National Ranching Heritage Center

Lubbock has a wonderful FREE (except for donations) museum that explores ranching in the panhandle. Most of it is outside, which is great if you have kiddos. There's an old-style Victorian home, a bunkhouse, a place where they quarantined sheep and MORE! All are original buildings relocated to the museum.
At various times throughout the year they have special activities such as chuckwagon cooking. At Christmas, they have two evenings when the whole place is lit with luminaries and you get to wander around and learn about the the lifestyle way back when. People are playing a harpsicord and dancing in one of the homes, there's a lady weaving on a big loom in another. You see children with their slates in an actual one room schoolhouse. I would recommend it to everyone. Not just at Christmas-anytime of the year!
While we were wandering around, I saw these hombres. The one in the middle knows how to smile at the flash of the camera. My son could take a few pointers from his big sister about smiling for the camera.
Richard is pretty tolerant of me. :-) Where is my son's coat??!! It was warm that evening but a cool breeze was blowing.

Remember the one-room school house I mentioned Here's a picture of one of the students. I had a flash on my camera. They were limited to keresone lamps and candles. Those were the days!

Dancing and celebrating in one of the homes. They were have having a great time and we loved standing and watching them.

You have to place it on your list of things to do in Lubbock. It only takes a couple hours.

Who knows, you may even walk away having learned something. :-)

Birthday Photos from Nov 25

November 25th was Thanksgiving for most people. Not at our house. Josephine and Richard came to Clovis to celebrate her brother's 22nd birthday. Richard's birthday was Nov 30th so we did a dual celebration. Here's Travers with a DS game Josephine and Richard gave him. Richard has learned to be extremely tolerant of our family's wrapping. We do layers and layers AND LAYERS of paer and often duct tape. Sometimes most of the fun is in the anticipation as much as the gift. Inside was a DS XL game... I think that's what it's called. Travers gave it to him. Now they get their respective game systems together and have fun.

No birthday cake for Travers! He loves plain sugar cookies and he loves the whole Star Trek, Star Wars, sci-fi genre. I made him plain cookies with a sugar copy of the Star Trek logo. He was happy.

Richard is a German chocolate fan. He had chocolate cupcakes with German chocolate filling. He's loves the comic book character Green Lantern. On top of his cupcakes there a copy of the Green Lantern's ring.

Two happy guys.

Oct 25th Hospital

On Oct 25th, a Monday, I was experiencing shortness of breath. Bill and I went out for lunch with Travers, a quick trip through Hobby Lobby and then home. I was exhausted. While I was resting, Josephine called. I couldn't complete a sentence so I told her we'd talk later. A little later I called my sister Rose, an LPN. She realized there was something wrong and insisted I go to the hosp. (Sisters can be psychic like that) A little after 5 p.m. Bill rushed me to Clovis ER. Halfway there we picked up a police escourt who later chided Bill for not calling 911.

The duty dr decided I had inflamation of the lungs. He was going to wait for some more test results then give me some drugs and send me home. This confirmed what I suspected, it was nothing.

Shift change and I got a new doctor and test results were back. I was having a heart attack. They believed I had one earlier in the day and my body was having a second one. I had injections, nitroglycerin and my BP dropped to near 20. Not good. Plans were made to stablize me and fly me to LBB. Eastern New Mexico is WINDY! Too windy for my first ever helicopter ride. I was going by ambulance. Plans changed again. It would be by helicopter. About midnight I landed on the roof of Covenant Hosp in LBB.

(I had a nurse named Jill in Clovis. She kept telling me it was okay to be scared. I could cry. I couldn't. For one thing, this was all out of my control. Unlike my diabetes, I couldn't do anything about it. Second and most important, I had and have a faith in God. I knew he was at my side and would see me through this. He would either give me a personal excourt to Heaven or see me though this whole thing and let me go home. He was in charge and I was going to relax and let Him be my God, my Savior and my Rescuer.)

There were more tests in LBB. An angoigram proved my heart to be healthy. Other tests revealed I had blood clots - thrombsis. They started above my cast and were through my chest.

Turn your head sideways. Here I am at the hosp. (I tried to right-side this pic but it didn't upload to my blog right-side). There's my pink cast and my very swollen legs!

My black and blue marks. These are the ones you can see. Kind of like the tip of the iceberg.

I am three weeks and 2 days out of the hospital and I'm doing okay. My cast is gone! That was the culprit behind all those clots! I'm wearing an orthodepic boot for another 3 weeks. I'm on blood thinners and I'm doing okay.

Today I walked for the first time since Oct 5th. It was only a half mile but it felt good! Next week, I aim for a mile. I want to return to subbing next week. I miss the kiddos.

At the same time, I have to be careful. If I'm in an accident or get cut, I could easily bleed to death. The hospital staff advised me to have Bill cut all the veggies for Thanksgiving. :-) There's still a chance of these blood clots shifting and moving before the enzymes in my body destroy them. This sore-thoat sounding voice is a result of the "stress" and will be with me awhile.

It can take me up to a year to get back to normal.

All the same, I am blessed!!!!!! Josephine & Richard and our dear friend Donna met me at LBB hosp. I needed their support and presence untill Bill arrived.

My full recovery may be long but prognosis the is good. I serve this wonderful awesome God who is walking with me each and every step of the day! He was with me in Clovis, got me on the helicopter and guided the doctors and nurses in their diagnosis and care of me. Yes, I have blessed: pressed down shaken together and running out all over!

It won't be long until I'm walking without this boot and I'm looking as perky as this poseys!

"How to Use Crutches Without Falling Down."

Yesterday, Oct 6, 2010 I had surgery on my right foot. I've been having problems for some time. Last month Dr. Chapot (on base) ordered x-rays and referred me to a foot surgeon in LBB.

I had a calcium deposit in the back of my right heel that needed to be removed. Dr. Grimes removed the tendon from my heel, scraped off the calcium plus a little extra so it won't come back, and reattached the tendon. OUCH! I was out the door by noon and on my way back to the hotel. My f/u appt was changed from today to tomorrow (Oct 7). I wanted to return to Clovis today but Bill is insisting we stay an extra night.By noon tomorrow we'll be on the way back to Clovis. :-) Comparrison photos.

Bill and I aren't sure what the dr will do tomorrow. There was talk about a walking cast.
There was also something said about a cast and a walking cast in 3 weeks.
Mid Nov I should begin therapy!!

I'm on oxicodone HCL 5 mg, 1 or 2 tablets every 4 hours. I'm trying not to take them unless I have to. I'm addicted to chocolate and Diet Pepsi. I don't need any more addictions. :-)

I'm struggling with crutches. At 55 it's hard to teach this old dog new tricks. I will perservere!
Bill got a chair on wheels from the hotel conference room. We're using that to get around here. When I have to go to the bathroom, Bill positions himself in front of me, I wrap my arms around him and hop. Yes. Hop. Balance is hard because of the bulk of the bandage. On the crutches I've already fallen twice. Hopping is an inconvenience but works . Once I see the doctor tomorrow maybe I'll get a smaller bandage which could improve my balance and make the
crutches easier to use.

Bill has been wonderfull. Truly a precious gift! He has been (overly?) protective, supportive both physically and emotionally , and a real blessing. I am fortunate to have him with me.!!!

I have my cell so don't hesitate to call me. Especially if you have one of those books for dummies, "How to Use Crutches Without Falling Down." :-) I REFUSE to stay cooped up in this room all day. Target and Wal-Mart have those little motorized chairs. I'm going to see if the mall has one, too. I need to get out. Bill is content curled up in bed with the remote control. Not me.

The dr said the complete recovery coulld take u to 4 months.
Would you please pray for a speedy healing of my foot? I need the stitches to heal and physical therapy to go smoothly. For God, it's easy.
Thank you!

Willy Wonka/Moonlight Musicals

This past week-end we went to LBB to see you know who's. Lubbock has an outdoor stage at one of the parks. Each summer they perform

different musicals. You bring your lawn chairs, ice chest and be prepared to have a good time.

Last week-end, it was "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"

It is good clean family fun and we love it.

Here, dear friends, are Willy Wonka and the Oompaloompas.
Richard's parents joined us. I think Dickie
had a good time.

One of my favorite scenes near the end.

We heard this winter they are doing a dinner theatre of White Christmas.

In the finale, when they wheel out the general's birthday cake,

there will be cake for everyone. We will be there!!

handwork

Between the trip to Cancun and our trip back to Ohio & Penna, I've been doing a lot of reading and a lot of handwork. I LOVE sewing but I'm not very good and I need projects I can complete in a short amount of time. I'd been wanting to make some handtowels for a long time. They are useful and I thought I could use some fabric scraps I had around the house. Well, the first part of that statement was true.
I bought some nice microfiber white towels. The ribbon and rickrack were purchased specifically for the towels. The fabric was leftover from projects when Jo was little. The ribbon and rickrack was attached by machine before we left for Cancun. The flowers were sewn by hand while we were in Cancun.
These are pillowcases I bought prestamped at Alco in Muleshoe, TX. They are simple embroidery. I worked on them in PA and Ohio. When we returned to Clovis, I attached the eyelet. The white in the eyelet didn't match the white of the pillowcases so I added the ribbon. It's the perfect touch!

The towels will go to someone in the spring, "just because." The pillowcases will be a Christmas gift to someone who appreciates that kind of thing.

As for the whites not matching... I know. It sounds like I'm a looney tune. That's okay. To look at them before the ribbon and then after, perfect! There was a reason they didn't match. :-)

So, what are you working on????????????

June/July 10 Vacation

I've tried numerous times to upload pictures from our recent vacation.

Each time it would error out. Today, it worked!This is Bill at the family farm in Ohio doing what he loves to do best. Sit.

Our precious Hunnie. Isn't she beautiful!
This was our primary reason for going "home" in the first place.
My oft bragged about sister Rose completed an ardous LPN program.
I am especially proud becaue she is almost 52.
In so many ways, I wish I were more like her!


Here she is with her two grown daughters:Andrea (to the left) and Sarah,
the oldest. No pic of Miss Isabella, a 7 year old. Maybe another time.


Our good friend Rich lets us park in his yard free of charge.
We try to help with utilities but he never lets us. This was his birthday party
on July 1st with his daughter "Princess" Anne, as we call her.





This is an Amish wagon tethered at Wal-Mart in Ohio. I have another pic somewhere with the "Tire and Lube" sign above it. TOO funny!




Finally, Bill's sister, Helena accompanied by her husband George.
She is the oldest at 60? something.
Do you see a family resemblence??

For today. That's it!

Kiwi in arms of God

Josephine miscarried. Don't know how else to say it. Last Wednesday we had found a used cradle for her in Ohio. The woman had used it for #7 of 7 children. (and she was just turning 27). Jo and I had been texting about the cradle. She was anxious to see pics but I had to wait until Friday morning to email them.

Friday morning I emailed the pics. After clicking "send" I began texting Josephine to check her email. No response. Richard was leaving that morning for 3 weeks with Army National Guard. I assumed she'd said her good-byes and I love yous then gone back to bed. She didn't. After Richard left, she began bleeding. She called her dr who instructed her to go to the hosp. In the meantime, she called her friend Cati to meet her at the hosp. An ultrasound was done. No Kiwi. Fow whatever reason, God had taken Kiwi with Him to Heaven.

Jo is surviving. People ask about Richard going home to be with her. Excuse me, he's in the military. The mission ALWAYS comes first. Richard knows that. Jo knows that and from experience, Bill and I know that.

I can think of a multitude of reasons God took Kiwi but I won't try to analyze or figure out God's intentions. I know He has a plan for Jo, Richard and even precious Kiwi. I'm trying to rest in the fact that He wants nothing less than the best for Josephine and Richard. He will make no compromises when it comes to His love for his children. Nothing less than the best.

As for the cradle. I'm not sure if Jo even looked at the pics. Bill's sister suggested Josephine & Richard could refinish it together as a form of therapy.

I do know right now God is trying to cradle my dear daughter and son-in-law in His arms. He wants to gently rock them, love and comfort them. The prayer of my heart is that they are open to Him and His healing. I'm going to miss Little Kiwi but someday, we'll play peek-a boo and read together. That day will come.

In the meantime, my God reigns.

Josephine

Not the best picture of my daughter. Excuse me, "Favorite Daughter."

It was taken rather spur of the moment just seconds after we walked in her apartment and she erupted with "We're pregnant!" this past Thursday.

She had done 2 home tests, both with positive results. Yesterday, June 18th, she had a blood test done. Same results. Whoever "we" are, I know my dear daughter is pregnant. She and our precious son-in-law are blessing us with a grandchild. (One only allowed)

A lot of thoughts run through my mind. I don't know that I like the name "grandma." I want the title and the job but surely there's something else I can be called??!! Anyone have any suggestions for an alternate name? Maybe "grandma" is a name I'll grow into. :-)

I thank God this baby is being born into a Christain home. Little Kiwi (as the baby has been dubbed) has Godly parents, grandparents and an aunt and uncle who already recognize Little Kiwi as a precious gift from God. Little Kiwi has a support system of love that stretches from Washington state to Pennsylvania. Kiwi has already been a blessing and has been blessed. Our God is amazing!

According to the clinic, Kiwi will enter our earthly arms about Feb 4th. Josephine and Travers arrived late. I'm wondering if Kiwi will wait until Feb 19th (Bill's b'day) or Feb 21st (Jo's b'day). God, do you think you could give me a tiny hint about the delivery date- NOW! While you're at it, I'd like to know the gender -NOW! I was never the kind of person who liked surprises.

Please, in the days, months and even years ahead I covet your prayers for Kiwi as well as Josephine and Richard. May God grant them patience, and wisdom as they embark on this wild ride we call parenthood. May they relinquish the frontseat to Him and find security in knowing He's at the wheel.

Thank You!!!

And congratulations to "we."

Cancun, too

Final installment of Cancun An iguana. Do you see him?We were walking to the bus stop.

We startled him.
Mexican Buffet at the Royal Mayan!
It was $25 US dollars for all you could eat and drink.
That included tea, water, sodas and/or margaritas.
Good food but no sopas. :-(
Sopapillas are Tex-Mex.


A final beautiful view of the ocean

Cancun,Mexico

From June 8-15th we were blessed with an opportunity to go to Cancun. Some friends with a time share invited us to join them in their villa. We stayed at a place called Royal Resorts, in the Royal Mayan. This is a view from the kitchen out to the veranda. Our bedroom and bath are to the right. Our friends were to the left. Each bedroom had a private small balcony and a seperate entrance to the main veranda. Nice.

A view from the balcony

They advertise every room has a view of the pool and a view of the ocean.

My computer is uploading slowly. Later, I'll add more beach photos.

We're a dog Family

We're a dog family. Some people are cat families. We are a dog family.

I'd even go so far as to say we're a Cavalier King Charles family. They love unconditionally, are people and other pet friendly and fit on most laps perfectly.

Tess (the white and tan) is a 2 yo blenheim Cavalier. We've had her since she was 12 weeks.

Travers named her after a character in Star Wars (I think it's Star Wars) named "Tes." The black, white and tan dog is a tri-colored Cavalier. We've had him 8 days. He is about 16 months old. We named him after a tri we had years ago - Ricky.

Tess' favorite place to be is on Bill's lap when he's on the papasan chair. That's the only time any dog is allowed on furniture! Ricky doesn't jump up there. You have to pick him up. He doesn't understand house policy yet.

If you want a dog and don't mind the brushing, or you're like my son and you'll pay someone to do the brushing, you need a Cav. :-)

Our house

I love where we live. I love it. It is truly "home." It's an old mobile home that we've added to over the years. Instead of an old yellow trailer, it's a gray stucco or "piece of concrete" as Bill would say. Setting in the middle of a one acre lot, Bill has mowed, planted and pruned, giving me a yard full of precious gifts.

We moved here when Josephine was 2 weeks old. It's the only home our chidren have ever know. As our children have grown and changed, so has our home. This is an iris, blooming in our front yard. They were a gift years ago from a friend at Fairview Nazarene Church, Ruby Douglas. I'm not sure how many years we've had the iris but I know it's in the two digits and the first digit is probably a "2"
Bill loves roses. Well, we both do. I've always told him not to give me cut flowers because I don't like watching them die. Instead, he's given me live roses. Rose bushes. This rose bush started out in a blue 5 gallon bucket. Bill bought it when we got married and were living in a 1 bedroom efficiency aparment. When we moved here a year later, the bucket came with us. The rose bush is alive and well in our front yard. It's been over 26 years years. :-)
Our back yard.To the right is a hybrid poplar Bill started when Travers was an infant and Josephine was about 4. It's keeps leaning. Someday I worry it may lean into our bedroom. It towers well above our house and creates the best shade!

This was taken from the patio. We had a globe willow. It was old and more dead than alive. Travers and Bill spent Sunday afternoon cutting it into firewood. We found a Bubba Willow that will go in it's place. Yes, the tree is called a "Bubba" Willow.

I'll have to take more pics and post them later. We've had so much rain in recent weeks, everything is so beautiful.

I can teach

I've been trying to decide whether to continue this blog or drop it. I've heard a lot of negative in recent weeks about blogs, Facebook and My Space. For now, I shall continue.

In March I had to renew my license to continue subbing. Because of my lack of credits, I've only been able to sub as an aide or librarian. That has always been fine with me. I would get a few days a month and I was happy.

Recently, I've been called to sub in classrooms I didn't enjoy. Nothing bad. It's just hard when you're an aide trying to follow the teacher's cues. My frustration was getting to the point I knew next year would be my last to sub. I would use next year to kind of wean myself away from the job and look for something else.

When my new license came through, it was as a substitute teacher. Short story, I can sub as a teacher based on experience. This is good. :-) Since then, I've been subbing at least 2 days a week as a teacher (very unusual this late in the year). More pay. Not much but a little more. More responsibility, which is fine. After all, I've been doing this over 18 years.

This does open up a whole new proverbial can of worms for God to direct me through. A few of which are: how many days do I really want to work, and what schools would I like to limit myself to work at? The biggie is, if I'm going to sub I can't be leaving the house at 6:15 each morning to walk if I really want to work. Teachers have a habit of calling in the day of, not the night before.

Fortunately, there are only 7 more school days. God has the whole summer to let me know what He wants me to do.

I am very blessed and very thankful I love to sub.It fills that need in me to be needed - something I think we all share. I also believe teaching is my gift. Subbing allows me to use that gift. There's always opportunities for me to subtly weave my faith into the classroom.

God is good. :-) ALL the time. :-)

Easter

For slightly over a year I've been attending a small church. Attendance averages >100 compared to the other church with attendance of <100.>

Last year for the Easter service the children did some kind of special with sticks to the song "Arise." Loved it! On my way to church this year I was praying they would do it again. They did! You can see from this pic 2 simple sticks crossed to illustrate the cross. Below was their interpretation of "Arise!" WOW! Loved it.

To top it all off, the minister spoke from John 20:1-7 with a text from vs. 7b. The simple gesture of the folded linen laying by itself illustrated Christ's plan to return. It was something very simple I can't remember reading in the past, although I know I have. It has given me something to read and study in detail this week.

Yes, He did die but (drum roll please) He arose!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. A celebration of life. There is no period at the end of a person's life on earth. More like a semicolon. There is more and it is good.

I lost my mother March 11th. I continue to mourn with my woulda, coulda and shoulda's. This morning at 6:30 a.m., my daughter and son-in-law lost his grandfather to cancer. I'm sure the whole family is dealing with their own list of woulda, coulda, shoulda's. Human nature causes us to focus on what we've lost. What we no longer have. Selfish, huh? Our loved ones experience a divine healing and we have a pity party because of what we don't have or don't have the opportunity to regain.

My mom is with Jesus. So is Jo and Richard's grandfather. Like the 23rd Psalm says, ".. and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER!" Blow the party horns! Celebrate! It's because of what HE did on that cross that I can throw confetti and be happy. There's no period at the end of anyone's life on earth. There's a semicolon followed by a dot dot dot...


Before long the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. John 14:19-20

A promise made. A promise kept.

A Divine Healing

I don't like taking pics at funerals but this did something to me. I was trying to take a pic of the flowers. I was able to get my sister and one of her daughters in there as well. More flowers and quite accidentally my brother Tom's cane. He relocated to Heaven almost 3 years ago, I think.

My mom was touched with a divine healing a few minutes after mignight on March 11th.
No more Alzheimers. No broken hip. No more cancer. YAHOO!
She was miserable. God carried her away to her heavenly home. She had my brother's cane to help with the first few steps. The celebration service was March 15th.

I hope to upload pics later.

Tess' Babies

On Feb 27th, Travers' Cavalier King Charles blessed him and us, with puppies.

Josephine had to come home and see them, choosing the only female as her favorite, naming it "Dumplin'" Only Josephine....... :-)
They were bred with Jo's male cavalier, a solid red named Robby. Miss Tess is the same breed but her coloring is called,"Blenheim." There were 6 puppies: 3 blenheim and 3 ruby. One of the Blenheim's is a female. The rest, males.

Anyone needing a puppy/companion please let me know. They are great with kids and older people. These dogs love people, and even other animals. Smart and easily trained, my hope is to get them all into good homes.The father is AKC registered with championship bloodlines. The mother is APR registered, pet quality.

Princess' Birthday Cake

My favorite daughter is celebrating her 25th b'day on Feb 21st. My son-in-law is hoping to pull off a surprise party for her at his grandmother's in Roswell, tomorrow night. I was asked to make the cake. Making a cake suitable for a 2 hr. car ride is tough! DD loves daisys. Bright colored daisys. Making her a book cake that included Gerberas seemed the obvious solution. The little round pedestal is for a Precious Moments I purchased last summer in Missouri.The down side? The Precious Moments has a heart on it. No daisys. Guess I didn't get the theme to work out very well. The PM does mention "princess" so I guess that part worked out okay.

Jo won't notice or care. The guys (Bill & Travers) voted no leaves.

Our DD may be the queen of Richard's heart but she'll always be our princess.

BTW, one side is strawberry the other is chocolate. His family prefers chocolate.

The guys in our family prefer anything but chocolate.

Chocolate Buffet

Chocolate, anyone?

Norwegain offers a Chocolate Buffet from 11 p.m. - midnight one night of each cruise. In most csaes, it's a Thursday. Imagine walking into a room with subdued lighting and THIS is the first thing you see??!! All chocolate!!!!We arrived a little early and was able to watch the staff setting up.

I'm glad we did! Once it opened and the crowds arrived, forget it!

We feasted on chocolate filled eclairs, cakes, chocolate covered fruits, cookies, brownies... the list goes on and on and ON!!! They even had 2 chocolate fountains:

one milk chocolate and one white chocolate.

Please, don't ask what my blood sugar was the next day.

I will say I'm back under control. :-)
Good thing it wasn't a 14 day cruise.

Chocolate Lighthouse

Chocolate King Tut

...and a couple of impressive ice sculptures. Someone asked what they do with the

ice after it melts. DUH!