That Just How Friends Are!

Friday, my good friend Curley and I spent the day together.  She came in from the wild country, and we went out for breakfast.  There's this fabulous restaurant in a nearby town that is run by Amish.  They have the most wonderful biscuits and gravy, so we went there.  Then off on a hunting trip to another town looking for a yarn shop that Curley wanted to visit.  We had very general directions, and lo and behold, we never did find it, but we had a great time looking.  (We since have gotten the proper address and can Google a map the next time.)
Anyhow, we arrived back at my house with most of the afternoon available.  I asked Curley if she would help me move my living room furniture around.  I have the "easy gliders" and all that stuff, so it wasn't a taxing job, and I basically wanted her input on arrangements that I had in mind.  Well, all in all it was a success, but Curley switched into her housecleaning mode, and had me scurrying for dust rags, Pledge, the sweeper and broom and dustpan.  I had to get a damp rag and clean the woodwork behind whatever we moved and then again before we moved a piece into its new spot.  Wow!  My living room looks and feels so clean.  I tossed some stuff that had been piling up, gathered stuff that needed to go upstairs and generally got everything put back in place.
I didn't intend for Curley to clean my house, just help me decide where to put stuff.  But she said that when you move furniture there is no sense in putting it in a "dirty" spot, thus the cleaning.  I feel like I owe her "big time," but she just insists that that's just how friends are.  How lucky I am to have a friend like that!  Thank you, Curley!

Peace,
JE

What I've Been Doing...or Creative Chaos!

I've been busy in the "studio" lately.  As witnessed in the photos (that is if this dumb Blogger interface will let me do what I want with them) I have been making my annual  Christmas cards.
 Here's my work table and all (not even close) my tools of the trade!  See what I mean by "creative chaos?"

 

Here is the fruit of my labors.  I don't know why I think every card has to be different.  This year I vowed to "mass produce" only one card for everyone.  NOT!  It seems that once I get the creative juices flowing, I just keep on going. 

Here's my latest toy.  No it's not a purse, but it does look like one.  It's a Sissix brand embosser. Thanks to Prof and her astute buying skills, we went together and purchased this gem.  Hobby Lobby, with a 40% off coupon.  It's fun to use, and will add another dimension to my cards.




Now, I need to clean up the work table, grab some more coffee and get back to work.  I think I need only about 20 more cards to complete the list.  Then, I have some gifts to make.  When do the leaves get raked and the house swept and dusted.  Maybe next month!  And that's just a "maybe."

Peace,
JE

A Must Read

If you have never read "The Christmas Train" by David Baldacci,  I suggest that you do before the holidays.  If you have read it, I suggest you read it again.
I read it yesterday afternoon and finished it this morning with my coffee and doughnuts.  It is a wonderful tale about people on a train bound for L.A. at Christmas time.
It will talk to you, remind you of your childhood, and make you want to ride a train, maybe before the railroads in America are only history.
Please take the time to read this short novella.  I know it will make you cry, smile and even laugh out loud.  Definitely, it will make you believe in Christmas and the miracles that sometimes happen during the celebration of Jesus' birth.

Peace,
JE

Wednesday Blues!

Have I ever told you all just how much I hate to do laundry???  If I could afford it, the one luxury I would bestow on myself is sending my laundry out. 
Yuk!

Peace (please!)
JE

Post Photo Shoot Post

Well, all 7 of us showed up, on time, and in coordinating outfits.  The shoot went very well.  I wasn't too sold on the photographer at first, but she did well.  The only one who didn't smile was the littlest one, RJ, but he didn't cry either.  He was just "serious."  Kiddo came along, after taking the rest of the evening.  I have pics of me alone, me with my two adult children, me with the 3 grands, and then all of us together. 
After our shoot was over, my son and his family did their session.  THEN, they said that they had a family shoot already scheduled with their own photog next week, so they were being very generous with their time as well as themselves.  I was able to purchase a few, (very high priced) and will show you the goods when I get them. 
It was for a good cause, though.  In a church with a large (for our community) congregation, it's helpful to have a pictorial directory so I can put a name with a face. We have a lot of new people that have started attending, and it will also help our new pastor to put names and faces together of us older members.
All in all it was fun, a lot of laughing and very few tears.  Like I said, knowing my family the way I do, I knew it would all go well in the end.

Peace,
JE

The dreaded photoshoot (preamble)

About every 5 years, my church produces a photo album of members.  Tonight is the night I have to have my picture taken.  Since my son and his family attend there and my daughter is attending there too, we decided to have a family portrait taken.  The girls have been bantering back and forth about what we should all wear so we coordinate.  My daughter-in-law is rearranging their eating schedule so the little ones will be more content, since our photo session is at dinner time. (Poor planning on my part since I set up the early time to get this over with.)  My older grandson is trying to get a few minutes off from work and will meet us there, slip into a "non employee" shirt, get snapped, then go back to work.  All in all, this is turning into a bigger deal than I planned, but knowing my family,all will go like clockwork.  A followup blog later in the week will let you all know if we were all able to "say cheese."

Peace,
JE

Some Sage Advice

A friend sent this to me today.  I thought it was worth passing on, so to all my blogger friends that are aging right along with me:

GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY.  GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what  we get. We make a Life by what we give.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm  passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring  you through it.

'Good friends are like stars.....  ....You don't always see them, but you know they  are always  there.'

I Should Have Known Before...

It's getting colder here in the Midwest, and I get cold easier than I used to, (could it be an age thing??).  Someone mentioned that maybe I should get some Under Armor to wear this winter.  So I did part with the mega bucks and bought a shirt by this name.  Why didn't someone mention this to me before??  It's the best thing since sliced bread.  Today, it is colder and I have a fire in the gas grate, and I have on my new shirt under a long sleeved shirt.  I am warm.  I love it and would recommend it to everyone.
Thanks to my son, and Curley for telling me about this stuff.  I plan to get some "long johns" too.

Peace (and warmth),
JE

Another Month Gone!

Wow!  Another month gone by.  Where did it go?  I was looking at my calendar for September just a while ago and thought, wow, it's October starting tomorrow.  It seems like the older I get, the faster time goes.  I also notice that I had a lot of doctor appointments in September.  And more in October.  That must be a sure sign I'm getting older. 
New glasses, a tooth extraction which called for adding another tooth to my already semi-full partial, and the usual 6-7 month checkup for cholesterol and blood pressure, plus a trip to the ER for a near panic attack brought on by too much stress.  (Really it was strained chest wall muscles, which caused chest pain, which in turn caused the panicky feeling.)
So, I continue to take the meds, exercise, try to eat right, and keep on keeping on.  Fall is in the air so I will be raking leaves and getting the yard ready for winter.  I also keep busy with my hand work and card making.  I am thinking of taking a painting (acrylics) class that is going to be offered at our local Senior Center.  I keep going to my crochet club and singing in the choir.  I still read voraciously.  I enjoy all that I do and wonder sometimes how I managed to work for a living for over 50 years. 
So, as another month passes and another one comes along, I just will keep on keeping on. 

Peace,
JE

From Outside my Window

Yesterday afternoon I was sitting in my living room near an open window.  I looked out when I heard talking.  Right outside my front door, not over 12 feet away stood 3 boys and two girls, all who  looked to be about sixth graders (give or take a few months,)  The stood talking, mostly the girls talked, the boys just stood there looking confused, and somewhat awkward (like most pubescent boys do) and the girls were "all up in their faces."  I couldn't hear what they were saying, but suddenly the boys did an about-face and took off walking west.  The girls just stood there, then one of them shouted, "Hey, look at this," as she flew "the bird" at the boys.  Then, both girls did the natural "girly" thing:  they both screamed, and took off running east!  I think the boys were clueless!!!
Ahh!  Youth!  Growing up is hard to do!

Quick Book Review

I don't think I have ever requested that our local library purchase a book.  In fact, I know I haven't because until just a few weeks ago, I didn't know they took patron requests.  Anyhow, I asked them to get "A Killing in the Hills" by Julia Keller.  I had read about it coming out on one of my literary websites and thought it would be something I would like.  It was a pretty good one.  It was the author's first novel.  I was slightly disappointed that it was so wordy.  I think Ms Keller could have told the story in a lot fewer pages. 
The author really hit the poverty in the Appalachian regions on the head.  I have relatives living in that area and have seen it first hand.  Her descriptions of the area were right on, too.  This novel was what I call a "smart book," where the author isn't afraid to use the ten dollar words.  I like books like that.  I just thought there was too much "personal crap" going on behind the scenes with the main character, which didn't really add to the story, and which she left the reader hanging out there wondering what happened with her daughter and her sister.  Makes me think that this will become another series.
All in all, I would give it 3 stars out of 5.

Read on,
JE

Politics! Bah Humbug!

With the elections heating up, I am  already tired of the smear campaigns.  I for the life of me, cannot see the true value of slamming the other candidates.  To me, it only lowers my opinion of the candidates!
This about sums up my feelings of politics:

Maybe when November comes well all get some much wanted peace (and maybe some change, too.)

Peace (maybe)
JE

The Baby Grands!

No, I'm not talking about duel piano concerts.  I am just giving you an update on my two wonderful small grandchildren.  They are so cute and full of vim and vigor.  I get tired just thinking about watching them!!  I love them dearly and I want to share pics of them.  Here they are!  aren't they  the happiest kids ya ever have seen?

They make my day!

Peace,
JE

Arachnid Followup

Okay, I was amused by the spider and centipede episode, but I checked in on them a day later and GROSS(!): half of the centipede was gone.  So now, the spider and the other half of its prey is gone.  I cleaned up the corners of the room where any other wildlife might be hanging out and scrubbed the floor.  You were right Beatrice P. Bear.  Those creatures need to be elsewhere but in my house.  However, it was a good lesson for "survival of the fittest."  And, obviously, I am the fittest!  Or at least the biggest!

Peace (reigns once again),
JE

"Come Into My Parlour, said the spider to the fly."

You've heard of the survival of the fittest?  Well, here in the corner of one of my rooms, (yes there's dust bunnies, I know) is this tiny spider who has caught a huge centipede (at least huge to the spider) in his or her web.  The more the centipede struggles to be free, the more web the spider casts.  How long until the spider moves in for the "kill?"  Or will it wait until the centipede wears itself out and finally gives up and dies?  It's interesting how nature works, isn't it.  More updates as they happen!

Silence is Golden

For about 15 months after my wife died, I was alone. Then because of factors beyond her control, my daughter Prof moved home from Montana and into my attic. That was almost 4 years ago. A year and a half after she moved in, her sperm donor, who had been housing my grandson, Kiddo, decided that he didn't want Kiddo anymore. So I took him in also. So I haven't been alone since I retired, or at least, I have had someone in residence all the time since then. Last week, Prof left on Wednesday for the state capital, where her guy lives. She is staying with him for the long holiday weekend. She told Kiddo that in light of his recent behavior, (which is blog fodder for another time,) he was to find another place to crash for the long weekend. He huffed and puffed and blustered about how unfair she and I were being, but he called his dad and asked if he could crash there just for a few days. Dad said yes, believe it or not. But, Dad wouldn't give him a key and expected him to live by the rules of their house. Again a lot of blustering and bitching, and finally he gave in. I haven't seen or heard from him since last Wednesday. He texted his mom and said that Dad was being an ass (as usual) and he was staying with his friend Nick. That's okay with me.
Meanwhile, back at Casa Mine, I have had the whole place to myself. I have played the stereo loudly, have danced in the living room, have sang in the shower at the top of my lungs, and have run around in my underwear. It's quiet, and staying really neat. Any mess made since last Wednesday can only be mine. I have dined sitting on the kitchen counters, and eaten peanut butter with a spoon straight from the jar. I have stayed up as late as I wanted without the lights bothering anybody and I have NOT had the TV on more that 2 hours all the time I have been alone.
If Prof and Kiddo do decide to move on, I will miss them. I will miss Prof's tales about her job, and life. I will miss her cooking and just having her here to rely on for certain household chores. I will miss Kiddo's ramblings and even his blustering. But will I miss the constant noise of just having others in the house? NO! For, you see, silence is golden.

Friendship

Friendship. What is it? It is something that is not easy for me to cultivate, but am so lucky to have. I have a network of friends. There is Steve, Alan, and Tim. They're my singing buddies, and they are the guys that I can turn to when the going gets rough.
There is Susan. She is my accompanist when I sing, and our choir director at church. She is also a friend who just seems to understand things that I share with her.
There is Tom. He's a guy who I met in college, roomed with for two years, and that was 45 years ago. We are still best friends. He and his wife have shared their lives with me and mine for all these years. It's a wonderful thing to have a lifetime friend.
Then there is Curley. You all have heard me talk about her since I began blogging. She is this gal I met at work. She's a wife and a mom. She's a daughter and a sister, too. But to me she's a confidant, a sharer, and most of all, my friend. We worked together for a long time, and this purely platonic friendship just went from there. She has taught me how to crochet, and tried to teach me to knit. She understands loss having lost her dad recently, so I can talk to her about loss. She has children of her own, and she has become sort of a second Mom to my kids. She is a person who my children even though they are adults, will call and talk to if they have a concern. Curley is happily married to Hunter/fisherman, but he hates to shop, and craft. These are the things we do together, and he doesn't care. In fact, I think he's relieved that Curley has someone to shop and craft with so he doesn't feel like he has to. LOL! We have a lot of laughs, and also some tears, but through it all, the friendship we have is special. Curley was a good friend to my late wife, Tilly, and I know that Tilly would like the fact that we still maintain that bond.
So, when I talk friendship, I stop and think, "My how lucky I am." Friends like mine, don't just happen. A Higher Power made these friendships and I am blessed to be the recipient.
How lucky can one guy get?

Peace,
JE

I Can't Make This Stuff Up!

This really happened!

Tonight, Grandson Kiddo called me. He was on his delivery route for Pizza Hut, and the house he was to deliver to was an abandoned one. (Cruel joke???) He wanted me to look up Pizza Hut's number so he could call them for further instructions.

Me "You work for Pizza Hut and you don't know their number?"
Kiddo: " I can't remember it." (He was frustrated...it's his first week of work.)

So I got the phone book and was looking it up when...

Kiddo: "Grandpa, I found the number on the ticket."
Me: "It's probably on the pizza box, too."
Kiddo: "Yes, and on the lighted sign on top of my car...duh". "Thanks, bye."

No crap, people, this was so funny I have been rolling on the floor laughing all evening!!

Peace,
JE

Could Fall be Coming Soon?

Yesterday was one of those beautiful Indiana days. Temps were in the low 70s and there was a breeze. I played the slug all day. I relaxed on the porch, and moved in the afternoon into the back yard swing. I was reading a "can't put it down" novel, so I had an excuse. As I sat there, I looked around at the trees and sky, breathed in the fresh air, and I swear I could feel Fall in the air. Surely not already! If Fall is coming early to Indiana, then we're in for a doozie of a winter! I am sure that soon the temps will rise, along with the humidity, and summer will once again descend upon us. But for yesterday, and hopefully, today, the cooler temps are sure a harbinger of Fall.

Peace,
JE

Did you ever wonder...

Why did the right road
Take that wrong turn?
Why did our heart break?
Why'd we get burned?

Just like the seasons
There are reasons
For the path we take
There are no mistakes
Just lessons to be learned.
(Words by B. Streisand)

Peace,

JE