The little twit that semi-lives over on Lake View behind my place has been driving a puter-scooter all over heck and half of Georgia, and it gave me an idea. Got out my zero turn mower, fastened the dogs in the house, and drove down on the mower to get my mail. So there! Talked to Patty, and she said if she had to she could drive one of Donny's little four-wheel gizmos. I would love to see that! Hooked up to her oxygen bottle and wheeling down to get her mail! It's not like either of us do a lot of walking anyway, but she has the breathing problem for her reason to not walk. My knee is just not very helpful, not like it would hurt me to walk a bit, but not over rough ground.
The wind has blown today, as usual. The pollen count is high, as usual. Connie said it woke her up in the night all choked up and unable to breathe. Yep, pollen is about as bad as it can get for folks who are allergic to that garbage.
Made some bread today. Didn't turn out the best in the West, but tried using some strange kinds of ingredients. Will try again tomorrow and just use regular flour and let it rise twice. Thought it would be fun to use some almond flour and coconut flour. Nope. It tasted ok, but the hens had problems eating the crusts given to them. Now that is some tough crust!
Finished the book With the Makers of Texas by E. C. Barker and H. E. Bolton. It was written back in 1904 and compiled for the University of Texas. Several sections tell about the founding of Texas and its settlement. Some letters are from Travis from the Alamo, Stephen F. Austin from Peach Point near Brazoria, and the founding of the Texas Rangers back before Texas was even a republic. It is truly an amazing book. No wonder our ancestors were happy to be Texans. They had to be a tough bunch just to survive! Asked Lance if he would like to read these two books, but he said he thought he had that part of history covered. As much history as has sifted through my brain, the German settlements and this one that outlines the battles with Mexico and the Civil War just boggled my mind. Know one of my great-great grandfathers was in San Antonio making shoes for the army during the Civil War. His wife and a friend went down there horseback from Traskwood, Arkansas, after word was sent to her that he had been injured and needed a nurse. He was working on shoe leather and pulled an awl up and hit himself in the eye. Imagine riding all those miles horseback without any man to accompany them. Riding through rivers and trying to avoid Indians would be the hard part in my estimation. But according to these stories, thirty miles in a day's ride would have been very hard riding. It has to be pretty tough since there were no roads like today. Today it is 563 miles, or a little over 8 hours, from Traskwood to San Antonio. Divided by the best riding--30 miles a day--it would have taken at least 19 days to get there. You can bet they were not going that fast, however.
While he was up here helping me paint the kitchen, Grayson got to look at my dad's papers from his time in the service. He was supposed to go to Europe in the tank corps to replace the men that had been lost in that battalion. Can't remember the name of it right now, but their signal flag had a big ol' black panther jumping in the air. Daddy used that picture of a panther in one painting he did for the Zachrys for their fireplace. It was a panther about to jump down on a horse coming through under some rocks. Have wished several times that we had asked Clara Zachry if she would let us have that painting. Oh well. Have some of Dad's paintings still. Sterling has the one he did of the old homestead in Jack County. Was only there once and felt terrified by the rattlesnakes and the stinging bugs that would raise a blister if they got on your skin. The men out trying to dig an oil well said it was the worse place they had ever been for stinging and biting creatures! And just think: my Granddad Kennedy grew up there!
The hens are steadily filling up egg cartons. Will have several dozen to take to Dr. Blackwell and her nurse on Monday. Then some of you need to let me know if you want eggs. Sent some home with Michelle and Tim Malay the other day since Joe's daughter was to be at their house. Not sure how that situation is going. Don't want to call or bother them. It can't be easy.
Have thought several times about how being a widow can really warp one's mind. We don't want to be a burden to anyone, but we really need help of all kinds, plus the assurance from our kids that they truly love us and appreciate us. Know that Jennifer and Lance do their best to check on me. Jenn reads this blog and is one of the administrators. Lance does not get on FB at all any longer. So he knows what Jenn tells him or whatever he finds out when he calls. Have even begun to call my granddaughter just to check on her every so often. She is applying for a job that would truly be good for her, so that has gone on my prayer list. She loves the outdoors and reminds me of some of my friends who are part of the "wilderness" group. Anyway, would prefer to see her working on a tree farm rather than in one of the big stores like Target. She would probably be safer in the woods!
Jenn told me the other day with excitement in her voice that the honey bees were alive and well in their big oak tree. That made me smile. They live in an HOA so they can't claim a beehive as a tax exemption. Thought about Judie Brunson and her mini donkeys and horses. Not sure how she managed to get it declared a farm, but it cuts down on taxes when that is possible. Kinda neat. Can't do that here on the hill within the city limits--at least don't think it can be done. Oh well.
Have you ever thought about the greatest gift you ever received? It is easy for me: forgiveness. The Passover pictures that forgiveness. And His resurrection pictures the victory over death and our sure life in him after death. Thought about the one time when my head got konked, and the next thing of which my mind was aware was the horse standing over me blowing her breath in my face. It could have been minutes or even longer, but to me, it was just a second before when we had been running over that meadow. Truly believe that our resurrection will be like that. Waking up is like that each day, for that matter. Sleep is so necessary, but the waking up part is a celebration. Now is the time to appreciate that God has given us both the rest and the awakening. Just my thoughts tonight.
May you all find a corner of your thoughts to share with those you love. May you rest and awake with joy. You are loved.
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