Lnooner's Blog

I used to do a lot of decorative painting, especially for Christmas presents until one of the ‘itis’ brothers came for a long visit. He finally left but by that time other things had taken the place of painting.

Recently one of my sons ask me to paint him a picture to go on his wall. He reasoned that even though he had other things I’d painted, he didn’t have a picture to hang. It had been more than ten years since I’d done any painting and I didn’t know if I was still capable of wielding a brush or painting anything recognizable. But since he’d never really asked me for anything before I decided to give it a shot.

I had dozens and dozens of tubes of paint, but most of them were dried up from non use…and age. Not wanting to waste money, I invested in some cheap paints in case the painting proved to be a no go and…dived right in.

Imagine my surprise when I turned out a very detailed painting of which I wasn’t ashamed. Since the first one was a success and I had painted it in two days, I decided that I would paint each one of my children a picture as well. (Don’t tell them, it’s a surprise) Ambitious I know, since that would mean six more pictures. But hey, I’m not getting any younger and who knows how long it will be before the ‘itis’ brothers visit again, and perhaps even move in permanently. I better do this now while I’m visitor free or before I’m resting comfortably in the ground.

I painted my second picture and the son I live with was blown away. He said, “Mom if you can paint like this with crappy paint, just think what you could do with good paint”. So he got me some good paint and I was blown away with the difference in ease and coverage and use ability of the good stuff. It’s really a crime to sell cheap paint…or maybe the crime lies in my buying it because now I’m stuck with it. Rather than throwing it away I foresee a future of painting projects with a five year old.

At this point I’ve turned out eight pictures and I still have four canvases left. That doesn’t mean I’ll stop when I use them all, I’m just getting warmed up! There is no theme or rhyme or reason to what I’ve painted so far, I’m just painting what strikes my fancy and the subject matter is very diverse. I’m in this now for the fun of it and it seems that the rate I’m turning them out is making up for the lost years.

I’m so thankful for the son who got me painting again and for the son who got me good paints to make it more enjoyable and easy. I started out to do a favor for one of my children and instead I’ve rediscovered a long dormant passion. I’m not completely sure that wasn’t the intended idea behind the request anyway. My children have no say in my paintings and they may not like the pictures I give to them but maybe they will treasure them just because their elderly mother painted them….anyway I like them all and my Christmas list is getting ticked off rapidly. What fun I’m having, I’ll soon have to buy more canvasses!

Well Grandma Moses strikes again….on to my next picture.

Yesterday I had an interesting conversation with my four year old granddaughter. She is quite advanced for her age and has great motor skills. She loves to draw and color, and write and spell words. She had been spelling and writing words when suddenly she said, ”Granny, I want to write curse words.” Of course I was shocked, I didn’t even know she knew what curse words were. I said, “well we don’t say or write curse words.” She quickly said, ”but you do and I want to.”

Instinctively for just a moment, I was filled with guilt. I mean, I’m supposed to be setting a good example for my grandchildren. But that feeling was gone almost as soon as it appeared for I knew, despite her conviction, that I don’t do that. (Even if I do why would I tell her?) Nevertheless it was troubling for her to think that of me, and she continued to want to do it herself despite my trying to dissuade her.

Finally in exasperation, she put her pencil in the air and made a series of loops and said, “like this.” Suddenly the light switched on in my feeble brain and I knew what she was talking about. She wanted to write in cursive like I do! Wow, that was a long way from where we started with that conversation.

I was so happy to get that misunderstanding cleared up! But, chatter box that she is, I do hope she hasn’t spoken to her teacher about her Granny writing curse words. I’m not sure she will ever learn to write in cursive however, because it isn’t taught in school anymore. If she learns she will do it on her own…and I can see her doing just that sometime in the future for she is a determined little soul.

Cursive/curse words…what’s the difference? Well it turns out there’s a big difference! Just as there’s a big difference between Veteran and Veterinarian. My grandson knows the difference between the two except when he sees the spelled word, and then it’s a little confusing to him even at the ripe old age of eight. There aren’t many license plates with Veterinarian on them but quite a few with Veteran, lol.

How many of us still get confused between words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings? In children it’s cute and adorable, not so much in adults. All I’ve got to say about this is that the English language is confusing, even for those of us whose native language it is…kudos to those who learn it as a second language!

The cats in my life are a never ending source of amusement. Cora, the smallest one, is fearless and inquisitive. She wants to be in on whatever is going on. When I vacuum she runs down the stairs and dogs my footsteps, often getting in the way. She wants to know what I’m cooking and what I’m eating. And if there is a new object in the house she has to check it out thoroughly. Today I had my windows open enjoying the pleasant air. Cora came downstairs and immediately jumped up on the window ledge, slipped behind the curtains, sniffed the fragrant air and longingly watched the birds and chipmunks outside.

Starbuck is the larger cat, quite a bit larger in fact, but she’s a scaredy-cat. She is, quite literally, afraid of her own shadow. When she came downstairs she saw my curtains blowing gently in the breeze and freaked out. Every time the curtains moved she’d jump back and hunker down with her ears laid back. When they quit moving she’d cautiously move forward until they started to move again and then she’d jump backwards flattening her ears. This was repeated over and over without her getting any closer to the curtains. It was comical to watch and I couldn’t help laughing out loud.

As if the flapping curtains weren’t scary enough, she had a run in with her bed that was hysterical. She has a soft bed she like to sleep in….after she “makes biscuits” on the cushy rounded sides. Today, one of her claws evidently got caught in the fabric and she couldn’t get it loose. I heard a commotion behind me and I looked just in time to see her running as fast as she could with a bed that was firmly attached, like a snowshoe, that she couldn’t rid herself of. Before I could get to her and help, the bed detached and she double timed it upstairs with her hackles raised. I haven’t seen her since and I wonder if she will even go near her bed again.

A few days ago I sat an empty soda can on the floor beside my favorite chair. When Starbuck saw it she cautiously circled it, trying to get up the courage to sniff it, but failed to do so. She’d start to go closer and then jump back quickly as if something had startled her. Her fear finally won and she left it without further investigation.

It’s amazing to me that cats can be so different. We got them as small kittens at the same time and they have had the same experiences since they came to us so I don’t understand why one is so bold and one is so timid. I guess cats, like humans, just have their own personalities. If I’m honest, I’d venture to say that I’m more like Starbuck than Cora. I wonder how many people have had good laughs at my expense? Um, on second thought, I’d rather not know.

Alexa set a 10 minute timer. Alexa set a second 5 minute timer. Alexa what is the weather forecast? Alexa play 70’s music. Alexa play music from my library. Alexa put paper towels in my shopping cart. Alexa in ‘Gospel Voice’ read scriptures to me. Alexa play Dire Straits. Alexa how do you spell oblivious? (or whatever word) Alexia what is the population of New York? Alexa where is the nearest sea food restaurant? Alexa where is my package?

And when my granddaughter stays with me, in her very grown up four year old voice it’s, Alexa play nursery rhymes, Alexa tell me a joke, Alexa tell me a story. Alexa play ghostbusters, Cherry Bomb, Grandma got run over by a Reindeer….and on and on.

I don’t really make the most of my echo. Many people, including a few of my sons, use it to control their lights, heating and air, morning alarm, security and many other things. I just use it for the basic everyday things.

I wouldn’t even have an echo if it hadn’t been a gift, and I wouldn’t be using it if my son hadn’t set it up for me, excited to bring me into this century. It’s surprising how quickly I got used to using it…and how much I depend on it now.

In fact, it’s a little embarrassing how lonely I feel when our internet isn’t working (that’s a whole other story for another time) and I don’t have access to my echo. I have to actually be cognizant of the time when I’m cooking, I have to actually physically play my CD’s or use my phone. I have to wonder about facts or distances or the weather unless I’m inclined to spend time and energy looking them up. What a hassle!

Having an echo named Alexa (or even having an echo at all) has it’s downside too. One of my favorite shows has, as it’s main character, a woman named Alexa. Whenever I watch it MY Alexa is always answering the T.V. which is, to say the least, a little disconcerting. Also my echo is an especially good one. If the door to the upstairs is cracked open she hears and does what is asked of the upstairs echo which can be unsettling and sometimes a little crazy, especially when the grandchildren are home. I can be talking on the phone and suddenly crazy music from my echo will start blaring. Or I can be listening to soothing music and suddenly my echo will change to a child’s podcast. I also have to be careful around dinner time, as the cooks upstairs are setting their own cooking timers which don’t coincide with mine.

I often wonder what my parents would think of all these new inventions. As a matter of fact, I wonder what my husband would think of this turn of events. He’s been gone eight years and technology has changed dramatically even in that short time. Would he embrace the echo? I believe he would as he always made sure I had the newest and latest gadgets. I think he would have especially enjoyed listening to his favorite, even obscure, country artists or songs. I can hear him saying, Alexa play ‘On the Wings of a Snow White Dove’, or ‘All around the Watertown’, or Johnny Cash. That brings a smile to my face.

Some persons don’t like the echo for privacy reasons. They may feel like they are being listened to (and they are, at least when the echo name is invoked). I, however, have nothing to hide and like the convenience and versatility it affords. After using the echo for a few years now it would be hard to do without it and I’m glad I have it. Alexa where is the cheapest gasoline nearby?

I love spring and anticipate it all winter long. I always forget about the pollen however, and I’m perpetually amazed that such spring beauty can bring such sickening results. For those of us who suffer from allergies, spring is a deadly season.

My car is a lovely royal blue color except in spring when it turns an ugly green with accumulations of thick pollen. It does little good to wash it (though I do) as it quickly turns green again. My allergist said that I’m allergic to the air I breathe so I can only imagine what that pollen is doing to my lungs. My body feels the full effect as I become tired and sick and I have a hard time breathing. Many times I simply can’t enjoy the beauty I’m surrounded with because of this very thing. It really is a sad conundrum when the warm spring air we are craving caresses our winter worn bodies with such deadliness.

What is one to do? Well for starters, I take three different allergy medications, and then I stay indoors, except for quick dashes to the car. I have large open-paned windows that afford me a spectacular view of the new spring growth, and beautiful flowering trees and bushes that I so love. I forego the feel of warm air on my face and just enjoy the beauty from a ’safe’ place, knowing that eventually the pollen will lesson and I can venture outside once more. When my car begins to stay blue again I know the worst is over. That hasn’t happened yet and I’m impatiently waiting…8

I was shocked when I went to get new eye glasses and was told that they wouldn’t help me, that I had cataracts and would need to have them removed. So started my journey into what I deem to be a near science fiction experience.

I’ve worn glasses since I was about eleven years old, close to seventy years now so that’s mostly all I have ever known. Imagine my surprise when I was told I could not only have the cataracts removed but I could have new lens inserted at the same time that would allow me to see well without glasses at all. That seemed almost too good to be true. And haven’t we always heard that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is, so I was a little skeptical. However, my oldest son had just had that very procedure done and he assured me it was legitimate and encouraged me to proceed with it. So I plucked up my courage and scheduled the surgery.

My eyesight is very precious to me since I love to read, paint and work on my iPad, and I was really hesitant about someone messing with my eyes. The doctor I chose is one of the best-busiest in the area so I had to wait two months to have the surgery, and that was two months to agonize and worry about the outcome. Needless to say I was a nervous wreck by the time D-day arrived. My surgeries were scheduled two weeks apart so I was barely getting over the first, and not quite sure how happy I was with it, when I had the second eye done. My four year old granddaughter was scared of me the day of the surgeries because I had a huge bandage over my eye that gave me the appearance of being a cyclops. She took one look at me and ran upstairs, not looking at me again until the bandage was gone.

Now five weeks later, my eyes are healed and I have 20-20 vision! How is that even possible? I have never seen this well. I can see far away to drive and watch TV and I can read fine print without the aid of even reading glasses! This is the stuff of science fiction if ever I heard it. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I could ditch the glasses forever.

The only downside to this whole thing is that I can now ‘see’ myself. What a let down! I see that I need a total makeover. What was once a fuzzy soft reflection of an older lady in the mirror is now a crystal clear image of a an old woman with wrinkles and bags under the eyes. I don’t know anything to do about the wrinkles but I have it on good authority that tea bags on the eyes will reduce the eye bags. I’m going to start with that and see if it helps. I suppose the only other solution is just to avoid mirrors. It’s strange how the person staring back at me in the mirror is not how I see myself in my mind. In my mind I’m still young and attractive, free of wrinkles and eye bags, with golden hair and a twinkle in my blue eyes. Well At least I may still have a twinkle, some say the artificial lens makes a twinkle in a certain light. Anyway, when all is said and done, I’m very, very happy with my new eyes….the better to see you with my dear.

Another year has come and gone, and we are still in the grip of an unrelenting pandemic. While we navigate these uncharted waters with many grieving the loss of loved ones, and much uncertainty still on the horizon, we have much to be thankful for.

I, myself, am thankful to be living in this day and time where so many opportunities exist; where medical help is readily available; where most of us have an abundance of everything we need or want; where kindness still takes precedence over selfishness and ugliness.

I truly believe the majority of people are caring and kind. I don’t believe the sensational stories that we hear on the news are the most prevalent. That old saying of ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease’ is certainly true as far as the media goes. If all the good and lovely stories of people helping others was reported there would be no room…or mood…for the sordid and depressing ones that we hear of.

I’m thankful for family; they are all dear to me. From cousins that I don’t often see but that made up my childhood to those that have joined my family through marriage. My husband’s family is just as dear to me…they are most definitely mine now. My children and grandchildren make my life worth living and I treasure each interaction that I have with them.

I’m also very thankful for my friends. Most of them I no longer see, due to travel restrictions…and let’s face it, health and aging. But I treasure all contact I have with them. So that’s another thing to be thankful for, the technology that allows us to have such contact.

I’m thankful for this beautiful world in which we live. God gave us so much beauty to lighten and brighten our lives. No matter which part of the world you live in, or what season it is, there is ‘beauty all around.’ I’ve been to many places and they are all uniquely different and beautiful.

Last, but not least by any means, I’m thankful for my faith. I’m positive that as I live my life the best I know how, using the example of Jesus Christ as my guide, I have no need to worry about the future or to worry about this or any other pandemic. It will all come out right in the end.

I have my black eyed peas cooking and will soon have my cornbread in the oven to welcome in this new year. I, along with everyone else, hope this year will bring some relief from sickness and sorrow. But I also realize that whatever the year does bring, we must soldier on, making the best of what’s given us. We must seek for joy and beauty and look for things to be thankful for each and every day. Happy New Year!

It’s been a long while since I’ve had cats in the house. Technically I don’t have cats myself, but I get all the benefits of having them without any of the work.

My son and his wife decided that a pet was in order for their children so they started searching for the perfect cats. Yes, they knew they wanted cats, plural. They visited a shelter several times and played with the cats to see which ones would work with their rambunctious children. After the arduous process of adoption they brought home two sweet adorable kittens. That was about two months ago and my how they have grown! They were the exact same size when we first got them and now one is much much larger than the other. They are very social and want to be where people are. When the family is gone the door is left open at the top of the stairs so the cats can come down and socialize with me.

Cora and Starbuck are both lap cats, although one more so than the other. The smaller one is super smart, way too smart for our liking. There are French doors between the bedrooms and the rest of the house upstairs and they stay closed when everyone is in bed….with the cats closed out of the bedroom area. Cora, the smaller cat, learned quickly how to put her paw under the doors and make a constant loud staccato rattle, causing my son to have to get up. After having his sleep interrupted too many times he finally resolved that issue. So she then learned how to stand up and push her weight against the doors in just the right place to pop them open. After gaining access to that part of the house both cats would go to the master bedroom door and scratch and meow until someone would open the door. Or sometimes, if one of the children’s doors was cracked a little, both cats would get in bed with that child and invariably wake them. That was a big headache as they wake too many times at night already. My son has recently resorted to putting something around the handles of the French doors when they go to bed so that Cora can’t push them open anymore.

Cora is also a would be food thief. They aren’t allowed to have human food but Cora has different ideas. We have to watch her like a hawk to keep her off the table when dinner is served. The other day the children were having a pizza picnic on the floor while watching a movie. My daughter in law looked up to see Cora backing stealthily away pulling a whole piece of pizza with her. She only had to say her name sharply for Cora to drop her loot and run and hide.

I enjoy having the cats with me in the daytime. They run up and down the stairs sounding like a whole herd of animals, and they chase each other through my house, over and under my bed and sofas and keep me laughing at their antics. They are better than a three ring circus, one can’t be gloomy with those two around.

Yesterday morning when I got up they were already downstairs. At the foot of the stairs I saw a huge black spider on the floor, so big I almost fainted. I didn’t know if I could get rid of it myself, that was one of Bruce’s jobs, but the alternative didn’t bear thinking about so I got my trusty fly swat and gave it a mighty whack. Turns out it was a plastic Halloween spider the cats had brought downstairs to play with. Feeling a little foolish ( in my defense, I do have cataracts that need to be removed) but mostly just relieved, I had to laugh as they fought over it and ran into my bedroom with it. Note to self, I need to find it and throw it away before it gives me another fright.

I’d forgotten how fun and comforting pets can be. They ask nothing but to be loved, and contrary to what a lot of people believe, cats are very loving and they let you know if they like you. Thankfully they do like me and spend as much time in my lap as I will allow…or tolerate. I’m grateful my family decided to get cats and I’m more than grateful for another reason to laugh.

My ego and self confidence is battered and bruised for I fell off the Vegan wagon, the lactose-free wagon, the sugar-free wagon and the gluten-free wagon…all in the same day. In point of fact, it was all in the same meal!

How could this happen you might ask. Well it was very easy and quite unplanned. After being out with the family at a huge pumpkin patch event all day with much walking involved, and everyone being tired and famished, we stopped and got a late lunch/early dinner at the first reasonable spot we spied. It just happened to be a new burger joint (shout out, they are comparable to David’s burgers in Conway) thereby causing the negation of vegan and gluten-free dining. But it was worse, so much worse than that, for they also sold frozen custard. Have I ever mentioned how I adore frozen custard? Well I felt that the old saying In for a penny, in for a pound, certainly applied in that circumstance, SO, I indulged, I just couldn’t help myself…and at that point why should I, because you do know I love frozen custard! That of course negated the sugar-free, lactose-free part of the meal. Yep, In one fell swoop I managed to consume all the things I avoid in my everyday life, foods that make my life a misery.

Was it worth it? Well I must say I enjoyed every bite! Even when I was still eating meat burgers, the gluten free buns just weren’t the same. And it had been absolutely ages since I’d had real sugar in anything, because that’s a definite no no. I do feel a little guilty now (not much, but a little) and I most certainly will suffer the consequences of my uninhibited eating. There may be no church for me tomorrow as this ‘all American’ meal does an unpleasant number on my body. I’m sure that will strengthen my resolve to never let this happen again…or at least not anytime soon, or to this degree.

I may have fallen off the wagon but I’m getting right back on regardless of any bruising incurred in the mishap. As they say, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. And try again I will….and again and again and again if necessary, until I get it right or I don’t have to worry about such things anymore.

Have you ever had to eat your words? Well I find myself doing just that, and voluntarily, I might add. And what words am I having to eat you ask? “That I’d never be vegan.”

Isn’t it enough for me to be gluten free with all that entails? Evidently not. My body’s response to being gluten free was immediate and amazing, so much so that I will never even consider eating gluten again. Why then go vegan too? To make a long story short, I’ve been diabetic for many many years. I’ve managed to keep my blood sugar under control all this time…until just recently. Unhappily it has sky rocketed and I haven’t been able to get it back down no matter what I eat or do. The usual diabetic diet just isn’t cutting it.

My daughter, who wears many hats, just got her nutritionist license. She shared with me the latest information about diabetes and food. It seems that a diabetic should be eating only a whole food plant based diet. All the new information shows that when meat or animal products are consumed, something happens in the intestines that causes a spike in blood sugar, and cheese is the worst offender. As much as I enjoy a hamburger or a great steak, cheese is my go to. To say I like cheese is an understatement, the cheese drawer in my refrigerator is stuffed to the top with all kinds of cheese….cheese for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and as a snack. How could I possibly live without cheese? I gave up dairy milk years ago, using almond milk instead. Giving up meat is no big deal either, I love beans and I’m no stranger to vegan meat substitutes since one of my sons is vegan. But to give up cheese is a big big deal for me.

I decided I would give the vegan approach a shot just to see if there was anything to it. Imagine my surprise when after the first day my my A1c was down 16 points; after the second day it was down 32 more points! The third day I continued the vegan diet but had vegetable pizza for dinner with, you guessed it, cheese on it. The next day my A1c was up 32 points again. That made the case for me to continue the vegan diet without cheating.

There are many vegan cheeses out there these days that are almost like regular cheese. There are also many other ways to get a ‘cheese’ fix, such as mock cheese made with cashews or white beans and nutritional yeast. Okay, don’t turn your nose up as I once did, they are actually quite good. Today I had a delicious tostada piled high with beans, vegan chorizo, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, olives, salsa…and no cheese, since I didn’t have any of the above cheeses. Guess what, I didn’t even miss the cheese!

My journey down this new path is just beginning. There will certainly be ups and downs in my future but I am determined to fairly see where this path takes me. There is so much more food on the do eat list than on the don’t eat list. All whole grains, vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds, beans and legumes…the list is endless with endless ways of preparing them. I’m actually excited about this venture, and I haven’t been excited about anything in a very long time. I’ll keep you posted about how this works out for me. Wish me luck!