Monday, February 9, 2015

Mundane Monday Things.....

I failed. I was DETERMINED when I went to bed last night that I would get Louis Dean to the doctor first thing this morning. I failed. When will I ever learn? He totally convinced me that he was so MUCH better!!! And he was - until later in the afternoon. My first clue should have been that he felt better - but he wasn't WELL! We really and truly believe it is allergy induced asthma. Been there and done that SO many times. Still.....he is still sickly and NOT anywhere NEAR his normal self.
Tomorrow!!! Without FAIL! I am taking him to the doctor if I have to hog tie him or call an ambulance!!!

Now, on to other things!!!
Penny Miller of The Homemade Heart put me on to this amazing writer!
Jenny Joseph is an English poet and her poem 'Warning.'




WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR PURPLE
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

I was not surprised to find out that this poem was Sue Ellen Cooper's inspiration in founding The Red Hat Society! 
Thank you, Penny, for telling me about this amazing poet and woman!!!
I am inclined to think I should go ahead and 'practice' a little bit myself!


As soon as I was good and awake this morning, I put on a vegetable beef soup to simmer on the stove. Last night I had cooked the stew meat so I only had to heat it up and add the veggies.
Somehow I thought it would make Louis Dean feel better. He did eat some and proclaimed it delicious - but normally he would have asked me to bake some cornbread to go with it.
There is enough for tomorrow night's supper - and I WILL bake him up some cornbread - whether he asks for it or not! Cornbread always makes him smile.


As I was working in the sewing room today, I opened up the French doors to let in the beautiful 70+ degree day complete with sunshine and birdsong! As I carried a few things out to the gazebo, I looked down and saw the BLUE on this Monkey Grass. I immediately began to wonder WHAT in the WORLD Louis Dean had spilled or sprayed on THEM???


Upon closer inspection - it was the sun shining through the cobalt blue wine bottle 'planted' close by!
No, so far it has NOT taken root and produced other wine bottles!


My sewing room had stacked up with mending and projects and piles of STUFF!
I made order of most of it and even worked on my Birthday Quilt.
I have backed it with a luxurious beige sheet and it is going to feel lovely - once I get it done!!!
Little by little - I am getting there! Even if I just sew half an hour a day - it WILL get done!!!

In between projects - all day long - Louis Dean and I have been practicing the four duets we do together. In a moment of weakness - on my part - and in an attempt to put a smile on his face - I agreed to sing with him at our Valentine Music Jam Session/Dinner Party this Thursday evening.
It does NOT sound pretty, folks!!! I am so NOT a singer - but it did perk him up!
We would practice one song - with both of us hacking, choking, coughing and gagging - then I would go back to my chores for a little while and then we would practice another one.
The songs are 'The Far Side Banks of Jordan', 'Cause I Love You', 'While I've Got it on My Mind' - all three Johnny Cash and June Carter songs. There is one more but I can't remember the name of it.
If we can pull this party off - I will be MORE than impressed with US!!!
It will either be a lot of FUN - or extremely painful! Painful to hear, that is!!


This 'Dog Collar' is another project I found last week on Facebook. The shirt was in the sewing basket so this is the one I used. Waste not - want not! I try to reuse as much as I can!
It would look better if I had used a colored collar since a white collar on a white dog doesn't show up very well. Still, Lucy is one well collared dog! Is that even a word??
Louis Dean had promised me he would go for a walk with Lucy and me IF I didn't make him go to the doctor. He kept his word and while he walked slowly - I walked double time and would loop back and meet him at the next corner. We live in a neighborhood where the streets 'snake' around.
This walk was what triggered his promise to call the doctor's office as soon as he wakes up in the morning. He actually got scared. I was about to leave to come over here to Quadville to spend the night when he asked me to stay until he had his bath and was feeling better.


After our walk I turned on the outside flood lights and trimmed back more rose bushes.


This whole bed has rose bushes in the center flanked by honeysuckle and lantana in the back and rosemary, liriope, and mums in the front.


One last photo of my Valentine porch. The red of Christmas morphed into the red of Valentines.
Next weekend I will take out ALL of the red - from the porch, the den, the foyer, my bedroom - wherever I find it! I think I am soon to be DONE with RED for awhile.
I can't go back to my much loved fall colors so I will have to find something else I like!

I am such a night owl. Here I am over in Quadville. The house is asleep. The dogs are in their kennels and the babies are quiet in their beds. When I arrived Amber had already had them bathed, fed and tucked in for the night. She was upstairs in her bedroom when I got here. I could hear Trystan and Logan talking to each other so I got my camera and sat down in front of their door to listen.
I  heard Trystan say, "I'm okay! I'm okay, Logan." Then I heard Logan ask Trystan, "Can you help me?" About that time Amber came out into the hall and as I went in to watch the monitor, she went in to get them back to bed. What was Logan needing help with? She was taking her mattress off of her bed!


You probably can't make out much of what they are saying but I got a kick out of sitting in the dark holding my camera to the door trying to record them! I KNOW!!! I am ridiculous!!!

Well, I am successfully writing Monday's journal entry while it is still Monday!
At least for a few more minutes!


18 comments:

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Don't take a single chance with louis Dean's health! Not for one second. I have lost two loves..two precious men. I think for the most part, men are more susceptable to things than we women are. I really do.

I think the little you caught of the children's voice was just the sweetest thing ever. You sound like the most wonderful of Grandma's. :)

Kathy said...

You are having that lovely warm weather and we are having an ice storm. It somehow doesn't seem fair.

I hope LD is feeling better. Make sure he goes to the doctor! We are praying for the both of you.

Doreen@foxdenrd said...

You are indeed the most fabulous Grandma Linda! It sounds like your grandchildren are so lucky to have you in their lives. Now about LD, make sure he sticks around too, ok? Get him to a doc, and don't let him tell you otherwise.

Doreen@foxdenrd said...

You are indeed the most fabulous Grandma Linda! It sounds like your grandchildren are so lucky to have you in their lives. Now about LD, make sure he sticks around too, ok? Get him to a doc, and don't let him tell you otherwise.

Penny said...

Flax you liked the poem Linda, I was sure it would make you giggle! Sorry to hear LD still poorly, I hope he agrees to go to the doctor's, sounds like he needs looked at X

Deb said...

I love that poem! Definitely get LD to the Dr! Enjoy this pretty weather while we can....

Hootin Anni said...

I used to carry that poem on a small driver's license card size in my purse. But, since I don't carry a purse any longer, I don't know where to find it....I'm glad you shared it again. One of my favorites.

Love the porch all decked out in Valentine's Red. I posted just now a whole buncha stuff on Valentine's Day.

Hope LD is okay!!!!

peggy said...

Men are so stubborn sometimes, tell him he has to go for your sake, not nice to take chances.

MadSnapper said...

you have never had a mundane moment in your life. LOL.. and now i know there is someone worse than me with a camera. i have to say I have never sat outside a bedroom door with my camera recording. of course now that you mention it, who knows what i wiill do.
hope you made the appointment for tomorrow for LD

Susie said...

Linda, I pray that LD will get to the dr. and that he will be fine. Please take care of each other. Nice that he got some fresh air. So good you could still help Amber. I love your Valentine room. Blessings to all, xoxo,Susie

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

I hope your hubby gets well soon. I know how stubborn men can be. Homemade soup is always welcome when people are sick. I do love that poem. i used to belong to the Red Hat Society. Have a good day...

Vee said...

That old gal sounds a little rebellious, doesn't she?! =D Do you suppose you were drawn to the poem because you have been trying to get that husband of yours to see the light? Gosh. I do hope that he gets to the doc today at the latest. Sounds as if he needs a treatment. (There is no way that we're going without butter at our house, and I hope to remain a good example for the children, and I won't be caught dead wearing purple; however, I have no problem with wearing terrible shirts or eating sausages.)

Love that you were listening in on the grands' conversation. Pretty cute!

Linda said...

I really hope you get LD to the dr.....health is nothing to fool around with!!! but men hate drs! you are so funny.....listening to the conversations. LOL I love listening to my grands talk too. BTW you can send me some of you 70 temps..we are in the teens here. :-(

Linda said...

Linda, take good care of Louis Dean. Health is something that should never be taken for granted. Your soup looks divine and I love the poem. I will pray for Louis Dean's health. Sending you both warm hugs and best wishes.

Beth said...

Those four little sweethearts - so amazing! I'm glad you live close by and are very active participants in their lives - it means the world, and they are developing good, loving memories. Hope and pray Louis Dean is feeling much better. I have wine bottles in my garden too. They make a nice accent!
Hugs, Beth

Ginny Hartzler said...

I love this poem! So right away I looked her up, and read The Sun Has Burst The Sky. Seems she only wrote two poems, that is a pity. Poor Louis Dean. Take him to the doctor and drag him if you have to. Please let us know what the doctor says. I am sure it will be a simple case of some meds, maybe an inhaler too,and her should feel much better. My mom had allergic asthma all her life an I have had attacks of it. I love that I can use many of my Christmas reds for Valentines Day! Your Valentine porch is divine!!! I love Lucy's collar, and the amazing wine bottle reflection that turns the plant blue! You always have so much cool stuff going on!

Kelly said...

I'm sorry to hear that LD is sick again. I hope that a doctor can get him well soon. That is so cute to hear the quads having conversations with each other at night time. They're real little people now!

Carla said...

Gonna have to find a special pill to get LD back on his feet.
Poor LD you accused him falsely of spilling something on you plants. LOL
I saw that same dog collar craft. Too cute.