Things to Do.

 Things to Do.

 

No matter what we plan, things end up “coming up” that need to be done right away. Never fails. Today Jenn got a jury notice and needs an excused absence from my surgeon’s office. In the morning the old woman will call their office and ask them to send me an e-mail that can be forwarded to Jenn’s office so she can send the excuse to the jury person. Anyway, just one more little detail that has to be considered.

 

Got an alert on my phone saying that lightning had been detected about ten miles away. Could have told ya that something was going on because Sylvia came in to snuggle up to my leg and tremble. Poor girl. Patty said Roxy has been all about hiding in the bed today! Go figure. Here’s betting we don’t even get a good rumble out of it.

 

To have been employed a few times as a proofreader, this old woman needs to re-read her posts before she posts them. Yesterday, of all things, posted that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten so instead of son. ARGH! Bet everyone caught that one! Fallible much?

 

Today noticed that California got a little shake that was felt around the area somewhat. No biggie. If they had had what Russia got the day before, we would be hearing about the disaster and the loss of life. CA is just overflowing with people and buildings, not to mention plenty of fault lines. Thankfully, nothing got hurt.

 

Cut the huge papaya today and spooned out some chunks to put in a Ziplock bag. Love the dried papaya, but this was the first fresh one. It was HUGE! Bet Lewis could have worn it for a boot! Anyway, gave the rest of it to the hens. They cleaned up one side of the fruit and down to the peel on the other side. Jenn reminded me that a hydrator is in the back room. Yep. That would take thinking about it and cutting it in tiny pieces and maybe powdering it in some powdered sugar. Bet it would be good though. Maybe next time.

 

My salad today included the two chunks of salmon that were cooked in the hot air fryer yesterday. Really enjoy salmon, but hardly ever buy the stuff. It is so much better than tuna in my estimation. Mom used to make salmon patties that were SO good. And we could have all the ketchup we wanted to go on them. As long as we ate the fish, Mom was happy. She thought that fish was excellent food, but she was NOT happy about catfish from the stock tanks. Oh well. She said it tasted muddy to her. Guess that makes sense because the tanks were just holes in the clay soil.

 

Jennifer has hummingbirds at her feeder at her place. Think it is just too hot to have feeders like that here. Would not surprise me to see the sugar water making syrup out there along side the house. God and the seed companies provide zinnias and assorted flowers up here on this old hill, so the butterflies will just have to be happy with what they find. Not sure how much effort the butterflies have to make to get a meal, but it should be pretty tasty since God designed the meals.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Nuts and Berries!

 Nuts and Berries!

 

It’s probably not a great idea to sit here and type up the blog right this red hot (REALLY hot) minute, but the salmon pieces are heating up in the air fryer and the salad tastes pretty decent, so here goes: Another stinkin’ test is scheduled for the 5^th of August. That is one day before the pre-op appointment with Dr. V. Oh well. Remember the Yogi Bear cartoons where he would get so disgusted because the Forest Ranger would tell him that he could not have picnic baskets? He would shout that he was going to starve to death and then the ranger would tell him to go eat some nuts and berries. Well, Yogi would shout: Nuts and berries! Yuck!

 

The nurse today said that she was ordering a chemical stress test for me, so that was about the time the old woman wanted to yell: Nuts and berries! Yuck! At least they were able to schedule this 3-hour test for early in the morning.

 

It has been one very hot day and the wild birds are using the drinking bowls for the dogs and hens as a bird bath. The hens are hiding under the deck where the dripping water hose is keeping them somewhat cooler. Have considered getting them one of those mister things, but have a feeling it would just be a mess. Not that having a hose drip under there is not already messy enough.

 

Really wish it were easier to water the front flower beds and keep things out there from drooping in this heat. Got the new water hose hooked up, but will not leave it stretched across the walkway in case someone comes up the walk and trips on it. No sense asking for trouble. It would be smarter to just go out and water early every morning. Sigh.

 

Didn’t sleep last night for some reason. Sterling says that he woke up at 3 and then went back to lie down a bit later and got a better “night’s” sleep. Wish that could happen around here! Oh well.

 

Reading a good series of stories based in the English countryside. In it, the author makes a point to mention how racially prejudiced most English are. Who knows whether or not that is even semi-true. Honestly, think most folks are prejudiced about anyone not already in their “tribe.” Think Texans have always been pretty much convinced that only Texans know about our state or how things should be. But then again, maybe that is just my viewpoint. The same can be said for old folks and their ideas about how things should be in our society. We remember when a handshake meant something—when yes meant yes and no meant no. Things have certainly changed.

 

Ok, we know—ALL of us know—that one thing has never changed nor will it ever change. That is God’s love for us. Remember: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believed in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Same Job, Different Day.

 Same Job, Different Day.

 

Long years ago, it seemed like every woman did her laundry on Monday. Mother even had some cup towels (tea towels) that were embroidered with the tasks of the week—with Monday being laundry day. Right off hand, could not tell you what the other days had embroidered on them, but remember Monday distinctly. Well, Jennifer does all her laundry on Sunday each week. My mom did hers either on Friday or Saturday when Sterling was there to help her dump out the water after she finished. This old woman is so blessed to have the automatic washer and dryer to use. No real work involved like it used to be. Just take them out of the dryer and fold things and put them away.

 

My parents took us to church when we were children, so Sunday was not a workday. But not everyone took Sunday off. The gas stations and the one little store we had in town stayed open so folks could pick up what they needed. But the Post Office was closed up on Sundays. Got to thinking about that. Of course, people used to send real letters to others. But on that one day, we did not get any mail. Think it is pretty much still that way for the postal service, but Amazon still has the USPS deliver packages on Sundays. Have you ever thought about the work we did in the past compared to today? No one embroiders their tea towels any longer (at least to my knowledge). But each of us has a habit of doing things a certain way at certain times.

 

What jobs do you have picked out for a designated day? Or have the days and weeks pretty much blended together in your mind? It seems to me that it is difficult to remember which day of the week it may be sometimes. The trash pickup days matter, but for the most part, one day is about like another. But then, the jobs are about like that, too. In a bit, the dryer will have to be emptied, and those clothes folded and put away. Same job each week with just a difference in the type of clothes depending on the season—that is the same job, different day.

 

Thinking about our jobs reminds me that not much is different for any of us. We all face the same types of chores or the same disappointments, the same problems in one way or another are common to most of us. We used to laugh at the old ladies at their club meetings when they discussed their gall bladder operations or the husband’s hernia repair. What was likely to happen to one generally happened to most of them. While the operations have changed drastically, the problems were met with prayers for healing and fast recovery—and maybe a casserole for a neighbor who was down for a day or two.

 

Today Sterling was griping about the height of the grass and weeds that have to be brush hogged down on the farm—and the dadblamed mosquitoes! And he had a flat on his tractor and the screen on the front of the radiator had to be blown out because of all the fuzz and stuff that collects and makes the tractor run hot. Then he paused his griping and said this: We are SO blessed to have the tools we have and what it takes to get the work done.

 

Remember to count your blessings when you face another job—whatever day it may be.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Getting Brown Out There!

 Getting Brown Out There!

 

The grass is not quite prickly brown with crunchies, but it is certainly getting there. It tickles me pea green to see the girls take off as soon as the coop doors are open. Three in one direction and several in another direction and then more of them heading off into the east lots happens every morning. They are very happy hens. The grass is fairly green where the grey water drains from my washing machine, but for the rest of the east lots, it really is getting pretty brown. Guess we know what time of year it is even if we did not have a calendar.

 

Thompson can’t really decide if he wants inside or outside today. Think he keeps seeing a stupid squirrel, but he comes to the office door and tells me about it. Then he runs to the living room, jumps into the recliner, and looks carefully out the window. Yeppers. Something is out there that needs his attention. Sylvia could care less.

 

Judie Brunson let me know today that she is available as a “go-getter” after my surgery if something is needed from a store or wherever. She is such a sweet lady. She and her husband Weldon were so very good to Hanan while he was working for them. And their critters looked for Hanan as soon as they heard his voice. Know she misses her horses and old Harreld the donkey. It would be nice to get a “snootful” of horse scent again. But only know two people with horses these days.

 

Cooked up the hamburger meat this morning to use for the dogs—or for all of us. Seasoned lightly, that kind of stuff makes a good addition to a package of veggies along with cheese or some sour cream and butter. And no, the old woman is not hungry right now, but that is how she thinks—two dishes from one package of meat.

 

Have you ever started reading about something on FB that is basically an advertisement and gotten so thoroughly disgusted because, even if it is a “selling” advertisement, it will take thirty minutes to listen to the stupid, repetitious mess? Well, one of those ads is about cleaning the teeth for your dogs. Would rather go for a filling myself than to have to sit through another one of those darned ads! The vet has said that Thompson’s teeth will need cleaning one of these days, but in all my years, can’t remember having the teeth cleaned on a dog of ours. Know that horses have to have their teeth “floated” so that they can eat and chew, but Thompson really likes the red rocks (lava) that come out of volcanoes! If he finds a piece in the backyard, he chews it up. Go figure. Anyway, when he was younger, nary a tree limb ever was safe from his beaver-like chewing! So much has changed in what we are told we need to do for our animals. And truthfully, think our dogs were pretty healthy just eating leftovers and the rabbits that Dad shot for them.

 

Thinking about dogs, saw a comedy routine by a vet saying how the different breeds of dogs would go for a walk. The chihuahua was the one that just about slayed me: She says, “I have three teeth, but I WILL bite you!” Then there was a herding dog that separated all those on the walking paths by hair color—“brown hair on this side of the path and black hair over here on that side of the path!” About right!

 

It's too hot to work outside unless it is before the sun comes up or sometime after it goes down, so Gregg and Vickie will come over this fall to remove the trees in the fence row. It’s not like they are going anywhere—the trees, not the people.

 

Still watching just a bit of the political dumpster fires among the Democrats after it was discovered that they were “paying” for endorsements. Whoo boy! Sooner or later our nation is going to have to work out some standards for elected officials that make sense—beginning with term limits and a balanced budget. Eventually people will only run for office because they desire to actually serve America. We can only ask God to give us those who are honest and have HIS laws in their hearts and heads. Otherwise, our nation is going to crash and burn in the depths of deceit and animosity. May God forgive us for not already demanding better of those running for office.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

More of the Same.

 More of the Same.

 

RE-reading in Tom Bradford’s Torah Lessons: The countless Believers from every people group on earth are dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. The white robes mean absolute ritual purity. The palm branches relate most likely to Psalm 118, which itself relates to Sukkot.....the Feast of Tabernacles. The pertinent verses from Psalm 118 are: CJB Psalm 118:24-2924 This is the day ADONAI has made, a day for us to rejoice and be glad. 25 Please, ADONAI! Save us! Please, ADONAI! Rescue us! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of ADONAI. We bless you from the house of ADONAI. 27 ADONAI is God, and he gives us light. Join in the pilgrim festival with branches all the way to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I thank you. You are my God; I exalt you. 29 Give thanks to ADONAI; for he is good, for his grace continues forever. It is my opinion that the Messianic prophetic nature of the Feast of Sukkot is what is being played out here in John's vision as palm branches are placed at the altar in the Temple and they are central to Sukkot ritual. That is, the 7 named Biblical Feasts in the Torah are, without doubt, prophetic of the redemptive works of Messiah. The first 4 of these prophetic biblical feasts have already been fulfilled. Pesach, Passover, was the day when Yeshua paid the price for our sins through His blood spilled upon the cross. Matza, Unleavened Bread, was the day when Yeshua's sinless body was placed into the rocky tomb. Bikkurim, First Fruits, was the day when Yeshua arose from the dead. And Shavuot, Pentecost, was the day when the Holy Spirit came to indwell men. Three of the feasts remain to be fulfilled: Yom Teruah, The Feast of Trumpets; Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement; and the final one, Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. So, unless other evidence is made available to me, I can find no other explanation for the scene that we find with the palm branches in Revelation 7:9 than it is the moment of the prophesied fulfillment of The Feast of Tabernacles.

 

The 6th seal of Revelation chapter 6 speaks of a great earthquake, the moon turning blood red and the sun growing dark, with stars falling from Heaven and other celestial phenomena that is not only frightening to all humanity but also devastating to planet Earth. This is the beginning of God's wrath. And if we go by the Biblical principle that we've seen since early in Genesis, then it is not imaginable that the Lord would pour out this wrath upon those who are innocent in His sight (Believers) along with those who are guilty in His sight (non-Believers). Therefore the Rapture of Believers must have occurred not later than the opening of the 6th seal. I realize that most very influential Bible academics would disagree with me and I humbly accept that. Might I be wrong? Yes. That said, obviously since I am teaching you otherwise, I am convinced in my conscience that my rough timeline more faithfully follows Revelation as it is written as well as basing some of my interpretation on difficult passages in the context of God's never changing patterns; God-patterns that we learn about only from the Torah and the remainder of the Old Testament. So, the Rapture of Believers occurs (possibly fulfilling Yom Teruah, the biblical Feast of Trumpets), then Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is fulfilled in some way that is not yet entirely clear (it may have something to do with the opening of the 5th seal that is neither directly inciting tribulation nor raining down wrath ), and then Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, appears to be fulfilled in chapter 7.

None of this might make sense to a “normal” Christian who has not had the OT instilled within their study, but not only the Jews have had these scriptures to hand. Some of us learned the hard way in hours of sermons and discussions with our ministers. For those hours, this old woman is thankful and hopeful that some of these things will come to memory among my children.

 

Reading in “God Is with You Everyday” by Max Lucado this morning and found the article “Finding the Right Path.” Basically, it said that one should “Find something you like to do, and do it so well that people pay you to do it. That’s not just good advice; it’s a godly design.” Now that is surely true for folks who can play instruments, sing, paint, and do all sorts of incredible things—and yes, that probably includes some sports. But some of us are just as common as carrots and peas. The old woman just enjoys most of life and what God has given us to enjoy—critters, flowers, plants, the wind, the sunshine, and any good view of Texas. Oh, and humor! Love that my chickens call me by name, “Ma!” No one probably cares that these silly hens talk to me, but it makes my life more special when sitting out there exchanging views with them. So, maybe joy is my talent whenever it gets right down to it. And that is given freely by God and only passed along to others who don’t mind the rest of the story.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Bad Habits.

 Bad Habits.

 

Some folks just like ice cream, coffee (the real stuff or even the decaffed stuff), and maybe even cheesecake! Well, any or all of those bad habits belong to the old woman. She could probably lose a pound or two by staying away from the ice cream and cheesecake, but the coffee probably does not help all that much either. Had to appreciate my younger neighbors today because they stopped at United and picked up a whole chicken, a cheesecake, and some of the best chocolate cherry ice cream that ever saw an ice chest! Bet my neighbor Patty would just absolutely love this ice cream because her favorite candy is chocolate covered cherries! That is what this tastes like!

 

The mailman delivered a big ol’ crock pot this morning and that is what the chicken will go into tomorrow. We will see how that turns out. Gave up—after three burn outs—of using a counter-top cooker. Just has three settings on this one other than off: low, medium, and warm. Here’s hoping.

 

The new water hose did not get here today, but maybe this weekend it will arrive. We did, however, get a rain shower early on. The dogs let me know about the thunder, but the rain was not obvious until we stepped out on the deck. Took the time to fill up a water bowl in the middle coop so that if the old woman does not get out as early as she should, the hens will at least have feed and water. Kinda dread having to ask Jennifer to get out so early to let them out. Her days already start so very early and she has to keep it up until way late to manage everything. Glad she is young enough to handle it. Can hardly remember those days now.

 

Thompson has a bad habit of jumping from the middle of the living room floor to the small couch. His jump pushes the couch against the wall and the curtain hanging there. But the worse part of his jump is that he is not careful whose foot he steps on to do his jumping! Two deep claw marks are now gracing my left foot. It’s not like he does not have four feet of his own!!

 

Sterling said that his doctor has started him on some different BP meds and that he is feeling much better. His readings might be a bit low, but at least he is not doing any of that crashing to the floors stuff now. Kinda want to keep the guy around for as long as he is happy. We talked this morning about all the different things he has built since he took up “wood butchering.” He knows for sure that he made over one hundred little rocking chairs for children, and he may have made nearly that many full-sized rockers. He started out making bluebird houses and went on to airplanes and assorted funnies. But he has made assorted tables and chairs for both children and for adults along with planters built in tiers. He has made some special-order things that he does not want to ever do again as well. One lady wanted a chair that folds up. And now he has made some rocking horses. Some of the best things he made are the rolling pantries that take some precision cutting and a bunch of expensive hardware. Yours truly is so very happy with the one he made for me. Then there is the box that he built for me to use as a stepstool to get into my bed. It has a decent length lip on it that slides under the bedframe to keep it from flipping. It works like a charm. Anyway, Sterling is now drinking lots of water every day and trying to keep happy and working on staying as calm as anyone with ADHD can be.

 

Max reminded me that the fall Holy Days are right around the corner. Told him that Tom Bradford believes that the first four of these days have already been fulfilled. The next one is the Feast of Trumpets. This one will matter to all Christians because it will be a call for those who belong to God to be taken away from the Day of Atonement that follows. Whether or not the old woman sees this in her lifetime or in a resurrection, knowing that God has a plan matters the most to me. We can trust God.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Almost Coop Time.

 Almost Coop Time.

 

Can’t say that much got done today other than changing sheets and washing all of the ones that had been on the bed. Answered the phone forty-leven times, too. One of the calls was to go over the meds currently being taken or prescribed. While that lady was going over these things, she asked if I was being abused. Now that was a shocker! Had to think about that for a second and then laughed and told her that the two big dogs abuse me regularly by walking on my toes and feet. Not that they don’t have four each of their own. It is not uncommon for me to look down and see blue marks on my feet where a dog or two have stepped on me on the way out the back door! Silly critters.

 

Have just a bit of sauerkraut left to go with some more sausage for tomorrow. It just seems that some days are the ones made for tart foods.

 

Michelle told me that United has their chicken breasts on sale for a dollar a pound, but the store on Southwest Parkway does not have any. Will call tomorrow to see if they will get any in before next sale day. Maybe they will have rain checks. The pork chops were on sale for $1 a pound, too. That works out pretty well, but would definitely rather have the chicken.

 

Michelle gave me some advice about cooking up some quick meals for after surgery. It had not even occurred to me that it would be easier on me and Jenn. But now will plan some for containers. Might even buy a cheese cake for us!

 

Started out reading in 1^st John and went all the way to the fourth chapter in Revelation. Reading in the Torah Lessons by Tom Bradford helps my understanding somewhat, but reading the basic books themselves makes the most difference. You know, thinking about what John wrote reminded me that even at that time there were those who were false teachers who did their best to undermine the apostles and their teaching. Reading about the Hindus in India and the neighboring countries where the Christians were being abused if they did not accept Hindu beliefs makes me feel that we are truly blessed to be able to be Christians openly. And we are told that these things will become worse as the days draw closer to the end. Having the scriptures in our minds helps us to prevent abuse by those who would pervert the Gospel. Let us pray that God will give us more of His Holy Spirit to gird our minds and hearts.

 

Hoping to see Michelle Malay here in the morning. She and her friend are supposed to be here and pick up eggs and some other stuff. The dogs just love Michelle, but she always carries on over them as if they are children! Spoilt rotten, but sweet kids!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

More Than Twelve Hours Already.

 More Than Twelve Hours Already.

 

So, early up and out to release the cacklers and then cooked three or five pounds of hamburger to put in Ziplocks for the dogs. Finally got out of here at 8:30 and made it to Kell West for blood work, chest x-ray, EKG, and a mound of paperwork. Stopped back by the ice cream store to get a chocolate shake—yes, sugar and frozen milk. Whatever. (Braum’s)

 

Spent some time this morning trying to repair my Shark vacuum where the little thing allows the dust bin to come loose so it can be emptied. Duct tape did not work, but some other stuff did. Maybe it will hang in there a bit longer. Really like that Shark. Anyway, whatever works the best just has to be babied a bit to keep it going.

 

Got a letter in the mail saying that my insurance company approved the knee replacement surgery. How nice. Let’s just hope that it pays for most of it.

 

Michelle Malay did not get here today. She said the heat is just too much. Agree completely. But Tuesday and Wednesday of this next week, the appointments are both in the afternoon. Sigh. Such is life in Texas. This reminds me that the old woman needs to be sure a big bowl of water will be in the middle coop to keep the hens hydrated. They can deal with the heat, but they absolutely HAVE to have water.

 

Have not even looked at the Torah lessons today. Sterling asked me yesterday if the Torah was strictly the first five books of the OT. Think the Torah includes all the prophets and everything in the OT. What does the old woman know. According to Tom Bradford, even the NT is included in the Torah because everything in the OT leads to the discovery of Christ whose life, death, and resurrection is the main point of the NT. It makes sense to me. Just so glad that we learned about the seven holy days that God gave us. They make sense with history and the prophecies to come. And they are not fake! Everything that mankind has made is pretty much a fake with the exception of Thanksgiving. But that holiday is mostly just American. It always bothers me that the stores pretty much ignore that one holiday.

 

After falling over on my butt the other night trying to whack the spider, my back is telling me about it. Have used an ice pack to try to get it to stop bugging me, but can’t be still long enough to keep the ice in the right place. There is absolutely nothing like being ADHD! Then there is the AC in my office that sings the Star-Spangled Banner when it is on. Go figure! Wonder if other people have music going around in their heads when their ADHD is doing its thing?

 

Tonight, the Dallas Observer highlighted the many ministers who have led some of the largest churches into a sprawling mess that might cause some people to think that their gifts and vows to the church would make them wealthy. Almost everyone of these so-called pastors were guilty of sexual abuse and absconding with multiple millions of dollars in donations. Sad, and pretty stupid. Not sure just exactly what God would say to them, but am pretty sure that they would never hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” It behooves us to think carefully about how we contribute to a church or even to the assorted fund raisers established by churches. Honestly believe that God wants us to help those who cannot help themselves.

 

About time to hush and ask God to watch over us and our decisions. May He bless those like President Trump who has to make major decisions. And then let us ask Him to bless our little communities with honesty and heart-felt kindnesses.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

So Much for Plans.

 So Much for Plans.

 

Gregg had planned to come this afternoon to cut some tree shoots out of my lower east fence, and the old woman went and picked up wheat and lay crumble this morning after going to the bank. Try to get everything done at one go, don’t ya know! Thought Gregg could unload the feed for me, but he was ill and couldn’t make it, so the old woman got to unload the feed and fill the bins. Such fun.

 

Tomorrow morning is lab work at Kell West, and then Michelle Malay will come after her doctor’s appointment. She told me that United was supposed to have chicken breasts for $1 per pound, so guess who might stop by there on the way home from the lab. Really, truly, honestly have a hankerin’ for ice cream! Yes, we all know that it has sugar in it and milk (more sugars), but sometimes it just is awfully hard to resist getting some ice cream!

 

Busy typing here and Thompson came to tell me that it was their supper time. Yes, Dear. So cleaned out one bowl and filled both with kibble and some pork roast. They are happy—or at least content to eat what they have been given. Two sweet dogs!

 

Read some more in the Torah lessons this morning. It’s not like this old woman has any background like Bradford does, but it is pretty much easier for me to accept that some things are already planned and nothing this old person will do can or should change the course of God’s plans. God has handled everything in one way as nearly as we can tell—HIS way. And the outcomes seem to be reasonable—for what little we are able to distinguish. Knowing that there is a PLAN makes me feel pretty good about how things are working out. We see all these cliff drawings of strange creatures that are supposedly aliens that were here on earth umpteen eons ago, but none of them seem to tell us the name of God or His son, Jesus Christ, nor do they seem to show the future or remind us of the name of the rulers of empires that came before the birth of Christ. So far as anyone can tell, the only one who has any plan that shows mankind in relationship with God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That is the only one that has touched my life and given me comfort. Among the ages and all the beliefs in the millions of gods mankind has made for himself, this one God needed no one to pick up rocks, kill children, make human sacrifices, or otherwise do wacky things to show their worship. Guess what matters to me the most is that the God we know is one that has shown us mercy and love through His son.

 

Using an icepack tonight on my back. Apparently even a small fall can leave a body aching. Sigh. Be so glad when this stupid knee is repaired and back to working right. Forgive me for whining and griping. Seems to go in spells! Tonight is just grumbly.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Getting It Straight!

 Getting It Straight!

 

This morning a young lady called to set up the appointment for some lab work. She said, “Now the surgery is on the 12^th of August.” Well, sure enough, she had the date right and the old woman had it in her head that it was the 14^th of August. Argh! Really don’t like being this doofless! Then Sterling called and we compared notes about just how doofless we can be! Oh my!

 

Last night a big black spider was in the bedroom corner on the wall. Naturally it needed to be whacked. Unsure if it actually got the full effect of being whacked, the old woman thoughtlessly tried to squat down and whack it again. Talk about horrible ouches. Fell over backwards on my butt and just sat there and whined. Got up and went to find the peppermint bug spray and sprayed that corner and under the dresser drawers to be sure the spider was at least feeling as bad as the old woman. Whew! Not sure if the surgery will correct the problems with the knee to the point that it will bend as it should, but certainly hope so.

 

Reading more in Tom Bradford’s Torah lessons today has included the timing of the Day of Trumpets and what should/could be the timeline for the rapture—that is, allowing those Christians to be taken up away from the horrors to come upon the earth when the Day of Atonement occurs. Know that Isaiah 56 talks about how no one considers that the one who is taken now does not have to go through the period of the troubles on earth. Now whether or not that coincides with the Day of Trumpets is anyone’s guess, but it has always seemed to me to say that the “good among men” were taken now so that they did not see the evil that would come soon. We all know that the moon and sun will be darkened, but that could be due to anything from earthquakes to the asteroids that would hit the earth. The idea that all the water would be turned to wormwood sounds like a worldwide disaster. If a volcano erupted, that could be a side effect easily. Whatever it takes, we have been forewarned.

 

Just went out and gathered eggs again. The girls are still producing close to a dozen eggs a day, but that one hen has a fragile egg that invariably makes a mess. Eventually that may change, but meanwhile, any egg that gets egg white on it needs to be washed and the egg placed in the fridge. Getting several of those ready to be cooked soon. And believe it or not, the old woman hardly ever eats eggs! Grayson said that he is ready for a few dozen, so maybe he will come sometime in the near future and pick up some while he visits. He may have to work while he is here, but at least it will be something different than just being at home all the time.

 

When the message to the kids was sent about Josiah’s birth, my niece said, “May he always be happy, healthy, and loved.” That was a truly sweet blessing to ask for. No matter what the situation may encompass with family feelings, the baby boy should receive God’s blessings and have those blessings requested for his life. So much is awkward in our lives and in the relationships with our families and their mates, but it never hurts to ask for blessings for others, especially the little ones. Just sayin’.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

What Is It Worth?

 What Is It Worth?

 

Did you ever wonder just what you were worth to anyone else? Maybe you are a strong, muscular person who can lift and throw things around easily. Or maybe you are a slender person who is quick and can easily fly into a swing and rope situation to do marvelous tricks. Some folks can run faster, lift higher, or jump better than most. Physical prowess certainly has its place in many sports. Then there was a skinny guy whose shoulders were not like those of most folks. He could fit inside a well casing and was able to be lowered down to a small child who had fallen inside the casing and hold on to her while others pulled both of their bodies from the well. He didn’t think of himself as a hero, but he saved the life of that little girl. Whatever else happened in his life or how it ended was somewhat overshadowed by his courage that day to be lowered into a well head first.

 

Sometimes we all have the feeling that we are not worth as much as what we would like to be worth. But it is just a personal feeling that goes with comparing ourselves to others. Let’s just be sure that we know to whom we should be comparing ourselves! We are children of God. Do you think that God’s children are special? Before we were born, He knew us and planned our lives. Yep, we are pretty doggone special. We are blessed to be able to call on Him and praise His name. Let us live each day remembering His name as we are called as His children. Each has worth beyond anything else—even when we wander off and have to be brought back to the fold. Thank God He comes for us!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

A Busier Morning.

 A Busier Morning.

 

Michelle Malay came this morning and spent some time with me. We talked about just everything that came along and expressed how we felt about certain situations. Compared to so many women, we both have had a good mate. Well, her last husband was a good mate for her. The first one was a bit of a blithering idiot and neither a good mate nor good father. Life is hard, and then your stupidities catch up with you.

 

Michelle always greets my dogs as if they were my children (pretty close at this point), but these two dogs just love her and how she takes on over them. She brought some dingo sticks made out of chicken. The dogs almost would fight over them if they thought one had a stick and the other did not! Just like kids or ornery people. She also brought the “ice machine” that is used to reduce swelling and pain after the knee surgery. Had planned to just use ice bags, but this looks pretty simple and may be easier.

 

While Michelle sat at my kitchen table, three calls came in about the next two weeks. An appointment for a consult with Dr. Desiree (heart specialist), an appointment for a CT scan at Kell West, and a pre-op appointment with Dr. Vietenheimer. Have no idea when they will do the blood work and all that stuff, but guess they will let me know. Seems like a lot of stuff to do right now. Oh well.

 

About out of good wheat—NOT whole wheat—in the feed bins, but not in the least bit interested in going over to the feed store right now. They don’t open until 9:30 and close at 2 p.m., so it’s not like it is easy to go while it is cooler in the morning. Then unload and haul it out to the coop. Sigh. Oh well. The ladies are doing pretty well right now. One is molting and looks pretty funny. At least they are not ALL molting at the same time and leaving stray feathers all over the yard!  Sometimes when they molt, it is almost like a small hurricane of feathers lying around waiting for the wind.

 

Had cantaloupe for breakfast again. Probably need to make something a little more solid for lunch. Have some veggies and meat that was made up for the dogs, so that may just be my lunch. It is neat to prepare things that all of us can eat. Always something ready to zap with the microwave.

 

Patty called to tell me that Blake will be here in the a.m. to do the grass. Let her know that mine does not need to be made quite as short as before since it looks like rain is not happening again for a while at least. Hope he gets it before it gets out of sight hot!

 

Dr. Blackwell came and talked with me about stuff. Love that she comes and sits down to visit. We decided that the blood pressure meds and diuretic can be left alone the way we had it before, so now must let Optum know that we are reverting back to the 20/25 dosage. May have to get her to do it so that they will listen.

 

We are reminded in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ.” This old woman does not feel the least bit strong right now, but Christ’s strength is all we need. Can you imagine being able to help the sick, feed the hungry, lift those who have fallen? About all this one can do is pray for the sick, the hungry, and the fallen, but maybe that is enough for today. Our prayers are heard: just look at Tami Yonts and Maryellen Rose! They are recovering and their attitude is one of gratitude! Praise God!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Just Watching the Birds.

 Just Watching the Birds.

 

Today has been one of the days that seems to keep a person interested in just about anything except what needs to be done. So, no, the living room floor did not get dust mopped today despite the fact that it desperately needs it. Maybe early tomorrow. Or not. Plenty of dog hair in there to create dust bunnies or dead-on jack rabbits!

 

The Baltimore orioles started the investment of my time this morning by attacking the blooms on the trumpet vine. It looks as if they try to cut into the stem end to get to the nectar. It is not easy to tell, but the one out there this morning definitely was picking on that end of the blooms. Not many insects—well, maybe bumblebees—will mess with the trumpet vine. Not sure just why, but it might be that they would get inside the bloom and not be able to get out. Whatever. It was fun to watch this sassy and bright yellow fellow banging about the blooms. Then a tiny little wren spent quite a bit of time looking over the front part of the porch. My guess is that she is looking for a good place to put a nest. If the old woman were any good at all, she would put a small basket out on the porch post for her. The only problem with a basket would be the mean squirrels that would eat the eggs and kill baby birds. Sterling gave me a bird house that is supposed to be for bluebirds, but I got Lance to put a perch on it, so the bluebirds won’t go in the hole. The sparrows tend to take it over. Maybe removing the perch would give the wren a place to raise her babies.

 

Dr. Blackwell is supposed to come by tomorrow afternoon to pick up eggs. We are going to discuss blood pressure meds and diuretics again. Not sure just why my ankles have been swelling, but the knee doesn’t surprise me. It would be nice if our bodies came with those computer things that give us a readout that tells us what they need or what needs to be done to them. As it is, we have pain to tell us to stop doing stuff or headaches to remind us to calm down and breathe. God has His own way of letting us know what we need to do. If only we were closer to understanding what He wants from us!

 

Talked to Patty today and she said she was about out of the kind of dog food that we shared with her before. My dogs get a 31.1-pound bag of the stuff, so giving her a gallon bag is not going to put much of a dent in their container. And then too, some cantaloupe has ended up in the fridge that needs to be shared. Having stuffed myself with fruit is one of my sneaky ways to avoid too many calories. Not buying anything with carbs might help that situation, too. But it is really hard to avoid carbs—well, or sugar. But eating fruit when longing for a burger with all the trimmings has kept me from gaining forty-leven pounds recently! Maybe not LOSING weight, but not gaining is helpful.

 

Have refused to look at any “news” today. Can only deal with so much before it gets pretty depressing. We all know that at least one “news” service will actually attempt to tell the truth about what is happening, but when six other stations are lying through their teeth, it just gets about sickening. We all make mistakes—people, governments, companies, cities—but when we do our best to put people first, it should matter. Sometimes, however, God is the only one who can tell who is intending what. Guess maybe that is why this old woman prefers to let Him handle things. Not like she can do a thing to change life around us.

 

Let us ask God for His guidance for ourselves and for those in power. May we listen and obey as God would want from us.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Coffee and Nuts.

 Coffee and Nuts.

 

Two cups of coffee and a handful of nut mix was a snack after a breakfast of cantaloupe. How’s that for a summer breakfast? Amazon allows me to choose the nuts and the type of dried fruit that goes into the nut mix, but cantaloupe is strictly a fresh buy from the store or from a fruit stand. Have not been downtown to the Farmers’ Market in quite a while. Maybe after my knee gets fixed it won’t be so difficult to walk around down there. Meanwhile, love the fresh fruit from United.

 

Had to redo my Bravecto order for the dogs this morning. The credit card that was being used had been compromised. My fault! But while reviewing the orders, it seems the price has really gone up on the stuff. It is closer to $200 now than the slightly over $100 that it started out. Will have to look and see if Amazon or Sam’s can get this stuff more cheaply. The arthritis meds for Thompson were certainly cheaper through Sam’s! And they mail them to me as well. Anyway, it seems to me that everything we buy lately is at least half again as much as it has been!

 

Sometimes it simply hurts to read any of the reports from around the world: Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List ranked Nigeria as one of the worst countries in the world for Christians.

Of 4,476 Christians killed for their faith globally during the latest reporting period, 3,100 -- or nearly 70 percent -- were in Nigeria.

Other countries where Christians face systemic persecution 

include North Korea, Myanmar, Sudan, Yemen, and Kyrgyzstan.

 

Here in the U.S. we are so blessed to be able to worship freely and to talk about our faith with others. When Gregg and Vickie came the other evening, we talked about the statement: When two or more are gathered together . . .

The phrase "where two or more are gathered" is derived from Matthew 18:20, which states, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." This scripture emphasizes that even small gatherings in faith are significant, as God's presence is assured among them. It is often interpreted to mean that collective prayer and agreement among believers hold power, and it underscores the importance of community in faith. 

 

God hears our prayers. First, let us be grateful for our freedom here in this country, and secondly, let us pray for Christians in other places. And just as importantly, let us be good examples to our children and grandchildren that they may feel more like emulating our behavior and beliefs. We can’t give our children the type of society in which we grew up, but we can encourage them to see that what is “normal” in today’s world is not necessarily the most moral or best for them. We don’t need to be judgmental, but surely, we can live our own lives as if common sense can prevail.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

No One Lives to Himself.

 No One Lives to Himself.

 

In Romans 14:7-8, it says that no man lives to himself or dies to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord’s.

 

Texas has wept this past couple of weeks, but while we mourn, we need to remember some things that are not easy for those whose immediate grief is so raw: “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: And merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” Isa. 57:1-2.

 

No Man is an Island

No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend’s
Or of thine own were:
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.

 

John Donne, a poet, felt much like the rest of us, only his viewpoint was closer to another part of the world, yet he saw that mankind was not a separate entity nor a separate continent. Basically, what is common to one man is common to all is his viewpoint.

 

We seldom hear any bells tolling here in WF, but our flags are at half mast and our brows are raised in concern and sorrow. With all the turmoil that has come to our nation due to the loss of our borders and the invasion of multiple gangs of terrorists, we can easily conceive of the “evil to come.” The consequences of political maneuvers have given even more to the reality of the bells tolling. Kidnappings, murders, forced prostitution, and equally horrifying situations have come from allowing Satan’s tools to enter into this nation. We would never want our children to have to give up their lives to avoid these horrors, but we can take comfort in knowing that their lives are in the hands of the great God, the Father.

 

Let us pray for peace and comfort for those whose sorrows are too difficult to touch. May God give them His peace. May those whose task it is to recover the remains find comfort and peace through God’s love. Let us touch their spirits with loving concern for their deepest horrors in their searches. Remember them with care as they try eventually to return to their “normal” lives.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Why We Need Summer.

 Why We Need Summer.

 

In case no one has noticed, summer gives us some heat and humidity that can be pretty intense. Like trying to breathe through a wet sponge in a sauna or stepping into an oven on some days. But the best part of it all, is what grows in summer: cantaloupe, squash, cucumbers, peas and beans, watermelon, and all things green and gorgeously tasty. We can bear summertime and its heat—and even the dry heat—as long as we have that blessing invented by Mr. Carrier and these good foods. Years ago, we used a big cattle pond made out of some kind of plastic as a swimming pool for us and the children. They would turn on the garden hose and fill it up and then nearly freeze to death until the sun had been able to warm it up by the next day. Lewis and the Nag usually waited until the children were asleep before we enjoyed the plastic pond. Better than a bathtub for sure!

 

Today has looked just a bit cloudy as if the weather is thinking about something, but the forecasts are for hot and dry for the next several days. It’s Texas; we will wait and see. The hens are doing well, so far, so it has not been necessary to run water under the deck to keep them cool. And the sunflower plants on the west side of the house have given them quite a bit of shade. Too bad the plum tree had to come down, but at least the sunflowers are doing a good job of providing shade and cover for them.

 

Finished reading the book Beyond the Banks of Frog Creek by Marjorie Parker. It was definitely worth reading. Who knew it would be so inspiring!

 

Dr. Blackwell is attempting to help me adjust my blood pressure and diuretic meds so that my blood pressure will stay where it belongs and the swelling in my leg will not get too much to deal with. Seems that the pain caused by walking makes my BP go up too high. Having to keep up with that feels silly, but understand why it needs to be done. Just hope Sterling is able to get his under control with whatever he is currently using. Our bodies do strange and upsetting things just whenever. Guess we are so blessed to just have this many years of living to do. God has His purpose for such as us, it would seem.

 

Have not really looked at the news today. Sometimes it is just too much. Even though we know truly bad things happen every day, it would be so wonderful to have a source of ONLY good news. Yes, the Bible has the truly GOOD news, but it also has descriptions of what will take place in heaven before the return of Christ as king of kings. Right now, even that seems a bit drastic for my mind to comprehend. While it will be a wonderful day, the waiting time up to His return is not going to be all that great. We will see how Satan can turn men into monsters—and already is doing so now. Like knowing how the story ends, maybe those who die now get to skip to the good part. At least with the promises of God, we need not fear death. May He find faith among us when He returns.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Catching Up.

 Catching Up.

 

Sometimes when morning gets here, it feels as if it will be a super day with not too much to do or much that needs to be done. Then the old woman looks at the living room floor. Two dogs with eight feet between them and a pair of clod hoppers that seem to attract good “shtuff” from out in the chicken yard manage to treat the floor to the usual things one could expect—grass, wheat seeds, a bit of mud, some chicken poo. Sigh. But it all comes up in a bit with the dust mop and pan. Then the dogs remind me that they need some “good stuff” on their kibble. Got that cooked and distributed so those two are happy. Made some veggies and put some of the pork steak on top of my veggies. We share around here, don’t you see.

 

Maggie brought me some squash that was so tough that it had to be hacked in order to find the insides. The hens were not overly impressed. Maggie said she managed to cook some of the tough stuff long enough to get it to a palatable stage, but she definitely was not impressed with it either. Oh well. Someone grew the stuff but should have let it continue to grow and go to seed. Such is the garden!

 

Noticed that United has a sale on some pork roast and ordered one plus one—one of those BOGO sales. Those are pretty neat. You end up paying for one roast and get two. Of course, that means you have to put one in the freezer pretty soon or figure out how to cook and freeze some up in bags. Whatever works.

 

Gary’s new cat is named Merlin. Those kids come up with some neat names for critters. Jennifer really did not want another cat AT ALL. But so much for what she wanted. Hmm. Reece and Grey found the kitten in the road and picked it up, so Gary thinks it was meant to be. My neighbors found a tuxedo cat downtown and took it to Dallas to meet someone who would fly it to Colorado to a no-kill place. They donated a hundred dollars so the cat would be fed and neutered, too. That is the kind of cat one needs—the kind that will get care but not in one’s own house.

 

Emptied the water bottles that had been frozen rather than use a ice machine for the recuperation time. The ice bags work pretty well and one does not have to make room for them. Dr. V’s nurse said that ice bags work just as well. Anyway, trying to get my mind around what all would be needed as soon as the surgery is a done deal. Right now, it is pretty miserable to just go out to the coops three or four times a day. Jenn and Lance think the old woman should be using a cane when out and about, but it is actually harder to carry an egg basket and a cane at the same time. Oh well. Will figure it out eventually.

 

News speaks of more flooding in Hill Country, two women killed in a Kentucky church and others wounded by some dipstick, and other stupidity going on in various places. All we can do is ask for God’s protection and try to use common sense. Honestly don’t think common sense is all that common any longer.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Another Shower!

 Another Shower!

 

The clouds banked up today and just let out a downpour for a bit. Went out to the coops and emptied the wagon of all the water it was holding—probably two inches. Amazing weather we have had this year. It will probably be drier than a tinker’s fizzle this fall, but right now we are getting rains every so often. Sterling was saying that he has to wait or put pontoons on his mower if he is going to tend to their grass in Arkansas!

 

Speaking of Sterling and Jacqui, they had to have the vet come out and put down their old dog Rosie, but then went to select one from the pound. They have to wait until Monday to get Ella after she has been spade and had all her shots. Sterling said that she seems like a friendly girl, so let’s hope that Toby, their little dog, does not try to assault her. He might have two or three teeth total, but he thinks he is a Great Dane!

 

Patty’s step-son and his wife came to visit her today. She always enjoys their visits. DG looks so much like Donny—especially that beard! Roxie must think it is Donny because she won’t leave him alone! She used to get on Donny’s shoulder and try to hide in his beard—and of course, he loved it.

 

My cousin let me know that her mom had passed yesterday evening. Think we are second cousins twice removed or something like that, but we knew each other as kids. Her parents were very close to my parents and her dad used to call me just to talk. Ted has been gone for years now. Also, noticed that a local person, Dawn Thompson, was concerned that her grandmother was in Hospice now. Let’s face it, the older WE get, the more our families are passing on. Sterling is the last of our family who really knows me—and vice versa. Memories are some of the things we share with siblings that no one else can ever understand.

 

A couple of skunks have been roaming around our neighborhood today! One ran inside the east lot and then turned around and scooted back under the big gate. Was SO glad to see that critter go out and take off another direction. Thompson saw it, but the back door was closed so he did not get to give chase! Whew!

 

Maggie Sewell came today and picked up eggs and the Clay County Leader newspapers that Roger gave me. It is nice to be able to see what is going on back where we grew up. Maggie has let me know that her husband is beginning to have some problems with his memory and hearing. It hurts to see your mate losing that sharpness of mind, but eventually it will happen to most of us. Let us pray that God will give us the clarity of mind that we need to deal with life.

 

About time to go close up the hens and get ready for bed. Not sure just why, but the old woman is sore and feeling decrepit tonight. Not enough good exercise!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

An Unneeded Book.

 An Unneeded Book.

 

The last time the old woman went to get a massage, Spa Bella had a table with some books on it. The title is what got me: Beyond the Banks of Frog Creek. My grandmother Pollard grew up on the banks of Frog Creek, somewhere close to Byers, TX. That was enough to cause me to buy the book. Grandmother would probably laugh and tell me stories about that place and why it was so difficult to get her to school from out in the country. That was one of the reasons that she was sent to the Academy of Mary Immaculate in WF. She was a boarding student there from age nine to sometime a few years later. Wish questions had been asked then that plague me now. Sigh.

 

Anyway, after buying the book, the subtitle struck me as strange: 40 days of devotions for times of painful change. It did not seem at the time that any real change had been in my life that needed to be addressed. But the pages were some that became a comforting presence of sharing the same problems others had. Then this morning the real comfort came in a surprise. On page 180 was the title: The God of Thistles and Thorns. It addressed the situation of a wife and mother whose son became an alcoholic and who ended up in a prison ministry. No, my youngest son did not end up in prison, but he abruptly ended his life right in front of me. It still hurts. But the encouragement is there to give that grief to God just as He gave His son. His son was perfect! And yet He gave us that perfect sacrifice.

 

Marjorie Hodgson Parker shares her belief in God and His word, so maybe that was something the old woman really needed and didn’t realize.

 

Sometimes reading about the trauma in the lives or others creates a shadow of sorrow in our own lives. The trials of Israel, the floods from hurricanes and weather that can destroy lives and landscape, the hatred some have for ICE agents who are trying their best to free our country from the terrorists who have been roaming our cities and killing police officers and citizens—these are the shadows now on our lives. No one can just blithely say, “You handle it, Father.” No, these shadows compromise our own lives so easily. We pray, we ask for peace for ourselves and others, and we do our best to look forward to what God has promised. Even so, we need God’s comforting love in words and actions. Not many have the resources to give large amounts of money or equipment to those in need. Our president has been doing his best to help Israel and the Ukraine, but evil and destruction prevail in so many corners that even all the resources of the U.S. cannot prevent the loss of life in our own country or abroad. About all most of us can do is pray. And really, prayer is not a small thing because we are asking of a mighty God, the creator. He listens. He spreads His love in both large and small measures as needed.

 

May those who are having to dig out the bodies—literally—be comforted that they are giving closure to those who are left behind to mourn.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Just Considering.

 Just Considering.

 

Talked to Sterling this morning and he said that he had asked his men’s group to pray for me and for the surgery coming up. THEN he informed me that he had passed out next to his truck after he had taken his truck and tractor out to brush hog for a guy. His blood pressure has been flipping around from one stage to another for a while now. The doctor has not been able to get it to stay stable. It made me remember how many different meds Dr. Schaffner had to try before we finally found one that worked ok for me. But his passing out like that is scary. Anyway, please pray that he and his doctor can get his meds right and his life style to match what is needed. At 80-years-old, a man—well, anyone for that matter—should not be messing around out by himself and taking chances on falling out! Kinda need him to live a lot longer anyway! Missed parts of his life and would appreciate the time to make up those years.

 

The hens are not all that keen on laying eggs for some reason. It could be the heat is bothering them, but who knows for sure. At least they have plenty of green grass out there to scratch around in right now. Blake mowed and did the weed eating on my place after he finished doing Patty’s place. Mine looks as if we just need to bring in a hay baler! Wow! That stuff was deep! Patty said she could have lost Roxie in the deep grass out her back door!

 

The house is nice and clean since Maria mopped and wiped everything down yesterday. It always feels so good for several days until the dogs and the old woman managed to track in dirt and grass. Sigh.

 

Yesterday the thoughts of how the flooding in the Hill Country will affect those folks struck me. Even the survivors will have PTSD after this. Yes, so many kind people have donated money and different kinds of help for the immediate needs, but the grief will dig in for the long haul. The dangers that they survived will come back in nightmares. The friends and family lost will be a deep ache for the rest of their lives. Whether it is a flood, a war, a tornado, or some other horrible disaster, we can only deal with so much before our spirits are burdened almost beyond relief. The only real answer is calling on God to help. After all the dirt has been dug away and the dogs no longer alert, God will still be with us and with those who suffer. No amount of blaming will change the facts of life and death. Instead, we need to see beyond this life to the next one that is promised. Let us pray for the comfort that we know is needed so desperately. Let us consider these people as our family—children of God.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Summer and Heat.

 Summer and Heat.

 

Dear Hearts, it has been hot today. It got up to 100 degrees out on my front porch. Have not looked to see what the gauge on the back deck says, but the hens are panting and staying in the shade. According to Weather Bug, we have a 30 to 40% chance of rain this weekend again. We will see if that materializes or not, however. A friend made the comment that a 30% chance of rain meant that we really had a 70% chance of NOT having rain.

 

Jennifer came up today and went to see Dr. Vietenheimer about getting this surgery done. He answered all the questions we knew to ask and then had his PA to tell us more about what we would be doing. A total knee replacement for some folks means going home the same day, but he wants me to stay overnight for IV antibiotics. Anyway, barring any uh oh’s, we will have the surgery on August 12. Jennifer will stay with me for two weeks. We are hoping to get Grayson to take a week’s vacation and stay with me for a week if nothing else happens. Maybe the old woman will be tough enough to take care of herself pretty much after two weeks.

 

Sterling and Jacqui are a bit down in the dumps today because they had to have the vet come out and put their old farm dog down. She just wasn’t doing well at all and was pretty miserable. So, now they are spreading the word that they are looking for another old dog who needs a good home. Their little Toby dog sleeps with Sterling or keeps them busy one way or the other most of the time, but he is about as big and ferocious as my oldest hen’s backside. SMALL dog with big ideas, you know.

 

Have about got Sylvia to take off a pound now. She doesn’t get very many treats and both dogs only get something on top of their kibble once a day now. It’s simply too hot for dogs and people to be eating anything extra.

 

Things are happening all over the world: Guatemala was rocked by over three dozen earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 3.0 to 5.6 on Tuesday. Tremors could reportedly be felt all the way in the nation of El Salvador. Among the weather-related problems have been the issues involving harvesting crops: Bad weather has destroyed over 60% of the wheat crop in Wichita County, Texas. Only 40% can be harvested, and just a small amount is sufficient to sell for a profit, according to News Channel 6. Over 100 people have been injured while thousands more have been told to shelter in place after a wildfire tore through a portion of southern France. Today, China is experiencing severe flooding in several regions, particularly in central and southern areas. At least nine people have died, and tens of thousands have been displaced due to the heavy rains. After horrible fires earlier this year, the town of Ruidoso confirmed in a statement late Tuesday that a man and two children, ages 4 and 7, were swept downstream and “tragically lost their lives as a result of the historic flash flooding that swept through the community on July 8, 2025.” It added that search and rescue operations were continuing. Satan has his hands in this mess. But we can know that these things have been foretold. Now is a very good time to dust off that Bible if it is not already open and being read daily. Whether or not a person can get down on our knees, it is definitely a good time to ask God to guide and direct us daily.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Folks Just Doin' What They Do.

 Folks Just Doin’ What They Do.

 

Have watched quite a bit of the coverage on the flooding in the Hill Country. It should not really surprise me, but somehow it always does when we hear of folks helping out their neighbors and those they have never met—just because it needs to be done. Whether it is a professional pilot or swimmer saving oodles of folks, someone coming in to dig through the many car bodies filled with dirt, someone taking in the dogs, cats, and what other critters that might need help, or just a man who regularly drove through a neighborhood on his way to work who stopped to help out a family. It is simply amazing to see how much folks are doing for others who needed the help. The messages from the children just about hurt my heart. They are so very brave and have thoughts for their friends, their sisters and brothers, and for the ones who have been washed away. Guess this is true no matter where people live in whatever state or country. It’s just that this is our home.

 

My neighbor just came by and talked for a few minutes. Told him about the “trigger finger” that my chiropractor “healed” by thumping it with her tool and then showing me how to free the nerves from the leaders in my hand. Not sure it will help him, but it should not cause any more troubles by using the same exercises. My keyboarding students learned to make “spider mirrors” to keep their hands from cramping from hours of keyboarding. Whatever stretches the hands seems to help them in the long run.

 

Sprayed the trumpet vine pole this morning to try to remove the wasps flying into and around it. Can’t imagine growing my own wasp nests! Now if only the old woman could figure out where my little hen is laying her eggs! My luck it will be somewhere around that freaking trumpet vine! But she cackles every time she lays an egg, but the old woman has not yet caught her coming from a direction. Sigh.

 

Just finished a conversation with my good friend Michelle Malay. Weather, lights, dogs, and these surgeries were among the topics. She is coming up Friday if nothing happens and is bringing an “ice machine” to use on my leg after surgery. She said that they would send me home the same day as the surgery! How’s that for getting ‘er done! May never be able to kneel down to work on the fence line for a long time, but at least the knee will work!

 

We spoke of Anne and her kids and what we thought about her situation and her children. Sometimes people can really have your ideas about them messed up. No matter what we do to or for other folks, if our intentions are kind and helpful, it seems things should work out. And then there are those who don’t care if they hurt you or others. So sad. No matter what intentions might be, it is never right to purposely allow someone to be hurt physically or emotionally. May God give us the best of directions and corrections as needed.

 

Let us pray for those who grieve tonight. May those who are digging through the warped ways be comforted and strengthened.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.