THOUGHTS ON SPLENDID WEATHER & OTHER TOPICS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

We had splendid weather this past weekend and son Barry and I enjoyed an outing on Sunday. He didn't have to work on Friday and was busy gadding about and doing chores here. The weather was warm enough for him to wash his car and do some yard work too. On Sunday, we ate an early lunch at the Village in Chatsworth and came home a while for me to rest. Then, we went to the mall in Dalton and I got a good haircut at Master Cuts
and we did a little shopping. I enjoyed just being outside in the glorious weather.

We did see a brush fire that was just starting to burn on the high embankment at side of the highway. Several cars and a pickup truck had pulled off the road and perhaps one of them had a fire extinguisher as the fire was out when we returned home, thank goodness! We speculated that a thoughtless person may have tossed a cigarette out of a car window that started the fire.

During the warm spell we had earlier this spring, the leaves of some of the trees were green and lush. Then, the frost and late freeze that hit Northwest Georgia during the Easter season did kill some green leaves and we were worried that our trees wouldn't survived. So, I was relieved to read an article in the local paper that had been released by the Georgia Forestry Commission and a forester, Josh Burnett, said he didn't see any major concern. He says that trees that were healthy before the frost should not be killed. He says that the trees should refoliate and return to their normal state soon. He did say that fruit and mast-producing trees could definitely be damaged and the frost could have damaged the fruiting buds of these trees. And, he said this could lead to a reduction in fruit or acorns that the trees produce.

This past weekend, Barry bought a pretty pink impatient plant to add to our plant family. It has been on the patio since Barry brought it home and he will gradually take the other plants outside. He won't take larger plants until all danger of a frost as they are too heavy to bring back inside The pink geranium
we kept inside all winter and is huge and healthy with buds about to start blooming has been on the patio all weekend
and seems to be adjusting to the cool nights. The Incredible poinsettia will stay inside as we don't dare move it as its leaves are in process of turning red. Some leaves are already a pretty sight. The plants in the garage will be transported to the garage soon. The huge ficus tree is in front of the dining room window and Barry will take it outside soon, too.
I miss being able to work with the plants as I once did but Barry gives the plants tender, loving care. And I enjoy looking at them so much.
QUOTES- "You have arrived if the meeting cannot start until you arrive." Bob Bowen

"Arguing with a fool proves there are two." Voltaire.

See you next time.

A HODGE PODGE OF THOUGHTS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I haven't been out of the house in several weeks. So, son Barry and I had tentative plans for last Sunday. Alas, the weather and my health problems caused us to postpone our outing. We hope this next weekend will be better and we can at least eat out in a restaurant. Over the weekend, the rains came and they were much needed. It was cold with rain Saturday and our mountains had some April snow. The temps are supposed to be warmer the rest of this week and today we're having plenty of sunshine but strong winds which worry me as I am afraid a tree might fall on the house.

This past Friday, the 13th, caused me to think of the superstitions about that day. Over the years, I have written articles on the subject and did extensive research and even spoke about it to several local clubs. I also interviewed some of our mountain people on their feelings about the date. Some take it seriously and others think it is a fun day a view which I share. But, Barry is superstitious about Friday 13 and believes something bad could happen to you then. Last fall, when we went to the doctor for flu shots, he found out the date and refused to have one. He did have one a few days later though.
This past Friday 13th, he had an appointment to see the doctor about recent lab work he had. He rushed around and didn't look at the calendar and I didn't tell him the date. He seemed relieved and in a good mood when he returned home but after checking the date when he filled out a bank deposit slip,
said he would have to be cautious while he did his errands the rest of the day.

I thought a few days ago that it takes such a little whiff of memory to carry us all the way back. For instance, while I was dusting my office last week, I looked at a picture of myself that was made when I was about five. I am sitting astride my tricycle and holding a large baby doll. And I suddenly remembered that at that age, I found a small piece of wood which I promptly called my doll, Mary. I didn't paint a face or anything on the wood, just carried Mary around with me. And then one morning, I couldn't find the wood. I asked my parents about it and Daddy who hadn't known about Mary asked some questions. Then, in a gentle voice, he told me he had used my Mary for kindling that morning when he started a fire. He was sorry and I soon recovered from my grief.

I had a stimulating phone conversation last Sunday, with Annie, my South Florida friend and the wife of my nephew. She was born in England and grew up in an English cottage and her descriptions of her early years reads like the English novels I had always loved to read. She is a fascinating person and has had an interesting life. When she was young, she signed on as a member of a crew of a large sail boat and spent the next two years sailing around the world. On Sunday, we discussed the benefits of deep breathing and meditating. I told her about when I was a kid I would meditate in the middle of a sage field behind my house. She said, "That's amazing. I did the same thing when I was a child." It is amazing to me that a child in the American South and years later, a little girl in England would have had the identical experience.

QUOTES--"I never hated a man enough to give him his diamonds back."--Zsa Zsa Gabor

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if all children behaved the way you think you acted when you were a kid." -Earl Wilson column.

"The trouble with good advice is it usually interferes with our plans." Dr Herb True.

See you next time.

IT'S A PRETTY WORLD IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA NOW

By OLIVENE GODFREY

The Easter weekend here in Northwest Georgia was very cold. But, the sun shone brightly and the recent rains had left the grasses, foliage and trees green and fresh. So, it is a pretty world here now. The interlude of unseasonably warm weather
we had caused some people to plant prematurely flowers and vegetables but I was quite certain we would have an Easter cold snap.

The dogwoods were in full bloom right on time for Easter.
But, I think their blossoms were probably nipped by the frigid weather. Our cold snaps in the spring here traditionally don't last very long and the weather people are saying today that warmer weather will be arriving this week with temps forecast for the 70s by the end of the week.

Despite my allergy problems in the spring, it is still my favorite season.

CORRECTION: In my last column, I wrote that my late husband, Ralph, and son, Barry, had attended a live Elvis performance years ago. For some reason, I omitted including myself as being with them at the concert. There was no way an Elvis fan like myself would have let Ralph and Barry attend the live show without me. I don't know why I didn't catch the error. I do need an editor.

Over the years, I've found the most difficult food stain to remove are those made by tea. So, Barry and I have been delighted that the Whirlpool dishwasher we bought last year, and Cascade,
removes the tea stain not only from ice tea glasses but from our Mr.Coffee iced tea acrylic pitcher and basket.

Since I'm hard of hearing, the TV closed captions are a blessing. And, I don't have to turn up the TV volume real loud now either.

MORE QUOTES

"All people smile in the same language." Christian Atha

"Show me a man who can eat, drink, and be merry,and I'll show you a fat, grinning drunk."- Landan Lee - Parade magazine.

"You can get much further with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone."- Al Capone

"True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable." Dave Tyson Gentry.

See you next time.

A BIZARRE DREAM & THE RAINS CAME & THE POWER OF MEDITATION

By OLIVENE GODFREY

A long-time friend, Jeanette,and her husband are world travelers.
And, I had a wild dream about them one recent night. I dreamed that Jeanette called and invited Barry and me to her house to meet the legendary Beatles who were her guests. We dashed to Jeanette's house and met all four of the stars. (Yes, I know this dream went back in history, but my dreams are rarely realistic.) We were all laughing and talking when I woke up.
Later, I told Barry about the dream and he said, "How bizarre", which it was. We never saw the Beatles perform live. But, my late husband, Ralph, and Barry did attend a live performance
of Elvis when he was in his prime and it was an exciting
experience.

We saw a flock of robins in the yard one day last week and our trees are greening up and are causing a lot of pain as the pollen count was over 4,000 several days last week. A yellow haze of pollen was covering cars and porch furniture and making all of us in the southeast feel miserable. Some say this is the worst allergy season in years. I don't remember the pollen count ever being so high here. I have a prescription allergy drug and I have stayed in the house as much as possible. And then last Friday, we got lucky and a scattered shower rained an inch on us. The rains came again early today and rained all morning
and I don't think it is over so that should relieve we allergy sufferers for a while.

I've read several articles recently about the power of meditation. This is the state when you become mentally and physically relaxed with the foundation being focus and attention.
I have been meditating since I was a kid without realizing it. I have always needed some time alone and in the summer months when I was a child, I would go out in a large sage field behind our house. And, I would lay on my back in the middle of the field to get away from my sisters and the neighborhood kids.
I know now I would meditate and feel rejuvenated when I left the field. Most days I spend a little time meditating and it helps me.

More of my favorite quotes--"Not all women are guilty of repeating gossip. Someone has to start it."-Earl Wilson

"The surest way to get a job done is to give it to a busy man. He'll have his secretary do it."Snapshots."

"It is always the best policy to speak the truth, unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar."_ Jerome K. Jerome

See you next time.