itsagramslife

Quiet Evenings in the Country

2011-02-13T16:35:00.000-08:00

As the sun was setting, I walked to the covered bridge and then by the creek, passing friends and neighbors along the way, stopping to say, Hello, how are you? It's one of my favorite things to do. Familiar people, familiar pets, familiar stories shared. They make me laugh, they warm my heart. The first neighbor I passed was walking his dog, Mollie. Now I know that their next door neighbor also has a dog, Jackson, who is never far behind. Mollie is always on a leash, but Jackson is sort of a free agent. I think he knows where home is, but he's the kind of guy who believes that home is wherever he hangs his hat, or wipes his paws. Maybe he's right. I didn't see him, and so I asked, Where is Jackson? He was up there a minute ago, my friend said, as he pointed to a fenced in pasture area. He was rolling in horse poop. When he comes in my house tonight, he's going straight to the shower. I can see why Jackson might have some ownership identity issues. Now that's a good friend and neighbor.

On my return, I stopped at the dock by the lake joining neighbors and friends who were enjoying the water and the warmer temperature today. As the darkness fell, they dwindled to one couple and myself, and they asked if I'd like a ride in the truck the rest of the way home. I said, Sure, I'll ride in the back, that's adventure riding, I've always loved doing that. Just slow down at my mailbox, and I'll jump out... but they wouldn't hear of it and tucked me into the cab with them all cozy and safe.

That's my life in the country, it's nice.

A Beautiful Winter Day

2011-02-12T19:14:00.000-08:00

Today was beautiful, still quite chilly, but it's so nice to see the sun again, of course, it is winter, after all. But here in the deep South, we tend to reach for shorts when we see the sun. Usually we can get by wearing shorts and tee shirts nearly half the year, one of the perks of being below the Mason/Dixon line, where we say y'all and drink plenty of sweet tea. Ah yes, sweet tea, the champagne of the South, you gotta love it!!

Today is also my grandson, Jack's birthday. Mr. Jack is nine today, how can it be? Growing up too fast, but this Gram can find some solace in that soon she will have grandchild number eight in her arms to rock and love on. Baby Amelia Dale will be here in a couple of weeks now, and I can hardly wait to meet her. It will be an exciting time for the whole family, especially for her two big brothers. They don't know things are about to change in their world.

Listening to Sirius radio, only the best thing ever invented. Golden oldies right at my fingertips any time of the day or night I can crank it up and dance till my heart's content. Yes, I'm Gram, but there's a fifteen year old girl still living somewhere in this sixty year old body. It's one of the mysteries of life. Some things never change, and that's not a bad thing, in fact.. if you ask me, it's really pretty cool.

Close of the Day

2010-07-01T19:18:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here at the computer, when I should be getting ready for bed.
Like as not, you are doing the same thing, sitting at the computer, saying I'm going to get up in a minute. But aren't computers fabulous? Amazing tools of the age. I'm glad that I have, at least, a toehold in the computer world. It's the future.

It is the close of the day for me, I had a good day at work. I'm a nurse on a med surg unit. I say I have a love/hate relationship with my work. It's hard and can be very stressful, nerve wrecking, but I love it, too, love meeting patients and their families, love problem solving for them, meeting their needs, for 12 hours, then I can come home, where I'm free to do whatever I want to do. My kids are grown and gone, and my husband is an independent kind of guy. He likes for me to be domestic, but he can fend for himself, too. What more could I ask for? It's a good life, and I enjoy it.

We live on a dead end road, it's a mile from the turn off at the highway to our house. We live at the end of the road, in the woods by the lake. The privacy is
delicious, but we have a few neighbors, good folks. Everyone is a little bit reclusive, I guess that's why someone would be attracted to the area, but we enjoy talking when we see each other, which is usually late in the evening when we do our daily walks (my daily walks are not always daily, but I try). It's beautiful here, quiet, lots of wildlife, the lake, the creek, trails, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It's almost magical.

I'm off for a long weekend now, but tomorrow will be dedicated to carpel tunnel surgery for my better half. Hope it goes as well as the doctor led him to think it would. They give some good meds, he won't remember a thing. Once he's awake, I'll bring him home. Then I'm expecting him to nap all afternoon. I hope he does actually. That's what I would want to do.

Wow! I can't believe it's July already!!! Like I said before... where does the time go? Happy 4th everyone!!

Where Does the Time Go?

2010-02-27T18:38:00.000-08:00

Sitting at my computer tonight and realizing that I forgot to blog for about, oh, two years now. Where does the time go? Story of my life, a good starter, but not always as good at staying the course. The blogging world is fascinating though, I must say, and I have utmost admiration for those of you who are fabulous at it. Where do all the words come from? Same place all the time goes, I guess - amazing.

I have no idea how or why anyone would look at this, or want to read it, but perhaps for the same reason I feel compelled to write it tonight, someone will. I'll be encouraged if anyone out there acknowledges me. Who knows, maybe there is still hope for my blogging future, since I keep stumbling in and out of the blog world. I love it actually, just haven't gotten very good at it yet, and certainly not consistent, but you never know.

I've been home most of the week, not venturing out much into the cold, but tomorrow we will be traveling for a few hours to visit relatives. Breakfast at Cracker Barrel in the morning with a favorite cousin and aunts, then to our daughter's. The granddaughters are singing in concerts tomorrow evening. They have become lovely young ladies, and our eight year old grandson will catch us up on all his many activities. Maybe he'll even act out Star Wars, complete with very dramatic light saber fight scenes. He knows all the words. In fact he knows everything Star Wars, really, everything. We'll return home exhausted, but feeling the glow of having been with loved ones, and happy to be home again, ready to crash in our own bed. It will be a full day, and I'm sure will provide me with some great blog stories.

Hopefully, I will return sooner this time, than I did the last time.

Ye kindly ole GRAM

technorati

2008-06-24T20:38:00.001-07:00

Technorati Profile

passwords... umhh!!

2008-06-24T20:03:00.000-07:00

Too many passwords! Is it just me? Or do you find that we need too many passwords to function in this modern world today? I'm sure it must be necessary, but I find it a source of stress. If anyone out there has a suggestion, I'm all ears!!

You can probably tell, I'm stuck on something right now, because I can't remember the password. So I'm a little frustrated, but it seems to happen to me too often, and I just wondered if I not alone. Maybe someone knows something I don't. Well, that's a given, but I'm willing to learn, if you're inclined to share.

A Great Gram Day

2008-06-04T11:44:00.001-07:00

It's a GREAT Gram day here in the country on this early hot Georgia summer day. I rose early today. Papa hadn't expected to see me when I appeared in the kitchen with my stickie uppie hair, pink robe, and still wearing my nose strip (I thought I might want to go back to sleep later, wouldn't want to wake myself up snoring, now would I, you're seeing the logic now, right?). I love these days when I get to stay home and do whatever I want. It's like Heaven. My response to his surprize at my early rising was, "Seize the day", though I must admit, it didn't sound very convincing, even to me. None the less, it's been fun. I didn't go back to sleep, maybe I dosed off a time or two while watching the news, who knows. News gets old quickly and in my attempt to make the most of the day, I decided to go outside. It's so nice in the mornings, then the heat takes over and indoors looks more interesting. I found myself pulling weeds for a while, then I sat in the swing and just enjoyed looking at the lake and feeling the morning air. A big red cardinal flew down about twenty feet in front of me and landed in the yard, then darted off into the trees. There's some cool stuff happening out there, I should do that more often.

When I came inside, I decided to put a perm in my hair. I can get into all kinds of trouble when I'm left alone with no one to watch me. My girls shutter at the things I do to my hair, but I say, "Think about all the money I saved, and anyway, it'll grow back." Not to worry, today I was lucky, it actually looks pretty good. I only used half a boxed perm which cost probably $6, so I'm just out 3 bucks. Now that's a deal!

I'm going to finish the day gathering up clothes I'm not using and take a load to Goodwill. It's spring, well technically it's still spring, and I'm feeling the need to do spring cleaning. I'd better act on it before the desire fades away. I may not be modivated again till next spring. If only I could stop time, maybe I could catch up with all the things I'd like to accomplish. I won't get it all done, but still, it's been a GREAT Gram day.

Hope ya'll had great days, too.

Up to my old ways again

2008-06-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

I'm up to my old ways again, I'm afraid. Sometimes change is slow, and not always permanent. At any rate, here I am again to say hello. Gram is still here and kicking, just not as high as she used to.

On this lovely Sunday, I have been reflecting on my blessings. First and foremost among those would be our family. Little Ava is home and doing beautifully, for which, we are so thankful. She immediately stole all our hearts, she is so precious. Courtney and Claire are quickly becoming graceful, wonderful young Christian women, and Jack is turning into the young man we always knew he would. He continues to surprize us with his charm and insights. Wade is growing up, too. He has been so much fun, and often gives me flashbacks, he is so much like his daddy, my baby, I can hardly believe it, but he is and will be his own special person. Little Brooks loves his brother and already wants nothing so much as just to follow him and do whatever he does. He just turned one and isn't interested yet in walking, but can that boy crawl and climb. He goes wherever he wants, until someone stops him. He is something else, so cute, he's adoreable. He's what they used to call a towhead, in the South, which means his hair is platinum blonde. We still can't decide what color his eyes are. They're sort of blue green. Wade got his daddy's red hair and blue eyes. All the other grands have beautiful eyes, too, dark brown, like pools of deep water. I love them.

My work week was heavy last week, more so than usual. I'm always optimistic that it will be fine. The weird thing is that it seems to be, I make it through the week, but then my delicious down time sort of bommerangs on me, it seems, and I feel the tiredness of it all. This week I also had jury duty following the completion of my shifts at the hospital, so I had to be up early and go over for that. It was a murder case, particularly unsavory. Thankfully, I wasn't picked, so I was relieved about that.

Maybe it's the renewing effect of spring, but for whatever reason, I have that itching to clean out and organize. I know my daughter's are probably giggling about that statement, because they know I have a teensy problem with that. I'm convinced my children took all my organizational genes from me, leaving me few. Those of you who are closer to my age know that some of the clutter we have accummulated by this time is not solely our own, but for whatever reason, it's a challenge. Undoubtedly, it's a national problem, because it's on the front page of every magazine and countless cable TV shows center around it. I've gotten hooked on the show, Clean House. Maybe it makes me feel better to see other people who have the same problem. Of course, they choose very dramatic situations to make a show out of. It's entertaining and inspiring to see the end result. Without saying, they have a whole crew of people and some strong motivation, including muscle power and cash. Anybody else out there want to say, I know what you're talking about, girl!? Words of advice welcome, too.

That's probably about all you really want to hear from me right now, I'll bet. Sometimes less is more, as the old saying goes, so I'll sign off for now. Hope you will leave me a comment. I'd love that.

Happy Birthday

2008-05-18T16:44:00.000-07:00

Today was a nice day, my youngest grandson's 1st birthday. He had his own cake and another to share. I'm not sure he's too much into cake, but he liked opening the presents and playing with his brother and cousins from Macon. It was fun and not too busy. Sometimes I think we tend to over celebrate, know what I mean? It can be a little overwhelming when you're only one year old.

Yesterday we went to the graduation ceremony for our next door neighbor. That was good, and then we shared a meal with them. So I guess we've just been partying all weekend. It doesn't seem like we did anything, but I'm kind of pooped.

That's about all that's been happening in gramsworld lately.
Ya'll stay safe and have a good week.

Gram

Where in the world is Gram?

2008-05-13T18:15:00.001-07:00

It's been so long since I posted, I forgot how!! Back by popular demand...from my granddaughter anyway, here I am.

Well, the seasons have rolled around again. I completely missed commenting on Easter, which was lovely by the way. I enjoyed it very much. Went to church with the family, wore the same thing I wore last year, and I'm not complaining a bit about that, and got to see everybody looking handsome and beautiful, hear a good choir and enjoy a worshipful church service, followed by a good meal and relaxing visit - a very nice day.

We also had the February trip to Disney World, which I left the posting about to the young folks. Disney World is great, but I need to take Geritol for about two months before and after. Remember Geritol? Now if you do .... uh huh, you know what I'm talking about.

The really biggie I haven't posted about is the arrival of our sweet Ava all the way from Viet Nam and that has been so wonderful. She is a beaut, let me tell you. We are so thrilled about having her. I could hold her all day, she's light as a feather, and such a good baby. We are so blessed with wonderful grandchildren. They are all so precious to us, and each one special in his or her own way. I love every one of them with my whole heart. I was just thinking about that yesterday, how each of them has 100% of my love, and how in our finite way of thinking, we would not believe that to be possible. I could see how God uses our relationships with our children and grandchildren to reveal Himself to us. If we can love that way, He can do the same and much more, and then He uses our Earthly lives to allow us to see that. That's amazing.

Papa just came in and kissed me on the head. I said, "I'm posting my blog." He said, "Really?" He looked shocked, counted on his fingers, and said "five months." Then he went to get a snack. In two months, we will have been married 39 short years. I should write about that. Thirty nine years, that could take a while to summarize, I'll have to leave some stuff out!

Alright chickadees, if I'm going to keep posting, I need encouragement, so let's have some comments!

Christmas 2007

2007-12-26T18:43:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone, even though today is the 26th! I'm sure most of you who will read this have already read Jennifer's account, so you know some of our ups and downs. I'm always excited and happy to have the family here, but having everyone well at the same time, especially in December, is probably not likely to happen often. It was kind of a whirlwind, and part of me feels like it should not be over yet. I wish we could stay together longer, but it was fun, a very sweet time. In exchange for being off on the weekend for our early get together, I worked Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It was busy, since everyone who could get the time off, was off, and it's a little sad, too, because I knew the patients wanted to be home with their families, too. Today, I would have liked to brave the stores, but didn't have the energy, which is a good thing probably. We had a quiet day at home with plenty of leftovers to eat, napped, watched TV and enjoyed being home together, Gram and Papa.

I had a funny experience at work Monday. Kesha, the young lady who is our CNA, certified nursing assistant, had brought her camera and was showing the pictures (through the world of modern technology, it still amazes me how you can see the pictures right on the camera). Anyway, several of us were gathered at the round table where the nurses are supposed to sit to chart. I was chatting and looking occasionally at the pictures as they are passing back and forth. I saw some kids on a tree swing in a yard, and I said, "That makes me think of my a swing my grandkids used to have in their backyard." Kesha said, "Yeah, they love that that swing, that's at my brother's house." She changed the picture and said, "This is the front of the house." I looked at it, then I looked back again. I said, "Where is that house?" She said, "Woods of Habersham". It was the house Jennifer had lived in here in Athens and the swing was the one John had put up. He tied a rope on a rock, threw it way up over a high branch, then secured a Little Tykes swing on it. The yard was sort of hilly in that area, so the kids could get in the swing easily, and when they were pushed, they had a very exciting ride. It just gave me a very funny feeling though to see someone else's kids in the picture, but it was neat, too. I said Kesha, this makes us like almost related. Smiling real big she said, I know. It was kind of a wierd bonding moment. It also made me stop and think about how this really is a small world. I mean, what are the chances of that chain of events happening? I thought it was pretty cool. Kesha said to tell you Jennifer that someone lives there who loves it and takes very good care of it. She said, "It's my dream house, I love that house." I'm glad good people live there who are happy and enjoying it.

That about it for me tonight. Everyone stay safe. Hopefully I will post again before the New Year, but if not, then I'll say Happy New Year to you all now. We'll catch up with each other when things settle down, I'm sure.

Gram

Off to the Races - It's a New Week

2007-12-10T03:37:00.000-08:00

I'm up early on this Monday morning. It's still dark outside, I woke up at 4:30. Some people get up at the same time everyday, as if having an internal clock inside their heads. I never know if I'll pass out when my head hits the pillow and sleep like a rock, or toss and turn and rise early. Makes it more interesting, maybe, diverse. Actually, on the days I work, I'm usually physically and mentally tired enough that I can't stay awake long after I get home, so that pretty well takes care of that, usually, though not always. Then after a day or two off, my body starts to adjust back to it's natural tendencies.
You've probably noticed my daughter, Jennifer, often blogs in the wee hours of the night. I'm afraid she inherited that gene from me, sorry about that Jen. But as they say, if life gives you lemons, make lemonaide. She does some great blogging in those hours, huh?
As for me, I'm up and awake. Sometimes I'm up, and that's about it, but today, I'm up, and I say, "Seize the day!" I'll let you know later how well that goes. So much to do, so little time!
Have a great day out there bloggyworld!!

A Good Day

2007-12-07T19:09:00.000-08:00

This has been a good day. I can't say we accomplished all we had hoped for and more, but we did get the tree up and decorated, and made a good start, though we still have a way to go. The tree looks good, very pretty, but it may need a little tweaking when I see it in the light of day. I do wish we could all get together at each other's houses. Maybe we will be able to do that, I hope so, all warm and cozy. If there are any readers out there other than my children, you realize that comment was directed to them! I'm sure you are all nice folks, but I don't think we know each other well enough yet to be spending Christmas together at each other's houses! Even so, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and stay safe everyone!
I'm calling it a day.
Gram says goodnight.

Chuckie Cheese

2007-12-06T19:23:00.000-08:00

My grandson, Wade, will be three in a few days. He's one of those with a birthday really near to Jesus' birthday, so there is a bit of a time crunch for party planning. This year Wade's party was a few days before his actual birthday. Since three year olds don't have a concept of time anyway, it works out fine. It was a Superman theme party at Chuckie Cheese. I had remembered it as being so loud that I felt stressed the last time I went there, but it really wasn't the way I had remembered, and we all had fun, especially the kids, so that was great. There were cupcakes with Superman rings on top of them, balloons, gift bags filled with goodies for the guests. Wade was in Superman PJ's. His dad, my son, Clark, wore a white T shirt with a stick-on S for Superman and had a red cape, which came from I don't know where. Papa and I, and baby Brooks, were also given stick-on S's to wear on our shirts. As I was leaving, I noticed a little girl as she walked past me, staring at me in awe. Her dad nodded respectfully and said, "Superman Grandma", and passed on by. I had forgotten I was wearing my S emblem on my shirt. It was funny. It was a good party, Wade was happy, and that makes me happy.

The First Post

2007-12-06T10:20:00.000-08:00

Hi,
I'm Gram, wife of one, mother of three, grandmother of five, nurse of many. This blog thing is new for me, and I don't yet have my blog legs under me, but maybe there are some others out there who will find some commonalities with me, and we can enjoy swapping life stories in a way that is edifying to each other. This is just my toe in the water today! Comment if you're interested.
Gram