Coffee and...For Friday, January 13, 2006

Good morning All

Happy Friday the 13th LOL

Here's the daily con't from http://davesgarden.com/place/t/567832/#new

Have a great day everyone,
Kelly

Gee, thanks, Kelly! LOL

Aw, your welcome,,,,lol

Hey everybody, I did fall off the face of the earth for the day. However, I am back, have read everything, and know that most of you had good weather, accomplished some things, and talked about cooking, what's for supper questions asked and answered. I never questioned what's for supper, dinner, breakfast, was just glad that there was something to put on the table. I didn't realize that I was poor, until I was almost out of high school. Looking back, I am thankful that my family survived the lean post war years. We existed on Great Northern Beans, potatoes and cornbread in the winter, then in the summer we had the garden stuff. So it wasn't gourmet, but it kept the hunger pains away, and we were full. And our house was full of love. My father was a tenant farmer, and in Kentucky that meant raising burley tobacco, which was very hard work. It kept you busy from late March until February. What with sowing the tobacco beds, transplanting, weeding and "suckering" topping, and cutting, housing and stripping. It was an 11 month job. I have been well schooled in that process, as all were expected to work at what ever needed to be done. My father was also a dairy farmer, which meant 5:00am milking, and 5pm. milking, no matter the weather or other events. You worked the fields all day, and then to the dairy barn to milk. Then in the times between busy tobacco events, cutting and bailing hay. I have come to the conclusion that if kids were raised they way I was, there would be no juvenile deliquents today. I was so busy, I had no time to get into trouble. I didn't feel mis-treated or put upon, that was just the daily life. I think that all sprang from Maria's comments about the war.

Well, to update you all. I had an 8;40 dentist appointment to start a root canal. Commented to the dentist that I hadn't ever had my mouth open for an hour and a half without eating or talking. Have another appointment in 2 weeks to finish it. For those of you who have not experienced it, it is not painful, just long and tedious. After that went to grocery, walmart, pharmacy and stopped at goodwill, to see if they had anything I couldn't live without. Walked out with nothing.!!

Although DH is on his way to Florida, had DS to keep me company tonight while his GF was working, just like I needed a chaperone.

DMIL was moved today to a rehab facility, and seems to be doing well.

Had a call while I was out, neighbors mother passed away last night. So fixed some food to take there in the morning. Also a call that a good friend who had a colonoscopy scheduled today, they found a mass, so they admitted her to the hospital and are preparing her for surgery most likely on Saturday.

So my day tomorrow will be, take the food to the neighbors house, go to the hospital, and I think I will then drive to the closest big city to do some shopping. I saw a suit while Christmas shopping, and it has been calling my name ever since, so I think I will go rescue it and bring it here to have a good home!! LOL.

Well, I haven't even stopped by any other forums yet, so I am going to say "good night" and go see what's up everywhere else.

I will try to check in in the morning, before my duties call. Forgive me for not commenting on anything today, just know that I have been busy, and that I am interested in anything you all write.

Good night all.

I'm here I'm here! Anyone still up?

Defoe - the main thing you said was

Elaine did you get the blog?

Defoe, how interesting about the tobacco, it is a world I know nothing about

Yes, Maria ... I've been reading and reading. Have marked it in my favorites so I can go back. You went through a lot and it's a good thing you wrote it down. Too many people take it to the grave with them. forgive me if I'm blunt to say that, but it's meant in a loving way. We *need* people who will tell us what it was like. We are *too* pampered and don't count our blessings. I'll be reading more. You have a lot to tell.
Hugs to you and samson ... Elaine

Maria - I was reading Grandma's Apron again today, and found the photo of your family. I hope you don't mind, but I pulled it into my picture program and enlarged it. If you'd like I can email it to you and you should be able to print it out onto photo paper. Let me know.

How do I get to your blog?

This message was edited Jan 12, 2006 11:53 PM

What and where is Grandma's apron? I love to take a look back at what was life, now and then.

Maria, tobacco farming was the hardest job I have ever done. Tobacco is alive and well in Kentucky, but Federal govenment has initiated a "buy out program" where you agree to take a certain amount of money, to not raise it any more. Sorry to say, DH agreed to sell our quoto to the Federal Government, so we do not raise it anymore. What a shame, it will just go overseas, and they willl raise it cheaper, and resell to the US at a higher price.

Here is Grandma's Apron http://davesgarden.com/place/t/453740/, and I also found the blog http://danube.blogspot.com/.

Jody

This message was edited Jan 13, 2006 1:13 AM

I got caught up in Maria's writings and still haven't made it to bed; better go soon.

Man, I am in a frazzle.........I spent hours trying to get our camping group together - I have to call at 8am to the state reservation place and see what is open. Man, it is nerve wracking!! I thought I had it all done and DH said "I don't want to camp next to THEM" - I never should have showed him the layout!! Almost had to ask for the 2x4.

Just got an email from my friend who was writing a 'thank you' note from both of us for the yummy brunch. Grrr, now I have to write my own - oh well, at least she told me, but it was one more thing that I DIDN"T need this morning.

Rain moving in again today - gloomy Friday the 13th! When I was working we had a principal that always did crazy things on every Fri the 13. One year when we arrived at school, we were told we were not teaching our own room - we had to teach in a different grade. I absolutely hated it!!! I ended up in 1st grade - it was the longest day ever and I ended the day going home with a migraine. He of course wandered the hallway looking smug. Another year I actually took the day off - I am a creature of habit and hate changes like that....I don't find them amusing at all.

Sheesh, I sound grouchy, better go and get those reservations done, then I'll be in a better frame of mind - I hope!

Good morning every one

Defoe, after I sai I know nothing about tobacco I had to smile at myself , of course I do, I smoke it but that is all and am not too happy about it. About the quoto, do you still have the land and what are you growing on it instead?

Thank you , Jasmirr, I do have a printer that does all that and I use it a lot,

Elaine, glad you re enjoying reading my Blog, should really add more, my children keep telling me to write more it is just difficult for me to put together so it will make some sense, memories to not come in an orderly fashion, at least not for me.

After reading defoecat , my childhood seems privileged. I was raised a large part by my grand parents they had a large estate when I was growing up. To begin with both of my grand [parents were teacher before WWI , after the war things changed and they inherited all the farms from their parents and became farmers. their farms was mostly apple orchards for apple cider the apples were sold commercialy for that purpose. At some points he got tired of the farming part and started to diversify and got into horticulture . So he liquided the farms and moved the the eastern part of France there he was a horticultor full time before WWII. We lived right on the edge of town and we had a large property there we raised all our vegetables, all our fruits and we had some chickens , rabbits and couple pigs . Twice a year we would slaughter the pig and make sausage , put some of the meat in brine and smoke quite a bit of it. we had a root cellar for the vegetables, we also had grapevines and made about 400 liters of wine a year. I like wine now I didnt then.I am very thankful for all the things that my grand parents taugh me. My grand father taugh me all about gardening from growing vegetables from seeds to wine making , grafting trees, plant propagation and so on. My grand mother showed me how to cook make preserves and prepare meat and fish . I never wanted to learn to kill the chickens or anything like that but I sure know how to truss and skin about anything. She also taugh me how to knit and to crochet. I was born at the end of WWII so I do remember some of the restrictions like coffee, sugar and flour, butter, beef. They had tickets to buy those items . When the restrictions were over my grand mother gave me the tickets to play with.I am sure that the restrictions affected them in many ways , the one thing that I remember was we had replaced sugar with honey since my grandfather had friends who had hives. and he traded. My grand mother was the one who raised roses she had some real beauties and nobody was allowed to cut them , we also had some gorgeous flower beds that my grandfather designed that eventually would be for some of his clients. Since he was doing a fair amount of landscaping for various clients in and out of town. Both of my grand parents were very busy people and from thatt I have learned to be very busy myself.

Friday the 13th!! Sarv, your principal must have had sadistic tendencies, put me in a room with first graders, and I'll be out the window! I like children in very small doses...but a room full!! Yow!! Camping reservations here are a nightmare too, it's an automated system and the best time to get on and accomplish anything is the wee hours of the morning. We used to go with a group of friends and family and had a great time, but at this point, I'll stick with cooking on a range and showering in my own bathroom! I think your DH needs the 2X4, seems he mostly wants to complain but not to volunteer to do the work.

Oz, your horseradish experience parallels one I had in a chinese restaurant. I ordered a spicy dish, because I like spicy...but holy cow, after a couple of bites of their Szechuan wor main, tears were flying from my eyes, clear across the table, like a squirt gun, my nose was torched, sweat was running down my face and the waiter came running over, frantically telling me "drink hot tea..drink hot tea"!! The one to watch out for is wasabi, which is super volatile! Even the memory makes my nose run!

My dad had a friend who used to grow and make his own horseradish. He ground it outside and warned everyone to stand upwind to avoid the fumes!

I hope everything is going well with Susan's surgery today. I don't imagine we'll hear anything until her DD's update us.

Orchid, I used to love to do macrame, and had one handy little booklet that had all the knots, and several patterns. I did plant hangers but like you and I01, found it difficult to find jute or hemp when it was no longer popular. My niece made me a beautiful multi-tiered one that hung down about six feet, I still have it somewhere.

Maria, I am going to check your blog for your stories. It is important that people remember those events, and difficult times. Here in the states, we had rationing of essential foods and things like rubber and gasoline, but people were not starving as they were in Europe. And to think there are groups today that want to convince people that there were no concentration camps, makes me sick.

I remember being sent to the store with those little cardboard tokens that were used for butter or sugar. Those were the days in the early 40's when there was always a little corner store within walking distance. I was so impressed with the way Mr. Shapiro could snap open a paper bag with just a flick of his wrist! He had a nice penny candy display right in front of the counter where he weighed your purchases, and wrapped them up. We didn't have money to spend on candy, so all I could do was look.

Dcat and Orchid, any farm family can attest to how hard you have to work to keep things going every day. I spent a lot of time on my stepmother's sister's farm, and there were always chores to do. And no chore too large for small hands. Weed or hoe, feed the chickens, slop the pigs, carry water into the house, bring the cows in for milking, but we had plenty of time to play, and we ran wild most of the day in our bare feet. Plenty of relatives to visit within a couple of miles, where we walked across cow pastures as a shortcut to their homes.

I feel it builds character to have to contribute to the family work, and fully agree that if kids had to do that now, there wouldn't be so many juvenile behavior problems. Kids are overindulged, and expect everything that their friends have. I see them walking around with cell phones, and Ipods ....which are now apparently necessities and not luxuries. No wonder people's credit card debt is astronomical.

When I had lunch with DD and DIL on Wednesday, we were talking about living wills, and finally, real wills. We made a pact that we would each strong arm our husbands into either making or updating wills, whether or not they want to. It's like those guys think they, or we, are going to live forever. Maybe they want the state to come in and decide how our possessions are to be divvied up....I can just see DH's family lining up with lawsuits to claim what they think is rightfully theirs. And maybe some of mine....LOL What a nightmare!

Sammi is snoozing on my knees, after a vigorous workout romping around for two hours. That seems to be his maximum, then he crashes for an hour or so, and it starts all over. The girls are getting a little less hissy, and Souky actually played tentatively with him yesterday, until he got too excited. Last night he played with some new toys that his Auntie Elaine sent him, and here's a shot of him, midair, looking like a ballerina, doing a half turn in order to come down and attack the unsuspecting toy! He's a lucky little fella, to have such good friends....

Don't have much planned for the day, but wanted to say good morning to all before I struggle with the laundry monster, and run the vac...place looks a little cluttered up..and I need to clean off my desk, pay some bills, and file papers. So, have a good day everyone, watch out for meteors and runaway vehicles....

Sheila

What a wonderful childhood you had, orchid, but if you do not mind asking where were your parents? Did they stay in the US while you lived abraod?

DG has been terribly slow to connect with hope it is ok now

M5, we posted at the same time, your baby is adorable, wish I was not allergic to cats I would get one but I think Samson will think it is a new toy and shake it so can't have one either way

Oh man,,,,,,,,I gobbled two pieces of pizza and washed them down with a diet C. (plus one xanax earlier!) Got those stinking reservations done. It took me 45 min to get thru -hitting redial every few seconds. Then all the plans I had worked on went out the window...we have 7 groups and they would only let me make reservations for 5 of them, then I had to hang up and call back (new rule by the state - and for what reason I ask???)

Finally got everyone in and close to each other...phew...it was a total nightmare and I stink like a hog from all the tension!!

Maria- you smoke?? I haven't for years, but right now if I had a pack, I'd puff the whole thing.... I think smoking is worse than my bad eating (LOL), but won't chastise any of you because we all have our vices - we're human.... I had two ciggies at the death of my favorite SIL (I was with her daughters and we did it in her honor) I can take it or leave it - not an obsession with me at all. In fact, I'd rather have candy bar.

Raining to beat the band right now and gloomy of course. I'm gonna hit the shower - the plan of staying in my pj's all day went up in smoke (or should I say stink!!)

Oh Maria, I tried to get to your blog and got nothing....hmmmm is it my computer??

Poor Sarv, if I could I'd give you a hug. You sound like you need one, but you'd have to shower first. LOL LOL So sorry you had such an agravating time. Calm down and have some more chocolate! Always works for me. ;)

Maria, I have some things of my Grandma's that are so precious to me. We were very close. The only thing is I just wish I knew more about "her". Even if you can't get it down on your blog ... write it down as you think of it. You *really* have a beautiful gift and a lot to tell. :)

I, too, am wondering how Susan is doing. Maybe we'll hear something later on in the day. Does anyone know what time her surgery was scheduled for?

Well, the DH offered to lock me in the closet being as it's Friday the 13th ... but I promised to be *good* and not pull any stunts today. LOL

It's not quite as pretty here today, but want to go outside a bit when I catch up on DG.

Hello to M5 and Sammy, Kelly, Defoe, Suzie, Orcad and all the rest.
And to Julie ... where ever you are these days ... you are missed.
Hope everyone has a *safe* and happy 13th. :)
... Elaine

Could be,Sarv, but try again it is

www.danube.blogspot.com

Have been smoking since I was 18 years old but when Iwas pregnant I sopped because it made me sick but probably would not have othere wise, was a good thing as I latewr learned, wish I did not smpke but am very addicted to it tried to give it upany timesa but no one was able to live with meor with myself, lol

Good morning everyone! Got on here before noon today! Thank goodness it's Friday, even if it is the 13th. Have a 3 day weekend this week. Got lots to accomplish at home. The laundry monster is grown considerably in the last couple of days. He's been fed a little to well.

I love reading the stories of when some of you were growing up. My family (father and grandfather) sold their dairy herd when I was 7 or 8. My mothers family moved to Maryland and continued farming there for a few more years. My son started working on a dairy farm this year and the first night he came home smelling like the barn It brought back so many memories. I almost cried. it just brought back so many good memories of coming in from the barn with my uncles and grandfather and sitting down to a big dinner.

Maria - It is hard to quit smoking. DH tried a few times, but couldn't do it until he had a heart attack. He never touched a cig. after that. He is diabetic and the Dr. said smoking and diabetes led to the heart attack. I have bookmarked your blog so I can go read it later. I am very much looking forward to it.

Please excuse any typo's. My hands seem to be dyslexic today. LOL See ya all in a bit.

Good morning. Meezer, you had me laughing at the watch out for meteors comment. Can't see them for the clouds today, so by the time one arrived it would be too late to run. That's a great action shot of the kitten. I should try for some of my wild thing playing. Does Sammi leave that basket of flowers alone? it looks tempting.

Maria, I have a German friend who has told me a lot about the war. She was living in Dresden I believe, and when the Allies started bombing, her family got bombed out 3 times. Once they were in the basement of a building that collapsed and were trapped, unhurt, for 2 days.Bombing was supposed to destroy railroads and factories but there were no "smart bombs" in those days so lots of other buildings were hit. She tells about digging roots for food, being glad when spring came so the trees had leaves they could eat, and all the home remedies and uses for herbs, the hungry years after the war, etc. She has a severe hearing loss from the bombing. She said her father was a very important factory official, and that if Hitler had known what else he was doing he would have been shot. When he died a few years after the war all the government officials came to his funeral. My friend said it was only then that she realized how important he was. When the war ended she was still a small child and remembers that the soldiers gave them chocolate and peanut butter, and she got sick from the rich food and threw up. Your stories are important, write them down please.

I agree that kids today don't have enough to do and have too many things they didn't have to work to earn. Farm kids and other kids with responsibilities have less time and energy for trouble. My neighbor was delighted to find a teenager who wanted to change irrigation pipes last summer. I remember when they let school out so the kids could help with harvests, and many of my classmates milked a few cows before they caught the school bus, and then had to help again in the evening. Juvenile delinquency was almost unheard of. Then somebody decided it was mean to make kids work and the downward spiral began.

AmandaPanda just came to me and meowed. Empty food dish, empty tummy. Mommy do something! Now she is crunching kitty chow and purring.

Pizza and diet coke for breakfast, oh Sarv, what are we gonna do with you? I hope your camping trip is more relaxing than the preparations for it.

Time to get dressed, feed horses, do some more laundry, etc. I'll be checking in to see how Susan is doing. Have a great day everyone, in spite of what life throws at you.

Morning, all!

The van needs a new water pump. Hopefully, it won't be too expensive or too hard to fix. DH and DS are working on it now. Sets us back a little time-wise, though.

Probably won't be able to catch up with you all until Sunday night or Monday.

The thought for the day:

What fools indeed we mortals are
To lavish care upon a Car,
With ne'er a bit of time to see
About our own machinery!
~John Kendrick Bangs

Take care,
Jody

Oh Jody ... I *like* that! LOL Now ain't that the truth.

Y'all it's gonna rain! I don't want rain. Not today. we are going to have a 3 day week-end. I don't want rain!

Okay, I feel better now. :)

Elaine - send that rain to Oklahoma, they *need* it!! I'm trying to blow the clouds from here out their way.

I'm *b l o w i n g!*
hehehe

Maybe we should all go outside at say 2:00 and blow in the direction of OK and send all these rain clouds in their direction. I think If we all do it, we have enough hot air to move something. hehehe.

Oh Maria, I found it and read the whole thing - you are not stopping are you? Please don't!

Several years ago, I gave my mom a book and there were all sorts of questions for her to answer about her growing up years. After several months, I asked her how she was doing with the book. She suddenly had tears in her eyes and told me she didn't know if she could do it - her growing up years were not happy as her mom did not want her and told her that often. If it wasn't for her dad they would never have had any birthday or Christmas gifts. She said her clothes were in tatters and kids laughed at her. I never realized all this. And certainly never wished her to feel bad about her growing up years, but yet I yearn to hear about them. It is funny as I remember my GM (her mom) as a wonderful, loving GM. Every once in a while she mentions the book, but I haven't seen it. We'll find it when she passes I suppose.

Gotta go visit my MIL - I gave her the same book and she loves writing in it - but I really want my mom's not my MIL's. Not nice, but the truth.

Sarv- So sad for your mom. I would love to find a book like that for my mom and MIL. Can you tell me where you found something like that?

Mary, your frind, younger than I am, was lucky to stay aiive, it was terrible tp destroy a beautiful ancient city loke Dresden, Just like Vienna, nothing but historical places were destoyed not to mention peoples homes.
As far as food goes, it was the same with us. After all these years I still find it amazing to see so much food in one sigle market.

Glad you found it, Sarv and found it interesting, I had a very turbulent young life

Hi All,

Only have a couple minute's but wanted to let you know I just had a call from Susan (9kittymom)

She is out of surgery and on her way home via the Wal-Mart Pharmacy. Her DH ran in to get her perscription filled and she called while waiting in the car. She said the surgery took longer than the doctor's had anticipated because her shoulder was worse than they thought it was, however they told her they are confident that they got everything taken care of in there. Also told her the total recovery time may be a little longer.

She sounded groggy but good. Was so glad to hear from her,,,told her I would let everyone know.

Well, over to the pet forum now as she posts a lot over there and I'm sure people will be wanting to hear.

Kelly

Kelly, thanks for the update on kittymom. I am sure that after recouperation, she will be glad she had the surgery.

Sarv, sorry you got so frustrated making those reservations, now sit back and relax and enjoy the day, even though it is gray and gloomy. Raining here.

Maria, I bookmarked your blog, so I can read it. Don't have the time to start it today.

We took a stroll down memory lane in the wee hours, and I am still thinking about some of those things today.

Meezer, loved the pic of Sammi. Give him a hug for me.

On smoking, I have smoked since I was in high school. Have tried several times to give it up, but haven't been successful yet. Someone told me this morning, that they are going to wait until Jan 16, as the moon is in the right sign then. So what do I know about signs. I even have a picture of me suspended between two chairs, where I was hyptnotized for quitting smoking. They were able to put me under, but not make me want to quit smoking!!

Mary please try to get some pics of Amanda Panda playing, they are so cute when kittens.

Well, I have had a busy morning. Took some food to a neighbors, as her mother died Wednesday night, then on to the hospital to see a good friend who will be having surgery tomorrow, as they discovered cancer during a colonoscopy. Got a notice before Christmas that I was due one, put off making the appointment, but will call this afternoon and do so. I hate to go through that procedure, but don't want to be like my friend either. I am nagging, everybody, please make the appointment and get it done, so we won't have to worry through somebody else's surgery.

Well, I am going to rest for awhile, as I need to go to the funeral home tonight.

Will be back later to catch up. It has been so slow getting on Dave's today, is it my computer, or is anybody else having trouble?

bbl

d'cat, it's been slow (DG) for me, too, although I just got home an hour ago.

I went to Bed, Bath & Beyond for a microplane because I can't find mine and I want fresh parmesan grated over my soup tonight. Ended up spending too much $$ but got some much-needed things for the kitchen here.

Molly and Jeremy should be home about supper-time. Even with 2 dogs, 3 birds and 1 cat, it's lonesome here with no humans!

Trouble here too a little while ago when trying to post about Susan's surgery. gggrrrrr

Me again. Kelly, thanks for passing Susan's message along. I'll keep praying for her to have an uneventful recovery, and to learn to do internet with one hand.

If you think it has rained a lot wherever you are, I just heard on tv that western Washington has had 26 straight days with rain, some of it way more than average. The climate is similiar to western Oregon where DaisyRuffles lives. I've lived in both places and am glad to be away from so much rain. Southeast Alaska was even worse. Gimmie sun, lots of sun.....

Maria, I just read your blog, it sure sounds the same as what my friend tells me. She said by the end of the war everybody looked like those in concentration camps, big sunken eyes with black circles, lots of bones, even the children. Recovery for people and country was very slow. When she married it was to an Italian. She said there were no men to marry in Germany.

Darius, see, after just a couple of weeks you are already missing people when they are gone for just a few days. What are you cooking for dinner?

All is peaceful, kitten is asleep.

Mary, I'm cooking vegetable-bean soup and fresh homemade popovers! Supposed to be strong thunderstorms and tornado warnings tonight, and cold (for here) and windy tomorrow.

Breakfast tomorrow will be Baked French Toast with Praline Topping and Maple Syrup.

MARYE: I missed what you sent about the war. I am assuming your talking about WW11.

For 34 years I lived with the history of everything from WW1 up to VN. I used to be a expert on Decorations and awards.

I have worked on and in some cases written part of the Bio's that are published for all the 5 star generals. I could tell you stories about these things till you fell asleep tonight. At one time the fans of Audie murphy kept me busy answering there stuff.

I also access to more hoistorical documents about the war in the Philippines and the guerrila actions there than I bet anyone in the world. As I recall it was 1400 5 drawer cabinets. We also had all the prisoner of war diaries of those captured at the Fall of Battan for many years until they were finnaly taken up to washing because the historical sigificants was so great. Good thing to cause where they were stored burnt in 1973.

I have reviewed the records of two of the presidents namely Truman and Ike. Truman was a WWI artillary officer,and of course we all know who Ike was. Ike and Bradley were some fine men as well as generals they were always a soldiers general. Sorry I can't say that for all of them. Many countries wanted to give Ike high combat awards at the end of WW11. He never would except them. He wanted those who shed the blood to have them.

Yeah I enjoy the hostorical side of it. When you can look at some section of our culture over a period of 75 years it is scary. We have went down a long way in in our moral character in some respects.

This message was edited Jan 13, 2006 1:41 PM

Gosh Darius - I want you to live with me just to cook - everything you makes sounds sooo yummy. We eat boring food- meat, potatoes, and veg. Nothing ohh la la - just plain fare.

GG- thanks for passing the word on about 9Kit - glad to hear she is done with the surgery AND coming home!! She will have to learn how to type one handed tho....

Suz - I got the book at Barnes and Nobles I think - anyhow some bookstore. I think it would be a treasure when done.

Bed, Bath and Beyond is one of my favorite stores- hope you always use a coupon. They take Linens n More coupons too and they don't care if the expiration date is old. I could spend hours wandering around in there!!

I am dreaming of Praline french toast....sigh.....

Man, I have had a *hard time* getting on DG!
So glad to hear Susan's surgery is over and she's home. Thanks for letting us know, Kelly.

Darius, I'm on my way! :) Probably won't be there in time for supper, though. That's a long walk. ;)

I have not said anything about my childhood as I feel so blessed. I read stories of WWII and although some of my friend's family members were in Viet Nam, war has not touched my life much. I have a best friend who's son is in Iraq on his second tour, but still I have never *really* been touched by war. I know that I am truly blessed.

I was real close to my Grandmama and miss her very much. She lived on a big farm, grew vegetables and had pigs and cows. There were also 2 horses. As children, we picked vegetables and shelled peas, butter beans and shucked corn. My Granma could shell the fastest of anyone I've ever seen.
... Elaine