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The Garden of Eden

Another beautiful day in Paradise--furnace at night, cool morning, 75 degrees by 2:00

Spent an inordinate amount of time sending scanned forms to my case worker.  Either they were too big to see all the information, or she didn't get all of them.  Then she asked me for a proof of my mortgage monthly payment.

"What?"

"I need to see proof of your monthly mortgage payment.  Either a receipt or a cancelled check or your bank account statement with it highlighted."

"I don't have a mortgage."

"It states that you have a mortgage....no wait....what the heck....this is someone elses file?"
<you must realize, this is a government run agency>

"I..."

"You don't own a house?"

"No--I own a manufactured home."

"Do you still owe on it?"

"No.  I paid cash for it on December 15th, 2002 and moved in March 15th, 2003."

"Oh.  Okay.  I do need a proof of your lot rent, when you closed out your account at Chase and opened the new one at First National and something that shows the monthly amount you get from your pension....no not your pension...your.....what's it called...trust?."

"Guaranteed, Twenty-Year, Fixed annuity.  Okay.  I'll upload them and send them right away."

So--I got busy.

I went into my DHS picture folder, where all the scanned proofs are stored and I sent:

A copy of:
Chase bank checking account closed
Checking account opened at First National Bank of Howell
Certified statement of what I pay for lot rent
1099R of my annuity

Then I also sent:
Latest bank statement showing the date and amount of when my monthly annuity is direct deposited
The first page of my annuity that shows the terms: cannot be cashed in or monthly payout changed

I sent each one-one at a time, instead of a batch upload.
<BECAUSE you must realize, this is a government run agency>

So far so good, no return calls.
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Then, I watched my Soap--gosh it's getting good!  and went out to continue work on the undergrowth in my side garden.

I lopped and dug and raked and filled up my yard waste bag.  Then I sat down to rest in my chair and all of a sudden, this little cutie came wandering out of the garden.

Now--just in case you didn't know, I have a HUGE phobia of snakes!!!  Whenever I work(ed) outside, I have my shovel handy and if I see one, it gets chopped in half.  I cannot abide snakes!

For some reason today, I didn't shriek, I didn't scream, I didn't get up from my chair and run into the house, I said, "You stay there just a minute, okay?"  and I got my camera and took  his picture.  Then, I leaned over and studied him a bit.  Just a plain old Garter Snake--pretty stripe, cute little head, almost like a turtle's head and I LOVE turtles.  As long as he didn't slither, I was okay.

He didn't have an apple in his mouth to tempt me, but I wanted to shoo him out into the lawn and head him over towards Tami's house, she loves snakes.

I took my rake and tried to nudge him out onto the lawn and he wanted back in the garden.  He moved faster than a speeding bullet, so I lunged ahead with the rake to stop him and guess what that little Son of a Sea Serpent did?  He went right through the tines of my rake, back to his home base.

I noticed that one of my stepping stones was raised up a bit and thought perhaps that was his home.  Oh well--I have the garden almost completely done except for one little Rose-of-Sharon sucker, back where he went, and I guess that can stay until next spring.

I think he enjoys living down in the depths of the Myrtle Vinca vine ground cover.

I amazed myself that I didn't get all shaky, per usual with snakes.  I didn't yell, per usual.  I was just running around the yard, playing with my new friend.

I should have just chopped him and be done with it.
==============================
When I lived on the farm, we had a whole lot of big, long, round Milk snakes.  I used to keep a shovel on the back porch, because they were known to like to sun on the back steps.  I can't tell you how many snakes I have chopped in my life--but the Department of Snake Preservation Bureau has a wanted poster with my face on it!!

I used to pay Mark and Pam 50 cents for every snake they killed ON THE LAWN.  One day I looked out and saw Mark over by the field fence.  He was pulling on something.  I went out and he was trying to drag a snake back onto the lawn so he could kill it and get his bounty.  Little Brat!!
===================

So now--every time I go outside, I will be looking for Mr. Sneaky Snake.

"I will name him George

and I will hug him

and pet him

and squeeze him." 

YESTERDAY:

TODAY:

I Forgot Monday..........

I didn't do very much Monday, so I didn't post.  Besides, I was watching a 3 hour long DVD and when it was over, I just tumbled into bed instead of posting.

I didn't do too much today either, other than (trying) to get all my prescriptions refilled.  I had put in my order at Wal-Mart Pharmacy and never got a call telling me they were ready.  I called only to find out that they were just 2 days away from being put back AND two of them were not refilled because the doc hadn't called back.

So I called the doc's office and told my favorite nurse to call them in ASAP, as I was completely out of my high blood pressure medicine and my water pill.  Wal-Mart called at 10:00 to tell me, all of them were ready.  Jump in car, up to Wal-Mart, pick them up, back home and take my Lisinopril and my Hydrochlorthiazide.  Dizzy by noon!  I hate that water pill!!!

When I got home I noticed these---it must be Dragonfly season?  One on the front of my house and one landed on my car antenna.

Watched my Soap and then out to start my fall clean-up.  This garden, just off the porch, has become so filled with under growth of Rose-of-Sharon suckers.  If  you don't cut those babies down to the ground, you will end up with a Rose-of-Sharon grove, and although I love those bushes, I have other things growing under them that now do not show.

I filled up my birds feeders (I think I will take the Hummer feeder down tomorrow) and out to the shed where I got my small hand cutters, my big long-handled loppers, my rake, shovel, trowel, yard waste bags, gloves, and chair.  I sat in my chair and leaned over to start lopping off the Rose-of-Sharon suckers at ground level.  It is much easier on my back to do it from a sitting position.

Even with all that, my back was killing me after 30 minutes.  A quick break, sitting in my recliner and back out.  I could only work an hour, but I have the front all done (photos of completed job tomorrow).

Picked up the mail and there was a letter from Social Services (Welfare) that they were cutting off paying my Medicare payments.  

GOOD GRIEF!!!

I could feel that cold chill wrap around my body again!  I'm not making it now.  What am I going to do with having to pay another hundred a month!!??

Quickly called my caseworker and was told that it was time for my yearly re-determination and I hadn't sent in the proper forms.

"But, I wasn't put on Welfare until May.  It has only been five months."

"I see that.  I don't know.  They sent you forms to fill out in August and they had to be back September second or you would lose your benefits."

"I didn't get any forms."

"They mailed them."

"Let me look"....I reach in the drawer and pull out my folder with all (you know I have them all organized) forms/communications/determination/benefits forms..............."I'm looking at my folder and I have no re-determination forms from DHS."

"Do you have a computer?  Are you good on a computer?"

"Yes."

"Go into the MI Bridges website and you can fill out the form for re-determination.  I will get it as soon as it is submitted.  Then if I need any proof forms, I will mail them to you...or you can probably upload copies of the proofs and file by e-mail."

"Oh...thank you so much, Ms. Pharfennoogle!"

So--I got on their site immediately and got it all done and submitted.  Hopefully--as it has to absolutely be submitted by end of month, I will be all right.

It just doesn't let up!!!

We are having the most wonderful weather ever!!  Sunny every day and in the low to mid '70's.  Quite cool in the mornings, but by the time I am ready to get outside and work, it is perfect.  No rain for 7 or more days!!

Drove up the street and got me a Subway for supper and lunch tomorrow.  Thank you, Melissa!!!

Yawn

Quite a boring weekend and rainy and grey and stormy and high winds.  GEEZ!!  One of those chilly, grey days that cries NAP, but I didn't.

I did get a few things done.  Little Evan's 3rd birthday is next Sunday, so I made him a card.

He's still in love with anything Elmo.  I even put a little Elmo on the bottom left corner of the envelope.

======================

Then I drove to Walgreen's in Brighton and although they told me, they can only do 35mm slides-to-print, when I told the guy why I had to have my 126 slide printed, he said he'd try and after 45 minutes--this was the result.  Perfect!!  Picture of my parent's home in 1966.  He made me 3 prints and only charged me for one--$0.52.  Amazing.

I came home and watched the finish of the MSU football game in which they set a record by, playing 75 different kids in the game and winning 73-12.

Then, I got into Shutterfly and put my son Mark's farm collage together.  He lives on the farm where I was born and raised.

 I do not remember that ice house 

next to the back door

Can you see my play pen on the
right? 

This aerial view shows the new Blue Harvestor Silo's

and a new garage/tool house on the left lower 

 =======================
We had a terrific wind storm during the night, with hard rain--it woke me up.  This morning, I heard there was an EF1 tornado touch-down about 15 miles east of me.  

I had just gotten back in bed and half asleep when I hear a loud THUD!  Something had fallen.  So, I got up again and walked through the house.

Remember this pretty bouquet?

This is what I found. 

I took a picture this morning.

Either we had an earthquake or a very

naughty cat, who's initials are

MAGGIE!

Then I took a look outside.  A lot of branches down and this.  My Purple Hyacinth Bean plant got blown over.

I noticed something else, when I came back inside.  What's that in the top of that tree, way over there?  Is it Elmo in that tree?

Zoom in to see--fall color in this tree. 

I hope this next week brings no surprises!!!

If At First............

I am not worried about my second mammogram because I know there is nothing wrong.  If I get off the caffeine, that little cyst will be gone by Oct. 1st.

Beth:  Thank you so much for the banana nut bread.  It is luscious and I had it for lunch today--just that.  Two slices, smothered in butter :-)

Ernestine:  I received the bars of soap today.  They smell so good and feel so silky on my hands, when I wash with them.  Thank you so much for thinking of me.

Jean:  Guess what?  You were right.  Walgreen's does do slide-to-photo--any size I want!  I am so excited--going to run up to Brighton in the morning and, get 'er done!!!  Thanks for letting me know!!
=======================

A lovely, gorgeous day, weather wise.  I had such good intentions, LOL.

I went out to trim and prune and cut back, but first, I went out to my shed to get my yard waste bags.  We have to bag everything and then, every other Tuesday, they come and take it away to compost and turn into soil that landscapers use for their work next spring.

Well--what's this?  Nary a yard waste bag in sight.  While I was in there, I did rummage a bit in my plastic storage boxes--looking for old pictures of Pam and Mark's farms, but found none!!!

I decided, I'd best run up to the Meijer store to get some bags.  Lo and behold, they were on sale!  $1.88 per five-pack of the biodegradable paper bags.  I got two packs.  Then I checked their photo desk and...they don't do slides to prints.  

Then I remembered I didn't have enough milk for breakfast, so way to the other end of the store, but wait---on my way--DIET PEPSI IS ON SALE!!!  10 2-litre bottles for $10 with an 11th one free.  Loaded up 11 jugs of DECAFFEINATED Diet Pepsi.  Got the milk and some watermelon and got out of there for $21.87!! When I put in my M-perks number, I had $5.00 off!!  So glad I went today!

After I got home and lugged all the stuff inside, I decided that the kitchen needed a bit of straightening up.

Then I heard a noise outside.  "Something's happening here.  What it is, ain't exactly clear."

I hear saws and pounding and take another look-----------

Aha, the neighbor's are having the skirting put on their trailer.

Then I remembered, a task that needed doing.  Outside I went and put up my Sparty Tree Face.
We have football tomorrow!

Came back inside and was putting away my groceries when Jackie came over.  She had just walked all the way around the block.  She is having knee replacement in November and walking to strengthen her muscles in preparation of the surgery--it makes for quicker recovery if you get those muscles strong first.    

When she left, it was 5:00 and I decided it was much too late to start my outside work.  There will be another day...or two....or six.

=========================

Have you been watching the Roosevelt series on PBS.  It is very interesting!  The way Franklin was brought up reminds me of my Daddy.  Not just loved, but adored by his mother--always telling him he could do no wrong.  A sort of Prince.  No wonder he didn't quite like me a whole lot.  I think he was jealous of the time I took away from him, by my mother and his mother. They both thought he was the most wonderful thing ever invented...and then I came along...and they both thought I was the "more most" wonderful thing ever invented.  I think his "nose was out of joint".  You'd think he would have been proud of his accomplishment.  There had been no girls born in three generations.  The great grand and grand parents were demanding a girl baby--and he did it. LOL

=========================

Here are the pictures going into Pam's farm collage.  The farm was purchased in 1920, so in 6 years, it will be classified as a Centennial Farm--meaning a farm owned by the same family for 100 years.

I see my grandma and me in this picture

Aerial view the year we moved in.

We enclosed the front porch and used it for a den

 Love built into the foundation

Does It Ever Let Up?

Just going along--trying to find peace and a bit of joy in every day.  Sometimes having to look hard for it.  There does seem to be at least one good thing each day, to thank God for each night.  I always say Thank You before I get to my "God Bless" list.

I have been spending a lot of time looking for, scanning and editing old pictures of Pam and Mark's farms.  I got the brilliant idea to make them a collage for Christmas--like I did for Susan last year.  Fun and frustrating.  My mother took so many slide pictures.  I have a great one of our house in 1966, that I want to put in Mark's collage, but.....how to get it from slide to photo.  Are there any places that do that anymore?

Also starting to crochet my "scrubbies" out of nylon net for gifts for the women--I need at least 25!!  Found a new Mary Maxim yarn that has "fibers" in it.  "They" say, it makes great dishcloths and it was on sale.  http://www.marymaxim.com/mary-maxim-scrub-it-yarn.html.  I ordered 2 of the Spring Variegated--also will use to edge the double-sided scrubbies.

Wednesday, I had my mammogram, bone density scan and chest x-ray.  No big deal.

Yesterday I had lunch up in Durand with my Old Gal Pals, or as Beth calls us, "Old Gal Biddies".  It was great.  I like the place where we meet.  They have a great Antipasto Salad and also Nacho's Supreme.  I alternate.  Yesterday I got the Nacho's.  The Old Gal that none of us care for didn't show up!  I was glad because I had an empty chair next to me and she would have sat there for sure!

Then I drove out to The Farm to visit my "lil Sis and take a picture of Mark's place for his collage.  I needed a recent picture to show changes since 1938.  LOL.

Susan and I had a great chat.  Her hubs, Chuck, managed to get the hood of my car open--I couldn't do it and knew it was rusted.  He sprayed the latch with WD40, let it sit for awhile and got it open.  I needed to refill the window washer tank.  He has finished up the old wrap-around porch with a new floor made from that Trex stuff.  Looks great.

I got home around five and my phone was blinking with a message.  I had a bad feeling--I don't know why, I just did.  I knew ever before I checked to see the caller ID.  Sure enough--it showed, SJMBCC-St. Joseph Mercy Breast Care Center.  I didn't want to, but I went to voice mail and listened.  I was to call them back!

Have you ever had that real cold feeling wrap around your mid-section?  Your heart pounds a bit? Your hands shake?

Too late to call back--I probably wouldn't have anyway.

Slept really well, because after all, I am Cleopatra--Queen of 'de Nile.

Armed with my usual sense of humor--my defense mechanism for scary things--I called back this morning.

Something showed up.  It may be nothing, BUT I have to go back in for another mammogram of my right breast AND an ultra sound...at 8:00 on October 1st!

8:00 a.m. ? 
On October 1st--my favorite day of the year?

Then she said, "Because you are on Medicare, I have to ask you these questions."

"I replied, "No I do not have black lung disease.  I am not a Native American.  I am not a veteran and I am not under a Federally funded clinical trail."

Well--she just lost it completely and got to laughing so hard she couldn't speak.  I sat and waited.

"Oh.  My..   Isn't it------you'd think once a year would be enough to ask......<gasp, gasp>..."

Apparently I started her day out with a good laugh.

She was still giggling when she said, "Okay, Judy.....I have you pre-registered at the Howell hospital for October first......<gasp>, at eight o'clock in the morning.  Please arrive at sever forty-five...."tee hee."

BOTHERATION!!!

My plan of attack?  Drink only DECAFFEINATED Diet Pepsi from now until then.  It is probably just an enlarged cyst--as I have had fibrocystic breast disease since I was forty-five.  To not give it another thought--going back into my Cleopatra phase.  I will be fine!  and if it's not fine, I will still be fine!!

Now--I am going outside and trim back some bushes, and stuff like that.

Apparently--life likes to throw all this stuff at me, all at one time, with only a few months break in between.  

2012- Fred died.  Best friend died.  New roof installed.  Major car repair.

2013--Step-mother died and no inheritance.  Another major car repair.  Daughter quit speaking to me.

2014--New furnace.  On Welfare.  Bankruptcy.  and now this!

I would just cry if it wasn't so hilarious!!

BRING IT ON!!!

TBT: All In The Family

Byron High School
Homecoming Court Princesses

1955 Me

1968--Sister Susan

1976

Daughter Karen--Jen at 5, was the flower girl

Pammie was proud sister

1988

Jennifer-Homecoming Queen

It took 33 years, but we finally got a Homecoming QUEEN in the family.