Eyes, Lunch, Books and Supper

 It was such a relief to get my eye exam done and come away with good news. Prescription, very little change and while I could have cataract surgery all that eye stuff has stayed the same so I don't have to get it on the schedule right away. That's great because the thing that is holding me back from doing this is, I hate putting drops into my eyes. I know, stupid excuse but messing with my eyes has always been kind of wonky to me. Main reason I never got contacts. We have a wonderful eye doctor and he is just so kind because he went over with me how to easily put drops in the eyes. When he asked if there had been any health changes I mentioned my what I have done this summer essay but my primary care doctor kept my art work so I had nothing to show him. I can always go on the patient portal and print heart art out. The doctor said, oh no can do your eyes right now even if you were looking to get on the schedule. They wouldn't even let me schedule you. So, that ended well really. I am looking forward to getting new frames and seeing my friend at her new eye glasses place. Anyway, it was a rainy and cloudy morning so my eyes didn't have to deal with bright sunlight. 

Tuesday we met a friend for lunch and then stopped for cat food. The cat food that was on sale has not been a fav in times gone by but for some reason both inside and outside cats love it so we stocked up. I was so tired by the time we got home I didn't do too much else. Today, Wednesday, hair cut day and then we came home. The rain had cleared so we decided to go back to the store for the new specials and stop at 6 Pigs BBQ food truck. They were by the river a little later than usual. We ducked out of most of the afternoon rains. 

Years ago, I saw a documentary on all that goes into selling a book from the publishers standpoint. A great portion of time was given to selecting the book cover to draw attention. Until then, I had never really thought about that work. Not all the time but some of the time I notice trends in book covers. It might be the end of this design, but the silhouette of people with their backs to us looking into mist or fog or murky surroundings seems to be very popular. Here are a few examples and I don't know anything about these books other than the cover design is the point. 

 

I've been thinking about trends and I don't know why. Saw a thing on what backsplash not to use and what counter tops are popular. By next year what is unpopular will be popular again. Just an opinion of what I did this summer theme of doctor and procedure appointments, but I feel like I and maybe we are standing with our backs to the view of foggy unknowns. Right now whether it be popular or not; being your own advocate as well as having someone like Roy who advocates for me when it comes to health decisions is the trend or picking up in popularity. Maybe it is really survival. I have done a lot of research over the past few years to help me along with a few issues and now that I have a window of opportunity to stake a flag so to speak, I am trying to take advantage. Something I have expressed before but it is reminding me that our idea of quiet times with our cup of coffee, favorite chair, lighting, journal and Bible...oh and a lovely throw, favorite jammies and all that...which I like but it doesn't seem too many in the Bible had that luxury when they needed to pray or seek God or study His Word. Those whose prayers and cries were on the run, in the wilderness, on a mountain...not a beautiful mountain but a dry and dusty looking mountain, Moses, Elijah, Joseph (prison), David and John the Baptist. Don't get me wrong I'm not asking for a change from coffee and a comfortable chair but we fall into a trap of things like that. Somehow the conversation is going through social media again about what people wear to church. It seemed like that was settled several years ago and could be a rallying point or something. It would be so Christ like to wear Colossians 3 clothing. 

These days as I wont to do this post has turned into a weekly reader kind of deal. There are things I want to write about but it is not such a time as this. In our quest to get out more, mainly for me, we headed over to TN very early to pick up peaches from Troyer's. Then we did our usual Erwin thing and then had Pal's for lunch and as usual we ate as we drove. Made for a very fun day. By the time we got home I was looking for some much needed rest time. My energy waned as we finished up in Walmart and then at Food City. My supper last night was Amish bologna and fresh tomato sandwich. Delicious! 

 

Celebrations, Memories and Reality

 Oh Friday, no fog and the high temp of the day is around 80 degrees. This has been a week of appointments and such, mixed with the regular chores which has made me be out and about more this week. Doesn't matter, really because I enjoy being home and I enjoy being on the go. The Trio and The Boys might be happier that we are home because meals are served on time and there are laps to sleep on. 

We celebrated my birthday on Wednesday. Roy had a dental cleaning in the morning but we left for Waynesville a little after noon. We stopped at Duckett's Produce first and got some greasy beans canned by Lou Lou and some of her veggie soup. Stocking up for the winter. Next stop, Blue Rooster. We avoided the lunch rush and settled in the booth. After such a long drought of fried chicken and coconut cake it all tasted divine. The fried okra, perfection. It was one of those days where I could have ordered all veggies cause the choices were excellent, but the call of chicken of the fried variety was the stalwart call. Had to get the coconut cake to go. What a treat! The next big stop, Tractor Supply and we got the kitties some dry food and the indoor gang some different flavors of wet food. Oh and at the last minute I found a cute t-shirt cause you know I don't have enough t-shirts. We then headed over to Barber's Orchard. Our first trip of the season and the crowds were still around. Think it was due to the first day of their honey crisp apples available to purchase. Apples, peaches and muscadine grapes along with an assorted choice of baked goods. Not many though cause we are putting in some changes for food choices. Of course the fried chicken did not count cause it is not an every week or month thing, desserts are more accessible. On our way home we stopped at our friends home to deliver some baked goods. Had a great visit. Wednesday night, I was surely worn out and tired but I wouldn't have changed the day because we had fun doing the things we've wanted to do. Very simple for sure, don't care about traveling other than day trips. Roy said the other day he traveled so much earlier in his career that air travel just reminds him of work. He also has one of the worst airline travelers ever by his side so he is getting the double whammy.  

The main road we take just about everywhere has been dealing with a slide causing the embankment to be unstable. About a month ago they came and repaired the breach but low and behold that embankment slid again and there is a modular home just a few feet away. There are so many issues I could address but it is mainly some car skids over the edge and into their living room as well as flooding and ponding of water because your home is below the road. 

Our Von Cat Family Climb Every Obstacle Cat is making us use new deterrents to slow down his hiking and climbing ambitions. Since we have foiled his attack...hahaha...on the top of the refrigerator with the thinnest aluminum foil ever barely created and since he has somewhat moved on from being on the top of the tall bookcases, Baxter now faces the challenge of a arts and craftsman style bookcase. It just happens to have the TV on it. Baxter gained access via my desk. This cat has no spatial presence. When he jumps into my lap most of the time his face hits my face.   

And now easing into Saturday morning. A little fog, so fog number 1 if one is counting August fogs for winter snow days. Last night I de-peaed... the peas that we grew this year. We will probably go out and pick a few more this morning and shell them. It was such a beautiful late summer evening. Nice breeze with good temps. It was almost but not quite the feel of fall that one can experience before autumn sets in. I kind of just sat in the rocking chair taking it all in because I am experiencing a few side effects from the increased dosage of heart meds. To help Roy out though I tackled watering the flowers by the delivery box and in the flowerbed. Zinnias are looking good here in August. Last night the view from the front bedroom of the full moon was spectacular. Yes I got those professional type moon pics with my phone. Doesn't pick up the night sky nor does it take clear pics of the moon and then the moon and the clouds. This morning it is always a joy to watch the the sky go from black to gray and then to light. 

 This afternoon I worked on a couple of projects mainly because they are sitting projects and I don't feel bad while doing them. Then I started listening to First Baptist Dallas Choir and Orchestra. You Tube made a mix of all the choir songs and anthems we as a choir of HFBC sang through the years. There were the Gerald songs, John Bolin and then some of the music we sang when we had a choir here. I don't sing much anymore and just barely a blender alto at that, but I sang along. My voice weak and not able to hit the higher low notes of an alto. Poor Roy, he had to listen or he blocked out all my singing. Then I listened to a few more and I sat here this afternoon and cried while listening. Shedding tears for the past and the present. Memories of hard work and memorization not using a folder. Thinking of friends like Loraine, our Naomi cause whatever notes she sang, they were our notes, we followed her. Velda and Lois were a hoot to sit with as well as Angela and Karla, Donna and Beth. In Houston I loved choir and love the friends I made. I was thinking the other day that I wish I could talk with Gerald because I would apologize for not liking and making fun of Sanctus back in the day. I've been listening lately and it is one of my favorites now. Guess I will add it up to immaturity. Being on the social committee better known as the Socialists was more fun than anyone ought to have. So many opportunities to play fun parts. Being Tonto or rather Tontito as the orchestra of HFBC played the William Tell Overture, Drew was the Lone Ranger and Peggy the villain. Type casting for sure. Maybe I am circling back in my history craving to hear these hymns and choir songs. Soothing to my soul and helps keep my heartbeat in sync. The ol' heart murmur is alive and well. 

That is the reality of things, what am I going to do to insure my health doesn't get worse when everything hurts to maintain status and move ahead when that is a reality. Of course I go to The Word and find my strength there but the next steps. A friend who just had quadruple bypass heart surgery says keep moving forward, be motivated, and don't rest and don't give up on doing the hard things. 

Cool Temps and Green Beans

 Our August 3, 2025 started out with a bang or maybe that should be an alarm. Come closer kiddies and I will tell you the story of the morning. Roy slept in a little and got up around 4:30 am. There was some sleep left in me so I didn't get up. Until I did when I heard a loud noise like someone falling. I went to check on Roy, not him but it was GMoey signaling his discontent of Roy's slow speed of releasing them from the bonus room. Once again, I settled in seeing if I could get at least another hours worth of sleep. That's when I heard our house alarm blaring through a once quiet morning, well a short time of the morning. Usually, one of us, Roy, opens the door without turning off the alarm but it wasn't Roy, it was Baxter. I have mentioned his The Sound of Music stage of life as he wants to climb to the top of just about everything. He jumped off the industrial metal table in the middle of the kitchen that we use as a small island. But his jump caused so many things mostly metal or glass to come crashing to the floor. Thus, the sound of breaking in and the result the aforementioned alarm. Roy got everything turned off and I came onto the scene just at the beginning of cleanup. Nothing broke but fruit fly killer juice spilled onto the floor. Oh, the fragrance of vinegar and whatever else they put into that jar. We picked up all that had fallen and the kitchen was returning to normal. We had bought some cheap aluminum foil from Big Lots and when we began placing the foil around the industrial island table we knew why it was so cheap. The thinnest foil ever. Spread it out and then added aluminum foil balls all around the edge and then put the foil balls around the top of the refrigerator. So far the aluminum defense has kept Baxter grounded, although the bookcases are looking to be conquered once again. This time he cannot knock off anything but still.... Once we sat down with our coffee I said we might be too tired to go to church or that we should stay home to keep an eye on Baxter. After we had breakfast and more coffee we decided we were good to go and started getting ready for church. 

Our church of choice for Sunday, Newbridge Baptist. In June we met the nicest lady in Publix as we helped her pick BBQ and she invited us to her church. At the time we told it would be late July or August before we could visit. We also have found a couple of other friends who attend. It was a good service with the son of the pastor preaching. Sounds like the son is at Liberty University and headed back that way on Tuesday. Green must have been the fashion church color back in the day. Newfound is decorated in too much green as well. When we arrived at the church we pulled into visitor parking only to be met by a scowling gentleman straight out of central casting. He came equipped with the biggest black leather Bible, probably KJV to complete his ensemble. We were getting the sneak eyed once over making sure we were really visitors and not a lazy parking church member. Usually, I meet the strong gaze and don't look away, but I told Roy we were under suspicion of illegal parking. He went on up to the men at the doors and whispered something to them. As we approached the opened doors they smiled and greeted us, then asking if we were visitors. Of course, yes, our first time to visit and the scowling gentleman felt like he had done his duty and moved on to his regular pew. This week by chance on FB Reels a pastor asks his congregation to let the life of Christ flow out of them not the check off the box mentality toward legalism and keeping made up and sounds spiritual rules. While studying the Gospels the last few years while teaching, I have come to realize keeping rules even for a rule bender such as I,  is easier to make up rules than to follow and obey the Holy Spirit. 

Sunday had rain off and on all day. And the temps were so cool, like early fall but this is false fall #1. Roy got out his fleece jacket and I put on a sweatshirt. We had planned to work out in the garden but the rain hindered those plans. I worked a little on the bullet journal I started and got some reading in. 

Yesterday was my birthday and it was low key and I liked that. Had fun looking at FB greetings, texts, messages and yes, a few cards. Since I had a doctor appointment today, didn't want cake or anything the day before. We are celebrating tomorrow afternoon. Yay! 

We were finally able to get out in the yard to pick peas and beans and of course tomatoes. It is pleasant outside but the little breeze stopped and it started to get too warm. The trellis is falling apart yet things continue to grow in spite of it all. Hmmm, a spiritual lesson just maybe. Last year we lost two fir type trees to bagworms. We pulled them off and sprayed them off. This year, no bag worms but we are doing the usual battle with Japanese beetles. Ugh!

We usually stick around Hendersonville when we have appointments etc. around there but yesterday we did not. South of Asheville has received so much rain and the ground is saturated. So glad we did that because we were able to make a quick stop at the grocery store and we also picked up lunch. All the kittos were happy to see us and then I took a much needed nap. Emotionally tired from all the ups and downs of health this summer. This was not on my dance card but it did not surprise the Lord. The rest of August has appointments spread out so that is good, emotionally. 

We have heard that beans haven't done well so Lou Lou and others that can are scrambling to find green beans. I should set up a green bean stand down by the road you know like a lemonade stand. I didn't have faith that our beans would grow and produce so I didn't prepare for the work involved. Keeping up with it but barely. 

Catching Up-August 2nd

 Last week while proofing a post I accidently hit something and it disappeared. Tried to recover it but to no avail. While it was just some ramblings and wonderings and wanderings, I hated to lose it. Thus, I stayed away from writing for several days. So with that in mind I took on a couple of projects that have been on the to do list for quite some time. Results? Three boxes of books going to Habitat today as well as a few other things. When I have the energy to do these things I take advantage, well, advantage within my parameters. 

While cleaning out a bookcase I found a book I bought in 2022. I knew it would be informative reading but at that point for most of 2021 and 2022 I was dealing with a tremendous amount of brain fog which affected my diminishing of a too short attention span. I also put away a book on the error in thinking one needs to build a platform to be involved with church work and service. Several years ago we had a guest preacher one Sunday and he talked a great deal in his sermon about building a platform, specifically his platform. Uh, okay. Rural area and the content of platform doesn't seem right. Of course the opposite of that is, nothing solves a problem like making a church to look back, at the good old days. There is a big problem with nostalgia, because it robs us from being in the present and seeing God in our daily scenes and routines, instead we'd rather remember what was. It really isn't remembering though, it becomes a safe world not ever enticing any movement forward. While reading several chapters in the afore mentioned book those non-nostalgic thoughts came back of growing up with a narcissist father. The reminders of how oppressive life can be. Bearing up while trying to read the room and his emotions were draining. I think the hardest fact that I had not been able to accept was this; I could think that although his beliefs were wrong, the decisions he put upon me, the always be a hard emotional person well, I thought he just has a weird way of loving me. When I finally figured out and when his friends told me how much he hated me and had hated me since I was five years old...well, those odd beliefs and decisions were the attempt at sabotaging my life. He constantly told me I would never fit in nor would I have friends. Then just being as wacky as narcissists can be he would get mad because I didn't have any friends. Thankfully, with God's help and people He sent to help, I can remember but it doesn't shadow my life or decisions now. Although, when I see a person with narcissistic personality disorder, I stay away. No, make that run away. 

Had a delightful afternoon visiting with a friend. Our cats have not had the experience of anyone being here other than workmen and we all wanted them to scatter and hide until check list worked through or repairs made. Even when Roy came home the kittos stayed to themselves upstairs. Thus this morning all is normal with these cats. Baxter has been on the top of the refrigerator four times this morning. He can get up there but he can't or won't come down. Good thing we are tall people. In response to his attempts of jumping on top of the bookcases, I have removed every temptation. Now with nothing up there to knock over, the thrill of the bookcases is gone. The Boys and The Trio continue to make inroads to hang out together and for this we give thanks. Chabola is standing up for herself in a world of boys. I think she had made headway in getting Buster to stop stalking her exclusively. 

You know you get into the FB algorithm and until you find something you watch more you just wait it out. So, I looked at one article about narcissists and it is everywhere on the timeline. I read one article about rescuing little baby kittens with most of them not making it. As the story is told and you know tears are going to come not only because the story is poignant but I remember caring for those little kittens throughout the years that did not make it. Many I sat with until they breathed their last breath and some who went to sleep and did not wake up to sleep no more. 

Someone on FB posted pictures of the ride I worked when employed by Astro World. I had splits between two rides and I also worked as much overtime as I could saving up for the next year of college. The Barrel of Fun, yes it had to reach 35mph before we could drop the floor. Several natural laws were in place. As you raised the floor up you slowed down the ride and people returned to the original starting point. Cleaned up a lot of vomit, off the floor and off the person next to the vomiter. Mostly the vomit was pink because they sold pink ice cream bars right in front of the ride. This is the thing that gets me now, I was 18 years old running rides all day and into the evenings. I was 18 years old and these riders of both rides I worked trusted me to do the right thing. I can even imagine working on any of the roller coasters back then. 

Today is the official opening of Barbers Orchard. At this time of year I am not too much interested in apples, but oh my, apple cider donuts, peach fried pies and the like. Their corn, peaches and other fruits take up my interest until honey crisp apples are brought into the shed. It's the most wonderful time of the year. I will tell the truth though, last year I only had three apple cider donuts and one peach friend pie. Lots of apples and peaches though. Just read their opening day was record breaking. We will probably make it there one day next week. 

It is 70 degrees now on this fine Saturday morning. It is not supposed to get much higher than that. For this we give thanks. Hopefully, I can get the beans and peas checked out. Roy brought in the small tomatoes last night before we got some rain. We had a bit of thunder so that scared Mr Mo and he wouldn't go to bed. He wandered a bit and came and went visiting us or rather waking us up in bed. Finally, Roy was able to get him to go into the bonus room. Lost a bit of sleep but hopefully I can make that up. 

Gardening, Cat Raising and Car Maintenance

 And just like that, in one little zap, everything is back in rhythm and everything isn't as difficult as it has been. In retrospect and with a little bit of research my unprofessional opinion is, I think I've been in atrial flutter longer than what the past few months have been like. Flutter can hide and be inconsistent is what I learned in research. My last three cardiologist visits have been with PAs and NPs. All in all internally things looked good but some experiences were dismissed or attributed to whatever things get attributed to. I find it peculiar when no one listens to your heart with a stethoscope at a heart appointment.  

I am easily amused and the amusement continues as our garden produces copious amounts of tomatoes and round two of greasy beans. The peas that are akin to the purple hull peas that I know of in Texas are beginning to produce and oh such joy that brings me. All in all the beans and peas were just for fun with no expectations and no really good trellis but they're thriving in spite of that. Bell peppers are starting to produce mainly the green ones but we see some little red ones in the mix. The blackberries continue but I think we are on the other side of the hill with them. It was a fun afternoon of visiting with a couple of friends as we delivered tomatoes. 

The Trio and The Boys are keeping us diligent in giving attention. Baxter must have listened to the soundtrack from The Sound of Music. He is climbing every mountain cabinet and bookcase. Yesterday he climbed to the top of a dresser and then went to the top of the hutch that sits on the dresser, knocked off a pic of his beloved human parents and then tried to play with the famous sticker of the 80's at HFBC; conserve tithe dollars, use other role first. I rescued the sticker just in time. 

Having some time off from teaching has been stress relieving in that the constant thought of study doesn't hang over my head. Last week we attempted to go to Duckett's for canned greasy beans as well as tomato sauce and salsa. We had to divert our plans when a big ol tractor trailer truck was getting to a place of pulling a single wide modular home up the mountain and all those winding curves. Yesterday, we tried that trip again with no problems. I was hoping that the greasy beans had been canned but just had half runners and blue lake green beans. We did hit the jackpot on salsa and chili tomato sauce. That will work for taco soup this fall and winter. When we returned home we ate lunch and then took out to deliver tomatoes to some friends. The day was so fun but by the time we stopped at the store and then headed home, I was pretty much done. My Houston cardiologist told me your heart doesn't know the difference between good stress or bad stress, it's just stress. No words ring truer than his advice of live within your parameters. They will change over the years and you'll need to make those adjustments. It feels like a parameter shift but I'll wait and see. Bloodwork tomorrow and just keep moving on getting these things checked off the list. 

*****

The bloodwork was quick and painless, although Lab Corp found a bill from 2021 that hadn't been paid. It referenced our Kay address and it was when we still had the most wonderful insurance. Fifty seven dollars later, they took my blood and out the door. Since it was a fasting appointment, I hadn't eaten breakfast but a protein bar took care of the hunger. We stopped at Marshall's and Hobby Lobby before heading over to the Publix with all the other old people and the young people who must enjoy being ran into with grocery carts buggies and have patience with the slowness of decisions over which is the best cantaloupe. Remember those parameters I mentioned, well I didn't stay within them and I was drained of energy before even going into the grocery store. I blame just having a power bar and no coffee. It didn't look like 6 Pigs BBQ would be at their regular spot across from the Alexander Post Office, so much to Roy's delight we picked up hamburgers at Burger King.  He loves their hamburgers and soft serve ice cream or ice cream product. Who knows these days? 

And speaking of bloodwork I already have the results. 

I have enjoyed reading Just As We Were, Prudence McIntosh. It's an old book that I found on Thrift Books. I always loved her articles in Texas Monthly. I may have to go back and read Just As We Were because it is especially poignant to situations and circumstances going on. Her insights of the 70s and early 80s of camp, sororities and Junior League somehow and in someway apply to my non camp, non sororities and Junior League life. Her truthful insights written in a humorous way is engaging but it is also reviving memories of long ago. But none of my memories are in this same vein of thought. 

This morning Roy headed out in the car to go workout and then bring boiled shrimp home for lunch. He called and he was at the tire place by the carwash. The low tire pressure light had come on for the passenger side front tire. Long story short, a bubble in the side wall and a new tire will be in by noon tomorrow. Roy also got some sage advice, putting different rims on the car with new tires would not solve the continuous problem with this whole thing of the last two years. The man told Roy, go buy a Honda. In this little story is such a great story of God's provision. We didn't take the care yesterday nor did Roy take the car on Tuesday to go workout. With very hot temps for the area, it wouldn't have been safe. The tire man said it should be good to go home and return tomorrow to the shop. Another provision of the Lord; we've been thinking about just fixing and keeping the car but the question of buying something new or fixing was answered. Yep, if you lack wisdom, the Lord will give it to you. 

 

Flittering and Fluttering, A Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On

 Once again fog has rolled down the mountains and across our valley. I had a prime seat from the upstairs front room. Just as Mike was finishing up with our yard the rains came down giving flowers, tomatoes and greasy beans a good refreshing. Rumor has it we will get rain this afternoon. We didn't quite know what to do with ourselves last night because our routine is watering everything and I dead head roses when I can. The stupid Japanese beetles are back just taking room up on this earth with their destructive appetites for food and for s3x. 

I cannot tell you how flattered I am by all the job offers and yes, several Who's Who chances I have. When Best Buy is interested in what I can offer in this tight business season, you know it is a scam. I could understand Target thinking I had the best to offer this work from home opportunity with maternity leave. I wonder if that would somewhat cover dealing with feral cats? Now TEMU will pay big bucks for me to work just 15 minutes a day. As the old joke reminds us, I would think What's That would be more interested in me than Who's Who.  

Why is always seem like every important phone call I get comes when I go to Ingles. Wednesday, we were in Weaverville doing the grocery thing when my phone rang. Actually, it buzzed cause it was on silent. I was surprised because texts and calls seem to never get through when at Ingles. It was from the cardiologist office and I struggled to find a spot where I could hear what they said clearly as well as a spot where my responses could be heard by them. I have a couple of decisions to make concerning the next step but I do believe I will go the familiar route I taken before. So again, after our communication through the patient portal I am awaiting a call. Maybe I should head over to Ingles except I don't think it works when you're trying to get the call back. 

Good news, I didn't have to go to Ingles to make the call happen. The call came Friday afternoon. I am scheduled next week for a cardioversion. My nick name for the procedure is, Chaka Khan.

 I believe this is my seventh or eighth one. Good news, I don't have to do the TEE thing the day before. I just saw there is a TEE appointment included with the cardioversion. Ugh, but I do feel better they will do that. In Houston that was the way they did it, before the procedure itself. All this caught me a little by surprise. The heart monitor reveal, I was in continual arterial flutter the whole time. Seems I can detect afib better than aflutter. No wonder I felt at times like my heart was shaking. Just like afib for me, the night time was the right time to experience those thumps and now knowing, flutters. There have been more than I want to count nights that I get up to help everything inside slow down a bit and not have to work so hard. After a couple of hours with things calmer it is back to the bed. I noticed tiring quicker and circulation not as good as it has been. Some of that has to do with my nocturnal early mornings. I was just a little tempted not to have the procedure done but while waiting for the call back my time was spent researching why this wasn't caught with the echo or the EKG in the Dr office. Mayo Clinic to the rescue answering all the questions that had been popping up. This aflutter is usually caused by stress and I internalize a lot of stress related matters. So...that's where all this is of now. 

Friday, I did something that I haven't done in a long time. I ordered a few things from the Anniversary Sale at Nordstrom. Got Roy some new shoes and a pair of dressier pants for me, well, dressier than jeans. Ordered Roy pants from Macy's. He doesn't need nicer pants too often but wow such a deal. We are attending a wedding in Sept and it is dressy casual which we love, so a great time to find things. 

Last night I went out to the greasy bean trellis and low and behold I saw one bean pod. Then much to my surprise I saw a few more. I called out to Roy and asked if he would bring a basket to me. It is nearly filled and told the beans will be de-stringed. So thankful for friends who gave me advice on how to fix them. Good ol' Facebook to the rescue again as well as texts and messages. The purple beans didn't do as well or they might be purple hull peas but we will wait and see. Meanwhile he was picking blackberries and they are full and plump. Must be all the rain and sun we've received this summer. 

A quick note, The Trio and The Boys are trying to find some kind of truce and it seems to be working. Willie, took himself into timeout for a couple of weeks but he is back with the crowd. Baxter, who is willing to leap tall buildings or so it seems has been a bad boy. No cat ever in the history of cats in our home have ever jumped up on the industrial catch all table in the middle of the kitchen. His job to procure cherry tomatoes and a few blackberries for soccer practice in the kitchen. Sprayed him with water and told him no. Then the great idea of putting Vicks around the edge of the plates came to me and that welcomed fragrance of the good old vapor rub helped us breath better and deter any cat ideas of absconding with said tomatoes. Since they all know the kitchen counters are off base Baxter found a loophole. The Trio still have some teenager in them but we have noticed a few more naps and praise be, longer naps from them. 

When Rivers Run Through Things

 My heart breaks for the families who have lost loved ones in the central Texas flash floods. We are so familiar with all those areas. Dude ranch vacation when we were kids, went to college in San Marcos, when Roy was in law school this is where we would take our limited funds vacation days, and my parents lived in Georgetown TX for several years. So many friends live in that area now and it is good to have FB to keep up with their situations. All are safe so far. The pictures are too familiar because Helene left WNC in that same torn up condition and the aftermath that continues on nearing the year anniversary. Camps in the Hill Country are like the camps held here in Montreat and Black Mountain area. I never went to Camp Mystic or Waldemar or Heart of the Hills. We were firmly invested in camps through the church, GA and junior camp. Well, invested is not the term I would have used but those were my camp opportunities. I wasn't too fond of those week long camps held at Peach Creek Baptist Assembly which now goes by another name with no Southern Baptist affiliation...I think. Just looked it up and that land is part of a state park. Comments were interesting so many talking about attending camp there over the years in the 1960s. I started enjoying camp while in high school. I started going to church where my friends attended and had a blast. Making friends at Westbury Baptist was difficult for me. Our family attended the off time Sunday School and service, so when there were youth group activities that my father forced me to go to, I didn't really have anyone to hang out with. Also, I was a strange and offbeat type of kid so even if we went to the popular time for Sunday School, I don't think that would have helped. Oops, I kind of got off track but these hill country camps have been life-changing for generations of girls. The introduction of those who you'll meet later on in college etc...is the foundation that networks, alliances and sororities that will come later on in life have provided an advantage because of the chance opportunity to meet beginning at age 7 in the hill country at camp. I am praying for those families and for all who have lost so much over the July 4th weekend. 

I found the link to Texas Monthly that I read a long time ago. Published in 1975 and written by Prudence McIntosh. I might still have one of her books on the Dallas area. 

https://www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/the-greatest-experience-of-your-life/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLYBHdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHq_WiXNHavXDXb_FPEFch1YS2Pm1LeZKZOUSsG90yC6X3tsh7GNfY1ep2MH_aem_v5Sr2issopUtPuGgBTjV7w

The link may or may not work but you can go to the Texas Monthly website and look through the archives. It is worth the read if you like stories, traditions and the like. I remember a family that lived on our street while growing up. The dad was an architect, home filled with children, and always covered in chaos. It was a loud home and it was so interesting to experience this because our home was quiet, little rowdiness tolerated and our mom didn't shut her bedroom door on the mess happening in the rest of the house nor did our mom drink to ease the edge of her nerves of a house in pandemonium. My mom didn't drink although I fear her two kiddos might have made her think about a drink. Ha! This home of what some neighbors called, the "itinerate Catholics" was a main topic of neighborhood gossip. Then, this dad put the house up for sale because he had bought a home in Memorial (wealthy part of Houston) and now the kids could go to a better class of parochial schools. My dad at our dinner table one night said, well, they'll be house poor living there and they won't be able to furnish their home like they ought. He continued that he and mom had decided they would rather have nice furniture than live in a fancy house. Okay, y'all, there is so much wrong with that statement. Even as a kid who spoke her mind, I knew not to contradict what he believed, first of all because we didn't have "nice" furniture. Well, it was nice but it wasn't Ethan Allen nice and that is what he was referring to. The living room furniture didn't match being a hodge podge of early American. With the exception of our parent's bedroom furniture which now would be called mid century modern, we were a hodge podge , what was on sale, home. When the architect family moved, the daughters began going to camp in Kerrville but don't remember which camp. I had heard through friends they had loved going to camp but felt they needed to upgrade themselves before the next year. Funny how things come to mind from the long ago while keeping up with coverage of the recent tragedy. 

Through the years I've known many women who are the results of going to camps in Kerrville. Even the most edgy woman who didn't quite fit in the mold that maybe grandparents and parents wanted to instill in her to consolidate her comfortable future; they carry themselves differently than from the rest. One such friend made some very poor decisions in marriage partners. Last I heard she was on marriage number four, but each time...except maybe for the third one, she married well and while selective in her "requirements" to others she was able to withstand her wayward dreams and mostly lived a dilettante existence. Like I said at the beginning of this post, camps in Kerrville were not on any list of what would I like to do kind of thing. Nothing like attending Baylor or anything. 

The scenes along the river and throughout the hill country are so reminiscent of the damage and destruction of Helene. Because I was so sick during all that time I knew it was bad but I didn't know how bad until later. Clean up is moving along in Texas and it took some time for that to begin here. I just saw the number of missing people has risen to 161. Be so close to Texas, Lord.