Just went over to Wally World to get a couple of plastic tubs--the big 'uns! Gonna bring them home from a little road trip and put them in the "green house" (that is covered in white plastic) and use them for planters. But EARLY in the morning, going to go out to the hen house and collect seven Hamburgs and whatever else manages to get caught to put in those tubs. And those critters are going to Paducah, TX to the home of my friend BillyeRuth! Let's pray the deer and the wild hogs don't want to share the road with me!
My neighbor Donny will smoke his cigarettes outside and keep an eye on my place for me. Jerry is at home, and truthfully hoping he stays on his side of the road. He just came over to borrow a crescent wrench, but maybe he will bring it back before dark. Or not. sigh
Haven't accomplished much today. Had some more stuff to clean out in the hen house--which required a shower afterwards, of course. Then it was a little niggle in my mind about something in those papers that Danny brought that caused me to get them out again. Daddy's "year book" was in there with the "calling cards" the kids exchanged. It also included their class motto: I can't is UnAmerican! This was during WWII. He graduated in 1944. He used to say that the only useful thing he learned was how to type. It really did come in handy as he was the company clerk typist for his battalion. Can't imagine he would have done much typing after leaving the Tank Destroyer Replacement Training Center. They were supposed to go up North and then straight over to Europe to replace an entire battalion that had been nearly wiped out. But Congress said that their battalion had seen enough action, so all those boys with Dad's outfit lucked out and did not get sent to Europe. But by that time--June 1945, the war was winding down mostly. Still, the guys were blessed to get to stay at home.
Have read so much about the American men who came home and built their VA homes and began to build this nation again. It had to have been hard on them if they did not have a good skill. My dad was an oil field tool dresser. Had no idea what that was until Sterling told me that Dad had to sling a sledge hammer to sharpen the ends of the bits on the pipes that came out of the well. Sterling said that Dad could sling a sledge like putting butter on a knife--smooth. Guess it took some practice, but then, Dad had hernias when he got older, so you can bet it was also hard on his body. But Dad was a very talented man with all kinds of mechanical skills that he learned from experience. He learned how to weld and did that for a living, but he also made guns and replacement parts for guns--gunsmithing. He made the old timey flintlock guns--both rifles and pistols. And he made his own bullets. He even created a machine to refill his shotgun shells. But then, shells were expensive, so leave it to him to find a cheaper solution.
One of the funniest things Dad ever did was make a cattle chute that would clamp down on the cow and allow it to be thrown on its side without hurting either the cow or the cowboy. But Dad's flipped over so that the right side of the cow was up. Most folks branded on the left side. But it worked for calves and just about anything else. Later on when he was working for an oil rig company, he explained to the boss why one of the things on the rig would not work right. The boss was kinda ticked off at the time because a customer was complaining about the rig not working right. He yelled at Dad and told him to draw it for the engineers. Dad did. From that time on, the section of the rig that he designed was called the Pollard. And it worked, by golly.
Don't tell anyone, but it got mighty warm today. My phone says 101 degrees, and it is every bit that warm, too. Just went out to turn off the water or move it, but the front flowerbed looked so bedraggled that the hose is now on the dahlias and a couple of little trees. Have two "Eve's Necklace" trees coming up either from leftover roots or from some of the seeds that must have dropped from the tree that Jerry dug up. Whichever it is, will not be leaving them in that place. If anyone wants one of the things, let me know. Everything about that tree is poisonous--roots, leaves, berries, flowers! Those are the things a person needs to know before buying plants. It's like larkspur. Such a pretty flower and just as poisonous as anything. But then, so many of our "pot plants" are just as bad. The Easter lily, the ivy growing in that lovely pot someone gave you when you were in hospital, the sweet gift that you got for your birthday that has long, lean stems and a white flower that blooms so sweetly. Yep, you name it; it is probably poisonous. Snakes are safer. Like we are going to find a pot of them somewhere. Although, that has actually happened to a woman who brought some plants in and had a nest of little snakes living in the bottom of one pot. Yikes! No longer have plants in my house because of that kind of thing.
BR just called me to tell me that the road out of Vernon is Highway 70, and then she told me where to find her place from the blinkin' light in Paducah--5.2 miles north of the court house. Anyway, have been there once, and if this ol' girl gets lost, bet BR can find me!
Stood over the two plastic tubs and drilled holes in their sides. Hope that is enough ventilation for the hens. Don't remember how many Jennifer put in the one we used for the hens we took to her house. Probably should have used a bigger bit, too. May have to go out to the workshop and find one that is a bit larger. But can't have too many holes or they will be sticking their necks out! Crazy hens. Well, but then, look who raised them!
Haven't heard from my girl since she got home and have not called. She gets migraines, so never want to disturb her if she is resting--especially since she has not left home since they got back from West Virginia.
Thinking back about the year that my "road trip" took me to Arkansas all by myself. Not very brave any longer, but back then it was to prove to myself that the old girl could do it. Now a trip out to the cemetery at Byers doesn't even feel all that safe. Being alone makes a woman feel more susceptible to any kind of problem that will come along. And this world certainly has plenty of those right now. Just felt such relief when the kids got home, and now have begun to pray for Lance and Tracy before their trip to East Texas--not even that far away. And also pray for the two "children" they are leaving at home. Worrywart woman. Don't know how Cindy Jones keeps from worrying about Nikki with her traveling all over heck and half of Georgia, TX, CA, and assorted places. And all to do horse shoeing. Not exactly a safe profession. But on the other hand, no one is likely to mess with her. She swings a mean hammer!
The last trip to Paducah took me past a huge field of turnips. SO tempting. NOT that yours truly would ever stop and snag a handful of turnips! But next year maybe the yard will grow some again. If we get rain, that would be a good crop this fall even if it frosts early. Hmm. Will have to think about it.
There's a book over there that hasn't been finished yet. Guess it is time to do something useful like broaden something about me other than the backside. Not that this particular book will teach me much about tide pools since it isn't likely the old woman will ever get to go looking in tide pools. But, who knows. Life is always full of surprises.
May you each find rest and happiness. You are loved.
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