We Welcome "Fall Break" and New York City!

Two weeks off from teaching school - "YEA" says Alvin and Chelsea! Chandler is counting how many days he has off from school too but I think he will find he is going to miss it because he really likes school and doing so very well.

So, now we can concentrate on our trip to New York. Perhaps research places we want to visit and see and go through our wardrobe to bring out the warmer clothing for the 65 degree weather. Now that sounds cold to me but I am sure it is going to be a welcome change. Alvin has already picked out two museums he wants to visit. I'll just go along with whatever as long as I am fed every few hours. Sweet Tatum is ready to shop with her Mom and Auntie Gretchen. What fun we plan to have!

COLD WATER buddy boys!

Heads up to my swimming buddies, and you know who you are! We went swimming last Saturday, September 15 and the water temperature was 88 degrees. We went swimming on Labor Day, September 3 and the water temperature was 92 degrees. So, in just 12 days the temperature dropped 4 degrees. That really doesn't seem like much of a drop but it does make a difference when you compare 92 degrees to "bath water" and 88 degrees to being a "little cold." Now, that is not my description of the water in our last swim but Chandlers as he said, "Oh, it is cold!" It was, but I told him just to swim and he would get warmer; which he did.

But, my point is that with the cooler nights and shorter days the pool water will dip fast so perhaps our good times of swimming this season may be over. (at least in Nana's pool) I'll miss the fun times I have had with you boys and Chandler I will ask your Pa if we can increase the length of our pool so you can swim longer than the 36 feet next summer.

Tatum - Tatum - Tatum

Trouble - Trouble - Trouble! Tatum is just learning to explore and she found my scrap balls of yarn and just wouldn't leave them alone. In no time she had her little body all wrapped up. Like we always say - why do we buy toys? The answer to that questions is easy; grandmothers just do.

Sitting on a Fence!

I told you I would be sitting on my back fence after the 3rd injection. I am sure glad those painful shots are finished. I did discover it hurt less if given on the right side of knee instead of the left. Also, the doctor informed me I wouldn't see results until two long months after the last injection. So, I'll wait it out - nothing left to do but just sit.

Birthday Idea!

I have been known throughout the years as the "bird lady." Whenever my friends and neighbors have stray or injured birds I am always the first to be called. Yesterday, I got such a call from my friend who lives two cul-de-sacs away. Her frantic call was telling me she had an injured colorful "exotic bird" of some kind in her backyard. I said I would be right there thinking I just might get me a beautiful cockatoo or a colorful conure! It wasn't quite that magnificant however, just a lovebird but still very pretty. I retrieved the friendly but hurting bird, carried it home and tried to nurse him back to health but he later died. But, he defnitely reminded me of our cute lovebird named Cheddar that met his dimise too when Alvin asphyxiated him. (that is another story) So, how about another one - I think I would like that!!!!!

Cock-a-doodle-doo

I have a knee problem! I have had osteoarthritis knee pain for at least eight months. How does it hurt? Only every way imaginable - achy, sharp stabbing pains some times and other times deep throbbing pain, and of course stiffness and popping sounds. It seems I have no cartridge in my knee - they call that "bone on bone." What have I done for this? I have had two cortisone injections in the knee. The first didn't work because 3 days after the shot I tripped and fell right on the knee but the second one did get rid of some inflamation I think and I even walked better. I just last week had the first injection of a series of three that is an hyaluronic acid. It seems that the acid is extracted from a rooster comb! I figure by the time I have had my last injection I will be sitting on my back fence crowing "cock-a-doodle-doo!"

I am Not 40 Years Old!

No, I 'm not forty and would I really want to be? Probably not! It means that Alvin and I will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary next year. To us that is pretty good and the years have been full of joy, with a few ups and downs scattered about, but always filled with love.

Why do I have a blog? I guess because my children thought it was a good idea. They all have blogs of course and continually change events and pictures and I am not sure that I have that much of interest in my life to keep that up. Why would I want to show pictures of my 5 grandchildren when the same pictures can most likely be found on their blogs.

We don't have all the excitement . . . so what am I going to talk about and what pictures will I show? Perhaps you will just have to keep checking back and see for yourself.