Sunday Night Tid Bits

My mother is reading to me from her bedroom -- interesting snippets from an auto-biography recently released by the actress who played the daughter, Erin, on that family-oriented hit series, "The Waltons."  The lights are out here in the living room and adjoining kitchen area.  The elements for a comfortable sleep have been arranged just so on the couch for my overnight stay.  White noise from a fan and the fridge and the AC unit beneath mom's bedroom window have all conspired to lull me into necessary PM unconsciousness.  My late afternoon and evening  hours were pleasant and mellow.  Just what the doctor ordered.  Tomorrow, the doctor has ordered another spinal injection for mom.  I'll be her chauffeur for the day.

No doubt, Hank the Wonder Pup misses his main mistress momma but has received the proper dosage of attention from Mistress Ashley.  In fact, in a humorous aside (perhaps you had to be there) Ashley attempted to bathe Hank in his little banged-up yard swimming pool and was halfway through her efforts when the soaped-up pup slipped through her hands and ran circles around the yard and away from the hose and its handler.  She called her dad as we were returning home from church, wondering how far away we were and asking for HIS help.  I didn't know what was up, initially, but I believe she had hoped to surprise me with a squeaky clean, fresh smelling, no-more-grey-ring-around-his-collar dog.  A very sweet gesture!  Later, I learned that she thought we were still in our training classes; she wanted him to look handsome for his girlfriend, Rosie, and she had an interest in accompanying mom and mutt.  But, alas, he graduated -- as did I, I'm thinking -- on Sunday last.

When I realized what was transpiring in the back yard, my daughter dragging a stubborn Hank back to the pool but making no progress, my husband standing at the ready with hose sprayer in hand, still dressed in his casual Sunday attire, I knew my expertise would be necessary to complete this job.  One quick change and five minutes of crooning and training orders later -- "Good stand, Hank, good stay, boy!" -- we had ourselves a triumphantly bright and shining white dog with a clear caramel ribbon running along his spine.  Shake, shake, shake.  A brisk rubdown with a towel.  The requisite roll in the grass.  And my precocious young pet was ready for a resumption of action!  Thanks, Ashley, for doing the lion's share of that challenging task for your mother.  It doesn't go unnoticed.

You see there!  Honestly, writing about that counter-swiping pup was not my intention when I logged into Blogger.com.  I promise you it wasn't!  There's this whole story about helping folks not simply when it's convenient and pleasing to the self but when it's needed and necessary for the one requiring assistance that I wanted to relay.  But my eyes are crossing now.  The head is bobbing.  Morning doth quickly approach.  And the sooner I surrender to slumber, the sooner I can partake of what mom informed me is 'the absolute best hot chocolate' she has ever, that's EVER, had.  This honorable daughter desires to second that motion for her mom.  It's what all the good daughters are doing now!

I leave you with a promise to return with more interesting fare AND a few pictures of recent frolics and adventures In The Life Of.


Sarah caught a decent shot of her ma during a morning walk in
Chattanooga last weekend.

You know the hubby and Sarah.  This is Bria, one of her roomies and new good friends at college -- neat young woman.  We are so pleased that they have clicked.

 3 outta 4 Earth Divas and their dogs recomment "Sit And Stay" training classes for more well-behaved animals and better-trained owners!

 My goofball son, Ghengis Zach, finding creative uses for the stairway spindles.

Hank the Wonder Pup demonstrating the proper way to disembowel a doggie bed.
  

 A lovely variety of grass -- Oat Grass? -- which grows on the Green Way.
It's one of my favorites.

Mom making the rounds of her bird feeders: this one was alive with multitudes of cardinals moments before we crashed the scene!

Oh, those nutty squirrels preparing for the cold snap!

These ladies waited outside a dental-medical clinic in Nashville very early on a Saturday morning for TWO hours, along with another hour inside, to be among the sixteen clients who are guaranteed services at a reduced rate for the uninsured.  Every one of these women had severe toothaches requiring extraction.  I brought my friend, the gal under the sleeping bag, and admired her tenacity in the face of such need.  Others arrived late, knowing the rules, and expected to be seen with the early risers.  But fair is fair, folks!

Yours truly displaying the proper form for enjoying a yeasty soft pretzel in a large busy mall.