Saturday Photo Hunt = Thankful

PhotoHunt

Jessie LaVon

My blogging friend
Purple Cucumbers also known as Jessie LaVon is in the hospital. Her daughter Dusty, left a message for me in my comment section, which I have posted below:

This is Dusty,one of Mama's daughters.She has had a really bad night with the pain,If any of her friends here would like to see a donation in a small creation of art , cards or money it would be greatly appreciated. Her hospital bills and meds are running high.Thank you for any thoughts.

It can be sent to
Jessie LaVon
p.o.box 854
Demopolia ,Alabama 36732

Please go and check out Jessie's blog. I'm sure prayers, cards, and Random Acts of Kindness, would be greatly appreciated. ~Ann

And then there's this...

Beginning on March 16, our water will be different.

We've been told that a lot of our water will now come from the Neuse River. Before it always came out of the ground. Government has stepped in to tell us how much water we can deplete from underground.

Our water supplier is changing over from chlorine to chloramines. They claim that chloramines last longer and have virtually no odor or taste. (Now they are telling us that long term use of Chlorine may increase our risk of developing serious health issues.)

Great idea, huh?

But, they say dialysis patients have to take special precautions. In the dialysis process, water comes in contact with the blood across a permeable membrane. Chloramines in that water would be toxic. Also this water will be harmful to fish and other aquatic animals.

Doesn't this make you just want to go get a quick drink of water? What kind of water do you drink where you live?

False Balances

A grocery store in town is having a grand opening. This huge shopping cart was brought in to get everyone's attention.

I am amazed all the time about how things have shrunk and cost just as much if not more. For instance, I recently craved some chocolate chip cookies and I wanted the real thing, not the store brand. So I picked them up and put them in my basket. At home after opening the package, which seemed to be the exact same size as before, I found the cookies. They once were about four inches across, but now were just a little bigger than a quarter. And they cost just as much or maybe even more than before.

Then this week I craved chocolate ice cream. The ice cream boxes are much thiner than they once were. The price was just as much.

The paper towels and toilet tissue cost the same but the rolls are much smaller. The boxes for the bath soap are the same, but when you open it, the soap looks as if it has been hollowed out on each side.

Peanut butter jars have deeper indentions on the bottom, so you don't get as much as you did before. Cereal Boxes are thinner.

That's just a few examples. On the news tonight, a woman was saying she is buying the same things that she'd always bought and their groceries are gone before the month is over. Oh course they are! The companies are cheating us on everything. The first excuse for this fraud, was that gas was so high, so the companies had to do something to keep their profits up. Okay, so the price of gas has come down, but the packaging is still deceptive, and the prices are still climbing.

The cost for heating fuel is different for certain people. Two homes on the same road get fuel from the same company. One is charged one price, the other has to pay more. I think each person should be able to get the same price.

How stupid do these companies think we are?

I don't think many people can fill their shopping carts and I know very few can buy enough to fill the big one in this photo!

Saturday Photo Hunt = Warm

At Last

So today I took mama for an appointment with her doctor. As we left the doctor's office my cell phone started ringing. It was my husband telling me that the phone man was here to install my high speed internet. By the time I got home it was all done. Tonight I am traveling this information highway at a pretty good speed.... whew...hope I don't get a ticket...LOL

Stood Up Again

Promises, promises, promises....

I received a card from the phone company way back in December saying I could now get "high-speed" internet. I called the same day I got the card. The person I spoke with, said I would have it by January 22. I was a happy camper! :)

Then just before January 22, I got a call. They wouldn't be able to get it out to my neighborhood by that date. This person said around February 10-12 I would be able to get it.

Didn't happen!! On the 13th of February I saw a truck stop across the road from my house and take the cover off the phone pole. I was getting excited. He replaced the cover and drove off. :(

Then on Monday, February 16, Bruce called. He asked how soon I wanted the service. I asked "Can you come right now?" He said no, they'd have to make a date. So we agreed that today, Wed. February 18, would be the day. He told me someone would have to be here and I told him I would. He couldn't give me a time, so I stayed home all day waiting... It is now 10:17 p.m. I think I've been stood up again!! And they didn't even call with an excuse!!

You think, maybe, they are afraid of this sign?

Nights in Rodanthe

I received the rest of my Christmas gift from my first son's family on Saturday. They had given me a card at Christmas saying I would receive the movie "Nights in Rodanthe" when the movie was released to DVD.

I don't know about you, but I love watching home movies by myself. I don't want any talking or distractions. So I decided to watch it this afternoon. And I tell you this is a really good movie. But just before it ended I got a telephone call and while I was still on the phone I had a visit from my SIL.

So, on another day, I will attempt to watch the whole movie again. I enjoyed reading the book last year. You know, how most times you say the book was better than the movie? Well, I think this movie is just as good or even better than the book. The ocean scenes make me ready to go back to the Outer Banks. But not now, I want it to be warm when I go to the beach.

Happy Valentine's Day

Saturday Photo Hunt = Nautical

PhotoHunt

Perspective

Looking on.

Looking UP.

At last I see signs of spring at my place. The weather people say next week Winter will be back with a vengeance, but this week we have had SPRING.

Old Teeth

Found these on Sunday. Wonder what kind of animal had these teeth? (you can click on the picture to see it bigger, like anyone would want to do that)

Then on Monday, I had my six month appointment with my dentist.

I don't know why I dread the dentist so. He has never hurt me. In fact he has made one tooth that I felt sure needed pulling, feel better, and now years later, I still have it. And he had told me I was only getting xrays and teeth cleaning. So why do I get so nervous?

He had told me that I would get the wrap-around xray thingy. I had that once before and I knew it didn't hurt. Also I thought that would be much better than the bitewings, since I have a terrible gag reflex. Guess what? I had all of that... the wrap around and all four of the others. They know to run fast to the xray machine because I have messed up a number of them when I start to gag. Really, I'm terrible.

Now they have computers in each room. As she took the xrays it would pop up on the computer screen. After the fourth one, I noticed a red line blinking on the last set she had taken. I spoke up... "Oh no, does the blinking red line mean there's trouble there?"

She laughed and said, "No that's just the last one I've done."

Then she cleaned, and scrapped, and polished my teeth. This girl is the most gentle person I have ever had. I love her!! She finished and buzzed for the dentist.

While we wait she goes through all the xrays and even the wrap around ones. I see it all, and it all looks horrible to me. (especially the wrap-arounds..I look like a mummy) She speaks up.."Everything looks good! .. just like they are suppose to look." She makes my next appointment and fills a goody bag with samples of toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, and toothbrush.

Then my dentist comes in and pulls up all those xrays again. He looks through them all and asks if I have any problems. .. and of course I say "NO." Still, he takes a look around in my mouth. Then he says we will review the xrays, but everything looks good. See you again in six months.

Why in the world do I get so nervous?

Stillman's Camp

Out in the country, not too far from where my husband's family lived, there is a dirt road that is marked with two brick pillars. Years ago there were farm houses scattered along this road. This road comes to an end at Contentnea Creek. And at the end of the road a rustic camp belonging to the Stillman family had been built.

This past Sunday my husband and I decided to ride down there to see how things looked as we had not been down there since the 1970's. I reminiscenced about an eighth grade cookout we had there when I was a teenager. He remembered some boyhood things he had done at the camp.

During the early 70's his family's reunion was held there for a few years. There was an old building that we didn't use. There were lots of picknic tables. The perfect spot for parties, cookouts, and political get togethers.

We noticed on the ride down the dirt road all the homes were gone. We saw a barn next to the road covered in vines and young trees. We saw a couple of places we thought houses once were as we could see big shade trees and small out buildings but no homes.

At the end of the road a path ran off to the right. My husband said we'd have to get out and walk. A load of sand had been dumped in the path to keep cars from driving back there. So walk we did.

And this is what we found.

The building is on the ground.


We don't know what happened. We wondered if the flood of 1999 after Hurricane Floyd caused this to happen.

There were no boats tied up to the river bank as we remembered. There were signs that people still come here. There was evidence of a small campfire near the water's edge, and empty rifle shells were everywhere.


The water was peaceful and beautiful.


I hope it will not be another 30+ years before we visit this beautiful place again.

Photo Hunt = Bridge

PhotoHunt

New Snow - New Cow

I was surprised! The weatherman said north of HWY 264 would get snow. We live south of that. (I'm senile, I'm still using last year's date..LOL)

We just got a light dusting of snow. Probably not enough to measure.

I put on coat and boots to get this picture of my husband feeding his new calf. He is having to hold his head because the nipple on the bottle is the right size for goats but not calves. After this feeding he headed to the store to find a new nipple for the calf.

Just a few things

Today was a good day. Took mom to the doctor and she got a good report. Spent a little time visiting with my sister when we got back.

Went over to check Renie's blog and found that she still has no power from the storm. The pictures that are posted of the ice are just unbelievable. Let's hope they get help soon.

MoBunny is having a doily giveaway. You just need to mention the word doily in your comment. That should be fun!

My husband has taken on the job of bottle feeding a baby calf. Maybe I'll get out there and get a picture sometime tomorrow.

Diane has posted beautiful pictures of her nine grandchildren. I smiled the whole time I was visiting her blog. I can really see the favor between the children and their parents. Maybe you could go by and take a peek.

My picture is fuzzy, but today was a good day!

Happy Birthday Duncan

Happy Birthday Duncan !!

You were always a good baby. You got plenty of attention. All the girls loved you and Will was especially happy. He had some one to help with all those "big girls". (inside joke)

You were good in sports. All sports....anything you tried you did well. We loved going to your games.

You always had friends. You have never met a stranger and can get along with everyone. I love this about you!

And you have talent! Real TALENT!! I stole this photo from your myspace. Your CD cover, perhaps?

You never cease to amaze me. And here you are playing for your sister's wedding. You make us proud!

Happy Birthday Duncan!!