9 yrs. old at my grandmother’s house

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I am thinking, this morning, of being 9 yrs. old, at my grandmother’s house, helping her put together the pans and pans and PANS of cornbread dressing she would be cooking very soon.

I am remembering setting the table with the good silver, going all around that huge oak table. Suddenly, every bit of it looked dull to me and needed to be shined up, so I proceeded to do that, picking up each piece, huffing on it a time or two, then rubbing it with the dish towel slung over my shoulder. I’d gotten almost completely around the table doing this when my grandfather walked into the doorway and saw me. “Good God, girl,” he said, scooping all the silverware up, “you could have tuberculosis!”

Well, I DIDN’T have tuberculosis, and nobody else did, either, because we washed every single piece of silver before resetting the table on that day. It’s a funny memory. JS

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A big bag of beef bones

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Every few weeks, I trundle out to the highway toward Diamond Lake and buy a big bag of beef bones – they will cut them up for me (down to less than Brontosaurus size). I bring the bones home, throw them into a big pan, sprinkle with granulated garlic and a little black pepper, then roast them for an hour or so. These are special treats for Toby, especially if we are going somewhere and he’s going to be here alone for several hours. I want him to be occupied and happy.

Well. Last night, ALL the dogs got a special bone as a Christmas treat.

One of Sam’s giant dogs, Monroe, nailed Toby on Christmas Eve, so he was pretty traumatized and we decided just to keep them separated. I think it began as play, but escalated quickly and she grabbed him by the neck and pinned him. Of course, he screamed and screamed. We gave him some Medi-Cam and have been watching him. I think he is fine, just sore. And, the thing about Monroe is that she’s so lovable and so forgivable that I couldn’t give everybody a special Christmas treat bone and leave her out; besides, I don’t think it’s occurred to her that what she did was a bad thing.

Anyway, so that’s where we are with the animals today. Toby is eating and drinking and did fine on his walk yesterday, so our battered little soldier will live to fight another day. Sure shook him up, though, as it did us. Don’t want to take a chance on it happening again. And, now I have to go buy some more bones. JS

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Prime rib roasting on Christmas, 2015

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Prime rib is roasting now. Potatoes are loaded up for the 2nd baking of them later on. Sam is asleep. His giant dogs are outside. Stef is playing with her new Nikon. And I am feeling a need for a nap, although I doubt it will happen.

Christmas morning was loaded with wonderful gifts and laughter. We all are missing Stef’s Mum who so loved Christmas and would squeal with glee over each gift, like a young girl. “Holy Crow!” she would exclaim, delighted to have been thought of, and overwhelmed when the gift was EXACTLY what she needed, or had been hinting about for months. To have been such a tiny little old lady, hers was a huge presence. We miss her. I know she was with us, though. JS

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Toby and I walking by ourselves

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Stef has gone to Canada and will be back tomorrow evening. Sam and his two gigantic dogs arrived and we are keeping them back in the family room so Toby doesn’t get frantic and I don’t have to figure out how to break up a ruckuts, if there is one. For the moment, this feels safer for us all.

I took Toby for a walk by myself earlier today – first time I’ve done that since knee replacement – and my knee and my stamina held up okay. Bit by tiny bit, my new bionic knee is feeling more like it actually belongs to me, that it’s not something I have only rented for a long weekend, and it’s not as achy or sore today, for which I am grateful.

I am so impatient when it comes to healing, wanting to throw down my cane and run the 440 which, come to think of it, truly would be a Christmas miracle. I am not a runner, except when chased by something big and mean. Oh well. Bit by bit, on this slow-motion healing journey, I go. JS

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Tires for Christmas

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I got new tires and a gift certificate for new rear brakes for Christmas. We just went for a drive and it felt so smooth I almost dozed off. The new tires even made the old brakes sound better. This is a great gift, so much better than a necklace or something that might look good but wouldn’t keep me from sliding off the road and into a ditch on a rainy night. Thanks to Stef for knowing how to make me happy (and safe.) JS

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Important Embedded Thread

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Hey, anybody know where I can buy some of those dishtowels that have been crocheted on the end by little old ladies so that you can hang them on your fridge handle?

Usually, they have a button sewn on there or some ties of some sort.I really like them and the dishtowel lies nice and flat against the front of the fridge, as opposed to getting stuck in the door if we just hang a towel through the handle.

We used to have about a thousand of those that Stef’s Mum made, but then Sarah cleaned out our kitchen drawers one time when I was gone and those went away. I’m not saying she swiped them; I think she didn’t understand how much we like them and she chunked them. Now, we have only one and it is quite threadbare.

Anyway, if anybody’s mother or grandmother is still making those, I’d like to buy some. Just let me know. JS

M.H.: I googled Dish Towel, Crochet Top and got a bunch of hits. Some were instructions on how to make them (You Tube videos even); some were places that sell them.

S.T.: Try etsy.

Jody: Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! Just bought 2 of these at the Roseburg Sr. Ctr. for five bucks each. Larry, the most enthusiastic, gigantic man you might ever meet, called his sister (who makes these – their Mom taught her how to do this) and his brother-in-law brought them up to the center just as I arrived there. Larry swears he can get more of them – all he has to do is light a fire under his sister, and five bucks per towel ought to do it. So, anyway, for now, at least, I have a source (the sister) and a dealer, too (Larry.)

S.P.: God I haven’t thought of those in years my grandmother also had those!!

D,H.: I love those towels. No grandma I knew had them, but I got one at a art fair once and used it until it just dissolved into dust. Wahhhh! Going to a local senior center is a fabulous idea.

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Dogs chasing balls

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I saw a video of a dog chasing a ball on the beach. He was all in. He was gonna get that sucker. He dove face first into the sand and came up triumphant… until he felt all that grit in his mouth. That was supposed to be the funny, important part of the video.

But for me, this reminds me of our boy, Riley, who would run so fast, he would actually run over and past the ball, then look over his shoulder and bark at the ball, like it was the ball’s fault. Used to crack me up – so funny. JS

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Saying good-bye to Bruce

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We said good-bye to Bruce yesterday, the 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback, who’s been just sitting there for a long, long time. He has now gone to help raise some $$$ for Saving Grace Animal Shelter in Roseburg.

One of Bruce’s tires had gone flat, so we found a bicycle pump that would work and pumped it back up which, we figured, involved about a thousand pumps from each of us. Then, a quick trip to the DMV to do some paperwork, a trip out to Saving Grace to do more paperwork, then we cleaned Bruce out and drove him to the donation drop-off.

It is amazing how much crap we carry around in our cars – have you ever noticed? My friend Christ Czarnecki calls her truck her “purse.”

Anyway, it’s all done and we are glad Bruce will have a new home and that he will help raise some money for such a good organization. And, it’s one more car we don’t have to insure or worry about. Hooray for us! JS

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Physical Therapy… ohhhh, I needed that

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My PT worked me REALLY HARD yesterday and I was worried I’d be pretty sore this morning, but it’s not the case, which is a big relief. I’m thinking I might get back behind the wheel of my car today and cruise slowly around the neighborhood, maybe even go to the grocery store.

Being incapacitated and dependent upon other people is so boring to me that I can hardly stand it. I remember when I had my other knee replaced and had been unable to drive for about 3 weeks. One day, I was at home by myself and thought: I’M SICK OF THIS. Grabbed my cane, toddled out to the car, wedged myself in and drove to Blockbuster and to Safeway. Came home with 3 movies and some broccoli – which, I’m fairly certain, I didn’t even need – BUT, I felt like I’d just vaulted over the prison wall! It was so empowering!

Stef’s not so sure I’m ready to do this, but she might not get a vote. She’s shooting a wedding today and my adventure might happen while she is gone. Stay tuned. JS

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