Even More Meanderings

http://keriwyattkent.com/soul/    This is a blog I recommend.  I heard Keri on Midday Connection and went looking for her to find the website that has an in depth analysis of words from the Bible.  I have emailed her asking for that website and will let you know when I hear from her.  But in the meantime she writes in her blog about writing, Mary Bailey, and about being a soccer mom, Gabby.  So check it out.

Hubs and I went to visit Ruth Benjamin yesterday.  We had company about when we planned to go so it was supper time when we got there.  She was lying in bed eating her dinner (tomato soup, pimento cheese sandwich, tater tots, orange juice, tea, water, lemon jello and Shasta cola).  My sources had told me she loves Pepsi and Juicy Fruit gum so I brought both.

She no longer likes Pepsi, it makes her itch (who knew) but had me open the Juicy Fruit so I guess it was a hit.  I can see that "loving Ruth" is going to be harder than I thought.  I can barely understand her....my deafness....her dialect ,lack of teeth and being on her back.  She did say she does get to be up in a chair off and on during the day.  And she had two visitors besides us yesterday.  I didn't catch who they were.

I have had plans to bring her flowers and or plants, send her cards, play black gospel cd's for her, take her to ride, hear her life story.  I just thought I'd bring you along on this journey.  All of the above may happen or none of the above.....we will see.

We developed a saying or theory in our home when the kids were growing up about "loving other people and ourselves."  It developed because we recognized that we often wanted to do something for someone because we loved them.....but they didn't appreciate or want our love in that way.  For example we might offer to keep our neighbor's children......but if wasn't "loving them" (they didn't want us to) it wasn't the thing to do.  Or if we did it and had bad grumpy attitudes then it wasn't loving us either.

I can see how this Mrs. Ruth thing could go that way.  I want to bring Pepsi.....it isn't loving her...it makes her itch.  I want to be her friend but she's never had a white friend and doesn't understand why I'm coming.

Have you ever done something to show someone love but it wasn't appreciated?  I guess that is why Gary Chapman wrote the 5 love languages.  I also think it has something to do with wanting to love someone in a way that is convenient for us not them.  Does this resonate with anyone?

More Meanderings

I just found this beautiful blog.  The full title is A Brit in Tennessee.  My friend Mary Bailey will love it because of its rich images and quotes and poetry.  My daughter Gabby will be inspired to buy her camera and use it in such a beautiful way.  Surely....there is such beauty right here in South Carolina, too.

http://abritintn.blogspot.com/

On another note....Tuesday our Garden Club went to The Nursing Home.  It used to be Morrell  now it is owned by the Wilson Hospital Group.  Any way one of our favorite members is there....Mrs. Bernice Teal so we held our meeting there.  Pat (creative crafter) Hawkins, made up 15 gift bags for us to deliver to what ever resident  we desired.  I really didn't know any one but Mrs. Bernice so I just looked for a room with a lady in it.

The lady I found was Ruth Benjamin......from Byrdtown!  I quickly discovered she is Luke Benjamin's widow.  Mr. Luke worked for us on the farm and was the poorest happiest soul I ever met.  They lived in a wooden tenant house (aka shack) but he was always smilin and praisin the Lord.  Well, Mrs. Ruth has been at the nursing home 27 years....you heard me right 27 years....both her legs are amputated at the thigh, she has had a stroke and her left arm is curled up on her chest but her mind is fine.

During our visit I found out that Alex Hunter is her grandson.  Alex was a good friend of my son Wayne in elementary  school.  He even went to Santee with us one weekend....when we went over the bridge on I-95 he  nearly freaked....he had never seen "big water".

One of the garden club members told me Mrs. Ruth likes Pepsi's and Juicy Fruit Gum.

I'm on it!  My heart and mind cannot forget this dear lady who has lain in a bed at the nursing home for 27 years.  I'll keep you dear readers posted.....and how about you lift her up in prayer.

Now what do we have to whine about?  Nothing.

Crazy Quilts

 This is an example of a piece of an antique crazy quilt  I bought a few years back.  Ever since I saw Judy Lily making one at Creative Sewing when I first started sewing again I have wanted to make one.

 The other day Graham Baker, a friend and fellow quilter came over and helped me make this block.  I have put a few embellishments (embroidery ribbons, lace, buttons and beads) on it but I have many more to add.

 The next day I made this block by myself.    I think it turned out okay.  Again much more embellishing to be added.

Today I made a run to Walmart to get the two empty plastic containers to put my stuff in when I go somewhere.  I love me some containers so it was big fun for me to splurge on them. Isn't Graham's crazy quilt gorgeous.  And all those lovely embellishments.....maybe one day I will have a post with my blocks looking half so spiffy.

In other news, I worked at Carolina Kids today.  We bagged food that will go home over the weekend with children who the school thinks might not get adequate food on weekends.  In each bag went: Ramen noodle cup, Vienna Sausage, two packs of instant oatmeal, two fruit drinks, a canned vegetable and a book.  Over three hundred bags will go home with students in Darlington County.

While we were bagging, a nice looking high schooler came in with his aunt to get some clothes.  He was tall and thin but they found a nice coat and a few other things that will fit.  I honestly thought he was picking out clothes for someone else.  Turns out his aunt is raising him.  When you are looking for people who need help you can't always judge a book by its cover.

Hubs is driving kids for the BHHB Wraps program.  Usually they are kids in foster care and he either is taking the kids for a two hour visit with the parent or vice versa.  A lot of the families have three and four kids in foster care.  I certainly don't know the answer to the problem of parents having kids and not caring for them.....but I do know God would want us to care and pray for them.

Those are a few things on my mind these days.....what is on yours?

Toni Dolls

This is my beloved Toni doll.  Do not worry about the scratch on her neck....she did not try to off herself.

My best friend, Leslie, had a Toni doll, too.  They used to write each other letters when I was away for the summer at Bay Ridge.  Of course, when Leslie came to visit, her Toni came too.  We tried making clothes for them out of old rags.  Sometimes they got in fights over boys....even though we had no boy dolls our imaginations were fertile....no not that fertile.

These are some of my Toni's clothes.  See the plaid thingy in the back.  It was like a big dress bag for doll dresses.  When I got my allowance I was off to Murphy's Five and Dime Store to buy clothes for my doll.I found this pic below of two Toni dolls with a background. The dolls are  around 8 inches tall so they wouldn't fit in a regular doll house.  Here you see the blond and the brunette versions of the dolls.  My Toni started out a brunette.  The big selling point of Toni dolls was that you could give them home permanents......like the Toni permanents for adults.  They came with rollers and permanent wave solution.  The manufacturer gave you the recipe so you could make more solution when you ran out......not like today's manufacturers who would send you back to the store for a refill that would cost more than the original doll.

However, the solution formula was very technical.......sugar + water.....no danger there right?  Wrong Donnamo laid Toni out on the driveway in the sun to dry her hair while the perm did its magic.  It was magic alright....when I went back she was bald!!!  Ants had eaten her hair!  I probably still have issues due to this trauma.....but my resourceful Mama found a "doll hospital" and had her fixed....and I got Toni the blonde hair I always wanted my Toni and me to have. It took about 10 years before I got my own blonde hair but that is another story for another day.