The chicken story

All of you chicken lovers, please don't hate me when I tell you this story.

We used to raise our own chickens. We would get 100 baby chicks, raise them. And eventually they would become our food chain. I always felt like a murderer when having to cut their heads off. I knew that there must be a more humane way of getting them to my table. One day while agonizing what I could do to make it less painful for the chicken, I came up with a perfect solution. I would drown the chicken in hot water, then it would be fast and painless. Right? My mind does not always think in rational terms. The heart dictates the mind.

I boiled some water, hurried and put the chicken,s head down in. But to my horror, she flapped her wings, struggled and flew out of my hands. I was doing this on my front lawn. I looked at the poor chicken, her head and neck were three times the size they should have been and redder than a beet.

I realized how foolish I had been. I was in tears as I chased that poor chicken all around the yard. Finally I caught it, knowing I had to put her out of her misery.

That was the worst thing I had ever done ,and I felt horrible. just as I picked up the chicken, the chicken man drove up. He was my Bishop in our church. And we had bought the chickens from him. I shoved that chicken under some newspapers as fast as I could. I couldn't let the Bishop know what I had done. I don't know if he saw the poor chicken, but as soon as he ,left the chicken got a respectful funeral.

My children have never let me forget the chicken story. Even though I have tried to.
I apologized to the chicken family, to my children,and to God ,but not the chicken man, our Bishop. So I'm confessing now ,please forgive me for my cruelty to that poor chicken. When I meet my maker I'm sure that chicken will be right by his side, saying see! thats the person that did that to me. My fate will probably be tending the chickens for time and all Eternity.

I can't eat chicken to this day without feeling guilty. I have repented. We don't even raise chickens anymore. I get them from the grocery store. Already to cook.

Please don't report me to the Humane Society. That was 28 years ago. And I am a
kind, compassionate person.

Keep smiling, Charlene.

P.s Please don't think I am a complete basket case. I do take Prozac, but I am harmless.

my question answered

The happiest days of my life have been many. Marrying my husband has to be among the top. We have been married now for 39 years. It was not always smooth. With his, mine and ours, it was a struggle at times. We both brought baggage from past experiences, but I knew that he was a good man, and that he would always be faithful.
He has never let me down. He has been a good provider, worked hard and has put up with all of the crazy things that I do and say. I truly do love him.
Also among the top are our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Oh how we love them.


One of the saddest days of my life was around 43 years ago. The day I got a telephone call from a funeral home. The words were like daggers to my heart. "could you please come down and identify the body of your husband. He was found dead this morning!

He also was the love of my life. But because of alcohol and drug addiction, he was gone. We were separated at the time, with divorce papers in the works. We had a beautiful daughter of about 4 mo. old. I had 2 other sweet boys from another marriage that had failed. I didn't know how I was ever going to pick up the pieces of my broken heart. I knew when I married Dale, that he had had problems with alcoholand drugs, (because he told me.) He said he couldn't promise but had to take one day at a time.

For the first 6 months Our marriage was wonderful. He was so kind and loving to my boys. Then our world fell apart. Being a truck driver, he went out on a run. I expected him home around noon so I invited his parents to come to lunch.

We waited and waited, but he did not come. Finally the phone rang and he ask to speak to his Dad. His Dad said "Oh no! Please come home son.

That was the starting of a road of misery and heartache. He started drinking again.

From the time he was a small boy he started getting hystimine headaches. His parents had taken him even to Mayo Brothers clinic to see what they could do to help him. Nothing helped. So he started getting pain pills and shots from the doctors.
And then he discovered drinking. It helped to numb the pain. So between the drinking and drugs he became addicted.

When he couldn't get the pain pills, he would drink, He could go sober for awhile and then go on binges.

a few months before he died, he came to me and said that I just as well get the divorce started because he just couldn't change. He said if a Dr. told him that he would die if he took another drink, he would still have to do it because the compulsion was that strong. Heartbroken I started proceedings. One month before it would be final, I got the terrifying call.

His parents were in Hawaii at the time. As I stood in front of him, the tears streamed down my face as I realized for the first time in months, he looked at peace. My Dale was gone. When I found his car there was a note inside for me. he said how much he loved me and that he was sorry that he couldn't make it. He told me what to do with the income taxes and other things. There were pills all over the floor in the back seat. The Death certificate said exasperated vomit. His brother and I knew different.

For 10 years I lived with quilt and anguish. What I could have done to make things different?

Some years later as I was having one of those days of feeling sorry for myself. I knelt down and prayed for help and peace. That night I had a dream. dale appeared to me and said, Charlene can you ever forgive me for what I did to you? He looked so sad.
I said, "oh yes, Dale you were forgiven a long time ago. He looked relieved and then said." It wasn't all in vein was it?" We have a beautiful daughter. Please tell her I love her.

When my daughter graduated from nursing school, at the graduation. I felt as if he was sitting right next to me and I felt his happiness, for his daughter.

So you see I have had joy and despair. My life is one of happiness now and I am at peace.

a question?

What was a happy moment in your life? And what was a tragic moment in your life?

Even through the bad times, I can look back now and learn something from it. If your having a bad day, remember there is a new day on the horizon.

Hi, queen bee wanted another story so thinking back, here it is.

Some 45 years ago, in my youth, a friend and I was invited to go out with two good looking guys, that a mutual friend set us up with. They were going water skiing.
We were to be ready at 2:00, I had to get a swim suit.because I didn't have one. I only went swimming once in a great while, and my suit was out of date. I was in a hurry to buy the suit and get back home before 2:00. I found a darling one piece. Being flat busted, it was perfect because it had built in inserts.

I thought my date was gorgeous. We were having a wonderful time riding in the boat and watching the boys water ski. Then, they said "it's your turn."

We both got into the water and onto the skies. I came up out of the water and so did two the inserts. They were not tacked in. They were floating right by my face. I could have died, The boys were laughing so hard. And trying to help me in the boat. I kept resisting, crying just let me drown. But of course they didn't. I wasn't red just because of a sunburn.

As you can guess the rest of the evening was horrible. I just wanted to go home and eat ice cream. I never saw that young man ever again. But I still have nightmares about it. So my advice to any of you who need a new suit, if it needs extra support, be sure to sew it in yourself. or else just go flat.

I look back on the things I have done and I can't believe I could be so stupid.

Like the time I was sitting with an elderly man who was critically ill. I talked to him all morning, trying to let him know that he wasn't alone. I was patting his hand and tried to be reasuring. When the nurse came in I was talking to him and still holding his hand. She said," this man is dead!" "oh, I said, I wondered why he was getting so cold. I put extra covers on him." It took me a long time to life that one down.l

But I did learn.
Keep smiling, Charlene

new life

Good morning, we have a new addition to our zoo. A beautiful new colt. He is part quarter horse, and part apaloosa, dark brown with a blanket of white spots on his rump. He's darling. One more to go. They were bread at the same time. He was born sometime during the night. Momma and baby are doing fine.
keep smiling, Charlene

you missed the first part of my post that I was writting. so I'll try again. I worked at the local hospital for the past three years, until Jan. I was a safety attendant. My duties were to keep the patients that were confused, disoriented, coming off alcohol withdrawls, and, overdosed suicide attempts, calm . One day I was sitting with a wild man coming off withdrawls, He was kicking, screaming, and cursing. He had to be put in 4 point restraints.
I tried to be as soothing and reasuring as I could to him. And It worked. Except he was getting the wrong Idea. He kept looking at me and smacking his lips. Like he was wanting to kiss me. All of a sudden, he took a good look and said "Oh your an old hooker! I calmly said, I guess I am. We all had a good laugh over that.
have a great day.

deflated

another time I was singing to a gentleman with alzhiemer's. I didn't know that his wife who had died, use to sing to him all the time. All of a sudden he grabbed my scrub top and said lets go to bed Mabel. I cried Oh! no I'm not your wife. I have a husband. I had to pry his hand off my shirt. I quit singing to him. My how I get into some messes.

Keep Smiling, charlene

Hi, everyone I have been trying to figue out how to respond to your blogs. But havn't got it right yet. I told you I have trouble with anything technical. I guess I will have to call frantically simple to help me out. What would I do without my children? My husband (bless his heart) can't help me , the only thing he can do on a computer is play solitaire . But ask him to fix something , build something, or any handy work, He is a genious. One time he fixed my dishwasher with a milker part. (Used to be a dairy serviceman) and a good one. Only problem with the dish washer now, it pulsates.
Just a little humor. He really did get it to work with the milker part.

My life has had it's ups and downs but through faith , humor And the Grace of God, I have prevailed.

My life of 69 years is sweet now. Never give up hope. Someday I may share with you some of the pain I went through, and how I got through it. But not on my blog.
As I get to know you, I will share. If it will help any of you get through the trials you may be going through, know that life is worth living, and time heals many wounds.

Thank you Jennifer, Heather and , everyone else who have commented on my blog.
My prayers are with you too, My new blog family.

I have one more goofy story to tell you. Frantically simple was invited to a birthday party. We were struggling just to make ends meet. I found some wrapping paper. but no tape or even glue. I had some chewing gum. So being desperate, I used it.

The mother of the girl was not amused. Im sure it was a sticky mess. My daughter was totally humiliated.
Sorry, daughter dear. I should have been on Prozac. It does wonders.

When I was going through so much turmoil, my children suffered. I wish I knew then what I know now. But we got through it . And I think it has made us stronger.
I love my family so much.

keep smiling. charlene

getting old

Good Morning from grandma's zoo. I like to write poetry so today I will share one on getting old.

(To the tune of my bonny lies over the ocean)

Getting Old

My belly hangs over my belt waist
My fanny droops down to the floor
My chin hangs in so many layers.
My bra size is 144.

I'm gorgeous, so gorgeous,
so gorgeous, as can be, can be.
so eatup, yes eat up
Someday you'll loke me.

My face has so many wrinkles,
so many that I can't keep score.
If you study them like a road map
you'd end up in Singapore.

I'm gorgous, so gorgous,
so gorgous as can be , can be.
Get ready, get ready, someday
you'll look like me.

My feet slowed down to a shuffle.
I walk with a walker or cane.
My glasses are triple bi-focal
And I think everyone is insane.

Enjoy it, enjoy it getting old can be so fun, fun, fun.
you'll getg many discounts
plus meals on wheels, on their run.

My false teeth flew down in the furnace.
My wig flew out my car door.
My peg leg is lying in pieces.
I shut it in Grandpa's car door.

Enjoy it, enjoy it Getting old is fun, fun, fun.
Enjoy it, enjoy it. There's not a lot left when your done.


YOU CAN TELL YOU ARE GETTING OLD WHEN YOU ARE IN A GROCERY STORE. AND A CHILD BUMPS INTO YOU . AND THE MOTHER SAID, I HAVE TOLD YOU A MILLION TIMES NOT TO RUN INTO THE OLD LADIES.
I was crushed, I guess I'm not as young as I used to be. to make matters worse, yesterday a little girl in the grocery store looked at me and said ,"Are you pregnant?
Too much Ice cream I guess! after that I zipped up my jacket. the little girls mother turned to her and said. Of course she isn't pregnant! she's a grandmother. I guess I
need a facelift and a body implant. Think that would help? OR BETTER YET LAY OFF THE ICE CREAM!
KEEP SMILING!

bang!. bang!

Sometimes things just don't turn out th way you expect them to. I have a darling , tiny Ch-Poodle dog. My number 7th son taught (Baby) a new trick. If you point your finger at her and say Bang! bang!, she stops dead in her tracks, flops over onto her back with her feet straight in the air, and plays dead. She loves the attention we give her when she does that.

One day I took baby & Gonzo (our big dog ) to klamath falls to do some shopping. Gonzo was so well behaved and I thought baby would be too.

My seat belt was broken but I took the car anyway. The lap belt worked but I forgot to put it on. It happened to be a day when the police were watching for people not wearing seat belts. In my rear view mirror I saw him closely following me. Then it happened, the red light came on and his siren. I had been caught! I pulled over in a dither. I Jumped out of the car so that he couldn't see that I didn't even have the lap belt on. And when I opened the door, Baby jumped out. The policeman was very angry that I had even got out, let alone a dog running around in circles on the busy street. He chased her, and I chased her round and round. She was having a great time. Finally he grabbed her, tossed her in the back seat, and told me to get in the front and don't move. He went to his car and then came back and said, "Now let me see your registration and driver's license. So what did I do like a dummy. I opened the door and the dog got out again. The policeman was red in the face and saying some choice words as we ran round and round trying to catch Baby.

Then I remembered what always worked. I pointed my finger at her and said Bang! bang! but she didn't stop. I was behind the cop, yelling it again. He stopped, whirled around and said," what are you doing?" I said ,"I'm trying to stop my dog.!" He looked at me like I was crazy. I kept saying Bang, Bang. But to no avail. Finally the policeman caught the dog and threw her in the back seat. Then he turned to me and said. "I just want you to know that you have been on a video camera this whole time and you will probably be on TV.

He said where were you going? I was right at the place where my son worked as a mechanic. I knew I would have to repent big time for saying this. " I'm just coming to the shop," I said. " Oh," said he." are you getting your seat belt fixed.?" With my red face and fingers crossed I said, yes. " Ok!, he replied, then I'll follow you in just to make sure." I ran in ahead of him. My son in law was at the counter. I said ,Dane your fixing my car today aren't you? Looking very puzzled, (until he saw the cop,) shook his head, and said," yes just park it over there, your next in line.

I'm so sorry that I had to drag him into it to, but what is a girl to do? Anyway, I got my seat belt fixed that he said he was going to do many months before this event.
SHAME ON ME FOR LYING. I have repented.

Good morning, I woke up this morning filled with gratitude as I listened to the melodic sound of birds singing. It made me very thankful for my little world of sanctuary. A new day has come as other sounds begin to invade my private thoughts. Gratitude turns to joy, as I hear the crowing of a rooster, Peacocks in their piercing calls to one another, dogs barking, and the sound of horses kicking up the dust as they frolic playfully in the pasture.

In the evening, I watch the beautiful sunset as it settles among the giant pines. Then darkness covers the sky, blanketed with brilliant tiny stars from the Heavens. All is quiet again except for the sound of crickets or the howling of coyotes in the distance.

I do not miss the busy life in the city. Speeding cars roaring up and down the street at all times of the night. Loud laughter and music from the neighbors. Cursing that can deafen the ears of little ones.

Yes, I love my world of peace and serenity. Thank you Heavenly Father for the beauty of your creations, and the thankfulness I feel as I witness your loving handiwork.

My thought and prayer for today.
Love you all, Charlene

Hi, everyone. I'm in a reflective mood today, so I decided to give you a tear jerker.
As I said yesterday, I have spent some time in the health care profession. As an activity director, I saw a lot of sadness and in the eyes and hearts of the elderly. I have so much respect for them. One of my duties as a director was to have classes with the Alzheimers patients . My classes would consist of using the five senses to invoke a memory. One day it might be hearing, I would sing to them well known songs or hymns. And sometimes they would join me when they rarely even talked. Or I might have them smell different scents, like apple or bannana, and then talk about them remembering when they used to make apple pies, etc. Anything that would spark a memory. On touch, I would sometimes give them mannicures and watch their faces glow with happiness. Sometimes it was hard to tell in the later stages ,what they were thinking or feeling, their faces would would be blank. But even then you could sometimes see something in their eyes that would tell you that they were there.

There was one sweet lady that I had been working with for over three years, who had never spoken. never smiled, never cried. But her eyes would brighten up at times.
One day I tried everything to get a response of some kind from her , but nothing, just a blank stare. Finally I put everything down, cupped her face into my hands and gently said. Mary(not her real name for privacy reasons) Mary, I know that you feel like your body is in a prison because you can't walk and talk and do all of the things that you used to do. But I want you to know that someday when you go back to your maker, you will be able to do all of those things. And I just want you to know how much I love you. " ... She raised her head looked at me and said. And I love you too.
I was so speechless that I put my arms around her and wept.
She spoke to me one more time before she died. One day I was combing her hair and she said "DONT TOUCH MY HAIR!" I found out later that her husband said that she never liked anyone to touch her hair.
You never know what might open up that little window of forgetfulness. It makes me very sad when I see people treat them like they don't have a brain. We don't know what they are really thinking. And even if you never see any outword appearance. There is a soul and a spirit inside that is crying for love and attention. So if you know anyone with dementia or alzheimer's give them that support. Even when they lash out at you. They can't help it.

See I do have a serious side after all. I am not all silliness.
Love you all, have a nice day, and thank you for your comments. Charlene

goofy lady

Good morning, this is going to be a new experience for me working on the computer.
I seem to always find a way of messing things up. In a life skills class some years back we took a test to see where our strengths and weaknesses were. social was way up there, but technical was almost off the chart (the other way)

I was an activity director in a two different nursing homes for 7 yrs. And they got to the point to tell me not to even turn on the tv because I would find a way to mess it up.
But they still loved me anyway. My brain goes into gear after I have already done something.

Like this morning, I jumped out of bed and quickly slipped on my slacks and shirt to go read scriptures with my husband before he went to work.
Later my son, who is living with us because of an illness, ask me my favorite question. Do you want to play cards? (I love to play gin rummy) As he was beating me ,I happened to look down and realized my pants were wrong side out. I must not be a very observant person. It reminds me of a time when I was to sing at a funeral.
I had to go to work first, then hurry home toget ready for the funeral. I hurried so fast. Got there, sang my song and sat down. as I sat in the pew. I felt a little bumpy.
In my hurry to get dressed I had put on a bra fastened it in the front, then forgot and put another bra on turned it around and so I had one on in front and one on in back and it was padded. A couple of the workers were with me and when we got back to the nursing home,everyone knew. I felt so foolish. We all had a good laugh. That is why I say I put my brain in gear after the fact. I'm not always that dense. just once in a while.

I guess that is why I loved working in the nursing home so much. Because I could see the humor through the most trying times. Like the time I gave a dear sweet lady a stuffed animal. An angora kitten. She had a cat before she came to us. With the terrible illness of alzheimers, she thought her cat was real. One day as I came into the dinning room, I saw her trying to feed her cat chocolate pudding. she was upset because it wouldn't open it's mouth. I told her that I would take her cat and clean it up for her and not to worry. The cat just wasn't hungry right now.

Or the time that one dear lady was shaking the dinning room table I ask her what she was doing. She said ,"I can't get it in first gear". I put my arm around her and told her to bring her wheelchair over by me and I would call a mechanic to come and fix it for her. She was fine with that.

I have many stories to tell you but they will be saved for another time.
Have a great day.

precious Jewels

I have had a wonderful day with my hubby, four of my children, a son-in-law, and three grand children. We sat around a campfire telling funny stories on one another. Eating until we overlapped in our chairs.. It was a wonderful time together. All of the money or riches cannot compare to having loved ones around. How blessed we are.
If I could paint a picture of my feelings on this night, it would be filled with splashes of brilliant yellows of sunlight, and tranquil colors of blue. I feel a great peace when I look at what a precious gift God has given me. Each child is a gem. They are all cut different from different stones, each one precious. And each one as time goes on produce many more wonderful settings, Diamonds, pearls, and Rubies. I love the sweet innocence of a grandchild as she says over and over I love you Grandma. Oh how I love my precious jewels.

Welcome to my zoo

My daughter at http://franticallysimple.com wrote a series about how funny I am. Apparently, it was quite popular.
I thought you'd like to get it straight from the horse's mouth. My life at times is like a zoo. You never know what is in store in the next cage or around the corner. But I promise you it will be amusing, sometimes nostalgic, sometimes serious, and some words of wisdom, or not. I have a way of turning things upside down or inside out any way but the usual way. And I can find the humor in it. It will be fun getting to know all of you. Have a beautiful day. Stop and smell the roses, but not all of them please save some for me.