Over thirteen years ago I visited my brother Charles and he presented me with a small bundle of black and white fur. His Boston Terrier had 4 puppies and he gave me one. Well C.J. was an easy name to come by, I had a grandson Christopher and a granddaughter Jessica, and also a sometimes bratty brother Charles. So C.J. represented them all, and he was just the cutest thing.
Actually he was so cute we had to find him a play mate, so the same brother who at that time bred and sold Boston Terriers had another litter with different blood lines so we bought C.J. his very own Lady friend Baby. From 6 weeks on they were inseparable.
Back in the the Spring Baby decided she had taken all she could of C.J.'s antics after 13 years of his barking and aggravating her she decided she would take a Heavenly Trip, or as my oldest son would say, Baby was no more.
Poor C.J. had nobody to bark at or snuggle up to. He tried the ceramic cat on the living room floor a few times, but guess she wasn't too warm or appealing. He became a crotchety old man and on Friday he decided he would take a long nap and go see Baby.
Time passes and it seems like a short time but for his breed 13 1/2 years is a very long journey. I will miss him he was a great companion to me, especially after my husband passed away and before I remarried. I can best describe it as the end of an Era one that included my other life, for I feel like now I'm walking in a different world making new memories and C.J. was part of my past. Forever gone now.
Blessings / Barbara
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Birthday fun
As I previously posted my husband left my birthday gift at home. So on Sunday morning the day of my birthday he told me what I had waiting for me at home.
Of course I loved the gift, (Ruby/Diamond Ring) but the best part was the card. We have a running joke about the names he calls me. I've been trying to teach him some new words for quite some time now.
He often calls me "Brat" as in Spoiled Brat, "Silly" is another one of his expressions, so along the way I've tried to incorporate the word "Precious."
My birthday card said "To My Precious Wife." Can you believe it? He's really been listening to me, don't cha think?
Many Blessings
Barbara
Of course I loved the gift, (Ruby/Diamond Ring) but the best part was the card. We have a running joke about the names he calls me. I've been trying to teach him some new words for quite some time now.
He often calls me "Brat" as in Spoiled Brat, "Silly" is another one of his expressions, so along the way I've tried to incorporate the word "Precious."
My birthday card said "To My Precious Wife." Can you believe it? He's really been listening to me, don't cha think?
Many Blessings
Barbara
Anniversary / Birthday Trip
We spent this past weekend in Alabama. One of my favorite places to go since most of my family lives there.
It was our two year anniversary and my birthday so we rented a convertible for our short weekend Holiday trip.
For our anniversary I got my husband a Radar Detector because in the Spring when we went to Alabama for my family's fish fry get together He got a ticket. That ticket cost as much as the Radar Detector, so it was probably money well spent for many trips to come.
You might be asking so what did he get her? Well by now you all know he is a romantic, so I got a Ruby Bracelet to go with my Ruby slide and earrings that he bought me for Christmas.
On the ride up we only had one short rain shower so the rest of the trip was top down and lovin' it.
An hour or so outside of town he remembered he had left my birthday present at home. I assured him my favorite thing to do is to celebrate several weeks if not all month.
One of the reason we took this trip at this particular time was because my brother Charles was turning 70. His children were throwing him a Surprise Birthday party on Saturday and we were part of the surprise.
I come from a family of nine and several years ago one of my sisters and I decided to present each person who turned 70 a quilt. Well it's really more like a quilt hanging. The first one we created together, but later she made two of our brothers one, then it was her turn, so I made hers, and this time I decided very early on to make this one very special. I cut out the squares, only 9 of them. Created a ball cap and denim jeans and shirt applique for the boys, skirt, blouse and bonnet for the girl. Each square told a story of that person.
On my square I had two books with a big A on them, for my books Amon(There's an Angel in the House) and Audrey's Window. I also had a dog on my skirt to represent my Boston Terrier dogs that I got from this brother. Had a bumble bee and dragon fly button to represent my two boys, a flower for my daughter, a red heart for my husband, and the stem of the flower had leaves for each grandchild and an Angel pin over my heart for my precious Tracey who only lived 25 days. On every quilt block I stitched the birth year of the brother or sister and in one case the year of a death. We lost our oldest brother Billy in 1989.
Maybe one day soon I will post a picture. I did think it turned out rather cute. He certainly was proud of it. And now I have two years to come up with something spectacular for another sister who will be 70. Her name is Reba and in 2011 she will be 70..... hope she isn't reading this, no really I haven't told a soul you will be 68 on December 14.
Many Blessings
Barbara
It was our two year anniversary and my birthday so we rented a convertible for our short weekend Holiday trip.
For our anniversary I got my husband a Radar Detector because in the Spring when we went to Alabama for my family's fish fry get together He got a ticket. That ticket cost as much as the Radar Detector, so it was probably money well spent for many trips to come.
You might be asking so what did he get her? Well by now you all know he is a romantic, so I got a Ruby Bracelet to go with my Ruby slide and earrings that he bought me for Christmas.
On the ride up we only had one short rain shower so the rest of the trip was top down and lovin' it.
An hour or so outside of town he remembered he had left my birthday present at home. I assured him my favorite thing to do is to celebrate several weeks if not all month.
One of the reason we took this trip at this particular time was because my brother Charles was turning 70. His children were throwing him a Surprise Birthday party on Saturday and we were part of the surprise.
I come from a family of nine and several years ago one of my sisters and I decided to present each person who turned 70 a quilt. Well it's really more like a quilt hanging. The first one we created together, but later she made two of our brothers one, then it was her turn, so I made hers, and this time I decided very early on to make this one very special. I cut out the squares, only 9 of them. Created a ball cap and denim jeans and shirt applique for the boys, skirt, blouse and bonnet for the girl. Each square told a story of that person.
On my square I had two books with a big A on them, for my books Amon(There's an Angel in the House) and Audrey's Window. I also had a dog on my skirt to represent my Boston Terrier dogs that I got from this brother. Had a bumble bee and dragon fly button to represent my two boys, a flower for my daughter, a red heart for my husband, and the stem of the flower had leaves for each grandchild and an Angel pin over my heart for my precious Tracey who only lived 25 days. On every quilt block I stitched the birth year of the brother or sister and in one case the year of a death. We lost our oldest brother Billy in 1989.
Maybe one day soon I will post a picture. I did think it turned out rather cute. He certainly was proud of it. And now I have two years to come up with something spectacular for another sister who will be 70. Her name is Reba and in 2011 she will be 70..... hope she isn't reading this, no really I haven't told a soul you will be 68 on December 14.
Many Blessings
Barbara
Friday, August 21, 2009
On a Mission
Last month my husband bought a Thomas Kincaid painting. It was/is beautiful. Did we need it? No. Too costly. But he is very sentimental and the painting is a park in Savannah and we spent our Honeymoon in Savannah. September 2, will be our two year anniversary and I'm sure this painting we will enjoy because it will have a special meaning for us.
This Mission to buy one of his paintings started last February. Larry's son Sean and his wife Brenda went to Biltmore House for their Honeymoon and Thomas Kincaid had an incredible painting of the Biltmore House.
We all live in Jacksonville, Florida but go to St. Augustine quite often and there is a wonderful Kincaid Gallery right on St. George street so we are frequent visitors. Sean and Brenda fell in love with the Biltmore painting and with some very clever financing which we were all involved in Sean received the painting for his birthday in February.
Grandfather gave them a check for their wedding that covered half of the cost, he always gives money for birthdays and Christmas so they saved those checks and I found a coupon on line for $100.00 off and for his birthday we all gave money. So creative financing works when you know what you want.
I think that got us looking for a painting for our home, and low and behold there it was just waiting on us, and no creative financing to be had, just monthly payments to Visa, (they love us).
Anyway my mission was to pick it up today, and since I work closer to St. Augustine then I do to home I took an early lunch and was on a MISSION, my mission which I chose to accept was to make this run in less than an hour, find parking, get painting, avoid the rain and get back to work.
Yea, I did it thanks to the sweet guy in the parking lot who didn't charge me the $7.00, because I said "pretty please" I won't be but 5 minutes. Thanks to Marc our salesman who had the painting wrapped and ready and even carried it to the car for me. The parking lot guy said I had worked a miracle....not really Marc is always that nice I've been told.
Then the traffic worked to my benefit and I made it back to work in record time 50 minutes round trip. And I even had a chat with my sister in Alabama as I drove back to work, (oops don't think I was supposed to tell that part, yakking on the phone and driving). It's okay I had the speaker phone on....!
Many Blessings
Barbara
This Mission to buy one of his paintings started last February. Larry's son Sean and his wife Brenda went to Biltmore House for their Honeymoon and Thomas Kincaid had an incredible painting of the Biltmore House.
We all live in Jacksonville, Florida but go to St. Augustine quite often and there is a wonderful Kincaid Gallery right on St. George street so we are frequent visitors. Sean and Brenda fell in love with the Biltmore painting and with some very clever financing which we were all involved in Sean received the painting for his birthday in February.
Grandfather gave them a check for their wedding that covered half of the cost, he always gives money for birthdays and Christmas so they saved those checks and I found a coupon on line for $100.00 off and for his birthday we all gave money. So creative financing works when you know what you want.
I think that got us looking for a painting for our home, and low and behold there it was just waiting on us, and no creative financing to be had, just monthly payments to Visa, (they love us).
Anyway my mission was to pick it up today, and since I work closer to St. Augustine then I do to home I took an early lunch and was on a MISSION, my mission which I chose to accept was to make this run in less than an hour, find parking, get painting, avoid the rain and get back to work.
Yea, I did it thanks to the sweet guy in the parking lot who didn't charge me the $7.00, because I said "pretty please" I won't be but 5 minutes. Thanks to Marc our salesman who had the painting wrapped and ready and even carried it to the car for me. The parking lot guy said I had worked a miracle....not really Marc is always that nice I've been told.
Then the traffic worked to my benefit and I made it back to work in record time 50 minutes round trip. And I even had a chat with my sister in Alabama as I drove back to work, (oops don't think I was supposed to tell that part, yakking on the phone and driving). It's okay I had the speaker phone on....!
Many Blessings
Barbara
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Week in reverse
Last week took me back in time. I suppose I knew after my husband Mickey passed away that a time would come when I would again be involved with his family.
You get married and you inherit a mom, dad, and siblings. Absolutely no different then being born into a family. You really don't know what you are getting and sometimes you hit the jackpot and sometimes you don't.
Mickey's mother passed away on August 7, one week after I had gone to see her in Hospice for the last time. Mickey died in January of 2004 and at that time his mother was in fairly good health. His father preceded him in death by seven years. She was 81.
We spent a lot of time with his family off and on through the 17 years we were married and I don't remember there being any major disagreements. But in the last 6 months of his life when he needed a lot of care, some words were spoken, hurtful words by one of his sisters. And it took time to get over that. And I really don't remember even one phone call during the weeks following his death from his family to check on me, there were a couple of phone calls to see if they could have this or that item.
But time passes and you get over the sadness, the hurts, the bad memories and you move on. After three years I met Larry and remarried so there was no contact with Mickey's family, until Mom got sick.
I heard about it through the work grapevine as one of his sisters works where I do. We get along fine but family things didn't come up much and we work on separate floors in separate departments, so we don't see each other very often. Anyway when I heard Mom was in Hospice I went by to see her. She wasn't herself for sure and the memories flooded in as I visited with his favorite Aunt and one of his sisters.
Then on the 12th she was buried. Because I thought it was the right thing to do I attended the viewing and the funeral. It was nice seeing everyone, there were a lot of hugs, and smiling faces seemingly glad to see me. But that one person who ignores you, can't look you in the eye, can make you feel so unimportant and very uncomfortable.
I promised myself I would not get drug down, but I was. Memories hurt when they aren't good memories. I'm sure she doesn't like me probably never did, so why did I try so hard?
The funny thing is she treats her sisters the same way, so again why am I taking this so personally. I should be feeling sorry for her because she's the one who needs help not me.
The one thing she said to me during Mickey's illness that hurt the worst was, "If he were my husband I would be staying here with him all the time." He was in the hospital at that time with poor but controllable health issues. This lady has never worked outside her home and I was at this time the sole provider for our household and the provider of the medical insurance that was paying the hospital bills. My comment was, "If it was your husband you could afford to stay full time, but I have to work so we can afford for him to be here." Her husband later apologized to me for her. That happened more than once as others always apologized for her.
Mickey was an alcoholic and died with liver disease at a too young age. I've started a book entitled "Unequally Yoked to A.A. (An Alcoholic). Not sure I will ever be able to finish it as I put much of that sadness away a long time ago, until my Week in Reverse, but like so many doors, I think this one has finally closed.
I left the funeral and went for some Therapy Shopping. After purchasing two pair of "Feel Good" shoes I was able to say my own personal good bye to the lady I knew as Mom for 17 years, and know that I was ready for a new week and totally committed to my new life and extended family members.
Blessings,
Barbara
You get married and you inherit a mom, dad, and siblings. Absolutely no different then being born into a family. You really don't know what you are getting and sometimes you hit the jackpot and sometimes you don't.
Mickey's mother passed away on August 7, one week after I had gone to see her in Hospice for the last time. Mickey died in January of 2004 and at that time his mother was in fairly good health. His father preceded him in death by seven years. She was 81.
We spent a lot of time with his family off and on through the 17 years we were married and I don't remember there being any major disagreements. But in the last 6 months of his life when he needed a lot of care, some words were spoken, hurtful words by one of his sisters. And it took time to get over that. And I really don't remember even one phone call during the weeks following his death from his family to check on me, there were a couple of phone calls to see if they could have this or that item.
But time passes and you get over the sadness, the hurts, the bad memories and you move on. After three years I met Larry and remarried so there was no contact with Mickey's family, until Mom got sick.
I heard about it through the work grapevine as one of his sisters works where I do. We get along fine but family things didn't come up much and we work on separate floors in separate departments, so we don't see each other very often. Anyway when I heard Mom was in Hospice I went by to see her. She wasn't herself for sure and the memories flooded in as I visited with his favorite Aunt and one of his sisters.
Then on the 12th she was buried. Because I thought it was the right thing to do I attended the viewing and the funeral. It was nice seeing everyone, there were a lot of hugs, and smiling faces seemingly glad to see me. But that one person who ignores you, can't look you in the eye, can make you feel so unimportant and very uncomfortable.
I promised myself I would not get drug down, but I was. Memories hurt when they aren't good memories. I'm sure she doesn't like me probably never did, so why did I try so hard?
The funny thing is she treats her sisters the same way, so again why am I taking this so personally. I should be feeling sorry for her because she's the one who needs help not me.
The one thing she said to me during Mickey's illness that hurt the worst was, "If he were my husband I would be staying here with him all the time." He was in the hospital at that time with poor but controllable health issues. This lady has never worked outside her home and I was at this time the sole provider for our household and the provider of the medical insurance that was paying the hospital bills. My comment was, "If it was your husband you could afford to stay full time, but I have to work so we can afford for him to be here." Her husband later apologized to me for her. That happened more than once as others always apologized for her.
Mickey was an alcoholic and died with liver disease at a too young age. I've started a book entitled "Unequally Yoked to A.A. (An Alcoholic). Not sure I will ever be able to finish it as I put much of that sadness away a long time ago, until my Week in Reverse, but like so many doors, I think this one has finally closed.
I left the funeral and went for some Therapy Shopping. After purchasing two pair of "Feel Good" shoes I was able to say my own personal good bye to the lady I knew as Mom for 17 years, and know that I was ready for a new week and totally committed to my new life and extended family members.
Blessings,
Barbara
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Writing for Fun
Yesterday I wrote a few lines just for entertainment and fun. My friends are used to my humor so sometimes I either tell them or write them something that I find humorous in my life with my Sweet Husband, Larry. So here's my story and I'm sticking to it, although one friend wanted me to swear it was "the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth." Another friend proclaimed "You are So Spoiled." Yet another said "You are the Queen and must dress accordingly." I have some wonderful friends who truly "Stand by Me" in all sorts of situations.
Larry came looking for me to tell me bye this morning and he found me standing in front of my closet, (which is full to exploding) but I lied very nicely, with "honey I don't have a thing to wear" Of course he was trying to look over my shoulder as I adeptly closed the door.
Later I emailed him that I had made it to work and had on some "old rags" I had found deep in the closet to put on. That very "unsympathetic man" emailed me back that he was sure the Thrift Store would be open as usual Saturday Morning. I then told him that perhaps I had some change laying around and maybe they would have something I could afford.
I did a favor for him later in the day by making some phone calls about an old insurance bill they wanted us to pay on the house he sold last year. Anyway I assessed my time and energy and billed him $10.00 so I would have some money to spend for these new clothes I so badly need, from the Thrift Store.
And oh what a "sweet man" he is, as he said that since I was so deprived I could have 10% of the money I had just saved him with my phone calls. So Yippee Skippee I now have $26.68 for my wild shopping spree for new duds.
What'cha think about that? I probably can store them in
the washing machineor under the bed, or hey I can
put some nails on the back of the doors in the
house and hang them there! Whatever works....!
Have A Very Blessed Day, smile often and laugh out loud
Barbara
Larry came looking for me to tell me bye this morning and he found me standing in front of my closet, (which is full to exploding) but I lied very nicely, with "honey I don't have a thing to wear" Of course he was trying to look over my shoulder as I adeptly closed the door.
Later I emailed him that I had made it to work and had on some "old rags" I had found deep in the closet to put on. That very "unsympathetic man" emailed me back that he was sure the Thrift Store would be open as usual Saturday Morning. I then told him that perhaps I had some change laying around and maybe they would have something I could afford.
I did a favor for him later in the day by making some phone calls about an old insurance bill they wanted us to pay on the house he sold last year. Anyway I assessed my time and energy and billed him $10.00 so I would have some money to spend for these new clothes I so badly need, from the Thrift Store.
And oh what a "sweet man" he is, as he said that since I was so deprived I could have 10% of the money I had just saved him with my phone calls. So Yippee Skippee I now have $26.68 for my wild shopping spree for new duds.
What'cha think about that? I probably can store them in
the washing machineor under the bed, or hey I can
put some nails on the back of the doors in the
house and hang them there! Whatever works....!
Have A Very Blessed Day, smile often and laugh out loud
Barbara
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Projects
Have you ever had too many projects? Well it seems like we don't get one finished until we have an idea for another and sometimes there's one on hold and two in progress.
At the moment we are painting the outside of the house and inbetween we are moving furniture around on the inside to make room for our latest addition. A GRANDFATHER clock. Wow.... the company I work for is footing the bill because I've been here for 20 years. It doesn't seem like 20 years and I never intended to work outside the home for that many years, but life seems to happen.
Well in the mist of all of this we volunteered to keep our granddaughter over night so her folks, my husband's daughter and son-in-law can celebrate their anniversary, and got the good news that we are to be grandparents again via my husband's son and daughter-in-law. Great news and I'm sure I'll write more about that awesome event as time goes on. I have not one but three baby afghans in process......... boy, girl, twins???? The Twin part is not likely this time but when my son and his wife finally decide it is time, she's a twin so maybe.
And we have a man coming Saturday to put Hardee Board on the back of the house. Let me tell you I'm tired already and keep thinking of other stuff I want to do. How bout that bathroom tile, and the new floor for the Utility Room, and oh yeah I want to steam clean the bathroom...... It's all about time and the management of time.
Which brings me to another thought, I want to finish my brother's quilt for his big 70th birthday and I do so want to get back to writing. Two books and I stopped to get married, well we are old married folks now, almost 2 years, but like Larry says if you count all the years we've been married to each other and to others, well........ it's a total of 72 years.
I'm working on getting my head in the direction of a book I started years ago and didn't finish. And we've also borrowed a treadmill and so far I'm up to a mile a day.... Yea Me.
So guess at this stage I just need to record my thoughts as I walk and write them down later or just slow down on the projects.
Have a Blessed Day
Barbara
At the moment we are painting the outside of the house and inbetween we are moving furniture around on the inside to make room for our latest addition. A GRANDFATHER clock. Wow.... the company I work for is footing the bill because I've been here for 20 years. It doesn't seem like 20 years and I never intended to work outside the home for that many years, but life seems to happen.
Well in the mist of all of this we volunteered to keep our granddaughter over night so her folks, my husband's daughter and son-in-law can celebrate their anniversary, and got the good news that we are to be grandparents again via my husband's son and daughter-in-law. Great news and I'm sure I'll write more about that awesome event as time goes on. I have not one but three baby afghans in process......... boy, girl, twins???? The Twin part is not likely this time but when my son and his wife finally decide it is time, she's a twin so maybe.
And we have a man coming Saturday to put Hardee Board on the back of the house. Let me tell you I'm tired already and keep thinking of other stuff I want to do. How bout that bathroom tile, and the new floor for the Utility Room, and oh yeah I want to steam clean the bathroom...... It's all about time and the management of time.
Which brings me to another thought, I want to finish my brother's quilt for his big 70th birthday and I do so want to get back to writing. Two books and I stopped to get married, well we are old married folks now, almost 2 years, but like Larry says if you count all the years we've been married to each other and to others, well........ it's a total of 72 years.
I'm working on getting my head in the direction of a book I started years ago and didn't finish. And we've also borrowed a treadmill and so far I'm up to a mile a day.... Yea Me.
So guess at this stage I just need to record my thoughts as I walk and write them down later or just slow down on the projects.
Have a Blessed Day
Barbara
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