Inhale the scent of October,
memories on the breeze of morning
as trees change from green
to hues of orange and yellow.
The scent of October,
a memory of my grandfather
raking and burning leaves
before the arrival
of the year's first snow.
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Showing posts with label grandfather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grandfather. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 02, 2019
Saturday, July 06, 2019
My Grandfather's Word
My Grandfather
had a word for it,
for the bitching,
the complaining,
and the grumbling under your breath.
It was mulligrubbing,
it wasn't ladylike,
it wasn't gentleman-like,
it was worrying aloud
and being rude
to disturb others
with your gripping.
I also posted this in the journal, Writing in Snow, under the folder Awardicon Items, in my writing.com portfolio. Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com
had a word for it,
for the bitching,
the complaining,
and the grumbling under your breath.
It was mulligrubbing,
it wasn't ladylike,
it wasn't gentleman-like,
it was worrying aloud
and being rude
to disturb others
with your gripping.
I also posted this in the journal, Writing in Snow, under the folder Awardicon Items, in my writing.com portfolio. Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com
Friday, January 30, 2009
I don’t remember my Grandfather worrying
Istiqlál (Independence), 12 Sultán (Sovereignty), 165 BE – Friday, January 30, 2009 about 12:44 PM Pacific Time
I don't remember my Grandfather worrying over bills and stuff like that. Maybe he did, but didn't let his grandchildren know he was worried. Grandpa was a spiritual man; he didn't go to church every Sunday. He believed in God and he let his grandchildren know that he believed in God by the way he acted.
Grandpa made sure we went to church and he went himself on Christmas and Easter. He said prayers at meal times and he respected other people's religion by not talking bad about it or them. Grandpa emphasized that God would take care of us and when things got tough he put the situation in God's hand. After he put the situation in God's hands then he did what he could to solve the problem.
I don't remember Grandpa worrying, but I do remember him praying. I don't remember Grandpa being distracted, which is what worry does it distracts a person. So I guess one of the lesson my Grandfather taught me is put everything in God's hands and don't worry.
I don't remember my Grandfather worrying over bills and stuff like that. Maybe he did, but didn't let his grandchildren know he was worried. Grandpa was a spiritual man; he didn't go to church every Sunday. He believed in God and he let his grandchildren know that he believed in God by the way he acted.
Grandpa made sure we went to church and he went himself on Christmas and Easter. He said prayers at meal times and he respected other people's religion by not talking bad about it or them. Grandpa emphasized that God would take care of us and when things got tough he put the situation in God's hand. After he put the situation in God's hands then he did what he could to solve the problem.
I don't remember Grandpa worrying, but I do remember him praying. I don't remember Grandpa being distracted, which is what worry does it distracts a person. So I guess one of the lesson my Grandfather taught me is put everything in God's hands and don't worry.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Coffee and Memories
Istiqlál (Independence), 10 Sharaf (Honor), 165 BE – Friday, January 9, 2009 about 8:01 AM Pacific Time
Drinking coffee brings back pleasant memories for me. Both my father and my grandfather were coffee drinkers. I learned to drink coffee from Grandpa Newland. When I was very young, about 3 or 4, I was sitting on my Dad's lap and he was reading the Sunday morning Comics to me. While he was reading, he was drinking coffee. I reach up, pulling the cup of hot coffee onto my lap. Dad rushed me to the hospital.
You would think that after that experience, I wouldn't want to drink coffee, but that isn't the case. I enjoy coffee. I enjoy all the memories that accompany a cup of coffee. For me coffee is a comfort food. Another thing about coffee that is interesting is that it doesn't keep me awake. I can drink coffee before right going to be and still sleep.
Coffee memories
pour across my waking mind
warm the cold sunrise.
Drinking coffee brings back pleasant memories for me. Both my father and my grandfather were coffee drinkers. I learned to drink coffee from Grandpa Newland. When I was very young, about 3 or 4, I was sitting on my Dad's lap and he was reading the Sunday morning Comics to me. While he was reading, he was drinking coffee. I reach up, pulling the cup of hot coffee onto my lap. Dad rushed me to the hospital.
You would think that after that experience, I wouldn't want to drink coffee, but that isn't the case. I enjoy coffee. I enjoy all the memories that accompany a cup of coffee. For me coffee is a comfort food. Another thing about coffee that is interesting is that it doesn't keep me awake. I can drink coffee before right going to be and still sleep.
Coffee memories
pour across my waking mind
warm the cold sunrise.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
I Miss my Grandparents
‘Idál (Justice), 9 Qudrat (Power), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, November 12, 2008 about Sunset Pacific Time
I miss my grandparents. I think it must be the time of year. Thanksgiving is coming up and then Christmas. I don't celebrate Christmas anymore, but I have fond memories of Grandma and Grandpa. Those memories always seem to come back this time of year.
Grandma always enjoyed making Thanksgiving dinner. She would bake pies before Thanksgiving and put them in the freezer. Then on Thanksgiving, after the turkey was done she would put the pies in the oven and warm them up.
On Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving she would begin decorating the house for Christmas. Grandpa would buy a live tree and we would decorate the tree. Grandma and Grandpa eventually got an artificial Christmas tree, but it wasn't a green tree. The artificial tree they bought was a silver aluminum tree. It looked pretty and you could decorate it just like a real tree.
I miss my grandparents. I think it must be the time of year. Thanksgiving is coming up and then Christmas. I don't celebrate Christmas anymore, but I have fond memories of Grandma and Grandpa. Those memories always seem to come back this time of year.
Grandma always enjoyed making Thanksgiving dinner. She would bake pies before Thanksgiving and put them in the freezer. Then on Thanksgiving, after the turkey was done she would put the pies in the oven and warm them up.
On Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving she would begin decorating the house for Christmas. Grandpa would buy a live tree and we would decorate the tree. Grandma and Grandpa eventually got an artificial Christmas tree, but it wasn't a green tree. The artificial tree they bought was a silver aluminum tree. It looked pretty and you could decorate it just like a real tree.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Grandma and Grandpa Newland
Jalál (Glory), 13 ‘Izzat (Might), 165 B.E. – Saturday, September 20, 2008 about 10:29 AM Pacific TimeThis is a picture of my Grandma and Grandpa Newland, my mother's parents. It's the only professional photo of either set of grandparents. I'm not sure when the photo was taken or who the photographer was. I have another photo of Grandma and Grandpa with me in it, so it was taken sometime when I was living with them after a graduated from high school.
I posted this picture in my writing.com blog Snow Melt on September 19, 2008, with the beginning of a tribute to them. The entry was in response to a Leading Entry in a journal contest in which I'm participating. I also made the following blog entry Writing about my Grandparents on September 19, 2008.
So how am I coming along with the tribute? All right I think, it's started and I have some work done on it. I have two pictures I can post with it. I want to find other picture which aren't professionally done. I'm going to check in some Tupperware container of photos I have in my closet.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday Morning Memories
Kamál (Perfection), 11 Kamal (Perfection), 165 B.E. – Monday, August 11, 2008 about 5:59 AM PDT
I remember Grandpa Newland going off to work on Monday mornings. Grandpa worked at the Zinc smelter in Blackwell, Oklahoma until he retired. I do not remember how old Grandpa was when he retired from the Smelter, because after he retired he continued to working on a part time basis.
When the boxcars brought the Zinc ore to the smelter, there were wooden boards in the cars. These boards remained in the unloading area (at least I think that is where they remained), until they were hauled away. The company sold the boards to a retired worker for ten cents a board. The person who bought them could then resell them for a profit, Grandpa did that until he became too ill to work.
Anyway, Grandpa would buy the boards for ten cents each and then resell them for twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty cents each, depending on the condition of the board. That gave him a little money to supplement his retirement and social security check. I can remember Grandpa and Grandma living well on his retirement and social security check. That is not the case today though, I doubt that anyone can do more then survive on that little of an income.
When Grandpa went to work he did not wear a suite and tie, instead he wore overalls and a cotton work shirt. I would watch the shows in T.V. and see the fathers going to work in suites and ties. I would see the mothers in the show staying home. Those T.V. shows never related my family. Those shows never showed a grandparent or mother going to work, only the fathers in those shows made a living for the family. As far as I was concerned, those shows were a fantasy and had nothing to do with real life. Yet I watched them anyway, maybe that is why I enjoy fantasy and science fiction so much; the shows I watched, as a child had nothing to do with my real life.
I remember Grandpa Newland going off to work on Monday mornings. Grandpa worked at the Zinc smelter in Blackwell, Oklahoma until he retired. I do not remember how old Grandpa was when he retired from the Smelter, because after he retired he continued to working on a part time basis.
When the boxcars brought the Zinc ore to the smelter, there were wooden boards in the cars. These boards remained in the unloading area (at least I think that is where they remained), until they were hauled away. The company sold the boards to a retired worker for ten cents a board. The person who bought them could then resell them for a profit, Grandpa did that until he became too ill to work.
Anyway, Grandpa would buy the boards for ten cents each and then resell them for twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty cents each, depending on the condition of the board. That gave him a little money to supplement his retirement and social security check. I can remember Grandpa and Grandma living well on his retirement and social security check. That is not the case today though, I doubt that anyone can do more then survive on that little of an income.
When Grandpa went to work he did not wear a suite and tie, instead he wore overalls and a cotton work shirt. I would watch the shows in T.V. and see the fathers going to work in suites and ties. I would see the mothers in the show staying home. Those T.V. shows never related my family. Those shows never showed a grandparent or mother going to work, only the fathers in those shows made a living for the family. As far as I was concerned, those shows were a fantasy and had nothing to do with real life. Yet I watched them anyway, maybe that is why I enjoy fantasy and science fiction so much; the shows I watched, as a child had nothing to do with my real life.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
My Grandfather Drank Cowboy Coffee
Istijlál (Majesty), 12 Kalimat (Words), 165 BE – Thursday, July 24, 2008 about 6:35 AM PDT
My grandfather drank cowboy coffee and my grandmother drank hot tea. I remember my grandfather making coffee the first thing in the morning. He made it in a percolator and used five scoops of coffee grounds.
Grandpa did not remove the percolator's basket after brewing the coffee. Unless he made another pot of coffee, he left the basket, with the grounds still in it in the pot all day long, Grandpa would strong drink coffee all day long. All day long, the percolator would perk and the coffee would get stronger and stronger. At various intervals throughout the day, Grandpa would come into the house, sit down at the kitchen table, pour himself a cup of coffee and sip it, while he read the paper or talked to Grandma.
Each day, Grandpa would drink his last cup of coffee before going to bed. He would not go to bed until he finished the coffee in the pot. The next morning he would get up, after a good nights sleep and make a fresh pot of coffee. Grandpa drank coffee, strong enough to walk under its own power, all day long and had no trouble sleeping. Grandma had difficulty sleeping all night, when she woke up and could not get back to sleep she cleaned house. Grandpa would lay in bed snoring away while Grandma cleaned house and sometimes ran the vacuum cleaner.
I learned to drink coffee from my Grandfather. Sometimes he would pour my siblings and me some coffee and give it to us to drink. When he gave us coffee he put cream and sugar in our coffee, but I remember him drinking his coffee black. I eventually stopped putting cream and sugar in my coffee; I like my morning coffee black without cream or sugar. When I go to a coffee house and get a specialty coffee, sometimes I have it with cream and sugar, but I always drink my morning coffee without cream and sugar. In addition, I like my coffee strong.
My grandfather drank cowboy coffee and my grandmother drank hot tea. I remember my grandfather making coffee the first thing in the morning. He made it in a percolator and used five scoops of coffee grounds.
Grandpa did not remove the percolator's basket after brewing the coffee. Unless he made another pot of coffee, he left the basket, with the grounds still in it in the pot all day long, Grandpa would strong drink coffee all day long. All day long, the percolator would perk and the coffee would get stronger and stronger. At various intervals throughout the day, Grandpa would come into the house, sit down at the kitchen table, pour himself a cup of coffee and sip it, while he read the paper or talked to Grandma.
Each day, Grandpa would drink his last cup of coffee before going to bed. He would not go to bed until he finished the coffee in the pot. The next morning he would get up, after a good nights sleep and make a fresh pot of coffee. Grandpa drank coffee, strong enough to walk under its own power, all day long and had no trouble sleeping. Grandma had difficulty sleeping all night, when she woke up and could not get back to sleep she cleaned house. Grandpa would lay in bed snoring away while Grandma cleaned house and sometimes ran the vacuum cleaner.
I learned to drink coffee from my Grandfather. Sometimes he would pour my siblings and me some coffee and give it to us to drink. When he gave us coffee he put cream and sugar in our coffee, but I remember him drinking his coffee black. I eventually stopped putting cream and sugar in my coffee; I like my morning coffee black without cream or sugar. When I go to a coffee house and get a specialty coffee, sometimes I have it with cream and sugar, but I always drink my morning coffee without cream and sugar. In addition, I like my coffee strong.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
There are times in my life
‘Idál (Justice), 6 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, March 26, 2008 about 4:12 PM PDT
I'm 61 years old, so my grandparents would be over 100 probably closer to 200, which means I'd probably be taking care of them. That doesn't stop me from wishing they were here sometimes. Grandpa would find the gas prices outrageous. He would wonder how people could afford to go any where.
There is one thing that I know my grandfather would like and would have. Grandpa would have a computer and internet access. How do I know? Because when he was alive he always made sure he had the latest technology. He didn't buy it when it immediately came out, but would wait a little while to get it; when my grandfather was a farmer he had the first Fordsen tractor in the the area.
There are times in my life when I wish my grandparents were still around.
I miss them very much.
I miss my grandfather's advice and my grandmother's laughter.
I miss the security the presence always gave me.
I'm 61 years old, so my grandparents would be over 100 probably closer to 200, which means I'd probably be taking care of them. That doesn't stop me from wishing they were here sometimes. Grandpa would find the gas prices outrageous. He would wonder how people could afford to go any where.
There is one thing that I know my grandfather would like and would have. Grandpa would have a computer and internet access. How do I know? Because when he was alive he always made sure he had the latest technology. He didn't buy it when it immediately came out, but would wait a little while to get it; when my grandfather was a farmer he had the first Fordsen tractor in the the area.
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Long Way Around
Kamál (Perfection), 4 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Monday, March 24, 2008 about 6:12 PM PDT
I always take the long way around because I have no sense of direction. I am probably the only person in the world that can follow MapQuest directions and get lost. It's frustrating and amusing at the same time. I don't see the amusing part though until latter.
I remember going places with my Grandfather, he never got lost. It didn't matter where we were going he always got us there without getting lost. That didn't mean not taking the long way around. Grandpa always took the rout with the best view. I remember driving through Oklahoma and Kansas. The country was always beautiful and Grandpa always took the long way around.
All though with today's gas prices, he might not have taken the long way around. I remember Grandpa gripping when gas prices increased from, I think, $0.50 or $0.75 a gallon to about $1.00. He gripped about the increase in prices, but didn't stop taking the long way around when his grandchildren were in the car.
Daily Writing Prompt for March 22, 2008: Write about taking the long way around
I always take the long way around because I have no sense of direction. I am probably the only person in the world that can follow MapQuest directions and get lost. It's frustrating and amusing at the same time. I don't see the amusing part though until latter.
I remember going places with my Grandfather, he never got lost. It didn't matter where we were going he always got us there without getting lost. That didn't mean not taking the long way around. Grandpa always took the rout with the best view. I remember driving through Oklahoma and Kansas. The country was always beautiful and Grandpa always took the long way around.
All though with today's gas prices, he might not have taken the long way around. I remember Grandpa gripping when gas prices increased from, I think, $0.50 or $0.75 a gallon to about $1.00. He gripped about the increase in prices, but didn't stop taking the long way around when his grandchildren were in the car.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
I am Thankful for coffee
Istijlal (Majesty), 3 Ayyam-i-Ha, 164 B.E. - Thursday, February 28, 2008 about 10:16 AM PST
I am thankful for coffee
for the rich robust flavor of a
100% Columbian brew.
I am thankful for coffee
the aroma of French roast
on a rainy evening.
I am thankful for coffee
for the bitter "cowboy"
coffee my grandfather drank;
the coffee that left a few grounds
in the bottom of the cup;
the coffee that tasted bitter
after heating in the pot
with the grounds still in it
all day long.
I am thankful for coffee
for Turkish coffee sipped
from a dainty cup.
I am thankful for coffee
for the percolator needed
to make "cowboy" coffee that
reminds me of Grandpa.
I am thankful for coffee
for the drip coffee maker needed
to make a rich French roast
in the early evening.
I am thankful for coffee
for the paper filters
needed to make coffee
that goes well with the setting sun.
I am thankful for coffee
for the coffee plantations where
the beans for this wonderful brew
is grown.
I am thankful for coffee
for the men and women
who earn a living by picking
the beans that are ground
for my morning cup of "joe".
I am thankful for coffee
for the electric coffee grinder
I use with gourmet beans.
I am thankful for coffee
no matter what kind of cup I drink it from,
or where I get it,
or how its brewed.
I am thankful for coffee
for everything that goes into
creating a good cup of coffee.
I am thankful for coffee
for the rich robust flavor of a
100% Columbian brew.
I am thankful for coffee
the aroma of French roast
on a rainy evening.
I am thankful for coffee
for the bitter "cowboy"
coffee my grandfather drank;
the coffee that left a few grounds
in the bottom of the cup;
the coffee that tasted bitter
after heating in the pot
with the grounds still in it
all day long.
I am thankful for coffee
for Turkish coffee sipped
from a dainty cup.
I am thankful for coffee
for the percolator needed
to make "cowboy" coffee that
reminds me of Grandpa.
I am thankful for coffee
for the drip coffee maker needed
to make a rich French roast
in the early evening.
I am thankful for coffee
for the paper filters
needed to make coffee
that goes well with the setting sun.
I am thankful for coffee
for the coffee plantations where
the beans for this wonderful brew
is grown.
I am thankful for coffee
for the men and women
who earn a living by picking
the beans that are ground
for my morning cup of "joe".
I am thankful for coffee
for the electric coffee grinder
I use with gourmet beans.
I am thankful for coffee
no matter what kind of cup I drink it from,
or where I get it,
or how its brewed.
I am thankful for coffee
for everything that goes into
creating a good cup of coffee.
Monday, February 18, 2008
The Never Ending Pile of Laundry
Kamal (Perfection), 12 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Monday, February 18, 2008 about 11:37 AM PST
I don't remember my Grandmother having a never ending pile of laundry. She did laundry once a week on Saturday. My Grandfather built her a laundry room at the side of the house where she kept her washing machine. I remember Grandma doing laundry in a wringer washer. She would was the cloths in the machine and then put them through the wringer to get the excess water out before putting them into the rinse tubs. She put her cloths through two rinses, the first had blueing in it and the second was just plain tap water.
I do remember Grandma using a washboard to scrube cloths with stains in them. She had a special tub for prewashing clothes. She would prewash the clothes with a scrube board, wring them out and then put them in the washing machine. I remember her using the old wringer washer for years until Grandpa bought her an automatic washer.
Grandma never seemed to have a never ending pile of laundry and she did it only once a week. I on the other hand do laundry everyday and it seems I'm doing the same amount of cloths everyday. I know there has to be something that I'm doing wrong, but I'm not sure what it is. If I let the laundry go just one day it gets bigger.
I don't remember my Grandmother having a never ending pile of laundry. She did laundry once a week on Saturday. My Grandfather built her a laundry room at the side of the house where she kept her washing machine. I remember Grandma doing laundry in a wringer washer. She would was the cloths in the machine and then put them through the wringer to get the excess water out before putting them into the rinse tubs. She put her cloths through two rinses, the first had blueing in it and the second was just plain tap water.
I do remember Grandma using a washboard to scrube cloths with stains in them. She had a special tub for prewashing clothes. She would prewash the clothes with a scrube board, wring them out and then put them in the washing machine. I remember her using the old wringer washer for years until Grandpa bought her an automatic washer.
Grandma never seemed to have a never ending pile of laundry and she did it only once a week. I on the other hand do laundry everyday and it seems I'm doing the same amount of cloths everyday. I know there has to be something that I'm doing wrong, but I'm not sure what it is. If I let the laundry go just one day it gets bigger.
Monday, February 11, 2008
My Grandfather and the Price of Gas
Kamal (Perfection), 5 Mulk 164 B.E. - Monday, February 11, 2008 about 3:50 PM PST
I paid $2.86 per gallon yesterday when I bought gas, at a self-service with a mini-mart. It got me to thinking about Grandpa Newland. My grandfather griped when gas prices rose 2 or 3 cents. He would really gripe at the prices today, especially since he would fill his tank himself. When Grandpa bought gas there were only full service stations, which meant that an attendant filled the tank and checked the fluids. However, my grandfather could fill the tank himself, but with an attendant, I don't think he ever thought of filling the tank himself.
I can't remember Grandpa changing his own oil, but he did check it himself. Which reminds me, I have to check the oil in the car tomorrow morning when I get home or while I'm parked somewhere waiting I check my own oil (Grandpa would be proud of me) and put it in if its needed. I don't check the transmission fluid or the brake fluid, I stop at a fill service for that about once a month or so.
Actually, there was a time when I never thought about checking the oil myself, but times and people change. There was a time when I never thought about getting gas anywhere but a full service station. I don't mind filling the tank myself or I wouldn't if I ever put more then $20 of gas in the tank. Grandpa would really gripe at spending $20 on gas and not getting a full tank. Lately all $20 gets is about half to three-quarters of a tank. Yesterday I put only $2.86 in the tank which bought me a gallon of gas.
I paid $2.86 per gallon yesterday when I bought gas, at a self-service with a mini-mart. It got me to thinking about Grandpa Newland. My grandfather griped when gas prices rose 2 or 3 cents. He would really gripe at the prices today, especially since he would fill his tank himself. When Grandpa bought gas there were only full service stations, which meant that an attendant filled the tank and checked the fluids. However, my grandfather could fill the tank himself, but with an attendant, I don't think he ever thought of filling the tank himself.
I can't remember Grandpa changing his own oil, but he did check it himself. Which reminds me, I have to check the oil in the car tomorrow morning when I get home or while I'm parked somewhere waiting I check my own oil (Grandpa would be proud of me) and put it in if its needed. I don't check the transmission fluid or the brake fluid, I stop at a fill service for that about once a month or so.
Actually, there was a time when I never thought about checking the oil myself, but times and people change. There was a time when I never thought about getting gas anywhere but a full service station. I don't mind filling the tank myself or I wouldn't if I ever put more then $20 of gas in the tank. Grandpa would really gripe at spending $20 on gas and not getting a full tank. Lately all $20 gets is about half to three-quarters of a tank. Yesterday I put only $2.86 in the tank which bought me a gallon of gas.
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