Rainy Day In Georgia

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It is a rainy day today. Which is great, we haven't had much rain this month. The rain is light and soothing. The only bad things about the rain is that our joints hurt and it makes it a bit difficult to go for a walk. I had made it to three good walks a day by Wednesday... then yesterday I got only one in. My three good walks probably add up to a mile. Today I may only get in about 5o laps up and down our hallway.

Our son and daughter-in-law came to eat with us yesterday. Frank did a great job with the meal... everything was delicious. I tried not to eat too much in order to help my stomach not to be irritated. I did well with the meal that was served at about 1 pm, but the evening snack of pies is what my stomach didn't like.

Frank asked me what I wanted to eat today. He was hoping for brunswick stew made with the leftover pulled pork. I told him just some rice and maybe a little meat and a veggie that doesn't have much seasoning. Rice seems to calm the burning of my stomach.

Enough of decrepitness :-)

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Most of the time when our daughter-in-law visits she winds up taking a nap on our couch. She says our couch just pulls her in. Yesterday, although both of us were sleepy, we talked together a lot and naps were forgotten.

In one of the conversations with Tish she mentioned that she had some containers that cat litter comes in and was going to paint them and use them for storage for her craft projects. A light bulb went off... I have some old craft books she might like. I showed her the box of books. Her eyes lit up. She took about half the books. Yeah! I got rid of stuff that I no longer use. My son was mumbling about finding places for more crap as she took the books to the car :-)

I always give my son books I've read so he can take them to a book exchange store. He would only take two of the books this time. He said that John Grisham is so popular that the store has too many copies of his books. One of the books he did take was a John Grisham book that he hadn't read, The Innocent Man. The other was Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Someone had recommended the book to me and it is a good book, but had more curse words in i t than I'm used to. I need to find more reading material... but just might try more of Mark Twain short stories. Mark Twain's short stories are hard for me to read.... much different than his Tom Sawyer book. The short stories contain a lot of politics and I don't enjoy politics :-)

Here our elections aren't over yet. We have a senate run off and a couple of judge run offs. The senate campaigns are nasty and I don't really like either candidate. Frank all ready did early voting and got me an absentee ballot... so one thing for me to do today.

After dinner my Mama and brother came by and so did Frank's parent's. So for a while a lot of people in the house. Well... for our small house. It was a great day and we were both exhausted by the end of the day.

All y'all make it a great day!

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Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. -- Anthony J. D'Angelo

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Book Tag - Doctor - Thanksgiving

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My friend, Sharon, over at A Second Helping has tagged me with a book tag. There are some rules so here they are:

1. Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

2. Share seven random and/or weird book facts about yourself.

3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.

4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.


1. It is hard for me to answer to "Mrs. Goff"... Mrs. Goff is my mother-in-law. I do love being married to Frank.

2. My humor is pretty much sarcasm and is difficult to get unless you are around me a lot. I'm constantly trying to get Frank's GOAT.... most of the time he gets it moved before I can get it ;-)

3. I love music and I mean music not some of the racket they try and pass off as music. I can't sing or play a musical instrument, but can tell when someone else sings off key or misses a note.

4. I'm very shy. You would think I would have eventually overcome it... but it is still there. I have been in leadership positions at work and at church and basically had to become another person in order to do the jobs. No one is as shy on the internet as they are in person :-)

5. I used to do a lot of crafts. Because of back, hand and shoulder problems I don't do much of them any more.

6. I love the outdoors. I like to take pictures of creepy-crawly insects and other critters.

7. I suppose this post should contain something about what I read. I don't read a lot. I like mystery, adventure, humor and wit. The Bible contains all of those. I like most of John Grisham's books. I also like to read short stories of Mark Twain and Louis L'Amour. I also like philosophy... so that is why in most of my post you will find a quote.

8. I don't like strict rules... so if you want to be book tagged... consider it done :-) Actually most of the bloggers I visit have been book tagged. So it would be a great favor to me for you to grab it. Let me know if you accept and I promise I will visit your blog.

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I saw my family doctor about my burning stomach today. He gave me some samples of Zegerid. I also got a bad tasting green cocktail while in his office. I omit my next Boniva and see my doctor in two weeks to see how I'm doing.

I did pretty good on my outing. It helped that the doctor was only running twenty minutes behind :-) I stayed in the car while Frank got a couple of things at the grocery store and ordered us pizza. I like people watching, so I don't mind sitting in the car.

I'm hoping that soon I will be able to go for a "real" nice country ride. Grammy at The Empty Nester has taken me on a couple of virtual rides... Thanks, Grammy!

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I really like the quote below. Every holiday, just like at our family reunions, my deceased relatives are in the room with me. I'm really thinking of the times I've sat with my Daddy on Thanksgiving Day and watched football. The memories of going to Grandma's and she didn't ignore us! ..... such good times and memories. Thoughts of our loved ones that have passed on make us a bit sad, but more than likely the memories of them will set a smile on our face.

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If you don't believe in ghosts, you've never been to a family reunion. -- Ashleigh Brilliant

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

Pies and Thanksgiving

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Makes Three Coconut Pies have been a tradition in our family since the mid 1970s when we were stationed at Ft. Sill Oklahoma. I think I got the recipe out of a church or community cookbook. It is a delicious recipe that is so simple to make. My husband made these yesterday. The only thing he didn't do that I usually do is re-flute the frozen pie shells so the slices are a bit easier to remove from the pan. He made pecan pies too. I've started using Dear Abby's recipe for pecan pies. The only things I do differently than her recipe calls for is that I chop my pecans (I might add a few more too) and I use two regular pie crust. I didn't get pictures of the pecan pies before they were whisked off to the freezer.

Our Thanksgiving meal will be a bit simpler this year. Frank is doing the cooking.

Our main dish will be pulled pork. I usually have Frank brown a boston butt on the grill and then I cook it 10 hours on low in the slow cooker. I add seasonings (onion, garlic, cumin, Lawry Seasoned Salt, pepper... sometimes garden peppers) to the meat. When the meat is cooked it is so tender and pulls apart easily. I put it in a large roasting pan and pull the meat apart.... removing the bits of fat as I pull the meat. Then I remove the bits of onion from the meat broth and stir it into the meat. I then add some of the broth and keep mixing it into the meat until it is very moist, but not soupy. I taste to see if it needs anything. It can be served with your favorite sauce, but I prefer to just eat the meat with no sauce. I put sauce on the table for those that like sauce and I have sandwich buns for those that prefer the meat in a sandwich.

Side dishes of Sweet Tater Casserole and green bean casserole and whatever else my dear husband wants to cook.

Did I mention how much I love my husband... He is the greatest!

The blog design at Zaroga's Recipes is by Lena over at Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates . She really has some great designs.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

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If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. -- Meister Eckhart
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Socks!

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Yesterday I got my socks on all by myself :-) That is one task that Frank (husband) is glad that I'm able to do again. I also didn't need help getting in and out of the shower. I dressed all by myself! These are all normally "little things", but right now to be able to do them again they are "big things".

Frank hopes that soon I will be able to cook and wash dishes again. I don't know that I want to do either again :-) Frank is an excellent cook and really... who likes to wash dishes :-) If I had room to put a dishwasher in... I would have it done in no time. The cost would be well worth it to me.

You know... a thing about photography is that it can show you that your socks don't match. I evidently bought these two at separate times. The weaves and colors of the socks are different.

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Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same. -- Francesca Reigler

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Hi Everyone!

I've made it through most of the emails and comments on my last post. I thank everyone for the good wishes and prayers... they were very much appreciated.

I came home from the hospital Friday of last week feeling pretty good. I had been walking up and down the long hallway of the hospital with my walker. I was a bit tired when I got home, so I went to bed for a couple of hours. I took some Darvocet at about 5 pm and felt good enough to get a bath. During my bath my stomach started churning and I really didn't feel well. Being I'm suppose to have back support when I can, I thought it best to get back to my chair in the living room as soon as possible. I made it about half way and started feeling faint. I managed to give Frank enough notice for him to get a chair underneath me. He said it seemed like forever before I came to. Then I threw up... eww! Somehow we managed to get me to my chair and I rested a while. I kept throwing up though. Then I made it to my bed and still continued to throw up. Saturday morning Frank called my surgeon and got a prescription for Phenergan. That stuff usually works quickly, but this time it didn't work at all. So Frank called an ambulance to get me to the hospital (I was too weak to walk to the car). I spent Saturday and Sunday night back in the hospital and came home Monday morning. Basically... the Darvocet is was what made me sick. I haven't taken any more of it... sticking with extra strength Tylenol.

I'm feeling much better... my energy level is slowly coming back. Today I'm walking pretty steady without my cane. Coffee is tasting like coffee again. It does seem to irritate my stomach a bit though, so I'm limiting it :-)

I'm hoping this afternoon I can walk outside for a bit. I think the high today is suppose to be 67 degrees, which is much warmer than the past couple of days. Fresh air would be nice. I hope in the next few days to start catching up on your blogs and with my friends at Flickr.

The plant in the picture is an OUTDOOR SATUSUKI AZALEA that my sister sent to me. My sister has a few beautiful items for sale at eBay . Check it out... you might find that Special Christmas Gift :-)
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If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give. -- George MacDonald
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Embroidery Project / Surgery

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Click on image for a larger view.

This is an embroidery project that I started a few years back. I forget exactly why I stopped... maybe my bad wrist. Anyway... I hope to finish this project before the year is out. It is a dresser scarf. This is one of the side decorations. I finished both sides and have one of the end decorations started. The end decorations have this design with the addition of a bird on either side with the ends of the bow's ribbon in their beaks. There are a few stitches in this design that I have never done before, so a real learning experience.

I will have back surgery this next Tuesday (Nov. 11) I had hoped to avoid this surgery. I tried two different types of injections in the area and no relief. I need relief! It is so hard to walk or sleep.

I had surgery in this same area, L5-S1, in 1993. With degeneration there is basically no disc left and there is scar tissue on the nerve from the first surgery. The chances of me having relief from pain with this surgery is 70%. I'm sure with my family and friend's prayers and good thoughts my chances will increase. The doctor assures me that I will be no worse off with the surgery... and I pray he is correct. My stay in the hospital will be from 2 to 4 nights. I'm sure it will be a few days after coming home before I will feel like using the computer.

I am so grateful for each of you, my friends. I'll be back as soon as I can.

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Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. --William Arthur Ward

My Name, Zaroga

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Some of you have asked about my name. I usually start by telling people that I have weird parents.


Both of my parents came from large families. My Daddy was one of 13 children and my Mama was one of 11 children. There was also a slew of cousins. Both my parents had brothers named Ben. Then there were Williams and Marys.. so many names were repeated throughout the family. It was sometimes hard to figure out who the rumors were about amongst the family. My parents wanted their children to have unique names so they would know if their children were the ones being talked about... just kidding, but they did want their children's names to be unique and they did that.

I am the fourth of five Zs. That is why you will see me sometimes listed as FourOf5Zs. I have three older brothers; Zoral, Zane and Zarone. Zoral, pronounced Zōr-əl, was actually suppose to be Zorro, but Daddy or Mama ,,, I cannot remember which way the story goes...messed up the spelling. My Daddy was a fan of the Zorro movies. My Daddy was also a fan of Zane Grey books, so my next eldest brother's name comes from Zane Grey. It used to be an uncommon name, but now it is a common name for both males and females. My brother Zarone... his name is taken from Aaron and is pronounce Ză-rŏn. I'll skip to my sister, Zawanda, pronounce Ză-wŏn-də. Well... the story goes.. it "was a wonder" she was here at all. There is three years difference in my and my sister's ages. My Mama had a hard time with my birth and was not suppose to have more children. My name is pronounced Ză-rō-gə.. the family slurs it to Zrō-ger. My parents just made my name up.

Some people want to call me Z. I prefer no nickname, but if you address me as Z I won't holler. Just don't be surprised if I address you in response with the first letter of your name.

I usually get asked the question "what is your middle name?" My middle name is Clora, pronounced Clōr-ə.. rhymes with Flora. If someone calls me Clora I won't answer. Clora is my Mama's name.

Over the years my name has been a pain at times, but I'm glad my parents named me Zaroga. I don't really think my parents are weird.


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A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. -- Proverb 22 - 1