Can't believe I forgot to post a smiling Grampa!

Some of his winnings in Baton  Rouge.

Poor old house . . .

UK World War II Museum

We lucked out with Hurricane Sandy. Only lost power for about 10 minutes this morning. Puppy's Pop found the pieces of my spinner, straightened it out and we're back in business. Kiddo and his family didn't lose power either so Richoni's ended up being the only bar open last night. Did a good business with everyone out looking at the damage! The beautiful Eastern Point Beach in Groton is a mess. The concession stand got super flooded as did the house where Kiddo celebrated his 8th birthday. The high tides, winds and rains truly devastated the coastal communities.

 Puppy's Pop spent the last two days working on his planes. I finished painting the second coat in the big bedroom and took down the old wall paper. Oh my. It's pretty bad when the wall paper was covering a lot of broken horsehair plaster! I knew the wall near the bathroom was in bad shape but not as bad as it is. Puppy's Pop just replastered quite a few good sized holes which I had vacuumed clean earlier. If I get a chance I shall wash the walls with a TSP solution tomorrow. Then we can let it dry out really well before we put up the new wall paper. It will certainly not be perfect but it will look nice and clean for a few more years. I still want to tackle the ceiling in the living room and then wall paper the walls. Not sure when I'll get the gumption for such a scary undertaking!

Quote:  The force, the mass of character, mind, heart or soul that a man can put into any work, is the most important factor in that work.  __A.P. Peabody

Older is fantastic . . .

Take a look at how long Eleanor has been in business.  Angie and I bought wall paper for Ma and Pa's house from her when we were in highschool!

Pretty creepy, no?

I keep having such wonderful experiences. And it's true what Ma used to say, " Every age has its compensations." Eleanor Racette and I had a date for Monday, October 29 so I could pick up the wallpaper I had chosen a few weeks ago after she had graciously opened her wallpaper barn for me when she saw me peeking in the closed, locked door! She left me a phone message that with the weather closing in on us she would be open this afternoon, Saturday or if I wanted she would open up for me on Sunday. I decided to go today. As I finished paying cash for my 8 double rolls she said to hold on and she would carry the box out for me. I said, " No way!" and I hefted the box off of the counter. She followed me out to the car and asked how old I was. So I told her,"Seventy in December." She said, "I thought so." When I asked her her age she said, "90." Eleanor is old enough to be my mother! She still runs the business with her 63 year old son who is also an Art Collector. She is phenomenal: so handsome, neat, knowledgeable, kind, bright and has grand kids! She told me to just keep on living, I was doing just fine! Gotta love that lady.

Kiddo and I had a great evening yesterday. He was invited to a pumpkin carving party at the neighboring cousin's house. After playing some baseball with the kids he went in for the carving.  I wasn't going to go with him but he's a bit shy so I went along. What a good time we had. While the kids and Dad ate pizza A and I had a delicious ice cream pie. Way to go crazy! All of the pumpkins came out awesome.

Quote:  Age sits with decent grace upon his visage, and worthily becomes his silver locks, who wears the marks of many years well spent, of virture, truth well tried, and wise experience.   ___Rowe

Strange but true . . .

What a shame.  We were looking at real estate North of Baton Rouge. Could have been a beautiful spot.

Puppy's Pop had a letter waiting for him on our return from LA. The Ford Dealership in Plainfield wants to buy his 1937  Ford. It's scary that they know we have a '37 Ford. They must have a way of getting Motor Vehicle records from the state or town. I was dismayed. Although if they offered us $75,000 I would consider it! But I know that Puppy's Pop would be aghast. Such is the life of the high and mighty!

Spent today getting in shape after our comfortable stay with southern family. Found out that my Wii Fitness Coach will kick my butt just like A's did when I was using his. I made myself another profile and skipped most of the set up so my profile may show me as closing in on 70 but it thinks I'm a pretty active old lady! That's all it took to pep up the work outs. So that's cool. Spoke to older brother and his wife today and found out that she had a same day surgery while we were gone. She ended up with a boo boo to the right of her nose right near her eye! Can't believe that the doctors don't tell patients that the oxygen mask can peel your skin so badly you need more medical attention after surgery from a dermatologist! She just finished taking prednisone to clear it up. Makes you wonder if this cavalier attitude towards patients is commonplace. Speaking of medical stuff: I will have an extra $30 a month to play with. The insurance we receive from the Teachers' Retirement Board is going down and the coverage is staying the same. Seems very odd. Have to wonder if somehow it has to do with the elections!

All of my plants that I had brought in from the porch before we left are just beautiful. I put them up stairs in Grampa's former workshop, near the window. The more I forget them the better off they are. The Christmas cactus should be in bloom before Thanksgiving! Not too sure what to do about my Live Oak. I have to research the problem.

Quote:  What millions died that Caesar might be great.   ___Campbell

They just had to have My Fitness Coach . . .

So . . . I had no excuse for not continuing my regular exercise program while here in Louisiana. A & M have a newer version, I think, than mine and the lady coach really worked me with some more strenuous exercises but it really is great. I always feel better when I finish a session. I'm sure I've gained a few pounds down here because I adore breakfast at the Waffle House. I could never eat like that at home  but our two treks a year to visit our southern family is perfect for excess of any kind! Their oldest daughter, middle child Sargent and her friend Carlos were here Saturday and A & M took us out to dinner at Sammy's. I had another best : Fried Green Tomato Poboy / spinach, remoulade, pepper jack and diced onions. It was so amazing. A and I shared it. The next time I'll get my own! It was that tasty. This was the first Poboy I've had in all the years we've been visiting, about 7, I reckon. I just thought it was like a grinder. It does have bread, meat and veggies. But the bread is smaller, light and a bit crispy. The filling was so fresh and clean tasting. It is not a heavy lunch. Just a perfect lunch or dinner or snack! Ended Saturday evening starting a 1000 piece puzzle. We started it about 7pm and M worked through a good part of the night. It was completed by 2pm Sunday. She is a puzzle junky! Not sure I even put in 50 pieces. The kids were a big help too. M also won the overall cribbage games, 4 - 3. In all 7 games the biggest hand was 20 points and it wasn't mine!  Puppy's Pop is out flying with Gil. He took a first and second place in the Aerobatics Contest at Liberty Park this week end and he was thrilled to win some good stuff in the raffle. We mailed home two model airplane kits plus other important odds and ends. One of the kits is somewhat larger than he usually flys but it is what most experts use. So I think Puppy's Pop will be moving on up!

Grace . . .

We had a chance to go out for supper with Southern friends last night. Backroads is a small cinder block building almost in the middle of nowhere with a cement slab floor. The decor is plain. They are only open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6 to 9pm. They were busy and the food is homemade goodness. But the best part was that Gil and Kathy reached out their hands to us and Gil said grace before we ate. Haven't done that in such a long time. It was very nice. Took the beautiful ride home with the sun setting over the flatlands.

Today we went for my pecan waffle before setting out for a winding ride on back roads in West Felicianna Parish. Oldest Kiddo showed us the roads he bikes on with friends when they get together. They are wild, woolly, narrow, charming roads. And . . . we ended up on the shores of the mighty Mississippi. The waters were very low and I guess it was about a mile across. Took off my shoes and socks and waded in. There's something comforting yet awe inspiring about Old Man River. When in flood stage it has to be more than  two or three miles across.  There is no contending with its mighty force.

We have visited the Bluebonnet Swamp in Baton Rouge this week and the Art and Science Museum. Everything here is just the perfect size for me. I have been overwhelmed at museums in New York, Chicago or Boston but in this slower paced southern life I find myself appreciating the easy going attitudes of the people, their cities, towns and parishes.

Bites of History: Coffee | Food | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Bites of History: Coffee | Food | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA If you like coffee this is a very interesting short history.