Dusty Pages

Digging Through My Photo Albums

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:37:49 GMT

I wondered if I had any good photos of Julie and found a few to share. It was interesting to me to see how many times she showed up in pictures taken at family get-togethers and summer family reunions at my Mom's house. Most of those photos weren't clear enough or had too many people in them, but I found a few to share.

Julie with her daughter, Zella, in the pool at Dennice's house.

That's me in the white jacket. On the left is Tim, Zella, and Julie. Directly behind me are my Mother and my sister Dennice holding her son Jacob. Friends Mary and Monica are at the very back and on the very right. Often Julie didn't smile big in posed pictures -- she was always self-conscious of her overbite.

Julie, my sister Lois, and my sister P.J.

Julie with Zella, friends Heather and Kyle, and my Mother on the right. I don't know what has them all so engrossed.

One year Julie and Dennice made costumes for their kids, Zella and Jamie, and costumes for themselves, did their own and their kids' make up, and decorated Julie's big adult tricycle to ride in the parade during Hardinsburg's Hoedown Days Festival. "Annie and Andy's Ragmobile" won a prize that year.

In this picture Julie is the rag doll with the parasol striding behind the Ragmobile, Dennice is walking a bit behind. Zella (Annie) is taking her turn pedaling, and Jamie (Andy) is riding behind. My niece, Crissie, walked along with them for abit. Julie made the yarn "wigs"; she and Dennice did the costumes and decorated the trike.

Zella, Julie's daughter dressed as Raggedy Ann; my nephew Jamie as Raggedy Andy; and my niece, Crissie. I was working for one of the local papers at that time, and if I remember correctly we had this picture on the front page.

In this photo Jamie is pedaling and Zella is riding on the back. Again Crissie is nearby. I think they're waiting to take their place in the parade. There was a story behind why the "e" in "Ragmobile" is leaning, but I can't remember what it is. I think we put this picture in a collage of festival pictures. I'm sure I have that paper somewhere.

Saying Goodbye To A Friend

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 03:32:36 GMT

Almost two years ago I wrote in this journal that a very dear friend of mine, Julie, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She died this week.

I'm just now able to write about it. Julie had had a mastectomy and chemo, and was doing fairly well for a while. After her chemotherapy was finished she told friends and family that if the cancer came back anywhere, she wasn't doing chemo again.

They found cancer in her bones very recently. On Tuesday she went into the hospital for some tests because she was jaundiced. They found her liver eaten up with cancer. They made her comfortable, and she didn't come home from the hospital.

I am waiting to hear news of the arrangements. As I said, I haven't been able to write about it until now, but now I feel like it, so I'm going to share a few memories of my friend Julie.

Julie's family was originally from Kentucky but she had lived several years in Illinois as well. She and her husband and two children moved back to Breckinridge County, Kentucky in 1972. She and my eldest sister, Dennice, had been friends in school, and very soon our families were spending a lot of time around each other. Her daughter, Angie, was a year ahead of me in school, and she and I became best friends.

My memories of Julie at that time are of a bubbly brunette with a huge smile. She could lose her temper quickly, and she could get it back quickly. She couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, but she loved music. I remember once at our house she and two of my sisters started dancing to some oldies music on the radio, and I was delighted at how well she danced. Angie was mortified, but I had all these older sisters, and to me Julie was just another sister, so there was nothing embarrassing about it to me.

Julie was a good seamstress and could knit and crochet. Her house was always full of home made crafts. She was color blind, though, so sometimes the color schemes were a bit off, but she didn't mind, and we got used to it.

During the summer we would go swimming at Vastwood Lake near Hawesville, Kentucky. We'd take lunch and stay all day. My mother had a big old station wagon for several years, and one time we were heading to the lake with Mom, Julie, my sisters Dennice and Lois, me, Angie, Julie's son Joe, and Dennice's daughter Sheila, all in that wagon.

On the way to Vastwood Lake, in Hancock County, there was a section of the road where on most days one could smell the local paper mill. People, if you've never smelled a paper mill, you should thank your lucky stars. Well, I remember this day we were going up Indian Hill when the smell hit us, and Angie piped up from the back, "Mom! I think your potato salad spilled!" Everyone cracked up at that one. (She seriously had thought that the potato had spilled; she wasn't being funny!) And always after that whenever driving that road, when we got close to Willamette, we'd say something about Julie's potato salad spilling.

Julie and her husband divorced in the late seventies. She had suspected him of cheating, but hadn't been able to prove it, and she really wanted to have proof before she divorced him. She'd heard a rumor of who he might be seeing, so for several nights, she followed him around. Somehow she talked my sister Lois into going with her, and finally one night, while hiding in an alley off Main Street in Hardinsburg, they saw him with the woman she'd heard he was sleeping with. She took pictures. Later she found letters they'd written to each other. With this evidence she confronted him, got her divorce, and got custody of their children. I remember him as being a very disagreeable man who drank too much.

In the early 80s she remarried and had another daughter. This daughter became like a little sister to me. When Angie married and moved out, she missed her so much that I started spending more time with her. She'd come to my house on Monday evenings and I would give her guitar lessons. She was only four years old, so it was mostly just an excuse for her to play around with my guitar and spend time with me, but she did learn a few things.

When Thomas and I started dating I wasn't sure how my father was going to take it. So I asked Julie and Tim, half jokingly, if I could come live with them if Daddy kicked me out. Julie's response was "There's a room waiting for you." Of course I didn't have to take her up on that, but it was nice knowing she was there for me.

Julie and my sister Dennice hosted my bridal shower. Julie's daughter, Zella, was one of my flower girls; she was escorted by Dennice's son, my nephew Jamie. Julie made Zella's dress and the dress of the other little flower girl in our retinue. She traveled with me to Louisville to the little girl's house, to fit her for her dress. This was a daughter of friends of Thomas' whom I'd only known a short while, and Julie sat down, pulled out her sewing basket, and before I knew it she and the little girl's mother were "thick as thieves".

My sister Maxine's daughter, Evonne, was one of my bridesmaids, and they got in from Florida only the day before my wedding. They were staying at Dennice's house, and at about 4:00 that afternoon I got a call from Dennice. "Tell Mom I need her. I think whoever Maxine got to do Evonne's dress messed it up. It doesn't look right." Panicking, I drove Mom to Dennice's house. Now my mother and Dennice are expert seamstresses. I have seen my mother look at a dress in a magazine, draw and cut out a pattern, and then sew up an exact replica of it. My mother took a look at that dress and turned white. The seamstress who made Evonne's dress had made other things for Maxine, so Maxine had trusted her to be able to follow the pattern and make this dress.

My mom said, "I don't know WHAT she did, but this is all wrong!" I don't remember much of the details, but I do remember that the picot edging was put on wrong, and there was something wrong about the lace peplum. Anyway Mom and Dennice looked at each other and Dennice asked, "Can we do it?"

Mom studied the dress for several seconds and then said, "With Julie helping, we might get it done tonight." So they sent me to get Julie and to pick up whatever leftover lace she might have from the flower girls' dresses.

I knocked on Julies' front door. She answered it. I said, "Evonne's dress is all screwed up. Mom and Dennice need your help. They need any left over lace you might have -- oh, and white thread!"

She said, "Just let me get my scissors and my thimble!"

"Oh, and bring a seam ripper!" I called after her.

I dropped her off at Dennice's, then went home to get the lace that Mom had and to get Mom's dressmaking scissors. I also got all my nighttime toiletries that I would need because I'd decided that I wasn't going to wait at home wondering what was going on.

When I got back to Dennice's there sat the three of them. They had put two seam rippers to good use, and as I watched they came up with a plan. Mom laid everything out, then gave Dennice and Julie their instructions. At one point all three of them were sewing on different parts of the dress. Mom would press each part as it was finished, and several times poor tired Evonne had to stand on the kitchen table so they could fit the dress to her.

While this was going on I took my shower, gave myself a facial, washed my hair, and did my nails. I tried to sleep some, honestly, but I couldn't. At some point Lois fixed everyone some sandwiches and Dennice pulled out a bottle of wine. I distinctly remember Julie looking at me, grinning, and saying, "I told you we needed to have one more hen party before you became a married lady."

At 3 a.m. I was finally home and in my own bed and Evonne's dress was finished. We had had a blast, and although everyone was tired the next day, I wouldn't have traded that night for anything, and Julie was a big part of it. She was a big part of my life for most of my childhood and young adulthood; as I say, she was like an extra sister.

You know I've thought several times about writing that story of Evonne's dress, but something always held me back. I'd start to, and then I'd feel "not yet."

I know there are more things I could write about her if I took the time, but I guess this is enough for now. I am sad to have lost this "sister". And I'm glad to have had her in my family.

Rest in Peace, Julie Meador.

Tags: Loss, Death, Family

The Story of a Sign

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:21:40 GMT

This video is beautiful! It won the Fourth Annual Online Short Film Competition -- Cannes, 2008. It may seem a bit slow in the beginning, but stay with it to the end.

HISTORIA DE UN LETRERO (THE STORY OF A SIGN)

Tags: Historia de un letrero, The story of a sign, Cannes Online Short Film competition 2008

And It Can Even Get Worse!

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:06:48 GMT

I just remembered another "rogue brain" moment. I was in line at a drive thru. I had the radio on. There was a commercial with a guy talking like Elmer Fudd. The car in front of me had a dealer's sticker on it that said "Greentree Toyota".

My brain repeatedly read to me "Gweentwee Toy-O-ta" in Elmer Fudd's voice until I acknowledged it.

Oi.

Hi! Me 5¢!

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:30:29 GMT

I have throughout my whole life had this problem. While driving down the road, walking through a store, or even just walking in my own house my brain will subconciously read things -- road signs, ads, book jackets, anything! It may be a word, a phrase, or an entire sentence.

I don't do it all the time, but there are days (I guess days when my OCD is bad or when I'm tired or nervous) where I seem to do it all day long. I don't really notice it until all of a sudden I become aware of a word or phrase repeating itself endlessly in my brain, and then I know it's going to be one of those days. It usually runs in the background like a registry program on my computer, but once I become conscious of it it becomes extremely annoying. I mean, really, my brain needs all the rest it can get -- I don't need it to go out on its own, a gray-matter rogue, reading and interpreting things recklessly and without purpose.

Well on a recent shopping trip I checked out at one of those You-Scan things. I was getting ready to pick up my bags when I realized that the phrase, "Hi! Me 5¢!" was shouting in my brain.

"Huh?!"

I knew I must have read it somewhere and started desperately looking all around the You Scan counter, trying to find those words! There was nothing at the counter or on a display nearby with those words. I'm glad there was no one waiting for my You Scan, because right there at the counter I emptied my bags and quickly looked at my purchases to see if that phrase would pop out at me. I don't know if it would have been that important that I find it if it hadn't been such a strange little phrase.

And then there it was! On my botttle of Gatorade A.M., right next to the bar code (where my brain would have quickly scanned it as I scanned the bottle) it said very plainly: HI, ME 5¢.

Of course it meant Hawaii (HI), Maine (ME) 5¢, as in a 5¢ refund.

But for me now whenever I buy Gatorade I hear a little cheery-bouncy-cheerleader-type-voice in my head saying, "Hi! Me 5¢!"

Just thought I'd share.

A Few Thoughts on Self-Confidence and Thinking Before You Speak

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:30:16 GMT

I've had this certain subject on my mind for several days now, so I guess I'd better write about it and be done with it. It all started with Jesse Jackson and his live-mic embarrassment. When I read about it the day after it happened I thought "What an idiot! He's not new at this, he should know better." When you're in a professional setting you act professionally, and that includes not talking off the cuff when you don't know who might be listening. Then I read a journaler who suffers from chronic illness writing about how hurt she is when someone says something that belittles how she is feeling. Then another entry I read was a mother remembering when something said unthinkingly was misunderstood by her daughter.

For some reason those three entries tied themselves together in my mind and left me thinking about not only how important it is to watch what we say but how important it is that we train ourselves to develop self-confidence if it isn't something that comes easy to us, and to start instilling it in our kids and helping them to learn how to draw on it when they need it.

Beth wrote about the Jesse Jackson incident and began her entry by saying, "Before making personal remarks to others, remarks not meant for public consumption, do you think public officials will ever learn to...MAKE SURE THE MICROPHONE IS OFF?!"

Well, it was that "Before making personal remarks to others" phrase that really jumped out at me and linked in my mind to the other entries I had read, namely this one by Luanne.

I'm going to quote a bit of Luanne's entry: "One thing that has haunted me for a while now is whether or not I am a good person. Being chronically ill changes the way many people view you. I have for a long time now come to terms with my illness. I have accepted my limitations. . . . What I cannot come to terms with how this thing “Lupus” has tinted the picture of me. How others view how I go about my day is the dilemma. Why should it even matter? But it does. Big time. And it hurts. . . . At least twice in the past month I have had to defend myself to those who lack any understanding. . . . I am not the same as I once was. . . . So why does it hurt so much when those who are unaware berate me on the subject of what I do not do. . . . Consequently I have become acidic. . . . I am discouraged having to constantly spell out that I am sick.

This is the comment I left for Luanne:

I think that someone with a chronic illness, especially one that doesn't necessarily show on the outside, develops layers of being that others who aren't chronically ill don't have. They often remain flat, if you know what I mean. They look at you and see a woman who doesn't look ill, therefore you must not be ill. You, on the other hand, probably look at someone who doesn't look ill and make no judgment if that person starts talking or writing about their illness. You have a depth that those other people don't have and possibly can never have. It would have to be frustrating to have to explain, over and over, about your illness and the effects it has on your day-to-day life, and after a while it must seem that it's just not worth it, especially when you have to explain over and over to the same people. Just leave them. They're not worth it. Take what they say or write and just turn it away from you. Visualize them or their words, literally reach out with your hand, pretend you're picking up them or their words, and then just toss them away. If they're standing in front of you, TELL them what you're doing. "I'm tossing you/your words away. You/They aren't healthy for me. I'm ill, but you'll never see that, and you'll never understand, and why should I suffer for your ignorance? So every time you berate me or put me down, I'm just going to toss you and your words away." I guarantee you they'll remember that and perhaps will think before they say something negative to you again!

I'm no psychologist, but I learned this tool from a lady I used to work with who, after going through a very rough divorce, sought therapy. She shared with me a tool that her therapist had taught her for setting aside other people, their words, and their behavior, so that she could focus on helping herself without their negativity interfering. This co-worker of mine had had very little self-esteem and had been further damaged by a possessive and dictatorial husband, and I actually saw her becoming a more confident person, happier in her own skin, after she used this tool (among other things). She didn't "toss" the person aside, however, she put them "in the parking lot." When her mother would put her down for divorcing her husband, tell her that she could never make it on her own, etc., my friend would put her hand out, palm forward, in front of her mother's face, and say, "Stop! I'm putting you in the parking lot!" And then she'd push her hand away from her, to one side, as if she were literally pushing her mother over into the "parking lot". And she would refuse to listen. That was what her therapist taught her.

I'm not sure really where I'm going with all of this. I guess I just wish that people would think before they talk. It is so easy to say something wrong or have it taken wrong, but I just can't imagine having a painful chronic illness and having to constantly validate myself to people because of it. As a child I was a very painfully bashful person, and I have had to work hard over the years to train myself to be more assertive and develop some confidence in myself and my own abilities. I have also been determined that my children would not suffer from lack of self-confidence and the problems it can bring. So when I read Luanne's opening line, it really twisted inside me. She wonders if she is a good person because of how people may view her now? No one should be made to wonder if she is a good person just because of something other people cannot understand.

Once as a family we were watching some show or movie, and a child in the movie was being picked on. Thomas never let anyone pick on him as a child, not in his family and not socially, and now as an adult he is still very assertive and never afraid to speak his mind. It has always come easily to him. It irritates him when he sees someone "letting" another person get away with treating him/her badly. He started commenting on the movie and saying the child "should have done" this or that. He was seriously upset! I let him finish, and then I said, "You know some people actually CAN'T do what you say you would have done. They don't have the tools or the skills. They've never been taught them. Asserting yourself and standing up to a bully is not something that comes naturally to everyone." He thought about that and then he told me that he was glad I'd said that, that I'd put it in a perspective he'd never considered before. And then he said, "Well, OUR kids are going to have the tools they need in that kind of situation."

I think I had more in mind to say, but it's late and I'm tired. I know this is a hodgepodge of thoughts, and I really hate that it hasn't come together more smoothly. I just can't get my brain to work right, so I'll close this by coming full circle and again quoting Beth from an entry she made on Saturday because it, again, ties in well: "There comes a time when people need to figure out that there is a whole big world out there, that it doesn't revolve around us as individuals, and that our actions can have an impact far beyond what we could ever begin to realize. Whether the impact is good or bad is our decision--there's that whole free will thing again--and we'd best start thinking about how our actions affect others, whether it's our family, our coworkers, the people we encounter online, or the people we deal with day-to-day. To every action there is a reaction, and never doubt for a moment that your actions DO matter."

Tags: Self-confidence, Think before you speak

"Come To My House" Meme

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:09:49 GMT

Dawn had this great meme in a recent entry, and I liked it, so here goes:

If you came to my house…

You would see: Me! (Why else would you come?) Seriously, let's see. You'd see a house that needs a good seasonal cleaning! You'd see LOTS of pets!!! You'd see LOTS of fossils, driftwood, and quartz in my front garden.

I’d probably feed you: Well, that would depend on the weather and the time of day, but I'm a pretty good cook, especially if you like a good home-cooked country meal. So it might be a venison roast with all the fixings including home make biscuits. If you're vegetarian, then I'd fix you a delicious zucchini casserole. If you're vegan (can't have the casserole because of the eggs and cheese), then I'd fix a nice green salad, maybe some home made gazspacho (if it's a hot day) along with some home made bread.

And offer you this to drink: Water, sweet tea, Pepsi, or Gatorade; and if you want some wine, you may choose between Thomas' home made pear or grape. But don't drink too much, because it packs a punch!

I’d undoubtedly ask if you’d read: Any Georgette Heyer or Patricia Veryan, and then I'd show you my collections.

I’d want to play this music for you: Well, that could be anything, I guess, depending on our mood. Or I'd bribe Andrew to play something for us either on keyboard or guitar.

I’d want to tell you about: My family and whatever Eler Beth's newest escapade is.

I’d probably suggest a game of: Scrabble, Clue, or some card game like Spades or Gin Rummy.

I would definitely show off: Hmmm. My kids? My hubby?Lucy's egg? The 'possum? My tons of books??

I might get on the computer and show you: Pictures of my family or funny emails from my sisters.

If it was a long enough visit, we might watch: Whatever you'd like to watch. We run the gauntlet when it comes to movies and DVDs, with just about anything but horror shows. So you choose! Oh, I know -- old home movies!

Well, that's it. Thanks Dawn! Play along by copying and pasting in your own journal and leaving me a link.

Tags: Meme

Monday Meanderings

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:03:22 GMT

Happy Monday morning to everyone.

We're having a beautiful day in Southern Indiana, 78° right now. I spent about 45 minutes outside weeding and watering this morning, while the 'possum played around near me. She has a couple of favorite places she likes to be in the front garden, and she loves getting lost in the iris "jungle" -- the iris that I desperately need to move to another spot.

Eler Beth had her world history/geography lesson this morning and did very well. In a few weeks I'll add another subject, and that's how we'll ease into the school year. I've done some laundry, called my Mom, and done the dishes, and now I'm ready to play on the computer a bit. I may take a nap later, too.

I forgot to write last week about how Thomas' new position as a QC Lead was going. He's doing great! All throughout the yard he heard "congratulations" and "it's about time" from so many people. Of course there are some who wanted the job and who are being a bit cold toward him. I resent that, personally, but he just shrugs it off. I mean if he'd stabbed someone in the back to get the position, that would be one thing, but all he did was take someone's suggestion that he check into it, and then the big boss interviewed him for it on the spot when he did that. He wanted Thomas as soon as he knew Thomas was interested, and it was pretty much up to him to choose who was hired. Then there are those who resent anyone who makes a move up, even if it's not something they'd want for themselves. But most everyone likes and respects Thomas and knows he'll do a good and fair job, and he is loving it. I'm very proud of him!

Catching up with a couple of other things -- a month ago Pam gave me a "Special Friend Award", and although I thanked her privately, I wasn't journaling much right then and hadn't acknowledged it here in my journal. I do thank her; it was very sweet and I really appreciate it. I will display the graphic in my sidebar.

Also in June I won one of the What's The Caption Wednesday contests over at Magic Smoke. I was honestly surprised when my caption made it to the polls because I really thought there were several that were better than mine. I had submitted it right at the last minute. I appreciate it being nominated and will display that graphic as well. (Although I think I've submitted captions for other "Wednesday" photos that were better than that one! lol)

Lastly, AOL Journals is coming up on its Fifth Year Anniversary, and Donna graciously tagged a "Five Years" graphic for us.

Don't be surprised if I come back and do a couple more entries -- and don't fall over from a heart attack, either! I'm rather in the mood to journal I think, so we'll see what happens.

Tags: Special Friend Award, What's the Caption Wednesday, AOL Journals Five Years

Friday Frolics

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:53:37 GMT

Beautiful Friday to everyone! At least it's beautiful here. It's sunny, warm, 87° with a nice breeze blowing. Andrew took Eler Beth out for the day. They are running errands together, getting something to eat, and then they're going to some friends' to play video games. It was very nice of him to do that. And I got a whole day free!!!

What have I done with it? Not much, really. I called my Mom to check in on her and talked to my sister Maxine (visiting from FL) instead because my Mom was lying down. She was feeling okay when she got up but then started getting short-winded. They are going shopping this evening and she wanted to be relaxed for that, so she took half a Xanex and lay down for a nap.

I've done laundry but I haven't done any trimming on my yard. I guess it can wait till later. Or tomorrow. I gassed up my car, got myself some lunch --ALL BY MYSELF! -- and then I went to KSS School Supply Store because they are having a sale this weekend and next week Eler Beth and I are starting her 7th grade year.

Yes, I know it's still summer, but we're going to start with one subject this month. We'll only spend 1-1/2 to 2 hrs a day, and it won't hurt her. Then during the fall and winter we can take a week off here and there if we want to because we'll be SO much ahead. I hope.

I decided that her knowledge of world geography and world history is woefully negligent, so I've worked up a world history/geography curriculum that I hope won't be too confusing or stupid. We're starting with the Middle East. We had to start somewhere, and I thought that would be a good place, given the things going on in the world today. I'll keep you posted as we move to other regions of the world. I found some really neat things at KSS to aid in our quest for knowledge. I have an idea that Eler Beth won't be quite so enthusiastic as I am, but that's to be expected.

I also got some incentive charts, stickers, and attitude thing-ys because she is exhibiting signs of being a teenager. Go figure! She has all these places she wants to go on "field trips" this year, and she'd like to bring along a friend most of the time, so she's going to have to earn the privilege. Believe me, this is necessary. If you give her an ailing/newborn/orphaned/cute/young/old/dirty/beautiful/happy/oh-forget-it-let's-just-say-ANY animal to care for she'll research on the Internet, call any "expert" she knows, including a local call-in show, get up through the night for numerous feedings, and anything else she has to do to learn about how to care for or to care for said animal. Give her an interesting rock, fossil, or plant and she'll do the same. But social studies/history? Polishing her math or grammar skills? Reading a book that MOM has picked out for her and says will enrich her knowledge/vocabulary/horizons? PUL-LEASE! It is to laugh. But that's okay. She doesn't take too long usually to get in the right mind frame, and I'm not a tyrant.

Usually.

Today's salute goes to Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel,

Population 129,700 -- 6,249 miles from Jeffersonville ~ ~

Sa-LUTE!

Tags: KSS School Supplies, home school, pre-teens

Thursday Catch Up

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:48:28 GMT

We had a nice dry day today after several days of rain, so I had a nice time with my Snapper cutting down that jungle I call a yard! Didn't get to the trimming, but I think it's supposed to be nice tomorrow, too.

On Monday we had a nice surprise. Eler Beth, checking the cockatiels' nesting box, burst in on me just as I was settling down for a nap with the announcement that "Lucy laid an egg!" And sure enough, there was one small, white egg in the nesting box. Louie (the father -- so sorry, Schroeder!) is being VERY protective of the egg and the box. We called our breeder/pet-shop-owner friend and she said that they usually lay every other day until they have no more eggs. There have been no other eggs, so she said perhaps she only has one egg in her, since this is her first time. Of course we don't know if it's fertilized or not. I guess we'll know in a few weeks. They are taking turns sitting on it and moving it around the nesting box, though.

Eler Beth has a new kitten! His name is Samuel, and he's a yellow tabby. He is just about 10 weeks old and comes from the neighbors across the street. He's a kitten of the cat from which Eler Beth saved the baby 'possums a few weeks ago. Andrew is getting one of the little females from them; a little dark gray/black tabby with very dainty ways. He's naming her Kana (a Japanese name; don't know what it means).

About a week after Eler Beth rescued the 'possums one of them (Lewis) escaped. We doubt that he made it because they were still so very young at that time. But we still have Clark, and she (yes, SHE) is doing very well. For a couple of weeks she would call to Eler Beth if she was out of her cage walking around to make sure that Eler Beth didn't get too far away from her. They make little chuffing sounds, almost like someone going "psst" to get your attention, when they are calling their young or when the young are calling their mothers. She doesn't do that now, and she is more adventurous out on her own (but she is very afraid of the kittens!). When I hold her she crawls up on my shoulder and just sits. When Eler Beth holds her she grabs onto Eler Beth's shirt with her front paws and her mouth! Yes, she takes a bit of Eler Beth's shirt in her mouth and hangs on, just like she would have done with her mother. She knows the difference between Eler Beth and me. She loves peaches, cantaloupe, chicken, fried eggs, blueberries, gravy, and bugs!!! Those are her favorites but she'll eat just about any meat or fruit -- doesn't like veggies, though. When the kittens scared her one day I picked her up and she hid her head in my shirt. She's such a cute little thing, and yes, I will be posting pictures.

My mother is doing pretty well. She is still having days where she is short of breath. So far all of her tests have come back good. We are waiting on the results of the thyroid scan and the stress test. My sister from Florida is in visiting for a couple of weeks which is nice. Next week Mom is coming to Louisville to have a series of tests done at Norton's Hospital. I'm not sure what they are, but apparently they are tests they couldn't do at her hospital. I'm glad her doctor is checking everything!

Well, I guess that just about gets me all caught up. We had broccoli stir fry for dinner and deep dish apple pie. I've done my mowing and am ready to settle in for the evening. I hope everyone is doing well out there in J-land.

Tags: cockatiels, opossums