80 years and blessings beyond number

I have just returned from a two week visit to Utah and the laundry is over due. This morning I looked in the mirror and found that nothing I was wearing matched! It was all very colorful and had less wrinkles than my birthday suit (that's not hard to accomplish). I asked Ms Kitty how it looked and she said "Purrfect." Since we two are the only ones to please I'm good to go.

I found that heat is a state of mind. Sixty degrees in Utah is considered warm in California it is considered COLD!

We got home about 2:30 pm yesterday. The ice from the ice chest is still frozen on the front lawn where it was dumped yesterday. I don't know what the tempter is outside, but it is going to stay 70 degrees inside.

I had a sweet visit with family and met my great-grandson, Henry. Five of my great-grandchildren and four of my grandchildren were there. Sadly,we all missed Jordan and Alison.

Thank you Heavenly Father and my sweet mother for a wonderful eighty years.

Paint Me Happy

I just finished giving my first painting lesson for $. The mother thought it was wonderful and said I was an amazing teacher. I thought it looked like a first lesson! Oh, well what do I know? If they are happy I'm happy. The lessons I have given my grandchildren look better...or maybe I have just forgotten. What seems to come so easy to me is hard for my student. I will have to start paining again in order to teach and thats a good thing. Sunday, at church, an older lady was talking about comming for lessons.

Counting My Blessings

I awoke this morning counting my blessings. I am trying to write for kids and to do so I need to have contact with that age group. I am helping to home teach two sisters, age 8 and 10. My Sunday school class is age 11. My art student is age 12. I couldn't have planed it better. Heavenly Father is so good to me.

I phoned my childhood friend, Viola Herb(PeeWee)yesterday. They were hit from behind on the freeway. No one was injured, but their 2010 Toyota hybrid with 1400 mile was totaled.

My Week in Review

Monday the Watson girls and I de-cluttered the art room. It had become the place unwanted things were drawn to and was full of stuff.

Tuesday I gave the first art lesson to Allison, she is 12 years old. It went well and she was very pleased. In the evening I was 'Waldo' for the Mutual kids. We were at the Montclair mall (inside). Last time I was 'Waldo' it was in Chino, outside and very cold.

Wednesday My Home Teachers came. I tried to do my Visiting teaching but failed to make contact.

Thursday is (LDS)Lady's night out and we will go to Marie Calenders for good company and something fattening.

I haven't found my reading glasses since I came back from Utah!

Life is good

Nine Red Hat ladies came to my house for a pot luck today , Saturday, and we played the Wii. After the ladies left I went to Michael art store and helped my new art student pick out art supplies. I will give her the first private lesson on 11/9/2010.
Her mother asked me to teach her. I guess I am starting a new business. I have gone on line to find what to charge and $20.00 for a private 2 or 3 hour lesson and a completed picture seems to be better than anyone else is offering. The price range for one hour private is from $100.00, $40.00,$30.00 and no one offered a completed picture. I have an older lady that wants to take lessons too, but not at this time.

Still Moving

My car (2000 model) turned over the 100,000 mile mark this last week. This has only happened to me two times and both cars were Toyota's.

I went to the gym last night,to the temple today and to book club tonight. I feel like my odometer has turned over too. Tomorrow I will stay home, make bread and rest.

Team Teaching

I have been helping to home teach my two neighbor girls. Their mother teaches when she is not working, and I teach them when she is working. We have worked out a new schedule. I will be team teaching with another lady. I will teach on Monday and Friday. That will give me free time to do other things, or just do nothing. I like the idea very much. I love to be with the girls, and I sometime love to do nothing.

Things that go bump in the night

Tuesday, after going to bed I heard a very loud crash. I thought Ms Kitty had knocked my water bottle off of the night stand. Wednesday morning I was shocked to find my pedestal writing desk and my lap top on the floor. She often walks on it but this time it was not positioned to hold her weight. It is working alright and Ms kitty is sorry.

Writting asignment #6

A DAY AT THE RODEO
“Susan, grab your lunch and let’s eat at this table,” yells Sarah across the lunch room. Setting down she asks, “I’m riding in the rodeo Saturday would you like to come too?”
“Oh, yes. I didn’t know girls could ride in a rodeo.”
“I’m riding the barrels. It’s a girl thing and lots of fun. We’ll pick you up at 8:00 am Saturday.”
At the rodeo grounds flags are flying and the smell of barbecue and caramel corn filled the air. Cowboys are herding the bulls and horses into the pens.
“Look,” said Susan, “The riders are all wearing big hats and boots with spurs, just like in the movies. Only in the movies they wear guns too.”
“Come on, said Sarah “I’ll show you the horse I ride. She is a palomino. Her name is Spinner, because she can circle the barrels so fast.”
“She is so big, aren’t you afraid?” asked Susan.
“No, she is gentile and I have had lessons to learn to ride.” answered Sarah.
The loud speaker booms out “To start this day of thrills and excitement we have the ladies barrel riding. First up is Sarah on Spinner.”
With mane flying and hooves pounding Sarah crosses the timer’s line and enters the arena. Moving like a leaf in a whirlwind she turns left and rounds the first barrel, crossing the arena in a figure eight, and turning right, she circles the second barrel. Susan catches her breath as Spinner bumps the barrel, it rocks and remains upright. She is a blur as she crosses to the third and last barrel. Circling left and then leaning close to Spinner’s neck she crosses the finish line in a cloud of dust. As the announcer calls out her time she says, “That was my best time ever, maybe I’ll win a ribbon.”
“Susan, would you like to learn to ride in the rodeo?” asks Sarah.
“Oh, yes, but my parents can’t afford to pay for it.”
“We can collect bottles and cans at the rodeo and sell them to buy your cowgirl cloths and boots. There will also be an entry fee. The trash barrels are always full of things to recycle. Maybe we can help out at the barn to pay for the lessons. “
“I would love to do that,” replies Susan “come on let’s start collecting now.”
“Okay, we can talk to the boss, Mr. Tex, after the rodeo.”
“Our bag is almost full of bottles already,” exclaims Susan.
“Hey! What are you doing?” shouts and angry boy. “I collect all the bottles and cans here and you can’t have them!” Pushing Sarah down he grabs the sack of bottles. Susan jumps on his back, and grabbing a hand full of hair, pulls his head back. Sarah leaps to her feet and kicks his shin hard with her cowboy boot. He drops the sack and falls to the ground sobbing.
“There are enough bottles for us all.” said Sarah. “You stay on the other side of the arena and we will collect on this side.”
“Okay,” agrees the boy, “still sobbing and rubbing his aching leg.”
After the rodeo the girls find Mr. Tex and ask to trade work for riding lessons. “Are you willing to muck out the barns and feed the horses?” asks Mr. Tex.
“Oh, yes!” answers both girls.
Grabbing a shovel and laughing Sarah says, “Come on Susan get a shovel and I’ll show you how to harvest road apples.”
“Very well,” said Mr. Tex, “It looks like you know how to do the job. I will pay you with riding lessons and the use of my horses in completion. You may practice after work.”
“Ma, Ma,” shouts Susan, as she entered the house. “I have a job and can earn my riding lessons. I am going to learn to ride the barrels like Sarah does. Is that okay? Please, please say yes!”
“Well,” said mother, slow down, tell me about it.”
Susan bubbles over with excitement as she shares the events of the day.
“That sounds like a good plan,” said mother. I’m happy that you have a good friend like Sarah and that she is so much fun.”

A Good Week

Thursday as part of the school day we ground wheat in to flour and Friday we made butter by shaking cream in a jar. The domino games are getting better and Charlotte(8 years old) can keep score if we watch her carefully. She sometime get confused. We have covered all subjects for the last two days. It took a while to get on schedule.

I went to Tom's Farm in Corona(an out door market) for lunch with the Red Hat today. I got a hair cut Wednesday, the gardener did the yard Thursday and Sharon cleaned house today. Its been a good week.

After I got home Sarah and Charlotte brought me a donut. Michele (mother)came later to say she wasn't going to the gym tonight. I'm too tired to go so I was happy to hear that. She said she would send me diner. It just arrived so bye for now.

Ms Kitty's Nap

My phone is working again, it was unplug! Sharon cleaned Saturday and didn't push the plug in firmly.

Ms Kitty took her nap between the sheets this afternoon. The bed was made and she started at the side and climbed in between the sheets. Sarha found a lump (Ms Kitty) in the bed and saw it was breathing.

I went to the gym with the Watson family at 7:00 pm. It was very nice and not crowed. The girls swim while Michele and I work out. I commented it was better for me than going out to eat. She said we do that too.

Electricity is Wonderful

My phone is still out and yesterday the electricity was off from 9 to 5. The Watson girls came for school and we discovered several things you can't do with out power. Among them, the igniters on the stove don't work. I showed the kids how to light the stove with a match, like we did in the old days.

We played domino's and called it math. They loved it.

I got two new missionaries yesterday for a total of four. There has only been two for a few weeks.

Stranger, my outside cat, has a new trick. He comes to the open screen door and tells me he wants lunch. I usually feed him morning and evening.

I'm Sorry Telemarketers

When I was eleven years old in order to use the phone we crossed the driveway and used my grandparents phone. You talked to the operator. It was a black box that hung on the wall. The ear piece was on a long wire. If you got a crank call you could hold the ear piece to the mouth piece and it would give out with a loud electronic squeal. A few years later we had a phone in our house. It sat on a table and mouth piece and ear piece were in one piece. It had a rotatory dial. Later our phone had a push button dial.

Since almost everyone now have cell phones I have been wondering why I need a house phone. That question was answered today. My house phone went out and I used my cell phone to report the outage! It should be back on tomorrow at
11:30 am. I wonder if I will get a reduction on my bill. Yes I'm kidding!

About Mayonnaise

It turns to a thin soup after it has been frozen.

Saturday night my Mexican neighbors had a big party. It was a family affair with children and not a drunken party. The only objection I have is I that don't like loud music. Sunday about 5:00 pm I saw a seven piece Mexican mariachi band going next door. I thought I was in for an other loud party. A short time later they returned to their cars and left. I can only guess they were arriving a day late. I feel like a very lucky neighbor.

Mayonnaise DOESN'T freeze well

I got home from a two week visit with the Belnaps in Utah on Tuesday. On Wednesday I took Paige and Isaac out for breakfast,and they went home. I got gas and bought groceries and rested the rest of the day. Today I awoke early and got up dressed and Ms Kitty and I spent the rest of the day knocked out in my chair! I only thought I was ready to get back to my usual schedule.

While I was gone the ice make on the refrigerator malfunctioned and flooded the kitchen. Sharon, my house sitter, turned off the water, cleaned up and unplug the frig. She transferred the food to the big freezer. We waited until Wednesday to plug the frig back in ,but it seems to be OK now. I didn't turn the water back on. I don't use much ice and it isn't a big loss.

The Watson family brought me home made chicken noodle soup and corn bread on Wednesday and chocolate chip cookies today. They said they will take me go out to eat on Friday or Saturday. I am blessed to have this good, loving family as my friends.

BEWARE

One more chapter in the Time Warner nightmare! This morning I heard a strange noise, it was the cables running from the electric pole across the street to my house. Time Warner strikes again! The 1 wire they added to 2 old wires caused so much weight that the bunch fell! The wire was blocking my car in the driveway and drooping across the street.

I called Edison, Verizon, and Time Warner. Edison and Verizon came right out. Time Warner said they would schedule me for tomorrow! After reaching only automated recordings and being told my account (that I had cacelled) was over due, I finally reached a live person. Following a heated conversation they scheduled me for today.

Edison and Verizon arrived at the same time and fixed the problem. Time Warner came an hour later. After another hour Verizon came again (different man) He called another large truck, with a cherry picker, and they are now taking all the extra garbage off of the telephone pole. It has been collecting through the years. My service is now wonderful, Verizon is easy to contact and they have sent three men and three trucks to correct the problem.

Food for Thought

That sweet four year old ,that wrote the note, came with his mom to eat pizza and play with a rocket launcher(I bought at the 99 cent store),while mom and I played the Wii. We all enjoyed the visit and after they left I noticed the two pieces of pizza that were left, that had been covered with peperoni, now only had cheese and sauce!

Last evening was the book club meeting. We have been reading a series of mysteries that include recipes. The idea is to make the food from the book and bring it to the meetings. This is the third book and each month there is more and more food. Last night there was so much that we held the meeting at the table and had a feast. If this keeps up the mystery will be how to fit through the door and waddle to the car!

My Education Continues

Yesterday, after Sacrament meeting, a handsome man put a love note into my hand. He then hurried off to primary with the other four year olds. It was very sweet.

The Watson girls are here for school, but they need to start the day with a nap. Their mother suggested they may need to sleep a little more, but I fed them breakfast and started school, they both nodded off. Mother knows best. I’m getting educated too.

Oh, Happy Day!

I am off of Time Warner and they are refunding all of my money, because I cancelled within 30 days. A big surprise!

Today I got a hair cut and brows done. Last night the Watson family took me, as their guest, to the LA county fair. They rented a wheel chair and fed me. I got several hugs during the evening. I will be helping to home schooling the girls.

Rosa can't clean for me anymore because of poor health and Sharon is very happy to get the job.

I have a beautiful new great grandchild. Life is GOOD.

At Last

I am back with Verizon! Albert McCracken was the installer and he cleaned up a lot of excess wires left by the other guy. He still lives on Ninth Street, just two block away and said call him if I needed more help. I also have free movie channels for a year. He showed me how to get a LOT of things on TV that I didn't know about before.

The Watson family is taking me out for dinner. Their van was making an awfully noise and they bought a 2009 Toyota van yesterday. They took me for ice cream last night to ride in the new car.

I went to the Temple yesterday. Life is good!

Youth Is Contagious

The Watson girls came today. We had a wonderful day. I feel good and have more energy when they are with me.

Rosa is having problems with her hands and can't clean for me any more. Sharon, that house sets for me, needs the work and is happy to clean for me. We need each other.

Day of Dicisions

I have cancelled my appointment to take part in the $100.00 survey. It would mean driving to Pasadena during rush hour. A distance of about 35 miles on a crowed freeway. Instead I will go to the temple with my Ward Sister. Blessing are better than money.

After taking a sabbatical, since 2007 when Mother died, I am going to home school the Watson girls three days a week. They are both very cooperative and easy to teach. I'm excited!

My back bedroom renter has de-cluttered the room. It is now safe and we are both happy.

To top off a lovely day Home Town Buffet called to say I have won a free meal.

Life is good.

Writing Assignment #5

FRIENDS WANTED

Her silently cry for acceptance go unnoticed. She is the child that you pass in life and fail to see. She walks silently by and speaks in a voice just above a whisper. During church the only interaction that she engages in is correcting her brothers. Mother is busy with little sister, who is acting like a busy two year old and has to be taken out of the meeting. Her older brother sets quietly drawing pictures of dragons and seems to be in a world of his own. She sits quietly, beside her family, until the meeting ends.

She disappears silently into the crowd as the older ladies make a big fuss over the pictures drawn by her older brother. She hurries off to avoid the embarrassment of being ignored.

She is a visitor in the Sunday school class that I teach for eleven year olds. She introduces herself, but I can’t remember her name. Her short brown hair is straight and hangs limply around her face. Her dull, brown eyes are set deep in an unsmiling, pale, sad face that is covered with scabs that remains from a recent case of chicken pocks. Her arms are bony and white. She is smaller than the other girls in class. Her dress is white with a blue pattern of circles; it hangs loosely on her slender body, her shoes are plain and black.

As the children share she tell us, “I have a pet turtle, it has no personality, he just eats Hibiscus flowers. I don’t like school. During summer I mostly stay in the house.”

She doesn’t participate in class and seems unable or unwilling to volunteer answers. At the end of class she allows me to give her a hug, but hangs limp in my arms.

At last it’s time to go to grandmas and have lunch. I love to eat at grandma’s there are always so many yummy things there that we don’t have at home.
Going to church with Grandma is okay but I like my church best. It’s hard for me to meet new people I’m always afraid I’ll say the wrong thing.

Grandpa asks, “Susan are you ready for school to start?”

“Grandpa you’re funny, no kid is ever ready for school to start. I’ll be in the sixth grade and that’s cool, but summer vacation is my favorite part of school.”

The girls at school that wear expensive brand name clothes. Mother says we can’t afford brand name clothes. The first day of school Mrs. James has us stand and say our names. The new girl’s name is Sarah; my name is Susan and the teacher keeps calling me Sarah. It’s time to sign up for clubs, but I’m not going to join any of them. The bell rings for recess. I would like to play kick ball, but I’m not very good and the kids make fun of me. I would play if they asked me to, but they never do.

That new girl talked to me ,but I didn’t know what to say to her. I wish she would be my friend ,but I’m afraid to ask her, she might say no.

Sarah isn’t wearing expensive brand name clothes either, but it doesn’t seem to bother her. The other girls are talking to her. I wish they would talk to me too.

At lunch time I set alone and watch as the other girls giggle and trade sandwiches. No one ever wants to trade with me. The new girl is coming over here. She is setting down and smiling. I’m scared, but I say, “Hi.”

She says, “Hi, I would like to be your friend.

My friend!

She continues, “We go to the same church. Will you introduce me to the other kids at church?”

“Yes,” I answer with a thrill in my voice. We sit together at lunch time. My sandwich tastes better today and we trade cookies. I guess this is what it means when they say, “You have to be a friend to have a friend.” Sarah is my new friend and I am trying really hard to be a friend too.

The Saga Continues

Today's T/W problem...the TV froze, it would not responded and left me on a tennis match. I called my old friend T/W and a very polite person tried everything she knew to unfreeze the TV. She even had me unplug and replug the thing. This meant taking the box out of the cabinet. Not an easy thing for an old woman, or me either. When ALL failed I was given a time and date for a "skilled technician", much like the one that took eight to install the thing wrong,to come and fix it. I was given SUNDAY 10-12. My Ward meets Sunday 9-12. I teach Sunday School. Feeling desperate I prayed, punched a button and the TV has worked, as it should, ever since. Prayer is wonderful. I am loved.

Discerning Taste

I'm trying to loose a few pounds and have switched from 2% milk to fat free. (That's a misnomer I've always worked hard for my fat. It was never free.).

Ms Kitty likes to share a half a teaspoon of milk when she sees me drinking milk. She sat on the chair arm and reached for the cup, but when I offered her some she tasted it and jumped down with out drinking it!

T-W On Speed Dial

Time Warner Cable is driving me crazy! It was installed last Thursday and there has been at least one problem everyday since! Today my phone doesn't work and I can't dial the TV. Among all the things that come with Time Warner they should include and ulcer! The employees are very nice but the company stinks! After 30 min. on the phone everything is working. Stay tune for the next problem, probable tomorrow.

I Am Opinionated

I am going to take part in a survey for Harvest Research. I will be paid $100.00 for my opinion, on what I don't know. It will take about two and one half hours. The only draw back is that is in Pasadena. It will be on September 2. I have researched them on the web, and they seem to be legitimate. I have taken part in 3 or 4 research programs before. They always feed me too.

We Talk Often

Yesterday I went to the gym with the Watson family. The girls went swimming and Michele, the mother, and I worked out in the gym. It was much better for me than going out to eat.
I was unable to get on line yesterday and after going another round with Time-Warner and being transferred to a specialist it was discovered that my electricity had been off. When that happens the motum has to be reset. I wonder what today's problem with Time-Warner will be.

Don't Tell Me It Can't Be Fixed

Today Time-Warner sent a specialist to fix the picture. After trying everything the first man had tried, and had no better luck, he left. I dialed a movie and found it had no volume. I caught him before he drove away. He came back in to fix the new problem, and discovered two wires in the wrong place. After switching the wires the picture filled the screen. I had refused to accept the fact that the problem could not be fixed and it paid off!

A Brighter Day

I talked to supervisor and got some results. My old phone number will be ported (I get to keep it). Even though I don't get the BYU channel the LDS conference will be broadcast on this net work. I have the first appointment tomorrow to have an expert come to fix the TV picture.

Having a new phone number would leave me disconnected from my home security people and I assured them if I was robbed (or worst) during that time I would sue them.
It seems the squeaky wheel still gets the grease. During this whole procedure everyone was very nice, even me

Yesterday Sarah and Charlotte spent the day with me and we went to the YMCA. I worked out while they went in the pool. The life guard tested them to determine their ability to swim. Sarah swam half the length of the pool under water and Charlotte went almost as far they were given green wrist bands and allowed in the deep end of the pool.

Both girls have ridden in rodeo and Sarah has awards for riding the barrels.

Last night I went to dinner with the sisters from my Ward. Sister Kunh went with me. She is the sister that loaned us a chair for Peter when he was a baby. She brought her three boys over to play the Wii a few days ago.

I am so blessed. I love kids.

Look Hard for the Bright Side

Blessings and not problems should be viewed through a magnifying glass. Yesterday I changed from FIOS to Time Warner to supply my phone, TV, and computer. The Very nice installer was scheduled between 9:00am and 12:00pm.

He arrived at 1:00pm and stayed until 8:00pm. They changed the phone number I have had for 5o years. I complained. My 50 inch TV now has a 40 inch picture. I complained. I cannot get the BYU channel. Unacceptable! I delayed my dinner companions for three hours waiting for the installer to solve the problem and leave. He never did solve the problem. I have paid for one month and by then I hope FIOS offers me a better plan. If not maybe DISH will. I will survive!

I Love Kids

My babysitting with the Watson girls lasted from Wednesday through Friday. It was a fun filled three days. They took me out to dinner again on Friday. Charlotte gives me things a lot, and this time she gave me a sweet I-love-you kind of note and a dollar. She wouldn't take the dollar back so I thought I would take them shopping at the 99¢ store and buy her something, but to my surprise she paid for her items with a ten dollar bill. I feel funny taking money from her, but I don't want to hurt her feelings either. I don't remember the name of this kind of love, but I think she expresses love by giving gifts. She asked to sit by me as she read, and we cuddled. Both girls helped me put the house in order.

A day with good friends

I baby sat Charlotte (8) and Sarah (10) Watson today. Their aunt usually takes care of them but she was out of town. We played Boccie ball. Michele (mother) took us all to dinner at Sizzlers. They are a lovely family. It was a good day. I was too sore to go to the gym today.

My goal is to walk a mile in my shoes

This is the sixth day I have gone to the gym and walked a half mile on the tread mill. I took the weekend off. I hate the tread mill but I want to keep walking and it is becoming more difficult as I age. It hasn't made me any younger but I am moving much better.

Rosa and Jeff came and cleaned all of my ceiling fans and washed all of the ceiling light fixtures. He is so tall he dosen't need a ladder.

The Watson family, mother Michele, Sarah 10 and Charlotte 8, have adopted me and took me to dinner at Home Town Buffet Saturday. This friendship began when I volinteered to teach the girls how to paint an apple. That small act has paid off big for all. They don't have a grandma and my sweet grandchildren are far away.

CALL 911

Susie sat by the fence in the backyard playing with her favorite toy, her dollhouse. It’s almost as tall as she is, and the rooms are full of beautiful doll furniture. She loves it.

Christmas had brought a lot of new toys for her brothers, but Susie’s was the best of all. Her three brothers got a red fire engine and thought it was great, but what do dumb boys know?

“Look what our fire engine can do,” said Mike. “It has a real siren and a hose that shoots water! The only thing that dumb dollhouse does is sit there. “

“Mama,” cried Susie, “Make the boys leave me alone and stop saying my dollhouse is dumb.”

“Boys, leave your sister alone and go play with your new fire engine,” shouted mother.

The fire engine is fun but a fireman needs a fire, and there hadn’t been one all morning. The boys were tired of waiting for one to happen.

”I have an idea,” said Jim, “While Susie is in the house lets set a small fire in the dollhouse and put it out with our new fire engine. Then she will see how neat it is!”

“Yeah,” said Tommy, “that’s a good idea!”

Billy said, “She’ll be sorry she said our fire engine was dumb when we rescue her dollhouse, just like real fireman.”

“Ma, Ma, the boys are burning my dollhouse! That dumb fire engine has a little stream of water and can’t put out the fire!”

“Call the fire department. The fence is burning too!” exclaimed mother.
The fireman made quick work of putting out the fire, and asked the boys what would happen to them now?

Jim answered, “We don’t want to talk about it. Punishment’s pending.”

Let’s Play Get the Guest

I ring the doorbell and wait nervously. A parent is throwing the faculty/parent Christmas party, and I am expected to attend. I have been teaching in this Catholic High School since September and I am the only Mormon on the faculty, making me a subject of curiosity. This curiosity is a two Way Street; I have not known many Catholics. I have been treated with kindness and respect…up to now.

As I entered the room Father O’Conner is conducting. After introductions, he turns to me and begins to explain the game, “If you were marooned on a deserted island what two books would you want to have with you?” All eyes are on me as I pondered the question. Feeling heat from an imaginary spotlight, I answer, “The Book of Mormon and The Bible.” A polite condescending giggle ripples across the room.

Toying with me like a cat with a mouse, and talking down to me, he asks, “Wouldn't you like to have a book that would teach you how to build a boat?”

“There are boat building instructions in the Book of Mormon,” I answer. He abandons me for more entertaining people. I am grateful.

Refreshments are served and once more Father O’Conner engages me in conversation. Standing in the middle of the room and speaking in a loud voice, so all could hear, he says, “I understand that you are an expert on ducks.” I have a pair of ducks roaming around in my yard, with the assignment to eat bugs; does that make me an expert? He continues, “Recently there has been a story in the news about a duckling that hatched without an anal opening. I was wondering if you knew anything that could be done to help it.” Again he was rewarded with polite laughter.

I repress an urge to laugh, as I receive inspiration to answer him. With a thoughtful look on my face and a serious tone in my voice I say, “If a donor could be found, they are doing wonderful things with transplants these days.”

A great roar of laughter rocks the room. He has been upstaged and no longer wants to play ‘Get the Guest' with me, and he is happy to find an opening that leads to THE END.

Why doesn't the world owe me a living too?

Inflation has struck and even the beggars are demanding an increase. I was approached by a Young Mexican woman holding a sign asking for money to feed her children. I gave her two quarters and she said she wanted a $1.00! I held out my hand and she returned the quarters and I drove away! No beans for her kids just steak.

Second full day at the Belnaps

This is the second night at the Belnaps and the second long dream. It’s like a full length soap opera and makes about as much sense.

The boys are sweet and let me love them. They are both smart and Peter dispenses information that is surprising for his age. This morning he explains how the table comes apart and the leaves come out. Without the center leaves the two end pieces, even though they have two legs, would fall over. The table is too big to go into a box for moving but will be taken apart. Cooper wants to know if I am sick and why I am coughing, so do I.

Junior High PE

I am curious about Jane. She is an albino; a person with white hair, milky white skin, and pink eyes. She is the first albino I have ever seen. I don’t know her, she in my Physical Education class.

We are learning to shoot with the bow and arrow. I sneak a peek at Jane and see her raise her bow and pull the bowstring back by her ear. She hooks her glasses with the bowstring and shoots them across the field. The glasses rotate in little circles as they fly through the air. If the target is the ground, she has scored a bull’s eye. The bell rings, ending the class, and we all run to the dressing room.

The next sport we learn is soccer. Ms. Jean, the teacher, explains the rules and we are ready to play. Jane is on my team. The ball is put into play. Mary kicks the ball to me, I run with it, and pass it to Jane. Jane is a little off balance when she plants her left foot, draws back her right foot and kicks her left foot out from under her. She falls on top of the ball. The opposing team sees an opening, and attacks with the energy of a school of sharks in a feeding frenzy. Both teams dash toward the goal. Jane lies there moaning. She will have some color tomorrow, if albinos can turn black and blue. I like Jane. She’s funny.

We are now one goal down. In Junior High PE class there are no referees with yellow and red cards to come to the rescue. It’s “Survival of the Fittest.” My team puts the ball into play and we race toward the goal, the goalie looks up in terror! She sees the whole class rushing at her and runs for safety at the sideline. Saving life is more important than saving a goal, especial when it’s your life, and like the losers always say, “It’s only a game.” We score and once more we are saved by the bell, and the period is over.

The next day Ms. Jean decided that I am too rough, I prefer skilled, for my class mates to guard, so she will play against me. I am delighted. I am going to show her how good I am. Jane passes me the ball and I am running down the field when Ms. Jean goes for the ball; I knock her down, run over her and black her eye with my elbow. We both feel like crying. I love this teacher!

First Aid is the next subject in PE class, and it will be useful in surviving this class! To stop bleeding you elevate the limb and apply direct pressure to the wound. In case of fainting the head should not be higher than the heart. Ice is applied for sprains and bruises, or you could just get out of class using that age old ploy, a fake PE excuse.

School Daze

Today I took my second Chinese Brush Painting lesson. It is nothing like western painting. Every stroke is done just so so. The teacher was encouraging, but it looked like a bunch of ink blots to me. Tomorrow I will have my second creative writing class. At the first class I had them all laughing, but I expect to get dumped on sooner or later. Both classes are in local adult education. I'm also taking a Children's Literature writing class, and I like it very much. This class is online.

Beware!

Love is catching and can be spread by caring, hugging and service to others. I gave an art lesson to my neighbors, sisters 7 and 9 years of age, and the dam is open and I am being flooded with love. Every day they come to visit and want to take care of me. Yesterday they brought me cake, oranges, a bracelet the 7-year-old made, and then they begged me to go to dinner with them. They said their mother would pay. I had already eaten, and after much begging, I promised to go next time. I have been reading the MS Kitty book to them. I now realize that I need to plan daily art projects. They stay here until their mother comes to get them. I love it and so does Ms Kitty because they play with her.

I also made a new friend at church, a grandma-lady that is visiting her family in Chino. I invited her to lunch at the Avocado House, and she invited me to visit her in St. George, Utah.

Dumb it down for me

Today I register for classes in Chinese brush painting and creative writing. This is in addition to the children's writing course I am taking on line. The two new courses are for six weeks and I will miss one week when I go to visit the Belnaps. Education or vacation? Vacation wins!
I made a new friend last week when I gave a painting lesson to my seven year old neighbor. She painted an apple. My grandkids may remember learning to paint an apple. I collected a hug and was well paid.

Hurray!

My house is termite free--well it wasn't exactly free but it is over. I stayed with
Aunt Betty two nights and all of my renters had to move out too. Ms Kitty had a bad time. The termite man turned on the BIG fan before I got her out of the house and scared her. She hates the car and because she was in a strange place she hid in the closet for the first day. Moving Ms Kitty is a lot like moving a baby. I had to take her sand box, water dispenser, food dispenser, and the travel carrier. I forgot her scratching board but found one in Bettie's garage. I will be un-bagging things for days. On the bright side I am cleaning the shelves and getting ride of a LOT of things that should have gone a long time ago.

During the termite inspection it was discovered that more repairs were needed on the outside of the apartment. Ken has taken care of that and hopefully my 'Winchester House' has all the repairs it needs for a while.

Ms Kitty goes to the Vet

I took Ms Kitty to the Vet Tuesday. She wouldn't get into the carrier! I tried pushing her in head first..no luck. I tried standing the carrier on end and dropping her in, she spread her feet and held on to the sides..no luck. My back hurt, I gave up and set the carrier on the floor with the door open..she went in!

At the doctors office she wouldn't come out! I pulled, pushed and tried to dump her out..no luck. I removed the top half of the carrier. She remained in the bottom half, now the doctor could examine her. She had a slight fever and got an antibiotic shot. She weights 12 pounds and I had to have help caring her in the carrier. I now know there is no pill for Ms Kitty's personality and I'm the one that needs help.

Sweet Memories

MOTHER’S DAY BREAKFAST

”Shush, Ricky don’t wake Mama up!” cautioned Crystal, “you’ll spoil the surprise.”

“OK, Ok I’m sorry. What can we fix?” answered Ricky.

Crystal said, “A lady on television made ‘Eggs in a Frame’ and that’s what I want to cook.”

“I saw that program too, I’m the biggest, and I’ll cook.” Ricky said.

“I’m big too, I’m seven and you’re only nine.”

“So, I’m the oldest and the oldest does the cooking” explained Ricky, making up rules to support his case. “I butter the bread, cut a circle in the middle and put it in the skillet. Then I break the egg into the hole and it cooks there.”

I’ll get a glass of milk too.” Said Crystal “Mother will love having breakfast in bed.”

Mother pretends to sleep and awaits the sweetest, if not the best breakfast, of the year.

“I’m going to pick a flower for the tray.” Crystal said.


Smiling broadly, and bearing the breakfast tray, the children enter the bedroom. The tray contains the food, a handmade Mothers Day card, and a long stem rose. It is in a small vase complete with water. The motion of the tray causes the vase to topple over and spill water over the plate of food.

“That’s alright” said mother “I don’t like dry toast.”

The children watch with eager anticipation as mother takes the first bite. In spite of the generous amount of salt, on the eggs, she smiles and says, “Yummy, thank you.” Everyone feels a warm glow.

After hug and kisses, mother cleans up the kitchen. It looks like a cyclone has hit it. Life returns to normal and awaits next year’s “surprise” Mother’s Day breakfast in bed.

Surviving Junior High School PE

Junior high school is not the most graceful time of life, and I’m not a bully, but I loved to play. The PE teacher, Ms. Jean was so sweet, she was my favorite teacher.

One day we learned all about the bow and arrow. To string a bow you place the end of the bow on the ground and hold it tight against the arch of your left foot. Next, pull the top of the bow down and while bending it, slip the end of the bowstring over the end of the bow. Then take the bow in your left hand and place the index and middle finger around the bowstring. Swing the left hand up in front of you shoulder high; pull the bowstring back near your right ear. This should be one smooth, fluid motion. The sharp end of the arrow rests on top of your left hand, while you fit the feathered end of the arrow onto the bowstring. Finally raise the bow, let go of the arrow, and hopefully hit the target.

I didn’t know Jane very well. She was a grade ahead of me and in my PE class. She was an albino; a person with white hair, milky white skin, and pink eyes. She was very white and I was very curious. I sneaked a peek at her, and saw her raise her bow, pull the bowstring back by her ear, hook her glasses and shoot them across the field! The glasses rotated in little circles as they flew into the air, but missed the target. The bell rang and the class ran to the dressing room.

The next sport we learned was soccer. Ms. Jean explained the rules and we got ready to play. Jane was on my team. The ball was put into play. Mary kicked the ball to me, I ran with it, and passed it to Jane. Jane was a little off balance. She planted her left foot, drew back her right foot and kicked her left foot out from under her. She fell on top of the ball. I hoped we were not being graded as a team. Once more we were saved by the bell.

The PE teacher decided that I was too rough for my classmates to guard me, so she played against me. I was delighted. I was going to show her how good I was. I had the ball and was running down the field. Ms. Jean went for the ball, and I knocked her down, ran over her and blacked her eye with my elbow. We both felt like crying. I loved this teacher!

The next subject we learned was First Aid. It was useful to know if you played against me. To stop bleeding you elevate the limb and apply direct pressure. An unconscious person, without a bleeding head wound, should have her head lower than her heart. Ice is applied for sprains and bruises. With this knowledge of First Aid, and a strong desire to stay out of my way, the class was prepared to survive Junior High School PE class.

Pictures of my new old house

Here are more pictures of my "new" house. My Home Teacher was here again.

Here is pictures of my "NEW" house. My home teachers helped me post them.

DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!

Oh, well, I fell
So what, not a lot!

The parking lot was almost empty yesterday when I miss judged a curb and fell onto the sidewalk. I landed on my knees and hands, and then rolled over on to my right hip. In a few seconds a lady in her late thirties was helping me up. As I stood a man offered help and another man driving by stopped to ask if more help was needed. The world is full of good people.

I have a habit of praying, for safety, at the start of the day and when I drive the car. I thought I would be black and blue, but I don't have a bruise or mark from the fall! Prayer was my first aid and ice wasn't needed.

Fast Feline

After Shampooing I noticed my hair was trying to go into bangs. After expermenting and combing bangs I looked into the drawer and dropped the comb into the open drawer and pushed it shut, but it wouldn't close. I gave it another push and Ms Kitty came out of the drawer! I didn't know she was in the bathroom! She was either in the back of the drawer or under it. It's good to start the day with a laugh.

Furnite Too

The floors are all finished. The Oak hardwood is beautiful, even better than it was when I bought the house 59 years ago! There is also new matching floor tile in the kitchen and bathroom. All rooms are newly painted, even the laundry room, every little thing that needed fixing is or will be fixed!

Ken's new wife,Jane, had nice furniture to sell and I bought a sofa, two wing chairs + foot stool. She has a carpet she wants to sell. I will look at it today.

When they were married they both had a house full of furniture and so the sale benefited us both.

I also have bought furniture for my bedroom. A night stand, a dresser, and a tall chest of drawers.

I have set up the extra bedroom for painting, and my writing station is in my bedroom. I have been writing daily and am learn a lot.

Heavenly Father is so good to me!

The lost is found

Huray, I found the lost letter. It was in the glove box in my car. Since I never put anything there I didn't look there!

Lets Gang The Director

It was the first play I ever attended that began with an intermission of an hour and forty-five minutes, and that proved to be the best part of the play!

My friend Melissa was the only talented actor in the play and felt she couldn't bow out because of the children in the play. Heidi was the name of the play. It is about a young girl and her grandfather, but the actor playing grandfather was physic and saw a disaster coming. He quit the play a week before opening night. Melissa was asked to fill in and the part would become a grandmother. Four times during the play she was called grandfather.

The parts of Heidi and Goat Peter were played by three different kids. Heidi started out medium size, then got bigger, and then got much smaller.

The kids would forget their lines and Melissa would say, "Did you mean to say...?" At one point in the play, Clara, in a wheel chair, was supposed to be wheeled off stage, but the chair caught on a throw rug and wouldn't move. Melissa told the kid to get up and leave, she then threw her hands into the air and said,"Its a miracle she can walk!" Later in the play Clara was to be wheeled off of the stage, it was two feet off of the floor, there was no ramp to wheel her down so the kid pushing the chair took her to the side of the stage and DUMPED her,out of the chair, back stage! Clara may need that wheel chair for real before this play is over!

Tragedy equals humor and my sides were splinting! Th director scolded Melissa for filling in the dead air with humor and said she was turning a serious play into a comedy!

At the appropriate time for applause most of the loud clapping came from back stage.

Toward the end of play the actors started on scene five before scene four and had to back up and do scene four.


I was setting on the first row. In the scene where Clara tries to walk and fall onto the floor she is out of the spot light. Something was blocking the spot light, upon closer inspection I saw it was my shadow. The spot light was hitting me in the back of the head! I spent the rest of the scene with my head on my knees!

During a ten minute intermission that took twenty-five minutes the part of the audience that wasn't honor bond to stay beat a fast retreat. I stayed, Melissa is my friend.

There were many more mistakes made but thankfully I can't recall them just now.

After the play Melissa received an arm load of flowers. The director didn't! I don't know why, aren't flowers usually sent to a funeral?

A mystery

At last my first writing lesson was return.I spent the night with LaDon to escape the sanding dust. I didn't want to be rude so I just read a small part of the letter. I started home and between her house and my car the letter disappeared! We have searched her house and my car without success. My next story maybe a mystery. Do you think the teacher will accept an excuse if I say my dog ate it? The letter also had my next assignment in it but I didn't read that part. Ken put on the first coat of polyurethane in the living room today and will paint on two more tomorrow.

Only if you are far sighted

The end is in sight. Tomorrow Ken will sand the living room floor and brush on the polyurethane. It will take three coats. There is still some small things to do, but my house will soon be back in order. He has been working on the house for five months. He is his own boss and doesn't work forty hour weeks.

Moving slowly

Yesterday Ken moved everything out of the extra bedroom and removed the old carpet. Today he will smear wood filler over the complete floor. We will rent the sander with the dust catcher and sand the floor. If this works it will eliminate one step and some of the dust. In the first bedroom he sanded and then smeared the wood filler and sanded a second time. The floor is beautiful, but I'm so ready for it to be finished.

I Love Sunshine

Its a beautiful sunny day and I have been to the gym two days in a row. Things are looking up. I have been a little down because the house refurbishing is taking so long. I think the rain has contributed to that feeling. I will be able to move back into my bedroom and my bed today. I have been sleeping in the twin bed. It is a good bed, but its not my bed.

My bed is stored on its side and Ms Kitty loves to sleep up high on top of it.

Ken will start on the floor in the extra bedroom today. I had no idea how much would be involved in refinishing the hard wood floors, but they are beautiful. I don't ever want to have carpets again!

Today Ken starts to sand the hardwood floor in my bedroom and hall. We rented the sander yesterday and he did a very small spot to see how it would look. The sander has a bag to catch the dust and the floor looked wonderful.

I don't think I will have to leave the house because of the dust. My cough is slowly improving and I feel sure the carpets were adding to the problem.

Beep, Beep No Sleep

Last night i was awakened by an electronic peeping. My bedroom furniture, with the exception of my bed, is all in the extra bedroom. I staggered into the extra bedroom and turned off the clock alarm. I was barley back in bed when the beeping started once more. Back to the bedroom and pushed buttons on the phone. Just back in bed and it started to beep again. This time I put on my glasses and turn on the light. The clock and the phone were both unplugged and had been all the time. The beeping was caused by the phone battery needing to be charged. I plug it in and went to sleep! I hate a mystery in the middle of the night!

Dirty Carpets Be Gone

I have decided to pull up the carpets and let the hardwood floors show. I knew the carpet was full of dirt and dust, but there was also moister trapped between the carpet and rug pad!

Dust, mold, asthma...do you think they could be related? It had been many months since the carpets had been shampooed. The floor will have to be sanded and refinished. Ken can do that.

My house looks like a yard sale with all the furniture stacked from room to room as we clear each room to paint and work on the floor, but it won't last forever.

I sent off my first two assignments for my writing class. After reading more in the manual I see I did a poor job of it, but the idea is to learn. That's what I'm paying them for!

Sunshine, Hurray

The sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in the sky! Hurray! The mountains are covered with snow and it is 40 degrees in the valley. I woke to a bedroom with new paint the color of sunshine. I l love it.

Today is the Red Hat lunch at a place called the Whole Enchilada. I hope the food is good, but anything is better than having to cook!

Wet -N -Wild

Last night about midnight I lay awake hoping my house wouldn't float away when I heard the automatic sprinklers turn on. I felt as if I was having a night mare. I'm up early and it looks like the trench drained the water off as I hoped it would. The wind is blowing hard and it is raining hard. my grass is sure to be green if it doesn't wash away. My living room looks like a yard sale because it is stacked with the bedroom junk but that's a small price to pay for a new paint job.

My mail order writing course arrived yesterday. I have finished the first assignment but the second one has me stumped! I find that I write from personal experience and not by looking at a random picture and making up a story. I will try to adjust my attitude.

Rain, Rain Go Away

It has rained for a several days and the apartment and laundry room both flooded. The water doesn't drain off the driveway as it should. Ken has spent the morning in the rain digging a trench along the side of the apartment to drain the water and hopefully keep it out of the apartment and back of the house. We are expecting more heavy rain and it is a great relief to have the drainage ditch to carry off the water.

He has painted my bedroom and planned on painting the extra bedroom today. I'm so grateful that he was willing to help with the present problem.

I love sunshine!

Sunshine and Insperation

I am sore from my gym visit and feel inspired to stay home and write today. I have a new idea to write about. The sun is bright and the birds are singing. I love sunshine.

Ken finished the bathroom yesterday and will start on the hall today. He works short hours and does beautiful work. He is correcting things that have been done wrong through the years.

Feeling Good

I feel good. I worked out for 25 minuets this morning at 7 AM. I had not been to the gym since mid December. I wish I could remember that going to the gym always makes me feel better. It rained last night

A new view

I had the stitches removed from my eye lids today. The doctor was very pleased and a little surprised that I had healed so fast. The bruising was almost all gone on Sunday and I was able to attend Sacrament meeting.

Ken has put down new tile in the kitchen and bath room and painted the living room, kitchen and the bath room. Three rooms down and three to go.

It has been in the mid seventies all week but promise a little rain tonight.

Better to see you with, my dear

Yesterday at 7:00 AM I had surgery to shorten both of my eye lids. It only took about half and hour. The surgeon bandaged both eyes and several sprigs of hair. I had to cut the hair to remove the tape! With that bandage job I looked like I was ready to do a job on the neighborhood rob-n-run store.

I spent the day in bed pretending to be sick. It got me sympathy and a couple of meals. My friend Melissa Alcorn provided taxi service and a large breakfast burrito. Ken, my handy man brought stuffed zucchini for lunch and Sherion, brought a Subway tuna for dinner.

I removed the bandage this morning. I feel good and see better than I look. I look like one of those pictures on the news of an old lady that has been mugged.

The hospital sent me home with a beautiful yellow rose. Ms Kitty thought it was for her. This morning I found that she had been loving it and pulled most of the bouquet out of the vase. Is good to be back to normal.