it's all good

OMG what day is it anyway?  Oh yeah...it's New Year's Eve.  I remember a time when we shot fireworks and banged pans at the old house.  That was Lauren and Kristen and back then we stayed up late.  Not so much now, ya' know.  2023 will come  and go like all of them.  I've been thinking about the highlights of my life this year and they are many.  FUMC has become a constant for me.  Our church is struggling with all kinds of issues and I am an active part of that discernment,  Not like a member of the team but, you know.  I pray for us and enjoy every hug I get up in there.  I called one church member/friend yesterday just to see if he was still kicking because rumor said he was dead.  Wrong guy y'all.  

My girls have become much more of a constant with Gaga.  They come here at least once a week and it's always an adventure.  Sometimes a meltdown but lots of play time.  I do believe she gets manic out here at the cabin.  Her new bike needs the training wheels put on so I'll have to call in a favor soon because spring is coming.  If the neighbors don't slow down I'll be really mad.  My next yard sign will be "this is not a raceway."  Nuf' said.

I hope that 2023 treats us well.  I think about a lot of things like world peace and saving nature.  Climate change is real and killing us at every level.  Biden is not a bad POTUS though I noticed that gas went up thirty cents today.  Damn you Saudi!

Let's all hold hands and pray.  It's a start ^j^

infrastructure

I have heard through the grapevine that we are in a boil water advisory from Fowlkes to Finley which is DSCUD.  Evidently workers have been searching for a leak and have not been able to find it.  Which means that we may be using Forked Deer river water if the leak is under there.  I was so looking forward to a hot shower!  But it can wait, ya know? This is a very poorly managed public utility district that is privately owned.  The city of Dyersburg has offered to buy and manage properly but uh....no action.  Meanwhile, we drink river water.

Dyersburg buddies had lunch today with the addition of Cathy's grandson who is 7.  We exchanged gifts and enjoyed a great meal.  I did some serious cleaning today before the girls came for a visit.  My major purchase was this fancy ass mop bucket at Lowe's.  We shall see!  First I'll have to run the ShopVac and sweep, not necessarily in that order.  

I have my first assignment as a stringer tomorrow with the bee guy down at Finley.  I've seen it several times before and it's an impressive operation.  This time he will explain the entire process from winter to spring and beyond.  He has a seriously sweet dawg down there at the shop just like the barber does.  Trust me, I know what I'm doing.  If it involves critters I'm all in.

It's almost 2023 y'all.  Let's pray for kindness and peace in a world torn to shreds.  I don't care about politics here in the US anymore.  It will always be thus and so, like with Russia and Ukraine.  Anybody who stills supports Trump is an idiot and not in our best interest.  He may never pay for the damage he has done, but I'd be happy if he would just retire to Florida and leave us alone.  Over and our from Pecan Lane ^j^

no room at the inn

My friends just left here after a visit between hotel room check in and out.  They have been living there for three days since their water froze and were forced to move to another one today because of "company policy."  Meanwhile, their son called to say that they need to come shut off the pump because the trailer is floating!

Lauren came to visit me in my sleep last night because she just couldn't pass up an opportunity to see Mama on Christmas.  I was snug in the bed when she arrived at sixish and came in fussing about me not being locked down.  I was on the heating pad and comfy so we just felt each others' presence from room to room.  If she hadn't been obliged to take care of their cat Henry I believe she would have crawled in bed with me.  

I woke up softly again today and most of the aches and pains are gone.  Being on antibiotics has messed with my fragile gut but that's over now.  I can breathe!  

Just got off the phone with my down the road neighbor and exchanged holiday greetings.  She caught me up on what's going on with them and I feel lucky.  And blessed.   

Love ya...mean it...bye ^j^

merry christmas!

It is a rarity for Christmas day to fall on Sunday so today's service was quite a treat of lessons and carols.  There was no water and no heat because, you know.....Elliott struck the pipes.  I got there early after breakfast with Bubba at Huddle House so I sat and visited with Mary Beth and watched some of the musicians practice.  Everyone was huddled into the front section ( also a rarity ) and we ended up circling that section and holding hands while singing Go Tell it on the Mountain.  Mary Beth started the hand squeeze and it went all the around from her back to her.  I was holding my little cousin Livvie's hand as we sang.  It was a wonderful Christ filled service with love everywhere.  

Santa has come to see Reaves both yesterday and today.  Lauren posted pictures of her in awe of what was under their tree.  She opened what was here yesterday but was most enchanted by the kitchen set that Johnny brought from his mother-in-law's house.  Her grandchildren had outgrown it but it's perfect for a budding chef like Reaves.  Now she can make CoCo LeBlanc all day long.  I'm soon to be shopping for an apron and chef's hat.

I have the afternoon to myself with the critters, and maybe Lauren later.  The weather is trying to moderate and recover.  Tomorrow will be our first day above freezing in days.  For some reason I was lucky enough to avoid the rolling blackouts.  I guess my little corner out here was considered not a big priority to cut.  I have learned that birds like Cheeto puffs when snow is on the ground.  Kind of funny to watch!

Y'all remember what it's all about and love each other ^j^

this is a test

In light of current weather conditions that include rolling blackouts, it seems petty to note that I've lost a whole month of FB posts.  Home takes me back to December 8th.  Only on the PC though.  I've been advised to unplug it when the power goes out to avoid frying upon surge.  No, I don't have one of those surge protectors.  I did buy some new power strips so I can use multiple things from the scarce outlets in this house.  I now have one in each room.  

Since I've been cooking more I have noticed how dark it is in there under the counters so I'm gonna' look for some lighting when time permits.  I've just changed clothes for the first time in 36 hours because I was pleasantly layered for survival.  A hot shower is next on the list.  The girls are on the way to visit so there's that to look forward to.  Traffic is moving more today but there's still a lot of ice.  My friends had to get a room when their water froze.  

So your flight is delayed?  I'm sorry but it's Elliott's fault.  We  knew this beast was coming just like we know when a hurricane will hit.  And this thing is bigger than any hurricane ever!  Al Gore was right, ya' know.

I hope your holidays are merry and there is lots of love in your life.  Jesus loved us THAT much which is what we celebrate right now.  His humble beginning as the miracle or virgin birth.  Be not afraid, said the Angel.  And we are not ^j^

a bird in hand

Of course the stormed rolled in last night and continues to blow like the dickens.  I opened the back door to find three birds trapped on the back screen door hanging on.  When I stepped over to open the screen door they took off into the house and chaos ensued.  Bubba was here to check on the heat situation which is, though tolerable, not real good because of the wind.  The thermostat is set on 70 and 62 is all she will do!  He managed to catch one bird in the house with his hands and set it free.  He also snagged the one on the porch and put it out.  There may be one left but I'm sure Rosie will get it eventually.  Right now she is outside but she'll let me know when she's had enough.

And so, we hunker down and wait.  At least the sun is out giving an illusion that all is well.  The snow is just enough to be pretty.  When I went to thaw my car out I kind of enjoyed sitting there with the hot air blowing.  It took about fifteen minutes to de-ice the windshield and set the wipers free.  This time next week it will be in the sixties.  That's Tennessee weather for ya'.

Christmas is coming fast on the heels of this deep freeze.  I'm not sure when I will see the girls because of family stuff and the weather.  Santa will visit Lauren's house and there's a ton of stuff here whenever they come.  Heck it may be New Year's!  She has a new to her Barbie bike here with a helmet thanks to Patti.  I imagine it will stay here for awhile until we get the training wheels on and the cold subsides.  We're going to play dirty santa with what's left gift wise and everybody will get what they want.  I have no idea what's in the ones that I didn't wrap.  

It's time to rotate socks and layer some more.  Y'all stay warm and keep the faith ^j^

lisa

She worked with Bubba at the fuel center and made him deviled eggs like I do.  She brought them in this plastic thingy with a loose lid and I inherited that when she died because Bubba still had it from Thanksgiving.  I hear she had a massive heart attack last year around this time while wrapping gifts with her sister.  Boom.  She was gone, and that is how I got the egg tray.  Bubba had it from a Thanksgiving delivery.  It has been filled and refilled several times since then.

The storm he is a blowing in rapidly.  There was an odd quiet before the wind got up and the snow started.  Slush first.  I can feel it coming through the cracks in the logs and around the windows.  Electricity just blinked so let us pray.

Merry and bright here ^j^