Friday, October 30, 2009
The Day Before Halloween
Are you going to dress up?
If you are going to dress up, as what will you be dressed?
Are you going to or having a party?
Where will you trick-or-treat?
Is it raining where you plan to celebrate All Hallow's Eve?
Is it snowing?
Do you go through your children's candy and take what you want on the pretext of 'checking it for safety reasons'?
Do you ever sit outside with a can of silly string to scare the kids?
When you spray them, do they cry while you cackle like a witch?
If you are giving out the candy, do you give a handful to each child, or do you pick up a hand full, then drop only one piece into the bucket?
Have you ever soaped someone's windows?
Have you ever egged anyone's house?
Have you ever toilet papered anyones house?
Have you ever done any other mischef, and if so what was it? (describe in detail for future reference)
Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?
(I know, you are wondering what the heck that has to do with Halloween, but it's just me being extra nosey.)
I hope you've had a great Friday. And I hope you have a safe Halloween. Pray for our country. Love one another. PS. Will got an A on his leaf collection.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Mass Innoculation
We heard this morning there was 8,000 doses. So, I get myself up and am in line by 6:45. Actually, I was in 'A' line since there were probably 8 or 9 different lines feeding into the spot where the shots were being given.
We had discussed yesterday about some of us going in the same vehicle and that way we wouldn't all be in line in different places. So, my phone rang a little after 7, at which time, my line had not moved. One of the gals in my office managed to get into a parking lot and walked over and got in the car with me since I was much closer than she had been. Then my youngest daughter called. She ended up doing the same thing. Then my boss called and also got into the car with me. I said we looked like the clowns getting out of the little car at the circus in reverse. Instead of getting out, they were getting in. Oh wait, did I just call my co-workers clowns?
And did I say it was raining? If not, let me mention that here. When we finally got close, they gave us wet forms to fill out. Then we got our shots. Just rolled down the window and rolled up the sleeve, and whamo, we got stuck, thanked and asked to move along.
Now let me say, it's much more fun to go as a group, we laughed the whole time, and before we knew it, we were finished, out and back at work. Fortunately, for 3 of us, we work within a couple of blocks from where the shots were being given. We were at work by 8:20, and my daughter was shortly after.
This whole thing reminded me of getting vaccinated as a child in elementary school. I was probably in 2nd or 3rd grade, and they lined us up and gave us all those shots that everyone has to take to be able to attend school now. I think that experience scarred me for life. I surely won't ever forget it. Today was much better. But then I'm 50 something years older than back then.
What has traumatized you lately or in the past? Nothing too graphic here, please.
Hope you are having a great Thursday. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
My Bathroom MakeOver
My house is small, built in the late 60's, 3 bedroom, 1 bath house of about a thousand square feet. Plenty of room for me. But occasionally I get tired of the way it looks and decide to make a few changes.
About 3 years ago, my son pretty much gutted the bathroom, and put in a new tub and shower surround, new commode, vanity, floor and floor covering. At that time, I repainted it the same as it had been before because three years ago, I still loved the seafoam green.
The other thing we did ten years ago was that we painted the tile. This bathroom had a lot of tile and it was an off white with specks in it. Looked like egg shells from some strange variety of chicken. We took primer, and painted right over it, twice. Not one speck ever chipped or flaked. Even where it was around the tub and got wet continually, it never peeled .
It takes me a long time to pick what I want to do when I make a change. I started deciding I wanted to change about 6 or 7 months ago. I sorta decided what color I wanted, then went looking for fabric to make a new shower curtain. Once I got the material for that, I picked out some towels and rugs. Next was the paint. I took a piece of the material and matched one of the colors in it. Then I thought about it for a while. I wasn't totally sure how I wanted to make the shower curtain. Whether to gather it on a rod and keep it tied back all the time, or to make it so I could close it when
But the really funny thing is that depending on the time of day, and the amount of light shining in the room, determines the color of the walls. In the first picture taken of the vanity area, they look really gold.
By the way, I have to stop and give credit to my friend Mary. She spent a day and a half painting my bathroom. She painted the walls and the ceiling. And she always does a great job. She loves to paint, and I love her for it.
If you need something painted, I can give you her number. Just kidding, Mary.
In these other pictures, as you will see, the room looks very taupe. I cut off the top of the shower curtain accidentally, so you can't see how it pleats, but I put buttonholes across the top and then put it on hooks. The only problem I've encountered is that I have to adjust the pleats each time I close it so the curtain is distributed evenly. Other than that, I'm really pleased with the way it looks. I've toyed with the idea of making a straight strip to go behind the cutrain with buttonholes spaced the distance the hooks need to be to make it hang right, but I haven't gotten around to doing that yet. And if you know me well, probably won't.
I hope the sun is shining in your corner of the world. As usual, it's raining here.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Will and the Leaf Collection
We finished Will's leaf collection yesterday. We ended up with 26 assorted leaves. The requirement was 20, so we're hoping for some extra credit on the 6.
In fact, I'll be very disappointed if he makes anything less than an 'A'.
We were able to get all these leaves by asking people what they had in their yard. They were most helpful, and quite willing to bring us one of each, with the name in a baggie.
Then, we did the drying and pressing thing. At one point, I had leaves being pressed in several rooms of the house. My biggest fear was they would mold or worse, become so brittle they would crumble into a thousand pieces.
Fortunately, they dried quite nicely, and then we sprayed them with a clear matte finish spray. I think they held up very well. The only ones that disintergrated was the Mimosa leaves, and the fuzzy mulberry leaf. Everything turned out good. The Catalpa wanted to curl and it looked kinda funny. It's the one just above his right hand.
We had fun working on this project. I don't know if Will actually learned anything, but he can remember memaw and mom helping with the project.
I hope you are having a great Monday. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Friday and Superhero
He and one of his cousins(Princess#2) got progress reports from school last night. They are both in Kindergarten. They have different teachers, but it's amazing how close they are in progress. Some things he's a bit ahead of her, and others, she's ahead.
Their teachers had lots of good things to say about them. They are both already reading on 1st grade level, but won't be tested to see where they actually are until near the end of school. But they are both in the top of their respective classes. Superhero is in the top 4 with 3 little girls. I just know he hates that.
Princess #1 will get her report Monday. She's a big 1st grader this year. I'll be checking on that Monday afternoon. My 7th grade grandson got his report yesterday also. He keeps saying how hard 7th grade is, and I, as old as I am, remember how hard it was. He ended up with a mixture of A's, B'c and C's. So, all in all I think he did great.
Needless to say, I am very proud of my grandchildren. They are all bright, happy, well adjusted kiddos--as well adjusted as they can be and related to me.
I hope you are having a great Friday and looking forward to a wonderful weekend. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
And Once Again It's Raining
I've been carrying my lunch the last two weeks so I don't have to go out, and today was one of those days I was truly thankful I had brought it.
My dad had a saying of sorts, in fact, he had several, but the one that comes to mind right now is that in the winter time, if he didn't feel good, he'd say that when the sap rises in the spring, he would feel better. I'm beginning to think he suffered from the same depression I do. The only difference is that when I'm depressed, I really don't care if the sap ever rises again or not.
Let me count my blessings and get off that other subject. I have three grown children who are self-supporting. I have 6 grandchildren ranging in ages from 2 to 22. Only one of whom is old enough to be self-supporting and as much as I'd like for him to go to college, he's out there working.
My son the contractor is in North Dakota pheasant and duck hunting. This means I get to help with his little ones. It's a hard job, but someone has to do it. Actually, I love being needed. I'm picking up the Banty Hen today while mom goes to Superhero's teacher conference. He went home with his other memaw today and is spending the night. I get him Friday night.
I love picking up grandchildren from daycare/school. They are always so happy to see me, and it makes me feel needed and loved. I know one of these days, they will all be too old to yell 'MEMAW' when they see me and run and give me a hug. But that's the way it's supposed to be. I just hope that when I move to the nursing home they'll come by and see me once in a while, and I hope I'll still recognize them.
That's enough moaning and groaning for today, and it's almost time to go home.
Hope you are having a great Thursday. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Illness Abounds
My DIL and grandson(Superhero) are both sick, but fortunately neither of them were positive for Swine Flu. He has an ear infection, and she has a bad cold. And the Contractor is in North Dakota Pheasant hunting(lot of help he is when you need him). I'm on call to help with anything she needs me to do, and I am picking up The Banty Hen tomorrow afternoon while she goes to teacher conference.
The other two princesses are getting ready for the Miley Cyrus concert Friday night. I'm not sure if they are as excited as their mother, but she has been getting their 'stylin outfits' ready for over a week now. They are going to look like 25 year old midgets with the garb they will be wearing, but I guess as long as it's one night, it won't warp them too badly.
I've really enjoyed the sunshine the last few days, but I fear as all good things must come to an end, this will too. It's a bit overcast today, and there is a rain system to our south, west and north. When I looked just now at the weather map, it appears that the actual rain may go around us. Wouldn't that be the greatest thing? Well, one of them at least.
I hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Hello, Anybody Out There?
Then on top of the regular stuff, we've had all this rain. I think the farmers are finally beginning to get into the fields. Their crops have sustained a lot of damage.
As for me, my children are healthy, my grandchildren are healthy, but I think I've turned into an old curmudgeon. Can a female be that? Or is that strictly a name reserved for old men? I googled it. It is defined as "a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas ". I don't know if that describes me or not, but I kinda like the idea of being a curmudgeon. I think I would like being crusty, irascible, cantankerous and full of stubborn ideas. But I don't like being old. So can I leave that part out?
Today the sun is shining. It is 72degrees outside and I have a big pot of beef soup waiting for me at home. Then I'm going to work on my grandson's leaf collection. I sure hope I get an A for all my effort. When I get it done, I'll post a pic or two.
I hope you are having a great day. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Being Nosey on a Wednesday
And if you crumble them in it, do you think this is good etiquette? In other words, if you were sitting beside Queen Elizabeth and soup were served, would you hold up your pinkie and slurp from your spoon, or would you crumble up your crackers and enjoy.
Things like this have always puzzled me. I need input.
And, sorry I've been away so long, just haven't had anything to say, but I've been reading blogs as time has permitted.
The weather here is absolutely perfect. Wish we were outside enjoying it.
Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Do You Get Your Feelings Hurt Easily?
No one has hurt my feelings lately--not in a long time. In fact, I often say, you can't hurt my feelings. I don't think that is entirely true, but they don't get hurt easily.
I guess that means I not overly sensitive, so I don't take offense or look for reasons to be offended. I think that's a good thing. However, that becomes a two edged sword. If I'm not easily offended or hurt, then I'm not always sensitive to what I might do that would offend or hurt someone else.
Case in point. Many years ago, a friend of mine had remodeled a house and moved in. When I saw the house for the first time, I went on and on about what a beautiful job she had done with everything. I talked about what good ideas she had for doing the things she had done, and was quite vocal about how pretty everything was. I found out several years later that I had offended her. Her comment to another person was that I obviously thought she had no taste and therefore was quite surprised that everything looked so good.
That wasn't what I meant at all, but that was what she perceived. It's very important that we be careful about the things we say and do, especially what we say. I wouldn't hurt anyone's feelings on purpose, but as usual my mouth does it for me.
"He who will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile." 1 Peter 3:10
It's that guile part that gets me every time.
Have you ever hurt another's feelings without any intention of doing so? I'm thinking a lot of times, we don't know when we've hurt others, so we have to be really careful about what we say and how we say it.
I hope you've had a great Wedensday. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Blue Monday
This happens occasionally with me. Sometimes it worse than others. I will interact with others as long as they are the ones to instigate it. But, I'm perfectly happy to be alone. I don't even have anything much to say and it is definitely difficult to do this post. In fact, if it weren't that at some point in the next few days, my oldest daughter would comment about my not posting, I probably wouldn't be doing this one.
I will get better, or something will happen in my life worth posting about. Maybe that's it, there's just nothing going on in my life worth even talking about. Hmmm. So there's nothing wrong with me at all. I'm just a dull, boring person. It's so wonderful to be able to figure out the answers to life's little questions. I suddenly feel so enlightened!
Hope you are having a great Monday. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
I'm a Proud Memaw
They may not have realized it, but she is one smart little cookie.
http://ivanangelaandjoey.blogspot.com/
Hope you are having a great Wednesday. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Kiddos Back In School
I thought traffic would be terrible coming to work this morning, but I guess that will come Wednesday. Monday and Tuesday are just getting the new syllabus and learning what books to buy and I think you can do that online these days.
Some of the things I remember about starting school each year:
New clothes that scratch and itch.
Seeing old friends that you haven't seen all summer.
Finding out that some old friends moved and won't be back(and you don't know where they went).
Meeting the new kids.
Realizing that if you didn't have friends last year, you probably won't have any this year.
One summer when we were getting ready to start 8th grade, I got stung by a wasp on my face just to the left of my eye. You couldn't tell who I was, much less what I was, but I started school on that Monday anyway. I was embarrassed and humiliated. I was laughed at and made fun of. I would have loved to have had a bag to put over my head.
I don't have a lot of good memories about school. Thank goodness I don't have to ever do it over.
What do you remember most about your days in school? I hope your memories are better than mine.
Hope you are having a great Monday. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Friday, August 21, 2009
How Many Times Will It Snow This Winter?
I worked with an older lady a few years ago that said the number of snows each winter can be determined by the number of fogs in August. That seems a bit strange and whether it's totally accurate, I don't know. However, we've had several fogs this August(we're at 5 here in NE Arkansas) so we are thinking it may be a rough winter.
And remember, August isn't quite over yet. We have ten more days, so we may have a few more fogs. Anyway, next spring, we'll see where we stand on the number of fogs in August vs. the number of snows during the winter. Be sure to tune in to find out if this scientific approach works.
I hope you are having a great Friday. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Monday, August 17, 2009
What To Do About Prayer
One of the segments had to do with a couple of educators(Mr Lay and Mr Freeman) somewhere in Florida who are being prosecuted by the ACLU for offering a blessing for a meal at a public gathering. These two men, one a principal and one a coach have a combined 70 years in education. If they are convicted, they will lose their jobs, pay a 5,000 dollar fine, serve some 'jail time' and lose their retirement.
This is a travesty! As Christians(and we are a Christian Nation, I don't care what President Obama says), we should not allow this type of persecution to happen. Where have we allowed people like Madelyn Murray O'Hare(may she never rest in peace) to take us? We are a country founded on Christian principles.
I understand that we aren't the only religion in this country. And even if I don't believe the way others do, I don't have a problem if they want to express themselves in prayer at a public place.
What ever happened to tolerance? It seems we Christians are the only ones showing any.
I have decided to send a dollar to these men via the Mike Huckabee show to express our support for them. I know that a dollar won't do much to help their legal defense, or to allow them to retire. That is if I'm the only one who sends one. But if everyone who reads this blog will send a dollar, and pass this post on to others who will do the same, maybe as a large group, we can make a difference. They go to trial in September. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have hundred's of thousands of envelopes to show how many Christians there are in this country who are willing to take a stand and show support?
I am sending my dollar to Gov Mike Huckabee % ABC Radio Networks/Citadel Broadcasting, 444 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022. Be sure to put a note in the envelope saying you support Mr Lay and Mr Freeman and make sure your return address is on the outside. We don't want anyone saying this was a mass mailing from one place. I proudly put Shirley Smith, 712 Catfish Drive, Lake City, AR 72437 on my envelope.
You have my permission to put a link back to this blog on your blog or in an email to anyone and everyone who might participate in this effort. I want to show the ACLU and Pres Obama that we are indeed a Christian Nation and that it is wrong to take prayer away from us, our children and future generations.
I hope you are having a great Monday. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Friday, August 07, 2009
Friday And It's Lake Time
We played together in school, raised our families together, and now play together again. We go eat, we go to the movies, did I say go eat, travel some together, and oh, yeah, eat together. We try to celebrate each others birthdays(always an excuse to eat), and we laugh til we hurt, cry and sometimes do that other thing that I won't mention since that would be unladylike.
Oh, and we laugh at each other too. We constantly laugh at each other's shortcomings - not in a bad way- but if it's funny, let's face it, we're going to laugh.
This weekend we'll be spending a couple of days at M's lake home. Sound's special, huh. It's a big mobile home with a great deck and a porch across the front. We have to drive to the water, but there's a pontoon to ride around on, and it will be fun.
Mostly, we'll laugh, talk, play cards, swim and seems like I'm forgetting something--oh yes, we'll eat.
I have a joke. If Obama, Hillary and Biden were riding a donkey and it jumped off a cliff, who would be saved? Go to the bottom of the post to find the answer.
I hope you have a good weekend planned. If so, I'd love to hear about it. I plan on taking some pictures, so I know you are looking forward to that.
Hope you are having a great Friday. Pray for our country, and Love one another.
America would be saved.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Oh, My Has it Been Over A Week?

We've had quite an upsetting event recently. As you know, my DIL got a long note from the Montesorri school where The Banty Hen attends. She's only been there 5 weeks, but they just aren't happy with her behavior, or maybe I should say lack thereof.
She plays nicely with the other children, but isn't terribly interested in sitting during lession time(she's two, for goodness sake)and she eats her lesson material, and she likes to climb on the sink(who's watching these little ones?) So The Banty Hen's mom was basically asked to find child care accommodations elsewhere. At first I thought it was was funny, but then when she got the second note, I got downright angry. My DIL pays hard earned money for this beautiful, innocent child to be cared for, and this 'school' who is supposed to be the very best can't handle a two year old. I can't see any evil in her eyes, can you?
The other thing that ticked me off was that on one occassion at home, DIL told Banty to sit on her bottom. She grabbed her own cheeks and said in a cranky voice,'Aubee, sit down!'. We don't pinch cheeks to get her to do things and no one else in the family or church do that, so where do you think that came from. It is my opinion, and just my opinion, mind you, but I think that's what someone has been doing to her at school in order to make her do what they want.
So being the protective grandmother that I am known to be, I asked DIL if she wanted me to go beat up the whole bunch. She laughed and passed it off since she knows I'm a big chicken and probably wouldn't run a risk of either being beaten up myself or being put in jail. And I'm sure she wouldn't want to have to come bail me out.
She starts a new daycare on Monday, so today is the last day they have to deal with her. Maybe someday when she's president of the U.S, the Montesorri school will wish they could say she got her start at their school---ain't gonna happen.
I hope you've had a good week. We've had record rainfall and cool temperatures. More rain scheduled for tomorrow and Sunday. Thanks for letting me blow off some steam. I'm off my soapbox now.
Til next time, Pray for our country. Love one another.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Southern Fried
I took her home, and her dad and brother were eating watermelon which she then dived into almost head first. Her dad gave her a piece for each hand, and as either of us would dig out a chunk for ourselves, she would cram one of her pieces into her mouth and reach for the one we had just retrieved. She is quite a funny little chick-a-dee.
I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Ask And You Will Get Your Questions Answered
He responded, and I have added his new blog to my list in Bloglines.com. Finding new friends in the blog world is pretty easy, but it's also easy to lose some as well, simply by not being able to find them for one reason or another. And since my motto is, 'You can't have too many friends', I certainly don't want to lose any.
Who knows, I might be out in the middle of nowhere and need one of my blog friends to come to my rescue. And as I would do for them, I'm (almost)sure they would do the same for me. As scattered around this world as we are, we are a pretty tight knit bunch.
The weather is beautiful here in NE Arkansas. We are in the middle of a cool spell and the temps won't get out of the high 80's with very low humidity. I hope it's great where you are(even those of you tramping around Alaska while the rest of us have to come to work). My brother and sister-in-law will be in town tomorrow and Wednesday looking for a house. This will be the first time in our grown life, we've lived anywhere near each other. I'm excited!!!!! I have two cousins that I barely know coming to town this weekend for a visit. I'm excited about that as well!!!! It is shaping up to be a good week.
I hope you had a great weekend and are having a wonderful Monday. Pray for our country. Love one another.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Looking for Will Spoon
I used to think I'd run across you again, but have finally given up.