A Nice Thursday

Pearl and I have been having this running argument for a couple of weeks.  We drove by a really pretty pink tree/bush with tulip shaped flowers and I said, "I love Tulip trees."  It looked like this.

Pearl says, "That's not a Tulip Tree, that's a Magnolia Tree."

I said, "I had one--it's still in Pammie's yard and when the kids got it for me, the tag said, Tulip Tree."

"Well, the tag was wrong!"

So, I decided not to argue, because it is fruitless to argue with Pearl.  She knows everything.  Her way is the only way.  I still love her!!!

So, when we got home from the animal control, where we spent an hour looking for a cat and all she did was scare them and they swatted at her, I got on the Internet, typed in Tulip Tree and up came the above image.  So then I typed in Magnolia Tree and up came this image.

So I walked down to Pearl's because I had some left over Miracle-Gro potting soil and she needed some for her pots and I showed her the print outs and the explanations.

"I found this on the Internet. They say THIS is a Magnolia Tree."  Showing her the above photo.

"Well, the Internet is wrong!" she says.

I say, "Pearl---you are telling me that the Internet--the World Wide Web search is incorrect?"

"Yes!"

"But--it's like the biggest encyclopedia in the world!"

"I don't care--it's wrong.  You can't believe anything you see on the Internet."  (She who can't figure out how to get into Face Book to play games.)

So--I'm feeling a bit snotty because I know, Pearl has to see it in front of her to believe.

"C'mon--get in the car.  I am taking you on an adventure."

So I got get my car, she hops in and I drive across the road to the nursery.   

"Why are we going in here, I already got all my flowers!"

"Just come along, I gotta see something."  So I lead her out into the nursery part--where all the trees are.  A clerk comes up and says, "May I help you ladies?"

"Yes," I say, "Can you show us what kind of Tulip Trees you have left."

So we follow along behind him and he points out a smallish tree, about four feet high and, thankfully, it still has three blooms on it and......it looks like the pink picture up above.

"That's NOT a Tulip Tree," says Pearl.  "That is a Magnolia Tree!  Tulip Trees are very tall and have yellowish, cup shaped blooms!"

This poor young man realizes that there is trouble in the air.

"Ah--I don't know about that ma'am--but this is a Tulip Tree," and he shows her the tag.  "but It IS related to the Magnolia," he says.

So Pearl turns and starts walking away, I thank him, run after her to get to the car first so I can turn it on and get the A/C running and off we go back home.

So, this morning at exactly 9:02 Pearl is at my door.  I am just getting up and in she comes with her gardening book.  She opens it up and says,  "THIS is a Tulip Tree--dammit!"  and shows me this picture.

"See how the blooms look like Tulips?"

"Yes," I groggily say, "but so do the pink blooms on MY tulip tree.  They look like a cup almost. But neither one looks like the picture of the Magnolia Tree.  That looks almost like a Gardenia flower."

So she leaves because I have to get ready to drive up to lunch with my Gal Pals.  When I get home, Pearl comes toddling down with a piece of paper in her hand.  "I got my computer turned on and went to Google and typed in Tulip Tree and look what I found." and she shows me a whole page she has printed out.

These are all listed under Tulip Trees.

So we have decided that we won't argue anymore and when we talk about Tulip Trees--which I hope we never do again--she will say "The yellow Tulip Tree," and I will say, "My pink Tulip Tree."  Then she said, "I'm still going to call the pink ones Magnolia Trees!"

"Okay."  Too funny!!!

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So, I got to visit my sister today and see a bit more.  She got her new refrigerator and her granite counter tops are coming tomorrow.  She has arranged the new family room a bit more.

View from family room and entryway into kitchen

Family room

See the dough box Bethie gave her?  Susan loves it!!!!

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One last thing--on Face Book, I have an extremely Liberal "friend"--I have only seen her twice in my entire life, but she is on my "friends" list.  Don't you love Face Book?  You have all these "friends" you never see--nuts really.  This friend ONLY posts links on her page.  So when I open FB in the morning, here are 4-7 political links all down my first page.  All very negative against Conservatives, of course.  I went in and blocked that--I only want to see what she posts about what she is doing or what is going on in her life--I don't see any of those posts, so apparently nothing much is going on in her life.

I have to be careful and not post anything against her points of view or she will comment under my post some snarky thing and likes to engage me in a "discussion", which of course I can never win, because it is impossible.  She of course can post anything she wants, but I am not allowed the same privilege.  I find politically extreme people to be that way.  They preach tolerance, but they rarely practice it.  She is so far to the Left, you'd need binoculars to see her.  I have a Conservative friend who is that same way--waaaaay out there to the right and intolerant.  They both drive me nutz!

So tonight I see a nice link--a passage from the Bible about not worrying--to ask God for all your needs--which I need to remember on a daily basis, and I shared it on my page.

To me it is kind of the like the passage from Matthew that tells us to "take no worry for the morrow".

This was her comment.

"This sounds like all those people the Republicans hate...the homeless...those on welfare...etc."

I'm thinking, "What?"

I responded to her--I knew when I was typing my reply that I shouldn't be engaging her at all!!  I should have said, "What does your comment have to do with not worrying and asking God to fulfill your needs?"  I AM AN IDIOT!!!  You cannot win with people like this!!  Then of course, another of my more normal friends came on and commented and I could see there was going to be a war of words.  I just went in and deleted the whole dang post before that could happen!!!  How did I get so controversial?  

The other day I posted something about Benghazi and how I was worried that those people were killed and it appeared that help was nearby, but the order was never given for the F-15's to fly in and help.  Her comment was, "Remember all those people that were killed when Bush was President."  That time I did reply, "What does that have to do with Benghazi?"

Anyway--I have learned NEVER to comment on one of her posted links as if you differ in the least or even ask an innocent question, her Liberal friends will get on there and tell you how stupid you are.  That actually happened to me.  She has a couple of 20-something friends that like to say how stupid anyone is who might differ with their viewpoint.  Tolerance?  I think not!!!

So--from now on, if I post a prayer or a religious passage or anything like that AND she comments, which I know she will--I shall ignore her.  

Or--I will share a really ultra-right Conservative link just to rattle her cage!! Hee hee hee.

My life is sooooooo fun!!!

FANTASTIC!!!

One of the most fantastic days I have had in a very, very long time!!!!  But I will get to that in a minute.

I walked over to take some information to Dar and she got the call from the cancer center a day early.  NO MALIGNANCY!!!!!!!!!!!!  There is something in there, but it is not cancer!!!!!

I had my mammogram today--the tech said everything looked fine.  I got to look at the pictures--now that they use digital imaging.  Such an interesting thing--the breast.  Lots of capillaries and veins and milk ducts--I love this modern day technology.  I also got my chest x-ray--didn't get to look at those, but tech said it looked okay.  Last December when I was in the ER--they routinely do chest x-rays when you go to ER, the doc there said I had a nodule in my left lung.  I can only ASSUME the report was sent to my primary care doc and he never called, so..................but, since I am my own advocate and check out every report AND get the reports sent to me---I decided to get another chest view today, just to make sure it hasn't grown and the edges are still nice and smooth and it's small.

I think I have also diagnosed the severe dizzy spells I have been having for the last few months.  Monday I remembered that when I was in rehab, last year, my blood pressure got so low, I was taken off all my bp meds for four months.  So Monday--I started charting my bp--taking it four times a day--morning, noon, supper and bedtime.  The systolic number (upper) never got over 120 and the diastolic number (lower) never got over 52!!!  That my friends is why people faint when they stand up and walk a few steps!!! So--I stopped taking my bp meds.  I am on three--Lisinopril, Amlodapine, and a water pill--hydrochlorothiaizide.  I am continuing to monitor my bp 4 times a day, but yesterday I felt better and today great!  I have not had one dizzy spell in two days--I usually have several a day.  I think I've figured it out and when I see the doc next Thursday, I will hand him my report and see if he concurs.  Today my bp has been 117-122 over 55-57--so, it's getting better.

I have taken bp meds for 23 years--but recently I have lost a lot of weight and on a completely different diet--a lot of fresh veggies and fruit and perhaps--wouldn't that be something if I didn't have to take those meds?

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Now--this is what I did today!  The show is coming up!!

Planted my vegetable garden.  2 tomato plants and a hill of cucumber seeds in the middle.

A few strawberry plants still reside on the south end AND a Sun Impatiens in that triangular thingie.

 Here is the planter by my entrance.  The Fuchsia geranium, dark blue/purple Wave petunia,

and the Chartreuse vine. 

I decided to put the other one in my side yard.  The yard guy doesn't mow next to the

tree, he weed whips it, so it shouldn't cause him a problem when he mows my lawn.

This looks a big rugged right now--it sits at the end of my perennial garden.

The Rosea Vinca flowers and a trailing plant called Silver Falls, which

will grow into a beautiful long curtain of silver.

I got three railing planters this year.  They were quite popular

a few years ago, but I wasn't planting then.  I wanted them this

year and had a hard time finding them.

I put pea gravel in the "flanges" that hang on either side of the railing.

It has drainage holes, but I didn't want the dirt washing out and getting all

over my porch and porch skirting.

Each planter has a Vinca vine in the front and these flowers--

called Rosea Vinca.  I wanted Impatiens, but they aren't selling

them this year because of a mold disease that decimated the crop last year.

I hope these spread and fill in like an Impatiens.

I have a crock by the top step that is also filled with the Rosea Vinca

and a blue Wave petunia.  A pot at a small white table between the

two chairs has the same.

This is my side view--my spring flower garden, Forsythia, which is done

blooming and two Rose of Sharon bushes that won't bloom

until August.  Yes--my bird feeders are full--I feed the birds all year long.

I saw a hummer yesterday--his feeder above the others.

My Baltimore Oriole feeder is hanging on the other end--haven't

see a one yet!!

This helped make my day so fantastic--all the time I was working

on the front porch, I could inhale the Heavenly scent of Lilacs.

This is taken from my porch, toward my back porch.

The green bush in front of the Lilac, is a Weigela, which isn't

in bloom as yet.

It will look like this, when it blooms.

These two pictures were taken from my back porch.

The Lilac bushes are only about 18 inches from the railing.

All I have to do is open my kitchen window and the scent

fills the house.

One of the reasons I wanted this unit--even in December, I noticed

the Lilac bushes--they are one of my favorites.

I am so happy.  To think that exactly one year ago today--at this precise moment, I was sleeping--drugged on Percocet, Tramadol and probably a bit of Morphine--the night of my hip replacement surgery.  For the last four years I have not been able to garden--now I can.  Oh--not a lot--and I have to sit and rest about every half hour--but I AM DOING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have never been in constant pain for four years--to the point where you were even unable to walk, and then recover and be (almost) whole again--you will never know why I call my surgery a miracle!  I know, we use that term a lot, but to me--I asked God, "Please, just let me be able to walk again," and look what He and a caring, fantastic orthopaedic surgeon gave me.  I just wish Freddy was here to see it--he would be sitting up on the porch, watching me dig, haul things in the wheelbarrow, and planting and he would be smiling from ear to ear!!!  

May 15th

This is kind of a sad day.  Today, my ex-husband is 75 years old.  He looks nothing like this picture, taken back on his birthday in 1962.  He is extremely fat--and bald.  His face is so fat you can hardly see his eyes--just kind of little slits.

Karen is having a party for him this week and I sent her this picture to print out for her Dad.

This is a picture of good times in my life.  Before the drinking.  Before the abuse.  Twenty years before the divorce.  How I wish I could be with "my" family to celebrate his 75th birthday.  How I wish it all were like it was back in those days.

Mark, Pam, baby Karen

We had only been married five years.  Such happy times.  <sigh>

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On another kinda sad kinda--Monday I took Pearl to the Humane Society to get a cat.  She has a 4 year old male cat, but he doesn't like to be cuddled or sit on her lap.  Last fall I took her out hunting, but we didn't find anything she liked.  So--now she is determined--and if you knew Pearl--you know once she gets something in her mind, you just better fall in line and give her what she wants.

She said her hubby wasn't too fond of the idea, so when he was here a couple of weeks ago--helping me with 80# of bird seed, I told him.  ""Hey--if you don't want to go running all over the country looking for a cat--just tell Pearl you don't wanna and suggest I take her."  He smiled and gave me a thumbs up.

So Tuesday, I take her back to where Fred and I got Buddy and Maggie--the county animal control center. They keep animals for a certain number of months, but when the place gets too crowded, they will kill the less adoptable ones.  I have always felt I saved Buddy and Maggie's lives.  

I went to their website and printed out pictures of the kind of cat Pearl wants--so that when we went she would have some to look at and not have to go down every damn row of cages!!!  The place just tears me up and I can't stay in the cat room very long because I get so sad I start crying.  This from a farm girl that grew up never getting attached to any animal because it would soon be gone or run over by a tractor or something.

So we got there and told the workers the ones we wanted to look at.  Pearl wants a female--suppose to get along better then two males who will go around spraying urine all over everything to mark their territory.

She went to look at her first choice and I went down aways to look at her second choice--and I fell in love instantly.  

I put my hand up to the outside of the cage and she came over and rubbed against

it and purred and purred.  So sweet!

Pearl's 1st choice because this cat was born on her birthday.

She went over to Hayden's cage, open the door and stuck her hand inside and the cat nipped at her.  Then she shook her finger at it and it tried to claw her with it's front paw.  Pearl does that with my Maggie--shakes her finger in her face and wonders why Maggie, reaches out with her claws.  I have told Pearl repeatedly that "Maggie thinks you are playing with her--that's why she tries to grab your finger.", but she still does it. So I let her and when Maggie gets her with a claw and Pearl yells, I just say, "Told you so."

So I went up to Hayden's cage and Pearl walked down to Teddi's cage--the cat I have fallen in love with and hope she gets!

Hayden comes up to the cage door and I put my palm up against it and she rubs against me and purrs and purrs.  Meanwhile--Pearl opens up the door to Teddi's "home" reaches in and the cat trys to nip at her.  

So Pearl walks around to every damn cage--opens the door, sticks her hand in and either the cat slaps at her with their paw or tries to nip her.  "Why does every cat in here hate me?"

"Because you startle them.  You open up their cage and stick your hand in and they don't know you.  Just stand in front of them for awhile until they get used to your smell." I said.

So Pearl says, "Let's go home!"

So, I go back to Teddi's cage and put my hand up on the door and she rubs against me and I tell her goodbye and get tears in my eyes.  Then we walk out of the cat room.  Sigh.

Then one of the worker's comes up to me and says, "Didn't you adopt a couple of cats from us?  I remember your husband saying you had to get two cats--one for each lap."

"Yes--it will be two years on June 5th.  I'm surprised you remember."

"I remember," she says, "because I was in love with Capone (Buddy's shelter name) and I cried and cried when he left."

So, I haul out pictures I have of them--which I just happened to print out this morning and take with me just in case someone remembered.  Showed them to her and she just loved seeing how they have changed.

"Oh--look at Capone!  We knew he was going to be a large cat.  Oh--I gotta show these to Glenda, she loved Capone to.  The most relaxed cat we've ever had in here."

So--off she goes with the pictures and I step up to the receptionist desk--who also remembers Buddy and I write out a check for a donation.  The worker comes back, thanks me for bringing in the pictures and inquires after my husband's health and I have to tell her how he passed and how much love the cats have given me,  " Especially Buddy.  He shares my pillow every night-  He lays his little head right next to mine."

Pearl is already in the car, so I go out and get in.  Tears still in my eyes.  "What's the matter with you!?" she snaps.

"Oh--these places tear me up," I reply.  "I hate that they have to live in cages like that and if they aren't adopted, they will be killed."

"Well, with all the stray cats around--they will get more and more! "

"I so would love to go back in there and get Teddi, but....I can't afford another cat nor do I have the room."

"Well if she hadn't bit at me, I dah got her."

"Yes--but she was scared.  Once you get her home and she gets use to you, she would be such a loving cat--she's just so sweet. You'd have a real lap cat like you want.  I can tell by her nature."

"Oh just start the car and turn on the air--I'm hot!"

I bring her home, drop her off and come in and call my kids and they come running to me and I pet them and love on them and.............still can see Teddi's face.  You gotta admit, she is a beauty!

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Update on Dar.  She went Monday for an ultra sound and another mammogram.  They sent her immediately down to the Big Hospital to have a biopsy.  They took out several "slices" from different areas of the mass.  The doctor there told her, "If I thought it was cancer, I'd tell you right now.  That's why they sent you here because we just can't tell.  I can't tell."  So, she should know the results by Thursday or Friday.  

I sure hope it's not cancer because she has no car and although I haven't told her I'd drive her to her treatments, I have thought to myself that I should.  BUT--just found out, she wouldn't get the first six weeks of treatment here--just up a mile to the cancer center, but have to go down to the Big Hospital every day for six weeks.  The Big Hospital--where Freddy died--and a long drive down the expressway.  But--if it comes to that, I will offer to help.  If her sister-in-law can take her a couple times a week and I can take her a couple times a week--I should be able to do it--don't you think?  

Okay--getting my mammogram and chest x-ray later today, then tomorrow, lunch with the gal pals and a visit with my sister on the way home.  I was going to plant my annuals yesterday, as we aren't suppose to get any more frost, but I got waylaid into running all over the county looking for a cat for my neighbor, LOL.

I think I will plant my veggies before the mammogram today.  Or after--or--I just want to get out there and plant something!!!

My Heart Hurts!

A friend's blog that I read everyday-------well, wait a minute.  How can I call her a friend when I have never met her?  Isn't this blogosphere strange?  We start reading a blog and before long, we feel so involved in that person's life.  We have learned their habits, the things they like to do.  Their husband's and children's name--even grand kids names sometimes.  We see pictures of their gardens, and homes and children and grandchildren and their pets.  We see what they are reading and--I go with their critique of a book and order it for myself.  We see their poems--some they have written themselves.

Such is this "friend" of mine.  She writes beautiful poetry.  She has beautiful gardens.  She met her second husband later in life--and I know how sweet that is--to find live in our later years.  He, in turn, designed and planted a beautiful garden at their local church.

I have been reading that her son is very ill.  Severely ill.  Then he seemed to be doing better.  When she went to spend Mother's Day with him she found out that he is not going to get better.  The doctor came in and gave them the news.  Through her pain, all she can think of is how happy she was that she was there with him when he heard the news.

We have all been praying for him--and her--and the family.  Calling on God to bring a miracle.  It seems so unfair.  It may not be in "the plan" for a miracle, but I know, that I know, that I KNOW--God will be there with them all and the next few months--there will come as much happiness as can be packed into this kind of situation.

I just feel so badly--I cried when I read her latest post.  We can all relate to how she feels--if we are mother's are if we are aunties--I remember when my nephew died--it felt like one of my own children.

So--I ask you to pray for this friend.  She is such a lovely person.  Never a caustic word on any of her posts about anyone.  She is so precious and has been so encouraging to me over the last few years.

I won't post her blog address to protect her privacy.  Just please pray for the family.  Thank you.

IMHO

Mother's Day was lovely for me.  My son called in the evening.  He had my old phone number and was worried when he got the message that number was disconnected.  So he told his girlfriend and she said, "Your Mom has had a new number for a year.  If you called her more often, you'd know that!"  So she called me and handed the phone to him.  He was flat on his back with back problems--he wrenched it mowing the lawn.  He has been in severe pain for the last four years, after injuring his back at work.  He has been to many specialists, three back surgeons.  All have told him there is nothing they can do.  How do you reconcile living in that kind of pain for the rest of your life when you are only 55?

It was a nice day.  Did I miss the fact that my youngest and my four little grandchildren weren't with me?  Of course I did.  Did I ponder on that fact and let it ruin my day?  I did not!!!  I enjoyed the time I had with the kids I had around me.  It was wonderful!!
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Watched Survivor last night--I still think it is the best reality show on TV.  I am glad Cochran won--I liked him a lot.

When I went to bed last night, it was 32 degrees outside and expected to get into the 20's.  80 is the predicted temperature by Wednesday.  I brought my plants in to sleep in the house.
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So what do you think of Charles Ramsey?  He's the guy who helped the women get out of that house in Cleveland.  They are calling him a hero.  We so love to attach that term "hero" to anyone.  Amanda Barry is the real hero in my opinion.  She's the one who got out of the house, yelled for help, and saved the other two women and her daughter.  Charles just happened to be eating his McDonald's lunch and heard her yelling and screaming and went to investigate what the ruckus was all about.  Yes--he got involved, which is a rare thing these days and I think he should get free McDonald's for life, but a hero?  I don't know.

There is a fire fighter near Detroit.  A store was on fire.  There was no one inside at the time.  He and a few others went inside to knock down the fire.  The roof started to collapse and they all ran out--he didn't make it.  They are calling him a hero.  Who's life was he trying to save?  No ones.  He is a fire fighter who had an accident and died from it.    Yes--he should be mourned and have the fire fighters honor guard at his funeral and his wife and baby should get tons and tons of insurance money, but................. 

I guess, to me, a hero is someone who saves another's life.  Who goes above and beyond, to save a life.  I am too critical I guess.

How about that Jody Arias--what a nut job.  She could get the death penalty.  I do not believe in the death penalty, but, now she is saying she wants it because staying in confinement for the rest of her life would be worse then death.  She, of course, by those words is trying once again to manipulate, but if she wants to be lethally injected, then I say, go for it.  Personally, I think life in prison would be much harder on a person then dying.  Do you know, it costs more tax payers money if a person is on death tow?  We pay for ALL their appeals--it can go on for ten years.  

How about Dr. Gosnell?  The abortionist.  He killed at least seven babies who were alive at birth and one woman, that we know of.  One of his methods for abortion was to implant a tube with razors along the edges, into the woman's womb.  Then, after it was implanted, he activated it, the razors came out and cut the fetus into tiny pieces which were expelled.  A doctor?  Doctor's take an oath to "do no harm" and to save lives--he is NOT a doctor.  Should he get the death penalty?  Jody only killed one person,  this guy has killed many.  

And then there's the whole Benghazi mess.  I should not give my opinion on that I suppose.  Seven hours those people called for help--for jet fighters, that I now hear were close enough to get there and lay down some fire power.  Seven hours, while someone somewhere gave the "stand down" order.  Seven hours, those people at the Consulate begged and pleaded for help.  Then, our Secretary of State went to the families, looked them in the eye and told them, "it was a spontaneous demonstration because of an anti-Islamic video."  and she sent poor Susan Rice out on the Sunday talk shows to repeat the same lie.  and their boss went on Letterman to say the same and then off to Vegas where he partied with the Hollywood Stars.

Where are Bernstein and Woodward when you need them?  Remember Watergate?  No one was killed then.  They investigated the cover-up and found out the truth and Nixon was ousted!  

Remember the whole Iran Contra Fund thingie--they grilled President Reagan and Oliver North about that and it was all televised for the world to see.

Remember the bashing when President Bush landed on the aircraft carrier and stated "Mission accomplished"--they were all ready to ridicule him and accuse him of mass murder in Iraq because there were no weapons of mass destruction--even though his State Department said there was.  

So even if, the White House didn't know the "real" truth--which I doubt--are they going to get off Scot free? Think about it--Benghazi happened two short months before the 2012 election.  Obama was going around campaigning about how they took out Osama Ben Laden--we had pictures from the Situation Room, showing them with concern on their faces, our Secretary of State gasping, hand to mouth.  Where are all the pictures of them sitting in the Situation Room and watching seven hours of the Benghazi attack?  Wouldn't look good?  Might cause someone to lose the election?  Probably and you know who, will run for President in 2016 and life will go on.  

He says, "Benghazi was a long time ago,"  yeah--eight months ago.

She shrieks, "What does it matter?"  I guess it doesn't--only to the families of the four that died.

This is only my opinion.  It is nothing against my Democratic friends.  As one of them said to me on the phone the other day, "I thought he was going to be the best President we have ever had.  I was so excited when he was elected.  Now...I'm ashamed that I voted for him.  I feel like he has betrayed us."  

I had those same feelings back in 1972.  I voted for Mr. Nixon twice--I supported him--thought they must be lying about him--and, in the end--was ashamed that he had betrayed our country. 

So--a lot of news about Cleveland and Jody Arias.  None about Gosnell, and very little about Benghazi.  Such is the way of our society now.  NO ONE wants to step up and admit they may have done anything wrong.  I would have so much more respect for a President that admitted, "I was wrong", or "We didn't know the whole truth," or "I will get to the bottom of this and the truth will come out."

Transparency?  Fair reporting?  Yeah--right!   It took me years to realize that the press is Liberal in their reporting--open to all gaffes that Republicans make, closed to the same from Democrats.  Now--that doesn't mean I am a FOX news watcher either because...they can be the same.

Off my soap box.

Enjoy your day.  I may or may not be posting.  I have some issues I am trying to work out in life right now.  I may have to write it down to get it out of my head--if I do, the whole ugliness will probably go on here.  I will warn you, if that happens, so you don't have to read it.

Happy Mother's Day

This high today-46 degrees.  

Frost/freeze expected tonight.

No words needed to describe my happy feelings today.  My oldest daughter Pammie on my right, and daughter Karen (and her kids) on my left.  Surrounded by love today.

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Our Mother passed away when she was 53, from something--they never found out what.  There was a huge hole left in my heart from that day on and changed my whole life.  Susan and I often talk about how different our life and families would be if Mother had lived.  For one thing, there would have been no step-mother and all the trouble she brought to our family.  Our family would be so much closer and happier.

Mother was always smiling, singing, laughing, happy, happy--she never gossiped about anyone and was always helping someone.  She was very artistic and ahead of her time when it came to her painting, her crafting, her sewing, her decorating.  It has been a lonely 43 years since she's been gone. 

Mother and me--1944

1968

1969--Mother and Daddy

 A few months before she died.

I love you Mother--Happy Mother's Day--it won't be long now and we will see each other again.  

Saturday--The Day Before Mother's Day

The high today was 62 degrees

Had to turn the furnace back on yesterday evening--it was 38 degrees outside when I went to bed.  When I woke up this morning, it was 41.

Buddy enjoying the newly cleaned couch.

This cat is as big as some dogs!!!

Got my annuals out on the porch, still in their flats--they are "hardening off"--and I will plant them probably next Wednesday or Friday--I don't know.  Waiting for any chance of a late frost to pass and the temps to rise a bit.  They cost me $100.00 and I can't afford a crop failure.  I was looking in my "garden file folder" and this is the least I have spent.  Of course, I haven't bought anything in the last three years, so--I guess I have saved money?  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Here they are for the night--snuggled under an old mattress pad.

Apparently squirrels like grape jelly--who knew?  One jumped onto my Baltimore Oriole feeder last evening and when I went out to cover the plants, I found the whole thing laying on the ground.  I put it up on the porch and this morning--the grape jelly is gone.  The saucer licked clean.  I guess I need to sprinkle a bit of squirrel repellent that I use in my bird feed on the jelly?  I guess he doesn't like oranges.

I feels so good to walk across my living room in bare feet.  The carpet feels nice and soft, nice all crunchy like it did before the cleaning.  I wish I could afford to get new carpet.  Then the question arises, where would I put all my furniture to put down new carpet?  Would I have to haul it all out into the driveway?  I guess, I would empty one room, they would lay the carpet, then I would put the furniture back in that room and haul it out of the next room into that one and on and on?  Well--that's not going to happen is it?  So--onward we go.

Now these next pictures are stupid, but I wanted you to see that I FINALLY found a pair of jeans that fit my skinny behind, thighs and legs.  They are size 12's.  I haven't worn a 12 since I was---12?  Anyway, try and see the way they fit and ignore anything else going on in the pix.

Well--you can't tell in this pix, can you.

(One should wash their bathroom mirror)

See--no pooching out on the side, like clown pants.

Don't even ask how I got my leg up on the vanity.  See how nice they

fit in the thigh and leg?  My word--that leg is skinny!!!

I look like an apple with skinny "cinnamon" sticks for arms and legs.

These pix might give you an insight to why I have been called "Chicken Legs" all my life?  Try not to notice the big shirt I have on--it is thermal and I am wearing it today because....it is cold!

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I had a visitor to the bird feeder today--no, not a Baltimore Oriole, but Mr. Red Breasted Grosbeak.  I have seen him before, but only this time, got a picture of him.

I gotta quit taking pictures through my screen!!

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Pammie--my oldest daughter--my sweet child that I used to call "Sunshine" when she was little because she was always happy--always smiling.  Pammie with the new toothies and smile.  The one who lives on the farm where I use too.  Pammie--as I look at her life, it is just like mine was, at a time--twenty years ago.  She is exactly 20 years younger then me and our lives seem to be alike--which makes me sad because 20 years ago, I was in a real mess.  Pammie too, has been in a mess for the last 15 years or so. She had a man living with her--one she had known in high school.  They re-met a couple years after her divorce.  None of us in the family ever liked him all that well--even though I had known him as a kid.

Over the years, it has gotten progressively worse and for the last three years, practically intolerable for Pammie.  The man got custody of his grandson about three years ago and Pammie has been a lot of help in bringing up this little boy--he is now very well mannered.  The man is one of those kinds that picks up "junk"--old cars, trucks--he is going to fix them and sell them.  Of course, he never does.  They sit around the field and yards of that beautiful farm and, excuse the expression--the place looks like white trash lives there--hillbillies--cars and trucks up on cement blocks, old tires piled up along the edge of the garage, a boat, a motor home--all sitting there rusting out.  

He smokes--a lot.  Pammie asked him in March to smoke outside.  The reason being, he has neuropathy in his hands and he drops the lit cigarettes on the carpeting.  She works for youngest daughter Jennifer, and stays the night down at Jen's for most of the week.  

I have been praying that Pammie would find the strength to ask him to leave.  I know, she cares for the grandson and the grandson would have to leave too, but................I have been asking God to please find a way to fix things so that Pammie can once again, enjoy her life and her home.

Pammie just called and asked if she could pick me up tomorrow after church--we are going into Brighton to meet Karen, her son Stephen (who just finished his first year at MSU) and daughter Madeleine (the ballet dancer.) for lunch.  Pammie--who wanted my heavy bedspread that I washed the other day.

Pammie said, "I have something to tell you before you hear it from someone else.  I have asked "G" to leave. He has been approved for a home loan at the bank and he is looking for a place for him and "D" to live in.  I just couldn't take it anymore, Momma!"

I said to her, "You have just given me the best Mother's Day gift ever!"

"I know you were worried about me.  I know the whole family was worried about me.  I'm going to be all right, Momma.  It just got to be constant fighting and yelling.  It wasn't good for the little boy, for "G" and for me.  I am just so anxious to be happy again and living a good life with nobody yelling at me and tearing down my self esteem all the time."  Then she laughed and I could hear the relief in her voice.

Yes--it is going to be difficult for her to maintain everything on her own--financially.  But she does own the farm, she rents the fields and gets revenue from that for her property taxes.  She has been making it on her own for the last few years--when she wasn't giving money to him to help him.

Pammie doesn't fall far from the Mother Tree--she and I both have the problem of thinking we can help people (men) and end up getting used and losing our money in the process.

Of course, she has sworn off ALL MEN--she said a few words I won't repeat here about men--and I couldn't agree with her more, LOL.  I told her not to give up entirely because someday, she just might meet a Fred!!!

I hung up the phone and just wept--then shouted--then laughed--then called Pearl and told her!  We talk about our daughter's and their problems all the time, so she is well acquainted with Pam's problem life.

She yelled, "YAHOO!  Praise God!"

I wish Fred knew--he and Pam had a special relationship and he would be so very, very happy right now!!!

I am one happy Momma!!!