[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's August! Time to Go to the Beach or the Shore! And Don't Forget Paolo! #66647

Hope you all are having a good day. We are slightly cooler here today. We are so excited since Sarah and Colin are flying in today. They had a 6 am flight to start the day and will be flying or waiting somewhere for the next flight for about 8 hours. I know they will be so tired when they arrive, and we hope the baby will do good on the flights. Neal told us that we will have the baby all to ourselves on Friday while Sarah and her Mom do the last minute preparation for his pre-first birthday party on Saturday. It is from 2pm until 6pm. Sarah’s Mom told me and Jerry when we took them to dinner last week that it will be super casual. So I am sure tomorrow they will be spending all day with her family, and then while the baby is with us we are going to have a photographer friend do some very casual pictures of the three of us here at our home. I know my hair needs coloring, and Jerry will just be in shorts and a casual shirt. He loves a simple summer blouse I have and I think I will wear that and a pair of Quacker capri pants or jeans and just think of how much we love that little fellow and that is all that really matters. So you all know how happy these two old folks are. Neal did tell us a few days ago that they will be coming home for Christmas, all of them. Makes us so happy.
Hope all of you are doing good. I am like Gail, I used to love to go to bookstores. I would spend my whole Saturday in there and one book would lead me to another and another. I just loved them. The little ones and me would spend our afternoons in the library, and I remember the smell of all things of walking in that door and then off to the childrens corner we would go for story time. Such sweet memories. I do most of my reading and searching now online. Joey listens to books on his I phone on his way to work and on his I pad at home. He really enjoys that.
That fresh corn sounds deliscious. We have a type of fresh corn here that has white and yellow kernels on the same cob and it is so sweet too. And we live fairly close to a town called Ripley and it is known for it’s tomatoes. I eat them almost every day when they are in season. We are having them tonight for our breakfast for supper meal. They just top off this meal. So many people don’t eat tomatoes with eggs, but it is so common in the South.
Better go for now. Still lots to do but glad to do it ha ha. Take care everyone, and I am sending good thoughts your way. Hugs, Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: WelcomeJuly! It's Time to Celebrate America and Summer Fun! #66437

So glad to have a few minutes to try to catch up with you all. We finally was able to sell Jerry’s Moms home and she is happy. Did I tell you all this already? I would worry about my memory, but at this point I just feel like our lives are going in so many different directions I am doing well to keep half of it straight. Hope you all are doing good. We have been getting such storms, but nothing too severe. Lots of thunder and lightning. Scares me, but we have been so fortunate not to have really a really bad one. Hope you all are okay because it seems it is happening all over the country. I was watching the weather channel and saw all this terrible flooding in Las Vegas where our oldest son lives now, so of course that scared me. But they are okay. They just bought a home so I know now that means they will be living there for a good while. We were hoping after his retirement from the A.F. that he would move closer, mabey Florida. Knew he and his wife would continue to work; but they are doing so well and we are proud for them. Just miss them so much. It is so hard to keep accepting that our family just keeps being so far apart.
I know you all are proud of your children’s accomplishments. That is great the girls won with their cake. I love watching the cooking show; and now there is one on about baking. I can’t think of the name. So you are on kitchen strike Adele. Your family has pushed you and your skills too far with what I call “nit picking” (don’t even know what that is supposed to mean, but it’s a saying I’ve heard all my life for people just complaining for no reason). I do just what you do if I hear too much complaints; but now that it’s just us and Joey and he loves everything I seem to try. I think he is so greatful for food that doesn’t have lots of spices like Lisa likes on her food, that he thinks I am a good cook. ha ha He is a kind person, and I would love for him to be happy.
Must tell you all this. I called Sarah’s Mom last week and asked if she and her husband would like to meet Jerry and I at a local restaurant that just opened here for dinner? She said they would, so we met up with them last night. Jerry had already told the waitress before they arrived that we would be picking up the tab for us all and when it came time to pay, I just told Susan that Jerry and I are so appreciative of them giving our little Colin a “smash cake” when Sarah and the baby visit in a few weeks. Not sure if I told you all about that, but Neal told us that they are coming, but not Neal. We (Jerry and me)are supposed to have the baby all to ourselves one day while she and Sarah go to a spa and have their hair done. So I have called a sweet girl who lived across the road from us all her growing up years and she and Neal used to ride their horses everyday. She is a professional photographer who does mostly wedding, I asked her if she could come to our house that day and make a few pictures of me and Jerry and the baby. She said she would love to so I hope we can pull this surprize off. Would love to send a picture to Neal later if they come out good, but I want something for us to always remember “our day” with our baby. Just want it to be something very casual made outside under a crepe myrtle bush since they are like trees in our backyard or whatever she thinks is best. So wish us luck.
Better go for now. Surely hope everyone is okay. Think of you all everyday. I have missed so much. Take care everyone. Hugs, Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: WelcomeJuly! It's Time to Celebrate America and Summer Fun! #66077

Sounds like we all are having such a heat wave this summer. I am so sorry that you are now having AC problems too Adele. Gosh, hope it can be fixed and not be as expensive as most things are about air conditioners. We had to have our Freon, not sure if spelled right, and I thought I would pass out when the man told us how much. We didn’t pay much more for the whole unit. He said some kind of regulations have made the price sky rocket but it has to have it in there. We didn’t have AC as children either; and I really think it was just as hot then as now, but just didn’t seem to be as a child.We had big window fans on both sides of the house and it pulled the air all through the house. MaMa wouldn’t let Daddy run it unless we were at home; she was afraid of fire too. So I don’t know what that was all about. We played outside all day long and since I was the only girl of the family, I would have to come in early and help set the dinner table and be literally pouring the iced tea for Daddy when he would be walking in the door. Then after dinner, it was my job to clear the table and do the dishes. Sometimes Daddy would come in the kitchen and dry a few things and put them up; but mostly he would go watch boxing or some kind of sports; after he and MaMa watched Larwence Welk. There was Gunsmoke, Andy Griffith, things like that too. It seemed like such a good time; because after my jobs I would head back outside and play again with our friends until all the parents would start calling their children in about the same time each night and we would do it again the next day. ha ha
That is so sweet Colleen, about Kylie wanting to find the cure for Diabetes. What an honorable goal for her. She must really care for people. I know you are proud. Poor little Piper must have been tired when she was fussy. I know I get fussy when I am tired. I think all of you all have such cute names for your grandchildren.
Adele, stress may be making your shoulder hurt you worse. I know when I am worried or stressed that my legs just hurt me so badly. Hope you are doing better. Take care of yourself.
DD hope you are getting some relief on your apartment problems. Gosh, you have really been inconvenienced. You are going to be living in a new place when all these renovations are completed. I am proud of you for speaking up.
Better go for now. Everyone have a great weekend. By the way Gail, it sort of embarasses me to see so many women on TV dressed so provocatively. I know that it must be nice to have such pretty shapes, but I think there is a lot to be said for showing decency and privacy. I for one, don’t enjoy seeing everyone’s special assets, and I am not trying to be a prude. But I just think it is better to dress respectfully, and keep in mind that children are watching these shows. And let’s not even get started on how people talk now. Take care all. Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: WelcomeJuly! It's Time to Celebrate America and Summer Fun! #65960

Happy late birthday wishes Colleen. I am so glad you and your husband had a good dinner out and a good day. Isn’t it nice how just the small things mean so much to us nowadays? I know they surely do to me. Gosh, I think the idea of going to Junior College first is so smart. It is so hard for young folks to know at their starting out years exactly what they want to do long term, and this will give her so many options to consider. Smart young lady!
DD, sorry you hurt your shoulder. Hope you are doing better. If I wasn’t able to come on here and vent sometimes; I don’t know what I would do. Our good friends on here are so nonjudgemental and caring; and I can feel it through their words and their kind reactions to some of the goofy things I have written or thought. I know I am so grateful for all of your friendships, and glad you let us know how things are going in your life. Long story short; vent anytime you need to.
Adele, sorry for your computer problems. It can be frustrating beyond words. And not to mention; costly. Wish I could give you some good advice on those things; but I have to call and ask Joey even how to use things on my I Pad, and I have had it for years now. I have seriously thought of taking a class on how to do things on the computer. I know it would help me. I have also thought about going to the weekly bingo games for old folks ha ha. And since I have only been “thinking” about both these things for several months now; I seriously doubt I will be making a quick decision do you?
Our “itty bitty” is really growing. He has two bottom teeth, says Da Da and waves bye bye. Neal sent us a video of him pushing along his airplane that has a handle on it so he can balance himself as he walks, and Neal would say to him, “stop Bubba, stand up, you can do it” and that little angel tries so hard to let go and balance himself without holding on to his handle. Then he just laughs and claps his little hands and says “yay!!!” Course, me and Grandpa are just melting. He will be a year old next month. Time is flying. Miss them so much.
Speaking of Grandpa, he is over in the kitchen dragging things out of the pantry so he must be getting hungry; so I better go help him. I really meant to cook spagetti and garlic bread for dinner, but it is just so hot here. Hope you are all doing good now. Prayers are still coming from Tennessee for all my special Quacker friends all across this great country. Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: WelcomeJuly! It's Time to Celebrate America and Summer Fun! #65763

The heat is really here in Tennessee. Our little outside puppies are laying out on the covered patio just sleeping. We have 2 ceiling fans on the patio and keep them on for them in this heat. I go out twice a day and add some ice cubes to their drinking water. They chew ice cubes up too. It is so funny to watch them do that. Our kittly is in the AC on the foot of the bed sleeping too. We are so active around here. Jerry and I went on a short drive yesterday to a little town about 15 miles up the road to find some road side fruit and veg.stands. We bought some really delicious tomatoes and that inspired us to stop at a little store and pick up some thick sliced bacon and fresh bread, and come home cook the bacon in the oven (have you all done this?) and made us BLT’s for dinner, and I have to say, we ate until we almost popped they were so good. Jerry called Joey at work to see if he would want to stop by on his way home this morning from work and we would have him a “goody bag” of BLT fixings for him to eat. He was so excited. You know Lisa is out of town and he said he would love to have some good fresh food when he got off work and didn’t have to stop at some fast food place. I was so happy that he would enjoy them too. It is just such simple things sometimes that make us feel so good.
So glad your eyes are doing so good Colleen. It must be wonderful to not need glasses anymore. I bet you do miss feeling them on your head. I fall asleep so many times with my glasses on. I have my poor rims warped now, and really need to go get my eyes checked and some new glasses. Why do we put off things like this? And I am happy for you too Gail. That sounds like quite a procedure you had to go through. Do you have short hair? I have some stuff (powder like) that I bought from HSN that I just pat on a spot right in the back of my hair that is thin and it looks just like my hair is there. I didn’t believe it would work, but it does. Gosh, I will have to go and see what it is called. I have worn my hair pulled back for so many years due to my job that I think that is what caused it to be thin there. It doesn’t look fake at all. I have also used something that Joan Rivers sold quite a few years ago and it worked too, come to think of it. I used Joan’s product on my eyebrows as well as on my hair.
Adele, hang in there with all the kiddos. I know you all must be so hurt about the drivers test; but we all fall down and skin our knees sometime; just for different things. But with God’s help we pick ourselves up and try again, and failure is what makes us stronger. We are all pulling for her and all of you.
Sue, you are doing great with your recovery. I know it hasn’t been easy, but you have worked hard. Sorry about the lady breaking her arm. Hope she is doing okay. I saw some beautiful things on the CIJ shows but can you believe the only thing I ordered was some of those Landies pretzels all covered in chocolate and caramel. Since they are individually packed I give them to our neighbors in their mailboxes with their Christmas cards for a little surprize. Course; since I have done it a few year it is not such a surprize LOL Everyone seems to like them. I was only able to watch just a couple of shows so that hopefully saved me some money. I do love Jim Shore shows, and if you find out when he is going to have his live show, please let me know DD. I had a good laugh at your Santa taking a selfie with that long selfie stick. I love your pictures too.
Guess I better close for now. Sending good wishes to everyone. Hugs to all, Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: WelcomeJuly! It's Time to Celebrate America and Summer Fun! #65348

So sorry for your loss DD. There has been a lot of sadness this summer. I agree with Colleen about trying hard to remember the good times you all spent. I think I am at a point in my life where I seem to be mentally asking myself so many questions about life; and just wish I knew how to justify or mabey a better word would be understand why things happen as they do. But I know that the good Lord has a reason for everything, and someday I will understand things a lot better. Hope that made you feel some better but knowing me it just made you feel worse. Sorry if I did.
It is so humid here today. Our son was supposed to be off this weekend, but one of the nurses had to be off so he took her shifts. He really is good to do that when someone needs help. It makes me proud, but I do feel that he is kind of taken advantage of at times for helping out so much. But we have all done it haven’t we when there was a need to fill in? Whether it is at our jobs away from home or at home. I know there have to be times when you Adele, don’t feel up to baking some goodies, but in that kitchen you go because you love everyone. Gary is a lucky man to have such a good cook. I find I am cooking less and less these days. It is just so hot.
DD. the only food I have ordered is some of the Germack that had lots of little chocolate cups filled with caramel in it. I loved it so much that I didnt order any more since I knew that I would eat the whole jar. I have also ordered some kind of hamburgers, but didn’t like them and I can’t think of the brand name since I know they sell several different kinds now. I ordered a Juniors cheesecake for one NY’s Eve, and everyone ate it up, but complained (like my bunch will ) that is was not “homemade”. But there wasn’t any left but it was pricey to me. It has been a really big adjustment for us since we retired for me to be careful money wise. I was so used to that check every two weeks, and even though we put aside for our retirement we didn’t plan on it being so early when my husband was hurt and unable to go back to work. Our whole lives changed so quickly; but at least I still have him, and that is the most important thing. Gosh, I must be in a “blah” mood. Sorry you all.
I think I will get my sun hat out and walk out to the pond. As my Mama used to say “she is in a state” and see if some fresh air and watching my puppies drag along behind me will help. Take care everyone. Gail and Colleen, so happy for your good reports on your eyes. By the way, Pablo is waiting to hold an umbrella over my head as I walk along so I think I won’t need my sun hat. Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: WelcomeJuly! It's Time to Celebrate America and Summer Fun! #65248

Gatil I am so happy that your biopsy is negative. Now I am just like Adele, you have “earned” the right to voice your concerns, fears, doubts, whatever your feelings are at this point. We all search for just one doctor to look at us and say “you POSITIVELY are clear from so and so and have nothing to worry about” but I truly think that just doesn’t happen; at least not to me and Jerry. Here I sit still waiting for just one MD to tell me that Barbara you can get on that jet and fly at thirty thousand feet all day and all night if you want to and won’t have a single stroke a mile up in the air, but alas not one will tell me that. Now they will be more than happy to send me for more CT scans or MRI’s but that’s the extent of it. So I think your idea of just going on with your life thinking positively will be the very best thing to do. I hope you found somethink sparkly today to cheer you.
Colleen, I love your goggle idea to keep the water out of your eyes. I also got a chuckle out of it. We ladies are very ingenious.
Our baby has 2 bottom teeth now. He has had a bit of a runny nose, but think it may be another tooth trying to pop through. He is in constant motion now, and can almost walk. He really tries, but just hasn’t gotten the balance thing down. He must take that after his Grandma. LOL
Okay girls, after everyone is recovered we need to have our friend Pablo ready to bring us something cool and bring our beach towels when we come out of the crystal blue water. Wouldn’t it be great if we all lived at least within the same time zone? When we talk on here I feel you all are right here in the room with me. Nice feeling. I worked in my office so much that I didn’t have time to make many friends, and I really regret that now. You all who have long time friends are very fortunate.
Yes, I hope with all my heart that Joey and Lisa are doing well. I have to say though, in all honesty, all I really know is what I see. It has been my experience in life that we all sometimes act like everything is okay but underneath the surface it is not. So I pray for them daily, but my heart is just not fully convinced. Absolutely no talk about marriage from either. She is about to fly to LA next week for a 2 week vacation. Joey is not going; he is not able to get time off. Her family treated him so badly that time that I dont really believe he wanted to go. I hurt for them both. But there again; I thought at this point in my life I would be so much “wiser” but was that ever a joke.
Take care everyone, and again, so glad for you Gail. I know Gregg is so relieved. Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: WelcomeJuly! It's Time to Celebrate America and Summer Fun! #65234

Hello to everyone. Such good times had on the 4th. Even quiet times were nice. I am so happy for you Colleen that your sight is doing good. Isn’t that just a miracle? Now this is all done and Ron has really been taking good care of you. I am so proud of our loved ones when they step up to the plate and do things that in most cases act like there is no way they could do. If you are like me you appreciate anything someone does to help you; so he and Gregg have been great. I know how Jerry would wash my hair for me since I couldn’t hold my right arm up for long at all. There were many times, Gail, that I know Jerry just didn’t know how to wash all the conditioner out and I would have that “heavy” feeling in my hair, but at that point I felt just fortunate to have mostly clean hair. It seemed like my hair tangled so badly then; and I just couldn’t get a brush or comb through it; so at times I just put it in a messy bun and clipped it up. I was like Sue was saying, I would break out in such a sweat right after my shower I guess from being so tired from just showering that I would overheat and feel like I needed another shower. It is not easy being down at all. We just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and praying that It will get better and we will get stronger.. You all have done so great though. I am surely proud of everone.
Gail, your dessert looks so tasty. I can just hear Ms. Piper calling her Mom Jenny. I think they just hear us all call them by their name and they are growing up and feeling a little sassy and want to join in. They just mimic what they see and hear. Neal and Sarah took the baby to see fireworks in their little town. It was beautiful they said. We have had so many storms here lately that they actually postponed our little towns fireworks this weekend. But they were able to have a shortened show finally.
I was caught in the most terrible storm while in town yesterday. It was raining so hard and the car was actually rocking the wind was blowing so hard. I called Jerry (he was at his Mom’s) and told him that I had pulled over in front of a little mall in town where one of the stores is closed to get some shelter from the overhang of the building. But while I was talking to him I noticed that the water was beginning to rise and was up to the middle of the hubcaps of the cars that were creeping by me. Jerry told me to slowly ride to the top of the parking lot where the lot was higher than where I was sitting. I was so scared. The car kept rocking but the rain finally slowed down enough for me to be able to drive slowly home. There was water all across the roads. I was so glad to make it home. I didn’t even go by the post office where I was going but came home. It came up so quickly. Better go for now. Take care everyone. Prayers for fgood results on your tests Gail.

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: WelcomeJuly! It's Time to Celebrate America and Summer Fun! #65055

Gail, now that you have become our resident punk rocker; I vote for purple or pink highlights on the ends of your hair. I see young women around here with half of their heads shaved off; and neon color on what hair is still there. You may have just started a new phase of fashion for us and I won’t have to to wear my not quite brown/not quite auburn/ definitely gray hair that I have. I would love some purple highlights. An idea for keeping your incision dry is that they do make bandages at Walmart or your drug store that is waterproof and waterproof tape to secure the bandage with. Did any of that make sense? Somehow it just doesn;t sound right, but hopefully you can decifer through my goofy description to find the waterproof bandages. That was so sweet of Piper to want to give you a reason to go home so you could rest. I love to watch the children catching fireflies too. I have ordered from the Q those glass jars like mason jars with the tiny twinkle lights and have them out on our patio. It looks just like fireflys. Lisa thought it was really them. She asked me one day how do I keep them alive, since she sees them when she passes our house driving out to their home. So I got two for her too. She grilled some meat for us the other day and it was spicy, but was good. I was so excited that she was trying. All I want with all my heart is for them to be happy and loving to one another.
DD, I love your pictures. All the ducks, puppies, kitties and the great eagle celebrating the 4th; and it took me back when I saw the one of the percolator and the door latch. We used to keep our front door open all summer when I was little (way before air conditioning) and my Daddy would latch the screen door just to keep our kitty from pushing the door open and going outside at night. And I remember hearing that coffee pot starting to bubble and make its noise when the water would be coming up through the little tube inside. Such a good smell. Thank you for the memories.
Hope everything goes quickly and you are in and out in no time tomorrow Colleen. Prayers coming your way. That Ron and Gregg are competing for best husbands right now taking good care of you and Gail. Proud of them both. Take care of yourself, and just rest afterwards.
So very hot and humid here today. We are expecting storms on the 4th. We just found out Joey and Lisa will both be off so we are going to cook something for us all. Jerry has said he would like to grill some BBQ and I really would like some potato salad, baked beans coleslaw and some fruit salad of some kind. Making myself hungry. We are doing pizza tonight. It is one of those where you order exactly what you want on it, how you want your crust and then bring it home and cook it up when you are ready to eat. It is really good. Joey and Lisa like hawaiian with pineapple and ham, but Jerry and I like everything on ours with a thin crust. It tastes so fresh. They add the ingredients as you are standing there unless you call ahead, and you can choose the type of sauce you want too. We enjoy it. And since it is starting to smell really good; I guess I better go for now. By the way; I really enjoyed the CIJ shows yesterday too. You all know how I am about outside lighting; so I did have to order some more sparkly things. I love Valerie Parhill as well. Her carolers are just beautiful. Did I miss the man who carves those pieces Jim Shore? I love so many of his pieces.
Take care everyone, and special prayers to all my friends having things done, and those who have just had some procedures or surgery done. Hugs all across the miles, and hope you get a good nights sleep tonight DD. Barbara

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