BOO!!

October 26, 2015

By Olivene Godfrey

Typical contemporary festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, decorating, carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, apple bobbing, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories and watching horror films.

During the years that Barry was a little boy we were living in town (Chatsworth) and we had a stream of trick-or-treaters.  Barry's trick-or-treating was confined to our next door neighbors.  Then, he had a ball greeting and giving "treats" to the many "spooks" who came to the door.

Since we moved to the country in 1978 we've only had a couple of trick-or-treaters.  Now we don't leave an outside light on and we retire to the bedroom wing of our house.

What's that behind you???

GOTCHA!!

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

MY FAVORITE MONTH

October 22, 2015

By Olivene Godfrey

When I awoke this morning, I remembered I hadn't written a blog this week.  Barry and I ate breakfast and he packed his lunch and did his many chores, and then he left for work.

Now I am in my recliner in my sitting room sipping on my coffee, waiting for Tam who arrives on weekday mornings at 9 am.  I am writing my thoughts.

October is my favorite month of the year with it's bright blue sky and Indian Summer.  The leaves are just beginning to turn scarlet, yellow and burgundy before falling to the ground.  Our house is situated at the top of a mountain foothill and we have a magnificent view.

In my old age, I am more comfortable wearing long dresses summer and fall.  I have a few "nice ones" such as a denim dress with the bodice trimmed in embroidery, that I wear on rare days when I leave the house.  Tam says we need to buy some leggings for days when I leave the house.  On cold days I might wear them at home.  I have a walk-in closet with many pairs of slacks that I just don't find comfortable now.

Tam is in the process of having medical tests and when the tests are over I pray that she will be given a good report.  I can't do without her.  She is such a jewel.

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

FAVORITE FOODS

October 15, 2015

By Olivene Godfrey

I love to eat good food.  And I am suspicious of people who don't enjoy a lovingly prepared meal.  Most of us remember a food our mother's prepared for us when we were children.  My first dessert memory is one cooked by my mother.  She always had special snacks for my sisters and myself when we returned home after school.

One favorite snack was chocolate fudge spread between two saltine crackers.  I remember when she attended a "cooking school" for about a week when we lived in Chattanooga.  One dish she learned to cook was "caramel dumpling's", which became a favorite dessert.

After we became adults we looked, in vain, for the recipe.  My late sister, Joan, who lived in Florida experimented and come up with a recipe.  I was busy at that time with a journalism career and never tried it.  My son, Barry has memories of dishes I prepared when he was a child.

My late mother-in-law made the best cornbread dressing I've ever eaten.  My sister-in-law, Agnes Nichols fried fish and chicken in a large cast iron pot filled with hot cooking oil.  I'm not able to eat fried food now, but I often think of those fish and chicken suppers in Florida.  My late Aunt Eula cooked delicious sausage balls and divinity candy when I was a child.

I could go on and on since I've lived so long.  But, I want to tell you about recent favorite foods Barry and I have enjoyed.  Tam makes a delicious cheesecake that is oh, so rich, but delights our taste buds.  Her daughter, Carrie, makes the best chocolate cake we've ever eaten.  It just melts in your mouth and leaves you with a delicious taste in your mouth.

At my age, there are few things left for me to look forward to and eating good food and drinking iced tea and Starbucks coffee are important to me.  What is your favorite food?

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

LOOKING LIKE A SHAGGY DOG

October 12, 2015

By Olivene Godfrey

I am writing this at the end of a lazy Sunday.  I've not accomplished a single thing - just taking it easy, today.  I haven't felt chipper, just a blah day.  I have had an IBS spell which left me feeling weak.  I haven't felt like walking much.  My doctor has told Barry and Tam to make me walk with my walker all the time now.  The doctor should be happy at my next visit.  I'm going to report that Barry and Tam are making me walk to the dining room even if I'm at death's door.  Just kidding about that but my legs do ache and feel tired after my walk.  The doctor told me I need to walk every day so I'll be able to continue to walk in the future.  I am almost 88 years old so I'm fortunate to be able to still walk, I know.  But, riding in the wheel chair feels so good.

I'm needing a haircut and Tam will make me an appointment with her daughter, Carrie, this week.  It's odd but my hair continues to look good for about six weeks and then I get up one day and I look like a shaggy dog.  My hair is a mess today.  It's clean but the set with the curling iron that Tam gave me a few days ago has "fallen".

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

OPRY TURNING 90

October 5, 2015

By Olivene Godfrey

I've been reading about the Grand Ole Opry turning 90 years old this month.  Barry pointed out that I was a toddler a few years later.  And my memory of my daddy listening to the Opry's radio program on Saturday nights is still vivid in my mind.  I have a special memory of a comic singer who would sing, "I'm dreaming tonight about my blue eyed sweetheart."  Daddy would laugh so hard tears would run down his cheeks when the singer would "break down" and cry.

Radio was still new.  I was born in December, 1927, and my parents married in December, 1926.  My Uncle Alvin rented a radio to play at my mother and daddy's wedding reception.

Barry bought me a new electric heat pad to use on my arthritic knees.  My old one was broken and the thermal wraps gave me some relief but needed to be heated in the microwave often.

A few years ago, a Home Health therapist gave me a "squeeze ball" to use for exercise for my arthritic fingers.  They are also known as "tension release balls".  I squeeze mine often.  I was talking to Tam one day last week about the ball and I told her if I don't like someone or am upset with someone, I imagine I am squeezing their heads off!  She thought it was funny, I think!

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