THINGS YOU SEE...

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies!!

Hope you all polished off that Turkey-Lurkey and managed to do so with NO weight gain!!

So... over the past couple of months, I have taken a photo or two of things I found interesting.  One or two don't a post make... but a FEW photos?!?  Well, that's post-worthy.

Just wanted to show you these items with my comments.  Perhaps you have your own?  Please feel free to use them!

Recently, one of the cable channels showed "The Mist", a film based on a Stephen King book by the same name.  The movie was done very well and, as do most of King's plots, scared the bejeezus out of me!  As I took my morning stroll early one morning, you can imagine there was a considerable amount of hesitation on my part before I forged ahead into "the mist" that lay before me!!  If you haven't read the book and/or seen the movie, do it one evening when television is terrible and you don't want to have to think!

Looks a little scary down the road.

Whoa!!  This is really spooky!



Maybe I should just turn around here?

Obviously, I survived it and none of those nasty "creatures" resided in this mist.

On another morning walk, there had been a substantial amount of moisture in the air and I happened upon one of the most lovely webs I've seen.  Had to get a shot of that!  Hope you can see the detail that the water droplets brought out.

Really amazing stuff!

On another day, I was downtown and noticed a police escort setting up at one of the lights.  Thought I would wait it out to see what was going on... and even though I SAW, I still don't KNOW what I saw!  LOL!!  Anyone with information or even a good guess as to what I was looking at when I took the next picture is welcome to educate me!

Tenova brings up a lot of different things in Google!!  Still don't know what I saw here!

Finally, sometimes one simply happens across something completely unexpected.  I was driving on a road I take many times each week.  I crested a slight hill and immediately saw this couple along the curb to my right.  It was just so much fun, I felt compelled to find a place to turn around and return so I could catch this quick picture for you all.  Quite honestly, I think this photo speaks to the substantial manufacture of products back in the '50s and '60s!!  These clearly were not "throwaway" products.  Nope.  They were designed for YEARS of use... and held up quite nicely.  I salute them and the workers who made them!

Lining up for the last hurrah...

And so, I leave you with these things you see... with no real explanation as to why any of them found themselves in front of my camera at that given moment in time... but glad they did so I could share with you!

Until next post...

FAREWELL TO A GREAT MOM...

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Pals.

It is another sad post for me to sit down and type for you.

When I was growing up, I had a friend, Charlotte, who lived directly behind my family's home & vacant lot.  We became fast friends and would often climb our respective back fences, cross the vacant lot, and climb the other's back fence to get together to play!  Years later, we laughed about being "back fence friends."

Charlotte and I often spent the night together at one or the other house, staying up talking about the silly things most young'uns talk about.  I remember Charlotte's mother, Ann Smith, being just the nicest mom (besides my own) who would allow us to do nearly anything that wasn't illegal or harmful.  I'll never forget staying up very late one night and deciding to make fudge at some ridiculous hour!  There was no vanilla extract to be found so Charlotte and I made the executive decision to use almond extract.  Not a really bad idea... but we used FAR too much, filling the house with the scent of almond to the nth degree!!  The fudge wasn't really great either but Charlotte's mom said it was just wonderful.  Now THAT'S a great mom!!

As life happens, Ann Smith had a very serious stroke right at two years ago this December.  It was major and knocked her down pretty hard and pretty far.  There were some dicey moments when it wasn't certain she would be around much longer.

Well, my blogging pals... don't ever count someone out until they are truly out.  My friend, Charlotte, while working her very full-time job, spent every other waking moment with her mom.  She managed the care her mother received, spent uncountable hours herself working with her mom to help her gain back some skills the stroke had removed from her, read huge amounts of information about stroke victims to help her understand what her mother was going through, and completely immersed herself in providing her mother with the best possible life post-stroke.  It was amazing to watch and fruitful.  Ann Smith regained a LOT of skills, surprising most everyone... except Charlotte.  The progress was obvious and we were all cheering Mrs. Smith on to bigger and better things!

Unfortunately, life happened again and Mrs. Smith had another stroke recently.  This one knocked her back pretty far and she lost many of the skills she had worked so hard to regain.  Obviously this was difficult for her, for her daughter, and for all of her friends.  The recovery she had managed before was not happening this time around.  We all pretty much simply prayed for the best as it was clearly out of our hands.

Mrs. Smith was finally released from her troubles last week.  My friend, Charlotte, called to let me know.  It's amazing how absolutely helpless one can feel when one wants to be the most help.  All I could do was provide some food, a hug, and tell her to let me know when she was ready for any help I could offer.

So, goodbye for now, Mrs. Smith.  You were a great mom and loved by many of your daughter's friends as well as your daughter.  I will always remember you fondly as you were funny, caring, and always had time to spend with us.  I am glad you are now at peace and I will be here for your daughter as best I can.  We'll meet with you again later... and perhaps make you some of that fabulous almond fudge!!  :)

Until next post...

TRIM 'EM UP!!!

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Pals!!  Welcome Back!

It has been VERY busy here the past couple of weeks so I have lots of pictures and things to post about... but just haven't had the time to do it!  With that said, let's get started.

About 2 weeks ago, the local power company (CLECO) had their contractors out to trim around their power lines.  Our lines actually run across the back property line meaning there was a need to gain access to our backyard.  Those of you who know me well know that I do NOT trust anyone to do what they say they will do or NOT do what they say that WON'T do!!  Too many times I have been unpleasantly surprised.  So... after discussion with a supervisor at my front door, I agreed to allow access... but only with me here and watching every move they made!  :)  I'm certain they were thrilled to hear that.  And I did warn the supervisor that I was, indeed, a cranky old lady so they would need to watch it!

The "boyz" showed up on the scheduled day and, after some discussion, began their work.  Here is a view to the all-day process that followed.



Petre's Right-of-Way Maintenance

 At one point, the "big" bucket truck was required.  The "boyz" were VERY cautious, placing large mats to spread the weight of the vehicle so as to not create divets/ruts/bumps in the back yard.  I was very appreciative of their attention to that.

So, once the "big" truck was in place, it was time to begin trimming.




You're sending me WHERE?!?!?!?!?



UPSY-DAISY!!!!



Oh... up HERE!!!!

 While these young'uns apparently had no issue with riding the bucket up into the air, I assure you I would not have taken the ride myself!  They were very careful as they were tossing down the branches and limb, avoiding hitting the shed..



More my speed!  The "baby" bucket.

 The young men doing all the hard work were very polite and fun.  As I was taking pictures, I suggested perhaps I should put together a "Tree-Trimmer Calendar!"  They were quick to volunteer for the months they wanted to portray!!

At any rate, I wanted to praise them for their work and thank them for their attention to my concerns.  There was not a leaf on any of my citrus trees/shrubs that was damaged in any way.  The ground was not damaged.  They cleared the debris completely and put everything back exactly as it had been before they arrived.  After they left, the only clue there had been anyone there was the blue sky that had been hidden behind trees before that was now apparent.

So I thank the Petre's "boyz" for doing a great job and making it stress-free for me.

Until next post...