My indoor cat Paddy is on top. She loves to lay on my Aubusson carpet. I suppose she feels the color compliments her fur. I have had her for two years now. She is a very quiet cat, but this past weekend she broke one of my prized McCoy vases while snooping around on a shelf.

Meet Chicky, on the bottom. She is a very small cat with bright green eyes. She adopted me over a year ago, appearing when Napoleon did. She is the sweetest cat, very loving and loyal. She would love to come in the house, but Paddy won't have it. So, she is an outdoor cat.

Chicky's brother Chucky is very skittish, and I can't get close enough to get a picture of him. He is small like Chicky is but all black except for a small white marking on his nose and a white blaze under his neck. I will keep trying, but am sure that it will be a hard task to snap a picture of him. He comes around most days to eat, but I have to leave it out in the yard and he only eats when he knows I am back in the house.

I will post a picture of Napoleon tomorrow, without his long tail feathers. For some reason he has plucked them all out. It may be the time of year they naturally lose their tail feathers, but now he looks like a big blue chicken. At any rate, more critter updates tomorrow.

Until then,
Becky
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Well, it is back on the road again for me. I have a meeting in Jefferson City this morning, and it is a three hour drive. I have to leave shortly, but wanted to check in with all of you before I do.

I had a short email from my brother George, and he says he feels so much better after just a day on his medication. I would say it is also all of you good blog friends who are praying for him as well. Thank you for that. Test results are still pending, but of course I will pass on news when I get it.

Lena is back on the list for heart transplant. She is still on the fence about that, as she is feeling stronger now. There has been a problem with her disability, and she has yet to get any money. I know that she has big decisions to make, and would appreciate your prayers on her behalf.

Brady is to go back to St. Louis to see about his soft spot, but the local Dr.'s office messed up the appointment, and therefore several weeks have passed and nothing has been done. This is fairly typical of the medical care here in the rural area we live in, so patience is required to get through the process.

I am dealing with a nasty case of poison ivy right now. I have such an allergy to it that it is always worse than it should be. I have good steroid ointment that the Dr. gave me when I broke my leg and had poison ivy under the cast. It seemed to work better then than it is now, but then it was not as widespread then.

Well, I need to get around and get out the door. Have a wonderful day in your corner of the world, and I will see you in the morning....here on my country road.

Until then,
Becky
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Here on my country road we have had a strange phenomenon. It has been so long since we have had thunder and lightening that for a minute I had to think as to what the noise was. We had good old fashioned thunder showers and nice cool rain most of the weekend. While normally I would have hated giving up the two day weekend to rain, it was one of those weekends it was a blessing.

I am still counting my blessings that my colonoscopy is over and there were no problems found. My brother George is better although still no test results yet. There was nothing I had to do and no place to go, so I could do just what I wanted to. I am fighting a case of poison ivy, which is just uncomfortable enough to be aggravating. The good thing about that is I had some good medicine the Dr. gave me last year and it has done a good job of containing the spread and severity.

Yesterday afternoon it was raining and I laid down on the couch to watch TV. I woke up two hours later. It is good to be able to take a nap on a rainy Sunday afternoon if I feel like it. I hope that you had a great weekend and are ready to kick butt today. Make it a good one.

Until tomorrow,
Becky
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Well, after a long afternoon and evening of prep yesterday I am off to the outpatient facility for a colonoscopy today. In light of Rocky's colon cancer and my age, it is time. My only hope is that it goes quickly so I can eat!

We still haven't heard any news about my brother George, but I will post any news when I get home this evening. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Have a wonderful Friday and an even better weekend. Mom and Rocky will be here to pick me up soon, so I need to get ready.

Until next time,
Becky
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I love words. It is a constant source of joy to read and write. The way that you can string words together in order to form thoughts, stories and communication is a never ending fascination for me.

During the course of my day I am inspired by everything. While I am working I will jot down words or phrases that move me or that I haven't heard for a while. Sometimes I create my own, usually when observing the beauty and magnificence of nature. Smell is also another trigger that floods the mind with memories and feelings.

Last night I was thinking about my older brother George. He is sick right now, and awaiting tests from the Dr. to determine the cause of his problem. After sitting with my mom and Rocky while we talked to him, we had more questions than answers. George lives in KC, so we can't just run across town to check on him or offer support and comfort. After I came home I was baking a chocolate zucchini cake for work. It was late, my mind was whirling, but the smell of warm chocolate cake filled the house.

Just the smell of that cake baking brought back memories of home when I was growing up with my brothers. Mom always had something baking, and the smell of something wonderful not only filled the senses but fed the heart and soul. It says love.

While I waited for the cake to come out of the oven, I thought about a lot of things. Words. It is what puts a voice and a name to thoughts, memories, and feelings. I am so thankful for that avenue of expression.

I hope that today is filled with the hope, joy, and blessing that comes from reading and writing. After all, it is what gives me the opportunity to share with you today. Your thoughts and prayers on behalf of my brother George are so appreciated. I am hoping that it is some simple thing that can be treated and he will soon be back in the peak of health.

Have a great day!
Becky
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I was up late baking a cake to take to the office this morning. When I walked into the office yesterday without a cake a dozen little faces fell. I suppose they are used to me baking on Sunday afternoon, and have looked forward to that little sweet treat to kick off their Mondays.

I can take a hint. It is like the Mary Poppin song "Just A Spoonful Of Sugar". It makes the medicine go down. In this case it was Monday. I was raised with that reward system. Mom always had something baking, but most especially to soothe hurts or celebrate. I guess most people consider cake and sweet treats just that. A reward.

I hope that today you have something like that to look forward to. If your office doesn't have someone who brightens the day with a cake, muffins, or box of donuts, be that person today. It really warms the heart to see faces light up at the prospect of break time with a snack. While I may be a little sleepy this morning, it will be worth the effort when everyone sees the cake coming!

Have a wonderful day. I have to gather up the trash and set it out. Maybe a piece of cake and coffee will give the the right incentive!

Until tomorrow,

Becky

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I know that many of you have been praying for situations I have mentioned in blog posts, so wanted to take a few minutes to give you some updates.

I saw my son and family over the weekend. Brady was doing well after having a bad cold last week. His asthma makes those a little more severe than usual, but he was playing with his little car when I got there. My son injured his back, and is only able to get around with crutches. He is in a considerable amount of pain, and when you make your living cutting right aways for an electric cooperative, that isn't good. Aimee seems to be doing fine, taking care of everyone keeps her busy. Lena is much better. She is able to get up and do a little in the afternoons, but mornings are hard. There is still no hope of heart transplant at this time.

My dad is doing well. The drugs he is on for his Alzheimer's seem to keep him fairly normal. He of course has good days and bad days, but overall he is good. His wife spent the week in the hospital with congestive heart failure last week, but is home now and doing much better.

The neighbors are packed for the most part and getting ready to move the third week of September. While we are happy for them, it will make a big difference in the daily flow of our lives here.

Mindy, the young woman with the brain cancer at church wasn't there yesterday. She is into her fourth week of radiation and chemo. Please pray that she is able to withstand the course of treatment ahead of her.

Rocky is doing well, and we are grateful for that.

Well, it is Monday. Time to get out there and kick this around. I am so thankful for the health to do it. In the ebb and flow of things we sometimes lose sight of the little things. Have a wonderful day, and I thank you for your thoughts and prayers on behalf of all of these good folks.

Until tomorrow,
Becky
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After a very brief respite, temperatures have been slowly climbing. Today we will be back in the triple digits, and no rain in sight. Napoleon is doing the best he can, but spends a great deal of time under shrubs soaking up the shade and cool. The outside cats also disappear in the heat of the day in order to stay cool.

While the weather is nothing we can do anything about, when you live in the country it is a major topic of conversation. We live in the midst of a farming and logging community. Work and chores are done before noon so that workers escape the afternoon heat.

I have decided to call Chicky's brother Chucky. Unless some of you have a better idea that is. I thought about calling him Tiny, as his size demands that. However, it seemed sad to call him that since Tiny was such a cute little guy before he died. You may remember that happening two years ago. Scaredy hasn't been home for a year now, so I am thinking he won't be back either.

I hope that if you live in an area where heat is an issue today that you will take care. It creeps up on you before you know it. My uniform is wool, so I will be drinking an extra bottle of water. Have a wonderful weekend!

Until next time,
Becky
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For the past several weeks I have been watching Chicky's brother from afar. He is a wild cat, so he runs if I talk to him. He has been eating dry food from mom's deck for some time, and of course after I let Chicky out of the garage in the morning and prop the door open he will eat from her dish after I leave for work.

This week I have noticed that he doesn't run if I talk to him and don't get too close. I have been leaving food for him where he can see me put it out for him and call the universal ''kitty, kitty''. After what seems like an eternity he will come eat the food, but he is very skittish.

Earning the trust of a wild animal is something that takes a lot of patience. I feel so bad for him as he is so skinny. Between mom and me he has been able to eke out an existence for himself. I have just been thinking ahead to the cold winter months and hoping that by then he will want to stay in the garage with Chicky. Of course that is if she doesn't run him off. She doesn't seem to know that he is her little brother.

I do have a prayer request. We have a young woman of 20 at our church with brain cancer. Her name is Mindy, and she is going through radiation and chemo. Her cancer is inoperable, and of course they are hoping this therapy will do the trick. She is married with a little baby girl. It just broke my heart to see her walk into church with a scarf tied on her head, no hair, eyebrows, or eyelashes. Your thoughts and prayers will be most appreciated I know. She seems to have a strong faith, which is a blessing for her and the family right now.

Have a great day,
Becky
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Last week I went out to my son and daughter-in-law's house to see Brady. I took him this little ride along car. Actually it is powered Fred Flintstone style, with the feet. Brady is nine months old now. He was so excited while Aimee and I tried to get it put together, as it has lots of bells and whistles that play music. It has a little cell phone that talks to you, but he just likes to chew on it. He sits on this little car just like my son sits on his riding lawnmower. He wasted no time checking out the fine points and what makes it ''tick''. Yep, he's a guy! I wouldn't have been surprised to see him kick the tires.

We are still waiting for the Dr. to get Brady an appointment in St. Louis with a specialist to check the situation with his soft spot. I will keep you updated. He is such a happy baby that you would never know he has undergone so much surgery already.

I had two pictures, but when this posted, only one made the journey. Blogger is a continuous mystery. Thanks to John, my brother of http://johnstrain.blogspot.com fame for posting the pictures for me.

Until tomorrow,

Becky

PS: John here. I fixed it. We must talk about how you post. I can't figure out how things got messed up.

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For those of you who are wondering, I did go to the endodonist yesterday to have my tooth looked at. He says everything seems to be fine, and told me why it happened. Seems so logical when they say it. Anyway I know what to do if it ever happens again.

My problem yesterday wasn't my tooth but the big eye I had when choosing my lunch. I eat a very sensible diet in order to control my high cholesterol and triglycerides. When I go out to eat I normally eat what I want, within reason. Yesterday mom and I noticed a huge order of homemade onion rings a few tables over, and ordered that to go with our fried chicken tender dinner.

I knew I would probably have a few problems, as I never eat fried food. I was not surprised when I began to feel ill fifteen minutes after we left the restaurant. Not only was I sick the rest of the afternoon, generally miserable, and sorry for my bargain, I felt as though I was having a gall bladder attack. They took out my gall bladder eleven years ago.

Never, EVER again. Fried chicken tenders, fried onion rings, three special sauces, and a cheesy broccoli casserole bake. Just shoot me. Thank goodness for medication, mashed potatoes, and rest to calm the savage beast. I feel better this morning, but I still feel pretty shaky.

It won't be hard to behave, I can tell you! This morning I am a sadder but wiser gal.

Until tomorrow,
Becky

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Good Monday morning from Smalltown. Today it is back to the normal routine of the week as the weekend fades into memory. While I didn't do anything special, a great deal of the time was spent down at the neighbors house. They were having a yard sale in preparation of their move to St. Louis.

Saturday morning I went shortly after dawn and got some donuts. I knew they wouldn't have time for breakfast as people usually begin showing up before the sun gets up. Garage sales, yard sales, and auctions are serious business around these parts. The saying the early bird gets the worm applies here. I have seen folks tag team these things just to get the best stuff. At any rate we had a cup of coffee and a donut before the first customer appeared.

This morning I am on the fence about whether to go to work or drive up to Springfield to the endodonist. I have had a place on my gum that flares up about once a week, which I know isn't normal. The surgery site is healed and doing well, so why I have this recurring problem is a mystery.

I think a cup of coffee is in order while I try to decide what to do today. Enjoy your kick butt Monday morning. Go out and shake things up. Since I am still having problems getting my pictures uploaded to Blogger John has offered to help me out. Hopefully tomorrow I will have a picture of Brady to share with you.

Until tomorrow,
Becky
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Thank goodness it is finally Friday! For those of you who work rotating schedules this won't be the thrill for you it is for us that work M-F, but hopefully Friday is a good day for you as well.

I finally gave up on Blogger getting their 'add a picture' feature straightened out and wrote to the help person to fix it. I can't post new pics of Brady for you until they get that remedied.

There has been no rain, so I broke down and watered my flowers again. They looked so dry, and though the weather person keeps promising showers we don't get them. Wouldn't you know that in the night I heard rain. I am not going to complain! While I am not sure yet how much we got, it will be a blessing to all things. The ground is like cement, and is beginning to crack in places.

I smell the coffee, so I am going to pour a cup and catch a bit of the morning news. Have a wonderful day and enjoy your weekend. It is the best two days of the whole week.

Until next time,
Becky
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I was unable to get a post out yesterday morning, and I still can't get my pictures to upload so you can see Brady's newest pics. I was out there to see them Tuesday evening, and got some cute shots. I tried again this morning, but the uploading feature still isn't working correctly. Somewhere out there in cyberspace are the cutest pictures of Brady on his little ride along toy.

The full moon has given me an interesting week. I might say challenging, as the most difficult and cantankerous people wait to come take their tests until the week of the full moon. It keeps me on my toes! While I was out on a driving test one of my coworkers had to wrestle a man in the office yesterday afternoon after he failed his test twice. He wouldn't give it back after looking at the questions he missed, but after a few tense moments he thought better of his situation and left. The five teenagers taking their tests looked scared to death.

Today we have yet another day of triple digit heat. I need to go out and water my container gardens this morning before I leave. It is the only thing keeping them alive in this heat wave. No rain in sight, although we were promised showers tonight. We shall see.

I hope you have a cool place to be today. Take care in the heat, and I will see you right back here in the morning.

Until then,
Becky
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Last night I pulled into the drive and was surprised to see two metal work chairs sitting in the yard. Dave and Davey had evidently carried them up while I was at work. I had admired them at the flea market, being in the shabby chic style I like, but Patty bought them first. Ever since I have enjoyed seeing them on her porch.

I had walked down to their house after I changed clothes to ask them if their chairs were lost when I saw a for sale sign in their yard. Have you ever been fine one minute and felt as though you couldn't get your breath the next? Dave, Patty and Davey have been family for ten years. I really didn't know what I could say. It seems they have decided to move to St. Louis. They have family there, and Davey loves it there.

Our country road has undergone so many changes this past year. Another piece of the big woods is disappearing to build another home, and I saw people looking at lots this weekend. The deer, turkeys, and other wildlife we once saw every day has been pushed deeper into the woods. Traffic moves up and down the road where no one but those of us who live here used to drive in order to go to town.

Mom and Rocky live right next to Dave and Patty. They hadn't seen the realtor put up the sign and were shocked to hear the news. After I walked home from their house I wasn't hungry for supper, so walked out and sat down on my new chair. I rocked, which always comforts me, as I watched the sun set through the trees of the big woods. Toward dusk I heard noise behind me and saw Napoleon coming home to roost. While I watched him pick around in my garden a single bob white sang to me from the woods. I sat there a long time, letting the quiet of the evening seep into my troubled heart and settle on my shoulders. Why life is a constant source of change is troubling, but as I get older I find change interfering more and more.

I suppose it is God's way of drawing us closer to Him. The less control we have over our life the more dependent we become to seek His guidance. In that case, change is a good thing. While my heart may be sorrowful today, I am happy for my friends. They seem happy about their plans, so I will not dwell on how it will affect me.....here on my country road.

Until tomorrow,
Becky
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Saturday I got a call from my daughter. At 6:00am. Since she lives on the east coast she forgets about the time difference. While I had a nice visit with her, I needed to get up early to get started on my day.

I grabbed a cup of coffee, my purse, and jumped in the car for the twenty minute drive down to the Wal-Mart Supercenter. It is the cheapest place to get groceries, and I needed things for Aimee's birthday party. We also had a food shower for them, as things have been financially draining on them since Lena's illness. She is totally disabled now and can't work or contribute to household expenses. It was fun to buy food items I never buy. I eat a special diet to keep my cholesterol in line, so I can usually fit my week's groceries in the part of the basket the kids sit in.

After getting home and all of the groceries unloaded I talked to my older brother and then my dad and his wife. The rest of the day I spent cooking, baking, and preparing for the party. I had just enough time to jump in the shower and haul all of the food down to Patty and Dave's house. They hosted since their house is bigger. The only problem was getting the food there in one piece and all of the food carried in for the shower. By the time the kids got there I was exhausted.

We had a wonderful time. Jonathan, Aimee, and Brady arrived, and while it was Aimee's birthday, Brady was the entertainment. He is crawling real well now, and is pulling up. It won't be long until he is walking. Davey, who is 6 now, had a great time playing with Brady while we all ate dinner. They crawled all over the floor, and Davey had carried all of his stuffed animals out for Brady to play with.

My son Jonathan was in pain from a pulled neck and shoulder muscle. He found it hard to have a good time, and he struggled with his pride when we presented the food shower to them. I suppose I should be grateful that he takes his responsibilities to provide for his family so strongly, but it was hard for him. However, we loaded their vehicle with food and they left well stocked.

While I was so tired, the day was a good one. All Brady had to do was smile, and all was well. It was easy to forget the troubles of the day. Little ones are a great deal of magic.

Yesterday I got caught up with household chores and baked a cake for work. Today, it is kick butt Monday. I am working at the office today, so I won't be out in the heat. Since we are to be in triple digits again, that is a blessing. Have a wonderful day, and I hope there is someone in your life that makes your heart happy with a smile.

Until tomorrow,
Becky
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Last night I went out to my son and daughter-in-laws house to see them and little Brady. When I walked in I saw Lena standing in the living room. I hadn't seen her since she had been so ill with her heart, and it was good to see her looking so much better. While she is still not feeling as good as she wants to, she is alive. I am not sure how difficult it is for her to function with only 14% of her heart working, but she was able to sit and visit with me for two hours.

The doctor is still talking about Brady's head/soft spot. I am not sure why he is focused on it, but it looks like he will be going to St. Louis again for a specialist to look at it. He is a cute baby, so happy and is growing like a weed. Babies are such a joy, and when I have had a terrible day one little baby smile wipes all the bad stuff away.

My dad has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and when I spoke with him Wednesday evening he didn't know who I was when I called. After he realized who it was he was confused about things, but I am hoping that I just woke him up from a snooze and he was disoriented. I will call again this weekend to check on him.

Yesterday was my daughter's 34 birthday. Since she is in Connecticut it is hard for me to do much for her big day. I miss baking the cake and having her favorite meal with the family. Saturday is my daughter-in-law Aimee's birthday, so I am having a party for her. We will be doing Mexican, which is their favorite. The entertainment this year will be Brady. Last year I broke my leg the night of her party. I sure don't want to repeat that!

Chicky is doing just fine. She seems to be her old self, except for the heat. Napoleon still struts his stuff, eating bread at every house down the way and ridding us of bugs in the yards. He still has a passion for sitting in my container gardens, but this year he has left me a few blooms.

Have a great weekend, and I hope that you are surrounded by family and friends. I would appreciate your continued prayers on behalf of Lena, Brady, dad, and Rocky. My mouth is healing fine, so hopefully the surgery will be successful. Much to be grateful for. Thank you for your concern and faithful thoughts and prayers.

Until next time,
Becky
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In my job I meet a lot of people each day. I deal with them in the office before taking them out for a driving test. You can't always tell a book by it's cover, but most of the time you can get close. On Wednesday we deal with a lot of people who are trying to get their tests taken before appearing before the judge upstairs. As a general rule of thumb it goes better for them if they have taken and passed their tests in an attempt to get legal.

There are many who come dragging in half an hour before their court date. They are in a panic, a hurry, and usually have just gotten out of bed. Most of the time they forget their ID and haven't studied the book. This results in entering into a war of words with my coworkers or me. While I am always geared for this, it never ceases to amaze me when I am face to face with an applicant who is mad at the world and their circumstances.

The ones that do pass have vehicles that look as though they survived hurricane Katrina. The first tip off is that all of the windows are rolled down because there is no air conditioning. The second red flag is the eight or nine people, kids, and occasionally dogs, that roll out of the car when they see us approaching. There will be the usual trash, soda cups, and half eaten food to clear out of the seat before I can get in and sit down. Once settled, I always say a little prayer that the vehicle will make it around the two mile course without breaking down, thus requiring a long hot walk back to the court house.

In triple digit heat one's thought processes are harder to keep on track. Yesterday was one of those days for me. We are working short handed, it was court day, and all of the kids are trying to get in for a test before school begins. However. There is always one applicant who lifts my spirits and gives me hope. Yesterday there were two.

The first one was an 85 year old man who was cited in for a driving test because his hearing was bad. He owns a big farm, and needs his license so that he can feed his cattle each day. He drove a big farm truck with air conditioning, but he chose to roll down the windows. I always follow the lead of the driver. He passed his test, and I had to tip my hat to a man of his years still working that hard to make his living because he loves it.

The second one was a young boy who had been in several times and had been unable to pass his test. I had been in and out a couple of times and he was still sitting over his test. I asked if he would like some help, and with some hesitance he agreed. It took me 45 minutes to accomplish the 25 question test with him. It was a good thing. He only missed two questions, and his face lit up like a Christmas tree.

Both people warmed my heart. While I was standing out on the hot asphalt in the triple digit heat at three in the afternoon giving motorcycle tests, I looked up and thanked the good Lord that I had both the ability and the freedom to work. It feels good to make a difference even in some small way.

Look up! Each day God shows me in multiple ways that He is still in control and He cares. Don't keep it to yourself, pass it on!

Have a great day,
Until tomorrow,
Becky
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It is one thing to go to training, listen, take notes, and then train others when you come back home. It is another thing entirely when you sit down at the computer to use those new skills. For some reason all the training that went so well in the classroom while the teachers were present is only a distant memory.

Yesterday I spent the day at the office teaching my boss the new program we will use to send in the end of the month reports to Jefferson City. In the classroom all of the instructors had loaded the computers with everything we would need. I suppose they didn't take into account that at the local Troop levels our computers would not have been upgraded to the same levels. Typical.

What would have taken one of us fifteen minutes to do the reports the old way, took both of us five hours. While I know that when the kinks are worked out of the system things will work better, I came home frustrated and 'wore slick' to use a Smalltown saying.

I am glad to say that the reports are now out there in cyberspace waiting for Jefferson City Division Directors to retrieve them. It is good to learn new tricks. It means progress is taking place. Whatever happened to the old paper and pencil days?

Until tomorrow,
Becky
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I suppose you have figured out that I have survived not only the staff meeting but the heat. The meeting went well, and the issues that seemed to ruffle feathers last week have calmed. This morning we have a division meeting to share the plan of action with our coworkers. Wish us luck there. My boss will be conducting this meeting, so all I have to do is be present and be supportive. This is my plan, so lets hope it works.

The heat wave continues here in the Midwest. So many people are without AC, but several places have set up cooling centers to help those people get through the intense heat. The news has been full of good tips on how to stay hydrated and keep from suffering ill effects of the excessive temperatures.

Chicky is much improved. Thank goodness. She is such a sweet little cat. Napoleon seems to know what to do to stay cool. There are several places he stays to keep out of the mid day heat, but in the evening he likes to sit in front of a front door with glass so he can admire himself. What a funny bird.

Well, I had better get started. I have dubbed this 'ta-daa Tuesday'. Hopefully it will be an easier day than the past several have been. First on my agenda is getting the trash set out. Tuesday is trash day....here on my country road.

Have a great day!
Until tomorrow,
Becky
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