NANA NOTES

PASSING TIME. . .

While I'm being the official sitter at the hospital with the patient I am cruising Lindey and Stacy's blogs from way back.  I stumbled onto this "AtoZ" list and thought I'd do it.  I like finding out things like this about my friends.  Sometimes you learn something. . .

A-Age: 59

B-Bed size: king

C-Chore you hate: dusting

D-Dessert you love: Creme Brule' or anything lemon

E-Essential start your day item: Sam

F-Favorite actor(s): McDreamy, Matthew McConaughey, Josh Lucas 

G-Gold or Silver: gold

H-Height: 5'2"

I-Instruments you play: piano

J-Job title: home coordinator

K-Keeping track of your day: Day Runner calendar and to do lists 

L-Living arrangements:  with Ed and all the pets

M-Mom's name: Ophelia

N-Not liking right now: having to be the mother instead of the daughter

O-Overnight hospital stay other than birth: breast cancer surgery

P-Phobia: flying (airports!!!)

Q-Quote you like: "That which does not kill you makes you stronger"

S-Siblings: Steve, Tom

T-Time you woke up today: 6:00am

U-Unique habit: I'm bossy if you let me be

V-Vegetable you hate: hominy  ( is that a vegetable?)

W-Worst habit: driving too fast

X-X'rays you've had: teeth, chest

Y-Yummy food you can make: homemade ice cream, cream cheese pound cake, brisket

Z-Zodiac sign: Cancer

While I'm being the official sitter at the hospital with the patient I am cruising Lindey and Stacy's blogs from way back.  I stumbled onto this "AtoZ" list and thought I'd do it.  I like finding out things like this about my friends.  Sometimes you learn something. . .

A-Age: 59

B-Bed size: king

C-Chore you hate: dusting

D-Dessert you love: Creme Brule' or anything lemon

E-Essential start your day item: Sam

F-Favorite actor(s): McDreamy, Matthew McConaughey, Josh Lucas 

G-Gold or Silver: gold

H-Height: 5'2"

I-Instruments you play: piano

J-Job title: home coordinator

K-Keeping track of your day: Day Runner calendar and to do lists 

L-Living arrangements:  with Ed and all the pets

M-Mom's name: Ophelia

N-Not liking right now: having to be the mother instead of the daughter

O-Overnight hospital stay other than birth: breast cancer surgery

P-Phobia: flying (airports!!!)

Q-Quote you like: "That which does not kill you makes you stronger"

S-Siblings: Steve, Tom

T-Time you woke up today: 6:00am

U-Unique habit: I'm bossy if you let me be

V-Vegetable you hate: hominy  ( is that a vegetable?)

W-Worst habit: driving too fast

X-X'rays you've had: teeth, chest

Y-Yummy food you can make: homemade ice cream, cream cheese pound cake, brisket

Z-Zodiac sign: Cancer

JENNIFER'S MANTRA. . .

Lately Jennifer has been repeating over and over---GOD IS IN CONTROL OF THE DRAMA IN MY LIFE. She got this from a friend who blogs.  The only trouble is that Jennifer wants to help God with the drama and I somehow end up in the middle.  That's ok because I know that's what Mom's are for. Jennifer and Ryan have had Mono this summer and Jennifer is now in the hospital with a relapse.  Jennifer being Jennifer, she is trying to control everything in and around her concerning every aspect of her life.  At this point she needs to "Let Go and Let God" handle the drama and she's needs to trust Him and just concentrate on getting herself well.  Mono can be a serious illness.  Ryan thankfully is doing very well and is able to go to school and is doing pretty much what he wants to do.

My Mom will be having some tests next week.  I think I will be adopting Jennifer's mantra. . .GOD IS IN CONTROL OF THE DRAMA IN MY LIFE.  Thank goodness for that.

CORRECTION and UPDATE. . .

Abbey is 10 not 11.  I'm trying to make all of us older than we are.  Sorry, Abbey.

Lucky, the new baby deer, finally ate good today.  I had been trying to get milk down him for the last couple of days.  He would only take a little bit.  Today he actually sucked 5 or 6 ounces of the milk recipe.  He's calming down a little bit and I'm hoping to get him settled soon.

Sam and I went to get a large animal carrier and came home with a kitten.  He's beautiful and his name is Tiger.  The whole household is mad.  NO MORE ANIMALS!!  YOU CANNOT CONTINUE TO DO THIS!!!  Sam is the one who wanted him.  Ms Mae gave it to him and on the way home the kitten would not stop meowing.  Finally Sam said, "make that cat shut up."  I told him that he would as soon as we got home.  When we got almost to the house, he said, "I don't want him. Give him to Ms Debra. He makes too much noise."  Right now he's curled up in a basket in the sun room.  Even Magic doesn't want him.  WHAT TO DO; WHAT TO DO!!!

SUNDAY. . .

is usually a pretty good day around the "Branch."  We had everyone here today for lunch except Shelly.  He was thrown from a horse and was at home "laid up" with his back.  He's just now getting around good from breaking his leg in May in a horse accident.  I think we may have to bar him from the horses.  He's getting hurt more than the boys.

We celebrated Abbey's birthday today since she'll be with her dad next weekend.  The usual Sunday dinner included a very "tacky" birthday cake and delicious homemade ice cream.  She loved it.  She will be eleven (11).  I can't believe it and I'm sure her Mom can't either.  The price of her toys is increasing along with her age!! LOL Therefore we all gave her CASH!!  Happy Birthday, Abbey!

Speaking of horse accidents, Sam showed up last night with a big black eye!  When asked what happened, he grinned and said, "I fell off my horse running the arena race." :)  It doesn't look as bad today as it did last night and I'm sure glad I wasn't there to see it.  At lunch today he told us he got "right back up on that horse!"

There's never a dull moment around here even when I THINK I'm bored.

Someone brought me another deer on Friday afternoon.  It seems I have the reputation of being the "deer lady".  This one is very young and traumatized.  I hope I can help it survive.  It is skinned up and awfully skiddish.  It doesn't know how to suck and I'm trying to teach it.  It took two (2) ounces of milk today. :) That's good but it needs more.  I'm calling the vet on Monday to get some pointers.

Sam and I will be waiting for a UPS package this week.  We're going to do some "learnin' ".  We'll keep you posted.

LAST OF THE BACK TO SCHOOL

Tiffany brought the back to school photos for me to see.  Actually she downloaded all of her pictures to my computer (all 292 of them!! LOL) for me to get the ones I needed.  Thanks, Tif!!  Here are the girls. Abbey and Shelby are still at the Elementary, but Ms Emily is now making the walk to the Jr. High building right down the hill. Isn't that grown up?  Looks like Shelby has a "hair do" too!

One of the pitfalls of having a "Family in a Blender" is that no one got first day pictures of the boys.  I took one today and they have sweet,beautiful smiling faces. I know they will have a great year too. Bryden has lost his second front tooth.  Good luck kiddos!

IT'S TOO HOT. . .

to do anything outside.  I cleaned the Green (now beigey brown) Monster this morning and have a heat headache.  I decided this afternoon could be a scrapping afternoon.  I found an advertisement in a magazine last week that I thought would be a great LO.  Oh so simple and cute.  Especially with the little red head involved.  All it requires is the computer, Technique Tuesday stamps and your pictures.  How simple is that? Click on the picture to read the background.  You'll know what Sam and I are doing every day.

Check Out...

the "Studio Projects".  I've been on a roll.  Three LO's posted and more to come.

"CURLY SUE". . .

That's my nickname for Sam.  He sheepishly grins when I call him that. You probably can't imagine why I would do such a thing! LOL   Jennifer loves his curls so much that she just about refuses to get his hair cut.  I try to sneak one in every now and then.  Shelly looked at him Monday and said "HAIR CUT!" Jennifer figured if someone didn't take him Shelly would and that would mean BUZZ CUT!! A cry for help!  I took him with me on Tuesday and found out that Sharon had been given instructions for "just a trim".  Who listens to instructions!!  Isn't he a doll?  We went by the school to let his Mom see him and even though she was a little sad that we had cut it short, she liked it.  We had even used mousse! and it was perfect.  When we laid down for our nap after lunch I started to rub his head.  He turned over and looked at me and said, "Don't mess up my hair!"

This morning when he got here I hugged him and he said, "My hair is still curling down."

He likes it too!

A VERY SHORT WEEK

Josh came home last Tuesday.  He spent the usual time eating and sleeping and visiting friends.  He went to the dentist and traveled to New Orleans one day to get things done in order to get into school when he gets out of the Army. He spent time with the boys and played with the cats.  We went out to eat a couple of times and he visited his grandmother.  Last night he and I spent some time together upstairs playing with the iPod and computer and talking.  That's the most time we've spent together in a while.  Josh is a smart young man who turns into my little boy when he comes home.  I guess all mother's sons do that.  He's been places I'll never go and done things I'll never do (or even want to do).  He's a fine man who has a plan and is headed in the right direction. 

Lord, thank you for this child who has grown into a good, strong, courageous, kind, spirit-filled human being. Watch over him as he finishes his Army career and leaves for parts unknown in the next few weeks.  Please bring him safely home to his family and friends. Surround him with your love and peace and hold him ever close. Amen

CATCHING UP. . .

Everyone I know has done their "back to school" blog.  I was waiting on Jennifer and Tiffany to do theirs but. . .Jennifer took this picture of the boys with my camera.  Sam insisted that he be in the picture.  It was his first day back at Nana's Day Care!! You can see that the boys DO NOT like to get in front of the camera especially at 7:30 in the morning!  Thanks guys for giving me this "first" picture.  Don't they look spiffy even if they do look a bit miffed at Mom for making them stand there.  Except beautiful blue eyed Ben who is always smiling.  He was ready for school this year. (I'll do the other family when I get the pictures!! That's a hint, Tiffany.)

I'm still working on the "Studio/Scrap Room".  I spent four hours yesterday afternoon putting up my new shelves.  Lindey picked up on that PB comment right away.  I'm not quite ready for the grand opening yet but here is what that part of the wall looks like. The paint shelf is 36" and the embellishment shelf is 24".  How I wish I could win one of those "scrap room" makeovers in one of the magazines!!  I can't imagine our house without this room.  It was meant to be. I love it.

My hand is much better. I can go without a bandage and have only a small scar. Thanks for asking.

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?

It's been almost a week since I burned my hand.  I don't know where the time has gone.  I haven't been at home much.  Monday night was bridge (I was the hostess.)  I made tiramisu and fruity chicken salad.  Everyone had a good time and liked the dessert.  Tuesday Ed and I went to New Orleans and picked up Josh.  Wednesday night we all went to a birthday party in McComb--lightening was the star attraction.  Thursday night was Stampin' Club and Friday night Cookie and I didn't get home until about 8:00 pm from Jackson.  I went to pick my car up today in Brookhaven and ended up in Hattiesburg.  I got home in time to finish supper (Tommy fixed pulled pork).  The Cowarts and Strouds were here along with Josh.  Here it is Sunday again.  I blinked. The week is gone.  I have worked on my scrap room a little every day.  The UPS truck delivered some Pottery Barn boxes and I intend to install it tomorrow after church.  (Lindey, I got some of that beautiful AF but I'm not going to let it gather dust.)  I'm in a serious scrap mood but have to clean up the space first. I just keep collecting the "stuff". I'm ready for fall and a change of pace. I take that back---I'm ready for WINTER!!!   Have a blessed day, ya'll.

COOKING IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH. . .

What a way to start the day!  I cut off the alarm and decided to grab an extra thirty minutes doze time---big mistake.  Whenever I do that something always happens.  I forget to make the tea; the cake doesn't turn out right, etc.  I went outside and fed Arby (so far so good) and came in to start the roast.  I had the grease hot and salt and peppered the roast, picked up the meat fork and snared the meat--about the time I got it over the pot--BAM (and not the seasoning kind either!!!) the roast fell into the pot and splashed HOT grease all over my hand.  I reacted instead of acted and grabbed a dish towel and wiped the grease (and lots of my skin) off my hand. That was probably TMI for most of you but facts are facts.  I grabbed the burn cream and smothered it on and finished cooking lunch and Ed's breakfast.  I then decided that I should probably go to the ER. Ed said, "call Libby." :) I called her and she agreed. Well, just in case I didn't get back to get ready for church, I dressed for church and then went to the ER.  Nurse Amy and Dr. Bill took good care of me and I go back tomorrow to have my dressing changed.  Do you know what all you do with your right hand??

THOUGHTS. . .

Any week without Linda is not my best week.  I tend to get a little grumpy and I have to be more attentive to what is I do around the house rather than what gets done.  With Jennifer and Ryan sick, I've been worried about them.  I know that the mono can have long term effects on their health.  I may have spent too much time trying to get them do rest, eat right and rest some more.  Those of you who know them know that I'm fighting a loosing battle. At least I tried. 

Graham was gone with Shelly (we missed them) and Ben and Sam were here during the day.  Sam is definitely out of his "babyness" and is a full fledged little boy. That's sad to me. He doesn't want to (but will if I insist) lay down with me and take a nap.  Ben is much taller after the summer and seems older too.  He has always been my beautiful blue eyed little boy.  I hope he stays that way.

On Friday I dropped Ryan off at the HIGH SCHOOL for orientation.  How can that be?  He was only born yesterday!  He acted as if it were no big deal.  I couldn't tell him how my stomach felt.  I went in to see Jennifer's office and classroom (not walking with Ryan of course) and I saw several of the kids that I have know since they were born.  They were so "high schoolish" and I was so proud.  They are a beautiful bunch of kids who are GOOD kids.  I hope they stay that way.

Ed and I were eating lunch and he said, "It was just Sunday yesterday.  Where has this week gone?" I replied with, "I don't know, but it's been a crappy week for me."  Then I thought for a moment.  I don't have a child lying in the hospital with a bullet wound in his belly.  My week has been a blessed week and I know it. 

As I was cooking on the grill last night, five deer came up to the feeder.  That thrills me to see wild life on the farm.  And the fact that two of them could have been the ones I raised is even more exciting.  And then I spotted it---a beautiful humming bird.  He was moving around so fast that it was hard to get a shot with the camera but I tried.  What a good week I had!

QUICK UPDATE

I have talked to Linda since the Doctor came in.  Tyler is doing much better.  His xrays show no blockage.  The Doctor told him that he would not be coming home unless he held down solid food and did #2!  Linda said he grabbed his daddy's shoes and started walking the halls. He's taken care of one item on the list now let's hope he can keep his food down.

DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'D DO

without our "YaYa".  Linda has been out all week.  Her youngest son was accidentally shot in the stomach with a pellet gun on Sunday night.  He had surgery on his small intestine around midnight and is still in the hospital in Brookhaven.  I talked with her husband a few minutes ago and things were not going too well.  Tyler had been throwing up and had not had a good day yesterday.  He had to hang up because something was happening in the room and he needed to help the nurses.  I am going out there this afternoon.  I want to see Tyler for myself.  Linda hasn't left him all week except once to go home and get a bath.  I don't know of any mother who loves her children like Linda.  You can hear the pain in her voice.  We miss her.  She is the one thing around here that keeps us going.  Without her we just make do.  When Tyler does get better and she gets to come back, I think she'll be pleased that we've done pretty well around here.  She won't like it that we've adopted another CAT!!   Her name is Reject.  Therein lies another post.