Jeans

   I, like thousands of others, hate to shop for clothes. It is however necessary from time to time.

   A more accurate statement may be,"I hate trying on clothes." I really have a problem with jeans. I grew up being told girls don't wear pants, and especially jeans, out for dates.

   So, here I am in my mature age, shopping for and wearing jeans. I have worn them for a few years and enjoy them.

   I lost some weight and needed some new ones. This was after surgery and my tummy was not wanting tight. I found some that looked nice and felt good. The problem with them was that after fifteen minutes of wearing them, they were falling off me. I tried a belt. That worked. I didn't like it. So, that meant wash after each wearing.

   I then found some that were perfect in the fit department. A bit snug when first put on, but thought that they would stretch, as most do, after wearing.

   Yep. Wrong. They do not stretch. Next size is too big. So, I wear them and they are okay.

   The question I would like answered is how do you get a good jean fit? I would like it snug, but not tight around the waist and tummy with loose legs and long, to the ground. I guess just try them on.

   I have even bought two pair of the same brand, design and size, at the same time and have each fit differently. Have no idea why.

  I was told once by a sister-in-law that worked at a garment factory that it depends on where the material is located in the stack they cut. The cutters angle in from top to bottom, so that the ones on top are bigger than the ones on bottom. Now if they would just label them for me, I could find the ones that fit. Maybe.

  Here's to great fitting jeans.

Wsitresses

     Waitresses fascinate me. Some are so good. Some are so bad.

     I know that they depend on the tips they get to make the amount of wage they get make ends meet. What I don't quite comprehend is why they think that tips are mandatory. Tips are voluntary. They are usually calculated on service.

    Now, that may be a new concept to some. I know that in most large cities it is expected and almost demanded, but here in my world, the small town USA it depends on the service.

   Where I live we have a lot of buffets. Those of you who know Branson, know that is a given. It is nice. It is an opportunity to have a large variety available to everyone, and you really don't have to try to clear the buffet of food. You should take only what you will eat and, clean your plate, but that is up to you.

    A buffet does not require much of a waitress, as in, taking and remembering orders and where they go and all that. They are to bring some drinks and keep the plates picked up when dirty and bring clean ones.
They should also wear a smile and a friendly voice. It doesn't take that much to say, " Y'all doin' okay? Need water, pop or other?" and pick up the plates and go on.

   The last two times we were out to buffets, our waitress did none of those things, unless shouted down and asked.

   I would like to say right here, that we are tippers. And good ones. The amounts may not be much to some, but the per centage is good. When you are only two people and you drink water, the bill isn't much, so we increase the per centage so that the tip is good. I have never figured out how to let someone who is waiting on me know that I tip for good service.

   I know that at one time you could leave a penny and that would let the person know that with good service comes good tips and with bad service, bad tips. I think now, they would just think you dropped a penny.

   It doesn't ruin a good meal, but it makes it less enjoyable if you have to ask for a refill on water or another napkin or plate.

  Hopefully,our next foray into the buffet or restaurant will net us a great waitress.

  Remember, smile, say thank you and be kind to your neighbors.

More SNOW

     I got up this morning and looked out the window and what do I see? Snow. They had promised that it would come and come it did. There was about an inch on the ground and more coming and did it all morning.

     I have decided, however, that this post will not be about how horrible, how boring or how disgusting it is to have more snow.

     I will focus on the beauty of it. On the ground in gentle mounds covering hibernating bushes ( do bushes hibernate?) and the landscape timbers we have seperating our drive from the lawn. It was not one of the prettiest snows coming down as the flakes were really small. There were however, a lot them and they added up.

     My cedar tree at the front of my house looks as though someone has again, frosted it with fluffy white frosting. It is evenly covered from top to bottom and is just lovely. My other trees have a light coating on each branch and are stately in their height.

    I can be all caught up in the beauty of it all, because I don't have to go out in it and they have promised us 60s all next week. Yep. It will really be pretty then. Pretty and GONE. Thank you God for the beauty of snow and it's gone-ness.

Winter

     We very rarely have had this much snow stay this long and now, they are predicting more for tomorrow, but they are not going overboard with the prediction. Only three to five inches this time.

    I had to cancel two doctor appointments last week. I rescheduled them for this week. Apparently, my crystal ball was not working well in the weather department. I had to keep one on the same day of the week, and I moved the other to a different day. The different day may work out, the same day one we will have to see about.

    We got about 4 inches of snow on Friday. It was a surprise. However, it was very pretty. There was no wind with it and no ice, so the trees just looked frosted with marshmallows. It was not heavy, so, there was no damage to the trees. Just very Christmas card looking.

    I know that the entire country is having a hard winter, but when it is in your backyard, it feels worse. Of course, we don't have the equipment to move the amounts of snow that the northern states have, so it takes awhile, but I have to say that Missouri and Branson did a great job of getting the main roads cleared. There were some back roads that still had spots of snow cover on Friday before the new snow came, but all in all, the road people have done a great job.

    It is kind of fun to go out right after a storm, when not many people are there, and just enjoy the stores and the scenery. Not so much fun walking in some of the parking lots, but being careful, you have no problems.

    Well, have a blessed day and enjoy your time wherever you are.

Snow

     It has been a while since I posted and thought that today would be a great day for that.

     Here in the Ozarks we have been waiting for a HUGE storm for days now, and it finally arrived this morning. It started by raining, freezing, sleet, then almost sleet and finally, snow. We probably have about five inches with more to come sometime today.

     The last storm we had I was at my daughter's taking care of munchkin while she took care of some things. We got about three inches of snow at her house and schools closed for two days, so we got to do some snow fun. Munchkin made a most beautiful snowangel. I got to clean off the driveway. Ah, well, at least one of us had fun.

      It will be a day of two before I try to clean off my drive here at home.

     We spent several years in Minnesota when our children were young and had plenty of days of snow, but not much school closings. I remember one in particularly that the boys, mine and a neighbor, made a snow fort with tunnels and mazes and all kinds of good stuff. Fun times for all.

      The nice thing about snow in the Ozarks is that it doesn't last long. We may have snow cover for a week this time, but probably not longer than that. As far as I am concerned, a day would be just fine. Come on back sun and melt that snow.

      Enjoy your snow if you have any, and enjoy the warmth if you have it.