July 20th - July 26th

What’s going on around here? July 20th - July 26th


Healing Process: Some things I have learned this week:

1. It is amazing how much sleeping healing takes.

2. Off work, for healing does not mean you will get the closets cleaned out or accomplish anything else for that matter.

3. It’s okay to ask for help, like Tamara taking me shopping and carrying in all my groceries, after she cooked and brought over an amazing dinner for us.

4. I started 8mg of prednisone Saturday with the 'final goal' being 7.5,   I think I will do 8 for at least a week before I cut back again.    I am tired more,    I sleep more,   but I do have enough energy to function and seem to be doing well.  This is a very big deal for my long term health.  

5.  Bill says when you wear a necklace that looks like this you have to be feeling better and I said, "I think I actually paid money for this necklace sometime in the distant past."

Walking Progress:

July 20th – 1172 steps .37 miles

July 21st - 6,503 steps 2.2 miles

July 22nd – 2891 steps .86 miles

July 23rd – 8782 steps 3.33 miles

July 24th – 1968 steps .43 miles

July 25th --  3451 steps    1.21 miles

July 26th -   2256 steps   .64 mile



Just for fun and Sorting and Organizing:

I am off work for two weeks and I had hoped to accomplish something of use each day.

Tuesday: I slept most of the day. I did 3 loads of laundry by waking up to change loads from machine to machine and I folded a little each time I went past the laundry room. I got out salmon patties and broccoli from the freezer but was too tired to even pretend to heat it up so Bill took care of that after he had worked all day.

Wednesday: I planted a hibiscus in a pot on the back porch. It is a beautiful peachy/pink color and the pot was just waiting for something pretty. I did some knitting, I am finishing a few things and hope to have to photos to show off my progress. I did a lot of walking. Took some stuff to Goodwill and the Foodbank and picked up Roasted Chicken, roasted potatoes and green beans for dinner. I am thankful for QFC.

Thursday: Carried a few things to the attic, did the Trader Joe shopping, thanks to Tamara, finished the Baby Boy Williams sweater. Katherine my Portland, Oregon niece arrived for a weekend visit.  Bill found the 'special' he had been waiting for and got his 90 pounds of blueberries for this year. Now he is ready for lots of smoothies and a few pies.

Friday : Bill took off work to play with Katherine and I. They went with me to my follow-up appointment with the surgeon. He took my staples out of the ostomy incision. Bill had taken to calling me Frankenstein stomach, so now I am no longer Frankenstein stomach at all. After the Dr’s appointment Bill took us to one of my favorite restaurants for BLT’s and then we did a little walking before we went home to rest and knit. For Dinner we decided on salmon, but you know me, when we fire up the grill I try to cook extra for the freezer and so we did just that.

Saturday: We all slept in a little and I really just hung out. Katherine on the other hand did a major limbing and pruning project on the blue spruce in the front yard. Later Bill found some ferns that needed moving around and divided a couple and put them under the tree. It looks so much better and now you can walk from the guest parking to the house without being attacked by branches like the Harry Potter tree.

Sunday:  I am still sleeping later than I usually do and taking naps in the afternoon.   Bill and I took a nice walk this morning and then I did some knitting and a little cleaning.  I made tacos for lunch and Bill made dinner for Amanda and I.  She came by to visit after she had been hiking in the mountains.    It was great to see her,  we were both missing each other from her working late on Tuesday night. My cousin Jan calls every Sunday night and that is one of the ways I 'mark' my week.   I always look forward to hearing from him.

Monday:  I slept late again.   When I woke up I called Mom and ask her if she was too busy to talk since it was so late.   We chatted a good 45 minutes before she had to get ready for a luncheon she was going too and I needed to get up and get walking.    I did the usual paper shuffling at the desk and then ran a bunch of errands.  When I came home I did a little cooking and finally froze all the meat that we had cooked on Saturday.  Sarah, the daughter of our next door neighbors and her husband and daughter were in town visiting and so we joined them at the 'campfire' and had s'mores to celebrate their 2 year wedding anniversary. 





What's Cooking? Are you kidding me, that is a joke……  for one it is 80 degrees.

Sunday: Amanda came by and Bill made Greek Salad and good bread for the three of us.

Monday: Salmon patties (from the leftover BBQ salmon) Southwest Orzo Salad w/ roasted corn from BBQ

Tuesday: chicken sausages in buns, with SW Orzo Salad, fruit salad, asian cole slaw,

Wednesday: enchiladas and roasted brussel sprouts

Thursday: Bill’s night out : egg salad for me

Friday: date night

Saturday: two different BBQ party’s to go to, if I am up for it, and I hope I am.



What's on my needles: I finally got the Sasha skirt out again and picked up for the last ruffle. I had set it aside for a month now at least while I focused on babies.



What's off my needles: Photo’s to follow: Lots of bibs, Baby B’s cardigan, Baby W’s cardigan,

Have I seen any good movies lately: We Netflixed a TV miniseries called ‘Angels in America” and I give it a Big B for boring. We watched two of the 6 days and called it quits. ….



I love my iphone, my favorite app this week is: the pedometer. Counting my steps has been pretty encouraging in the getting moving area.



Counting my Blessings: I am so grateful for friends and family that love me and have been so kind, generous and encouraging through this whole ordeal, I am really blessed. I am getting back to normal and glad for it.

Grannies’ Diary: Bobbie Ann Maxwell 1945: For a few years now my grandmother’s (my mom’s mother) diaries have been sitting on a bookshelf above my desk. Now that others are reading this, I think I will take things from her diary and tell you what was happening at her farmhouse also. I have started with the first complete looking diary and the year is 1945. I am telling her story, in her words as best I can.


July 20th – Friday Well, Bill’s air letter we sent him yesterday with his $250 dollars in it came back today due 2 cents postal on it. No letters from the girls, don’t see why they don’t write. Dad is baling hay for Mr. Lewis today. I had a great surprise today, The phone kept ringing so finally I took it on myself and answered and it was Bill calling from Cherokee and in a few minutes Lovie called and said Emma had just called from SanSaba and Bill and Chy and Chipper have such a nice cream colored car. They are so proud of it and we are too. All the children were here tonite but Son, Kathleen and Mary Ann. Dad helped Mr. Lewis bale hay this morning and helped Mr. Smith yesterday. We all were so happy so see Bill, Chy, and Ann, Jim, Gordie, Emma, Gordon, and Elsie, Jymie, Tom Alan all came to be with us tonite.



July 21st - Saturday Well the Jim, Gordie and Gordon all spent the night with Lovie and Hilly last night but Elsie and folks went home. We sure had a good supper last night. Chy fixed enchiladas for supper and they were fine. Cecil said I could get some roasting ears as I asked him so Bill and I and Gordon ran down to his corn and got a lot. They were fine. Cecil Mr. B came a long while we were in the corn field. Everybody went to Cherokee but Gordie and I.


July 22nd - Sunday Well we had a great day today. All the children were here but Son, Kitten and Mary Ann. We sure had a good time, all went home excceping Nancy. Emma has gone to bed with a violent headache, didn’t eat any supper. Ann is still up really telling it to us, and it’s 11 o’clock. Gee, but it is hot. Bill, Hilly got their horses up but didn’t bring them home, wish they would for old Cecil will run and tell Mr. Yates they are over there on her. I was pretty near all in when I got dinner over with. Gordie washed the dishes and I lay down a while, I am bothered some with my stomach, All the kids went to the creek but Lovie, Jymie, Elsie, Gordie and me. Guess Emma swam to hard.


July 23rd – Monday We didn’t do much today. We loved the Chipper.


July 24th - Tuesday Well I kept the Chipper this evening. Gordie, Jim and Gordon came out to wash and we had a big one. I cooked dinner and the kids put the washing out. Jim, Gordie all stayed for supper. Hilly and Lovie all came by. We had a big day.


July 25th - Wednesday Well we all went to town, went up to Gordies, but when we got to Cherokee, Mrs. Gay was at Dennis Deans with a broken arm and bruised up pretty bad. She had a wreck while coming from Cherokee and the truck turned over on her. She is in the hospital at San Saba. Emma went to see Dr Pense and he said she had bronchial trouble. Bill got his car welded, the muffler part. Saw Jymmie the kids are all throwing a big party for Bill tonite at the cabin as he and Chy and our sweet Chipper will leave tomorrow. Sure hate to see them go but maybe they will be back again before too long. Nancy went to town with us. I ran down to see Mrs. Estep as John W told Jim she was pretty off again but I thought she was ok. I went in to see Mrs. Cowan and paid my Star bill which was $1.30. Guess she will have a write up.


July 26th – Thursday Well the Bill, Chy and Ann all left us today about 11 o’clock. Lovie ran down with Frank’s big iced melon and I called the Bowden’s and all of us ate big before the kids left. Emma and Nancy went to the store this evening and they and Hilly and Lovie all came by for supper. I went up to Mrs. Gay’s and helped Lily Randolph clean up the house while Lily ironed. Mr. came home while I was there and Mrs. Gay is doing well but wants to come home. We, the neighbors and I all sent her a bouquet of flowers. The Bill boy helped to cut corn tops while he was here. He also took the colts down to Mack Sr. on the 24th Tuesday, as the big boss had the boys to move them, which is Mr. Cecil the big bastard.

July 13th – July 19th

What’s going on around here? July 13th – July 19th


Healing Process: My ‘reversal’ surgery was last Tuesday and I was out of the hospital Friday afternoon. The surgery was just over 4 hours. The surgeon took his time clearing out adhesions and scar tissue from a surgery in 1986 before I was diagnosed with Addison’s disease. The good news is that it was laparoscopic and will make for quicker healing. I am stapled together where the ostomy was and have a least 4 other holes I can spot amongst all the bruising. Everything is working and so now all I have to do is heal. I did have stress doses of steroids in the hospital but I am on the taper down now and since I didn’t get sleepy until 1am last night I only took 10mg today. (I was supposed to take 20) I will see how I do today and I may take 15 tomorrow, then 10 and then down to 9mg again which is what I was the week before surgery. The final goal is 7.5 mg a day and that will be soon. I am only taking Tylenol for pain meds now so that means I can drive.

Just for fun: Since I need to walk and it is okay to drive, I took myself to the new neighborhood grocery market (Metropolitan Market in Houghton for the locals) that I have not been too yet. It opened a few weeks ago and I have been avoiding crowds and difficult parking for a while. I decided today was the day to check them out. I walked up and down every isle, getting in almost 1000 steps and picked up a California BLT wrap for lunch. There are lots of goodies there and I will be going back.


What's Cooking?

Sunday: a friend brought awesome halibut, green beans and quinoa

Monday: chicken and peppers stir fry with coleslaw and some great bread

Tuesday: (I just can’t think about it yet……)

Wednesday:

Thursday: Bill’s night out

Friday: date night ?

Saturday:

Have I seen any good movies lately: Smoke Signals It was a sweet story about two very different young men and their relationship with each other and the father of one of them. They go on a road trip together and get to know each other and the father in many different ways through the art of storytelling, one of my favorite art forms.


I love my iphone, my favorite app this week is: the headset, and speakers. Today I just hung around and listened to different podcasts. It is fun to find new stuff so if you have any favorites just past the suggestions on my way.


Counting my Blessings: Thank you so much for the calls and cards and texts and emails that have encouraged me so much. It is easy to feel isolated and I am so grateful to everyone who has reached out to me in different ways. It really has meant so much to me.



My thoughts for the day: What is the Rush? I am moving and glad for it, but I am moving slowly. I am walking slowly; like strolling the aisles of the supermarket today. I was looking back and forth to see what there was and what I was missing, checking out the new stuff. Somehow I lost my list….. so I was trying to remember what the heck was on it after all.

Then when it was time for lunch I did slow eating; I savored the bites and thought this was the best sandwich I’d had in a long time. Then surprisingly I was full and tired of eating before the food was gone and I just scrapped it into the yard waste and said, that was delicious but enough.

Even my hobby is slow. Knitting. It takes hours, even days to make something special and that is part of the point. I think about who I am knitting for and what I am making and put little prayers into those stitches. It is a mindful and calming art form for me and right now, slow is the answer.

Grannies’ Diary: Bobbie Ann Maxwell 1945: For a few years now my grandmother’s (my mom’s mother) diaries have been sitting on a bookshelf above my desk. Now that others are reading this, I think I will take things from her diary and tell you what was happening at her farmhouse also. I have started with the first complete looking diary and the year is 1945. I am telling her story, in her words as best I can.


July 13th – Friday We got a letter from the Bill Boy. We ran up to Cherokee this eve. I sent Son a bucket of candy and from Lovie and I together we sent some peanuts, 3 bars of toilet soap and a can of Colgate tooth powder. I sure hope he gets it. The Gays and Lewis’ all had ice cream last night but they didn’t tell us anything about it. Hilly and Lovie came by. Nancy girl came home with us from Cherokee and can she ride the bicycle now.


July 14th – Saturday Well well, we had a letter from the Son and he is okay. Gee but we are glad to hear from him as it had been 6 weeks since I had heard. I canned gumbo, 8 jars this morning and 7 quarts of peaches. Also ironed. Pretty tired. Son said in his letter that he was T5, same as corporal. Hilly, Lovie and Nancy came by and ate supper. Dad went up to Cherokee this evening. Thought Sis Ermy would come back with him, but she wouldn’t come.


July 15th – Sunday Well another hot day has passed. Lovie came but Hilly didn’t come. Lovie brought a chicken and we looked for Elsie and kids, thought maybe Jim and family would get in. Lester brought me two little bantam pullets this evening and Mr. and Mrs. Gay came and Dad, Mr. Gay, Lester all went over to look at Hilly’s walking colt, but Mr. Gay didn’t buy him as he said Lester needed a horse to ride to school, and the colt would not be big enough. Lester brought a big melon and he had Hilly to come on over to help eat it. Lester is a nice boy. He learned to ride Nancy’s bicycle. I told Mrs. Gay that Cecil wanted the land in there pasture and she said he would have to buy it. I canned the peaches Lovie brought today, we had a good time.


July 16th - Monday Well I canned peaches today. Lovie, Hilly and Nancy are coming by with an iced melon and the Gay’s are coming. They all got here in due time and the melon was good. I fixed supper for the kids, Lester ate with us and Mr. and Mrs. Gay set until bedtime. Three more letters of Bill’s came back today.



July 17th – Tuesday Well I am canning corn today. Mr. Gay and Mr. Smith let us have the corn. We will pay them back in dry corn this fall. Mr. and Mrs. Bowden came by this morning and brought some squash. Mrs. Bowden said Tommie Joe ate dinner with them yesterday as he and Cecil were helping Mr. Thaxton vaccinate the horses for sleeping sickness. Well Mr. and Mrs. B came by and want Dad to come down coon hunting. Hilly, Lovie and Nancy came by for supper. Elsie talked to Lovie. Elsie had called kitten and Son was on the move.


July 18th – Wednesday Well I canned peaches this morning and the mail has come and we had letters from Son and Bill but no letter from the girls. The Hilly, Lovie and Nancy didn’t come by tonite. Dad said they were going to show. Dad went coon hunting and he and the dogs got a big he coon.


July 19th – Thursday Well, Elsie, Jymmie, Virginia M, Lovie, and Nancy all came. Hilly, Lovie, and Nancy all came by with Franks ice melon and it was sure good. Cecil, Charlie Mc killed his hog today, and took it to the locker, and it was dark when they came back. Max Mc was calling Cherokee to see if Charlie and Cecil were there. Dad ran into SanSaba this morning to borrow the $200 for Bill. Dad says he owns 2 cows now. Nancy called me to tell me that she had a card from Gordon mailed in Denver, Colo. And 2 of Emmas letters came back to Casper and was sent here from there, saying Emma M had left for Texas. Dad helped bale hay for Mr. Smith this eve.

All is well

It is 24 hours from my surgery and all is good. It was close to five hours, longer than expected because there was so much scar tissue and so many adhesions from a surgery in 1990. He had to take longer because he really wanted to do the whole procedure laproscopicly. (?) All is well, the pain is manageable. I get very drozy, it has taken more than an hour to enter in this much, so maybe there will be more Thursday or Friday but the bottom line is: i'm doing well.

July 6th – July 12th 2010

What’s going on around here? July 6th – July 12th 2010

I worked on Tuesday and Wednesday (6th & 7th) and both days we broke heat records for the area with temperatures in the mid 90’s. That to say it was really warm in the office even with air conditioning and an extra fan in my room. So I don’t really know what happened on Thursday (8th) but I had the worst headache and could not lift my head off the pillow without being nauseated. My Dr thinks I may have picked up a virus. I had to call Bill and he came home from work and we went to the emergency room, again. This time it was not the Addison’s, we decided I just needed hydrating and with headache and nausea medications on board I went home to rest and stay in the air-conditioning. Friday (9th) I was like a different person, I felt much better, but only did a very short walk, mostly to not be in the heat for long. My friend JoAnn brought casseroles for the freezer, and goodies for Bill for while I am out of commission and Mick and Christie picked up Thai food and had dinner with us on the back patio. The birds around the house are amazing and Mick had his camera busy taking photos. I am starting to pack and sort for the hospital. My surgeon called Friday evening to check in on me and so did my primary care Dr. I am so lucky to have doctors that care so much about me. Saturday (10th) Bob and Karen, from the Friday Night Group, got married. They are both in their 70’s and really happy together. I think they both bring something really good to the relationship with the other person. It was a casual celebration, as Karen would say, but it was a really big deal. Her 2 sons were there, one came all the way from Sweden with his whole family, including the in-laws. The other son lives in Washington State but east of the mountains. There were 7 grandchildren and they all popped those ‘cracker’ things that send out streamers over Bob and Karen’s heads. It was really cute. A bunch of the friends had brought salads and Karen had made loads of homemade bread and ham and turkey. I made Chinese cabbage salad, with Ramen noodles but I bought too much and so had lots of extra. On the way home from the wedding we called Barbara, Bill’s sister and asked if we could bring it to Becky’s birthday party on Sunday. (Becky’s party would be my last meal till a few days after surgery so we didn’t need extra food around here.) Sunday (11th) We picked Amanda up first and then drove to Mount Vernon and picked up Bill’s mother, Toula and then drove on to Bellingham for Becky’s party. It was a great day we had enough time to visit with everyone a bit. Sometimes I feel like the whole day is rushed when we go up because Bill always wants to get home early enough to rest and do the ‘Sunday night, get ready for the week chores.’ Today it didn’t feel rushed and it was an awesome day. Becky’s boyfriend Ryan brought his parents and we loved them. Turns out there are lots of close connections, the world is way too small. Sarah and David were there too, we had not seen them since their wedding and now their baby is almost 6 months old. Macy is so beautiful and was happy all day and we all passed her around. Both my sisters called me this weekend and we had really good visits. It seems like the three of us are really happy with our lives right now and are counting all our blessings. One of them is that we each seemed to be with partners that we love sharing our lives with and are very content. That is pretty awesome and something I would wish for everyone but few seem to find that.    

Monday (12th) This morning I did a few more chores around the house and then showered and went to work at noon. The whole office did First Aid and CPR this afternoon. While they all were eating pizza I was drinking clear liquids. This evening Tamara came over with her daughters, Hannah is my Goddaughter and her sister Hailey. Hailey thought I had a new decoration up on the front porch, turns out we all learned something new. It was two leopard slugs, mating. I was so curious I went right to Google and found some videos on utube, just like what was happening on my front porch. We have pileated woodpeckers that are huge and they are now bringing their baby to the suet feeder. We also have 2 quail and I am putting cracked corn out for them. There are dozens of birds and the squirrels and the deer come by somewhat irregularly and now this. What next?   

Healing Process: Other than the little set back on Thursday all has been well. My primary care Dr decided that I must have picked up some kind of viral infection. It was not my Addison’s and it went away as fast as it came. My blood sugars are staying under control pretty well with only 2 metformin a day and that is really good. I am getting brave enough to eat a carb now and then without panicking, like I made a rice dish and had about a half cup and my blood sugar was just fine. I am sure I will be on insulin in the hospital again but I am really hoping to get this all under control when everything heals.

Sorting and Organizing: This week that would be getting ready for the hospital. I have sorted reading and writing material and knitting projects. Some I will take to the hospital with me and some I will have Bill bring later. I have put meals in the freezer, some for Bill and some for when I get home. I am caught up on paying the bills, including the previous hospital stay, balancing accounts, writing notes, and have done all the laundry.


What's Cooking?
Tuesday: family dinner; Southwestern Paella with shrimp, chicken and sausage and steamed green beans and plated salads of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and guacamole.
Wednesday: chicken quesadillas with avocado and tomato salad
Thursday: Bill’s night out
Friday: Mick and Christie brought Thai food
Saturday: Bob and Karen’s wedding and lots of good goodies
Sunday: Becky’s birthday party and my last meal…… it was all delicious
Monday: I’m on clear liquids and Bill is on his own. I have again stored lots of homemade dinners in the freezer for him.

And the week to come I will be in the hospital


What's on my needles: I have started a hat, something mindless that I can just knit on for the first day or so. It is one of the baby ones and it is going to be another little apple with a green stem and leaf on the top.

Have I seen any good movies lately: We saw “The Five People You Meet In Heaven” this weekend. It was made in 2004 as a made for TV drama and we liked it. In Heaven, Eddie, Jon Voight, meets five people that through flashback show him how he effected the lives of others in amazing ways and each had a lesson to teach him as well. Bill and I both kept talking about it and trying to remember the lessons; like forgiving others that hurt you and allow others to forgive you and not let what you did to them destroy you….. It was a good movie, but you might need a kleenix.


My thoughts for the day: A very special person has recently come back into my life and she sent me this story. It has been around the internet for a long time but when I read it this time it was fresh to me and I hope it will be to you also.


TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT . DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE

THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND , TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE .

THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS, WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM. AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM THE NEAR DROWNING, HE WROTE ON A STONE: ‘TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE'

THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU, YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW, YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'

THE FRIEND REPLIED 'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY. BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US, WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND CAN EVER ERASE IT'

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.

THEY SAY IT TAKES A MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL PERSON, AN HOUR TO APPRECIATE THEM, A DAY TO LOVE THEM, BUT THEN, AN ENTIRE LIFE TO FORGET THEM.

Grannies’ Diary: Bobbie Ann Maxwell 1945: For a few years now my grandmother’s (my mom’s mother) diaries have been sitting on a bookshelf above my desk. Now that others are reading this, I think I will take things from her diary and tell you what was happening at her farmhouse also. I have started with the first complete looking diary and the year is 1945. I am telling her story, in her words as best I can.


July 6th – Friday It is raining slowly this morning. Had a good letter from Bill telling me that his foot would be stiff for some time. Also a letter from the Gordie, saying they would not be home for maybe 2 or 3 weeks as Jim had gone on too Montana with his partnership machine. Dad is building the fence from the East field and I pulled a nice mess of roasting ears for supper as the Hilly, Lovie and Nancy will be by for supper. I sent a long letter to Bill and Chy. Sis Ermy wouldn’t stay with me tonite. Mr. and Mrs. Bowden came and brought Tipper home. Lovie brought me a half bushel of beets that Mr. Jim Smith sent me.


July 7th – Saturday Well another day has gone by and I sure worked but I got my beets put up, got 12 quarts. Mr. and Mrs. Bowden came and brought me some squash and got Tipper to coon hunt tonight. Hilly, Lovie and Nancy came by for supper. Mr. Gays calves, 2 of them, sold for 12-13 cents a pound and came to $110 as did his 17 sheep. Mr. Bowden’s check for his sheep was put in some one else’s box as he didn’t get it and Mr. Burk sent it out. Dad finished the fence.


July 8th – Sunday Spent the day by ourselves. Hilly, Lovie and Nancy all came real late and Nancy rode her bicycle. She rides it pretty good. They ate supper with us. Mr. and Mrs. Gay Lestor came tonite. Lester wanted to coon hunt but they never got anything.


July 9th – Monday I have canned 19 pints of corn today. Called Elsie but she couldn’t come until the last of the week. Dad says the corn will all be hard by then as it was most hard to use today.


July 10th – Tuesday Well, I went to the field and got enough corn to fill 11 jars and canned it. Also canned 3 quarts of my big Alberta peaches and gee it rained a good rain about 1 o’clock and it came a gully washer tonight. Hilly, Lovie, Nancy never came by tonight as it was raining before dark. I fixed a big dish of okra and was going to boil corn but thought I’d wait and see if they came. I wrote all the kids but let Mr. Perry get by before I mailed them. Old Sunday face jumped on me this morning and I never cooked him any breakfast. And I’ll not fix him any in the morning if he can’t respect me any more than he does, gee, but he is nasty.


July 11th – Wednesday Today is Tom’s birthday, don’t know for sure but I think he is 40 years of age. Dad went to Cherokee for some tobacco and I stayed home and canned some white beans and some butter beans, also canned pineapple. It took all the skin off my tongue and mouth. Hilly, Lovie, and Nancy came by for supper.


July 12th – Thursday Well 5 more letters came back that Chy and I and Lovie had written to the Bill Boy. Dad and I washed this morning. The clothes sure look nice. Mr. Gay, Lester and Dad all went hunting last night in Mr. Gay’s and Smith’s corn and Tipper really treed a big coon. Mr. Gay jumped him out and the dogs had a big fight before they killed him. The Fuzz was bit. Hilly, Lovie and Nance never came by tonight. Sure missed them. Cecil was here this morning and he said that he was going to try and get the 17 acres of land in Mr. Gay’s pasture. Said he paid $2100 dollars for the land.

June 29th – July 5th 2010

What’s going on around here? June 29th – July 5th 2010

Healing Process:

The endocrinologist encouraged me to shoot for 10,000 steps a day walking. I downloaded a pedometer app for my iphone to help me count my steps. It counts steps, miles and calculates the calories you have burned. So far I am not doing so well at it. I also got a new pair of shoes. I never bought a pair of shoes that came with a DVD before, but these did. They are called Shape-up and are made by Skechers. It says they are designed to: promote weight loss, (yeah right) strengthen the back, firm and tone muscles, increase cardiovascular health, improve posture and reduce stress on knees and ankles. ‘I’ am hoping they will help heal a sore Achilles tendon. My new nutrition counselor told me to aim for 6000 steps a day and make that my goal for a while. I think that is more realistic for a first goal.

Sunday June 27th: 4210 steps and almost 1.5 miles 142 calories
Monday June 28th: 7,000 steps, 3 miles and 325 calories.
Tuesday June 29th : 700 steps, not so much walking @ work, mostly sitting but then too tired to walk when I get home.
Wednesday June 30th: 650 steps, almost exactly the same.
Thursday July 1st: I didn’t even turn it on. Slept late and went to bed early

Friday July 2nd: 3353 steps, 1.23 miles and 119 calories
Saturday July 3: 5694 steps, 2 miles and 199.68 calories
Sunday July 4th: slept late and went to bed early. Not much walking
Monday July 5th: 6000 steps, in two really good walks

What's Cooking?
Tuesday: family dinner: salmon, squash and zucchini sauté and coleslaw
Wednesday: turkey meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans
Thursday: Bill’s night out
Friday: date night, I brought appetizers to B&C’s , salmon, potato salad, southwest green salad and birthday strawberry pie (sugar free chocolate for me)
Saturday: chicken roll ups and veggies
Sunday: crab cakes, tomato salad, potato salad, baked beans w/ friends
Monday : delicious dinner @ friends
What I am reading: I am almost finished with ‘A Clearing In the Wild’ and I am really enjoying this book and I am really glad I don’t live in those days with those customs.

Have I seen any good movies lately: We watched the Golden Compass and Brian’s Song this weekend. I liked both of them. The Golden Compass was good fantasy entertainment and Brian’s song was about the power of friendship in so many ways.
I love my iphone, my favorite app this week is: Chirp lite and ibird 15: both of which are free and tell you lots of information about birds and then make the sounds the birds make. I am just loving all the birds that are in the yard and this is teaching me more about them and recognizing the songs they make. Both of these apps are really fun.

Grannies’ Diary: Bobbie Ann Maxwell 1945: July

For a few years now my grandmother’s (my mom’s mother) diaries have been sitting on a bookshelf above my desk. Now that others are reading this, I think I will take things from her diary and tell you what was happening at her farmhouse also. I have started with the first complete looking diary and the year is 1945. I am telling her story, in her words as best I can.

June 29th – Friday A busy day, I cleaned the front yard, mowed the grass, churned, cooked dinner but sis Ermy kept me as she was not able to do anything, and she never ate much today. She had me call Lovie and tell her to bring some cream and she ate some of it. I made Sis Ermy the skirt I promised to make her last winter, this evening and it is right cute, they are having Bettie J’s shower tonight. Sis Evy is with me tonight as Hilly, Lovie were invited out to Owen Parks to a big supper tonite. I have custody of the black bag. Mrs B came by and borrowed my cooker book this morning. I have four dogs now: Tipper, Jackie, Patsy, and Fuzz. Guess I’ll leave as I don’t like so many dogs. I had a fight with the red wasps one bit me on the shoulder and I killed four of them, the devils.




June 30th – I killed a snake at 3:30 this morning it ate and killed five of the sick white chicks. I killed another big white snake eating another one up this morning it had swallowed its leg. Dad and Nancy went to Cherokee this evening. Lovie took Nancy over to San Saba for Dr Pense to look over. He said she was doing fine. Dad finished ploughing after he came in from Cherokee. I slept the bigger part of the evening for I was so tired. We had a letter from the Gordie girl. Sure glad to hear from her. Gordon was out with his Daddy. Pop said tonight that he had 8 cases of worms. Lovie said they had a lot of fun last nite at the Owen Parks supper.


July 1st – Sunday Well today is the first of July, hope it rains. I am taking such good naps today. Yes it came a good rain, more than an inch and it is still raining some tonight. We ought to have run over to see Sis Ermy today but didn’t.




July 2nd – Monday    Well something came and killed the rest of the diarrhea chicks left 6. I set and wrote letters and never heard the chick peep until I went to bed. Well we went to Cherokee. I paid the phone bill, sent off an order to Montgomery for Dad some things, Sis Ermy doesn’t eat anything, she drank a coke. We had a letter from the Bill Boy and he didn’t mention the Chipper. Well the Hilly and Lovie came by for supper. I had hot rolls and other goodies. Sis Ermy went home with them but she ate some supper tonite. I sure was glad to see her eat. Dad and I picked the dried beans this evening.


July 3rd - Tuesday Sis Ermy has been operated on a week today. I haven’t seen her today so I guess she is okay. Lovie was supposed to bring her by this morning but I guess Nancy whimpered so of course she got to do as she wanted to. Don Lim and wife brought Jim’s trailer out here today said Jim and folks would be in in about 8 days. I can’t wait for them to get here. Hilly, Lovie and Nancy all came by and ate a snack as Dad and I had eaten. I didn’t think they were coming. Cecil and McLerran Lights are having a picnic down at the Lively’s tomorrow the 4th of July, 1945.


July 4th – Wednesday Well we stayed home all day and the folks that went down to the Creek had a big dinner and got full of ticks. Cecil came to borrow old Tip and he said Lovie and Hilly were going to the rodeo at San Saba. They went to the picnic. It rained some today.


July 5th – Thursday Well I don’t feel so well today as I didn’t get to sleep till almost 3am and I have a funny pain on my right side that came on about 11 o’clock last night. Nancy is here. Hilly and Lovie came by before we got up. They had a good time at the picnic. She also said they had a good time at the rodeo. Hilly and Lovie came by for supper; Sis Ermy rode her bicycle all by herself this evening. Cecil came for Dad to help him round up some sheep and he brought three over here to load as Cecil said he had a hog pen made out of his loading pen. Had a sweet letter from Chy today, she said the Chipper can Pat the Cakes when you tell her too. Chy said Bills foot had been infected again. It is trying to rain. Cecil got old Tipper to hunt coons.