When I was young my favorite thing was a new box of crayons … I just loved opening that green and gold box of Crayolas  and viewing all of those wonderful colors… All sharpened and standing in straight rows  waiting for me to pick the first one out to use… And the new coloring book… not a page with a crayon mark on it until I touched the pages with color… I love opening that new bar of soap… smelling that fresh scent  and the feel of rubbing it in my hands for the first time… Who likes to open the “New” box of cereal first?… I do!… It’s brand new, fresh and crispy and crunchy as I pour the milk over it in a bowl and take that first bite… I love a new sheet of paper… nothing on it until I write or type those first words… making it my own… A new pencil sharpened by me for the first time… all pointy with a woody sawdust smell … I like the first bites of a candy bar… opening that wrapper  and seeing all that creamy chocolate with whatever filling lies under it… That first bite just melting in your mouth… Yum!… I like starting a new game… no points… and being the one to make the first move… I like making that first cut with the lawnmower… seeing that straight line of fresh-cut grass  as I make my way around the yard… That first brush stroke on a new project… whether it be canvas or a fresh painted wall … just waiting for me to apply my artistic talents… The first piece of fresh bread out of the wrapper… smelling so good and making a sandwich that just tastes delicious … Popping open a Coke… hearing that fizzy sound and drinking that first sip of bubbly goodness… almost burns!… A new book… not knowing what is in store… how the plot will go… turning the crisp new pages … So as you see I like “new” things…Nothing big… just that new feeling that no one has touched or used it before you… Do you feel the same way?… Just wondering… What is your favorite new thing to open? ... Let me know!

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Seven is what I call my Lucky Number! … Why?… No reason, but I’ve always liked it… and Friday the 13th is usually “My Lucky Day!”   … go figure!… My grandson, Carson turned my Lucky Number this past Monday on the 13th…Hmmm, is this an omen… No, just a coincidence… but a good one!… He’s my youngest Grandchild and the “boy”… and I do mean all boy… Riding bicycles, playing football , basketball… well, anything involving a ball… electric scooter … swimming… playing cars and trucks …I guess you get the picture!… At Christmas all we heard was that he wanted a BB Gun… Oh no!…  I knew that day would come… I asked my son, “When did you get a BB Gun?”… “7″, he said… No way… Did we do that?… He’s too young!… You were to young!… “Evidently you didn’t think so at that time”, he said… But, it’s so different now that I’m a Grandma… So today Carson finally had his birthday party… the day was better for all and he was so excited! … As grandparents we went, along with his other grandparents, friends of my son and daughter-in-law and of course about 10 of his friends from the neighborhood and school… It was at their home… Melanie had fixed wonderful snack foods… A football cake was the centerpiece… with football decorations all around … There were fun games and a football pinata filled with candy … After eating and playing games it was gift time… There was a remote controlled car , football figures, swimming trunks, gag/joke toys, handmade cards  and money …  which is always welcomed… Then, just like on the movie “A Christmas Story”  … Brian, my son said, “There’s one more gift hidden behind the couch”… and as Carson ripped the paper off… his eyes gleamed… but, I do believe his Dad’s were gleaming more… It was a “An Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle,” or a “Red Ryder BB Gun!” … and we all said about the same time, “You’ll shoot your eye out!”… reminiscing began as to when Brian had received his first BB Gun… and how his older brother had tried to shoot him in the rear end as he played basketball… I can’t believe the distinct memories they had of that time!… Happy memories!… Fun memories… Carson is going to leave his “Red Ryder”   at our house… We have woods in the back of our house  and less likely to cause damage… Poppy will sit him up some targets to shoot at… “Safety First”   will be our motto!… He is so excited and I’m sure we will have a little visitor soon!… There was no complaints of the rules… just excitement!… But, probably not as much as my son being able to give this special gift to his son… recalling those days when he was just 7 years old … and I said, “”You’ll shoot your eye out!”

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As I’ve said previously in other blogs… I’m up to trying some new things… new places to eat … new places to travel to … new places to have fun … Some will be adventurous… others relaxing and some most interesting!… So last night I went to play a game… I met my sister there… It was a huge room… People were lined up buying things… Sheets of paper… in various colors … little tabs that you pulled … colored markers, but with rounded dobbers on the ends … Every color you can imagine!… Some were there as devoted players… with their little bags holding all their paraphernalia … Lucky shirts could be seen… Groups of people out for a night of fun… some alone and all business like… All works of life it seemed… from the elderly to the young at heart… Long tables were set up in rows… Snacks galore were being sold from a snack bar and also out of machines … No alcohol… just soft drinks… Mainly something to munch on while playing… I would guess maybe close to 200 people+ attended… spread out so that no one was crowded… Everyone talking until this event started… then a hush came over the crowd… There was a gentleman in front of us and he started calling out numbers … The papers we had bought for a meer $10.00 had rows of cards printed on them… The sheets were blue, brown, orange, green, yellow, pink and gray… The first game was called Single… the next Double, there was even a Triple… the next Crazy “L”… Big “X” … Cloverleaf… There was a Little Picture Frame and a Large… There were Coveralls and Go Go’s… Postage Stamps and a Speed type…There were two big lit up screens on each side of the building with numbers on them… as the numbers were called they were lit up… and then a smaller screen  would have the next number that was going to be called out showing up on it… This is where you can stay ahead of the game a little… Concentration is a must!… My back got tensed up… my vision was blurring… as I looked intently at these sheets before me… All of a sudden you would hear “BINGO!” … Yes, that’s what we were playing… I never knew the childhood game I played was so intense and followed with such fervor… But, then you have to know the prizes that were involved… $100.00… $200.00…$500.00… Something to take seriously I guess, but I was just there for the fun and no I didn’t win! …For a cheap night out and being with your friends or family it can’t be beat!… Just be 18 years old and come to explore this new adventure!… Maybe if I wear my “LUCKY” shirt next time I’ll be the one hollering out… “BINGO”!

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I finally got it done! … It’s one of those things I want to do for myself… but, often I put it off… I don’t like things that are too time-consuming… I’m usually doing at least 2-3 things at once … So since we were having a quiet morning … I needed a shower… I decided to color my hair  … It’s not that big of a deal, but it’s something I don’t really enjoy doing… I don’t want to be a beautician … cut hair… hi-light hair… style hair… pluck eyebrows or wax them… I do like having these things done for me… I leave this to people who have the know how  .. .One exception! … I do color my own hair… It’s cheaper…The products are really easy to use and I usually like the results… I use to change my hair color often ...my mood setting the trend… Now, I’m inclined toward a reddish hue… Seems to fit my all over coloring and personality… As I get older I need a little brightness… Skin tones change… lines appear…and the inevitable gray hair starts appearing… I do not want to be gray!… I REPEAT! … I do not want to be gray… YET!… I am fairly active… like fashion and design , but have been known to keep things if I like it far longer than the style sticks around… Some people look gorgeous with gray hair… very attractive  … I haven’t seen myself with gray hair yet… I might like it, but doubt it… So I go to the drugstore , grocery store or Wal-Mart and look for a complimentary color… and bring it home… It sits for a while on the bathroom shelf… until the urge hits me that it’s time!… I mix the two solutions together in a squeeze bottle , put on the plastic gloves that are provided and begin to part and apply the concoction… After letting it stay on my hair for about twenty minutes… longer if my hair is long… shorter if my hair is short… I usually watch TV or get on the computer while waiting for the “magic” to take place… It’s easier getting into the shower…applying water and working the lather into my hair… It gets really foamy ... I then proceed to rinse and rinse as the water turns a reddish-brown around my feet … I wonder if my feet are going to turn red like my hair… but, it hasn’t happened yet!… There is a conditioner  that comes in the box… put it on and feel the softness it automatically leaves… Rinse again… towel dry… blow dry and style my way … easier the better and then I wonder why I hate to do this task… It leaves me with a lift in my spirits… feeling better and looking better I think … and I don’t have to do this ordeal for about two months… I’m a happy redhead   again!

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OK… I am called old-fashioned sometimes!… Why?… Because, when I like something I just keep on using it… I don’t see why you have to change out what works!… My cell phone does all I want… Let’s me talk to who I want when I just want to chat… when I need help from my husband… like car trouble… when I’m in a hurry to tell someone something before I get home… It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles like my Granddaughter’s … and NO I don’t want to text  … I want to TALK to the person I’m calling!… I like my PC sitting on my desk in my little computer room … Don’t need to take it with me… I like my quiet spot to think, write, check my email  and do my blog… My time away from everyone… “ALONE” time!… I take my coke or coffee with me and just relax… So when my computer went out… and I do mean OUT!… I got another PC to sit right in the old one’s place … I’ve had a pair of shoes for about 5 years… They feel good, don’t make my feet hurt and I don’t think they look too bad… So until it’s a must … They will be on my feet almost every day … I haven’t bought a new coat for years… Mainly because I don’t like coats… and when I do wear one… the one I have will keep me warm as toast… It might be 10 years old… but I don’t care! … When I buy something I usually really like it! …I plan on using it…looking at it…sitting on it…playing with it …etc. … for a long time… Some may say it’s because I’m frugal… some may say I don’t like change… some may say, “She’s just old-fashioned!”… My motto is … If it’s not broke don’t fix it!… If it does what it was bought for, why replace it!… If it is still nice to look at, just keep on enjoying it!… If it makes me feel cozy and warm, just snuggle into it… Are there any more “Old Fashiond’s”  out there?… Let’s hear from you!

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 A Memory…

I probably should wait until Easter for this Blog… but, my Granddaughter Kennedy came over to spend the night… and I couldn’t resist taking a picture of her and her best friend she brought with her… Actually she brings her every time… and if not… we have had to meet my son half way to pick her up… She is not your typical friend… long-lasting for sure…but, she’s a little worn around the edges… She has long ears which at one time stood up but, now a little droopy… She was once a pretty pink color and fuzzy soft… Now, barely pink and her hair is no longer as cuddly… She lost her bow she wore around her neck many years ago… She has had many holes and been patched many times… She has had several new noses, stuffed here and there and just recently a new tail… … Her name is “Bun”…  short for Bunny… She has been in the family for about 9 years… but she is definitely Kennedy’s… She loves Bun with all of her heart!… Hugging her tight and sleeping with her head on her every night… Bun has sat at my kitchen table …slept in my bed ... and been hugged and kissed every time she has visited … We all have grown to love her!… but, never as much as Kennedy!  

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We had the best time at our little Valentine’s Luncheon given by the “Y” … It only cost $3.00 … so we immediately said, “That’s for us!”… It was held at a church within 1/2 mile of the “Y” itself…so very handy!… We could hear music as we got near the door to the auditorium… Guitar playing and singing by a volunteer playing just for us…very nice!… Tables decorated with candy and candle centerpieces... Iced tea, coffee and water waiting for us to help ourselves as we found a seat at one of the tables and waited for all to arrive… We had left a few minutes earlier from our swimming exercises … as did other people… As we entered and looked around… one of the coordinators immediately came up and introduced herself… and asked our names…very friendly… putting us at ease… We know no one except for faces we have seen… but, today some names were attached to them… Some of us are newcomers and some old “Y” friends… a great mixture!… The person in charge of activities began to introduce herself and thanked us for coming… proceeding to let us know of upcoming events… A St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon  in March, a bus trip to a casino  and a trip to the IMAX Theater and Museum in downtown Louisville… welcoming any suggestions we had… Prayer was said  and we proceeded to get in line for our lunch of  spaghetti with meat sauce   or marinara, rolls and crisp salad  with a variety of dressings… Served by friendly volunteers… Dessert was our choice of red velvet cake/cream cheese frosting, yellow/cherry cupcakes and Valentine cookies … All was delicious… Simple and perfect!… I heard no complaints!… Afterwards we looked under our plates for the heart meaning we had won the door prize of the small box of heart-shaped chocolates  that had been part of our centerpiece… We played Valentine Bingo with real “Conversation” Candy Hearts for the game covers/markers… We had several winners and resumed talking to our new-found friends… I believe we all left with a feeling of simple pleasure and enjoyment… A “Sweet” afternoon!

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Gift…

Another day at the “Y” … I so look forward to it now… My mind is so much more free… less stressful … and I hope my body will soon begin to show improvement too… I have lost a pound or two… actually about 5… and that’s a good thing!… I have a long ways to my goal… but, slow and sure is the way I’m going to try to do it… Like the tortoise in the story “The Tortoise and the Hare“...  We all arrive with our little tote bags… towel and essentials inside… I’m using one the kids at school decorated for me for “Green Day” …I’ve noticed how some ladies have a light bag and some must bring their whole world with them… I kind of laugh at what women feel is necessary … I guess it depends if they are going straight home or out to eat … like many do!… Kind of defeats the purpose to me… but, maybe they’re having a light lunch … I shouldn’t judge… We are mostly 50 years or older… all shapes and sizes… but, I admire all that show up and are giving it a try!… We step into the water… sometimes really warm and sometimes a bit cool… but, immediately I feel good!… We walk around and chit-chat until our instructor shows … The young girl we had today and once before… is so sweet… getting us warmed up and then pushing us a little harder and harder… A very good work-out!… Today we tried a new trick… We have small foam kick boards… about 21″ long X 12″ wide … We have two and pushed them down into the water on each side with our hands lying flat on them and then in front of us… The resistance is amazing… My favorite part is putting them on top of each other, hands on top…  and slowly push straight out until we are stretched out on our toes … Holding this position for a minute and then we slowly push down on the boards and come back up to a standing position... a few times more and you feel so relaxed… We end with a stretching of our arms that wraps us in a hug …We can all use that!

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Photo topic for week… Ready!

Ready to snuggle in!

Jill… Ready for me to turn out the lights!

Carson… Ready to graduate from Pre-school

Ready to Trick or Treat!

Carson at beach… Ready for a nap!

Kennedy… Ready to blow out Birthday Candles!

Carson… Ready to cut grass with “Poppy”!