April Showers March 31. 2008

What can I say about today?  It was pleasant on the inside but oh outside -- rain again.  They should have named this place Rain Forest instead of Pisgah Forest.
The inside was pleasant because Joann is back.  Heard from Becky about her trip which sounds like a lot of work but some time for living the good life. 
Had an e-mail from James.  A phone call from Veronica.  E-mail from two of my dear friends. 
Oh yes, and I watched the new Rays win their first game of the season.  They beat Baltimore 6-2.  Good beginning. 
Well, tomorrow it will be April.  Maybe that is why the rain.  It is just getting a head start on those April showers.  I guess the flowers that are blooming are as confused as I am because I always heard April showers bring May flowers.
Talked with one of my Cousins last evening.  Haven't talked with her for quite a while so we had a lot of catching up to do.
I hope the sun is shining tomorrow. Read somewhere that if you drink two cups of coffee a day and spend 15 minutes in the sun you will be healthy and live a good life.  There is only one problem with that idea I am not allowed caffeine and the medicine I am on does not allow me to be in the sun. 
So what's a girl to do?  I know, I will smile and whistle a happy tune.
 
Love and prayers from here to there
Basically Betty  Monday, March 31. 2008 @ 21:08

New Hobby - Bird Watching March 30. 2008

Joann got home from her trip to Ohio about 5:30 this afternoon.  She was gone six days and it seemed like sixty.  She visited with her Cousins and that is always a delight. 
 
Another pleasantry came while looking out the window which I always do when I am cooking my dinner.  The Bird Feeder was busier than Bob Evans early in the morning.   There was a squirrel on the Feeder and it was having a difficult time of it because it is made for a bird not a squirrel.  It's, of course, shaped like a house but has two trays for the seed on what would be the front porch.  The squirrel lost his footing and was hanging by one foot (or paw) on the tray of seed.  Well, along came a tiny bird, we decided it was a Mountain Finch, buzzing the squirrel.  Poor squirrel just could not get himself righted so he could jump to the nearest tree.  With that another bird came by and really upset things.  Seed was flying everywhere.  It was all I could do not to go out and try to rescue poor squirrel.  I am not sure this will teach the squirrel a lesson but I hope it will.  Bill puts special food out for the squirrel and they should not bother the bird's food. 
After much stretching the squirrel finally got himself up into the feeder.  He went out the back door (there is no back on the feeder) and made his way down the pole and went so fast he looked like a Greyhound running a race.  He was looking for safer grounds. 
We have the most interesting sights in our own back yard.
 
Love and prayers from here to there


Basically Betty  Sunday, March 30. 2008 @ 22:32

Any Bats in London March 29. 2008

The weather today was nasty.   If you did not know better you would think you were in London.  England that is.  Foggy and a misty rain.  No open doors here today. 
I can just hear you saying "oh dear here she goes with that story she promised us last night". 
Well, living at Five Towns was for the most part very enjoyable.
Things were usually quiet until someone left the door to the room that housed the dumpster open and a Bat got in and made a home for he and his family.  
One day I was reading the morning paper and something flew in from the bedroom.  It circled the room and moved so fast I was not sure what it was.  Well, I remembered the Bats that were over around the entrance.  I, at times, would put a coat over my head to go out for the mail.  So, I decided it was a Bat flying around my apartment.  What do I do?  Call Bill of course.  He asked me if maybe it was a Palmetto bug they are large and fly.
"No Bill it's not a Palmetto bug". "It's black and it's got wings". I had always heard that if a Bat got into your hair you would get lice.   Old wives tale I don't know but I did not want this thing any where near me. 
Seemed like an eternity but Bill finally came.  The creature flew out onto the screen porch and with that Bill closed the sliding glass doors after him and finally trapped it and opened the screen door and let it fly away.  This was daytime and I thought they only came out at night.  Which gave me another scare maybe he was in the apartment all night. 
How did he get in?  Finally found back of the dresser in the bedroom where the TV man had hooked up the cable was a hole big enough for two Bats to come through.   It was fixed that very day. 
 
Love and prayers from here to there
Basically Betty  Saturday, March 29. 2008 @ 23:17

Who Ate All My Chocolate March 28. 2008

You all know the trouble I have getting into Bill's truck so for that reason I will be staying in until Joann comes home with her SUV.  Although, I do open the door to breathe in some of that fresh air and catch a few rays of sunshine.  This does not make for any interesting news to report for the day.  So, back to the memory bank.
I have told you about our home that Fred built off of  Sunset Blvd.  He did not do the plumbing or the electrical work.  The Plumber did not seal everything up and there were holes that little creatures came through looking for food I guess.  We were all in the Living Room one evening watching a program on TV when I noticed something run across in front of the TV.  Joann was sitting on her Daddy's lap and I was holding Becky. I said "what was that?"  Fred was so interested in the program he had not seen a thing.  So maybe I didn't really see anything.
Few minutes later again I saw something racing across the room.   I said it looked like a rat and we must set a trap now.
We only had one trap and no cheese.  Called my Mom and Dad asking what to do?  My Mom asked if we had any chocolate and of course we always had chocolate.   Seems rats like it as well as they do cheese maybe even better.  Fred set the trap.  It was winter time and the snow was piled on our Patio out the Kitchen door.  Have you ever heard that you can only catch one rodent with each trap.  We proved that wrong that night when we trapped 5 with that one trap.  Took most of my chocolate.
Next morning Fred gathered them up from the snow and took them to the dump. 
Oh, by the way, the Plumber was called back to patch up the holes the very next day.
I have one other creature invasion to tell you about next time.
 
Love and prayers from here to there
 


Basically Betty  Friday, March 28. 2008 @ 22:53

It's Hard to Change Old Ways March 27. 2008


I was taught when someone asked me "how are you?" to answer "fine thank you".  That was when I was very young.  My Mom explained that would be an appropriate answer for me because I was fine then.   She also taught me not to tell lies so when someone asks me today how I am I will invariably answer "pretty well, thank you".    This afternoon  one of Bill's co-workers stopped in and asked me how I was feeling and I replied "pretty well, thank you".   I am trying to break myself of that phrase and just say "quite well, thank you".   Wish me luck.  I know you can't teach an ole Lady new tricks. 
That last statement is not true because just yesterday I learned the difference between e-mail and text messages.  That bit of info came from Grandson James. 
Waiting on phone call from Joann.  Hope she will be home late Sunday.  She's coming and Becky's going.  You might call them the Traveling Leone's. 
Hope you all are "fine, thank you".
 
Love and prayers from here to there



Basically Betty  Thursday, March 27. 2008 @ 22:18

Wednesday is my Take It Easy Day March 26. 2008

This is going to be short and sweet because I have been up since 9 AM this morning and I can hardly keep my eyes open. If you find any mistakes you will know why. I knew I would not be able to sleep if I did not at least say hi.
It's been a very interesting day. I watched a Lady Preacher on TV today and she said I should not worry about a thing so I will try to do as she said. I also watched Dr. Phil and he had a young man on that is of Italian decent and has a Roman nose. He wants to have it fixed but his family is against that idea because his nose is his heritage. He is going to have it done and I hope he comes back on so I can see the results.
Now on to the phone calls I have had today. Days go by and my phone does not ring. I don't have Call Waiting, an Answering Machine, or Caller ID. It seemed the calls were coming one right after the other like maybe I had put them on hold to answer the next call. First, my Daughter Becky (Rebecca) called, then my Grandson James called, then my Daughter Joann called. The calling would have been complete if my Granddaughter had called. She must have worked late.
Now for the weather report. It was a perfect day, 70 degrees, sunny and no rain.
So, I ask you, what more can a person ask for? Maybe there is something to this don't worry about a thing just relax and let God take care of everything. He sure sent me a loving family.

Love and prayers from here to there

Basically Betty  Wednesday, March 26. 2008 @ 23:18

Joy Rides March 26. 2008


This has been some day.  Joann is out of town so Bill took me to the Dr's. Office for my PT test today.  He came straight from work and was of course in his uniform.  I am sure the folks in the waiting room thought I was a prisoner and he was taking me to see the Dr.    When we walk in there are two women sitting there and he said "hi there how are you ladies?"  Then a man came in with a book to read while he waits and Bill said "how do you like those books"  " I have read the series".   With that one of the women spoke up and said she too had read one and really liked it.  All the while I am sitting there in total amazement and wishing I could be friendly like Bill and talk to everyone like I had known them forever. 
Joann has her SUV and we went to the Dr's. office in Bill's truck which is clean as a new car but it is hard for me to get into it. Bill takes a step stool when he knows I am riding with him.  It is no easy task getting up into the seat even with him pushing and me pulling or vice versa.
He knows a short cut to the Dr's. Office and I kept asking him if he knew where he was going.   Good thing he is even tempered or he might tell me to just sit there and be quiet.  Can't you just hear him telling me to be quiet?
This was not the first time I have been taken for a ride by a Police Officer.   One time my car was stolen from the parking  lot of the apartment complex I lived in and the Officer came to my door and asked me if I knew where my car was.  I said  "I hope it's in my parking place out front. "  Well it wasn't it was down back of the Chataway in an alley.   So he put me in the Cruiser and away we went for me to see my car.  Of course, it had to be towed because the thieves stripped it.   I had to sit in the back seat why I don't know but I kept slipping around as there was nothing to hold on to.  No handles on the doors even.
was it? 
Wonder what tomorrow will bring?
 
Love and prayers from here to there




Continue reading "Joy Rides"

Basically Betty  Wednesday, March 26. 2008 @ 00:06

Blossoms Pink and White March 23. 2008

It has been a beautiful day here in the mountains.  It was close to 60 degrees and the sun was shining brightly.  I read in our paper the other day that this is the earliest Easter has been since 1913 and it won't be this early again in the lifetime of any one living today. 
This statistic makes me realize I have had a very interesting life.   I have lived to see the turn of the Century, a Man walk on the Moon, and I've lived in three different states, just to mention a few facts.  I won't mention the fact that I raised two beautiful Daughters because it's more like they raised me.  I have learned so much watching them learn.  Now it's my two Grandchildren that I learn from.  No matter as long as I learn.
 When I started this story I wanted to tell you about the trees that are blooming in the City.   We had to make a stop at the Post Office after Church today and on the way into town there are many beautiful trees blooming.  The Pear Trees are my favorites.  The blossoms are white.   The ones blooming up here on the mountain are not as full but they will be in a week or two.   They bloom all summer.  The Dogwood is also very pretty and appear to be pink.  Maybe they come in other colors but that is all we saw today. 
I will keep close watch on the trees in the back yard so that I don't miss when they bloom and then the leaves come out.  It is like over night this happens.  All this is so amazing to me. 
Susan and Ron stopped in yesterday and brought a beautiful plant.  It's going to be a nice addition to the flower garden out front. 
Hope your Easter was was peaceful and pleasant as mine.
 
Love and prayers from here to there
 
Basically Betty  Sunday, March 23. 2008 @ 17:25

Three was my Lucky Number Today March 21. 2008

Want to tell you about the two interesting things that happened today.  No make that three.
1. I had an e-mail from a dear friend, Jean R.  She sent me pictures taken in Outer Space.  They are thrilling to say the least.  It reminded me of a conversation between my Husband and a neighbor (remember the one that came over every morning to get help with the Jumble).  She used to say "there will come a day when we will all be known by numbers" and my Husband would say "yeah sure and I will be taking my Wife and Girls to the Moon on vacation".   How do you suppose they knew this?  I just listened to them and thought to myself "no way Jose'.   We have not been to the moon on vacation yet but that neighbor was right about the numbers.  Fred always was ahead of everyone else in thought and deed.
2. As I was putting my dinner in the oven for supper I looked out the window and there was a beautiful Cardinal at the Bird Feeder.  It's 5 o'clock remember I mentioned they eat their evening meal about the same time as I do.  I called upstairs for Joann to look out.  Did not want her to miss this.  So she is upstairs looking out the window and I am downstairs looking out my window.   The Cardinal stopped eating and was looking in our direction like maybe he knew he was being watched. 
#3 Joann found and bought me a brown hat today.  It will be my Easter Bonnet and I will wear it with the brown suit and brown cape I got for Christmas to Church Easter Sunday.  
Happy Easter to one and all.
 
Love and prayers from here to there 
Basically Betty  Friday, March 21. 2008 @ 22:02

Happy Easter March 20. 2008

The Easter Bunny must have read the posting from yesterday because when I got up this morning the Easter Tree was on the table with grass and Plastic Eggs all around the base of it.   He had also left a note that said he had decorated last Easter as well.   I have put more Easter candy, that is Jelly Beans, out in case he wants to stop back. 
Come to think of it EB coming in must be what woke me at 3 AM.  I was not able to go back to sleep so got up and came to the computer and sent some e-mails and played Free Cell and beat it twice which is unheard of.   I never am able to beat it.
Well, that went on till 7 AM and I decided to try again to go to sleep.  That I did and woke up at 12:10 PM.  Hurried out to the TV to watch the Soap and what do I see "March Madness".  Well March was not the only one Mad.  Maybe I will see it at 7 PM on the Soap Channel. 
It's time for supper.  I am having a Roast Beef sandwich and Macaroni Salad, homemade that is.  Come on over - I have plenty for both of us.
 
Love and prayers from here to there
Basically Betty  Thursday, March 20. 2008 @ 23:51

Happy Easter March 19. 2008

It must be time to decorate for Easter but I can't find my Easter tree.   I had it made years ago by a young man who worked in a Florist Shop in a Shopping Center near our home on the South Side.   It was made with an actual limb of a tree with several plastic Easter eggs tied with ribbon hanging from each branch.  It was beautiful but it's age was showing when I had it out 2 years ago.  I could not find it last Easter either.  I was always going to change the ribbon but I just could not bring myself to change it in any way.  To me it was still beautiful. 
I have several plastic eggs that I lay around the base of this Easter tree and it looks like they have fallen from the branches.
Some day when Joann does not have 16 things pending maybe she and I can get into the Storage room and open one box at a time and find a place for whatever treasure we happen to find in that box.
Today would have been a perfect day for that project because it has been cold and raining with thunder accompanying the rain.  It was so miserable I found myself feeling sorry for the blossoms that are beginning to bloom on the Pear Trees.  I hope to get a picture when they are in full bloom - they are so beautiful. 
There's always tomorrow.
 
Love and prayers from here to there 
Basically Betty  Wednesday, March 19. 2008 @ 20:28

Spring is Just Around the Corner March 18. 2008

What can I say about today - it was nasty.   A very fine cold rain that looked like it wanted to be snow.   Snow is predicted for later this week.    It will probably snow on Easter like it did last year.
Joann and I had to go out because I had to be at the Doctor's by 11 o'clock.  You know what that means another early wake up call.  And with the weather out there I had to wear the Pink Jacket.   I did take the hood off though but before we got home I wished I had left it on.  Don't tell Joann please.
The Doctor's office was nice and warm.  All the Ladies that work in the office are so pleasant you forget about the ugly weather outside once you get in there.
My Doctor is the one I told you about that rides a bike to and from the Hospital.   He is so unlike any Doctor I have ever had. Easy to talk to.   In years past my Blood Pressure would shoot up the minute a Doctor walked into the room.  They call it White Coat something or other.  Well not so with this one maybe because he does not wear a white coat.   Most of the time he looks like the rest of the folks in these mountains.   If he sat down where the Patients wait you would never know he was the Doctor.  I don't know who sent us to him  but I am glad they did.  He talks to you like you are a friend.  Explains things so that you understand.
I got a good report.   Now if I just do what I am supposed to do I will be 86 in August. 
If the weather permits I will try to get some exercise which is one of the things suggested that might help me along.
 
Love and prayers from here to there
Basically Betty  Tuesday, March 18. 2008 @ 20:51

My Irish Eyes were Smiling Today March 17. 2008

Last night it was the Italians, tonight it's the Irish.  I have had a few Irish friends in my lifetime.  One special one.  Her name was Margaret.  I have probably mentioned her before because she was an important part of my life.  We went through school together from the 5th grade.  Graduated in the same class. 
Another Irish friend named Bea.  She was a delight as well.  We lived in the same apartment complex for years.  I know I have mentioned her before she was one of the two that I sat out with every afternoon rain or shine.  The second floor of our building was our roof.  We had such fun,  would not trade those memories for anything.
Another Irish friend was really a friend of my Mothers.  Her name was Mrs. Caniff.   She was as Irish as they come.   She used to tell fortunes with cards.   I was very young and was fascinated with some of the stories she told about her life in Ireland. 
So now I find I am part Irish and I realize that must have been my reason for admiring and appreciating these three Ladies the way I did.  I know the saying goes that there is a bit of Irish in all of us.  Just recently learned that my Father's Grandmother and Aunt came over from Ireland so now I can wear Green on St. Patrick's Day  because I am Irish.
 
Love and prayers from here to there
 
Basically Betty  Monday, March 17. 2008 @ 21:34

My Italian Family March 16. 2008

I watched Moonstruck last night for the umpteenth time.  I love the music and the characters remind me so much of my Husband's family. 
He had a zillion Cousins and the retired ones would come down to Florida for Spring Training games because they were all Baseball Fans.
They would all come to our house after the game and we would end up at the table for a meal that had been prepared by their Wives.  There were some really heated discussions about the game they saw that day but things never got out of hand. 
One of the Cousins would pick up the Accordion and they would all sing.  They were all good singers.  I think most Italians are good singers. 
It was the same way with the Ohio relatives.  We would go to visit them and the minute you walk in the front door someone would call to you to come to the kitchen.   There was a big round table and every seat was taken but someone would find a chair for each of us and we then had a place at the table.  There was always plenty of food. 
I am so thankful I married into such a loving family and such good cooks. 
Becky and Joann cook the Italian dishes like pros, not me.
I can just hear you all wondering why I am talking about Italians when tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day.  Well now I will tell you what I have to say about the Irish.
I just learned recently that I am part Irish.  How am I to celebrate? I don't drink green beer or any other color either.  I can't eat Corn beef and Cabbage.  Maybe Bill will grill me a Hamburger and I will put a leaf of green lettuce on it and that will be my St. Patrick's Day meal.
Irish or not it is a good excuse to celebrate. 
 
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand
 
Love and prayers from here to there


Basically Betty  Sunday, March 16. 2008 @ 21:04

The Saga of the Sagging Sidewalks March 14. 2008

Our home on 58th Avenue S. was a Model Home.  Three Bedrooms, 2 Baths.   The Lot sloped down to the road.  The folks in our neighborhood were for the most part retired.  Our two Daughters were the only children in our block.  We had a screen porch put on the front of the house and a Florida Room on the back of the house.  We did not have a/c but we did have a big floor fan that if positioned properly cooled all three bedrooms.  In those days we did not have to close the house up at night so the doors were open 24/7.   Oh yes, the house was  facing north so we had breeze if there was any keeping us quite comfortable. 
After two years came a notice in the mail that the City was going to put in sidewalks in front of our house and from 4th to 9th Streets only on our side of the street.   This was going to cost.  My neighbor complained to the City and they told her it was necessary so the children would have a sidewalk when walking to school.    She also called the Newspaper and they sent a reporter out to interview her.  She told him I was the only one with Children in the block so he decided to interview me.   
He had many questions but I told him I was not so much upset that they put the sidewalks in even though my two Children were the only ones between 4th and 8th  but they were not level and would be difficult for anyone to walk on them most of all the Children.   
I was quoted in the newspaper as "The Soft Spoken Mrs. L."
and my neighbor as the vociferous Mrs. H.   Soft Spoken or otherwise the sidewalks still stayed on a slant just in our block because all of the houses were built up on a bank. 
I rode by the old house shortly before moving up to N.C. and I was happy to see it has been taken care of but those sidewalks are still slanted.
Hope all the sidewalks in your life are level.
 
Love and prayers from here to there
Basically Betty  Friday, March 14. 2008 @ 20:36
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