I'm Still Kicking

Although I haven't blogged much lately, I'm still breathing and kicking.  I'm not kicking very high today after having worked in the yard yesterday.  When I have more energy than usual, I try to tackle things that need to be done while I can.  Payback is awful when one has fibro.

I enjoyed a trip to my sister's house in Mississippi earlier this month.  The only negative thing I have to say about that is, I had to come back home sooner than I would have liked.  I think I could have stayed there another two or three weeks.   In fact, I'd go back tomorrow had it not been two weeks since I've seen Andrew.  He comes over Thursday, so I'm staying here!

Books Books Books

My mother loves books.  That's putting it mildly.  Those of you who have been to her house know that books are everywhere.  There's not a room in the house without books.  Well maybe the laundry room doesn't have books, but there are magazines stored in there.  I would guess she probably hasn't read more than a part of each book. 

I've encouraged Mother to donate most to a church library.  If she started reading now and didn't stop, there's no way she could read all of those books unless she lives to be 100.  Bless her heart, she just can't seem to part with them.  The reason is quite simple, I believe.  It is because of her childhood.  She would go to bed at night and read.  Her dad did not like it that she read after she went to bed and would demand that she cut off the light and stop reading.   Maybe she stayed up too late reading.  I don't know, but I do believe that's the reason she has so many books.  After she married, no one could tell her not to read and not to have books. 

My book collection is probably less than a tenth of what Mother has accumulated over the years.  I  have nowhere to put them other than in boxes or storage tubs.  I decided they were doing no one any good if they were being stored.  So, over the past month I have gathered them in one place, gone through each one and have them boxed to take to my sister-in-law who is involved in the literary guild.  The books will be put to good use and I'm delighted.  My boys would never read my books so there's no point in keeping them.   I kept a few - some that were special or gifts but there's one collection  I'm keeping.  Those are my Guideposts books.  Each year for Christmas, Daddy and Mother have given  each of their children a Guidepost book for Christmas.  They are priceless.  It's my parents' way (mostly Mother's) of making sure we something to help us get through life and to re-read even after she's gone.  The Guidepost is my favorite gift every Christmas.   It's my daily devotional and if I get too busy to read it first thing each morning, something is missing in my day.

I love my parents and am very thankful that they are still with us.  Look to the left of Daddy and you will see a tack of books! 

Mother will never part with her books.  And that's okay.  I think she she likes knowing they are there should she "ever get around to reading them".  That's her reason for keeping them.  She hopes she will find the time to read them.  I hope she does!

Just Being A Nana

I survived two weeks without seeing my grandson.  I missed him so much.  He came bouncing into the house Friday afternoon and said "Hey, Nana.  I came.  I came to see you."  Of course my heart melted and then he jumped into my arms and gave me a hug and kiss.  That's all this Nana asks for!  There's nothing like being loved by a grandchild. 

Greg's fiance has a three year old daughter.  She and Andrew have fun together but also fuss like a brother and sister.  They are having to learn to share everything - including Nana and Pa. 

Colored tongues were funny and they were happy to show them to anyone who would look.

Sitting on the patio eating potato chips.  Andrew appears to be trying to get Serenity's attention.

They had fun playing in their pool  (I did too!)

Finally - both of them looked at me.

Cortney and Serenity got to ride Smokey!  Both were thrilled and Pa looks happy too.  He and I seldom ride the horses. 

If you notice there's a red cup in almost all the photos.  It was so hot and I drank lots of ice water.  It went everywhere I did.

The green plastic fence was used to protect my tomato plants.  I'm aware this is not a tomato.  Last year I planted watermelon seeds and only got one watermelon because the rabbits, squirrels or something started eating on them.  I probably had 20 watermelons that they got and the seeds were left after they did their damage.  The vines this year came from those seeds.  Some of the vines have grown around, up, under and over the plastic fence.  This little one was hanging yesterday.  This morning, it was on the ground.  Sure enough, something had been eating on it.  It made me mad!

Last, but certainly not least, I finally got some of Jon and Brenda's wedding pictures put into a frame. When I started, I had plans to give it to them, but changed my mind because I wanted it in my house.  Maybe I'll do another one for them.

 A lot of my time has been spent watering flowers, trees and roses.  I've watered part of my garden, but it's about 10 miles from here and I have to take water in gallon jugs, etc because there is no water source there.  We've had no rain in over a month now.  This sweltering heat is killing the grass and the dry weather is not good for my garden.  I'm hoping we get rain soon.  I also hope we get some cooler days.  It's been as hot as 113 degrees here.   I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...actually I'm dreaming of temps in the 80s at this point.

That's all for now.  Happy July!