This and that ---- not really that much to share ...........

There really isn't much news so I'll try to keep this short and.....well, short.  I had an appointment with my Duke Lymphoma Oncologist this morning. I was scheduled for the blood work at 11:00am and for the doctor at 12:00pm.  We didn't have to wait long for the blood work so we figured that meant we would have a longer wait for the doctor.  As it turned out, they were running ahead of schedule and got us in right away.  It was the fastest appointment I have had at the Duke Cancer Center since I've been going there over two years now. The other good news is my blood work didn't show many changes so I was pretty happy with how it all went today.  Dr. Beaven asked me how often I see my Melanoma physicians and I explained how I see one of them every 6 months - when I see my Radiation Oncologist, he schedules me to see my Melanoma Surgeon in 3 months - then when I see him, he schedules me to see the ....you get the point.  She then suggested we change my appointment schedule with her to every 6 months instead of every 3 months and I agreed that it would be fine. I haven't scheduled a follow-up appointment with my other Lymphoma Oncologist and may just stop going to him altogether.  It really is a duplication of efforts having two of them.  I'm not going to worry about it since I can make that decision later.  I was happy that I had time to listen to a young man playing the baby grand in the downstairs lobby while waiting for the car to be brought out front.  That piano has a beautiful quality to it - especially when it is played by someone so talented. Made me think of Barbara Ann - she played beautifully too....

I may have shared this before but ran across it in my jewelry drawer and decided to share it again. I always loved hearing Mama sing this song so one day, I made her write it down for me.  I also love seeing her handwriting again.  Brings back nothing but good memories and feelings.....

Debbie came to clean yesterday and I asked her to help shake out the valances in the kitchen. She actually made these for me after Sue had bought the material for them when she was here last. Dwight came home in time to help her hang them back up after I was given the job of putting them back on the rods.  She also pinned up several skirts I want her to hem for me.  I realized today that I may have given her a skirt I was planning to wear to the Assembly Saturday. I'm pretty sure I can make do with another one I have that didn't need any alterations. 

Dwight asked me if I needed anything from the store and under my breath I said, flowers.  It worked - he brought me this small bunch of daisies! This was taken as soon as I put them in water. About an hour later, the water had turned a deep pink color.  Actually looks even prettier that way. 

This is a great picture of three of my favorite people in the world.  I miss Ike and Ennis so much.  I'm sure Judy misses them even more than I do.  I just realized I haven't written anything about Aunt Eunice.  I received  call from her daughter, Evelyn, telling me she had died this past Sunday.

She was 86 years old and the last of my Aunts (last of that generation) on both sides of my family.  She was married to Mama's brother, Charlie, but Mama loved her as much as if she was her own sister. She and Uncle Charlie had three children, Dwayne (Joy), Rex (June) and Evelyn (Barry).  Dwayne and his wife, Joy, died a few years ago. I know Evelyn and Rex will miss her but life will move on.

 

 It is a little unsettling to realize you are now part of the older generation in your family. That you and your cousins make up that generation Mama and Aunt Eunice used to be from.  It brought back home that there are only 4 sisters now - not the original 6 or the long term 5 girls in Mama and Daddy's family - just the four girls and their children and for some grandchildren.  Oh well, this one really makes me sad.  She really was a very special lady and will be missed by everyone who knew her. I have been fighting sleep the entire time I've been trying to write this. I really do need to give up and let the sleep I've been fighting take me away to dream land.  Good night.......

Is it really February....

I have started this post several times and then something happens, a phone call, a call from "nature", I fall asleep because I waited too long....you get the picture.  Anyway, I'm determined to finish this post tonight.  It was a good day today.  I decided to take advantage of a beautiful day to walk outside.

As I walked in the back yard, I ran across another piece of glass from many years ago.  We are convinced someone who lived here must have burned their trash back there.  This piece of glass is very dense and has a light green tint to it.  I also loved the small patch of light green lichen beside it.  I decided to walk next door to see my neighbors and to give them a key to our house in case of any emergencies. Debbie has a key but since they live right next door, I thought it would be wise for them to have one too - especially if I lock myself out of the house by mistake. I totally enjoyed my visit with Patsy and Alton.  I stayed way longer than I intended but Patsy and I enjoyed getting to know each other better. When I got ready to come home, Patsy decided to walk with me and came in for a visit. Of course she fell under Miya's spell. It turns out she loves cats also and is looking forward to having hers back with her when her Dad comes down.  We ended up in the back bedroom talking and Miya ended up sound asleep under Patsy's coat on the bed where we were sitting.

She sent me a link to the house they are buying.  The link allows you to "walk through" the house to get an idea of what it is like and it is big!  I love the house and feel confident they will be very happy there.  It is out in the country with a barn/garage (you can see it on the left) a fenced in back yard and lots of land around them. I will hate to lose them as neighbors but am happy because they are happy.

 I finally got to meet and hold Lyla up close and personal. Her Mom brought her by for a very, very quick visit on her way to handle some business with a car.  She had prepared me that she wouldn't be able to stay for any length of time and I assured her that I understood and made myself not whine

 

when she had to leave.  I so appreciate that she made it possible for me hold this precious little one for a few minutes. She came right to me with a big smile on her face. Jessie told me she was like that with almost everyone.  Jessie hated that she couldn't stay for a visit but I assured her that I understood and really appreciated she took those few minutes to share Lyla with me.

Of course I had to count her little toes - isn't that what Southern women do?  We like to make sure everything is where it should be. I love that look on her face.."what - ya never seen a foot before"?

I ran across this picture that was taken in May or June of 2000.  That is Douglas and Jessie cuddling on the sofa. She was pregnant here and not  really showing very much.  She was due in December but as we all know, Page decided she didn't want to wait until her due date and she came in September.

Matt stopped by for a short visit and of course, Miya took it upon herself to let him know just how much we have all missed him.

 

 

Of course she got her way and "made" him love on her.  Look at Matt's self-satisfied look in the last picture.  That look is saying, "Oh yeah - she loves me".  Hey - we all love you Matt - why wouldn't Miya love you too? He has been quite busy lately - with good things - but I miss seeing him more.

I called Geral several weeks ago to see if she could "baby-sit" me while Dwight was out of town. It turns out she and Sheila had recently gotten home from their trip to West Palm Beach to see Janet.

I love this picture of Geral with Janet. Geral said they had a wonderful time and were so glad they went. I enjoyed having Geral stay with me the last time Dwight went fishing. She promised she would come back and stay with us when Dwight is in town soon. 

I received an email telling me I had a $30 gift certificate toward some fresh flowers so I looked at the ones they had on the same page and picked the one you see above that had a marked-down price of $18.95 plus shipping. I figured the $30 gift certificate would cover that.  They signed the card from - "Me" which I thought was funny and cute.  I received the flowers I had ordered but the container I had picked out was a round globe and a lot prettier than this one. The invoice ended up being more than $40.00.  When I emailed them about it, they pointed out that the special price didn't apply to any other offers.  When I went back and looked at the original email, every arrangement on the page with the offer was on sale and the "disclaimer" was at the bottom in small print. I let them know I would never order anything from them again. They then sent me an email making me the very same "offer" they had made before.  Argghh!!

While we are doing pictures, I'll share this one I pulled from Facebook of Gina and three of her sisters.  There is one more girl and I love every one of them.  They had two brothers also, one of whom is married to a very dear friend of mine who also worked with me at Elite. They are all beautiful - inside and out.  Whenever I am with all of them at the same time, it makes me think of the times I spend with my four sisters.

 

Miya was looking out at the pitiful amount of snow we finally got recently. It didn't even cover the grass in the front yard. Kelly said she left work early and was still trapped on the highway for five hours.  The really sad thing is they got twice as much snow in Georgia than we got here.

What is even sadder is that Patsy got more snow in Emerald Isle on the beach than we got.  This is a picture she took of her deck. Hello?  If it is going to snow, then snow for goodness sake. 

 I had to share this picture of Brenda's new coat. Her sweet hubby, Kevin, took the picture and put it on Facebook.  Isn't that the sweetest. I still think of them so often and of the wonderful time we had with them.  When I look at the picture I can remember being in that room. 

I know - not the most attractive picture. The picture above is my upper teeth since the surgery and radiation which has resulted in my having chronic dry mouth. I was told I could even lose my teeth due to the dryness of my mouth so I have tea or water beside me all the time or keep gum on hand to chew.  Dry mouth is very uncomfortable and at times very painful.  I go for a cleaning about every three months now instead of six. My dentist is also having to put tiny fillings in several of my teeth and I  mentioned to him that I was learning how to smile with my mouth closed because my teeth are so dark now.  The next time I went, he was almost finished when he mentioned quietly to me that he wanted to try something.  He said he didn't know if it would work so I would literally be a guinea pig and it might not work or last but he didn't like to think of me not smiling if there was something he could do to help.  He asked if I would be willing to be a guinea pig and I said definitely.

These are the results! I am so very, very happy.  He warned me again they may not last (veneers) - that they may also become discolored or not stay on but I don't care - I love them.  Dwight bought me some Crest whitening toothpaste to use along with the Biotene toothpaste and the prescription high fluoride toothpastes I already use.  Yeah- I have to be careful or I'm going to look like a dog with rabies - foam mouth!!! It was so sweet of him though. I kept thinking about what I could do to show my appreciation and finally decided a gift certificate to Parizade would be nice. Now - just to figure out how to get over there and buy the gift certificate!  I found his and his wife's home address and will send it to them in a card but I need to get the actual certificate! 

 I bought these flowers when I was at the grocery store with Dwight. I picked up the two things I needed and could not pass up these pretty flowers - another one of my favorites.  The week before that, I purchased some bamboo from Wellspring for my living room window.  If you look closely at the black wood block beside them with the white writing on it, you will find my latest gift from Kelly.  This was a song we sang together while she was growing up.  I would sing the first part of a sentence and she would finish with the last word - i.e., Me: "I love " and she would say "you", Me: "A bushel and a" and she would say "peck", .....anyway, you get the idea. So very sweet of her to share this with me.  Alice received the same block from Kelly (Alice used to baby-sit for me when I had to work) and I'm sure she probably sang that song with Kelly too. Got to sign off before I go to sleep on the computer.  What a mess that would be not including how angry I would be with myself.

talented women, hanging terrariums and things that make me feel good

As most people know, I follow several blogs (listed on the right hand side of my front page) and from time to time I find wonderful treasures through their experiences.  I guess the ones I look at the most are the artist in Mexico, the artist in Southern France, and the two wonderful artists in Canada.  I also follow a few blogs of personal friends but find they don't write on their blogs very often.  Several friends have started blogs and then just stopped. I have a folder of other blogs I look at about once a month. I guess some find it easier to use Facebook and I do understand that. The four lovely women I mentioned first bring us into their lovely homes where we see they are wives and mothers and share their lives, their recipes and their ideas.   The best part is they share the things they create with each other and US - even letting us watch the process.  They let us celebrate the little high points and sometimes the low points of their every day lives.  And that people- is blogging.  I enjoy writing so I guess that is what I share with the few people who read my little blog.  I know- I'm not an artist - I don't have many talents - but I've always said my best talent is my deep appreciation of others who have real talents and I love to support them.  If following their blogs and commenting from time to time makes them feel good, then why would I not do that? There is a beautiful young woman in my congregation who is SO talented.  She can draw and paint anything. Her style is whimsical - she does lots of face painting at parties and other avenues from time to time. And then there is a sister who lives in the Northern part of town who creates lovely jewelry. I am in awe of both of them and wish them much success when they have a table at the Farmer's Market and any other endeavor they try.

The way I found the hanging terrariums is through one of the lovely, talented women I spoke about above.  She highlighted them on her blog and I fell totally in love with them. You can find them in a shop called crown flora but they are located in Canada.  They have a web site if you are interested. I am so hoping Jennifer will look at this and start making them so she can make me one. I have a perfect place to hang one or two - hint, hint.  There are more pictures on the blog on my front page called: resurrection fern . 

Darrell brought his granddaughter, Tilly, over with him when he came to look at my computer.  She is not only very cute, but she is also very smart and extremely social. She insisted I wear the other crown she found in the toy bag from the back. I really need to get some new things to go in there for kids to play with when the come over.    

Miya decided to watch her from a distance while sitting on one of her perches. She is pretty wary of little ones when they come over.  Poor baby, she almost covers the top of the cat scratcher doesn't she?  She hasn't gained any weight but sometimes, it looks like she has.  Weight - the bane of every woman's existence in one way or another.  

I received a package from Zandra and Mike today.  She sent me four of these cups - the other two look like these two.  I fell in love with hers when she was here with me and asked her to let me know how to buy one. She gave me hers when she left and promised she would try to find more of them.  I don't know how she did it but she texted me and told me she had found them.  I had no idea she had bought me four of them but I do love them.  I really like the bright colors and lids.  THANK YOU Z! 

I snatched this picture from Facebook. This is my dear friend Mimi's daughter Mimi and her dear hubby and beautiful son.  Her Dad was a famous painter, her mother was a dance teacher and she and her Mom came several years and participated in the American Dance Festival at Duke. That was many years ago but she is obviously very talented in many areas.

I have highlighted these two little Punky Pals that were made by Mimi on my blog before.  She sent me the yellow one many years ago and I purchased the white one when I bought two for Katarina's two little girls.  Not sure where the little monkey came from but I keep them out of the pink bag. I don't let just anyone play with them and they are not going home with anyone.  Her Punky Pals are sold in a nice little boutique there in Honolulu. She also showed a beautiful light colored wood light fixture made by one of her friends I think on one of her pages that I would LOVE to have.  Alas, I'm sure it is too pricey for this retired old lady. Hopefully it will stop raining eventually.  It has been dark and raining off and on all day but now it is pouring down and doesn't look like it will be letting up anytime soon.  I just looked on-line and the high today was 48.  They are calling for rain all night into the morning and then it is supposed to stop raining and the high is supposed to be 70 degrees! Welcome to the South ya'll. 

Time keeps marching onward regardless of what is going on.......

Here we are 9 days into the year 2014 and it seems like it was just yesterday that we were entering into the year of 2013.  Mama was so right - as we get older, time seems to move by much faster.  I hope I will handle that as gracefully as she did - and yes - I still miss her every day. A conversation on Facebook made me realize again just how blessed Dwight and I both were to have such wonderful mothers.  They were different in many ways except one - they loved their children - including the loved ones of their children. We were talking about our parents the other day and Dwight was saying how much he also misses his Daddy.  He was very close to his Dad and inherited his love of fishing.  He also developed his Dad's ability to "fix" things.  Everything from cars to hair dryers.

I snatched this picture from Facebook. This was when our precious Dorothy had grown so very tired.  Monica knew that Alice totally understood and felt her pain when it was time to finally let her go.  Theirs was a beautiful love story - one of those that don't come along too often.  She will be loved and remembered by so many of us who knew her. 

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I love this picture of Douglas playing around with his friend.  Except for the blonde hair, he looks SO much like Daddy. I know I have mentioned it before but I have a picture of Daddy when he was about 17 that looks so much like Douglas.  My beautiful baby boy.  I miss him.  I have been missing all of my children - especially since none of them came up this past month like they normally do.  I did get to see Page for a few hours when Carmen and Wally stopped by with her on their way down South for their big vacation trip.  Sadly, Carmen is still in the hospital but she is improving.  There are some things that have to take place before they let her come home.  I know she and Wally will be so glad when she feels better and they can be back in their own home.  At least they have family there to support them. 

Vera was in service and sent me this picture of a Cat Mailbox.  She knows how much I do love a sweet cat. It would only stand to reason that I would close today's post with a picture of my beautiful Princess Miya Chula Yum-Yum. 

Now I have to ask you, who could look at that beautiful face and not love it? She did not like it at all when the power went out night before last and the temperatures dropped into the low single digits. Dwight said he felt her crawl under the comforter and settle down close to his legs.  For once, he didn't kick her out.  By the time we woke up a second time, the power was back on.  It did take a little while for the house to warm up again but it could have been much worse. I felt so bad for the men and women whose jobs includes them having to be out in weather like that to make sure we have power and other utilities.   

New Chairs.....

Dwight bought a great Lazy Boy rocking chair a little over two years ago right before I came home from the hospital.  To say it was comfortable is putting it mildly.  I have literally lived in that chair since I came home that day.  Needless to say, there have been multiple accidents with me falling asleep with an opened Ensure in my lap.  Dwight has washed it several times but he said it has started smelling bad and we needed to get another chair. Long story short, we went to Lazy Boy and came home with not one, but two new dark green Lazy Boy rocking chairs.

This doesn't really show the fabric and color very well.  It a rougher texture than the other one and is a bit smaller. 

Needless to say, Princess Miya Chula Yum-Yum has made sure she has tested both of the chairs out.  The main problem she has had is the fact they are both rocking chairs. She has to do a little balancing dance whenever she jumps up on the back of this one to lay down.  Sadly, the dark green color really highlights her beautiful hair, including the hair she leaves behind. Poor Dwight isn't the easiest person to shop for something with. These were on sale and he liked them and kept saying I'm not going to stay in this store all day - so I said Okay - we will take them!  They loaded them into the back of Dwight's truck and we brought them home. I think he might have hurt himself insisting on moving them in on his own He really doesn't like to ask anyone for help but I did what I could to help him.  He took my old one down to the car wash in the back of his truck and washed and rinsed it with the pressure washer.  Debbie stopped by and offered to bring over her water vacuum cleaner and he said Nah - he didn't want to bother with it. So it is sitting on our porch and I am so hoping the fresh air will dry it out . If it does dry well and there is no longer a smell, we may bring it back in and use it.  I'm sorry, it truly is so comfortable  I spoke with Jessie today and she said there is still no official diagnoses.  Her mother is getting a little better - as long as she takes her meds, doesn't eat anything and doesn't try to walk anywhere on her own. So that is all the news from our abode - other than I got my hair cut today. 

Only two days left of the year 2013 ---- 2014 --- here we come.......

Wow, these past two years have either drug by or flown by - depending on my mood.  Today, it feels like they have flown by.  So many things have happened and yet, here I am - still sitting in this poor old rocking chair that I have almost worn out. It has been cold, windy and raining the past few days but the sky has brightened up and you can almost see some blue in it.  I didn't sleep well at all last night but woke up this morning in time to listen in to the meeting.  I am so happy our meeting time is changing to 1:00pm starting next Sunday. Katarina told me their meeting time is going to 1:00pm for them too starting next Sunday.  That should help me tremendously.  I thoroughly enjoyed being at the meeting this past Thursday night.  There are still quite a few faces I don't recognize but hopefully I will get to know them this coming year.  Matt was the chairman this morning and said the opening prayer. It was such a good prayer.   Jessie called a little bit ago.  She wanted to let me know she is driving down to Florence, SC.  Her Mom has been admitted to the hospital.  It sounds like it is something to do with the stomach and or colon.  Marlan, Briana, KennaKat, Delani and Avery came to visit with me Saturday. The girls drug the big pink bag from the back room into the living room and each one of them picked a little toy to take home with them.  I really need to add some things to the bag since so many things have been picked over.  I also need to clean the junky stuff out of there. 

Marlan has had all of her children with her this weekend.  Here she is with her youngest granddaughter and youngest grandson.  Aren't they too cute?  I could squeeze them both to pieces.  Since none of our children came to town this last month of the year like they usually do, it has been very quiet.  Between Douglas having to work, Jessie having a cold and Kelly needing a break from so much traveling, it just wasn't possible.  At least we got to be together for a short while the end of last month.  We really appreciated that Wally and Carmen brought Page to visit on their way to Wilmington, Myrtle Beach and Florence.  They were planning to stop by on their way back home and we were hoping that maybe they might even be able to spend the night.  That brings me back to Carmen - I'll be worried until I hear from Jessie and that will be later.  I may break down and call Wally before Jessie gets there........I'm sure prayers will be welcomed.

WOW - Two days in a row!!! Unheard of....

Okay- don't get excited. No big news about anything - just one of those meandering ideas I just had that fell flat, flat, flat.  I thought I would share it so everyone else can have a good laugh too.  I was looking at a Belk's sales flyer that came with the paper this morning. They are having some pretty good sales right now. Then my eyes fell upon them - a pair of 1/2 carat diamond earring studs. Wow - something I have wanted for such a long time. SO - I said to Mr. Dwight - "hey, you know how you were asking what to get for the 48th anniversary and I  said why not another chair? and he said - yeah? I said, they have some 1/2 carat diamond earring studs on sale for the same thing the chair would cost - even a tiny bit cheaper - what do you think? and he told me what he thinks and it wasn't good."  Oh well, a girl can only try.  Now if we get a chair, I will think about those ding dang diamonds every time I look at it. Ding Dang it!!!! LOL  Just kidding. No way I ever expected him to buy anything that expensive for me that wasn't "worth it" and "useful". 

Patsy shared this picture of her MaT that was taken many years ago one Halloween. She is dressed like one of her favorite characters from an old TV show called Hee Haw!  She and PaT lived right beside Patsy when she was growing up so she was very close to them.

Can I say again how excited I am that Patsy is living her dream in this lovely home near the sea? I mean - how many people get to have their biggest dream come true? I know she is grateful every single day for it and I am grateful for it too. 

This is what the road up Terry Mountain to Lora and Elbert's looks like when it snows a little. I used to fly up that road in my little blue VW many, many years ago. They are still living up there and both seem to be doing pretty good.  They will be celebrating their 65th Anniversary next Saturday.

And this is a picture looking out of the little trailer they have up at their place on Hyco Lake. It looks so pretty and green doesn't it?  They have had this place for many, many years and I have very fond memories of some really good times up there when I was much younger.

I will close with this picture of a pillow with a lovely dragonfly on it. As everyone already knows, I love dragonflies but this pillow was so expensive it made me laugh out loud to see what they were asking for it. Plain white cotton on small rectangle of foam with this lovely picture.  I love it but I'm not going to spend that kind of money on something that will get dirty real quick - even though it would look good on my bed. NO!! Stop it!! I'm not going to buy it!!! Will sign off now on this cold and rainy Saturday afternoon.  I hope the sun is shining wherever you are.