CHRISTMAS POST SCRIPTS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

In my last entry, I told you of our Christmas day snowfall. And, now three days later, snow is still on the ground and with bright sunshine is blinding when I look outside this morning. The temp is 16 degrees this morning but a warming trend is on its way with temps forecast in 50s after today.

I also told you that we had a problem with our heat pump and it was running on emergency heat which is very expensive. I was able to talk to our heat and air man yesterday morning and in a short time later, two of his technicians came out and after inspecting and testing heat pump, they gave me the bad news. The compressor is burned out and we need a new one. Fortunately, the heat pump is still under warranty and we won't have to pay for it. They have ordered a new one and I hope it arrives this week. We are still using emergency heat and no telling how much electricity it is costing us.

We weren't able to travel to our family annual Christmas party at the home of my sister, Jeanette, in Dalton on Christmas day. I hope we will be able to visit her in a few days to exchange gifts. Like Barry said, the snow spoiled our holiday plans this year so we weren't jubilant about it.

One of the nice things about Christmas this year was the cards and e-mails we received. I had a phone call from my aunt,
Willodean, who is 94, and the only aunt I have who is still living. My Aunt Helen who was my mother's oldest sister passed away a couple of years ago at the age of 103. My mother was 93 when she died. Willodean was only a kid when I was born and I remember when she took me to a nearby drug store when she and her parents lived in Middle Tennessee and bought me a fountain Coke which thrilled me. I have other childhood memories of her. She still lives in her home and her daughter, Lillian Ann, has an apartment in the house and is her mother's caregiver. Willodean spoke of her appreciation of Lillian Ann's help and I told her the good care Barry takes of me.

Since Thanksgiving, Barry and I have been eating, "high on the hog" as we old timers say,and we've both gained weight. Barry only put on a few pounds but I am just plain fat these days. We have both resolved to stay on our diets and slim down this coming year. I don't eat so much but because of a bout with my inflammation anemia, I haven't had energy to exercise. I have an appointment later this week with the blood doctor in Calhoun to have blood test and hopefully a booster shot.

I wish for you a very Happy New Year.

See you next time.

THE SNOWS CAME & CAME & CAME! ENOUGH ALREADY!

By OLIVENE GODFREY

We here in north Georgia had a white Christmas to the delight of children and some adults. But, son Barry and I remembered the Blizzard of 1993, and we were wary of too much celebration of the event. And, sure enough, it snowed a lot during the night and it does look like a winter wonderland outside.

We weren't able to travel to my sister, Jeanette's home in Dalton for our Christmas dinner and party. We did try to go but when we ran into a blizzard, Barry turned the car around and we went home. He had bought foods and supplies on Saturday so we are prepared. We have three kerosene heaters and a small stove and lantern so we can survive although we had rather the snow end right now.

The only problem is with the heat pump. It is running on auxiliary heat which is keeping us warm but is using lots of electricity.
Barry has tried to call our heat and air man but unable to get through to him. I am wearing a sweat suit I haven't worn in years and it makes me look like a teddy bean, but, hey, it is keeping me warm.

I'll post more later.

IN PRAISE OF ELECTRIC BLANKETS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

For several days, I've been under the weather with severe pain in my arthritic knees and lower back. The weather has been very cold here in North West Georgia. And the coldness seems to penetrate my bones. This past week son Barry, bless him, did some Christmas shopping for me. He will be at home several days this week on his Christmas holiday and we're planning to get much needed haircuts and do some other things. I am praying I will feel better soon.

We've been using our electric blankets on these cold nights. And, Barry did some research on the wonderful blankets. If you think that sleeping under an electric blanket causes you to feel better, you are right. A quarter of people purchasing electric blankets and heated mattress pads do so for health benefits beyond general comfort. Direct heat therapy is one of the main reasons for using the blankets. Applying heat to muscles increases blood flow; this enhances muscle nutrition which helps with healing and pain and eases sleep.

Heat provided by electric blankets relieves muscle pain and soreness caused by arthritis and fibronyalgia, according to The Arthritis Help book recommended by the Arthritis Foundation and the Arthritis 101. Those with Raynaud's phenomenon or post polio syndrome may use heated bedding to avoid damage and relieve discomfort caused by poor circulation or cold intolerance.

Electric blankets and mattress pads also can help health conditions indirectly, such as sinus conditions and allergies. They allow one to sleep in lower room temperature and avoid breathing hotter dry air. Conversely, the heat provided by these devices reduces moisture in the bedding, retarding the growth of dust mite populations, a common allergen; using an electric blanket for a month or turning a device on "high" for a few hours can reduce mite by 50 percent.

Due to the combination of heat, electricity, the abundance of flammable bedding material, and a sleeping occupant, the use of electric blankets is of concern to safety officials internationally, especially if the blankets are older than ten years and/or have been subject to damage, by creasing, flexing, fraying, or ordinary wear and tear. The blankets also present a burn risk to those who can't feel pain or are unable to react to it. Individuals included in this group are small children, diabetics and the elderly. Since I'm a diabetic and am elderly, I have a fairly new blanket and avoid turning heat up too high

I wish for you a very Merry Christmas and all good things forever.

THOUGHTS ON MY BIRTHDAY & APPLE PIE & "RAT CHEESE"

By OLIVENE GODFREY

It's hard to be elated when you turn 83. But, on my December 10 birthday, I received e-mails and cards with notes from friends and relatives which warmed my heart and lifted my spirits. In fact, I was so stimulated that I didn't sleep much that night. But, hey, I didn't mind as it was so good to be remembered on my birthday.

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It's no secret that I am a lover of desserts. And as far as I'm concerned that all time American dessert, apple pie, is one of man's perfect attainments. Actually we owe this delicacy to our Pilgrim mothers. Within a decade after the Pilgrims landed on these shores the apple pie was assuming a role of comfort in the wilderness

Today all the needed ingredients for a delicious apple pie can be purchased, packaged and in quick form, in any grocery store. And the frozen variety only needs to be popped into the oven.

And do you remember the wonderful apple pies made from dried apples? Our ancestors once preserved fruit by the drying process. There are still cooks around who prefer to make their pies from "scratch" and some even prefer old fashioned lard to shortenings. They claim that lard insures a flaky, golden crust. And what better treat is there than a slice of delicious apple pie served with hot, strong coffee ?

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And while on the subject of food, one of my long time favorite snacks used to be old fashioned "rat cheese" and saltines.
It's been years since I've seen a hoop of this cheese in grocery stores. While back, I told Barry to buy me some "rat cheese" when he went grocery shopping. He had never heard of the cheese. He did ask the butcher about it and was told it was a from of cheddar cheese. I think perhaps with all the types of cheeses now available in supermarkets that the demand for hoop cheese may have declined. Perhaps a reader has a better answer.

See you next time.

GIVING SON BARRY CREDIT FOR PIX & MY NIECE AMI 'S COMMENTS A SERENDIPITY & 7 STAGES OF DRUNKENNESS & TALKING TO MYSELF

By Olivene Godfrey
I want to give son Barry credit for making and posting pictures in this space. We hope readers will enjoy them and Barry promises to post more soon.

My beautiful niece, Ami's recent comments regarding this blog was a serendipity for me. I hadn't heard from or seen Ami in years but plan to try to contact her soon. I have a large picture of Ami and her husband that my late sister, Joan, sent me following a visit from the couple several years ago. Ami remembered that I sent her a copy of Little Women, her first book, when she was a young girl.

For years I have secretly conversed with myself. Oh, I haven't actually talked out loud. But, I would give myself verbal cues while tackling a problem or something new. And, then, a number of years ago, I read that a psychologist said it was not only normal to talk to yourself but that the measure of intelligence may be based on how broadly we converse with ourselves. And I remember the story about an old man who said of course he talked to himself, that he enjoyed talking to a sympathetic listener once in awhile.

Recently, I came across an old news clipping that listed the following stages of drunkenness-- 1-ape drunk, when one makes a fool of himself; 2-lion drunk, wanting to fight; 3-swine drunk, knee walking, commode-hugging sick; 4-sleep drunk, passing out; 5-goat drunk, becoming exceedingly romantic; 6- fox drunk, when one thinks he's crafty; and number seven is Martin drunk when a person drinks himself sober.

As I write this the weather is very cold. The outdoor temp on my new clock with weather station that Barry gave me for Christmas showed in large numbers 17 degrees outdoors when I got up this morning at 5:30 A. M. Thanks to our electric heat pump and Georgia Power our house is toasty warm today. If I get chilly, in the den when I'm in my recliner, I wrap up in one of my throws, my warmest one is a Georgia Bulldog one that Barry and I gave my late husband for Christmas one year.

See you next time.

DREARY COLD WEATHER & OLD AGE NO FUN & POSTCARD VIEW LIFTS SPIRITS

By Olivene Godfrey

While the first day of winter isn't until December 14 (Barry's birthday), we have been having cold dreary weather here in northwest Georgia. And, as I write this, we are having snow flurries. The coldness seems to penetrate my arthritic bones, causing a lot of pain. I understand now why some elderly people spend their winters in warm climates and I wish I could afford to do that, too.

Speaking of Barry's birthday, mine is December 10 when I will be 83-years-old. I know some people my age who are still active and seemingly healthy and I envy them. But, I'm grateful I am able to do the things I can now. My energy level and stamina are much less than when I was in my 70s and it frustrates me no end.

If I wake up feeling chipper, I plan all the things I want to do that day and I wind up totally exhausted by late afternoon. Barry tells me I need to pace myself and I agree. But, when I'm well, I want to keep going as I don't know when I'll feel up to doing the chores again.

As I sit at my desk, with the trees bare of their leaves, I enjoy the picturesque view from my front windows of the pretty farm that adjourns our property. The farm house, the barn and the large pond with the mountains just beyond is a beautiful postcard view. I've made many pictures of the view which were published in several newspapers and motorists often stop on the side of the road on our hill and make pictures of the view.

A number of years ago a television production company shot a commercial on the farm. That day, a helicopter landed in the meadow in front of our house and several cars pulled in the farm's driveway. All day, I kept running to our front windows to watch the action. The farmer's wife had phoned me the day before to let me know of the T.V. production.The wall of trees at the edge of our front yard prevents us from seeing much of the view during the spring and summer months. With the full view now, it's a cheerful sight on a cold, wintry day.

See you next time.