The Gold Standard.

 The Gold Standard.

 

What is a standard? The internet has all kinds of neat definitions for us: What is a higher standard?

 

Holding yourself to a higher standard means you are accepting the fact that you cannot be influenced by people with no direction in their lives. You need to be more mature and professional in the way you act around people, talk to people, and present yourself. Normal should not be good enough for you. Expect excellence and believe in yourself.

 

A very recent conversation led to some thoughts about what we expect from ourselves and others. Yes, avoiding being judgmental matters, but conversely, we can see quite often what we would NOT want to emulate in others. Tara Ross has an article on FB each Monday about our Medal of Honor winners. It is not a contest anyone enters willingly, but sometimes men and women find themselves pushed beyond their own expectations of behavior and belief. Sometimes other articles of history will tell us about those who just fell into situations where they were able to help others while not actually intending to defy authorities—at least to begin with. The Japanese ambassador who wrote out visas to Japan even as he was leaving on the train in order to save Jewish lives. The very educated woman who was both doctor, translator, and a very fine explosives expert who defied the German government during WWI. We can hope that we would do as well as these two examples, but no one really looks for that kind of opportunity in the beginning. Still, their lives have set a standard for us.

 

Again, what is the gold standard? We think of gold as being one of the most valued metals, and even God says that he refines us like gold in His fires. But what about that “influence” by people or opinions that we see all around us? Are we sullied by bullies and their opinions? Have we given up thinking and acting for ourselves out of fatigue and the feeling that our actions and words might not even be worth the effort? One man—one woman—just like that proverbial mosquito, can certainly make a difference. We start by holding ourselves to a higher standard than what we see in those around us. Our language, our actions, even our intentions must give us reasons to stand just a little bit taller, just a little bit steadier. We have to really desire justice, freedom, kindnesses, and love for our fellowman. We have to be willing to give our all in whatever situation comes up. We don’t expect to have to serve with guns in battle, but we can use words with encouragement. Hold out your hand to the one who is obviously in pain. No one has to be seen to be appreciated by those who need us. This is not a shiny uniform to be noticed. Just plain love with a smile and maybe some small act of kindness. That is the beginning of the Gold Standard.

 

May God give us peace. You are loved.

NOT Published on FB--Sleeping Through the Night.

 Sleeping Through the Night.

 

Our mothers were among those who were probably jubilant when we finally slept through the night without waking them to be fed or our diapers changed. Sometimes the feeding and the diaper change was times two attempts before we would settle down, no doubt. At least, that was the experience around this house years ago. Wore out one rocking chair completely before the children were out of the house. And now it gripes me when the dogs awaken me at three, four, or five in the morning because the old woman cannot always go back to sleep. Such is life and the way things go. But right at this red-hot moment in time, my dear sister-in-law is sleeping through most of the day and night as well, but she is still waking up every once in a while—opening her eyes and sometimes opening her mouth to be fed the medication for pain. Lesli and Erin sat in her room this morning visiting with me and with her whenever she needed to be turned or otherwise moved. She slipped out of bed onto the floor sometime yesterday afternoon. Her neighbor across the hall saw her on the floor and let the nurses know she was down there. She has a little spot on her elbow, but was otherwise unhurt. The bed now has a pad below it to catch her if she slides out again. The mattress they had her on is filled with air that circulates. Doesn’t look very comfortable to me, but this old body has her own groove dug out in one of those heavy-duty, expensive mattresses. Didn’t think it would ever get to the point that it was really all that comfortable, but Nan promised me that it would fit me eventually. Sure enough.

 

The problem (at least one of them) with life sometimes is that we can’t know the exact date it will either begin or end under normal circumstances. And pushing that situation usually does not result in particularly good results. Lesli and Erin both have lives that can’t be put on hold indefinitely, but they are doing their very best to be there for Anne. That is about all anyone could ask for. We may hope to not be a burden for our children, but no one can make guarantees. The only sure results of a lifetime are based on faith in God—not in any membership, exercise of particular “rites” or some esoteric framework of belief. Actually, it is pretty simple. Even the “uncivilized” Indians of the Americas believed in God. A creator is a basic belief in most cultures that have ever existed, but in the scriptures with which the old woman is familiar, it says that even the heathen are aware of the creation and therefore have no excuse not to believe. Rms. 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”

 

Whether it is a golden calf or a i-phone numbered into infinity, we have no excuse to think that anything man makes can bring us favor in this life.  Mankind can only imitate creation. If we can imitate our creator, it should be in showing others the love He has shown us.

 

Guess it is time to hush. Not intending to cause any controversy or whatever, but know that this old woman will stand with a head bowed before the Almighty God of creation if she is still able to stand or even to fall to her knees. May God bless us with His peace and understanding.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Something Light--er.

 Something Light—er.

 

Jennifer and Gary have been on a diet for a while. Gary has lost oodles of weight. Jennifer has lost something like seventeen pounds. We have it figured out: men need that extra weight to come off quickly so the horses can haul their backsides across the hills of Ireland to fight the English or the Danes. Now the women have a different problem: they need that weight to stay on their backsides in case they have to feed babies or simply can’t get another meal for weeks at a time when the invasion comes out of the hills of Scotland. That’s our story, and we are sticking to it.

 

Lunch today: can of chicken, drained. Salad dressing, chopped spicy pickles, a glance at the blueberries, the entire mess mopped up with one of those little floppy tortillas—pulled in half and one half given to the dogs. The floppy tortilla WAS butter-flavored. Sigh A bottle of ginger beer with a minimum of sugar two hours later for the indigestion. Another sigh.

 

Someone told Jennifer he paid $8 for chicken feed at TSC the other day. Yeah? What size bag of scratch did he buy? And HIS chickens just love that corn. Mine won’t eat it. The milo, yes. The corn, no. The sparrows and doves clean up that stuff. Three bags of scratch at $57 dollars does NOT equate to $8 a bag. Thirty-two dollars maybe, but not at TSC. Oh well. She did not ask how many chickens he had or the age of the chickens. Let’s face it, chicks are cheaper to feed. Erin told me today that commercial hens are slaughtered at 24 months because their egg production only falls from that time on. Mine are going to live to a ripe old age –like Athena the Campine hen—and eat their weight in feed every three days until the old woman becomes bankrupt! Jennifer reminds me that the dogs are also expensive. Another long sigh.

 

Have to love my critters simply because they are a wonderful garbage disposal. Lewis hated for me to put carrot peels out the back door or cucumber peels in the flower beds. He loved me, otherwise he would have shouted more often—maybe.

 

Have to admire a man who gets a good wife. It takes two to make a decent marriage—and at least ONE to make a really good marriage. Had to laugh at Jennifer telling me that she found out how spoiled she was because Aunt Caroline did not have a manual can opener. Jennifer did not know how to operate an electric can opener! She doesn’t want any appliances on her counters. Beautiful counters, too! It just made me laugh. Then it reminded me of the number of people that the food pantry serves who actually need manual can openers because they don’t have electricity. OOH! We are so blessed and just don’t know it!! But then, Jenn and her mother both got the kind of men who listened to what they wanted. Yep, blessed.

 

One of the cats got locked in Reece’s room. Trash basket is now in the trash bin. The cat at least tried. As much as a cat is sweet to enjoy, could never do the litter box again. The dogs have nearly half an acre to do their thing. And they are WAY past the shoe chewing stage. Now it is just a matter of keeping treats that they will actually eat. Today they refused to eat anything. Not sure why they felt that they were not hungry. But the food will go out to the hens tomorrow morning. We will try again, dear hearts. No one is going hungry around here.

 

Trying to think of funny or even slightly amusing things today because some things are just too heavy to discuss or otherwise share. Let it be said that good music helps, but a good phone chat with my sweet girl helped more. And then the son sent a picture of an alligator. Asked him if Tracy was planning on boots. He said they saw two! Told him she has two feet. Ahem.

 

Let your light shine and remember where all love originates. Hugs and blessings for all of you this evening. May you rest peacefully and know: you are loved.

Raccoon Trap Plus Squirrel Trap!

 Raccoon Trap Plus Squirrel Trap!

 

Whew! Going to TSC is a bit expensive. Had just planned to get a trap for the stinking raccoon that keeps trying to get in the hens’ coop, but picked up some feed and hay. The trap actually was TWO traps, one large enough for the raccoon and one for squirrels and smaller critters like rats. Saw a trap for insects—flies, squeeters, and other flying critters. Probably should have got one. Don’t ever remember having this many flies in the fall before. They nearly always come around about frost season to escape the outside, but this year they have been more “sticky” than usual. Determined critters!

 

Picked up some jerky treats for the dogs. Plan to put something like that in the coon trap tonight. It’s that or a meatball! Will wait until the dogs have to come in for the night and then put the trap in front of the coop. Tracks are pretty large in front of that door. Think last time when it actually got inside, it came from the long side of the green house and went inside through the little trap door. Now don’t ask me what will happen if it actually gets caught. Hmm. How many miles away would keep it from coming back?

 

Just had some bell pepper and cream cheese. Buying peppers individually is usually more expensive, but noticed that these were smaller than the ones that are usually sold in a plastic sleeve. Hmm. It’s always something that manages to give us a smaller amount for the same price or maybe higher. Grump, grouch, grumble.

 

Think number one child is heading to Corpus Christi this week. It is always good to have a neat place to go for a week away. Think Tracy’s dad will be letting them stay at their place down there. MUCH cheaper than a condo or hotel. And probably a lot cleaner. The kids all are still in classes for college, so they have to stay at home. Then Jenn and husband are heading out the week after Lance for some time away. They definitely need a break, too. It seems our children have so much more to deal with than we ever did back when we were their age. Hard to tell when the world has changed so much.

 

Got a couple of eggs today. May just boil a few eggs. Or not. Scrambled eggs with bacon sounds good for breakfast. And the dogs will be happy to clean up any leftovers.

 

Talked to Sterling a bit ago. He and Jacqui went to look at some leaves. His opinion is that if you have seen one leaf, you know what they look like. Understand, but just getting out once in a while is nice. But Jacqui fell and skinned herself up pretty good. Some lady saw her fall and stopped to help Sterling get her back in the car. He can’t do it by himself. He said he would have to start helping her into the car from now on. She can’t get up by herself any longer. Understand how that can happen. Squatted down to pet a dog at TSC and nearly ended up having to stay down there and use the old cow position to get back up—that’s the one where your rear goes up in the air first so the other end can catch up. Sigh Getting old is not for sissies.

 

Talked to Michelle Malay the other evening and meant to ask her if she got to see the dentist. Simply forgot to ask. It’s not enough to forget why you go into a room; you also have to try to remember what you were planning on asking someone. Oh well. As cousin John Pollard says: sh—happens.

 

The washing machine “dances” across the floor in the kitchen if it gets out of balance with a large load—a bedspread, for instance. So, putting it back is one of those required actions. Did it this morning and kinda ache a bit now. Sterling scolded me and suggested that it could be strapped to the dryer so it has to take the other machine with it in order to do its dance. My luck, they would both end up in the kitchen sink~~~

 

If it stays a bit cool like it was today, may just make a pot of soup or stew. Have plenty of veggies for a pot of stew, but not all that crazy about green stuff at the moment. Carol Thonton said she tried kale and kale chips and thought the stuff was nasty and not fit to feed the birds. Told her that Olive Garden puts that stuff in their Italian sausage soup. But then, not everyone likes soup with their Italian food.

 

An envelope with some seeds came in the mail this morning. The seeds really looked strange. Have seen plenty of morning glory seeds, but these looked like petunia seeds. JUST looked again! They ARE blue petunia seeds! Think these are the midnight star petunias. Hope that they actually sprout and come up good. Will put them in a container in the house and try to take care of them. Watered my African violet and the aloe vera plant today. Neither one wants much water, but both seem to be doing well despite the neglect—or maybe because of the neglect. Who knows.

 

Saw that Nancy Pelosi’s husband is going to have to have brain surgery because of the attack. Sorry the guy is suffering, but at least he does not have to worry about paying the hospital bill. My niece and her husband may be paying for theirs for the rest of their lives. But at least Terry said that Madison is doing well after they got her head back together.

 

Really don’t know too much. And what the old woman THINKS she knows is not all that astoundingly interesting. Figures, huh. Took a pill to relax my back and now am very sleepy. Hope that putting the trap out is one of the things that manages to be remembered. It makes me feel silly to be forgetful, but sometimes getting sleepy means nothing really matters very much.

 

Got a bill from Atmos yesterday that about made me stub my toe. Will have to wait until Monday to call them and find out why it was so high. IF it is one of the things that can be remembered! Good thing most of my bills are taken out automatically from either a credit card or the bank account. Just have to pay attention to my emails to see what needs to be paid. That makes it easier.

 

We know that violence is more and more prevalent each day, so we need to keep loving and forgiving—and keeping our eyes open to protect ourselves. Let us pray for peace.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

The Squirrel Hunters!

 The Squirrel Hunters!

 

Yep, even though it is a bit cool outside, these two dogs are determined that if they stay under that tree long enough, the stupid squirrel will be foolish enough to hop down and try to go somewhere else. It has happened before, but they didn’t catch it that time either!

 

The dogs seem to be the deciding factors in what happens during the day—and sometimes during the night. They thought it was time to get up this morning and let me know they wanted the back door opened. It was raining, but they went out anyway. When it finally got to be daylight, the hens were happy to get out and join the dogs in the back yard. Don’t think the hens even understand the draw of a squirrel. They only like good stuff to eat that they recognize and can pick up off the ground or out of a feed bucket. Such is life among the wild critters on Dickerson Hill.

 

My friend Nikki was saying that she feels so very blessed despite all the garbage that has been happening to their family lately. Her attitude is a good one in my estimation. My neighbor used to get griped out by his friends saying he should have a positive attitude. He would always say, “I’m positive! I’m positive everything is going to hell in a handbasket!” Afraid that is pretty much my attitude today. Maybe tomorrow will be better, but right now all the books on my Kindle are ugly mysteries instead of funny stuff. Guess it is time to look for better books!

 

Patty was talking to me just a bit ago. She wanted to know if the Speaker of the House had personal security guards around her house because if she did, they didn’t do their job very well. Not sure how a person would get assaulted with a hammer, but it sounds as if the guy needed to keep his doors locked or a shotgun within reach! But this kind of crud happens to regular poor people like us all the time. We don’t have a great mansion or fine cars, but we do have a shotgun handy and guard dogs. In this neighborhood, what else could we use? Apparently, the cost of the neighborhood does not make that much difference in how safe a person is if someone is out to get the guy! Kinda makes me agree with Donny Anderson and his “positive” attitude.

 

Really don’t know anything enlightening or cheerful right this red-hot minute. Would like to not see anything with the word nuclear in the headlines, for sure. Would love to see that peace is breaking out all over the world! Wouldn’t that be amazingly wonderful!

 

We can be grateful for the rain and hope that all the areas that desperately need more will get what they need. Sunshine and rain hardly ever happen at the same time, so maybe we need to smile more to give individual attention to our own brand of sunshine!

 

Rest well, my friends. Know that God has us in His hands.

Mint and Midnight Star Morning Glories.

 Mint and Midnight Star Morning Glories.

 

Yep, here we go again. Just have to plant a few things, so starting with mint that all died out during this terribly hot, dry summer. About to pull up the sage that was growing in the herb box out front and plant mint there instead. Here’s hoping!!

 

Have been reading all this afternoon. Being a bit more lazy than usual. Sometimes when the weather changes or the old woman does something stupid, the muscles ache and cause all kinds of misery. So, taking a few days off to recuperate is about the only way to get to feeling better.

 

Sterling called this morning and wanted to know how to fix the dog food for his little Toby the way my dogs have been eating. Told him the kibble is Purina One lamb and rice, but the other stuff could be any kind of meat, plus veggies like peas and carrots or sweet potato—just not white potatoes or black beans. My dogs refuse to have anything to do with black beans. Sterling said he doesn’t like them either, so that problem won’t show up. Tried cooked split peas once, and they would not eat those either! Go figure. He said poor little Toby is constantly scratching despite the fact that there are no fleas on him. You can bet it is the stupid dog food! People don’t realize that the food they eat makes the difference in how their body functions; and the same is true of our critters. Would never offer my hens spinach or offer my dogs onion. If you can believe the internet, we eat bananas that immediately become carbs. Oh well. It’s not like we can all afford berries or fruits with pits.

 

The rain gauge showed one and a half inches since it was not dumped before. Still would like to know just how fast that wind was blowing. Sterling said it blew one direction at first up at his house and then turned the opposite direction and blew the other way. But it was still raining up there. We could still use a good toad strangler!

 

Haven’t really talked to anyone other than Sterling. The man across the street is going to have to have some work done on his roof. It leaks. But then, that is what Jerry said way back when. This guy did not seem too upset about it. But he said his back was hurting, so told him about the lady who works on my back. Hope it does him some good. Nothing more miserable than pain that can’t be alleviated.

 

It has been semi-quiet around here today. The dogs have had a squirrel treed out back and stayed out there watching carefully. It makes me want to laugh. They don’t just stand there and bark. They just watch. Jenn says her dogs have to answer the squirrels’ curses with their own opinions.

 

Picked up two eggs this morning from the Black-laced Wyandottes, and now one of the Black Marans is on the nest. The older hens lay a beige egg and the Marans a chocolate colored one. Easy to see the difference.

 

Went out to open the doors on the front coop this morning to find raccoon tracks across the front. Sneaky critters! Bet that is what got Rusty Lady. But the board tacked across the door must be keeping it out this time. Hope it continues to do so. Don’t want to lose any more hens.

 

Opened up the box with a new coffee pot in it today and cleaned it out with one cycle of hot water. Guess it will take just a bit of getting used to having that much more machine in the kitchen. But at least it keeps it good and hot. Connie’s sister bought it for her on sale, but Connie did not need or want it. A twelve-cup pot is pretty big for only one person. Anyway, it made good coffee.

 

Lesli sent a message on her mom’s phone last night to tell us that her own phone had taken a deep poo dive and quit on her. So now have to remember to call or text on Anne’s number. Duh. She had sent me a link to the information about the Kennedy ulcer yesterday, but read it again last night. Wow! The body does some really strange things. But at least Dr. Parkey won’t let Anne hurt. That is something worth knowing for sure. He is a good doctor.

 

Really don’t know much today. Knew when getting out of bed this morning that the weather had changed again. So much fun when things go snap, crackle, pop and you haven’t even poured the milk on any cereal in ages! Life is definitely different after 50.

 

Let us praise God for the rain even with the wind. Let us pray for peace. Rest when you can and know: you are loved.

Liquid Sunshine.

 Liquid Sunshine.

 

Not sure just who came up with that term—liquid sunshine—but it is certainly the best thing we have seen here in North Central Texas in a while! Of course, someone saw a tornado down in Montague County, and Sharon Dickerson said she noticed a V-shaped cloud on their way back to Garland this morning. Living in Texas, we pay attention to such things as the shapes and how clouds are moving around. But today has certainly beat having Amarillo dusting into the back of the house and coating the kitchen counters. Glad the flower seeds were sprinkled yesterday before the rain today. According to the rain gauge, we got an inch. Not going to gripe. An inch is better than none. Of course, we are not cattlemen here in WF inside the city limits, but we must feel for the cattlemen whose stock tanks are drier than last year’s tumble-weeds. It can cloud up and stay gray for a few days without anyone getting too depressed. Three inches of rain would hurt nary a thing in my book.

 

Well, the neighbors who renovated and moved into Jerry’s little house may not be just thrilled by the rain. Jerry SAID the freakin’ roof leaked. Sure enough, we got enough rain to leak in the house. Not sure if they will stay there while it is being repaired or replaced, but at least now they know it will happen if they don’t do something to fix it. That has to be annoying at the very least.

 

Saturday was a good day for Lesli and her mom. Today she sent me the link to an article about the “Kennedy ulcer.” That is the ulcer that is not caused by a pressure sore but by the skin dying and breaking down. The skin is the largest organ of the body, ya know. We think of organs as brain, liver, heart and such, but the skin itself is actually an organ. It forms at the same time as the digestive tract. That is one of the reasons that a person who is having skin problems can pretty well understand why the skin is dry or otherwise itching or causing problems. The stomach and intestines are mirrors of the skin and vice versa. People with allergies eventually learn all this garbage whether or not they want to know.

 

Got out and dug a small trench for some flower bulbs and then covered them up with the dirt and leaf detritus. Have hopes of the stuff actually growing and blooming in the spring. But right now, the old woman is paying for her raising or some such. Getting down on the ground and using a little fork thing to clear the ground and then stretching out to put things where they will maybe grow left some impressions on the muscles. Oh well. This, too, shall pass.

 

Doesn’t matter how sore a person may get while hoping for blooms, some things still need to be done. So, took my patriotic red, white, and blue umbrella to the mall this morning along with my driver’s license and voter’s registration card and did the thing with all the little whistles and bells. So, voted and got it done early. The process may be a bit more involved, but one can hope that we won’t see twice as many votes as there are people living in Wichita County. That happened too many times all over the country in the presidential election last time. But somehow folks thought those were just absentee votes? RIGHT!!! Absent as in the cemeteries!

 

Took a muscle relaxer pill after returning to the house this morning and tried to lie down and be still. Both dogs thought that Mom needed to be licked and otherwise nosed around. Go figure. Finally gave up and found some things that needed to be done. Never a day goes by that the little things don’t need to be taken care of, even if it is just hanging up the fresh laundry.

 

Lesli said that Erin is in Arkansas right now, so have no idea if he is just visiting friends or what. Lesli told him she would hold down the fort here this time since he did that when their dad was dying. He is such a talented young man, but he is also very emotional. Both kids truly love their mom. Just wish this was easier for them, but such is life that we just have to stand there and take it on the chin.

 

Got my new credit card to replace one that is out of date in March. Then had to call the phone company and let them know it had changed. Found out that my payment will be five dollars more per month. Figures. At least it works wherever and covers my needs.

 

Really don’t know much today. Thought about ordering some fresh veggies, milk, and a few things, but may wait until tomorrow or Wednesday. Cucumbers sound so good right now. Bought two sweet potatoes the last time at the store. They were rather strange looking with a purple cast to them. Go figure. Maybe in a couple of days my bones and muscles will be more agreeable to moving around. The walking around would probably be good for me.

 

Let us praise God for all the blessings He has given us. And let us be a lamp for others as we see the help that is needed around us. May God bless those like Robin Christian, Sharon Dickerson, and others who serve in whatever capacity they can. May we ask for protection upon our first responders that all the things they have to see will not harm their minds or bodies.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Early to Rise Makes . . . A Day Long.

 Early to Rise Makes . . . A Day Long.

 

Had trouble getting to sleep last night. Sterling had given me a hard time yesterday about being “wound up like an eight-day clock.” {Wonder how many people even know what that is!} Anyway, sleep would not come and even a tiny pill to make my head stop obsessing did not seem to help. Tried getting up and messing around with some games of solitaire, but nope. Finally, just lay back down and thought about things that make me happy. Guess that worked. Planted flowers in the green house and watched them grow—in my mind, at least.

 

Got up, opened the coops to find the hens at the doors ready to be fed and talked to, then fed these two doggos. They had the last three turkey sausages and some pork loin chopped up to put in their bowls. It feels like a really good day out there and is neither cold nor hot. Perfect weather for walking or messing around in the yard. Maybe by next year the hoe and I will be better friends. Dr. Blackwell was astounded that my back will bend as well as it does. But limber has always been an easy one for me until that one place started pinching the nerve. Will never regret that surgery!

 

Just finished paying the taxes on these three little sections of land. Online payments still cost nearly $5 for the “convenience” fee of being able to pay without walking into the courthouse annex. Doesn’t matter if a person pays by check or by credit card, so it was just easier to give them the credit card number. Let’s hope no one gets into their database. That happened one year at Target! Not sure how folks do such dirty deeds, but it seems to happen regularly.

 

Connie inspired me yesterday by saying that she has been living in her apartment now for two years and needs to get rid of the things that are still packed in boxes. If she has not needed or used them in the past two years, she probably doesn’t need them in her place. She offered me the little coffee maker which seemed like a good idea. My Mr. Coffee still makes good coffee, but the heater plate is all rusted up. Sigh. Her pot is larger, but half a pot is not that difficult to wrangle. She said she has a blender and some other appliances that she won’t ever use. Thought about my grandsons and their situations when they move out, but have no idea what they will need. Anyway, she plans to give this stuff to the Faith Resale shop.

 

Texted Jennifer this morning and she said she had just taken her last migraine pill. She is hoping that her oldest will go pick up her Rx for her today. Her plane does not get into DFW until 10ish tonight. She is going to be one tired puppy. At least she took good care of Aunt Caroline and Mosich the dog. Just like at her own home, she cooked, cleaned, did laundry, and everything else that needed to be done. Love my girl.

 

We need rain so very badly. Everything is dry, dry, dry. The forecast for this winter is for dryer than normal, too. And colder. Deep sigh. Have thought about buying a couple of bales of hay and covering the floor in the hen coops. Part of the heat goes out when the floor is bare, so maybe later this fall that would do to keep the hens warmer. Do not plan to try to heat the coops this fall with any electricity. Feel like that is just asking for trouble. Maybe we won’t have another one of those horrible storms that froze everything and banked snow up so high the doors to the hen house had to be dug out.

 

Patty let me know that she was going with her friend Debbie to go vote Monday. So that is one little task that does not need to be considered. The old woman can go vote against Beto all by herself. Love the fact that the mall is the nearest voting place for me. It has plenty of easy parking, and it does not seem to have many weirdos walking around. If it did, one call to the police would take care of that. We have some really nice police officers.

 

Sharon Dickerson and her husband are on their way to a conference for those who are relatives of fallen police officers. It would be pretty hard to be there for that reason, but Sharon feels like the counseling helps so very much. Talking about the loss of someone (especially a son or daughter) is hard all by itself, but to understand that each one around you has had a similar experience might be good for at least some survivors. Right now, it just seems so disgustingly horrible that some people are setting up ambushes for first responders. That is the kind of sick mind that needs to be eradicated. Sorry. Some of us definitely believe in the death penalty for such actions.

 

Have almost got Sylvia trained to go back into her crate at night—if the old woman can get inside the bedroom door before the dogs. Kinda crowd her over toward her crate and then make her turn into the opening. She carries on for a bit, but then settles down. Just don’t want her on my bed when it is time to put the electric blanket on there. Right now, have a cuddly blanket under the spread and don’t want it full of dog hair. The trials of a dog person. At least they still love me despite having to sleep on their own beds.

 

Was in Market Street the other day and had planned to buy some canned fruit to go with cottage cheese. The last time the price was something like a dollar and a half. This time a small can of peaches was TWO dollars and twenty-nine cents. No, they stayed on the shelf and not in my cart. Dadgum! Guess the raspberry jam will have to do instead of canned fruit. Pretty much the same thing except for the amount of sugar!

 

Just went down to Patty’s to let the littles exercise their sniffers and chase after butterflies or whatever. Noticed that anti-freeze was dripping out of her car and suggested she call the guy who brought it home to come see about it. Dangerous for critters! Poison for mammals—two little doggos would die a slow, agonizing death if they got into it. Anyway, we visited for a bit and watched the dogs run all over heck and half of Georgia. That Roxie is one fast little dog!

 

Ordered a couple of small throw rugs to keep some of the dirt and grass out of the house—maybe that will help. No guarantees for dirt bags and dogs. Also, ordered some canned fruit. Decided that Amazon could get it here cheaper than it could be hauled in the back seat of my truck. As much as the old woman appreciates Market Street, the prices matter more to me here lately.

 

This has been a strange day. Visited with a friend online. Wish we lived closer, but probably would not go out much anyway. And she is happy where she is now. We have a lot in common in some ways. Once upon a time we were both these cute little skinny young things that could handle just about anything that came along. And none of our grands or great-grands will ever really know what we were like back in those days. Guess the same could be said about our grandmothers and great-grandmothers. At one time all of us were cute young things wheeling and dealing with life as it came at us. And now we sit back and try to sort through the shtuff we need to get rid of so our children won’t have it to do. Life goes on.

 

Let us thank God for each day and for those whom He gave us to love. Maybe soon we can also thank Him for the rain that we so desperately need.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Distractions and Destiny.

 Distractions and Destiny.

 

Connie called and we went to the Hibiscus Café out on Burkburnett Road. She had one of those rolled up “gyros” that are called “heroes.” Apparently, she thought it was heroic and tasty. The Greek salad with lamb was totally scrumptious! Had to have a take-home box for it, but would order it again in a heartbeat! Then we had that neat stuff called tiramisu that tastes a bit like coffee in the morning. Ummmm. SO tasty. We shared one piece. It was not cheap, but it was worth the money. Anyway, Lowry Mayo has been suggesting that we could go somewhere other than Pioneer for lunch next time. Guess what is going to be suggested to him!! Hope the rest of the Route 66 Group will be willing to try this. They have plenty of seating, and it’s very clean and pretty in there.

 

Visited for a few minutes with my neighbor across the street. We talked about how high the wind gets out here on this hill above the lake. Sometimes it is colder in winter and hotter in summer than the “official” numbers, but it still seems to me to be the nicest place in WF to live. Guess the fifty-four years has made an impression on me that is not likely to wear off anytime soon.

 

Lesli said that Dr. Parkey is going to put Anne on Hospice tomorrow. She has become totally non-responsive now. Guess she just talked to me the other day because it is pretty hard to ignore the old woman. Even so, she was so very tired. Les said Anne said “no” to water for her. And she could not make herself open her eyes. It’s just that time now. Feel for Erin and Lesli. Know how it is. Jennifer sat with me while Daddy breathed his last and took Mom out to the smoking porch until they came and got him. Stuff like that is hard. But at least she was with me. Offered to be there for Les. She has her husband and boys at Anne’s house, but that is not the same as her husband being able to sit with her. She says their tickets to fly back are for Tuesday, but that may change. We really don’t have much choice in life or death sometimes. They can call it destiny or eventuality or whatever, but it is one of the cycles of life. The wheat seed goes into the ground to bring back another plant for the sheaf. God’s plans are His business.

 

Sterling loaned his tractor to a friend and took the guy’s tractor to be worked on. Now he has to go get the guy’s repaired tractor and take it to him, then bring his own back home. So glad he is kind to others that way. Know how much it means to be without what you need to work.

 

Clint Robertson (neighbor) was admiring my airplane on the post out front. Told him Sterling built it and two more for the kids. Also, told him about the big ones Sterling is making now. It takes two days of work to make the big planes with lots of pieces, sanding, shaping, etc. He said they would have to be at least $60 a plane for him to make $30 a day for his work! Now if the guy lived closer, he could just take a case of beer over there and probably enjoy helping make one. Wish the old woman was that gifted, but even the TV gives me fits!

 

Got three sedum plants put into dirt this afternoon. Can’t stop sneezing now. Not sure if it is the stuff in the air or if maybe something in the potting soil was waiting for me to inhale! Oh well.

 

Dava did a good job of stretching me into noodle shapes this morning when she did my massage. Felt pretty good, though. Have another one scheduled for next month. If this helps the neuropathy as much as the first time, will just keep it up. Can’t imagine that stretching the muscles takes that much pressure off the nerves, but guess it makes sense. Anyway, she found all the sore places in my shoulders. Going to use Cindy Jones’ corn bags in the microwave and put that heat on my neck and shoulder and see what that does. Can’t hurt, that’s for sure.

 

Really don’t know doodly squat, but looking forward to seeing my kids (maybe) on Saturday. We will see if that happens. Meanwhile have heard all the latest dreadful forecasting of future events and just find myself inclined to want to turn my back on all the GAR-bAge. It can’t be much worse than it was during the Depression and when all the banks closed and Wall Street had folks jumping from windows. We may all learn to eat purslane and tumbleweed roots before it’s all over. And the doves! Dadgum critters that eat chicken feed as if it were dust! Anybody wanna trap doves out of my hen house?

 

Let us pray for peace—world peace and peace of mind. Let us realize that joy is ours even at the worst times when the days still dawn and the sun still sets in the west. May God look upon us with His mercy.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Missing Someone.

 Missing Someone.

 

Sometimes the person you miss the most is still alive and right in front of you, but is not the person you really expect. Missing someone who has gone on to glory is one thing, but missing the person who has become someone else has to be harder than missing someone who is lost to this life. Come to think of it, the changes that occur in this life can make a person who is living still not the person you loved forever. Hugging my nephew this morning made me realize that he needed his mom to be the person she used to be. Yesterday she would not respond to him or anyone. Then today she smiled at me when she heard my voice. She let me know she had had enough after about four bites of scrambled eggs. And no, she did not want any of that blueberry stuff. Just no except to water, milk, or some of my coffee. It took two nurses to get her up and put her in a chair. But that is where she wanted to be—"just sleeping in.” Erin had to leave and said he would be back next Sunday, but Anne did not really realize he was going or gone. Not sure just how much she does understand as she has always had a way of ignoring what she did not want to see or hear. But later she asked for Erin—just “Erin?” with a question in her voice. Told that Lesli would be here tomorrow, she nodded her head. Please God, no one wants to be in that shape with no way to really say what is on one’s mind. Or maybe the mind has pretty much already left. Can’t tell.

 

Thompson came into the house a few minutes ago just totally covered in dead grass and dust. No wonder my floors stay messy. Even taking him back out on the deck and trying to get the mess off of him did not do a whole lot of good. Just have to love them, crud and all. Guess that is just life. Always some disadvantages to wanting things a certain way. Clean floors or critters. Take your choice.

 

Sitting here drinking a ginger beer to try to settle my stomach. Made mashed potatoes, black-eyed peas with snaps, and meatballs with white Bertoilli sauce. Didn’t eat that much, but it certainly didn’t set just the greatest. Oh well. Indigestion strikes again.

 

Have to go see my favorite doctor tomorrow. She will look at or feel the knots in my calves and let me know what she thinks. The places are smaller since Dava gave me a massage, so maybe they will go away eventually. And, what is more, the neuropathy has become less of a problem. Amazing what a body can do to heal itself. My friend Cindy said that a blood clot could encapsulate itself. Who knows. Maybe that is what this is. Dr. Blackwell will have some educated idea—or we may both get more education!

 

Erin asked for Lance and Jennifer to be here next Saturday for the benefit of his sister. Have no idea what Anne will be like tomorrow when she sees her. Praying that Anne can talk some to Lesli so that she can be more at ease with things. Called over there just now and they still had left Anne up in her chair. Rolling eyes here. Maybe they thought she wanted to be there, but you can bet they did not get an answer if they asked. She has trouble hearing anyone, but with a mask on, it really doesn’t seem to connect. The PT nurse could not even get her to raise her leg, so my guess would be that she is not going to get up on her own. That may be why she fell and broke her femur in the first place. Sigh

 

Dadgumit. Happy thoughts are needed around here. Did get a message from Reece today. He got the gift sent to him: a sloth holding a snow globe. Sloths just appeal to me, and he likes snow globes. Sent his girl friend a stuffed otter, and betting that Reece’s cat Atlas will pounce on it the first chance he gets! Funny cat! A Russian blue.

 

Grayson also received his sunflower seeds. He did not know that sunflowers came in any color except yellow! Surprised him with that one! Hope that they grow and bloom all over the place.

 

The air was so nice this morning. It was cool, but the wind was not blowing a gale, so there’s that. A good breeze is blowing out there now, but it is still nice and sunny. Went out to check on the hens earlier and gave them a bite of scratch inside both coops. Athena had the middle coop all to herself while eating what was left of the feed put out this morning. Think she might be missing Rusty Lady as they ran together all the time. Even critters can miss someone.

 

Sometimes my mother is missed around here despite the fact that dementia was pretty much the state of her last few years. Taking their car away was the only way to keep them out of trouble, but putting them in the nursing home was really hard on Daddy because Mom thought that they could just get someone to take them “home.” Her last year was much better since she finally found a lady friend to talk to and walk around with. But that lady became violent and had to be taken back to her family to live. Feel for them. She could not really speak to tell them what was on her mind. Maybe that was what frustrated her so much.

 

Anne took good care of her mother Joy there at the same nursing home until Joy fell and broke her hip. Then Joy had a stroke and went to the hospital where Erin and Jennifer stayed with her the last evening of her life. Then Anne took care of her husband until he died of diabetes and a stroke. He was at Hospice here in WF when he died with her by his side. She has been a steadfast soldier in this family.

 

Both dogs are fed now after Thompson had to get on to me and get me into the kitchen to get their meal. Silly “dog momma” was ignoring him when he was hungry! Fed them the other half of my turkey sausage sandwich after returning from Henrietta, but that was just a bite for them both. They needed chicken and kibble, thank you very much.

 

Someone set up a go-fund-me page for my niece and her husband. They will neither be able to work until they heal up. Have no idea how the wreck occurred, but according to the paragraph on their page, it was a one-vehicle wreck. Over-correcting on a road can do that rather quickly. It does not take much to total a vehicle.

 

It just occurred to me that this blog is totally non-uplifting this evening. Please accept my apologies. Will tell you about the lady who came to visit Anne today. Johnny or Johnnie (no last name for me) had to tell us why she was carrying a cane now. Seems some ding-a-ling had banged on her door at 4 a.m. and woke her up. She fell getting up and trying to get to door. She yelled that she had fallen and could not get up. Someone called the police (sheriff’s department) and an ambulance. Her son came to see about her and helped her up. The ding-a-ling person had spent the night in a hole in her yard. Then he had some wild tales to tell the sheriff. Johnnie said the only true thing he told the sheriff was his name and address. He said he had been chasing someone who stole everything out of his trailer and wanted to use her phone is why he was banging on her door. Then when he got back, they had put everything back in his trailer. Johnnie said she thinks he was dreaming and just woke up out there in that hole in her yard. She got a big kick out of telling the story anyway. Anne pretty well did not hear it or ignored it. Not sure.

 

Obviously, the old woman is dithering around the thoughts that are making wiggles in her brain cells. Will call it a day and hope tomorrow is a better day. Will ask that you all remember the JOY in our lives that is a gift to us from our heavenly Father. We know the eventual outcome even if the paths are not clear in our minds. Go with love and rest easy, my friends.

Just a Bit Cleaner!

 Just a Bit Cleaner!

 

Slightly rearranged the kitchen and even the living room a bit while getting the floors ready to mop. Had to throw the mop head in the washer when finished. That kitchen floor around the dog feeder and water bowl was dirty. The living room was mostly just dog hair that came up with the dry dust mop, but it still got a good washing down. Dusted the ceiling fan and the TV and its table, but did not do the bookcase yet. That may wait until another day. Getting a bit tired, don’t ya see.

 

Sylvia had a squirrel treed a while ago. Thompson did not get particularly interested for some reason. He really prefers to chase them rather than just stand there and bark. Saw the squirrel go up one of the apricot trees and onto the top of the hens’ coop. Patty has been trying to figure out how she is going to get rid of the squirrels around her place before they start families inside her roof. Not sure a way has ever been found to completely get rid of these bushy tailed rats! It’s like the silly doves—remove any food and they still come back by to check if anything is edible. Would hate to have pecan trees out back the way we did years ago. The blue jays and squirrels were constantly dropping bombs on our dog. We had a truck parked over the weekend once, and it rattled on Monday morning. Pecans. At least it was not black walnuts!

 

It seems to me that more folks than ever are posting on FB that our nation and people need prayers answered. In fact, we are all more aware than ever of the entire world being in a mess. The pictures and captions make a person feel sick. Towns waist deep in mud and water, military tanks capsized in farmers’ fields, cities plowed up by bombs, volcanoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, fires, droughts, floods, and anything else destructive that you can think of has occurred recently. And those are not even counting the medical crises caused by sugar, carbs, chemicals in our water and food, and all-around useless lifestyles that include scary illegal drugs and other types of abuse to our bodies. What the politicians can’t stir up, we do to ourselves!!

 

Read today that this is a good time to go ahead and plant flower seeds that would naturally fall from the plants about this time of year. Even if they don’t get to sprout right now, they do fall this time of year in nature. Had not thought of it that way. Don’t have to plow, hoe, rake or anything else. Just let them fall where they will and see what happens.

 

The neighbor catty corner behind me has been working away on that old house. Wham, bam, wheeeng, and rorrrrrwer. Skill saws and hammers going from early until late. He even has a big trailer over there to haul off the junk and stuff that is coming out of the inside. He has a pit bull that does not seem to be aggressive at all, but it is not like the old woman would be in the vicinity for him to mess with me or vice versa. My dogs like to run up and down my fence and bark at him. Sylvia is the active barker. Thompson is slowing down a bit on the running and barking. Lance pointed out this weekend that his muzzle in almost totally white now. He is only eight, so he should be ok for a bit longer. Love him about as much as any dog we have had. He is so obedient and eager to please. But he acts as if he would take someone’s leg off if he needed to. He had our older postman convinced that he would bite. Mr. Couch stood BEHIND the door when he stepped on the front porch to deliver a package. This new mailman—Bryan—acts as if he is bite proof. As long as the person is calm enough, both dogs are pretty good about just letting me know someone is here.

 

Couldn’t sleep for some reason last night, so got up and read awhile. The book is called “Mornings in Two Pan.” Have just figured out that the author is trying to teach folks how to approach an older parent or older person that is known to them either by rumor or by wild tale. Hoping that my children do not have to have an “intervention” of house cleaning before it is time for my demise. That is what is about to happen in the book. The friend the main character has met has warned him that hoarding is one of the signs of dementia. Dang! Lewis and his dad before him must have had it bad cause they never threw away a tool even if it needed a new handle or worse! Out there in the workshop is Great-granddad Lewis Walker Dickerson’s level (made of wood) and his old saw for cutting real lumber. They hung in the old Talley house where Gerald had them hidden behind his mom’s stove for years until he saw us down at the farm and came and dug them out for Lewis. Gerald knew who they belonged to and the stories behind them. My husband’s Grandfather Dickerson was a millwright who set the forms and helped build real mills on streams in New Mexico and Arizona. He was gone for months at a time. And each time he came home, Grandma Dickerson had a baby or two nine months later. She had thirteen eventually. Can’t EVEN imagine!

 

Sylvia just came over and wanted in my lap. She is too big to be a lap dog, but just on the slight chance that she would be thoroughly loved on, Thompson had to come over for his portion of attention. Have to love these critters.

 

Have found two eggs in the nest so far today. Trying to save up a few in case Grayson gets to come one week for a few days. He has classes on Monday evenings, so the rest of the week is his to use for study or whatever if he doesn’t have to work. Still do not have any idea exactly what he does, but it is something to do with finance and business. Not my subjects at all.

 

Have the living room curtains pulled open to the light outside. It is nice and cool in here right now. Usually, the light also brings lots of heat, but right this red-hot minute, it is only 67 degrees outside. Sterling said it was in the 40s this morning on Pollard Hill there in Northwest Arkansas. Glad it is not quite that cool here. Long-sleeved shirts are nice, but short sleeves are pretty comfortable.

 

Not sure how it will work out, but the prayer list that is included on this site can work where it is or be posted daily. It seems to me that most of us know someone who needs our thoughts and prayers. When Sterling told me about his granddaughter being in a horrible wreck, it made me want to post on a FB page, but keeping it in my private group page just seems more personal. Madison Victoria (Pollard) Hayes lives in Tennessee and has never met me—not that it matters, but her daddy is the same age as my son Lance. Terry only has the one child. He loves her, but does not get along at all with her mother. He called to ask if he could keep her overnight when she was little, and when he brought her home, his wife had him put in jail for “kidnapping.” That would upset just about anyone. Sometimes people are just insane.

 

Think a nap would be pretty good right about now, but know dadgummed well Sylvia would want to rest her head on me. And she snores! Guess reading will do for now. Need to download a couple of books to choose from since something will need to keep me busy while staying with Anne tomorrow at the nursing home. Not sure if Lesli is flying in or driving in on Wednesday. But since she will be here, may not go back unless she needs me. Jennifer will be flying home on Thursday. All our flock have feathers in the air around here. Guess we are blessed to be able to travel and do what all we do.

 

Remember that God’s plan may not always be obvious, but we KNOW He has one that is for our benefit in the long run. Let your heart rejoice each day.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Mixed Messages.

 Mixed Messages.

 

Just sent two gifts to grandchildren—probably in same package, so Rachel will crave coffee while lifting her weights. Giggling. She helped me decide what to get for her sibling as an old woman has trouble getting that one to talk loud enough to hear. Oh well. Decision made and ordered: make it so. StarTrek!

 

Lance and Rachel got my list of jobs wiped clean. The idea of a list came from somewhere—think it was Patty’s idea. It makes it easier all the way around because memory does not always work when it is needed. Anyway, the two major things got finished. Not being able to grip things real well makes a difference. Have tools, but using them as they are meant to be used is not always possible.

 

Just talked to my nephew Erin. Poor kid is having to watch his mom just fade away mentally and physically. He will leave Monday evening and yours truly will go over there Tuesday. Lesli will be there Wednesday. And it seems the lady who has been taking care of Snoop just loves him and wants to keep him. That is going to work out well. Please pray for all three of them—Les, Erin, and Anne.

 

We got the little drops of stuff from the sky just a bit last night and a bit more this morning. Really wish it would come a gully washer right now and fill up the stock tanks and lakes. The fall asters barely have any leaves on them, much less blooms. They are the purple kind that make a little bank of blooms all along the fence about a foot and a half tall. Donny Anderson used to always offer to cut them down for me. We discussed flowers and their place in my world. Don’t think he really understood, but the asters stayed. Lance transferred some iris plants for me, but he did not exactly give them any real opportunities to grow, so they got changed around a bit today into a different container with dirt spread over them. Had asparagus planted in a big half barrel—cut vertically rather than horizontally—and that dirt was just right for spreading on the iris bulbs. May just have some more things to put in that barrel with them. Have never had sedum to grow here, but there’s nothing quite like trying. Have seen some neat ways folks have had it displayed as if the blue sedum were water pouring out of a barrel or vase.

 

Jennifer and Gary got a neat water fountain for me one year. It was so pretty, but we do not have an electrical outlet outside, so it only flowed when an extension cord was connected to the pump. And then someone knocked one of the top parts off. Oh well. Hanan tried to make a fountain out of a pump from an air conditioner. It worked, but the same problem with the electricity was there. The only place to put a pump was near the workshop.

 

Looked at the workshop a few minutes ago when checking for eggs. It is beginning to look less cluttered in there now. One of these days it will be possible to hang all the tools like rakes and shovels along one wall. That will help somewhat. Then there is that big compressor that stands in the corner. It needs a new motor that Stephen says costs about a hundred bucks. Can’t see any reason to do that as the little compressor is all that would ever be needed here now. It’s not like the old woman will be using a nail gun. Ahem. Just need to get someone to come get the tank. That corner would be great for putting the tall tools in a rack. Saw a barbecue made out of a tank like that once, but it took someone to know how to make that stuff hinge. Still, that would be neat if you wanted to barbecue or slow cook an entire side of beef or pork.

 

Have a shoe brush that Roger Thonton put on the back deck for me. This weather is when it really comes in handy. Just enough crud on my shoes to need it knocked off. But then, I think of Roger and smile every time. He is a sweet guy. His wife is so very neat, too. The last time we had a lunch at Pioneer, she suddenly informed us that as Texans we had no worries about learning about our state history. She said the biggest part of history in Wisconsin was the icebergs that shoveled out the ground thousands of years ago. Not like that would have ever made great stories to tell! We all had a laugh at that one.

 

Talking to the grands about classes and how many they need to finish school. Think three of them will finish either in December or May. Rachel says some of her classes will be online when she starts classes at Texas Woman’s in Denton. Her mom got both her bachelor’s and graduate degrees from there. Landon has been at North Texas State. Here’s hoping that all of them will have good jobs when all the school stuff is finished! Ecology, finance/business, and whatever that thing is that Rachel is doing. That one is new to me. Food and exercise and how they are used are the big things in her courses. Don’t know what another one is doing either. This old grandmother doesn’t keep up very well. Sigh

 

Will be glad when these hens start doing their work of laying eggs. The heat will probably not be an issue for them the rest of this year unless it freezes our toes off! They are well fed and get to roam around all over this fenced yard. They SHOULD be happy hens!! But was only able to send eight eggs home with Lance the other day. Sigh He brought egg cartons from their friend/neighbor Kathy in the prettiest bag. Carefully removed the cartons and sent her bag back to her. She intended for me to keep the bag. It was a rooster bag from Germany that they got on their trip. So neat. But as usual, Lance did not pay too much attention and did not get the message that the bag was for me.

 

Sterling brought airplanes for the kids when he and Jacqui came down recently. Lance was having trouble deciding where to put his. Told him east-west wind is just as good as north-south wind. Will be interesting to see where Jenn puts hers.

 

Guess nothing else much is going on around here. The dogs refuse to let me nap, so will just read for a while and might even accidentally turn on the TV and see if anything is interesting on it.

 

May we rejoice in the good things we see and hear. May we be reminded that God provides for His people. Let us always give thanks for blessings.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

 

Whirlwind Visit.

 Whirlwind Visit.

 

Lance and Rachel came early this morning. We went to Jimmy’s Egg for breakfast and all three of us had a Southwest grilled chicken salad or something like that. It had avocado on it and grilled chicken strips with lettuce, tomato, two kinds of cheese, some kind of hot sauce, those quesadilla things, and ranch dressing. Anyway, it was good. The tiny little sauce pot on the side was some major warm stuff. Will have to remember that if we do it again.

 

Lance took my truck and washed it, vacuumed it, and drove it home fast to dry—giggling. It has not had a bath in a pretty long time. The vacuum did not work to suit him, but anything is better than nothing. He and Rachel loaded up eight bags of mulch in his truck bed and spread it out on the front flower bed after he dug out as many of those stupid poisonous trees as we could find. Eve’s Necklace is what it was called. Think every seed came up twice! Then he went out and hung my new rain gauge. The old one was cracked. He also put the new hose on my air compressor. Got several things done today. Rachel took the nails out of the top of the gazebo where the lattice used to be, but we did not replace the lattice because it was nearly $25 dollars for one 4x8 piece! Good grief.

 

While he was here, Lance changed phones with me. My battery kept going down too quickly, so he let me have his and plans to replace the battery in the other one eventually. He knows how to do all the things like that, so it makes it easier to just hand him my phone and let him get on with it. Even Rachel showed me how to turn my (Kindle) tablet to the side with the button that lets you choose which direction it will work on. Having it on its side means it can sit in the carrier and the old woman does not have to hold it like a book. Hands get pretty tired at times. In fact, noticed that my kids walk so much faster than this old woman. They try to let me keep up, but it is not always easy to set a good pace when someone it just too dadgummed slow. At least Lance opens the truck door and watches to see that it doesn’t close on me in the wind.

 

Speaking of wind, we have had some today that just acts as if it needs to push us around! The top of the pecan trees down at the end of the block are swaying around like Hawaiian hula girls. But my hens are also turned upside down in the wind when they face the east. It is so funny to see their heads fluffed out around the neck feathers. The one that is almost naked from molting just looks funny anyway, but her tail feathers are almost all gone and the wings have down on them instead of regular feathers. Poor baby. At least she is still covered up enough to keep the mosquitoes off of her.

 

Rachel got seven bites on her legs while out working on the gazebo. We put OFF and Skin So Soft on her, but we just had clouds of mosquitoes. You can bet your bippy the weather is about to take a drastic change.

 

Talked to Jennifer briefly this morning. She has been taking Aunt Caroline’s dog down to the creek to let him run around and sniff everything he can find. She found a black walnut tree and something else. She still is not sure what the “something else” is, but it drops little green things on the ground. Told her to throw a couple in her suitcase and we’ll figure it out. She is pretty sharp, however. She uses one of those apps that tells you what a plant is if you take its picture. Now if she could just get a shot of the bird we heard talking to her overhead! It had the prettiest whistle that sounded similar to a cardinal, but with more notes and expression. Have tried to see if it might have been the song of a painted bunting, but can’t remember now what it sounded like. Maybe she can record it next time. She also told me about her visit to the glass factory shop. She loves things like that. It reminds me a little of how Grandmother Pollard collected pretty things. But Grandmother did not get to pick them out the way Jenn does.

 

Heard from Amee about her daughter’s kidney surgery. She is doing well, the kidney is working, and other than lots of pain, things are looking good. Her mom said that they are giving her good pain meds, but she won’t have to do that for long. Madison is a sweet girl and has grown up to just grit her teeth and do whatever she has to do. It cannot have been easy to take the kind of meds she takes to keep from rejecting an organ. When she was little, she was on dialysis through her abdomen. Every night they put her down to sleep and hooked her up to a machine. Then they had to go to Cook’s more than once when they thought they were about to get a kidney. Finally got one that worked. Know her mom and grandparents were so relieved about that, but we all know that when one child gets a kidney, that means a child has been lost. So, prayers for this child and for the parents and family of the other child.

 

Discovered that number one child is having to wear “readers” all the time now except when he is looking off in the distance. We seem to have the genetic makeup for long distance vision and the other problem with anything close up. Go figure. Daddy had to wear glasses to read, but he could see a squirrel two blocks away and hit it with a black powder rifle! Well, maybe the bullet just hit the tree and scared the squirrel to death! Giggling.

 

The lake has been swiftly becoming more and more of a mud puddle. Wish it could be dredged out at least partially! Stink! Oh my! Nothing like dead fish. Took a picture of the pelicans all circled up in one area. Guess they were eating anything still living in that water. Will try to post the picture. Oh well. It still beats looking at a dirty alleyway or something of that nature.

 

We all know that this world needs God’s hands to heal it. May we be instruments of intervention for those with whom we come in contact. May we show others the love He has given us.

 

Rest well and rejoice in each day. You are loved.