I'm Thankful for a Generous Husband

Yes, I am thankful for a generous husband, and right now I'm tryig to decide just how I am going to thank him. Will it be a kiss or a smack? You see, for my anniversary I received a laptop and I am still trying to figure out how it works. The keyboard is the same as any, just a smaller configuration? No, it seems to be just exactly the same. But appearences can be deceiving, as we all know. Do I not appear to be an easy going sort of person, taking everything in stride and going about the day to day without a whimper? Well, as most of the people I worked with, in what ever capacity,and most of my family and friends can tell you, that is an accurate description. Most of the time. Sometimes my temper gets the best of me, but I don't think I lose it too often. Until today. But I've been working on this post for over half an hour and don't seem to be getting anywhere. Fast. There is no mouse, and mostly that is not a problem, the keyboard works fine, so just what seems to be my problem? I find I am doing more backspacing than I've ever done in my life. Wow, got through the entire sentence and had to backspace not once! Alright, maybe I'm getting the hang of it. I'm sitting in my dining room, using my computer and not one other piece of equipment is taking up the tabletop. Okay, by George, I think I have it! Back later, gonna run give WTHF his thank you smack...a good warm hug to go with it!

Thankfulness

Today being the day we are observing Veterans Day, I have to say that I am thankful for all the young men and women who are willing to do their country's bidding. There is no draft, so these folks are doing their job out of the loyalty of their hearts. They're certainly not doing it for the money. The job doesn't pay that well. How many are out there who sacrifice their time, their family life and unfortunately all too frequently, their very lives, so that others may live free? More than you might suspect, and I wish there were a web page and enough people to sit at the computer to put every name of every Service member in every free nation so we could see just what it is these wonderful people are doing. In my family the ones I know personally or have heard of, (though they be dead, their names should still be spoken aloud) who did their Duty as Military Personnel are as follows:

Senneth Charles McBride USN , Deceased
Hiram Wallace McBride , Junior (known as Uncle Junior to us) US Army, Decorated by President Truman, with The Soldier's Medal , Deceased

Martus Douglas, US Army (Deceased, victim of WWII)
William Merriman, US Army
Milton Wallace McBride, Sr US Navy (Retired)
Timothy Bush, US Army
Lewey D. McBride US Navy (Retired)
Joe Frank Steed, US Air Force (Retired)
Randey Hayes US Air Force
Nick Adams US Air Force

Ken Hayes, US Air Force
Betty McBride Davis, USAir Force (Reserves)
Jack Davis, US Navy (Retired)
Michael Kent McBride, US Navy (Deceased)
Joseph Hayes, USAir Force (Reserves)




I'm sure there are so many others that I have left out, but that's the beauty of editing...I can come back and add those names as folks remind me who was left out.

Monday Monday, Just Love that day

It's Monday morning and I got up this morning with a spring in my step...I should have a spring, after all I don't think I got far from the bed the entire weekend. But up I am, and I am telling you all, if you haven't tried the Yorkshire tea, what is wrong with you? What, no pals like my Sophie http://www.sophiehoneysuckle.blogspot.com/ to depend upon? It came in the sweetest little pasteboard tea chest, which I intend to lacquer when it's empty so that I can continue to keep it in the cupboard...also other teas to choose from and Marmite...wonder what happens if I never open it and the jar just sits in plain view? Sorry, but the OXO went in my soup straight away. It can not remain unopened...then I ran postehaste over to Jenn and Jacqui's http://thebowerbirdsnest.blogspot.com/ to see what I had won. It was a horse race, you know...wish I could have seen the race but you have to go over there and see the perfectly delightfully decorated Horse Shoe...it's mine, all mine...I do know it has to be hung with the ends up, so all my luck doesn't run out, and thankfully it's decorated so that it's easily hung properly. Or is it hanged? No, a man is hanged and an item is hung. I love my "caricature" that the lovely ladies did, too. It was so good, I thought it was my prize! You'll love it, too. I am sitting here feeling sorry for Kari who is neck deep in Christmas Ornaments and today Texas is in a heat wave. All I can say is crank that a/c down to about 60 and you'll be in the mood...put that Marshmallow World in the loop play and have at it. I can't wait for the pictures to be posted. Please don't let Randey fall off the ladder...I worry about things like that. I see where Santa Clause III is due to come out on DVD so have to put it in my queue at Netflix...Mac (WTHF) says it's time for a serious Christmas movie again, but Jimmy Stewart isn't with us to put just the right spin on it and there's no Natalie Wood to bring the waterworks out...so what's Hollywood to do? First off they need to settle the Writer's Strike (in the Writer's favour, may I add?) Then they need to get sex and violence out of the mix. But can they? Is it possible we have crossed the line of decency when some idiot is offering a thousand dollars to some money hungry person to allow the birth of her child to be filmed for an ADVERTISEMENT on the Super Bowl? What in God's name could they be advertising? And if Janet Jackson's clothing malfunction raised such a stink, can you imagine what this will do? Okay, that's enough from me, I'm headed over to all my friends and see what's been going on with them while I've been lying abed the weekend! Wow, it's good to be back! Just one more cup of Yorkshire, and I'm set.

the wisdom of maxine

Yorkshire Tea

Okay, I've dragged myself in here to post my Thankful for for today...I'm oh so thankful for the Yorkshire Tea (amongst others, Earl Grey, Breakfast, Afternoon and also a lovely little jug of Marmite and OXO...I'm sipping on Yorkshire, and if I ever needed it, I needed it today...Thank you Sophie...you are a dear...

Thanks Jenn and Jacqui

I'm not on long this morning...Friday night meds are kicking butt today...but wanted to say thank you to Jenn and Jacqui at the Bowerbirds Nest...what a wonderful gift, you girls are so talented! As you can see, I have posted the "redo" of my picture on the blog...I just love it! I won this from a horse race...so please pat my horse and take him a nice bunch of carrots and an apple from me!!!

Thanks

I've been a bad girl, let two days go by and no Thanks...I'm thankful for my niece Kari's tolerance of her crazy aunt (for yesterday)
for today, I'm thankful for Nannie Cat's improving health...He's such a nice cat...more on Nannie soon

Blog Checking

You know, I have a certain routine when I get up in the morning, and have for the past couple of years. I get up, go into the bathroom and turn on the shower and when the water hits me, I'm awake. After drying and dressing I wander into the kitchen and turn on the coffee pot, get the cat food ladle and feed the kids, outside kids and inside kids...let Mindy go out and wander the property and take care of business in general. Check in with the coffee pot and take the first cup into the computer room and check the e-mail. Then I check my blogpals and see who has been busy at this time of the morning. What did I do before I started this computer habit? I worked like the devil for the county, smoked like a chimney and did a lot of time on my knees in the flower beds. Now that I don't or can't do any of the aforementioned, I have lots of time for the computer. And this morning I see that I have been tagged by the darling T*mmy at My Gentle Retreat ( http://www.gentleretreat.blogspot.com/) has tagged me. I understand that I am to post the rules and then get on with the tag. It's a meme tag, I'm to tell you about 6 habits or facts about me that you may not know and then I'm to tag others...wow...good thing the coffee pot is full...so here goes: the rules are:

Rules:A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.B. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.C. At the end of the post, the player then tags people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Ahem, so here goes, six facts/habits about me that you may not know
1. I am the 2nd daughter in a family of six (four girls 2 boys)
2. I am the granddaughter of a farming couple, Dwight and Nancy Douglas
3. I love to read, always have at least two books going at the same time
4. while I have an artistic eye, can't draw even a recognizable stick picture, can lay out a flower bed and water features that are awesome
5. when nervous or upset, I pace...at one time I paced and smoked...thank God (really) the smoking thing is over
6. blue lights and sirens make my heart beat faster and my brain starts thinking in 10 codes...you know like 10-8 10-41 (on duty and ready for service) or 10-23 10-6 (I have arrived and am busy on this call)...sort of like how the old retired milk cart horses would get excited when hearing the milkman's bell.
Okay, so that's six things or habits you may or may not know about me, and I now intend to tag me a couple of folks. I want to tag those that I haven't tagged before so that I learn new things about new friends. I tag Penny at http://www.lavenderhillstudio.blogspot.com/, Terri at http://www.bobandterri.blogspot.com/ and Adla at http://www.vintagedelights.blogspot.com/ and I'd like to know a bit more about SusieQ at www.rabbitruncottage.blogspot.com
and Kathy at www.justabeachkat.blogspot.com and one more makes six...Lisa at www.athingforroses.blogspot.com

So, there you have it...get busy girls, I'm retired, I have all day to learn about you, but the computer is not my entire life, you know. Sometimes I wander down to the creek to see if there's any water in it. Right now, not so much.

Where has Country Music Gone?

We settled back with snacks and drinks to watch the CMA awards last night and it was the most uncomfortable night I have spent in a long time. I kept waiting to see the country music stars and all I saw were babies up on the stage. Now while I like Carrie Underwood, she's no Reba (McEntire) and her hit video "before he cheats" makes me laugh out loud, but she doesn't have the dulcet tones of Tammy, either. Kelly got up and sang her song about how her mama abandoned her (like she's the only child that has ever been abandoned) and to me, the end was pure acting. I know she can act, I've seen her do it. When she was on Give me the Mike (Charlotte) she didn't appear to be the ditzy blond that she portrayed on Idol. She doesn't have me fooled, she is not the empty headed ditz she makes herself out to be. Granted she can sing, but where was Patty Loveless and Faith Hill? I know, I know, they weren't nominated. Well, why weren't they? Where was Alan Jackson? The audience pan revealed none of my favorite singers. Where was Loretta and George? Where was Tim McGraw and Alabama? Why do they call Sugarland a duo when only one person sings and the other stands back and strums the guitar? I never saw him open his mouth or crowd in at the mike. And when will Kix Brooks start contributing his voice a bit more to Ronnie Dunn's vocals? What happened to Boot Scootin' Boogey? Is CMA ashamed of Minnie Pearl and Stringbean, Grandpa Jones and Roy Acuff? The closest thing we have to all that is Allison Kraus, and she doesn't sound anything like she did ten years ago when their was some blue in their grass. Why didn't Vince Gill sing, since he wasn't hosting this year? Porter Wagoner, who died last week barely got a mention and Hank Thompson, (The Wild Side of Life) who passed on Tuesday and last performed on October the 8th at age 81, got no mention at all. Both are members of the Grand Ole Opry Hall of Fame. Such a pity And to compare Jason Aldean to Johnny Cash is like comparing rocks to diamonds or sows ears to silk purses. Where has all the Country music gone? Gone to pop stars, everyone.

Mama and the Vivisectionist

My Mama was probably the tallest girl in her family, and even then she was only 5'6. She was every bit the lady and had us walking with books on our heads to improve our posture from about age eight. She taught us all she could about cooking and cleaning (note I said could, not knew) and at some point just gave up and let us start learning a few things on our own. She was an animal lover and we always had cats or dogs (rarely together or at the same time) around the house. She was a sucker for puppydog eyes and while we might hear the cat meow as a militant gesture of world domination, she heard sweetness and light. Right after we moved to Ruby, world domination began and cats began to show up. If they were wise, they stayed in the back area near the woods, but some were just wild and without a clue so Highway 9 became the end of the road for them. Now, the highway is a good 500 feet from the house, so there was never any reason to wander up that long drive way, or for any stranger to wander down it. All the citizens of Ruby knew where the Doctor and his wife and children lived, they also knew where he worked. The only reason anyone would come down the long circular drive would be at invitation or a medical emergency, or else you were a family member (which took in about 1/3 of the populace). Strangers did not venture down the drive because frankly, by the time you saw the entrance, you had already passed it. In your mind would be "was that a driveway..." and the next thought would be "hmm, maybe not." It's the trees you see. The house actually sits in the midst of woods. Mama had a large area cleared in the back for her garden, flower beds were laid out and the middle of the circle was filled with Magnolias, Dogwoods and flowering Cherry. She had green fingers, you see. Anything would grow for her. One morning she was out preparing to plant the daffodils throughout the woods when a van pulled in. Now, she had been told earlier that morning by one of the patients that "a vivisectionist" was in town, which was akin to saying that Sherman was marching on Atlanta to Mama. She later told me that this large man, whom she had never before laid eyes on, unfolded himself from the drivers seat and approached her. She pulled one glove off and walked over to the front courtyard entrance. The man approached her smiling and looking oily, she said. He gave her the shivers. He introduced himself and told her he was new in the area and someone had told him that she had some cats she was looking to be shed of. Mama glanced around at one or two of the cats who sat quietly on and near the walkway and back at the man standing nearby. She asked him just who had volunteered any such information to him, making a mental note to later call said person and gently ask them not to be telling perfect strangers her business. I was quite sure she really believed she intended to be gentle, but I knew my mother and I would not want to be on the business end of that conversation. Mama had a way of "dressing you down" that was unique in that you didn't realize your legs had been cut off at the knee till you were face down in your own yard. So, this "liar" starts hemming and hawing, unable to come up with a name, but still insistent that he had received this info from a neighbor or friend. Excusing herself, Mama went to the side door, and when he attempted to follow, she waved him back and told him she would return shortly. When she did return she was carrying a shotgun that was bigger than she was. "You know mister, " she told him, "if there's anything I hate worse than a liar, it's a vivisectionist. I smack liars. I shoot vivisectionists." And she closed the breech. She said she'd never seen anyone that big move quite as fast as he was beating a trail back to his van. He took off in a hail of gravel and oyster shell and Mama said she wished he hadn't left in such a hurry. I asked her why, and she said she really wanted to look in the back of that van and release any cats he might have already picked up. Fearless, that's what she was. They say the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree...Mac would say the nut, but we'll forgive him this time. I can honestly say I have no love in my heart for vivisectionists. I get it from my Mama.

Dog to God

Now, I know, I've been busy in here today and later on this evening I intend to be back but I just had to share this picture with you...I know if God listens to me, he is listening to this pair...when I received this picture it almost brought tears to my eyes. I had just gotten off the phone with my son who is very concerned about Animal Welfare, just as I am...my God, who listens to my prayers, must be listening very hard to this one...

Jenn and Jacqui, The Bower Birds Nest

Did I happen to mention that I had won the big Horse Race in Melbourne? No? Well, I did...or rather my horse won...can't wait to see what I won at the lovely giveaway from Jenn and Jacqui, will let you know when I know...go see the girls, will you? They're on my blog as one of my favorites, just look to the right and click like mad

Kat-in-a-Flap...we're pullin' for you honey

You all know our wonderful Kat (of http://www.kat-out-of-the-bag.blogspot.com/) who has been ill just recently. I keep going in to her blog to see if our darling girl has been posting, and yesterday I decided to send her an e-mail and check on her. I received an answer from her this morning. I was so glad to hear and wanted to share it with you , my friends.



"Hi Sandi,I was so sad to read about your nephew,Karen must be heartbroken,he was a beautiful young man,his goodness shone from his face.You know I think Angels walk the earth and sometimes God calls them back.I am getting better each day and feeling stronger.I am going to get better,no doubt about that,it will justtake time.I feel very sick and tired but ok otherwise.I love Autumn and am now lokking forward to Christmas,Hugs to you Honey,Kat xxxxxxxx"



Still thinking of others, that's what our community is about. Hugs to you our dear Kat, and when I say we're pulling for you, you know we mean it.



Group hugs and kisses

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

p.s.
I'm thankful for out community...together we can do so much good...

The Horse Race

I have always loved horses and horse racing. The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, the Belmont...I read everything I could get my hands on about Seabiscuit, that magnificent runner and descendant of some of the greatest champions known to man. When we arrived in England I was surprised (I don't know why I was surprised, but I was) to find horse racing nearly every day. They raced at Haymarket, they raced at Brighton, they were running at Yarmouth and Ayr...they ran on flat and they had steeple racing...it was a horse lovers heaven. We hadn't been settled in our new home too awfully long when I learned how to place a bet. I never bet too much, usually no more than a pound, sometimes only 50p. But like the lottery over here, I played a ticket every Saturday. Sometimes I won, sometimes I lost. Every so often I would play the ITV7, which was based on 7 races in a row... the races were held on Saturday morning. The boys would usually be out playing and Mac and I would be filling out our tickets then one of us would run down to the OTB (Off Track Betting) shop and place the bet. This one morning after we both filled out our separate tickets, it would be me going in to place the bets. Mac had worked all night (in London) and was planning on going straight up to bed after the tickets had been filled in. Now, you can bet the tickets Win Place and Show and doing it this way you have a better chance of getting some return on your money. If there are more than, say 7 horses in the race, and your horse comes in third, you get a bit back on him and your ticket is still viable. So anyway, I had my system of how I chose my horses. If I liked the name, or the horse was pretty, it didn't have to have blinkers...you know, very scientifically calculated...then that's who I bet on. If the odds were long, well that was a plus. Okay, so I have my ticket ready, Mac has his ticket filled out but now I'm marking the Win Place or Show when Mac glances over and does what men do when women are perfectly content to go on their merry way as they were. "I'd play it win only." I looked over at him and asked him to explain himself. "Well, that third race only has 3 horses in it, if your horse comes in 2nd, it won't pay out place or show. You have two races like that. I'd just play it Win only. Why waste money?" Well, it sort of made sense to me. I don't know now why I listened to him, it's not something I'm known for doing. But listen I did and win only was how I paid the ticket. Now, in the ITV7 you have to keep the ticket going, you have to win (or place and show if that's how you mark the ticket) all the races in order to collect on any. And this is how I almost became rich. You note I said almost, which only counts in horseshoes, not horse races...

The horses were lining up in race 1 and Mac had already gone up to sleep. I was sitting on the edge of my seat, jumping up and down and urging my horse, on and he came in for me at 25 to1. The second race lined up and Clouded Vision, a vision at 37-1 was running his heart out and when he won (after I had been warned he was a dog by the fella at the Betting Parlor) I nearly fainted. The races proceeded and I won both the races that had only 3 or four horses and was feeling good and had one race to go. My horse was a shoo in, I was assured by all and sundry that all this horse had to do was show up. He was picked for me by Mac, who also had him on his ticket. I had figured up that so far I had 198,000 pounds in the bag and my heart was pounding as they lined up. I saw something that disturbed me so much, I stood up to watch the race. The horse had blinkers on. This boded ill, and I watched as the horses walked down from the paddock to the track and he was so beautiful and arrogant, his jockey so calm and sure, I relaxed when I watched him gallop sideways and try to reach back and bite his jockey, he was full of p*ss and vinegar, all black and glistening looking like the biggest hobbyhorse I had ever seen on any carousel...I loved this horse. This horse was going to make me rich. I began spending the money in my mind, imagined the beautiful red leather heels with matching purse I would purchase to take my trip into the city to collect my winnings. I'm telling you, this horse looked at me and said "it's in the bag". The bell went, the wire went up and they were off! There were nine horses in the race, and they all started out in the lead then gradually, most of them fell to the back of the pack. Now it was a four horse race and my horse was in the lead. On they galloped and my horse decided to stop and wait for the other two horses to catch up. I began to scream at the tv set for him to RUN DAMN YOU RUN, and when the other two caught up, they were off again. The race came to a photo finish end between the three lead horses . My horse, my beloved horse, came in second. SECOND. I sat straight up on the sofa and my eyes narrowed. My gaze went towards the stairs where someone lay sleeping, someone who had told me "I'd play it win only." Someone who had told me that all my last horse had to do was show up! I picked up a pillow off the sofa and slowly mounted the stairs. I wasn't sure what I was going to do when I went into the bedroom, kill him or merely maim him. Kill him was high on the list. I satisfied myself with beating him with the pillow, thus bringing him up out of a sound sleep. He never slept that soundly again before a race. Nor did he offer me any advice on how to play my tickets. At least not untill the second time I did the unthinkable and took his advice. More fool I.

November 6th Thankfulness

You know I can't let another day go by without saying how thankful I am for my blogging friends. Other people might laugh at the closeness we have attained in here, but we are meeting and getting to know people from all walks of life, from different nations and diverse backgrounds. How shallow can it be? We have laughed with each other, cried with each other and more importantly prayed for each other. Every day that we remember to mention our community in our prayers is a blessing on everyone. I'd like to thank Adla, my new beloved friend, at http://www.vintagedelights.blogspot.com/ who so kindly granted me the Community Blogger award. I'm not sure what I did to deserve it, but I am no less thankful for it. Thank you Adla! You really need to go and visit Adla, she has some real treasures to share! Also, in the Melbourne race, my beautiful horse , Efficient,came in a winner at the Cup race...how lucky am I? Well, later on today I'll be back in to tell you all about how I ALMOST won 250,000 pounds...missed it by this }much. Well, more later pals...
hugs
Thanks for the award again, Adla...it is much appreciated