Pollen Count.

 When the pollen count is so high that breathing is hard work, it is time to be still, take the stupid allergy meds, put drops in eyes, soak in a hot mustard bath, and go to bed early. Pardon my bitching. I feel like a leftover wet noodle. And the forecast is for more of the same. Thrilling, just thrilling. 

Sorry for not being more positive, but currently am only positive that this is miserable. Hope that the rest of you are not having the same problems.

Rest well, stay healthy, and may the Good Lord bless you in all that you set your hands to do. You are loved.

For Michelle Malay

When Our Hearts Break

Those whose love comes so freely to us in word or deed have no idea that they also put in place the pieces of our heart when it is broken by their loss. Our hands become empty; the space inside where their love fits becomes hollow with only echoes that we try to grasp in thought and in little meaningless things that we still try to do to touch that love again. We remember their words, their actions, the laughter they gave us and the thoughtful things they did just for us that no one else saw. We stand empty, but move us and listen for the rattle of the pieces of our love. We can’t put the pieces back together again. All we can do is cover our faces in tears and try to breathe. May God comfort those who mourn for no other loss is as deep as the loss of life itself from someone who loves us.

Mechanical Ineptitude.

 Yesterday it surprised me to find the zero turn totally bereft of fuel. Today included the discovery that the nipple for the air compressor was not the right one, and wasn't even attached at its collar. Yes, someone else's hands were involved in this situation. But since the likely source of both situations is currently in jail, maybe the situation will improve. At least it doesn't matter that no fuel was in the gas tank over the winter months. The other situation is more than a little frustrating. Thinking that the riding lawnmower needs to be sold. It has a new ignition, new battery, new starter, and something else--can't remember what now. It needs a new tire on the front left side. But otherwise, it is in good shape. Just will not be using it. Don't need the extra things cluttering up the yard either.

Back a month or so ago, the stapler that runs on air was needed in the chicken house. Could not for the life of me find the fixture needed for the stapler. It is still missing. Will get Lance to try to help me find it or get the part to connect the air hose to it. My mechanical abilities have not improved over the years. Just my frustration level.

Talked to Vicki January earlier. Told her to come get some eggs if she wanted them, but she never showed up. And then she did not answer her phone. Hoping everything is ok with her and her husband.

Talked to my granddaughter this afternoon. Told her about cooking liver for breakfast. She did not say a disparaging word other than: "For breakfast?" Then we proceeded to talk about what kind of foods she makes for herself. Seems she likes zucchini spiced and prepared in the toaster oven. See, it takes all kinds!

Have to take the truck in on Friday in hopes that they can figure out what is making the noise and smell. If it has to stay over the weekend, so be it. Then made an appointment to see the doctor over this scar tissue that has taken a turn for coloring. That is in April, too. Hard to believe that Friday begins April for us!

Glad to see the big boat got floated in the Suez Canal. One of the headlines said, "Human error probable cause of disaster." Well, duh. But at least the tides during a full moon and lots of extra pulling and pushing have managed to get the big boat out to the middle of the canal. Even so, millions of dollars have been lost to the delays. Thinking about the refrigerated lamb that was a total loss. Glad my food sources are not so easily distracted by a truck or boat.

The pollen count has me shaking my head. It is mostly tree pollen, but the wind has blown so hard today that it would not surprise me to find part of Midland and its oilfields in my teeth. Folks with allergies just have to enjoy this time of year--well, along with the fall blooms of asters and such. Gripe, gripe, gripe.

Not sure exactly why my get up and go feels as if it got up and went, but as soon as those birds go inside this evening, this ol' gal is heading for bed. Getting up at 6:30 to let them out is not a problem, but staying up until they decide to go up for the night is just a bit more difficult. Sitting here wondering how my grandparents were able to take care of the livestock and still get everything done. They only knew to work until it got done, so maybe that is what it takes--just get the job done.

My mom was a good seamstress. She made all my clothes and the prom gown for my senior year. Then she was so disappointed by my choice of material and pattern for my wedding dress. It was a simple A-line dress. My thinking was not what it should have been as the dress had long sleeves--for a June wedding. Oh well. Only worn once is how it usually works out for such things. And it did. She later used the under slip and the material from my prom gown to make a bassinet cover for Lance. And she made his layette. My contribution to that effort was embroidering initials on his little blankets and gowns. The wedding dress ended up being used to piece a baby blanket together. Think my granddaughter has that one now. She has the quilt that four generations put together, also. It is called a Dutch doll quilt. Each little doll was made and put in Mother's arms so she could rock it while her mom made the rest of the quilt. Mom had me help her to quilt it so that she could say that four generations had made that quilt. Great-Grandmother Kennedy cut out the dolls, Grandmother Kennedy sewed them together and put them into a top, Mom made a back for the quilt and then we quilted it there in the house in Petrolia. Yep, a generations quilt means something.

Mom asked me once if her flower garden quilt had come to my house. Had no idea what she meant at the time, but now it is in the backroom. She crocheted each block with a different color thread to make a flower garden. It is big enough to go on a king sized bed. Not particularly fond of crocheted stuff, but it is Mom's and pretty.

Visited on the phone with Connie this morning. She says that Rebekah is just having all kinds of problems. This is a situation where Connie can't tell her sister anything at all. Frustration. Let's face it, life can certainly be complicated.

Have not heard from Michelle Malay or from Sharon Dickerson. Let us just continue to pray for Joe and for Kimberly. God knows what they--and we--need. Sometimes it seems that help is just a phone call away when a person is dealing with mental illness, but we can't tell other people what to do. Sharon has told me about NAMI for the families who deal with emotional messes, but telling someone about it might be all the "action" we can take. 

Not very perky or happy tonight. Forgive me for being a bit blasé. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day. 

Rest well and look for joy in whatever you find to do. You are loved.

Lawnmowers and Hens.

 Dear Hearts, hens are the latest in barnyard Marines in more ways than one. Well, yes, they tend to attack anyone that has something that looks as if it might be edible. And it's not like they are actually hungry! But go out there with some leftover rolls from Chicken Express and see what happens! But the main thing they do when "helping" with the lawn care is dig small holes every freaking where! Just finished mowing with the zero turn. The grass and side lots look nice, but it was almost beside the point. The hens had that grass cut down to the nub in most places. Only weeds got ahead of them. But everywhere they had been nibbling on the grass, they also dug out a little foxhole! Thumper is the new name for my mower. Thump, bump, thump! 

Went to Tammie's to get gas--the expensive, less than 10% leaded--and all the pumps were covered up. Hmm. So went back to Stripes to get the two-gallon containers filled up. Went ahead and filled up two of them. The mower had ZERO fuel in it! Not sure how that happened unless it got siphoned out by a certain neighbor. ARGH! Have not heard if he is going to get out of jail anytime in the near future. At least it is fairly quiet over there.

Saw a couple of small planes doing loopty loops. Not sure if they were playing games or what, but it looked as if a person could certainly lose their meal over the way they were flying. Whew! Straight up and then straight down! Can think of much better places to practice insanity--not over a residential area.

While Jenn was here, she asked if the grass had been mowed yet. Nope. Chicken trimmed, but not mowed. She could hardly believe how much grass they eat. But when we had my six hens on her yard in Mansfield, Gary did not have to mow at all because the hens kept the grass eaten up! Bet that is why their eggs were so pretty, all that green grass.

It's kind of funny, but all these eggs hardly ever are eaten at my house. Once in a while, French toast, boiled egg on a salad, or scrambled eggs and bacon. So very many eggs come out of those nests, but seldom find their way into my meals. Guess it would be better for me to eat some more of them. They don't have anything in them that is bad for a person.

Just talked to JoAnn. Jerry will be in jail for a while. Meanwhile, he is doing well. He seems to adapt to the way they live in those places. And no drugs means that his mind is clear. Too bad he can't keep that way on the outside.

Today's meal of the evening is leftover chicken. Not too crazy about chicken tenders, but the last time some fried livers were brought home, one of them included a gallbladder! BLEAH. Whoever prepped that liver did not pay attention!

Back when Lewis and the dingy young Nancy were "courting," my daddy took us to the Wichita River to hunt some squirrels. Yours truly sat down on a tree stump to wait for Dad and Lewis to make a turn around a bend in the river. The grass was not even out good yet, so who would have noticed where my rifle butt was sitting? Then put the rifle up to my shoulder and chin later. Poison ivy. Had the worse case of poison ivy ever. It was all over the lower half of the right side of my face. It made scars. Now the scars are beginning to peel and may have to be looked at in case this develops into something other than just normal scar tissue. Jenn noticed it when she was here, but it did not occur to me at the time to tell her that a trip to the doctor was going to be scheduled soon. Most things like that are pretty easy to ignore, but am well aware that scar tissue from something as drastic as that mess could become a bigger mess down the road. Anyone who has ever had a bad burn and scar tissue forms, be aware that such tissue can change drastically overnight!

Something else that we learned when mother-in-law was still alive: a cyst--about the same thing as a blackhead or zit--can become infected and need to be removed. If more than one cyst is in the vicinity, BOTH need to be removed at the same time. Dr. Blackwell said that it is easier to put in a couple of stitches than to have a major lump form wherever. Joy had two major cysts form on a place on her back. Obviously she could not reach them to keep them cleaned out, but that is what has to happen unless they are removed. So, those of you who do not have someone at home to help clean your back, get a facial expert to clean out your back for you at the same time you get a facial! 

Thought about Charlie Anderson while typing this. He used to get a pedicure fairly often because he was unable to trim his toenails. Jennifer suggested that we could go get a pedicure while she was here, but there were just too many other things that needed to be done. So, may just schedule a pedicure this coming week. 

Green tea with watermelon flavoring! Umm. It will probably keep me awake tonight, but it is so satisfying! Usually don't have any caffeine after 10 a.m., but sometimes a bottle of tea or something like that just hits the spot. 

The bird for yesterday and today was the Green Jay. Yep, we have them in Texas. Have seen a Stellar's Jay, but not a Green Jay. They run around in flocks and give other birds a hard time. They also attack snakes, squirrels, and any other critter that bothers them. Sounds just like my neighborhood as a child. Saying that with a smile.

Guess tomorrow the weed eater might come out and do a little bit in the front yard. Let some hens and the two dogs out in the front this morning while my bottom sat on a sack of potting soil in the wagon out by the flowerbed. The hens were funny. They would have that grass gone in nothing flat if my patience would allow them to stay longer. The dogs, on the other hand, would find something to chase in a heartbeat! Wish those orange fences that construction companies use were available and cheap enough to put across an area to keep the girls inside and safe. They could have a ball out there on the side next to the east lots. The dogs would probably figure out how to go under it too quickly. But the hens would love it!

Still reading a book about Texas. Not sure that Grayson was all that interested in having the book. He may be trying to find a job right now, so that won't be one of his major concerns. Think he has some resumes sent out, but not sure. Grandmothers are not always in the know or even on the list of interested--or interesting--parties. Jenn and Gary are going to be surprised one of these days to find their house echoing from just the two of them rattling around in there. Remember that absence well. And now that it is just me and two dogs, well, the dogs are good company. They don't carry on a conversation at all, however. That was one of the nice things about going to classes at The Zone. At least once a week someone said hi to me. Now it is a phone call to Connie every morning at 10 a.m. Oh well. Books keep my mind active, too.

Guess everyone is about the same as far as health issues. Let's remember Joe and Michelle Malay. And Kimberly Alvarado, Sharon's niece, is still recovering. Meanwhile, the entire nation is hurting in places with flooding, storms, murders, and assorted horrors. God bless us as a nation.

May you all rest well this night and awake with purpose in mind. You are loved.

 

Amarillo by Morning.

 The forecast folks say it is only twenty-three mph, but dearly beloved, the wind is still blowing. It feels as if grit is coming in on that wind. Wondering if Amarillo has lost a bit of top soil--or maybe Paducah? Just spring weather, though. Won't gripe too much right now. But thinking it is going to be a good time to dig out the summer shorts. Already have my sandals out and on my feet. Awww.

Jennifer came up Friday evening and spent the night and most of the day today with me. It is wonderful to be able to love your children and enjoy them. And she is such a good girl to be around. She helped me unload and place 200 pounds of scratch in the bins. Dug holes for two more fruit trees, and took me to the place to get those gummy things that help with pain. We talked and laughed some. She gets how much these silly dogs mean to me. And she likes my hens--and not just for the eggs. She got to see how they "help" with digging dirt. She would not put her hand in the nest with one of the Marans because it pecked at her. Shaking my head here. Their pecks are just not that big of a deal. But if it bothers a person, guess that is all it takes to persuade them to leave the hens alone.

Both kids ordered beef from BillBrownBeef.com and both orders were ready last night, so Jenn was able to drop off his order to Lance this afternoon. Hope they all enjoy it.

The neighbor behind me has his lawnmower out and is cutting the grass down there across the fence from his place. Not sure where the woman is who was keeping that place up, but have not seen her in a while--just the grandson and his mother. Kinda wondering if they will be there much longer. Oh well. They are not that much of a nuisance to me anyway.

Passover begins tonight at sunset. Lots of memories for this day in my life. My children will remember the Passover of 1979 when we were basically chased out of WF by a humongous tornado. When we drove back into town that night, we drove over fences and dodged poles on the freeway. No lights were visible in the town at all unless it was a flashing light on an ambulance or police car. What a mess. For days we had absolutely no services from the utility companies: no water, no electricity, no phone, and no natural gas--or gasoline from any of the pumps! It was horrible to see the devastation, but so many had been killed. My friend Karen and her husband Neil lost their two daughters. Karen and Neil had been out at the site where their new house was being built, but the girls had stayed in their home on SW Parkway. It was gone! Ah, such sadness for a Passover to remember.

Jennifer messed with my phone trying to get it to make noises when calls or messages came in. She got it to more or less work, but it was funny to see her as bamboozled by this mess as it makes me feel. Technology is just a bit weird in my estimation. But the kids just keep messing with it until they get something to work the way they want it to go. My patience just does not extend to buttons or bells and whistles that may or may not indicate success at communication!

My friend AnnaBeth Graf just reminded me of our mutual friend Mrs. Abe Baker. She was one of the sweetest women around back then. She came to our home more than once for different reasons. She knew my family and watched us grow up out there in Petrolia. Good memories.

Beth reminded me that they had brought water into town for their son Peter the morning after the tornado. We had zero water! This was before the days of folks buying cases of water or having a Britta jug filled up to filter the tap water. Zero water is dadgummed hard to deal with when everything seems to require water! Finally an orange juice company in Burkburnett started filling their jugs with water and giving them to folks. What a blessing!! Never been so happy to see a gallon of water in my life! It reminded me that Grandmother Pollard said that her mother watched her house burn to the ground THREE times! And not even a wet cloth to clean her little girl's face. Simply can't imagine.

My cousin Elizabeth told me that when we were visiting their home in Louisiana when they were just girls, they thought a cloud was going to be a tornado. My reply, "No, that is not a wall cloud. Just a thunderstorm cloud." They thought their cousin was marvelous for naming the silly clouds! They had no idea how many times my parents stood us on the steps of the cellar to look at the clouds that were so dangerous.

We went through a five-year drought not too many years ago. Now we just hold our breath and hope that it does not happen again. No amount of water in the nearby lakes can make it better when a drought lasts that long. Can easily see why California has to ration water so often.

Getting tired. Have clothes to fold and put away. Will just tell you that talking with friends about how life has been for us over the years makes me realize that what we have experienced is not all that different for so many who lived on the land. Those who have always lived and grown up in the cities have no idea how dependent we are on things like the weather, fires, droughts, and assorted illnesses that affect livestock. God has always been a blessing in our lives. And that never has changed.

May you all rest well and awake with purpose and happiness. You are loved.

Playing in the Dirt!

 So the corn, sunflower seeds, and assorted flower seeds have been planted today. Still have not watered them in, but the day is not quite finished. Just had to sit down and just S I T for a bit, ya know. Won't come right out and say that the body is tired, but it does seem to have reached a maximum level of ooommph. Oh well. Tomorrow is another day, too.

Went over to Sutherlands and handed the lady at the desk the cut out label of the gardening soil that was needed. She found a man and it is mostly in my front yard. Still have not found appropriate containers for one sack, but maybe that will happen tomorrow as well. Or not. Can't ever have too much potting soil stuff.

My friend Marilyn Smith only reads my blog here on blogger rather than on FB. She said the one yesterday was messed up and couldn't be read because of the background, so will try to remember not to post a picture of a bird before writing the blog. Thinking that was what caused the problem. Anyway, the bird for the day is the Green-headed Tanager. Apparently it is a bird found in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Not a Texas bird, obviously. We don't have many places in Texas that have the humidity they would seek--well, maybe Houston and East Texas. Someone could release a few pairs in that part of the world and see what happens. But then, that is what caused the starling influx all over this country. Nevermind!

Talked to Michelle Malay a bit ago. We need to keep Joe in our prayers, but let's remember his family as well. Mother Malay saw him for the first time today since he was hospitalized and was very shocked. They have him on morphine for the pain, and his mind is not as sharp as it could be, but at least he is still fighting for his own breathing. Michelle said that he has lost so much weight and strength. On top of everything else, they have to be concerned with how many days his insurances will allow him to be in the hospital. Good grief! But Michelle said that he still has something to say about the hospital food! No, it is NOT good tasting to him. That may be why he is hardly eating anything. Wish it were possible to take him a hamburger!

Thompson jumped off or fell off the end of my bed last night and hurt his back leg. Not sure if he got it caught in the bed stead or what, but rubbed it for him and moved it around to be sure nothing was broken. He is using it, so guess he is tougher than the old woman who lives here. My dogs mean the world to me--just like anyone who has "children" with four legs and a bark or meow.

Jennifer may come here tonight so she can take home her meat and eggs. Have about six dozen eggs for her. Twenty hens just do not fill up the cartons as quickly as twenty-five or thirty. The plumber came by with the container he used to take home the four hens from my place. He says his hens don't have as much room as mine. He thinks the wild critters would get them if he turned them out like mine. He just needs a good guard dog or two. Can't see a bobcat or coyote stupid enough to get in the yard with my dogs!

Got a message from the doctor today saying that there was degeneration of the disks with lots of arthritis and some slippage of 5 mm of L4 on L5. Now if you understand that verbiage, you are a better critter than this one. My feelings are that something hurts like a son of a buck, and not a lot helps stop the pain. Sounds like Dr. Jensen was right about the "slippage" of the L4 on L5 anyway. Think that means that one disk is infringing on another. Oh well. Like Granddad Pollard used to say, "Just keep going and don't just SIT." He was only 79 when he died, but it was not the arthritis that took him out. Think he needed a roto-rooter job on his carotids. Plus, he was a geriatric diabetic. Think that happens to so very many elderly folks. Sugar is not our friend, and carbs are just as bad if not worse.

Sharon Dickerson has mentioned this to me a couple of times. Sometimes we have a tendency to feel responsible for other people's choices. T'aint necessarily so, McGee. NAMI Wichita Falls. 909 8th Street, Suite 400. 940-244-6264. This is in my area of the world, but guessing that NAMI is available anywhere in the U.S. Wishing that some of my friends who deal with handicapped or mentally ill folks could have this help. 

Kinda letting the steam out of my head and relaxing now. May or may not make it to open another book today. Just a bit pooped out. May just take off the shoes and let it all hang out!

May you all realize how blessed we are to be so very loved and cared for. God has given us just what we need and then some. Rest well, keep your mind on the good things in life, and remember His love and blessings. You are loved.

An Interesting Bird!

 Ok, this bird is an absolutely new one on me. The Rifleman Bird.

The rifleman (Acanthisitta chloris) (Māori: titipounamu) is a small insectivorous passerine bird that is endemic to New Zealand. It belongs to the family Acanthisittidae, also known as the New Zealand wrens, of which it is one of only two surviving species. The rifleman resembles a wren in form, but is not related to the family of true wrens, Troglodytidae, nor the fairy-wrens of Australia.

This little bird does not fly long distances, so it makes its home in a narrow area to defend along with its mate. Not likely we would ever see one in Texas, but hey, it is a neat little bird.

It has been a cool day, but it finally dried up a bit this afternoon so that a few things got accomplished. Not real spunky about doing anything today. That happens. Walked out to see my new apple tree and was followed by most of the flock. The man who was going to replace the Anderson's gas meter wanted to know if they thought they would get a handful of scratch. Had to tell him they wanted worms or grubs, not grains! These birds are spoiled rotten! They did get some leftovers from lunch, but that was good for them--plus makes clean up a little easier when every freaking grain of food is gone! They never miss a bite.

Sharon Dickerson said that her niece Kimberly is having a hard time getting any sleep. Can't imagine what she must be going through. Anytime one's gut is messed with, the repercussions just don't seem to stop. Please pray for her that she will be able to get the rest she needs. She and her family also need the peace of mind that only God can give us.

Michelle Malay says things with Joe are about the same. Maybe that is at least something to be encouraged by if things are not worse. sigh Wish he could come home, but know he is where he needs to be.

Have saved up over five dozen eggs so far to send home with Jennifer. Not sure which day she will be here, but by Saturday she should have enough eggs for the entire family. Passover begins on Saturday night. It is seldom the same as Easter. But knowing God's calendar, the Jewish people observe the days and the calendar that God set up for their nation, His people. And no, this has nothing to do with eggs! Oh well.

My mind wanders freely and sometimes takes me places that are pretty unexpected. When the engineer for the city came out yesterday, it made me want to go ask him questions, but it just seemed too nosy. Not that it matters if an old woman feels nosy or not. Have wondered several times if the city was getting ready to do something with Lake Wichita. It could be not only a good source of water, it would also make a wonderful place for families to boat or play. The water might never be drinkable, but it would do to put on plants in the medians. Just the parks alone would take quite a bit of water. Scary to think that this lake was once the source of our drinking water! Possum Kingdom was a much better source and did not have the pollution of Lake Wichita. Oh well. 

Put a few seeds in a pot today to try to start them. Covered the top of the pot with plastic after watering the seeds in. That was what was recommended. We will see what happens. Think tomorrow is going to be sunflower seed day. Have to get the mound made out there inside the little corral. Have a strange looking little spade thing that cuts grooves in the dirt and removes any grass. Not that the hens left any grass in there! Think it is about ready to plant except for leveling it out a bit. Then the corn will go around the inside of the rows of sunflowers. This may get interesting. Just hope it turns out well.

Still trying to finish a book started a couple of days ago. It is not the most interesting, but hate to start a book and not finish it. This uncle is the most unrealistic person who ever lived and cared for his nieces! No one in his/her right mind allows children to go to school alone even if the car does take them right to the front of the building! A driverless car is just not too hard as a concept for me, but putting kids inside and telling the car where to go? Nope. Not in my way of thinking. Then there are the strange meals he feeds them. Good grief, Gertrude! Peanut butter sandwiches for meals on repeat! Ack. Oh well. It is just fiction, but it worries me that someone would think that sort of life is acceptable!

Mixed up some jello. Have not had any in a long time. Let's hope it is still as good as it used to be. No chewing, just open mouth and swallow! Kinda like my dogs when they get treats that are bite sized. 

Lay down today for a short nap. The dogs "helped" me settle down. One head and a couple of paws worth of help, ya know. One of these days they will get a surprise and get put in their crate. Or not. It is so hard to UNspoil a critter. And they curl up right inside my body to keep both of us warm and touching. Sweet dogs.

Talked to Connie today and heard about how it was when she got old enough to drive. She had to take her little sister and her friends with her whenever she went somewhere--but was not allowed to correct them. Argh! Could not have done that. Know my children would tell on each other. They knew better than to pull anything on Lance, but he was about ready to leave home by the time Jennifer got to high school. And poor Hanan thought he was a teenager by the time he was four years old! He was nine years younger than Lance. Connie said that Rebekah was eleven years younger than she was. That had to be hard running around with a little sister that much younger! We all think we have it hard until we see what goes on around us!

One of the things my father-in-law used to tell me was that this ground up here was the best soil there was for growing things. Yet he did not plant things up here, just on the farm. Not sure why, but it seems strange to me. Maybe there was just not enough room back then. Three houses were down from his place here. This road used to have a lot of traffic. Now it is just the city trucks, Mr. Anderson and friends, and the occasional visitor over at Jerry's. He is still in jail, so who knows when and if he will return. Meanwhile his place is growing up like a bad weed--typical. Hope JoAnn has her nephew lined up to clean it up pretty soon. Guess it is not my problem. The "privacy" fence keeps most of the stuff on this side out of sight. Yay!

Wow! My phone just reported a bad supercell tornado mess from Alabama and Georgia that covered 150 miles! Five folks were killed and a bunch are missing. Lord help them! We know what that is like, unfortunately.

So far this year, only Thompson has crawled under my desk. Yours truly just looked at the weather report and kept on going. But it is the right time of the year. Talking to Patty about going to the basement the other day. She said she did not think she could make it down there. She would also have to carry her bottle of oxygen, so she was thinking about having a safe room built inside the house, but she had not decided where she could have it put. They have one entire room that is full of guns safes. Seems like a good place for a person safe!

Have more flower seeds to plant tomorrow. Really kinda went overboard buying seeds this year. But last year the poppies were SO pretty. So got more poppy seeds of different colors. We shall see how that turns out. Anyone here ever plant columbine? Got four different colors of that seed. Can hardly wait to see what it looks like as a plant and flower. 

You do know that anyone who plants anything has to be an eternal optimist! And expecting to be happy about what grows, well, that is even more optimistic. But let's face it. If no one ever planted things while expecting them to grow, the world would not be nearly as pretty. Yes, God does most of the work, but we can at least herd the flowers into the best little corners of our world. We are so very blessed with beauty. 

Tonight let's remember those who are hurting, having trouble breathing, and otherwise in mourning. Let our prayers be heard on high as our world sorrows. Let us ask for peace and give as generously as we can of our prayers.

May you all rest well and get a good night's sleep. You are loved.

Barking Dogs!

 Some company that has to do with power lines and assorted things of that ilk has had a man in a black Ram out here part of the day. No, it has not been particularly interesting nor cause for a mild case of curiosity. But the dogs have announced their feelings each time he moved. At one point, he was walking out in front of the house with a long yellow pole in his hands when he suddenly became aware of the dogs hanging off the back of the couch cussing him in dog for all they were worth. He seemed a bit shocked--maybe he understands dog--or maybe he was just reassured to see them INside the house and not where they could get to him. Anyway, never a dull moment around here.

Have brown rice in the steamer that is going to be joined with stir fry veggies and sauce from another type of meal. Rice and veggies--especially with mushrooms--makes a pretty decent meal. Lewis would not have concurred, but then, unless the mushrooms were deep fried in a batter, he did not eat mushrooms. Sometimes coming up with a decent meal for anyone is a challenge, but feeding myself has been anything if not boring. Same ol' same ol' just doesn't do it.

It is cold and wet currently. Have a sweater on over my tee-shirt and am actually wearing shoes. After finishing off the weeds in the east side lot, it made me appreciate how nice the weather was yesterday. Warm. Right now the wind is brisk and cool. The hens don't seem to mind overly much, but inside the house, Thompson is enjoying his fuzzy jacket.

Took a couple of pictures of Athena the Campine hen yesterday, but have not uploaded them to FB. Just kinda lazy today. When coming inside today after picking up the first round of eggs, Isa reached over and grabbed my pants leg. Think she was trying to get some attention. Poor babies just need to be handled more. They are like small children who want your attention. They even yell about it--especially one hen that has been called "The Squawker." She is really loud and demanding. Thinking about Lewis' pet cow--his first calf from working for his dad. Shirley would let Lewis sit on her or even ride her. Our kids loved giving her watermelon or anything she liked. They got to grow up in a totally different atmosphere than their friends from school. Think it was good for them.

Currently reading a book about a computer engineer who programs driverless cars. The storyline is pretty out there, but it makes me think that the "Rover" car would have so many good applications--especially for those who can't drive due to seizures or some other physical handicap. Of course, in Wichita Falls, there would be very little demand for driverless cars. We have such big distances between one side of town and the other for one thing. But it would be a great service to those who can't ride the bus or otherwise have transportation at their demand. Wouldn't it be something to have better taxi service in a place like this. But the expense would probably keep most folks at home. sigh

Well, Sylvia was not impressed with the green bean offered to her. Have to agree just a bit. Not impressive sauce or texture. Oh well. The hens don't turn up their beaks to anything. Nothing is ever totally wasted when the livestock take on the leftovers.

Have skipped the Chilean Flamingos, the Northern red-billed hornbill, and today the Crested Penguins. Somehow my hens are more impressive to me. And they come when called, don't ya know. Besides, we will never see one of these birds unless we are outside the U.S. Flamingos have been known to fly through this area, but again, not likely to see them. And penguins? Nope, not ever gonna happen around here. It does amuse me, however, that each bird comes up quickly in the search box. Apparently someone else--or many someones--have been looking up the same birds. Maybe someone gave them a bird calendar!

Kinda hoping that Jennifer may make it up here this weekend. She wants more eggs for one thing. But she also put in an order for beef to be delivered here. We will see how that works out.

Hoping to get the sunflowers and corn planted soon. All the plants put into pots are looking good so far. May have to go pick up some cucumber seeds, but that should be it for seed purchases. Gotta have cucumbers! Last year three different people brought cucumber seeds--and they all made good little cukes! It does seem to matter where they are planted, however. The ones out front did the best, but the ones under the AC unit lived longer. It is just awfully dry and hot here on Dickerson Hill in the summertime.

Years ago we walked through the mall--Sikes Senter--for some reason and a lady at GNC offered us each a small sample of papaya juice and said it was SO good for digestion. Lewis loved it. So we bought a bottle of it that had to be mixed up with water. As much as we liked it, the price was pretty high. But now yours truly has bought some dried papaya chunks. Sweet without being too sweet. And it does not make my stomach hurt or burn. It would really be something if those chunks could reduce the need for indigestion meds. And yes, have tried ginger, pickle juice, Tums of assorted kinds, and something prescribed by my doctor. Think it is caused by a stupid hernia because even water has a tendency to hurt just for a minute. Oh well. Life goes on, lolly lolly.

Sitting here glancing up at the little whatnot shelf that Lance made for me years ago in junior high. Jennifer has about filled it with little horses, a rock or two (amethyst), a tractor, and a little blue motorcycle. Just good memories. But then, most memories from my children make me smile and feel loved. They have always been the treasures of my life. 

Don't really have much on my mind tonight. Have not read anything that has set me off on a spiel about our government, so there's that. 

Just got a call from "Shelby" of BillBrownBeef. Jennifer's order is on its way here! She accidentally ordered twice, but one of the orders was cancelled, so she will just have a few boxes instead of an entire deep freeze full. Hope they like this stuff. I look forward to liver and onions soon.

May you all find peace this night. Please remember those like Joe in your prayers. And keep your attitude positive! You are loved. 

Prohibition Results.

 Guns can be dangerous. Yep, could shoot yourself in the foot or worse. And no one in their right mind wants their family threatened by an armed idiot--or even an armed genius. But let's just look at what happens when something is prohibited that has been around for centuries. Now a good beer once in a while is just so freaking good, especially on a hot day. But having lived, even if briefly, with an alcoholic, it is tempting to say that alcohol should not be so easy to get. But this nation tried outlawing alcohol at one point and created a horrible situation with mobs, mafia, and murders out the wahzoo! Prohibition created outlaws out of sensible citizens, too. On the other hand, many a woman made a living out of bathtub brewing during those days. Something that can be hurtful can also be a blessing. 

My oldest son could not understand why liquor stores were considered a necessity during the worst of this pandemic. Well, just see how long the hospitals and morgues will be able to function when all the alcoholics are suddenly cut off. Not a pretty picture. Now that is not to say that guns and alcohol are that much alike because they certainly are not. Hardly anyone around me--well, with one possible exception--would invite anyone over just to enjoy his or her guns. Homebrew is another thing entirely. Hot dogs and homebrew? A Gatlin gun and a beer? Yep, some folks are like that. But the point that this little epistle to the wind is attempting to make is that creating a law to prevent deaths from shooting by attempting to outlaw guns is a lot like trying to take away alcohol. Not a good idea for several reasons. 

Where do the criminals get their guns if they are already prohibited from having a firearm as a felon? Do you really think it is difficult to get a gun? One friend who lived in Colombia wanted me to send him a gun. Had to tell him, "Not only nope, but Hell nope!" Can just see the department of alcohol and fire arms or whatever it is called coming to pay a visit. Now if he had been a smoker, some tobacco could have been sent through the mail maybe. But the customs folks opened the package and removed the sweet corn sent to him because they refused to have any other seed corn in their country other than the ones approved by Dow or whichever company is trying to make them go entirely GMO. So he did not get the sweet corn sent to him. Do you really think a country like Colombia would have a problem with him sending ME something? Nope, it is all about what comes INTO their country. So Mexico could ship us all the guns and cannons in their stockpile, and no one would say a freaking thing. They certainly have no trouble sending homeless children as sex slaves to this country.

The easiest preventable deaths in this country would be to stop abortions on demand. The time to make a choice is before having sex, not after a child is conceived. Then make adoptions part of the program for Planned Parenthood. Want to make highway deaths preventable? Put a breathalyzer in EVERY vehicle that can go over ten mph. Want to really prevent more deaths? Stop letting pharmaceutical companies advertise their products. Two drugs that have caused countless deaths include metformin and one of the other diabetic drugs that has now been taken off the market for causing heart attacks. Innovation is wonderful when it makes sense. But just like trying to determine portion size and number of calories consumed by the public, common sense has not always been part of the equation. Look at the WIC or food stamp purchases that permit unlimited amounts of candies and soft drinks by the participants. Yes, vegetables are much more expensive than sodas, but how can that many empty calories be good for a person, much less their children?

Ok, will scoot the soapbox under my desk and tell you about the latest in weed removal. The hens are not the least bit dumb. They recognize dirt removal when they see it, so it is a matter of moving the weed to one side, dig under it with the pointy end of the tool Jennifer got for me, then pull the weed, tap the root, move the hens, and throw the weed in a big white bucket. They take care of worms, grubs, and scratching in the dirt. So far about one third of the lots are finished. Was SO tempted to call Stephen and ask for the loan of the twins, but decided that there simply is no excuse not to do this work myself. Getting down on my knees is good exercise and something like the best position for prayer. 

Not that yours truly would know what she was looking at, but wanted to load the x-rays on my computer before sending them to Dr. Jensen. Can't figure out how to open the files. My guess is that he will know how, and that is really all that matters. If anyone knows of a good chiropractor in this area, please let me know.

Did something today that is also new to me. Paid online and bought some beef: a couple of ribeyes, some hamburger, and some liver. www.billbrownbeef.com is the address. They have a ranch in the Megargel area (Archer County) with about 1200 head of cattle. All raised right there on the ranch. That means buying locally raised meat and free delivery! Can't beat that with a stick. And the hamburger was $5 a pound, so my daughter would be proud of me!

Bill Brown Beef is going to be happy for our association. My girl just asked for ten ribeyes, ten packages of hamburger, and some skirt steak. Mine is about to be delivered right now! Wow! That is some kind of service! Learned about these folks from a beautician at Spa Bella.

My back is beginning to tell me about how much more is going to get done today in that little weed plucking adventure. Whew! Jennifer found something to kill the pain for me, but will have to wait until it is time to go to bed to do that. It is funny to me that my neighbor down the street believes the weeds that are not edible to my hens are supposed to produce the same effects as the wacky weed they sell in Colorado. Can tell you right this hot minute that these weeds are not doing anything good for me! Well, maybe they are causing me to get exercise--a good thing for an old girl who does not do very much any longer.

Coming back from Jenn's house, brought my riding helmet in case someone has a horse that needs to be ridden gently. Not up to the hell-bent-for-leather of my youth. Can't believe my body made it to this age, all things considered. One bad fall is all it takes to cripple someone for life. Cindy Jones was saying that her doctor got kicked in the head by a horse and died. Now that is pretty sad. Not taking any chances so the kids don't have to come up here and clear out the old homestead any time soon.

Cooked a good Angus roast from Market Street this morning. So now will have to wait a few days to try out this new beef. Called Jenn to see if she wanted some liver. The reaction was suitably ferocious! Ack! Ack! Bleah! Not only no, but Hell no! She won't even let it in the house!

Well, my body is tired, but the sight of those multiple messes of weeds just sitting out there making seeds is just too much for me. Here goes another assault on the "meadowing" of Dickerson Hill.

Please remember those like Joe Malay who are fighting illnesses. Then remember those poor families who lost someone is that horrible shooting in Colorado. May God give them peace, even if it takes a bit to get there. Horrors of daily life in some countries are becoming more prevalent here. May God protect us and those we love.

May you sleep well and awake refreshed and ready to deal with whatever life hands you. You are loved.

Crazy Hours!

 Despite not going to bed early last night, this ol' gal woke up around threeish. Finally gave up and got up at four and sat and finished a book. Crawled back in bed and slept until nearly 7:30. Not too bad. Anyway, now the day is only a tad after four and again the lack of sleep is catching up with me. No naps, however. Going to tough it out and go to bed after the hens are shut up in their coops. Have not really been able to do anything since it started raining early on and is not quite convinced that it is finished. And pretty cool and nippy to boot!

Youngest grandson had his 21st birthday at work today. Grayson said he went up there to have pizza with the family. Think the last time they ordered expensive food from someplace, everyone griped, so from now on it is kid food or something like that. Free food is free food, ya know.

Got a text message from Michelle Malay. Tim has gone up to the hospital to be with Joe. Michelle is stiff in the joints from the weather changes. Understand completely! My right knee told me yesterday that the weather was about to do something drastic. Who needs a weatherman when your joints tell you before you even get out of bed in the morning! Can understand much better how my grandparents and parents must have felt. Didn't seem to me that my parents griped all that much, but my dad just could barely get to the car barn when they needed something from out there. Mom could get around much better, but she would have forgotten why she was going in the first place, much less come back with the right whatever! My mother-in-law had bad legs after they did the by-pass surgery on her heart. But she ended up with bones that were about like Styrofoam according to the doctor who told us that he could not repair her broken hip. It made me wonder what others did that their bones were stronger. Maybe they just moved around more or something. Lewis had good bones--big ones, too! The by-pass surgery may have caused other problems, but soft or brittle bones was not one of the results. Guess we just have to be thankful for whatever the doctors are able to do to keep us going. Looking at Mother Malay in her 90s just amazes me. She has to use a quad cane, but she doesn't complain. At least she has not complained in my presence. Just hope that my attitude is that pleasant should my age ever get that far along.

Got tickled at Jack Culpepper watching whatever kind of game it was between the Razorbacks and Texas Tech. Not sure if a game that ended 68 to 66 is football or basketball. Whatever it was, he said it was a tough game. After watching my granddaughter play soccer, nothing those guys do out there lined on a marked up field impresses me all that much. These girls run from one end of the field to the other and run into legs, bodies, and assorted feet being kicked in the air. Polo could not be any harder on a person's body in my estimation! At least the horses take most of the shots rather than a girl's body! Tough little ladies!

The neighbor's grandson has been out again despite the rain and has made the dogs go crazy. Would keep them inside, but they want to jump on the windows! Not a good idea. So out they go to bark and run up and down the fences. Good exercise, don't ya know.

Gathered eggs earlier and talked to a couple of the hens. They were not happy to see my hand scooted under their breasts. But each one permitted the hand to gather the eggs without being the target of some mean little pecks. They are getting much better about being jostled around a bit. The Marans still have an attitude, but they watch the older hens and submit mostly like those hens. None of them are as sweet as ISA, but she is a special hen anyway. Think she must be on the very lowest end of the pecking order. Poor sweetie. She is a real light weight hen, but lays a big brown egg. The only smaller hen is Athena, but she has the attitude of a big ol' boss. She squawks and tells everyone how the cows eat the cabbage! She has a white head and neck and a grey speckled body. One of these days, a picture has to be posted here. She is just as pretty to me as any Chilean Flamingo ever hoped to be. (The bird of the day--pink and strangely flamboyant.)

Maggie Sewell gave me some jam for my family yesterday--cranberry and strawberry. Sounds wonderful. No strawberries for me, however. That one might just be the death of me should it ever get past the taster. Have no idea why an allergy can develop to something like that. We never had strawberries when we were younger. And it took ONE bite to find out that they would make my tongue swell and mouth burn and turn an interesting red. Nope, they smell wonderful. Even used to make strawberry preserves for Lewis, but nowadays even touching them does not seem like a good idea. Same with kiwi or fresh pineapple. Just weird.

Having food preferences has never particularly surprised me. One of my grands does not eat beef. Chicken is fine, but no beef. Go figure. The same grand cannot drink milk. Lance is the same way about milk. Someone told me that many Indians could not tolerate milk, but Jenn swears there is no Indian in our DNA. Ok, whatever. But she could not drink milk from a cow as a baby--mother-in-law found out the hard way. TOLD her not to give the child milk, but she knew better. Some folks just have to see things for themselves.

Got to thinking the other night about where the corn seed was put after buying it at the Feed and Seed Store. In my purse, of course! Walking around with seven dollars worth of sweet corn seeds in my bag. Maybe tomorrow will be a good day for planting sunflower seeds and corn seeds. We will see. Look forward to seeing anything growing in that circle out in the back that is staked out with chicken wire and metal stakes. Did this last year, and it worked pretty well, but did not plant sunflowers there. Maybe the two will be ok together?

My father-in-law had a wonderful garden every year. LONG rows all neatly laid out with no weeds between the rows. But he also had a tractor and some wonderful sandy loam soil. His English peas hardly ever got to the kitchen. We would squat down in the rows and eat them right there in the garden. In case you did not know, fresh English peas are reminiscent of raw peanuts--and just as good as a laxative! 

Someone posted about poke salad on FB recently. We always went down on the old railroad tracks to look for poke. The leaves had to be cooked in three separate waters before they could be eaten. But OH! talk about the most wonderful green ever! And yours truly never knew when to quit! Mother-in-law tried to keep some in the deep freeze for when we went down on the weekends to help with whatever. Never failed to give me a belly ache, but it was worth it. Spinach and turnip greens just do not compare.

Sitting here writing about food and thinking that the broccoli beef lunch was not nearly as satisfying as a big bowl of poke salad greens would have been. Funny what things we remember and enjoyed once upon a time. Someone even posted asking if anyone ever ate what we used to call Cinnamon Toast. Bread toasted with butter, sugar, and sprinkled with cinnamon. Oh yes! Great mornings began with "sugar or cinnamon" toast. Beat the crud out of oatmeal!

Thinking that some folks really like grits, too. As a stomach filler, they will do, but scrambled eggs are much, much better. Folks back in the days of the Depression were happy to have grits. Those who did not have their own hens were likely to have to eat grits for more than one meal, too. We live with each situation as it comes, but memories of those meals are still what makes them the best.

It is doing a pretty good job of raining right now. Guessing this is going to be an all-nighter. At least we are getting rain. Just really dread the possibility of another drought. The last one took so many trees. If the freeze did not get them this year, a drought would certainly finish them off. Somehow trees are a picture of North Central Texas to me. Mesquites are going to make it, but the rest of the trees are there for shade, for birds, for the hope that we see in the landscapes. As pretty as flowers are, the Bluebonnet does best in the worst soil around. But a good sturdy Cedar Elm means business--birds' nest, shade, and good boundary markers. May God bless the land this year.

Don't really know much. Will ask you again to pray for Joe Malay. Please also remember Connie Cooke as she tries to help her sister Rebekah with her choices. Sometimes it is harder to watch others make choices for themselves than it is for us to make our own choices. Life is always a bit of a puzzle. 

May you all rest well this night and awake with joy! You are loved.

AAAACCCCCHOoooooo!

 Nothing quite says March like the wind that blows one upside down and inside out around here! But at least it does not feel as if the barometric pressure is dropping to tornado levels! And if the weather forecast is anywhere near accurate, we might even get some rain tomorrow. That won't hurt even one thing. It does remind me, however, that the overall forecast is for drought conditions everywhere from California to Midland, TX. As if it were not hard enough to live with the crud that has been going on with Covid and irrational sex maniacs shooting up massage parlors in Atlanta, now we face droughts. 

Please do not try to tell me that the possible national heritage of people who do massages can bear on the reason for some mentally unstable person going on a killing spree. When going to Massage Envy a couple of years ago, the therapist said that if anyone asked for anything that included the word "extras," the therapist immediately stopped and called the police. Two or three "massage parlors" were shut down here in WF because someone let it be known that "extras" were a way of asking for whatever kind of sex that included. Apparently some places were obliging the customers. Pretty stupid. 

A bit ago Maggie Sewell and her husband came to pick up some eggs. Poor David is taking the teasing pretty well, but his two black eyes and broken nose with a great big knot on his forehead are pretty good reminders that wearing sunglasses and navigating unfamiliar steps might not be the best idea. At least it was his nose broken and not his head or a hip! The older we get, the more apt we are to break something easily. Going to open the kitchen door earlier to let the dogs out to bark at the neighbor's grandson reminded me to always let the dogs go FIRST! Sylvia almost wrapped her body entirely around my legs before we got untangled! Nothing like a hyper dog trying to get out the door in a hurry!

Picked up seventeen eggs and added to the list of things to do with eggs--besides giving them away. Need to whip some up and put them in ziplock bags for a quick scrambled egg with cut up fresh veggies. Saw a recipe that suggested that a person could put in the veggies and drop them into boiling water, but it did not sound as good as putting them in hot butter for something like a mini frittata. Eggs and veggies are just a good combination. Especially if the veggies are fresh. 

Spring is one of the times of the year that some folks can truly appreciate allergies and storms--NOT! No, we survive the allergies and sneezing our guts out just to hope that we aren't swept away by a major storm system. Then there are the beautiful flowers, the happy songs from the birds, and the soft days that make life seem happier than any other time of the year. Sitting out watching the hens has been pretty pleasant. But they have really done a number on the yard lately. The hole they dug in the east side lot would make any Marine proud to have them as fox hole diggers! Yep, my Maran Marines and Black-laced Wyandotte Green berets! Will have to see if Stephen Smith has any semi-fresh veggies to give them in the next few days. Think Cindy Jones is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Nikki is in Colorado, so Stephen has a houseful of boys--his three and at least one more. Sent the pizzas that were bought for the boys home with him when they came to plant my trees--plus the rest of the corndog things. Boys grow wild like weeds in spring, so they have to be fed to keep them from being restless. Or so my memory reminds me. 

Thinking back at one of those times years ago when we had bought some chicken tender things for keeping in the freezer. Came home to find an empty box. Lance came home from classes with a friend, and they wiped out the entire box. Yep, just a little snack there. Typical boys with typical appetites. Used to send care packages off to Ft. Worth when he started classes down at UT Arlington. He was always hungry. But Hanan was like that at the same age. We sent care packages to California because he never got enough to eat. Yes, it would have been easier to send money, but this way we knew he had something to eat. He wrote home and told us that Jessica's step mom was the best cook in the entire world. Think what was best about her cooking was that it was always a LOT of food without judgment. But he also told me about some of the things she cooked. Sounded good, but our food has always been just good, solid food. No frills. Lewis was what they called a "meat and potatoes" kind of man. Cornbread and beans was one of his favorites. Anyway, the boys took after Lewis when it came to eating. He was six foot one, and neither of the boys got that tall. However, Lance's son has already hit that height and so has Jennifer's youngest son. Maybe they will take after Lewis' dad--6'5".

Need to sit here and write a thank you note to my oldest grandson. It was so good having him here with me for a few days--plus all the help he gave me. Sometimes a "real" thank you note is just what is called for. Grayson has no way of knowing how much his visit meant to me. It was so good to be able to show him some of the family pictures from his great-great-great granddad and his family. Even showing Jennifer the pictures did not make me believe that any of the family history would be remembered. Two of my great-great grandfathers served in the Confederacy--one shoed horses and mules and the other shoed men. Both had the rank of sergeant, if memory serves me correctly. Somewhere in all the paperwork sent to Jenn's house is the source for looking them up. One (Pollard) was straight out of Traskwood and served in San Antonio making shoes for the soldiers. Sterling V Camp served elsewhere, but my memory has since blurred the place he served. Sorry ol' memory. 

The neighbor's little grandson finally stopped roaring up and down the road. Went out and spoke with him, but did not ask him NOT to, just told him that he was keeping the dogs in an uproar--which is why he enjoyed flying up the road so well. Ah, to be young and full of mischief.

It is supposed to be a little cooler tomorrow, so probably won't get much done outside, but maybe it is just as well. For some reason my right knee has decided to complain again. Wish it were possible to do for myself what Dr. Jensen did to that sucker! Maybe if Cari Guidry had some idea of what he did, she could do it for me. Surely can't go out and kick it back where it was before. sigh

Saw a flower pot planted full of English peas and wondered if that could be done with beans. Probably not since they make a bush. Oh well. Can always make a row of beans out by the new peach tree on the outside of the fence where the hens can't get to them. Those beans would never get a chance to sprout inside the yard! So many neat ideas for planting things. Now just need to get some spaghetti squash seeds and find a place to grow them. Got sweet corn seeds to put in the sunflower garden. Hope that works. Have plenty of fertilizer to put out there for the ground. It is difficult to balance out the use of chicken poo with what the dirt can absorb without burning the plants. Granddad could do it without even thinking. My experience tells me from looking when too much has been applied--the plants get that burned look. But knowing how much to put in the dirt is all a matter of experience as well--guessing.

Saw something on FB when Leta Talley had posted about losing Ronnie Talley to the Covid mess. SO many folks had kept him in their prayers. You know, death is not the final word. We all seem to understand that, but living with loss makes us feel as if we have come to some conclusion. But thinking about the ones we have lost reminds me that the love we still hold for them keeps them alive in another way. The only one who ever died and returned to tell us about it was Jesus Christ. And He conquered death. He told us that it is not the end. Whether we all believe the same things or not, we can trust in the One Who gave us life to begin with. We are not just random creatures. God gave us a spirit that belongs to Him. He will reclaim that spirit in time. Meanwhile, we can love one another, encourage and comfort one another. And pray for those who are struggling with life and death. Let's do our best to rejoice in the many blessings that God has provided--especially the love He gave us.

May you all rest well and awake with joy. You are loved.

Plants and Planting.

 Shirley Taylor will be happy to know that the Bird of Paradise seeds have finally been planted. We will see if any little trees come up to be moved next year. Meanwhile, waiting for Stephen Smith and boys to come and dig three holes for my new trees--a peach, a fig, and an apple. Got all the tomatoes, squash, and peppers planted, but also had some Lobelia and Begonias to plant. Sutherlands had a half price sale! The place was wall to wall busy today. Naturally.

Talked to Lance a bit ago and told him that my Nandinas looked mostly dead. He said his bushes out front were dead as well. When asked what kind they were, he replied, "Builder's special." When asked if he wanted the two rose bushes out front of my place, he said that the mean ol' suckers could just stay up here and grab someone else when they go by them. That is exactly what they do--grab and stab!

Plan on letting the wild verbena, dandelions and assorted wild weeds grow until more plants are blooming. Seems those "weeds" are the ones the bees depend on for their first spring meals. Who'dathoughtit!

Back awhile when Jerry was working on his place, he borrowed my good black water hose and did not return it. Called his mom and asked her if yours truly could go get my hose. Of course. Then discovered that he had also taken some of my other tools. Argh! Glad that some of my older tools are in the box in the back room or that hose would still be over there! Ask me if some things really tick me off! As much help as he has been over the time he has been there, it is not worth having my tools walk off and never return.

Found my AWOL pocket knife last night. Had put it on the dresser top and covered it with whatever, so it really wasn't "missing," just covered in messy. Wonder what else could be found around here. But then, maybe whatever else is "hidden" is at least in a good, safe place--especially if it is still here!

It will be time to go get fuel for the zero turn and the other mower soon. And by then the weed eater will get a good work out. Have plenty of string, but it is battery powered, so it has built in "rest" periods for an old woman. Charge the battery and rest, ya know.

Lance asked me if he had given me a bird food scoop. He gave it to Ray and Susan--his outlaws in San Antonio. But he gave me a good idea about how to get the chicken feed easily placed inside the bins. So now all Stephen and the boys will need to do is dig three big holes for the fruit trees. 

Just got a text message from my sister-in-law to say that Ronnie Talley just did not make it. Not sure if he ever even woke up after being sedated for all this time. So sad for his wife Karen and their family. This Covid crap is so very cruel. Please remember them in your prayers.

While you are praying, please remember Joe Malay and his family. Even pneumonia will take someone unless the doctors are really on top of the symptoms. And it does not seem that Joe's lungs are getting any better. Maybe an older drug might work better. We DO know that God can lift him up to good health. So that is my prayer. 

Just talked to my daughter. She and Gary were driving back from East Texas where they went to a Mini Cooper rally. Gary's mom went in her car, and some woman ran into the back quarter panel of her car. KNOW that had to have upset her! And then Gary was driving too fast to suit Jenn because she could not see his mom behind them. AH! Keeping up with children is hard, but keeping up with old folks like me and Mary--well, that is an entirely different bag of squirrels!

Stephen won't be here today, so the trees will have to go inside the yard until tomorrow. Can't have them walking off after getting myself to purchase them! The entire hill would be covered in trees if money were no consideration! Pecans, hickory, walnut, and every other fruit around would be out there. Thinking about how hard it must have been on the family that owns The Pecan Shed to lose over 600 trees to a straight line wind storm last year. That had to be a huge chunk of their income since those were grown, bearing trees. 

Patty Anderson just called to see if my electricity was also off. Yep. Deader than a doornail around here. Did not realize why my laptop kept fussing about no connection. The battery keeps the laptop going, but the router has to have electricity. She said it should be back on around 8:30. She was torqued. "They can shove those windmills up their rear ends! We never had this problem until they started relying on wind power!" She is absolutely right. No electricity back during that storm really hurt folks. Up north they don't need AC like we do here in Texas. Not sure what Carrier's first name was, but we need a monument to him here in Texas. AH! We have power! Still not connected to router--no internet, but lights.

Willis Haviland Carrier (November 26, 1876 – October 7, 1950) was an American engineer, best known for inventing modern air conditioning. Carrier invented the first electrical air conditioning unit in 1902.

The bird for the day is the common crane. Now folks, if you do not know what a crane looks like, well, that is just mighty sad. If there is water, there is at least one crane around to dredge up the pollywogs and small fish. Long necked, long legged and just as poised as a bird can be. No one shoots a crane to eat, for sure, unless it is a sandhill crane from Nebraska. Those are called flying steaks in that part of the world. Here in Texas we protect the Whooping Cranes when they are down on the Gulf. They used to be as plentiful as the common crane, but some idiots thought they made good target practice.

The whooping crane (Grus americana), the tallest North American bird, is an endangered crane species named for its whooping sound. Along with the sandhill crane, it is one of only two crane species found in North America. The whooping crane's lifespan is estimated to be 22 to 24 years in the wild. After being pushed to the brink of extinction by unregulated hunting and loss of habitat to just 21 wild and two captive whooping cranes by 1941, conservation efforts have led to a limited recovery. The total number of cranes in the surviving migratory population, plus three reintroduced flocks and in captivity, now exceeds 800 birds.

Sandhill Crane in pictures don't show the difference between their height and that of the Whooping Crane which is the tallest crane in North America.

Well, a shower sounds good right about now. Caleb, the neighbor's little nine-year-old stinker, is down there making my dogs bark. Yes, the dogs could be brought up and put in the house, but just not gonna do it. Mean ol' woman!

May you all stay healthy and happy. May God bless your rest and your thoughts. You are loved.

Surprise Visitors!

 Today brought a lovely surprise visit from Michelle Malay and her mother-in-law, Mother Malay. We visited for about an hour in the kitchen and had to listen to the dogs tell us how badly they were being treated because they could not come inside and check out the visitors. Anyway, truly enjoyed their visit. 

Michelle said that Joe is at the Promises Hospital--still on the highest setting of oxygen since the pneumonia has not left his lungs. The infection in his right leg is better, but the infection in his lungs really is worrisome. Anyone who is a diabetic or who has congestive heart issues just has to fight twice as hard as the rest of us to stay healthy. Please pray for Joe and his family. 

Mother Malay was telling me about how her mother-in-law had two sets of twins ten months apart. The last set was identical, and one did not live, so she just told everyone that she had triplets! She thought it was funny, and truly it is in many ways. That was during the times when big families were really necessary if one lived on a farm. All those boys had to help take care of the farm. But two of  her boys were lost in WWII. Sad to think how many families were affected by all the stupid wars our nation has been involved in over the years. 

Haven't accomplished much today. Put up the chicken wire for the sunflower garden, but did not get in there and plant anything. Think some squash plants are going on the inside to climb the sunflowers after they are started. Thought about corn, but decided against too many upright plants in that small space. We will see how things go later. Just one day at a time right now.

Sent eggs home with Michelle, and she got a picture of the latest weird shaped egg. Those type of eggs simply are too large to fit in a carton. Besides, they are double yoked and just look strange!

Vacuumed the living room a bit ago and removed quite a few dog biscuit crumbs. WHY Thompson is only happy if he gets over the rug to eat is beyond me! Noticed that Sylvia has gained weight this winter, and Thompson has lost weight. Not sure why. But then, he is the neighborhood squirrel chaser! At least he does not demand his portion of whatever is being fed to the hens from my hands. But dear hearts, they better not get near anything that he considers HIS food. He will flat out chase them to the other side of the yard! If cartoon captioning were available for him, his little balloon would always say, "MY food!"

Mother Malay was saying that she really loves cats. Cats are nice, but when one has dogs, it is not easy to handle the mischief between the two. Besides all of that, some of us are pretty allergic to cats. Told her and Michelle that it took an allergy specialist a while to figure out that yours truly was allergic to our sheep--the wool, the oil in their wool, and the feed we were giving them--cotton seed hulls. The specialist said that 99% of people who have problems with wool were not actually allergic to the wool. Guess who was among the one percent who was definitely allergic! Same problem with cats. Love 'em, but can't tolerate their dander! But Mother Malay showed me her cats---umpteen kitties all over her purse! That is the best kind of cat unless you need one for the barn to kill mice and rats.

Have a bunch of books to read when it is too cool to go outside. Walked out and checked the grass and weeds earlier and decided that some kind of clover is growing--not sure if it is what was planted, but it is definitely growing. So, this will be the summer of books and clover or books and mowing! Love seeing the grass coming in, however. Green is such a wonderful color. Have some tubs to put in the side lot to fill up with something pretty. Will have to "fence" them in, but that is ok anyway. The hens dig these humongous holes for some reason. Always the same places and to a depth that invites a suspicion of a mining engineer! Look out at the east side lot and see these wings flapping as they lay on their sides and kick dirt up over themselves. Weird hens!

The current book in my reading list has a young adopted woman and her adopted brother living with her two dads who were able to get married. Such situations are supposedly common enough now, but it surprised me. Life has certainly changed character in my lifetime. Maybe it is for the best since the husband-wife unit did not always work out well. And adoption of different races has become common as well. All children need a good home and to be loved. Character is more important than race, religion, or sex. It may not be what we grew up with and would curl the toenails of those folks like my parents, but it is not up to us to judge in my way of thinking. My parents were horrified by my niece being a lesbian, but they were so mean to her that it seemed to me that she was less to be judged than their attitude. It seems like a lot of folks waste their time judging when God is the one whose job that remains. Some of my family and friends would be horrified and yell about Sodom and Gomorrah, but dearly beloved, not all of us are blessed to have a good man--or woman--and a good marriage. Whatever mistakes we make in this life can be forgiven. Period. 

Well, now that a few folks have been thoroughly appalled by my remarks, let me just say that the greatest command is to love God and then your neighbor. The rest will come out in the wash.

JoAnn said that maybe Jerry will be out of jail soon. Hope he can get the place cleaned up and have it where he can keep up with the grass. His place is almost as big as mine, but the top half is covered in concrete! Not sure what he was thinking, but at least he has no grass growing up the sides of his house!

My allergies are in full force today. The pollen count lately has made life interesting for so many of us. Think it is supposed to rain this next week, too. As long as we don't get any tornadoes, this ol' gal will not gripe!

The bird for the day is the Yellow-throated Toucan. It is another South American species, but it comes up in Northern Mexico sometimes. Don't expect it out on your favorite mesquite tree anytime soon. ahem

Birds are nearly always fun to watch, but this morning we were talking about the Canada geese that pretty well take over any good spaces near oak trees around Wichita Falls. Only the pelicans on Lake Wichita are messier! The geese eat all the acorns under the trees down at the library or wherever the oaks grow. But those pelicans get out here on the lake and come ashore to do their stuff--usually in one of their favorite spots on the west shore. Feathers and bird boo boo! Such fun. Sometimes it really is for the best not to have lake front property!

May you all have a good evening of rest and awaken to happiness. It's good to know we can trust in our Creator. You are loved.

Night Visitors.

 Reece and his friend Ashley were on their way home last night when they got to Amarillo. Not sure which one was more tired, but got a call from grandson who wanted to know if they could spend the night. OF COURSE!!! I would have been insulted if they had come through WF without stopping. Their first call woke me up, the second call confused me, and the third call amused me. THEN his mom called to be sure it was ok or something. By then my meds had really kicked in, so it was up to the dogs to tell me when they got here. Had the flood light on and the front porch light on, so they did just fine. Of course, they got the big dog welcome from Thompson with a few licks, but the Sylvia hyperactive butt wiggling, jumping all over them was just the icing on the cake or whatever. Anyway, something woke me up at 5:30, so a quick shower got my eyes open enough to get some Jimmy Dean bagel sandwiches out for them. They were on their way by about seven. And now are safely home. The Lord looks over us always!

It has been downright cold today in my estimation. The wind off the lake always makes things a bit cooler, but it was pretty sharp this morning. The hens were happy to get out and look for whatever, but they came to see if anything special was on the menu earlier when the nests had to be checked. Those hens are something else again. Today was a round one of many eggs. Won't be as many tomorrow. That is just the way it works. It takes 26 hours to produce an egg. So one day is a big day for bringing in eggs. The next day is just a so-so day for picking up eggs. And no, the old woman did not go out and dig up any worms for them. Too cold.

The weather report has shown everything from multiple tornadoes hitting the same areas to the cold hitting the Panhandle of Texas. And then it will be flooding across the eastern section of the South. Nothing ever just gets comfortable before we have something else to deal with in the weather. Besides all of that, the pollen count is 9.5 with a multitude of sneezes and snorts. It isn't Covid; it is allergies!

Got the Covid vaccine Monday morning, and the arm is STILL sore! Wondering if the pharmacist used a piece of rusty barbed wire when the old woman looked the other way! Glad this is the shot that is not supposed to cause a reaction. Sheesh. Now we can understand when other folks talk about having sore arms and feeling rough. My rough just happens to be allergies, but still. Wearing a long-sleeved tee-shirt with hens on a dandelion flower that Jennifer got for me. It is so comfortable. Wearing a smile always makes rough stuff not as bad in my estimation.

Jenn said that she went back to see Dr. Jensen yesterday because she could not get over the migraine. He pulled her neck and popped her entire spinal column. She feels MUCH better now! Think about three-quarters of this world needs to be adjusted! Well, in more ways than just the spinal columns.

Have all kinds of plans for working in the yard when the wind and the cold are not quite as bad as they are today. The weeds and the flowers out front are getting way ahead of me, but at least it is going to be easy to tell which is which by the time they need to be cut. Have bluebonnets and bachelor buttons already in bloom. Seems early, but what does an old woman know. In some places the wild flowers are way ahead of what we have here. But that means long creeks and in the woods. No such protection from the elements here. Wind, cold, more wind. A plant has to be tough to grow in my front yard!

The bird of the day is a double-crested Cormorant. They are basically water birds that eat fish and are not particularly attractive in my estimation. But it takes all kinds in fish, fowl, or otherwise. At least it is not a dragon! But it has to take time to dry out its feathers after diving and getting its meals. At one time, the DDT in the waters nearly wiped the birds off the map. We have come up with some of the most horrid chemicals that were supposed to do some good that never really helped all that much. DDT killed mosquitoes; but it then killed the birds. Stupidity.

Thinking a nap would be pretty good about right now, but then going to sleep tonight would be a bit tricky. Guess waiting for the hens to go to bed will be early enough. Just think! When it is summer time for sure, the girls don't go up until it is nearly sundown--9 p.m. on this stupid daylight saving time. WHO thinks we are saving anything? Really? ARGH!

Thinking that JoAnn is going to have one heck of a mess to get cleaned up over at Jerry's place. He laid out a cyclone fence--the chain link part--that he had planned to put up. And now the grass has grown up into the links. That should be interesting. Have no idea when or if he will get out of jail again, but maybe she will find someone to clean up his mess again. Glad it is not my job! Just watching the process is hard enough. So sad that nothing ever works out right for him or for his mom. That place could have really stayed nice if he had not been put back in jail the first time. Deep sigh. And it seems to me that the local newspaper just gloats over his every misdeed. Maybe seeing seven million wasted on lawyers was enough to make them envious or something.

Can't stop yawning. Guess a good book will keep me awake until it is time to put the hens up. Meanwhile, may you all remember those who are so desperately ill--and even those who are recovering. Let us give thanks that God has us in His hands. 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.