MUD PIES

 Did you ever have the satisfaction of turning out mud pies that did not break into pieces?  I tried all the time as a little 5-6  year old. IT WAS AN ART. . First you had to have mud, the right thickness. That was hard. Stir dirt into a little whatever container you could find. Add just the amount of water till thickness was right. You had to have experience. I did. My pies were turned into jar lids of different sizes.(no PAM SPRAY) You had to hunt in different places to find them, Once found the right size  you hid them, so no one could throw them away. Now a sunny day to "cook" them would be best. Turn out as many as you could stir up. Place them where the sun would shine all day on a board (best for stove)  Usually they are ready the next day. Hard to wait, but important or else they would break and a cracked cake is not pretty. I loved decorating them. I used what I could find--small pieced of grass, small flower buds, rocks and maybe a marble. Flip them out carefully. Now decorate. How pretty.  They were now ready for your dolls' party. Dress them up. Slicing a piece was a challenge. Little girls of the 1930's made their own fun. Maybe they still do. Lots of "old" memories seem to have been brought forward lately. Good thing I think.

BETTY (since I am old too)BOOP

p. s. just in years--not in spirit!!

TILLIE AGAIN

Nice to have a little creature to feed. I need something to feed. Only one and that is enough. She is very brave with the wasp and bumble bees chasing her off. Hope she does not give up on my feeder. There are several close by and she can go to them, but she chose mine. 

j. came yesterday (two times), I needed her. I have new meds and old ones too. I felt uneasy getting them straight. Later, as I fill my meds on Saturday for the week, she came and did them for me. Till I feel comfortable with new ones, she helped me. I seem to need more all the time. New phase of life. I can still prepare my food when I want to. I do love breakfast and enjoy making it new each day, this morning, I put Pepper Jack cheese in my scrambled egg--perked it up. I will keep on doing silly things to hold on the something new, Keeps  me going.

BETTY(come go with me) BOOP

p. s. if you can stand the "silly".

'TILLY'

 So tiny. I saw her fight the wasp and bees yesterday for a place at the table of sugar water. My she is strong and determined. I guess every creature is looking for water. And the sweet kind is there. I saw her early this morning, getting her tummy tanked up before the wasp and bees come. So another story unfolds and I get to watch. What fun. 

I saw a walker on the other side of Lake. He took the road around the front of building. Some do that and I miss seeing them in front of me. No rain in sight. The "grass" is fake on the golf course and the other space where games are played, so they look good. They seem to have given up on the big pots of flowers around the Cyber. Just too much to take care of, I guess. I find myself longing for Fall. how about you? 

BETTY (stay cool) BOOP

p.s. drink plenty of water.

SAW "HER" AGAIN

 My dear little Humming Bird. First and only customer. Well, the wasp . bees, and an unknown little bird, but this is the first hummer I have served. Of course she now has a name. I name everything. "Tilly". I remember a comic in the paper from the 1930's, called "Tilly, The Toiler."I think that is right. Young women in the Office force were rare then. She was a first. Have I remembered correctly or is my imagination working overtime? My Daddy would read the comics to me before I could read for myself. Sunday paper was in color and the day time was not. I liked the Sunday ones best. It did encourage me to learn to read. I love reading now. Books "take you away. Since the stroke, my eyes get tired quickly and I have to read short times. But I still love to be carried away and enjoy other places. Does anyone remember knowing about the early comics? I would love to hear your stories. There was one called "SNUFFY". And one about a cave man. Oh, my. I can think of others too. I think my brain has been shook up and poured out nonsense .

BETTY (go figure) BOOP

p. s. the whole paper is not as it used to be.  

FINALLY

 A much expected guest appeared this morning. A tiny little Humming Bird looked for breakfast in an empty feeder!!!! I planned to refill it this morning. I hurried to wash the feeder and make the sugar juice. When it cooled, I tried to fill it. I could not figure it without spilling the whole thing. But maybe I will wait for the every loving help from somebody. Poor me, I do have a lot to worry me.

BETTY (needy me) BOOP

MISSED YOU YESTERDAY

 Can't seem to do too much in a day. J. and I went to get my hearing aid adjusted. They are such a nice group of help. New office bldg. on Colony . So convenient .  Many of my Dr.'s are moving out closer to me. We like that. Anyway, I came home after the visit as J. had another appointment for herself. My we keep the Medical field going. So sleep was on my list. Since it had escaped me the night before., I caught up with it and rode 2 hours for a "catch up." Felt better after that ride. Back to Memory Lane this morning. But a little later in life. I have some funny and sweet memories of my husband. Some are just too personal and sweet to share. But next blog I have a funny one to share, and maybe a sweet one too. so stay tuned.

BETTY (wish I could write a poem) BOOP

p. s. maybe soon.

MEMORY LANE AGAIN

 Memory Lane again? I seem to have entered it and can not find the exit. When I was a child in Elementary School at George school in South Jackson. 

we lived in a house just across the street from the school building. Summers stand out. I thought I was a real artist. I had a small blackboard on a folding stand. Pretty neat? I would set it up on the front porch and use colored chalk. Pretty classy?  I remember drawing a rabbit. It was so good (I thought). I showed it to everyone. No one thought it was as good as I thought. I can still see it in my mind. I would not erase it for dayyyyyys. I once later had a white rabbit. It lived in a cage my Daddy built. It was on high legs with a wire bottom for easy cleaning. I also remember they were paving the street in front of our house. Before, it had large gravel and rocks. I would gather big rocks and build things on the porch. I made a fence of rocks and put bugs and yes any thing I could think of to corral. What a busy little mess of a child I was. 

BETTY (those were the days?) BOOP

P. S. little girls wore sunsuits-not shorts. 

73 degrees on BALCONY---NICE

Need a lot of this kind of weather. My that Trader Joe's coffee is better than Kroger  Breakfast Blend. Must look into another kind of coffee that I can buy at Kroger. Oh, well, life is too short to drink less than the best. Right? After all. it is one of the first pleasures I have first thing in the morning. Especially when I had such a rough night of little sleep. My the brain is a wonderous thing. How does it store so much memory? I went back over early days in my 3 hours I stayed awake last night. I could not shut it down. I did everything right all day. Exercise, walking. eating right and at the proper time and interacted with people, rested and napped, and still I had such a time. I am tired this morning. I do try, better than most people in my situation Well, I will keep on trying and maybe the new "Normal" will finally settle in soon.

BETTY(have a good day) BOOP

p.

WHEEEE !!!!! 73

 What a change. The breeze was even blowing.  Rain may be on way. Nice Saturday. What will you do with this day?  I plan to wash-a-load of "duds." We will see. Sometime my plans go a stray. J. and I went to my Neuroscience yesterday. It of course was his nurse. We do not connect. I am sorry. I usually get along very well with my many caretakers. But she lacks compassion and understanding. Although I am on track for recovery, I still need sympathy and understanding. She lack those qualities to me. But I have many more who do. So Be It. 

On a  pleasant note: J, and I had a nice lunch at the Mediterranean Grill. Pretty good, But hard to get into .J, gave me much support and we hobbled in and out. Nice waiter. And was full of chatty people. But good for me. We came home and I hit the bed. Full morning. I don't need many of those. I do need to try more  for the "Normal" my Dr, talks about, I am blessed.

BETTY(trying )BOOP

p. s. never been challenged so much. 

DOILY

 Before I leave Memory Land, for some reason, another one popped up.
Do you know what a Doily is? Very popular and every one used them in my childhood days. Some still do. They were small decorative (or not) pieces of fabric, cut to fit a surface, like a chair arm or small tables. Made to protect the fabric of where they sat. All living rooms with couches and fabric covered chairs needed protection from dirt and spills. Made to look pretty and also useful. Once a spring she would gather them all and hand wash them after soaking them in bleach overnight. They were scrubbed and rinsed till they were clean. They looked so pretty hanging on a line outside or spread on towels on the bed. Don't dare spill on the arms of chairs while they dried. I remember the satisfaction she had in Spring cleaning. I still use "doilies ".  Maybe we call them scarfs or something else these days. but still important and useful.

BETTY (let us leave the Memory Bank) BOOP

p. s. sometime they were crocheted.  another an art of the day.

81degrees--one walker

 I found an old poem I wrote several years ago. It fits the weather today. 

                                              DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

                                                         by Dot Ellis 

From my window I see

A great big shade tree.

A big lazy dog lies, just looking at me.

Oh wait, can it really be?

Is it really ME I see?

Just staying cool--Wheeeee!!!!!!

        STAY COOL EVERYBODY!!!!!BOOP

BETTY (old poem) BOOP

p.s. but, then very up to date. 

HOW I WRITE A BLOG

 I am amazed at people who are impressed by the fact that I write a blog--every day. Not hard, but how do I do it?  I sit on Balcony and have that second cup-o-joe and let my thoughts run a little. Usually something will pop in mind and I explore it. Sometime, it will not run. If I am smart, I move on. Sometime it is something thar has happened that morning or yesterday. Then my mind is reminded about something down Memory Lane. Sometime I am looking right at the subject at the moment. 

This morning I looked at the sidewalk around the Lake. Walkers are scarce since it is so hot early. I miss them. I miss the old memories of playing on sidewalks in front of my house as a little girl. Paper dolls and baby dolls and do you remember the game of JACKS? Do they still make them? Mine were first made, out of silver medals and a small rubber ball. Then they made them from rubber coated stuff with pretty colors.  10 jacks and I was good at it. Bounce the ball with one hand and pick up jacks one at a time. Boy what a thrill to win. And the cool sidewalk felt good to the bottom..... 

BETTY Mom would never let me go barefoot. BOOP)

p.s. in the good old Summer time.

GOOD COFFE THIS MORNING

 Good Trader Joe's coffee. Wish we had a store here. # I daughter shops there in Tenn. She loves it and give us such nice gifts from there. I had 2 bags in my freezer. Being what I am, I used up my Kroger Breakfast blend before opening a new Trader Joes. My, it was so much better. and smelled like real coffee. Thanks L. &  J. Grits and poached egg were the tops too. I do love that little egg poacher my # 2 daughter gave me too. So I thought of them this morning. Thought of # 3 too as I remembered going to Church yesterday with her. We always have much to talk about. Enjoyed all her views about her world. So, being able to stay in touch with coffee, Church and the delish breakfast fruit I had this morning. is a blessing and I enjoyed them all. 

BETTY (life is good) Boop

p. s. enjoy the little things. They come in small packages, with big blessings.

72 degrees--not bad,,yet.

 But give it a few hours and it will be  HOT, HOT, HOT. After all it is July here. and all over the universe. What is going on--Al Gore.? Warming of the world? Seems so. We have not always been caring for our world in many ways. Is that partly what is happening? Just little old me, trying to figure it out. My guess is as good as the the next person. Oh well, let us not dally over the weather. I plan to go to Church with daughter A. I have not been since I had a stroke. I  am a little defensive of people. I hope the Blood Sugar stays o. k. Have been having low sugar levels the last few days. Makes you feel very  shaky  when it drops sudden. A new one for me. Well, it has happened before , but not this often. Trying to control it. It seems I have something to regulate all the time. Keeps me on my toes I guess. Anyway, I want to go and sing the old hymns and meet our new Pastor.

BETTY (rather not be "on my toes" BOOP

73 already

I stayed a while. just for coffee and in I came. A couple were exercising in hot water  I bet. Oh well--to each his own. I have a fruit store in my kitchen. Blueberries. strawberries. peaches. cherries, apples. oranges, nectarine,  Anything else? I have my choice. Blueberries and strawberries on my fluffy waffle for breakfast. Real good with turkey bacon O. J. and coffee. Set to go and no place to go. Have to make my own fun for today. But  if a good breakfast is a good start--I got it covered.

BETTY (looking hard for something to do.) BOOP

GEESE _A-GRAZING

The Meadow was mowed, half, yesterday. Will finish today, depending on weather. But the Canada Geese are out grazing already and they invited friends to join them foe breakfast. What a sight. Hope most will eat and fly away. I thought about the man who drives the LARGE machine that cuts a long row at a time. Did he as a child want to drive these monsters when he grew up. Some little boys love the big machines. Tractors.  Cars. trucks. and many other kinds. Bulldozers. Even window washers, for big buildings. Some are excited about anything that makes noise and does many jobs. Hey there are even women who seem to get a thrill from big machines too. Well I don't know what inspired this subject, but at least it took me away from food. 

ONE MORE ROUND OF FOOD

 One more blog of food. Lunch is amazing. It is fun to watch each one, on his own to survey the many possibilities.  Leftovers for sure. Sometime one cook will make oyster stew (private ingredients) 0r this wonderful chicken wild rice soup. We claim it as our own. . Or just lovely pimento cheese for sandwiches. Or best ham in town. There is always peanut butter . Plenty of all kinds of fruit.  Famous pound cake. SCV cookies I brought. And another member with another sea food specialty for dinner. Left overs make good lunches too. Enough now. More went on than eating, although it was a big part. NAPS for me were important. Steal away, when no one is looking. Or on the big wonderful porch across the beautiful view of the waves smoothly waving in. Always soothing and perfect to lull you to dreamland. I will close with this. How do you make a last dinner?  Ask the Pizza King of our family to go pick up his choices of Pizza. Not as good as Pizza Shack in Madison. but still good. So the dwindling crown ended it all with pizza!!!!

BETTY (good way to close) BOOP

p.s. even this does not cover it all. Have you  ever seen such big bags of M & M's ?

FOOD IS CENTER

Well, people you love is really the Center, but food is a large part of that. Each family that takes a night to cook. does a lot of planning before they hand in a grocery list for their night to cook. Usually has plenty seafood as you might guess. I could not do it justice to explain the creative ways they all cook. To watch members of each family go about  their jobs is a sight yo see. Much, much chopping of ingredients and not much talking. They already know what to do. I think about how many male cooks we have. The kitchens are large and well supplied  with the latest tools. Like two dishwashers, two fridges, two sinks, ice maker micro oven, plenty of counter space, large with island in middle and large counter with stools to eat there if you like. It is a dream of every cook. Imagine knowing that no matter how many tools you use, another family will clean up!!!. Lunch is a wonder too. Will tell it next.

BETTY(fun living it over in my mind .BOOP

 

We 

CAN YOU GUESS WHAT IS FIRST???

 Of course, what is the first thing we think of, after hugs and greetings., FOOD,  We know how to  plan, cook, serve, and EAT. And the famous cooks outdid it this time. So many good and good for us to eat. Much, much, planning and preparing went on in the days before. Planning is the answer. We really do eat WELL. The best of the seafood dishes!!  MY, My, and veggies and oh, the  fruit was wonderful. Some sweets too. Could never tell it all. But I had several chef's to cook my breakfast each morning. Coffee was brought as I placed my order. Nothing was turned down. All I had to do was raise my hand and they came running with anything I wanted. Now I am "spoiled". Seriously, Everyone was wonderful to me. I love them all. Hope when their time comes (if it does) to depend on others, there will be Angels like I have. O.K.  that is it for today. I am still in the clouds and will stay there a while longer. It really was not a dream.

BETTY (always love the clouds) BOOP

p. s. study the clouds, they hold a lot)

I AM BACK

What a Week!!!! The week was a wonder. SHORE THING  (play on words} was the name of the large house with I don't know how many rooms. Room for everyone. In the days to come. I will try to convey the "goings "on of a "Happy to be there" group . who got along together and had a fine time. Good  food and rest were the intentions and we delivered to all. Especially The Old Girl who tagged along. I still can't believe the attention and help I received from everyone, to make it easy and as possible as could be. Enough of that. The weather was good. We did leave in rain, which was all right, since the Sun was good all week. Every year. after 49 odd years (can't remember how many) it has changed so much. We were at the end of the Beach Road this year and very little traffic and the beach was not crowded at all. So peaceful and quiet. Better stop with this and get on with chores of laundry and getting back into the groove. But I will tell you much as the days go on. 

BETTY (tired but happy)

p.s. good way to be?

NO BALCONY

 DECIDED TO NOT GO OUT. TOO HOT AND DON'T NEED TO FOOL AROUND. THIS IS THE DAY BEFORE THE BEACH TRIP AND THINGS ARE GETTING TENSE. DOES NOTHING FOR MY BLOOD PRESSURE, SO I NEED TO CALM DOWN AND LET IT BE. JAN DECIDED I NEED HELP AND I DID TOO. SHE IS COMING TO HELP ME PACK. 

 I HATE TO ADMIT IT, BUT AS MY DOCTOR SAID I NEED TO FIND THAT NEW NORMAL-THERE WILL NEVER BE THAT OLD NORMAL ANYMORE. I AM A HARD ONE TO GIVE UP THE OLD. BUT I MUST. I GOT OVERWHELMED WITH ALL THE DETAILS AND I ALMOST FREAKED OUT. THANK GOODNESS FOR DAUGHTERS. I HAVE THE BEST THERE IS. SO, AWAY WE GO. WISH US LUCK

BETTY  (we need it) BOOP

p. s. maybe the calm winds of beach is what we all need.