Saturday afternoon, my friend Tina called me to discuss a box of fabric I recently sent her.  More like, an industrial size box of fabric!!! I think it weighed around 30 pounds!  She sews all of my dresses and will begin sewing for my girls, now that they are older.  I had taken clippings from each bolt and stapled it to a piece of paper so we could discuss what dress or apron was for whom.  She had the pleasure of counting my yardage (I think the biggest bolt was 18 yards!!!) and then we decided how many dresses and which patterns from there.

She is very organized and so I am, so things went smoothly, but at times my mouth didn't go as fast as my brain and I stuttered and stammered over what I was trying to say.  We both laughed at me.  I am always so excited and full of anticipation when I know she is sewing for me.  I haven't had any new winter dresses for 2 seasons and many of my spring dresses are going on their 4th season.  I received summer dresses last year - or was it the summer before that?  You get the picture . . . it's been a while since I've had anything new.

Like so many people I've first met online,  and then in person, I just know Tina and I would get along well in person.  We have bonded over the years and I consider that a very good thing and her friendship to be a gift in my life that was totally unexpected.  I have absolutely no idea where I met her except for the fact it was on the Internet!

We got news on Saturday morning that a lawn customer of Jesse's died and had requested Jesse be called at the time of his passing  He had had a battle with cancer and had asked for prayers for years.  He was brought back from the brink of death 3 or 4 years ago (we literally got a call from his son who was making arrangements at a funeral home!!!) and he frequently had asked Jesse to pray with him.  He was a miracle patient in his doctor's eyes, but in the end, his wife said, he was ready to go and wanted no more heroic measures to keep him alive.  He will be buried today.  Yesterday morning, I fixed the family a big pan of spaghetti and added some buttered corn and seasoned green beans.  I sent Jesse with paper plates, towels and napkins.  We'll check on his wife this following week and be sure she has some mini-meals to eat.  She didn't think she would want anything to eat, but her daughter-in-law nodded (from behind) to Jesse that "yes" that would be good to do for her.  Please keep the Long family in your prayers.

Yesterday, after the spaghetti (!!!), I made a pasta salad and barbecued beef short ribs in the Crock Pot and some hominy with cheese and chilis.  The pasta salad was a hit last night.  It looked like I made enough to feed an army, but little was left.  I think it was an "out-of-season" dish and that's what made it taste so good.  That's something I fixed frequently during the hot months.  Well, it was WARM, yesterday early.

We had such a stillness in our air yesterday morning, and I knew rain was predicted for later.  I mentioned it really felt ominous and like bad storms or tornado weather was on the horizon, rather than just rain.  Sure enough . . . the stillness panned out into tornadoes everywhere.  None really touched down, but the sirens went off for quite a while to warn people.  Behind the wet front came temperatures dropping things instantaneously by 20 degrees.  This morning we have a light snow that MIGHT pick up and become heavier this afternoon.  Good ol' Oklahoma!

Jesse left yesterday evening to go see brother Aubrey (in the hospital); but, called me to say he was coming back home.  He couldn't see well enough to drive through the blinding wind and rain.  Then he lost cell phone service.  It seemed to take him forever to return.  He later said the roads were flooded everywhere and travel was slow.  He also had no idea the tornado sirens were sounding, due to the rain beating his pick-up truck and the wind howling everywhere.  He got out of the truck and headed to our front door and heard the sirens,  He changed from a trot to a dead run as he headed into the house to see what was up with the sirens.

News on Brother Aubrey:  Last night Sister Tangi said things hadn't really changed.  They DID take out his nose tube and were feeding him clear liquids, as of Sunday.  She was spending the night there again (since that's when he got so sick the last time) and the children were, once again. farmed out with sweet families helping them.   She said they would do another x-ray today (I think they are comparing x-rays from one to the next) and take it from there.  Without having solids pass through his system and the tubes to drain the gunk away, he wasn't in as much pain as he had been.  And, for that, we are all grateful.  Her own flu seems to be slowly going away and she didn't sound so deathly ill, herself.

That's it from the peanut gallery, for right now.  I need milk and may see if Jesse will run me up to the local store to buy that and some fresh vegetables.  I don't usually shop there because prices are high, but they have a lovely produce department and I enjoy picking from their stock!

The luau table

After bathing, getting the girls bathed, us dressed, and all of our hair done, I left (alone) to go to the bank to give our tax info to our banker, make deposits in the the 3 younger girls' and 2 granddaughters' savings accounts, and grab some cash for myself.  I haven't been anywhere alone in weeks and haven't needed any money.

I went to our post office box to gather mail.  I was surprised to find two checks for Jesse's lawn business in there.  I guess Feb. 29th as a payday, for work done in September, isn't a bad thing???!!!!

I went to Target to begin shopping for Annamarie's birthday (3/30).  They were putting out lots of new spring/summer stuff and since I have three girls and am so picky about what they wear, I grabbed what I could find and then a few clothing items for Annamarie's birthday.  I found the junior clothes department a gold mine for her in size Extra Small.  Finding necklines that weren't too big was my only challenge.  I also got two light weight jackets ($15/each), one in white and the other in pink.  Surely, they'll fit SOMEone!

From there, I met Jesse and the girls at the Chinese fast food restaurant (by the first house we had owned years ago) and we had lunch.  I found I was ravenous.  Maybe because I had slept fitfully the night before for only 5 1/2 hours (not enough to feel rested - I had forgotten to take my sleeping pill) and due to the work-out I had had from walking everywhere.  I had to push my plate back so I wouldn't over eat.  I don't think I looked up once while chowing down!

We parted company to go our separate ways and I went to Wal-Mart to do the grocery shopping, some food shopping for Tangi's children this week-end, and to look further for gifts for Annamarie's birthday.  I got there around 2:30pm (my optimum time for avoiding the Wal-Mart rush is 2:30 - 4:30p) and found a great parking space - down the aisle right outside the door and next to a cart return!

I walked ALL OVER their store and I'm sure my feet touched every tiled square of flooring!  Pushing the cart, which was becoming heavier aisle by aisle, was a huge challenge.  By the time I got to the check out line, I could barely push or steer it!  I don't think it could have held one more thing!

I unloaded everything into the back of our Suburban and separated the things I was running over to Tangi's children into the seat behind me.  I finally reached Tangi's college-age son and he arranged to meet me at their house.  So, back up the road I went.  I haven't seen her son since he left for college and he looks like such a grown man and "college-y" now!  He gave me a big hug, we chatted a while, I saw their new dogs, etc.  I decided to take the lake road home to avoid the 5pm traffic.  It was such a peaceful, beautiful drive home, and I enjoyed being "out" instead of cooped up . . . but, I could feel my body beginning to ache.

Then, all the groceries had to be unloaded when I reached the house and Annamarie's gifts sneaked into the our  closets.  I sat down in the den to take a breather and THAT'S when the family asked, "What's for dinner?"  Ohhhhh, my brain ached!

Jesse had gone to Sam's for me and there was lots of hamburger meat waiting to be divided into freezer bags, but I could barely think of standing any longer and fixing a meal.  Hamburgers seemed the easiest, but the hamburger buns I retrieved from the freezer were freezer burned and unappealing.  I ended up making sirloin patties, boxed 3-Cheese mashed potatoes, and opening some canned green beans and canned fruit cocktail and chunked pineapple.  Hooray for my pantry of emergency canned goods!  The dishwasher was still full of clean dishes, so I used paper plates. 

I WAS SO TIRED AND ACHY!!!  Honestly, I was so tired, my toes, teeth, and even my hair hurt!

I changed into my nightgown and went to bed at 8:00 (remembered to take my sleeping pills this time!) and made it until 9:30 watching "whatever" shows.  Rissy was in bed with me and that's the last thing I remembered.  Jesse said I snored like a train!

I feel much better today and plan to enjoy our gorgeous weather they are predicting.  I have to - For, tomorrow it shall rain (and then maybe snow on Monday)!

Tangi's husband is in a holding pattern right now.  The doctor's and surgeons don't want to touch him and maybe cause further complications, so they are letting him "heal" over the week end, if he can.  He is still connected to all the tubes and they are leaving those in place for the time being.  I guess they'll make a surgery decision next week if he hasn't improved.

For anyone reading my blog who didn't get a message from me yesterday about sending Tangi's husband encouraging cards, please contact me and I'd be happy to give you a mailing address.  I know a card shower would cheer her husband up, immensely.  She said the visitors have waned and the flowers he first received are dying.  It has to be a dismal future when your doctors don't know what's causing your problem and you're going on week two in a hospital.

It's time for a bite to eat and to get a started on my day.  This one shouldn't require as much physical activities! 

Happy week-end to everyone reading!