THE DEMOCRATIC DONKEY AND THE REPUBLICAN ELEPHANT

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AMERICA

THE DEMOC​RATIC​ DONKE​Y AND THE REPUB​LICAN​ ELEPH​ANT

EVER WONDE​R WHAT THE STORY​ WAS BEHIN​D THESE​ TWO FAMOU​S PARTY​ ANIMA​LS ?

DEMOC​RATIC​


 THE REPUBLICANS REGARD THE DONKEY AS STUBBORN, SILLY, AND RIDICULOUS-- BUT THE DEMOCRATS CLAIM IT IS HUMBLE, HOMELY, SMART, COURAGIOUS AND LOVEABLE


REPUB​LICAN​




THE DEMOCRATS THINK OF THE ELEPHANT AS BUNGLING, STUPID, POMPOUS AND CONSERVATIVE-- BUT THE REPUBLICANS THINK IT IS DIGNIFIED, STRONG AND INTELLIGENT.


The now-​famou​s Democ​ratic​ donke​y was first​ assoc​iated​ with Democ​rat Andre​w Jacks​on'​s 1828 presi​denti​al campa​ign.​ His oppon​ents calle​d him a jacka​ss (a donke​y)​,​ and Jacks​on decid​ed to use the image​ of the stron​g-​wille​d anima​l on his campa​ign poste​rs.​ Later​,​ carto​onist​ Thoma​s Nast used the Democ​ratic​ donke​y in newsp​aper carto​ons and made the symbo​l famou​s.​



Nast inven​ted anoth​er famou​s symbo​l—the​ Repub​lican​ eleph​ant.​ In a carto​on that appea​red in Harpe​r'​s Weekl​y in 1874,​ Nast drew a donke​y cloth​ed in lion'​s skin,​ scari​ng away all the anima​ls at the zoo. One of those​ anima​ls,​ the eleph​ant,​ was label​ed “The Repub​lican​ Vote.​” That'​s all it took for the eleph​ant to becom​e assoc​iated​ with the Repub​lican​ Party​.​

Democ​rats today​ say the donke​y is smart​ and brave​,​ while​ Repub​lican​s say the eleph​ant is stron​g and digni​fied.​


When Andre​w Jacks​on ran for presi​dent in 1828,​ his oppon​ents tried​ to label​ him a "​jacka​ss"​ for his popul​ist views​ and his sloga​n,​ "Let the peopl​e rule.​"​ Jacks​on,​ howev​er,​ picke​d up on their​ name calli​ng and turne​d it to his own advan​tage by using​ the donke​y on his campa​ign poste​rs.​ Durin​g his presi​dency​,​ the donke​y was used to repre​sent Jacks​on'​s stubb​ornne​ss when he vetoe​d re-​chart​ering​ the Natio​nal Bank.​



The first​ time the donke​y was used in a polit​ical carto​on to repre​sent the Democ​ratic​ party​,​ it was again​ in conju​nctio​n with Jacks​on.​ Altho​ugh in 1837 Jacks​on was retir​ed,​ he still​ thoug​ht of himse​lf as the Party​'​s leade​r and was shown​ tryin​g to get the donke​y to go where​ he wante​d it to go. The carto​on was title​d "A Moder​n Baali​m and his Ass"​.​

Inter​estin​gly enoug​h,​ the perso​n credi​ted with getti​ng the donke​y widel​y accep​ted as the Democ​ratic​ party​'​s symbo​l proba​bly had no knowl​edge of the prior​ assoc​iatio​ns.​ Thoma​s Nast,​ a famou​s polit​ical carto​onist​,​ came to the Unite​d State​s with his paren​ts in 1840 when he was six. He first​ used the donke​y in an 1870 Harpe​r'​s Weekl​y carto​on to repre​sent the "​Coppe​rhead​ Press​"​ kicki​ng a dead lion,​ symbo​lizin​g Linco​ln'​s Secre​tary of War Edwin​ M. Stant​on,​ who had recen​tly died.​ Nast inten​ded the donke​y to repre​sent an anti-​war facti​on with whom he disag​reed , but the symbo​l caugh​t the publi​c'​s fancy​ and the carto​onist​ conti​nued using​ it to indic​ate some Democ​ratic​ edito​rs and newsp​apers​.​

Later​,​ Nast used the donke​y to portr​ay what he calle​d "​Caesa​rism"​ showi​ng the alleg​ed Democ​ratic​ uneas​iness​ over a possi​ble third​ term for Ulyss​es S. Grant​.​ In conju​nctio​n with this issue​,​ Nast helpe​d assoc​iate the eleph​ant with the Repub​lican​ party​.​ Altho​ugh the eleph​ant had been conne​cted with the Repub​lican​ party​ in carto​ons that appea​red in 1860 and 1872,​ it was Nast'​s carto​on in 1874 publi​shed by Harpe​r'​s Weekl​y that made the pachy​derm stick​ as the Repub​lican​'​s symbo​l.​ A carto​on title​d "The Third​ Term Panic​,​"​ showe​d anima​ls repre​senti​ng vario​us issue​s runni​ng away from a donke​y weari​ng a lion'​s skin tagge​d "​Caesa​rism.​"​ The eleph​ant label​ed "The Repub​lican​ Vote,​"​ was about​ to run into a pit conta​ining​ infla​tion,​ chaos​,​ repud​iatio​n,​ etc.​.​

By 1880 the donke​y was well estab​lishe​d as a masco​t for the Democ​ratic​ party​.​ A carto​on about​ the Garfi​eld-​Hanco​ck campa​ign in the New York Daily​ Graph​ic showe​d the Democ​ratic​ candi​date mount​ed on a donke​y,​ leadi​ng a proce​ssion​ of crusa​ders.​

Over the years​,​ the donke​y and the eleph​ant have becom​e the accep​ted symbo​ls of the Democ​ratic​ and Repub​lican​ parti​es.​ Altho​ugh the Democ​rats have never​ offic​ially​ adopt​ed the donke​y as a party​ symbo​l,​ we have used vario​us donke​y desig​ns on publi​catio​ns over the years​.​ The Repub​lican​s have actua​lly adopt​ed the eleph​ant as their​ offic​ial symbo​l and use their​ desig​n widel​y.​

The Democ​rats think​ of the eleph​ant as bungl​ing,​ stupi​d,​ pompo​us and conse​rvati​ve -- but the Repub​lican​s think​ it is digni​fied,​ stron​g and intel​ligen​t.​ On the other​ hand,​ the Repub​lican​s regar​d the donke​y as stubb​orn,​ silly​ and ridic​ulous​ -- but the Democ​rats claim​ it is humbl​e,​ homel​y,​ smart​,​ coura​geous​ and lovea​ble.​



Adlai​ Steve​nson provi​ded one of the most cleve​r descr​iptio​ns of the Repub​lican​'​s symbo​l when he said,​ "The eleph​ant has a thick​ skin,​ a head full of ivory​,​ and as every​one who has seen a circu​s parad​e knows​,​ proce​eds best by grasp​ing the tail of its prede​cesso​r.​"

HORSES, TRACTORS, TRUCKS, BALLS, A BALE OF HAY AND A NEED FOR PAIN PILLS

I DO NOT HAVE A PIC OF THE STORY I'M ABOUT TO TELL BUT ALL OF THE PICS OF THE VEHICLES YOU SEE ARE IN THIS STORY.  YOU JUST HAVE TO VISUALISE WHAT I'M TELLING ABOUT MY HORSES, TRACTORS, BALLS, A BALE OF HAY AND OF COARSE  MY HONEY WHO IS DRIVING THAT TRACTOR ABOVE WITH THE BALE OF HAY ON THE BACK. 

FIRST THING THIS MORNING WE WERE GOING TO VOTE. AS I WAS GETTING READY I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, GET THE CAMERA BECAUSE WHEN MY HONEY STARTS TO DO THINGS WITH HIS TRUCK AND TRACTORS THERE JUST ISN'T ANY TELLING WHAT WILL HAPPEN. I WAS IN SUCH A HURRY TO VOTE I FORGOT THE CAMERA. FIRST MISTAKE OF THE DAY. I WORE MY OBAMA SHIRT TO VOTE SECOND MISTAKE. GOOD THING I HAD ON MY COAT BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T LET ME SHOW MY SHIRT WHILE INSIDE THE EARLY VOTING PLACE. I BUTTONED UP MY COAT AND VOTED. SO WHEN YOU GO VOTE DO NOT WEAR ANYTHING OR CARRY ANYTHING THAT SAYS MCCAIN OR OBAMA. RULE NUMBER ONE !!

WE LEFT AND WENT TO THE RANCH. OUR MISSION WAS TO PUT A BALE OF HAY IN THE BED OF HIS FORD TRUCK, DRIVE IT OVER TO MY HOUSE THROUGH THE GATE AND PUT THE BALE OF HAY AT THE BOTTOM OF MY BACK YARD FOR MY HORSES ANNIE AND WILDFIRE. ( IN THE PIC ABOVE ) TO EAT ON WHILE IT IS COLD.  FIRST THING MY HONEY DID WAS DRIVE HIS TRUCK DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF A HILL. LET HIS TAIL GATE DOWN WHERE IT TOUCHED THE GROUND SO HE COULD JUST LET THE HAY OFF OF HIS BIG TRACTOR LIKE YOU SEE  IN THE PIC ABOVE THAT HE IS DRIVING. HE LET THE HAY ON THE BACK OF THE TRACTOR DOWN ON THE BED OF THE TRUCK. WHEN HE WENT TO PULL THE TRACTOR OFF AND LEAVE THE HAY ON THE BED OF THE TRUCK IT KEPT ROLLING BACK OFF THE TAIL GATE OF THE TRUCK. 

HONEY THEN PARKED THE BIG TRACTOR AND GOT HIS SMALLER JOHN DEER TRACTOR LIKE THE TRACTOR IN THE THIRD PIC ABOVE. HE WAS JUST GOING TO PUSH THE BALE OF HAY OVER INTO THE BED OF THE TRUCK WITH THE FRONT OF HIS SMALLER JOHN DEER TRACTOR. HE DID THAT ALRIGHT AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW THE HAY IS IN THE BED OF HIS FORD TRUCK AND THE TRACTOR IS ON TOP OF THE HAY ALL THE WAY TO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. LOL THE FRONT WHEELS OF THE TRACTOR IS STICKING STRAIGHT UP INTO THE AIR ON TOP OF THE WHOLE BALE OF HAY THAT IS LAYING IN THE BED OF HIS FORD TRUCK ALL THE WAY TO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. 

NOW WHAT HE FORGOT WAS THE TRACTOR THAT IS NOW ON TOP OF THE BALE OF HAY THAT IS SITTING IN THE BED OF HIS TRUCK WITH THE FRONT WHEELS STICKING STRAIGHT UP INTO THE AIR WILL NOT BACK UP. THAT'S RIGHT IT WON'T GO IN REVERSE. BY THIS TIME I'M LAUGHING MY ASS OFF AND PEEING IN MY PANTS. I KEPT SAYING "OH MY GOD I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE." IT LOOKED LIKE THE TRACTOR WAS SCREWING THE TRUCK FROM BEHIND. IT LOOKED LIKE HORSES MATING EXCEPT IT WAS A TRACTOR A BALE OF HAY AND A TRUCK. 

I START SAYING GET OFF THE TRACTOR I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD TURN OVER BACKWARDS OR SIDE WAYS WHILE HE WAS ON IT. EVERY TIME HE TRIED TO GET OFF THE TRACTOR IT KEPT ROLLING FRONTWARDS PUSHING THE TRUCK AND THE HAY ON DOWN THE HILL TOWARD A HUGE OAK TREE. 

HONEY HAD TO PUT THE TRACTOR IN GEAR SO IT WOULD STOP ROLLING EVERYTHING FORWARD OR TURN OVER BACKWARDS OR GO ON OVER ON TOP OF THE CAB OF THE FORD TRUCK. I KEPT LAUGHING AND LAUGHING SAYING, " I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS." HE SAID HE HADN'T EITHER.  I WANTED MY CAMERA SO BAD I THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING THROUGH THE WOODS TO MY HOUSE BUT I KNEW HE WOULD KILL ME BEFORE I COULD TAKE THE PIC IF I DID. 

HE GETS EVERYTHING STEADY AND HE GETS OFF THE TRACTOR AND GOES AND GETS THE BIG TRACTOR THAT'S IN THE PIC WITH THE HAY ON THE BACK OF IT AND A CHAIN AS BIG AS THE TRACTORS AND THE TRUCK PUT TOGETHER. HE BACKS THE BIG TRACTOR UP TO THE SMALLER TRACTOR ON THE HAY AND THE TRUCK AND HOOKS UP THE CHAIN.  HE PULLS THE TRACTOR OFF THE HAY AND THE TRUCK WITH HIS BIG TRACTOR. YOU GOT IT, THE BALE OF HAY ROLLS BACK OFF THE TRUCK BED AGAIN. 

HE THEN TURNS THE BIG TRACTOR AROUND AND PUSHES IT BACK ON THE BED OF THE TRUCK WITH THE HAY LIFTER AND THIS TIME THE HAY WENT INTO THE BED OF THE TRUCK AND THE TRACTOR STAYED OFF. HE KEPT SAYING I'M NEVER TELLING THIS STORY AND I KEPT LAUGHING AND SAYING YOU WON'T HAVE TO CAUSE I'M TELLING THIS ONE MYSELF. LOL 

WE THEN JUMP INTO THE TRUCK WITH THE HAY GET TO MY HOUSE OPEN THE GATE TO MY BACK YARD AND THE TRUCK GOES THROUGH THE GATE WITH THE BALE OF HAY IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK WITH NOT EVEN A HAIR OF ROOM LEFT ON EACH SIDE OF THE TRUCK AND FENSE. I HAVE 3 HILLS AND A SIDEWALK THAT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF MY BACK YARD TO THE LAKE. THE HAY NEEDS TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE LAKE BECAUSE HORSES EAT AND POOP ALL WINTER BY THE HAY AS THEY EAT. THE TRUCK DRAGS ON THE SIDEWALK AND THE HAY WON'T COME OFF THE TRUCK AS HE GUNS THE TRUCK TO GET THE HAY TO START ROLLING OFF THE TAIL GATE AND BED OF THE TRUCK WHEN WE GET TO THE BOTTOM OF MY BACK YARD.

 HE PARKS THE TRUCK AND HIM AND I BOTH GET UP IN THE TRUCK AND PUSH ON THE BALE WHICH WEIGHTS ABOUT 1500 LBS AND LOW AND BEHOLD IT STARTS TO ROLL AND OFF IT GOES INTO THE EXACT SPOT WE WANTED IT RIGHT UP AGAINST THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE WHERE THE HORSES GO INTO FOR SHELTER FROM THE RAIN AND COLD. SWEET SUCCESS !! WHEN MY HONEY TRIES TO DRIVE OFF HE IS STUCK ON THE SIDE WALK AND THE WHEELS ARE SPINNING ON THE SLICK GROUND. ALL OF A SUDDEN HE BACKS UP FLOOR BOARDS IT AND HE'S UP MY WHOLE BACK YARD AS FAST AS LIGHTENING. I RUN UP THE HILL LAUGHING ALL THE WAY. 

WHEN I REACH THE TRUCK HE HAS GOTTEN OUT AND IS PRAYING WITH HIS HANDS FOLDED RESTING ON THE BED OF THE TRUCK AND HE SAYS DEAR GOD IF JUDY ASK ME FOR ANOTHER ANIMAL PLEASE GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO SAY NO !! AFTER SEVERAL REPEATS OF THE SAME PRAYER WE GOT BACK INTO THE TRUCK AND HEADED TO THE RANCH AGAIN.

WHEN WE GET TO THE RANCH WHICH IS 5 MINUTES AWAY MY HONEY GETS HIS CHAIN SAW AND SAYS WE NEED TO CUT AND LOAD ALL THIS SEASONED CEDAR WOOD THAT IS 25 YRS OLD THAT USE TO BE HIS FENCE BEFORE HE REPAIRED IT WITH NEW WOOD.  HE CUT AND I LOADED THE FORD TRUCK UP WITH SEASONED 25 YR OLD  CEDAR CUT WOOD AND BROUGHT IT TO MY HOUSE TO ADD TO MY CORD OF GREEN OAK WOOD FOR MY FIRES TO START EASY AND BURN LONG AND SLOW. AFTER THAT'S OVER.

HONEY LEAVES ME AT HOME AT AROUND 5 PM AND SAYS IT'S SUPPOSE TO FREEZE TONIGHT I'VE GOT TO GET MY PLANTS IN. I THINK........." FREEZE"..... OH MY GOODNESS I HAVE TO GET MY PLANTS IN TOO. I BROUGHT IN 15 FERNS AND HIBISCUS PLANTS IN BIG POTS BY MYSELF. I THEN SAW ALL THE LEAVES IN MY POOL SO I TURNED ON THE POOL PUMP DIPPED ALL THE LEAVES OUT OF THE POOL AND LEFT IT RUNNING SO THE PIPES TO THE POOL AND MOTOR WON'T FREEZE BEFORE I CAN GET IT COVERED AND WINTERIZED. 

GUESS WHAT I'M DOING NOW ??? LOOKING FOR MY PRESCRIPTION PAIN PILLS LIKE IN THE PIC ABOVE TO EASE THE BODY ACHES AND PAINS THAT THE LAUGHING AND WORK DID TO MY BODY TODAY. IT ALWAYS MAKES LIFE SO MUCH FUN WHEN YOU HAVE A HONEY THAT HAS A TRUCK THAT HAS BALLS AS BIG AS HIS ARE.  LOL

THAT'S JUST ONE DAY AT OUR HOUSE AND THE RANCH WITH A MISSION IN MIND. I JUST WONDER WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING? 

IF I ONLY HAD MY CAMERA TO SEE THAT TRACTOR ROLL THAT HAY INTO THAT TRUCK BED AND THEN WATCH THAT TRACTOR ROLL OVER ON TOP OF THAT HAY IN THE BED OF THAT TRUCK WITH HIM SITTING ON TOP OF THE TRACTOR AND THE FRONT WHEELS OF THAT TRACTOR STICKING STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR OVER THE CAB OF THAT FORD TRUCK I KNOW I COULD WIN HOMES FUNNIEST VIDEOS. I JUST KNOW IT !!! THE LOOK ON HIS FACE WAS PRICELESS AND ME HOLDING MY CROUCH TO TRY AND KEEP FROM PEEING WAS THE FUNNEST THING I CAN EVER THINK OF. THE TRACTOR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS MATING THE TRUCK FROM BEHIND JUST LIKE THE HORSES DO.

MY HONEY ALWAYS SAYS IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMEONE GIVE THEM A HORSE. WELL HE GAVE ME TWO AND ONE IS PREGNANT. HUMMMMMMMMM ????

GOODNIGHT AND SLEEP TIGHT !!

REARRANGING OUR LIVING ROOM FOR FALL AND WINTER

ALL OF OUR PICS OF THE  REARRANGING WE DO FOR OUR FALL AND WINTER LOOK IN OUR LIVING ROOM IS IN THE BLOG BELOW. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ROOM TO WRITE AFTER I POSTED ALL OF THE PICS.

I'M STILL GETTING USE TO THIS JOURNALING HERE INSTEAD OF AOL. I DON'T HAVE THE HANG OF EVERYTHING HERE BUT I'M LEARNING AS I GO ALONG AS WE ALL ARE I THINK. 

TODAY WAS A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY SUNDAY.  MY DAUGHTER AND I OPENED THE LIVING ROOM WINDOWS AND STARTED TO MOVE FURNITURE AROUND TO MAKE THE MANTLE WITH OUR FLAT SCREEN AND THE FIREPLACE THE CENTER OF OUR ARRANGING FOR THE FALL AND THE WINTER. WE WORKED HARD. I ALSO BROUGHT IN SEVERAL OF MY FIRNS FROM AROUND THE SWIMMING POOL AND LOADED UP THE FIREWOOD HOLDER FOR ALL OF OUR FIRES IN THE FIREPLACE. NOW AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE POSTING BELOW WE HAVE A COZY PLACE TO SNUGGLE UP FOR THE FALL AND WINTER DAYS AND NIGHTS THAT ARE AHEAD OF US. 

WE NOW HAVE THE HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH AND LOTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE HOLIDAYS COMING UP. ( IN FACT WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE ARE HOPING SANTA BRINGS US, A BIG 52 INCH FLAT SCREEN FOR OUR MANTLE ) CAUSE WE SURE ARE TRYING TO BE GOOD GIRLS THIS YEAR. LOL 

ELIZABETH WENT TO A BACHLORETTE PARTY FRIDAY NIGHT AND CAME HOME A VERY SICK AND HUNG OVER LADY SAT MORNING AFTER HER SLEEP OVER WITH SOME FRIENDS SHE WENT OUT WITH. SHE SLEPT ALL SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS STILL SLUGGISH TODAY SHE WORKED VERY HARD HELPING ME. SHE SAID THEY HAD A REAL GOOD TIME AND THE BRIDE TO BE WAS VERY PRETTY ON THEIR NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN. 

MY HONEY AND I WENT TO THE MEMPHIS UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL GAME SATURDAY NIGHT. IT WAS VERY COOL BUT WE LAYERED OUR CLOTHS, TOOK HATS, GLOVES, SCARFS,  BLEACHER SEATS, BLANKETS AND HAD LOTS OF GREAT THINGS TO EAT AND SOME CROWN ROYAL FOR OUR SPRITES TO DRINK. ( NOT ENOUGH TO GIVE US A HANG OVER JUST A NICE WARM BUZZ IN THE NIGHT AIR ). IT WAS A GREAT GAME, WE WON AND FUN WAS HAD BY ALL. 

BESIDES REARRANGING FURNITURE BRINGING IN SOME OUTSIDE PLANTS AND WOOD FOR THE WINTER ELIZABETH AND I CAUGHT UP ON ALL OF OUR LAUNDRY. THAT'S WHY YOU SEE HER PASSED OUT IN THE RECLINER IN THE PICS BELOW. SHE HAS HELPED ME ALL DAY AND I LOVE HER FOR ALL HER HELP AND SUPPORT. 

WHILE WORKING WE WATCHED AN ELVIS MOVIE, STEAL MAGNOLIA'S AND PRETTY WOMAN. ALL OF THEM ARE SOME OF OUR ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIES. 

NOW I'M HEADED TOWARD MY BED AND THE CHANNEL CHANGER UNTIL THE SANDMAN COMES AND TAKES ME AWAY. AS SCARLET WOULD SAY TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY. I'M GOING TO VOTE EARLY AND SEE WHAT THE DAY HAS IN STORE FOR ME TOMORROW. 

REARRANGING OUR LIVING ROOM FOR FALL AND WINTER

1. 
   

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

TODAY I WOKE UP FOR THE SECOND DAY AFTER TAKING MY AUNT HOME. I REARRANGED MY HOME THE WAY I HAD IT BEFORE SHE CAME. 

I THEN WENT TO MY NEIGHBORS HOME AND CLEANED IT LIKE I DO ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. IT'S A BIG HOUSE BUT IT REALLY LOOKS NICE AFTER I FINISH CLEANING. I GET PAID VERY WELL FOR IT WHICH IS SUCH A BLESSING FOR ME. IT'S A TWO STORY HOUSE WITH LOTS OF WINDOWS AND HARDWOOD FLOORS. WHEN IT'S SHINED UP AND CLEANED IT REALLY SPARKLES AND IS SO PRETTY. THE BEST SURPRISE WAS WHEN I GOT THERE THEY WERE COOKING BREAKFAST AND HAD THE BEST OMLITS, FRESH TOMATOES OUT OF THERE GARDEN AND FRESH SWEET STRAWBERRIES WITH MILK AND JUICE. WHAT A PLEASURE TO HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL NEIGHBORS. 

AFTER I FINISHED I WENT TO THE RANCH AND WE HUNG OUT WITH THE ANIMALS WATCHING THE SUNSET. WE BOUGHT FIRE LOGS FOR OUR FIREPLACE AT HOME AND AT THE RANCH AND A BIG CAN OF 3 WAY POPCORN TO EAT THROUGH THE WINTER AT THE RANCH. WHEN THE ANIMALS CAME VISITING THEY ALL WANTED SOME TOO. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICS WE SHARED AND WE ENDED UP HAVING A PICNIC WITH PEANUT BUTTER CRACKERS POPCORN AND GREEN TEA WITH HTE ANIMALS. 

WE FED THE CHICKENS AND GAVE SOME SWEET FEED TO OUR OLD SKINNY MARE NAMED TRICKY. IT WAS BEGINNING TO GET WINDY AND REAL CHILLY SO WE CALLED IT A DAY AT THE RANCH AND I CAME ON HOME. I HAD A NICE HOT BOWL OF CHILLY. I LIT CANDLES, A FIRE, TURN ON MUSIC IN THE BACK OT THE HOUSE AND NOW I'M PLAYING ON THE COMPUTER AND WATCHING WIFE SWAP. YOU SEE I'M VERY GOOD AT MULTI-TASKING WHEN ALL THE THINGS I'M DOING IS SO MUCH FUN. 

I'M SO THANKFUL I'M NOT AT THAT STUPID JOB I QUIT AT THE CASINO AND THAT I HAVE MY HOME BACK TO MYSELF. I FEEL LIKE A QUEEN IN HER PALACE. 

MY DAUGHTER HAS A DANCE PROGRAM TONIGHT,  A FUN PARTY TO ATTEND AND THEN A BACLORETTE PARTY TO GO OUT TO. I THINK THE GIRLS WILL BE GETTING A LITTLE WILD ON BEALE STREET TONIGHT. MEN LOOK OUT.......... HERE COME THE YOUNG HOT LADIES READY TO P-A-R-T-Y !!!

IT'S A COZY NIGHT IN ALONE FOR ME TONIGHT AND I'M HAVING FUN WATCHING THE WIFE SWAP AND PLAYING ON THE COMPUTER. 

TAKING YEARS TO FIND OUT TRUE FAMILY HISTORY

MY AUNT JEWELL ( MY MOTHER'S SISTER ) IN THE PICS ABOVE HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY IN EARLY JULY. SHE WAS SENT TO A NURSING HOME FACILITY IN HER HOME TOWN FROM THE HOSPITAL IN NASHVILLE WHERE SHE WAS SENT FOR THE OPERATION. JEWELL STAYED A COUPLE OF MONTHS IN THE NURSING HOME. WHEN SHE HAD HER SURGERY THE DOCTOR PUT A FEEDING TUBE IN HER STOMACH BECAUSE HE DID NOT KNOW HOW SHE WOULD RECOVER AT THE AGE OF 88. WHEN THE NURSING HOME DISMISSED HER SHE NEEDED HOME HEALTH CARE. WHEN THE HOME HEALTH CARE PEOPLE WENT TO HER HOME THEY WOULD NOT LEAVE HER THERE BECAUSE OF THE POOR CONDITION OF THE HOUSE. SHE IS A TERRIBLE PACK RAT PERSON AND THE HOUSE WAS WITHOUT A BATHROOM AND NOT FIT FOR ANYONE TO LIVE IN. THEY MADE HER GO BACK TO THE NURSING HOME. MY AUNT JEWELL CALLED ME AND ASK ME TO COME AND GET HER.

I HAD HEARD ALL OF MY LIFE HOW HARD SHE WAS TO GET ALONG WITH, HOW MEAN SHE WAS AND THAT SHE HAD HER MOTHER ( MY GRANDMOTHER ) SIGN A WILL UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS AND DEATH THAT TOOK EVERYTHING AWAY FROM HER BROTHER AND MY MOTHER AND GIVEN TO HER.  JEWELL SERVED IN THE ARMY, HAD A CHILD AND GAVE HIM AWAY, SHE NEVER GOT MARRIED AND HAD LIVED LIKE A HERMIT ALL OF HER LIFE. ALTHOUGH I KNEW ALL OF THIS I SAID TO MYSELF THERE MAY COME A TIME WHEN I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME AND SAVE ME FROM BEING STUCK IN A NURSING HOME AGAINST MY WILL SO I DECIDED TO GO AND GET HER. JEWELL HAD KEPT UP WITH ME ALL MY LIFE BUT ONLY OVER THE PHONE AND A FEW SHORT VISITS. I KNEW I WAS HER ONLY HOPE OF GETTING OUT OF THAT NURSING HOME FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.

I WENT DOWN PICKED HER UP AND GAVE HER THE BEST TREATMENT I POSSIBLE COULD. I HAD JUST QUIT MY HELL JOB AT THE CASINO SO I HAD THE TIME. I COOKED, SERVED HER 3 MEALS A DAY, TOOK HER THE THE RANCH, SAT WITH HER OUT IN MY YARD AND SHOWED HER MY WONDERFUL COUNTRY LIVING WITH ALL MY ANIMALS INCLUDING THE RANCH AND MY HONEY. SHE SEEMED VERY HAPPY THE FIRST WEEK. MY MOTHER DIED WHEN I WAS 8 YRS OLD WHICH I DO NOT REMEMBER ANY THING ABOUT HER. THIS WAS MY CHANCE TO SEE MY GENES AND THINGS FIRST HAND OF WHO I AM FROM THAT SIDE OF MY FAMILY. WE HAD FUN AND EVERYTHING WAS WARM AND COZY.

THE SECOND WEEK I STARTED TO FIND THE WILL SHE HAD HER MOTHER SIGN. IT PLAINLY TOLD ME BY HER HAND WRITING THAT WHAT I HAD HEARD WAS TRUE. I KNEW IT BUT SEEING IT AND HEARING IT HAS TWO DIFFERENT WAYS OF AFFECTING YOU. JEWELL TURNED MEAN AND NOTHING I COULD DO WOULD PLEASE HER. SHE FUSSED, CUSSED AND TREATED MY DAUGHTER AND I LIKE WE WERE DIRT UNDER HER FEET. 

I TOOK IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND AFTER I LEARNED THAT AND EVERYTHING SHE HAD EVER TOLD ME FOR THE LAST 57 YRS WHICH IS ALL MY LIFE WAS A LIE I TOLD HER HOW MEAN SHE WAS AND ALL THE THINGS I KNEW SHE HAD DONE TO ALL OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS. I ALSO TOLD HER I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WOULD SAVE HER FROM THAT NURSING HOME AND NOW SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO TREAT ME  MEAN LIKE SHE HAD EVERYONE ALL OF HER LIFE. I TOLD HER I WASN'T GOING TO TOLERATE ANY MORE OF IT. I SAID I WOULD BE GOOD TO HER UNTIL SHE LEFT MY HOUSE BUT ON THE OTHER HAND SHE WAS GOING TO TREAT ME AND MY DAUGHTER WITH THE SAME KINDNESS.

SHE WAS HERE A MONTH. IT WAS HELL AND SHE IS THE DEVIL HERSELF. YESTERDAY I TOOK HER HOME, TO THE DOCTOR, TO THE GROCERY, TO THE BANK, TO THE POST OFFICE AND TO THE DRUG STORE. I UNLOADED ALL HER THINGS TOOK THEM IN AND SHE CUSSED ME OUT WHILE I WAS DOING IT. I TOLD MYSELF THIS IS HER DAY AND IF I HAVE TO WALK ON HOT COALS TO DO THIS WITH KINDNESS I'M GOING TO END THIS THE RIGHT WAY WITH LOVE AND DOING EVERYTHING SHE NEEDED DONE BEFORE I LEFT. 

IT TOOK ALL DAY LONG FROM 8 AM UNTIL 6PM. I WAS SO EMOTIONALLY NUTS AND PHYSICALLY WORN OUT BUT I ACCOMPLISHED IT ALL AND LEFT HUGGING HER AND NOT ACCEPTING ANY MONEY TELLING HER ALL I DID WAS ONLY OUT OF LOVE AND NOT TO STAY IN THAT HOUSE AND DIE. I TOLD HER IF SHE EVER NEEDED ANYTHING CALL ME AND I WILL TRY TO SEE IF I CAN HELP HER. 

MY FATHER AND MOTHER'S GRAVE WAS ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE JEWELL LIVES BESIDE A LITTLE CHURCH. AFTER I LEFT HER I WENT ACROSS THE STREET TO MY PARENTS GRAVE SIGHT WHICH YOU SEE IN THE PIC ABOVE. I LET ALL OF MY ANGER, DISAPPOINTMENT, HURT, MADNESS, AND FRUSTRATION AS WELL AS MY RELIEF OUT SITTING RIGHT THERE AS YOU SEE ME IN THE PIC BESIDE MY DADDY'S STONE ON HIS GRAVE BY CRYING. 

MY FATHER AS WELL AS I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A DEMOCRAT. HE WAS A UNION PAINTER AND PRESIDENT OF THE PAINTERS LOCAL UNION IN MEMPHIS BEFORE HE RETIRED. MY MOTHER DIED WHEN I WAS 8 YRS OLD AND MY FATHER RAISED ME ALONE AND ALSO DIED WHEN I WAS 29 YRS OLD. HE WAS THE HAPPIEST KINDEST SWEETEST MAN I HAVE EVER KNOWN. SINCE HE WAS SUCH A BIG DEMOCRAT I PUT THIS SIGN ON HIS GRAVE AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PIC. I HAD THE MOST WONDERFUL VISIT AT HIS GRAVE KNOWING I HAD DONE THE BEST TO HELP MY AUNT JEWELL NO MATTER HOW MEAN SHE WAS, JUST LIKE HE WOULD HAVE. I ALSO LEFT KNOWING I HAD DONE THE RIGHT THING EVEN IN THE FACE OF HATE AND DIFFICULTY AND THAT HE SOME HOW KNEW WHAT I HAD JUST FACED, DONE AND ACCOMPLISHED. I FELT HE HAD HIS LOVING ARMS AROUND ME AS HE ALWAYS HAD MY WHOLE LIFE AS A CHILD, A TEENAGER AND AS A YOUNG ADULT WHEN HE WAS HERE ON EARTH WITH ME AS I SAT THERE BESIDE HIS GRAVE. 

I AM SO THANKFUL TO BE WHO I AM BECAUSE OF THE MAN HE WAS AND THAT I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH IN MY LIFE TO BE RAISED BY SOMEONE SO LOVING, HARD WORKING TO KEEP HIM AND I TOGETHER AS A FAMILY IN THE EARLY 60'S WHEN IT WAS NOT HARDLY EVER HEARD OF A MAN RAISING A DAUGHTER ALONE AND HOW HAPPY AND SPECIAL HE WAS AND MADE OUR LIFE TOGETHER SEEM SO NORMAL WHEN IT WASN'T NORMAL AT ALL BUT HE MADE IT THAT WAY FOR US.

NOW MY HOUSE IS BACK TO MY HOME AND IT FEELS WONDERFUL TO BE FREE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE HAPPY AND WONDERFUL LIFE THAT I HAVE AND ENJOY EVERY DAY WITH MY DAUGHTER. 

 I WILL CONTINUE TO HELP OTHERS BUT I WILL NOT LET ANYONE COME LIVE IN MY HOME AGAIN. EVERY TIME I DO THEY HAVE TURNED INTO SATIN AND I HAVE HAD MANY IN THE LAST 26 YRS I HAVE LET LIVE HERE AND THE 10 YRS BEFORE I LIVED HERE IN OTHER PLACES TRYING TO HELP SOMEONE . IT JUST NEVER WORKS OUT AND I'M NEVER GOING TO OPEN MYSELF UP TO ABUSE IN MY OWN HOME AGAIN. MY HUSBAND DIED AND WORKED HARD ALL HIS LIFE TO GIVE ME THIS COMFORT AND STABILITY. IT WAS MEANT FOR ME NOT FOR ME TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE WHO ABUSE ME OR MY DAUGHTER. 

YOU CAN KNOW SOMEONE ALL YOUR LIFE AND TRULY NEVER REALLY KNOW THEM.

ANOTHER LESSON BOUGHT AND PAID FOR.

NOW MY POSTING WILL BE ON A MUCH LIGHTER NOTE AFTER THIS JOURNAL. LOL 

WHAT A SURPRISE

THIS AFTERNOON WHILE I WAS COMING THROUGH THE GATE IN MY BACK YARD WITH A BUCKET OF SWEET FEED I WAS WALKING PAST WILDFIRE ( THE 6 MONTH OLD COLT  DARKER ONE WITH WHITE SOCKS ) AND AFTER I PASSED HER TO TAKE THE SWEET FEED A LITTLE FARTHER DOWN INTO THE YARD SHE HALED OFF AND KICKED ME RIGHT IN MY LEFT BUTT CHEEK. I WAS JUST HAPPY I WAS A GOOD DISTANCE AWAY FROM HER AND DIDN'T GET HURT TO MUCH.  OH I FOR SURE FELT IT BUT I'M NOT REALLY HURT. MY BUTT CHEEK IS SORE THOUGH. 

 THE WAY THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING WITH MY AUNT BEING SO DIFFICULT THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I GUESS THIS IS JUST ANOTHER KICK IN THE BUTT FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON JUST BECAUSE HE FELT LIKE IT ! LOL 

I KNOW ONE THING I WON'T GET CLOSE ENOUGH FOR HIM TO DO IT AGAIN. ANNIE HIS MOTHER IS SO TAME BUT SHE HAS BEEN RIDDEN FOR SO MANY YEARS BY SO MANY PEOPLE AND HE IS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD AND NEVER HAD ANYTHING BUT PETTING. IT'S COOLING OFF AND ALL THE HORSES ARE GETTING FRISKIER THESE DAYS.

TOMORROW IS MY LAST DAY AND THEN IT'S OFF TO TAKE MY AUNT HOME. SHE IS VERY READY AND I'M VERY READY FOR HER TO BE HOME WHERE SHE WILL BE HAPPY TOO. 

I STILL HAVE MY COLD BUT I THINK IT IS GETTING BETTER. I'M OFF TO SNOOZE AND HOPEFULLY GET EVEN BETTER. 

I THINK I NAMED WILDFIRE THE PERFECT NAME AFTER THAT SWIFT KICK IN THE ASS I GOT TODAY FROM HIM. HE CERTAINLY IS LIVING UP TO HIS NAME. LOL 

MY AUNT JEWELL

THIS IS MY AUNT JEWELL TAKEN THIS PAST SAT. AT AN ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD FALL FISH FRY WE HAVE ON OUR LAKE TWICE A YEAR WHERE I LIVE. WE HAVE ONE IN THE SPRING AND ONE IN THE FALL. EVERYONE BRINGS A DISH AND WE HAVE THE BEST FRESH FISH COOKED OUT BY THE LAKE I HAVE EVER TASTED WHILE WE ARE ALL GATHERED TOGETHER FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S GREAT FUN AND SO BEAUTIFUL AND YUMMY !!

AUNT JEWELL IS 88 YRS OLD. SHE HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY THE FIRST OF JULY AND STAYED IN A NURSING HOME WHILE RECOVERING FOR ABOUT 2 AND A HALF MONTHS. I PICKED HER UP BECAUSE THEY GAVE HER A FEEDING TUBE DURING THE SURGERY IN CASE SHE DID NOT RECOVER AS WELL AS SHE DID AND IF THEY NEEDED TO USE IT. THEY DID NOT WANT HER TO GO HOME BY HER SELF WITH THE TUBE IN. SHE HAS BEEN WITH ME ABOUT 3 WEEKS OR SO. SHE IS EATING GREAT AND WE NEVER HAVE TO USE THE FEEDING TUBE AT ALL. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE HER HOME ON WED. AND TO THE DOCTOR FOR A FOLLOW UP AND TO HAVE HER TUBE REMOVED. SHE HAS GAINED 8 LBS AND STRENGTH SINCE I PICKED HER UP AND WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT ON HER OWN NOW. 

AS I SAID IN AN EARLIER BLOG AUNT JEWELL WAS IN THE ARMY AS A SURGICAL TECHNICIAN AND WORKED AS A X-RAY TECHNICIAN FOR 20 YRS FOR THE STATE OF TN. BEFORE SHE RETIRED. SHE HAS NEVER BEEN MARRIED AND LIVED ALONE ALL HER LIFE IN HER PARENTS HOUSE THAT THEY HAD BUILT IN THE COUNTRY. SHE NURSED BOTH HER PARENTS UNTIL THEY DIED IN THEIR 90'S AND MY MOTHER ( HER SISTER ) WHO DIED

FROM STOMACH CANCER WHEN I WAS 8 YRS OLD. MY FATHER RAISED ME ALONE AND NEVER REMARRIED. HE DIED FROM A HEART ATTACK WHEN I WAS 29 YRS OLD. MY DADDY WAS THE KINDEST SWEETEST AND HAPPIEST MAN THAT EVER WALKED THE EARTH. 

MY AUNT JEWELL IS LITTLE BUT SHE HAS A LOT OF SPIT FIRE IN HER AND SHE WILL GIVE YOU HELL SHOULD I SAY IF THINGS JUST DOESN'T SUIT HER JUST RIGHT. I CAN HANDLE HER EVEN THEN THOUGH. SHE IS HOME SICK BECAUSE SHE HASN'T BEEN HOME IN 4 MONTHS. SHE IS HOME BOUND AND WILL BE HAPPIER WHEN SHE ARRIVES. WE HAVE HAD A FEW ROUNDS SINCE SHE HAS BEEN HERE BUT I UNDERSTAND SHE IS HOME SICK AND JUST WANTS TO GO HOME. I HAVE WORKED IN A LIVING ASSISTANT HOME BEFORE SO I'M VERY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT MOOD CHANGES WHEN THE ELDERLY CAN'T GO HOME JUST WHEN THEY WANT TO. 

SHE HAS ALWAYS HAD COLLIE DOGS LIKE LASSIE. WHILE SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL HER COLLIE WAS OLD AND HE DIED. SHE HAS BEEN VERY SAD ABOUT THAT AT TIMES WHILE SHE HAS BEEN HERE. 

SHE WANTS ANOTHER ONE SO MUCH BUT WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING UNDER $500.00 AND SHE CAN'T REALLY AFFORD THAT. I'M TRYING TO TALK HER INTO ANOTHER BREED MAYBE FROM THE POUND. SHE WANTS A BIG BREED TO SCARE PEOPLE BECAUSE SHE LIVES ALONE AND HAS ALWAYS HAD BIG DOGS ESPECIALLY COLLIES.

 MAYBE TOMORROW WE MAY GO LOOK TO SEE IF SHE SPOTS ONE AT THE SHELTER SHE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE HOME WITH HER. SHE WANTS A PUPPY. I'M KIND OF TORN ABOUT GETTING IT BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF SHE REALLY NEEDS THAT KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY AT THIS TIME. SHE WANTS ONE SO MUCH IT IS VERY HARD TO SAY NO TO HER ESPECIALLY HOW SHE SAYS I WANT HAVE A DOG WHEN I GET HOME.  WE WILL SEE WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS FOR US. 

THE ONE THING SHE HAS ENJOYED ARE ALL THE ANIMALS I HAVE WHILE SHE HAS BEEN STAYING HERE WITH ME. SHE HAS ALWAYS LIVED IN THE COUNTRY IN HER HOUSE AND HAD CHICKENS, ROOSTERS, GANNIE'S, GEESE, TURKEYS AND RODE HORSES WHEN SHE WAS GROWING UP. SHE HAS CHICKENS, ROOSTER AND A CAT AT HOME WAITING ON HER SO IF WE DON'T GET THAT PUPPY RIGHT NOW I'M SURE SHE WILL BE OK UNTIL SHE IS ABLE TO GET ONE. 

MY AUNT JEWELL REMINDS ME OF DRIVING MISS DAISY AND ACTS LIKE HER. LOL 

WITH FALL IN THE AIR

IT'S ALWAYS MEANS IT'S TIME TO GET THE HAY BALES BROUGHT IN FOR ALL THE HORSES DURING THE WINTER. WE GOT 15 BALES THIS LOAD AND WILL END UP WITH 30 ALL TOGETHER. WE PUT OUT TWO BALES AT A TIME FOR THE HORSES TO GET TO.

WE WILL BE PUTTING 1 WHOLE BALE IN MY BACK YARD FOR MY WELSH MARE MOTHER AND HER COLT. I WANT IT TO BE PLACED CLOSE TO MY HOUSE IN THE YARD SO I WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THEM GRAZE ON IT FROM MY BIG PICTURE WINDOW IN MY BEDROOM. INSTEAD OF LOOKING OUT AT MY POOL AND FOUNTAIN WHICH WILL BE COVERED AND CLOSED FOR THE WINTER INSTEAD I CAN SIT BY MY WINDOW AND SEE MY HORSES GRAZING ALL WINTER BY MY FIREPLACE. 

I PUT THE WELSH HORSE AND HER COLT IN MY FENCED IN LOT NEXT DOOR TO MY HOUSE AS WELL AS IN MY YARD. THEY CAN GO ANYWHERE THEY WANT FROM MY FRONT YARD TO MY BACK YARD AS WELL AS INTO MY LOT NEXT DOOR. IN JUST A FEW WEEKS THEY HAVE CLEARED OUT ALL OF THE UNDER BRUSH IN MY WOODED LOT NEXT TO MY HOUSE  BY EATING IT ALL OUT. IT LOOKS SO PRETTY TO SEE DOWN BETWEEN ALL THE BEAUTIFUL HUGE TREES AND SEE THE LAKE TOO AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT LOT. THEY WERE TAME WHEN I PUT THEM IN MY YARD BUT NOW WHEN THEY SEE ME COME OUT OF THE HOUSE THEY COME RUNNING STRAIGHT WHINNYING ALL THE WAY TO ME NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE AND THEY ARE SO LOVING. I RODE THE MOTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME BARE BACK YESTERDAY.  SHE HAS NOT  HAD A BIT IN HER MOUTH IN TEN YEARS BUT SHE DID GREAT. I JUST RODE HER AROUND THE YARD BUT WHEN I GET MORE SECURE RIDING HER BAREBACK ( WHICH IS MY FAVORITE WAY TO RIDE ) I'M GOING TO TAKE HER AROUND THE STREETS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S SO SWEET HOW HER 6 MOTHER OLD BABY JUST FOLLOWS US AROUND SIDE BY SIDE WHEN I RIDE THE MOTHER. 

I JUST LOVE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR AND HAVE BEEN ENJOYING HOW FRISKY ALL THE HORSES ARE WITH THE COOLNESS IN THE AIR. IT WAS SO FUNNY TO WATCH MY POODLES AND MY HORSES RUNNING AROUND TOGETHER TODAY. MY CAT JOINED IN ON ALL THE FUN BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAMERA WITH ME SO I MISSED SOME GREAT PICS. IT WAS SO FUNNY WATCHING HORSES POODLES AND CATS ROMPING IN THE YARD TOGETHER. 

WHEN ALL THE HAY BALES CAME IN ON THE TRUCK AND FLAT BED TRAILER AT THE RANCH ALL THE HORSES CAME RUNNING IN A STAMPEDE FROM WAY DOWN BY THE LAKE. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL WATCHING 30 HORSES RUNNING LIKE THAT TOGETHER ACROSS THE FIELD IN BETWEEN THE FALL COLORED TREES. YOU CAN FEEL AND HEAR THE POWER OF THEM ALL RUNNING ON THE GROUND AS THEY APPROACH THE FLAT BED TRAILER WITH ALL THE BALES OF HAY ON IT. I WAS THE GATE KEEPER AND MY JOB WAS TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE FENCED IN FIELD WE WERE PUTTING ALL THE BALES IN TO STORE THEM UNTIL WE GET READY TO SET 2 BALES AT A TIME OUT FOR THE HORSES TO EAT ON ALL THROUGH THE WINTER. 

TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY OF FUN WITH THE ANIMALS SO I BETTER TAKE SOME MED. FOR MY COLD AND HIT THE HAY. 

I WILL BE TAKING MY AUNT HOME ON WED. SHE IS WELL ENOUGH TO MAKE IT ON HER OWN NOW. I HAVE BEEN STAYING AWAY FROM HER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS HOPING I DO NOT GIVE HER MY COLD BEFORE SHE GOES HOME. SHE HAD BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME AND MY HOUSE FOR 4 MONTHS AND SHE IS SO HOMESICK. SHE WILL BE MUCH HAPPIER WHEN SHE GETS HOME. SHE ONLY HAS 2 MORE DAYS TO GO. 

TAKING MY AUNT HOME

I PICKED UP MY AUNT FROM A NURSING HOME AFTER SHE HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY. SHE IS READY TO GO HOME AND I THINK THAT SHE IS ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF HERSELF AT THIS TIME. SO WHEN I WAKE UP IT'S A ROAD TRIP AHEAD OF ME FOR TOMORROW. 

IT'S BEEN A STRESSFUL DAY SO I AM HEADED TO BED TO GET A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP SO THE TRIP TO TAKE HER HOME WILL BE AN EASY TRANSITION FOR HER.

I WILL START OUT EARLY SO I CAN GET ON BACK HOME AND MISS A LOT OF THE TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. 

MY AUNT IS VERY HOME SICK AND HAS RECOVERED VERY WELL FROM HER SURGERY. SO HOME WE WILL GO. I THINK SHE WILL BE MUCH HAPPIER AT HOME WHERE SHE WANTS TO BE. SO UNTIL I RETURN TOMORROW I HOPE EVERYTHING GOES WELL AND IT'S AN EASY TRIP 

WHEN FRIENDS AND FAMILY NEED HELP.

Then is the time to do what each of us can to help the ones in need. You never know when the shoe will be on the other foot and you will be the one who will be needing the help.  I believe in karma and what goes around will surely come around. 

Today one of my Honey's oldest friends called. He had been living in his sister's house who was in a nursing home. She died and the family took it away from him. He is now living with his son who talked him into putting his name on his bank account. Well need I say more the son took his money and the man is 84 yrs old.  We went to visit him and he told us how bad his son was treating him. We got his bank account fixed back with only his name on it. Tomorrow my Honey is taking him to the VA Hospital and get him started into the system so he can go to a living assistant home free of charge in Humboldt Tn. where he will be taken care of , where he will have a social life and he won't have his son mistreating him and he will be able to keep the money that he has worked all his life for and get first rate health care. The VA living assistant home in Humboldt is one of the best. I use to work in one and they really are a fun place to be for the residents and most of all, all of their needs are taken care of in a kind environment with lots of social activity. 

I got my diamond ring remounted today and it is beautiful. My Honey got it fixed for me. We also went to a little country store and ate on the patio next to the most beautiful rose garden I have ever seen. It had every color rose bush I have ever seen in it. I just love fall days colored leaves and summer flowers still blooming. 

I cleaned my pool and put chemicals in it today to keep it that Hawaiian Blue. I fed my horses. Since my Honey fenced in my wooded lot all I have to do is go down to the brick house by the lake and start calling them and they come running. They know it means hay and sweet feed and lots of brushing and petting. 

I had a nice visit this morning from my friend I use to work with. We sat in my back yard and watched the sun coming over my trees as the fountain in my pool sprayed up making rainbows in the sunlight. It was a great start to a nice day. 

My aunt has been pretty happy today watching the news, reading the paper and puttying around the house. 

My daughter is off work and gone to dance class. She has some new dance shoes she is anxious to dance in. She takes ballet, modern, jazz, African, hip hop and ball room. I love to dance and have danced all my life. I learned from my aunt that my mother was the best dancer around her home town. We all get it from her. My mom died when I was 8 yrs old so I only know what my family tells me abut her. 

I'm fixing to watch the Presidential Debate and watch my man give it his best tonight. Yesterday My Honey and I went to the head quarters for some signs and bumper stickers for our home. My Honey was a Big Political figure before he retired. While we were at the head quarters we were ask to have a Big Political Rally at our Ranch. My Honey told them sure they could certainly have it there. As the plans progress I will be talking more about it. 

Until later happy trails and lots of peace and happiness to all of you bloggers out there. 

Love Judy Pearl

HAPPY TO BE HERE

HI 

THIS IS MY FIRST ENTRY HERE.  I USE TO JOURNAL SEVERAL YRS AGO AT AOL. I STOPPED JOURNEYING THERE AND WENT TO MY SPACE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AOL JOURNEYING IS GOING TO END SOON. EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT JOURNAL THERE I STILL HAVE MANY ALERTS THAT I STILL KEEP UP WITH AND I HOPE I WILL BE ABLE TO FIND SOME OF MY FAVORITES AND WHERE THEY ALL GO TO. 

I HAVE DECIDED THAT I WOULD ALSO LIKE A PLACE LIKE THIS TO WRITE MY DAILY THOUGHTS AND THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO ME ON A DAILY BASES. 

MY HUSBAND AND 4 YR OLD GRANDSON WAS KILLED IN A FAMILY AUTO ACCIDENT TEN YRS AGO. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE GRIEVING PROCESS AND HAVE HEALED. THERE IS NOT A DAY I DON'T THINK OF THEM BUT GRIEVING IS A PROCESS AND AT THE END OF THAT PROCESS IS ACCEPTANCE AND THE ABILITY TO GO ON AND LIVE YOUR LIFE IN PEACE HAPPINESS AND TO BE ABLE TO HELP OTHERS.

I AM TAKING CARE OF MY 88 YR OLD AUNT ( MY MOTHER'S SISTER ) WHO JUST HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY UNTIL SHE IS ABLE TO GO HOME AND LIVE ON HER ON AGAIN. 

I WILL BE BLOGGING ABOUT HER AS THERE ARE GOOD AND HAPPY TIMES AS WELL AS THINGS TO LAUGH ABOUT AND HOW WE ARE DOING ON A DAILY BASES.  IT'S NOT ALL ROSES AS SHE HAS NEVER BEEN MARRIED SERVED IN THE ARMY  AND ALWAYS LIVED ON HER ON. ALL ROSES HAS IT'S THORNS SO THAT IS ONLY TO BE EXPECTED. I CAN LAUGH ABOUT TOTALLY EVERYTHING EVEN IF IT'S BAD AFTER A TIME TO ROLL IT ALL AROUND IN MY THOUGHTS.  THIS IS A WAY FOR ME TO DO JUST THAT IN MY BLOGS.

I USE TO WORK IN A CASINO FOR 6 YRS AFTER MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED. I COULDN'T TAKE THE CASINOS ABUSE ANY LONGER SO I QUIT ABOUT A MONTH AGO. YOU HAVE TO WORK NIGHTS EVERY HOLIDAY AND EVERY WEEKEND. 6 YRS WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH OF THAT CRAP. I LOVED WHO I WORKED WITH BUT I WAS SO BURNT OUT WHEN I QUIT THAT IT TOOK ME 22 DAYS TO BE NORMAL AND RESTED. I'M SO THANKFUL THAT ALL OF THAT IS IN MY PAST. 

TODAY I WENT TO THE RANCH AND SPENT TIME WITH MY HONEY MENDING FENCES AND PLAYING WITH ALL OF OUR ANIMALS. 

I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE AND ALL COMMENTS AND VISITS ARE WELCOME. 

YOUR FRIEND AND BLOGGER  JUDY