Keep them in your prayers!

Though we pray for all those along the hurricanes path say a special prayer for these wonderfu men who give up so much to guard this special place.



It is and always will be home.

Growing Up Burrwood

     Ours was a unique little community in a community. We were to not close to town. A dip off the side of the U.S. highway, close to the river, nestled in between two cities. It was called “Burrwood Park” and it consisted of four and three quarter streets. It originally began as summer houses, a little vacation retreat (fishing shacks) so to speak. Some families decided to make a permanent homestead.

      I grew up having my grandparents and aunts and uncles all around me. Grandma and Grandpa were just five houses up the street with uncle Jim. Across from them were my aunt Dot and uncle Ken, and aunt Pat and Uncle Dale. Next door was uncle Jack and aunt Ceil. Down the road on the river front was uncle Bill and aunt Lucy. As each grew and married they stayed right in the neighborhood as did a number of other families. Eventually some moved off to other areas, those most stayed within the local town. A few families still have two or three members who have houses here. My mother-in-law lives just up the street. My sisters and I are all within a couple streets of each other and in-laws of theirs also live here.

     Things such a roofing parties, yard parties, cookouts etc. were the norm. Someone sitting on a porch was an open invite to sit and chat. If you decided to build a garage, new roof, or addition of some sort, the neighbors were right there chipping in to help. The women fixed food and at the end of the day everyone sat and had eats and a few drinks admiring their handy work.

       It was, and to some extent, still is a neighborhood where everyone looked out for each other and all the kids. A reputation for a safe place so known that people from town brought there kids here for trick or treat. Our children enjoy coming here where they feel it’s safe to let their kids ride bikes without an adult with them all the time. Where they can even play catch in the street.

     We all stuck together like a big family. The big kids watched out for the little ones. Even if it was from going back and forth to school or just playing ball. All the kids played together and the little ones were given the help they needed to play. From hide and seek, to baseball or football, if you wanted to play, you could. If we fought among ourselves we worked it out, but heaven help someone who tried to cause trouble for one of us. We banded together like a small army, whose children or siblings lived around them for a bit. A few have remained as have my sisters and I have. I just can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Just rattling on.

Thank you Arlene for the wonderful award.  I so love reading your posts. 

Lovely blog award



 

Not much to tell today.  We're are making a little progress as Oreo only had one accident in the last 16 hours.  Or maybe there is another reason, as I say here;

 

I have a little doggie that goes in and out with me,
Because we're trying to teach doggie, where he has to pee.
The trouble as I see it, and I'm sure you will agree,
I'm not to sure who's training who, I think he's training me.

 

For the first time I can remember the state has published "report cards' on the state expectations of the schools.  You can go online and look them all up.  I'm glad to say the schools I worked at, and my kids attended rated high marks.  One of the editors in the local paper has always tried to promote consolidation of the township and the city in to one city.  We have always fought it and the schools are one of the main reasons why.  Smaller and a large parent/school working together attitude.   I hope it never changes. Because of all of this we get quite a number of open-enrollment students from other schools. 

 

You all have a nice evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step by step

The little fellow is making small progress.  This morning for the first time he went to the door.  Poor Jack is getting  picked on a little for his impatience.  He's taking it well.  We do have the puppy pads but the silly little dog puts his front paws on the pad and his hindside out on the floor.  You turn him around and he turns back.  He's so funny.  As you can see from the picture, this is his spot when we're on these machines.

If the bed feels to warm for him he gets off and sits on the mat at my feet.  That's his favorite toy.  

Have the camper all taken care of and covered.  Still have the picnic tables and swing to put away.  Got way laid by football games and sisters.  After the Packer game they all came outside and we sat at the tables.  LOL  Jodi had her grandbabies and they like to play in the yard.  Sherry is being naughty and trying to teach Addison to say "Whatever" and  "Talk to the Hand" to her mom and dad.  Bad aunt Sherry, LOL. 

Have to run to the store this morning.  Making Taco Soup and thought I had all the stuff.  Naturally I was wrong.  Now should I make some cornbread to go with it or not?  Decisions, decisions. 

 DWTS tonight.  At least I think so.  The big Debate is on.  Will I watch it.  Probably not.  Nothing is going to change my mind at this date. Frankly I don't believe in 1 term Presidency anyway.  The job is just to tough to do in that short span of time. 

Time to go.  Hubby just turned the tv back on.  I'll get the shopping done and when I get back he'll go to horseshoes and I can turn it back off.   Dang, I need a Woman Cave. 

Have a good day.



Patience..

..is not one of my husband's strong suits.  It's not that he get crazy, he just complains a lot.  Poor Oreo has only been here a week and he thinks he should be totally potty trained by now.   He gets frustrated when the puppy does a no-no.  I know it's us who have to keep an eye out for when Oreo starts wandering about sniffing so we can grab him up and go outside.  Sometimes we don't watch him close enough and you know what happens.   Well I will change the subject, sure you would like to read about better things.  LOL

He is quite a frisky little fellow.  Doesn't care much for being crated but there are times when that is necessary until he can be totally trusted when we're not at home.   Had trouble at night ashe would whine, bark and cry on and off all night.  Wouldn't use the bed we bought.  Then I read up on Shih-Tzu's and decided to put in right where we were during the day.  If we're on the computer it's between us etc.  Within a hour he crawled in and went to sleep.  So we took it up to our room at night and he sleeps in it nicely.  Only problem.  He likes to get up at 4:30 UGH! 

This weekend we will be getting the camper ready for winter.  Blowing out the lines, anitfreeze the pipes, and covering it up.  It's suppose to be nice here so there is no better time to get the job done.   Will be putting the yard swing and picnic tables away also, so if there are anymore nice days for Granny's night it will have to be on Jodi's deck, :-).

You all have a nice weekend. 

"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face." ~ Ben Williams

I may be biased.....

...but I think she's just beautiful. 

The kids teased her about her "Snookie" hairdo.  She just laughs them off.

No, her hair is not really red, it's the dye they put in. 

Uncle Joe is home and according to him the only restrictions are his own, lol.  Well now I'm thinkin' his kids a way ahead of him on that.  He's doing good.  Thanks for the concern and prayers.

Buddies

 We made it through the first night okay.  We tried a dog bed, no dice.  A laundry basket with a towel in it (thinking he was small and couldn't get out) no dice.  No pet crate to put him in so he wouldn't wander (getting one from son today) so yes, he ended up in our bed.  It took him a little while to really settle down (all that napping I think) and he kept heading for the end of the bed.  Well it's a bit too high for him to jump and we had to keep bringing him back up.  After a while he decided my backside was the place to lay.  Sure, ignores me all day then wants to snuggle at night.  Here's a few pictures.

Where is my Mom?

Nap time again.

I can facebook with the dog in my lap.

I'll sleep, you play.

That doesn't look like Mom, but I like it.

I don't think he's gone more that 3 feet from Jack since he got here.  They definitely bonded fast. 

Just killing time until we go up to sons house for Aaron's first trip back home.  Pasta salad made and just have to pick up what to drink on the way.    Wish it was a rainy day for this, but we've never let the weather stop this family from having a good time. 

Uncle Joe is doing much better except for the pain in his feet.  They thought it may be gout but tests have disproved that.  He is up and about and says the feet, though they hurt, still feel a 100% better than they did.  Thanks again for keeping him in your prayers. 

Hope your day is a good one.

Thank you all..

Uncle is doing well.  They put in a pacemaker and he's feeling much better.  Of course there are the restrictions that go along with it but it's looking pretty good.  Will be going home shorthly and there is a big family, (he has 8 kids) that will make sure he obeys all the doctors orders.  Thanks for the prayers.  Your a wonderful bunch of people.

He's here.  Oreo that is.  We picked him up at 10 this morning and Jack hasn't hardly let him down since.  I think I've got to touch him 3 times for a total of 5 minutes.  lol  He definitely likes Jack  and the feeling is mutual.  The granddaughters are all just tickled of course.  I would add a picture, but for some reason my camera is acting funny.  The pictures are all blurry like something moved even when the subject is perfectly still (asleep).  Now I suppose the person holding the camera could be at fault.  I'll have to have a talk with her.

Grandson is home for the first time since he went off to college.  It's his birthday weekend so we are going there tomorrow.  Jack has to run back and take pictures of Nicole for the homecoming dance but will come right back up there.  It will be nice to see him.  Suppose to be a cookout but the weatherman says rain so it will be a 'cook-in the garage', but we'll have a good time.

Have a nice weekend and I hope the weather is good for you.



Times a-wasten...

I think that's what I've been doing.  Haven't done anything of great accomplishment these few days.  A little running here and there.  All the normal stuff of daily living.  Trying to keep the tv off so I don't have to listen to all those disgusting political commercials.  And that's all I'm going to say about that.

DWTS is really good this year.  So awesome last night I could not decide who did the best job.  Some may not agree, but Bristol still really needs to go.  She doesn't seem to even be trying her best.  Kristy is doing better but it is going to hurt no matter who goes after these two, and I hope they are the two tonight.  I loved the concept of the stars controlling the dances this week.  It will be interesting to see what they choose for each others groups for next week. 

Have 3 little flowers on the yellow rose bush that just won't quit.  Two have bloomed nicely and one bud is getting ready to.  Will have to put up the pictures as soon as the camera charges and I get them uploaded. 

Carson is doing a countdown till Fri.  She keeps telling everyone "she" is getting a puppy and it will be her best friend and she his. 

I finally got the granddaughters to clean and toss the corner where they kept the toys they used to play with.  It looked real good for about 15 minutes.  Then hubby started filling it with junk he should be tossing.  Magazines he's going to take to the shop where he used to work (sometime in this century), baseball caps he wears, etc.  Sometimes I want to scream. Something about men and an empty space.  GRRRRR! 

Wow, just found out my last uncle is in the hospital.  He collasped at the snack shop and fell so a trip to the ER.  His BP was 60/0.  I just shudder at that.   He's diabetic but had that under control with meds.  They have him on a temp pacemaker while they do all the testing and checking.  Sherry told his daughter about when Bill was having those problems and what they did so the family can ask about that too.  He is the rock of this family.  Always there when any one needed him.  Was with us when each of our parents passed and went with us to make arragements and everything. He lost his wife a couple years ago and has a handicapped daughter that he takes care of.  He sure is loved and much needed.  

 Loads of prayers for you uncle Joe. 

One more week.

Well only one more week and we will bring the little fellow home.  I think everyone is getting a little antsy waiting.  We have been checking all the things in different pet stores.  Besides the obvious stuff you need like dishes, bedding etc., there is the fun stuff.  We saw a raincoat, halloween outfits, and so many different types of leashes and collars.  We can't decided between  Packers, Badgers, Harley Davidson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., etc, lol.  I know the granddaughters are quite anxious as is Jared.  Now remember how I told you Jack was against having a dog?

Does this look like a guy not wanting a dog?  Nope, I don't think so. 

I really am disappointed in DWTS inability to realize there is too much emphasis on fan voting.  That the judges should have at least a 60/40 advantage.  It just shows the sad fact that you can stay, when better dancers go.  I dont think Joey Fatone would have made it to the finals, but there is no way Bristol or Kristy should still be there.  That Helio was on the final two is insulting.  If either of those two end up on top I doublt if I'll ever watch again.

Well, headed out window shopping again.  Have to check out other places to see what they have for puppies. 

Have a good day.



I Hate 'hate"!

With all the violence, bullying, name calling and hate crimes going on lately it almost makes you believe in the Mayan calendar. Religions promoting and bullying each other. Adults and children doing the same. Talk radio spewing vile and hateful rhetoric. We’re going to blow up our world if we don’t get a handle on this and it is terrifying.

Hate is an emotion no one should ever learn. I know it’s been around forever, but that doesn’t make it right. It doesn’t mean it should continue. We’re not born hating. Should we be taught it doesn’t mean we should continue such teaching. Words or actions spoken in front of little eyes and ears make too big an impression.

Do I agree with all the beliefs and lifestyles of others. No, but I respect their right to them. Do I believe I have the right to tell others how to live their lives, take care of their families, take care of themselves. No, and I don’t believe anyone of us has that right.

I believe God put us all here on this earth. Each of us is his creation and we have no right to mar it, taunt it, deprive it or harm it. I believe the differences are there to teach us that we must learn and live together for the betterment of all mankind. I think he judges us on how we treat our fellow human being, no matter what the differences are. That we are different in order to learn tolerance, humility, and co-existence. That Jesus suffered and died on the cross to show us how wrong this is and we learned nothing. I believe we are still being tested and failing miserably.

Not one of us is better than any other and we must remove this notion from our minds.

Stop the Hate! If you feel it, Keep It to Yourself, DON’T SPREAD IT!