[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's October! Spooky Nights, Falling Leaves, Football and Pumpkin Carving… #49754

Happy Belated Birthday Gail! Sorry I wasn’t here on the “official day”, but I did think of you and I’m glad you got your birthday wishes. Boy, did Greg ever surprise you with the pool idea. I would have fallen out of my chair if Jerry had actually come up with that idea after so many years of wishing for one. That was sweet of him. So glad he did well on his shot. Hope it continues to help him. I have thought so much about Colleen these days too. I know that was a difficult test for her, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that the doctors will have done something to help her feel better now. She has been though so much. And she just doesn’t complain even though she certainly has the right to with all she endures with her tummy. I hope she is resting and that Ron is taking very good care of her. Is Gary doing okay, Adele? My prayers have certainly been with all of you. Life can really throw us some curves, but I so admire how brave and strong you all are and how you just do whatever has to be done.
We are okay, I think. I could complain, but I am just not going to. I have kind of had the “blues” today; but I think it is just missing our family, and it is too darn quiet here. Neal called us yesterday, but didn’t really have much to talk about. He is doing well, but he must do well every week of this school; so we try to not bring up things about it. He misses Sarah and the baby so much, you can hear it in his voice. He asked Jerry and me to watch the baby while she works. We tried to get some real information out of him about what all he needs us to do; but he sort of shut down; so we didn’t press. When she came over the other night (for dinner) she didn’t mention it. So we just brought it up about helping them however we can, and she still didn’t ask us or tell us what they need. So I guess it’s going to come down to us just saying “what is your shift, and how long will you need us to watch the baby since you work night, and how do you plan on us doing the feedings?” Jerry still has some sore feelings about this; as I said, he has been grouchy and feels that we are just here for what folks need us to do but don’t reciprocate; and I just try to keep things on an even keel. He said his back is really hurting today, so I know that has a lot to do with how understanding he is about things. HIs dream was to have this place built so they could all three build homes on the land and live out our lives kind of like we did all together years ago. I try so hard to explain to him that they love us but that they have their own dreams, and we were their age when we were living out our dreams. I just know that deep inside him he feels that families staying together is so important. And now with his brothers doing him so badly and then our sons moving off that he has to feel disconnected with his warm and fuzzy feelings of how he wishes life could be vs. the reality of how life is. Enough of my “life lesson for the day” LOL
Gail, is the tea on and the fireplace glowing? I surely need our reading/napping room today. Guess I better wait for everyone to get to feeling better.
DD how scary! Thank goodness you are okay. Been thinking of you with all this rain.
Debra, this just goes to show how great a job you were doing at your work. I know they miss you. Bet it felt good to walk back in, do the work, and no that you could just walk back out and to your freedom from punching that clock. Hope you are really enjoying your retirement. You certainly deserve it. How exciting you have met Patricks family. I’ll bet they are nice; since he is such a sweet person.
Better close for now. I did catch the Quacker on Zulillly, but everything in my size was gone. I wanted the Believe in Miracles shirt so badly. Take care everyone. Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's October! Spooky Nights, Falling Leaves, Football and Pumpkin Carving… #49441

Hi everyone. Back to warm weather here today after all the cold and dreary day we had yesterday. Our poor little Colin had to get his first shots yesterday. He ran fever last night, and is fussy today because he feels bad. We took Sarah some dinner last night and I rocked my sweetie while she ate and then took her a shower. He felt warm to me and I told Sarah; but she said he was not too warm and the doctor had told her to expect him to run a fever; so I asked her to just watch him extra careful last night since babies always seem to have their fever go up when the sun goes down. She said she would and we offered to do anything she needed, but she said she was fine so we came on home. I checked on them today; and she said he is running a “low grade” fever, and I could hear him kind of fussing; so I offered to do anything she might need, and she said that her parents were stopping by soon. Then I called Neal to check on him, and he was studying. He has done good so far with his class. He misses his little family so much; I can tell. But I try so hard to assure him that we are keeping close contact with her. He asked me would I please make her a home cooked meal one night? And I made the mistake of telling Jerry what he asked and he went off into a lather about how dare that boy ask you to work and cook a meal for that girl who won’t even clean her own or her husbands dishes when you cook for them? Jerry got all worked up, and it took me a solid 30 minutes to settle him down. I told him that I love all of our family and there are some things in life I believe that are just not worth getting all upset about. But I really think what finally settled him down was when I reminded him that just a little over 2 years ago that I experienced what could have left me unable to walk, talk, or even might have taken me away and how blessed I feel to just be able to cook a meal that I don’t think of what others are doing or not doing. He told me that he is going to go along with me for now because he knows how important everyone is to me; but that there will come a day when he reminds them that just as they love their wife; he loves his wife; and he can’t have me doing things that might hurt me and take me away from him. So, I really do understand where his heart is now, and I will have to cut back soon.
Colleen, every time I have been doing an endoscopy I have always given the patient lots of drugs to help them be out of it so to speak, and they didn’t remember anything about the procedure. So I am praying that you do really well, and it get over quickly but that they take a really good look and find something simple that they can fix during the endoscopy and you will wake up all better.
Glad the grands are feeling better. Worries you so much when they are feeling bad; doesn’t it? How is everyones men folks doing? I sure do wish Jerry was able to still get the shots in his back. He took them for several years; every six months, but they finally quit giving them to him. They said he had reached his “theraputic” level whatever that means, and they were done. I am glad they help those of you who are taking them. Adele, you do them in your knees don’t you? Guess they do all different kinds.
I woke up around 5 am and had one of my couldn’t go back to sleep spells; so I read for about an hour and finally got a little sleepy. And now all of a sudden I am so sleepy I can hardly hold my eyes open LOL You know what girls? Instead of or in addition to our reading room we could also have a “napping” time each day for us all. Take care all; and praying your storms are settled down and no one was hurt Dianne. Hugs from the South you all, Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's October! Spooky Nights, Falling Leaves, Football and Pumpkin Carving… #49395

Hey Girls. very cool and cloudy and gloomy here today. Just perfect weather for our reading room. I need a nice romantic love story, with a little suspense thrown in, and a happy ending. Dianne, please take care of yourself and get into a room with no windows if you have to. Tornadoes are not anything to take lightly. Unfortunately, we get our share of them in this area, and they just scare me so badly. I have gone to bed many a night fully clothed; including my socks; with my shoes, purse, medicines for us and a coat right next to the bed. I think Colleen gets quite a few too. If I had to do it again; I would make sure and build a tornado shelter in our garage. Please be safe.
Adele, were you able to find me on facebook? I am not computer savvy at all; but there are some wonderful pictures of our sweet Colin. There is one on there of me holding him right after he was born. You know; I had on a diagonally striped long shirt (you know “smoking mirrors”). Well, I don’t care what kind of mirrors or smoke you put up I am still big and there is not enough smoke in the world to cover that up LOL. It just cracks me up when they say that and they say it all the time it seems like. Well, as usual, I’m wandering off subject. I absolutely love your picture of the orange Quacker shirt; looked great on you. I have an idea that I would like to send to someone in Quacker, (back to my original thought now) I wanted a Quacker shirt to wear the day he was born that said something like “This precious angel is my Grandbaby!” and we could have a pink one and a blue one. It should of course have sparkles all over and a cute little baby lying on his/her tummy all curled up sleeping. What do you all think of this idea? I think I will write to Angel and ask her if mabey they could do this.
Gail, I much prefer a gas stove, but got talked into this one. I know what you mean about having your light fixture off center of your dining table. That would drive me crazy too. I know our fellows don’t see things like we do (but sometimes I think Jerry sees things great if it something that he wants) but little details make such a difference to us. And having to see it every time you pass by is just a reminder. Jerry and I have been together for so long. I got myself into a mood a few weeks ago when I just couldn’t change a darn lightbulb. I tried and tried, and the more I tried the more frustrated I became. It is the having to admit that things HAVE changed, and not wanted to accept some of it. But then I finally just said my only other choice was the step ladder; and all my common sense said Barbara don’t do that; its not worth the risk of falling off; so I waited for Joey to come by and he changed it quick as a bunny. So mabey you will be able to change it out one day; and even if you don’t, try not to look at the thing. LOL
I also have lost a cookbook that I have had since we married. It also is held together by a rubber band, and I know that in spite of the fact that Jerry says “you probably just accidently tossed it out” I know I haven’t so we will just wait for our cookbooks to show up. Isn’t it funny how much of our lives are so intertwined?
Jerrys Mom is doing really well. She goes on field trips and they do picnics in the garden area. Of course, bingo everyday, and the soaps on TV. They have a big recreation room where the TV is and she has her own TV in her room. She was telling Jerry that some of “those women” had stolen her bath towels, and he looked all around and finally found them under the sink right where he should have looked first. But the nurses say she has acclimated very well, not made friends so to speak yet, but is joining in on group activities. Today, they bring the puppy dog that lives there and visits each cottage on different days. She will really enjoy that.
We are to have a nice weekend after today. Hope you all do too. How is Gary doing on his hydration? Better I hope. Dianne, be safe. Everyone gives your children, grands, and 4 legged friends hugs from their friend in Tennessee. Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's October! Spooky Nights, Falling Leaves, Football and Pumpkin Carving… #49319

Hello Ladies. Kind of cooler here today; leaves are fluttering to the ground and the puppy dogs are rolling in the grass and enjoying the day. Adele, I am so glad that you caught that fire before it went any further. Sorry for all the trouble it has caused; but glad it isn’t worse than it is. I didn’t put the oven on like you did; but I did turn the wrong stove eye on (glass top stove) and Jerry walks in the kitchen and sits a plastic bag of groceries on the stove top and sets it on fire. I had been cleaning with some baking soda mixed with lemon juice earlier, so the box was sitting right next to the stove, so I threw the sack into the sink after drowning it with baking soda. I can so relate to all those little black things in the air and the smell. I am really bad to turn on one eye and be thinking it is the other. I hope you get things fixed real soon. My stove top is built into the counter top and the oven is in another place in the wall next to the stove top and sits right under the microwave space. You know, come to think of it, Jerry was our general contractor and when he was designing our home he didn’t really ask me many questions about my kitchen. The main thing I said absolutely no to was that the stove top be in the center of the kitchen on this island thing. I had him put the sink and dishwasher there, because I was too afraid the little ones might stick their hands up where that stove top was. I know now that he did most of the planning when we were building for his wants and needs on the outside of the house and his shops and those kind of things. I was too caught up in the cost of things (we saved all my salary for five years to pay on the house) course, still had to get a loan for when that was all used up, but sure wish I had put a lot more thought into things back then, but to be honest, at this point, I don’t care that much. Such a long paragraph for catching the sack on fire ha ha
DD, just love your beautiful pictures. It must be beautiful where you live. My husband used to love to get runs there. Course, he was gone for days, but he said it is one of the most beautiful states he was ever in.
How are you feeling Colleen? Did they ever call you with your lab results? Sure hope you are feeling better. Isn’t it hard to just sit and wait for someone to call and update you? My prayers are with you.
Adele, does Gary eat ice by any chance? That helps some people to get in their water needs. Just a thought. Prayers coming your way too. I know there are some folks around your house wishing you were able to cook about right now. I know they are missing your delicious baking talents. I just love the smell of something warm and gooey on a cool fall day.
Got to cut this short. Just got a call from Jerry that he has his Moms medicine all mixed up and he thinks the nurses at the assisted living are not doing this right, and guess who I think is the middle of the problem? LOL Sending good thought to you all. By the way; I love the Charlie Brown/Snoopy shows. Look forward to it every year. I don’t think I will ever grow up, and I’m not sure I want to ha ha Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's October! Spooky Nights, Falling Leaves, Football and Pumpkin Carving… #48876

Hello everyone. Today has been a good day since we were able to get a lot done that needed to be done; but has just kept our “to do” list growing. Now we didn’t get it all done; but we made a dent in it and that feels good. My old hip is still bothering me. It is so aggravating. I can walk just fine sometimes for hours and then bingo, it just feels like something catches in there and the hurting starts again. I have been rubbing some Bengay ointment on it at night. It stinks. Do you all have a favorite liniment that you use? Well, isn’t this just a lovely conversation, two sentences in and I’m already talking about my aches and pains. LOL
Hope you are feeling better, Colleen. I know you are so sick and tired of all the tests, sticks, peeing in a cup etc. but hopefully they will do the right thing and you will be all better. So sorry you are having a hard time. I have a kind of funny story to tell you all about peeing in a cup for a test one time. They gave me this little thing and here I am trying to make sure I don’t miss it, and I hear the pee hitting the toilet water, and I panic trying to stop and get the cup in the right spot. I knocked the little wash cloths off the back of the commode, and the paper towels, and some other trays and stuff and it sounded like a fight was going on in there. THe nurse knocked on the door and of course everyone could hear her saying, “whats wrong, something is wrong with Ms. Smith, can you hear me?” I was so embarrassed. You would think you could hit that little cup but not me; I am probably built upside down or something. Leave it to me. From that point on, when I needed a sample from someone at the clinic where I did volunteer work, I always gave them the big kidney shaped plastic container, and asked them to pee in that and then just pour it into the cup. A lot of people looked relieved, so I must not have been the only person with the problem of “aiming” right.
I have been thinking a lot about our “reading room” at Gails. We will take turns reading to the group. Then the others can just doze off whenever they want too. And Gail, you can have a fainting couch instead of a Lazyboy. Do you know what that looks like? It is a Southern thing; really beautiful; you just lounge back on it and your legs can be out straight or curled up if you like, and there are beautiful big pillows (usually in some kind of tapestry) and it is for the gentile southern lady to recline on if she felt “faint”. Kind of a Gone With the Wind thing. ha ha
I am praying for Jhonnys family with this storm and for everyone in the path of this thing. I know he must be so worried.
You know girls, I feel the same way about my cooking these days. I just love to cook; and I just detest going to the grocery store. I have actually heard of going on the computer and ordering your groceries, and then all you have to do is go to the store and everything is ready for pickup and you pay and load them up. I am going to look into this more. It is probably too much money for the service, but we’ll see. Thank you for telling me how to do the Ziti Gail. I just remember it was gooey and cheesy and I liked it. I like to do things I can put in one pot or casserole dish, or the slow cooker and be done with it.
I was just thinking the other day; I don’t know why I didn’t just tell you all to look on my facebook sight to see pictures of us and the baby. Mine is Barbara Smith Millington Tennessee. I have very little on mine. I really don’t do much of the social media thing, but since I don’t know how to download pictures on there I don’t have much on there, but Sarah or her mom puts things on there sometimes.
Jerry did make us a pizza last night. It is the kind that you buy fresh and then bring it home and bake it. I have to say it was absolutely delicious. He has not been so grouchy these last few days. I think a lot of it has to do with feeling better about his Mom. He took her to her primary physician yesterday. He wanted her to be checked out after all she has been through. He was so kind to Jerry. He assured him that she is in a wonderful home; in fact; this is the same home he put his Mom in when she had memory problems and wasn’t safe in her home. Jerry asked him could he expect his Mom to get better with time, and he put his hand on Jerrys arm, and said, no Mr. Smith this will be as good as it will be, but that she is happy and safe, and you and your wife need a life as well. He said he remember all the years he took care of his Dad, and how he knows he only has her best interest at heart, and he should be proud of this. Jerry’s Mom couldn’t answer any of the questions the doctor asked her. I think seeing her doctor has really helped him to feel better about everything.
Well, Neal is driving home tomorrow evening (about an 8 hour drive) to spend Saturday and up to about noon on Sunday with his little family. This will be his only chance to come home during this school. We told him not to even try to see us while he is home; we completely understand that he has such limited time and we want him to be with Sarah and the baby. Sure hope everyone feels this way. He is out of school on Monday for some kind of holiday, and he needs that day to study. Surely do miss him, but I hope he has a wonderful few hours with his family.
Diane, I am glad you have your bug problem under control. Yuck, I don’t like creepy crawlers. I love your pictures.
Take care, everyone, and enjoy this weekend. Joey has to work all weekend. I love talking with Joey. He is such a kind and gentle soul. I know you all have really good families too. Doesn’t it make you proud when you stop and just think of what good children and now grandchildren we have had a part of? We are good fur baby Mommies too. Jerry has always said that if the good Lord let him come back to earth, he would want to be one of our pets, and I know your little ones are treated the same way too. Take care everyone. Hope each of you that may be feeling under the weather are doing lots better. I don’t like my friends to be sick. Yes, Colleen, 25 is low for your blood count. It makes you tired and short of breath. Do you take B12 shots? I have too. Take care all. Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's October! Spooky Nights, Falling Leaves, Football and Pumpkin Carving… #48708

Happy shopping day to all my friends! I have caved in and bought several things and still have another show to go LOL I just LOVE the Fall clothes, and right off the bat I had to get the Believe in Miracles shirt in black. It just makes me feel hopeful and peaceful when I read these words, and then off I went to other things; like the pumpkin shirt with LOTS of sparkes and a heart leaf shirt with the leaves in a heart shape. Oh, my; it has been a colorful, fun day so far. And I really needed to splurg on me some Quacker. Loved what Leah was wearing; but was a little late in ordering in the burgundy one; so it is on waitlist for me. I have really been bad and I plan to be even worse before the day is over with. Are you all pacing yourselves? It just seems like there is SO much beautiful things on these shows.
Adele, thank God that Gary;s surgery went well and he is doing good. I know you were worried. The nurse in me has to say for you to please tell him for me to not lift anything; drink his fluids as instructed by his doctor, and rest, rest, rest. The body needs to heal, and to take it slow and easy and I know you will be really taking excellent care of him. He is so blessed to have you to be there for him. Give him my best; and tell him to listen to you because I know you will be doing everything the doctor wants for him to do right now. Also; YOU rest too whenever you can. Let those dust bunnies get acquainted with one another; like they do here in Tennessee. LOL
Gail, I took absolutely NO offense with your remarks about Sarah and Jerrys relationship. You are so right. I have tried to explain just the same thing with him; because I feel that expressing an opposite opinion to just makes her feel she has to prove that she is an adult and has the right to have her own way of doing things; even if it’s not what someone else thinks is the way to handle an issue. I have also tried to explain to him that when he was her age (as if it doesn’t still apply to him, but I don’t bring this up LOL) he chose his own way for him, us, and our family, and his Dad didn’t say, “well, I think this is the way it should be done and not that way”. That one actually shut him up for a while and I could see the wheels turning. And I told him that the best way to lose one of our sons is to make him feel he has to “choose” between our opinion and his wife’s opinion on something that really doesn’t matter (like everyday, not life and death matters). So mabey, just mabey he will hear my message of “you know, you do catch more bees with honey than with vinegar”. Sarah did ask if we would watch the baby at her apartment last night so she could go to her exercise class. I was of course thrilled, and we had such a great time with him. He is really looking around now, and I kissed him so many times its a wonder I didn’t have to change his little outfit. He is smiling now and just stares right into your face. I sang “Rock a by Baby” to him as i was rocking him and we were cuddling, and he went to sleep. I tell you the truth, if the good Lord had called me home right then and there I would have gone to my heavenly home a happy happy woman. Poor Jerry, after Sarah came home Jerry had been holding little Colin under his arms and had his head all safe and braced (we do know not to just let his little head flop) and he was lifting him up just like he has done all of ours a thousand times in the recliner) and he was saying “super baby” and Colin was smiling, but Sarah said, “you know you have to be really careful with his head, he is not old enough for you not to brace his head” and Jerry just said okay and gave the baby to me. I said, oh, honey you don’t have to worry, Jerry knows to always have his hands where his little head is stable but we know you don’t know how careful we are with him and I’m glad you watch for things like that”. It hurt Jerrys feelings, and that was the FIRST thing I heard about when we left; but I told him; it it okay; she is just being the Mommy and you know that Neal knows you would NEVER do anything that would hurt him; baring God forbid and accident of some kind. It sort of settled him down. So even though I didn’t want a Subway sandwich for dinner thats what Jerry wanted and so I said I did too; and thats what we got. Jerry is a very outspoken man; and he just has a really hard time taking advice from others; especially if he feels they are wrong. But this is a work in progress, and you had some good advice. Keep it coming; I can use all the help I can get Girls. Ha ha
I am so in the mood for some baked apples; but don’t want to go to the store because of my shows. I have meant to ask you all this about your spagetti sauce (I think you say gravy, and if you do, is that the same thing or something different?) Do you do meatballs, or is the meat just in with the sauce? Also, what type of meat do you use; just ground chuck, or do you mix other kinds in like pork or some type of sausage? I usually do onions, garlic, bell pepper in olive oil with a little butter and glaze this then add ground chuck and that’s the meat base. After seperating this from the fat after cooking, then how do you make your sauces? I have grown tired of mine, and would like to try something new. Also; do you all do something like zity that bakes in the oven after you mix it all together? That always looks so good to me when I see a recipe for it; but I know my bunch always balks when I try new things.
I have been dealing with my right hip acting like it just wants to jump out of place for lack of a better term these last few days. One day; I could barely get around. It wouldn’t hurt me every step I took; just some. But when it did, it was really painful. I rubbed it really good with some kind of linement for acouple of nights, and slept with a heating pad on low, and so far so good today. I still feel a twinge, but not nearly as bad as it was. It just came on me out of the blue one day. It is getting cooler here; mabey that stirred something up. I am just so glad it went away; because I could barely walk for a few days. I know I am the old one of the group; so you youngsters just have to put up with my aches and pains. When we all get together in Gails reading library, just be sure my recliner and throw are close to the fireplace. Thanks for the book suggestions, Gail. We need a new one to get started on. We just finished the last. I am so glad we started this. There have been some nights that we only read mabey two pages because we were so tired; but I think it helps us both to unwind and connect.
Better go for now. I have to go by the farm supply store and get the big bag of doggie food, and Auto Kitty is on his last can of cat food, and around here that is an emergency. He is like me; hunger makes him mad. Take care everyone, and have fun today. It’s nice to know that all over the country we are connected at the same time by watching our Quacker shows. I will be saying hello to all of you. Hope you hear me! Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's September! Fall is coming! Think Cooler weather. #48596

hello friends……so glad to finally have a few minutes to drop by and let you all know we are still up and running, and I mean that in the literal sense. It seems that every day brings more and more things for us to be right in the middle of; and I am getting so tired, and Jerry is past getting tired and into the grouchy, worn to a frazzle stage. I am still trying to stay positive for him and for me; but girls; it has really been trying. We have FINALLY gotten his Mom into a wonderful assisted living home about 20 miles or so from our home. There are 5 individual cottages; with each cottage designed for the level of care the resident needs. Ms. Smith is in the next to the highest level for right now; but I really feel she is making progress, and they assured us that as she continues to develop needs, or has lesser needs, then she will change cottages. There are 25 residents to each cottage; and they are all within a huge fenced in area with locking gates and very big back yards for picnics and outdoor recreations for the residents. I as very pleased so far; and if I could just calm Jerry down all would be so much better. Just like when the furniture men delivered her bed and dresser and night stand; he thought he just had to get in there and put all the things together and didn’t let them to any of it. The maintaince man saw him struggling with the bed; and said, Mr. Smith, that is for me to do; you just take your Mom out in the garden and I will have this set up in no time. No amount of telling Jerry from me would convince him that he is not expected to do all the work but he listened to the man and finally gave in and went outside with his Mom. I stayed back and asked the man to please help Jerry to understand that he just needs to relax and enjoy spending time visiting with his Mom, and that everything will be taken care of for them. This has been a really trying time on me and Jerry. I have to admit that I have been in the feeding him potato soup more than one time, and one day I just had to take our car and ride into town for my own sanity. I felt I had just about gone as far as I could go and that nothing I was saying was getting through his thick skull. And grouchy, grouchy from us both. I can’t even say he has been more difficult than I have. It just seems we are just putting out one fire after another. But I know that this will get better; so I am trying with all my might to just not say anything. I usually say “okay” and then don’t offer any opinion.
We had to go for our check ups at the doctors this week too. They have completely changed everything up at his office. Both of our BP’s were up; but I was not surprised about that. But hopefully; everything else if okay. I have missed your notes on Garys surgery. I will keep you all in my prayers. I have really missed so much I know that has been going on for you all. I hope everyone else is doing okay healthwise.
Neal left for Oklahoma this week. I want to see the baby so badly; but she is staying busy doing things with her friends and family. I called today and checked on them and Sarah said they “might” come by one day next week. So we will see. That is another area that I know we are failing in. Jerry just won’t stop responding to her comments that she makes that goes completely against his views on things. Girls, it has been quite a challenge around here. I know Neal is really missing his family, but he has called us twice and had lots of news. I told him that even though I know he misses Sarah and Colin; that he has to keep his eye on the future for his family, and that what he is doing now is for them all. I also told him how proud I am of him and that I have all the faith in the world that he will do the very best that anyone could do with his classes. I made him a dinner of chicken and dumplings and a homemade German Chocolate cake a couple of days before he left. He really seemed to enjoy it.
Would you believe I have been so busy that I haven’t even gotten out my Halloween Quacker outfits this year? I bet you all have been wearing yours and looking really festive. I have a pretty Fall wreath on Ms. Smiths door. I have at least gotten that done. I also put one of those air freshener things that plug in with the apple cinnamon fragrance in her room. It smells so good in there.
Have you been doing any baking, Adele? I need to do something with pumpkin or apple spices or something. Mabey some baked apples would be good; they are easy to make.
Well, gotta go for now. Just wanted to let you all know that we are okay. Please say a little prayer for us. We are so blessed and yet we are going though so much hoopla right now that it makes me sad. I hope all is well with you all and your families. Take care everyone. Hugs, Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's September! Fall is coming! Think Cooler weather. #47766

You know what, Gail? I think I would write a book about the saga of the Smith family, but people just would not believe all of our ups and downs. You know how I said that hopefully by the end of the week we would have Maw Maw in her new place? Well, the assisted living nurse from there comes out to visit her this morning and what does Ms. Smith do but have a big old hissy fit right in front of her. She got mad, couldn’t remember what month it is, told the nurse it was none of her business what day she was born on, well you get the picture. So Jerry and I go rushing over there thinking something is happening to her, like a stroke or something, and she is just happy as a clam, passing out a bag of candy that she had Jerry buy for the nurses and says to us “oh, this lady came and asked me a lot of questions this morning” She couldn’t remember the questions; so Jerry asked her what her birthday is and she told him, what day it is, and she said she thinks it is Sunday, she said the month is August, she knew the babys name. So now we know after talking to the nurses that she is still having confusion issues like after her fall; and that she will have to go to a “memory care” unit somewhere. SO back to square one. When my mother lived in assisted living for a few years they kept the side and back doors locked, but MaMa didn’t ever try to wander out in the street. We are about at wits end here. I am about ready to check me and Jerry into a room just for a week or so of not having to think about what the right things to do are. I called “A Place for Mom” this morning, and they have had several places contact me today; but most of them are not the “memory care” places; which I thought that meant the staff just kept a closer eye on the ones who may at times get a little confused. The one facility that sounded like a place she would be safe is WAY across town about an hour and a half from us; so we would have to travel about 3 hours each trip just to visit, and we don’t want it to be that hard for us to go see her. We want to visit her at least 3 to 4 times a week. I could just cry, but I don’t have the strength. And with the cost of these places you would think they would be happy just to see that she doesn’t wander where she isn’t supposed to be.
You are also so right about the breast milk issue. I feel that as long as the sweet baby is growing and healthy; that my prayers are answered. I love him so much. He is without a doubt the joy of my life. I just hug him and smell his little head and let his little fingers grasp my finger. I told Neal the other night that son, I really love you and your brothers, but as much as I love you all, you just step to the side and hand me that baby! He just laughed. Joey just hugs and kisses him too. Joey is such a good man. Oh, yes, Neal is going to be working in the tower at the airport. That is another thing, we don’t know what tower they will send him too until after his schooling; so that is something else we may have to face is them moving away from home. It could be anywhere in the country. It just depends on where he is needed. So you know we are hoping it will be here. I can’t even bring myself to think about them leaving right now. And Joey is considering taking a travel nurse assignment in Alaska of all places. The pay is fantastic, and he wants to do it before he starts back to school. See what I mean; no one would believe all the things the Smiths have going on. But truth be known; I know all of us are in the same boat; just different things in each of our lives. You all stay so busy with the kids, grandchildren, husbands, puppy dogs, kitties, you name it. Oh, yes, our Moms and MIL’s. I can remember thinking, I can’t wait to retire. I am going to read a book a week; start to embroidery again, do at least one cake or two pies a week, I had a whole list of things. Oh, I also wanted for us to travel. I had these big ideas of a motor home and we would see the country. Now all I want is my feather bed, my I Pad, DWTS, and of course, Quacker.
Neal just called and wants us to watch the baby Sunday evening while they go to dinner since it will be his last weekend here before he leaves on Thursday. I was happy to say yes, but already know Jerry will say “why do we have to go all the way over there instead of them bringing the baby to us?” which I don’t have an answer too. Jerry is so on edge right now that I just try to stay about ten feet out of sight; so he won’t start fussing about some little something that has nothing to do with his frustrations. We definitely need a vacation.
Colleen, you are miles ahead of me with your Christmas shopping. I put out an orange pumpkin solar light and saw my Scrappy man doggie hiking his leg on it. Oh, well, they said it was water proof. I love the Joan RIvers egg ornaments too Gail. They are just so pretty and the detail is amazing. I see a lot of her things are on clearance; so I wonder if they are phasing them out? I have a few of her brooches from years ago, and they are just beautiful. I wish I knew someone I could give them too that could really enjoy wearing them. They are too beautiful for anywhere I go nowadays. My outfit of choice is Dreamjeannes and a top; preferably with elbow length sleeves to hide the arm flaps. We have this new thing here of freezing “the fat” and so many ladies are lining up for it. I am scared of a lot of that stuff. But if they ever start paying money for extracting fat from someone to put into someone else I might be a candidate for that as long as I am sleeping peacefully through the whole procedure. ha ha
Well, you all must be tired of this by now; so I will let you get back to your day. Wish us luck with everything. Jerry and I were reading last night; and he woke me up about 2; and asked me to take off my glasses and turn off the bedside light. Don’t know how long we had both been asleep. LOL Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's September! Fall is coming! Think Cooler weather. #47736

Hello to everyone. It has been a very busy couple of weeks for the Smith clan. Everyone is ok so I’m grateful for that. Lets see; where to begin. Since my memory isn’t all that great I think I will start with last night and work backwards. We had a big cookout for everyone. Jerry did steaks on the grill It is one of the boys absolute favorite things he cooks and he really does do a great job. They were so good; we all just ate and ate. Neal did his famous twice baked potatoes; I did salad; Joey brought chips and dip for before the meal. Sarah brought………….I’m thinking………oh yeah, nothing but my beautiful grandbaby for me to love on and snuggle on. She went to our bedroom as soon as they got here to “pump her milk” and I was holding the baby (big surprise, right?) and Neal was helping Jerry get the grill ready. Colin got fussy, just hungry really, and I told Neal that he is hungry, and he said that Sarah was pumping, and leave it to big mouth, I said “son, can you just tell me why is he is hungry she can’t just feed him right now? He said, yes, he is hungry, and went back to our room, and she came out with him and Handed me a bottle of breast milk and put another bottle in the refrigerator. He just ate that warm milk right down and seemed so happy then I burped him and he fell right to sleep with me rocking him. I know now that she is not feeding him from the breast, but just pumping her milk and feeding him from a bottle. But, as long as he continues to gain weight and grow, I will do whatever I am told to do. It is just not worth making an issue of this because I know that somehow Jerry and I would not be in the right when its all said and done.
We were giving Neal a going away party last night. I haven’t told you all that he will be leaving to go the work for the government and he has to attend 3 months school in Oklahoma. This has been over a year in the making; and since you just never know for sure until the last minute; he made us promise not to say anything in case some little something didn’t go through. He will leave in about two weeks. He can’t take Sarah and the baby with him. They provide the housing and his transportation and meals. It is a very hard school that he has to attend, and we are excited for him; and worried all at the same time. I know he is going to miss his little family so much; so we have tried so hard to show him support, and let him know we will do anything they need while he is gone. His last day of working for the air ambulance service was Friday. He had told them over a year ago about his chance of going to work for the government, and they have been so supportive of him. They are a wonderful group of people. It really hurt him to say goodbye to his friends and colleagues. Lisa came with Joey. She seemed like nothing has ever happened between all of us. She loved on the baby and just talked and talked to all of us. This is one time I think that our family is just coo coo for cocoa puffs LOL
We have also been visiting assisted living homes all week. We think we have found one that is good for Mom Smith. That is what the doctor is recommending. He said that she absolutely cannot go back to her home without around the clock care, and he also said that she is awake a lot at night, and that under no circumstances should Jerry or I try to bring her back to our home and keep her here with us. He just out right told Jerry that we would end up in the hospital if we tried to do all the things that she will need. Jerry feels so guilty, but I told him that we have just got to find a good place where we can visit her at least 3 to 4 times a week, and she will do so much better. She has really enjoyed the company of the other ladies at the rehab. They color and play bingo, one of her favorites, she reads and they watch movies together. THey talk all about the things wrong with each other. so hopefully, by the end of the week, we will have her all settled in to a new home. Wish us luck. I just hope the ugly members of the family will just leave us alone. All they want is her house and what little money she has. Shameful
Hope your neck is better, Adele. And that everyone’s husband is doing better. It worries us when they get sick; doesn’t it? Colleen, how is your tummy doing? Better, I hope. I thought it was funny what you said Gail about how you have been stopping by the fast food places here lately. We do that about twice a week, and like tonight; I stopped at the local BBQ place in town, got a sandwich and fries, started eating it and just lost my appetite for it all. It was like chewing on cardboard. I would love to have the energy to make a good home cooked meal each night. I remember when I was working, I would come home and cook. Come to think of it; that may be why I don’t have the energy to do it now. Or it may be because I am just tired of the same old same old things. But I surely did enjoy the meal last night.
Better go for now. Hope everyone is doing good. Take care and I hope everyone is doing good. Barbara

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