blogs

Those Burka Boys sure can keep us informed about what's going on in their lives. They must have inherited some of Hugh Allen's writing genes...Oh yes, Laura is also good at writing details about her life. It makes happy reading for a grandmother..

We go today to get our pictures made for the Fair Badges...We will be sitting at a table like Todd described in his blog. He prepared us for dealing with the public. We won't be giving out pens; we will be asking people to vote on pots and ceramics...very exciting stuff.

Our boss, Bettie says that we will be sitting across from the White Lily flour booth, and every day we will get to eat biscuits hot out of the oven..Oh Boy...We will get to hear the entertainment at the outdoor theater...It will be right across the way from our booth. Since our building won't be air conditioned, the doors will be open to everything that's going on outside.

We are driving a bright blue Chrysler Sebring...For explanation, look at previous blog.

We go to a birthday party today for a friend who is 96 years old. He is in our water class...

this and that

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year here so far...97 degrees. We have been reading a lot because we can't go outside much. I am rereading NORTH WITH SPRING by Edwin Teale...my favorite book. It's just as good the second time. Next I'll read his summer, fall, winter books. I have them all. The only other book I reread was TRAVELS WITH CHARLIE. ...LOVE that book.
We went to church last night before supper and I started thinking about a hamburger and a piece of strawberry pie at Shoneys. We never go there, but it just had to be last night. We went after church and the hamburger and onion rings were so good, and the strawberry pie was as good as it used to be.
Edith brought some just-picked okra to church and told me how to cook it. She said to cut it into small pieces and soak them in buttermilk...Then roll the pieces in a mixture of half self-rising flour and half self-rising meal. She deep fries, but I'm going to just fry in oil...We'll try that for lunch today along with some corn on the cob...I put corn in the husk in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes each...then take it out and pull the husks off...soo good...
My Michigan friends from the campground taught me that.
We are going to Chilhowee park tonight to a picnic for Fair workers. We start working at the Fair in September. We will be in charge of the pottery and ceramics booth...We checked out all the books the library had about pottery so we will know what we are doing. Rose and Paul will be the judges for our booth.
The bad news is that we have to stay there every day until the fair closes at 10:00 p.m. And the building is not air-conditioned. Wow!

new bumper and right fender and headlight

compliments of State Farm Insurance. Well it was HER fault so her insurance is paying.
I was merging onto the interstate in a construction area with concrete barrier on my right. She was merging on the other side of barrier. She didn't yield and I hit her..She was driving a new Saturn and it didn't even dent it...
I realize that this puts another brick into the nursing home...Butch already has us looking.
Rose wants us to take
safe driving course at the senior center..

Rose has a new knee. Dr. Parsons went in to look at her partial and he said the bone was too soft to repair it, so he did a total knee replacement. Rose went into surgery at 3:00 p.m. and arrived back in her room at 7:30 p.m. She was wide awake and very thirsty. They did a spinal but the doctor said she slept through the surgery. They will get her up this morning! Amazing! She's in a lot of pain, but she's glad to have it over with. Now for therapy and recovery. She's looking forward to walking again.
She had the partial in 2004 and then the repair work done in 2005. She's going to be careful not to fall on that knee this time.
The doctor said this knee should last for 25 plus years. Its made of titanium..
Watch out world...Rose Goes.....

4th of July 2007

We usually have a family party at Roses on the fourth, but Rose and Paul have been invited to Dudley's farm today. Butch is working in Pensacola this week, and David and his family are in Pennsylvania. The boys are hiking the AT . They started at Harpers Ferry and they are going as far as Boiling Springs, PA. It has been a five day hike for them with Melissa meeting them at the halfway point with lunch. They are staying in motels at night. What a way to hike.!! David doesn't have to carry a pack...just some water and a candy bar. He has his cell phone with him.
We talked to him on the trail this morning...he had passed the halfway point of the AT...Way to go David!!!

JMB and I went to Fountain City Park for our fourth of July celebration. The Lions Club was selling hot dogs, drinks, ice cream, and watermelon...50 cents each...We ate with our neighbors from down the street, and we talked to two old round-dance friends. The Lions Club was doing a rummage sale too, and we bought a hot water pot for $1.00.

And the highlight of the outing..we got to pet SMOKY....He is number nine and he has been the Tennessee mascot for four years. His owner says he is a good Smoky. He was very calm ..just sitting in the shade.

It was hot at the park so we came home after walking two rounds. We are in a drought here...JMB was sitting outside yesterday afternoon and he heard a loud cracking noise..a big limb off of our oak tree just decided to fall on the driveway. JMB got to use his new electric chainsaw to cut it up.

Speaking of firewood...Tim from church and Colby arrived yesterday afternoon with a load of firewood for us. They had it cut 18 inches to fit in our fireplace. They stacked it at the end of the new driveway. It will be easier to roll in the little cart on level ground to the back door .

Well I guess we'll go to church tonight and then come home to watch the Capitol Fourth. Fireworks are outlawed around here because of the drought.

Happy fourth everybody....

Things are getting exciting

Well it doesn't take much to excite grandmothers...Let's see.....We have a new Porsche in the family. Our grandson is getting his Masters Degree Saturday. Another grandson is coming to visit us May 14. We are going to the beach with our Greenville family in June after the high school graduation of our granddaughter. Our married grandson and his wife are going to visit us in June after we get back from the beach. Whoooeee!!!!!

Alaska

I've been reading a blog called UP IN ALASKA..about a girl who lives in Anchorage. She has beautiful pictures of Alaska in her blog and she has many adventures. I recommend her blog to anyone thinking of going to Alaska. (like Scott).
Of course if Scott goes, we will all visit him.

afghan

Granny Squares

The Christmas bunch put together Granny squares for an afghan , and Rose gave it to me. In January Rose and I started crocheting new Granny squares while I was sitting at home with the broken pelvis, and now after 9 weeks, we have enough squares for another afghan for Rose. She will put them together, and then we can start on a new project.
I got a pattern yesterday from the crochet group at the Senior Center. It is made of small Granny squares that you connect as you make them... Maybe that will be our next project. So much yarn, so little time...

eight weeks today

since the accident...the doctor said that is the time it takes for bones to heal..I am walking with a cane as of yesterday...the wheelchair is going back next week...Gpa wants to take me to Fountain City Park today to walk around on the flat part of the trail. I think I can do it..especially if he will take me across the street to buy me an ice cream cone. You don't realize how wonderful simple things like walking in the park and eating ice cream out are until you are stuck in the house for 8 weeks. Oh yes, I get to go to church tomorrow without the walker, and we have a date with the Pruetts for CiCi's pizza after church.

driveway

Spring

Life after accident

The cards keep coming in. I didn't know I had that many friends. It has been seven weeks since the accident and I've started pool therapy. I walk in the water and do simple exercises. It's good. I'm scheduled for therapy at the pool three times a week for the next three weeks. I should be feeling great by then... I'm going to church today for the first time in seven weeks. I'll sit on the back row with my walker. The Pruetts came to see us yesterday. He drove his little truck up our new driveway. They brought homemade burritos . Paul and Rose dropped in for supper so I put some more in the pot.
It's almost spring and we will certainly appreciate it this year. We have crocus blooming and daffodil's are blooming in the front planter . The people who built the driveway are going to come back with a truckload of dirt to use around the edges. We have a lot of landscaping to do.
JMB broke his chainsaw yesterday. Rose says that was God telling him something.
The people behind us have a horse now, and Rose is going to call the Humane society about him That's no place for a horse. We'll see what happens.. I told her to complain about the roosters too. Maybe these people will move to the country with all their animals.
Hey this blog has a nice spellcheck. My spellcheck for email is in french.

gmaburka

Accident January 6, 2007.
Well I fell off my computer stool and broke my pelvis in two places. We called 911 to get to the hospital and we called Rose. She and Paul showed up and then SURPRISE Butch showed up. It was very painful but I felt better after the morphine..YaHoo! Dr. Ivy said that I would have to keep weight off my right leg for 8 weeks. Rose stayed with me that first night, and Butch brought JMB home. Rose slept in a very uncomfortable chair, but they took pity on her and moved me to another room which had another bed in it on Sunday night. Half the people from church showed up on Sunday and we had a little communion service with the Brackey boys serving. We sang and prayed.
The new room was the one where JMB stayed when he had his hip replacement. JMB spent the night on Tuesday and he was there on Wednesday when I went home. David and Melissa came early Wednesday and we waited around all day for the doctor to dismiss me. We decided to go home by ambulance, and Melissa and David got the bed and the house ready for me. When they left, Rose and Joquita showed up. Joquita brought lots of frozen dinners..She and Rose cleaned the house and bought a DVD player and some movies...
Butch came back and helped us plan how to get into the house without going up steps. We called Colby Higgins and he suggested a concrete driveway. and David and Melissa came back to take me to the doctor on Friday. Laura came on Saturday and Rose came to take pictures of the trees being cut for the driveway and then the excavation . It was quite a show out the window. This Saturday, Butch drove up on the gravel and got me in the car to go to West Knoxville to get my hair cut. Exciting..we even went to the grocery store! Next week I get to go to the dentist..."Oh Boy."
Allie, my therapist, comes three times a week and we do simple exercises. She said today that I will have four more weeks of staying in and gradually putting more and more pressure on the right leg. I started with 10 pounds of pressure. That's not much if you press down on the scales .I am to increase it 10 pounds a week. ..
I have a huge stack of cards. People from church and from Mt. Juliet church have sent cards and prayed and visited and brought food. Nan Scott brought supper one night, and the Phifers sent a wonderful meal. Laura fixed me a big pot of chicken noodle soup and Andrew worked on my computer.
Rose has been here almost every day.What would I do without her? My children and grandchildren have shown so much love to me with visits and calls and letters and emails. I am so blessed. Laura said "Gma , the next time you want some attention , just call us!"
JMB has done everything for me...cooking and cleaning and washing clothes and getting up with me at night. He is a good caretaker.
I am surrounded by love...Oh yes I am spoiled....Thankyou God...

gmaburka

Hi Family!Here's the schedule for meals during our foray to the mountains. Anything wrong or bad, take it up with G-ma. I'm declaring her the boss-lady.Have a great week!Laura Marie24thChristmas Chili (g-ville burkas)25thDinner provided by cousins: Laura Marie: Pies and Cake Sam: Mac & Cheese and probably something else Amy: Rolls and table setting Andrew: Drinks Zach& Stacy: Salad Scott & Todd: drugs and fruit The Kings: Ham and Turkey26thbirthday dinner by Nashville burkas27thdinner by Whalen familyOatmeal daily by Uncle PaulBreakfast by Butcheggs, OJ, Milk by Aunt Rosebring lunches, cereal, and drinks for your own family
Gma will bring her famous green salad of course..I'll also bring two pounds of bacon .

Thanksgiving 2006

Gma and Gpa spent Thanksgiving morning trying to get 12 chairs around the big table and WE DID IT!
Butch has a nice beard. The Whalen boys all look handsome and healthy. The Burka girls and Stacy are more beautiful every day. Rose is so funny when she talks about living alone for three months while Paul is in Ireland. She will quit brushing her teeth and let her nails grow long..she pulled her hair down in her face and changed in front of our eyes while she was talking about it...Joquita brought some amazing food...The pound cake was out of this world. Paul fixed flaming sweet potato casserole. It was so spectacular that alarms went off in the house.

People were trapped around the table after they ate and so we had a long talk before dessert was served. We had fun talking about Christmas..Everybody had an opinion so we voted: drawing names for a $10.00 Christmas gift won. Laura took charge and passed the basket of names and mailed the remaining 6 to Nashville. Laura will send a Christmas menu to everybody later. Rose may bring some personalized stockings for cards or very small items ... this is optional.

We had fun with our grand-dogs. They liked each other until the unfortunate incident of Teddy finding Carson eating out of Teddy's bowl. We kept them separated the rest of the day, but we are hoping they will make friends at Christmas. If not, we have four floors so we can keep a pet on each floor. Lizzy is invited to stay in the balcony with Scott. Teddy is afraid of Rose's cats so there should be no problem.

Thinkin bout Thanksgiving

I heard from Zachary yesterday and he says that he and Stacy will definitely be here for Thanksgiving. The last time they were here was Thanksgiving 2005, and they were part of the work crew that widened my path and washed all the windows and power washed the front porch. Wait until you see the path this year Zachary...It has stepping stones on it from the last big party on Yarnell Road.
I was looking for a recipe and I fount the menu from Thanksgiving 1999:
Turkey, dressing, cranberry jelly, gravy, ham, sweet potato casserole, broccoli salad, green jello salad, crockpot spinach, fresh veggies, homemade bread, red velvet cake, pumpkin pie, chocolate brownie pie, seven layer bars, tea, coffee..
We had 17 people here that year.
Do you remember the year that we had a hardship table? It was out on the screen porch and it was cold . We asked for volunteers to sit out there and our boy scouts and Uncle Paul were the tough ones. They ate with their coats on.
This year Rose wants everybody at the same table so she can look at her children. She thinks we can push the small table up against the big one. It will take our engineers to figure it our.

Leaves

We went looking for leaves yesterday and we had a beautiful drive. We started at Norris Dam and went across the mountain to Cove Lake. We took a walk through the woods at Cove Lake. The restaurant was closed so we decided to drive through Powell Valley to Cumberland Gap. We were driving beside the mountains all the way and the sun was shining on the leaves...all orange and red and russet and yellow. so beautiful...The only restaurant in the little town of Cumberland Gap was closed so the ate a corndog and a milkshake at the old drugstore. The town was full of high school students who were carrying pumpkins around. They were decorating the town for Halloween. They said it would be pretty at night with all the jack-o-laterns lit.
We came home by way of Clinch mountain. There were beautiful views and no crowds there like the Smokies. The leaves in our yard are still beautiful...When we got home, Mike was mowing our yard and mulching leaves...It don't get no better.

Nice October Weekend

David Burka had a birthday on Saturday, Oct. 7 . He and Melissa arrived in Knoxville on Thursday night . On Friday morning, Gpa and Gma took them to the trail for their "spend the night at Mt. Leconte trip". First we stopped at the Apple Barn for a birthday breakfast. We drove to the Mt. Leconte trailhead and left David's car; then we drove them to Newfound Gap where they hit the AT trail. We walked a ways with them, but the trail was too rocky for us. We drove to Clingman's dome and walked up to the tower. It was beautiful and clear with clouds coming and going...very cold and windy on top of the tower. The leaves have changed on Climgman's Dome...all gold and yellow.The hikers got back here in Saturday night in time to eat white beans and cornbread and slaw made by Gpa. They went to church with us Sunday morning and we took David to Austins for the senior meal.

Weekend in Greenville

Gma and Gpa drove over the mountain to Greenville on Friday. We went by way of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah; just a few trees had color, but it was beautiful on the Parkway. It took us all day to get there. When we got to Greenville , Joquita was in the kitchen with her new stove in the middle of the kitchen floor. Butch had gone to Home Depot to get a fitting for the stove. Joquita had a big dinner planned for all of us, but she didn't have a stove to cook on and Butch cut the wire to the microwave while he was working on the stove. Well she had cooked beef in the crockpot, so she moved the microwave to another plug to heat the rest of the dinner. She fed us in shifts while Butch and John worked on the stove. She managed to serve a delicious dinner anyway. When Laura and Julie and Joe came with an apple pie that Laura had made, we had dessert. Butch worked on the stove from 4:00 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. and next day until noon. He and John rested on the couch after that and watched eight football games.
On Saturday morning we girls and Joe went to the Race for the Cure. Joe ran the first race in 23 minutes and he and Laura and Julie ran the second race in 29 minutes. It was a beautiful day in Greenville . We had some of Butch's famous ribs for dinner Saturday night. Joquita and Amy and Gma went to a play in downtown Greenville...INTO THE WOODS.
On Sunday Butch took us to Clemson to church with Laura. Laura gave us a tour of Clemson, a beautiful college town, and we visited her apartment. She's up three flights of stairs so she gets lots of exercise.
On Sunday afternoon we all went to downtown Greenville which is a beautiful park. We walked on the paths by the river and checked out the shops and the ice cream parlors. People were strolling and lots of them had their dogs with them. Flowers were everywhere and outdoor cafes..such a pretty place.
We had a wonderful time and we got to see our granddaughters. They are more beautiful than ever . Oh yes, we met Cameron. And he does look like Brad Pit.