Snow

A friend of mine who resides in sunny Florida mentioned "playing in the snow". We were not able to do that this year. She is correct - it wasn't a White Christmas in Indiana this year. I thought about that and after reading some e-mail I realized our Green Christmas wasn't all bad.

We had a beautiful, warmish day. Warm for winter, no snow and I enjoyed it. Where Lee is from in New Hampshire they have had 86" of snow this winter and they still have 36" on the ground. That is what I would call a WHITE Christmas. So I am thanking God for the Green Christmas I had in Indiana this year 2007!

Looking through my Christmas tree and the front window, seeing green lawn is just fine with me. Looks good, doesn't it?

Bowling....

I went bowling yesterday. I know you are saying .... so? .... so .... I haven't bowled in 25 years and I didn't win, but I played respectably and I'm proud of it. I was able to keep up with my grandson's ages 14 1/2 and almost 13.

Okay.... that story was good for listening or reading in this case, and the real story is Brendon and Bryce got a Wii for Christmas and asked me to play a game of bowling with them. It really was fun and I was glad to be able to keep up (yeah it was probably easier than at a bowling alley) but I am still proud and I have the picture to prove it.

Poetry

More than 47 years ago when we lived in Quincy, Massachusetts I would find a poem from my husband each and every day when I came home from work. Sometimes he would leave me a poem when he went to school, sometimes it would be left when he went to work.

It has been many years since I have regularly found poems from my husband. Today being Christmas 2007, I received a poem under the Christmas tree along with my gifts. I am ending this Christmas Day sharing this poem with you.

Christmas Time

~~~2007~~~

To: Scamper

Time flies by, but where does it go?

Nobody really seems to know.

Grabbing this moment for what it is worth,

Let us celebrate the day of Christs' birth.

And as we share our gifts of love,

We'll remember God's gift from above.

Let us, you and I together

Be thankful today, for His love!

Merry Christmas with love,

Rob

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

to all my

Family

and

Friends

ALERT!

As the picture above shows, an ALERT has been posted for our sliding glass door from the kitchen to the back porch!

Lee started to go out the back door - but - alas, it wouldn't slide open. We made our way out the 'other' door, went to Indy, came home and decided we needed to fix the sliding glass door. The decision was made to call in some help. The Grandpa of this family thought the Grams was not strong enough to help lift the door.

Derek, Brendon & Bryce came to rescue, escorted into the house via the 'other' door by one cute little girl named Paige. The girl escorting the group disappeared into Grams playroom and the guys got to work.

They took the door off and inspected the rollers on the bottom. They are ..... bottom line ..... worn out. In case you haven't noticed, it is winter in Indiana and the cold air doesn't make taking the door off to the porch a very pleasant prospect. So it was decided to put the door back and wait until spring to replace it.

When Derek started to pick it up in the middle, it started to come apart - not a good thing. Then he tried to pick it up on one end and it started to come apart - not a good thing there either. So to put the door back, Brendon & Bryce picked up one end and Derek the other at the same time and they very carefully replaced the door in the tract.

Lee's final pronouncement to me was - this door is fragile. We must be realllly careful opening and closing it. Therefore I made the sign and posted it in a prominent place for all to see who come in that door.

One last little confession.....I was the one who pushed it hard when it wouldn't go and made it come out of the tract in the beginning....but I am NOT telling Lee that part. I am only going to be verrrry careful with that door until spring when it will be replaced.

Christmas Carolers

Lee and I were honored on Sunday evening with the beautiful singing of a group of Carolers from our church. They arrived and sang many Christmas Carols which was a very heart warming event. They did not quite resemble the Victorian Carolers I have pictured above, but their music was as wonderful as any large choir anywhere.

I enjoyed so much the adults singing, but the 7 little carolers were an absolute joy to watch. What a wonderful tradition for these children to have regarding the Christmas season. Many of them knew the words to the songs and joined in exuberantly in proclaiming the Christmas Story through song.

The last song sung was by the children. Our terrific Minister of Music at our church, Ron Kennedy, had the little ones sing "Away in a Manager" by themselves (well, with a -little- bit of help from him).

We passed out Christmas cookies to the Carolers and a wonderful Christmas event ended.

Thank you so much to all of the Carolers

Waiting......

Isn't this a beautiful place for a little girl to call her own. We were visiting at Nathan and Stephanie's over the weekend and I took some pictures of Isabella's room. The day is getting closer and we are getting more excited.

Towle Christmas celebration for 2007 has arrived and gone and now the next big event in the family will be the arrival of a new baby girl. Stephanie had an ultrasound on the 17th and the baby is 5lb 6oz - so she is growing, getting ready for her birthday.

One of Nathan's friends made an interesting observation he is "SO looking forward to seeing how Nate responds to diaper changing" and other baby events. Hmmmmm...... those of you who know Nathan probably have similar thoughts. I am confident both Nathan and Stephanie will make great parents. We are all ready for Isabella.

Happy Birthday, Stephanie!

It's December 17th and that means it is Stephanie's birthday. Stephanie is the wife of our youngest son, Nathan. We are so happy to have Stephanie as part of the Towle family.

At this time Steph is awaiting the birth of her first child, a girl, Isabella Sue. Since today is close to Isabella's birthday, I hope Stephanie is taking the day easy, relaxing, resting and just generally enjoying herself. You deserve that Steph.

Stephanie,

Just wanted you to know

you're being thought about

with a wish for all that makes

this day more pleasant

for you!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Stephanie (with Isabella) ! Aren't they wonderful? This Grammy and Grandpa think so......Have a great day.

7" of Snow on 50 East

Lee says 3" yesterday and another 4" today. When I got out there and helped move the snow, I have to believe he is correct.

It took us some time. But after several trips into the house to sit down and rest a minute or two, we were able to get the car dug out and cleared the snow on the walks and over to the shop. The car was getting warm while we worked on the walks.

Then Jeanne, our neighbor, came over with her tractor and plowed the driveway. What a blessing that was. Thank you so much, Jeanne!

While Jeanne was doing that, Lee took a rest and I started on the ice on the windows of the car. We were finally able to finish that and both of us decided - "Job well done." Now hopefully it won't snow overnight. We really don't want to go out at 5AM and have to start all over with clearing the car and sidewalks.

Well I am going to bed - I may need an extra hour of sleep - just in case we do have more SNOW. Although I must admit, I'm over beautiful snow. Warm spring breezes - come on down!

Towle Family Christmas Celebration 2007

December 15th arrived and the Towles all gathered at Derek & Lana's house on a snowy afternoon for our Christmas gathering of 2007.

Dad/Grandpa prayed and we all got started. Food, gifts, fun. Towle's just being together.

We were saddened (well the older Towles were) by the fact that the weather prevented Nathan and Stephanie from joining us. I have to agree with someone who commented that it wouldn't be good for Nate & Steph to be out on the roads and run the risk of Isabella deciding this is the time for her to arrive in this world.

Our oldest grandson, Jason Jackson and his wife Jennifer also were unable to attend as they live in Atlanta, GA and don't get to be here as often as we all would like.

Everyone brought contributions of delicious food for all to enjoy. There was more good food than we could possibly eat, but we enjoyed it all. Paige was proud of her contribution to the Christmas decorations - she made a gingerbread house for all of us to enjoy.

I tried to wander and get pictures of many of the activities and my Grands in particular and my own kids and their husband/wives also and noticed my two oldest in some kind of a debate?, conversation?, discussion?, argument? - I'm not really sure what it was, but I documented the event as it unfolded as you can see in the picture on the right. When I called, "Brett & Derek" they turned around, and the look on their faces (in the picture on the left) took me back a lottttt of years. They do appear somewhat guilty looking - wouldn't you say. I wonder what they were plotting this time. When they were very small, I was never quite sure who started many of the "problems" the two of them became involved in and some even took place in my kitchen. I recall many events that occurred over the years. Don't get me started on that part of my life........

After dinner, the grandchildren exchanged gifts which was such fun to watch. You can see in some of the pictures below that a good time was had by all.....See you next year for our 2008 Celebration

Towle 2007 Christmas

I Call it "Christmas Crunch"

For many years I have made what I call Christmas Crunch - I have heard a lot of other names for it - whatever it is called my family learned to like it and expect it sometime during the month of December.

I had purchased all the necessary ingredients and had them piled up on the desk in the kitchen.

Taking Cindy to school one morning she asked me, "Gram, have you made that Christmas ' stuff' you always make". When I answered in the negative she made me realize it was time, Cindy said, "Well I think its just about time you got busy". Whew!

I called to Lee's shop for some help and very shortly the man to the left appeared. I looked at him and asked, "What in the world are you doing? He calmly walked over grabbed a cup and said, "I'm ready"

I am not a person to turn aside any help even though that help may be dressed for work in the wood shop, not Bette's kitchen, so we started putting it all together and 2 hours later we had all 14 batches spread out on the dining table, covered and drying. Stage one done.

Lee removed the woodworking attire he arrived in by the time we started stage two - filling all the containers. When that was completed, we were ready to deliver. We visited Gas America Services, Greenfield Police and Fire Departments, Novelty and several of our doctors offices. There are some deliveries which remain to be done, but there was one young lady in Greenfield that was very happy to see her Gram this morning when she arrived to drive her to school. Cindy enjoying Grams Christmas Crunch!

A Trip to School....

Grands (as I like to call my grandchildren) have a way of reminding a Gram of exactly what she should be doing. That is when the aforementioned Grams mind is wandering in a thousand different directions.

I was on my way to Greenfield-Central High School with my oldest granddaughter Kirstin this morning. Kirstin made a comment, "Gram you are really going tooooo fast". I looked down and sure enough, I was somewhat above the speed limit.

Forgive me Kirstin! I should be setting a good example for my grandchildren, especially this one who received her drivers license recently. Here is the look I got when I tried to capture the moment on film. Totally ignoring the grandmother!

Just remember - be careful - those younger eyes are watching and their ears are hearing. Be sure to set a good example as I will be more careful to do in the days ahead!

My Comment on a Comment !

I failed in my blogging duty recently. Two blogs ago, I told about the upcoming Towle Christmas Celebration. My son ( aka Nathan ) who is expecting my newest granddaughter (well - actually he and his wife, Stephanie are expecting this granddaughter) reminded me just this afternoon that I had not responded as yet to his comment on jelly beans for dinner?????

Being a very traditional grandmother - Grammy to the expected baby girl, Isabella - aka Izzy, I must tell my very modern and 21st century son that I really am not sure that Jelly beans, seen here looking very delicious are what I would consider a healthy meal.

Of course that comes from my son who thinks tomatoes are not edible, but ketchup is and this same son looks very askance at the vegetables his Dad grows in the garden every summer - you know, stuff like squash, green beans, beets, Okra, swiss chard, purple hull peas - all those healthy vegetables that I made him eat when he was a child. Who knows those healthy ones may have contributed to his height - 6' 8".

Well all this to say.....I'm sorry I forgot my blogging manners. And Nathan, please feed Izzy some of those healthy veggies and enjoy the jelly beans for dessert.

Christmas in Lee's Shop

Today my phone rang and I heard those familiar words "Do you have time? I need some eyes".

"Also could you bring me a copy of that Bible verse that says....'For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord'. Whenever you can"

Okay that seemed easy enough. I started to type the verse on Lee's Bible Form I have in Microsoft Word and I got some sort of a message - it is a read only - it is locked by Bette. Well....I think I am Bette, why isn't it letting me type. Well several frustrating minutes later I had to close & restart the computer to get it to print which I did and thought - now I can go.

Normally I can just walk out to the shop, but it is December and a lot like winter in Indiana right now...soooo, I stopped and put on boots (just socks on my feet wouldn't get it ), and a winter coat (its really cold ) and picked up some trash to carry out and the copy of Lee's Bible verse and headed out.

I remembered my brother-in-law Gene's comment this week "Isn't the snow beautiful". Gene made the comment sitting in warm, sunny southern California ..... well sunny if it isn't raining and sending another storm Indiana's way. I decided I'm over beautiful snow. I am ready for spring.

Then I walked into the shop, gave Lee his Bible verse and watched as he decorated his blackboard for Christmas

Never let us forget....."Jesus is the reason for the season" Luke 2:11

Lee's Shop ~~ aka King's barn ~~ is ready for Christmas!

It's ~~~Finally~~~ Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

I have 4 children, all of whom are married, and 9 (almost 10) grandchildren. A couple of years ago, I made the decision that it was time for my children to take over the responsibility of planning and hosting the annual Towle Family Christmas Celebrations. They have all done a smashing job and I am happy I made the decision! Well someone had to do it. Right? The father of this group left it up to the mother to take care of relinquishing the Christmas to the next generation.

Now we are counting down to the 2007 celebration, and after much deliberation, e-mails back and forth, questions, answers and more questions and answers we are almost there.

The original notice came out....

"Hello Everyone, Wow, what a change in the weather! That can only mean one thing, it is close to Christmas. So now comes the task at hand of deciding when and what time to have our family get together. This year we are going to Derek and Lana's. (Thank you guys)".........and then it ends with "If you could let me know what day & time that works for you, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Well, I thought that was fairly precise and organized - made an organized (or mostly organized ) Mother feel good.

But not for my boys. Whoever is responsible for any multiple e-mails regarding this simple request will remain nameless.

Responses came in and the date seemed to be set for the 15th.....then we receive an e-mail reading....

"Not sure what I missed, but when did the family have people in it named: BEAN & BUGGSIE?? I will bring all the jelly beans! See you on the 8th!"

Then we heard.....

"First of all they are very important people to me! Second, jelly beans for a meal? Yum! And third, I hope Derek & Lana are home for you on the 8th!"'

Answer????

"Who are these people that are important to you?? And why can't I send emails to Bryce, Brett & whoever BMTowle is?? All three came back undeliverable! I know Brett has changed his so that might be why for him, but not on the other two. Jelly beans are the best! I think I might give them to Izzy right after she can start having real food! And why wouldn't they (Derek & Lana, I guess) be home on the 8th?? We are having dinner there on the 8th, aren't we!"

Back came an answer to that missive....

"Bean is Jayde & Buggsie is Cindy. I don't have a new email for Brett (OK now I do) and I can't send to Bryce or Brendon (aka BMTOWLE) either. I'm sure Izzy's mother will have something to say about that... (the jelly beans) ... We're all meeting on the 15th...Nice try!"

Now everyone can understand why this mother of 4 is getting gray hair and looks older than her 65 years. Even when Realage.com says she is only 57.8 (but that is another story)

The last answer arrived soon after and this Towle mother breathed a sigh of relief....

"We are having Christmas on the 15th for everyone but Nathan. He is celebrating it on the 8th. His wife is coming on the 15th because she is bringing mashed potatoes & a dessert. (You know one of your sons has to be a jokester" (ONLY ONE, ?... bft ) the email continued...." I am assuming he will have talked to his wife and will be attending on the 15th with the rest of us. So to recap, we are having Christmas at Derek & Lana's on Saturday, December 15th at 1:00pm. Names have been drawn for the 3rd generation. And the menu is well under way. See you then!"

As you can see here, my Christmas tree is finally up and we are enjoying it on these cold December evenings. We have a date for our Celebration.

4-6" of snow fell overnight last night and we are now a "Winter wonderland in Indiana" (that is even though I did not order any snow this year)

It really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas and the Towle's are ready to celebrate at Derek and Lana's on the 15th of December.

I feel so much better. It is so exhausting sometimes to be the mother of three Towle boys! "Just Kidding" - All four of the Towle kids and their families are the delight of my life.

Never Too Old to Learn...

As a wife, mother and grandmother the tendency would be for me to think ~ ~ ~ I probably know all I am ever going to learn about the kitchen. I suppose I have the mind set that I am "tooo old to learn"

My grandson proved that statement to be a myth within the past week. On Thanksgiving morning Derek along with Brendon came over to use my oven (their oven had a turkey roasting in it). Derek had to run an errand and left Brendon and the Grandmother to do the baking. Well as I have done forever, I would check the pizza pan size sugar cookie to make sure it didn't get too brown. To do that checking I would open the oven and look.

When the cookie was finally brown I took it out and the side closest to the door was lighter than the rest of the cookie. I made the comment that I wasn't paying attention to the back of the cookie and maybe I should have.

Brendon very calmly and quietly made me realize where the problem was - I was opening the oven door. Bren walked over, turned on the oven light and told me I should use the light and check the cookie through the glass (without opening the door). "That way it doesn't let cool air in and change the cooking temperature" was the explanation from my wonderful grandson. '

I asked him where he learned all this ~ FCS. Well not being familiar with the newest ideas in education I had to ask what FCS is. Family Consumer Science ~ ~ ~ Oh, yeah, Home Ec.
Brendon is learning to cook and that is just terrific.

So there you have it folks ~ a Grandmother is never too old to learn from a handsome 14 year old grandson seen here on Thanksgiving wearing his awesome new red shoes - to quote Brendon.

Odometer's

Lee recently sold his Ford truck - the last truck he owned in a long line of Ford trucks. They were mostly all red trucks and this last one was not an exception. He bought the truck in 1991 and it had 44 miles on it then. When he sold it earlier this month it registered 126,564 miles. And we didn't try to turn back the odometer. What the odometer said is what the man got who purchased the truck.

I know you are wondering - 'where in the world is she going with this story'...... Well, I was thinking about that truck and how worn and tattered and just plain 'old' it looked when we sold it. I saw my family doctor this week and he informed me that some things just happen when a person gets 'old'. That is coming from a 'young' doctor.

So while thinking about that 'old' worn and tattered truck - I thought that is exactly how I feel - especially since the doctor indicated that I am now 'old'.

I was encouraged tremendously this morning when I read a saying that I had seen some time ago and I can say without any reservations that I really do feel this way........

"Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me! I
want people to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way
and some of the roads weren't paved"

And just like Lee's truck, I am not turning back the odometer.

Derek is Front Page News

On Saturday it was in the Greenfield Daily Reporter and Indy Star articles regarding our very own Derek.

Earlier this month Greenfield elected a new mayor who will take office on January 1, 2008. Derek has been with Greenfield Police Department 17 years and Mayor Elect Brad DeReamer has announced that Derek will be the intermin Police Chief when he takes office in January.

This is exciting for all the Towles. Derek is proudly carrying on the Towle police tradition. Great Uncle Tom Towle - Police Chief of Pittsburg, Littleton and Colebrook, New Hampshire ~ ~ ~ Uncle Gene Towle, Capt. ( one of 7 Captains in the state) with the California Hightway Patrol and now Derek in his career with GPD is to be the interim police chief for Greenfield.

CONGRATULATIONS,

Derek

Happy Birthday, Brett!

Today is a special day at the Towle House. Our oldest son , Brett was born on this day in Moline, Illinois. That seems so very long ago, but how fast the years have passed by. It was such fun to have that little boy who now is a man that we are so very proud of.

Brett is our family firefighter and makes sure our home is fire safe. That is so good! He also is my help when the red van leaves me stranded in strange places. Thank you for all your help, Brett.

We hope your day is a happy one.

Happy Birthday with love,

Mom and Dad!

Brett then........and Brett (on the left) with fellow firefighters after fighting a fire......
He looks great in both pictures!

The 'Thingy'

Lee always carries his 'hugh' coffee container around wherever he is during the day. Well at least at home he does that. He looks for coffee in other ways when we are out. That might be a little wrong in that I distinctly remember him carrying that coffee mug when we have gone to garage sales in the summer. Anyway in Bette's buggy it is always sitting on the floor. It has been knocked over by things put in the golf cart, by people's feet in the golf cart and I am sure that even looking at it at times causes it to be knocked over.

Can you tell that his coffee mug is kind of irritating? Yea, that's about how it is.

There are cup holders in the golf cart - but they are not made for hugh, enormous coffee mugs. What to do? I have been telling him all summer, "You need to figure out some way of corralling that mug".

My phone rang and it was Lee needing my eyes to do some measuring. I am never sure what he is making, but today it was a thingy to hold that coffee mug. What a blessing! The thingy showed in the following pictures "wiggles a little" to quote Lee, so he needed an exact measurement of the cup holder hole, so he can make one the correct size.

Wouldn't it be great if I could say I am married to an inventor. Well I guess I am - there is only one problem with it - he invents thingies (that doesn't look like the correct spelling for pleural of thingy, but spell checker says it is) that are only useful for us. No income involved in that, but it sure does make life easier.

Bette's Buggy, piloted by none other than Lee Towle will certainly stay a lot cleaner with this new thingy invention.

"A Wedding Story" - with Lee & Bette

Lee and I have once again been married 18 years. This second 18 has gone by so much faster. Isn't that what they say about growing 'old'? The time goes by much quicker. I think maybe it is because we move much slower, because surely I am not OLD, didn't ask Lee if he is!

Yesterday Lee and I were going north on Fortville Pike - my usual 55-60, hoping no GPD officers were doing speed control near the interstate, as they seem to do quite often. Has anyone else noticed that? I hope so - because if you haven't, it could mean Derek has told them to watch for his mother who has a tendency to speed. No, not speed, I just forget to watch my speedometer. I really don't intentionally speed. Anyway I was coming up quite quickly to a red truck. I slowed down, slowed down and slowed down some more. Finally I put the brake on and when I finally was down to this gentleman's speed, we were doing a speedy little 25 MPH. On Fortville Pike, no less. GPD officers will not get this man, nor Derek's Mother who was behind him. Lee made the comment that he ( as a blind man ) could drive if he drove that slow. I can only hope he doesn't get the idea to take the red van keys and hit the road on 50 East.

But.....back to my story. The 1st Towle anniversary was June 25, 1960, a date Lee seems to easily remember. We were married 18 years and then were divorced. God in his mercy kept both of us waiting for the other and 11 years later Pastor Terry Going married us the second time on November 11, 1989 - so today is a Towle anniversary - this date Lee does not seem to remember and needs reminding every time. You would think that after a second 18 years, he would remember that day. Of course the 1st wedding found Lee only 25 and Bette 17. 47 years added to those ages makes remembering more of a challenge.

I have pictures from both weddings posted....I'm not sure either set are very good, but you can see we sure don't look like we did at one time - or even at two times. But the Towle Kids look good, don't they! Photography has certainly come a long way - it has to be the photography, we couldn't have changed that much, not Lee & Bette. Well .... here we are!

Lee & Bette 'A Wedding Story"

A Lee Towle, "GPD", Project

This is about one of those "Dad, I need" jobs. Derek came to Lee asking for some kind of container or holder to put the black flags in when the police are not using them. Well, Lee immediately got to work, even though Derek said, "It isn't a rush job, Dad. Just sometime we need something to store these flags in". Right....to Lee if someone says, "I need"...it is a rush job.

Whenever Derek for the Police Dept or Brett for the Fire Dept, or Nathan or Leanne or any one of them, for personal reasons says, "Dad I need".....everything else takes a back burner and this job was not an exception.

Well six weeks later....with many processes between now and then, the project is complete. We have delivered the flags in their new containers to Derek and Lee is happy that once more he was able to deliver on what was needed. I must say....."Good job, Lee"!

Click on the picture to see some of the steps in completing this job!

GPD Flag Project

Lee's Garden - 2007 Style!

As soon as January 1st arrives every year, Lee starts looking forward to his garden. He enjoys looking at the seeds. He likes planting them and watching them grow into plants he can put in the garden. He enjoys going and getting plants already to plant in his garden. He thinks it is fun to get the tiller out and work the soil. He just plain likes playing in the dirt.

Every year Lee says, "this year I am putting in a smaller garden". Hasn't happened yet, and I am not sure if he is capable of doing that. We will see. He has made that prediction one more time today after cleaning up from his 2007 garden.

I mulched leaves that had fallen the past few days and Lee got the cages out of the garden. I then helped him move most of them to storage. He carried some on the trusty "Bette's Buggy" to the storage area. And we finished it. Yea!

Working outside in the autumn air is a good feeling. Nice hot chili that has been cooking since noon is going to taste soooo good tonight!

"A garden is never so good as it will be next year". . . . Thomas Cooper (Professor at numerous Colleges & Universities in Pennsylvania, Virginia and South Carolina in the early 1800's)

Lee assures me he is looking forward to next years' ...smaller... (?) garden!

Here are some pictures from Lee's 2007 Garden!

Lee's Garden

"I Need......"

Lee jokes about some who say "Dad, I need...." or "Lee, I need....", but today a different request came. Lee said, "Bette, I need.....Well, isn't that a change. What he needed was for me to help him, by putting tape on the front of his table saw so he could continue painting it.

This saw came from New Hampshire 32 years ago when Lee's parents moved to Greenfield. It had been purchased some 20-30 years before that. Does 60+ years make this saw approaching an antique. Don't know, but it certainly doesn't look new any more and Lee decided it needed a paint job.

I agreed to help. I put the tape on it for him and then I asked him if he wanted me to paint around the medal logo on the front that I had taped off. He said great and I painted it. When I finished Lee said thanks and I told him to call me if he needed me. Then I started out the door.

The picture below caught my eye. I have seen it hundreds of times over the years, since it came from NH with the table saw I had just helped partially restore. Today for some reason the picture made me stop and consider...... As many of you know...Lee has always been a perfectionist. He has very diminished eyesight - the government says he is legally blind - so at times I may be able to convince him something is perfect when there may be imperfections that he can't see. But the picture made me think I better not try to put anything over on him. Who knows, I could end up like the guy in the picture. Boy that wouldn't be good!

Horse Sitting!

Our next door neighbors have horses and from time to time through the years Lee has taken care of the horses when the Johnson's are away. After many years of this, Lee is the expected horse sitter and when the Johnsons were gone this weekend, duty called!

Whenever they are gone and I know Lee will be taking care of the horses, I still get a little nervous. Several years ago, actually probably 6-8 years ago, Lee was taking care of the animals and was changing a horse from the field to the barn. The weather had changed and he needed to bring her inside. I was sitting outside the barn in the truck and happened to notice the blur of a big brown horse running behind the truck and heading east as fast as she could go. Whoa! I knew something was wrong. Lee came out of the barn faster than I have seen him move in years, I jumped out of the truck and started running with my cane (this was before knee replacements) and Dell from across the street came running. Everyone was trying to get Molly running toward the barn. She went south and back around the house. Lee yelled at me to take the truck and block the north end of the field behind the barn. I made it back to the truck, backed up so she couldn't go past and fortunately she rounded the barn - realized she couldn't escape anymore and went into the barn. When Lee went in, she looked at him like "Where have yooooou been?

Well that episode ended well - I really don't think Lee ever told anyone, so the owners still think he is capable of taking care of their animals. But I digress from this weekend, which is really my story.

He didn't have to move any horses and Jewell is very well behaved and he makes Jewell's son Bandit think he is boss, so Bandit behaves, and it was a successful horse weekend.

Check out the pictures of Lee, Jewell, Bandit and Libby, the dog!

Horse Sitting Duty

Isabella's Baby Shower Gifts

My week just got a whole lot better about 1:30pm this afternoon. That was when I finished wrapping the gifts for our expected new granddaughter and it was before the shower. That was a plus. There were several times this week I thought I might not make it.

I decided the larger of the two gifts was one I could use some assistance with and I asked the Grandfather to help me. All went well for about 3 minutes - I was in control of my wrapping project while Lee stood by and helped at my direction.

Then......he sat down! I knew then that the self described 'master gift wrapper' from way back in New Hampshire days Lee Towle was now in charge and I had become the assistant.

All went well - Lee directing and me getting the tape and putting it where he indicated it was needed. Then I heard 'riiiiip' - not a good sound. I said why did you tear the paper. He looked at me like I was crazy and said 'Where?' When I showed him, he said 'We'll need some tape there.

Finally the job was completed and I felt good. I think it looks pretty and Lee agrees - of course that is coming from a blind Grandpa and a Grammy who doesn't see as well as she once did.

Pictures of the Baby Shower wrapping session!!!!!

Isabella's Baby Shower Gifts

What is a "Bad" week?

My oldest granddaughter and I were driving through town this morning and Grandma was teasing her a little bit....well Kirstin might say it was more than a little bit. At any rate her comment was "Grandma!!! I have had a bad week.

I informed her that I had had a bad week also, so I understand. Her answer was immediate, "No, you couldn't have had a worse week than I have had"

So I have been thinking about that today. I looked up 'bad'.....there are several definitions - some of them are

.....'unfavorable' as in a 'bad' impression
.....'unpleasant' as in 'bad' news
.....'incorrect' as in 'bad' grammar
.....'injurious' as in a 'bad' cough
.....'invalid' as in a 'bad' check

Well, none of the definitions defined a 'bad week'. I told Kert I am sorry she has had a 'bad week' and her response made me realize her week would get a whole lot better today or tomorrow. Her cell phone went into cardiac arrest and died. What teenager have you seen recently without a cell phone either in her hand or at her ear. None? I have that same feeling.

I haven't had cell phone problems this week (that was last week), so I guess my problems do not constitute a 'bad week'.

I have been stressing over a project I have been working on (one with a time constraint) and I am making progress. And to make Kirstin's week better, she is getting a new phone today or tomorrow. Then I know her week will be better.!

Thoughts......from a somewhat aging Bette!

I mentioned sometime ago how 50 years had changed how I react compared to my 14 year old grandson, Brendon. Since August 7th when that age of 65 hit me, I am trying to become more mobile and flexible. I know - that is a definitely tall order, but I'll never know if it is possible unless I try.

Lee is my very own personal woodcrafter. Whenever I think, "I need that", I tell Lee and in a somewhat reasonable length of time, he builds it for me. In my sewing/exercise/storage room I have an exercise bench that I told him I would need after having bilateral knee replacements done 18 months ago.

So now in the interest of keeping my 65 year old body flexible and moving, I realized I need a addition. ( Flexible is a term I am using quite loosely)....I decided I better check out the definition of the word. Webster's Dictionary online states that flexible is "Capable of being flexed; pliant - checking out pliant is the scary part - "supple enough to bend freely or repeatedly without breaking". Yeah that is what I want. Breaking would not be fun. Wonder how long it is going to take to reach that.

Well, back to the point. The addition! The family physician sent me to physical therapy to help with the movement of the aging shoulders. Tamara & Kelli, my therapists have me doing some muscle strengthening exercises using a pillow on the wall. A light went off in my head - Lee could attach the pillow to the wall permanently and it will be easier not holding it against the wall while doing the exercises.

The pictures show how clever my man is - I now have a pillow attached to the wall for those exercises to strengthen my upper arms and shoulders. It is sort of attractive also.

Lee building an Exercise pillow frame

I Made a Mistake.....Imagine that!

My previous blog described 4 sporting events I attended that my grandchildren were playing in. And I made a mistake regarding my basketball girl, Jayde. Well, as her mother pointed out, if I had made the same mistake regarding her, that would have been fine. But Jayde on the other hand was not very pleased with my mistake.

Okay, I'll confess.....the mistake....I said Jayde is my 10 year old granddaughter and she was quick to point out that she has had her 11th birthday on June 10, of this year.

I apologize Jayde!!! To make up for it click on the picture below to see Jayde during her first year 1996 and every year since to make 11 years!

(Disclaimer.....Jayde, please remember if I somehow have made a mistake in the ages of these pictures it is because the wrong age was written on the back or I put the picture in the wrong year on the computer) I love you Jayde!

Jayde is 11!!!

Grandkids Sporting Events!

In the past week or so, I have attended some games involving some of my Grands. I have attended football, basketball and soccer. What fun it all is.

Of course my grandchild is the most talented player on the field or court or wherever we are . I don't even have to know the rules and sometimes I can't even verify the player's number and I can tell my Grand is the best out there.....is that somewhat biased? Oh well, what are Grams for anyway.

Have attended football for Brendon, G-CMS, 8th grade, and Bryce G-CMS 7th grade. Guess that is kind of a boy type of game and I have two grands playing. Football I know a teeny, tiny bit about and what I do know has been gleaned from asking the boys Grandpa Gregory who has graciously provided information when I have asked over the past few years. At this last game I have pictures of, their Grandpa wasn't able to attend - so when my mind was saying.....

What are they doing?

Why did they call that?

What's happening? - I was lost.

I was sitting with Rob and Lisa Gleason, friends of Derek & Lana and Rob was kind and answered some of my questions and one time I heard him answer one that somebody else asked. I guess that was somebody who knows as little about football as I do. All in all, I have enjoyed the football games this year. I am understanding a little more than in years past. 8th grade won this game 20-6 and the 7th graders were also winners, 28-6.

My youngest son Nathan played basketball in middle school and high school, then had a basketball scholarship to U & I, (Go Hounds), so I learned a lot about basketball over the years.

And basketball was one of the games I attended this past week. Jayde, my 10 year old Granddaughter plays for the Little Cougar Girls Basketball and of course I want to be in attendance as often as I can. Jayde had 18 points in this game and her team won 28-5. Way to go Jayde, Good Game!!! It was a very fun game.

Finally I went to Paige's soccer game. Now -Soccer- I really know almost nothing about this, except that they kick the ball from goal to goal. No passing so many yards, and no dribbling down the court, - only kicking the ball. It is somewhat difficult to learn the rules of soccer watching 4 & 5 year olds play. The girls do somersaults now and then, the boys sit down and play in the dirt and they all, boys and girls have "cute" really figured out. They also don't keep score, but Paige's red team had 2 goals to the blue team's 1 goal.

Click on the picture below to see some of my pictures from my Grands sporting events!!!!

Grandkids Sporting Events!

I Was Tagged!

I was tagged this week - not once, but twice. Wow how does that happen to a boring kind of person like me. How will I ever come up with 7 random things that you might be surprised to learn about me (surely I don't have to do 14) since I was tagged twice, 7 will do, right? .......Well.......here goes!

1. I went to 3 different schools in 3 different states during my junior year of high school.

2. I lived in 10 different states in the first 27 years of my life - (Michigan, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Maryland, Virginia, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, then back to Maryland, Illinois and Indiana).

3. My greatest fear - being suffocated!

4. I was underage - according the great State of Massachusetts in 1960 - and Lee had to sign a permission slip for me to be able to get a driver's license there.

5. A tremendous disappointment to me in my life......my mother made the 'best fried chicken' in the world. I have her skillet she always used, but I have never been able to produce the fried chicken that Mom did. I guess having the proper equipment does not produce the 'best fried chicken in the world'.......what a shame.....I do miss my Mom (and yes, for more than her great fried chicken).

6. My all time greatest dream has been and is to visit London, England. (I'm still waiting, Lee)

7. I like uniforms - I met Lee while he was in the U.S. Army stationed in Alexandria, Virginia - best looking soldier at Ft. Belvoir. Now I have 3 men in my life who wear uniforms.

Click on the picture below to see my favorite uniformed men!

Bette's Men in Uniform

Mr. & Mrs. Brett Towle - 9-21-07

September 21st is now a special day for our family. That is the day that Brett, our oldest was married to Christy Durbin.

They were married in Greenfield in the afternoon which made it a little difficult for some of the family to attend the wedding. Leanne, Derek, Nathan, Lee and I were there. Christy's mother and Grandmother were also there from Plainfield and her Aunt came over from New Palestine.

The girls, Kirstin and Cindy, were there as well as Christy's two children, Claudia and Parker. It was a very lovely wedding and we wish them both well as they start their life together.

Click on the picture below to see some of the wedding pictures......

Brett & Christy's wedding

Dr. James Drummond - my brother!

It's September 19th and that means it is my brother's birthday! Many of you don't know my brother, but he is a pretty neat person. There is only Jim & I, and I am very proud of my brother.

Jim has lived in northern New Jersey for a long time, so I don't get to see him as often as I would like to. Jim was in the Navy when I was quite young and one of my favorite memories of a vacation trip was when my parents and I went to Long Beach, California to see Jim while he was a member of the United States Navy.

He has taught high school history for 35+ years, also teaching at New York University and now Philadelphia Biblical University. His love of history is a hugh part of his life. My historical interest has not gone past finding and recording for my children the names of our ancestors and a few facts regarding them, but Jim has accomplished so much more during his career!

Check out some of my favorite pictures of my brother!

Jim's Birthday

Hope you have a very good day today, Jim and a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Love, Bette and Lee

The Finest VS. The Bravest

Saturday night at Greenfield-Central Football Field, GPD faced off against GFD for the third year in their Charity Flag Football Game.

This year was a little easier for this mother. They don't make bleachers for people who are cheering for both sides. In the two previous years I would cheer for the police and then did equal cheering for the firefighters. I asked "What is a mother to do"? When you are the mother of a Police Officer and a Firefighter and they are facing off against each other, cheering done by that mother must not show any favoritism and I did very well, at least I think I did. That is my view of the cheering and I am sticking to it!

My firefighter son, Brett, was unable to be at this game, but in fairness to GFD, I tried to show pictures of both Police Officers and Firefighters.

It was a fun game to watch. Police have won the two previous years, and this year Fire was the final winner. Well at least on the scoreboard, Fire had the most points, but they are all winners as far as I can see.

Team Cheerleaders -
GPD Miss D Meeners & GFD The Little Flames.
Paige was involved in the cheering as the pictures will show.

Proceeds from this game benefited two local soldiers injured in Iraq, Lance Corporal Joshua Bleill & Corporal Jason Kokotkiewicz.

Many years ago, one of my sports playing sons told me in very firm tones,
"Mother, if I get hurt, you stay in your seat. Don't come down to the bench".
He must know his mother. Anyway, when Derek played football in high school and was injured in a game I stayed in my seat and all was well. He broke his nose and I survived the anguish of sitting in the bleachers when inside I knew my son needed me. He informed me all those many years ago, that he did fine without me.

Soooooo......Last year near the end of the game, Brett was injured and I stayed in my seat. Guess he didn't need his Mom for a dislocated shoulder. This year Derek was injured and I stayed in my seat. Guess he didn't need his Mom for another broken nose. Besides I saw Lana nearby the players bench and I knew she would take care of Derek. You know I was told 22+ years ago when my sons get hurt playing sports to stay in my seat. So I stayed in my seat.

Click on the picture below for some pictures of the game. I realize they are not the best, but a mother sitting almost to the top of the bleachers, looking into the sun, as near the 50 yard line as she could get (you know I have to be able to cheer for both teams) has a difficult time getting GOOD pictures.

Police-Fire Charity Football Game

2007 Towle Family Football Players

I happened to be at Derek and Lana's house this week and happened to notice pictures on their computer screensaver - new pictures of Brendon & Bryce. I told Derek I wanted a copy of the pictures.

A couple of days later I took a flash drive over and Derek downloaded the photos for me. I thought this afternoon would be a good time to download them to my computer. When I opened it up to my great surprise I found 162 pictures of the boys - some with Paige included - in their football uniforms for this year. I guess you can never have too many choices of pictures of your kids - well in this case - my Grands as I like to call them. So check out a few of my favorites of 3 of my Grands - Brendon, Bryce and Paige.

House Maintenance? or is it only House Trauma to the Inhabitants

Progress - be it ever so slow - toward the completion of outside home maintenance for 2007. I would like to say old people move slower, but this is almost to the point of ridiculous. How slow can you move? Guess that would just be an excuse. Can't say we need that, just some speed in the act of moving would help.

We have had help from California ..... Gene gave us two weeks in July.

We have had help from Hancock County .... Derek helped Lee with some 2nd story painting in August.

We have had help from our good neighbor across the back fence - Mike Greenwood, also in August.

Great job by Mike with the shutter installation. The picture below is Mike using the "hammer drill" - a tool I learned through this process is a tool no man should be without. Hmmm... Wonder if that was a clue.... Click on the picture for more of the shutter installation.

New Towle House Shutters

You would think with all the help we have had that we would be able to call it complete by now. Well we are making progress, but we still aren't quite there. Hope before the snow flies in Indiana I can report a completed outside maintenance of 3216 N. 50 E.

Transportation!

I went to pick up Kirstin this afternoon to take her to work at McDonald's. Parked in the driveway was a beautiful bike. I knew I was a little late, but when I saw the bike I thought

"Oh no, she has found different transportation".

While I waited, the door opened and out came Jayde. Well that explained the bike. Jayde had ridden over to visit with Kert after school. I made the comment that it looks like she has a new bike. Her response was "yeah, and it goes 21". Well since I don't think 'young' as everyone is aware of, I had to ask "21?" Jayde responded with "it goes 21 speeds. Well, I am impressed - that is soooome bike.






Being a Grandma, I had to take a picture. Here is Jayde, our granddaughter, with her 21 speed bike. Terrific looking girl on a great bike!

Bette's Dead Van - on I-465 this time!

It seems when what my mind considers a "traumatic event" lessens, I can write about the event. Yesterday one of those times occurred.

As I have mentioned once in a previous post, it is not a "good thing" to see my red van going down the driveway on the back of a tow truck. Well Wednesday afternoon I learned something that is worse than seeing that van going down the driveway at home on the back of tow truck.

It is much worse to be in Indianapolis, on I-465, in the middle lane ( of a three lane interstate), during rush hour and realize your car has stopped running. Wow, thoughts started scrambling through my head for attention first. Three choices seemed to be the most prominent ---
1. Do I call Lee and YELL.
2. Do I do a woman thing and start crying.
3. Do I think fast - like how to get out of this jam - what is the quickest way to the shoulder of the interstate.

I opted for #3 first. No traffic in the right lane for 10 cars back or so -- Thank you Lord -- and I made for the right. Then I realized the power steering wasn't on either (Duh, Bette - no power, no power steering). that wasn't one of the things clamouring for my attention. But I gave it an extra turn as only a 65 year-old woman can do and ended up as far to the right of the shoulder as I could get. Than I put on the brake and thought, now what do I do. Well I thought what do I do after I put on the hazard lights. Is that what they are called? I don't know. I just hoped they would keep people from slamming into the red van I was stranded in.

Then I tried #1. But Lee wasn't answering his cell. Smart Man. Besides what could he do? I really didn't know, I just wanted to hear a friendly voice.

I then talked to the husband of my best friend and Don told they would come and get me if I needed them to. So I calmed down inside and decided to try and find Brett with his trusty tow truck.

It all turned out okay. Brett said "Stay in the car, I will come and get you and the car". Okay, I could do that quite well. I certainly wasn't going anywhere. I entertained myself with looking in my left mirror and seeing just how many cars and trucks actually drive with their right wheels over the line toward the shoulder and hoping as they saw me they would move over. They all did, thank the Lord again!

After 30 minutes a CVS-pharmacy emergency van stopped and asked if I was alright, did I need anything. I assured him my Brett was on the way. So he gave me a couple of waters and went on to help any other stranded motorists.

And then as I kept watching the west bound traffic, I saw the best sight I could have seen. I saw that red tow truck with my Brett driving going west. He immediately called me to assure me he saw where I was and he would be there soon.

After 1 1/2 hours in 90+ degrees of an Indiana afternoon on the Interstate, what I had been waiting for arrived. Brett pulled up in front of me, helped me into the truck, put the van on the flat bed and we started for home. Well it wasn't quite that quick for Brett loading the van, but his mother was willing to wait for as long as it took.

Brett - "My Knight in Shining Armor"

The pictures are not real good - taken with my cell phone when I was stuck in the front of a truck while all the action was happening in the rear. But I did the best I could with the equipment I had. My car is now at Turner Automotive for repair - AGAIN! How many repairs does a van need when it only has 97,000+ miles on it? Haven't had any answers to that question yet.......

I am sooooooo glad to be home. Thank you Brett!