I guess I've missed a few days, so I'll just give a few thoughts that don't necessarily fit together.

 

We babysat the two grandchildren again this week.  The new Lab puppy had doubled in size.  He's such a good dog, and has to be extra strong because while they try to train him, he is having to adjust to them and their inexperiencel.  At one point they and the neighbor boy were watching a movie with the dog in the room and the door was shut.  Suddenly the dog started barking continuously.  I ran to the room and told them that that was his way of telling them he needed to go out.  Poor pup.  Grandpa took the kids and the dog for a walk and the pup ran into the water of a small lake.  (Labs love to swim)  When they got home the poor animal was soaking wet.  I asked the 11 year old to get a towel and wipe him down so he'd dry faster.  But we got distracted so it probably didn't happen.  But I love them all.

 

We enjoyed meeting our new great granddaughter in person.  She is as pretty as her picture at five months old, and such a happy baby.  I unloaded a lot of baby toys and books since most of the grands and greats around here are beyond them  Addie will have a lot of fun things to do and read.  I am very proud of my grandson and his wife and enjoyed every minute with them.

 

We have had such crazy weather around here, a much cooler summer with a lot of broken records including the most rain ever on Aug. 20th.  Actually it was only a half inch but gave the news people something to talk about.  I've really enjoyed it and been glad I live here in the northwest since most of the country had such miserable heat.

 

Well I wish you all well and all the best.  Enjoy this long weekend.  Hugs,  from Bertie

 

 

 

 

When will it ever be over? 

This painful time when men or women who might be good leaders for our country and those who might be bad for our country spend their time trying to say things bad enough about the others character, to deter people for voting for them.  Also our land is made ugly with signs as if that would make you vote for them.  Each new election seems to get more brutal.  One of our candidates keeps telling us what the other will do if he wins, and he has no way of knowing what is on his oponent's Mind and heart.

 

One candidate admits being a poor student in school, having made lots of bad decisions, and yet he thinks he could be a good president.  I hate the term "flip-flop" because I think and intelligent person who has based an opinion on the basis of what is known, should be allowed to change his or her mind if new information does not support the original decision.  To me that is the intelligent thing to do.

 

I also believe that the intelligence and committment of a good honest person with a desire to do the right thing and also improve world relationships would be better than a person steeped in the politics of the past.  So now you can guess who I favor, but I still hate the year and in this case more than a year that we have to suffer through this.  I want to stay on top of things so I can't just bury my head in the sand and not watch the news- which would be better for one's health.

 

I am a Christian and I do believe that we need to pray that our God will allow the right person to win.  We'll do our best in seloecting and voting. But only God knows who would give our children anbd grands and greats the best world and opportunity.  God help us all.

I vowed I would never go on another diet.  I had been on them all.  After yoyo-ing for many years and adding about three pounds after the diet was finished, even with MD's, I told my lady Doctor, no more.  I meant it.  I didn't have a weight problem until I had to have a hysterectomy.  I did not take hormones even though recommended because my Mom and Dad's sister got breast cancer from them.  Sure I would give almost anything to get back to my original weight.  Well now DH got interested because he is beginning to put on pounds.  I must say we have continually improved our diet.  At this point I only shop at Whole Foods or the local People's Co-op.  Well we saw a show on PBS about the Fiber35Diet.  We both thought that would fit in with our current diet and maybe it would help.  To our amazement we found out it is very hard to get 35 grams of fiber a day.  We started adding up our fruits and other healthy food and weren't anywhere near what we need.  Last time we went to Whole Foods I got a bunch of samples to try.  Today after DH spent most of the day checking out another similar program who wants us to get even more than 35 grams. I had to go back to the store with new knowledge and seek out more stuff.  Did you know that a lot of foods list high fiber but cheat using chicory which is cheaper but not a good fiber.  We wanted more real fruit, got a lot of high fiber bars that have 10 to 12 grams of fiber in them, and some high fiber drink mixes.  Most of the diets these days tell us not to use artificial sugar because it is very bad.  The only good sugar substitute is Stevia which I used to keep in my purse for ice tea when we are out.  Well, I'm sure this is more than any of you want to know, but today I am obsessed with yet one more try.  I heard someone  doctor on TV say no obese person will live to 100. Well I have a lot of female relatives that made it into their 90's.  I had a skinny great aunt who got to 106.  Anyway once again I'm hoping that this new thing will help us both.  Now watch my son come back and say but you must exercise.  Yeah.

Since my DH and I have three cats who are our fur family to keep the nest from being too empty, it stands to reason that I would like cat mysteries.  I have read all of the usual series as fast as they come out.  But recently I found some new ones that I didn't know about.  WHAT THE CAT DRAGGED IN by Gilbert Morris is Book one of his series.  It starts with the misery of a young woman with a ten year old son who is working two jobs, one at Walmart, and one at a fast food place dealing all day with rude and mean people.  But then a lawyer found her and told her that a distant relative had left her and any other heirs a beautiful home in the middle of seven lots on a beach in Alabama.  The condition was that she must live in the house and care for her many pets.  If she would do this she would have money sent to her each month but she could never touch the principal.  Another heir was later found who despirately wanted to be a writer.  The three of them and her two cats, Cleo and Jaques.  Cleo was a Ragdoll and Jaques was a Savanah which is half African wild cat and a cat to be careful around as he had claws and used them often.  Jake the other heir took the upstairs, and Kate and her son Jeremy took the downstairs and they all shared the kitchen.  Jake was a chef and cooked healthy food so he did almost all of the cooking.  (What woman wouldn't like that arrangement?)  Anyway it is really a fun read.  So I had to read book 2 which was even funnier.  It's title is THE CAT'S PAJAMAS.  Book 3 comes out this month and I can't wait to read it.  The author is listed as an International best selling author, whatever that means.  He does a good job of twists and turns and it isn't easy to put down.

This is for my daughter, Deb, who waqnts me to keep writing.  I miss her and look forward to her upcoming visit in October.

 

Yesterday, her Dad and I babysat two of our grandchildren.  Our Daughter-in-law's sister in- law had a masectomy.  Relatives were present but everyone wanted to be at the hospital so we stayed with our 11 1/2 year old grandson and 7 1/2 year old granddaughter.  It was a pleasant day wih the children and their new Labrador puppy.  They had begged and pleaded for years and their parents began to use it as a bargaining chip.  I guess the parents finally had to pay up.  Well the puppy had accidents in the house, so we had him on a 30 minute and out the door routine.  It worked.  I asked our son about the crate training and he said it didn't work with this pup.  He would use the crate for a bathroom and never have an accident on their bed.  Hmmm.  I loved the puppy and he must have known it or else needed a bit of refuge from being carried around by his ribs.  He always wanted to sleep by my feet and when he was asleep I wouldn't let them wake him.  When he wanted to chew some of the shoes in the entryway, I had DGD get him some leather pieces to chew on.  Then he didn't need the other items.  (Once when I took him out, he insisted on bringing a stick inside, but I found it had nails in it so removed it from him).  The children had grown a lot this summer.  They'll be in second, and sixth grades right after labor day. 

 

The surgery started two hours late, but their DSIL came through it very well.  She had radiation first to shrink the lump before she could have surgery.  Now she will start chemo.  How I hope they find a way to stop Breast (or any) cancer.

I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which means I am slipping further and further behind even on things I want to do.  Today we didn't set the alarm and I slept until 10:15 am.  That was 15 minutes into our summer church services, but neither of us had any special duties today so it didn't really matter.  Jim suggested we go to the British Pantry for breakfast.  I had expected we would stay home, but the idea of not having to fix breakfast, and enjoying a really good meal won out.  We have never seen anyone we knew there.  But alas, half way through our breakfast, in walked three friends from church.  I haven't told any of them about my heath situation so we just explained that we had overslept.  Wouldn't you know it.  We got caught.

My husband is an ordained Presbyterian minister.  For 15 years we served in National Mission churches, which means in small towns where they could not support a minister on their own.  One of those churches was in Sigourney. Iowa with another church in Deep River, Iowa which was 25 miles away.  Early on, we often had beggars and con artists hitting all the churches in town,  The Parsonages or mansees were usually next door to the church.  Ministers didn't want to turn away people really in need but neither did they want to suppy money for alcohol and drugs.  So they all got together with the city and figured out a plan.  If the person was really needy, he could register ant the police department and get a free night's rest in the jail.  Also the Salvation Army would get them one free meal.  That worked pretty well.  If the person was a con artist he usually left for the next town.  People who needed help got it.  I have two short stories from before the arrangement, that today seem humorous.

 

One day my husband was in the kitchen making a peanut butter sandwich.  A man knocked at the back door and told my husband that he was terribly hungry and needed money to get a meal.  Jim told him he didn't have money but he would make him a peanut butter sandwich if he wanted one.  The man left in  digust stamping in anger.

 

It was early morning and our five children had been fed and were waiting for time to leave for their walk to school.  The front doorbell rang and a man asked to talk to Jim.  So he came in and sat down.  We quickly realized something was wrong by the way he was talking.  Suddenly the kids started saying loudly that the police car was driving by.  Then they got excited and called out, he's stopping.  He's coming to our door."  I was scared then, but jim opened the door.  The policeman said this man was told to leave town and he was following him to make sure he did.  He asked Jim if he wanted him to take him, and Jim said yes.  So the police man led him to the car.  Suddenly the man broke away and started running down the street in the snow.  The policeman ran after him and yelled, "stop or I'll shoot".  The man turned around and put his hands up and said, "you wouldn't shoot Jesus Christ would you?  That's who I am."  The policeman handcuffed him this time and took him to the station.  We got word later that the man was an escaped mental patient from Alabama, and two men were flying in to take him back.  The sad but funny part of this was that the gun the police was going to shoot with was his finger in the pocket of his coat.  Because he had cancer and the gun hurt against his side, it was in the glove compartment of his car.

 

 

Yesterday was the annual and national "Neighbors night out".  The purpose is so neighbors can get to know each other, and thereby keep our part of the world safer.  I have been Secretary of our Board of Directors for ten years.  Four years ago we voted to do this for our homeowners, in our block sized park.  We arranged for Armadillo Barbeque to come here and serve a meal of chicken and ribs, potato salad, Cold Slaw, Beans, cornbread.  I picked up two large decorated cakes from Cosco which were very good tasting.  The cakes were Chocoolate with Chocolate frosting and a strawberry cream filling.  We do this every year now at no expence to our owners.  I got concerned when the weather man at 4:30pm said it was 87 degrees out and thought we would reach 90.  I melt at over 78 degrees, and many of our 206 units are owned by elderly persons.  But as we set up to start up at 6 pm there came a nice gentle breeze so it was really quite comfortable.  We always invite our police and fire department and although they go to several others they love to eat here.  I always give them any leftovers to take back to the firehouse or police station.  The Police show their car and equipment and their police dog to the children, and anyone else that wants to join in.  The firemen show their ambulance and firetrucks also.  Since it was hot this time they hooked up a fire hose and turned it on in the street and a large crowd was drawn to that.  We also have a lot of people here that are from other countries so they really enjoyed seeing it all as well as eating and meeting others.  So all in all it was a very successful evening.