My Willow got a bad haircut!

I am not talking Jamie Willow here. I am talking my actual Willow Tree in the front yard. The facts are that in the last windstorm I noticed the tree was split and later it split more and finally I could see through a spot on the trunk so I was so worried. It truly was the tallest Willow tree around that I had seen and I was swayed by it's beauty when I wanted the property. It made the place and oh how I wanted to save that tree.
My brother is into saving trees so he volunteered to prune back the heaviness and see if we could keep it standing another 10 years. Well, I can tell you that it looks bad but what is worse, the yard looks worse. I have piles and piles and mounds and intermigling branches, fronds, 12" diameter branches and neat cut pieces that John got to with one of his three saws in the driving rain. He for sure missed some but oh well.
The day began raining and I called to see if he wanted to cancel. No...he and ma were coming he said. Turns out he wanted to buy a older Ford Camper Van thingy so they drove up in that with apples from Sky Hi orchard and his dog who is now deaf as Hobbz. The rain went up and down. The sun came out and went behind clouds and then it rained, drizzled, poured, misted, clabbered up and poured again then came the downpour. Yuk!
I prayed a lot. John is surefooted but the slippery tree and the rain and the height he climbed did make me think I needed angels to watch out after him. He might not be a Christian (and he for sure is not) but he is my brother and I counted on the Lord taking that into consideration when I asked. It ain't over til it is over so hope presides in my heart.
Now, as John stated upon leaving, I will find out who my friends are. The mess supercedes normal messes and it is more like a tangled web of heaviness. So it needs further action with a chainsaw. I won one and have really never used it. Guess my day has come.
Monday when I arrive home from here it will be a workaday! I was half-dead and soaked to the skin yesterday and I hope it is not raining on Monday. I already have one volunteer helper and I think he might be able to handle the chain-saw. Sigh.

Beck's Package is ready to go!

I have finally had enough fun gathering the gifts. The box I chose is full to the brim and it is wrapped and taped and addressed to go tomorrow. Life is good when you are 3 and everyone loves you and I think that is great!

I have a few hints as to the goodies I found to include. I will put them on the side to tempt you.
I would have put a bunch of homemade cookies in there but have stayed so busy no baking has happened. There is a treat though!

I love you Beck and your mama, daddy and sister too! Have fun opening and trying on and playing with as well as learning from the certain goodies I included.

How long should it be before the mailman comes with the box? Maybe next week huh? Wish I could be there to watch you open it.

Enjoyed the hunt!

In between having a nervous breakdown and drinking gin/tonic in my car late at night while I listen to Books on CD to avoid going in and dealing with more nagging and questions and other trivia that occurs when I have a huge issue going on, but that is another story; meanwhile I have shopped for Beck and compiled a small box of goodies which I will soon send. Some of the things I am not sending are electronic toys or DVD's. No expensive goodies or new toys that will soon lay on the basement floor or in a toy box to never be played with again. I wish I could see him open it but of course that might be impossible seeing as how I am tied down and broke for awhile.

My helper Miss Jenna is in Love with a certain bakers man named Francois and she started school. She is fixed up and set up and able to do it so I wish her the best possible. I want to see her succeed and to have a vocation which does not tax her physically unstable body too much. She has problems every day, a pain, a headache, a back that goes out, her neck is stiff, her bowels are stirred up, her temper is hot or she is hurt by someone's remarks. Sigh. I hardly remember what it is like to be nearly 30. Maybe I was like that. I suspect not but maybe...I had already drank and lived way too hard, only accepting Christ at 29 and slowly leaving behind the cigarettes and nearly all the hoochie pop and other pain medications too numerous to mention. Jesus and my kids became my center and I worked the program well. Sadly but predictably, they are all grown and gone and my life is smaller again... Jesus didn't leave thank God! He never will!

But oh well my precious offspring go on, live your lives..., I shall soon be able to begin my book and paint my masterpiece. My room is nearly organized. My masterpieces and manuscripts may be full of memories and concepts I have learned and a whole lot of nonsense as that amuses me but they will be mine. Lewis Carroll was after all quite nonsensical and we are still reading "Alice"! As I write there are 6 kids in my peripheral, one 2 month old in my lap taking a bottle while I type one handed. One thing is lacking but I shall leave that to your guesswork.

Beck will be 3 on Sept. 1

Yeah my sweet little grandson is growing into a pre-schooler! I love this age. This summer Jack and I has the joy of visiting him and his spunky sister for 5 days. We also enjoyed their sweet parents but the kids have a way of stealing the show to say nothing of your heart. Beck has moments of great challenge when Grampa had to share his bedroom and whenever he would laugh or cough. Beck would tighten up his face and say "I no like it!" but eventually they developed a relationship where they played simple things together and talked an early morning conversation which neither of them could translate but it satisfied their sense of comraderie. I enjoyed watching them interact and of course helped manage the moments so to speak. Once a nanny always a nanny...
Beck was always excited that I would bring him "present". So he would ask me about the presents often and I always give lots of books so he called the books "present" as he carried some around. I found these lovely big grey elephants at Kohls and got Evie and Him each one but he found it challenging to receive. Elephants were not something he thought were cuddly. Later I saw him carry it around but it took awhile for him to "love" the thing. Oh well, win some lose some and all the responses are fun for gramma. I never insist that kids hug me or love me before they want to. I am the far-away gramma and spend so little actual time with the kids that I seem like a fantasy person as does Grampa Jack. We simply have to accept the position with grace and enjoy all we can. I love them and am excited to learn of their accomplishments.
Once thing I sure enjoyed about our visit was Beck playing the drums in uncle Brennen's room. Dad was overseeing but you could see he was a natural. I do see similarities between him and his daddy for sure.
Happy Birthday Beckaroonie! I love you tons and so does grampa. We cannot wait to see you again and enjoy your latest accomplishments and mannerisms. A box will arrive but late. I do that because I need to wait til I get money but also I remember my far away gramma sending boxes long after the event and it was so fun, a celebration in itself and just for me! Hope he feels the same.

Calamity Averted

Today I got a call from my dentist saying I could get my crown installed this afternoon instead of next Tuesday. I agreed and then rearranged my schedule to fit it all in. I was headed out the door when Jenna clearly heard the word "Calamity" and began to pray against it and to text me. I happened to hear something on the radio that pertained to us so called her before she could send the text. She told me to pray against calamity and be alert. I hung up and before one block the Sauk Count Aging Van sped out of a sidestreet not stopping until I was upon it. We both hit the brakes and averted an accident. I went on to the job I had to do. Pulling in the driveway the trailer owners were just leaving. I waved them on and went in. Their dog was nutso so I slipped the collar on and booted him out but could smell something burning. I wondered if they had cooked and burned something. I needed to go start the laundry but instead I investigated the kitchen. I found the Lean Mean Grilling Machine plugged in, set on high with paper toweling in it. As I opened it the spark lit the towel which was already charred. The grease catcher was still under the machine with grease in it. I stopped a fire which would have taken out the trailer in minutes. I have seen how fast mobile homes burn. Oh how true that song 3rd Rock from the Sun is...but God was in this and we were listening so the trap of foolishness and/or the enemies hatred for Christians could have borne disaster today instead Calamity averted! Praise God!

Speculations

I am missing my kids and grandkids tonight. Jessi Lynn way down in GA where I have never even been and likely won't get to go very soon due to money and responsibilities. Lance and Jamie with her starting a new job and them establishing their new marriage in Nashville. Ira and Ashley with her starting school and a busy family to tend and a living to make. Sigh. I live near Mike and Jessica and often cannot make the connection to visit. They are busy living their life and I am managing mine as best I can. My heart is connected to my kids and their kids and their mates and their lives and jobs and needs but I am also very tied down and constrained. Oh for the red sports car and the dog in the back seat with the top down and the trunk full of gifts. I am far from my early fantasies but they haven't been forgotton in the melee of my life. I still picture that "Auntie Mame" existance I once sought. Isn't it funny how life turns out? I have strings holding me back but my mind still plays with the fantasy. What is your fantasy left behind? Go ahead and tell me. I went first. Ha!

Beck nailed her with a glass of water

I miss my grandbabies!

Things are out of joint...but for God

It seems no matter which direction I turn something is wrong. My own situation has stresses galore and many of them are financial. Digging out of a pit is one thing but with one hand tied behind your back and no shovel is another. Sigh. I have many others around me that have intense problems at present as well. Many health and financial issues are abounding to say nothing of the issue of disasters. Car accidents, floods, job losses, downsizing, sin and the ravages of remorse, choices and many of them seem the right choices but then the payment for those choices comes.
I throw myself onto the altar and ask God to guide and help me undo the knotty problems one day and one step and one decision at a time. He alone is faithful. Humankind is frail and only when God enters in is there any hope. My hope is in Him.

The Dreaded Diet

So Folks who want to know...I am on the "healing diet" that my chiropractor is encouraging for those of us who have pain from inflammation. I do and I am seeing some results already. The scale has shown a 10 pound drop and my pain is lessened slightly. The premise is that my body does not utilize grains well and so my body produces inflammation as a response so out came all grains. I may add some back at a later time in moderation when I have been without pain awhile. The other thing that had to go is sugar in all forms including fruit. The deal is I have had Candida for some time and with my cravings I never really got rid of it. This diet covers that as well. So...I am happy to be sticking to this. I can still eat out for breakfast or a steak/chicken breast and veggies and a salad. But since I can hardly afford to eat out much I am not tempted much. The sugar craving has greatly lessened and since I want to be done with pain I am not too tempted to indulge in fruit. We can have some blueberries but they are low glycemic. I am avoiding the desserts of life just now and have coffee or tea when I need a treat. The other day I went out digging Chickory so I could roast and make Chickory coffee, a healthier kind with excellent flavor and no aroma or caffeine but worthy of a late night sip. Will let you see the wonderful results and keep you updated with future comments.