Red Hat Cruise

My friend Myra and I have booked a "Red Hat Cruise" in January. I'm so excited! By January, I'll be ready for some SUN!!!!

Ohio Weekend

Mom and I went to Ohio the weekend of Sept. 11 - 13. We had a great time. Mom visited with cousins Margaret and Barbara. I visited with Libby, Rick and Megan and all of Bob's family. We spent most the time at John and Kathy's (Bob's daughter) "lake getaway" at Grand Lake St. Mary's. I also had a good visit with Aunt Pat, Aunt Barb, Gary and Chas. I'm already looking forward to my next trip up at Thanksgiving!

September 27 - Sunday

I got the boat moved to Caney Creek Marina. I think I'm really going to be happy there. Nice dock - security - nice restaurant - good bands in the summer - good staff, etc. I got it moved just in time on Friday afternoon during the couple hours of partly cloudy skies - no rain. It rained ALL Day Saturday and altho' it's sunny today, the lake was too muddy and high to take the boat out. http://www.caneycreekmarina.com/

Last Thursday was the traditional "Red Hat" Cookout at Karen Eidson's. We had a great time.

Last weekend Patti and I scrapbooked at the big Memory Magic Crop in Oak Ridge. We had a great time!

It was beautiful today. I worked outside most of the day!

Red Hat

I just love my Red Hat group - Atomic Hot Heads. Some "old" friends and some new friends. We played Bingo at Anita's tonight - what fun. And, better yet, great desserts by Jean - her chocolate pie is the best. Better yet, all kinds of yummy toppings for it and ICE CREAM. We braved the rain, storm, lightening and thunder and made it to Farrgut where there was practically NO RAIN. We made up for it in Roane and Anderson county where it was a down pour!!!

The Mower has been given CPR

Blessed are those that know how to work on mowers.

Well, I've been appropriately reprimanded for probably putting too much oil in the mower - I blame it on old age and the bifocals. Evidently, when I came "down hill" the oil bubbled over and caught on fire. All is fixed and the mower is working well again. No cost $$$$, but once again gratitude to good friends!

Julie and Julia

Myra and I went to the movie yesterday - Julie and Julia. It was good! I'd rate it a good rental .... but on a hot Sunday after the mower blew up it was great to go to the coooool theater to see it. And, better yet, enjoy Myra's friendship and dinner out afterwards!

August 17, 2009

When it rains it pours, but it also shows us a rainbow! Came home last Thursday night to a huge tree limb down on my bradford pear tree - I couldn't budge it. But the rainbow, was neigbor Bill. He came up and helped me get it laying down on the ground. That was quite an effort including using the chain saw! Friday I got out the trusty chain saw again and cut it up!

Yesterday I was mowing and the motor on the riding mower smoked, flamed and died. I made a diving leap to get off of it and survived with a few bruises and pulled muscle in my lower back/hip. A friend is coming over tomorrow night to check out the mower and presumedly pronounce it dead. I think there is probably a new mower in my future.

They say things run in THREEs. Hopefully, nothing else is coming my way soon. But, both of these hassles were made easier thanks to the support of good friends!

Early August Update

All well here at the Miller household! I've had good news on the family health front.

Bob's son-in-law John underwent Triple ByPass Surgery. He is home and recovering well! Kathy and John appreciate all of your prayers and support. All looks good!

Mom and Don went to Nashville for his monthly leukemia treatment. Test results were very good. They've extended the treatment to every 6 weeks instead of every 4 weeks. They feel like they've got it under control where it is not life threatening, just slows him down a little.

As for me, I'm fine. Just very busy with all the grants that are out there due the stimulus money making more grants available to community colleges...and, this is the normal busy time of year anyway!

Dogs are fine. Pebbles (Beagle) discovered a Racoon on the birdfeeder a few weeks ago and has done watch on it ever since. That, along with the flying squirrels that have made a nest in a tree, keeps her in the yard with her head straight up in the air most of the time. Tasha (Shepherd) is somewhat interested but smart enuf to know the racoon is LONG gone. They are chasing deer out of the yard most mornings.

Hummingbirds are in their frenzy mode that's normal for this time of year as the babies leave the nest. It's been fun to watch them. I should buy stock in sugar tho' with all the food I'm going through.

It's hot - but makes the few days I get to spend on the lake (in the water!) even better. It's hitting in the 90's this weekend.

Hope this update finds all of you doing well.

It's Grant Writing Season

Well, I'm in grant writing mode! I've been working on a grant to better serve adults and dislocated workers since 7 AM and it's now almost 11 PM. I have much more work to do over the next week or so. This grant is due 8/4 and I have another one due 8/3 so if I look a little tired the next few weeks have no fear it will be over soon!!!! I'm headed to BED!

Mid July Update

I've been so busy I have not gotten back on to update my blog. We had a great time on the boat on July 3rd. The fireworks at Bayside were great. Pictures will be forthcoming. This weekend has been gorgeous. Spent the day on the boat yesterday (Sat 7/18) and working in the yard today (Sun 7/19).

This past week has been very stressful. My good friend Chuck Whicker passed away on 7/11 after a short battle with pancreas cancer. Chuck was a good man and so helpful to me when Bob was sick and after he passed away. Please keep his wife Evelyn, son Trent, family and close friends in your prayers. Then long time Moose member Arthur "Rusty" Russell passed away on Wednesday. Bob and Rusty got to be good friends when they were going through radiation for cancer together. Bob's prostate cancer was cured but Rusty's was not. Two good men went to heaven this week.

A few pics to let you know I'm continuing to do well. One with "LINUS" at the Project Linus conference and another on the boat.

I'm Home

I got home from the PL national conference about 12:30 PM. I had a fabulous time. Honestly, the best time I've had in a long time. The Project Linus coordinators and headquarters staff are a great group of people. The conference was informative and lots of fun. We had LOTS of chocolate and lots of fun in our classes and demos. I learned many new ideas for making blankets and in running and growing the chapter. Ellen Knoefel (Asheville NC) coordinator had emailed me last year not long after Bob died and offered to pick me up and take me to this year's conference. She is a wonderful lady. Her assistant Sharon drove her car and we had a great "road trip" both coming and going. It's a ways to Bloomington, IL but it felt like the old "homeland" in Ohio with all the FLAT cornfields. However, there were a "few more" windmills than what we have on Windrock - there were fields and fields of them. I was told the one field we saw had over 200 windmills. They were beautiful. Of course, we all ate too much, but we had sooooooo much fun and learned soooo much. A special thanks to those of you that helped make my time away from home less stressful by bringing in the mail, watering plants, checking on the house, being "on call" for the dogs and the house, helping me make my "ride connection" and much more. I appreciate you all.

Dog Park at Fairfield Glade

Mom and Don have been working with friends to develop a dog park at Fairfield Glade. That way "Sammie" will have a place to run and play and not just be walked on the leash. After a great group effort including Mom's super fundraising efforts, the park is finally ready with fencing, gates, benches, picnic table with umbrella and more. Enjoy the pics.

Tasha and Pebbles

Missing my babies while I'm at the Project Linus Conference. They are "partying" at the kennel. They love it there - didn't even look back at me when I dropped them off.

Laverne

My friend Laverne (Joe McCamish's girlfriend before he died) lost her aunt today. Laverne has been at her aunt's side over the last few years as her health has declined. Please keep Laverne in your thoughts and prayers.

Project Linus National Conference

I'm at the PL National Conference. I'm having a great time, making many new friends and learning a lot. Getting great ideas for our chapter. The people I've met are super. I couldn't wait to meet Nancy from Illinois. She lost her husband 10 days after Bob died. We developed a wonderful internet relationship and have been our own support group to each other over the last year. To meet her in person was absolutely wonderful. We hugged and cried!

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. Not everyone is meant to be there for a lifetime, but that doesn't mean they aren't important special people in our life.