Monday, March 18, 2024

Camie At This Very Moment ...

 



Imperfect Can Be Beautiful, Too!

 For the past 2 years when Skip Bates Skip was so ill ... I couldn't go outside to do anything. 

























Grass grew everywhere . My photos reflect this year ... I have literally sat on the ground,  pulled up wagons of grass. Now! 🙂🙃😊🩷🩷


Now ... Skip is looking forward to going outside for cookouts, drink his coffee ... I will even cook him pancakes, breakfast outside.


Skip kept walking to the door with his walker to watch my progress (make sure I was okay 🩷🙃🩷) all 3 days I worked in the yard.


He is looking forward to watering plants ... flower and vegetables ... I will plant inside the fence.


My fence is an improvised fence, it isn't perfect at all ... the good thing is it protects Camie when she goes in, out of her pet door. It does what I want ... just like the picnic table! Only ... the work I did on the picnic table can't be seen. 


I want to make this little space so happy for Skip to enjoy. It means so much to him now, that he is himself. Before ... he was in another world struggling to live. I will make it beautiful for Skip with plants.


Sharing some of what I am creating ... real life ... real person ... doing the best I know how. 


I will make it beautiful... in my mind I can see ... in real life I am improvising to make it reality. 


Will it be perfect? NO. Imperfect can be beautiful, too 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🙃😊🙂🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

My Hearts Reflect Love, Caring, Respect In A Good Way

 

Photo owned by Gloria Faye Brown Bates.  I made this from a Diet Pepsi can, painted it.

❤💜💚💙💛❤💜💚💙💛❤


When on Facebook ... instead of commenting every time I use ❤❤❤❤❤ my Hearts. Why?

Because like in real life less words used is better ... sometimes being quiet is best ... not everything needs words.

My Hearts can't ever be interpreted as flirty Hearts ... never-ever. My ❤ Hearts show I have cared, have been touched in some way ... show what you said, commented was important to me ...  show that when something that is deep, emotional I care so much but, don't have the words to say ... because of ... you.

Ever so often I go on my Facebook to remind, tell my newest friends what my Hearts mean. My Hearts aren't tossed around ... they are meaningful, sincere 
Hearts from a real person who cares. My Hearts speak for ME when I can't.

I have the perfect husband for ME ... I don't flirt with my male friends on Facebook, nor in person. What is positive is I think most of them know this ... and know they don't have to worry this female is flirting with them. That makes me feel good inside.

This is just another time I share what my Hearts mean when you see them. They are sincere, caring Hearts. When something you said, did touches my own Heart ... most likely you will see ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ from me.

Gloria Faye Brown Bates 3-18-2024

My Hearts reflect love, caring, respect ... all in a sincere, good way from my own Heart.







Sunday, March 17, 2024

It's a Good Thing It Isn't Visible Because It Isn't Pretty!


Photo owned by Gloria Faye Brown Bates  ... I became a picnic table fixer-upper today I did it ... it's solid as a rock! Read on ...



Well ... I fixed the picnic table! It was hard to manage that heavy-ass table but, sheer will-power got it done. It is solid now.


Now ... the way I fixed it with screws, nails isn't visible. That's a good thing because ... it isn't pretty!

Today ... I Will Become A Picnic Table Fixer!

 






I worked 2 days clearing all the grass that had grown everywhere in this little area. I discovered the picnic table needs to be repaired! Wish me luck because today I become ... a picnic table fixer upper 🙂🙃🙂💜💚💜 Photos owned by Gloria Faye Brown Bates 



8:09 am ... March 17, 2024 ... Sunday

I worked in our little yard for 2 days ... I pulled a ton of grass, weeds up that grew on top of the bricks I put down several years ago.

When I began to move the picnic table ... I discovered the screws were completely loosened up underneath. Today ... I will try my hand at being a picnic table fixer. I hope, believe I can d0 it.

Skip Bates Skip enjoyed watching the yard transform. He is looking forward to coming outside, having a cookout, roasting marshmallows, hotdogs. 

For the past 2 years I haven't worked in our yard. Skip was just too bad off for me to walk outside, work in the yard. 

This time, this Spring ... he can use his walker, move around. Can you even imagine how thankful I am he can do that?

Precious Camo Kissy Fairchild  Camie loved getting her yard cleared of all the grass that had grown. I watched her as I worked ... she would dig in the sand ... then lay in it. She checked out where I transplanted flowers. She was all over the yard 🩷🩷🩷

Through the night when I would wake up to help Skip and Camie ... I was thinking how to approach fixing the picnic table.

I think I will put the table top flat on the ground (the top of it facing the ground) ... then put the frame upside down onto it ... play it by ear ... hopefully, when it is turned upright once again ... it will be fixed solid. 

I hope to take the next photo of it with a proud smile on my face ... and with the umbrella in it 🩷🩷🩷 That would mean I successfully ... fixed the picnic table!

Oh, has anyone tried painting their picnic table umbrella? Tell me if you have. For the past year I have had it in my mind to paint ours. 

People really do that ... our umbrellas are in perfect condition ... but, the sun has taken it's toll on the actual umbrella material. 

Can you tell I am happy I can go outside, Skip can too! and work in our little yard, plant flowers, vegetables. 

Skip will get to sit in his chair and water them ... he always loved to water our flowers.


Saturday, March 16, 2024

Silence Is Golden ... Fabric Shower curtain


Silence Is Golden ... Fabric Shower Curtain


8:57 am ... March 16, 2024 ... Saturday


I have never thought about why silence is associated with the color of gold until this very moment. 


I was wondering for a moment ... why? Then, it came to me ... silence is special at times ... valued, treasured ... like gold. My Gloria opinion ... I could be right, I could be wrong.


I was just thinking about what color is chaos, terrible noise? How would I paint the color if I had to. The colors orange, black, yellow streaks came to my mind ... all going in crazy ways. Not my colors for sure. Too loud, not pretty at all.


Do you ever think about colors to your life besides wearing them? I am thinking most of the time about what color something is depending on mood, how one goes about doing it. Oh my, do I sound crazy? I promise you I'm not crazy ... I just like to think about things in different ways ... good ways. Maybe just to entertain myself 🙂🙃🙂💚💜💚


Colors speak to me at times ... like in the way I once bought a shower curtain. I only had a white plastic shower curtain for several years in the shower ... why? I truly couldn't decide what color, design to get in a fabric curtain. Boring, I know but, at least the white wasn't driving me crazy.



Well ... one day I walked by fabric shower curtains not paying them any mind ... when I stopped, backed up to take a closer look at one shower curtain that caught, held my attention. 


The shower curtain wasn't loud with bold colors ... it was the softest of green, olive green, a little darker green ... rose pink all on white fabric. The design made me think of leaves falling in a sense ... the whole curtain made me feel calm, happy inside. At the same time it felt ... elegant.  I fell in love with the curtain, designs.


I thought I would really like to have it but, knew by the feel of the material, design ... the curtain would be very expensive.  It also, had the fancy bronze double hooks that allow one to hang both plastic liner and ... the fabric curtain!


I knew I couldn't afford to pay that much for it so, I began walking away. I really was wishing to have that shower curtain ...the soft colors,  design appealed to me like none I'd seen in so long. Silly ME ... felt sad to have to leave it behind.


I don't know 'why ... something made me turn back, look at the price tag on the fabric shower curtain.


I didn't have my reading glasses with me so, I knew the price I was seeing wasn't right. $7.99 ... I thought it was probably $17.99 at the least. I looked even closer ... it still looked like $7.99 but, I knew it couldn't be. I walked off again, quickly turned back, picked the package up ... hugged it! Suppose it really was $7.99!


I knew at the counter I didn't have to purchase it if it was way more. Even $17.99 at that time was too much for me.


When the cashier rang it up I was prepared to tell her I wasn't buying it ... it was on the tip of my tongue. Tip of my tongue ... now, that's something to think about! Not now ... I have the price of the shower curtain on my mind.


The register rang up ... $7.99!!! My 👄 mouth fell into a happy, happy smile! I went home with that beautiful shower curtain. Every time I look at it .. I feel such a quiet happiness inside.


Colors ... colors do play a lot of importance in one's life, especially mine. Colors can lift one's spirits. I need colors to survive. Colors are important as the air I breathe. I  bet you are the same way. I am happy with my shower curtain 💚💜💚






Friday, March 15, 2024

Pure Love

 


Skip's hand on Camie ... pure love for a precious Pup 🐶 ❤ ❤❤💚💜❤💙💚❤💜



March 15, 2024 ... Friday PM


This morning I didn't take time to write as both Skip, Camie were awake.


I took a photo of Skip's hand when he reached out his hand, placed it on Camie. Pure love.


Today I began pulling weeds, grass to get our little yard in shape. Skip has been wanting to sit outside ... so, today he watched me while I worked. 


I haven't finished yet ... when I get it like we want it, I will take more photos to share. I want to weed the Peppermint plants, Hosta plants ... they come back each year.


Well ... I am very tired. When Skip said he wanted to come to bed early ... I was ready to go to the bedroom. I made sure all was neat first.


Good evening 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Green Begins This Day With A Margaritaville Shirt 🙂🙃🙂💛💛

 



Photos owned by Gloria Faye Brown Bates 


10:04 am ... March 14, 2024 ... Thursday

Well ... Skip Bates Skip and Miss Precious Camo Kissy Fairchild Camie Leigh are sleeping up a storm 🙂🙃🙂💛💛

I have been awake for several hours. I have been cleaning, mopping over what is already clean, mopped 🙂🙃🙂💛💛 I am going to put a small load of laundry in the washer. I think I may iron clothes in a little while.

Camie has already been up to go outside... eat her breakfast. She wanted back on the bed with Skip.

Skip was going to get up ... he sat on the side of the bed ... I bathed him, put his  deodorant, cologne on, brushed his hair, beard. Before putting his jeans, shirt on ... he said he believed he was going to lay back down for a while. So ...

Guess where I am? You are right! 🙂🙃🙂💛💛 I am sitting here on the bed beside both Skip, Camie until they wake up. I will make Skip breakfast or lunch, whatever he prefers, when he gets ready to get up.

I know Skip is feeling good so, I'm not worried that he wanted to sleep longer. I feel I know ... why.

For the past 2 days, 2 nights ... it seems time has speeded up ... the next thing we know ... it's midnight! We are still watching TV, talking not noticing the time. 🙂🙃🙂💛💛 The time change is affecting us big time ... in my opinion ... in a good, positive way. I love being up late at night time. Skip starts worrying how late it is.

I tell him there's no reason at all to worry unless we have appointments the next day. He can sleep all he wants to ... I am here watching over him, Camie. Sometimes,  he needs sleep more than other times. He and Camie both ... are sleeping peacefully now.

I think I will pull out the old ironing board ... iron right here in the bedroom 🙂🙃🙂💛💛 My mind is on getting one of Skip's prettiest shirts ironed... one of my favorites. He has had it for a long time but, like most of his clothes ... it still looks new. It is his Margaritaville shirts he got at Sam's Club. It is the most beautiful green color, and looks so nice on him. I will iron it first!

I found 2 photos with him wearing it in 2021 to an eye appointment. It is still as new as it was then. 🙂🙃🙂💛💛

I hope your day is full of happy colors ... today, I'm beginning with the beautiful,  happy color of ... green. Skip's Margaritaville shirt!


Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Filling One's Day With Happy Colors!




Photo owned by Gloria Faye Brown Bates ... Camie's quilt, her other bear now


 8:54 am ... March 13, 2024 ... Wednesday


I am sitting here on the bed ... the time change is making time go by faster it seems 🙂🙃🙂💛💛💛 Wow, we are still in bed though ... I am up. You know I stay close by Skip Bates Skip and Precious Camo Kissy Fairchild Camie until they are ready to get up.


Last night before we knew it ... it was midnight! Skip was wide awake watching Highway To Heaven. He is normally asleep at that time. I think the time change is bringing new life to everyone! It affects me in a positive way. I feel better!


Time to begin the day! Bath time for Skip ... coffee, breakfast (Camie's breakfast) ... then, my bath time. All is clean, neat ... and I love it 🙂💛💛💛💛 Later, we will go to pick up some groceries,  stop by the convenience center.


I hope your day is full of the happiest colors. I will fill ours with happy colors, too!

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Every Scar ... Dying ... To Teapot

 



7:44 am ... March 12, 2024 ... Tuesday


Precious Camo Kissy Fairchild Camie and Skip Bates  Skip are sleeping. 


Camie has been up ... I had to help her get up on her step, then onto the bed. She can't jump up on the bed anymore.


The beautiful sun is shining but, not on my hair. 


The house is clean, all the laundry done ... it is like this most every day. 


I think when I mop, change sheets, pillow cases ... the house is even more cleaner 💜🩷❤️💚💜😊 We all have our funny ways of 🤔 thinking 😊


The sun is now shining a little brighter... it is changing because of the time change. It is shining on my arm making me notice ... my skin has also, gotten a little older 🤔😊🤔


I see some fine lines ... my first thought upon seeing them is ... wow! I am so lucky to see ME getting older ... I wasn't supposed to be here years ago.


Every surgery scar ... every Life scar /has/have been earned by ME. Each one has shaped me, made it possible for me to live until this very moment being Gloria.


I am never ashamed of my scars ... each means additional Life I have lived, am going to live until the day I die.


Dying ... this is a subject that bothers everyone including myself. 😒 


Seems like we wouldn't be afraid of dying because we know so many people including our closest loved ones who have died.


I sometimes think if they can ... I can too. Of course, one day I will ... but, I mean it in the way that I try to ease my fear of dying. It doesn't help.


When I think of dying my thoughts go instantly to Skip, Camie. I don't have time to die because as long as they are on this earth it's my responsibility to take care of them. 


You know how it is ... no one would care or love your loved ones like you do ... especially when they have disabilities. 


When they were strong ... it was a different story 😊 Everybody wants them then ... but human nature is like that ...when a person begins to weaken, lose strength ... their glory goes away. 


They become no one to those people who so much liked them ... those people disappear. The only ones ... or one left ... is/are the ones who truly loved them.


The ones left are the real people who love with their very Heart. They go through Hell, high water to protect, care.


When you grow older, weaker ... watch who leaves your life and ... who stays by your side. 


Also, if you are about something ... watch the ones who have greed in their eyes ... their Hearts. 


I see, sense this in adult children waiting, watchful, hoping ... when there's a lot for them to gain. I have paid attention for many years.


We aren't about something.. so, there's nothing for anyone greedy to want. 


Wow ... what a subject to be on this morning  but, that's Life. That's ME ... there's no telling what I will think about ... sit ... put into words, write about. ✍️ 


Most people don't speak about such ... I can. So much death has touched my life ... I have had to cope ... experience shock so, so many times.  I have been forced to think, look at, see death.


When my son, Tommy, died ... I was truly forced into looking at death the closest ever. I truly haven't ever known such pain as what I went through in my entire life. 


Pain ... that took me years to even come back alive from ... yes, come literally back alive from. I made it back through the darkest of dark in my life. 


I look back especially to that one time when laying in such torment, darkness, pain ... the medicine I was given ... I have no idea what it was ... the medicine was so powerful ... I couldn't hear, see anything ... I wasn't afraid to die. That was a time Skip said I was barely breathing, began to wake me.


I don't talk about these things, at times I do write them. Writing is my survival tool.  


If you happen by to read my words ... just read them never feeling pity for me ... my words aren't meant to gain sympathy,  pity ... my written words enable me to live, survive as they are my only outlet for the pain I carry in my Heart.


You can think of a happy, colorful teapot steaming ... that's why it can be happy, colorful. What would happen if that steam was trapped inside? 


My written words, no matter how imperfect  ... are the steam from this happy, colorful teapot 🫖🙃🙂😊🙂


Oh my, just a few words from something my Grandma Alma was teaching me ... a silly poem just came to mind from the past: something about a teapot ... short and stout ... here is my handle, here is my spout ...