NEW NOVEL COMING SOON

July 27, 2015
By Olivene Godfrey

While I write this, the weather is very hot here in the north Georgia mountain country.  I'm suffering from rag weed allergies.  The golden weed is already blooming along side of our road.

My novel, Princess Mooneyes is about ready for publication.  The story centers around a woman character, the only child of a Cherokee Indian woman and a wealthy Southern Anglo Saxon newspaper publisher, also a descendant of British nobility.

Interwoven in the story are incidents that give you insight into the culture of the Cherokee Indians and the Southern mountain people.  I hope you will purchase the book and enjoy reading it.

The sunny weather and lots of rain have our patio plants looking gorgeous.  The marigolds Barry planted in a huge pot are a dark green with beautiful orange blooms.

I really enjoyed the Starbucks coffee that Barry brewed for me this past weekend.  I only drink the coffee on weekends as we are rushing in the early mornings through the week when Barry leaves for his work.

A few days ago, Barry bought me a moist heat wrap that helps with pain and stiffness in my neck and relieves shoulder pain.  I hope soon to also purchase one for my arthritic knees.

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

WHO LIKES OATMEAL?

July 21, 2015

By Olivene Godfrey

I've written previously about some people, including myself, who consider oatmeal to be a perfect food.  For instance, I had high cholesterol for a number of years.  I took medication for it to no avail.  Then one day I read an article about oatmeal lowering cholesterol in some people.

I thought it would be worth a try.  I had always enjoyed eating oatmeal so I began having a bowl every morning.  (You need to eat the oatmeal regularly for a while to be sure your cholesterol is lower.)  The next time I had my cholesterol checked it had dramatically lowered.  Since then I eat a bowl of oatmeal every day.

I understand why some people claim they don't like oatmeal, especially if it isn't prepared correctly.  I've been served a bowl of thick, cold oatmeal with no sweetener or milk.  Ugh!!  I couldn't eat that "mess" which is often served in some hospitals and nursing homes.

My son Barry makes the best oatmeal for me every morning that I've ever eaten.  It is served hot with milk and a combination of sugar and splenda.  He says he just follows the directions listed on the container.

An elderly woman, now deceased, told me she had only eaten oatmeal once in her long life.  During the Great Depression in the 1930's, this woman's dad, a carpenter, moved his wife and 10 children to South Florida where he found work.  A co-worker gave him a large container of oatmeal.  He and his wife had never eaten the cereal.  My friend's mother cooked it and gave portions to each child with no sugar or milk.  My friend could only eat a bite before feeling sick and her younger sister vomited at the table.  I don't blame my friend for not eating oatmeal again.

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

LATE HUSBAND, RALPH, VERY TALENTED

July 14, 2015

By Olivene Godfrey

Barry cleaned our butcher block kitchen work island this past weekend.  It's about 30 years old and we think it looks better now than when my late husband, Ralph, built it.  Barry cleaned it with murphys soap and polished it with orange oil.  It gives the appearance of being much older than it is.

When we moved here about 40 years ago, there wasn't enough counter space to prepare food, such as biscuits.  We liked our large kitchen and adjoining dining room.  I used to eat lunch at the island.  We have four tall stools for the island.  Since I'm older and more feeble now, I don't sit on the stools any more.  I'm afraid I might lose my balance and fall to the floor, heaven forbid!

About 30 years ago, I asked Ralph if he would build us a work island for the kitchen.  He could do almost anything if he set his mind to do it.  In his spare time he bought building supplies and was soon carefully constructing the work island.  It was shortly before Christmas and we agreed it would be my gift that year.  It was about the best gift I ever received.

We here in northwest Georgia's mountain country are having a heatwave.  Barry tells me countries all over the world are experiencing unusually high temperatures.  Our trusty air conditioner is keeping our house cool and pleasant.  Barry's work shop doesn't have air conditioning and he suffers from the heat.  We think we know why the whole world is hotter now.  What do you think?

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

O.L.S.

July 10, 2015

By Olivene Godfrey

I have become a hermit.  I used to enjoy eating out in restaurants but no more.  Then, I liked to go shopping in malls but not now.  I do go to doctor's offices because I want to stay as healthy as possible.  But, the visits aren't comfortable.

You may ask why I stay at home most of the time these days.  Well, it boils down to the fact that when you gotta go, you gotta go or else.  My doctor's mother calls this O.L.S. (old lady syndrome).

I go before I leave home, but by the time I reach my destination, I need to go again.

I remember when I was a child nice restrooms had an attendant to assist ladies who needed help.  I wish they still had these attendants.  When I go out now Tam is often with me and assists me.  But, I don't go alone any more.

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

MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES

July 6, 2015

By Olivene Godfrey

The fourth of July holiday was almost a total "wash out" with lots of rain here in Georgia's high country.  There were interludes of sunshine.  And, as we old folks say, we had to "make hay while the sun shines".  Barry bought the week's food and supplies during the sunny interludes.  He had Thursday and Friday off from work so it was a four day holiday.  He was able to take care of a number of jobs around the house.  I think he was glad to get back to work on Monday.

As I write this, I have had a cramp in my left foot which hurts like the dickens.  And all this rainy weather has my arthritis in my knees raging.

Tam was also off Thursday and Friday.  She had a mechanic over to work on her car Thursday and then was busy preparing for her large family reunion to be held on Sunday at her dad's family home.

At age 87, I have a problem some days taking a shower in my bathroom.  I don't ever take a shower if I'm here alone.  When Tam is here Monday through Friday, she stays with me in my bathroom and helps me dry off and get dressed.  On weekends, I set the intercom in my bathroom to monitor my sounds while I shower so Barry will hear if I should fall, heaven forbid!

This past Friday night, Barry cooked our usual Friday night catfish supper.  I ate every bite on my plate.  I woke up early the next morning feeling very sick.  I wondered if the fish had been spoiled as the pain in my belly raged.  When Barry got up he assured me I had just eaten too much.  I felt better as the day went by.  I will have to be more careful not to overeat the fish in the future.

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