or a festival. I think they have some sort of art festival, but I don’t know when it is held.
We literally got off the exit ramp and turned directly down a long, narrow road headed in the direction we had just come from on the interstate. As we were leaving the reunion, I saw a sign that read “Berea City Limits”. Hmm. It seems that we were not IN Berea after all.
This reunion was a fish fry and yes, I did eat. I had fish, a hushpuppy, roll, potato salad, baked beans, BLT pasta salad, and potato chips. I cannot even tell you how good and salty those potato chips were after months of not having any. They also had desserts and I tried not one but two! I had a thin slice of apple pie and a scoop of banana pudding. Both were delicious.
Needless to say, I was anxious to go for our walks when we arrived back in Winchester so that I could work off a few calories. This is the site we saw when we took Guido for his walk:
On our right was the sunset:
The moon was on our left:
Guido was just happy we were home because he had some business to take care of.
Mom did see a doctor today, but it was not one she was familiar with. I know she received platelets, but other than that nothing was clear to me and I don’t know that it was clear to her either. Hopefully I will know more tomorrow.
Posted by tami at 8:02 PM Comments (3)
September 23, 2007
Bacteria
Mom passed out Friday night. Dad had just flushed her indwelling catheter and she walked into the hallway.
Dad heard a thump and thought someone had dropped something, so he went to check and see what it was.
It was mom lying on the floor. She hit the back of her head and it was bleeding. She said she didn’t remember anything.
Dad put a bandage over the cut. He knew it wasn’t bad enough to require stitches, but they did call the Markey Cancer Center.
The doctor on call at the Markey thought it happened because her blood sugar was low, but mom knew that wasn’t the case and tried to tell him that. She has lived with diabetes long enough to know when her sugar is low.
Saturday morning, the following morning, she was sitting at the kitchen table when dad flushed her catheter again. She started to stand and realized that it was happening again. She said she laid her head down on the table.
They had an appointment to check her platelet levels at the Markey that day, so when she got there she told them what had been going on. They drew blood, but her platelet levels were fine, so they sent her home.
Last night a doctor from the Markey called to tell her that the cultures had come back and they all showed a bacteria growing. (I believe these cultures were done at her last appointment.)Apparently, there has been a bacteria in her catheter line, so each time dad flushed her, that bacteria was being pushed in with the fluids and causing her to pass out.
They admitted her to the hospital and that is where she is this morning. She will be in for at least four days and maybe more. I will keep you updated on her progress.
Posted by tami at 12:36 PM Comments (7)
September 21, 2007
Halloween Decor
Whereas mom’s fall décor is delicate and elegant, mine is more brassy and bold. The reason for this is that mom’s décor is mainly fall and not specifically Halloween. Mine is pure Halloween all the way. She does have some Halloween things inside the house, but nothing like I do.
Here is Church, our Halloween cat:
He is too old now to jump up on the table, so I put him there just so I could take his picture.
A view into the kitchen:
Try to ignore those large piles of books I am working through and focus on the creepy movies and other Halloween items:
Pumpkins:
If you want to see former Halloween photos of things around my house you can click on these links:
You can also check out the Photo Gallery for more holiday pictures.
I have many more things scattered around the house, but I don’t want to take photos of every little thing. I do love coming through the front door and seeing all the vibrant colors. Our walls are already a gold color, so all the orange just adds to the fall feeling.
Posted by tami at 8:51 AM Comments (1)
September 20, 2007
Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!
Yesterday I brought mom and dad’s fall decorations down from the attic and put them up and around their house. It never dawned on me until I was almost finished that I never actually asked them if they wanted me to do this.
Even though mom has not felt well, it would have been nice had I asked before I just started bring boxes downstairs. Oh well, there’s always Thanksgiving. I will make sure to ask before bringing down the box marked “Thanksgiving”.
I have to add to that statement – not that they minded. (It’s a good thing!) They didn’t mind at all and in fact, were grateful and very complementary of the job I did. However, it’s always nice to be asked; especially when it’s someone else – family or not – handling your stuff.
A watering can on the front porch:
A fall wreath complete with lights, bow, and bird house (the lights were already there):
I know it’s hard to see these from afar, but they are pumpkin tins which will be lit when it’s closer to Halloween:
I know I’m early in my decorating. I decorated their house yesterday and my house today (I will show you some of those pics tomorrow.), but I couldn’t help myself. The cool, crisp mornings, the newly purchased Pumpkin Room Spray, and the fall décor in the stores has driven me forward and I cannot stop. Next thing you know, I’ll be buying mums to plant outside … now that’s an idea!
** I feel I must warn you. It is my opinion that the pumpkin spray I mentioned above is THE BEST SMELLING STUFF EVER. Do not confuse it with THIS pumpkin spray sold in the same store. The spray I mentioned before, (it comes in an orange aerosol can) can only be bought in the fall. The other spray is sold year round.
Posted by tami at 2:41 PM Comments (6)
September 19, 2007
Living With It For A Whole Year
If they haven’t already, very soon calendars for 2008 will start arriving at your local mall, Joseph Beth Booksellers, Barnes & Noble, and many other stores. I have a calendar hanging in my bathroom. If any event is coming up such as a birthday party, school trip, doctors appointment, or even the beginning of TV shows which have been off all summer - it is written on this calendar. I keep in my own bathroom and not the “company” bathroom because I don’t care for everyone who walks in there to know what my plans are for certain dates. I am funny that way, but if I want you to know I will tell you or you will read about it afterwards on here.
Sometimes a person’s calendar holds very personal information. While mom was in the hospital for a month, I would bring her scrapbooks from her attic and we would look through them together. In several of these scrapbooks were my Grandmother Scott’s calendars. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed reading her entries for each day. They really are like tiny blog entries. You can’t even begin to imagine the feelings that would well up inside me when I read something she had written about me when I was little; how much joy I brought to her, her going shopping for my birthday and so on. She has been gone since I was in second grade, so these calendars are tiny treasures and once mom has finished with them, I will hold them dear to my heart forever.
I am getting off track though. Calendars - I love them. I can spend an hour looking through the calendars at bookstores, but I always end up choosing the same ones.
These:
I have said I am not a country person and I am not, however these calendars are wonderful. I have bought other calendars such as Norman Rockwell or Anne Geddes. Rockwell painted fantastic paintings and Geddes has a wonderful eye for photography, but I like looking at details and there is only so much detail one can get from a photo of a single object; pretty or not, there it is and you’re not catching a glimpse of anything new for thirty days.
After thirty days, I am sick to death of it and ready to change the page … only to find another picture holding very little detail which holds no promise of anything … for another thirty days. Oh, misery!
These Lang Folk Art calendars have so much detail, the photo never gets old. You see something new each and every time you look. Of course, the holiday photos are especially beautiful and full of detail. I’m sure you could guess my favorite month. October! Here are some of the October photos:
Yes, I do keep these calendars. For one thing, as I have said, the photos are beautiful, but also that information I spoke of earlier can come in handy. For instance, one time I needed to know the date Ashley had tubes put in her ears. Well, I couldn’t remember exactly and those medical bills had been shredded long ago, so I went to my calendar and voila! There it was! So you see, it is a good idea, at least it is for me, to save them.
As you saw above, normally the calendars are titled Lang Folk Art, but last year, I found a Linda Nelson Stocks Folk Art calendar. I favor her work over the others I have seen, so I bought her calendar and have not regretted it for one month:
Oh my! Look what I just found: The Linda Nelson Stocks Folk Art 2008 Wall Calendar!! I will be buying this! It makes me happy to think about it. Calendars and books, yes, little things like that make me happy.
I am thankful to my mom for introducing me to these calendars many, many years ago.
Do you have a favorite calendar?
Posted by tami at 10:16 AM Comments (5)
September 17, 2007
What Exactly Is Normal?
It’s hard for me to believe that I am now going through the same things with Ashley as I went through with Andrew concerning braces. I had hoped with Ashley having perfect little baby teeth, she would not need braces at all, but we had no such luck. Her teeth are slightly crooked, crowded, and she has an overbite. So much for saving money there and no, we do not have dental insurance.
We were just in the office last Monday getting a band put back on. This Saturday a different band came off; one that her headgear fits into, so we are due back in the office this morning. Thank the Lord I chose an orthodontist who is in Winchester this time. I chose someone in Lexington for Andrew, so for five years we drove to Lexington on Nicholasville Road (which has very heavy traffic for those of you out-of-towners) every time something broke which was quite often. Ashley just had her braces put on over the summer so I hope these bands coming off are just a fluke and will not happen often. She is very careful putting her headgear in and she watches what she eats, so I don’t think there should be problems, but what do I know?
*****
I am back from Ashley’s appointment and I have no complaints. It didn’t take five minutes to put the band back on and get this – she won a $25 gift certificate for Wal-Mart for completing a puzzle in the waiting room.
Each month they have puzzles to complete or pictures to color and then they draw one out of a basket to see who the winner is. Ashley just happened to win this one. She was so happy she could hardly contain herself. Andrew’s orthodontist never did things of this sort.
*****
Over at mom’s house while in the mist of doing laundry, wrapping birthday presents, and bringing down fall decorations from the attic the Markey called and informed mom that she needed platelets and needed them right then.
So, off we went and she got her platelets. They rechecked her count afterwards and the number was good. She has to be there again tomorrow morning for blood. Unfortunately, this looks like the norm after receiving chemo – at least for her it is.
Posted by tami at 9:23 PM Comments (3)
September 16, 2007
Smile At Me
As promised, I will show you the fabulous earrings we bought yesterday at Claire’s.
Since I am a huge fan of the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas, I bought these:
If you bought two pairs, you got a third pair free, so we kind of HAD to pick out two other pairs.
I got the candy corn for myself and Ashley chose the ghosts for herself:
When we took Guido for his walk last night, I spotted a little green creature making its way across the road. Now, you know how I love the tobacco worms, so I picked the little creature up and declared him mine!
I think it’s a caterpillar of some sort, but I’m not sure. I do not think this is a tobacco worm because first off, it’s not near as big as the tobacco worms I have encountered and secondly, it does not have the horny areas over its entire back.
Kevin took these photos on his hand and arm:
These photos were not doctored in any way. With that said, I want you to look at the head of the caterpillar in this photo:
Do you see the eyes and sad mouth?! Totally cool. I mean, I hope he’s not sad. Maybe I should be looking for him to smile at me.
Do you think if I listen very closely he will recite?
How doth the little crocodile improve his shining tail. And pour the waters of the Nile, on every golden scale. How cheerfully he seems to grin, how neatly spreads his claws. And welcomes little fishes in, with gently smiling jaws.
Taken from: Alice in Wonderland
Posted by tami at 2:26 PM Comments (4)
September 15, 2007
Mall Madness
Last night my niece Jesse spent the night with Ashley. She had a great time playing “tea party”:
This morning, we took her to Krispy Kreme. It was her first visit so she was excited. We let her choose any doughnut she wanted:
She loved watching the doughnuts being made:
After taking a big bite of doughnut she exclaimed, “I’ve never seen a place like this! It even has a bathroom!”
It took everything I had in me not to laugh. No, I did not laugh, but I did write it down ;)
After that, we went to Incredipet and then on to the mall. Here is Jesse in front of The Disney Store:
The child had to be tired after we left because we were all over that mall. We actually went in: The Disney Store, Bath & Body Works, Sears, Hot Topic, Rack Room Shoes, and Clair’s Boutique. We bought some cute earrings in Clair’s, but I’ll show those to you tomorrow.
Oh, and I have some news for those of you who love Kirkland’s like I do. It is no longer located IN the mall, but is still considered part of the mall.
There is a strip mall located beside Dick’s called “The Plaza”. Since you have to drive there and it is separate from the mall, it should not be considered part of the mall. I mean, this “Plaza” is located on the mall map! I think that’s cheating!
Anyway, if you do decide to visit The Plaza, it contains Kirkland’s Home, Ron’s Halloween, Gordman’s, Smashing Tomatoes, Lifeway Christian Bookstore, Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream, Old Navy, Rue 21 and I can’t remember any more, but I know there IS more. I am sad that Kirkland’s isn’t actually in the mall. Oh well, these things happen to me all the time. I am STILL disappointed that Suncoast Video went out and that was a while back.
Posted by tami at 10:23 PM Comments (0)
September 14, 2007
Well Everybody's Heard About The Bird
I feel as though someone is watching me.
Is someone in that window? Did you hear that?
Oh, maybe I was wrong. Maybe I’m just paranoid.
Do you hear a clicking noise? I definitely heard a clicking noise.
Maybe now that I’m over here, I won’t feel so watched.
While I’m here, I’ll just snag some lunch.
Okay, I’m outta here. There’s just too much clicking for my taste. That woman needs to get a life!
Posted by tami at 5:03 PM Comments (4)
September 13, 2007
If I Knew You Were Coming, I'd Have Baked A Cake
I walked in mom’s house to find her making a cake:
I was delighted to say the least that she was doing what I consider a happy thing. When it was finished, she let me frost and decorate it. I put all different colored sprinkles on it and labeled it “A Rainbow Cake”.
I hope she eats a big piece tonight and I hope it tastes good to her. Since the chemo, her taste buds have changed tremendously and nothing has quite the same flavor it did before.
*****
I love watching squirrels run around mom’s backyard. I don’t have many trees around my house, so I don’t get to watch them enough.
After taking that photo, mom gave me some sunflower seeds and I filled the feeders. Of course as soon as I walked outside, he ran away. I was hoping to get some good photos of him feeding, but he never returned. Now that I am at home, he’s probably out there with his jaws full!
Mom beat me in a game of Skip-Bo, but then I beat her (only by two moves) at Chinese Checkers:
We had to use one black marble and one white marble because we didn't have enough!
We sat on the deck for a little while and walked around the yard so mom could see her flowers. She wore a mask because her counts are low right now, but I know she enjoyed getting out.
Posted by tami at 5:03 PM Comments (6)
September 12, 2007
At Mom's House
These morning glories greeted me as I walked around to mom’s front door today:
Mom started playing Phase 10 with Christina (Andrew’s girlfriend), Andrew and myself, but then had to take a lie down for a while, so we finished the game alone.
After Christina left for school, Andrew and I played SKIP-BO. I think we were on our second hand when mom got up from her nap.
After the game had ended, Andrew and I went out back for a bit. The butterflies and bees were plentiful.
In the photo below, Andrew had just shown me a morning glory vine which had attached itself to a wire leading to the deck.
Here are some jars that always catch my eye:
By the time Andrew and I made our way back inside, mom was on the phone. Her phone is constantly ringing because people are curious how she is doing. I understand, but it would drive me bonkers at the same time.
At my house, I am willing to do what she refuses to do and that is: take the phone off the hook for a while. I figure if disaster strikes, people know where I live.
Posted by tami at 8:19 PM Comments (2)
September 9, 2007
My World, Your World
In the past and in the present there has and will always be the question: Do you want progress?
Some would say this question has a simple answer – yes. But I wonder have these people really thought about what progress is costing us – costing them?
Years ago when a new development was built very close to Winchester, I was the first one to say, thank the Lord! We needed closer places to shop, great restaurants to eat in, a movie theatre with a rockin’ sound system and stadium seating. Yes, I thought we needed it and I am thankful for it today.
However, when this development was being built did I once think of the animals it would displace? No.
Where did the deer go? What about the skunks, gophers, groundhogs, turtles, rabbits; what about these animals; where did they go?
I believe the urban sprawl is out of control. It is happening at a rapid rate here in Winchester, but it seems especially fast in Lexington. I can leave town for a week and when I go back, there are new houses and buildings being erected.
What happens to my little friends? Like you, they are mammas and daddies with babies to feed and nurture.
Is your mind at ease knowing that these little friends are out there everywhere and no one is trying to relocate them before the bulldozers move in?
All of these new housing subdivisions bother me. Why do you think the deer are running through neighborhoods? They have no place to go and they don't know any better! It's our own faults and it's shameful.
The older I get, the more I appreciate those little friends. You would be surprised at the joy the little beings bring to me. Just to catch a glimpse of them on a hillside fills my heart with gladness. I have even called out to them, “You can come and live in my backyard. I won’t hurt you. I promise.”
I really don’t care if that sounds crazy either.
As Barbara Walters says, “Let’s take a little time to enjoy the view."
What A Wonderful World By: Louis ArmstrongI see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.
We better stop and think now about what we’re doing or there won’t be any beautiful scenery left.
Posted by tami at 6:21 PM Comments (7)
September 8, 2007
Some Pretty Things
Before visiting mom in the hospital, we visited with Kevin’s mom. She fell down some steps and broke her wrist. She was supposed to have surgery yesterday to set it, however when the medication was administered, it caused her to have three seizures.
She is now scheduled to have the surgery this coming Wednesday. I feel so sorry for her. I can’t imagine the pain she must be experiencing.
Here are a few photos from their yard:
I have had two of these plants – I can’t remember the name - but both died. I have no idea why.
This pretty purple flower is on a vine:
Their yard is full of color and looks professionally cared for, but they do all the work themselves. I can barely remember to water mine.
Posted by tami at 11:51 PM Comments (7)
September 7, 2007
Emerald City
Here in Winchester the morning light is beginning to wan. It is ever so subtle, but true none the less. I try to enjoy the greenness of everything around me while I can. All too soon the emerald color will begin to fade just like the morning light.
That said, I love fall; it is my favorite time of year. I love the rich colors of the gourds, Indian corn, the leaves and the displays of scarecrows, hay, vibrant mums, and beautiful orange pumpkins; it is all gorgeous to me. In my opinion, no other time of year is as striking.
The air is cool and crisp and it’s nice to go outside and take a deep breaths. Sometimes my nose catches the smell of a burning fireplace and I can imagine people sitting around the fire enjoying its warmth. These moments take my mind away to the Laura Ingalls Wilder days; chopping wood and popping corn by the fire. It is all so cozy and relaxing to me.
Before long it will be time for this:
That is my sister Jennifer many years ago all dressed as a clown for trick-or-treating. It’s one of my favorite photos of her.
I can hardly wait to get my fall/Halloween books out and see people dressed in jackets and sweatshirts adorned with shiny leaves and pumpkins.
I am enjoying these last days of summer, but I am also looking to what lies ahead.
*****
Mom is doing fine so far and is in good spirits. She had a chest x-ray yesterday and I believe several bags of platelets. I will post more if I find out anything.
Posted by tami at 9:35 AM Comments (3)
September 6, 2007
Mantle
Mom’s mantle:
Please direct your thoughts and prayers her way as she enters the hospital this morning for another round of chemotherapy.
Posted by tami at 7:59 AM Comments (9)
September 4, 2007
It's Gore To Me
Friday night Andrew went with my sister and some other people to see the new Halloween movie. It came as quite a surprise to me to find out that you had to be 21 years old or accompanied by an adult of that age or older to buy tickets or get in. My sister said there were even police officers there to make sure the employees were checking the ID’s of the people buying the tickets.
I asked her what was so bad you had to be 21 years old to see. She said nothing really. She said it wasn’t gory, but they did show throats being slashed, stabbings and so on. I personally consider that gore, but I still don’t understand the age restriction.
You can vote at 18, go to war at 18, leave home at 18, get married at 18; the list goes on. Why can’t you see a movie with fake blood at 18? If you have an answer, let me know.
Now for a movie that’s not so scary …
I have always loved the movie BeetleJuice, so I wanted to share this t-shirt with you:
It fit me a long time ago. It’s almost 20 years old. Hard to believe, huh. Time flies!
Posted by tami at 10:26 PM Comments (3)
September 3, 2007
Extended Weekend
Last night, Andrew had his friend Mike over to spend the night:
They played video games together in his room and then we all played SKIP-BO, Apples To Apples, and Clue. We were up until two in the morning, but it was fun!
This morning Kevin mowed the yard and we put the solar cover back on the pool. It’s supposed to be in the 90’s all week, so the pool should warm up fast.
My sister Jennifer came over to visit with her two kids. We sat in the shade of the Willow tree in the front yard and it was nice with the breeze blowing. The kids are big enough now that we don’t have to worry about them running for the street, so we had a nice talk.
I’m sorry that we go back to normal living tomorrow. I have enjoyed this Labor Day weekend. We didn’t do anything, but it was nice just doing what we wanted and not worrying about entertaining. I hope you all had a great extended weekend also.
Posted by tami at 6:33 PM Comments (1)
September 2, 2007
Pioneer Festival
This afternoon we went to the Pioneer Festival. This festival showcases the creations of people around Kentucky. There are a lot of crafty things made of wood that I’m not really interested in. I mean no offense at all; I’m just not a crafty/woodsy, country blue sort of person. My sister loves that sort of thing and it looks great at her place, I just wouldn’t want it in my house.
There were many things that I did enjoy looking at though. People had made beautiful hair bows, decorative jackets and sweatshirts, ceramic figurines, hand painted Halloween and Christmas ornaments, personalized signs for your yard or house, candies, candles, hand painted gourds, colorful purses with lots of ribbons and bows and so much more.
There were some incredibly pretty glass decorations:
And I loved these beautiful glass balls:
There was plenty of food to choose from:
I think the best part of the entire festival is the yard sales along the way. If you walk all along College Street, which runs beside the park where the festival is held, there are yard sales at almost every house. People are always friendly and we see people we know at every turn. Dad went with us and we had a good time. I hope to see you there next year!
Posted by tami at 9:30 PM Comments (6)