HELP US FEED THE NEED!

HELP US FEED THE NEED IN MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS! We need your help to collect food for Operation Food Search and to help crown our team as the ULTIMATE FEED THE NEED CHAMPIONS!

Go online to http://vad.aidmatrix.org/vadxml.cfm?driveid=4257 and give it to team THE WINNERS when donating online. Please do not donate glass items!!

Virtual Drive 2.0
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Just another day

For all you dog lovers out there, I happen to be one of them. My little poodle is all white with an attitude. Her name is Bella. And every morning we get up nice and early and go outside. She has a built in alarm that goes off at 6:40. She has to make sure she is up in time to bark at the school bus that stops at the end of our driveway. She knows when it is exactly 7:24 am. She is up on the back of the chair waiting patiently.

Sam is a beagle. A dumb one. Or smart, depending on how you want to look at it. He lives with my daughter in our duplex behind our house. Sam is basically a house dog. He does have a fenced in area with a dog house but that is not where he sleeps. It's not even where he stays the last few days! He has managed to escape the last two mornings and run, and run, and run. I have no idea where he goes but he comes home after three hours totally exhausted and in plenty of trouble. Unfortunately, his parents do not have to deal with his bad butt because they are at work. I totally think he should be named Leroy Brown (as in Bad, bad, Leroy Brown).

I will be glad when the weekend comes and they can fix the fence!

Talk about bad habits!

So you wonder where I've been? Last year was a complete lost to me! I spent a lot of hours working at Show Me Handmade at Crestwood, Mo which has now got a new name called Fusion. It has been relocated at Chesterfield Mall, Chestefield, Mo and has had a nice new facelift. I am currently a part timer as it is so far from home and I do seasonal work for the time being.

So I have been knitting, crocheting, learning to make jewelry which has not been posted on my Etsy shop. I have procrastinated taking photos of my work. I just procrastinate, period.

But I do a lot of driving to pick kids up from school, take them to church, take them to the park, push a lot of swings and in general have a good time. It's not all bad huh?

But I seem to have taken two steps back from the world and am wondering what the heck I am doing? So my goal for the rest of this year is to see what is really important to me and mine.

Hubby has not been well and that is a priority right now. We just go day to day with it. I have been reeling from all the new information I got when I took him to the pulmonary doc. Seems he has 94% blockage in his lungs and only 20% lung function. And to top all that off, they are unable to do anything for him. They say he needs a complete lung transplant but he does not qualify as he is too old.

He's tired. I'm tired for him. Maybe a little depressed. I'm sure he is. We can't go anywhere. He sleeps odd hours. He watches tv and eats, sleeps some more. This has been an on going thing for quite a few months.

So, I wonder if I should question anything? I don't know what I am suppose to do at this point? Since the docs say take your medicine and I'll see you in three months. Why? Why don't I call you if anything changes. He has trouble getting ready to go. Taking a shower and shaving is a two day affair. We actually canceled one appointment because he was too exhausted to go!

I think I'll just sleep on all this tonight. Maybe when the sun comes up, I'll be a little cheerier!

Back to the old Bad habits!

I know, I know, it's July! But I have been busy! lol! Between working at the Show Me Handmade Shop in Crestwood Court and trying to create new items, I have just been neglecting my poor old blog.

So we just set up a new account on blogger for our shop. We will be posting (I hope) much more regularly than I do! lol! We will be updating all new events just for all to see. Please take a minute if you are from the St. Louis area to stop in and say hello. We don't bite! We love to see new faces and chat.

Each month we are going to have hold a Handmade Happy Hour from 6 to 8 on the last Thursday of the month. There will be free wine tasting and 2 mini-workshops to choose from. This month the workshops will be wirewrapping a simple pair of closed wrapped loop earrings or a calligraphic bookmark. Cost for each workshop is $5 to cover supplies but the wine tasting is free! We would love to see ya!

Work, Work, Work!

Don't ya feel like all you do is work? And why? Why do we work? I have asked myself that question many times. But I just can't seem to sit still and not do something. Like today, I will vacuum the floors, clean the bathroom, wash some laundry. I will do that in between checking my online stores, reading my mail, sewing up my ipod/camera/cell phone holders and maybe get to the apron. Meanwhile the hubby will (when he finally drags himself out of bed) scratch, yawn, drink coffee, read the newspaper (maybe, if I bring it in) watch In the Heat of the Night, eat his breakfast, take his medicine, watch The Price is Right and then go back to bed. Now I ask you, what is wrong with this picture? Probably not a thing if you are looking from his viewpoint! lol!

I have come to the conclusion about 30 years ago (yes, we have been married that long) that I could run circles around him. It must be something you inherit, because I have three daughters that are the same. When we go camping, the men sit around the campfire drinking and smoking and having a gay ole' time. Meanwhile, we go fishing, catch the fish, clean the fish, cook the fish, and they eat the fish! We clean the campground, clean the pontoon, make sure it has gas and oil. We keep the campfire going with the wood we have packed in the back of the truck and brought. We cook all the meals, and do all the dishes and when the day is done, they expect us to sit down with them and drink! lol! Well, we know they are pretty useless at times, but we have kept them for a long time. I would have to say they got the better end of the deal but that's the way the cookie crumbles! lol!

So as I watch the sun come up, (well it's behind that cloud out there right now) I will drink my coffee, get my eyeballs open and officially start the day! You all take care now!

It's getting warmer!

I can see the sun coming up over the llama field this morning and the man on the news says it is 47 degrees. But I know it will be warm enough to go outside without a coat by noon! Woohoo! It makes me wanna go play kickball! NOT! lol!

Really, I haven't had my coffee yet this morning. I gotta have my coffee before I do anything else! And I really need to clean off this desk and put everything away that has accumulated here. I have to keep the turtle receipt for another week. Sir Turtle can be replaced within fifteen days of purchase should he have a mishap and expire. He has now moved from my living room to my daughters residence. But he was not a happy mover. He did not like being out of his water and in a box for the move.

When I went to get Sir turtle that day, I had no idea just what I was getting into! But after two trips getting all his goodies for the tank, Sir Turtle's new home looked nice and inviting (if you are a visiting turtle). I had asked the turtle man how long I could keep him out of the water thinking I wouldn't have to set the tank up and Rachel could just take him home and do it. But no, I would be doing Sir Turtle great harm if I were to wait until she got off of work that night. So I put five gallons of water in the tank, treated it with water conditioner and put his home in order. He really liked it over by the water pump. Apparently he needed a back massage.

So Easter morning, Courtney and I put his home and him in his box, in the car and we went home. Gee, just 24 hours of watching him and I missed him! lol! But not enough to go get another slider.

So here it is Wednesday already and the time gets away from me so fast. So far today, I have let the dog out and fed her, made coffee, talked to my oldest granddaughter. cleaned the pans out of the oven and turned it on. I put the biscuits on the baking stone and filled my cup with coffee. I have checked my email and read the ones I wanted to read and trashed the rest. I will have Miss Cara in less than a half hr so my news will go to cartoons and I will have to go get her some juice. She is not much of an eater, so it will be a couple of hours before breakfast. Then she will want to sit on my lap and twirl my hair (or hers) and suck on her pacifier and watch cartoons. We will take a morning nap and then eat. Lylli will be here early so she will have someone to play with this afternoon. Then I will have to change at least five diapers each because all they do is drink, drink, drink my flavored waters. Anson will have to be picked up from school. Holy Trinity does not have bus service as it is a private school. Then I will feed the kids as the trickle in from Jr. High and High School and send them home. I can't wait til school is out! lol! I can't wait until bowling is over! That is later tonite. We have two weeks of bowling and then banquet. I am kicking around the idea of not bowling next year. I really need to put that time to better use, but I just hate to not have the night of bowling. Oh well, I have a couple of weeks to think about it.

Okay, biscuits are in the oven and I am going to watch a few minutes of the news. See ya soon.

I'm going turtle huntin'

And I know absolutely zilch about turtles! So this ought to be fun. I know my title is misleading as I am actually going to a pet store to get Sir Turtle. He is going to join a lovely family (well maybe). That depends on whose eyes you are looking thru.! lol!

Sir Turtle will be joining the Smith Family of 4, plus one Lola, plus two Puppies (Murphy and Ralphie). Now I have to explain a little about the Smith Family of four. They have just moved in with Lola (grandmother) with their pets because their house was just not big enough for all of them. Now Murphy and Ralphie aren't really puppies but the Little Miss Smith calls them that. In fact she calls any and all dogs puppies since at the age of almost two, she doesn't know the difference.

Now over the last couple of years Murphy who just happens to be a big black Lab has calmed down and quit eating the house. He kinda of reminds me of Marley, (Marley and Me) only black.
Ralphie on the other hand is still chewing. But you gotta love a Yorkie that will sit next to you and put his paws on your shoulder and gaze lovingly into your eyes. I'm a sucker, sure! lol!

So now I know where they live and who they are and I am trying to figure out where they are going to put Sir Turtle. I have heard rumors that they need a fish tank, rocks, a heat lamp and who knows what else. I also have been informed that I need to buy a book for Sir Turtles new owner. That owner would be Almost Eight Smith.

Now, I am rather proud of Almost Eight Smith. He is my grandson but he is not like all the rest of the grandchildren. He stands out from the rest. I'm not sure if that is good or bad. Actually he could be a whole story to himself, but another day for that. But Almost Eight Smith is very intelligent and reads at an eighth grade level (comprehends also) and he will read that Turtle book from top to bottom and then some! My main concern is that Sir Turtle doesn't get chewed up by the Puppies.

So I sit here with my coffee this morning, watching the sun come up and thinking how pretty it is out there. We have had rain for two days and I sure am glad to dry out. Now if my basement only will! lol! After the stores open this morning, I am making Sir Turtle my first priority. I mustn't disappoint Almost Eight Smith! He is having his first communion Sunday, so this shall be a busy weekend for him.

Oh, and just for the record, I'm not Lola!

Showme Handmade and Artropy!

Last night was Showme Etsy Team meeting night. We had 20 attendees, which was nice. Last month we topped out at 30. So many new faces and I am just not good with names. Possibility that we may need name tags in the future. But these new faces have a lot of good ideas about doing sub committees and help get the word out about your street team.

I know that a lot of people from Etsy have applied to our team and have been rejected. I just want to say it is not the fact that they do bad work. Just the opposite! It is really quite nice! But the ones rejected are all jewelry people and as of right now, we have enough. So as our numbers rise in other catagories, so shall our jewelry catagory! So do not be sad (or mad), we are keeping all the applications.

They discussed the Artropy show at Swquires this coming April 25th and chose their booths. I am not in this show as I volunteered to work the ShowMe Handmade store in Crestwood Court, St. Louis, Missouri. As a street team, we are having two shows a year, one in the spring and one fall show. The fall show will also be held at Swquires, 1415 South 18th Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63104. We are looking for a bigger place for next year since we are beginning to get a following and we are now accepting outside vendors to round out our shows

Crestwood Court is having an Easter party this Saturday! So bring the kiddies (or not) and have some fun! There will be stages set up close to Sears, bands, demos from the artists and more. Come check out the new stores and get to know the artists! See ya there!

So Where have I been?

I feel so bad! I have been so negligent! But I have just been crazy! So I will just try to update the last six months. It's like writing a book. If I had had time to keep a diary, then I could just cut and paste but I didn't even have time for that.

First thing we had to get thru was Cameron's installation as Jobe's Daughter's Honor Queen. It is like having a wedding! All the little details and planning. Then all the work of making corsages, flowers, gift bags for all the girls and Aunts. Then you have to have a reception afterwards. So of course there is covering the tables, getting centerpieces, buying all the plates, silverware, cups. That's just for starters. Then you have to have a menu, decide on food. If I had been smart, we would have catered it. I figured it up afterwards and spent just as much doing it myself. And of course we can't be simple, just because that is the way this family is. It was much like what we do at Christmas. Hmm, come to think of it, that is what she wanted! lol! So dinner was turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans, dinner rolls, tea, and lots of desserts! So we got thru that.

Then they had their Christmas party (which we were in charge of). Then we had Christmas (which is always a big blowout here) and headed into the new year.

So January and February, we just passed the flu and colds from one to another. I just prayed John never got sick. He isn't all that strong to begin with. Having a house full of sick babies is no fun. Lylli and Cara just passed it back and forth. I didn't get much done around here.

The only thing I did, was finally make a decision to join some good women in a crafty endeavor!

I belong to the ShowMe Etsy Street team from Missouri. Really it is a combination of the metro area which includes Illinois. Since I live so close to St. Louis, it was the closest team around. We have been together awhile now. But to move on, some of the ladies decided to take it a step further.

To get past the boring steps, we now have a B & M shop in Crestwood Court called Showme Handmade. It is a combination of nine owners and I know at least 20 consigners. I would have to go count all the paperwork to get you an accurate number, but I am not at the shop right now.

But you can check us out at http://www.showmehandmade.com./

So now I need to update all my pages here and there and get myself into a routine.

Got lots to do today, so will try to do better this week!

Custom Order for Sally!

Ah, last weekend I was a vendor at a small quilt and fall festival. It was such fun talking to all the people walking by. One very nice lady by the name of Sally ordered one of my hooded scarfs. So today I am posting pictures of it just so you all can see what I do!

I am told they are Japanese Carp

Summer is almost over and I am so sad! I miss our two week trips to the lake. But hubby is just to sick to take them any more. So my boat sat in the driveway most of the summer. But Sunday Ray (daughter #3) wanted to take a few friends down to the river for the day and asked if I would take them. Daddy won't let her drive the boat cause she drinks too much! lol! So Saturday afternoon, we washed the boat off real quick, packed a few snacks and fixed a cooler. We were all ready to go! Sunday morning D & J who are sisters got lost coming to the house so we got out of here a little later than usual. Our third friend was our son's ex girlfriend and she went also.

So, they drank, swam, ate and partied all day. I was the only sober one in the bunch. But at least I got out and got some sun.

We told D & J that if we got going fast enough that the fish would start flying. I think they thought we were joking until one almost hit J! lol! I call them the flying fish, but I think they are really Japanese carp. I have been told that the vibrations from the boat get them jumping out of the water. We ducked all day but it was a hoot! At least I didn't get any in the pontoon and have to throw them back in. I still haven't checked the sides to see if I have any dents.

We stopped at Smitty's and ate lunch outside. D & J were done after that, so we took a quick swim and pulled the boat out and came home.

The End!

It wasn't free!

So my daughter is shopping in Walmart one day. Browsing around in the vitamins, she is approached by a tall thin man. She looks up into the face of this young man, who is clean shaven and dressed in a suit.

"Would you like up to ten free dinners? All you have to do, is listen to me talk for about 15 minutes."

Now the bells should have been going off in her head, but she is related to me, so I will forgive her.

"What?" She is the brightest of my bunch.

"You can bring your whole family and have dinner at (I will not mention the name of the restaurant). You do have kids? They can eat free."

Now daughter is really interested. She can feed all four of her kids and her stepson for free! So of course she says "Sure." She takes her ticket and he moves on.

So she calls me. "Hubby doesn't want to go with me tonight for a free dinner. You want to go?"

I told you, we are related! "Where we going?"

So she tells me her little story and I respond with what she wants to hear. I didn't really want to go listen to this guy but I like mexican food and IT IS free!

We get there and this place is small. Bells should have been going off, but now I'm curious instead of wary. We go in and they ask if we are here for the lecture. Oh Boy! So they escort us back to the little room in the back with about ten tables in there. At least we weren't alone, half the tables were already full. We had only three of the boys with us. The two girls were home and one was sleeping. She has a bad habit of taking a nap at 5 in the evening.

We take the big table in the back and this tiny lady comes around with a sheet of paper to be filled out. They want to know how much you hurt. Well, hello! I spent twenty five years working in a hospital. I hurt all over! lol! You try lifting 300 lb people up on an x-ray table!

I finish my little questionaire before daughter and look across the table to see what she has checked off. She hurts more than me and she is considerably younger. I laugh.

Thin man walks in and starts hustling around. Talks to tiny lady and starts setting up his chalk board and plugs in his light to show x-rays on. I am beginning to get the picture now.

The room magically fills up with lots more families and he decides to talk. I instantly can not stand him. He talks to us like we are all fifth graders and incredibly stupid.

" Hi, I am Dr. Baylard and I am here to talk to you about your health. Have any of you been in an accident or had a fall? Does your back hurt anywhere? Raise your hand?"

We all raised our hands. We raised them a lot during his little speech. He asked a lot of questions and we answered with our little hands. He even took my grandson and showed my daughter how to check for scoliosis. Of course, he was a little off. But so is the rest of my family! lol! Then he moved on to show us what a normal x-ray of the lower spine looked like. Then he showed one with scoliosis. It was more hand raising time and dumb looks.

Then tiny lady collected all of our papers and gave them to him. He started with me in the corner. I am sure he loved the fact that my left leg is shorter than the right.

"Were you ever in an accident?"

"When I was a kid." I wanted to tell him the time I got hit by a car. But I really wanted to get rid of him. I wasn't about to tell him about the motorcycle accident when I was sixteen and how I bounced across the road on my butt and didn't even tear my pants.

"How did you hurt your back?"

"Lifting people for twenty five years. Pushing wheelchairs and stretchers." I don't like to give too much away.

"Do you think you should have to live with this pain?"

Now I am looking at him like he is crazier than me. What does he want from me? I know my back is screwed up and will stay that way. "I have narrowing of the spine between L-4 L-5 and L-5 S-1 and it isn't going to change."

"But do you think you have to live with that pain?"

"I've lived with it for years and I don't pay much attention to it unless I can't move."

"Would you like to live without it?"

I'd like him to go away now because he is really irritating. But he is one of these guys that will sit there in your face until you give him the answers he wants.

I sigh. Okay, I'm stuck here. But I will have to tell you more later as I have to go take a shower and go to the chiropractors this morning. See ya later!

I'm so Bad!

Yes, I am! I have been procrastinating! My poor blog is suffering from lack of communications. But it has been a crazy month here. My Charlie was sick with cancer and we have been babying him. He's my first and probably my last cocker and we finally couldn't watch him suffer any more. I had to take him to the doggy doctor and put down. That was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I know it sounds strange when I worked in a hospital for twenty five years and have seen a lot of humans die. I just keep telling my self it was the humane thing to do. It still doesn't seem right around here and I just hope that he is happy running thru God's fields.

Well, I have been playing around with cotton piping and strips of material. Darling daughter has been making baskets to sell but I can't do what she does because it takes me too long and I get bored. I made one basket her way and it took me a week. I don't think anyone wants to pay $600. for a basket! lol! So I was at the fabric store one day and ran across a really cool book showing how to make baskets using your sewing machine. I thought, I can do that! So I bought it, and started making hot plates. Then I made the hubby a coaster. But dummy here couldn't figure out how much piping she was using, so I tried cutting 4 1/2 yards and sewing it up. It didn't quite reach the size I wanted for hot plates so I tried again. But this time after I hit my mark for a coaster I stopped and measured how much I had left and now I know what I need for those. I'm not too bright some days, well most days anyway! Now I have all these ideas.

After a week of hot plates (which I sold most of at the Peach Festival) I got brave and tried making a basket. Ohhhhhhhhh, was it pretty! And yes, I am proud of it! It was the only basket that sold at the Festival. And yes, now I am all fired up about making more. But I did run into a small problem, I ran out of cording. So I cleaned out the local places that were reasonable and I couldn't get anymore from them. Good thing hubby has a brain. He suggested I get online and look around. I found a good place to buy in bulk and am now waiting for my big order. Good thing these come on spools for easy storage. I am saving the empty spools. I am sure someone will come up with a good idea how to recycle these too! lol!

Well, dang! I am out of time today! I have to be at the chiropractors in an hour and have yet to take a shower. Oh, yeah, that's a good story. I gotta tell ya that one tomorrow! lol!

Nightmare at the Lake

My thought and plan was to get up in the morning, hook up the pontoon boat, throw my coolers in the van and leave. Of course my plan was all wrong. I had told the kids I wasn't working hard on my birthday so I told them they had to do the packing. But again, I had to go pick up Rach and her two kiddies, come back and load firewood in the back of the truck, go to C's and get her kiddies bicycles before I could hook up the boat. Then we had to put all of the suitcases, tv, food and coolers in the back of the van before we could hook up the pop-up camper to it. By then I was grubby and needed a shower but I figured I could get it at the lake after unloading and setting up.

My son-in-law had been working on their motorhome for two days. Their fuel pump had gone out and they had to order one. So he was going to pick it up at one and put it in. Of course that didn't happen on time either. So here we are sitting forever waiting for him to get done. They had been packing for days. It is amazing how much of your house you pack just for a four day vacation. But then they packed for seven and Rach packed for three and I packed for all of them and me. Hubby opted out of this little trip since we weren't taking our RV. Gas is just too high to take it since it only gets nine miles per gallon.

By four in the afternoon we still weren't on the road. So much for leaving early. Ray came home from work and we talked her into going with us since they cancelled the races and she didn't have to work her second job that night. So she threw a bag together and we all sat for a while longer. We were trying to figure out how to get her home Sunday as we were staying til Tuesday when our truck driving son said he was going too. So he threw a bag together and said she could ride home with him.

Five came and went and we were still sitting there. Ray and Rach decided to call their sister and see how the progress on the motorhome was going. Fuel pump was in but now the carburetor was not acting right so he had to work on that. Ray and Rach took the van and the pop-up and left followed by truck driving son. I waited for son-in-law and daughter to get the RV going so I could follow them and make sure we all got there.

Six can and went and I was playing online bingo by now. Ray called me from the road. They had stopped by and checked on the progress of the RV. Not good. I was informed I had the diapers and the clothes in the back seat of my truck so I needed to leave. Oh, and we picked up Cara and Button. So at six thirty, I left pulling the boat by myself. I stopped to check on the progress of the Rv. Still no good! Now my daughter was playing online bingo. She couldn't do anything to help so she was sitting and waiting. I left at six fifty all by myself.

Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me! It sure was a quiet trip all by myself. I took my time checking the boat often to make sure the tires were okay. We had such a time getting the boat ready in the first place. Some one had broken two stems on our tires and we had to get that fixed. Then the motor wouldn't start, so hubby and son-in-law took the boat in and had it overhauled. I stopped at the Shell station right off the exit at the lake and put in $75.00 in gas. It still didn't fill it. By the time I got to the camp ground it was dark. I pulled the boat out of the way with two tires on the road so eveyone could go around me. I wasn't about to try to put the boat in the water in the dark. That was going to wait until morning.

Ray and Rach were chasing babies when I got there. I reminded them I usually kept both of them two days a week and had a quiet laugh. They were trying to drink beer and take care of children and found out that just didn't work. So I took over Cara, since I was the only one she wanted. I finally put her to bed around eleven.

The phone woke me up around one and son-in-law, daughter and their three boys were on their way in to the camp ground. So we got up with the flash light I had packed and helped them back in. They set up with our help, put their awning out and went to take a shower that I never got.

All right! Vacation at the lake had started!

I woke up hot since we had to turn the air down for the babies. Son had started a fire already. He had gone next door and got his sisters flat griddle and was cooking bacon already. He is sometimes a blessing in disguise. He cooked bacon, sausage, fried potatoes, pancakes and eggs for all of us. We ate breakfast and put the boat in the lake.

Button, who is 12 was in seventh heaven. He's my little fisherman. He can do it all by himself. He can fix his own rod, bait, catch, take the fish off and put it in the net. He even knows how to put the catfish on the stringer. He helps keep the boat clean, put out the minnows over the side, throw anchors and tie down the boat. Grandpa taught him how to filet fish so he even helps me there. He has learned how to wash the filets, and how to freeze them. He is good at cleaning up afterwards.

We have to fish in shifts as I won't allow too many at one time on the boat. So I missed the first trip out. I decided it was a learning experience for son. He had never driven the boat before. You would think why? Well why was because we never trusted him with it. He is reckless and dangerous at times. So I let him take the older kids out and told him to stay in the cove where we could see him. It was a hoot! He took his sisters cooler and we called him and told him to come back so we could switch out. He couldn't find neutral to start the boat and we watched him float around for awhile. Ray thought she was gonna have to swim over and get it for a bit but he finally got it started and decided he didn't like to drive. So Ray took them out for a couple of hours while we played with the little ones and did dishes and cleaned up.

I finally got to get on my boat late afternoon. Ray, Button, TJ and Tim went with me. I took them to one of my favorite spots up the cove to fish. We puttered up there in the no wake zone and had been fishing for a while when my phone rang.

My son-in-law was on the phone and I couldn't hardly understand him. He repeated himself twice when I finally understood "CARA IS NOT BREATHING!"

"CALL 911!" I slammed the phone shut. I turned to the others. "Get the anchors up, Cara isn't breathing."

Thirty seconds later we were out of there. I didn't care if it was no wake or not. I put the boat in full throttle and we got out of there. All I could do was pray. I had no equipment to work on her. I told Ray call back and tell them to start CPR not even knowing if they knew how. Ray called and they said she was breathing, so I told them to hold up. Button was so upset, I thought he was going to throw up. This was his baby sister we were talking about. We hit the bank running. I left the boat to Ray and Tim to tie down.

Cara was laying sideways on the picnic bench on a folded up towel. Her mother was almost poor cold water all over her. She said Cara had been hot and she thought maybe she was running a fever when Cara rolled her eyes back in her head and started convulsing. They had called 911 after my call. Cara was a limp rag laying there but I could see her little heart beating. I was debating on whether they should just get in the car and head for the hospital in the next town when the park rangers showed up. They tried to put oxygen on her but she raised her hand and tried to fight it. Next thing I knew, there were at least 15 vehicles skidding in full of people to help. We had park rangers, fire department, ambulances all there in a few minutes. They took my limp baby and put her in the ambulance and we followed them out to Franklin County Hospital. Momma went with Cara. They stripped her in the ambulance and wrapped her in a blanket.

We went straight into a room with her at the hospital. They tried to take her temp but couldn't get one. Cara had not opened her eyes yet. She was slightly blue until they got the oxygen on her. They got Tylenol down her with a syringe and took her blood pressure. Next they took blood for a work up. I held her arm so she wouldn't jump. I have had plenty of practice doing that. Then they carried my limp baby down to x-ray for chest films. I explained to my daughter what they were doing so they understood why. Half an hour later, they tried for another temp and got 102.3. They figured she hit at least 104-105 before she began to seizure. They pushed another doze of Motrin at this time. Before they finally got her temp down, she had a total of five doses alternating Tylenol, Motrin. Cara finally opened her eyes at 9:15. We finally left there at 11:00 with her. We had instructions to call her physician for a follow up and for them to call the hospital for the rest of her blood results. They couldn't find anything wrong with her other than the fever. What a night!

We went to Walmart for Tylenol and Motrin. I picked up some Pringles as she was starving! She ate those until we got to McDonalds and she stuffed herself with chicken and french fries.

We went back to the campground and I sat outside by the campfire. No one else was up. I took the time to thank the Lord for helping us and prayed he would watch over all of us.

One more bad day and we were all going home.

Sunday was better, but of course we watched Cara like a hawk. It was overcast and windy so the boys fished off the bank. We cooked and ate and played. Finally late in the afternoon I took the boys out in the middle of the cove and let them swim. Ray and Tim left for home and our camping trip got a little quieter.

Monday was good. The sun came out and we packed up a lunch and all went to the beach to play. We took Cara's medicine with us. She was her perky little self, back to normal. She had a good time and got quite brave walking thru the water. They played in the sand and I took her bottoms off and washed the sand out. She likes being naked, but then she is only two! lol!

We had our usual fire that night and cooked our usual marshmallows and watched the starts in the sky. I thanked the Lord again.

Tuesday we packed up. You think we got home? Eventually! lol! Son-in-law had a leak in the gas tank. We found that out at the Shell station when we were trying to fill up. We sat for an hour at the picnic table in the shade. I had to stop twice because I didn't put the cover over the boat and my gate flew open and the strap around the top came loose. I was so glad to be home!

Think Positive!

That's my motto for the month of July! June was a really busy month and not all that great. But here I am getting ready to tell you all that happened that was good and bad. Maybe I should have titled this, the good, bad and ugly! lol!

Savannah Lee finally got here on her uncles birthday, Saturday, June 21st. She is a cutie! Looks like she got her grandpas' chin. I had to leave the day after she got home from the hospital, so we haven't had any time to bond. I'm getting to that soon!

My bowling buddies and I left for Detroit early Monday on the 23rd. It was an all day trip. We stopped several times at rest stops, for gas and lunch. We were almost there when we spotted the wineries. We managed to shop at two before they closed. So we added a whole box of wine to all the bowling bags and luggage. We got to the hotel around 7 that night, checked in and headed to the airport to pick up our fifth bowler who opted for flying in and out. She didn't want to waste time playing with us! lol! By the time we got out of the airport, it was heading on ten and we didn't know where to eat. It was going to be a late dinner. So we decided that since the casinos were open all night, we would go there. So another ten miles down the road, in the middle of Detroit we found one. After finding a decent parking place, we roamed the casino for food. We opted for a fast food spot after looking at the prices of the buffet. I just couldn't eat a big meal by then, so it was salad for me and I took over half of that back with me to the hotel. We took showers and got to bed by one in the morning.
Day two, we bowled team. We bowled bad. But so did everyone else. It took me to the third game to hit my average. I just looked at it as a warm up for tomorrows' doubles and singles.
Day three, I left part of my thumb in the bowling ball during practice. Thank goodness, Mary had liquid skin in her bag. I put everything into the first three games. In fact, I think maybe we have a shot at some money. My singles sucked. But at least it was over!
Our beloved Cardinals were in town and of course we had reserved our seats for the game. We wore our Cardinal shirts and took the jibes in style. We had a great time, even in the rain. We met loads of lovely people. Hooked up with three young guys from Canada, that were young enough to be our sons and we laughed all night. They were so nice and funny! They even walked us to our car to make sure we would get back to the hotel.
Day four, we ate breakfast, packed the car and headed home. I got home around five that evening. Hubby and I missed each other, so we talked a lot that night. I didn't bother unpacking my suitcase as I was leaving for the lake the next morning or so I thought.

Lake Trip.............to be continued.

Birth and Death

Today is my granddaughter Camerons' birthday. She turned 15 today. She is a gorgeous girl, just full of life. Of course, she is busy, busy, busy. I spent most of Saturday running her from Masonic Temple to Masonic Temple. She looked great in her gown! She was installed as Senior Princess Saturday afternoon. I always love watching the ceremony. She just smiles and smiles. Makes my day.

But I also got a call from my husbands cousin telling us that Uncle Bill passed away this morning. He has been sick for awhile and we all knew it was just a matter of time. So Uncle Bill, where ever you are, I know you are happy and free. I want to tell you how much you will be missed but I understand that you are in a better place. Your faith, your love of life, will always be remembered.

God bless you.

Yart Sale!

Well I joined the Yarters yesterday. I have marked down everything in my shop 50%! So if you are interested in buying any of those darling clothes for your dolly just come visit me and buy lots and lots of outfits really cheap! I will leave these items marked down until June 21st when they will go back to regular price. Come shop with me!

www.everlastingcraftycre.etsy.com

See ya Soon!

Who lost two children?

That was his next question. I turned and looked at darling daughter. "I have," she said quietly.

He said, "I see bookends. Like one was early and then maybe your last child."

"No, it was my second to last pregnancy. I lost my very first child and the second to last."

He pauses for a moment and looks at her. "Did you have a sick child? Something was wrong with one?"

"My last pregnancy. My daughter had a heart problem."

He waves his hands in the air and says, "Well the last child you lost says you need to stop worrying about her. She is fine now. She took care of that for you. She was with her the whole time. In fact, she is her guardian angel. She says the pain in your side will go away if you quit worrying about her."

Darling daughter didn't know what to say apparently, so she said sat quietly.

We sat in silence for about a minute before he spoke again. I studied him while he closed his eyes. He seemed to listening to something or someone. He would open his eyes and stare between the two of us with this glazed look. His eyes almost looked cloudy and you could tell he was somewhere else. Sometimes during the reading, he would take his left hand and rub his knee. Other times, he would rub his two palms of his hands together or pinch his forefinger and thumb together and rub them. I particularly liked how his ears seem to drop an inch when he was in this deep trance of his.

"There is a woman walking up. She says she is sorry she didn't make him grow up. She says she is sorry you had to do that." We both know that is Joyce, darling daughters mother-in-law.

"She died young. She still walks the long hall sometimes. Does that make sense to you?" He looks for answers.

"Oh, yes," darling daughter answers.

"She says.............was she married? Is his father still alive?"

"No, she was divorced. His father is still here." We know we are going to get confused again at this point. lol!

"Well, is he living with a woman?" he asks.

"His mother."

"She says she has tried pushing women at him but he won't cooperate. She wants him to have a relationship." Now darling daughters father-in-law is a fairly young man. I can say that since he is only a few years older than me. He takes very good care of himself and looks at least ten years younger than he is. He is into lifting weights and living a very healthy life.

"Where is your father?"

We look at each other. I know where my father is, but not her father. That's another story.

"Whose father?" I ask.

He looks at darling daughter. "I don't know," she says. "And I don't care anymore," she adds.

The glazed look comes over him again and he stares between the two of us. I am wondering if her daddy is on the other side. He looks at me.

"Do you know where he is?"

"No, I am not sure he is even alive." Now I really want to know if he is, so I am listening very hard at this point.

He shakes his head a few times and stares between us again.

"I see a man, I just don't know who he is."

He pauses again and stares between the two of us. Finally he looks at darling daughter.

"You don't want to know," he states. This was not a question.

He stares again.

"That's it," he says. "They are all done talking. I am not getting anything else. You know you can find out easily enough if he is around. But you don't want to know, you don't want to know."

Well, dang! I want to know now! But we thank him and we get up and leave. I feel kind of let down now at the end. I still haven't figured out how I feel about him. So, I will leave it at that and just accept things as they are. For now.

"Now lets hold hands," he says. We reach out to each other without a single word. I'm game! I tried to hear what he was saying, but since my hearing isn't always keen out of my left ear, all I heard was a bunch of mumbo jumbo. He had his head down almost as if he was praying. I, of course was watching him. Darling daughter had taken her cue from him and was also looking at the floor. After about a minute he sits up, lets go of our hands and stares between the two of us. I had the urge to turn and look but I knew I would not see a physical body so I didn't bother. Then he picks up a yellow legal pad and starts writing. You could have heard a pin drop in that room. He stops, stares ahead and then writes some more. I watch him write 75 and underline it a few times.

"I see a small dog. He has come up and sat between the two of you."

Great! Which dog is that? I have had many dogs over the years, so no clue. But he does get better.

"Two men are walking up. Wait, a woman. She wants you to know she is better now. " He reaches towards his hip and asks me if she had an illness there. Well, he was reaching for his left hip and she had fallen out the back door and broke her hip. Somehow, I wasn't surprised. Then he went on. "She wants to thank you for taking care of her. She knows you went back and forth. She also wants you to know she's glad she went before she lost it and went crazy." At this time he touched the side of his head. I laughed. My mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was 49 and her youngest sister had alzheimers. I am guessing the back and forth meant I was in and out of the hospital with her all the time while trying to take care of my six young children and lonely husband.

"Do you know what that means?"

Mr. Man had given instructions not to talk much or we might interrupt the dead and he might miss something, so I gave him a short "yes."

"I see two men. One of the men is sitting in the back, in a chair. He is very quiet." I think of my father, sitting quietly with his legs crossed. "He is holding a glass, not saying anything at this time. Maybe it's tea." I'm picturing a short highball glass with whiskey and water.

"The man wants to thank you for letting him stay in the house. You could have put him on the street. He wants to thank you for taking better care of him than his own family." Mr. Man ask me if this is my father. Mr. Man looks confused. lol! Welcome to the club.

"No, " I say. "That is my step-father."

"Did he pass soon after someone? Like a short time after your mother?"

I look at darling daughter because I'm not sure what a short time is. Step Daddy died about four years later. Darling daughter looks at me with a blank look. "I don't think you are talking about them." I stuttered. Mr. Man is really confused by now. So am I.

"Lets go on. Who's Edward? I see an Edward." Well I don't know who Edward is! We have such a large family how could I know. My mother had ten brothers and sisters and three half siblings! I have cousins older than my mother! Between first, second and third cousins, there are over 250 of them and I doubt I know more than 10 of them. And only one I actually talk to!

Now my face must have said it all because Mr. Man says "I think that is a middle name. Yes, Edward is his middle name." Thanks, I am thinking, that sure helps alot. I shake my head (don't know why) as if to clear it and come up blank for an answer.

"Lets go on. Sis, did you lose a young woman around 30? Did you lose your sis?" I lost my sis but at birth I told him. "No." he says. No what I think? "No, this isn't her. "

Then he explains that sometimes when he opens a door others from the spirit world sometimes get thru that aren't related and aren't suppose to be there. I can accept that.

"The man wants you to know he is happy that everyone is enjoying going in and out of the house." Which house? We have our house, the rental property behind us. My darling daughter just moved into my step mom and dads house. Which house? Who is this man?

Mr. Man starts drawing. "The house is sitting in the front with a big yard behind it." So now I am thinking it is the house darling daughter just moved into six months ago.

"He wants you to know he is happy that you all split up the money and are happy." That's a subject I like not to dwell on. Good thing I am easy going and don't hold a grudge. Okay, now I know this is my father.

"I see someone passing soon after a loved one. He grieved himself to death." I'm still thinking about the house and money and missed this one. Darling daughter caught it and explained it to me on our way home. He was talking about my father grieving himself to death after my step mother passed. She died in February, he died in August of the same year.

"Did you miss his passing?" No, I didn't. "Were you gone?" I went to get my brother from the airport.

"No, I was there. I walked in, put my hand of his chest. " I said, "Daddy, Larry is here." Daddy took one last breathe and scrunched up his face and died.

Mr. Man says, "He was already gone before you got there. He didn't want you to see him pass. His spirit was already in the spirit world."

No reaction from me! I was just thinking how my dear brother had to be dragged down here.
I had called him that morning and said I just couldn't do this any more by myself. That dad was in hospice and it was just a matter of time and Larry needed to be there. Of course he hee haws around and says his wifey poo doesn't want him to come. I lost it! Put her on the phone, just put her on the phone! Then he got scared! He shoulda been. I was ready to put my foot up a few azzes and move em slowly. He says, I'll call you back and tell you when to pick me up. He knew better than to cross me at that point. I had just become my mother.

"He wants to thank you for taking care of him. He says you took better care of him than he did of you." Lets face it, I take care of everyone. No surprise there, but I was surprised he admitted it. My childhood wasn't bad but he was gone a lot. I'm not one of those kids that was damaged or at least I don't consider myself so. Daddy drove a bus during the day and worked as a bartender on the weekends.

Least I bore you longer, I have things to do today. So I will finish this story tomorrow, maybe!