March 2020 - Marching Through Another Month With The Littles

 MARCH, 2020

SUNDAY, MARCH 1 - TUESDAY, MARCH 31

We are obviously at a point in our lives where the main topic of conversation is doctors and medical appointments.  With visits to the dermatologist, cardiologist, cardiac rehab, and pain management specialist, we managed to keep U.S. 69 between Mineola and Tyler burning.

Visits to Faulkner Park and with friends helped brighten our days.

Thursday, October 6 - Friday, October 7

After having a surgical procedure on her back to relieve the pain from rogue nerves, 

We headed for Dallas to watch granddaughter Abby star as the Cowardly Lion in a musical production of The Wizard of Oz, spent the night, and then enjoyed Abby's Birthday Breakfast the next morning before saying our goodbyes and driving back to Mineola.

Alexander and Abby have busy school schedules and Heather and Andy are just as busy at their schools, so we treasure what time we get to see them.

This was the month for family get-togethers, as we met Leah and Kaiden for lunch and a good visit in Terrell on Tuesday, the 6th.

Little did we know that visiting would be coming to a screeching halt, only to be replaced by social-distancing (whatever the heck that is supposed to be), as we welcomed our friend Eve for a visit at our house.

Covid-19 began making the news, although it was more speculation than real news.  However, it suddenly seemed important for folks to gather up as much toilet paper as they could.  Barbara decided to show people how much toilet paper we had left in case they wanted to give us a roll for our anniversary next month! lol

Sunday, March 15

After rehearsing music since January for our annual March concert by the Lake Country Symphonic Band, we received a message from our director two hours before downbeat that a judge had ordered the theater closed because of the Covid crisis.  Now it begins to hit home.

Monday, March 16

Fortunately for everyone involved, Barbara was able to finally have the surgical procedure on her back.  After following all the Medicare rules, Doctor Olvera burned away nerves on both sides of her spine.  The pain she had been experiencing was gone, and the discomfort from the incision didn't last long.

Tuesday, March 17

Happy St. Patricks's Day!!!

We never know what the critical question will be on some days, but the best answer is almost always, "wind therapy," and that worked well today for Me, She, and Taz.  You just can't go wrong riding around the many different points of Lake Fork.

A Day in the Life...

Yardwork, Housework, and a Little Gift from Aubrey and Rivers

With Covid-19 rearing it's head, gnashing it's teeth, and causing cancellations of everything that brings joy, we decided to take our music on the road for family, friends, and neighbors.

Friday, March 27

No one seems to know what to do about Covid and gatherings, but when a dear friend passes away and the family requests a bugler to sound Taps, there is no question about what will be done.  RIP Robert Stedry, Veteran, Texas Army National Guard

Friends and Taz rides...An unbeatable combination

Part of our daily surroundings...We are truly blessed!

March scenes in retrospect

A "Little" Photo Phun...We were young once...

And with that, we conclude our slow march through March.

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Another month in the books,

Jim/Dad/Gramps and Barbara/Mom/Grams/Gramsie

February, 2020: A Short Little Month Full of Fun Times

 FEBRUARY, 2020

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29

Every time we've gone to Sulphur Springs we've said that we need to come back when we could spend time and see some of the interesting sites.  Well...that day finally arrived today.  We needed to go for some special shopping, so we went early and made a day of it.

The first stop was at the county courthouse square...simply amazing and awe-inspiring.  Small towns seem to do a much better job of personalizing their history than cities do.

Our friends Chris and Janet live just south of Sulphur Springs, so we gave them a call and they came to town to meet us for lunch...dining outside was a real pleasure.

We left the downtown area and drove to the north end of town to visit with church friends Tena and Jesse, and then to the east side of town to visit another church friend who lives in a nursing home.

After the busy day we rested for a bit and then took advantage of a beautiful evening to make a Sonic run on Taz.

When she was in the hospital in December, Barbara collected several pairs of hospital socks.  She was showing them off to our friend Eve one Sunday and Eve decided she needed a pair, so that exchange was made

We seem to collect a lot of different selfie photos, so here is a February collection

Friday, February 7

It was too nice to stay inside, so we saddled up Taz to ride around town to see what we could see.  The first stop was at Cousin Madeline's shop.  It was also the last stop for awhile as Taz wouldn't start again.  I tried everything I knew to do, but no luck.  I called Cousin Logan to see if he could help me get Taz back to the house.  We determined that the battery was deader than a brick (that's an East Texas mechanic's term), but we ran a set of jumper cables from Taz to Logan's pickup, cooked it for awhile, and finally got enough charge to start the engine and get me back home.  Needless to say, we didn't do any sight seeing, but we could see that a new battery was in the very near (like, as soon as possible) for Taz.

All was not lost though, as Barbara found a few pennies while she walked around the parking lot.

Some days get more full than others.  On this one, Barbara had rehab in Quitman in the morning, we ate lunch with Pastor Danny and Janice at Red Dome, came back to Mineola for afternoon haircuts, and then I headed to the North 40 to rake and gather leaves.  Tonight we slept!

February 11 - 16

The greatest thing about February is going to San Antonio for the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic-Convention, and having Christmas with John and his family, and Leah and her family.

As the Texas State Chair of the National Band Association, I have an booth in the exhibit hall of the convention center and try to recruit new members.  Barbara is my not only my "groupie," but also helps keep me organized as I catch up with old friends and make new ones.

When the convention was over, it was Christmas, because Christmas is not a calendar date (as we've said before), but the time when family gets together to celebrate the reason for the season.

 

All too soon it was time to go, so we loaded up our stuff and headed back to Mineola and real life.

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Photo Phun...a collage Barbara put together just for the fun of it...Some are self-explanatory, like the chance meeting of Barbara and her cardiac-rehab friend Pat at Brookshire's but the photos with Mike Holbrook, director of the Lake Country Symphonic Band, were when we gave him a special conductor sculpture we found at TMEA.

Monday the 17th through Saturday the 18th were all about doctor appointments, rehab, and testing.  We are getting to be real medical experts.  While most of our visits were for recurring ailments or conditions, Jim experienced a full-blown hearing tests...and failed miserably.  Even he knew that he had a problem, especially after a particularly inappropriate (but hilarious) response to a question in a game we played with the kids in San Antonio.  Long story short, he made an appointment with the New Sound specialist in Mineola, took the test, and then entered the world of hearing aids.  Having been in band rooms since he was a sixth-grader, his hearing had taken a beating, but now he is on the road to hearing what really goes on around him.

Mineola's latest downtown artwork...a montage recalling some of Mineola's history...lots of pride in this little town!

February 14: Valentine's Day

As a special Valentine treat for special friends, we hosted a father/daughter dinner for Keith and Rivers prior to them attending a father-daughter dance in Mineola.  We cooked the meal, and sister Aubrey helped serve...yes, we are a full-service good service!  And...Whitney, the girl's mom, got the night off.

We have a special "club" at our church that is related to age.  This year we are the 75 Club, with Barbara as the eldest member, Jim next, and today Benny joined the club.  We let Odena attend club meetings, but she won't have a vote until October.

Liberal, Kansas is a very important part of our personal and professional heritage.  Years ago Liberal and the sister city of Olney, England began the tradition of a Pancake Day race on, you guessed it, Pancake Day.  We never raced, but each year on Shrove Tuesday we have our pancakes, just to keep the tradition alive,

One of the best things to do after eating pancakes is to begin walking them off...and an added bonus is meeting neighbors and new friends along the way.

We closed out February with a long-awaited trip to historic Granbury.  The weather was perfect for walking, which was a good thing because we had so many opportunities.  Fun and fine dining, sightseeing, trolley rides, and a trip to a fantastic book store made it a great weekend...and fueled the desire to go back when maybe we can stay a little longer.

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Back home in Mineola and thankful for the life we have,

Jim/Dad/Gramps and Barbara/Mom/Grams/Gramsie

A "Little Look at January...Moving Right Along Into 2020...Wondering Where That Will Lead Us

JANUARY 2020

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 31

Those who have kept up with us over the years know that we are all about travel, whether in the car, Big V (the motor home), or Taz (our Can-Am Spyder).  January gave us a month of almost NO travel, unless you count doctor and hospital visits.

That being said...we'll begin the month with three days of travel from Midlothian, Virginia, to Mineola, Texas.

January 1 saw us up early and headed off to home.  For Point A to Point B travels we like to hurry along with minimal stops, but the doctor was adamant that we take our time and make lots of stops to get up and move around to keep Barbara's blood circulating.

Rest areas along the way were Godsends...and we enjoyed a lovely New Year's Day dinner at a quaint pub outside of Knoxville, Tennessee

January 2 wasn't memorable in any way except for the constant rain from the time we left Knoxville until after we fell asleep in our hotel room in Arkansas.

January 3, however, had only a little rain, mostly overcast skies, and a smooth ride back to our casa in Mineola.

The doctors had told us to avoid stress, so we made that our goal for the month.

Slow days are great for

Sightseeing in our little town of Mineola...Lots of history and pride here.

Baking, shopping, and slow walking

January 8: Happy Birthday, Grandson Benjamin Little

Christmas isn't just a date on the calendar...it's when family gathers to celebrate the reason for the season

Some days are just silly days...they seem to b coming around more regularly than in years past.

And then there are days like today, where a hospital visit overnight is necessary

But it goes easier when one of your sisters is there...

Whatever the ailment or situation, fresh air is an essential element for the cure.

Life is grand when the kids come to do a house makeover...Thanks Leah, Ryan, and Kaiden for all your hard work this weekend!

January 22: Happy Birthday, Leah Renee'

And Happy Birthday to daughter-in-law and busy mom, Kelly Little

There's nothing like some quiet time at Lake Fork

The last couple of weeks of the month were not much to speak about...Barbara began cardiac rehab in Quitman, entered the world of Fitbit to monitor her progress, and made arrangements to see her pain management specialist, Dr. Olvera, in Tyler to discuss procedures for the pains in her back.

No travels and no excitement...just daily walking and breathing for both of us.

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Wrapping up the month at home in Mineola, Texas

Jim/Dad/Gramps and Barbara/Mom/Grams/Gramsie