HOT CHICKEN SEASONING BURNS MY MOUTH, KNOCK OUT ROSES IN BLOOM & GENEVELYN'S VISIT

April 30, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

The inside of my mouth felt as hot as Hades.  What was happening to me?  Then it dawned on me, Barry had used a fiery seasoning on our chicken breast before he grilled them.  I accused him of it.  He pointed out that he always used the seasoning on his chicken and a little speck must have got on mine.  I couldn't stop the burning and I cried and wondered how anyone could enjoy eating fire.  Barry kept saying "he didn't do it on purpose". I wasn't able to finish my meal, and it took a while for the inside of my mouth to feel normal again.

On a bright side, the knock out rose bush Tam gave me is blooming.  I'll have to have Barry or Tam to cut some for a vase in my sitting room.

Earlier today, I knocked out my left arm.  I've done this before and had pain for days.  I'm hoping it doesn't do that again.

My friend, and former neighbor, Genevelyn came to visit Tam and me recently.  We enjoyed talking to her and catching up on her news.  I hope we can visit her in town soon.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (As told to Tam)

MORE ON PLANTS & FLOWERS & GENEVELYN'S VISIT & RAINY WEATHER CAUSES PAIN IN MY KNEES

April 25, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

Barry has a huge pot on the patio where he plants various plants.  First, he planted tomatoes and they grew tall and healthy looking but he didn't have a single tomato.  Since then, he has planted flowers in the pot which are always pretty.  This spring, he planted yellow and orange marigolds.  They are pretty now but will be spectacular when they grow more.

Indoors the peace lily with its 5 or 6 white blooms sits in front of the large window in the den.  When I was caring for the plants, I never had a single bloom on the plant.  Barry has inherited the green thumb of his grandmother.  An english ivy plant is also thriving in the den.

In the front of the house, the knock out rose bush Tam gave me is also thriving.  The crepe myrtle which Barry pruned as it had grown so large.  Now its also looking good.  This plant is special to me as my late sister in-law, Joyce, gave it to me when my mother passed away in 2000.  Joyce wanted me to plant the bush in memory of mother.

This spring rainy weather has played havoc with my arthritis pain in my knees.  I use a heating pad and take aleve.  Barry has also been using the "TENS" unit with electrodes which gives me some temporary relief.  I've read that medical science has found that arthritis is affected by the weather.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (As told to Tam)

BARRY TAKES PLANTS FROM GARAGE TO PATIO & BUYS 2 MORE BASKETS OF FLOWERS & I WATCHED TV CHURCH SERVICE EASTER SUNDAY

April 21, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

Barry stayed busy this past weekend.  Beside his usual chores, he moved the plants from the garage to the patio.  He has been fertilizing them and they are looking good.  The 40 year old asparagus fern and very old purple plant are larger and healthier than they've ever been.  The huge season cactus has buds on it and may bloom again this spring.

On Easter Sunday Barry went to the Kmart in Dalton and bought a basket of pretty petunias.  He also bought a basket of impatiens in red. It should be shaped like a huge ball shortly.

Easter Sunday was a beautiful day.  I'm not able to go to church now, but I watched the service on TV from a Chattanooga Methodist church and enjoyed it.  I chose the Methodist service on TV as I go far back with the Methodist church.  I was born in a Methodist parsonage.  My daddy was a Methodist preacher, so was my grandfather and father in-law.  Also, I still hold the same beliefs as the church and miss not being able to attend service.

I feel better since I had a booster shot last week.  A home health nurse comes to the house to check on me once a week now.  Her visits help me to feel better about my health.  I'm still doing my exercises.  I hate them as they leave my joints sore but, I know I need them if I'm to be able to move around.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (As told to Tam)

I GOT A BOOSTER SHOT, COMMENTS ON MILK MAN & DOGWOOD WINTER

April 16, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

Yesterday Barry drove us to Calhoun's blood/cancer clinic.  We didn't see the doctor.  A blood test was taken by a nurse technician and I was barely eligible for a booster shot.  So, after the injection was given, we were on our way back home.

Before so many professional athletes abused the booster shot, they were easier for people with anemia, like me, to get.  If the blood count is 12 - 18, it is perfect.  Now a count under 10 is eligible for the shot.  Mine was under 10 (9.9) so I was able to get the booster shot.  On Barry's recent check-up, his blood count was 14, which is very good.

On a recent day, I was meditating and my thoughts turned to over 50 years ago when my late husband Ralph, and 3 year old Barry moved to Murray County, Georgia.  We had a milk man who delivered fresh milk and other dairy products to our door.  Back then, we called milk, sweet milk.  Sweet milk and buttermilk were sold in glass bottles.  Clean bottles and a note was left for the milk man with "pay" for the order.

The pretty dogwood trees are in full bloom, so I guess the cold snap we're having here is dogwood winter.  Have a Happy Easter!

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (As told to Tam)

MY ADDICTIONS

April 9, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

Long ago, I started thinking that I had an addiction to certain foods.  I crave the food or drink like a starving person.  For instance, the current food I've been craving is Lance's toast cheese crackers with peanut butter.  A few days ago, I nearly made myself sick gorging on a package of the crackers.  I am trying to ration myself and eat only one cracker each day.

It all goes back to when I was four years old.  My twin sisters were babies and that kept my mother busy.  So, daddy gave me plenty of tender, loving care.  Some nights I would awake in the night and call out to him.  I would tell him I wanted a bowl of cornbread crumbs in buttermilk.  He would take me to the kitchen.  While I sat at the table he would get the cornbread mother had left over from supper and pour cold buttermilk over the crumbs.  I savored each bite, and then when I was back in bed, slept soundly until time to rise.

When I was a small child, my parents took us kids to an all day church service, and food and drinks were served.  Cold drinks were bought for the church's mission work.  During each break, I would intrude on daddy's conversations with church members to ask for a nickle to buy an orange crush.  I did that 10 times throughout the day and that night I was awake and nauseated.  My parents were concerned so I confessed to my actions.  That curbed my addiction to orange crush.

Barry went through a period when he seemed to gorge on mayfields ice cream sandwiches.  He has strong will power and gave up the ice cream sandwiches when he started gaining weight.

Later, as a young adult, I became addicted to smoking cigarettes.  When I decided to quit the habit, I quit cold turkey and it's been almost 15 years since I've smoked.  And, I hate cigarette smoke and our house is smoke free.

So, I can control my addictions when they harm my health.  See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (As told to Tam)

APRIL RAIN BRINGS MAY FLOWERS & NORTHWEST GEORGIA IS EXPLODING WITH NEW GROWTH & SCENIC DRIVE SUNDAY

April 7, 2014
By Olivene Godfrey

Rain has fallen all night and is still falling at 7:30 AM on Monday.  As we old timers say, "April showers bring May flowers."  Spring is already busting out all over with new greenery and bushes in bloom.  Our forsythia's (yellow bushes) are prettier than they have been.  The huge house plants in the garage are green and growing like crazy.  The rose bush Tam gave me is doing well this spring.  Barry credits all the new growth to advise Tam's dad gave him, which is fertilizer.  Barry also fertilized the indoor house plants and they've taken on new growth.  Unfortunately the pollen count is in the thousands which brings misery to we allergy sufferers.

Yesterday, Barry took me on a drive in our part of the country.  I thought anew what beautiful scenery we live among.  We live at the foot of the mountains and there are rolling scenic hills as you reach the mountains.  At one spot you can see Fort Mountain and Grassy Mountain.  And, as we view our house on the return drive, the house with its new paint job looked beautiful.  I thought what gorgeous country we live in!  And we thank God for our surroundings, even with the Windy Gap we're in the path of here.

I started back with my exercises yesterday.  That was a promise I made to Tam.  Today, a home health nurse is scheduled to come here to draw blood, for another blood test.  Please pray with us that the new test will be a good one.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (As told to Tam)

TOO MUCH DRAMA IN MY LIFE THE PAST FEW DAYS

April 4, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

Yesterday (Thursday) I found myself in a hospital bed, being prepped for a blood transfusion.  I had a transfusion a few years ago.  It doesn't hurt but I felt it would never end.  In the days afterward, I felt unusually well.  I was brought a lunch while at the hospital but all I could eat was a bowl of peaches and I drank the iced tea.

The reason I was at the hospital was the result of a massive mix up.  I am anemic and I have my blood checked once a month.  The blood test showed I do need a booster shot.  But, a later test showed my blood was dangerously low and my doctor felt I needed a transfusion.  While I was at the hospital, a nurse took another test to be on the safe side.  The new test showed that I only needed a booster shot, not a transfusion, so I was allowed to go home.  Tam was having to help me in and out of the car and I'm sure it was hard on her.  I'm so fortunate to have her in my life.  We have been together now four years and I thank God for her every day.

Yesterday afternoon when I was back home, I received a phone call from my home health nurse.  She had talked to my doctor and they want me to drink a lot of fluids over the weekend.  Then on Monday, the nurse will draw blood from me for another test.  I'll just be glad when things calm down.  Please remember us in your prayers.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (As told to Tam)