"I Get the Blues When It Rains" December 30. 2007

But that is not the only reason I am blue.  James left early evening for his new job out west.  And I will have this loneliness emphasized on Tuesday morning when Veronica and Matt leave. 
 
We had a bit of a New Year's celebration before James left.  He made a Cheese ball last night and Joann had the rest of the snacks.  They all served themselves and ate in the Living Room.   It was so nice to have everyone together.  Missed our
Becky though. 
 
Ron, Sue, and Esther are coming tomorrow and that should help.  They are always such good company. 
 
Did not get to Church this morning.  Rain again and cold. 
 
Had a call from dear friend Terry and from my Becky.  I wish Terry a happy and healthy 2008.  Becky gave me some good news that I will tell you about later.  She too I wish happiness and good health in the New Year.
 
I hope when I open the drape in the morning it will be 65 degrees and no rain please.   The natives are happy because they say we have been in a drought but all of the rain must have fallen on our mountain because I have not seen any signs of a drought.  Of course, living in the country is new to me so maybe I don't know what a drought looks like.  I do remember one in St. Pete one year when a Lake in the middle of town dried up.  It was a sight. 
 
As I sit here typing this I can see one of my Christmas gifts.  It is a night light (you know how I hate the dark) shaped like a Lava Lamp that was so popular a while back.  I had a Lava Lamp but it got broken in one of my moves.  I remember a friend at Velvet Cloake had one of the original Lava Lamps.  It was beautiful.  My Parents had one of the original ones also.  That was probably in the 40s.  Whatever happened to it?
 
Well, think I will close up shop for the night.  Maybe get a little snack.   Get all cozy warm in bed and thank God for my precious family and pray that He sees James safely to his
destination. 
 
Love and prayers from here to there 
Basically Betty  Sunday, December 30. 2007 @ 21:53

Brown Hats and Cheese Balls December 29. 2007

What do I write about this evening?  I have covered the weather telling you about the snow, the rain, now today in the 60s with sunshine. 
 
I could tell you about the activities of those visiting and those that reside here.  James and Bill are watching some football game (the Giants and the Patriots).  I can't tell who they want to win.  Joann, Veronica and Matt are hard at work planning the August wedding.  Never too early to start planning for the big day. 
 
Earlier James made a Cheese ball for tomorrow.   Actually he made two.  The extra one will go into the freezer till later in the week when Ron and Sue and Esther come over to visit. 
 
James leaves tomorrow and already I miss him.  V & M leave on Tuesday and then I will really be lonely. 
 
Weather permitting I hope to look for a brown hat on Wednesday.  I think I have an appointment for a PT test on that day so I will be out anyway.  There is a Resale Shop in town maybe I can find one (brown hat that is) there.  We had friends from back home that made hats.  She could make me one in nothing flat but she is no longer with us.
 
I received 35 Christmas Cards.  They are all so beautiful and each one with special messages means so much to me.  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.
 
Till we meet again--
 
Love and prayers from here to there
Basically Betty  Saturday, December 29. 2007 @ 22:34

Matt's 1st Christmas dinner with the Carroll's December 27. 2007

We had our Christmas dinner today (Thursday).   I know
Christmas was two days ago (Tuesday).  The reason for the delay was not because Chef Joann burned the beans.  We were waiting for Veronica and Matt to get here before having our traditional Christmas dinner - Gnocchi and Meat Balls.  
 
We were all concerned because Matt had never tasted Gnocchi before.   We waited to see his reaction after tasting them before we started to eat.  He was sitting next to me at the table and when I heard 'ummm' after that first bite I knew we could go ahead and enjoy our meal. 
 
Matt is a man of few words so when I asked him how he liked the Gnocchi the expression on his face was all the answer I needed.  A big smile and his eyes lit up like stars. 
 
After dinner we took a little walk out front.  There is very little cement it's mostly slag but I walked far enough to see on up the mountain.  I noticed some of the trees were black and I thought they must be dead.  It took a while and I would not ask anyone (Bill) "are those trees dead?"  The sun was shining brightly and the trees that appeared to be black were actually in the shadow of larger trees.  Sometimes I think I am living in the "Stranger than Fiction" part of the world. 
 
I am sure you did not have your Christmas dinner today but I hope your day was as pleasant as mine has been. 
 
Love and prayers from here to there
Basically Betty  Thursday, December 27. 2007 @ 21:17

That's Enough Snow December 26. 2007

When we left Steubenville in October 1961 I said I did not ever want to see snow again.  The previous winter had been a humdinger.  Well, there was one time in Florida that we had snow flurries but they were gone before hitting the ground.  Here in N.C. it snowed last Easter which really upset me because I could not wear my Easter bonnet.  
 
I will tell you something if you promise not to tell anyone else.  This morning when I opened the drape and saw the beautiful white stuff known as snow I felt a bit of a thrill.  When I realized what was going on I decided not having to go out in the snow and cold was the reason I was feeling this way.  The temperature was 22 degrees.   It did get up to somewhere in the 30s.  The sun came out and soon the snow began to melt.  It looked like a ski slope in the back yard.  James got some great shots and if I can figure out how to I will share them with you. 
 
Veronica and Matt arrived late afternoon.  We will have our Christmas dinner tomorrow after which I will have to go on a diet because we have Gnocchi and meat balls.   I always eat too much.   We only have them on Christmas  so I tend to over eat -- they are sooooo good. 
 
Hope if you went shopping today you found lots of bargains.  I will do some shopping when the snow is all gone. 
 
Love and prayers from here to there
Basically Betty  Wednesday, December 26. 2007 @ 22:10

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas December 23. 2007

This was the day to make the Gnocchi for Christmas dinner.  So Joann and James got the dough ready and sent Bill for me with the Van.  My job was to do the thumb print and James placed them on the tray to put into the freezer.  Job done. 
 
James wanted me to see the Christmas lights in the neighborhood.  He and Bill and I took off leaving the cleaning up to Joann. 
 
The lights are beautiful but not half as spectacular as the full moon out tonight.  When we got to the bottom of our mountain we stopped to look back and the moon became the star on top  and the white lights on the houses were the decorations on a giant Christmas tree.  A sight to behold.  
 
Nearly all the houses on our mountain are decorated.   Some just those candle lights in the window and others hundreds of lights outlining the house and all the width of the lot. 
 
The Carroll residence has a tall pine tree in the front yard decorated with colored lights.   The back of the lot is decorated with colored lights down the steps to the pond. 
 
My apartment is decorated with my decorations I have had for years.   Just like home.  It looks very nice. 
 
Veronica and Matt will be here probably the day after Christmas and that is when we will celebrate.  Wish Becky was here then it would be like Christmases past.
 
Merry Christmas one and all.
 
Love and prayers from here to there
Basically Betty  Sunday, December 23. 2007 @ 22:04

Photo Album Memories December 21. 2007

Last evening was spent going through 3 Photo Albums that contain pictures of family, friends, relatives.   Among the treasured pictures are ones of my Parents, my Husband, my dear friend Margaret, my family.
 
James was especially interested in the ones of he and his Sister taken when they were very young. 
 
In one of the Albums were several pictures of the Niece I wrote about recently.  The pictures are of she and her Husband and their two children.  This is what I mean about treasures.
 
There are many pictures of my three Cousins from Orlando.  I say Cousins but they have been like Sisters to me.  Sorry I don't have pictures of Cousin living in Arkansas.  I should write and ask her to send me one of she and her Husband for my Album.
Thanks Joann for putting these photos into three beautiful albums.  I keep them on the bottom shelf of my Chair Side Table so that I can reach them to relive all the memories they hold.
Well, after spending the evening with pictures and memories I was as a friend used to say "well spent" so when Joann decided to do some beading and stay down for a while I was pleased.  She and I talked about Christmas and Veronica and Matt coming and James already here.  
 
My spirits lifted so off to bed I went.  Fell asleep before counting all of my blessings but I was able to pick up where I left off last night and included them in my morning Prayers.
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all.
 
Love and prayers from here to there
Basically Betty  Friday, December 21. 2007 @ 18:34

Frosty the Snowman visits Pisgah Forest December 19. 2007

When I opened the drape yesterday morning the thermometer registered 20 degrees and that was in the sunshine.  Joann and I were up early because I had a PT test scheduled.   We left the house at 9 AM.   Each house we passed on the way down the mountain had smoke coming out of the chimney.  There was frost on everything making it look like it had snowed in the night. 
 
The only signs of life were the pigs on the Pig Farm.  Mama Pig was over by the fence in the sunshine.   The two young ones were huddled up against what we think is the Aunt.  Remember my telling you the little ones would get into a scuffle and the Aunt would break it up. 
 
Across the road is the Ranch and the horses were chewing on the ice and seemed to be enjoying it.   This was the case also with the Black Angus cattle on down the road. 
 
The Drs. office is also in a remote area and was covered with ice.   There is a metal railing up the ramp into the office and it had ice all the way up to the door.   I never use it because Joann gives me a hand but I feel for those that do use it.  If they were able to get traction enough to help them up they  would surely have frosty fingers when they got to the top. 
 
It was still cold today so I stayed put but I am going to venture out tomorrow.  I will let you know how things go. 
 
Love and prayers from here to there
Basically Betty  Wednesday, December 19. 2007 @ 20:59

Baby it's cold outside December 17. 2007

Don't think it got above 30 today.  Even colder tomorrow and I have to go for blood work.  Joann bought me a pink jacket with a lining in it and a hood so I will be warm enough.  Of course, I look like the big pink rabbit in that movie that I don't know the name of.  Maybe there was not even a movie maybe it was in one of my more graphic dreams.  Enough of the weather report.
 
Have you ever received a forwarded E-mail that told you to send this on to all your friends and you would receive a call or some form of communication from someone you have not heard from in a very long time?  I have not in a long while but I did receive an e-mail from a Niece that I have not heard from in ever so long.   It was so good to hear from her.  
 
She brought me up to date on her family.  She and her family were always very special to me and my family.  She is married to my Husband's Sister's Son Dean.  Her name is Linda.  She has promised to send pictures.   It must be about 15 years since I have seen Linda and Dean and their Daughter Trisha and son Dean.  Hope we can convince them to come down this way.   
 
A week from tomorrow is Christmas.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.   Blessings and good health in 2008.
 
Love and prayers from here to there.
Basically Betty  Monday, December 17. 2007 @ 21:50

A good day to stay put. December 16. 2007

Watching the national news today I saw there was a Tornado in Florida.   All the years we lived in Florida there were several times we received warnings of a Tornado.   Living close to the water we saw many Waterspouts.  The very first one I remember seeing was when we had only been in Florida a short time.  We were coming over the bridge from Tampa and there were three long spiral shaped things coming down out the sky into the water.  We had no idea what they were.   After all we were from the Ohio Valley.   The next morning we found out what they were because there was a picture of them in the morning paper and a story explaining they were Waterspouts.
 
One other time a Waterspout hit the ground and was a full blown Tornado.   It hit our area of South St. Petersburg hard Zipped right by our street and went down Pinellas Point Drive doing damage to several homes.   The front of one house was ripped off.  Took the door off the linen closet showing the towels inside that were not damaged.  I will never forget that picture because both Joann and Becky asked me why our linen closet never looked so neat.   I just took a deep breath and went on reading the paper.
 
Have not heard of a Tornado up this way but there was an Earthquake the other day but it was in another part of the State.
 
That's my weather report for the day.
 
Love and prayers from here to there
 
Basically Betty  Sunday, December 16. 2007 @ 19:26

Primary Colors December 15. 2007

Last night as I was recounting the days events my thoughts went back to Grade School Art Class. Don't ask me how or why this happened.

I remembered learning there were basic colors and I thought there were four but according to Google and Joann there are only three: Red, Yellow and Blue. If anyone out there knows anything different please let me know.

It's going to be difficult to find something interesting about today to think about tonight. The weather is nasty, cold and rainy, which means that I can't even take a walk out on the patio. Of course, I received several Christmas Cards and I can look at them again and again and remember things about the people who sent them. And then I will say a prayer thanking God for such wonderful friends. And then it's off to pleasant dreams.

Only ten more days until Christmas.

Love and prayers from here to there.

Basically Betty  Saturday, December 15. 2007 @ 15:35

The Countdown begins: December 13. 2007

Twelve more days until Christmas. When I was a very young girl I could hardly wait for the big day. The tree went up after I went to bed on Christmas Eve. I think I believed in Santa Claus until I was ten or maybe eleven years old.

An E-mail came through the other day, a question and answer thing, asking my favorite Christmas gift as a child. Without hesitation my answer was a Shirley Temple doll. I think Joann has it packed away because I gave it to Veronica. I also got a Sonny Boy Doll. It represented the Sonny Boy that Al Jolson sang about. Not too many of you will remember Al Jolson. I am sure my friend Terry will though.

So, here I am at the tender age of 85. I sit here and watch all the excitement buying Christmas gifts, wrapping them in pretty paper, putting them under the tree. I also count the trips the young folks make to the stores to get this and that they forgot on the trip before.

Thank you Lord for the memories.

Love and prayers from here to there

Basically Betty  Thursday, December 13. 2007 @ 19:00

Basically Betty reporting the news of the day - make that the week. December 10. 2007

Had a call this afternoon from daughter Becky. She was at the airport to catch a plane back to Seattle. Her meeting in Georgia went very well. Now back to the real world but no classes until Thursday which will give her a chance to get caught up on home chores before going back to the work she loves.

The weather outside was delightful. Temp. in the high 70s. With a promise of two more warm days and then down to 45 on Sunday. The sun was so warm Joann and I walked outside today. Just up and down on the patio. It was so good to feel the warm sun. The leaves are still all over the place even though Bill shoos them away every day.

Joann and Bill have completed their White Squirrel count and made their report to the Committee seeking the total White Squirrel population in our area. Next issue of Basically Betty I will tell you about their volunteer experience coming up.

Love and prayers from here to there

Basically Betty  Monday, December 10. 2007 @ 17:33

Empty Nest in Reverse December 7. 2007

As I look around my apartment it seems so empty. Becky was here for two days and two nights. She left yesterday morning headed to another Teaching Seminar somewhere in Georgia. There's never a dull moment when she is here. Part of the time she was here was spent preparing for the meeting she is conducting today and tomorrow. She will head for Seattle and home on Monday. Come back soon Becky.

Today is Pearl Harbor Day. Sixty Six years ago on December 7, 1941 my Mother and I were washing the china from the China Cupboard getting ready for the Christmas Feast all the while listening to the radio (we did not have a TV) when the news was broadcast. We were so shocked we put the dishes down and just sank into the nearest chair to listen to the news.

Several of the young men I graduated from High School with just the June before joined the services and many of them

never made it home.

I had never met anyone from Japan until a Japanese lady came to our Church. She was a beautiful lady. Neither of us were pushing to become friends but it was like God sent her to our Church to teach me a lesson about accepting everyone. One day her Son came to visit and she introduced us and told him I was her "friend". Friends we were from then on.

I felt a great loss when she died an untimely death. It was very sudden and I never got to say goodbye or I love you.

I thank God for the time Mitzi and I had and for the friendship we shared.

Love and prayers from here to there

Basically Betty  Friday, December 7. 2007 @ 21:52

Just like the Good Ole Days December 4. 2007

Yesterday younger Daughter Rebecca arrived late in the evening after having driven 1000 miles.   She had a meeting way down in south Florida.  But the real news is:  She is the first to come directly to my door without having to stop at Landmark Wal-Mart to be led up the mountain by either Bill or Joann.  How did she do that I asked?   Well, she has a GPS which stands for Global Positioning Satellite.   Amazing!
 
Which brought to memory a neighbor on 58th Avenue South in St. Petersburg who in the 1960s  insisted one day we would all be known by a number,  houses would be selling for $100,000 and more,  cashiers in the Grocery Store would not have to know how to make change.   I wonder if she knows you can now check your groceries out yourself, no cashier needed. 
 
Now for the afore mentioned "Good Ole Days"  it has been so good to have Becky here.   The girls have been enjoying each others company.   Listening to them chatter away about this and that has been music to my ears. 
 
One more day and then Becky heads out for another Pilates Work Shop in Georgia and then back home.  Probably won't see her again until Veronica's wedding.  We will be in touch though with a gadget she is putting on my computer as my Christmas gift.  It is a camera and a speaker and I will be able to see and talk with her on the computer. 
 
I will be in touch again soon.
 
Love and prayers from here to there

Basically Betty  Tuesday, December 4. 2007 @ 18:34

This and That December 1. 2007

Today is the first day of December. It looks like a nice day out there and I am glad of that because the Christmas Parade is on at 3 this afternoon in downtown Brevard. I am hoping Joann, Bill and James go. In addition to the parade there is a festival of sorts with booths lining the streets for stores and individuals to display articles for sale. There is entertainment with bands from the local schools.

When I checked the temp this morning it was 60 degrees. That was at noon. I slept in because I was awake a couple of hours during the night. My friend Leslie sent me clippings about my baseball team the Bay Rays. There was one clipping that raised my blood pressure to the boiling point. It was written by a Columnist for the Tampa Tribune. I spent the two hours composing a letter to this person. He mentioned his Mother is 85 years old. I wonder if she ever told him "if you can't say anything nice about a person don't say anything at all"? Which is a good point because who asked him for his opinion of my Rays? I plan to write him a message this afternoon because he puts his e-mail address at the end of the column. Guess he did not know I would be reading the article.

Love and prayers from here to there

Basically Betty  Saturday, December 1. 2007 @ 22:38
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