My Reading Blog

It's over, it's finished     Where did the week go? It's over, it's finished     Oh, what fun we had! It's over, it's finished     Time to go home It's over, it's finished     Give hugs and kisses It's over, it's finished     Pack the car and wave bye-bye It's over, it's finished     Till next time -one short month

My hubby is very self sufficient - he cooks, he cleans, he takes care of himself when I'm gone, but there is one thing that he really, really struggles with.  EXCEL SPREADSHEETS!!! He runs the skeet shooting at the gun club and needs to keep track of the birds shot, the cost, how much money has been collected, etc.  So I set up a "simple" spreadsheet for him so that all he has to do is put in the numbers and it "automatically" does the calculation.  He does this on a monthly basis, so he needs to delete his numbers from the last month and re-enter.  Somehow, it seems to get messed up.  A formula is missing, the columns don't add up right, I need another line, etc. "Hon, I need help".  Now I've only shown and told him how to correct these problems (at least once, twice, ???? )  I fix it and he says "How do you do that".  I explain and say "why don't you write it down".  "Why would I do that", he says, "...

Today is our baby's birthday (I'll let her tell you how old).  Michelle was our second child and, as most of you know, the second one is so much easier to handle.  Growing up, she was smart, always wanting to learn, loved to read, played softball and in the band.  Her teachers loved her and she always wanted to please everyone.  She could be very stubborn and moody (takes after me). I knew when she was six years old that she was going to be a teacher.  We were at church and I couldn't find her - she was in the nursery with five younger kids around her and she was reading them a story. Michelle is very dedicated to her family and children and to all of her students.  She wants them all to excel and tries her best to find ways to help them. For the most part, we have always gotten along (there were always the teenage years).  But each year seems to bring us closer, even though we live 10 hours apart.  I am impressed with how she is dealing wit...

Last week Michelle wrote a post about taking each of the girls separately to have some one-on-one time.  Well, today was the day.  Michelle took M to the library puppet show and I kept P at home.  P & I took a nice walk, we picked dandelions for M & Momma.  We came home, had a snack, read some books and played with toys.  Every so often P would look around and say "Where's M?".    And then back to playing.  I think she enjoyed my undivided attention, but also missed her sister.  They look to each other for companionship and to see what kind of trouble the other one is getting into. I told her to put the dandelions on the window ledge so that she could give them to M when they got back home.  The second P heard the door open, she grabbed the dandelions and ran to meet them.  They were so excited to see each other. Michelle & I both decided that it was soooo easy to just have one child to deal with, but we wouldn't giv...

I listened to an audio book by Lilian Jackson Braun entitled The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers.  It was a short story about a journalist with two Siamese cats.  It wasn't the story that had me intrigued so much, but that the journalist wrote in a log every night and the senior center asked him to give a presentation on how to start journaling.  I thought how appropriate the book was to what we are doing this month. One of the other things that was interesting to me was his statement that "Words have flavor".  As I thought about this and read more slices, words really do have flavor and color.  I read about spring and get the scent of fresh cut flowers and think of greens and yellows colors.  I read about children and envision them playing and learning and having fun - which reminds me of chocolate.  I read about pets and think about the joy they bring to us - contentment.  I read about difficulties in our lives and feel a need for comfort food (tomato...

Last week, the day before our anniversary, my husband went to the florist to order flowers for me.  This is not something he does often and he was looking forward to surprising me on our day.  He asked that they be delivered to me at work in the morning.  They assured him that would be no problem. Day of anniversary - I worked.  He called to tell me he was home from the gun club.  I didn't say anything about flowers and he didn't mention them either.  We met at our friends house for a drink and snacks.  I still didn't say anything about flowers.  Finally, curiosity got the best of him and he asked, "Did you get the flowers?"  I looked surprised and said "What flowers?".  He told me he had ordered flowers to be delivered this morning and I said I never got them. Now the florist is my best friend, and  I knew they had left town this morning for the weekend.  But I knew someone else was taking care of the shop.  I said ma...

M & P have very good eyesight.  They can spot Elmo a mile away.  We took a walk yesterday and showed me the neighborhood thru their eyes. Squirrel - I look and look and finally see one scampering up a tree a block away. Flower - Petal - they spot a Tulip tree and want to hold a petal.  They smell it and hold it tight. Doggie -  We hear it barking, but where is he?  Inside the fence several houses away. Baby - No babies around that I see, but Michelle points out a doll in the window of the house we passed. On and on they spot things that I don't see.  Maybe it's because they're riding in the wagon and are on a different level.  Or, I think they notice the little things that we, as adults, take for granted. This challenge has made me more aware of my surroundings and the little things that go on in my life.  So thanks to the challenge and to my granddaughters for making me look at things in a different light.

Was it the excitement of spending time with the girls, was it the long drive by myself, was I stressed out  or was there really something wrong?  My back had been bothering me since Thursday and usually I can tolerate a lot of pain, but this was something different.  You know how you can tell that something isn't quite right.  I hadn't slept or eaten very much and just wasn't feeling great this morning.  After calling my doctor (in Arkansas) and describing my symptoms, she recommended a trip to the ER. I told Michelle that I thought I needed to go to the ER and she agreed.  We got the girls settled with Daddy and off we went.  Michelle called our son, Scott, who lives about 20 minutes away and he said he'd be there.  We pulled into the parking lot and it was empty - a good sign as far as ER's are concerned.  We got in right away.  They took blood and a urine specimen and said a doctor would be with us "soon".  Scott arrived 15 min...

                  The suitcase came out             Max looks questioningly – Where are “WE” going? Sorry Max, you’re staying home with Dad             Max wags his tail in thanks The clothes are packed             The laptop is in the bag Got my vitamins             Maybe I need extra ones for energy Got my book (don’t need extra, Michelle’s got plenty)             Got audio books for the road Got my yarn for crocheting             Won’t have time for other crafts Everything’s in the car             Hubby checked the oil and tire pressure It’s 5:00 a.m.  ...

  Hi!  It’s Max here.  Mom didn’t have time to write (Dad took her out for dinner – but they didn’t bring me anything home!)  so I thought I’d fill in for her and share my day (SOL). Mom got up at her usual time (a little early- 4:45).  I gave her a kiss and wagged my tail thinking it must be time to get our day started.  She started the computer and read her devotions, posted her SOL, fiddled around some more.  About that time Dad got up and they smooched and wished each other a happy anniversary (I kept waiting for Dad to acknowledge me, but Mom was more important).  So I waited patiently with my tail wagging – ahhh finally a pat on the head and my back scratched.  It’s good to be loved!  I thought we’d go get the paper, but Dad wasn’t ready and Mom was heading downstairs to exercise.  I thought I’d help out, but I got bored very quickly and came back upstairs to find that Dad went to get the paper without me.  Well, that’s...

  This slice is dedicated to my wonderful husband of 42 years.  We met 43 years ago when he came back from VietNam – I was a roommate of his sister and we went to O’Hare to pick him up.  Nothing clicked for a couple of weeks, but then we got to know each other better and he was assigned to a base in Dover , Delaware .  Letters, phone calls and visits took place.  He came home at Thanksgiving and asked me to marry him and I said yes.  His Mother said, “But you don’t really know each other – you can count the times you’ve been together on one hand!”  Four months later we got married and here we are 42 years later and still hanging on to each other. My hubby is my best friend.  He’s kind and gentle and puts up with all my moods.  He’s my cook, he helps me clean, he’s my jack of all trades.  He tells me every day that he loves me and shows it through the things he does.  Is he perfect?  No, he has his faults, but I try to overloo...

  The other night at our small group, we were asked to name two things that we’ve been thankful for this year.  I thought to myself “TWO”, just two, that seemed so simple – maybe the key words were “this year”.  And so I decided it’s time for me to write about my “Two” things. No. 1 – of course, the obvious – My immediate family – husband, son and his girlfriend, daughter and son-in-law, granddaughters.  They are what makes my life whole. No. 2 – My faith in God – without Him, my life would be nothing. So you thought I’d stop at two??? No. 3 – Friends – near and far – people to share with and care about. No. 4 – My daughter’s encouragement to write these slices every day.  This has made me so much more aware of the things I experience and see every day.  Reading and commenting have opened me up to a whole new arena. No. 5 – My health – yes, I have aches and pains, but nothing compared to others. No. 6 – The beautiful area where we live. No. 7 – Spr...

Book cover:  "Dear Anna:  What I have to tell you is difficult to write, but I know it will be far more difficult for you to hear, and I'm so sorry..." The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind their close friend Noelle's suicide.  Everything they knew about Noelle - her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her friends and family - described a woman who embraced life. Yet there was so much they didn't know. With the discovery of the letter and its heartbreaking secret, Noelle's friends begin to uncover the truth about this complex woman who touched each of their lives - and the life of a desperate stranger - with love and betrayal, compassion and deceit." Chamberlain wove a very endearing and suspense filled story.  How can you be friends for 30 some years and still not "know" her?  How could Noelle live with all her secrets?  A mixture of living, dying, sharing and caring - d...

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been watching the dogwoods each day.  At first you could just see these little bumps up and down the branches.  Several days later, those bumps starts to open – just a little each day.  Until you can actually see a bloom – it has green petals and inside the petals there seems to be little beads.  By the next day, these green petals have turned to a yellowish green and have opened up even more.  And in no more than a week, poof, as if by magic, the dogwoods are in full bloom and, they have turned the beautiful shade of white.  We are blessed to have a multitude of dogwood trees on our property and as I stand on my back deck, I look out on a sea of white.  What beauty we will see for the next couple of weeks until the blossoms fade and fall to the ground.  The tree turns green until the fall when the red berries appear and it turns many shades of red.  What a gift God has given us!

Over the years we have lost many modems (they died), but we’ve been more cautious over the past year or so.  Whenever there is an imminent storm approaching, we unplug the computer, and disconnect the phone line.  However, yesterday the sky was clear – no thunder or lightening to be heard or seen.  All of a sudden, the skies opened and the rain came.  Not thinking it was going to be a bad storm, my husband kept playing his Hearts game and thought one more hand and I’ll quit and shut everything down.  Bam, pop, flash!!!  And in a matter of seconds, the modem was kaput! We thought perhaps it really wasn’t, but upon trying to connect later – nada, nothing, cannot find the server.  I called our IPS and asked them to check to see if maybe it was their lines – “I’ll send out a repairman tomorrow”.  On Saturday, I asked.  Yes, someone will be there tomorrow. I thought, oh no, I won’t be able to post my slice – there goes my perfect month! Satur...

  On Thursdays I volunteer at our Center For Hope – a place where people can come to get financial assistance with their utility bills and rent, give them direction to get other help from churches and government agencies and to listen to their problems.   We work with them to develop a budget, to stop smoking and to listen to their concerns. But, these clients were not the only people who had troubles and concerns this week.  The Director of the Center is dealing with her Mother in Hospice – it is an up and down battle.  Some days, they don’t think she will make it another hour and the next day she is lucid and alert.  I listened, gave her a hug and asked if she would like a prayer shawl.  Her Mother received one when she entered Hospice House and she knew the comfort it gave her Mother.  At first she said no that she would get her Mom’s when she passed.  After a few moments, she told me she really would like her own.  I had one with me...

Have you ever truly looked at your hands or do you, like me, take them for granted? My hands can … Type these words Open or close a door Change a baby’s diaper Give a pat on the back Applaud in thanks & praise Play the piano Hold a book Make a card Hold a child’s hand Prepare the soil for plants Wave hello or goodby Give comfort Rub my hubby’s back Fold together to pray They can look and feel…   Rough and red Soft and smooth Ache from arthritis Swollen Pretty with fresh nail polish Mis-shaped from years of using them These hands… Are a gift from God to be used in service to others

SOL #15 – 3/15/12 Creativity My list of hobbies is endless and it doesn’t seem like I have time to spend time enjoying each of them.  So in my list making and arranging of my days, I try to work on something different on my crafting days.  The craft that I have come to love is making cards for birthdays, anniversaries, thinking of you, Christmas, etc.  I have found many websites, blogs, and magazines that have ideas galore.  I pick my favorite and go from there, letting my creativity flow.  Last year, in addition to making cards for family and friends, I made cards for “Operation Write Home”.  It’s an organization that collects handmade cards to send to our troops overseas so that they have cards to send home to their loved ones.  Check out the website operationwritehome.org.  It was a very rewarding experience to help out our troops. I'm not alone in this card making venture.  For Christmas each year, my husband and I search for the p...

It was such a beautiful evening, we sat on the front porch, visiting with friends and looking at the clear, blue sky with puffs of clouds.  There was a slight breeze and soaring through the sky we spotted the buzzards.  Now buzzards are not pretty birds, in fact they are probably the ugliest birds that I have ever seen and when you see them on the ground, you would not call them graceful.  But have you ever watched them fly?  From their perch in a tree, they take off with very little effort.  They glide in the air with very little wing movement – up and down looking for the next wind current to soar higher and higher.  They appear to be playing games – first follow the leader and then tag or catch me if you can.  I’m sure their eyes are peering down to the ground to find their prey and all the while being so graceful.  And now, their games are over and they will find a tree to sleep in for the night to once again return to the sky tomorrow. ...

Now I’m pretty comfortable working on a computer and I’ve almost got the hang of using the remote control to record on our DVD.  I’m on Facebook and have gotten hooked on Pinterest.   I like challenges and I accept changes and I’m not from the dark ages.  But, I’m at a loss when it comes to texting, tweeting, twitter, 4G, 5G, I-phones, I-pads, Bluetooth and all of this ever-changing technology that is developed every day. You’re probably thinking – how can you manage without this new technology?  Somehow, my husband and I get along very well.  We have cell phones (very basic Tracfones – something to use “just in case”.   I tried texting ONCE and it took me 5 minutes just to enter “Hi” (LOL)!  It’s much easier to just call and speak to the person (and much more personal).  Has our society become so busy and into ourselves that we can’t actually talk to someone “face to face” or handwrite a letter?  What will our children do when t...

I love the sound of windchimes.  Some have such a mellow sound, some are higher in pitch, those made of wood sound hollow.  They come in all sizes - little, medium and large.  Several years ago, Michelle gave us a present - windchimes for our front porch.  In the card she wrote: “Remember, every time the windchimes make music – that’s me talking to you”.   When there is no breeze blowing, the chimes are very still and if I’m on the porch, I brush against them just to hear their music and to think of my daughter talking to me.  Other times, there is just a gentle breeze and the chimes seem to make the same tone over and over (I think it’s an E-flat) and it’s calming to know that Michelle is once again talking to me.  If the wind is blowing strongly, oh the music it makes and I know that she always has something to share with me. Even though we live a distance away, everytime I hear Michelle talking thru the windchimes, I feel that we are close in...

Book Cover:  "Fresh from Yale Law, Ben Addison is a new clerk for one of the Supreme Court's most respected justices.  Along with his co-clerk, Lisa, Ben represents the best of the fledgling legal community:  sharp, perfectionistic and painstakingly conscientious - but just as green.  So when he inadvertently reveals the confidential outcome of an upcoming Court decision, and one of the parties to the case makes millions, Ben starts to sweat.  Big time. Ben confides in Lisa and turns to his D.C. housemates for help.  They offer up their coveted insiders' access - Nathan works at the State Department, Eric reports for a Washington daily, and Ober is an assistant to a leading senator - to help outsnake the blackmailer who holds Ben's once-golden future hostage.  But it's not long before these inseparable pals discover how dangerous their misuse of power can be, even when accompanied by the very best of intentions.  And when a suspicious leak devel...

Book Cover:  "The unofficial caretaker of her small store-front synagogue, Rina is shocked when she receives a morning call from the police.  The modest place of worship has been desecrated with anti-Semitic graffiti and grisly Nazi death-camp photographs.  Rina's husband, Lt. Peter Decker, is also rocked by this outrage, which cuts close to the spiritual heart of his family, but he can't let his emotions get in the way of his duties. A suspect is soon in custody, 17 year old Ernesto Golding is one of L.A.'s children of wealth and privilege, a rich kid obsessed with haunting suspicions about the origins of his Polish paternal grandfather, who moved to Argentina after the Third Reich collapsed.  Charges are brought against Ernesto, a deal is cut, and the vandalism case is eventually closed. Still, Dicker has never abandoned the possibility that others were involved in the desecration.  And his hunch is confirmed when, six months later, Ernesto is found brutal...

The beginning of a new week – a time to put everything from last week behind me and start fresh.  Going to church, having fellowship with friends, knowing that I’m good with God. And that’s just the morning!  The rest of the day is mine to do what I want - no chores around the house I can read             I can crochet                         I can scrapbook                                     I can make cards                                       ...

Our church has a Stephen Ministry program and I am one of the leaders.  For those who don’t know what Stephen Ministry is all about, I’ll try to briefly explain it.  Stephen Ministry is a program that equips lay persons to provide distinctively Christian one-to-one care to those who are experiencing all kinds of life needs and circumstances.  In other words, we are available to listen and care for people who need help.  It’s a ministry that I have been devoted to for the past 11 years.    When I took the training class in 2001, I developed a very close relationship with Liz, which continues to this day.  We were commissioned as Stephen Ministers and the following year were asked if we would like to go to Leadership training to become Stephen Leaders.  At the time, I had too much going on, but Liz decided to take the training and nine years ago she become a Stephen Leader.  I followed in her footsteps the following year and we ...

This morning as I lay in bed, waking from a good night's rest, I listened to the rain gently falling to the ground.  I thought of a happy song from my parent's generation: I'm singing in the rain Just singing in the rain What a glorious feelin' I'm happy again What a wonderful way to wake up. But then the time came to walk Max and it was no longer a gentle rain, but rather a downpour.  Max is rather temperamental when it comes to rain - HE JUST PLAIN DOESN'T WANT TO GET WET!!!  So we started chanting: Rain, rain go away, come again another day. In the meantime, I had places to go and people to see and I kept thinking:  Oh, please don't rain on my parade.   I found this quote to change my thinking: And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow. And, so out the door I went, searching for the rainbow - but alas, not today - the sun was nowhere to be found. Since I couldn't find the rainbow...

It’s been a hot topic for slices, so I thought I’d add my feelings on this season. Daffodils blooming             Bradford Pear Trees a mass of white                         Forsythias turning yellow                                     Grass starting to grow A southern breeze blowing warm air             Trees with a tinge of green                         Birds all aflutter                   ...

When Hubby arose on Friday morning, he asked if I heard the beeping at midnight.  Now, I’m usually the one who hears everything, but I said that I didn’t hear anything and asked if he wasn’t just dreaming.  He said, “No way.  I looked at the clock and it said 12:00 – at 12:01 the beeping stopped”.  I just said “Okay.” And rolled my eyes heavenward. He checked the clock upstairs, his phone, my phone and anything else that could making the beeping sound. Then Sunday night at 12:00, I awoke to the beep, beep, beep.  Just as I got up to see where the sound was coming from, IT QUIT!!!  So back to bed.  Monday morning it dawned on me that there was one clock radio that we hadn’t checked and sure nuf, the alarm was set to go off at 12:00 midnight.  Supposedly, I turned it off, but alas, last night we both woke up to beep, beep, beep at 12:00.  So now I’m really puzzled.  Could it be ghosts in the house or has Max discovered how to push but...

Hi, I’m Max and I belong to Judy.  I’m part Cocker Spaniel and something else.  I’m 11 years old and I like to take my Mom on walks. Usually we always turn to the right out of the driveway, but not today.  Mom said, “Let’s go to the left”.  And I thought, oh goody, goody, some new smells and new places to – oh you know. So down the hill we went.  I had to stop quite often – just to smell and Mom would keep saying “Come on, let’s keep moving”.  When we go to the left, we can go two ways – one thru the resort or the other down a big hill that leads  to the lake.  We went down the big hill.  Mom keeps telling me not to pull because the gravel is lose and she doesn’t want to slide down the hill.  So, I try to go slowly – that way I can smell lots and lots.  Down, down we go to the first flat area.  We stop and look at the lake.  I turn around to see if we can keep going down – boy would I love to jump in the lake, bu...

Today would have been my Dad’s 95 th birthday.  He passed away in 2003.  I miss him . He was a farmer and carpenter by trade.  He was a gentle man who loved life, enjoyed talking with people, and helping out wherever he could.  His faith in God was phenomenal and he passed that on to me.  He was dedicated to my Mom, even after she passed away.  His family was his livelihood.  Oh, he had his quirks and could be opinionated.  But who of us aren’t.  He had a great sense of humor.  I remember him relating this story:  He was in high school study hall and apparently “acting up”.  The teacher said, “Milling, wipe that smile off your face.”  So my Dad, put his hand to his face and “wiped the smile away”.  The whole study hall erupted in laughter.  That’s my Dad.  He never went to college, but he was well versed in many areas. I always knew that I could go to him with my problems and concerns.  He helped...

What's your dream vacation? Going to the beach Fishing at the lake Cruising Going to an exotic island Touring a foreign country Visiting Family I love to travel.  I’ve seen many sights, toured many cities, taken several cruises, and traveled overseas (haven’t found the exotic island yet).  And, of course, visit family (my precious twin granddaughters & kids, too).  We live near a lake, but don’t seem to take advantage of it as often as we’d like. I'd like to travel more - Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Costa Rica, the East Coast, the West Coast and every state in between and then there's Europe and Asia.  Oh, the dreams go on and on.  Some day - maybe not physically, but thru my reading adventures - I'll get to see all of these places. But what I enjoy most about vacations is coming HOME.  I can relax here, sit on the front porch or back deck, listen to the birds, watch the squirrels and deer, sip a glass of wine, read a book, take a nap – the list ...

I don’t feel that I lack confidence – at least in most ways (I dislike public speaking) – but this SOL writing and publishing made me feel intimidated.  I expressed this feeling to my daughter and she asked why.  I said because y’all are teachers and have lots more education than me.  When she e-mailed me the SOL information, she wrote:  “Also, remember that not all the slicers are teachers.  In fact, we are all still mothers, daughters, grandmas, friends, and people that have a slice of life to share!  You'll also be amazed at the ideas you get from reading the other blogs.”  Isn’t she just so smart? I need to change my way of thinking – we all are human beings and make mistakes, say the wrong things or don’t say things when we should, and I do have a lot to share.  Then I started thinking that “I am a teacher, maybe not with a degree or in a classroom, but I have taught my kids and try to teach my husband (more about this in a later post) and ...

While driving to church last Sunday, I told my husband about Michelle’s (Literacy Learning Zone) challenge to write a SOL every day in March.  He snickered and said, “Gee, what will you write about?  You get up at 5:00 a.m. every day, exercise, read the newspaper while drinking a cup of coffee, work the jumble and crossword puzzles, take Max for a walk, work on the computer, read, clean, go to work two days a week, make cards or scrapbook.  And that’s the same every day of every week – what will you write about?" Then he got concerned and said, “You won’t write about me, will you?”  Hmm, now that’s food for thought - I'm sure you'll learn more about him as the month progresses.  Now he keeps asking to see what I’ve written (I think I’ve got him scared!). So that made me challenged all the more to make an effort to “find” something to write about other than my mundane, boring routine (according to Hubby).  Now that I’m challenged by two members of my fami...

SOL #1 – 3/1/12 Moving out of my Comfort Zone My daughter, Michelle from Literacy Learning Zone, has been challenging me since last year to write for the SOL March challenge at Two Writing Teachers.  First off, she started me on a blog - just to keep track of all the books I read – yep, I can do that.  Then I started adding little snippets to “my” blog – it was just for me (and Michelle).  At the beginning of this year I selected “my one little word” – REFLECTION.  And so I’ve been doing some reflecting and adding those to “my” blog. Then, the other day I mentioned that maybe I’d “try” to write something every day in March, to which Michelle replied, “You’re going to post it on Two Writing Teachers, right?”  I hemmed and hawed and said I’d think about it.  Well, I thought about it and here I am – my FIRST published post.  Talk about moving out of my Comfort Zone – me, a private person, not willing to share until I REALLY know you.  But, since I ...