What a week!

 That book is eating me alive. No, not really but it surely does eat up a lot of my time and thought. I'll be so glad when it's finished and published but I am just now getting to the good part. So, it's type, edit, type, erase, put new stuff in, take stuff out, type some more. I tell you, it's a job. 

The workers finally finished putting down the new sidewalk so that awful racket stopped. It really looks nice. So, it was worth it. 

I got in the dumps last week, didn't want to do a thing, was more unsteady on my feet and believe you me, that's not good. I am scared to death of falling but I didn't thank goodness. I had night leg cramps and then diarrhea. Gee, guess that was too much info. But, I then remembered that I had not been taking in much fluid so I most likely was dehydrated. My sweet granddaughter shipped me some electrolite powder to make sure I am well taken care of. It's better than gatorade. 

My youngest grandson, Tighe, is starting his freshman year at Indianna University this week. The family helped him settle in. Mama's sure gonna miss him. They are so close and he's such a great kid. 

I did take some time out one day to do a line and wash watercolor. I just don't have the time I'd like to be able to paint. I don't ordinarily do line and wash but I do enjoy it when the notion strikes me. 

Too Many Willies

 Have you ever said 'I got the willies over that.'  Willies being something that causes goosebumps, is eerie or disturbing. 

Imagine have the name Willie. My full name is Willie Latane Barton. 

Yep, and to top it all off when I was younger than a grasshopper I started dating a handsome young dude. His name was Willie Elbert Barton. 

Two Willies should have been enough but WAIT.... there's more.

I was named for my father who was killed by lightning when Mom was 5 months pregnant with me. Everyone called him Willie. So, I was named for him, William Albert Alexander . 

And, my husband (that good looking dude I found early in life) ... his Dad was named Willie Armstrong Barton. 

So, now we are up to four Willies. 

One more to go... Elbert's grandmother's name was Willie Dee O'Rear. 

Guess what we named our children: Linda Marie, Steven Elbert, Shirley Ann, Michael Alan and Susan Renee. 

             There will be no more Willies in this family!! 

What a Racket!

                           Talk about NOISE!! 

We've had plenty of it this week around Centerbrooke. I'm three floors up and still the jack-hammer was ear-splitting!! Yesterday I was reduced to just piling up in my bed and watching tv (with my door closed, of course). That cut most of the racket out. Today more of the same. 

Why they are tearing up a perfectly good sidewalk is beyond me. I am sure they have their reasons but they didn't share them with the residents. This photo I took yesterday around 10 a.m. 

Same place, same time today

I'm all for progress... however, it would be nice to know what progress they are trying to achieve!!

Scary Times

                                               This is my daughter Shirley                                     

         She's my sidekick and my "partner in crime"

She's had such a rough time of it lately. I was worried about her. She fell some time ago and ended up with bursitis in her leg so she has been having to have steroid shots in that leg ever so often. 

So, she went in for a shot just over a month ago and the next day there was a knot just below the shot site so she called the dr and they told her that it was a hematoma, that likely the PA who had administered the shot, likely nicked a vein. That the blood would be absorbed back in to her body.... but it would take some time. 

The knot got bigger. She was a lot of pain, got to where she was having difficulty walking and could bear no pressure on that area. And, it continued to worsen. Trips to the dr. ... tests done... etc, etc, etc and all the while she is getting worse and worse.

Well, to make a long story short.. 

Her dr. sent her to a large hospital in a nearby city to have that 'hematoma' drained on Friday. It was not  a hematoma!! It was an infection that had grown to the size of my hand on her upper thigh. In all likelihood caused by a compromised needle or medicine (steroid) that was used. 

Thank God,  she is already much better and is now able to do some chores around the house. 

It is scary that someone who is supposed to make you well can cause such painful results because of negligence but it happens. My son and I thinks she ought to sue but she's not sure. She's not a 'sueing' type of person. We'll see. 

Birds of a Feather

 My train derailed!!

And, I am having a hard time putting it back on track. I have been so busy writing that dadgum book that I seldom get anything else done. At least not anything you girls would be interested in - like laundry, grocery shopping etc, etc, etc. All that fun stuff!! 

I feel good about my book but it is such slow-going. And, I haven't even painted any in quite a while. 

and I am rambling.... 

'cause I have nothing to share. I will just leave you with a few of my favorite photos. The first one is recent. During a rain storm I saw a hawk taking shelter in a nearby pine tree so naturally I grabbed my camera. 

These next ones are oldies. 

this one I got a kick out of... A cardinal and finch sharing some food. The cardinal looks like he's either trying to feed the finch or asking 'And, just what are you doing here?'

I'll stay with the bird theme...

A robin sitting on top of a scarecrow's head. I'd decorated for Halloween and that birdie thought he'd just add to my decorations. 

This one I could not figure out for a bit. It's a bird flying directly toward my camera so all you see is this blob with eyes. I couldn't have staged that one if I had tried. 

And, so, I will leave you with that last one. Just wanted to check in to confirm that I am still alive and kicking. 

Have a great weekend!!

Time For Tea

 Shirley and I had quite an outing yesterday. It was a lovely day, a bit warm but not uncomfortable. I had made reservations at the Stillwater Tea House for an early afternoon tea. It was so nice... 

We were greeted at the door by the owner, who led us to our table. We were served Blackberry tea right away. 

Then came our salad, one of my favorites: Strawberry Feta

I don't remember what the main course was, just know that it was tomato sprinkled with bits of bacon and chives on a type of bread that was spread with 'what I do not know but it was good'... I'd say it was a bruchetta but that's not what the owner called it. This came with Ginger Peach tea. 

We ended our tea with a delicious mango custard. Now, if it had been me I would have slipped that tart out of that aluminum pan before serving but perhaps the crust was too flaky and she was afraid of a mess. But, I didn't think that aluminum fit our atmosphere. However the custard made up for it.

This was served with what she called strawberry milk shake tea but mine had only a slight taste of strawberry and there was no milk in sight!! 

We met two very enjoyable ladies at the next table, not from Suffolk but not too far away. We all decided we should get together again sometime. And, they are now my facebook friends. The whole experience was just so delightful. 

Then on to the library. I'd been wanting to go but the one time I had attempted it by myself I found that they were paving the street there, things were blocked off and I just turned back and came home. But, Shirley drove us down and we went inside. It's brand new, been open less than a month... huge, two story with lots of light and space and meeting places and little nooks to sit and read. So, yes ,I will be going back. 

I was pooped when we headed back to my apartment for her to drop me off. Guess what I did when I got home????

I plopped down in my recliner and stayed there, watching tv, 'til the 'cows came home'. That's an old Southern saying that means it was late in the day for those of you who aren't familiar with the south.