Happy Tuesday

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.
— Victor Hugo

I'm not sure if I am going to even turn on my computer tomorrow........trust me, if something is going to get caught on a computer, it will be mine........and I have a GOOD security program too.....it's just some sort of dark cloud that hovers over me........oh well......we'll see.

Hey does anyone knit here? I use to do basics......once even did a pair of mittens that worked! They did. They fit me, had the thumbs in the right place, cuffs were as long as I wanted them to be (I like them so they stay inside the coat sleeve).......but never proceeded much farther than that.

I wander in the yarn department of any store that has one............why not, it is so warm and comforting.....well it is for me. Oh and the colors and textures.............

My mother was a knitter......she made all of my sweaters when I was little, vests and sweaters for my Daddy, and my Grampa, well he only liked wearing the socks that my mother knitted for him. She always looked so content and calm as she knitted........

No, this isn't her, I don't think I have a photo of her knitting......wish I did. I gave all of her knitting needles to a very special friend that is the queen of knitting.......waving to her right now in GA.....how are you?........to me it was a very special gift to give. I know that she uses them and if not, that she takes good care of them for me. I on the other hand am not a contented, peaceful knitter............I am uptight!!!!! First I don't get the counting the stitches thing.......I can cast on, and then I knit until I get to the end of the row.......the end. I know, I made the mittens, but I was younger and was able to concentrate better..............see I was thinking about doing that again.............but I just talked myself out of it...........reality check...........the end. Why in the world would I start up another "hobby"? WHY? Oh I had this little dream about keeping us all supplied in mittens while in Alaska.........get a grip woman.....we aren't in the 1950's sitcoms and I am sure there is a whole lot of other things that will have to be done other than knitting. Whoa, that was a quick dream........put a smile on my face.........yup it did........me sitting down trying to count with this going on " Nana, Nana......pease put in a movie...............Nana, Nana, come play wif me.................Nana, Nana pease I have a nack........nope, thinking that I will not venture down that road right now...............

Blah

I have been sick all week-end............actually it is still Sunday and I am writing this quickly and will post it tomorrow.........just because I have a few minutes now, that I can sit here..........trust me, I have either been in bed sleeping or visiting the little girl's room..........

I have no idea what grabbed me.........I am thinking that this guy decided to visit

oh and then he or she liked me so much, that he or she invited these guys............

and then the word got out but sadly all of the reservations in the lower areas were taken so these guys decided that the head area would be a lovely place to visit...............

So right now my whole hotel of a body is completely booked!!!!!!

I don't know how you are when you are sick, but for me here are the rules.........

1. acknowledge that I am sick

2. go away

3. yes you can check on me once or twice during the day

4. the door is closed so that you won't come in and get what I have

5. if I am sleeping, do not wake me to see how I am feeling..........

Now those are simple things and my family understands and respects them...........we are all different when we are sick.........that is how I am. When we first moved here, I developed pneumonia........bad pneumonia.........I slept for almost 2 1/2 days straight.......day and night........the kids waking me up to take my meds. This is the first time my sil had been around me when I was ill and he was totally amazed that I could sleep all day and still sleep at night.........beats me, but when I am sick.........I sleep.

I know you are wondering........what about your "smile" thing..........well I did smile, my oldest grandson made me a get-well card and it was wonderful.........I smiled........and it did make me feel better and loved.............

It's raining, it's pouring

It's raining, it's pouring

the old man is snoring.

He bumped his head

and he went to bed

and he didn't get up

'til the morning.

Yes it is raining here in Texas. I am really happy for the rain, for each drop means I just might get to see some beautiful bluebonnets one more time.........they truly are a sight to behold. I know our friends in North Dakota are dreading each and every drop that falls........my heart goes out to those in the flood area. I have never experienced a flood.........oh little things, minor creek over the banks, but nothing like a true flood.

I know I sound contradictory when I say that I like the rain.......and I like the sun.......and I like a good snow storm...........the wind is ok, a gentle breeze is more my style, but I have lived in Why-oh-ming for so long, that a day without a true blow you over gust of wind...........well you pinched yourself to make sure you weren't in OZ. What I like most about the rain........umbrellas. Ok, it doesn't take much to make me smile, we have established that already. I do like umbrellas.....they come in all shapes and sizes...........

Now reading in the newspaper today, the business woman of today should be dressing conservatively, having blue, black, grey and a few browns and tans.........things that will intermingle and make a good basic wardrobe. Ok. But surely they weren't talking about a business woman's umbrella........could they?

Surely she could break out of the mold and have a little fun with her umbrella?

If not, then I am glad that I am not in the 9 to5 business world any more..............because I like color and pizazz.......a little spark, some flair.........

My umbrella, what does it look like........well it's not quite what I am use to carrying around in my vehicle..........remember we all have to adjust to what is taking place in out life at the time..........my umbrella right now is a gift from my daughter after she heard me whine and be silly about getting my tush wet while trying to protect the boys........both grandsons have their own umbrellas, but there are times that Nana just doesn't have the patience or time to mess around with putting up and down three umbrellas and then carrying or keeping track of three................so here is my umbrella at the moment.

Yup. a multi-colored golf umbrella..........it's a big hummer. The three of us fit under it nicely and I love it. My day will come again for a brighter and more flashy model..........right now I like what I have and what is underneath it even more...........

Smile, I know I smiled as I was typing this........see it doesn't take much to make me smile.......hope this post helped you with a smile too.

Fireside3 -4422

I am a phone person. Well I use to be. I don't use the phone that often now, I seem to be going here and there, a companion that truly doesn't like sharing me with a phone and so it goes.

When I think about it, the phone has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember........my Mom worked for the small telephone company office in East Pepperell, MA during the 40's. I can close my eyes and still see and smell the stairway leading up to the second floor of the building that housed the office. I can't describe it, but it was unique and something that remains with me........and I have never notices anywhere else. It truly was a small office........usually only one or two ladies working at the same time. East Pepperell was a small little town then, rather like Mayberry but Yankee all of the way. When my Mom had to work the evening shift, I would just pick up the phone at our home and if she didn't answer "operator", I would simply ask, ever so politely to "Please talk to my mommy, it's time for me to say my prayers." Yes, it was a small town and people knew who MY mommy was..........tee hee.

Growing up in Michigan, we went through a variety of different styles of phones...........but the thing I remember the most is how you "said" a phone number then - Fireside3-4422. Oh you always said the complete word........then we moved on to only saying FI3-4422 and yes eventually we just progressed into the modern 343-4422. Times they were a change'n. I grew up and after one year of college I came back home and went to work at the telephone company as an operator. We still had the old-fashion cords into the panel type board, filled in little circles on a card........I can only imagine how they process calls today...........are there still such things as person-to- person calls? I enjoyed my time at the telephone company and a wonderful group of ladies were there at the time............oh we had some characters, after all I was one of the "youngsters".

I didn't have a cell phone for a long time..........my ex-husband decided that since I was driving into town from the lake and bringing the new grand baby home with me so often, that it was a good idea for me to have one with me in the car...............oh I was hot stuff!!!! I seldom used it, but I had it and I thought I was sitting in tall cotton. Since that first cell phone I truly have had only two others, for a total of three phones (I can still add......) in eleven years. Compared to so many that is such an unremarkable number. This phone isn't fancy compared to what is out there........shoot it has more things on it then I will ever use..........I just learned how to use the little alarm clock thing on it.............oh, here is a good one..............the first time I flew with the new phone, you have to turn off your cell phones, I grabbed mine and just held it...........I must have had the deer in the headlight look because the lady next to me asked if she could help. I swear, I must have thrown the phone at her like a hot potato.........if it was going to be the reason we crashed at take-off, let her be holding it. Ok, ok, simple. it's the red button...............sigh...............whoa did I take some razing on that. I now have a bluetooth too............at first I thought it was a waste of $$, but truly, driving in traffic and especially having my two grandsons with me..........it really is a good idea and investment.

So there you go, me and the phone. I have no idea what made me think about this......for some unknown reason I saw the word Fireside printed somewhere and it just triggered this thought pattern.............spooky.

Hope you smile or giggle today.........it will make even the worst day a little bit better.

Ratatouille

Cute movie, like most Pixar movies. We have it and the boys watch it..........you know it's funny, Andrew does the most movie watching. Like most four year olds, he watches the same movie over and over......two maybe three days in a row. Go ahead, ask me a line from Zathura, Indiana Jones (he watches all of these), Super Heroes..........I do know quite a few........see my conversation skills are headed south.........



Oh ratatouille
Daniel, the oldest of the two, came up to me a few days ago and had an idea. We could make ratatouille for the family. Ok, so I gave him this blank look..........hello? I have never considered the kitchen my most favorite spot in the household to shine in..........oh,my family never went hungry, but I am a pretty blah type of cook an if push comes to shove will have to admit that until recently not very adventurous either. Now I am thinking........nope, I am not a cook, but I did like to bake.........see past tense.........that doesn't tickle my fancy any more either.....

Ok, from my shadowy memory, I thought ratatouille was a French stew........what did I know. The first obstacle we had to jump was spelling it. Nope, we couldn't put our hands the DVD....no comment. So I grabbed my old, torn, and truly "I have seen much better days" dictionary and it wasn't in there. I tried phonetically spelling it and did a spell check........that wasn't working.........so I resorted to the online English to French dictionary and found the correct spelling. Onwards. I like the recipe site http://cooks.com/ it seems to cover everything quite well and prints out easily............and here is one of the recipes I found.

RATATOUILLE (VEGETABLE STEW)

1 med. sized eggplant

1 tbsp. salt

1/4 c. olive oil

2 lg. onions, cut into rings

3 cloves garlic, crushed

2 green peppers, cut into strips

4 med. sized zucchini, cut into bite sized pieces

2 med. sized ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges

1/4 tsp. salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. thyme1 bay leaf2 tbsp. parsley, finely chopped
Cut eggplant into thick slices and then into small pieces. Sprinkle with salt. Allow eggplant to stand for 30 minutes, then rinse and pat dry on paper towels. Heat the oil in a large skillet. Saute onions and garlic for two minutes. Add green pepper and cook for two minutes. Add eggplant and cook over high heat for three minutes, stirring constantly. Add zucchini and continue stirring for three minutes. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, thyme and bay leaf. Simmer uncovered for 40 minutes until all the vegetables are tender.
Remove bay leaf. Garnish with parsley and serve hot. Can be prepared in advance to this point. Ratatouille can also be served cold as an appetizer.

I read it, sounded good to me.........and then I started reading it to my grandson...........the look of excitement and anticipation was quickly running from his face...........VEGETABLES!!!! The boys do not eat vegetables..........oh Dan will eat peas, and raw carrots........Andrew like corn on the 'husk'.........in my most serious Nana voice I had to ask "You don't want to make this now?"

"No."

" Why?"

" Well Nana, it has tomatoes in it."

"You love tomato soup........you love Chef-Boy-ar-Dee spaghettios.........you love spaghetti."

" I don't like tomatoes, and the other stuff I just know are vegetables too."

Ok, the end of this adventure for him.............me, well I am seriously thinking about making this now..........it sounds good. I also liked where most sites recommended eating it with a good French bread............oh that alone will tempt me further. If and when I do find the way into the cooking part of the kitchen and make this, I will let you know..........

Smile......

Butterflies

On spring break we went to the zoo. Sounds like the beginning of your third grade essay "What I Did on my Summer Vacation", huh? I am a Nana and trust me, I do something the easy way........Amen, so be it. I was no dummy, we had come to the zoo the day before and turned around and went to a park and had our picnic there and the boys played all afternoon......why? The line went around the block, once and started around again and people were still walking to get into the line.......no not just a few.........I am talking herds and packs of people!!!!!!! Entire families from Great Aunt Eula and Great Uncle Oscar to the new born baby, Isabella. Cars were circling.........there was actually a police car parked in front of the zoo parking lot!!!! One of the restaurants down the road started charging people to park in their lot.........guess if they couldn't get customers to come in and eat because of lack of parking it was their right........I don't know, I just looked at the boys, we circled once and I said........no go.............home. We found a park, ate our picnic and the boys played. Hmmm, guess I told you that already, huh? We went back on Tuesday and arrived just a few minutes after it opened..........it was sooooooo nice......still cool, no crowds........what's that song from My Fair Lady........"wouldn't it be luv-er-ly"

At the zoo, they have a butterfly habitat type thing...........you got it........we paid and we went in...........and I am soooooooo happy that we did. Are you ready? I sure hope so........because here comes the butterfly pictures..............

It was, it was........I don't know how to explain it to you........truly. Every where I looked, beautiful plants and butterflies......lots and lots of butterflies. I was snapping away like some sort of photographer that was possessed. Then I stopped remembered the words of the lady that admitted us.........watch where you step.......the butterflies don't know that we walk on the cement floor.........we are in their home and they can go anywhere they desire.......I can appreciate that. She also showed us how to try and get them to walk on our hands............it worked..........here is a picture of my hand...............

Here is another one........

Look at them eating.........well besides on the plants..........

They landed in my hair, my arms, my back..........I was in butterfly heaven. I have to share a cute story. We were getting ready to leave and both boys had held a butterfly, but you know how that goes..........one more time, one more time. Dan had another land on his hand...........

Andrew wasn't having much luck.........I was looking for a likely candidate and this wonderful little girl walks up..........now her mummy must have been a free soul..........she was dressed like a true hippie child..........free, unmatched......wild hair......a knitted beret........so of course I fell in love with her.........but she came at Andrew like someone on a mission.........she stopped quietly in front of him and said......."Wait."...........shoot we all stood there.......we did. Like some type of magic, the butterflies were coming to her..........she reached out and placed one on Andrew's hand. Look at this snapshot.

I think this shot means the most to me, out of all the shots that day............

I hope you enjoyed the butterflies.........they made me smile and hopefully they made you smile too............have a wonderful day.

Spring

I missed the official first day of Spring.........sorry. Seems like I have missed quite a few good posts lately......well the topic of good posts. I am trying, but things just happen......many things.

Spring........of course for me it's the time of flowers........yup I have pictures to share..........sorry.

See the butterfly? Both of these snapshots I took at the San Antonio zoo last week.....during spring break. A pretty nice little zoo..........waaaaaaaaaay to crowded after awhile............come on people this Nana got up early, packed a picnic lunch, braved a trip into unknown territory on the highways and arrived just a few minutes after the zoo opened........and it was nice............11:30 and we were invaded!!! Tee hee.........sorry, crowds with lots and lots of children and me being responsible for my two boys............well ok, call me over-protective! I watch them like a hawk and make no apoligies for doing it. Ok, I took a longer detour..........

Texas in the spring.......well if we had the normal amount of moisture........well just look at this

Miles and miles of bluebonnets.........oh it is a sight to behold............the first year we were here we had a bumper crop of bluebonnets and took some typical "first time Texan" pictures...........

Thinking this year isn't going to be a good bluebonnet year..........

Spring, the birth of most everything in nature, this makes me smile........a new beginning and we all need to start afresh at times...........enjoy.

Trees

As a child I didn't pay any attention to trees..........they were there. Now there was an apple tree in my Nana and Da's back yard that was just wonderful. It wasn't a climbing tree, but it gave the most wonderful shade in the summer........good shade. Oh many an afternoon playing dolls, sleeping in the hammock with one of my grandparents, playing cowboys and Indians. I remember one horrible night, sitting on my Nana's lap, a nor'easter turning hurricane blowing in, looking out the den window as my Mother drove up the hill to go to work at the telephone company........CRACK, noooo CRACK

Lightning hit that apple tree and shook the earth like a child has never felt it shake..........I remember looking at my Nana.....as scared as she was she just started laughing........the look on my face must have been one to behold. Yes, I guess in my own way I did appreciate that tree, just didn't realize it.

Fast forward a few years........Michigan. Oh Michigan has trees, those beautiful maples are a thing to behold .

These mighty trees gave me more shade as a child........remember I can't be out in the sun for a long time........zoom, dehydration and out I go........yup even as a kid! The neighborhood kids and I would put picnic tables together and we would head out west on a wagon train. Now it is muggy in Michigan, my goodness there are lakes everywhere............everywhere. Now did this mugginess stop us from putting old woolen army blankets over the picnic tables and hanging from the low branches of the maples to make tents, cabins.........you name it. It was lucky that none of us died from lack of air!!!!! Of course we are the same kids that rode bikes without helmets, roller skated in the streets without helmets, knee and elbow pads and didn't even know what a seat belt was! Sigh, sorry took a brief detour there. Across the street, there was a tree that had low limbs. The most amazing thing tho' is there were just enough limbs for ALL of us to sit on alone and ride horses, play like we were fairies and whatever else we imagined that day. We moved into a new subdivision and NO TREES...........what a shock. We went back to our old neighborhood and dug up little saplings (?).........they took............a few years ago I went back to Michigan and found those trees.........they are huge. I wanted to go up and knock on the door of the owners and tell them how we dug the hole, babied and pampered those little twigs of trees and how I was happy that they had survived.........I didn't, but I wanted to.

Wyoming...........ok, I lived in the area of Wyoming that is called the grasslands..............remember ole' Kevin Costner riding across the plains with his arms wide open in "Dancing with Wolves"? Yup, no trees.........I mean it was a shock........then we moved closer to the South Dakota border and were at the very edge of what is called the Black Hills.

Yes, the hills do actually look black, because of the density of the trees........it's just beautiful.

Now I am in Texas............and I have fallen in love with the oak. I truly believe that oak trees are one of the most imaginative trees ever. They don't grow straight........nope, they each have a distinct character of their own..........look.

Look, it's like each one has it's own story.........or they could be some mystical magical creatures in a fairy tale or Harry Potter movie. I am just in love with them. They are everywhere........when I first moved here, I was talking to a friend and said "I went to a mall today." She asked which one............I was just quiet.............shoot almost every mall in this area is "Oak" something..............and that was my reply........"Hmmmm, it was oak something!"............don't think that helped her out a whole lot.

I have no idea why I am going on and on about trees.........I guess having lived for so long without them, that I do truly appreciate them now. Amen.......

Smile, I just have to look out the windows and look at the oaks and a smile appears.........of course I am also making up stories about them too.........