Grandma's Shaker Set

In the early 2000's, Hubby's dad was advancing into stages of dementia where he would "take a walk" and not always make it back to his home of 50+ years.  One such day he was found by a couple of ladies just sitting on the side of the country lane about a mile from his house.  He was out of breath and confused.  

Another day Hubby's parents were in their home of 5 decades attempting to live as they did in their younger years.  Mom downsized her garden.  She was still attempting to run the tiller each spring and fall.  One day she fell and could not get up.  The tiller was still running.  She yelled to Dad A.  He did not hear her pleas.  Eventually, she worked her way to a fence post and pulled herself up to safety.

Later the folks recounted the day they were trimming the apple trees.  Dad A stood at the top of the ladder.  Mom A. would start the motor of the chainsaw then hand it up the ladder to Dad A.  They told Hubby how safe that was.  It did not seem all that safe for two elderly people in their late 80's.  In addition to this event, Hubby had more than once found the gas burner on with no flame.   

Dad became fixated on chelation as a way to rid his brain and bloodstream of excess chemicals.  Though he never did the therapy, he did do other types of cleansings.  One night after we were already in bed, Mom A called saying, "Dad is passed out in the bathroom.  I need you to come and help get him to the hospital."  Hubby hung up and immediately called 911 to send help to his parents' home.  We lived 35 miles from his parents.  The local hospital EMS was 3 miles from the parents' home.  Mom was against the EMS coming out and causing a commotion on the country lane.   Mom A. was private to the extreme.  

After dressing, we made the 40-minute drive meeting the folks at the hospital.  Tests were already being run.  Dad A. was dangerously low on potassium.  The cleansing he was doing was robbing him of necessary nutrients.  Mom A had been helping him in these efforts.  That instance pretty much sealed the deal for assisted living.  

Hubby with the assistance of Mr. Jim Golding, had been encouraging the folks to move to a nearby aging facility.  The facility offered individual housing, assisted living, and full nursing care.  Mom was 90 and Dad was 88.  Dad A was already legally blind and no longer driving.  Mom A was too nervous to drive the 35 miles to the doctors in Springfield. Hubby had taken early retirement in 2002 just to be able to care for his parents.  They were not living independently.  Finally, in April of 2004, the folks moved into assisted living in the Methodist Manor in Marionville, MO.  

Over the next 15 months, time was spent preparing the home and property for an auction.  One of the many days we were working to sort items for the auction and items to distribute to grandkids, I saw the shaker set.  It was not going in an auction.  With a stop for a time on my stove in Springfield, it eventually made its way to Son's stovetop.  One of the main things he wanted from Grandma A's home.  

He always remembered her using the shakers while cooking.  Salting the popcorn that was always the best.  Most especially he remembered using the salt shaker on corn on the cob.  Grandma always made sure Son had the corn fresh from her garden.  She knew how much he loved it.  Once he left for college, she always froze a few ears just for him.  And she always handed him the shaker of salt for his corn.

Peace,

Janice  

Daily Writing for Practice

With a life spent mostly in a recliner in an 880 square foot apartment, there seems little to write about.  I can look around and see various objects on display.  Objects that represent so many different phases of my life.  Phases that are even from long before I was born.  A double-barrel shotgun that was my Great Grandpa Jones gun to provide food and protection for his family.  Son noted this is one of about four items he never wants out of his family.

Four items to never leave Son's family.  Grandpa Jones double-barrel shotgun, Granny Mary's iron skillet, Grandma Adcock's salt and pepper shaker set.  There is one other item that escapes my memory.  The iron skillet was about the only item of my parents that survived a house fire.  The fire burned the house to the ground.  The salt and pepper shakers set on Grandma Adcock's cookstove.  They are classic 1940's glassware.   As for the shotgun, it was passed to me by my father before our son was born.  It has hung on the wall of every home Son remembers.  

It is truly interesting the items Son wants to retain.  He ate many a meal cooked in the old skillet.  Since we lived near Hubby's parents for most of Son's growing-up years, the shaker set was seen frequently.  Always in the hands of the grandmother Son called the quiet one in his tribute to her.  He called my mom the outspoken one.  That is pretty much how the two ladies were, too.  Grandma A. was very reserved.  My mom was a spit-fire female before spit-fire was in fashion.  

The three disjointed paragraphs were written on separate days.  I probably need to rework them.  But I am not at this time.  Just publish.

 

Ten Minute Free Write

If you had not noticed, yesterday was Christmas.  Does that make today Boxing Day?  Yes, it is Boxing Day, a day when the rich gave servants the day off from chores as well as gifts.  My mind immediately wondered if that is where the origination of re-gifting began.  Just a random thought in my muddled brain.

But I digress.  Our FAB family gift exchange lasted throughout the day.  Hubby and I did our exchange at home while the yeast bread rose and baked.  Once the bread was baked and iced, we headed to the FAB household to join in that gift exchange.  Of course, our favorite puppy, DJ, greeted us with jumps of joy.  Once our packages were brought in, everyone settled back down to the last few gifts they were exchanging.  Our gifts were added to the bunch.  It is always fun to see the excitement as folks open a "just for you" perfect gift.  Giggles from the Beard grandkids as they opened their very own miniature Jeeps.  No more fights over who gets Grandpa's Jeep.  Lolol.  

One of my gifts from Son and DIL was an online writing course.  Son had observed that my blogging had fallen by the wayside.  He felt I needed to get back to this creative outlet.  I am not sure how he became so smart.  Regardless, I started the course this morning.  The first assignment was a ten-minute free write in which I script my dream for tonight.  If I could dream anything I wanted, what would I want?  First and foremost, nothing scary.  I have had too many bad dreams most of my life.

So here we go with a ten-minute free-write.  I close my eyes as if asleep and just begin typing.

Do you feel the wind on my face?  We are in a convertible riding down a beautiful, shady lane in the countryside. Sam, our dog, is laying her nose on my shoulder.  She is in the back seat.  Gene is driving.  I look to see Gene's handsome profile.  Now we are in the Jeep riding on the sandy beach.  The breeze is washing across our faces.  My hair is twisting in circles.  DJ the Granddog is enjoying the breeze.  She has a giant smile on her face.  Out of the Jeep, we are running at the edge of the surf.  Laughter is spilling from my heart.  My sweet Gene holds me tightly as we kiss.  

Sitting on the bow of a longboat we follow the small stream into the Eglish countryside.  I realize I just want to stay in the countryside.  No cities, no honking horns, no impatient people.  Just Gene and I in nature.  In love and forever together.  We are young, in love, and have a future of being together.  Building a life that draws us closer.

I promise I timed myself.  That is not much to write in ten minutes.  It does not matter as it has me writing.  The instructor states that a writer must write every day.  Guess that needs to be my new goal, writing every day. 

Peace,

Janice 

What's Been Happening with Janice?

Three months since I wrote a post.  So here is a few highlights over the last 3 months:

A trip to St. Louis to see the Cardinals play two of the last three games.

Flight, first night, and visit to Union Station

Game 2.

Visit to the St. Louis Blues Museum.  Home to jazz and blues.

Cool restaurant in St. Louis.

Within a week of returning home, we both tested positive for Covid.   As well as our youngest grandson.  That pretty much took care of October.  November brought basketball games for the number 3 grandson.   And we attended as many as 5 in three days.   

On November 13w e were invited to attend a fundraising event for a local LGBTIA Out Youth organization.  It was entitled Glitz.  I made my own get-up to wear.  

Then came Thanksgiving week at Sis #4's home near Dallas.

Backyard bonfire at Sister #4's home

Back to Round Rock and time to have another celebration!  I am 75 now!

An emotional trip to Missouri (1200 miles round trip) for a very dear friend's funeral took 5 days following the birthday celebration.  Such a good human and a loss to all who knew him. Eddie our dear friend

We returned, again, to the little home in Round Rock.  Decorating, card completion, mailing, and gifts were now the main focus.  Of course, within 10 days of returning from this second trip in two weeks, it was time for Sister Time/Rogers Christmas gathering.  What a surprise to have a cousin from California arrive on Thursday evening for an overnight visit.  She is the one in the middle in the blue.

Surprises continued when sisters gave me a visit to a concert featuring Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra impersonators.  We all really enjoyed that as there were songs familiar from our days of youth sung.  In addition, Christmas carols.  Another delicious meal followed.  A bit of downtown Grapevine, TX, light viewing proved to be the best ending of a very busy day.

The next day found around 35 - 40 relatives gathered for food, visiting, and fun.

The finale was us 4 sisters in our Christmas jammies for a picture.  There may have been a flatulent.

It is Christmas Eve.  We will shortly head out for another delightful meal with our son, his family, DIL's father and girlfriend.  We will return home in time to put up our stockings and wait for Santa.

Wishing everyone a joyous and blessed Christmas and New Year.

Peace,

Janice