Almost Wordless Wednesday

Screwy Word Verifications

J.D. has been under the weather all day today. The pollen is so heavy right now and he has been out in it the past few days. As a result his allergies have started kicking up a fuss and has him sniffling, sneezing and coughing. So he toddled off to bed early tonight. I know he would appreciate it if you dropped by his blog, J.D.'s Soap Box to wish him a speedy recovery.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you have visited any of the blogs that have the word verification in there comments section, then you have no doubt noticed how completely wild the letters have become. I think I know the reason for this........ Instead of me giving you the breaking news I am going to send you to visit Gene at Turning The Pages Of Life . Until I read this on his blog I didn't have a clue. While you are there check out his other postings, you'll be glad you did and tell him Jo sent you.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Well folks, it is off to dreamland for me. Wishing you all a blessed evening and a day of sunshine tomorrow. ~Jo

Meaningful Monday

I am a little bit late getting my Meaningful Monday posted. We had errands to run today. With gas prices so high and the fact that we live 30 minutes from town, we are trying to combine as much as we can into each trip to town. By doing that it means that when we leave the mountain we are going to be gone for a while. I have tried to remember to bring the camera with me since the beginning of the month just so we could get pictures of this display. I remembered today!!

Now I bet you are asking "What's with all of the pinwheels?" That is exactly what I asked when I saw this display last year.

When you read the sign, all of those pinwheels brings about a pretty sobering effect. 409 cases of child abuse in one county in Ohio. Like the sign says...... "and those are only the ones reported." It makes me wonder how many reported cases of child abuse was there for the entire state? How many reported cases of child abuse was there for the entire nation? I am sure that those numbers reflect physical and sexual abuse, but not emotional/verbal abuse. Emotional/verbal abuse can be just as damaging as its siblings sexual and physical abuse. It lays deep rooted in the mind and soul of the abused child and plays an intricate part in a child's development the same as the other forms of abuse. The difference being that because there are no visible bruising, cuts, breaks, etc. it is often overlooked by others who can help stop the abuse. What a very sad life these children live, at least those children that live through the abuse.


I know that many people are thinking there wasn't this much abuse years ago when they were growing up. I think there was, we just didn't hear about it as much. It was for the most part not talked about. Pretty much like divorce, alcoholism or unwed pregnant women were not talked about. All of these things were locked away within the walls of a house and kept secret. So many people are very uncomfortable with the topic of abuse. That needs to change, because a child that is being abused needs someone that will stand up for them and be heard. Many times abused children remain quiet about this awful thing that is happening to them because they have been made to believe that they were at fault and deserve what is happening to them.

I checked Wikipedia for their definition of child abuse. Check it out, you might find it interesting. If you are a parent or grandparent of a child still at home, take a good look at your children and give them a big hug and say a little prayer of thanksgiving for being trusted with such a wonderful gift. If you are an abusive parent, please look at your children and give them a big hug and say a little prayer that you will be forgiven for mistreating that wonderful gift that you were trusted with and Please, Please seek help before it is too late.

Wishes for a blessed week to all. ~Jo

Sunday Sunshine

As I was sitting on the pergola the other day I took a picture of my rock garden with the creeping phlox just starting to bloom.

After a few days of sunshine and warmth this is what it looked like. I need to either thin out the phlox or add more rocks. I think adding more rocks will be the easier solution and I'm all for easier.

Melody has been shopping at the garden center. She found these really unique toad stools and got them for me to put in my flower beds with my fairies.

These two cuties were her latest find. I think they are adorable. She called me yesterday to see if I have room for some of the plants that she needs to thin out. Well of course I do!!! Now all I need to do is get out there and get their new home ready for them.
Now let's all hear a round of applause for me. The baby blanket that I started when there was snow on the ground is finally finished. Yes, the new great grand baby won't have to wait until he is going off to pre~school to get this little gift. His arrival date is creeping up on us..... Just another month to go.

I thought I would share with you pictures of the beautiful gift that Angela (my daughter through marriage) sent to me for my birthday. Her husband, Nick works for ConocoPhillips and is overseeing the construction of a new refinery in Abu Dhabi, which is where they are living for the time being.

Two hot pads

and two throw pillow covers.

You should be able to click on the pictures to enlarge them so you can better see the detail. All of the embroidery is hand stitched.

I know, I wouldn't have the patience to do this. Even if I dared to try, it would take me two years to complete the hot pad and probably five years to complete a throw pillow cover.

~Have a beautiful Sunday~

A Charming Proposal

We had the pleasure of attending the high school drama club's presentation of "A Charming Proposal" last night. It is a play that was written by Delmar Burkitt. Our Britt played the role of Mrs. McNelly (green dress with cream colored shawl)and her boyfriend Gerad (gypsy with white shirt and red pants)played the role of Paddy. G'pa got some good pictures which we have made into a slide show to share with you. Enjoy!

Mysti and Mike both tagged me for this meme.

Rules of the game:

- Link to the person who tagged you.- Post their rules on your blog.
- Write six random things about yourself.
- Tag six random people by linking to their blogs.
- Let each of the six know they’ve been tagged by leaving them a comment (on their blogs).
- Let your tagger know when your entry is up.


6 Completely random facts about me:

1. Easter fell on my first birthday (April 9, 1950) and in 59 years has never fallen on it again. According to an old almanac I read once, Easter will fall on my birthday again when I am in my 70s.
2. I am 1/4 Cherokee and have tried to instill some of the Native American ways of living into my children and now into my grandchildren. We are, but visitors in this world and should treat the gifts we have been given with care and respect. We should walk softly on our journey through life so the beauty of mother earth is still here for future generations to enjoy.
3. I believe that we are visited by aliens (and not the kind that come from Mexico illegally). I find it difficult to believe that in this big universe with all the other planets out there, that our planet would be the only one that is inhabited by people and animals. Of course there is the scientific view point that people could not exist on this planet or that planet for one reason or another. Perhaps 'WE' couldn't exist there, but who is to say that there isn't a life form that can actually exist out there?
4. I have smoked the biggest part of my life, but was able to lay the cigarettes down and walk away from them on June 15th of last year. I was able to do this with thanks to the help of a Rx called Chantix and the love and support of my family. The only time I feel the desire for a cigarette is when I am under a lot of stress and when I think of how much weight I have gained. The weight gain isn't all due to kicking the habit, most of it is due to other meds that I am taking.
5. I feel closer to God right here in our mountain top home at the edge of the woods with all the sounds of nature wrapped around me, than any place else on earth.
6. There are few music styles that I dislike. My musical tastes are wide and varied. The only "Music" that I just can not stand to listen to is Rap music or music that is more screaming and yelling than there is actually music.

Now you know six random things about me. I don't think I will actually tag anyone for this because it has made it around the block a few time. Let me say though that if there is anyone that has not done this one and would like to share six ramdom things about yourself with us please do so and let me know so I can come and read it.

~* ~

I have put a couple of doctor's visits behind me this month. Yesterday I had an appointment with our family doctor as a check-up. He has been adjusting one of the medications he has me on for fibromyalga (Elivil) and has me where he thinks he wants me for a while. Which translates to 'I don't have to see him again for 3 months'. My Rheumotologist has started me on Neurontin for the fibromyalgia. He knows that I am taking the Elivil and doesn't see a problem with me taking both. I can't say much for either or both of them helping with the pain, but they sure do help me sleep. I have been sleeping until 7:30 or 8:00 most every morning. That is a lot of "zzzzzzzzzzzzs" for someone that not more than a month ago was up every morning between 4:30 to 5:30 after fighting to try and sleep all night. We will just have to take it one day at a time and go from there. Next week I am to adjust the dosage on the Neurontin to taking two a day instead of just the one. That may bring about some pain relief.

~*~

Tomorrow promises to be a busy day. Of course the first part of the day is Seth Day. I received a call from our Amy yesterday saying that she would be home from Kentucky for the day so we are meeting her and Frank after 4:00 for some catch up time. At 7:00 we will meet Tersie and go to watch Britt perform in her Drama Club play. That will be a full day for us. I need to be sure to put the camera where we won't forget to take it with us.

I don't want to waste away such a beautiful day so I am going to sign off for now. Have a beautiful blessed day. ~Jo

Earth Day 2008

I wonder how many people think about Earth Day and then just dismiss it with a thought something like this: "I know that we need to make some changes to stop global warming and to help this cause, but I'm just one person. How is that going to make a difference?" Actually I can see this sort of thinking as part of the reason we ended up with the environmental problems we have today. You would be surprised at just what an impact one person can make. I highly recommend watching the documentary, " The Human Footprint". It will be aired Wednesday, April 23rd at 5:00 Eastern Standard Time on the National Geographic Channel. I was able to watch a little of it the other day. I plan on watching the whole thing Wednesday. I was blown away by the information that they gave.

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
~ Joyce Kilmer

I was taught as a child that for every action there is a reaction. We just can't continue to take what God has so freely given without giving something back, before it all catches up with us. We are already seeing results of living this way in the climate changes. Right now I think we are just getting a glimpse of things to come. Perhaps what we should refer to as Our Wake Up Call.

How beautiful is this? Well I am here to tell you that this doesn't look bad compared to what they have done to the woods that leads up the mountain to our house. It is heartbreaking to say the least and looks like a war zone. I was going to get some pictures of it to post here, but thought I would save that for another post. Since we have moved here it has been a parade of critters that we have crossed paths with. A couple of winters ago before the loggers started raping our mountain side we had the pleasure of seeing a young Bobcat in the field next to the house. Bobcats have been extinct in the state of Ohio for a long time and are just recently starting to move back into the area. I think if I was a Bobcat I would pack up and hightail it back to where I came from, if all of my woods were being destroyed.

Here are a few links that can better tell you ways that you can do your part for the environment.

• Project Green TV
• The Green Guide
• Personal Emissions Calculator
• Earth Day Family Activities
• Kaboose
• Earth Day Network
• The Human Footprint (I have added this link for those that are not able to get the National Geographic Channel.)

~ Jo

Meaningful Monday

One of the greatest gifts given to us is

THE GIFT OF CHOICE

~LOVE~

We can choose to believe that we are unlovable

because of a past that is clouded by another's

unloving words and actions.

~JOY~

We can choose to suffer the depression

which has followed us into adult life.

We can continue to believe

that every bad thing that has ever

happened to us is our own fault,

merely because we were taught

at an early age that this was true.

~PEACE~

We can choose to constantly struggle

with the memories of abuse

and mistreatment.

~PATIENCE~

We can choose to give up all hope

for a brighter tomorrow because

the journey there takes too long.

~KINDNESS~

We can choose to lash out at others

because of the unkindness we have known.

~GOODNESS~

We can choose to believe that there

is no goodness in the world

and live our lives accordingly.

~FAITHFULNESS~

We can choose to be unfaithful

to those who have put trust in us.

We can choose to justify this by,

believing that trust is always broken.

~GENTLENESS~

We can choose to be forceful,

demanding, and violent because

that is how we were raised.

~SELF-CONTROL~

We can choose to loose control

and strike out at anyone that

gets in the way of all our other choices,

be they right or wrong.

~OR~

We can choose to look at the sunrise

of each new day as a promise.

The promise of new beginnings.

A new beginning that will not

allow the pain and problems of the

past to rule the present.

YOUR DAY

YOUR CHOICE

© 2000 Jo Riley Dupree

Happy Birthday Riley

Yesterday was Riley's Birthday Party. It was planned for the park, but the weather just didn't co-operate with us. I have put together a --> slide show <-- (Click for slide show) of the festivities to share. As a point of interest, Riley wants to be a fireman when he grows up. I am also trying to add a clip of the birthday boy blowing out his candles on his cake. Wish me luck!

This clip has sound so you might want to page down to

My Play List on the side bar and turn it off before playing the clip.

"Happy Birthday Riley"

Easy Does It

If I am anything, it is I am persistent. Every time I watch this movie clip I smile. I just wish there was some way to protect these little guys from all of the hurt and pain that comes with life..... ~Jo (aka G'ma)

On The Road Again.....

I have been meeting myself coming and going since my last post. Wednesday Britt and T~Bear spent the night with us. Since we live outside of their school district we needed to pick them up after school. While I was waiting for T~Bear to get out of school some woman came over to the car and called me by name and asked how I have been doing, when did I move back from Louisiana and how much she had missed seeing me around. Then she went on to say that she was just telling Kenny (I don't recall who Kenny is) the other day that I was her favorite person of everyone that worked at Wal-Mart (which has been at least 9 years ago). I don't have a clue who this woman was and still can't recall her. I did tell her how sweet she was to say I was her favorite person. Back to Britt and T~Bear. Britt is in the Drama Club and had play practice from 7 til 9 so after eating dinner we drove her back to school and went to visit with Chris and Melody and the boys while we waited for her. I really was stressing over getting the girls to school on time Thursday morning. We live 30 minutes from town and I needed to allow time for the possibility of getting caught behind a school bus on the way and other traffic. As it turned out we were about 35 minutes early...... All that stress for nothing. They were up and getting ready on the first call. I don't recall many times that their mother or their Uncle Chris ever did that.

I spoiled them with sausage gravy and biscuits for breakfast. We really enjoy it when the grandchildren are here.

I learned an interesting detail from Britt. She has participated in the "Quiz Bowl" for several years now. I asked her if she would be taking part again this year and she told me that she was busy with other activities and forgot to get her application in. She said that by the time she thought about it it was too late to get her drug test.. ??????????????? My response was. "A drug test to take part in the Quiz Bowl?" She said that everyone that takes part in any extra curricular activities has to be tested for drugs. I have mixed feelings about this. I know it has been a couple of years since I went to school, but as I remember it, the kids that did drugs seldom, if ever, took part in anything extra that went on at school. If that is still the case, it seems as if the kids that are most likely doing drugs are slipping through the cracks. If they are going to do drug tests I think it should be random testing on the total student body.

Today was Seth Day and when we arrived we were greeted by Riley. He is so excited because his birthday is coming up on the 23rd. His Birthday Party will be tomorrow though. G'ma and G'pa will take some pictures to share. It is so hard to believe that he is going to be 5 years old. Come fall he will be going off to Kindergarten. He is already counting to 100 and reading sentences. ..... I just don't know where the time goes.

Of course right behind Riley, we were greeted by Mama and Seth. He is such a sweety and G'Pa's Boy. He has learned something new so we did a clip of it to show you. I tried to add it to this posting, but I am having a problem with it. As soon as I can figure out how to post it on my blog I will share it with you.

One last note of interest, this morning a little after 5:30 I was checking my e-mail and I heard the house making noises and the computer monitor was shaking. It was just for a minute and then it quit. I dismissed it and then later heard on the news about the earthquake. The time was right, so I figure that must be what it was. What I experienced though was so faint and quick, had I been asleep it wouldn't have been noticed at all.

Have a Great Day..... ~Jo

Are You Ready?

In honor of Tax Day tomorrow I thought I would post this little poem that was sent to me a while ago.At first I thought this was funny...

then I realized the awful truth of it.

Tax his land,

Tax his bed,

Tax the table

At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,

Tax his mule,

Teach him taxes

Are the rule.

Tax his cow,

Tax his goat,

Tax his pants,

Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,

Tax his shirt,

Tax his work,

Tax his dirt

Tax his tobacco,

Tax his drink,

Tax him if he

Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,

Tax his beers,

If he cries,

Then tax his tears.

Tax his car,

Tax his gas,

Find other ways

To tax his ass.

Tax all he has

Then let him know

That you won't be done

Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers,

Then tax him some more,

Tax him till

He's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,

Tax his grave,

Tax the sod in

Which he's laid.

Put these words

Upon his tomb,

"Taxes drove me

to my doom..."

When he's gone,

Do not relax,

Its time to apply

The inheritance tax.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now here is something to ponder....

Accounts Receivable Tax

Building Permit Tax

CDL license Tax

Cigarette Tax

Corporate Income Tax

Dog License Tax

Excise Taxes

Federal Income Tax

Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)

Fishing License Tax

Food License Tax

Fuel Permit Tax

Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)

Gross Receipts Tax

Hunting License Tax

Inheritance Tax

Inventory Tax

IRS Interest Charges

IRS Penalties (tax on top of Tax)

Liquor Tax

Luxury Taxes

Marriage License Tax

Medicare Tax

Personal Property Tax

Property Tax

Real Estate Tax

Service Charge Tax

Social Security Tax

Road Usage Tax

Sales Tax

Recreational Vehicle Tax

School Tax

State Income Tax

State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)

Telephone Federal Excise Tax

Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax

Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes

Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax

Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax

Telephone State and Local Tax

Telephone Usage Charge Tax

Utility Taxes

Vehicle License Registration Tax

Vehicle Sales Tax

Watercraft Registration Tax

Well Permit Tax

Workers Compensation Tax

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle income group in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. What the heck happened?Repeat after me: "politicians?" And, on top of that, we still have to "press 1" for English!!!