Hello friends..been awhile..my health is not the greatest…I am at the point to where I  spend my days sitting.  My brain wants to do so much but my body just won’t let me…I will not complain and will not give in until God says it’s time…

So….I have to keep my mind and hands busy…I am making decorated stuffed pumpkins.  I can do this while sitting…I enjoy choosing the fabric…I am no longer able to leave the house to shop , so I  shop on line,  like just about everyone. …

I buy a lot of my fabric from Walmart..they have free shipping with orders over $35 and 2 day shipping….

Since I  no longer can make my wreaths, this is the next best thing….I plan on selling these, not to make money (well, maybe enough to pay for my supplies)  but it is great therapy for me….if these go well, I will make them for year round, fall, Christmas all holiday settings or until I get burnt out. would also be cute for weddings or just for gifts…..prices will be $5.00 and up depending on size and how they are decorated and if stacked….

While I work on these, I have plenty of time to think back about my past..Today I was thinking about my mom.   I  did not like my father very much, but I sure did love my mom.  I was born in Cookeville, Tn.  I remember being a Brownie and going to Capshaw School.  We lived on Hudgens St and one day I opened a dresser draw and found little tiny pink mice….Funny the things we remember…

We moved to Dayton, Ohio after that so my dad could find work.  My mom worked as a elevator operator downtown and then at Miami Valley Hospital in central distribution setting up operating rooms.     

I remember her saying. ..Never say Hate or Shut-up.   I would get a whipping for that…..then there was the time I rode the bus downtown (I was probably 12-13) ..I stole some false fingernails from McCrorys store….Mom found them and made me ride the bus back downtown and return them.  I never stole anything again !!!

She was a special lady…loved me and my brother very much….also her Granddaughters…I could write a book just about her…She died way too young at age 66 of pancreatic cancer…

Well ya’all,  I  guess I will get off here and make some more pumpkins….One good thing, I am using up my supplies I didn’t sell.  

I am showing pictures of some I have made so far…still working on the cat..  Blessings to all of you. .See ya soon. .

Happy 4th of July friends…last week was pretty good..my daughter Sandy and son-in-law Al took a much needed vacation from work and from me, went to Myrtle Beach for a week.  My Ohio Granddaughter Jennifer stayed with me…We had fun, watching Big Brother, picking our likes and can’t stands.  Personally,  I  dislike Paul… (terrible mouth on him)

We also were in the swimming pool for 3 hours….we were having a great time, doing water exercises, soaking up the sun……. let me tell you about the sun when you have not been in it for a year…….well, 3 hrs was a BIG  BIG  MISTAKE…..not only did we get burnt…we also got scorched….no more pool for the rest of the week.

I told you I would tell you about our dune buggy adventure.   We lived in Dayton, Ohio at the time and Ray decided he was going to build a dune buggy….There were none around the area so he found a 67 VW in Kentucky and tore the body off and ordered a fiberglass dune buggy body from California.  It was pretty cool, no doors, no top, just jumped in an off you go.  I would strap Sandy and Linda in the passenger seat and race to the grocery store….and I  mean race…when that red light turned green, I beat everybody…..it was a definite attention getter…….

Well, Ray decided we should take it on a trip to Eagle River,  Wisconsin.   No kids, just the two of us…It was summer time…and we had to stop and buy heavy coats because the wind was freezing…the windshield was not tall enough to shield our heads…We got some weird stares when we drove through small towns with winter hoods on…..When it rained we tried to get under an overpass…finally had to stop at a garage and drill holes in the floorboard so the water could drain out….Well, we had fun and made it back home….

We took it to Tennessee and while we were at the lake, my Uncle Issac Woods drove it all over town…It was fun to drive….

Ok, I am now known as the crazy lady that walks her dog in the neighborhood using a walker and portable oxygen.   I will have to take a picture, I am sure I am a site to see…..I have decided that I am not giving in to this PF disease.  As long as I can walk and breath, I am doing it..

I have been working on my pumpkins….Should have some ready to sell within the next week…I will be listing them on my facebook page   Creative Designs by Ms Gail.  Enjoy making them…keeps me busy…Till next time…..

Blessings to you all. . . . 

Hello friends…..Sorry I have not posted for a few days….have not felt very well…..PF (Pulmonary Fibrosis) is a horrible disease.  It gradually takes away all your strength, leaving you very fatigued.   For example, yesterday I had Sandy take me to Walmart to buy some fabric for my pumpkin making adventure…We weren’t there long..I had my oxygen and rode in a scooter the entire time….by the time we got back home, Sandy had to help me in the house to my chair, my vision was very blurry and my heart rate high and oxygen low.  I went to bed about 10:00 pm and woke up at 1:00 this afternoon.  Bradley (love him) was with me the entire time.

I am telling you all of this because I would not be in this condition if the manufacturer of the burlap ribbon I used had put a warning to wear a mask when working with this burlap. 

My hope to live to be 85 may never happen.  With God’s grace and after yesterday, I hope to see 75….I do not want to show doom and gloom, but this is reality…

I want to ask your prayers not only for myself, but that my house will sell soon….My medical bills have wiped out all my reserve and with the loss of income from making wreaths, I am depending on my daughters for help.  If I could just sell my house, that would be a great help…It is a great old home (139 yr. Old) full of History and can be used as a bed and breakfast….

I have been down not only for my health situation, but a friend passed a few days ago from brain cancer…I have started a list of my wishes upon my death..You all think about this…there is no forever here on earth…only in heaven…  OK…enough whining……going to try to make some more pumpkins…

I was going to tell you another story about life with Ray….our dune buggy adventure and more…next time…Blessings to you all. . . 

Hello friends..First of all..please wear a mask when working with burlap..I did not know that I should wear a mask and inhaling the fibers caused Scaring of my lungs..This disease is called Pulmonary Fibrosis.   This disease is terminal with no cure…

Ok..let me see what I want to talk to you about today..My life revolved around Ray…being married at 17 and Ray being 7 years older,  I depended on Ray for everything…we had some good times and some not so good times… Ray was a very giving man..He took very good care of me and our girls…

Ray never met a stranger and was VERY outspoken…..As I said before..he was a very hard worker and built our Caulking and Waterproofing Co up to be very successful.   We did caulking of precast joints in many high rise buildings…in Chicago,  Fountain Square in Cincinnati,  many schools in three states and lots of hotel, motels.   In 1985, we decided to retire and move to Tennessee….This is where I was born and had lots of family there….We turned our business over to our daughter Sandy and son-in-law to run…

Only one problem with this…..Our youngest daughter was still in school and not one bit happy to leave her friends, her gymnastics and her dance.   Well, she had nothing to worry about……The kids accepted her without any problems.  She was a cheerleader and was chosen to cheer in the Aloha Bowl in Hawaii.   She went on to start a high school dance team (they won many awards) and opened her own dance studio….

I have a good friend who posted on facebook that she wanted suggestions of hotels in Cancun.   Well, I about fell out of my chair.  This brought back some great memories. 

A very good friend was getting a group together to go to Cancun…. we signed up to go…When we arrived at our motel, we were told they had overbooked and did not have rooms for us BUT..not to worry…They were going to bus us over to another hotel that was very nice….

They kind of forgot to tell us that this new hotel was ADULTS ONLY and TOPLESS.   Well let me tell you…..We have always had a swimming pool and Ray never got in. (Said he built it for the kids and grandkids) Well,   I could not get him out of this pool !!!  He had the best tan he ever had….See the picture….also that little grin on that little tanned face !!!!     We had a good time, first time I have been snorkeling,  loved it    

Ok..back to today..since I lost a big part of my income making wreaths,  I think I am going to start making more fabric pumpkins to sell.  You can check these out on my facebook page Creative Designs by Ms Gail.  I have sold all that I have made so far….doing this keeps my hands busy and I enjoy designing them…. What do you think?  

You all have a great day….Blessings 

Hello friends…I know it’s been awhile…Update on my health..Level of my fatigue is getting worse.   Having a hard time breathing.  I try to move around as much as I can..with my oxygen on 4 liters, I still get out of breath.    This is my life with Pulmonary Fibrosis. …Only good thing is that I don’t have pain…

OK  Let’s talk about some fun things… Had a visit from a very dear friend from Tennessee.   Loved our visit….we talked about our kids and the good old days..We talked about Ray, my late husband of 40 years…

I could write a book about Ray…He was born and raised in the hills of Kentucky….Ran moonshine, joined the Army, ran over a jeep with the tank he was driving, we met at Frisch’s Big Boy drive in restaurant, engaged to me while he was engaged to someone else.  We got married, quit school, had baby, went to night school to get my diploma.  Went in for my checkup after baby was born and learned we were going to have a second baby…13 months apart !!  He had an accident on the job in construction, fell 15 feet, shattered his ankle and heel bone, in hospital then home on crutches.  Took forever to get worker’s compensation.  Lawyer told us to get food stamps and welfare….I was so embarrassed using food stamps that I would go across town to shop so I would not see anyone I knew.  A local church brought the girls Christmas gifts and us food…  We were thankful, but it really hurt Ray’s pride so…he started his own business, with a pick up truck, a ladder, a caulking gun and his crutches……Ray was a hard worker, hard drinker (loved his beer), I have been embarrassed more than once by his drinking and cussing…..I had to smuggle beer into the hospital.  He talked the nurses into putting it in the refrigerator to keep it cold……

As the business grew, we hired workers….They would work in nice weather and in Winter, Ray started a snow removal service.  That Winter we had a blizzard!!!!  Went to the bank, borrowed money to buy 2 new 4 wheel drive trucks with snowplows.  All total we had 9 plows.  We had shopping centers, grocery stores, banks, restaurants and so on…Ray would take Sandy (she was 13) to a shopping center, put her in a truck and she plowed…

After about 6 weeks, we paid off the loan on the trucks.  Our snowplow business paid for my dream home Ray built for me in Tennessee.  Hard work, long hours but it paid off… 

Tell me this..Do you still want to read my posts?   Are they getting boring?  I know I don’t have a lot of time left but I start writing and more and more comes to mind….  So, I am going to stop for now..Blessings to you all. . 

Hello friends…I want to start by saying that my problems seem so small compared to the parents of all the young people that were killed or injured in England at the concert.  I pray for the families..

On a lighter note..the Predators won  and will play for the Stanley Cup.   First time ever..proud of these guys !!!

Well, I saw my lung doctor on Friday and I am holding my own !!!  His only concern was my heart and he wants me to see my family doctor..I believe I am fine just a little pressure on my chest with exertion.   I feel it could be because of my weight gain…I probably gained a few more pounds after my birthday dinner of pizza and birthday cake….but boy was it   good!!!    By the way, thank you for all the birthday wishes and cards…Meant the world to me…..

I  was wondering what I would talk to you about today.   On the way home from the doctor, Sandy and I were talking about Ray….her dad and my late husband……on how we were total opposites. …here are a few examples….

I was optimistic, saw the good in all, everything would be ok and so on..       Ray was pessimistic, saw the bad, doubted everything, everyone and so on…I had patience and Ray had none…..if anything had to be put together, I would try to do it while he was at work.  If things didn’t go together the first time with him, he was finished with it….in the trash or down the hill it would go….I never cussed and Ray could put a sailor to shame…

We were very different but we loved each other and were married for almost 40 years.  We had a lot of rough times, worked through them and never considered a life apart..There were times when I wanted to take my fist and hit him across his mouth as hard as could…you know what he said?  “Come on, give me your best shot”   of course I never did……

Ray was a hard worker, never met a stranger, very outspoken….told you to your face exactly what he thought…but he had a heart of gold.  He could not stand to see a child in need…we spent many a Christmas shopping for food and gifts for families that were having a hard time……in another post I will tell you about the time early in our marriage how WE were having a hard time…on welfare and food stamps……

I am going to stop for now.  I appreciate you all……I started this blog to warn people about the dangers of burlap,  but it has turned into a lifeline for me…I know I will never be  in my home again.   Never be able to walk Bradley in my old neighborhood, and so on….I don’t feel so alone and love reading all the comments..?     And…if I can crank my oxygen level up enough,  I might even do another dance for you !!   Blessings to you all

Ok you all,  today is my birthday….I am 72 today…I am posting this video that I  made in December…because first, to drive my kids crazy, second, to make fun of myself and last, if you get a good laugh from watching this crazy lady, it is worth it…

This is what happens when you get bored out of your mind. ..

I can’t dance, sing, play the piano, cook, can’t remember what TV show I was watching when the commercial is on, and the list goes on and on….

I spend my day, working my 2000 pc puzzle, watching Hallmark and Investigation Discovery Channels, reading, playing games on my Ipad, taking naps, waiting for the mail and talking to you….

Okay, you may think what a perfect life…..get up when I want…go to bed when I want, get dressed if I want and watch all the sports that I want.  BUT, what if you were attached to a hose every day, all day..could not leave the house only for tests and Dr appointments because you cannot afford to get sick,  can’t drive,  can’t walk your dog because of getting totally exhausted..again, the list goes on..
I am very Blessed because the Lord gave me the ability to adjust to my circumstances.   I have a home, a wonderful daughter  that takes good care of me, a Bradley dog that loves me and sleeps with me every night. food to eat (sometimes too much) and 2 daughters in Tennessee that love me…Can’t fotget my Granddaughter Jessica in Tennessee and my three Great Grandsons and my loving daughter Jennifer in Ohio….

Now, I  absolutely love talking to you, whether you can hear me or not….SO  sit back and have a good laugh on me !!!!

Hello friends…Hope all you Mother’s had a great Mother’s day. Well……I got my CT Scan  results this morning….I believe I am holding my own….Not sure..I do not understand all the findings……I see my Pulmonary Doctor on Friday and I am sure he will explain everything….I am still short of breath and very fatigued.  I believe I know why….You are never going to believe this BUT……..

I AM FAT……since I have been diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis,  I have gained 30 pounds !!  Bad eating habits and little to no exercise.   As far back as I can remember,  I would wake up in the middle of the night and was Sure that I could not go back to sleep until I  had my glass of milk and my Oreos….Ray use to get onto me about this so I started hiding any evidence of my middle of night snack….Well, hate to say but, I still do this…I just don’t have to hide it now….

Ray has been gone for 16 years now…I have no one to hold me accountable for my bad eating habits….I love sweets, pastries and Coke…..I will get on a kick…eat the same thing for weeks at a time, get tired of it and eat something else for weeks….I can go months without potato chips and then eat a bag every other of day ….I feel like the meal that I am eating is going to be my last, soooooo…I eat enough for two….

Are you wondering why I am telling you all of this?     I AM going to lose weight and I  need to be held accountable. …So, I am going to share this latest journey with you…..

As I have said before…I am a terrible cook….When I got married at 17, I was still a kid….I never had to cook.  Dad did all the cooking…Mom could not cook either….So I learned how to fry potatoes and fry pork chops….I over cook or burn everything I cook.  Ray told me once that if the pork chops were not cooked well done that they could kill us….so I made sure everything was well done..I had to learn the basics..like boil water and thaw out a chicken in time for it to be cooked for supper…Our first apartment has a hole in the drywall where Ray put that first frozen chicken…

My mother in law didn’t like me very much…She lived in Hindman, Kentucky….gardens, canning, soup beans and cornbread….I didn’t have a clue…..Her other daughter in law was from nearby and could do all of this…she loved her….I have burnt a many soup beans…  I have never made a casserole or a pie….I CAN make a killer banana pudding, great dressing, super peanut butter fudge..that’s about it…..

Ok…I have given up my Cokes.  Jelly beans and after Wednesday ( my birthday)  cake with yummy icing…I am drinking Lipton diet Green Tea…now I am going to figure out what I can eat…Wish me luck…p.s.  now I know why my youngest daughter, Susan ate a Jif peanut butter sandwich every day….Blessings to all. .

Hello friends….I am kinda on pins and needles here..I had my 6 month CT Scan Wednesday and am waiting for results.  I have an appointment with my lung doctor on Friday and Wednesday the 17th is my birthday of 72 years…One year closer to my goal of 85…..

I know that wedding season is upon us and many brides have used burlap for their decorations in the past, so if you are going to decorate with burlap, PLEASE wear a mask…

Well, it’s for sure that I did not have burlap or for that matter….any decorations at my wedding….I was 17 and Ray was 24…we were married in a church with another couple.. (a double wedding)  My  wedding rings cost $49.00 ( we had to make payments).   I wore a white suit and Ray wore a suit and tie…He sure was handsome……   

ay and I  were married almost 40 years.  He passed away 16 years ago, from Pulmonary Fibrosis. ..the same thing I have….mine caused by burlap fibers and his by ground up glass….from sandblasting many years ago..before the safety rules were in effect…I pray my death will be as easy as his was..We were in the hospital and I was laying in bed with him with my arms around him, when the nurse came in and told me he had passed.   It was so peaceful……  I loved him very much and miss him to this day.  We were total opposites.  I will tell you about him in another post…He was definitely a hand full !!!  Blessings to you all. 

Hello friends…I am so very Blessed….I did not realize just how much until today….I believe in God and how He can answers prayers 
…I have shared with you how God heard your prayers when I  was near death in the ICU.  He let me come back and I believe that I know why……

When I got so sick and needed to sell my house, I would and still do, pray “The Prayer of Jabez”.   Jabez asked God for four things…

  Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil..

I thought praying this would help to sell my house, but God had other ways He wanted to bless me…..He gave me the ability to write this blog to warn others of the dangers of working with burlap and to tell my story….He definitely enlarged my territory..OVER 80,000 VIEWS from all over the world…His hand has been with me everyday to give me strength to write this and He has kept me from evil as I have not had a single bad response….

You all have been so wonderful with your concerns and prayers.  You lift me up everyday.  I also pray that the attorney will be able to force the manufacturer of this burlap to attach a warning label to wear a mask when using. 

Now, I am going to take a break and fix myself something to eat……Did I mention that I am the world’s worst cook?  I may have to leave this for another post…..here is an example of my talents in the kitchen.. This was yesterday’s lunch…Ritz crackers, spray can cheese topped with an olive and supper was a bowl of ceral.  More later…Blessings to all of you. .