[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's July! Let's Celebrate America! #43943

Such a sad day for so many. I pray for peace in our hearts and in our lives. I’ve never experienced anything like we are going through now.
Yes, it was quite amazing how my Uncle managed to carry my Mom who was just 7 months old (I think I may have said years) all that distance and he was just a child himself. Can you imagine how it must have been to have gone 3 days with just coal oil lamps and wood stove and all the darkness in the country where they were before he decided to walk with the children and find help? They lived in Arkansas, about an hour from Little Rock. But back then it was so sparsely populated; just country folk miles apart from one another with well water and very harsh living conditions. I know my Mom always loved him so much, and how badly it hurt her when he passed away. One of their brothers, who was a couple of years older than Mom but the youngest boy of the family, grew up and joined the Navy when he was 18, He was sent to Pensacola Florida and I was told that back then during war time, they just made some into pilots and that is what he became. Anyway, Mom was very close to him, and she said that one day he left out on some training mission out of Pensacola and just never came back. His plane was never found; so they weren’t ever told what happened to him. That really hurt my mother too. I know more stories from her side of the family than my Dad’s. She also told me that 2 of her uncles were hung from this big tree for stealing horses. She actually showed me the tree when I was a child. My Dad’s mother was not friendly at all. She didn’t bake or hold us in her lap. I remember how we used to have to just sit on the sofa at her house and were not allowed to touch anything. Funny how you remember things like that. But her husband was the one who wanted to name me Elma and he was one of the first policemen in Memphis. He was so kind, but she was not. ha ha
Jerry’s Mom has lost her keys; so he just called me all frustrated. They have been searching for over 2 hours, and no luck. I told him to just sit down and forget about it for now, and since he has a set that worse comes to worse, we will just have another set made. He is tired today, so I hope he gives up on the search and comes home soon.
Hope your family is doing much better, Christine. I’m so sorry to hear of their sickness and worries. I feel that being down and out and worried is as bad as being physically ill sometimes. It’s like what do we say or do to help someone know that times will be better when they are so discouraged? I always hope I say or do the right thing.
I am going to try some oven baked vegetables this weekend. It sounds so yummy. Yes, Jerry has done very well losing weight. We learned YEARS ago not to try to lose weight at the same time; because he seemed to be able to drop weight without giving up anything, and here I would be giving up what seemed like everything, and he would lose 5 pounds, and I might lose 1 ha ha. I knew his tummy was getting smaller, but my tummy is still standing right out there for me to see. But I know in my heart that I will not ever be small, and I have accepted that and just eat whatever I am hungry for. I have a feeling I will be trying the funnel cake treats at Dairy Queen this weekend with my baked vegetables, now that I know they have Gails seal of approval.
Take care, everyone, and be careful and hope you all have fun this weekend. Hugs, Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's July! Let's Celebrate America! #43883

I am so glad that Gail and I have not let you down, Adele, with our “no sift” method of baking ha ha. For Jerrys’ birthday cake, I did the homemade chocolate frosting and decorated it around the top and sides with whipped cream. Yum Yum. I think it kind of won the contest over the pie, but everyone took home some of both; which caused Mr. Jerry to say, “well, this is supposed to be my birthday, so how come most of the cake AND pie are gone out the door to our kids houses?” There was plenty left for us; and I know he was just teasing, but since I love to bake, I always tend to make extra so everyone gets all they want. We have been eating more healthy since all the wonderful fruits and vegetables are in now so it is a wonder that we didn’t have a sugar rush after dessert. Jerry has really been watching his weight these last few months, and he has lost about 40 pounds, and I guess I have managed to find where he lost it LOL He only eats one meal a day, and I just can’t do that. He drinks coffee all the time, and I am a one cup a day person. He said sipping on it really curbs his appetite. The weight he was carrying in his stomach was causing his back to hurt even worse; and I truly believe that is the main reason he cut back so much on his food. He loves vegetables, and he could make a meal out of fresh broccoli or asparagus or whatever; just grilled or baked. Speaking of that; do any of you all know how to take vegetables; like carrots, peppers, broccoli, squash, etc. and roast it in the oven? Is it as simple as olive oil and seasonings and just cook until tender? Been wondering how to add some variety to all these fresh vegetables, even tomatoes?

I really agree with you, Gail, that times have changed, and that as long as Neal and Sarah are happy, then we should accept the things and ways they chose to live their life and be happy for them. Jerry is grouchy, there I said it. ha ha But, seriously, he is from the “old school” and still thinks of the man coming home from work, and he takes care of the car, the yard, the plumbing, you know, and the lady does the ironing, laundry, cooking, (except for the grilling outside) and even though he does all of the above except ironing, and would even do that if he absolutely HAD to, it is just hard for him to see Sarah just sit when he has this “history” of her not helping, even after I had the stroke, and couldn’t do things, she didn’t step up and do what he thinks a lady should just know to do without being asked. Does that make sense? I went through a time of it bothering me (you all know of my fussing) but I am more accepting of life as it is now, and really so much more aware than I think I have ever been that each person must chose his or her own path. I love them both, and still have feelings for Lisa; even though I don’t see her she has still left a mark on my heart, and of poor Joey, and all the pain and other things a person goes through during a break up. I think Jerry is a little “hormonal” right now, and he has been for about 45 years. Just a passing phase, I say. I love to see him hug our boys and tell them every time he sees or talks with them how proud he is of them and how he loves them. He is a manly man, but he has a heart of gold. I got lucky.

I am going to a neighborhood watch meeting with my neighbor tonight, and her husband is going to come visit with Jerry. We have them once a month at one of our churches close by and its only for people who live within our neighborhood. The local sheriff department sends an officer, and he or she updates us on local break ins or crimes, and if someone who has committed a crime has been seen in the area and such. I was glad when they put this group together. We usually bring snacks and drinks, and the church just accepts donations for their needy families for providing a venue for us to meet at. That was something about the man running through your Moms yard Colleen. This world is just gone crazy. I remember how we used to play outside at night in the summertime and didn’t worry about things. No one locked their doors and there were no alarm systems. How this world has changed.

Do any of you all crochet or knit? I saw where you all were talking about your family trees, and that reminded me of how my grandmother taught me how to crochet and embroidery when I was little, and told me her Mother had taught her. I know so little of my heritage. My mothers parents came from Poland and Germany, but my Mom’s mother died when Mom was 3 months old, and her Dad was a logger and he died when my Mother was about 7; he had diabetes, but so little was known about it and he was way back in the woods and I think probably dropped his blood sugar with no one to help him. All I know of the story was my mrothers oldest brother (7 children, Mom the youngest) well, they lived in the country, and the lady who was watching the children left them alone on the day Moms father was to get home from logging, and did not know he had died. So those children lived alone in country for 3 days with the 7 yr old caring for them all, and then when he ran out of food for my Mom, he took all his brothers and sisters and started walking with them carrying my mother, for over 4 miles to the nearest people, and told them that their daddy had not come home and he had no more food for the baby. Can you imagine? They took them in and got to the sheriff (by horse and wagon back then) and one of their daddys sisters took all 7 of them into her home and raised them, because they had no living mother or daddy then. So my Mom really didn’t know her mother or her father. All she had was a few pictures. I remember once seeing a big picture of my maternal grandmother, and I was shocked, I look JUST like her. It was like looking at a picture of myself.

Well, I know you all must be tired of all my story telling by now; but just love talking to you all. Hope everyone is doing well today. Dianne, Christine, and Sue, sorry for all the rambling, hope some of my story has brought you all some thoughts too, and would love your input on any of my questions too. Sure hope things are going well in your life today. Take care, everyone, and glad your shot went well, Adele. Your ice cream story has gotten me in the mood to make some homemade ice cream too. Take care, Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's July! Let's Celebrate America! #43771

Hello to All. I couldn’t help but laugh when I read that you all didn’t buy anything from the show yesterday; because you already have everything that was on. It’s not that we have a problem or anything, it’s just that quacker needs to hurry and make some new things LOL I know it will be soon time for Fall things to be showing up on the shows; so I am looking for sale items right now. It is still so hot here that I know we are a long way from cooler weather in this area; and I can really find some nice things that are at a much better price. I have gotten some really nice fleece items as well, since some of the things I saw last winter were too expensive for me; but now are marked down too. It really helps. I have started to buy things for Jerrys Mom too. She likes things that keep her warmer; even in the summer. I always remind Jerry that her ability to regulate her body temperature is not quite as good as it used to be, and to make sure she isn’t too heavily clothed in the summer, but to expect her to still wear long sleeves, and sometimes a sweater if it is cloudy or rainy.
Yes, Neal is excited about the baby. He called on his way home from work (our new routine for checking up with us) and said that he got busy and unloaded some boxed up items last night; since today was trash day. They have a really cute apartment. I have prayed that Sarah and Neal will be good, loving parents. You all know why I have some reservations, but it’s like I tried to explain to Jerry the other night after we had been to their apartment and Neal did all the cooking and serving and clean up. I think I said that I wanted so badly to go into the kitchen and help him, but he said that he had it so I just stayed sitting with Sarah, but Jerry went in there. I told Jerry that we know that we have tried OUR best to do the right things in raising the boys, and that we HAVE to admit that we made our own mistakes, but that if Neal is okay with the way things are; then we should be too. We can’t make things happen just because we want things to be the way we would like to see them be. It’s just like we would give anything for things to have gone another way for Joey and Lisa, but they just didn’t, and we may never know why, that we just have to have faith that everything will be okay. After all that he looks at me any goes “hum” and didn’t say anything else.
By the way; it will be pie and cake tomorrow. Joey gave a very good argument in his way of looking at it; so I had to agree ha ha. I am in the mood for celebrating just about anything now, so I say, let the party begin. I am actually just going to go out with him by myself tomorrow night, and we will go with our neighbors later this week. I feel we need an evening alone.
By the way, Adele, do you sift your flour when you are making a cake? I have to admit, I am a short cutter, and don’t most of the time. Do you think it makes a real difference? Just wondering. Mabey I should be asking Aizen since I think he is our chef in training. LOL
Take care, gotta do some laundry and find us another book for our night time reading. Just loving that. It has become a habit we are both enjoying. Take care, Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's July! Let's Celebrate America! #43700

Hello ladies. Just finished watching the quacker show and I ordered the yellow shirt with the birds all across the front of it. I knew Gail would have her eyes on the butterfly one. Lots of pretty today. Angel really looked pretty. She seems so happy and I think she is doing a great job as host. She has certainly lost a lot of weight. I heard her say on another show that she goes to the gym I think everyday. I am so glad she has found the perfect fellow for her to be happy with.
The shower drama has quietened down some. I told Sarah and Neal to just let some time pass and then to respond to it with the other couple if they feel that is the right way to handle the situation. Sarah said she had racked her brain trying to remember for absolutely sure that she had sent the invitation, but she really feels that she did. I told her that I always like to resolve things face to face and since they have been such close friends with this other couple for years, that I felt it deserved a face to face conversation. But for them to decide what if anything they felt would be best to do. My neighbor called last night with some other neighborhood news, and she seemed fine; so of course, I didn’t mention anything about the children. I felt she was past the incident, and I certainly do not want this to influence our good friendships. In fact; I asked them if they wanted to go out for dinner one evening this week, and both she and her husband did; so we will get together later on. I had to learn through my job that tact was a skill (at least to me) and that not having a “knee jerk’ reaction was always the better way to approach any situation. Just like with the tile, it took several incidents for me to explode, but some things just seem to call for an okay, enough is enough reaction. I just didn’t want to lose their friendship over what I feel is a mistake that created some hurt feelings. So I am glad that we are okay, and I hope it will get better for the kids too.
My father was in D Day on Normandy Beach, and spent several months in a hospital in France from injuries. My Mother didn’t hear from here all through that time, and really felt he had not survived. But she finally was notified where he was; and then he was eventually sent back to the States, and then back overseas again. One of my nurses’ Dad was on the Enola Gay, and when I attended his services when he passed away; there was a letter he had written that was to be opened at his services, and he told his wife and children for the first time of all that went on during that day, and how there were several of the men who all held their hand on the bomber door at the same moment; so no one man would be responsible for the actual dropping of the bomb. I was so amazed. None of them; including his wife; knew until that moment the letter from him was read, that he took place in that crucial moment in our country’s history. Isn’t life amazing?
Jerry’s Mom is doing so good. She is still gaining weight. She is proud of her little belly bulge. LOL This week is Jerrys birthday. I got his some bare naked boxers from Deluth trading company (his absolute favorite) and some cologne from Lansky Brothers, where Elvis Presley had his clothing made. They have had a store here in Memphis at the famous Peabody Hotel for years. This was Elvis’ favorite cologne, and it is Jerrys also. It is pricey, but lasts forever. And it really does smell amazing. I am going to make him a pecan pie. He wants that instead of a cake. Joey put in a request for a chocolate cake, because he said you can’t put candles on a pie LOL I think he just wants chocolate cake. ha ha
Neal called to tell us Sarah is dilated 1 cm. I said, son, this is your little beginning of the countdown; so it’s time to get things ready and out of the boxes. He is excited, and worried that Sarah and baby will be fine. He was so happy with all the nice shower gifts. He just keeps saying, “do you think we have enough diapers?” So I am going to pick him up some more just to take that worry off his mind.
Have a wonderful day everyone. It is muggy here today; but time for me to make a dog food run again. Now that Lisa’s bloodhound has found our automated feeder he keeps his head stuck in there. I can’t not let him eat too. Jerry said it would cost less to feed a pony. LOL Hugs, Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's July! Let's Celebrate America! #43591

Happy Saturday everyone! We had a baby shower brunch today at Sarah’s Mothers home. It was actually her Aunt that gave the shower. She got so many nice things. I am just amazed at all the cute and useful things they have now. Most of it was things that had to be explained to me about what is was and how to use it. So I know I have a lot to learn. But me and Jerry and Itty Bitty will learn together. But I am sorry to say that there had to be some drama involved with the shower. One of Neal and Sarahs friends who is the DIL of our neighbors down the road, and close friends of ours for years, said she didn’t get an invitation; so she refused to come. That made our neighbor who was going with me to the shower, all upset, and she let me know that if Sarah asked why her DIL didn’t come, that she was going to tell her why. All of this got dropped on me about 15 minutes prior to picking her up to leave to go to the shower. I was trying so hard to brush over the situation, but it was not to be had. So when we walked in the door, Sarah’s Mom hugged me and I introduced her to my neighbor, and as fate would have it, her Mom said “oh, you are Stephanie’s Mom, is she coming along later?”, to which my neighbor bristled and said, “no, I am her MIL, and she will not be coming since she did NOT receive an invitation” I was embarrassed, and caught smack dab in the middle of an uncomfortable situation. Sarah’s Mom said Sarah, Stephanie didn’t get her invitation, and of course Sarah said, I can’t imagine what happened to it, because I definitely sent one, let me call her. My neighbor said no, that she will not come now. I had been there less than 5 minutes, and already in a mess. But, I just commented on how cute all the packages were, and how nice Sarah looked, and asked if they had coffee, and went from there. We left early, at my neighbors request, and I could tell Sarah was hurt and not knowing what to do, but we mustered through. I spoke to them later, and I hope I was able to make them feel better. She said she could tell our neighbor was upset, and I just wish there had not been bad feelings on this special day.
My legs have really been aching, behind my knees. I could barely sleep last night. Not sure what this is about but it is feeling a little better now.
I wore my pretty quacker shirt with an anchor on the front of it today. It was so pretty and very sparkly. I just kept telling myself to pull myself up and this was going to be okay.
Hope you all had a good day. There has been so much going on in our country that it just makes me so sad. I pray that we will find peace and love one another, and realize how life is such a precious gift, and just to think before we react. My Dad was a captain for 35 years with the police department and then when he retired he became chief of police at a town close to Memphis. So my life has been around policemen. I know there is good and there are bad, just like in every job I have ever seen or known about. We hear so much about the bad, and so little about the good in all jobs. I pray for peace.
Take care and enjoy the rest of the weekend. I am very tired. I think I am needing a B12 infusion. Hope everyone is doing good. Hugs, Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's July! Let's Celebrate America! #43273

By the way, ladies, I love Tiffany lamps; we own 4. I have two in the family room that have dragonfly decorations on them; and then one in two of the bedrooms that have floral pieces. One of them has dangles hanging from the bottom of the lamp. Looks kind of like a lamp from a “house of ill repute”. I absolutely LOVE it. I remember how I would save and save when we were younger and beginning to decorate with one nice piece at a time. It really was quite a while ago when I first started to collect things from the Q. Do you all remember the lady with the teddy bears, and lots of pieces of Jim Shore items? I have some of the original Diamonique pieces of jewelry. They still look nice. Do you remember the hostess who was also named Lisa and she did most of the Diamonique jewelry shows? I know her husband became very ill; and she had to leave the show (I remember now, her name is Lisa Mason) and she came back recently for just a few days, but left again. I hope her husband is okay. She made it quite clear that she loves him very much. I have not seen much on the Christmas shows that has caught my attention.
We are going out to dinner with our neighbors tomorrow night. Just a small restaurant close by. It will be nice to get out with them.
Sounds like you all are having great times with your children and grands. That is funny that Ron is hiding his tractors now. This is one good things about his spending so much time with his Mom; it cuts into his junk buying time ha ha But she would be glad to go with him. I am just hoping she keeps him busy with other jobs. They got the yarn skein today. He was wanting to know how did he pick the “good kind” and I told him that she just wants something to help keep her hands busy and it doesn’t matter all that much. Those two can really think of some things to do. I hope at least one of our sons will enjoy being with us as time goes by. She is about 5 feet tall and Jerry is a little over six feet. It is cute seeing them together. Hope all will have a good night. Talk later. Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's July! Let's Celebrate America! #43269

So glad to see that everyone had a good 4th of July. Ours went great. Jerry and I were tired at the end of the day, but to me it was a good tired, because everyone seemed to enjoy each other and we all ate to our hearts content. Sarah said she is feeling good, and her feet and ankles are not very swelled up at all. But she has had a few nights off work, and she said they usually swell up on her when she does several nights in a row. She said she puts her feet up on a stool when she is charting, and that seems to help. There is also a recliner and a rocker in each childs room so she is able to put her feet up at times when she is holding one of the children at the hospital. We have a baby shower this weekend, and then that is all until his arrival. She doesn’t seem nervous or anything about the delivery; so I think they will do fine. Neal on the other hand, seems nervous. It has been so surreal to me to watch the transformation in him that I have seen in the last few months. It is almost as if he has gone from grown son to something new and different. I can’t even put a word to describe it, but there is definitely something new about him. Mabey it is just me seeing him as a real adult, and not just as our son, but as a husband and soon to be Daddy. What a strange feeling. Am I losing it girls?
Yes, to have me and Adele in action at Lowe’s at one time would be quite a sight and sound. ha ha. But even Quackers can only be nice for so loing, and then it is time to make our needs known. Once my “button” is pushed, there is no going back. But thankfully, it takes a LOT to push that button. Now, if you asked Mr. Jerry he might just tell you differently.LOL
So sorry, Gail, for your sad feelings on your way home. We have our little friends that are part of our lives, and when it changes, we have to have time to adjust to how to handle our feelings and our new life. I found one of Oz’s leashes the other day, and cried for 30 minutes. It scared Jerry, because he just walked in right in the middle of my cry, and he didn’t know what was wrong, and I just couldn’t get out what it was for a few minutes. He wanted to put the leash away, and I let him put it in a different spot, but told him that he must not give it away. It somehow comforts me to know that it is there, just in case we need it for one of our other fellows.
Something funny happened. Hope I haven’t already told you all, if I have just look over me. Fed Ex delivered the baby car seat we got for the kids, and it weighed so much. I had to go get a dolly to bring it in the garage, because one of our doggies was eyeing it up and down like he was going to hike his leg on it if I didn’t put it away. Jerry wasn’t home to help me, so I had to struggle with that thing until I got it in the garage. The puppy dog had his eye on me the whole time. Everytime Neal comes over the doggie will make a bee line for Neals front tire and lift his leg on it. That makes Neal holler at him and it almost looks like he is smiling at Neal at he scampers off. But Neal and Sarah seem really pleased with the car seat so we are happy they like it.
Gotta go, Jerry just called and he needs help with some knitting yarn that he and his Mom are at the store getting. Who in the world would have made me believe those two would be at that store today? I just never know what they are up to. LOL Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: June-The Official Start of Summer #43005

Thank goodness they got your kitchen all straightened out Adele. I know you must be so relieved. It was only right of them to give you some credit for all the time and hassle you have been through with this project. I remember when they were laying the family room tile, there was a rectangle of small decorative tile placed in the middle that would give the look of a rug being there, but was all tile. Well, these guys that put that down put it down crooked, and it looked like someone had just thrown down a rug and didn’t go to the trouble to straighten it out. I was so upset; since they had convinced Jerry that nothing could be done. Well, I marched right in and said, “are any of you guys married?” then said “well, you tell me what YOUR wife would say if you told her this mess that was costing her all this money would stay looking like this, and convince me that she would say, oh, okay, lets just live with it like this” and I stormed out of the room leaving them and Jerry with their jaws hitting the floor. I normally don’t cause a scene, but there was no way I could have ever been okay with that, so miraculously about 3 hours later, they had it straightened out. Guess at least one of them was married LOL
I’m sorry Christine and Dianne, that I haven’t been able to talk with you all much since I haven’t gotten on our site much here lately. Where do you all call home? I am from Tennessee, if I haven’t already told you that. We have a new grandbaby on the way; our other granddaughter is grown. So we are pretty excited around here, and lots of showers and things going on. Nice to meet you though. I love the pictures. I think I am kind of like the upside down owl. We live out in the country; so we have a BIG owl that calls to us at night from out back in the woods. Sorry to hear of your sickness in the family and accident. That is one of the really sweet things I find with this group of ladies; we pray for each other and support one another.
Neal. Joey and Sarah are all working nights on the 4th; so we are going to have a cookout Sunday. I already have a request for potato salad, Jerry wants broccoli salad, and both the boys want baked beans. Sarah has put in a request for banana pudding so I guess that means baby in waiting has a sweet gums since he doesn’t have any teeth yet ha ha. Neal told her the other day when she said she didn’t like broccoli that his son would like broccoli and beans and country food; but I thought to myself, we’ll see. None of the boys were picky eaters; so we were really lucky there. Tonight is pizza night for Jerry and me. We both have errands today; going in opposite directions. We have a pizza place here where it’s pickup only and the pizza is made fresh to your order, but you bring it home and cook it yourself. It is really good. You pick out what kind of crust and toppings you want. They also sell cookie dough, and I have been tempted to try it.
Gail, Joey and I were going through some old photos the other day, reminiscing, and we found some of our furry friends that have gone on. I know this is hard on you all and after all the years that have passed on the ones we saw in the pictures, it was still there, our heart hurt, but am still happy that they are doing better now. As Jeanne said, as long as we keep them in our memory they are not really gone. Still, we miss them so much. It’s still so hard for me to believe that Jeanne is no longer with us here on earth. But I know she must be so proud that Angel and Patrick have done such a good job keeping her Quacker clothes sparkling on. There must be a lot of us that need something shiny and sparkly in our life. I know I do for sure. Hope you are doing better.
Colleen, one good thing I can say that has happened since Jerry has been so busy with his Mom is that he doesn’t have time to be looking for any junk to put out in the pasture. Is Ron still buying tractors? Jerry still has time to fuss that Joey hasn’t cut as much with the bush hog (that thing that is behind the tractor that cuts about a ten foot section at a time) but other than that, he hasn’t spent any more money on some useless piece of something that according to him, will be needed “someday” I am so glad you have found a good doctor, and I hope she stays there a long time. They are so hard to find. We have been with the same doctor for years, and to be honest, he is not all that great, but we are so afraid to change because we could do so much worse. Who would have ever thought it would come to this?
Guess I better close for now and get my day going. I have to go to the post office and send back a pair of Skeechers to the Q. I started to keep them; but they just make my big toe hurt just enough to be annoying, and I just hate to pay good money for something, but I also don’t like to pay for return shipping. But I know that I really won’t get the wear out of them I should; because my other pair of Skeechers I just love. They are so comfortable. Take care, and have a wonderful weekend. Hugs, Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: June-The Official Start of Summer #42791

Hope everyone is having a good afternoon. It is blazing hot here today. I just got back from the grocery store, and I don’t know which I dislike more, going up and down those long lines at the store, or getting everything out of the car and putting it all away when I get home. I know this is such a little thing to complain about; but it just wears me out. Jerry and I had popcorn for supper again last night; and Neal called while we were eating it; and he fussed at us for not “eating something nutritious”. I tried to explain to him that some nights we just really don’t care what we have, but most of the time we do eat something nutritious. Jerry (not ME) has lost about 25 pounds over the last six months or so; but he was beginning to get a belly and carrying the extra weight seemed to make his back hurt him worse; so he has really been more careful with his meals. I think that is why Neal believes we are just locking ourselves up in this cave and turning into old folks ha ha. So we looked in the pantry and the refrig today and made us a list; so while Jerry was at one store with his Mom I was at the grocery store buying for us. So tonight; we are having fresh corn, and a little meat pie casserole thing that is nothing more than a glorified pot pie, but I just use a crust I make and fill it with veggies and 2 cooked and cut up chicken breasts and a gravy inside. Oh, I also made 4 apple turnovers; since I know Joey will stop by after he gets off work in the morning and I will make him a meal along with ours.

Speaking of Joey; things SEEM to be okay. Would you believe poor Bandit the bloodhound of Lisa’s, got snake bit. He is doing fine; he just has a big swollen area about the size of a childs football on his side. We believe he actually got bit while swimming in our pond. He gets out in the pond everyday I guess to cool off. Joey had the vet come by, and he gave him steroids, and fluids, and antibiotics, and said to watch him and try to not let him be too active. But Joey texted Lisa and let her know, and told her that if she wanted to come see the puppy, she could, but just to call first to make sure he is home. She stayed about 3 hours and asked Joey would he like to go to dinner, but Joey said he told her that he didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but that he had other plans. He said it is awkward, but he is hoping she will meet someone who will make her happy. It is truly over for them.

I have another baby shower the Saturday after the 4th. It will be at Sarah’s Mothers house. It is a brunch. One of my neighbors is going with me. We got the baby a car seat. I had to go ahead and tell them, since it wouldn’t let me order it on their registry, and I wanted to make sure to get the kind they wanted. They both seemed pleased. We also got them a diaper pail things where it has bags inside and the bag snaps together when it needs to be emptied. I’m trying to learn. If you think you had problems with the shower curtain, Adele, you should see Jerry and me with this baby things. We are definitely fish out of water. The one thing I don’t seem to need written instructions on is how to look quacktabulous in all my Quacker clothes! I will be wearing Quacker to the baby shower and sparkling and shining all the way. Hearing you all talk about your grands just makes me so excited about seeing our little one soon. Sarah says she is feeling good; just hot most of the time.
Do you all have special plans for the 4th? I’m not too sure what we are doing yet. I just feel like something simple this year; especially as hot as it is. Do you all have pools? I bet the kids love it if you do.
I am so sorry to hear of so many people needing our prayers that are going through so much in their lives. It makes me so very grateful for all of our blessings, and reminds me not to take anything in life for granted. I pray that all those who are going through sickness, pain, trials in life, that the good Lord will help them. I also feel so bad for all the little animals that are going through so much pain and suffering. It breaks my heart.
Take care all, and have a wonderful week. Thank goodness the diaper pail was just delivered so now have to watch for the car seat. Hugs Barbara

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