Scribbles and Scrambles ~ When I'm 85...

Some of my patients crack me up.

Elderly does not mean demented or grumpy, drooly or frumpy.

I actually believe that some of my older patients are some of the most entertaining people I encounter. One little lady flounces in and looks like a million bucks. Seriously, I wish I had her style. Nothing she wears says grandma-wear, let alone great-grandma-wear.

Yesterday, I had a nice conversation with a octogenarian while we were waiting for a room to open up. I asked her about her summer plans. She smiled and said she was going to be in the area most of the summer. She babysits her great grandchildren every once in awhile. I asked about that, told her that I thought that could be kind of challenging. She laughed and she told me that her great grandkids don't come over that often, that she's kind of a last resort. I asked why. She said she'd spent years as a principal in a school and that was back in the day when a stern look or the threat of calling a parent whipped a kid right back into shape. "I'm kind of no nonsense." Then she laughed in the most delightful way and her eyes lit up.

"People asked me why I was a principal so long. and I told them I just loved it." Her eyes twinkled. "Every day was different and I never knew what to expect."  She laughed. "Those kids. So inventive and creative."

And that is what I want to be like when I'm 85. Loving people, thinking that folks are a real kick, worth a little corrective action when necessary, and creative. With a twinkle in my eye and a quick sense of humor.



 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Inspiring

My pastor played this video Sunday. I, of course, cried through it. I've seen the story before. And it's so inspiring. To me it is such a picture of a God who loves us. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ B and B for Cats...

Random flower bush thingy growing in the woods at the edge of my yard. No idea what it is but it's pretty. 

And. H.C. aka Harold Crick, aka the "new" cat is no longer hanging around. 

I think he may have been passing through. I have a feeling our porch was advertised on Airbnb. I haven't been compensated. But, I did provide a bed and breakfast and a light dinner several nights. Also friendly interaction. So I'm expecting great reviews. I think he must have been in town for the art fair last weekend. 

Or. Oh no. Maybe he was scouting things out for College World Series which starts this weekend. I better look for my listing on airpetbnb. I want to see what I'm offering. I only picked up dry food today. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Proof Positive

Spent the afternoon at the organic farm. This year she added strawberry plants.  

As we were picking the luscious beauties I decided that strawberries might very well be evidence that there is a Creator God Who loves us very much. 

organic Iowan grown strawberries and sugar snap peas

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Settling in and Slither no More...

H.C. or D-MEC or Ono

Our friendly little porch kitty is still just that. He sleeps in a laundry basket, curled up on a towel. Then every afternoon when the sun shines directly on the porch he finds somewhere to go where it's cooler. Then he comes back for dinner. So very friendly.

Apparently, I have a new cat. I've decided that since our indoor cat is named Feral Will, that we should think along the Will Ferrel path for a name. I think I'll call him H.C. for Harold Crick. Stranger than Fiction. Which, if you have not seen it, you really should. Such a good movie. I digress.

I did think of a couple more names. D-MEC. Don't Make Eye Contact and Ono as in oh no!

Feral Will...not amused.

We'll see. I'm wondering if someone is missing him.

And our church Facebook is posting pictures of the Moore clean up project. In the batch is one of my husband holding a dead snake. A dead Copperhead.

Not enough words or exclamation points. Ya know?! (Be glad I didn't include that picture!)

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Drifting

Since my mom was concerned about my moment of melancholy...someone else might be, too.  It was just a small dark cloud that only left behind a poem...

Darkness sighs at 2:00 a.m.

Tendrils of sulphur tinted sorrow waft over me.

I sink further into my slumber

Midnight velvet weeps. Witching hour past.

Ebony shards, shattered slivers of brittle coal tears

I toss and dream

Lightless eternity shrieks at 3:45.

Moans scented of hopeless decay.

Ghouls shimmy, unseen, behind the curtain of life.

Senses, skin alert, I awaken. Startled. And drift, dazed, into blessedly dreamless sleep.

Shadows, sorrow, fear play hide and seek in my mind 

Night clutches. Holding me until it's grip weakens. One spindly finger at a time, ground lost until it's grasp slips into gray. 

And then the sun. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Weekend Shenanigans...and Stuff

Every year we have a large five block art fair where folks from all over the country line the streets of downtown Omaha with their fine art offerings. 

We attend most years. The fair was this weekend. And this weekend...to put it succinctly...stunk. 

Our plans were to hit the farmer's market then walk over to the event. Several of us started out with coffee and headed on over to meet the others. And then it began to rain. We ducked into tents to avoid some of the water. And then it began to pour. 

Since Rob wasn't keen on wet feet, or rivulets coursing down his back, and Toad Boy and the Mrs were neutral, I hitched a ride home with Rob and skipped it. However, I had already entered drowned rat territory. And we decided to make a quick stop at Hobby Lobby to find more frames to finish our picture wall. I got a few looks when we walked in, me looking like I'd fallen overboard. 

I think Feral thought the confusing black dots were bugs. Yep. They kinda resemble bugs. 

I feel really sorry for the artists. That's gotta be a costly loss for them. Sunday wasn't much better, finally clearing off at about 4:00 p.m.  

The rain brought some other interesting things. I discovered a robin nest on the light. Good thing we don't use that one very often. And a cat showed up out of nowhere and decided to camp out on our front porch during the two day deluge. It's a friendly little bugger and, of course, we did the one thing you are never supposed to do with an animal....we fed it...and set out a warm, dry towel in a basket for sleeping comfort. Sigh. 

This is our travels window. I love the screen. We've got collages and picture art from New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana and Seattle/Portland. 

one more large frame and it'll be done.

one of the frames full of fun memories.