* HAPPINESS IS ...*

It is 1:20 am, Thursday, July 23rd.

I am Reenergized ~

I am Revitalized ~

I am Rejuvenated ~

Why? You may ask.

I will tell you why. This is definitely one of those "Happiness Is..." situations. It depends on the person involved, and what's been going on in that person's life for a period of time, and what recently happened to make that person happy.....

I've been doing load after load of laundry and there haven't been any problems! Happiness is...being able to do my laundry again!

Please click on the arrow.

 

"Simple pleasures. Makes life worthwhile." - Kristen Chandler   

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

 

It's Time Again for Another Nostalgic Sunday!

 

 

 

I'm particularly nostalgic today and I think it's because of the various challenges I've had to deal with the past month. I'm longing (at least a little bit) for those days of simpler times....of naïve childhood summers.....

...of window fans

 

 

...of Jack Benny & "Hoss" from Bonanza

 

 

 

...of aluminum tumblers, with "sweaters" to catch the moisture



 

...of visits to grandparents in Greenfield, Iowa




 

...of hand crank ice cream makers

 



...of hand crank ice crushers

What about you? What are some of your special, yet simple summer time memories from your childhood?

P.S. Please excuse how jumbled my photos and captions are. Blogger just would NOT work with me this evening!

 

* OUR REHAB CENTER *

*Note: I just realized this is my 1,000th post!

I haven't posted anything about the craziness going on here, which began on June 30th when The Ronald had total knee-replacement surgery on his right knee. He came home two days later and has been doing amazingly well ever since.....which is exactly the way I envisioned he would.

Mercy Hospital St. Louis

The hardest part for me has been keeping track of all his medications. I made a chart listing them all, what they were for, and at what times he needed to take them. Some were once a day, others were every 12 hours, others were twice a day...but with meals, etc., etc.

And along with those chores as The Ronald's caretaker, Vern was a bit more "needy" in the early stages of Ron being back home, too. There were strange, new things around the house: a walker, an exercise contraption, a large bandage on daddy's knee, etc.

Things were settling down pretty well when just a week after Ron's surgery, I became aware of some major tooth pain in one of my back molars. Long story short, I had to have oral surgery because it was cracked, couldn't be saved, and wasn't a "typical" tooth-pulling. I came home looking like a chipmunk with a huge bruise. Still today, I have a smaller, multi-colored bruise on my right jaw, but no swelling.

Vern looking at me when I first came home as if he's thinking...
"Who IS that? It can't be Mom!"

 

After he looked at me in the above photo, I kept talking to him and calling him by name,
 and he wouldn't even look back at me!
 (Besides the swollen cheek and huge bruise,
I still had gauze in my mouth and didn't sound like myself, either!)

This was taken on Friday, I think.

So, I've been trying to catch up on "normal" household chores such as laundry (but we have also acquired a bit of a plumbing problem,) so things are piling up....so to speak! (The plumber is supposed to be here later this afternoon.)

 

 

I'd like to leave a final thought from my friend, the brilliant Robert Brault. This is from his book, The Second Collection: Thoughts and Other Writings. It is currently unavailable, but his first book can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Round-Up-Usual-Subjects-Everything/dp/1499593783/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436850854&sr=8-1&keywords=robert+brault&pebp=1436850934412&perid=1GBZTDDRX8A0BQ30EHWJ

 

"Some mornings you wake up to the smell of the coffee, and some mornings you wake up to the smell of the halibut from last night's supper." - Robert Brault

* WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS *

I chose today's blog post title for three reasons:

 

1) It's been raining here so hard, for so long, that I just keep thinking, When it rains, it pours. (and when will it ever stop?)

 

2) I love the Morton Salt logo and slogan!

 

3) Let's call it "Nostalgic Thursday!"

 



 

Morton Salt girl - 1956
 

This is the Morton Salt image that I remember as a little girl. Our home always had a container Morton Salt. Mother not only cooked meals, she baked all kinds of goodies, and every recipe called for salt then, didn't it??

And maybe one of the reasons I loved looking at the little Morton Salt girl was because she looked like me....or I looked like her!


P.S. Our dad always got a kick out of the fact that my brother and I could sing all of the cigarette commercial songs! Boy, how times have changed.

Do you remember any slogans or logos from your childhood? Please share!

* GOOFY MONDAYS *

IT'S TIME FOR GOOFY MONDAYS!

 

 

 

 

I discovered the other day that it's not a good idea (at least for me)to store two similar spray cans next to each other. They're both the same size and everything. I think it's quite understandable to get these mixed up! I mean...really..."Spot Shot" and "Hot Shot"?

 

 

I'd managed to keep them straight, though, by taking time to make sure I picked up the correct spray. That is until I needed to grab the carpet cleaner really fast the other night. Vern had been outside and stepped into something "stinky," then managed to track some into the living room and onto the carpet.

 

 

 

In my panic, I opened the cabinet door under the kitchen sink, grabbed a can and managed to spray the Hot Shot bug spray on one of the dirty spots. As soon as I realized what I did, I ran back into the kitchen, grabbed the right can, and sprayed it on the spot...after I wiped off the bug spray. Sheesh!

 

After that little episode, I came up with an idea to help me in the future..... 

 

 

 

How about you? Have you ever grabbed the wrong bottle, can, etc. and actually USED it?

 

 

 

"The day I worry about cleaning my house is the day Sears comes out with a riding vacuum cleaner." - Roseanne Barr





* I'M A WINNER! * I'M A WINNER! *

I am one of three winners of a beautiful, little silver charm......of a biplane! And those of you who've read my blog for quite a while, or have read my memoir, know what a special meaning prop planes have in my life. Whenever I hear the distinctive engine noise, I never miss the opportunity to look up into the sky, searching for it. And when I do see it, it always makes me smile!

picture of biplane from Susan Crandall's website/blog

Cover of Susan Crandall's newest book: The Flying Circus





I happened to come across Susan's offer to enter to win the charm by pre-ordering her newest book. I haven't purchased any new, hardcover books in a LONG time, but The Flying Circus sounded like a novel I'd enjoy, and with the chance to win the adorable charm, too, I jumped on the bandwagon. It comes out in early July, which unbelievably, is right around the corner.

*Note: As soon as I received my charm, I tried taking photos of it to post here, but couldn't get any that weren't blurry. (It's about 1/2" x 1/2". So cute!) And when I got out my "real" camera, (as opposed to cell phone camera) the battery was dead and would not charge, either. I happen to know I've been asking Santa for a new, really good camera for about 10 years now.....Looks like I better just go and buy it myself, huh?!

I'll be sure and post my thoughts about The Flying Circus as soon as I finish reading it!

~ ~ ~

Did you ever have a charm bracelet? Do you have one now? I'd forgotten that I had one until just the other day. I found it while digging through some old jewelry! It was such fun to look at again and remember why and where I got certain charms.


Thank you again, Susan Crandall! I can't wait to receive your newest book and begin reading it!

Have any of you read Susan's books? Please share your thoughts.

* GOOFY MONDAYS *

 

IT'S TIME FOR GOOFY MONDAYS!

 

 

 

I posted my first "Goofy Mondays" on June 1st, saying "I will attempt to be consistent with these posts." It turns out, I totally forgot about it last week! So, once again, I will attempt to remember to be consistent!

 

 

In my part of the world, we've become another area that is being deluged with rain. There is no flooding near my home, but some nearby areas are having problems. Rain, rain....please go away....go to the dry and parched regions that NEED it so desperately.

 

 

I know why this is happening. It's ALL my fault. I've been anxious to use the pool in our little subdivision, because it's been so hot and humid. But my one and only suit from the past many years, finally refused to "fit." It declared in no uncertain terms that it was tired of looking like a bulging piece of blue and yellow sausage. It actually squealed as I tried to squeeze myself into it, and I finally realized the time had come to buy a sort-of "matronly" suit. So, last Saturday, June 13th, I bought one. It was an eye-opening (and closing!) experience.

 

Anyway.....I think Mother Nature doesn't even want to see me at the pool....thus, all the rain. But even as I sit and type this, the sun has come out, the sky is blue, with a few white, puffy clouds. Do I dare try? I already have enough excuses for today. It will cloud up soon. It will thunder and lightning. I have lots of housework to do. I still have lots of going through stuff in my office to do, AND I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO WRITE! My muse has been slowly showing itself again.

 

So, I leave you with some "Goofy Mondays" funnies, from Aunty Acid!

 

 

 



 

 

Happy Goofy Monday, Everyone!



* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

 

It's Time Again for Another Nostalgic Sunday

 



Something I wrote in yesterday's post filled me with nostalgia ~

those three little words: "Fill 'er up!"

 

 

 

Remember in the movie, Back to the Future, when all the Texaco gas station attendants come running out to wait on the customer?! I don't remember that actually happening to me and my family in real life, but no matter where my dad stopped for gas, at least one guy would come out and see what was needed. He'd pump whatever amount of gas my dad told him, clean ALL the windows, check the water and oil, and maybe the tire pressure. It all went quickly and then, Swoosh, we'd be off on our way again. (1950s)

 

 

I think I was in my mid-to-late twenties when companies began to modify their gas stations into Self-Serve, and I guess I was at the right age, because it didn't bother me very much. (1970s)

 

 

I've proclaimed for the past couple of years, though, that the oil companies NEED to offer at least ONE Full-Service gas pump! I truly believe LOTS of people would take advantage of it, even paying a little more for gas, just for the convenience:

 

 for instance ~

Moms with little kids or babies in the car

People who have some disabilities but are still able to drive

Older adults with or without health issues

Business women, dressed nicely and on their way to work

Drivers who want to feel safe, knowing things under the hood have been checked.

Oh, and what about during inclement weather?

 

 

Also, with people living longer, the population of older adults in the US keeps increasing.  

 

 

I would definitely use a Full Service pump sometimes.

 

What about you? Would you pay a little more?

 

 

 

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