Yesterday at work, I was going to vacuum. (Office Manager really means Jack of All Trades.) It didn't happen. I couldn't find the 'on' switch for the upright vacuum cleaner. My upright - at home - has the switch on the left of the body. I've seen some on the handle. I couldn't find it! It's a good thing I was alone. I started laughing at myself. I just coiled the electric cord back up, draped it over the handle, and parked the sucker (pun intended) back in its corner in the back room.
Sam visited me later. I laughed and told him about my troubles. We drug the vacuum cleaner out again. He tilted it this way 'n' that. Then pointed and said, "Right there." Sure 'nuff! You step on one corner of the top of the "head" of the thing. LOL See...I can talk technical too. ;o)
Today. I spent the day messing with the computer...doing a disc scan and deleting files. There were only 25,998 files in the recycle bin. There's also an external backup drive that preacher's wife told me her husband had tried to clean up but it didn't work...he couldn't delete the files. He thought. After plugging it back in, I discovered it was empty. I found the whatever file it was and opened the manager and ran the diagnostics only to discover that something's wrong.
I'm going to ask for permission to purchase a 'thumb' drive. They're cheap. And I can carry it with me. What good is a backup left beside the computer if there's a fire, severe lighting strike that fries everything, theft, etc.
I never got around to defragging the computer. That'll be tomorrow.
Training went well. I think I can handle it. Preacher's wife made a confession our last day together. After which I thumped her on her arm and said, "I don't like you." After the first of the year, she had updated forms, brochures, etc. with the new year...2010. She DELETED them! So that I would have 'something' to do!! Argghhh. I have never heard of that! Whenever I left a job, I made certain I had everything up to date before leaving so that my replacement could just step in and take over without having to wonder about what I left unfinished. eyeroll
But...I have a plan. She did make the statement that she never empties the recycle bin. Guess what I'm doing first thing Monday morning?!
Changing gears:
After changing sheets on Mama's bed last week, she said, "Come here." Ever the obedient daughter (PLEASE don't tell her I typed that!), I followed her. She handed me the epergne first. It was one of the goodies she hung on to during her antique buying and selling career. (The metal looks like a tree trunk.) 
I've stopped asking her if she's sure she wants to part with things. I find that she's generally thought it over, and her mind is made up. See the two thimbles? Those were Daddy's mama's thimbles. The hankies and the red scarf? They belonged to Mama's mama. I looked and looked at that scarf. Something was tugging at me. I opened it up. Examined the hemming. Not very good work. The reason? I hemmed that piece of sheer material and gave it to her! I don't know how old I was, but the hand work isn't that great. I used one stitch part of the way around, swapped to another, back to the first way. LOL It's come full circle! I HAVE to wear it with something...around my neck though, not holding my hair down. LOL
Oh goodie, goodie. GOODIE!!! 
Finally got the apple pie photos downloaded to my computer. I love pie dough. And biscuit dough. A former co-worker yucked me one time when I mentioned tasting dough. There's no raw eggs - I don't lick cake batter off the beaters. THAT is a yuck-o for me. But I do taste dough. That way, I can make certain that I remembered the salt. Yes. I have forgotten before.
I made a double crust recipe of pie pastry. I cut off 1/3 of the dough and set it aside. Then I rolled out the remaining 2/3 in one big sorta circle; placed it in the pie pan. 
Filled it with sliced Granny Smith apples that had been tossed with sugar and a bit of flour and cinnamon. 
Almost forgot to sprinkle it with brown sugar! Dotted it with butter. Pulled the dough up over the apples. 
Occasionally I will make a regular 2-crust fruit pie or a lattice topped pie. That's when I forget to do it this way. With this style "presentation" I have never had the pie juices to leak out. There's no seal to break.
While the pie was baking, I rolled out that remaining 1/3 piece of dough. Buttered it and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Rolled it up like cinnamon rolls, sliced it, and baked it for about 10 minutes. I like baked dough too. ;o) 
Here's the pie after it has baked on the bottom shelf. 
Yes, it is as good as it looks! 
If you want recipes, scroll down the sidebar on the right. Look for apple pie and pie crust.
Remember those gorgeous bluebonnets? There's a downside. You can not mow them down until after they have seeded. 
Sam barely bears it. ;o) Our neighbor, Dorothy, who owned this property two deeds back likes it even less. LOL She thinks the bluebonnets are gorgeous, but can't stand the seedy/weedy look. I know her. She would have bluebonnets only the first season.
Here's some blooming pretties. 
Sigh...another pretty. 
And what about these pretties?! Our cruise photo. 
Nancy, Beckle, Me, Earlene.
Mama had a doctor's appointment in Tyler today. The x-ray was at 11:30. We saw the doctor about 3:30. Not good news. Her back (disc fusing) is not healing properly. The original fusion is just fine. The additional disc added in October...not. He's done all he can do from the backside without serious risk to nerve damage and...and of course I had to ask, "Paralysis?" The answer was yes. If it doesn't look better in three months...Mama is facing another surgery to install a larger "cage" from the front. I just about started crying. I mean. Enough is enough. How much more...
She can't take the 'good' pain killers. My mother would not have made a good addict. She throws up the good stuff. I would type "LOL" except it's not funny when the strongest thing that you can take after surgery is Darvocet. And in case you didn't know...she had triple by-pass in 1997 and a hip replacement in 2002. She's had back surgery in 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2009. Darvocet. That's it. They try the harder stuff and give her something for her stomach...it might work once but don't give her a second dose.
The doctor told her that she was one tough lady. She started chattering and he said, "You're cute." She said, "I used to be when I had lots of dark naturally curly hair." He started laughing and said, "I meant your attitude." Then she talked about me being her only child without naturally curly hair but had the least gray. He looked at me. "Your hair color is natural?" "Yes. I don't have to buy it in a bottle." ;o)
As we left, Mama told him, "You take good care of yourself. If I have to have another surgery, I want you. I don't trust anyone else." He was genuinely pleased and thanked her profusely.
Pray for a miracle! My mama needs one.
The first day of new job training went real well. I've got today off to take Mama to the doctor, and we'll start again tomorrow. We spent quite a bit of time yesterday after lunch on the web pages. One page has a glitch in it that throws the spacing off. Preacher's wife said that she has deleted all the typing and started all over before...the bad code is still in there somewhere. We printed a section, changed some codes...it threw other sections off. ???? eye-roll So we had to retype it as it was before we started. That's minor...another day.
We touched on the biggest event of the year, Daingerfield Days. And will work on it more extensively tomorrow...along with the other events.
I baked a pie over the weekend and took photos. But I'm having trouble downloading them from the camera card for some reason. The anticipation will give you something to look forward to. ;o)
Here we are in 1953. My mother and me. 
Happy Mothers Day to EVERYONE who ever held a child's hand.
Hey! I was going through some papers I got from the Chamber office. My new title is "Chamber of Commerce MANAGER"!! ;o)
While on that great Cozumel cruise, I broke a tooth. One of my bicuspids became a mono-cuspid. Sigh. I went to the dentist yesterday and he started the crown prep. While I was at the dentist office, Sam was waiting in the VA medical office. He's felt l0usy for over a week now. We both had a cold last week. I felt bad only one day...no fever. He's been running a low-grade fever off and on for several days. I tried to talk him into calling the VA Monday and then again Tuesday to set up an appointment with them while I was at the dentist. When I mentioned it...he decided he felt better.
Sam is a healthy 75. But he's still SEVENTY-FIVE years old. I was worried about pneumonia. You know that pneumonia and - ahem - old age don't go very well together. Well, he didn't have pneumonia but is now on antibiotics. He should be feeling better soon.
Yippee! I had a squishy in the mail from Karen/Quilts, Etc. Oh. 
I just realized I turned one of the Santa patterns over...Karen sent two of the blocks...the back shows the whole quilt. Each block will make cute Christmas pillows. She added the 3 fabrics to the prize booty. ;o) And what a darling apron pattern. I'll add it to my collection and may even use it! Thank you, Karen!
More news...I start work Monday morning at the Chamber of Commerce. Their secretary is relocating with her preacher husband...imagine that! When I interviewed, I was told that they were amazed at the number of applications which was attributed to the local economy. The top four candidates were chosen for interviews. When I didn't hear from them last Friday, I thought...Okay. You see...I pray for MY job. I want the job that fits me...and I want to work for people that I 'fit.' Since I've started doing that instead of praying for A job...I have never had a job I've been disappointed in. Monday evening a high school friend also a member of the Friends of the Daingerfield Public Library (me too) and also a member of the CoC...anyway, Vicki came to the Friends meeting following the Chamber meeting. She whispered to me...I didn't know you were looking for a job. The interviewer said she'd call Friday. No..she was out of town. I'll talk to you later. But she left before we were quite through. Tuesday, I got the call. Me Me ME! Vicki knew all the time but ducked out before I could corner her.
It's part time...but steady part time. (No more 6:30 calls from the school.) Monday through Thursday for 6 hours a day. Pay is NOT what I was making in Clute (no where near it!), but I wasn't looking for a 40 hour work week. High pressure all the time. Jump up from the desk to go to the rest room and hurry back. This one will reach that during the Chambers events though...but since there's no overtime, I'll have comp time. And even the four days a week...six hours a day is flexible.
I told the interviewers that I am the favorite daughter. I take my mother to her doctor's appointments. No problem...I can make it up by working longer days...or on Friday. Same thing for vacation. Very flexible. I'm happy!
The first test on this is Tuesday. Mama has a doctor's appointment during my work time. I'll train all day Monday. Go in Tuesday morning...leave at 10:30...pick up Mama and go to Tyler. When we get back to town that afternoon...I'll go back to the office. The current secretary is off Wednesday (remember...preacher's wife), so I hope to open Wednesday by myself and pour over the manuals...then I'll be ready for a Q&A session on Thursday. And may work Friday by myself too.
I am going to miss the school. Most of the high school kids are good kids. I enjoy many of the teachers and the administration staff that I've dealt with for five years now. One of our elementary schools is closing at the end of this school term. Non-retiring staff will most likely be shuffled into the two remaining elementary schools, junior high, and high school. While I would've really like to go full time at high school...I could see that that possibility would no longer be likely.
So...back to being a secretary! And when it's slow, I've already been told to bring a book. Do any of you doubt that I will probably be sneaking in some hand work for quilts or some yarn for knitting?! ;o)
I made some origami bags for my grand nieces and nephews. 
I'm having a family gathering at my house on the 30th. These bags are so cute and so fun to make. Don't you think they'll make nice bags for the little kids?! A jar of bubbles and a small tub of Play Doh in each. I have some glow in the dark bracelets / necklaces for after dark. The boys will have a Hot Wheels. I've got to get the girls something.
We (as in Sam and I) have differing opinions on when to cover the pool. IF the pool is covered for the winter. We also differ on when to uncover the pool in the spring. Well...for all intents and purposes, spring is past. When the temperature rises over 80 degrees...it is no longer spring. I don't care what the calendar says. The pool is still covered. I started a siphoning hose to get rid of the water on top of the pool cover. I dipped out gunk...catkins off the oak trees...that are going through the stinking rotting stage. Then, I heard the above croaker so dipped him out with the net. I was surprised at how large he was. Only problem was...I didn't know that he was a mutant ninja frog! I dumped him on the grass. That put me between him and the pool. He attacked me! Hopped right toward me the whole time loudly voicing his disapproval at being removed from his comfy sludgy wet home...on the top of my pool cover. I started moving backwards quickly realizing that the pool was behind me...pool cover still on. I stopped. He didn't. He hopped on my feet! I screamed. Then I looked around to see if the neighbors heard. ;o)
See the dog prints? 
Now...see the holes? See where one foot went in and in trying to gain purchase, the culprit pawed and clawed with another foot (off-side). Does that look plausible to you? Or do the two holes look like stress tears? That magically appeared over night? 
This happened some time after I left for work Wednesday morning. I leave about 7:40. Just before I left Thursday morning, I saw four of the neighbors' dogs trotting toward the house. I sat and watched. They went up behind the house first. I checked my watch. DANG! Not enough time to stand here with the camera. I stepped outside and ran them off.
