Fall or Spring?

Everywhere we look, Fall is upon us.   The "bloomin" rock is barren right now but in front of it stands this poor scrawny lilac bush that survived the summer drought.

We have had BEAUTIFUL fall weather.   Cool nights and warm days and my tall phlox have blessed us with blooms since the beginning of summer.     This week-end we noticed blooms on this lilac bush.  It even smells good.

I was going to bring the flowers inside to enjoy but since we leave tomorrow for Sager Brown I decided to leave them for the hummingbirds that don't want to leave and a few neighbors that will notice.

RED & WHITE GROCERY STORE

When we last saw daughter #1 she loaned us some books to take south.   I began reading one right away as I'm a slow reader but finished it last night.   It was "Population:485".    I even sent a nephew in Chicago the title as it is about volunteer firefighters and EMT's, plus other good information.  Well, Brian already has the book as his sister bought it for him a few years ago.   He was a fireman for awhile and said it's one of his favorite books.

There is a lot of information about growing up in a small town like I did.  And the author tells about the grocery store chain "Red & White" which we had in our little berg. 

This was where my mother bought her groceries and I still have wonderful memories of riding my bike there as a child and having forgotten what I was sent for.   I ALWAYS had to go to the owner, Aubrey, and ask if I could use the phone.   He would get this half-assed grin on his face and say, "Sure, Rinker".   He always called me Rinker.    Even after we were married and Ted's mom would send me up to "AUBS" for something.

I don't know if my mother bought her groceries there because she liked their groceries or if he would let her pay as she could.   I rather think the latter was the case, although he had really good meat.   She, however never bought meat.  

There was a big wooden butcher block in the back room where he cut up chickens, steaks, probably prokchops too.   It's a wonder the townspeople didn't die.   But...we didn't know about all the terrible diseases we could get then so we just ate it and here we are.

He and his wife never had children.   And I learned years later that she was not faithful to him but she kept this a secret from some of us and that was more than some of the rounders in our little town did.

On Saturday night they were open till 10 p.m.    I worked at the local restaurant when I was old enough and always worked till 12 p.m. Saturday nights.   Several of the store owners would come in at 10:15 or so and get supper.   It was crazy fun.   They teased us girls unmercifully.  

When I left Vermont and went to Branson to work the year of 1953 they were all full of jokes about me having one leg shorter than the other when I got back.  They'd even get up and imitate me walking.

This book reminds us that where we grow up shapes our lives.   The more I think of it, the more truth there is to that statement.   That whole town helped raise me.  I rode my horse all over town without a saddle.    I never was afraid of anyone, no murders ever occured, I never heard the word rape till I was gone from there, and we played hide and seek in the whole town.  

There is something else in this book that really hit home with me.   He says we reach a time in our lives where we have more history than time left.     AMEN

Missing Evangelist

Sorry if I offend anyone with this blog, it just seemed so funny at the time.  It really is very serious and I don't know why these things hit me as humerous but they do.

We both went in to watch the noon news yesterday.  This does not happen often.   They said "LATER" they would tell of the Missing Evangelist.   That always catches my ear. 

BUT...they never did tell what happened and we were both wondering.   Ted said, "Maybe he's gone on and we are LEFT BEHIND".   Well, that set me off giggling.   Sorry, the devil made me do it.

I couldn't wait till the news came on at 4 to see what the heck did happen.   And...the sad thing is he really IS a traveling Evangelist.   The family lives in a camper and have two small children they drag around the country preaching.   Apparently there was to be a Revival (another word that sets me off) in Lewisburg.   This man was to preach all week.  

He left the camper Monday morning with no billfold, keys, and apparently his cell phone will not work.  No one has seen him since.  

So here is his poor wife with two small children, living in a camper, in a strange community and her husband has disappeared.   I guess if I were the good person I think I am most of the time I'd go ask her if I could help her, take her a meal and take the children for an hour or two to give her a break and let her cry. 

This morning I was BLOG skipping again and every one I pulled up except one was from ministers, or someone who is truely good at heart.   Maybe God is trying to tell me something.

Baseball

This morning after reading Kim's blog I clicked on "Next Blog" just for the heck of it.  Usually at least one will come up that interests me.   But today - NONE.

I was surprised at how many on baseball come up.   These guys are serious.  I know someone else that knows her baseball stats and could hold up her end of the conversation with anyone of these writers but alas her mother was not interested.   If the Cubs don't win, don't tell me.

One blog did come up though that was fun to read.   This lady had posted an excerpt from the Nashville paper about the Bull Sperm being spilled on the Interstate.   That, of course, caught my eye.   She was actually writing about bad grammer and that caught my attention because I know mine is not what it should be. 

Before I finished reading this blog I saw where she was very interested in good looking ball players so I guess I lost that one too.

Ruts in The Road

This road we travel called life sometimes gets ruts - you know where the tires dig in the mud and it just gets deeper and deeper?  

Well, we have had two conversations lately that just about did me in.   The first started yesterday.   I had more or less made out a menu for Sunday dinner and one thing I am going to fix is an Apricot salad.   I had written down all the ingredients I needed and bought them.    Yesterday after I got home from the store I couldn't find the recipe.   It's a new recipe and I was afraid I couldn't make it without seeing how to do it.

I looked all over the house.   Ted asked me if it was in a book or what and I was pretty sure I had copied it off the computer.   I went through all the folders where I keep those recipe's but could not find it.

While he was in the shower last night I remembered where I had gotten it and it was a recipe book I had.  This morning we were sitting in the front room and I said, "I found the recipe".   He looked at me with that blank stare and said, "WHAT RECIPE?"    I nearly fell out of my chair.  

ANd following is a conversation we just had over new AARP Cards.

I sent the check in a few days ago to renew our membership.   We had received two cards earlier with a place for new stickers saying when they expired.   I figured they'd just send a letter with the stickers in.  BUT...no, today here came a great big folder of useless information with one new card and the expiration date on it.

Here is how the conversation went.

Ellen -  Don't kow why they didn't send the stickers with the expiration dates on them.
Ted - What expiration dates?
Ellen- AARP
Ted - I have an AARP card.
Ellen - Yes, I know, but it has expired and they were to send us two new stickers for the cards we got.
Ted - What cards?
Ellen - The new AARP cards with the new expiration dates on them.
Ted - I don't need one - I have a card

Well you see how it went on and on till he finally said he didn't understand and I said, "I KNOW and I'm not going over it all again".

HOW DID YOU DO THAT?

This is weird.   I am still angry but not much I can do about this situation.

Yesterday I needed a Sympathy card.   I don't like them to begin with but needed one just the same.   I went into a store in Brentwood - you remember the town where they won't let the homeless sell their newspaper.  

Well, the darned card was $4 and that was way too expensive but I was in a hurry and so went to buy it.

I had a $20 bill in my purse and some $1 dollar bills.   That was it.

I gave her the $20 and she gave me back $6 and change.   I told her I'd really like my other $10 since I had given her a $20.    She said she couldn't open the drawer.   I said I didn't care how she got it but I wanted my $10 back.

She called the floor manager and he said "We'll have to count the drawer".   Fine with me, I'll wait.

He and another man came back saying the drawer was fine.   I informed him someone else had made a mistake then before I got there because I KNOW what I had in my purse.   One of them said, "I'm the store manager and this drawer balances"    I wish I said, "I don't give a dam if you are the Pope, I know what I gave her".

I have a friend in Kansas City that is a personal shopper and I'm having him see if someone in this area would check this store out.    I wish I'd just called the police.   I know that girl slipped it in her pocket somehow.

FALL IS UPON US

It's been a beautiful fall day in Tennessee.   Crisp air this morning.   Needed a jacket when I left about 9 a.m    My first stop was a craft fair at a church in Spring Hill.    It's quite an event.   The grounds were covered with booths selling everything.   Food, fried pies, candy, then on to jewlery, knit items, wood items.  One I just could not pass up was a beautiful wooden handled seam ripper.  

They had some ladies singing and they were quite good.   It was a perfect day.   I had to park quite a way from the actual fair so they had a golf cart driver that took us from our car to the area with the booths.   When I got in the guy said he was mostly sober so if I was ready he was too.   Funny man.

From there I went to Franklin to the Mall.    I hardly ever shop in a Mall but had something I wanted to get for a girl's birthday and knew it was in the Mall so made the effort.   Looked for a couple of other gifts I needed but could not find them.

After grabbing a bite to eat I headed to Jill's.   We were going to do some packing today.   Well, we ended up just visiting, making a couple of decisions on how to approach the packing and then we headed to take a peek at their new house.  

I won't say much but gotta tell you - IT IS BEAUTIFUL.   I'm so excited for them.

Got home and just had dinner.   It's been a beautiful day and I reflect on how things can turn around if we just give them time.   We are always in such a hurry and if we just slow down sometimes it's amazing how great things can be.

POLITICIANS

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm already sick of the "carrying on" of our so called politicians. 

They act like a bunch of little kids rehearsing for a play in dress up clothes - parading around, pointing their finger at the guy or gal next to them and acting like they have all the answers to our problems.

It is estimated that over 8 billion dollars will be spent on the next election.   I can't even begin to imagine 8 billion dollars.

With 462 million Americans living in the poverty level, our schools running out of money, people loosing jobs by the thousands, it seems to me that money could well be spent in a better way.

How many new schools could be built with 2 billion dollars?   How many teachers could be hired for 2 billion dollars?   How many people without health care could be subsidized?

I would think we could build some really good transportation systems and alleviate a lot of pollution driving millions of cars to and from work (and other places) every day.

I suggest we limit each candidate to 30 minutes to tell us what they would do if elected, no yelling at the person next to them or across the stage.   Just tell us what you will be doing if elected.

Then use the rest of that money to help our citizens get back on their feet and our country working again.

I know, none of this will happen, but it sounds good anyway.

Illinois Visit

   We really started the week-end Thursday night at dinner in Macomb but it carried over into Friday morning with breakfast at Donna's house.   She just has open house when everyone is around.   She usually feeds us but this year we made sure she didn't try that.    Her plate if full enough with Jack in the nursing home now.   Pictured here is David (Donna's twin), his wife Norma, and just a bit of Donna.    She just would NOT cooperate.

Here are Martin and Linda and Donna's back.  I told you she wouldn't cooperate.

We had a great week-end.   Saw many good friends and realized how lucky we are to have grown up in a small town.   The reunion was fun, the food was good, and the weather couldn't of been better.

Saturday we got to spend a bit of time with Kim and she and I went to see "THE HELP".   It was my second viewing but I'll go again if anyone wants to  go.   Then a good dinner with her and Ted and Sunday even getting to say "HI" to Jeremiah and Sierra.  

Good to be home but more good memories added to my memory book.

Fifty-Seven Years Ago

Tomorrow we head to Illinois where we will attend my high school class reunion.   Fifty-seven years ago we were all YOUNG and healthy and full of piss and vinegar.  We had the world by a string.  We were ON OUR WAY.

Friday the ones of us that are able and want to meet up with old friends will gather for lunch at the church where Ted and I were married.   It's changed a lot, as most churches do, but still looks much the same.

They have added a big room on the back and this room sits exactly where Ted's parents house was for, goodness, I don't know how old that house was but it took a HEAP OF LIVIN.    Many good meals and fun times were held at that house.   It was not a big house, in fact it was rather small but his mom and dad always had room for you and a good meal on the table.

We have 18 coming from my class.   Our class had 44 graduating members but some have not lived this long, some are not well enough to come, some live right there just plain don't want to come and some live a really long way from Vermont, Illinois.

Next week I'll have an update and hopefully some pictures of this goofey group of "KIDS" that grew up in a small town in Illinois.

Something New at Our House

Yes, I know, you all know we have a new car.   This isn't a car.   It's something I had never seen before.

We have a tree frog that apparently has been coming to our hummingbird feeder at night.   The feeder hangs outside the kitchen window and last night I just happened to see him.   He had a friend ON the window and I tried taking pictures but of course could not get them.

Tonight he's back.  I'm beginning to wonder how many more we will have.   We have had purple finch come and eat.   One time we had a Baltimore Oriole that was really beautiful.   He stayed a couple of days and hardly left the feeder.   We read later that they sometimes do this as they migrate.

I really would like a picture of our new friend.   Will have to see if  i can sneak up on him one of these evenings.   HA  HA  HA

Blogging, Commenting, and Being Frustrated

Yesterday I blogged about our new car.   When I said to PUBLISH  they went to the new blog site I had set up a month ago.   Weird.

This morning I thought - hey, maybe I can comment now.   But just tried to comment on Connie and still no luck.   For someone like me that usually has something to say (not that it's important) this is VERY FRUSTRATING.

Maybe I'm being taught a lesson.