Ginger's Gibberish

Christmas Decorations 2009

2009-12-07T22:02:00.004-06:00

Caring for Mom

2009-10-20T21:49:00.002-05:00

To borrow from my friend A.J., I have been a bad blogger lately. Just day to day life is keeping me so busy that I do not have time like I once had. And it seems so much easier to just post a sentence on Facebook and be done. That is the lazy way, anyway.

I also tend to draw into myself when I am upset or grieving about something. My life right now involves grief as I watch my Mom progress in her Alzheimer's disease. Caring for her is a full time job. My biggest adjustment so far is not having any alone time or spontaneous time to go see friends and family or just grocery shop. For 12 years now I have basically been alone and had gotten quite content with it. Now Mom gets up before I do or as soon as she hears me get up. Then at night she will not settle until all the lights are out and she thinks I am asleep. Caring for her consumes almost all of the time that I am not at work.

I have hesitated to blog about life with an Alzheimer patient for fear I will appear to be whining or complaining. As tiring as it is, it is still a great joy for me to care for my Mom and to know that I am doing everything I possibly can to make her last years as happy as they can be under the circumstances. Hopefully my blogging about this will help and encourage someone else. There have been times in my life when it helped me to know that I was not crazy, others have felt the same things.

There are times of frustration but also times of humor. Mom is getting hard of hearing or maybe just can not understand what I am talking about. I, on the other hand, have only one vocal cord and sometimes I am raspy. It makes for some laughs to hear what she thinks I said. And then there are the days that I feel like the movie Groundhog...Mom asks the same questions and I give the same answers. Sometimes I try to come up with a different way to say the same thing. Quite a challenge!

25% Off

2009-09-27T11:10:00.004-05:00

Hey everybody! I am having a booth wide 25% off at Grannie's Attic. Ready to move out the old and get ready to refurnish with some different stuff. I'm getting tired of seeing the same old things in there. So if you have been eyeballing anything and wishing, now is the time to come on in and buy. Most cassettes will be 75 cents. An antique table and chairs will be $150.00. Just the chairs are worth more than that!

There are persimmon wood golf clubs, lots of knick knacks, pictures, iron crosses, wire baskets, etc. The wire baskets are new, not used, and would make really cute Christmas presents. So that is my sales pitch. Let's see if it works!

The Market Place

2009-09-12T20:38:00.004-05:00

Here are some pictures from the new flea market which has opened in Monticello. It is located beside Queen City Furniture at the intersection of Hwy 425 and Hwy 278. There are still booths open for rent so if you have ever thought of getting into this business, now is the time.

I am excited about the direction our town is taking with all the flea market type businesses and resale shops. I will try and name the ones I can think of and if I miss one, I do apologize. There is Grannie's Attic, The Market Place, Discount Furniture houses one, Pam's store on the square (can't remember the name right now), Kay's Nest, Thrifty Chic, and Twice As Nice. And there is also the one in the old bus depot on Gaines. I hope all these shops will draw business for us from all around. More sales mean more sales tax for our city!

Changes

2009-09-12T20:27:00.003-05:00

Things in life sometimes change more quickly than we would like. Mom moved in with me on August 31st. So far we are making it fine together. We have help during the day while I am at work and then we spend time together at night. I am so thankful for the opportunity to spend this last bit of time with her before she progresses to the later stages of her Alzheimer's. She has been a good mother and I hope I can repay her just a bit in the next few weeks or months.

Looking at the following pictures you can see how difficult it is for her at my house (LOL):

Keith Michael & the Girls

2009-08-22T17:27:00.003-05:00

These pictures warm my heart. This is a very different Keith than when I left there in June. So thankful that he is healthy and growing. Wishing I was there to spoil him.

Moving Past the Land of the Midnight Sun

2009-08-22T12:30:00.002-05:00

One of my four blog readers asked me this week when I was going to get out of the land of the midnight sun. And in the last week I have also been accosted by three others who said they missed my updates on here. Why, I don't know, cause I live a very ordinary life, even boring life. So, I will try to catch you up without boring you with the details.

During my trip to Alaska to see my new grandson, he took a cold and spent nine days in the hospital in Anchorage. It shook me to my very core to think that we might lose him. But thank goodness God saw fit to bring him thru and we now have a healthy, strapping boy. I was so glad that I was out there to take care of the girls so Kristy and Mike could both be with Keith.

Then, I got home to my Mom who has Alzheimer's. Around the first of July she seemed to take a plunge. We tried a nursing home but she did not adjust well, so we now have her at home with daytime help. Helping with her care and dealing with my emotions about this situation has taken up a good deal of my time. I keep reminding myself of the quote on an email I get regularly: "Life is not the way its supposed to be...its the way it is... the way we cope with it is what makes the difference." I am trying my darnedest to cope!

Add to this mixture the fact that my best friend is dealing with the illness of both her parents; Andy was in a wreck and has a messed up shoulder; and I have made several trips to the doctor with various stuff such as colds, blood pressure and now a boil on my back (no picture to post LOL).

There, now, you are all caught up. Aren't you sorry you asked? Please be assured this is no pity party because my life is truly blessed on the other hand. My Alaska family is very happy. Abby has started first grade and Lilly starts pre-school this week. Keith is growing and thriving. I am starting to try and figure out when I can go see them again.

Andy and Donna are also very happy together. They have all joined my church. Lane' was saved at summer camp this summer and baptized a couple of weeks ago. Donna is in college and working full time too. I'll be glad when she is thru and things slow down so that I can see them more. Circumstances have kept me from seeing them as much as I would like to lately.

Now I have to go to a birthday party for my adopted granddaughter, Jordan. She is now 11 years old! I remember holding her close and rocking her when she was a baby. She still gives me big hugs and smiles every time I see her.

I will try and post some pictures on here later.

Land of the Midnight Sun

2009-05-27T00:44:00.000-05:00

Bubby

2009-05-23T23:48:00.001-05:00

Fun with my Girls

2009-05-23T23:41:00.002-05:00

Keith Michael Hales

2009-05-21T13:30:00.002-05:00

My newest grandson: Keith Michael Hales

Born: May 13, 7 lbs. 13 oz.

Named for his Grandfather Keith and Father Michael

He could not be named for two better men in my opinion. What a wonderful heritage he will have. Mike has already proved himself to be the best dad to Abby and Lilly and now he has another little one to love. I am so blessed to have him in my life also. Kristy had a wonderful dad to raise her and I am sure that he is looking down in love on Kristy and her family. I am so touched that Kristy and Mike named the baby for Keith. What a precious little bundle of joy for all of us.

Book, Books and More Books

2009-05-05T21:25:00.004-05:00

Okay, so I have been very lazy about posting anything here lately. But life has been very busy. As you can see in my previous posts, there was a wedding at my house. And since I have never claimed to keep a spotless house, the race was on to get everything all spic and span. Which it was if you did not look too close.

In the midst of all this, I bought tons of used books to put in my booth at the famous Grannie's Attic. So if you love to read like I do, go on by and check out my booth just inside the back room. There are lots more in boxes in my spare bedroom that have to wait on shelf space.

Below are some pictures of the booths I have in the front room. Picture yourself stretched out on this chaise lounge with a bag of chocolates and one of those books I just sold you. What a life!

Or, if you prefer the outdoors, here are some chairs for your porch. Swap a glass of lemonade for the chocolates and take that book outdoors!

Now, if you do not like to read here is an option for you. Go in and pick up one of these beautiful trunk tables and head to the back room for a coffee table book.

So hurry on in as soon as you possibly can and see these wonderful ladies who can help you find the way to booth 15N. You will have a good time looking around!

Wedding Day

2009-04-25T21:51:00.003-05:00

What a wonderful day it has been. Nothing does a mother's heart more good than to see her children happy. Today was truly a happy day for my son and also for me. I gained a daughter who is also my friend whom I love very much and two wonderful grandchildren. And as Maury commented in the earlier post, yes it was very special to me to have it at my house. God smiled on us with a beautiful sunshiny day.

Tonight has been loaded with fun as I spent time with Lane', B.J. and cousin Madison. It is such fun to kiss little smiling faces and tuck them snugly into bed.

Life is good!

The Newest Mrs. Norris

2009-04-25T18:03:00.006-05:00

You Gotta Love Rita and Fred

2009-04-14T17:55:00.003-05:00

I hate to follow my Easter video with Sexy Back but this just blew me away. It is too funny. Could be on Dancing with the Stars.

Then the original:

Arise My Love

2009-04-11T22:33:00.000-05:00

The Rumor Mill

2009-04-11T18:26:00.002-05:00

Rumor has it that Grannie's Attic is closing. Grannie's is alive and doing well! There is different stuff in there every day so come on in and check it all out. And don't believe everything you hear.

Good Idea for Fixing the Economy

2009-04-06T20:52:00.002-05:00

I got the following email today, which I think is a fantastic idea (I am over 50):

This was an article from the St. Petersburg Times Newspaper on Sunday. The Business Section asked readers for ideas on "How Would You Fix the Economy?"

I thought this was the BEST idea....I think this guy nailed it! Patriotic retirement:

There's about 40 million people over 50 in the work force. Pay them $1 million apiece severance with stipulations.

1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed.
2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed.
3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing Crisis fixed.

Rootin' Tootin' Cowboy Birthday Party

2009-04-05T17:33:00.004-05:00

Today was my grandson's 8th birthday. We had a cowboy party. Lots of fun but those four-legged critters can stir up some dust! It was loads of fun.

And Speaking of Weather

2009-03-28T10:14:00.002-05:00

The North Wind is blowing here and it is a cool 44 degrees this morning. My central unit is confused. One minute it is set to cool and the next to heat. The up side is that I love the sound of the wind chimes on my front porch.

Of Weather and Volcanoes

2009-03-28T09:45:00.007-05:00

After my visits with Kristy and family in Alaska, I had a much better understanding of why they all love Alaska so much. I fell in love with the beauty and majesty of the place too. But let me tell you, after the weather at Christmas kept me from flying in and now the volcano is keeping the Nobles' captive, I am experiencing a real love/hate relationship with the place. As any parent knows, it is not a pleasant feeling knowing that you cannot get to your children quickly.....even if they are grown and quite capable of tending to themselves. In my case, it may even be that they might be unable to get here to tend to my old, drooling self. At any rate, I am ready for Mt. Redoubt to settle down and get back to her beautiful self. After all, I have to get out there again for the birth of my grandchild in May!

Happy Birthday

2009-03-25T08:25:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, my blog was three years old. Now that's a lot of gibberish! I have enjoyed it and hope all two of my readers have found something interesting. All my life I have tried to journal but each attempt would end in failure after about a week. For some reason this is different, maybe because pictures can easily be included. Anyway, thanks to my daughter, Kristy, who got me started. It has been loads of fun.

Monday is Almost Here

2009-03-22T22:09:00.002-05:00

I do not like Monday mornings!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-17T21:22:00.001-05:00

My two favorites of the day.

Rain, Rain Go Away, Come Again Another Day

2009-03-14T11:04:00.001-05:00