Encouragement goes a long way. A recent acquaintance who turned out to be a distant relative has suddenly become my inspiration. She writes and I write...well, I WANT to write. I got out the corduroy bag that I've kept all the things I've written and some are great, some are funny and some are reeeally bad! I found things I wrote in grade school! What a hoot! (quaint old phrase from my mother's generation) What really picqued my interest, though, was to think back to where I was in my mind, my maturity and environmentally. So many things came back to me and I could even smell the memories! Fodder for many stories to tell!
Well, this new friend of mine, Betty, thought I should blog about the fact that I think in song... Sounds strange, doesn't it. I haven't met anyone else who has admitted to doing this. I hear songs in my head (NOT VOICES) and hum them during the day. I hear them during conversations, but, of course, I don't burst into song! well, not very often, anyway. Here are some examples: In conversation, if someone says 'chances are' I hear Johnny Mathis singing the song "Chances Are" in my head. If someone talks about getting on the road, I hear Willie Nelson singing "On the Road Again". If some one talks about flying somewhere, I hear "leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again by Jefferson Airplaine. It goes on and on. When school is getting out for the summer, I hear "see you in September, see you, when the summer's through" by The Happenings. When saying good bye to someone I love, I hear "Close your eyes and I'll kiss you, tomorrow I'll miss you..." by the Beatles. Say the word Nickel and I hear "put another nickel in, in the Nickelodeon" which is a song my mother-in-law used to sing. Talk about a fountain and I hear "three coins in the fountain, each one seeking happiness..." When I see the moon, I hear "Moon River, wider than a mile..." Mind you, I don't hear the whole song, just a phrase or two. Oh, and hymns, I hear them, too.
You may think that this is confusing and keeps me from concentrating on the things I do everyday, but nope! It's just part of the thinking process as I go from one thought to the other. I hear just plain thoughts like everyone else, but I also receive unbidden songs that hide in my subconscience as well. I do love music and I love to sing and have recently, in my 57th year begun to take piano lessons for the first time. It's pretty awesome to realize all the great songs I've ever heard are made up of the simple little notes that I can now read and play on my piano! I have always wanted to play the piano since I was a little girl. Have you ever realized a lifelong dream come true? It's awesome and you're never too old to reach for that dream. By the way, thanks for listening to my rambling on. Oh, here we go..."Rambling Rose, Rambling Rose..."
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, December 27, 2010
Birds at the Cemetary
My mother died last week. She was 91 years old, healthy, happy and completely sane; until she wasn't. She was born on the farm in Kansas in the Spring of 1919. During her childhood, she saw the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. She had to board in town to go to high school. She took a train to Georgia in 1942 to marry my dad while he was in the Navy during WW II. They had five children between 1943 and 1958. My dad drove 100 miles a day to work at the Ford Plant and Mom raised us while he was on the road or on the assembly line. She watched her sons serve in the Army and one went to the Vietnam War. She lived a long life watching her children grow up, get married, have babies, get divorced and one died... She lost my dad in 1989. She lived in the old house for a few years and then moved into Assisted Living in town. Then she moved to Illinois to live near me in another Assisted Living Facility and she never looked back.
She had good times out here watching her grandchildren grow up, get married, have babies and, back in Kansas, one died... She began to fall down. She moved to a Nursing Home and loved it there. She participated in every activity they had and ran her wheelchair up and down the hall, always in a hurry. Every night as she left the Dining Room, she called out as she waved, "Good night, see you tomorra". By this time she was back down to her original weight of 100 lbs. She'd had health issues most of her adult life, but she was in good health now and enjoying her life; until she wasn't. She made a trip to the ER by ambulance because she was found unconcious. She couldn't understand why the techs in the ambulance didn't bring the book she was reading! After a week of tests and blood draws and IVs she went back to her home. In 9 days she was back in ER, this time due to a heart attack. They started the same round of tests as before and it seemed like torture. The doctors told me she would continue this sequence of home and hospital from now on. Mom and I talked it over, and she decided God loved her and she was ready to pass. We called all her children one by one so she could talk to them. She talked to her sisters. She talked to the ministers. Then she went back to her room at the nursing home on a hospice stay. She loved her orange sherbet and was alert; until she wasn't. She could no longer be aroused on Saturday and on Thursday she slipped quietly away with no pain and no sorrow. From the first trip to the hospital until she died it was only 26 days.
She was transferred back to Kansas to be placed beside my dad. The attendance at the funeral was small. Most of her friends had passed away before her. She had a blue casket with pictures of blue skies and clouds on the outside and embroidered on the inside were flying birds and the words 'going home'. As the procession pulled into the cemetary we witnessed an amazing thing. In the blue sky, as far as we could see to the North and as far as we could see to the South, there were thousands of geese flying directly over the cemetary. We stood watching and listening to them call. It seemed so right, so appropriate to witness the birds flying to their winter home, just as Mother's soul had flown to her home, her mansion on the hilltop, her place in Heaven to be with God. I will NEVER forget the birds and the peace they brought to me. Goodbye, Mama.
She had good times out here watching her grandchildren grow up, get married, have babies and, back in Kansas, one died... She began to fall down. She moved to a Nursing Home and loved it there. She participated in every activity they had and ran her wheelchair up and down the hall, always in a hurry. Every night as she left the Dining Room, she called out as she waved, "Good night, see you tomorra". By this time she was back down to her original weight of 100 lbs. She'd had health issues most of her adult life, but she was in good health now and enjoying her life; until she wasn't. She made a trip to the ER by ambulance because she was found unconcious. She couldn't understand why the techs in the ambulance didn't bring the book she was reading! After a week of tests and blood draws and IVs she went back to her home. In 9 days she was back in ER, this time due to a heart attack. They started the same round of tests as before and it seemed like torture. The doctors told me she would continue this sequence of home and hospital from now on. Mom and I talked it over, and she decided God loved her and she was ready to pass. We called all her children one by one so she could talk to them. She talked to her sisters. She talked to the ministers. Then she went back to her room at the nursing home on a hospice stay. She loved her orange sherbet and was alert; until she wasn't. She could no longer be aroused on Saturday and on Thursday she slipped quietly away with no pain and no sorrow. From the first trip to the hospital until she died it was only 26 days.
She was transferred back to Kansas to be placed beside my dad. The attendance at the funeral was small. Most of her friends had passed away before her. She had a blue casket with pictures of blue skies and clouds on the outside and embroidered on the inside were flying birds and the words 'going home'. As the procession pulled into the cemetary we witnessed an amazing thing. In the blue sky, as far as we could see to the North and as far as we could see to the South, there were thousands of geese flying directly over the cemetary. We stood watching and listening to them call. It seemed so right, so appropriate to witness the birds flying to their winter home, just as Mother's soul had flown to her home, her mansion on the hilltop, her place in Heaven to be with God. I will NEVER forget the birds and the peace they brought to me. Goodbye, Mama.
Monday, November 8, 2010
My Etsy Shop
Got all my pix back up on etsy with lots of new jewelry made out of my lampwork glass beads. They always turn out so different and individual! No two alike. I've added some ceiling fan pull chains and lots of necklaces with leather cord. Go check it out! somethingupmysleeve.etsy.com
New Baby Logan
Kinda forgot I even had this blog! The latest news in my family is Logan Michael, my 8th grand child. He was born on Oct. 7th, and wasn't due until November 22nd. After 4 weeks in the hospital, he came home last Thursday. His mommy is doing okay, recovering from a c-section. Missing sleep is her problem now. Before, it was pumping and having everyone taking milk to the hospital for feedings every three hours. He got over his rough spots and is beautiful and healthy. Praise God
Friday, December 19, 2008
Food and Restaurants
I like food. Some of my best times are when I have a favorite food in front of me. One of my early memories was when I was about 10. We lived in the country and seldom got to go swimming in town at the 'Pool'. I remember sitting in the grass waiting for my Mom to pick me up after a great afternoon of playing in the water. The sun was shining down and the sky was blue with fluffy clouds and I had a little package of stick pretzels. They were the best thing I'd ever eaten. Just seeing a pretzel reminds me of that day.
Then there's Lucky Charms cereal and milk. Really good in place of supper. Easy and no cooking. If I also have the new Peach Sunny D, I am SET! I can only find it at Sam's or Walmart and not even on a regular basis. Come on, stores! Get with it! Ahh and Special K with berries and milk. This makes me feel like I'm dieting which is a good thing. I eat it for breakfast.
Oh, yes, roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy. This I can make really well. I use a Chuck Roast and cook it in the oven in a covered roaster. I sear it on both sides before putting it in the oven. Add onions and a little water and Worchester Sauce. I cook it at 300 degrees for about 2 1/2 or 3 hours so it's really tender. The mashed potatoes are the white ones. After boiling them, I mash them with butter and milk and add a dash or two of onion powder. Speaking of butter, the very best butter in this world is made by Land of Lakes. It's made with canola oil and comes in the white container with the red top. That's all we buy at my house now! The drippings from the roast makes great gravy. I use only corn starch to make brown gravy. (Flour and milk for white gravy)
Mmmm, the bisquits at Red Lobster. I am allergic to shell fish, so I can't order much from this restaurant, but getting those bisquits makes up for anything!
Fresh Peaches. I love to buy peaches from the farm stands. They taste best when they're room temperature. Slice them up and sprinkle a little Splenda (there's that diet thing, again) on 'em and they're great!
M & Ms. Plain ones are the best. I can eat the ones with almonds, but NEVER the peanut ones. I can tell you, there are more in the plain packages than in the nutty ones. I like to pour 'em out, separate them into colors and begin eating one at a time starting with the color that I have the most of. (Is this giving you too much information?)
The red gum out of the Chicle's gum machine. Did you ever notice that when you get your 6 or 8 pieces of gum, there is only one red one, if you get red at all? That is so frustrating!! Why don't they stock it with more red! Orange is okay, but red is the best! I try everytime we go to Steak 'n Shake. Speaking of gum machines, I have always loved those darn toy machines next to the gum machines. You can get the most interesting things out of them. My most recent 'best' find was the little Care Bears in the machine at Carlos O Kelly's. I had all the different colors and were giving them to my grandkids. Now, they have some other thing in the machines like tatoos...
A new favorite thing is a large iced Chai Tea that is low fat, sugar free and blended with whipped cream on the top. It just so happens there's a drive-through Java shop right on the corner where I work. They're huge muffins are a nice side order.
And then there's Christmas... It's hard to say what is my favorite holiday food. I love fudge with walnuts, roast turkey, baked ham, anything cranberry, frosted cookies and pecan pie. This is also the time the cheese balls come into play. Once they get room temperature, they are great. However, I don't like to break my cracker on a cheese ball that isn't soft enough. Even if I use one of the short little knives to spread it with, it can break my cracker.
A surprise I found this year was...CHRISTMAS PEEPS!!!!!! I love the little Easter Peeps and that used to be the only time I could get 'em. They're best if you leave the package open a little and they get stiff! Now, you can find Peeps during almost any holiday. I saw Snowmen Peeps and Tree Peeps, but I chose the Snowmen!!! Everyone teases me because I'm a Peeps lover, but somehow the Peeps disappear and I am not the one eating them all...
This list of favorite foods could go on and on, so I won't bore you anymore. Seriously though, food is important to a person's happiness!
Merry Christmas!!
I like food. Some of my best times are when I have a favorite food in front of me. One of my early memories was when I was about 10. We lived in the country and seldom got to go swimming in town at the 'Pool'. I remember sitting in the grass waiting for my Mom to pick me up after a great afternoon of playing in the water. The sun was shining down and the sky was blue with fluffy clouds and I had a little package of stick pretzels. They were the best thing I'd ever eaten. Just seeing a pretzel reminds me of that day.
Then there's Lucky Charms cereal and milk. Really good in place of supper. Easy and no cooking. If I also have the new Peach Sunny D, I am SET! I can only find it at Sam's or Walmart and not even on a regular basis. Come on, stores! Get with it! Ahh and Special K with berries and milk. This makes me feel like I'm dieting which is a good thing. I eat it for breakfast.
Oh, yes, roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy. This I can make really well. I use a Chuck Roast and cook it in the oven in a covered roaster. I sear it on both sides before putting it in the oven. Add onions and a little water and Worchester Sauce. I cook it at 300 degrees for about 2 1/2 or 3 hours so it's really tender. The mashed potatoes are the white ones. After boiling them, I mash them with butter and milk and add a dash or two of onion powder. Speaking of butter, the very best butter in this world is made by Land of Lakes. It's made with canola oil and comes in the white container with the red top. That's all we buy at my house now! The drippings from the roast makes great gravy. I use only corn starch to make brown gravy. (Flour and milk for white gravy)
Mmmm, the bisquits at Red Lobster. I am allergic to shell fish, so I can't order much from this restaurant, but getting those bisquits makes up for anything!
Fresh Peaches. I love to buy peaches from the farm stands. They taste best when they're room temperature. Slice them up and sprinkle a little Splenda (there's that diet thing, again) on 'em and they're great!
M & Ms. Plain ones are the best. I can eat the ones with almonds, but NEVER the peanut ones. I can tell you, there are more in the plain packages than in the nutty ones. I like to pour 'em out, separate them into colors and begin eating one at a time starting with the color that I have the most of. (Is this giving you too much information?)
The red gum out of the Chicle's gum machine. Did you ever notice that when you get your 6 or 8 pieces of gum, there is only one red one, if you get red at all? That is so frustrating!! Why don't they stock it with more red! Orange is okay, but red is the best! I try everytime we go to Steak 'n Shake. Speaking of gum machines, I have always loved those darn toy machines next to the gum machines. You can get the most interesting things out of them. My most recent 'best' find was the little Care Bears in the machine at Carlos O Kelly's. I had all the different colors and were giving them to my grandkids. Now, they have some other thing in the machines like tatoos...
A new favorite thing is a large iced Chai Tea that is low fat, sugar free and blended with whipped cream on the top. It just so happens there's a drive-through Java shop right on the corner where I work. They're huge muffins are a nice side order.
And then there's Christmas... It's hard to say what is my favorite holiday food. I love fudge with walnuts, roast turkey, baked ham, anything cranberry, frosted cookies and pecan pie. This is also the time the cheese balls come into play. Once they get room temperature, they are great. However, I don't like to break my cracker on a cheese ball that isn't soft enough. Even if I use one of the short little knives to spread it with, it can break my cracker.
A surprise I found this year was...CHRISTMAS PEEPS!!!!!! I love the little Easter Peeps and that used to be the only time I could get 'em. They're best if you leave the package open a little and they get stiff! Now, you can find Peeps during almost any holiday. I saw Snowmen Peeps and Tree Peeps, but I chose the Snowmen!!! Everyone teases me because I'm a Peeps lover, but somehow the Peeps disappear and I am not the one eating them all...
This list of favorite foods could go on and on, so I won't bore you anymore. Seriously though, food is important to a person's happiness!
Merry Christmas!!
Something New
Hello! I have just started this blogspot and will keep you posted on things in my life and in my Etsy shop, somethingupmysleeve.etsy.com.
Right now, getting ready for Christmas is my main focus. I have had some sales with my Patriotic Dove. This is a red, white and blue dove ornament meant to rest on your tree to honor any military personnel who will not be home for Christmas this year. A dove sent to your loved one will also show how deep in your heart you are holding this family member away from home.
I'm looking forward to getting to know you all better!
Janet
Right now, getting ready for Christmas is my main focus. I have had some sales with my Patriotic Dove. This is a red, white and blue dove ornament meant to rest on your tree to honor any military personnel who will not be home for Christmas this year. A dove sent to your loved one will also show how deep in your heart you are holding this family member away from home.
I'm looking forward to getting to know you all better!
Janet
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