It's been a while...for a lot of things!

December 2012 has nearly knocked me down.

Yes, I had a lovely Christmas with my family in person and enjoyed many phone conversations with daughter Libby and her family and my sisters and their families far away, but through it all my heart ached.  The ache was always there, just underneath my happiness and gratefulness for my many blessings.

Dear, special friends lost loved ones this month.  Sam and her precious girls are forever without Abe.  He left us quietly and suddenly.  Cinda and her family lost her Dad.  He left us fighting the good fight.  He really was that Timex watch!  So many more of you have struggled with family members in and out of hospitals and rehabs.  So many prayers for so many people and that's what binds us all together.  But like many of you, Newtown, Connecticut, broke my heart.  I continue to pray for the entire town and especially the families who lost loved ones.  Those sweet little faces are forever imprinted upon my heart as well as the adults who gave their lives hoping to save others.  God bless them all.

God has been on Facebook a lot lately.  Have you noticed?  I'm not sure how I get these posts, what I did or "liked" or didn't "like" or became a friend with someone else but several times a day I receive posts from "GodVine", "Walk with Jesus", or "Let's join forces as Christians..."!  Do you get these too?  Someone will probably respond to this post and tell me the people behind these postings are in some far-reaching country baiting me to give them my social security or credit card number!  But I like these sites and the thoughts or the music they provide.  (Now someone reading this is thinking I'm some old and lonely woman with nothing to do!  Not so!)  I believe along with many of you that every time the Lord enters our lives, it's a good thing!  I hope he is always popping up in front of me...and you too!

And here we are on the eve of 2013.  Seems like just yesterday, it was the eve of 2011, and I was completely astounded I had survived 6 months without HC Baker.  And now I have survived 2011 and 2012!  As I reflect (oh boy!), I have made a few decisions that should have required a bit more thought, but all in all, I have survived.  My family has stood by me through it all (TR Baker literally some days), and made sure I landed on my feet.  Some friends have become dearer while others have drifted away.  And I have wonderful new friends.  Life goes on and it's only better or worse because of what we do.

I'm not much for "resolutions" but I do absolutely love to count my blessings.

I am grateful for my family.  Libby, Emily and TR Baker make my life happy.  I am blessed to watch them live their lives.  Brett Lindgren is the best son-in-law in the world!  And of course, I have the most perfect 6 grandchildren ever born!

I am grateful for my sisters, Linda and Mary.  They too are always looking out for me!  And I am excitedly grateful Linda is a cancer survivor!!!!  And their families are a blessing to me too...Bill, Joseph and Seamus!

I am grateful for terrific cousins who even though we do not see each other very often, we certainly do love each other.  When needed, just call and we'll get there!  

I am grateful I have amazing friends who are like family to me.  We are always praying for each other and each other's families.  We have weathered many storms and are in the midst of some of those storms right now.  And still praying!

I am grateful that regardless of our political affiliation, we all CAN AND MUST pray for our country and realize whatever happens we still live in the best country in the world.  We are FREE (even if it is expensive to be free - shut-up Jo Ann)!

And I am grateful the Lord blesses each of us every day.

I saw an interesting post on facebook the other day, and I'm gonna' do this.  The post suggested we start the new year with an empty jar and as the year progresses, we fill the jar with notes about the good things that happen to us throughout the year.  Just imagine this time next year...won't we be havin' fun?

I love each of you!  Happy New Year!  2013...come on down!  xxoo    

        

What I Want for Christmas

It's simple...

I want President Obama and Senator Baynor to come to my home for a visit.  I have plenty of room for them to spend the night because I think we'll need more than a few hours to talk.  I'll be happy to cook for them while they sit in the kitchen and listen to me.  And I need them to explain to me why they can't compromise and avoid the cliff.  Have they not noticed the word "promise" in compromise?  We have all learned to compromise.  We do it with our spouse, our children, our friends, our supervisors, the people and companies we do business with everyday, and ourselves.  The only person we cannot compromise with is our God.  We know what he asks, what's expected of us, and we work hard to accomplish it.  We are his servants.  As elected officials, aren't President Obama and Senator Baynor our servants?  Don't we pay their salaries?  Don't they take orders from us?  I am comfortable as I speak for most of us...we are all afraid of the direction our country is headed, we are all afraid of the status of our families lives, we are all afraid for our children and grandchildren's futures, and the list goes on.  I know I'm not politically smart.  I know I don't understand how the stock market works.  I know I need to pay more attention to my own personal fiscal status.  But I do know I don't spend money I don't have!  I vote in the hopes of my voice being heard.  Unfortunately I really wonder if my vote makes a difference any more.  So here's what I am going to do.  I'm going to put a home made sign in my front yard today that says in huge letters PLEASE PRESIDENT OBAMA AND SENATOR BAYNOR!  I think everyone who passes by will understand.  I'm also going to post it on my fb "wall".  I have some friends who will understand.  I love the United States of America.  I am blessed to have been born in this country.  I am proud to be an American citizen.  The US Constitution is a very important document to me.  I honestly believe there are a lot of elected officials who have totally lost sight of our country's best interests.  This isn't about your political party or who won the election or personal egos.  It is what it is, we've got who we've got.  This is about people.  "We, the people".

Help me understand...

I once thought the older you got, the easier it was to understand things.  Did I hear that or dream it or what?  Just a week ago we celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday and I know all of us were thankful for the many blessings God has given us and we told Him that day just like we tell him every day.  I believe myself to be a pretty good christian and do spend more and more time in prayer every day.  I never pretended to understand everything but I'd just like to understand a few things.  And I wonder if I'll get the answers to my questions once I leave this earth and hopefully am blessed to live forever in the Kingdom of our Lord?  So here's the question I need help with today.  Why do wonderful people die and bad people continue to walk this earth?

I received a call from dear friend Jack Saturday morning telling me one of my very special friend's son-in-law had passed away Friday of a massive heart attack.  Abe was 41 years old.  He was married to beautiful Samantha or Sam as most of us call her, and father to absolutely precious twin girls.  The family was getting ready to have an incredible Christmas celebrating not only the birth of our Savior but the final paperwork that will complete the adoption of the princess twins.  

As soon as I got off the phone with Jack I started to pray.  My prayer began, "Dear Lord, I'm having a problem with this."  My prayer continued of course asking Him to surround Sam and the girls and the entire family and stay with them and stay with them and stay with them helping them to understand what has happened (because I can't believe I'm the only one wondering).  And I also know it's pretty normal to have these questions.  Been there, done that!  

But we are saved by His grace and it's our faith in Him that keeps us trusting in His decisions, His timetable, His love.  

It's not easy though, is it?  Please pray for Sam and the sweet girls.  

Thanks for listening!                    

The Little White Tree!

Dear me, it's been quite some time since I've written and now that I'm writing, Widow-World...I've missed you!

Since HC Baker died, November and December are not my favorite months of the year.  This November was especially difficult because my dear friend Pat died.  I flew to Louisville for the funeral and it was truly a celebration of Pat including some of her favorite hymns and scriptures.  The service was at Highland Baptist Church, my home church where I was baptized and married (twice actually but the first one didn't "take").  My father was an Honor Deacon there and mother worked in the "Cradle Roll" department (long-time Baptists will remember).  So in addition to remembering Pat, I was remembering so much more.  Pat's daughter Ashley spoke at her celebration and as she spoke, I was listening to a strong and courageous young Pat.  It was beautiful.  Burial was at Cave Hill and it could not have been a more perfect day to be there.  The fall colors, the sunshine, and the stillness and warmth of God's presence surrounded us all.  After the graveside service, my sister Linda and I drove a few rows over where mother and dad are buried.  It was the kind of day Cave Hill gives you when you need it most.  Please continue to pray for Ashley and Stephen as they learn to live without their Mother.

The same week I was in Louisville, TR Baker was at a UPS training seminar in Grand Rapids, quite an honor for him to be chosen.  So Nutty had to go to the kennel.  TR Baker picked her up on Friday as I did not return until Saturday.  Oh my goodness!  Isn't it wonderful dogs can greet you with so much happiness, it helps you forget the sadness in the world?  The kennel folks were so great to her.  They called me to tell me she was doing fine and a wonderful friend stopped by the kennel each day I was gone to visit Nutty!  Dogs...they bring good things to your life!!!!!

Because it's a lonely month for me, I have tried to fill it with lots of activities.  A dear new friend has a Christmas Show each year in her home (she says this is her last one).  Anyway, she makes the most beautiful wreaths, garlands, tabletop arrangements and other decorations, then she opens her incredible home and people come from all over to see and buy!  I helped her for the 3-day event along with other friends.  I had a great time and made more new friends.

Also this month was election day.  Locally, in my very small part of the universe, a new friend was elected Mullet Township (Topinabee) Supervisor.  Mary Anne has incredible energy, a wonderful vision for the area, and a giving heart!  On November 20th, several of us joined Mary Anne and her husband for a pre-inauguration dinner at our local bar and grill "Breakers" and then went to the "swearing in"!  No motorcade, although we tried!!!  What fun!

Thanksgiving Day here was snowy!  Surprise!!!!  Emily prepared a delicious traditional Thanksgiving meal and of course, we all ate until we couldn't move!  (A great American tradition!)  That evening we went to the movies!  That's a new tradition for me and have enjoyed it for the past years I've been here.  Emily, Gracie and I saw Life of Pi ( the guys saw something else).  Emily had read the book and her middle school was bringing 7th graders to see it the next week.  So there we were.  WOW!  That's some movie.  Not at all what I expected or Gracie either.  She's 10 and kept her coat over her eyes much of the time.  I guess I should have read the book too (although sometimes that doesn't work out too well!).  Lots of things to think about at the end.  And I'm still thinking.  I haven't had a chance to ask Emily what the students thought about it.  I'll get back to you on that!

Thanksgiving weekend also includes Christmas in Indian River!  The Friday after Thanksgiving, there is a HUGE craft show at the high school in Indian River.  Gracie and I always go and check it out!  It was packed with people and we saw everything they had to offer and left.  Had a better time at lunch at Subway!!!!!  Did you know they make pizza?  Then starting at 5pm, the shops open their doors to offer treats of the season to shoppers.  It was snowing and VERY cold.  The candy store offered flavored coffee and chocolate covered potato chips!!!!  At other shops you could find soup, hot chocolate, hot cider, hot dogs, and plenty of cookies.  The highway is closed of at both ends of town and people walk down the middle of the road.  Then at 6pm, the Christmas parade begins.  The end of the parade brings Santa!!!!!!!  The parade was almost 5 entries short (and there's not more than 10 entries!) because there was an accident on the interstate and the fire engines and rescue vehicles had to respond!  But not to fear, they made it back in time!  THEN...(there's more), on Saturday night, there is the tree lighting and carol sing in Topinabee!!!!!  The Library Committee sponsors this and I volunteered to bring cookies.  So Gracie and I made iced cut-out cookies and took them to the library for the event.  About 50 people met outside the library for the party!  Hot chocolate, hot cider and cookies were served, the tree lit, carols sung and Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived!  All of this was outside and it was...snowing!  Small town life is EVERYTHING it's cracked up to be!!!!!

Now we're at the last day of November.  At what age exactly does the time begin to pass so quickly?  Tomorrow is December 1st and it seems like just yesterday it was New Year's Eve 2000 and we were all worried all of our "web" stuff would be wiped out?  (Maybe it should have been!)  TR Baker has a young family as friends, mother, father and nearly 2 year old precious little girl.  The mother and father have worked hard to keep the little princess unaware of computers, cell phones, and all the technology small children today experience.  The child is precious, very creative, wonderful talker, happy and well cared for.  The parents are doing an excellent job.  Remember those days?  God bless the little children and their parents.  May we all experience the wonders of Christmas and be thankful for the lives we have.

So, the little white tree!  Some of you know for years I have had my ballet Christmas tree.  It's always fun to unwrap each ornament and remember where it came from (person or place), how long I've had it and what memories it stirs.  About 8 years ago, HC Baker bought me a white metal tree with white lights permanently attached.  It's about 4 feet tall, and I love it because it's open through the branches and I can see all the ornaments.  Last Monday, TR Baker brought all the Christmas decorations to the living room so I could begin decorating.  When I opened the little white tree box, put it together and plugged it in, the lights did not light!  I fiddled with each bulb, jiggled every wire but all to no avail.  No lights!  TR Baker said buy a new tree.  Yes, I could replace the tree but not with the same little white tree.  While shopping last week, I actually did buy another tree, 3 foot green with white lights.  I brought it home and put it together and plugged it in.  Not the same and just wouldn't do.  So I spent hours with wire cutters removing the non-working lights, then bought new white stranded lights and Viola'!!!! Not perfect but very close.  I just could not part with what I will now call HC Baker's little white tree.

Hope your decorating is nearly done or at least started!!!!  Don't you love your decorations?  I believe my Christmas decorations hold some of my most favorite memories.  It's nearly the story of my life.  Wait...Christmas IS the beginning of the story of our lives.

Happy Holidays!  Love, Love, Love to each of you!  xxoo  

 

A few personal thoughts...

My wonderful friend Pat died Friday.  You all have been praying for her for some time and for that I'm so grateful.  She is free of pain and at peace.  What a strong woman she was.  Nearly 15 weeks ago she was given days, at the most, a few weeks to live.  And she fought so hard for the past 2 1/2 years.  I was blessed to have 2 personal conversations with her in September.  She told me she was ready and excited to see what came next.  Her daughter posted a beautiful photo of her with her husband who died some years back.  I said I was sure they were back in each other's arms.  I'm sad to lose a good friend.  I'm sad too and felt some jealousy because I want to be back in HC Baker's arms.  Just a small hug is all I need.  That's the difficult part about being without your spouse.  It's the small hugs that make the difference in a relationship.  Please continue to pray for Ashley and Stephen as they adjust to life without their mother.  The good news is we know where Pat is and know she is happy!

I, and I'm sure many of you, will be so happy to have the election over!  Since I'm voting in Michigan for the first time, I'm working hard studying various "proposals" that appear on the ballot.  Did you know that one man owns the bridge that crosses from Detroit to Canada?  He makes $100 million each year from its' use.  Others want to build another bridge and the big question is of course, who will pay for it?  Canada, US federal dollars, or...the TAXPAYERS!!!!!!  There are quite a few proposals on the ballot so we'll see.  And of course, various senators, congressman, and judges.  I'm looking forward to no more TV commercials.  I'm sick of hearing ugly comments about people I don't know.  And the sad news is maybe those comments are true.  I hope everyone has prayed about their choice.  It's the only thing we can do.  Our country needs help! 

My dear friend Barbara spent last week with me, and what a great time we had.  Her daughter married in September and we needed to talk about the wedding weekend (gossip actually!).  And then we needed to review our history (about 50 years) and determine how we survived some of our activities!  We laughed and talked and laughed and talked!  Barbara recently retired and this was the first time in our lives we spent 5 days together.  I am blessed with the best friends!  

Please continue to pray for Ashley and Stephen, my friend Patsy, a dear friend and her father, a young friend who is a single mother and struggling to make ends meet, our military and their families, and our country and the election on Tuesday.  We'll be busy!  

Love to you all, xxoo            

    

Spittin'!!!!

TR Baker asked this question the other night while watching one of the baseball play-off games.
Is there any other sport that involves as much spitting as baseball?

Is it a pre-requisite and part of the hiring process?  I can hear the owners and coaches now...

• He pitched 2000 no hit games but more importantly, won the national spitting contest at his local state fair!
• He's the world's best home run hitter but better than that, he "spit" out a fire in his home.
• He caught the most fly-balls for the season and contributed to the survival of the rain forest with his spitting!

And what are they spitting?  I watch them put a handful of some kind of seeds in their mouth and then (apparently another huge talent) somehow, inside their mouth, open the husk for the seed and "spit" the shell!  Is it tobacco?  I thought that was against the rules anymore!  My grandson says they're chewing bubble gum (Big League Chew).  If it's bubble gum and they spit it out, how come all the players don't have "gum-stuck" shoes?  And then I see what must be just plain spit!  

How can we stand to watch the game?  It's disgusting when you think about it.  The other night when TR began this discussion we monitored the next 2 minutes of the broadcast and EVERY player the camera showed was spittin'!!!!  I wonder what their mothers think as they watch their sons spit on TV?

And if that isn't enough, late in the game, check out the "floor" of the dugouts.  So glad I don't have to clean that up!

As popular and acceptable as it seems to be, you'd think spit would be used everywhere.

Song title - Spittin' on the dock of the bay...

Nicknames of famous people - Spit Romney

Articles of clothing - Spittens

What can you add to this list?  Am I the only one who wonders about this?  Well, one thing's for sure.  The play-offs are winding down to be followed by the world series, to be followed by a baseball vacation, to be followed by spring training, to be followed by another season.  What do those players do with all that spit in the off-season?

Top of the 8th - Tigers/8, Yankees/1.  Is the Yankees dugout worse than the Tigers?

OK, enough already!!!!!  Happy Thursday evening!

Please don't stop praying for my friend Pat.

 

 

 

Knitting again!!!!

OK - I went back to knitting classes and this time we began a scarf!  Finally, what I wanted to do.  It's a 3 week class and hopefully I will be done with it by then.  It's the casting on that drives me crazy.  The first square (for lack of a better word) is regular knitting, then comes pearl, then comes something else and so on until 6 squares are done.  There are 3 of us in the class and the other two got to the pearl stage but not me!!!!!  Still trying to figure out the regular knitting part.  I'm very frustrated as I have no patience and failure is not an option (I might have to change my thinking on that).  Anyway, it's going to be a scarf for TR Baker.  It's red, black and dark grey.  I hope he likes it.  And I haven't finished Madeline's dishcloth yet, but I will!!!!!!!  The wonderful person teaching really works hard to encourage me.  Last night I think she felt sorry for me and tried to sneak a finished dishcloth into my bag.  I saw her do it and told her I couldn't accept it and she said of course I could.  Then I told her I wouldn't be able to take it into my home because it was yellow!  (I don't do yellow anywhere, anytime, anyplace!)  I don't think she quite understood that but she continued to be kind and gracious while removing it from my bag.  This knitting thing has become more of a challenge than I ever expected!

Last week was wonderful, so wonderful that I'm sort of sad this week.  Can't anyone come and play with me?  My dear friend Barbara J, will be visiting me early November hopefully.  I must share with you something that Kristi wrote to me in an e-mail.  I just love it and I think it says what all of us often want to say.  She wrote...
"There's not much more energizing than a couple of long, full days with good sport/best friends.  It lingers well with me."
Don't you love that?  And it lingers well with me too!

Last night after knitting class, I sat down and tried to watch the presidential debates.  "Tried" and it wasn't easy.  I finally had to do something else...anything at all that would get me away from those arguing, smug, contradicting children.  That's what they seemed like to me.  I love reading the fb comments of those who watched.  Most of my fb friends feel the same way and we're all good people!  What is our world coming to?  And then I always have to throw in who wants to be the President anyway.  I swear, I honestly believe some of us taxpayers (me and my friends) could do a better job of running the country than the options we have available to us!
We have spent years and years not buying things unless we had the money to pay for them!
We have spent years and years working hard to live on the money we earn and pay our bills at the same time.
We have spent years and years hoping our medical insurance will cover the expenses we incur (and I was married to the insurance man!).
We have spent years and years trying to save enough money to be able to "retire" and continue to survive.
We pray to God and trust in Him to guide us.  Well, I'm hoping He speaks to me about this election!  I need His help!
Ok, enough of that soapbox!

Did I tell you Gracie and I are having a Halloween Costume Party?  It's Sunday, October 28, 4-7pm!  Each of you is invited and we'd love to see you.  We'll be bobbing for apples, eating donuts hanging by a string, and putting our hands in bowls of icky stuff for a game we call gooey guesses!  The food will be wonderful, very spooky and of course, prizes for the best costumes!  Everything is nearly ready and this weekend Gracie and I will plan the food.  Those of you who used to be in the Hannah Sunday School Class will remember a Halloween Party HC Baker and I had at our Cherokee Road home.  There was a big crowd and lots of laughter.  I have photos from that evening and still love to look at them.  I'll have new photos to share soon!

Sweet dreams to each of you.

Please continue to pray for Pat.  xxoo              

I'm lonely already!

Just said good-bye to my dear friends, Kathy and Buddy.  They are our last guests on the calendar for 2012.  We had a wonderful time because Kathy tells the best stories.  I caught up with her life as well as the lives of her kiddos and perfect grandson, Kingston, her mother or "munner" as she's called by those who love her, her sisters - Janice and Dana, Keith and Tommy, and all the nieces and nephews.  Got a few stories about aunts and uncles too who have gone beyond the rainbow!  We shared stories about our history too.  Laughter IS the best medicine for all that ails you!

Last week was filled with great friends and continuous rain.  I went to the island twice.  When I went earlier in the week with Christy and Kristi, I thought I couldn't get any wetter, but yesterday, I went again with Kathy and Buddy and not only got soaking wet but very cold too!  And yesterday's boat crossing was a little rough!!!!  The island will close for the season at the end of this month and I am excited I'll not see it again until 2013!

Get this...
Saturday, Kathy, Buddy and I were in Petoskey in my favorite bookstore and my cell phone rang.  I answered it and it was my accountant (he's in Cheboygan).  He asked if I was in Michigan and I said yes.  He laughed and said I needed to come to his office on Monday (today) and sign my 2012 tax return!!!  He had filed an extension for me and then I forgot to go and sign it.  Today is the deadline!  What am I using for a brain?  Guess I better get that done...ya' think?

It is supposed to rain all week here.  TR Baker is wondering how he will ever get all the leaves raked once they are soaked over and over!  He has closed the outdoor crawl space vents and turned on the light in the well house (to prevent the pipes freezing).  I guess we're getting ready for the real winter!

OK - I've got to wash the bed clothes, clean the bathrooms and mop the kitchen floor and then I'm ready for YOU to come and visit!

Love you all!

Please continue to pray for my friend Pat.  Twelve weeks after being given days to live, she's still with us fighting the good fight.  Great is her faithfulness!          

Taking a quick break!

I'm having a wonderful week!

Fabulous friends Christy and Kristi have just left.  Gracie always loves for me to talk about them because they have the same name and come at the same time.  She calls Christy, the red-headed Christy and she calls Kristi, the other one!  They arrived Monday and the laughter began.  This was their 3rd annual visit.  The first year they came was just a few months after HC Baker had died.  I was still living in the blue cottage and trying to understand and accept the new Jo Ann Baker, widow.  It was also the first time I met Kristi.  (Many years ago Kristi lived in Louisville and became fast friends with Christy.  Kristi now lives in Saugatuck, MI, a beautiful resort area about 4 hours southwest of me.  So it was just the natural thing for Christy to stop by Saugatuck and pick up Kristi and come on up!  Confused yet?)  So anyway, now I can look forward to the C & K annual visit!  They were the first friends to see the "before" of the Topinabee home and now they have seen the "after".  They both have exciting personalities that keep the conversation jumping from one great topic to the next!  Actually what we do is solve the problems of the world.  We laugh and laugh and shed a few tears too.  We talk about our children and grandchildren, their current lives and our hopes for their future.  We also discuss the things we have survived, funny and not so funny!  The funniest story this year we kept referring to was Kristi's first attempt at making split-pea soup.  She had just had her first baby and her husband asked her to make split-pea soup.  She needed a few ingredients but the weather outside was terrible and she didn't want to take the baby out.  So...she had a bag of frozen peas and proceeded to take a knife and "split" those peas!!!!!  This statement by Kristi brought the only lull in the conversation during our 3-day visit!  And I promise you, Christy and I will never let her forget she did this!  There were so many other conversations from our hearts and of course, the "doing" of our annual traditions, but in 2010 we agreed, what's said and done at Jo Ann's, stays at Jo Ann's!  I was so sad to see them go but without a doubt, am already looking forward to next year.  We did discuss an interim visit somewhere because there are a couple of family "issues" that will definitely need updates!  My fingers are crossed!  I'm sending blessings and prayers for safe travels with them.

Right now I have the washing machine and dryer working overtime because in 24 hours I will welcome first-time visitors, my dear friend Kathy and her husband, Buddy!  (We don't call Kathy "Kathy".  She's "Withers" to us.  When I told TR Baker Kathy and Buddy were coming, he said "Withers" is coming!)  They will be here by lunch tomorrow.  Can't wait!  And we will fit 2 weeks of activities into 4 days!  We have homecoming Friday night and a fundraiser on Saturday night and lots of sightseeing in between.  I love showing guests my new neighborhood.  Most are surprised to see that I live in a real house and wild bears are not outside my door!  I'm looking forward to making new memories with them.

Well, here's what's happening locally.
It snowed this morning!  It has rained the past 2 days so the ground was wet and is still too warm for the snow to "stick", but...it SNOWED!!!!!!
With the election getting closer, political signs are beginning to appear.  Oh my!  This will be my first time to vote in a national election in Michigan.
The transition from summer to winter is in full swing.  Boats and docks are out of the water, Mackinaw Island is closing down, the population is dwindling with the summer folks heading south for the winter, and you can get a parking spot at the grocery store!

My life is incredibly blessed by wonderful friends.

Please continue to pray for my courageous friend Pat and her children, Ashley and Stephen.

Love to each of you...
            

My day...

started at 8am when the delivery truck brought the last new set of bedding.  Now everyone can come and sleep in a bed with a new mattress and box springs!!!!  All have been replaced!  Whew!  Took a while but I got it done.  As of last Friday, we have been in the house for one year!  I've got 2 rooms to re-do this winter and then everything will have had at least one coat of something (and there is a mystery to some of it!!!).

The days here are beautiful right now.  The air is crisp and clean!  We have had frost only once I think.  I wore a sweater all day today, inside and out.  I actually saw a pick-up truck today with it's snow plow attached to the front end.  Holy cow!  There is the possibility of scattered snow in the next week!

One of my new friends called today and said she still had her boat in the water and wanted to know if I was interested in taking a boat ride to the marina and then have lunch.  I said of course and off we went.  We were the only boat on the lake and the water looked like glass.  Beautiful!  Had a good time!  What you see now around the lake are the people who pull the docks out of the water.  Most boats are asleep for the winter and the docks are disappearing.  The seasons change quickly up here.

Now for tonight.  I am really trying to learn new things.  There is a cute, new store in Cheboygan (15 miles north) called Creation Station.  They offer classes for all ages teaching all types of crafts.  Tonight was Beginers Knitting.  For $20 you got yarn, needles, and 2 hours of instruction.  I thought we'd learn to make a cute scarf, and then I could make everyone a cute scarf for Christmas.  Well, not happenin'!  What you learn to make is a dishcloth.  I said "WHAT"?  She said "a dishcloth.  Everyone loves them and they make a perfect gift."  I burst out laughing and asked her what kind of friends she had?  (Just for all your information - if you E V E R receive from me a gift that's a dishcloth, have me committed because I have obviously lost my mind!)  Intermediate Knitting is a scarf, but you need to bring your completed dishcloth to class to make sure you are ready for scarf knitting!!!!  I didn't slap her AND I did stay for the class.  I have knit 12 rows of the 25 needed to finish the dishcloth.  I'm so excited, I can't wait.  (NOT!)  Anyway, I do plan to complete my dishcloth and advance to the scarf.  Wish me luck!

I hope your day was a good one!

Please pray for my friend Pat.

xxoo              

Oh my!

I wasn't going to share this with you all but then decided the story is very much the reason I began this blog called widow-world.  So here goes.  (And I didn't share this with my children or my sisters because quite honestly, I'm still "digesting" the situation.  So if you're reading this, what can I say?)

Yes, I'm a widow.  I know that and have spent the last 27 months adjusting to it.  How do you know when you've adjusted?  How do you know there won't be any additional "curve balls" headed your way?  How do you know the steps to take and when to take them?  It ain't easy being Queen...when you're alone.

Several weeks ago I was at a wonderful party.  I love parties in my new hometown because I always meet new people.  It takes me a few times of being with someone before I can remember their name, know where they live, and something about them.  Well, at this particular party I was talking to a new person when in the middle of the conversation HE asked me if I wanted to go to dinner with him.  I, Jo Ann Baker, speaker of way too many words, was speechless!  I was so taken by surprise, words were not even in my brain let alone coming out of my mouth!  After what seemed to me to be a very lengthy pause, HE asked if I was alright.  I still couldn't speak!  My brain was trying to wrap itself around this without much luck.  What do I say?  What do I do?  I finally speak and tell HIM I'll need to think about it.  What a dumb answer, but it was the best I could come up with.

Once home I was still trying to comprehend this situation.  I thought, it's just dinner, it means nothing.  Why is this so difficult for me?  At that time I was still wearing my wedding ring so I thought maybe I should take it off.  So I did.  Do you have any idea how many times a day your thumb touches your wedding band?  Two days later I put it back on.  I was lost without it.  (And by the way, some time back I mentioned how skinny my finger was after wearing that ring for nearly 40 years.  I knew I should have put that band around my backside!!!!)

So here I am.  I have not spoken to HIM since that night.  Actually HE has not contacted me.(Wonder why?)  And of course I have no idea what his name is and am too chicken to ask anyone who would know HIM!  And what if I had his name and number?  I still have no idea what I would say to him.  Well, first I'd apologize.

So continues this widow-world!  Suggestions anyone and be careful!!!!!  Don't point out to me the obvious...I spend too much time worrying!

On a lighter note...I found a very simple recipe today in the October Southern Living magazine for...ready...Bacon Marmalade!  I'm making it tomorrow.  I used to bake bread (many years ago) and have decided to start that again.  

And by the way...it's cold here, and I have already turned the furnace on!!!!  Can you believe it?  September 25!  Oh my gosh!

Love you all!    

I love the smell of Fall!!!!!

Boy oh boy!  Up here, it smells like fall and for me that means FOOTBALL!  Football is my favorite sport and once again, I have purchased the press box at the Cheboygan Chiefs football stadium for the home season.  Tonight, Garrett will play his first "under the lights" game.  He is the starting center and one of the kickers.  Even though I live in fear he will be hurt, it is also wonderfully exciting to me.  I pray and cheer at the same time.  He is only a freshman but Cheboygan High School supports a freshman team as well as a JV team and then as a junior and senior, the varsity team.  I have four more years to be the best fan he will ever have!  Tonight at 6pm think of him and pray him a great game!

Not only does it smell like fall but it feels like fall.  The night temperatures are in the mid 40's and the daytime temps are in the low to mid 70's.  My first planted flowers did fairly well this summer but are now beginning to fade.  I guess I need to pull them all and replant with mums.  Someone said the other day they were concerned we (notice how I have added myself to this MI group) might not get much (aka a ton of) snow this winter because there aren't many acorns.  Spending most of my life indoors I asked what that meant.  He said without a mega amount of acorns, the squirrels won't be hoarding as many.  I asked again who determines this and he said God!  Makes sense to me.  Have you ever heard that one?

Spent Monday, Tuesday and today with Gracie.  Emily had the prerequisite 3 days of meetings at school, Garrett was either playing golf or practicing football, and Brett was at the store.  So Gracie and I went shopping.  Our shopping always includes a trip to several shoe stores or shoe departments so she can try on all the totally out of the question high heels her mother would never let her even look at!  She almost fits into a women's size 6 and yesterday wanted me to buy a particular pair of leopard wedgies because she knew she would grow into them by Christmas.  I asked her what her mother would say and she told me she would keep them at my house!  Even though I'm an incredibly easy mark, I did NOT buy the shoes!  I did photograph the "looks" with my cell phone.  We spend most of the time laughing so hard I always wonder that the store manager doesn't come and ask us to leave.  Back home, we also painted and decorated several bird houses to donate to a silent auction event in late September to benefit the NMARN (Northern Michigan Animal Rescue Network).  It's a wonderful group my neighbors founded and also where I rescued Nutty or Nutty rescued me.  Still not clear on that!  Let's just say it was a joint effort!

How about a little local color?  Tuesday (yesterday) was the first day of the first elk hunting season.  31,900 hunters applied for a permit and only 200 were selected.  The headline in today's Cheboygan Daily Tribune says, "Elk opener strong in county".  The article went on to say the "action was fast and furious.  By 3pm Tuesday afternoon, northern Michigan hunters had tagged nine elk in total."  And I was shopping?????????

Enough for one day!  Gotta' get ready for the game.  Wish all of you were here because we'd have a great time!  Uh, and no tailgating!!!!

Several precious souls in my heart today.  Dear friends PS and AS, CMK and her dad, DCK and testing, LSJ and family, TPJ just because!  xxoo    





  

48 degrees!

When I woke up this morning (always a reason to be thankful!) the thermometer read 48 degrees!  On August 20!  WOW!  By the way, it felt great!

So much excitement since I last wrote!  A week ago last Saturday I had dinner with the Kang family.  They drove from Louisville for dinner and then drove back!  Some of you may have seen the photos.  It was absolutely wonderful to see them.

Last Monday, my sisters, Linda and Mary, arrived with my cousin Mike from Nashville, TN.  What a time we had.  I'm surprised you didn't hear us laughing in Louisville.  Mike owns his own business in Nashville (a fabulous floral/special event company) so for him to be away from work for a week was quite something!  So much of a something, he woke up Wednesday with a tooth problem, went to my dentist and had a root canal on Thursday!  How about that for a vacation memory?  While they were here, we had a luncheon for a few dear Kentucky friends of mine who were visiting a few miles away.  Mary Beth, her mother Si and dear friend Anne, came over for lunch on Friday.  Lots of shared memories.  Si is 90 years young and is still the costumer for the Stephen Foster Story in Bardstown, Ky.  Many years ago, my sister Mary and I performed in the drama.  Sisters and Mike left Saturday morning just in time for Tim and Pat Nickel and friends, Lana and Hal, to arrive for a few hours visit.  Lots more laughter and remembering HC Baker!  I am so grateful they took the time to stop by and see me.  I last saw Tim and Pat when Liz and Josh married three years ago.  I need not tell you how sad and lonely I was when everyone left.  Family and friends are who make life worth living.  Love them all!

Some of you have heard me talk about the hardware store in town.  Louie, the owner, closes during January and February but does not lock the door.  If you need something, you get it and write the price down on a tablet and then when he re-opens, you pay him.  He's an older man and quite a character.  He also is the local handyman.  Well, Saturday afternoon, while mowing a yard, he died of a massive heart attack.  What a shock to the community!  Please remember his wife in your prayers as she is very ill.  Not sure what will happen to her as they live above the store.

Please continue to remember my friend Pat in your prayers.  On July 22 she was given days/weeks to live and she is still smiling and praising the Lord.  God is good!

And I keep thinking I'll see a FB post from my friend Madeline.  She is retiring after a whole lot of years.  I'm so excited for her and wish her wonderful, relaxing days at home.

So you see, the world around us is always changing.  Only look back with love and always look forward with excitement!

The beds have been changed and the bathrooms are clean.  Ready for YOU to visit!  xxoo



   

I Hate T-mobile!

There is freedom of speech, isn't there?  Well, if not I'm still gonna' talk about T-mobile.  If anyone out there reading this works for T-mobile...get another job!  Or fix my problem!  After spending over 2 hours on the phone today with several people (English was not their first language which only intensifies my frustration), I still cannot access my voice mails!!!!!!!!  Quite a problem for me!  And then a little while ago, I get a text message from T-mobile asking me if I meant to change my status!  I'm not a good texter but I spent the next 20 minutes telling the text what had happened closing with "you don't care anyway, I'll never hear from you again, and if my bill reflects any additional charges, I will call the president of T-mobile and tell him what I think.  Of course he doesn't care either."  HC Baker began using T-mobile in the early 90's and TR Baker and I still have the same numbers.  HC did too but when he died, I gave them back that number.  Someone else has it now.  I should call it one day and see who answers.  I kept the number for a long time and would call it just to hear his voice.  Glad those days are over!  Anyway, we have paid T-mobile a lot of money over the years and I've decided if someone doesn't contact me to try and make this right, I'm canceling.  Go ahead and say it...they won't care!  So just to make sure you heard me - I hate T-mobile!!!!!

Spent this morning working in the yard.  I weeded (why do weeds grow better and faster than my plants?) and TR Baker mowed.  And guess what?  After going outside to work, I came back inside and put on a sweater!  Me!  With a sweater in August!  When TR Baker got up this morning, he came downstairs and said, "Man, it's cold!"  How's that?  Anyway, the yard looks great.

This weekend is a very busy one.  Tomorrow (Saturday) at noon, Garrett has his first football scrimmage.  School doesn't start for another 2 1/2 weeks but this is the "get to know the players" event.  Also this is the last weekend for the Cheboygan County Fair!  It's also the 2012 Top O'Michigan Outboard Marathon.  The boats are tiny outboard motored little boats that fly through the inland waterway.  On Saturday, the route is 45 miles long and on Sunday, it's 42 miles long.  They go from the Indian River, to Mullett Lake, to the Cheboygan River and back on Saturday and on Sunday they go from Burt Lake to Crooked River to Crooked Lake and back.  It's amazing to see.  And all the trailers are parked at Devoe Beach (right in front of the blue cottage for those of you who have been there).  And on top of all that, it's the Alanson Riverfest, a beautiful little village about 10 miles north of Indian River (on the way to Petoskey for those who have been there).  Whew!  I'm worn out just writing about it!

Then on Monday, my sisters and cousin Mike from Nashville will arrive and stay until Saturday!  Not nearly long enough but I'm so excited.  When they leave, some very special friends are stopping by for brunch!  A few of you know them and others will remember them so I will wait and surprise you later with their names.  And I'll try to remember to take their picture.  If they read this maybe they'll remind me!  I haven't seen them in forever and am so looking forward to catching up!

The beds are all changed and the bathrooms are cleaned.  Ready for the next group to arrive!!!!!  xxoo            

Election Day!

Today was primary election day in Michigan.  I have been reading the newspaper daily for information about those who are "running" for office.  Oh, the local newspaper, the Cheboygan Daily Tribune, is published Monday through Friday and is mailed to my post office box.  (So right off the bat, I'm a day late in receiving the "daily" news.)  Anyway, they have had articles about the local candidates and those throughout the state.  I have been privileged to come to know the woman running for the Supervisor of Mullett Township so that was an easy vote.  The others not so much.  I only voted for candidates I knew something about so that means I left many open ovals!  I've never done that before.  As I was marking my ballot (I was number 268 to vote and I voted in the mid-afternoon!), I couldn't help but jump ahead and wonder who in the world I would vote for in the presidential election in November.  I'm telling you, it actually makes me sad.  I, along with many of you I'm sure, receive daily e-mails about the pros and cons of both presidential candidates.  I was reading them all, but recently do not even bother to open them.  I am so tired of the negative information.  It's hard to stay positive about life when all you read or hear is negative.  Times like these I really miss HC Baker.  We did not often agree about politics but at least we discussed them.  And PLEASE, this is NOT a request for any of you reading this to send me your opinions.  Between now and November, prayer will be my resource!

I'm nearly rested from the week with Libby and her kiddos.  And Gracie was with us most of the time.  I've changed the sheets, cleaned the bathrooms, run the vacuum, and grocery shopped (to replenish the larder!).  I'm getting ready for the next group.  Monday, my sisters and cousin Mike from Nashville, TN, will arrive for a week.  Cannot wait to see them.  I had asked Hannah to stay over and return to Louisville with them but at the last moment, she decided she needed to go home with her Mother.  I swear, Libby's children will be with her until the day she dies!  Isaac was not able to make the trip due to his work schedule, but he called every day to check-in.  They are a riot!  And so close.  Each one of them takes care of the others and they all take care of their Mother!  I'm blessed.

The newest member of the family, Nutmeg, is adjusting very well.  She seems to like the house and the attention she gets.  I've had to struggle to give her as much attention this week as she received last week.  And she has not "friended" Iccee the cat!  I think that has more to do with Iccee than Nutmeg!  We'll see.

The weather here has been absolutely glorious.  The high's are in the low 80's and at night the low 60's.  We have had a few hot days that required turning on the window unit AC's but as a whole it's been very nice.

School does not start up here until the day after Labor Day, so I have a little more summer time with Garrett and Gracie.  Garrett is spending every day, 8am-noon, practicing football.  He'll be on the 9th grade team this year.  Gracie and I spend out time together deciding how to maximize her locker space as she will attend middle school for the first time (the same middle school where her Mother teaches).  Gracie is very excited and Garrett is very excited he will be in the high school building away from Gracie!!!!!

The Olympics occupy my TV time.  WOW!  Can you believe some of the things you have seen?  How do they run and swim so fast, jump so far, bend their bodies, jump on that beam, tread water so long,  and not kill themselves?  I am continually amazed.  Best wishes to them all and praying for safe trips home.

Praying for several dear friends facing the end of life and of course, our soldiers and their families.

Providing your outside air is good, breathe in these last few days of summer and enjoy!  xxoo      

So Happy...

I only have a few moments but wanted to tell you I am so happy!  Wonderful friends, Rick and Barbara Jones, spent several days with me last week.  Barbara and I have been friends since we were 15 (so that's about 10 years!  Ha! Ha!).  We talked and laughed and cried about everything.  We reminded each other of fabulous great moments we shared over the years.  What a special time together.  Barbara and I were so blessed to marry men who became wonderful friends too.  They left last Thursday and on Friday afternoon, Libby arrived!!!!  YEA!!!!!

I hadn't seen Libby since March.  Her friend Tim came too as well as Daniel, Hannah, and Adam.  Isaac was not able to come due to summer work schedule.  So sorry to not have him here.  My favorite thing in the whole world continues to be having all my children and their families together.  Emily and Libby discussed having a contest to see who could scream the loudest (Emily ALWAYS used to win). I suggested they avoid the contest due to my neighbors, I do have to live here!  They also argued over who used to take better care of little brother, TR.  He was not offered an opinion!

We have talked and talked and talked and laughed and laughed and laughed!  A few tears have escaped from time to time too.  I'll write more later but just wanted you to know I'm so happy!

Continuing to pray for so many.  You know who you are!  I love you!  xxoo

Memories Being Made...

Summer is flying by and I have enjoyed helping to chaperone and chauffeur Garrett and Gracie.  I mentioned in an earlier blog I had been shooting at the Sportsman Club and had a great time.  Well, I joined the club and yesterday Garrett and I went shooting.  Garrett has several of HC's guns he is learning to understand and use.  I am very nervous as yet but know the more we go, the more relaxed I will become.  Although, I don't want to get too relaxed as I must remain focused while we are there.  Garrett did a great job shooting and also "sighted" a rifle.  (Don't ask me, I just watched!)  Garrett is 14 and will be playing on the 9th grade football team this fall.  He goes to the high school weight room 4 evenings a week to work out.  He also works 20 hours a week at their store, keeps the grass mowed at the store and at home, is a pretty good golfer, and helps his Mom and Dad with other chores around the farm.  They have 2 huge gardens, 5 goats, Garrett and Brett (his Dad) have designed a golf green and are waiting for the grass to grow, and are adding a long range shooting area.  (Not to mention the two antique cars waiting in the pole barn for restoration!)

The good news is the candy/ice cream store has been very busy this summer and either Emily or Brett and sometimes both of them are always there.   They have had several weddings this summer and have a beautiful satin-bowed box they fill with Brett's chocolates for the gift to the wedding guests.  Something is always going on and for that they are very grateful.  Gracie is 10 and not yet allowed to work in the store.  So very often, when the rest of the family is working, she is visiting with me.  Emily had to work two mornings this week so I got to take Gracie to Gaylord (about 30 miles south on I-75) to her swim lessons.

This morning when I picked her up, she got in the car wearing a huge smile and very excited and said to me, "Guess what Jo?"  I said no clue so she told me her Dad told her he was going to put her "on the schedule" next summer.  I asked "schedule for what?"  She said "working at the store.  I'm going to get to work and earn money!"  (Dear Lord, please let her always be excited to work!)  Anyway, she cannot wait to be behind the counter and dip ice cream cones, make sundaes, milk shakes, malts, brown cows and everything else on the menu!  You all know I'm writing this so that I may remind her in summers to come how excited she was to begin this part of her life.  Now you all can remind her too!  Anyway, after her swim lesson, she and I went....drumroll please...SHOPPING!  One of our favorite stores is in Gaylord and Emily hates going there so it's a real treat when Gracie and I go to T. J. Max!  We can spend hours there looking at everything trying to decide if we need it!  We also know our shopping isn't always about "need" but rather "want"!  We made a mistake and got a cart!!!!!  It's the kiss of death for shoppers.  We always go to the shoe department because Gracie has finally grown into (sort of) a 5 1/2 size women's shoe.  And Jessica Simpson had several pairs there, all with 5 inch heels.  She tried on each one!  Gracie told me her mother said she could wear heels when she was eleven, and I told her I didn't think that's what her mother had in mind!  But anyway we had a wonderful time.  We also stopped at Bath and Body Works.  Gracie had a coupon for a free gift AND a gift card!!!!!  Decisions, decisions!  I believe we now own every summer-scented hand sanitizer they sell.  And not once did she say her most famous shopping line..."Jo, can I borrow some money from you?  I left my purse in the car.  I'll pay you back!"  Can I hear an "AMEN" from you for every time we've heard that line?  We made it back to Indian River around 2:30 so we could go to the Farmer's Market, open Wednesday's from 2-6pm, Saturday's, 9-1pm.  No more Michigan strawberries, but now we have Michigan blueberries and raspberries, corn and potatoes.  No home-grown tomatoes yet.  There is also a woman there who makes the most delicious breads, cookies and jams.  Had to visit her!  I got Gracie home by 4pm as requested by her mother!  She thanked me, hugged and kissed me, gathered her purchases and ran into her home.  I don't go in so I can avoid the looks Emily gives me about the things we buy.  Today's most special purchases were from T.J. Max and included a pair of maroon velvet flats on sale for $5.99 and too large for Gracie, but she assures me she will grow into them and until then she can wear them as bedroom slippers AND a black sequin tank top (in her size) she said she will wear under another top!  Now for those of you who know Emily, maroon velvet flats and black sequin tank tops will cause the old raised eyebrows and the comment "why did Jo buy that for you?"  (Kindly refer to the "want" statement above!)

Someone asked me the other day if I was going on vacation this summer.  I told them I was on vacation every day!  My summer has been great.  A few friends and family have already been up.  Dear, dear friends, Barbara and Rick Jones will arrive Sunday till Thursday, Friday will bring Libby and kids, and Aug 13 I'll have my sisters and cousin Mike from Nashville, TN.  Then a surprise few hours on a Saturday morning with Tim and Pat Nickel as they pass through this area (who passes through this area?????).  Cannot wait!  Then after a brief lull in the action, I will have my October "Christy's" and Kathy and Buddy Howells from Harrodsburg.  There's still time for you!  I promise you won't have to go to T.J. Max!  xxoo                    

Windows and Wishes

Living in a house that was built in 1854 includes lots of charm and lots of trouble!  My focus this week is windows.  Nearly every window in the house has been painted shut 200 times and each window that is open is held open with a stick as all the window weights are broken.  I decided that I would work on replacing them a few at a time ($$$$).  So this morning, I met with Al, a wonderful young man and he measured 3 kitchen windows as our start.  These windows are over my kitchen sink and open to the summer back porch (not heated).  I have managed to get one of them open so a delightful breeze comes into the kitchen.  BUT...I want all of them to open.  So begins the window replacement process.

Al was very nice and polite and friendly but I could just feel he was distracted somehow.  I finally asked him if he was all right.   He said sadly no, that he was worried about someone.  I said who?  In the course of our conversation, he told me that he has spent 25 years in the navy and now the reserves and his rank was Master something (I didn't quite get that) and he was in charge of many naval reservists who were deployed last Saturday.  (The whole time he is telling me this, I'm thinking of my dear friend Dave Stancil.)  Anyway, they are a construction group and Al has been to Iraq twice teaching the people to make bricks and build schools, hospitals, etc.  He said one of the people to be deployed didn't show up.  As a result of his "no-show", Al had to issue a warrant for this person's arrest.  Al has tried to call the phone number and received no response.  He began to ask around and discovered when this person returned from his previous deployment, he was unable to find work, his wife has been diagnosed with cancer, and they are living in a car.  He said if this person had just called him, he would have helped him any way he could, found housing for him, and taken him off of this deployment list.  But now, he's going to be arrested.  I asked Al if he would tell me this person's first name, I would pray for him and Al too as he will end up being the "bad guy".  Al struggled to remember his first name and couldn't as he only knew him as Petty Officer "C".  Al was touched and relieved to know that I would pray for both of them.  Al said that's what Petty Officer "C" needs right now...prayers.  I now ask each of you to add Petty Officer "C" to your prayer list.

The world is full of so many people needing our prayers.  It's such a small and easy thing for us to do.  And the wonderful thought for me is I know you all pray!  Isn't that glorious?  I'll see Al again when the windows arrive and are installed so I'll keep you informed about Petty Officer "C".

Oh, and by the way, the high here today will be 79 and NO humidity.  Stay cool !  xxoo                

Annual TDA Meeting

TDA = Topinabee Development Association
The annual meeting was help today under the pavilion "downtown".  In the past months I have lived here, I have been attending the Library Committee meetings, and I helped with the "clean-up" day.  The work, of course, is never done but we have received a grant that is matched by additional government funds and construction will begin this fall or next spring adding to the park.  The park is really lovely.  There are two docks extending out into Mullet Lake.  One is for docking your boat and the other is for swimmers.  The park has a swing area for the children and public bathrooms.  The landscaping is lovely and the entire area is very well maintained.  As the meeting drew to a close, no additional questions or comments were received so we were adjourned until next year.  Now the fun begins!  My invitation to the annual meeting included the instructions to bring a chair, an appetizer to share and your own beverages!  I was thrilled to meet more of my neighbors and visit again with others I have already come to know and enjoy.  This is the first time I have ever lived in a small (very) community and it's incredibly fun! A well-known local personality entertained after the meeting.  (It's funny because he's the Supervisor (kinda like the mayor) of Indian River and spends his days being "political" and on his days off, sings and plays his guitar.  Another "small" community plus!)

The 4th of July week has been full of events.  I had an especially great time visiting with HC's sister, Jenna and her husband Stan who came up for a visit.  It had been some time since I had talked about HC for any length of time and I enjoyed the re-telling of many stories.  They loved Topinabee and the surrounding areas, my new home, and of course, the candy store.  I have eaten more ice cream in the past 4 days than the entire summer.  I so wish you would all come up!

My heart has been heavy the past several days with the death of JoAnn Porter.  She was a sweet, sweet spirit and I have been praying for Terri and the family.  Then to hear Terri's father has died also.  What a burden to bear.  It's at these times I so wish I were back in the SMBC community.  I totally trust you all are picking up my slack.  Please, please do it for me.

One final note tonight...I have just finished reading a book called Same Kind of Different as Me.  It is a true story written by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.  If you are looking for a challenging as well as inspirational "read", get to the bookstore and buy this book.  It hurts your heart, lifts your heart, hurts your heart again, then heals it.  There is good in people and in the world.  Maybe you've already read it and if so, recommend it to someone else.  We all are in need of learning more of God's saving GRACE.

Happy Dreams to all, JB
  

 

So Thankful...

for our Soldiers and their families wherever they are!  They are the reason we can celebrate today!

for Jo Ann Porter who is now livin' with the Lord!  She was an incredible inspiration to me and many others.  I will miss her on this earth.

for doctors and nurses taking care of my bull-ridin' cowgirl friend, Sarah.

for my sister-in-law, Jenna (HC's sister) who with her wonderful husband, Stan, will arrive tomorrow to visit me!!!!!!!

for my children and grandchildren who always make me smile!

for my sisters who always have my back!

for Andy Griffith.  All of us have lost a friend!

for Ron, Nelson, and William who made it safely to Cousin Camp...ON THEIR BICYCLES...IN MISSISSIPPI...FROM LOUISVILLE!!!!!!!!!!!

and most importantly for Jesus Christ!!!!!!!

And so much more.

Haven't written in a while because I've been busy doing all sorts of things!  I've met quite a few new people who are "up" for the summer.  It's not been in the 100's but it has been warm.  I believe I talked about having an A/C person come and give me a price for installing central air.  Not gonna' happen but the window units are working very well.  Don't use them every night but when needed, they do the job.

I went shooting.  Now there's a surprise, right?  I new friend joined the Gun Club ($15 per year!!!) and asked me to go shooting with her.  I had not even held a gun in over 20 years so I thought, why not?  TR was kind enough to put together a hand gun w/case and ammo and off I went.  Boy, it's been a while.  The only way I knew I missed the target was when the sand around it exploded!!!!  I think I'll join the club and go more often.

Last week Gracie attended the Young Americans camp.  She had a blast and learned all sorts of new things.  (She now is professional at handling the microphone!!!!  Watch out world!)  Anyway, they had a terrific performance last Sunday.  The Young Americans perform all summer up here at one of the ski resorts.  Have seen them several times and they are wonderful.

Garrett is working out and lifting weights at the football facility on the high school campus.  He'll play JV football this fall (they actually have games in August).

Good friends are coming for a visit later this month and Libby and kiddos will arrive the 27th!  Can't wait to see them.  After Libby, my sisters and cousin Mike from Nashville will be here.  In October, the "Christys" will visit - their 3rd annual!!!!! followed by good friend "Withers" and hubby!  I still have dates on the calendar open.  When are you coming?

Quite by accident I found the Farm Chicks Antique Show on YouTube.  It's held the first of June each year in Spokane, WA.  Has anyone ever been?  Oh my gosh, you've got to see it.  I'm thinking about going next year, June 1/2, 2013.  Hoping my sisters are interested?  Any other "sisters" interested?  It's a junk festival!  A few names of vendors - Forget-Me-Not Dreams, A Thing for Roses, Funky Junk.  Check it out and let me know who wants to go!

Enjoyed the 4th of July parade in downtown Indian River this morning.  Watched it in front of the candy store and of course, just had to go into the store and have some ice cream.  My newest favorite flavor this summer is Peanut Butter Moose Tracks!!!!!!!  Triple YUM!

Spent the afternoon getting ready for tomorrow's guests.  Made chicken salad and a lemonade pie!  Sampled the filling and it's DELISH!!!!!!!!  Hope all of you had a wonderful day.  xxoo  

      

It's Summer (sort of)!

The house painting is finished and the plumber came and fixed the bath tub drain and the leaky pipe in the basement!  Now here's the next thing!

Two weekend ago it was HOT with high HUMIDITY and I don't have central air!  I am a cold weather person.  You can put on additional clothing or turn the heat up to be warm.  When it's hot and humid, you can only take off so many clothes (unless you want to live your life in the closet).  So I called the HVAC people to come and give me an estimate on installing central air.  Keep in mind my home was built in 1854!  So here he came.  We walked through the house and I told him which registers were heat and which were air returns ( I actually knew that!).  He looked in all the closets and behind all the doors.  Finally he came to me and said he could cool the first floor without any problem, but if I wanted AC on the second floor, he would have to knock out walls and take over a few closets.  It seems I do not have enough duct work and air returns to accommodate AC on the second floor.  And it would cost way, way, way more than I was willing to pay.  Plus, I just got the walls up and painted and was totally NOT interested in surviving another mess.  He was very nice and told me if it were him, he would go and buy several window units.  So that's what I did.  Went to Sears (an appliance store) and bought 3 units and they work great!!!!  The first floor is always very comfortable especially the front porch so I just needed to sleep "cool"!  And now I do.

Right now we are experiencing the fish fly season.  Oh my gosh!!!!!  These fish flys hatch in the water then fly around until they run into something (like you, your house or car) then they latch on!  Once the sun hits them they die but they don't fall off your house.  So then you take the hose and spray them off!  This will last about two weeks.  They say one morning I will go outside and they will be gone.  Can't wait!

My flowers are growing!  All the ones I planted that were already started are lookin' pretty good.  The seeds I planted are coming up!!!!!!!  Praise the Lord - literally!  I have watered and fed them and I act like I know what I'm doing.  I finally had 3 unknown bushes bloom this weekend and discovered they are pink (or lavender) spirea.  Very pretty.  Also have a ton of lilies of the valley blooming and am waiting for what I believe to be tiger lilies.  I figure if I can make it through this summer then next summer, I can add to what I know is there.  Oh, also have quite a few very pretty and different colored hostas.

The schools are all closed for the summer.  Garrett works at the candy store which becomes additionally an ice cream store in the summer.  Emily works there too.  Grace goes there sometimes but most often she comes here!  I taught her to play Yahtzee and she wants to know if there is a world championship (which I am sure she would win)!  It is a great practice of math skills and she quickly figured out how to get the most points.  Her mother, Emily, told her how every Sunday afternoon when she was little, Nana (HC's mother) would sit at the dining room table and play the game with Emily, Libby and their cousin, Heather who all have families of their own now.  Too funny and what memories.

My summer visitors are about to begin.  First is HC's sister and her husband, Jenna and Stan, followed by my dear friend Barbara and her husband Rick, then Libby and the kiddos, then my sisters, then there's a bit of a break until September and October which are full of more great friends.  Let the games begin!

There's still available days so come on up!  The lake is beautiful, the water's getting warmer (TR was swimming yesterday), as I write, seagulls are swooping in and out of the trees in the front yard, the beds have brand new mattresses and the AC window units are installed!  What more could you want...and I'll cook!

xxoo      

Two Years

Two years ago on this morning I was counting the hours until HC Baker and I would leave on a much needed vacation.  We would head to our cottage in northern Michigan in the afternoon and enjoy a week of relaxation and grandkids!  When that day ended my life would be changed forever.

I was speaking with a new friend the other day and he had been involved in a serious automobile accident also, and we both agreed we could recount every second.  And I still can to this day.  It replays in my mind in slow motion like a movie.  I can even see the colors of this life-changing experience.  So often I can't remember the events of yesterday but I can tell you the song that was playing on the car radio.

And now here I am.  In the past two years I have retired, sold three houses, moved 600 miles away from my home for plenty of years, made a new home in a house that's over 150 years old, survived its' remodel, made new wonderful friends, miss old wonderful friends, grown closer to my son, grown closer to my Michigan grandchildren, miss my Louisville grandchildren, and the list continues goes on.

Did I make a mistake?  Have I made the right decisions?  If HC Baker is watching, what does he think?  And if he is able to affect my life, why isn't he making it easier?  And then I think maybe my life is supposed to be this way.  I can only accept that it is.

I continue to be blessed by the thoughts and prayers of so many.  I'm looking forward to visits this summer and fall from friends and family.  (So far, no one has braved the winter for a visit!)

This day will be filled with memories, but I'm just not sure which ones.  HC Baker can still be found on the bookshelf in the den and I've already had a conversation with him this morning.  I still feel sad and angry sometimes but I also still know he's so happy to be where he is.  And as beautiful as today is, he's probably already caught plenty of fish!  (I wonder if there's a limit?)

Two years...hardly seems possible.

  

Medicare and other great stuff!!!!!!!

Well, I'm now 65 years old!  And once again I must say this growing old stuff is not for sissies!  I have spent the past 3 weeks trying to figure out the medicare thing.  OK, Part A is free (right!!!), Part B cost $100 and is automatically deducted from your social security, Part C is the supplement you must buy yourself and it costs a bunch.  So now they deduct taxes and medical from my social security and I'm nearly at the point that I owe the feds every month.  I know none of you want to hear this but you work all your life and then you get a piddlin' amount of money every month from the govt that is supposed to supplement your retirement income.  Actually the amount left to "supplement" barely covers groceries.  I told someone the other day that I have stopped reading and watching any national news because it scares the livin' daylights out of me.  I got a call the other day from medicare welcoming me to the program and wanting to know if I had any questions.  I told the woman I did and asked her my first question - how much will be deducted from my monthly social security check for this insurance?  Her answer - she didn't have that information.  Now between you and me, why would you call and ask to answer any questions if you didn't have the information to provide the answers?  I, very politely I might add, asked her what kind of information she had.  She replied she didn't like my tone of voice and I replied (not politely) "Well hang on Prissy because my tone of voice is getting ready to sound a lot worse than you ever thought!  And she hung up on me.  I immediately called back the number she had called me on only to hear a recorded message telling me the "call could not be completed.  Please check the number and try again."  I did and received the same recorded message.  Now I'm angry.  Don't my tax dollars pay the salary of Miss I don't like your tone of voice?  Well, I finally was able to talk to someone who did answer my questions and now I feel much more well-informed...don't I?

The exterior painting is a work in progress.  It's been raining a lot and cold so they paint one day and then can't for several.  Hopefully, it will be done next week.  It does look fabulous and I'm excited to get it done.

With all the rain, the basement has sprung a leak.  Water is coming in from somewhere so today I had a gutter person come for a view.  Up here they don't do gutters because in the winter the snow and ice freeze and rip the gutters away from the house.  However, today's gutter man said he could put gutters in 2 areas of the roof edge and redirect the rain water to stop the basement leak.  Of course that comes at a price!!!!!  So anyway, they will be here within the next two weeks to add those gutters.

The next exciting thing that happened was the upstairs tub drain.  The little thing that lifts the drain plug up and down ceased to work.  So I went to my trusty, dusty Lowe's.  I love those people.  I think most everyone in the store knows me.  I bought two things and came home to fix the problem.  I read the directions (I now know what a cotter pin is!!!), removed the old drain open/closer thing, measured the length and replaced the stopper thing.  Hooray!!!!!!  The water still wouldn't drain.  So apparently what I have is a plugged drain!!!!!!  Back to the store I went in search of drain opener stuff.  Got some, used it, no help.  So now I need a plumber!  At a price of course.

This was the last week of school for Garrett and Gracie.  They finished yesterday and Emily had today to complete work and submit grades.  Yesterday I went to Gracie's school for her awards ceremony.  She won every award they gave!  The people sitting around me started to say before the principal announced the name...it will probably be that little Lindgren girl!  I was so very proud of her.  At the same time it was a very sentimental experience for me.  I have been to each elementary school my grandchildren attended and this appears to be the last (at least until TR Baker just might decide to marry again and add to my grandchildren numbers!!!).  I found myself seeing a child that reminded me of each of my grandchildren, and it was fun to watch them.  Garrett also had an awards ceremony and Emily was able to attend that one.  He won quite a few awards too.  One of them was the Algebra award and I know that made his mother quite happy!  Next year all three of them will go to the same campus for school.  Take a deep breath!

Today was my 65th birthday and never did I think I would be spending it without HC Baker.  I know I had a 64th birthday without him, but today was just different.  In another 10 days he will be dead 2 years, and I'm not sure what I'm thinking about that either.  More about that on another day.  Today I spent all day with Gracie.  Garrett was working at the candy store with Brett and Emily was at school.  Gracie and I started with manicures, followed by lunch with TR Baker, then a bit of shopping, then back home where Gracie tried on every pair of my shoes looking for the perfect heels for tonight's birthday dinner!  Her mother was thrilled when she showed up at home wobbling in high heels.  I've always told my grandchildren what happens with Jo stays with Jo.  Once they're home, I loose all authority!

I am blessed by each of you.  I received so many birthday greetings from you today and loved each one.  My life is full of wonderful people who help me get through every day.  Some days I just need a little more help than others!  After two years of being without HC Baker, I'm supposed to be close to my new normal.  I need someone to define that for me.  Life sure is interesting, isn't it?

My birthday is over for 2012.  Best wishes to you and goodnight!              





  

 

26 degrees tonight???? Really????

I have spent the past two days planting a garden.  This is a first time thing for me as HC Baker was the gardener with 10 green thumbs, and as everyone knows, I don't go outside.  I was assured there would be no more frost but ALAS!!!!  Not true!!!!  I just finished covering my new beautiful garden with a drop cloth (only thing I could find to fit).  If it all dies, I'm switching to hanging baskets!

Garrett's face is doing very well.  He will get the stitches removed Friday.  I'm still thanking God for sparing his eye.

Tomorrow I begin my 2-day job as the ballet dancer's chauffeur.  Emily is tied up with a million other things and Brett is of course at the candy store, so it's my lucky "daze"!  Performances Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.  Then it's over until the fall.  I'm so glad I'm here and get to be a part of it all!

This morning I started flipping the winter clothes closet with the summer clothes closet.  (Good thing I didn't finish.  I'll need those sweaters in the morning.)  Crammed in with the summer things, I found a shirt of HC's.  It startled me.  And the first thing I did was smell it and there he was.  That was the last thing I did today.  Is that instinctive?  To hold clothing to your nose and try to find the memories?  I don't know where the shirt came from or how it got into my summer things.  I immediately put it on and am still wearing it.  I don't want to wash it and wash "him" away and I want it to always smell just like him.  I might wear it for a few days and see what happens.  I've felt very good all day with it on yet there's a "lonely hole".

Miss all of you too!        

What's a Monday without a track meet OR Thank you God for reopening the ER in Cheboygan TODAY!!!!!

WOW!  We are very busy here!  The weather has "turned" and every day seems to be like the first day of spring, temps in the high 60's and low 70's.  The exterior house painting is coming along very well.  I'll photograph as soon as it's done.  I have been planting flowers!!!!  Me...planting flowers (wearing tennis shoes and knee sox, long sleeve shirt, long pants and gloves).  I have never planted flowers before and I'm doing OK!  Have completely planted the red geraniums, added English daisies, creeping phlox (one of my favorites), lots of lavender, hostas and those verigated green leafy things that I can't remember their name and other stuff.  Have to do mulch tomorrow (not so looking forward to that).

TR Baker was on vacation last week and we had a good time.  We went to Traverse City one day and I SHOPPED!!!!!!!!  Downtown is so beautiful there plus they have a MALL!!!!!!  I felt so much better after that trip.

Went to Gracie's last soccer games on Saturday in Charlevoix.  She is nearly the youngest one on her team but is as aggressive as the older girls.  It was a beautiful day but I sat in the car for the first game because it was so cold!  And I was dressed for the cold!  Glad that's over.

Had a wonderful Mother's Day!  TR Baker took me to the Stafford Hotel in Petoskey for brunch.  The hotel is a beautiful historic hotel right on Little Traverse Bay.  Brunch was delicious with anything and everything you could possibly want.  My two most favorite things were what they called tomato pudding (stewed tomatoes) and...ready for this?...chicken livers!  I love them and never get to have them.  They also had cold peach soup - YUM! and lox and bagels, another YUM!  For dinner we went to Emily's for a cook-out.  Loved every moment.  Spoke to Libby on the phone and so wished she had been here.  She'll be up at the end of July for a visit.  Can't wait!

(I'm nearly to the "title" part of this story.)

This week's schedule is totally crazy!  Gracie is very involved in ballet and this week there is a rehearsal every night because the recital is this weekend.  But to start the week off there was a track meet for Garrett at Cheboygan High School (across the parking lot from Cheboygan Middle School where Emily teaches).  My instructions were to pick-up Gracie at her school and bring her to the track meet.  I did and we were walking toward the shot-put area when one of the teachers came up to me and said if I was looking for Emily, she probably wasn't back yet.  Gracie and I looked at each other and said where did she go?  There was a pause and another teacher said Garrett had an accident 6th period and she had taken him to the Emergency Room which just re-opened TODAY!!!!!!  I asked what kind of accident.  She said Garrett fell and cut his face.  I looked at Gracie and asked her what she wanted to do (knowing the answer) and she said she wanted to go to the ER and see.  So we headed back to the car and were stopped by the Asst Principal who told me to tell Emily he had talked to all the boys in the locker room at the time and they all said it was an accident.  Garrett was jumping from one bench to the next on his way to his open-doored locker.  He slipped on the second bench and his face landed on the edge of the locker door.  Gracie started to cry and we continued on to the car.  The hospital is just 2 minutes away from the school and we were there in short order.  (I really am so grateful to God because the hospital ER had re-opened just today!  Otherwise he would have needed to go to Petoskey 35 miles away.  Isn't God great?)  When we arrived Emily's car was parked in front of the ER and Brett's was right beside it.  We walked in and asked for them and they said they would tell them we were there.  We waited a few minutes and they walked out.  Garrett had a bandage over his left eye/6 stitches and under his left eye/8 stitches and a gash below the bandage that traveled down to his jaw line.  Oh my gosh!  And a wonderful plastic surgeon just happened to be in the ER when they arrived.  And Garrett said he wanted to get back to school and compete!!!!!!!!!  I thought Emily was going to rip his head off!!!!  (Here's where the grandmother gets to laugh!)  So anyway, change of schedule.  Emily is taking Garrett home, Brett is going back to the candy store, and Jo is taking Gracie to dinner and on to dance recital rehearsal.  Aren't we all flexible?

So ends this Monday's track meet day!  And if my sister Linda reads this and thinks I didn't tell her before sharing it with the world, I'm going to tell her to get her damn (sorry) phone fixed.  It's been busy since 5pm and Bill isn't answering his cell phone!  I did reach Mary (my other sister) and told her.
Sisters, Sisters...  Also waiting for TR Baker to come home from work so I can tell him!  Family's are special!!!!

And so you know, yes, the ER did re-open today.  The rest of the hospital is expected to open by the end of the month.  A company called McClaren bought the hospital and is working to get everything back to normal.  It certainly is wonderful news especially for our family today.  xxoo
          

Did you vote today?

One of the things that worried me the most about changing my state of residency was voting.  I have always voted in every election and have a pretty good understanding of Kentucky politics (for whatever that's worth!!!).  So I was concerned about voting in Mullet Lake Township, MI (aka Topinabee).  Today was an election day.  I had studied those running for office so I took my voter registration card and headed to the town hall where I was told voting always takes place.  The town hall is down my hill and across the corner right next to the fire department and the Topinabee Market.  I got to the town hall and there was no sign of life.  The door was locked and I thought...Hmmmmm?  Wonder what's going on?  The fire department is volunteer so there was no one there either.  I walked over to the market.  I went in and asked the young woman where do we vote?  With that she looked out the window of the market and said it's usually at the town hall.  I said I know but not today!  She then said..."I didn't even know today was an election day.  Is today the day we elect a new president?"  (I swear!)  I said no, no new president today.  (And the liquor section of the market was not covered so I thought maybe they don't vote up here!!!!)  A man walked in to the market and I asked him - where do we vote?  With that he looked out the front window and said it's usually at the town hall.  I tried to call Brett but he was off today and working in the woods and fields of their home.  I sent a text message to Emily hoping she would check her phone during her lunch time.  I walked over to the post office!!!!!  Answer there was "I don't think we're voting on anything today."  WHERE AM I?????????  I'll check tomorrow's paper and let you all know if MI voted on anything today!

Haven't shared with you all about my Derby party!  It was the first time TR Baker and I were premiering our "re-done" home (well most of it!).  The weather was perfect.  The sun was shining on our new Michigan home and the temperature was in the low 60's.  I was serving hot brown casserole (Nancy B's recipe), shrimp & grits, country ham on black pepper biscuits, asparagus with benedictine dip, cheese straws (won't do them again - too much work), goat cheese torte with homemade crackers, my chocolate pecan pie and iced sugar cookies cut in shapes of the state of Kentucky and horses heads.  I even had white, grey, 2 shades of brown and black iced horses heads to match the colors of the horses running!!!  We had about 40 guests and only 4 had been to a Derby party before (mine last year!).  I explained all about the food...the history, the ingredients, what are grits???? and so on.  TR Baker was in charge of the mint juleps!  I had made the simple syrup (another explanation) and he was doin' the pourin'!!!!  The front porch looked "FAB" and the house was all clean.  And I breathed a sigh of relief as everyone told me how beautiful the house looked and how delicious the food was!!!!!!  That "ice" is finally broken and I'm glad.

Finally, I'll tell you the outside of the house is being painted this week.  They started Monday morning and it was raining.  They spent the day power washing the exterior.  Then today they began on the porch painting the ceiling light blue (a color called "balmy" - I loved it!) and treating all the windows.  The inside walls of the porch are cedar and there was some serious water marks on the windows.  They bleached all that and will re-caulk all of them.  After that is done, they will begin outside!!!!!!  And for those of you wondering...I chose...after the painters had painted a small section outside of each color next to the brown...the...Mark Twain Grey!!!!!!!  It looks fabulous.  All the trim that is now dark green will be white.  I already have red geraniums.  I got them for the Derby party and placed them in the ground still in their pots (in case of another freeze).  The red geraniums look fabulous against the grey too.  So when you come to see me, look up on the hill for the grey house.  It's the one that looks beautiful!!!!

I hope all of you had a happy Derby!  I've been praying for many of you and challenges you are facing right now.  I might be 600 miles north but believe me when I say I'm there in spirit with my arm around your shoulder whispering in your ear, I love you!  xxoo      

Another First!

There are 3 windows in the den and one of them opens to the front porch.  TR Baker and I decided we would open that window, move the den TV through the window and out to the porch for our Derby party and the summer.  We would put another TV in the den.  Several weeks ago TR said "that window opens right?"  I said "of course".  Well, I looked at it the other day and saw that if had been painted shut.  The only question I had was how many times had it been painted shut?  So my brain begins the process of how difficult is it going to be to get it open?  And "how to" get it open.  I could also already see TR Baker tackling this job and the vision was not good!

I am continually amazed how much TR Baker and HC Baker are alike.  Honestly, sometimes it startles me.  HC and TR both would have attempted getting that window open with anger and frustration already simmering inside them just below boiling point.  So, I decided I would do this while TR was at work this evening.

I went to the toolbox and found this "thing" that looks like a paint scraper only it's about 2 inches wide and 10 inches long.  Also at the opposite end there is a little hole that looks as if it would remove nails.  I have no idea what it's called but I also brought a hammer!!!!  I took the paint scraper thing and the hammer and went all around the window hoping to loosen it and get it open.  I was able to release the window from the inside but it still wouldn't budge.  I went out to the porch and looked at the inside of the window.  Guess what?  Painted closed on the outside too!  And there is a storm window!!!!  So I call my friend Rick J. who is married to one of my oldest (known each other, not age) friends and knew HC Baker very well and shares a lot of the same personality traits and outdoor hobbies.  I gave him the whole scenario and asked what I could do.  He determined (over the phone) that my next step would be to call someone to help me.  I assured him I could do this.  (He's used to hearing that from women because his wife is always just as pleasant as I am and as flexible and as even-tempered and open-minded!)  He says OK but you'll have to remove the storm window.  Not a problem.  I go get the electric screwdriver and it's CHARGED!!!!!!!!!!  Hooray!  Out on the porch I look at the storm window.  There are 12 screws holding it in place.  I start at the top and remove each one, at the last one I have my shoulder up against the window so it won't fall out.  It doesn't, I remove it, and then proceed to use the "paint scraper thing" and the hammer to loosen the outside of the window and guess what????  I got it open.  Yea for me!!!!  And nothing's broken, nobody's angry and all is well with my world.  Should I replace the storm window or put it in the garage until next fall?  Your thoughts?

So when I ask TR Baker to move the TV through the window in the den onto the front porch and he stomps into the den to begin work on the window...     (I'm smiling!)

P.S.  It was cold and rainy this afternoon so where was I?  Yes!  At another track meet!  Garrett won 3rd in shot put again!!!!