BARRY'S BEAUTIFUL PLANTS

July 28, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

Early one recent morning, before the summer high temps moved in, Barry took me out to the patio to see our gorgeous, huge plants.  The plants used to be mine and I took care of them.  When I was no longer able to, Barry took over and each year has done a great job.  Then back in the spring, Tam's dad advised Barry to use dry fertilizer.  And now the plants are healthy, huge and gorgeous.

In the mornings, the tiny tube - like lilac with a yellow flower bloom on the purple plant which has never been so large and pretty.  The red impatient plant is a round ball and the yellow and orange marigolds are over flowing in it's huge container.  The geraniums are still pretty, and the asparagus fern is almost beyond belief. It is so thick and huge and a healthy hue of green.  The petunias are still lovely, the plant seems to be winding down from a long blooming period.

Barry made pictures of the plants this morning and posted them on Facebook.  There's no doubt that Barry has a green thumb and the peace lily inside that we've had for years always has several blooms, I was never able to get a single bloom on it.  The season cactus in my office gets the morning sunshine and is huge, and the crape myrtle is a thing of beauty.

This past Saturday, Barry thoroughly cleaned our large double ovens in the kitchen.  During the hot weather we've been using the toaster oven.  But, Barry and I think the big ovens bake better.  Before I became so feeble, I would bake biscuits from scratch and blueberry muffins and other luscious baked goods in the ovens.  But, in hot weather, it's better to use the toaster oven as the big ovens get the kitchen too hot, even with the air conditioner on.

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

July 23, 2014

CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS

By Olivene Godfrey

I've heard all of my life that, "you can't teach an old dog new tricks."  Or can you?

Since Barry bought a Rollator for me, I've thought of that old adage.  I really haven't had much practice for various reasons to use it.  The Rollator is basically a walker with a comfortable padded seat and a basket to carry personal items.  My problem is working the Rollator's hand brakes.

I studied the instructions that came with the Rollator which seemed complicated.  Finally, I decided I needed only to remember to press down on both loop locks until I heard a click that tells me the wheels are locked.  To release the wheel locks, push up to original position.  Sounds easy, right?  My 86 year old brain plays tricks on me.  For several seconds, I try to remember when to push down or pull up.  If I continue to practice, maybe I'll get the hang of it.  I keep telling myself that over and over....

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

BICYCLE MEMORIES, THE GYPSIES ARE COMING & DAYDREAMING

July 16, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

I am still trying to work the brakes on my new rollator.  Remember Barry says I don't have an ounce of mechanical ability.  Tam and Barry just automatically work the hand brakes.  Barry remembers the stories I tell about my childhood bicycle adventures, and says I should remember how to use the brakes.  I was only 6 years old when Santa brought my pretty, shiny bike.  That was 80 years ago!

Earlier that year daddy bought 2 acres of land when a large farm on the outskirts of Chattanooga was divided into building lots.  So, my parents told me Santa was going to bring me a pony.  I didn't want a pony, I wanted a bike.  What a thrill to find the bike next to the tree on Christmas morning.  It had snowed during the night and our chert road wasn't a good place to learn to ride a bike.  I was so tiny, I couldn't sit on the bike seat for my legs to reach the pedals.  But, in a short time I learned to ride the bike and spent a lot of time riding it for several years.  Most all of the couples who built houses in the subdivision had children, so we always had playmates.

In the summer, daddy had a big vegetable garden.  I remember one hot summer when playing with a girl a few houses away.  The annual news quickly spread.  I was barefoot and rushed to tell my mother, "the gypsies are coming."  Everyone remembered the rumor about a little blonde headed boy who had supposedly been kidnapped by the gypsies and his hair had been dyed black and his skin darkened with walnuts.  (I am not making this up!)  Several people every summer would swear they had seen that little boy.  That summer I fell in daddy's garden when I was rushing home and caught my legs on sweet potato vines.

When I was older, and needed to escape from all the kids, I would go out to a vacant field of sage grass nearby.  I would lay in the high grass and look at the cloud formations and daydream about my future.  Many years later, I told my English friend, Annie, about my daydreaming.  She told me she had done the same thing when she was young.  She says she knew she would leave England.  I doubt she could have dreamed that she would become a world traveler like she is now.

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

MY MANY BLESSINGS

July 10, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

The good Lord has blessed me with the gift of certain people in my life.  For instance, I was born with no talent for mechanical or electrical repair.  Fortunately, my late parents and late husband, Ralph and son, Barry, have always been there to "fix" things for me.  Ralph had a reputation for being a genius when it came to automobile engines.  Some of his "fans" say that if Ralph couldn't fix it, it couldn't be fixed.  He used to kid Barry and say, "If you hadn't been able to fix things, I would have sent you back".

Barry says many people think Ralph taught him about engines.  Barry recalls that when he was a boy he would ask Ralph how to fix something, and, Ralph would tell him to figure it out himself, which he did.

Barry now repairs computers and guitars.  I'm glad that Barry did inherit a love of the arts from me.  Since he was a child he has been an avid reader and is an accomplished guitarist.  I am very proud to be his mother.

Then, I needed a caregiver in my old age.  God sent me my wonderful Tam, who is a very talented person.  As she modestly says, "I can do most anything if I set my mind to it".  I'm proud to be her friend.

As I look back over my 86 years, I can truly say I've been blessed.

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

FIRST BREAK, OLD & NEW FRIENDS

July 7, 2014

By Olivene Godfrey

On July 14, 1968, my first by-lined article was published by Dalton's, The Daily Citizen which was my break in the news business.  I owe all my success in my career to The Daily Citizen for that first break.

I had a serendipity July fourth when my former neighbor and friend, Genevelyn, paid me a visit.  She also brought Barry a bag of green beans fresh from her garden.  We had a good chat and I enjoyed her visit.

During the Fourth holiday, I took a shower bath by myself, but I prefer having Tam in the bathroom with me.  She took a well deserved four day holiday.  I proved to myself that I could take the showers.

This past Saturday, Barry and his long time friend, Larry had lunch in Dalton.  When they returned, Larry's fiance', Tara joined us.  I hadn't met her until Saturday and I like her and hope she and Larry will be happily married.  They invited Tam and myself to their church wedding in August.  If all goes well I hope we can attend the wedding.  Barry will be Larry's best man and it will be good to see Barry in a suit and tie as he usually dresses in casual clothes.

I have been using my Rollator this weekend, but need more practice.  I am looking forward to seeing Tam this morning and hope her dad is feeling better.

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