Fall 2011

A most beautiful fall with warm breezy days and cool nights.  Tonight we will have our first freeze of this winter season.  This week has been full of wonder - my wonder roses are blooming and my beautiful long stems have the best buds and blooms of the year.  I know they will be gone on the morrow if I don't get out and cut them this afternoon, but I do hate to cut my flowers. 

The turning leaves are at their peak and the woods are a palette of earthy tones.  Beautiful!  The deer are enjoying a bountiful harvest of acorns in the back and I have certainly enjoyed watching them munch the little nuts.

The winter will be cold and drab, but the spring will come again in all its spendor and warmth.  Time for soup, a warm fire and my lap blanket.

Have a blessed week and until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Changes - Not Just The Weather

I have always considered myself computer savvy - not an expert by any means, but I can get around pretty well as an operator and can do some light trouble shooting.  About a month ago, my power source started to go out.  How did I know it was the power source - I don't know I just did.  And how did I know it was about a month ago - I did a backup on the day the trouble started.  Okay, that was the only smart thing I did.  I did not back the computer up and run it down to Bestech and get a new power source installed  - no I just went right on piddling with my system until last Sunday when I could piddle no more!  The computer wouldn't even blink an eye at me - no grinding of gears, or whistling of motors - just nothing.  I believe we can get too comfortable with our routine and God just shakes the limb a little to either make us grip the limb or change our position.

Hubby has been talking of getting a laptop, so he says we'll just go get a laptop.  Oh!  Just go get a laptop.  Husband are so definitive in their thinking.  We did and I have now spent the last 8 days getting the printer drivers (the  printer is out of date and it took me forever to find the drivers for the Windows 7) installed, looking for files I had saved to the thumb drive and trying to restore a backup from an old WindowsXP to a new Windows 7 - it don't work.  Luckily, once the power source is replaced in the old computer, I should be good to go on the files. 

Not much is different with the Windows 7 but the design and I am sure the inner workings are a bit undated.  I enjoy it a great deal.  The laptop itself takes some getting use to since the mouse pad is super touchy and I zoom in and out with knowing how I did it or why or I end up way up the page and really mess up my spreadsheets.  I attached my other mouse for ease of use, but I really want to learn to operate this baby like it was built to operate.

If you add on and take away, something gets loss.  That is like disconnecting all the bells and whistles on a new car rather than getting to know the car and why those extras are so special.  BUT, I am learning and rather enjoying the process.  The thing I miss most are all my little bookmarks of my favorites on the Internet.  I have a routine every morning of cranking the "puter" up and checking all the local papers on line and then I hit the obits of the local funeral homes.  I know that sounds rather morbid, but I have to make sure I made it through the night!

So many changes and important events are developing right now and nosy old me has to read up on everything.  Then on to Face Book so I can catch all my friends and their doings for the day and then I try to write a little every day  don't always make it but, I try.  Everything I write doesn't make it to the Blog though, so don't be judging by what is on here - some of that stuff is old and I really need to do some rewrites!

Friday was a most enjoyable day with my youngest grandchildren - special lunch and then to the park.  I will miss them this week as they are on fall break and I won't get to see them everyday, but it will give me some catchup time.  I have certainly neglected my major housecleaning this summer as I played with the girls all summer. 

As the trees have started shedding their coats, we covered the pool this weekend until the leaves are gone.  It looks so desolate when it is covered.  Hubby said he would take the cover off later in the year, but I couldn't keep up with all the leaves - I dip - they fall, I dip - they fall.  After Thanksgiving I will mulch most of them for the shrubbery and the rest will go on the garden for next spring's planting.  I have to burn that garden spot off first - did that last year and it took care of most of the pests this year.  Since we plant an early garden, we miss the pests that like the hot days of mid to late summer.  I fair better also as I can not work in the heat.

My maternal first cousins get together every three months to keep in touch.  For one reason or another, I have missed the first two get togethers so I am so looking forward to seeing the crew in November.  The first of us died a year ago and her husband wanted to get to know her cousins better and suggested this as a way of keeping in touch and his asking questions and learning our personalities.  I liked the man when I first met him and I like him even more for caring enough to make an effort.  I have two cousins who are a great distance from us and we don't get to visit so often, but then there are cousins just up the road that we don't see so often either. 

I told a good friend the other day - we are just trying to live.  I know that isn't quite right, but it pretty much describes our comings, goings, or just staying home.

Until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Remember when . . .

When I went to school our first day of the school year would either be the Tuesday after Labor Day or the Friday after Labor Day.  It also signalled the end of summer and the beginning of those wonderful fall mornings.  We always needed sweaters for our trip to school and had them wrapped around our waists on the trip back home.  After the long hot summers of middle Georgia, we welcomed the cool morning temperatures.  Many years have past since the calendar and the weather matched my school day memories, but I do believe we are getting back on track this year.  Forecasts call for cooler days in the coming week and the mornings have already began with cooler temperatures.

Rain is coming and my dead grass and garden are jumping with anticipation - or is that me hopping around getting ready?  I hope that we receive enough to nourish the roots through our upcoming winter so my plants will flourish in the Spring.  March, April and May are my revitalized months;  welcomed with anticipation that yes, I did survive another cold bleak winter.  September, October and November are my getting prepared to rest months and finish all my summer chores.  I love these six months more than any other.   I don't function well in the heat of summer nor the cold of winter.  I will be sorry to see the pool close for the year.  the kids have progressed greatly this summer in their swimming abilities and their diving is getting is much better.

I am looking forward to a fall filled with sewing for my girls and keeping the fall garden going.  Hope it provides as well as the summer garden.  We have been eating good!

A last summer trip from my grandchildren to the north, this weekend has been filled with bonding, eating and swimming.  A fun Labor Day weekend with lots of hugs for Nanna. 

As our world turns and until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Cynicism Aside

I just returned from a "Help!" call from my Dad after just posting my little Father's Day piece.  Dad had "fallen and couldn't get up" and he called for company.  I should have gone for an engineering degree, but alas I only have a sometimes good daughter degree instead. 

My Dad has always been a small built man, not weighing much at all.  Several years ago he had a stroke that paralyzed his right side and left his leg and arm pretty much useless.  Being sedentary not only effected his weight, but also his psyche.  Never a man to sit still, dad now has no choice. He rests in his chair and watches the boob tube and lives in his memories.  He is now a large man and I cannot lift him.

On a real good day he can manage to get on his hover round and trek off to the garden or down the drive to the front yard where he tries to "weed eat" around the front fence.  More times than none he ends up on his bottom and has to call for help.  These times the family has learned to accept and someone is always available to get him up and back to the house.  There is no restricting my Dad and so we repeat the process so he can experience what little happiness he can get "piddling" outside.

Twice in the last month I have been called to get him up from in the house. As he will not go to the doctor we can only assume he is having some mini strokes and passing out.  Usually one of the "men folk" are close by or can turn loose and come get him up.  It is all taken in good humor and mostly he laughs it off.  I had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours with him this afternoon while he rested on the floor and we had a nice visit until someone could make it to assist.  (Friday afternoon is Mom's afternoon at the beauty shop and to visit with her friends.)

He so wanted to be back in his chair before she got home and he made it by just a few minutes.  I don't take the time to visit as I should and I know I will be sorry one day.  Not all of our conversations are pleasant, but today was a real delight and I enjoyed my visit with Dad.  Maybe I will get back over a spend more time with him, but then again most visits are not as pleasant. Spontaneity is the secret and that is never planned - it just happens.  So, Happy Father's Day Dad!

Until next time  . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Oh my!  I was taking stock of the front yard yesterday afternoon, planning what needs to be done and what needs to be left alone.  Low and behold, there at the end of the gutter at the downspout were two pretty little pines trees, sprouted and growing as pretty as you please.  Well, that is a sure sign to get it in gear and clean the gutters out.  The only problem is that end of the house is about 20 feet to the gutter and I will not climb that far without proper supervision.  So, a good excuse to put it off until I can find a responsible person to take care of that problem - usually my son. 

I have to clean some dead and damaged limbs out of the pear trees.  These trees have been here over fifty years and have to be petted and pampered at this stage.  My pears had some kind of blight last year, previously mentioned here, but they seem to have recovered from this.  This year the squirrels feasted on the blooms and the nuts from the baby pears dropping them to the ground for the rabbits to feast on as they came along.  Therefore, I had no pears this year either, which makes for two years in a row there will be no preserves.  I am thinking I am feeding God's creatures more than keeping food in the pantry.

There are many changes taking place in all our lives and this takes adjustments and reorganizing.  I am thankful for all of God's blessing for all time, but especially over the last few months.  I am thankful for God hearing and answering our prayers when our cousins serving this country were concerned.  One cousin arrived home safe and sound from Iraq this week. Thank you sweet Jesus!

My redneck chihuahuas are having quite a time adjusting to the drastic change in temperatures we have experienced over the last 3 weeks.  They have returned to their cuddle mode for warmth and have been spending more time inside.  They love the hot sun of summer, but that is passed and they are now waiting for me to build the first fire of fall so they can warm their backsides.

Have much to do so until next time  . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Thoughts and Deeds

I can feel it coming and I am so ready.  It is time for those end of Summer chores in anticipation of the cold, wet days of winter.  No, it isn't fall yet, but in order to enjoy the turning leaves and the cool mornings, there is much outside work to be done.  The mornings are cooler and the late afternoons are conducive to getting those bushes straightened out, cleaning that garden up, planting the fall veggies, and just general maintenance.

I have spent two wonderfully relaxing and enjoyable weeks with friends and family.  A couple of hours of an afternoon in the pool and good conversation brightens my day.  I have wonderful friends and good things have been going on in their lives.  Nothing restores me better than their positive attitudes, their laughter, and the fellowship we share.  Can't wait until the next visit. Thank you my friends.

With the heat and the rain I am much behind in my grass cutting.  I have talked myself out of getting out there just by watching the weather forecast and the potential for rain, but today I can procrastinate no longer.  It must be done and I must do it.  The trick is not to cut the television on and see a weather forecast.  Glenn Burns can sometimes be my friend, but other times he is the devil's advocate leading me to be slovenly in my outdoor chores, but I cannot blame him for the 100 degree temps we have seen of late. 

My banana trees have grown tremendously.  The little information tab stuck in the side of the pot when they were purchased advised the trees could grow as much as 2 feet per week.  Well mine just sat there, adding a few little leaves every week, but not growing at all.  Not knowing what kind of fertilizer a banana tree prefers, about four weeks ago I took the chance and mixed a weak Miracle Gro (all-purpose) solution and doused each tree with a half gallon.  While I anticipated the leaves shrivelling up and turning brown, I was much surprised when they grew about a foot in the first week and then another foot on the second week when they received another half gallon of solution.  The trees tripled in size and the dark green of the leaves are beautiful.  Wish I had become desperate sooner, but hey I am still new at this tropical plant stuff, but I am learning!  Now if I could find the answer to making a Sago grow faster, but I have been told they are slow growers.  We will see, maybe they need a little Miracle Gro solution also.

Earlier in the week I made a visit to the local thrift store and hit the jackpot.  I found a dozen or so books to add to my reading for the fall and winter.  All the books were in great condition and I even found two or three first editions in the batch and all for about 50 cents each.  Not a bad find if I say so myself.  I am working through Grisham's books at the moment, but found a Ludlam, Clancy and Grimes I wanted to read, plus some authors I haven't read before so I am excited to start on those and see if we can become friends. I was so excited I may make another trip next week.  Joy can be found in the strangest places.

I am much excited over my daughter's research into the cause of her eczema and food allergies which she has suffered with since two years old.  An Air Force baby, I had taken her to the base for a well baby check up even though she was prone to head and chest colds.  The base did not have separate waiting rooms for well and sick babies.  In a weeks time she had developed a nasty cold which earned another trip to the based doctor.  A small patch of red had developed under her little nose that wouldn't heal and I was advised she had developed impetigo.  After rounds of cream and antibiotics the patch finally cleared only to have a rash break out on other parts of her little body.  The doctors advised it was heat rash and gave me an ointment.  As soon as I would get one rash cleared another would appear and for the last 34 years my daughter has fought the rash.  Doctor after doctor could not identify the cause so to the allergist she went sometimes with me sometimes with my mother.  Picked, probed, and stuck over and over, we were told she was allergic to food and her diet needed to be rotated as when she would eat something repeatedly she would develop an allergic reaction to it. 
 
Thus has been my daughters life with allergies.  This week she has been researching the causes of her health problems.  Hopefully she has found the answer in the form of Candida albans, a fungal yeast that thrives in the body once it establishes itself and destroys the healthy bacteria that keeps our body's functioning as God designed.  You can link to her site through the link at the bottom of the right hand column of this page.  She is documenting her problems and progress through this adventure in the hope that it may help some other soul that is experiencing like problems.  She as always is in my prayers and I hope she has found the answer.

I have a new grandchild in the form of a 4 month old Maltese.  Bentley is his name and he is a precious addition to our family.  The grandchildren love him dearly.  If they can keep the little bundle of white fur out of the lake he will give them many years of happiness.

Dad felt the hand of God clear the blood clot from his body and it was caught by the age old stint.  He is back in motion and riding his scooter.  He told me yesterday he had cut back the English Ivy off the house that had overgrown the window sills.  He may have been down for months, but he is back at it and going strong.  Maybe God just wanted to keep him out of the garden and the hot sun this year.  I am just glad he is up and about once again and the angel of death has given us a reprieve.  

For the first time in many years I am ready for fall.  The summer has been extremely hot and humid and has hindered my activity and as a result my motivation and thinking.  I look forward to the cooler days of fall.  Well, that about catches me up with our doings, so until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle 

In A Funk

Yeah, I am in a funk. My thoughts are a bit scrambled right now, and my energy level is at a 5 on a scale of 1-10. I think maybe the ups and downs of the heat are the major cause.

The garden is like most mid summer gardens - just growing - not anything spectacular, but still producing squash, cabbage, okra, tomatoes, and peppers. Cucumbers are not doing a thing and I blame that on the erratic rain fall. The ground is drying out too much between the showers and the sun is hot as hades. I am waiting till late afternoon to turn some dirt for the late summer greens and decide on a spot for the potatoes. It is time to get them in the ground but as we have a real late frost, it will be okay.

It is really sad that we let the joy of the first shoots breaking the ground dissipate and the garden flourishes and we become apathetic in the harvest and maintenance. Melancholy, that is what I am today. Yesterday was a day of joy and today - melancholy.

The summer flowers are beautiful and all but the weakest are blooming with gusto. I can hardly see my gazing ball as the cosmos has grown so tall and thick as to shade it from view. The sunflowers are reaching for the hot sun and getting taller and taller. I know it is not the time, but I moved 2 elephant ears to a spot in my backyard garden. They had almost died from lack of sun and are not a deep green and putting out new growth. Right time or not, that was a good move.

I dropped by a local store the other day and they have dropped the prices on all seeds to a dime a pack. Good time to pick up some, put in the freezer and have ready for that early garden next spring. There were lots of different varieties of lettuce which can be container grown throughout the winter. I have a nice section of porch on the north side of the house that is protected from blowing winds and rain. It is the perfect place to winter the plants (covered of course) and to keep some nice winter container crops. Doesn't get any sun though so I have to move them during the week to the east side to keep them going.

On another subject-
My grandchildren are growing up and developing wonderful personalities. I have had such a pleasant summer with my grandchildren. The oldest girl ask me on Saturday why they were called grand children. My reply - because you are so great! On her last visit, she kissed the top on my head and told me I was beautiful - and everyone wonders why I love having them around! Can't wait till they come back!

Belle