MY LUNCH DATE

You know how it is, don’t you?  You start to tell a story and you have to think back to the very beginning.  We bloggers want to be accurate and tell all the facts…ALL the facts…so that you will have a clear understanding of what it is exactly that we want to convey in the post in question.  So, that’s what I did…thinking waaaaay back to the very beginning of this story.

I did a post back in November about my trip to Birmingham for Pop’s eye surgery.  [He's just returned from the last check-up and all is great.  He's even cleared to drive...in the daytime.]  Anyway, Joy, Adam and I all went…with Adam doing the driving…in my car.  It is a new car and I still hadn’t learned all the things to do to get it to do what it is supposed to do.  (It is now the middle of January and I still do not know much more about it…but, I will.)  I was really excited about this car because it had Bluetooth and I could use my phone while I was driving…if I really needed to.  Alex and I had set it up so I just had to say who I wanted to call.  And, all was well.  Never mind that I didn’t know there was a lever you had to press to turn on the phone before you could say the name.  I was just riding around town yelling out “Joy, Call Joy, …………. Joy, JOY…… CALL JOY!”  And, no one came on to talk to me and say “dialing Joy.”  I felt quite stupid.  I feel quite stupid again just telling you about it.  But, it’s an important part of the story.

Adam decided that since he was doing all the driving for the three days, it would be a wonderful idea to change the Bluetooth thing to answer HIS phone and talk to him.  We did not discuss this prior to his changing things around.  It probably happened when Joy and I were doing a little shopping before the surgery and Adam and Pop were sitting in the car waiting for us because “it will only take us five minutes.”  I’m not sure.  But, I was a little surprised when the phone rang and it was for HIM.  I let it go because I didn’t know what he did and I didn’t know what to do to undo what he did.  Plus, he said it was easy to do and he would fix it back when we got home.  And, he did. Well, he thought he did.

But, when I would be driving around and my phone would ring and I would say, “Hello!”… it would keep ringing.  I would say “HELLO!  HELLO!” and no one ever spoke,  yet my phone would keep ringing.  And, when I got home, my phone would show me that Joy had called.  I would call her back and tell her that “I tried to answer, but you wouldn’t say anything”…and then she asked me if I pressed the lever on the steering wheel that had the little telephone on it.  She said the little picture was on there so it would be easy to see that it was the lever to push to operate the telephone.  And I said, “No…nobody told me I had to push a lever to talk.”  And, I’m not sure, but I think she probably thought I was stupid, too, cause that’s how sisters can be and besides she’s had her new Volvo that she could talk on longer than I’ve had my Pilot.   I bet she had to take lessons or something at the Jr. College.

I explained it all to Alex, who set everything up the first time, and he said he would fix it.  I have waited for weeks and one evening about a week ago, he FINALLY he agreed to walk 6 steps to my car and take Adam’s phone business out of the phone lady’s brain and put mine in.  Then I had to tell the lady all the names again and say them real loud, and we got it all set.  I now know there is a lever to push to answer and one to hang up and something else to do if I want to say “JOY” and have the phone lady do the hard work.  I was so excited that it was all finally fixed and I was ready to hop in my car and go the first time I had need to.  All was right with the world once again.

Suzanne picked up that amazing grandson of mine early on Wednesday, so I decided to go to the grocery store.  When I say the cupboard is bare…I mean the cupboard is BARE!.  Got in the car and turned the key…nothing happened.  NOTHING!  Not a sound!  Not even a whimper.  Oh, well, maybe I just wasn’t supposed to go to the grocery store today.  Corn Dogs for supper!  I told Don about it and he asked, “what did you leave on in the car?”  I told him I had not even been in the car in two weeks.  He said I must have because the car would not just go dead for no reason.  And, I am a forgetful girl.  So, I thought and thought about when I used the car last.  And, I remembered.  I remembered that Alex and I had sat in the car to fix my phone and it got dark while we were sitting there and I could not see those ##### levers and one of us turned a light on so I could see.  Alex said “It wasn’t me!” and so I suppose that it could have, possibly, maybe have been me.  But, I’m not sure.

In the meantime, my dear friend, Judy called and invited me to lunch with she and Kathy on Friday.  I wasn’t going to have Levi, so I said, “SURE!”  Cause they are two really good friends and I had not talked with either of them in several months.

My plans were beginning to gel.  First I would make a mad dash to TJM to pick up a gift, then meet them for lunch.  Then a quick (who am I kidding?) stop in Hobby Lobby and on to the grocery store.  With a final stop at the drive thru window at CVS because we can not drive past there without at least slowing down and tossing some money in the window lest they  think something was wrong with us!

So, Don brought a battery charger home and put it on the car yesterday and it charged all evening and all night.  I rested in the assurance that when I needed my car at 10 this morning, it would crank up willingly.  Alex was even going to call me on my phone to be sure it worked right when I left. I got my bath and dressed, and waited for Don to take the battery charger off the car, so I could go.  He did, and I waved bye.  And, nothing.  NOTHING! I tell you!  Not even a little try!  Well, isn’t that a fine how do you do?

Because, now it was 10:45 and I was to meet them for lunch at 11:30…and my plan was already off because I had to wait on someone to slowly shave and get his clothes on and then check his mail and recheck his briefcase to make sure he had everything he needed before he left because he is a thorough man!  He starts looking around the garage for who knows what…but all my stuff is in his way.  So, I begin to move furniture…in my nice white, freshly ironed button down shirt…in 32 degree weather!  I pulled 2 straight chairs and 2 rocking chairs and 1 wheelchair out into the driveway.  I then put two boxes up on top of the 3 short Christmas trees that were packed away by me and Patty.  NOW…nothing hindered anyone from getting anything into the middle stall of the garage.  Nothing at all and especially not 2 straight chairs, and 2 rocking chairs and one wheelchair and 2 boxes and just a few other minute things!!!

He couldn’t find what he was looking for, so he said for me to come on and he would take me.  I told him I did not want to go and sit at Olive Garden for 30 minutes and he kindly offered for me to go with him to eat breakfast and then he would take me.  I had been standing outside in 32 degree weather with no jacket and my house slippers on for 20 minutes and I was chilled to the bone.  My white shirt didn’t look so fresh and my hair was having a fine old time just blowing here and there, willy-nilly.  So, I told him I just wasn’t going…it was too late.  So, he said OK and left for work.  I came in the house and called the girls and told them and then got out the heating pad for my knees.  They were screaming at me….my knees, not my friends.  And, it was OK, because I really didn’t feel too well.  I began having a sore throat last night and I had been coughing this morning.

At 11:30, I  saw his truck come whizzing into the driveway.  He had gotten a set of jumper cables and managed to get his truck into the middle stall even though I had already moved the 2 straight chairs and the the 2 rocking chairs and the wheelchair back into the garage.He attached them to the car and called me to come out.  He told me to “crank ‘er up”.  And, I did.  And, she roared into action.  He had me sit there and gas it a little and then he gassed it alot and said, “Now keep these jumper cables with you so you’ll always have them.”  OK.  I could do that.  He said for me to “go on to lunch and if my car died again, find someone to jump me off.”  OK.  I was NOT going to do that today.  My knees were hurting  and my head had started pounding.  I did not tell him that.  Perhaps he read it on my face. But, he said he had to go back to work.  I came inside.  And, I’m sure what happened next was his attempt at kindness.  He came back in and said, “Here, take my truck.  I’ll just take your car and keep it charged up.  But, I’m really low on gas, you’ll have to stop and fill the tank!.” OK. Well…no, I was not going to do that today, either.

 

He left and I resumed my position on the bed.  And, I have been here all day.  My throat hurts and my head hurts and my nose is running and I’m running a fever and we have no groceries and I did not have a long, leisurely lunch with my friends.  I did not hear about their grandchildren, nor did they hear about mine.  We did not get to laugh and enjoy things that only girlfriends of long standing can.

But, it’s OK.  I’ll feel better.  We’ll do lunch again soon.  My car will be fully charged.  And, there’s 2 corndogs left in the freezer for he and Alex for supper.   I suppose I’ll just have to make do with that unopened box of Girl Scout cookies…the chocolate with peanut butter ones.  I’ll manage.  Besides, I didn’t even have any lunch!

Good ‘ole Maxine knows just how I feel…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by on Jan 15, 2012 in Family, Friends, General, HUMOR | 7 comments

CHRISTMAS REMEMBERING

The carols of Christmas have been around for ages and no one can improve on them or their message.  They are the time-honored classics that we sing in church and as we go carolling.  We hear them in our cars, in the mall and in from our homes.  They are the songs that bring tears to our eyes, because we can recall singing them with our parents or grandparents or dear friends.  They stir our hearts because they remind us of the true Christmas meaning.  Can you imagine hearing the host of angels in the sky singing, “Gloria, Gloria in Excelsis Deo!”  (which means “in exaltation of God.”)?  I can.  Just read these beautiful words…from the song   Angels, From the Realm of Glory

Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

Refrain

Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant light:

Refrain

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star.

Refrain

Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear;
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear.

Refrain

Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you; break your chains.

Refrain

Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:

Refrain

All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To th’eternal Three in ONE

*************************

I love how each verse talks about a different group of people…Angels, Shepherds, Sages (Wise Men), Saints, Sinners, Us, All creation.  Is anyone exempt from this most marvelous gift?  No…it is for everyone!  He came for everyone!

Thinking of these songs reminds me of the wonderful years we had together at Southside Baptist Church when we performed a Christmas Pageant which included  a huge Living Christmas Tree.  I was the drama director for the program, working with Tina. These are some pics of our children when they were a part of it…such beautiful memories.

 

 

 

 

 

Adam and Carrie…Alex and Ben…A King’s Court…Ian, Elizabeth,and Hannah…Tara and Lori…Mom and Danielle (as homeless family)…

I have hundreds more…we did it for many years.  Looking at these pics, it brings a prayer to my heart.  ”I pray that my children always remember the foundation they were given in church.  May they always hold Christmas and its true meaning close to their hearts.  And, may they always be bold to share the wonderful story with others.”  Amen

Happy Christmas Eve Eve!

Posted by on Dec 23, 2011 in Faith, Family, Friends, General, Remembering | 1 comment

A LITTLE EYE CANDY

Just a few images to share…they make me happy and remind me of the blessings that I have…..

Chillin’ in the pack and play…..look at those sweet leg rolls!

 

Trying to eat a new Christmas Ornament…..

 

Playing with Lucy Jane…….

 

Looking cute in shirt Lulu painted for him…

 

Making friends with Snowman….

 

Beautiful, beautiful boy………

 

 

Some scenes of the wooden bridge leading to my house….it is on the only road we have, about halfway down…..it is lit up with tiny white lights for Christmas!  Such a welcoming sight when returning home after dark……  I tried to get some pictures at night….but they didn’t do too good.  Adam tried a little earlier in the evening and got some fairly good ones.  The first ones are his…..

 

 

 

The one above is mine…with some ‘doo dahs’ added ….fair…and below, is a much better picture of the Glory angel…Adam said mine was not clear enough…and he was right…

 

 

 

Posted by on Dec 10, 2011 in Decor, Family, Friends, General | 7 comments

BLESSINGS

And, so the Thanksgiving Weekend comes to a close.  It’s been a sweet one for the Owens’.

On Thursday, we celebrated Thanksgiving…..of course, I told you, Joy was in charge of the feast….

It was wonderful, as we knew it would be, and we all enjoyed it!

Sweet Tara came bringing John Thomas, who is into everything and talking a mile a minute!  So precious!

And we were all joined by our friend Danielle and her fiance, Zach.  It was great to have them with us, as well.

After lunch…Joy cleaned the kitchen…and we set about decorating Pop’s house for Christmas.  That was the part I was in charge of…lest you think I was a slackard and just let everyone else do the work!  And, as you see here…I managed to put my whole self into the job…

This is not finished, by the way…but I pretty well was by the time I did this cute little trick two times!!!

While we ladies, including Suzanne and Tara worked…Tommy tried to keep John Thomas corralled…

 

And, Don tried his best to entertain Levi….

Lori came in a little later she had to work at the hospital today…  She helped Joy divide the food that was left…

I struggled to get one picture with Sweet Levi….  Isn’t his shirt cute?  His Lulu made it for him…:-)

But all he wanted was his Mama…

And all Pop wanted was another piece of pumpkin pie!

As you can see…after the fiasco with John Thomas and Levi (last post) we didn’t even try any more posed pictures.

Posed or not…the family was together and these pictures show us working together…all doing our part…(Ian got the things out of the attic…Adam will put them back…Will was hunting  a deer for another feast)…having fun just being together.  All the things a family is supposed to do.  What a blessed day!

AND—HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET DAUGHTER IN LOVE!  WHAT A BLESSING YOU ARE TO US ALL!  I LOVE YOU, MY DEAR!

AND, THEN…on Friday evening, Ian announced that he was cooking a meal for us.  He snagged Adam to help him and they went to the grocery store and the butcher shop…they got all the ingredients they needed…and came home to begin the creations.  He informed us we were having Roast Pork Loin stuffed with Rosemary, Bacon and Onion…..Spoon Bread…..Pear Crostata and Apple Crostata.  And, cook it, he did.  Yelling to Adam and Alex to ‘stir’ or ‘turn the heat down’ and to Don to ‘hurry up and grate that cheese’.  And, my only contribution was to set the table and fix the glasses of tea.  Why, friends, we could have been eating in the fanciest restaurant in Anytown, USA.  It was delicious!  He did a wonderful job at preparing all three.  Just look at these……..(and that was no store bought dough, either)

 

What was left…

 

And this was all that was left of the roast pork…

I know you are not used to seeing pics of good food on my blog…but, this was too good not to share!

On Saturday, Ian and Adam did computer work.  While Suzanne was out he called and asked her to cook some hamburgers.  She adds ‘magical ingredients’ when she mixes up her hamburgers and they are so good.  Of course, WE didn’t get to sample them this time!  :-)

Sunday was a sweet time at church, and Ian headed out to Birmingham early.  This is Monday and Joy and Pop have gone to Birmingham for his first check up since his eye surgery.

Life is full of blessings for us, but we were so sad that Alex could not be with us on Thanksgiving, but he was able to get up for a while to help Ian with his feast.  Alex’s health continues to be a matter of prayer for us, and we are content with the fact that God’s hears our prayers.  He continues to give us all strength…and we are ever hopeful that we will discover help for him at some point in time.  God is good…all the time.

Now…let the countdown to Christmas begin!

 

Posted by on Nov 28, 2011 in Decor, Faith, Family, Friends, General | 6 comments

THREE GOOD THINGS

Love, love, LOVE these candles!  I have told you about them before, but it bears repeating, I think.  The pictured scent is my favorite.  I can light it in my kitchen and it scents the whole house.

 And, the scent lasts all the way through the candle.  I’ve learned recently about how some of the more famous candle makers scent their candles on the top only, so that by the time you get halfway down the candle, the scent is gone.  Not fair, I say!  And, that is why they smell so strongly when you open the lid to smell them.  Now, this little candle…WalMart…around $5.oo…is wonderful.  There are several scents to choose from, but in all honesty, this one lasts the longest.  I have, however, found another one in the collection that I really like, as well, for this time of year.  It is Mulled Cider.  Very nice, cozy, homey scent…perfect for fall.  This is the size I always buy, even though they do come in a larger size with a glass top.  Haven’t tried those…so don’t know how the scent holds up.  I use the Cranberry Mandarin all year long.  And one more good thing…that big sticker on the front…it peels right off  (with no gunk left over) so the candle looks presentable any where you may wish to place it.  (It’s the little things, isn’t it, friends?)

No, Wal Mart did not hire me to sell their candles.  Nor did they pay me to endorse them.  I just think if something is good…and makes you smile…we ought to share that info.  So, that’s what I did.

 

OK, you’ve got to hurry if you are going to take advantage of this next goody!   This is available for a limited time only…and that’s the truth.  I found this two years ago. And, I learned then that it is only sold during the Fall.  Last year, I never could find it and after some super sleuth work on my part…I learned it is only sold at Wal Mart.  This year, I went early…and there it was!  Pretty as you please…right in the frozen food section of Wal-Mart.

This is wonderful!  Now don’t go thinking that it tastes like frozen pumpkin pie.  It doesn’t.  It is very smooth and creamy…with just a touch of pumpkin flavor.  And, there is graham cracker crust mixed in.  It’s divine!  Really!  Just one thing…this is a pint,  just a little, bitty pint.

I ‘m sorry this is such a bad photo, but…I think you can read it well enough to see that someone who obviously doesn’t enjoy the delight that is scrumptious ice cream, decided that this itty, bitty,little pint holds 4 (FOUR) servings!  Four?  Are you kidding me?  I’ve heard of people who ate the whole pint at one sitting.  I don’t know them personally…but I think that it really could be possible.

No, Wal Mart did not hire me to sell their ice cream.  Nor did they pay me to endorse it.  I just think if something is good…and really, REALLY YUMMY…we ought to share that info.  I did.  And, you can eat as many servings at one time as you want to.  No one is looking.  Really.  Enjoy!

 

Recently I shared with you a sweet CD I had bought for Levi before we even knew there was going to be a Levi.  And, I’d like to tell you about another one that I found just the other day.  It is by Jewel.  Are you familiar with her?  Well, while I was shopping, I found this and decided to give it a try.  

It is titled Lullaby.  Jewel has a soft soprano voice, and this CD is beautiful.  There are a few classical children’s songs on it, but for the most part, the songs are all original.  I put it on when Levi goes down for his afternoon nap.  And, we both listen.I have found myself humming several of the melodies.  I hesitate to tell you where I got this.  But, I will…you know ‘truth in blogging and all that’.  It is put out by Fisher Price, and I bought it at Wal Mart.  I checked, though, and you can also get it at Barnes and Nobel or Amazon.

No, Wal Mart did not hire me to sell their CD’s.  Nor did they pay me to endorse this one.  I just think if something is good…and soothing and calming…we ought to share that info.  And, so I did.

 

Friends, I never go to Wal Mart anymore, really.  I have to cross the highway to go there and Target is on this side of the highway.  I went once a few weeks ago for something specific, and obviously my shopping radar was on full blast.  It’s just not a place I go regularly anymore.  Though it’s clear to me they have things that have quite an appeal to me!  Maybe I should just go ahead and cross that highway and visit there more often.  Perhaps when my supply of candles is gone…..or my supply of Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream !

PS

Joy and I are taking Pop back to Birmingham on Wednesday and Thursday to see 2 more doctors about his eyes.  They definitely want to do surgery, but Pop is still not sure.  So, we are going to see the doctor that does the surgery to get some more information.  Then seeing a low vision specialist to see if they have some aids that may help him.  Please say a prayer for us as we travel.  And, as we begin to make decisions to help Pop’s vision.  Also, Alex has had an extremely bad few weeks dealing with his pain.  Even his strongest meds are not helping.  We thank you in advance for praying for our family.

Hope the weather where you are is as nice as it is here.  Enjoy your week!

 

 

Posted by on Oct 25, 2011 in Decor, Family, Friends, General | 8 comments

BEAUTIFUL BEARS ARE MISSING

Where, O where can my little bears be?

O where, O where can they be?

I’ve looked high and low

But they just won’t show,

O where, O where can they be?

O where, O where can my little bears be?

O where, O where can they be?

They all are so dear…

And I had them last year.

O where, O where can they be?

O where, O where can my little bears be?

O where, O where can they be?

I wish they’d come out…

If I found them I’d shout!

O where, O where can they be?

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

It’s true…they are nowhere to be found.  And, there are 3 more not pictured.  You would think they would be packed up with al the other fall decor that I get out and pack back up every year.  But, no—–obviously I thought I had a better place to store them than in the correct place.  Why do I continuously sabotage myself?  Oh, well, it’ll be a great surprise when they do turn up.  (Sorta like when I hide my own Easter Eggs)

So, if you happen to see any unaccompaned minor bears…please call 1=800=334=Fnd=Bers..

Posted by on Oct 24, 2011 in Friends, General, HUMOR | 5 comments