Enigmas and Other Reasons to Wonder.

 Enigmas and Other Reasons to Wonder.

 

Once in a while, not too often, thankfully, words come into my feeble mind that make me wish the dictionary were closer to my bed. It seems this curious circumstance happens more when it’s time to sleep than at any other time. Unless pursued before sleep occurs, the words are seldom at the tip of my tongue by the next morning. Lying there tonight, the spelling of the word enigmatic cruised through the main thoroughfare of the old woman’s brain. Spelling things correctly has always been a pleasure most of the time, but wondering how things were spelled also causes some problems—necessitating the trip to the bookcase in the middle of the night to be sure of a word’s spelling. Silly old woman. Who cares? Well, yes, she cares, but then what would one expect from someone who loves words?

 

Another day and another room to clean—just one. Got the living room to suit me at least. The kitchen still needs to be mopped, but the house has been vacuumed. Have rugs on in the washer so that maybe the dogs can start a new set of paw prints around here. Also rearranged the furniture in the living room so that Thompson could not jump on the window as easily. Now the recliner is closer to my desk without being too close. And the dog bed is between the desk and the TV so that it won’t get too cold on whichever dog decides to lie down there {just when the AC is on}. Thompson gets cold quickly because he has less hair than Sylvia. Speaking of dogs, Sharon Dickerson told me today that Lady, her son David’s dog, had died of liver failure because she drank some water from a tree stump or some such. We all know that anti-freeze is tasty to dogs, but that it will kill them. But this was a first-time hearing about stale water in a tree bole. Feel so sorry for David. Losing an animal is almost like losing a child. We get so close to them and vice versa.

 

Yesterday when the old woman fell down on her backside, Sylvia was as close to me as she could get with the fence between us. Guess she is more aware of me than ever. Pretty strange. Had to take a minute to assure her that the old woman was ok.

 

Jennifer bought a beautiful flower yesterday—blue and bright. Then she looked it up to see if it was safe to have around her critters. It wasn’t. Expensive mistake. Not sure what she will do with it, but word to the wise: look up the plant BEFORE you buy it! Some of the things we have grown forever are actually pretty dangerous. Morning Glories are poisonous, dear hearts! Even aloe vera can poison a cat! We always loved honey suckle, but types of it are extremely poisonous to cats and dogs. Trumpet vine is relatively safe for the critters, but not Angel Trumpets that are poisonous to both man and beast! Look it up if you think the critters might get into it.

 

Cleaned out the water tank in the bathroom so the little chicks could start out fresh today with feed and water and grit. Took the heater out of the tank because it was really too warm in there. Guess the fact that they are so small and have no way of producing body heat might make a heater necessary, but it does not have to be in the tank with them.

 

Read something about how terrible the Russians thought it was that the Ukrainians actually considered firing on Russian territory. Now is that just the pot calling the kettle black or what? Kinda like saying, “We can throw things at you, but you can’t throw anything back at us!” Argh!

 

The teacher that was most respected at Ben Milam when my children were there had a little plaque on her desk: Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You. Mrs. Hughes was one of the best teachers there for many years. All of the volunteer parents loved working with her. Too bad nations cannot learn to apply that lesson.

 

Not sure how much rain we got last night and this morning, but we needed it. Don’t want to be greedy, but another three inches would not hurt a single thing! And tomorrow is supposed to be hot. Joy to the world! And it is only May! Don’t even want to consider what July and August will be like. Same ol’ Texas weather, no doubt. Dry and hot. Such is life on this ol’ hill.

 

Remember those who mourn and those who need to be healed in body, mind, and spirit. Only God can handle it all at one time. Let us ask in faith.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.