ON MY MIND....

May 27, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

I spent most of Memorial Day taking it easy.  Barry did a lot of yard work.  He has our yard looking good, now.  He wore his mask and safety glasses while mowing.  Since he worked outside, and we have poison ivy and chiggers, he took a shower after finishing.

We still have indoor projects to get a accomplished, such as new carpet.  We haven't done this because we don't know what I'll do while the carpet is being installed.

Barry cooked me a filet for the first time in several years.  I ate half of the steak and it was delicious.  Because of my IBS I haven't been able to eat steak.  I hope the new medicine I'm taking for IBS is working.  I'm going to eat a banana today and hope I don't have a bad reaction now as I have in the past.

I think my anemia is back and I feel like I did before I had a booster shot and just don't have much energy.  I'll have Tam call my doctor about this, today.

During the weekend, I watched 3 Marty Stewart's recorded TV programs.  That is how I like to watch TV , so I can zap the commercials.

I am thinking about buying new draperies for the den.  The large picture window and glass french doors cover one side of the room, so this will be an expensive project.

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

MY STOMACH IS HALF POOP!

May 22, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

A few days ago, Tam drove me to my primary health care doctors office for a check-up.  Tam and I talked to the doctor about my IBS attacks.  The doctor noticed my bloated stomach and ordered X-rays.  To our surprise, the doctor told us that "half of my stomach was full of poop!"  She gave us samples of a new drug for IBS that promises to end IBS, if the drug turns out to be a success.  The new drug is "LINZESS."  I've been taking it and hope it will bring me some relief.  My insurance will cover most of the high cost.  I pray it's going to work for me.  Meanwhile, I'm spending lots of time in my bathroom.

Have an enjoyable Memorial day.

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

REMEMBERING MY WONDERFUL CHILDHOOD

May 19, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

Our friend, Kym, let me read a beautiful booklet that her sister, Denise had written about their beloved grandmother.  They called her Sweet Mamma.  Denise is a good writer and, like Kym, is a beautiful woman.

After reading the booklet, I started thinking about my grandmother Brashear.  She lived on a large middle Tennessee farm with her husband and two sons and six daughters.

My daddy was the youngest child and all of six of those sisters pampered him.  When I was growing up, all of my aunts and uncles were married except two spinster aunts who still lived at home.  One of the aunts loved children and I remember she had a wonderful lap when I was tired.  She also was a wonderful cook and would fix my favorite foods when I visited the farm.  The other aunt was a school teacher who "drilled" me when I was learning the multiplication tables.  She gave me a book when I passed her tests.

We lived in Chattanooga and daddy drove us over a mountain about once a month to visit his family.  My favorite time was when I was alone with my little grandmother.  She was petite and plump and wore long dresses.  Her hair was long and was worn in a bun at the back of her neck.  She loved all the grandchildren and had a marvelous sense of humor.  She would take me and my sisters to the large barn and we would go up in the loft and roll down in the hay.

My favorite time was when grandmother and I would be alone on the big front porch.  We would sit in the porch swing and play games when I was a small child.  I wanted to grow up to be a news reporter and I carried a notebook and pencil (that was before ballpoint pens) every where I went.  I would interview grandmother and she would give me funny answers and we would laugh until our sides ached and we had so much fun.  I wish I had saved that notebook.

I was fortunate to have had such a wonderful childhood.

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

THE 1920's FLAPPERS AND "STEP-INS"

May 12, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

I had a good Mother's day quietly at home.  Barry gave me a pretty geranium plant.  Actually, every day Barry observes Mother's day by all he does for me.  I am fortunate to have him for a son.

A whiff of memory can bring back a time of long ago.  That happened to me this week when out of the blue, a word popped up in my mind.  The word was "step-ins".  If you remember "step-ins," you aren't a "spring chicken."

I asked Barry to do some research on "step-ins" on the internet.  He came up with some interesting info.  In the 1920's, as hemlines of women's dresses rose, women began to wear stockings to cover the exposed legs.  Bloomers also became much shorter.  The shorter bloomers became looser and less supportive as the boyish flapper look came into fashion.  By the end of the decade, they came known as "step-ins," very much like modern panties with wider legs.  They were worn for the increased flexibility they afforded.  The increased sexual awareness of the flapper also made underwear sexier than ever before.  It was the flappers who ushered in the era of lingerie.

This week, I've enjoyed a bouquet of red roses from our bush.  Also, Tam brought me a beautiful bouquet of white peonies that came from her yard for Mother's day.

This past Saturday night, I watched the music programs on RFD TV.  On the Presley family's show, a male vocalist sang my favorite hymn, "In The Garden."  It was so beautiful I almost cried.  A while back I asked our friend, Kym, who has a beautiful voice, to sing "In The Garden" at my funeral.  She agreed.  I hope I'll be able to hear her.

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

SCARY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES AND MORE

May 8, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

During a recent phone call to my sister, Jeanette who lives in Dalton, we recalled some of our childhood memories.

For instant, Jeanette said she'd never forget when we were kids and daddy would insist that his visiting relatives climb the open observation tower located on Missionary Ridge.  I don't remember the location, but it was scary.  I remember once being next to my elderly grandmother and I was terrified she would fall.  Jeanette says now that climbing those towers was the scariest times of her life and she couldn't understand why our parents made us do it.  She says to this day she's scared of heights.

Years later, when I was working for the newspaper, I climbed the observation tower on Fort Mountain with a photographer.  At the top was a small cabin where the forestry service kept a look-out for forest fires.  A picture of me interviewing the look-out man appeared in several newspapers.  What I would do for a good story in those days!

This week the home health occupational therapist visited me.  She left me a squeeze ball and some small balls for me to practice picking up.  She'll bring more stuff on her next visit.  She will also try to help me with my handwriting, which is awful.  To sum it up, she is going to try to help me use my arthritic fingers again.

I had an email from my English friend, Annie.  She said spring is in England, too, with everything green.  She added that she lives in a beautiful part of the country.  The pictures she posted on Facebook look as if they were made here in our North Georgia country.

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

SPRING TIME IN ALL ITS GLORY IS IN NORTH GEORGIA

May 5, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

The spring weather here in North Georgia would be perfect if it wasn't for the allergies that plague so many of us during this time of nature's new growth.  I've always thought the green grass and the trees and foliage in the spring here is the most vivid green I've ever seen.

This spring our pear tree escaped the frosts and Barry says we'll have a bumper crop of pears this year.  Last year, Barry took bags of pears to his shop.  He says his co-workers devoured them.  At least one of his co-workers told Barry his wife made preserves with them.  And, our friend, Kym and her mother, Peggy, made preserves and gave us a jar which were delicious.  But Kym said they wouldn't ever make them again, as it was so much trouble.

Years ago I tried to make preserves with the pears.  I carefully followed a recipe but they were a big flop.  I don't cook any more so I won't be trying to make preserves again.

I am still doing my exercises every day.  The home health nurse visits me once a week.  She said last week she would have the occupational therapist visit me this week to show me some exercises to do with my arthritic hands.

I am still taking shower baths by myself on the weekends.  I feel a little nervous thinking about it but once I'm in the shower, I'm fine.  I still like having Tam in the bathroom with me.

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