Babka Liz's Blog

This is My Story And I’m Stick’n With It.

2010-10-10T17:47:00.001-07:00

Well, after weeks, even months of planning, I finally make a clean break out the gate taking Jezz and Jack-Jack with me. That bloody do-gooder, Jezz, goes back as soon as she is called, but J-J and I get a good trip around the neighborhood. Finally, to our joy, the Mom figures out we want her to open the vegetable garden gate. (It only took two laps of it this time) We bound in with glee to romp in the corn stalk high weeds that fill most of the space confined by the fences. (Might say the weeds got away from Mom too)

After what seems like 1 ½ seconds, Mom is pulling me from deep in the compost pile and is hauling my furry short tail back to the dreaded fenced yard in which I belong. I don’t care too much ‘cause I smell good! That dumb half-Jack Russell, actually comes when he is called and follows us in. That must be the Toy-Fox half of him. We full JRT’s would at least hold off for a cookie.

I’m greeting the other dogs and let the sniff how much better I smell than they. I’m heading for my private door that I let the others use too (most of the time), when I get picked up and petted and carried in the house. Dog! I am the queen! No squirrel will sniff me out now.

I finally am smell’n great and what happens? Well someone whom shall go nameless, but whose initials are M.O.M. jumps in the shower with me and WASHES IT ALL OFF with stinky canine shampoo. And she wonders why I like POPO better. The indignity, the shame, THE SMELL!!!

Well, that’s my story and I’m stuck with it.
Ms Nipsy JTR knasel

What?

2010-02-16T15:22:00.000-08:00

The days are still cold.
The sky is still crying frozen tears,
But the oven warms the kitchen.
I've nothing to fear.

Hans and Snow

2010-02-16T05:34:00.000-08:00

Hans has to wear that E-collar to keep him from licking his stitches. Poor Hans! However, it is too funny watching him try to sniff out a "place" when the snow is up to his belly. He scoops up part of the snow leaving smiley faces behind. Then, having discerned that that "place" is not adequate, he lifts his head up and the show slides down to the shaved spot on his neck, giving him a big chill. He gives himself a shake to get rid of the snow, holding up his bad leg. Having removed the cold wet stuff he starts the procedure all over again, for a mutt must muse over the "space" before he uses it for waste.

John AKA: Hans

2010-02-14T13:50:00.000-08:00

Meet John. Because there are so many Johns in our lives we call him Hans. We have had several animals come through the our home from the shelter lately. Mainly pups from some local hoarders. There was three from one hoarded, then a mom and pup from another. I don't yet know the story on this cutie other that he waited at the shelter a month to get his surgery and now he is with us until he gets better. Don't it just make you mad that people will damage an animal and just leave it? Poor Hans will be better cared for now.

Puppies and Memories.

2010-01-06T17:37:00.001-08:00

Upon coming home from the Walmart with some groceries, I was greeted by 8 sets of canine eyes and waggly tails. All wanting to go out and run in the snow. I walked through the early dusk, knee deep in snow, with pups nipping at the tabs on my muck boots. The yard being fenced we did not wonder far but in circles. Suddenly I was a child again making the circle and pie wedges for the game The Fox and the Hens. I was the only hen and 6 of the 8 dogs were the foxes. It turns out they cheat! They did not stay on the paths for long. The mutts cut across the wedges to get at me and did not care if I was safe in the "Hen House" center. I got mugged anyway. As I was the youngest of the 5 children in our family, I never did win, it seems I still won't. Not if I play with 3 puppies and 3 grown dogs. Oh well, fun is fun.
Pax Christi.

Feckless, Just feckless

2010-01-05T15:24:00.000-08:00

Here I sit aggravated with my hopeless attempts to be creative with my digitizing for the embroidery machine, particularly because, after an hour’s work, my new printer refused to work. It sends an error message that there is paper jammed in the back. There is, of course nothing there, not even dust, as we blew it all out with compressed air. Now I have to drive all the way to Mentor, to Best Buy to ask for another on.

May be it is I who has no feck. May be it is a test of my patience. May be I’ll just go take a shower after I check of the three foster pups who are residing in my basement laundry room. Too much foot patter is coming from the basement, indicating they pint size canines have made the great escape from behind out barrier.

Poor old Peanut Butter

2009-08-15T03:57:00.000-07:00

Peanut butter the Pit still resides at the ACAPL. Her old foster dad sometimes takes her for a ride in the truck and she gets a run in the fields, but she still has to go back to the shelter.

We now foster a lovely beagle who was part of a rescue of 12 beagles from a hoarder. Fiona is 8 years old but you should see her play in the yard. She and the Amer. mix have a great time.

Peanut Butter and Fiona want a forever home and look at you with sad dogie eyes. It breaks our tiny little hearts.

Poor me

2009-06-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

I once had a "true" love break it off because I was holding back his career. It was a good choice for him.

Update on Peanut Butter pit mix and Annie the cat

2009-06-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

It has been so long since I blogged that I had to look up my pass word!

Anyway, Here is the news on Peanut Butter and Annie the one eyed cat. Right after I blogged the last time. Annie got a forever home and has not come back. Peanut Butter, however, took on her new owner's other dog and was sent packing back to her foster home, where she had been replaced in dominance and got hurt.

Peanut Butter is now at the shelter in a 4 x 5 kennel. She is mended after her fight at the foster home but we have not found her a home where she would be the only dog. She has lost the weight she needed to lose but she still is a frightening looking mutt. We had a drug dealer who wanted her but we sent him packing fast faster than PB was sent back! Nothing scarier than a bunch of angry women.

If you pray for animals, PB sure could use some, as could all our 200 or so cats and dogs, kits and pups.

Tales of the Tails at the APL – Annie

2009-04-06T18:17:00.001-07:00

Annie is a black cat brought in to the shelter by a person who “found” her. You can never tell for sure if the animal was found or the owner just got tired it. As it was Annie came in a while ago. She was given her shots, cleaned up and placed in OB. That is the observation room not a place for the animals to deliver young, not that we don’t have a lot of that going on at the shelter. Annie was given a good bill of health and “fixed.” No animal leaves the shelter otherwise.

The problem with Annie was that she was an adult cat with one blind funny looking eye. She had been to the mall shelter several times since she was spayed, but came back to the main shelter each time. A few weeks ago, a man and some of his family came to the mall looking for a pet. The man was older and was wanting a friend to hang around with. He chose Annie because he too was just about blind. We all thought it was a great match, Annie loved the man and the man loved Annie and they had something in common.

I’d like to say that was the end of a happy story, however, when they got home, the man’s eyes started to itch and water. The more Annie snuggled up to her new best friend the worse his eyes bothered him. They family came out the main shelter in tears. He could not keep Annie. He had trouble enough seeing and the itching and watering made it much worse. “I’m so sorry Annie.” the man said with tears from allergies as well as sorrow. They left with no pet for grandpa. It was a sad story all around.

Facebook

2009-02-05T08:02:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking that Facebook is a good way to keep in touch, let people know you think of them, and still have little or no REAL contact or communication with them.

"Here, I'll send you a fish for your "little Blue Cove" and a horse for your "My Farm". See I like you and am thinking of you."

The cool little games we get to play and we do not have to pass on how we really think and feel, or hear what we do not wish to contemplate. We are doing “things” for people and yet barely burning 3 calories. WE can show 15...23...52... people that they are loved and thought about in one heart felt Click! Is not the “NET” wonderful?

And, we can learn that our loved ones are alive and healthy enough to spend some hours on Facebook, or the like. Good thing to know.

Better than silent nothing I suppose.

Things I've Learned

2009-01-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

Some things I learned lately, or at least had reinforced.

-You can send a kid to the office easier if you tell them, “It’s a good thing I like you.”

-If you drink Beet-carrot-celery juice, you will see a change in color of your urinous waste.

-You can use less electricity and have you bill go up (& up).

-Cold dogs will put up with doggie sweaters but hot dogs will not.

-Some dogs think plastic food dishes are chew toys.

- If it's on the floor, a dog will chew it.

-If there is fluff in it, a dog will get the fluff out.

-Spell check can give you a word then tell you it is spelled incorrectly.

-You can work 6 days straight on the Wii Fit and not loose an ounce.

-If one dog has itthe rest will want it.

-Dogs never want to eat out of their own food dishes.

-Friends like you better if they don’t see you too often.

-Dogs don’t care if you get a good nights sleep as long as they can lie next to you and push you with their feet to be sure you are there. You think that they could just smell you.

-You can deny God’s existence but he will never deny yours.

-Don’t put the squirrel feeder and house inside the Jack Russell yard.

-My cranberry relish still taste's good and is good for you.

-The book “Coralline” (yes with an o) is going to be coming out as a movie.

-Husbands stop listening to you even before the loose their hearing.

-The colder the temperature, the finer the snow.

-Six dogs in your house can be too many and too few at the same time.

-A dog loves you, even when you say something offensive.

-Most dogs are good for a snuggle.

-Don’t blog about communication, before you take your antidepressant.

Pax Christi!

Sorry

2009-01-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

For what even I have done or said that has bothered you in any way, I am honestly and humbly sorry. Really! I mean it, wondering why intelligent people can not communicate their feelings clearly and non-offensively? Is it because we are so smart we look for hidden meaning or omens in everything?

Recently, two people came to visit. It had been a while and I and Pop looked forward to it with anticipation. Even though we had a great time, there was fear and trepidation, on my part at least. Every time I spoke I worried that I was offending some feeling of theirs, and several times I did just that. Our beliefs on some things have become quite different. I noticed some sighs and eye rolling coming my way.

Every parent has some regrets and feels that they were poor parents. Mine grow around the stick of lack of truth or clarity in communication. But this feeling of inadequacy spreads through out every thing I do. I know I’m a good person and have much to give. I know I care about all life from a germinating seed of a human to the germinating seed of a plant. Life is LIFE, a gift from God. I know I care and mean only the best. I’m not vindictive, I love, try at least to be patient, kind, not jealous etc.

You would think I’d have a bunch of good close friends. You would think that, but you would be wrong. I have some awesome friends. They are far away and are not near me day in and out. People whom that is forced on, I wind up offending and they pull away.

Pop is right in a way. He once said, “…., you offend everyone you talk to.” The truth in the statement is I eventually will do just that. Ah, I know. I am wallowing in self-pity and regret. That does not change the truth. 60 some years old and still can not talk to relatives and friends. There is none in the world whom one can just be our selves with. Funny, that is what we all want. To be accepted “as is”, non returnable, you have to keep me even with the flaws.

Learning Experiences

2008-11-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

Life is full of learning experiences. Learning is necessary. With out learning there is no growth. Learning is what makes life worth living. OK, Okay, what’s my point in writing. I have one of those life questions, and that is, “WHY do so many learning experiences have to cost SO MUCH money?

Here is what I’m talking about. A friend kindly purchased a used lawnmower for the APL. It was used, so she had it overhauled. The thing ran really well all summer, but as the last mowing of the season finished the engine blew up. Why? No one put in oil. Now she is looking for a new used mower for the APL. No they can’t fix it. No the APL does not have the money to buy one.

What was the thing learned? Check the oil yourself because no one else will. Now, I ask you, couldn’t that lesson been learned more cheaply?

Here is my own example. I bought a $12,000 Inbro embroidery machine. What did I know? I went to the trade show. I shopped around. Looked at all the machines and made my decision, the wrong one, of course. Wrong because I believed the sales person that there would be training and support near by. (Near by to them was the east side of Pennsylvania.) So after 3 years and calling the service guy in I sold the machine for $1,750.00, which was $250 more that I could get for a trade in. Most companies would not even talk about taking it as a trade in. Couldn’t someone have just told me to get a Tajima in the first place?

Pop took his money out of the bank and paid off his car and bought me a Tajima machine. Now there is an expensive “Learning Experience”! I could have bought two new cars or a house in Ashtabula, Ohio with what we have spent on embroidery machines. I better get some customers and fast! Anyone out there need some creative embroidery work done? Please? Maybe?

Today so far

2008-09-17T09:15:00.000-07:00

My life stinks today. So many thing have gone wrong I can't even remember what happened first. There is one minor deal: I can't find my original print of Sr. Anthony.
Major deal the computer went down and even though I told it to save all my files IT DID NOT when I went to recover. I lost it all in more than one way!! So if you like me and read this send me an email so I can get your address.

Thanks.

Oh! We did find the sceptic tank and put a riser on it. It makes me feel better knowing that we have one and it is functional. It was under the new deck but the end with the lid stuck out just enough to get the riser on. We needed a riser because the tank is about 5 feet down. The guy had to get his back hoe to dig it out of the hard hard clay.

Pax, Babka

Thanks Joe!

2008-09-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

The person who got us the pictures etc. of the Log Cabin event was our neighbor Joe Misinec! That would not have been even a guess for me. What a great surprise!

Thank you again Joe!
Pax, Liz

Special Thanks

2008-09-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

We wish to send a special thanks to the person or persons who provided a glossy, suitable for framing copy of the Star Beacon article on Pop and Log Cabin Days. We have tried to guess who left the article, along with a framed copy of Pop's news photo, between the doors of the front entrance. But, have been unable to come up with the right person even though we have asked several.

Would the sweet person or persons let themselves known so that we can give them a proper thank you? Please?

Love to you anyway! And, Thank You!

Back in Michigan

2008-08-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

Hello All.
I'm back in Michigan watching the house, cat ant dog of my brother and sister-in-law while they are in Alaska. Having been there once, I can say that, if they relax and let God, they will have a great time. Pop and I sure did.

This time I get to watch some workmen. The house next door is to be demolished, but instead of the work crew, the fire department showed up. Now I know what your thinking and that's not it. They came to practice cutting through the roof. They have 4-5 holes all ready.

I'm going back out to take some pictures. I'll post them on my Flickr site under St. Clare shores Firemen.

Pax Christi.

Black Squirrel B and B

2008-06-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Well Hello!
We’ve been busy in A-town, what with garden, squirrel houses, APL dogs, Bat houses, and helping mow etc. at the Log Cabin Historic site.

We did get away for a few days the week after Father’s Day. A friend watched Sooty and we kenneled the Jacks so that we could spend some time at The Black Squirrel B&B, South Bass Island, Put-in-Bay, Ohio, just west of Cleveland. What a great breakfast! Man! Rob can cook! None of that pick your cereal or have a bagel stuff.

Just a few activities might be: fish, bike, use the gulf cart, tour old houses, view the caves, jet ski, para-sail, eat, hike, swim, tour the wineries, shop, play on that great mini-gulf course, go through the museums and monuments, party, view the butterflies in the butterfly house and sit in the hot tub. On lucky days, you can ferry over to the other island and see where the Confederate prison was.

Here is a pick of the house and the view from the pool.

You can look for yourself at the site below.

http://www.blacksquirrelbnb.com/about.htm

Michigan

2008-05-09T05:59:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a few days alone to create in a person a need to create something to fill a hollow. With the kid/s busy and gone, and myself in St. Clair Shores dog sitting, the hollow seems a big empty crevasse. So, I fill it with TV (boring) and books and dog walks and shopping, and esp. a visit to Romeo and a visit with Christine. Christine is such an awesome friend. She listens, advises, shares and kicks my butt in the nicest possible way.

Come Saturday the 17th I may well be on my way to Hyettsville, MD. to get with Cousin Maryann to see what I can do to help her move. What a pain it is to move, esp. when you have been in a place for almost 2 decades. Actually I going to see what I can get, you know, that old stuff no one wants but a Civil War pack rat like myself.

I MISS getting to go to events. The dogs slow us down but the real problems are jobs, and gas prices, and no one to buy our house so we can move to Pebble Co., Ohio. The housing market is bad everywhere but in Ashtabula with 30% poverty, we would be lucky to get what we paid for the house, the $70,000 we spent in upgrading everything would just be lost. What a bite!
God sure must have a plan for us here, since He made the market so bad just to keep us in Ashtabula.

Pax and Love to all who reads this.
I cover you with the Blood of the Lamb.
Babka

Pop & His Knees

2008-02-26T07:20:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I posted. With the loss of my good friend, and the holidays, and Pop's knee, and subbing, I just did not feel like it. I'm feeling much better now.

Pop & His Knees,

As some of you know, Pop has had trouble with his knees sot a while. Some 20 years ago he had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Surgery was being scheduled for the left knee when I went to a prayer service at Mary’s Farm in Falmouth, KY. I placed a little slip of paper in the request box that said “Marv’s Knee”. Along with my getting to see the miracle of the sun, the pain left Pop’s knee that day and has never come back.

Too bad I did not say “Marv’s knees” because Pop has been having some real trouble with his right knee. Last summer he had arthroscopic surgery on that knee again. It did not work, leading to partial knee replacement on Feb. 13th. He is doing very well. The Doc says that he can drive now but not more than 20 minutes. Also, Pop may work in the shop, but must get off the knee as soon as it starts to hurt. He has therapy 3 days a week for 4 more weeks, then Pop is off and running. He plans to be involved in lots of Civil War things this summer.

If you wish to see the pictures of Pop’s surgery, Check out our Flickr site. http://www.flickr.com/photos/70601876@N00/

Pax & Be God’s

Carmen

2007-12-21T12:58:00.000-08:00

My good friend, Carmen, pass over this past Wednesday about nine in the evening. Her family and friends were with her there. Please pray for her and her family.

Thank You.

As Rich Mullins use to say, "Be God's"

Please

2007-12-10T11:31:00.000-08:00

Please Pray for my friend Carmin. She is in hospital with cancers. Her son does not want Hospice because it implied the end, which it may be despite his denial.
Please pray for her.
Pax, Liz

Good Bye KZ

2007-11-29T13:38:00.000-08:00

While new life lives and grows in the whelping box in the shop, we have to say good bye to an old friend. Today we lost our companion of some 15 years. From tiny pup, to rollicking playmate, to old and infirmed, our good dog, KZ, was loyal and protecting. We grieve her loss. She will be much missed.

APL

2007-11-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

APL
As you may know, we help out at the Animal Protective League. Pop in a weak moment said he would take a pregnant dog and foster her until the pups were gone and the mom was neutered.
Well here she is with her new litter. She gave birth to 10 puppies Friday in the wee hours of the morning. I had stayed with her until 1:OO am.I gave up and went to bed thinking she just was not ready. By the time I got there in the morning she had had all the puppies but two did not make it. They got too cold. However, Sadie has 8 healthy pups of unknown parentage. They will be ready to go by mid January, shots, neutered, etc. Anyone wishing a new best friend, let me know.

In other news; I bought Pop a pickup truck at auction. Don’t ever do that! You do not have a chance to drive it, etc. and the repairs could cost quite a bit.

Z House

2007-11-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

The deal is done. They are moving in.
It's an end of an era.
I am sad more than glad.
Pax in all ways to you all.

Pop's Birthday

2007-11-04T04:19:00.000-08:00

Today is Popo's birthday. More later.

Z House SIGNING

2007-11-02T15:24:00.000-07:00

Rejoice with me!
Today, Marvin signed once. I signed 5 names 6-7 times, plus the Elizabeth C. Knasel POA, plus I signed for spouses, plus the Elizabeth C. Knasel POA, plus my own name 6-7 times not counting the Elizabeth C. Knasel POA.
At the same time the buyer was, we think, at Andover bank signing papers. The deed will be filed November 7th. and checks will be mailed. If anyone wants an accounting of the costs we entailed, let me know and I'll send you a ledger page.
Glad I could be a service to everyone. Your checks will be mailed shortly after the deed is filed.
God Bless us everyone!

Z house

2007-10-31T13:41:00.000-07:00

We have a buyer but the guy is dragging his heels. He wants to “see” the pipes to the septic tank. I told him all inspections are paid for by him as per his offer. The Cost is $300 at least. So I told him we close on or before Nov. 5th or we start over. Keep us in your prayers.
Peace to everyone.

Z House Septic

2007-10-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

Well the Man from Ashtabula Septic arrived and did his thing.

He and Popo cleaned out the hole and put in the riser. Too high you say? We do not care. They wanted a riser, they got a riser.

Love to all. Remember what life is really for.

Z House Again

2007-10-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm dead tired and I still think it is funny. We have to open the septic tank, right? So, the inspector poked holes all over the yard to find the line and the tank. Pop and I dug a 4 foot hole where the guy said the tank was. No tank, not a pipe either. (See Photo)

Exhausted, Pop says, "Call in an excavator."

After several calls and not reaching anyone, I say a prayer and call Spectrum Construction for whom I have done embroidery work. I get a hold of Jim the manager. Explaining my plight, I ask Jim for some help and advice. He says, "I'll be there in 1/2 hour." "God bless you!" I say and give him the address. "We'll be there digging." I cry as I hang up.
Jim shows up in 15 minutes with a shovel, hammer, and metal rod. He and Pop did 4 more holes, each closer to the back of the house.

Finally, the men move the concrete pad that is right next to the blocks. They had to use a pick to loosen the soil. With each hole they are making more and more jokes, like, "We should charge them for aerating the yard." and " Longie, if you don't help us out here soon I'm going to go stomp on your grave! JUST kidding!" Finally, with that 6th rocky hole (Dad tossed all the rocks from the yard up by the house.) they find the pipe. It made a 45 degree turn right out of the wall and headed east.

Jim aerates the lawn some more. They dig a trench following the pipe. That would be a long hole # 7, dug mainly by Jim, who sent Pop and I to back fill 5 of the holes as they are no where near where the tank would be. I think we were just getting in his way.

I offered Jim drinks, crackers, Fig Newtons but he would not take anything. Oh, did I tell you it was raining, sort of? But, we were all working so hard that we were wet with sweat anyway.

Jim sights a line on the trench and our little dried flowers that we put in the holes that struck pipe(it was cute), walks back about 20 feet, sights again, sinks the rod and Hot Dog, hits the top of the tank! We think.
I don't know how well you can see this, but Pop is head down in the hole checking to see it this is the lid to the septic tank. AND IT IS! The men had been asking me to flush the toilet to see if they could hear the noise. I asked if they wanted me to do it again now, but, for some reason, they said they would have none of that.
Now, we had to dig the hole larger so that Ashtabula Septic could come in, pump out the tank and put on a riser, so no one has to go through this again.
Do you see where the tank is? Almost to the green house, about 60 feet from where the expert said it would be. If we had brought in an excavator, we would have had a hole big enough to put on an addition with basement before we found the septic tank.
God Bless Jim! For his 4-5 hours of digging he charged us NOTHING! He is going to get a case of good beer, that's for sure and maybe his own "Jim Blanky"! Some of you will know what I mean by that. He sure showed us what life is for, helping and loving even strangers with septic problems.
Pray for Jim, and us, and your family, and the world, and your friends, and................

Z House

2007-10-11T05:43:00.000-07:00

It never ends!! Now we must dig up the septic tank at Dad's, put on a riser, and have the tank checked. I sure hope and pray it passes! Cost?$500.00
It just never ends!
Well, it gives me something to whimper about, like we went to the beach yesterday with out a camera. Sigh.
Remember what life is really about.
Pax Christi, Babka

A Town

2007-10-08T12:21:00.001-07:00

Back in Ashtabula, safe and sound.

Saturday before Sunrise

2007-10-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

Sleeping well, enjoying the freedom of getting the quilt top finished, and getting my eyes checked; I was rudely jolted awake before sunrise with the sound of three shotgun blasts. I run to the window to see whats going of at such an hour. What do I see(after asking myself what the hell I'm doing)? DUCK hunters, equipped with 30 fake geese and ducks, huge blinds, canoes and goose calls! Now they are but 50 to 100 feet away from the shore. Soon, the whole neighborhood is up and watching. Kids are fishing from peers, boaters are floating by at all angles. Does this make them leave, well not until after noon. This can't be legal! I could not see anyway that they could shoot with out chancing hitting someone or thing.

Pray, pray, pray!
Pax, Babka

What a Friday.

2007-10-05T16:55:00.000-07:00

The sunrise was cool and sweet, the air fresh and warm, all in all a wonderful day to be outside. However, I was in the basement until eleven finishing the quilt top. At 11:30 the dog and I went for a nice walk. At noon I left for my 2:20 eye appointment. At 12:45 I found the place, then went down by the lake to eat and visit with the local shop keepers.

My eyes are "actually very healthy for your age. The problem you are having is due to your last birthday." What a nice way to say get use to it lady, you're old. Anyway, I have new glasses and eye drops.

While killing time waiting for my $300 glasses (with discount), I was looking around Sears when I got a call from Pop. His Sister, Joann, called. Her son (only 50) died suddenly. His wife came home and he was dead on the floor. How awful is that?

When I got back to the house, it was dark and I could not see the numbers on the alarm pad. Well, I did not get the alarm disarmed in time. I was on the phone with a friend when the police showed up. I had to give them my drivers license and show them I had a key to the house, which they tried out to be sure it worked. This all is funny except I don't feel in a funny mood what with Pop's call and all.

So please pray for David and his family.
Remember to pray for your own family too.
Pax, Babka

Wednesday in Michigan

2007-10-03T17:27:00.000-07:00

Today was a lovely day. Worked on the OVCWA quilt until I needed a second opinion, so I called Chris in Romeo, MI who came to my aide. She drove down and we spent the rest of the afternoon together. We rearranged the quilt blocks and made some decisions. After eating at the Cracker Barrel (on Tom) we both got migraine-ish head aches. Strange that we both got them because she had chicken pot pie and coffee and I had apple chicken and tea. There must have been some flavoring on the chicken, I guess.

The headaches did not get too bad and did not last long. They went away while we were in JoAnn Fabrics getting batting and backing for the quilt, well ... pretty much went away. From there we stopped into see her daughter, who worked near by. She works for a dentist who's office is in a shopping plaza, ssOOO, we, of course, needed to check out some stores. I found some picture frames imported from China by Zima Imports. I got two for $4.00. I also got a couple of jackets.

Every day I have been taking the dog for a walk. It is interesting to note that there are as many homes for sale here as in Ashtabula. The yards are about the size of my living room but are neatly kept. Heaven forbid there be a WEED in the grass. There are the usual flower and shrub types, save one. In many yards you will find milk-weed plants tucked in with the inpatients and mums. I thought it very strange, unless they all have a thing for milk-weed pods.

Another interesting thing is the tiny size of most of the homes. Many look like 4 room ranches with no basement. Then you would see a sprawling modern thing with a limo parked in the drive, which took up any lawn there might have been, front and back. And, all the homes on the lake front have NO TRESPASSING and PRIVATE PROPERTY and MY DOG CAN GET TO THE FENCE IN 3 SECONDS, CAN YOU signs all over. Friendly people here.(not) Really I can see why the signs are there. If not, they would have everyone in their back yard swimming or fishing.

I tried out my new camera some. Samples are on my Flickr site.

Well that's all the news I have for today. Remember to talk to God today. He may be wondering why He has not heard from you lately.
Pax, Babka

Michigan

2007-10-02T13:53:00.000-07:00

I am here in Michigan with everything and nothing to do. I started to work on a quilt top that I promised the OVCWA girls to get together. Discovering that I forgot thread, I have spent the rest of the day getting sort-of lost. I knew where I was and where I wanted to go but had trouble getting from where I was to where I needed to be.

I did succeed in, getting thread, vinyl that Carol wanted, a Nikkor lens, and food, and took the dog for a long walk after our big dinner. That was all fun but not very productive on the quilt top. I talked to my friend, Chris, who is recovering from the OVCWA event I missed last week end. I wonder if she will be going to the one this week end? I will not, of course, I don't think this pampered pooch could stand the noise.

I've taken some shots with my new camera. I down loaded them on my laptop computer. I'll see if there is a way to post some on my Flickr site.

God Bless. Remember what life is REALLY for.
Pax, Babka

Zima House

2007-09-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

WOW! how time can get away from you!

In the last month We've been busy. I've started subbing again, had several fun embroidery jobs, worked on Dad's house and made a deal. The house has a contract on it. We are waiting for inspections and loan, and are praying that things go well.

We had to have the Roto-Rooter guy in to clean out the line to the front dry well, which added another $85 to the cost of getting the house ready.

The people buying the house are older than us. Good news for the people on either side of the house, though we were looking for some youngsters of 40 or do. The good news is that the husband is a wood worker. The strange news is that the wife can't work the gardens any more and is planning to did up the perennials and replace them with plastic flowers. That will be bright to look at, esp. in the winter.

Marvin has been making some great things in the wood shop. Here is a picture of one of my birthday presents. It is a box to hold the Civil War Medical bottles that I bartered for. I digitized a hot rod for the couple and put it on the back of denim shirts. What I did should have cost them $500, but I'm happy with the bottles. In the box is a pair of Civil war safety glasses. Yes, I do have more bottles. Some with pills or powder still in them. This is the picture we took on Saturday 9/29/07. my Birthday.

I had a lovely 60th birthday! The APL people sang to me and had cake, I got loads of cards from family and friends who care about me. Mary E. and Annie drove all the way here to bring me some sugarless ice cream. I got calls from Jan, Chris, Maryann, Carmen, Mary E. and Laura; text messages from MaryJane; went out to dinner on Mike M.; got money from Mama Clare; got a Nikon D80 body for my camera; and had a nice fire in the fire pit. Jen and Cary went to eat with us and came over for the campfire. It was great to sit up till half past my birthday just enjoying the fire and relaxing. Hell, I even got cards from Key bank and our realtor. I'm going to miss the realtor when this is over she is sooooo nice and fun to be around, and not old.

I told you all about the sleep study. Well here is what Poor Pop has to look at when we go to sleep each night. It would make lesser men RUN from the sight or at least faint. We are using this picture as insect and rodent repellent in the attic, basement and garage. I made it smaller so as not to make you all ill. Pop calls me "darth-ette"

I leave for Detroit tomorrow to sit Tom's house and dog again. Speaking of dogs. Pop has adopted another terrier. a rat-jack who is now maned Cap'n Jack. Look on the Flickr site for a picture.

We will be in Gettysburg Oct 19th & 20th. I can't wait to see all our friends again!

Our Love to all and thanks for remembering this old lady and gent.
Remember what life is really for. Trust and talk to God.

The House that L J Zima Built

2007-08-26T10:04:00.001-07:00

Not – Finished
Basement door
Goo-Gone Bathtub
Concrete patch
Sell House, LISTED with realtor as of 8/27/2007

Finished – all the rest of the stuff we were doing.

Finished / Not-finished

2007-08-09T08:36:00.000-07:00

Finished:
1. Carpet
2. Seat in the bathroom
3. Caulking the tub
4. Painted 1 closet
5. Floor in bathroom
6. Fix the front door

Not-Finished
1. Concrete
2. Front flower garden
3. Get Survey of property
4. Sell the house. Was offered $70,000, but I said $110,000. No response as yet.

Keep the faith and keep praying!

How we spent our anniversary, 8-8-07

2007-08-08T20:05:00.000-07:00

Well first we were awakened by a call from the carpet layers saying that they would be at Dad’s in ½ hour. Then we got online &/or phone and ordered our own presents. Pop got router bits and set ups and I choose a slicer, a bread maker and a dehydrator, instead of the NIKON camera that pop wanted me to have.

Then we grabbed some chow and went across the street to the Zima house. Pop ran heard on the two carpet layers while I picked blue berries and peaches. Then, I went to Home D to get a toilet seat for the Zima house and chew out the manager for not following through on help with the deck. Following a hair cut, grocery shopping, and a bank visit, we mowed our and Dad’s lawns.

I picked beans and visited with the baby rabbits that are living IN the garden. They said HI, but would no longer let me pet them showing their true wild nature.

Finally, we cooked steak & potatoes and ate them with beans and cucumbers from the garden. We finished off the evening with some TV watching (Holmes on Homes) and went to bed.

And so ends another fantastic anniversary!(Smiles) It ranks right up there with the Alaska trip from last year. ~~~I don’t think so!

God Bless.

Not Finished

2007-08-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

NOT FINISHED

1. Carpet -- Back Ordered
2. Fix Sidewalk
3. Paint two closets
4. Fix front door
5. Sell house

Pax & Love, Babka

Finished

2007-08-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

Newly FINISHED at Zima Home.
1. Wiring
2. Painting
3. Papering

Love, Babka

As Ash. Turns Out3

2007-07-29T16:04:00.000-07:00

Welcome to As Ashtabula Turns Out, a dia-blog series brought to you by Babka’s Polski Kielbasa. Cmaaaaar says, “Nie mogę w to uwierzyć!" and Cmaaaar is never wrong!

As we click to our story, Mary E. has arrived to help paint and Babka is showing her the utility room, while Pop carries things in and down the hall to the end bedroom. Let's listen.... er... read in on their conversation.....

Babka: Well, Mary, what do you think of what we have done with this room?

Mary E.: I don’t know. It is brighter in here. Why did you paper?

Babka: Pop hates to paint. He said that he, "...did not want to sand this dark plywood wall, prime it once or twice, then paint it."

POP: (entering) That paper was the worst I’ve EVER used!

Mary E.: Hi Popie! (They hug)

Pop: What do you think of the paper?

Mary E.: I’m not sure. I think I like it.

Pop: Oh. (Sigh) I’ll be getting ready to put up the paper in the end bed room. (Exits)

Mary E.: Weren’t the walls varnished?

Babka: Yeah, he sanded them down, washed them off and put a coat of sizing on the walls?

~~ With What? (Pop goes through for an second load)
~~ Mixed stuff in a bucket and put it on with a paint brush.
~~ Oh
~~ It took us all day to paper these two walls and the little corner over there. Then Mike called us that evening to tell us about a bunch of bad spots. (Pop goes by thinking, "paint showing through and all. Bobka is the sloppiest.")
~~ So kind of Mike. What bad spots? I don’t see any.
~~ I wanted to smack him, but then, that would have meant getting up off the couch. We were tired. Sure enough, when we checked the next day, some nails had rusted right through, plus the ceiling paint I slopped and some gunk on the wall were bleeding through. (heavy sigh)

Pop: (from the other room) She is the messiest Painter!

Mary E.: (yelling down the hall) Yeah, well, you haven’t seen my work. (to B.) How did you fix it?
~~ We painted over it all.
~~ Let's see, you sanded, washed, sized, papered and painted, so you would not have to sand, prime and paint.
~~ You got it.
~~ You are your father’s daughter.
~~ Yeah, Longie Lives on!

That’s all for today friend. Click in next time when Pop and Babka try to paper a whole room together with out fighting, while Mary E., (wisely out of the way) paints the middle room from pink to neutral beige.

Or Not!

As Ash. Turns (a dia-blog series)

2007-07-27T06:21:00.000-07:00

As we last “clicked into” the old fart and fart-et they were discussing the paper and switches in the “utility room”…

Pop: Quit’n time! I’m tired.
Babka: Me too. The papering that should have taken a few hours took all day. Let’s go eat.
~~~OK.

After a shower and supper the NSD duo (Not-so-dynamic-duo) are relaxing in front of the TV watching one of their favorite shows, Holmes on Homes when the phone rings…

Babka: Helloooo

Mike: Hi, I’m thinking that we need to take one of the chairs out of the living room. You two seen to be relaxing too much.

~~We were just trying to make the place a bit homey for your weeks up here. You going South this week end?

~~I’ll be real tired, but I’ll make the effort. The warehouse is all cleaned up and back to normal. Everything is back in place. I got hit with a bunch of trucks just as I finished up, so the lawn is not mowed yet but the tractor is by the door. I’m keeping all the papers for Mom so don’t use the good pages for painting.

~~ That’s good. How do you like the wallpaper?

~~What paper?

~~ In the utility room!

~~Oh! I didn’t even notice. Just walked right through. Well you can see all the seams, there is a spot up in the corner where the paint is showing through, I can see where all the nails are, ….

~~ (making faces at the phone) Other than that, how do you like it? (sarcastic) Don’t hold back. Just say what you think. (grrrr)

~~I’m not kidding. I can see where all the nails are, and there is a big dirty spot right here by the light switch, by the kitchen, and another one by the door frame.

~~(call waiting beeps) Mike I have a call coming in.

~~ I’ll wait

~~ Oh goody. (Switch to other call) Hello? Hello Carmen. I have been wondering how your chemo has been going. Just a minute I have a call on the other line. (Switch) Mike I have to take this other call…

~~ As I was saying I got the warehouse all cleaned up and I’m going to see Mom this weekend. You don’t need this phonebook do you?

~~No I don’t. Take it with you. Have a good rest tonight…

~~ I’m not kidding. You can put your finger on each of the nails. I can feel them trying to make their way out…

~~Mike! I have to take this call!

Will Babka get to talk to Carmen? Will she smack mike next time she sees him? Is she wishing that Popo had left the switch plates off? Do you give a *@^^ ^? Click in next time and find out….
~~~Or Not…

As Ashtabula Turns (A dia-blog series)

2007-07-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

This is the continuing story of two old people making their way in a world of limited income, aches, pains and home improvement.

When last we read about our less-than-dynamic-duo, Step-mom Clare had, with the help of family, loaded most all the possessions from the Zima-House in to vehicles and moved to Sycamore Valley to set up house keeping near her children.

Since that time:
~~We replaced the floors in the kitchen and utility room.
~~THEN we painted the ceilings. (clever)
~~The ceiling is painted in the Dad’s room.
~~The electrician is coming Monday to take care of anything illegal or dangerous in the wiring.
~~Pop has vented the Kitchen Sink, and cleaned the screen and drain.
~~Pop has shaved down the doors so that the move more easily. We find that the front door is too short to replace easily. A new wooden door would have to be ordered and then we would have to try to figure out how to install it right against the block.
~~ The front and basement doors will be painted.

To brighten up the “utility-room”, our duo put up paper on the plain walls. It was the worst paper to work with. There was much inaudible as well as audible swearing. (Expletives deleted) Finally, the paper is up. Let’s see how it’s going….

Babka: What’s that in the corner?
Pop: What corner?
~~Above the window.
~~Damn! It’s not sticking…yes it is… Oh Shit! The paint from the ceiling that got on the walls is showing through. (Thinks) She's the sloppest painter I know!
~~Maybe it will go away after the paper dries.
~~I hope so! This paper was the worst stuff I have ever used! (23.69th time that was said) (Pop looks a bank of 4 switches)

Pop: Hey! I know why Dad built this out so far. The electrical boxes don’t fit in the wall and this is block right here. The walls are right up against the block, no insulation or anything!

Babka: Yup, looks like Longie work. Bless him. I told you not to take the trim off those switches. Sigh! (Another “I told you so,” she thinks) Shit! I was going to stop that. (Aloud) Let me Prime and paint the new trim before you put it up, please.

Pop: Sigh! I have to get this up today so Mike does not kill himself when he comes home tonight!!!!!

~~~OK! OK!

Does Pop get the switches fixed? Does Babka get her wish on painting the trim? Does Mike get a shocking experience when he comes home?
DO YOU EVEN CARE ABOUT THIS GOVNO?

“Click” in next time to find out what Mary E thinks of the work. Or Not.

Moving Day

2007-07-15T19:02:00.000-07:00

Today is a very strange feeling day. Well, it has been a strange feeling month, but today my step-mom moved out of the family home. The step-family, Pop, my sister and I loaded almost everything from the house that my father built into cars, a trailer, 2 trucks, and a van. The cinder block ranch house now stands empty, except for a few small things. It is empty today, the only time since Mom, Dad, my brother, Jan, and family friends put together piles of supplies to make a home and the Zima family with five kids moved in.

We moved in during the month of September. I was three that September. Now, I sit on the floor of the hollow living room hearing, seeing and smelling memories. I remember how I loved it when we all slept on mattresses lined up in the living room because there were no floors or walls in the rest of the house, and Mom hung laundry on a line tied from the telephone poll in the front of the house through the window and fastened to a stud inside the kitchen. I smell fresh pine Christmas trees, nut roll baking, and that gooey stuff we used to clean the walls.

I hear music, singing, fights, laughter, the piano with thumb-tacks on the hammers and the Bing-bong of Grandpa Louie’s clock. Memories of Mom’s Kelly green carpet, Phyllis’s surprising her with a gift of Desert Rose dishes, Jan’s guitar, Tom’s whip, Mary and I singing and dancing to show tunes while we cleaned the house. Thoughts wander to Easter Monday’s water fights, snow on the roof needing to be shoveled off, strawberry picking, Topsy, cats, chickens, rabbits, geese, pigs, a sheep and a heifer, Oh and parakeets. All provided by my dad, Longie.

Memories are just traces, wisps of color and light effected by time and emotion; the woods, the lonelinesses, the dreams, the wonders, the fears. OK, no life is perfect, no dream complete. We do our best. We love each other. We hurt one another and learn to forgive. Praise God for inventing that! It’s the love that keeps us going.

Now, the echoes must fade. The house that Dad built will go to another family. And we? We keep on moving, lest we get caught by what was, or what we wish had been. We grab tightly to our dreams, praying for all we are worth that we can be just a bit like the people who built that house.

Nothing Simple part 2

2007-07-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

OK, what was I thinking, posting specifics like when we are getting the truck and loading it. Now, they are planning to get the truck, load it and drive to Sycamore Valley on Sunday the 15th. Claire is 80 years old. I think it a bit much to pack a truck drive 5 hours and unpack the frozen stuff all on one Sunday. Good I don't have to do it. Well, I will help load the truck.

Today we moved a ton of gravel. We dug out a walkway from the house to the shop, put in some 4x4s, put down plastic and filled the hole with a ton of the 20 tons of gravel we ordered. The rest has been put at the base of the steps of our really cool deck. Our deck is too cool. You all need to come and spend some time with us and enjoy the yard and fire pit.

Last week we took out the front sidewalk and put in stepping stones. we also mulched and planted the flower bed out front.

Laura is still in China. Have not heard how she is doing. Please, keep her in your prayers.

Popo is not wanting to move, again. I wish he would make up my mind.

We'll just have to see what happens after we sell my father's house. That is not going to be simple. I have to get "Temporary Power of Attorney" from 5 people and a "Quit-Claim Deed" from Claire. Then spruce up the house, list it, accept a good bid then close. What fun? I might be wrong, but, I'm pretty sure that is why Popo does not want to think about moving ourselves yet. Well, maybe next year.

God Bless You ALL.

Nothing simple

2007-07-02T06:29:00.001-07:00

OK, it was silly of me to believe Mike and Ma-Zima about what was going to happen with the move. Lets try again. They are getting the truck Saturday July 14 and drive down Sunday July 15. Mikie is wanting EVERYTHING out of the garage so he can clean it. I don't know why since we are going to mess it up with moving and fixing up the place.

Anyone looking for a nice ranch house in Ashtabula?

Blessings on all who read.

June Info.

2007-06-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

Hello To anyone who reads this, and God’s peace to you.

It has been a busy while since we put anything down in type. A bit has happened.

1. My Laura Ann has gone off to China.
2. My step-mom is all but moved to Sycamore Valley, Ohio.
3. The Last truck load leaves the 11th or 12th of July. We will then do some painting etc. and put both houses on the market.
4. We bid on a house just south of Gratis, Ohio but were out bid at the last.
5. We are looking for a 1 or 1 ½ story home with three bedrooms, 2 car garage &/or a wood shop building, basement and about an acre of land or so. A fence would be lovely for the dogs.
We are looking in the Dayton – Eaton area.
6. I have “sleep apnea”, but having an awful time trying to sleep with the CPAP machine.
7. Pop spent a week building a small deck on the side of a little above ground pool for a friend of mine. The second day of work (Tuesday), I was home embroidering shirts for a customer, when I got a call from my friends son that she was in the hospital with a blood clot and cancer. The next day (Wednesday) the son went to help Pop with the deck and noticed that one post was out 5 inches. Pop had put the post in buy himself in 95 degree heat the day my friend went into the hospital. The “son” started yelling about “taking a saw, cutting the deck down, burning it and scrapping the project.” Pop was in shock. He actually kept his cool and explained that he was taking no pay for this job and that it could all be fixed. When he got home, poor old Popo was still in shock. Together we got a bit annoyed at the son and his actions.
8. It’s now Thursday. Pop had actually lost a nights sleep worrying about the mistake. I delivered my shirts, and Pop and I went over to finish the deck. Pop moved the post to its proper place and put the last of the deck boards on. He also put up a rail using his own wood. Now, the son is complaining that some of the boards are clean and some are weathered. (The weathered ones were my friends and the clean ones were ours that Pop planed down and used so as to not cost her any more money.) Also, the son wanted Pop to bring his router &/or his belt sander to smooth over any edges. We suggested he take a block of wood and some rough sandpaper to clean up any spots.
9. SO, Popo spent a 4days in the heat putting up a deck for free, using his own nails, wood and screws, AND never even heard “Thank-you”. I’d say chances may be poor that he will do anything else over there.
10. But please do say a prayer or two for my friend and her family.
11. I’m still working with the APL. Anyone looking for a dog or cat let me know.

God bless you all.

Just Today

2007-06-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

Papers are mailed for Popo’s social security part B. Stepping stones are researched. The garden is in. The strawberries are ripening. The Zima graves have their May flowers planted and mulch laid. The ground is ready for gravel for the fire pit off of the new deck. The picnic table is remade, again. Mike P’s table is repaired. And, a dragon-fly visited me twice today. It remedied of my daughter for whom I said a prayer or two.

Other than the above, we did nothing today.
God’s blessings on you all.

What's up

2007-06-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

Now that Pop is retired, he wants to do yard sales and is miffed if I'm busy.
It has gone from too cold to too hot up here.
May be looking for a more southern home come Fall or maybe next spring.
We're using bowling balls for gazing globes. Let's see a stray stone break one of them!

God's blessing on you all.

Sleep Study part2

2007-05-31T03:03:00.000-07:00

Slept with the machine on my face. I'm tired but I kept breathing all night. Now they want me to buy a machine. Surprise, surprise.
God's best on all of you.
Pray for Melody.

News bits from Babka and Popo

2007-05-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

Life being what it is now-a-days; things have been rushing toward us, at us and passing us by at full throttle. There are many things we should have put before the eye of our friends and family before now. Many thousand apologies to all. Here are a few events since the sleep study:
1. I brought a pit bull puppy home from the APL. The sweet little thing had already been trained to be dog aggressive. She tried to eat Nipsy, Scooter, KZ and Sooty. Needless to say she went back with the suggestion that she be put down. You can not un-teach a thing like that.
2. I guess I felt I needed another dog because Laura is going to China this summer for a long time and we will not see her again until, maybe Thanksgiving.
3. Laura and John are still involved with the SciFi conventions. John was the “evil voice” for one of the Pod Casts.
4. I have been digitizing my little heart out. I have been working on a black squirrel for the people who own the Black Squirrel Bed and Breakfast at Put-in-Bay, Ohio. http://www.blacksquirrelbnb.com/ A great place to stay for a get-a-way.
5. Also, doing embroidery stuff for the APL.
6. We bartered two denim shirts with hot rods on the back for no less than 61 Civil War tiny pill bottles. These bottles were recovered from the wall of an apothecary of the period located in Geneva, Ohio. The pharmacist’s wife tossed them into a hole in the wall when they used up what was needed. Some of the bottles still have pills and corks in them, unfortunately no labels.
7. This week and next are the last two weeks of school up here. I have been getting lots of sub-jobs. I feel they must be running really short of handed.
8. We have been working on the yard, also, but the garden is not in. We’ll not be accused of jumping the gun this year. (Smile)
9. Popo got a new black powder reproduction at a yard sale. Happy Father's Day Pop!
10. Popo officially retired completely from the Home Depot. They would not even talk to him about being off for the Dayton V.A. event last weekend so he said, “I’ll make it easy for you. The 31st of May is my last day. I retire, and Ooh, I want the 31st of May off.” So Memorial Day will be memorable for more than one reason from now on.
11. Mike and Clare are moving stuff down to Sycamore Valley every other weekend, only the big stuff is left in the house and some things that were Dad’s.
12. Some few pictures are posted on Flicker of the Camp Dennison Event and Lake Erie.
12. Last but not lease, I have another sleep study thing tonight. Wish me luck!

God Bless to all. Pray for my friend Melody. We selfishly want her song to continue further in this world.

Now go to Sleep.

2007-05-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

Who ever coined the phrase “The Golden Years” must have been some jerk trying to scam some middle age people into buying a time share someplace. The years should be called something like the gray years, or the hospital green years, the black and blue years (falling down while on blood thinners), or maybe the dimly lit years. So, now that I, Babka, (Polish Grandma) have reached those years when you hear a lot of… “When you get to be your age…” …. Umm… where was I…. OH! So, here is part of my story.

The ailment list is a bit long, but thank God it’s not as long as some. Yes, other’s lists are longer. And, yes, I know I am not alone, but anyone who goes through this $#!+ will tell you it is no fun. Along with living with my X-XY (think of genes) and living with my present XY, and teaching middle school, other things have caused stress in life. Low blood sugar, allergies (dust, mold, pollen, and 5 different antibiotics), bursitis, arthritis, back deformity, mini-strokes, 4 surgeries that I remember, and the most fun fibromyalgia, to name a few. Many of you most likely can top that list, but here is the deal.

A new dimension has been added to my life. I was feeling foggier than usual. Is that possible? Anyway, I got over being angry at my MD long enough to get a referral to the local neurologist just to see if any brain was left up there (or where ever I keep my brain) He ran 4,329.5 tests or there abouts. Then he said he wanted to have me do two things: 1. Go to my internist to have more blood tests (who happens to be the refering MD) and 2. Get a sleep disorder test.

Those of you who have been tortured with a sleep study will understand my lamentations. They have you come in a 9:00 pm. After spending 45 min sticking electrodes and stuff all over your head, hand, legs, chest, back and abdomen, they stick you in bed and say go to sleep. Aye Right! First of all, it has taken the technician so long to put that stuff on you that you have to go to the bathroom which is not in your room but down the hall. Secondly, you can barely move for all the wires. And third, you are a stranger in a strange place, AND people are watching everything about you.

In the morning the technician actually complained that it took all night for me to get into dream sleep so they could get an accurate reading. Go figure, it took me awhile to get into a sound sleep. I wonder why. Oh! And the whole time we talked the difference between Christianity and religion. The technician even tried to convince me that I was being lead astray by saying the rosary.

Guess what? I have to go back and do it all over again with an air thing on my nose because I was tired in the morning.

I came home and went to bed. Good for the students of Ashtabula County that Mrs. K was not their sub today. Ain't life a ball of joy?

God Bless

Prayer Help Needed !!

2007-05-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

Please, if you read this, send up prayers for my friend, Melody, who is very ill and may not be with us much longer. Selfishly, we are not ready to have her leave us. She is a sweat and gentle soul, one of those people who does not know how loving and admired she is. May God grant her what she needs.
Thank you for your prayers for Melody. God bless you.

Camp Denison

2007-05-14T17:18:00.000-07:00

What a fun few days. I never had a four hour tour go so fast. I learned a great deal about the camp and the area. Did you know that Morgan and His raiders tried to invade the camp and were turned back by ray recruits, local militia, and invalids? What a story. It would be a great screenplay.
The food was great, the people were great, but there were not a great number of people who came to see the show. Some pictures are up on Flickr, if you want to see them.
God Bless

Travels

2007-05-09T06:21:00.000-07:00

1. Pop just got called into work. It looks like he is getting to know what it is like to be a substitute. He is working lumber. That should do his knee all kinds of good ~ ~ ~ NOT! But he feels better as he is bringing in some money. But he is a big grouch as he has to put up with the crazy people up here and he can't just do what he wants.

2. Today I, Babka, am traveling (alone) to Camp Dennison, Cincinnati, Ohio. Sister Anthony, (me) will be taking care of the troops there like she did at the start of the Civil War. If you are in the area, come and see us.

3. I'm jealous of my Laura with all her travels, but I also worry about her health. She always put TOO much on herself. Her blog is at scifilaura.blogspot.com You should check it out. She loves comments. (Don't we all?)

Well, I've gone packing.
God's love is with you all, and so is mine.

News Bits

2007-05-07T18:50:00.000-07:00

God’s peace anyone who cares to read this blog.
It’s been a while since I posted anything. So let us see if there was anything worth posting:
1. Popo finally got therapy for his knee paid for by the insurance. I guess the insurance company did not want to pay for a knee replacement and that therapy. Pop was released to go back to work with no limitations last Friday. After Home D gave him some grief about not having hours to schedule him into, they called him in today for 4 hours, but had not put him into the computer yet.
2. I have worked the last 6 days at Washington Elementary School for a teacher whose baby girl had a major health problem. She spent over a week at the Cleveland Clinic. Please, PRAY for them. I could have worked more days but I promised ~~~
3. That I would be Sister Anthony at Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati. I will be there Wednesday night through Saturday night in my little tent.
4. Still working at the APL.
5. Pop put a little deck on the side of the house. That and the deck he put on the back are awesome. Should add $$$ to the house.
6. You may have heard that my step-mother and brother are moving to Sycamore Valley, Ohio near Marietta, Ohio. They say in the fall but the walls over there are bear and shelves are getting empty. If they are still here in June, I’ll be surprised.
7. This leads us to the question on everyone’s lips, “What are you planning to do, Babka?” The answer to this is really, “I don’t know.” First they have to really move. Then, we have to do some house fixing over there. Then, we have to sell Dad’s house. Then, maybe we can think about what we are going to do.
8. Pop and I have been walking on the beach quite a bit. It is great now because you don’t see very many people. We spend time together, yet get lost in our own thoughts. The mantra of the wave song in harmony with the west wind pulls your meandering thoughts to untroubled places. We hunt for “lake glass” and beautiful bits of rock rounded by the movement of the water. The lake ice of winter pushes up onto the shore, and like the glaciers, leaves as it melts a morainal supply of new rock for the tides to reclaim or break into sand. One point for staying in Ashtabula.
9. Each sunny glorious day, you hear everyone talking about how awesome the day is. People in Ashtabula praise God much more for a sunny, dry day. No taking a good Spring day for granted up here. By the time Spring truly shows her head, we are just about insane for need of the sun. If you can’t stand snow, you won’t last long in A-town. Is this a point for or against staying in Ashtabula?
10. The kitchen project is at a bit of a stall as I’ve been working and to lazy to paint when I get home.
11. WE miss family even more now that we will have no “family” up here.
12. Laura, has been burning her candle from all sides still.

I’ll let you all know how Camp Dennison was.
God’s speed to everyone.

Popo's Knee Part 4

2007-04-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

We just got home from the doctor's office. The doc says that Pop can't go back to work for a month, at least, and no twisting or pivoting or ladders or kneeling or jumping or hop-scotch or running or long walks or climbing or crawling or standing on concrete or ...well you get the idea.

Pop is to call the doc if he has ANY problem and he will get him right in. Pop is a candidate for a new knee or at least a partial knee if anything at all goes wrong, so Pop HAS TO TAKE TIME TO HEAL!

Of course the insurance is not covering the physical therapy. Oh Well, more off taxes next year.

God bless to all.

Bragging Rights

2007-04-03T05:26:00.000-07:00

Having ALMOST reached the over ripe age of 60 years, there is not much more for me to brag about in my life, except the things that we old people brag about: still walk up right, latest surgery, still driving, “my pain is bigger than yours is”, and our kids.

Since I have not heard much of the accomplishments of Pop’s children and grand children, I will just have to brag about my daughter and her husband. Not that they (Pop's clan) are not doing great things with their lives, we just don't hear about it.

Anyway, both Daughter and Hubby are very busy doing great things, the most fun one seem to be Raven Con. Check it out! They are both speakers! http://www.ravencon.com/guests.html

Not every Babka (grandma) can brag of 5 grand-cats and that their kids are speakers at a science fiction convention!

God bless to you all.

Popo Pics

2007-03-28T10:02:00.000-07:00

Here are the before and after surgery pictures of Pop.

His leg is much better already, but they want him on the crutches for 7 to 10 days and out of work 3 to 6 weeks. Do you think I'll be able to get him to comply?

Now we get to negotiate with the short term disability people. Fun at every turn.

Pax Christi

POPO's Therapy Day 1

2007-03-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

All went well at therapy today as far as therapy goes. The insurance thing is still ongoing. "NO, you did not spend enough of our money for us to spend more on you. Love, United Health Care"

I could say ##@$%^^&*@#$:· !!!, but Pop is doing that so I'll just keep trying for a while.

God Bless to all

POPO's Knee

2007-03-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

For the last year Pop has been complaining about his right knee. FINALLY he got the doctor to recommend an ortho-pod doc, who says, "Blah blah blah...your age..blah blah..... take over the counter pains meds. ...Blah and bye."

That was last September. In February we get the name of a different orthopedic doctor. Who say, "Blah ... oh my...blah ... damage since September, Wow... Blah.... Surgery ..... March 27th."

Today Pop had his surgery. The doctor comes in and says, "You did great ... we cleaned it out... physical therapy at 7:30 am tomorrow."

Then the nurse comes in and says, "Your insurance refuses to cover the physical therapy because this is out patient surgery." I call the insurance co and they say, "Your policy will not cover physical therapy because the surgery was out patient." I call the human resources person at the HD where Pop works, she calls the insurance co, then calls us and says, "The reason that they were not going to cover therapy was because there was no request. They will cover it."

We shall see in the morning. BUT Pop is doing well.

God Bless.

Yes it's True

2007-03-26T14:51:00.000-07:00

Babka has a tattoo. Here is the proof. I had been talking about it for a long while, so when I got out of town to a place that had some good tat-parlers ... well you see for your self. What do you think? Comments accepted below.

God bless and keep you in all ways.

Headed Home At Last!

2007-03-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

St Clair Shores. Star Date 4,329.5 (or so it seems)

It has been a long week and a half, but I head to Ashtabula tomorrow. Here is the news:
· Paul S. is getting married 7/7/07 so, if you can. Save the date.
· I found a dead newt in the lake.
· I fed the ducks and geese. And, Played with the puppies at the pet stores
· Clair bought a trailer to be placed on Ruthie’s property this spring.
· Step-bro Mike is buying a house in Gainesville, Ohio near Ruth also.
· Clair and Mike might move as early as this summer.
· Pop and I will need power of attorney from everyone to sell the house when the time comes.
· We may have to spend a penny on paint and flooring to get a better price.
· Pop’s knee surgery is Tuesday at 11:45am we need to be there 1 ½ hours early. I’ll post how he is when everything is over.
· Went to a quilt show. Saw some great ideas.
· Went to church a few times.
· Other than that I've done the usual things when vacationing:
o Read; Shop; Movie; TV; Eat; Sleep; Shop; Get a tattoo; Shop ; TV; Read

May The Lord Bless and keep you all! Babka

Longinus Jan Zima and Spring

2007-03-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

Up here in the cold North, Spring is a day to celebrate. We love the season changes, the Hot Summer days in the garden, the colors and fruits of Fall, the beauty of Winter, but especially the rebirth of the world in Spring. As we gets older, we enjoys the Winter less ant the Spring more!

In my family, the first day of spring always brought cake and ice cream! Oh, not for Spring, that meant working the garden, but because, back in 1912, the first day of Spring was also the first day for Longinus Jan Zima, Sr., my father. On a dusty small farm in Nebraska with one cow, he learned some hard life lessons. When the family moved to Geneva,Ohio where he learned some more, but had some very good times too. Eventually, he grew up met a wonderful, beautiful lady (a good work horse), married, and caused 5 of us to come into the world.

Dad sacrificed his own dreams and advancement for his children. Even before he married he was a giver. He graduated a year late, because he worked half a day to help support the family. He did not go to college but worked in the WPA to help out.

After he married and we all started coming, he gave up a career as a singer so that his children would not have to move, go hungry and to keep us out of a business where it was so easy to slip up and go to hell. He gave up promotions in the insurance business (which he was hot real fond of anyway) so that we would not have to move. Mom and Dad re-re-re-re-re-re-mortgaged the house they build by hand (with the help of friends and the oldest two kids) to send each of us to catholic schools and to send some assistance while we were at college, esp. myself as I was the only one not ambitious enough to study hard and get a scholarship, however, all five of us have college degrees and even advanced degrees because our parents love education and knew it was the way.

Mom and Dad sacrificed their lives and dreams so that the dreams of their children would have a chance. That is the way of good parents. Dad use to say, "Shoot for the stars because, if you miss you might still hit the moon. If you just shoot for the moon, you might just hit the ground."

They are both reborn now, and can see and hear everything we do. I pray we still make them proud.

And, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

I'm a'come'n Ma

2007-03-18T07:42:00.000-07:00

All praise to Patrick!
This has been the first thing to come to mind for as long as I can remember. Each year singing in church ... "All praise to St. Patrick, who brought to this country the gift of God's grace and sweet light of His love." What fun to wear the green and all. Then as life happens things occurred to cause me to forget all about St. Patrick on the 17th of March. For a while the mention of the day created in me a melancholy.
You see, in the 1980's my mother died and was buried on St. Patty's day, but Mom had enjoyed the day and so it seemed all right. Two years later, my mother-in-law died, also to be buried on the 17th of March. This is when my tears finally came for my Mom as I stood next to Mike W. looking at Hyacinthia and said, "It seems like I just did this." Buckets of tears fell and poor Mike stood right there and held me. Two years later, my sister, Phyllis, passed at the age of 51, from leukemia. And she was buried on the 16th of March, the day before the anniversary of the funeral of Ann, Hyacinthia, and St Patrick's Day. So for years I sulked and missed then all.

Something was new this year. As I thought of my family, I realised that it was they who were alive and I ... I was the dead one. I could hear the song in my head and in my mind's eye I saw them all singing and smiling and dancing a jig with Himself, St. Patrick. I can't wait to get there and share their joy. "All praise to St. Patrick, who brought to this country the gift of God's faith and sweet light of His love. .da..dum..di-di... dum-dum...."

Saint Clair Shores Day 3

2007-03-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

Day 3:
Much to do here, but no real desire to do anything. You can shop, read, get a tattoo, play with the dog and cat, walk in the cold, go to a movie, eat out. I did get a hair trim, well all the hairs got trimmed really. (smile)
Messed up there I made a special trip to Pet Smart to get new toys for the dog and cat. For the dog, Albina a Lassa, I got a frog that ribbited (sp?). She liked at it and walked away. This morning she was lying on it and when I tried to pick it up she tried to bite me. We had a talk.
For the cat, Tilly, I got the most loved toy ate the APL, a strip of fleece attached to a stick with a noise maker that sounded like a mouse at the end. Never had a cat who did not like it...until now. Tilly was in her cozy cat bed when I came in with the toy. She was coming toward me when the thing made a noise. Tilly jumped and ran under the human bed. Later, I had the toy hanging off the end of the night stand. The cat came in, I moved the stick, it mad a noise, and I have not seen Tilly since.

Saint Clair Shores

2007-03-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

Day 1:
Saint Clair Shores, Michigan…my home for the nest week and a half; dog, cat and house sitting for my brother and sister-in-law. The house is situated on the shore of Lake Saint Clair, where the wind is cold, and the ice crashes against the peer, but the Canadian geese are in. My sibling and wife are at this moment in Hawaii on their way to Tahiti for the first long vacation they have had in a long time. I am enjoying the good food in the house (everything is organic), the good books, the exercise equipment and the quiet.

Pop is home with his bad knee, but still he has shamed me with his ability of getting the tests done for his surgery, painting of the basement stairway, painting and installing of the shelves over the stairway, and the sweeping of the house. What will he have to do tomorrow? I wonder why we can get so much done when our coworker is gone. I miss Pop and the dogs. (the show off)

Time Flies

2007-03-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

Time Flies whether you are having fun or not. Here are just some of the fun (?) things that have happened in the lives of Pop and Babka since Valentines Day:

Worked the Animal Protective League every Saturday. Got scratched and bruised every time. Got locked out of a running APL van that was full of nice large (and warm) dogs. I, however, stood out in 28º F weather trying to get someone to help. Finally, the other ladies got an Ashtabula officer to get the county sheriff send over an office, who didn’t have (wink wink) the equipment to break into a van without breaking the van. He broke into the van for us. And where was the extra key you ask? It was in the van. Some person, not me, had it on the same key ring as the original.
I had a 6th grade class that I was subbing get the best of me and the regular teacher’s candy.
I got banded from subbing at Lakeside High School (Ashtabula City Schools) for enforcing the “you have to have a pass to get into class late” rule. Really NO LOSS.
Subbed at Braden Jr. High of the Buckeye System and had an awesome day. Also, at their high school, another awesome day.
The snow is almost gone. It has melted and gone into our basement/dog pool.
I leave for Michigan, Wednesday to sit Tom’s house, cat and dog while he goes to Tahiti for a week and a half.
Pop has to have knee surgery the 27th of this month. This will keep us from going to the spring training of the Ohio Valley Civil War Association. (OVCWA.org). BAD WORDS! We miss my friends. For some reason they do not want to drive 6 hours to visit.
Pop can’t seem to get the scheduler at the Depot to understand that he can not stand on the concrete for more that 4 hours, doctor’s note not withstanding.
The kitchen is starting to take shape.
We have doors on the upstairs guest bedroom and closets.
And Spring is almost here!!

Valentine's Day

2007-02-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

May St Valentine help you love and be loved the way he loved.

Ok, that's confusing, but you get what is meant.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Here is my main squeeze!

Ashtabula Snow Days Continued.

2007-02-13T20:24:00.000-08:00

Pax Christi! Any and Everyone,
Here we are in the frozen North (Northeast Ohio that is). Speaking with friends in Southwest Ohio did give me warm sense kinship to hear that they were getting snow. Misery does love company, don’t ya know?

It’s strange how you can acclimate to the cold. It got up to a balmy 28º F and it almost felt like sweater weather, although it is back to frigid 6º F with a wind chill that would make unprotected body parts fall off. We are getting about 10 inches of cold blowing snow right now. Even students are getting tired of the weather and not getting to school. They are missing their friends, parties, after school activities and field trips. The little guys are exhausted from the effort needed to put on all that clothing, plus they look like multicolored ticks as they plod and clomp their boots out to the buses or walk home.

The older students find it hard to look cool when they are freezing. How do you impress the opposite sex when they can’t even see it’s you? The Jr. High kids hate having to stand inside the school doors to wait for the buses, but hate having to stand outside the doors to wait for the buses and ice over. Come to think of it, such confused emotions must seem normal for many of those young folks. Yes; not; do; not; will; won’t; like; love; lust; hate, all felt in the span of about 5 to 6 ……. minutes. What’s a little freezing with a day like that?

The poor Jack Russell terrorists get lost in the drifts when they are forced outside to "do that thing". They don't have to be called twice to come back in.

May God grant you the peace your heart is searching for.

Any Answers?

2007-02-12T06:06:00.000-08:00

Why is it no one has a suggestion to answer to the previous post?

I don't get it

2007-02-09T13:55:00.000-08:00

Why is it that sorrow seems to last longer than joy?
......... that evil seems to win?
........ that sinners can't stand a saintly person?
........ that jerks can hurt, but because you are trying to follow God's rule you don't hurt back?
........ that a peaceful mind is a figment of the psychologist's mind?
.... that life can make you feel tiny?

God bless and keep you.

The Surprises of Life with Babka

2007-02-08T15:52:00.000-08:00

When we moved here to Ashtabula, we just needed a house close to my dad’s home. He was ailing and we wanted to be of help to him and my step mom. We bought a “century house” across the road that had 1 ½ acres, and lovely fruit and black walnut trees. We knew the house needed some work, but we thought we could handle it. SOME work was an understatement to the max. After replacing the roof, heating, wiring, windows, doors ceilings, plumbing, floors, curtains, kitchen counters, and kitchen sink; then adding cooling, shower in the basement, plaster, wallpaper, paint, molding, a sink and shelves in the pantry and a dish washer in the kitchen; Oh, and heating, insulation, doors, roof, and air cleaning to the 3 bay garage (in which there are no cars or lawn equipment, but that’s another story); Oh, and putting up a fence for the 4 dogs, taking out the 21 foot above grown pool, replacing the deck and building a garden shed; my husband, Pop, declared the house done! He did not plan on his wife, me, Babka.

You see he had asked me if I wanted to change the cabinets in the kitchen. I said, “No, I’ll just paint them.” Well that was when we were just going to “flip the house” and move after my dad did not need us anymore, which he does not as he is now with my mom having game night parties in heaven. Now that he wants to stay here, maybe FOREVER! I will need more storage in the kitchen and a ½ bath in the pantry. Pop said, “WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY THIS EARLIER!” To which I responded, “You didn't tell me we were staying so long.” The long and short of it is that the kitchen is a mess again and my semi-retired husband is very busy in the shop making cabinets and shelves and trim and molding. Heaven knows we do not want Pop to pop from boredom with so much time on his hands.

I’ll let you know how it is going.

I cover you all with the Blood of the Lamb

Ashtabula Snow Days

2007-02-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

If you don't like snow, stay out of Ashtabula, Ohio. Although, December '06 was mild to the extremes, February is frigid to the same extremes. A few years ago Ashtabula gave a new meaning to "April Showers" with 15 inches of snow showers that stayed for a week. People here are in such need to be out of doors that they invariably plant their gardens too soon. The seed stores love it because they sell double the amount when people need to replant. (Guilty as charged! But, well, I've only been back in the area 4 years.) Then the snow will come early and the potatoes don't get dug up and become volunteer seed for the next year. Next year, I, the Babka, will not have to plant at least 2 of the 4 rows of potatoes I planted because Pop, the potato digger, did not get them dug before the first snow of October. Of course, they could have been dug in the mild December, but we were working on the deck then.

This year we were in school and got 14 -15 inches of snow during the day and did not close early. Ashtabula City schools did close for the subzero weather, but opened again when the temp got up to 5º and the "emergency days" were all used up, save one. Maybe the little children of A-town can stand walking to school at 5º, or waiting at the bus stop. Not what this old lady was use to in Kentucky. 2 inches of snow would close Northern Kentucky schools. Hey there are lots of hills, turns and narrow roads in Northern K.Y.

We're havin' a heat wave. It is warm enough now for the salt to start working. Praise God!
May the Lord bless and keep you, Babka.