Reflections, by Charlotte Byus

So Long Old Friend

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
Quite some time ago, I purchased a new laptop. My kids were so proud of Mom and I was proud of myself. It took quite some time to figure out, so many new things and of course, my favorite was games. I purchased word and excel for my Apple and proceeded along my happy way of doing things as I always had. Bad idea! You see,

ICON of the SEA

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
I know I have been absent for several months and I apologize. You see, I have been abusing myself for well over 40 years. It is called gardening. It involves picking up items (I knew better) such as 50 lbs. of rocks, and pots full of plants that were way too heavy. I have had pain in my back that I have ignored way too long. It got to

Fun and Merry

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
This past week has been Fun and Merry. First, I went to spend the night with my cousin Barbara so we could go see  A Christmas Carol at the Alley Theater in downtown Houston. The Alley was decorated so lovely, taking pictures was fun, but you had to wait your turn. We eventually made it up the line for a few pictures “just to prove

The Besties

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
Every once in awhile, you will have the great fortune to have three friends that actually get along all of the time. I am that person, Laura and I met in 1979 and Janet came into our group in 1985. Laura and I met at a credit union in the Clear Lake area and became fun friends almost immediately. Our husbands became friends too. Now

Joy of Decorating for Christmas

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
Even if this week has been a week of aches and pains, it’s been a good week. I went to the rehab center for my first visit, oh boy! Then, the next day, a visit with the hygienist for some real pain. With that said, let me tell you about the good things of this month. As Shannon (Miss Buzz) said last week, Christmas is about memories,

Tis the Season!

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
I have been out a few weeks for several reasons, so this will be a jumble mess of activities. First, I have been in unbelievable pain for about a month. Sitting without a heating pad does not work. Standing for chopping and dicing was horrible to the point of tears. Thank goodness for my sister-in-law. Vickie has been such a great

Everyone Needs Help Sometimes

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
This past weekend starting with Friday all the way through Sunday was “Let’s Help Old People.” It started with Rene’ helping Josh’s grandparents. Josh’s Dad died when Josh was only one year old but Rene’ kept in touch with the grandparents all these years. Jon, Josh’s younger brother, is considered one of the

Walking, Stopping, Walking and Pushed!

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
Georgia will laugh when she reads this title because she will totally understand where I was. This past week has been very different because I have not been an internet shopper. I got out into the world of the unknown for me and shopped and shopped. Items started coming in at the front door in just a day or two, this is good. Well,

Learning New Stuff

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
This past week was an education to say the least. Monday, I took off for Lufkin to sign away our forever home. Of course, I left home at 7am in the middle of morning traffic, only to remember I did not have a sticker on my rent car to use the beltway. So, I’m brave, I decided to go 610. Hello real world! For future travels, I will make it a point

Shopping-Shopping!

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
Two weekends ago, Rene’ and I took off on a new adventure, Round Top and Warrenton. Following Robbie’s “fun for road trip,” we used every Farm to Market road between Alvin and up to Brenham, beautiful landscape and finally into rolling hills. We started our journey Saturday morning about 8am and arrived at our first destination

Josie & me

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
This past week was fun and a learning experience. Josie is Chris’ youngest daughter from another marriage and is the sweetest (very tall) girl I have ever met. She is 14 and is into band of any kind. She is in four types of band classes and loves every minute. She is beautiful and very dramatic, of course she is, she is 14! I love her and

Jon and Me

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
I hope you had a great Memorial Day. I hope you prayed for all we have lost, those who have made us safe, and I hope you have hugged those who are remembering the horror of war. My words this week are not about sadness but about Love of my grandson, Jon. He has been trying to make it up to Lufkin for three weeks and finally

Summer Vacation

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
My normal vacations as a child, until my seventeenth birthday, were spent on the Comal River. My best friend Jerisue, who lived two blocks from me, spent every other weekend going down old Highway 90 to New Braunfels. From early morning to late afternoon, we would “live” in the cold river. We would get out early so we could

Yard of the Month

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
RR and I purchased our first home in the late 60’s, our down payment was the sale of our first boat. It was a US Homes in Alief, three bedroom and one & a half baths with one-car garage. Small is a very good word, but the yard was a nice size with lots of room for many flower beds and trees. We were given a push mower that was

I Promise

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
When RR and I moved in here, one of the first things we purchased were rocking chairs for the front porch. We enjoyed our morning coffee and rocking, our main enjoyment was dreaming what fun or design to attempt next. But, remember we barely had a bed and two bar stools. I was designing many bulb beds around

Trials and Tribulations

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
This past week has been an adventure to say the least, especially for an old woman. Monday, two friends and I took off for Nacogdoches for some shopping. One reason, this town has several shops Lufkin or any other town does not have. All the way to Tyler we went. One is Kroger and Specs! You see, Angelina County is

Emily & Arian

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
Five years ago, these two met at a gym where Emily was working. The first time they met, they had a disagreement about something, it didn’t look too promising. And now, five years later they will be man & wife. They are the personification of Love, Adventure and Stubbornness. They will have fun all their

Very Small Cook Off

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
What fun we had this past week at our church’s annual chili cook off. This is a little different than most, but it is fun and for a good cause. This year, we had 22 participants and everyone brought goodies to go with their chili. The purpose for our outing is to help where help is needed. Let me explain. As you can see from the picture,

Wal-Mart Adventures

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
We have all seen the pictures on Facebook and elsewhere of the PJ attire in Wal-Mart. I must be honest, there are times I am bored and travel the 3 miles to WallyWorld just to pick up a few items and walk-a-bout. This past week was one of those occasions. It was not raining buckets, just drops, so off I went. I found a really good parking

Learning

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
On New Year’s Eve I cried myself to sleep. After talking to RR and God I finally went to sleep. My talk with RR consisted of words like I must go on, I don’t want to, but I know I need too. I had put off finding a lawyer to go for the probate. I had put off many things that would allow me to accept what I was putting off. Life, Love and Laugh. I did not want

Happy New Year!

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
This year will be a whole new world for me. I have perfected the art of sitting on the couch and living in a world of Hallmark. This must stop! Even the cats have started watching the TV with me. Not Good! For the first time in many years, I am going to TRY to make good New Year resolutions. Things I need to do and things I must

Please Explain!

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
Never ever have I had so much storage! My kitchen counters are longer and bigger than any I have ever had, even with that custom-built home. I have huge drawers in the kitchen and closets, BUT every one had stuff and junk in them. The kitchen counters are cluttered and every drawer is full! I must say, 4 drawers and 2 big cabinets are full

Things you need to know

Charlotte ByusBy Charlotte Byus
Rob always kept tools in my car, just in case. Did I remember to transfer the nice bag he made for me from one vehicle to the new one? NO. There is your hint about what I am writing about. Take care of yourself. My latest was Sunday morning. I had spent the night with a friend. We spent the day playing in Nacogdoches, then dinner with two other

A Trip off the Bucket List

cbyusBy Charlotte Byus
We have not traveled in years, literally since 2016, and that’s too long. When I was young Mom and Dad and I took a trip to Miami, you know down old Hwy 90. I can honestly say, after this trip, Mom and I did not speak or ride with Dad for two weeks. But that is not what this story is about. Along the way, we crossed the Mississippi River and I saw

Discovering New Family Members

cbyusBy Charlotte Byus
Our daughter, Dianne, is married to Chris and he has two lovely daughters from his first marriage. The oldest is 20 and at A&M with Matthew, Dianne’s youngest child. Josie is Chris’s youngest daughter, she is 14 and in Jr. High. These girls have not been raised as our daughters and their children. RR and I spent most of their

Life in General

cbyusBy Charlotte Byus
We are old! For fifty-six years we have enjoyed our homes and yard work. That is, most weekends, we were working on the boat or in our yard. Absolutely nothing gave me more pleasure than the “Yard of The Month” sign in our yard. Now, we have a house again, both the house and the yard are brand new. New, as in lots of weeds, hard sand and

The Day After

cbyusBy Charlotte Byus
It is always easier for me to reflect on holidays the day or week after. This year was very different than any other Mother’s Day. For the first time, neither of my girls are with us, Di is at the farm in Blanco and Rene’ is on Galveston home tour with Jon, her second born son. For many years, all the ladies of our family, that would include

I’m a Failure!

cbyusBy Charlotte Byus
I think my green thumb has died and what to do!! No one, and I mean no one, can kill a plant in 24 hours! I just did in less than 40 Hours! What to do? I must blame someone, but it can’t be me. I know, East Texas is what I’ll blame. My magic green thumb is only a Gulf Coast Thumb and it is sad and trying to tell me. Over the past few months,

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