Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town

You've painted up your lips  

And rolled and curled your tinted hair.  

Ruby are you contemplating going out somewhere?  

"It’s a great day here at KWAP radio station, your home for great country music! Have you heard about our great “win a hit” contest? The rules are simple. Immediately after the KWAP Country jingle is played in its entirety, (not in a promotional announcement) the 15th caller on the special 555-KWAP country lasso line will win a hit! Listen up!"...

My mamaw, my mother’s mom, was a great lady. I have so many fun memories of times with her at her house or at our house or just in general. We’d laugh, stay up late, go riding around looking for rocks or cool things. We’d explore junk shops and watch soap operas. We’d listen to country music on the radio. Sometimes she’d play her records. It didn’t really matter what we did. I enjoyed it and cherish the memories.

Mamaw

When my Papaw died she moved from Roswell, NM, back to Texas. She lived in a little house behind my uncle and aunt. It was a comfortable home and I remember many good times there. The whole family would gather at Christmas and we’d eat, sampling all my aunt’s special dishes and great cooking. The cousins would gather and we’d play silly games or dream about marrying movie and rock stars; Bobby Sherman, Ricky Nelson and even Elvis.

The grownups would congregate around the kitchen table after we’d eaten and play card games. We’d giggle, listening to the laughing and teasing going on when one of the uncles was caught cheating! There were only two bedrooms and one bathroom in that house. There was another bed back in the laundry room. We’d crowd in but it never seemed crowded. It was just a good time with family who loved each other.

This little house was just 936 square feet and filled with love.

My girl cousins and I would spend time with Mamaw in the summer, sometimes together and sometimes just one or another of us. She never played favorites. She loved us all. She’d go through the entire roll call…Nancy, Billie Kay, Susan, Judi, Carla…Jamye, but she’d get there. Sometimes she’d even throw in a couple of the boys names!

Country music was a big part of our lives, at Mamaw’s house and at home as well. All the aunts and uncles loved it so all of us cousins grew up on the oldies sung by the likes of Ernest Tubb, Charley Pride, Bob Wills and Patsy Cline. I still know the words to many of those songs today. The radio was on in the background most of the time.

One of the country music greats Mamaw loved to hear.

Like anyone, Mamaw loved a prize. She’d listen to the radio, especially during the contest times and try to win. It would be one of those where you had to be the whatever number caller. Sometimes we’d call for her, hoping to be the one. Mamaw liked most all songs but there was one in particular that she didn’t like at all. We weren’t sure why but she hated “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love To Town,” sung by Kenny Rogers. She either didn’t like the tune or the fact that they played it all the time, but she always sang the chorus. And she always called it that “damned ole Ruby” song.

One time she got lucky! Mamaw had been trying for days and was finally the magic caller. All she had to do was come by the station and pick up her prize. My cousins, Nancy and Billie Kay were visiting and they loaded up and drove to the radio station. They arrived and she was so excited! Mamaw went in while they waited in the car. When she came back, she opened the door and slung the 45 single across the front seat. When they asked what was wrong she told them she had won that “damned ole Ruby” song!

That damnned old Ruby song!

Poor Mamaw! She was so disappointed. But it was really kind of funny that she’d get that song since she hated it so. Now, every time I hear I think of her. I still laugh at the memory. I don’t know what happened to that record but I kind of wish I had it. I’d put it in a frame and hang it up. And if I had a bad day I’d take a look and smile at that “damned ole Ruby” song and remember Mamaw.

The shadow on the wall tells me the sun is going down.

Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town.

I don’t win many things either. But when I do it makes me happy! The other day I won a prize from a blog. Fostermummy sent me a lovely package that included a cookbook, some kitchen magnets and a cute heart she’d made out of buttons. She stuck silk rose petals in the package which was a nice touch. It was fun!

Exploring the new cookbook. Lot's of interesting things! See what others are reading here!

I started another small shawl, out of another rayon boucle from my stash. The color was called bumblebee but it's blue and yellow instead of black. I’ve done a couple out of this type yarn before and love how they turn out. They are lacy enough to scrunch up as a scarf. Or as a regular shawl, it’s light but warm for an air-conditioned office. I think I can do at least one more before I get bored with this pattern. It makes a great take along project that doesn’t require paying a lot of attention.

And I finished the pink colored small shawl I started last week. Or was it ruby colored? I even worked in the ends! Maybe I’ll call it the “damned ole Ruby” shawl!

Small shawl, front. See other's great projects here.

Back view, pink small shawl.

Squishy damned ole Ruby shawl!

She's leaving now 'cause I just heard the slamming of the door.

The way I know I've heard it slam some 100 times before.

And if I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground.

Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town...

Ben

Ben, you're always running here and there. 

You feel you're not wanted anywhere. 

If you ever look behind and don't like what you find, 

There's something you should know, you've got a place to go… 

I didn’t know being terrified of rodents had a name. I just thought it was one of those weird things that make me who I am. But I found out I have a specific phobia. I wonder if it’s different then a general phobia because I’m only afraid of rodents? I don’t know. But it’s called musophobia and it’s very common. It just means fear of mice and rats. But now I know I’m one of millions with the same affliction. Does it make me feel better? Not really.

“Eek! A mouse!” Yes, I actually said that. Years ago we lived in a yucky house. It was early in the morning and I was fixing Alan’s lunch while he got ready for work. I was slicing a tomato and had a big knife in my hand. Suddenly there was a streak across the counter right in front of me. I screamed and almost cut my fingers off! As Mr. Jinks, the cartoon cat would say, "I hate those meeces to pieces!"

Mr. Jinks, cat fiend to Pixie and Dixie.

Did you know Ben, in this song, is a rat? And he wasn’t a nice rat at that. I’m not sure there is such a thing as a nice rat. Rats, hamsters, mice…none of them are cute to me. I do not like them. Not at all! They are vermin, nasty creatures in my mind. Now if you do like rodents, that’s perfectly fine. But I don’t. They creep me out completely. We live in the country and have for about 20+ years, so occasionally we get a mouse in the house. Once I see signs of one, that’s it. I can no longer go in that particular room by myself. I’m not necessarily frozen in fear because I can still run pretty quickly! But I’m plenty scared.

Yuck.

At the same yucky house there was another mouse. My husband set the trap and went off to work. I was there with a three year old and a newborn. I was thinking about what we could have for lunch when suddenly there was a click and a mouse in the trap ran out from under the table. It circled around two or three times and stopped, right there in the middle of the floor. OMG!! What was I going to do!? I could not even look at it much less get close enough to try to sweep it up into a dust pan or something like that. I couldn’t do a thing. As I was wondering if having a three year old pick it up and throw it outside would constitute child abuse a friend dropped by. I asked her if she could take it away. She went over, picked up the trap with her bare hand, looked at me and threw it out the door. I was horrified and relieved, all at the same time.

I could tell you many more mouse stories. Some involve screaming, some running and some, even climbing! Just a couple of weeks ago I saw signs of an unwanted visitor. I Cloroxed the counter and my husband set out traps. I hoped I didn’t have to go in the kitchen at night. But I had a plan. If I needed something, I would turn the light on and off and make some noise. Then I’d tiptoe in and scan the traps. If all was clear I’d hurry to get what I needed and then rush out. Whew…safe!

A few days pass and there’s no sign of a mouse. I’m suspicious and just know it’s crouching in a drawer or cabinet waiting to jump on me when I open it up. I ask my husband and he said maybe it ran off. Sure, I think. It just ran out the door. I open the bottom drawer to get something and reach in. It’s sitting halfway in a plastic grocery bag. I pause because I see a dark spot in the bag. I look closer and it has ears. OMG again! It’s in the sack! But it’s not moving. I run out just as Alan is coming in and tell him I think I found the mouse. He looks, and sure enough I had. The poor thing must have suffocated. He took care of it as I cursed it for scaring me yet again.

I read somewhere once that a mouse is an animal which strews its path with fainting women. In my case that’s true. If I had touched that mouse in the drawer I most likely would have had a heart attack or at the least, passed out! Creepy, yucky, nasty creatures they are. For now I’m safe. But as long as there are mice I don’t think I can ever live alone. For sure not in the country! And I’ll never have a friend like Ben.

Ben, most people would turn you away, 

I don't listen to a word they say. 

They don't see you as I do I wish they would try to… 

I finished the fuzzy orange shawl. It’s not bad, and just the right size. I’ll have to watch because what I wear it with because it sheds. The label said the color was strawberry. Still looks orange to me!

I also decided to complete a UFO! I have a bad case of finishing the knitting but not weaving in the ends, sewing the seams, etc. So I picked one (of many unfortunately) and wove the ends in. It’s the Montego Bay scarf and I love it! I don’t think I was able to get the Sea Silk at the time but I got something yummy and soft. I just forgot what it was!

See other creative projects at http://ourcreativespaces.blogspot.com.

I finished another book. This one was one of Maggie Sefton’s knitting mysteries. It’s number 7 in the series and called Dropped Dead Stitch. I like her books but they are pretty predictable. I’d like to do a readability test on one sometime because I’m curious. Supposedly the average newspaper is written at a 9th grade level so maybe it’s right on target. Anyway Kelly and company are helping with the fiber part of a women’s retreat when they find the owner of the ranch is a man who attacked one of the gang. Of course he meets an untimely end and guess who they think did it. I do enjoy the stories, I guess because they are no brainers and quick to read.

Next up...something pink!

A work friend and I trade books so there’s no telling what I end up with except for the fact we like the same kind; simple, easy to read mysteries. It’s fun though, and I have read some I never would have looked at if I was buying.

New reads. See what else to read here!

Maybe that’s what I can do when I retire. I could author a series about a stinking mouse that gets in and torments knitters by messing up their yarn. He’ll always get away because he has to go on to scare the next unsuspecting woman. Yeah, that’s what I could do. Well, maybe not.

Ben, you're always running here and there. 

You feel you're not wanted anywhere…

Evolution Orange...

Shining light,  

Now in sight.  

Evolution Orange. 

Wondrous flight,   

Now in sight.   

Evolution Orange. 

Oh boy! A present! With great anticipation she ripped the paper off and removed the lid. What was inside? Oh. Well. Um…thank you! That was so thoughtful! It’s an orange necklace! Bright orange! (Thinking…Kind of an ugly orange necklace at that.) A Joan Collins? Wow!

A Joan Collins! Thank you HSN!

Yes, that was me. And before you go thinking I’m an ogre, I did appreciate the thought. My mother kept things even if she didn’t like whatever it was, and even if she already had three. Why? Because it was a gift and someone put some thought (maybe) into getting it for you. So, because of my upbringing, I felt like I had to keep it. I just didn’t know what I was going to do with it!

I took it to show my fashion conscious work friend. We giggled. She liked it as much as I did. So I put it up where it stayed for about a year.

Maybe it will grow on me.

I like color. Actually I like all colors. But orange isn’t my favorite color. I don’t have a thing against orange. It makes me think of Halloween. I even have the right coloring to wear it if I want. But given a choice, I probably won’t choose orange. Bright orange is, well, cheerful. Like a clown.

Fast forward a year. Spring is in the air. Time for short sleeve shirts and bright colors! So shopping it is. I enter the store. What is the color of the season? Tangerine! Tangerine is just another word for orange in my book. It’s everywhere. I’m enveloped in a sea of orange! There are shoes, shirts, pants, jewelry…even underwear!

Tangerine? Orange? It's all the same to me!

Really, I’m just a little fashion conscious. And because I found something I liked, orangeish in color, I was feeling pretty stylish. I put together an outfit and accessorized! Well, actually, I got dressed, put on the orange shirt with something to tone it down and went looking for some kind of jewelry to wear. Lo and behold, there sat the ugly orange necklace! And it just matched!

This is the second shirt.

I wore gray, pants and a leopard print sweater and the orange shirt and necklace. I went to my fashion conscious work friend to ask a question and she got excited! “I love what you’re wearing! It’s perfect! And that necklace just matches! A great pop of color! Where did you find it?” she gushed. I gave her my Really??? look and told her it was the same one we’d made fun of last year. She said “Oh. Well it’s a lot better this year!!”

Feeling pretty good about it, I wore it again, this time with jeans. I happened to be with the person who gave it to me. She said, “Wow, I like your necklace. It just matches!” I said, “You gave it to me.” She looked at me and said, “I did?” She didn't have a clue. I gave her my Really??? look too. And I was worried?

So a couple of weeks pass and I have acquired another orangeish shirt. I wear it, and the necklace, in a completely different outfit, to work. I see my fashion conscious work friend. “Gee,” she said. “You wear that all the time now, don’t you?!”

Second shirt outfit.

Well, that might be the last time to wear it at work! Maybe, if the opportunity arises, I can put it on outside work, sometime. And maybe it will just go back where it was, resting; waiting for the next time Tangerine is the color of the season!

Just trust yourself.

Reach inside.

Have no hesitation,

Give no explanation.

You know who you are...

Evolution Orange. 

“Oranges poranges, who says, there ain't no rhyme for oranges!” I feel silly. I realize I’ve been saying I don’t really love orange. But I do love autumn and fall colors. And guess what? Orange is right there in the middle of it all! Maybe it’s the mix. And guess what else? I dug out some orange yarn I had! It was a gift from my secret pal and it was just there when I was looking for something else so I took it as a sign!

I started a simple shawl. I think that’s actually the name of it. How about Small Shawl. But I think I’ll take it out. I seem to have that problem lately. I’ll re-do, but I want it lacier. So I’ll use a bigger needle.

Small shawl in a fuzzy orange yarn. See other great projects here!

I finished another book. By the way, I’m not reading a book a week like it seems. I read a few during spring break. I do have a book going all the time, but I don’t have that much time to just sit and read. And I do have knitting going all the time so I think it still counts. Anyway, it was a simple read and entertaining. Called “Bone Appétit” , it’s a who-dun-it, set at a beauty pageant. It’s by Carolyn Haines and is part of a series, Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries. I don’t think I’ve read any of her others. Anyway, it was enjoyable with a lot of action. Sarah even has a ‘ghost’ who advises her, but not in the normal way, to keep things interesting. I’d read another if I get a chance.

Knitting and reading...if I could only do both at once!

Orange you glad it’s Friday!? I am!

Just trust yourself.

Look ahead.

Feel the motion growing,

Love is where it's going.

This is where our real journey starts...

Evolution Orange.

I'll Be There For You

It's like you're always stuck in second gear. 

And it hasn't been your day, your week, 

Your month, or even your year but… 

 I'll be there for you… 

Sometimes I’m late to hop on the bandwagon. Well, probably all the time. I haven’t read all the Harry Potter books. None of my jeans have holes in them, unless it was an accident. I eat gluten. I don’t know what gluten is exactly but I don’t search out gluten free items so I must eat it. I don’t know anything at all about Hunger Games and I probably won’t have any tangerine clothes unless it’s a holdover from years ago. (Oops! I got an orangy shirt and had a gifted necklace in tangerine…and they just match!)

What rhymes with orange?

Albeit 18 years late, I’ve found the greatest television show to watch. They call it “Friends”. It’s on Nick at Night, at a time I should be in bed, and also sometimes on TBS. Thank goodness for reruns! I’ll sit up late and giggle at the silly and even stupid things they do and say. Sometimes I laugh out loud then look around, self consciously, lest I wake my sleeping husband and he comes to see what I’m doing. I like some of the characters and I dislike others, depending on the episode. But mostly I wonder what it would be like to actually have a close group of friends like that.

 

I have friends. Just check my Facebook! But they aren’t really friends. If defined they would be classified as acquaintances. That’s someone who knows you, but doesn’t really know you. That’s not to say they don’t care about you. I know a lot who do. I have a handful of close friends, people who are really my friends, but it’s nothing like the TV show. In fact, my close friends probably know very little about me. I can’t even imagine what it would feel like to have friends I could share anything with.

I don’t know when but I guess sometime in my life I was scarred by a bad friendship. I’ve had people I trusted tell things they swore not to tell. I’ve been involved in political life games with people pretending to be your friend until they need something from you that you can’t give. I’ve seen posturing; who can be the smartest, the loudest, the most stylish, the coolest, the prettiest. I’ve been the victim more than once. And these are my grown up ‘friends’! I guess you could say I have trust issues.

I know that there are no ‘Golden Girl’ roomies in my future. And when the kids put me at Shady Pines I’ll be the little old lady sitting and knitting in front of the television set, probably alone. Come sit by me and we’ll visit.

Your mother warned you there'd be days like these 

Oh but she didn't tell you when the world has brought 

You down to your knees that... 

I'll be there for you...

I have this yarn that doesn’t want to be anything. It’s pretty, turquoise blue twisted with reds and yellows. I thought it would be a nice little something. So it was on the way to be a lacy scarf. It was pretty but it just wasn’t right. So it was ‘frogged’.

A little fuzzy in the picture but already unraveled

While I was thinking I read a book called “Mobbed”, by Carol Higgins Clark, one of Mary’s daughters. It is about a missing celebrity and a garage sale. How does that go together? Read it and see! Her books tend to remind me of Keystone Cops. There's lots of things going on all at the same time. After the book I tried to simplify things. I decided the yarn could be just a plain cowl. I finished again but alas, that didn’t work either.

Need a great read idea? http://www.gsheller.com/2012/04/yarn-along-71.html

Now it’s back to a lonely (little--110 yards) ball of yarn. I don’t know whether to try again, or not. Third time’s charm they say. But I’m getting tired of the little guy. I know he's disguised as something. What? I don't know yet. I think I’ll ground him. Maybe if he gets back in the yarn cabinet he can make a friend and they can go on a knitting adventure together when he can think of something he really wants to be…and I hope he lets me know! And if you have any ideas...you let me know too, okay?

Check out http://http://ourcreativespaces.blogspot.com/ for ideas!

Someone to face the day with.

Make it through all the rest with.

Someone I'll always laugh with.

Even at my worst I'm best with you, yeah...

I'll be there for you...