Warmer Weather.

 

It’s not quite 90 degrees out on the back deck, but it is definitely warmer than it has been. Sterling said that it is still wet and miserable in his part of NW Arkansas. That’s what he gets for moving two blankets north of Texas! Of course, when it gets to 120 degrees out there on the deck this summer, he will be complaining of the humidity, and the folks around here will just be gasping in the sweltering heat! Such is life.

 

Just had a nice visit with a young neighbor. He is military and his wife is a phlebotomist. They work constantly! He leaves home before 6:30 and she works like nine hours a day. Think it is so neat that they both speak multiple languages! Texan is the only language this old woman knows well enough to use. And some folks might think Texan is sort of backwoods as a language. We nearly always get our point across, however. One way or another. Kindly most of the time.

 

It took reading several posts for me to realize that today was Friday. Had not even put out the trash bin. Thought about going up to United a couple of times, but just felt too lazy to do so. Cleaned up a couple of leftovers and decided to put off buying any groceries until the bananas get too ripe! Sitting here snacking on blueberries. Umm. Jennifer suggested Sam’s for a few things, and it made sense to wait and get the dog’s medicine there on a membership. Still have not figured out how to do that thing with the app, but will talk to her tonight. My kids can figure out all kinds of things, but it takes me forever to understand what to do or to remember the steps in the process. Maybe it is old age?

 

Sutherland’s keeps sending me messages about their new arrivals in the plants. For some reason, nothing is really all that appealing. For one thing, if it grows, it is going to need water this year. From what we have seen so far, if God does not bless us with some mighty long and deep rains, we are going to be rationing water here in WF. Some places have it much worse, but folks who water their grass and try to keep pretty plants alive are wasting resources in my estimation. Trees are one thing, but grass is not necessary. We all need to be using native plants that can survive our weather. My brother insists that having “clean” water out for the hens all the time is not really necessary either. He told me to watch the hens run after the water that is dumped out on the ground! He is right, of course, but the dadgummed ducks are nasty—and they are back again. Patty suggested getting a water gun that would blast them. That might keep them out of the yard if they get hit a few times. Or not.

 

Sitting here wondering if okra would need much water. Hmm. One of my favorite summertime foods is fried okra. Of course, Chicken Express makes good fried okra. Sigh. We won’t be growing any new potatoes and green beans around here. Well, maybe the Farmers’ Market might have some from out at Charlie where they grow pecans, peaches, and assorted veggies. If some old woman was not so lazy, she would go pick up some turnips or whatever they have in season right now. Maybe the leftovers were just not quite enough this afternoon! Snack attack!

 

Let us pray for peace, for calm in the way of the storms, for common sense among those who should know better, and for rain for the areas that need it so desperately. May those who are trying to restore power lines be blessed with safety and good working conditions. Finally, let us pray for those who are in prisons and jails that they may be safe and not harassed. Let our love be toward others as God has given His love to us.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

 Those PLANNING Days!

 

We all know what happens to plans, don’t we. Yes, best laid or simply impulsively random, plans can go all out the window or the nearest hole in the wall, but you can bet your biscuits they won’t go exactly the way you might have expected if you had had your druthers. Such is life. Had planned to go to Sam’s today to fill an Rx for Thompson. Thought about getting a membership and talked briefly to my girl. So will wait on Sam’s a couple of days. Why they charge more if you don’t have a membership might make sense, but it still irks me. But it is still cheaper to buy his meds there rather than at the vet’s office or Chewy. Then there was the plan to go pick up some cabbage and get the second shingles shot. Not bothered too much by the price of the cabbage, but certainly not looking forward to that shot. The first one just about kicked the old girl’s backside! Ouch and ooooh! And that was the second and third day! Sigh. Still better than what Sterling has.

 

Sterling said to get some kind of silicone spray to put on the tops of the shelves in this new pantry that would help keep them sliding freely. Want to do my best not to gum it up or mess it up, so asked again just a minute ago. Yep, had it right. While he was here, he fastened the battery back on the zero-turn. It works like a champ as long as the old woman can remember the right position for those handles. They have to be in the up position to begin cutting. But they have to be in the down position to start the thing. Oh well. Hear that rattling sound? That’s the brain up there.

 

One of my beautiful black Maran’s died. She was sick, but had no idea what was wrong with her. It’s not like it would be worth taking her body for an examination. Doubt seriously if any of the vets around here know diddly about chickens anyway. But at least the danged ducks have not been out in the backyard this morning. Talk about nasty creatures!! Now the water bowls might stay clean more than fifteen minutes!

 

Reading a mystery about a small California town where all the people pretty well know each other. Grew up in a small town like that. But some of us were never part of the gossip circles, praise be! It was enough to know that if we were seen doing anything even slightly wrong, someone would call our parents or grandparents—very quickly! Guess that would have been a good thing. Generally speaking, most of the kids who grew up out in our little Podunk town were good kids. Yes, they wrote on the water tower and then got called in to go clean up their mess. But if that is the worst thing a kid could do, they were still good kids. And the Ag classes all helped out if there was a fire that needed putting out or any other problem. They learned to weld and made cattle guards for ranchers. Think my friend Roger learned to weld in that class. And many of the 4H boys learned to shear sheep because my daddy taught the Ag teacher how to do it. And daddy had to learn from watching the gang of men who came up from Mexico each year to shear everyone’s sheep—all except for Grandmother Pollard’s sheep. She made the head honcho angry over something, so they took care of all the others until it was time to do her sheep. Then they left and did not come back. SO, my daddy sheared her sheep that year. That was the year that Granddad’s ram hit Daddy while he was bent over a ewe’s leg. His head made a nice impression in the shingles on the side of the house. Then Daddy roped “Satan” and snugged his head up to Grandmother’s clothes lines pole. Granddad had to reset the pole the next day! And Satan went to the sale barn.

 

Growing up out in the country was an experience! Wished many times that my children could have enjoyed it like we did. But they did pretty well right here on the hill overlooking Lake Wichita. Lots of room to roam. And all the neighbors watched over each other’s children. It really does take a village.

 

Let us rejoice in this beautiful weather while it lasts. God has blessed us with cooler temps and no really bad storms just yet. And spring is just now getting a good start.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

A Tisket, A Tasket!

 

No, we have no red and yellow basket, but we have a bright, shiny new pantry. It just pleases me to pieces! It has three slide-out shelves for canned goods or whatever will fit in the shelf. Sterling warned me not to put anything on a shelf that could fall over sideways and block the sliding area. Think that should not be too difficult to handle. Oh, and it is just shiny, yellow, and even smells nice like new wood! If my photography works at all, maybe you will get to see a picture. Took a couple of pictures of Sterling and Jacqui after we got it in the office, but again, my photography is not the greatest. The bench the pantry sits on is over a foot tall—almost 19 inches tall to be exact. And the top part of the pantry is finished so that something can sit on top nicely. Anyway, it makes this old woman so very happy. Not everyone has such a sweet brother to do things like this!

 

Shona came over and visited with me just a bit. We laughed about how some of the things some of us say are just a little different from what people say around us. My excuse is growing up in Texas out yonder in Clay County where chip kickers ride their horses and then take their trailers to the car wash! So many trailers have gone through that car wash in Henrietta that they had to put up a sign asking them to CLEAN out the trailer before they washed all that shtuff down the drain! This is why the big truckers who haul cattle and other livestock have to go to special washout buildings! Those bulls are just full of it, don’t you see!

 

Sterling and Jacqui like Chicken Express with the mashed tators, gravy, fried chicken tenders, fried livers, fried okra, and those little fried clumps of corn—plus a biscuit or roll. Yes, we like fried foods! Oh well. Forgot to give them some cheese cake before they left. Dagnabit! Bought it specially for them, too! But made tea for them to drink with their meal. Have not made tea in ages. But this is decaf tea, so it won’t keep anyone awake.

 

My flowers are beginning to bloom and wave at the wind. Oh! Variegated tulips in the front around the rosemary bush just make me wish they really had a smell, but the black tulips that are growing in the center of the front flower bed are almost hidden by the poppy plants! Never had a black tulip before! Of course, the orange-ish iris is gorgeous out by the road. And the purple ones are about to open up! Don’t you just love the seasons and flowers! My poor niece Lesli got snow today up toward Chicago. But she likes cold weather. And they expect more on top of what they got today! Still, the weather is pretty iffy this time of year. We need to pray that the tornadoes stay somewhere no one lives. Is there such a place? Well, better yet, let us pray for protection for life and property.

 

The pollen count is over 10 and doesn’t look like it will decrease anytime soon. Let’s face it, if you have allergies to anything that blooms or drops pollen, this is the time of year to enjoy those sneezes. And it does not seem that any of the rain that has fallen has washed any pollen out of the air. Oh well. Summer will be here before we know it, and then it will be something else in the air that we can enjoy.

 

Last night’s hen count was one short. Finally found a black Maran under the deck. Had to shoo her out with the yard rake. Her comb is flopped over, so she may have not been feeling well for longer than a few days. But caught her and made her swallow some VetRx. She stayed in the nest most of the day, but will have to see if she has made it up on the roost tonight. Poor baby. Certainly hope the wild birds and these two stupid mallard ducks have not brought something in to make my birds sick!

 

Let us rejoice and thank God for all good things. We are so very blessed with all that can be given to us through friends, family, neighbors, and all those who serve us without even knowing us. Let us pray for others and show love as often as possible.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved. 

Enough Exercise!

 Enough Exercise!

 

Ok, the old woman has about had all she can handle for one day—maybe even for more than one day! Got the floors mopped, the office rearranged, some furniture moved, and some shopping done. Went to Wally World and got a new battery for the lawn mower after “Junior” Leos took off the old one for me. Hauled that thing to Walmart and got the new one. It probably won’t last any longer than this old one. Sigh. Oh well. We will see if doing just a tiny bit of cutting will be ok. Will find the straight jacket the doctors put me in after the back surgery and try doing it that way. Not much of anything to mow, but would just like to use the mower and do one little area. It will be nearly two weeks before the lawn guys will be back. Oh well. We shall see.

 

Sterling and Jacqui should be here sometime tomorrow. Asked Jacqui to give me a call so lunch could be on the table when they get here. They both like Chicken Express, and it is SO much easier than cooking. Yes, more expensive, but that money will go for something anyway. Sterling put his truck inside his shop for tonight since it is supposed to frost up there tonight. He did not want his handiwork to get frost bitten! Looking forward to unloading and putting this thing together. Never have seen a pantry just like this before, but it seems like it would be so easy to get things out and keep them stored by size or type. Have enough tomato stuff of different kinds to fill up an entire shelf! Yes, tomatoes are one of my favorites!

 

Patty started her car this afternoon since she is going to be using it soon. She wanted to be sure that it would start. She hardly ever uses the thing, but it is a nice little car. She also said that she nearly called me this morning when Rudy would not get up and get going. He finally decided to go outside, but maybe he felt like an old person who just needed some encouragement to add to the “getalong”! Think we all have days like that.

 

Working around this house has kept me away from any of the “news” sources—which is probably a good thing. It does not take much to get me disgusted. Common sense has flown the coop, Dear Hearts! Human kindnesses, however, still exist and even flourish. Have seen that in person lately. It feels good to see someone who has no vested interest in things do for others what they can’t do for themselves.

 

If the wind does not beat them to shreds, the irises out front will be on show within the next few days. Glorious blues, yellows, purples, and amber colors are mixed across this place. They may not win any prizes—even if they were entered in a flower show—but they have my heart feeling happy to see and smell them! God has addressed that thing within us that finds beauty inspiring and relaxing! Praise God for His many blessings!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

 April in Texas.

 

We never really know what to expect in our weather, despite all the forecasters telling us what is headed our way. We may or may not have clear skies for the watchers of moon and sun exchange. We have had some showers, but no heavy rains yet. And we sit back and watch the lake levels go down each day while we pray for rain. Other states get flooding. We get some rain. Some states get blizzards. We get cold, maybe some snow, but more likely just some hail. Yep. Texans just look outside when trying to choose what to wear each day.

 

Sterling called today and said that if nothing ripped, reared, or raveled, he and Jacqui would be here Wednesday. That means the old woman has to get the wall on the south side of the office ready for the new pantry. After measuring it for me, Sterling said it was 6 ft. 3 inches long. That was about three inches too long for the west wall because of the window that holds the AC. But that is just fine. The east wall will work just as well. Tomorrow all my can goods will go into the little blue wagon that Jennifer got for me, and the rest of the stuff will go back on the shelf to be placed in the kitchen. The AC unit will blow right on through that shelf. Just a little bit of re-arranging to do.

 

Lance mended the door on the middle coop while he was here. It is so nice to have someone who tries to do things despite not having the exact things that are needed. Stephen came the other day and told me that it is the stupid battery on the lawn mower that is messed up again. Apparently, each year takes a new battery!! That is just ridiculous! Even the trickle battery charger did not help keep the battery going! But now maybe Stephen will have time to come take this one off and go get another to replace it. Dear Hearts, an old woman knows how to make a quiche, but this business of taking those metal nuts off the things on a battery is just a bit much. Oh well. The guys who mow every two weeks will be back soon. Might ask my brother to help if he is not just exhausted.

 

Jennifer called today to tell me we were in a tornado watch. Now it is down their way. Siri says that they have a severe thunderstorm going on. Guess that means plenty of rain at least. It amazes me to think of Grayson across the road in his own house. Have not heard yet if he has put the utilities on or any of that stuff. Just know that they are planning a “paint party” for the inside of the house. He is going to be so shocked at how much work a house is for one person! The yard, the little things like garage doors, the floors, keeping up with the groceries, and just taking care of his own clothes. The lady who sold it to him left him both a new washer and dryer plus an inside refrigerator and one for the outside as well. She also sold him her living room furniture. She moved into a place for those over 60. Have not asked about his pool yet, but am wondering how he will keep up with all of that. It must be just as hard to start out as a single male as it is for one old widow woman. At least he knows how to change a battery!!

 

Have enjoyed looking out the front windows at the flowers attempting to smile at the wind. That one little poppy has been the only one to bloom so far, but if the heads on the other plants are any indication, that bed should be a red carpet pretty soon. God has developed the most beautiful things for us to enjoy! Sometimes the pictures online look fake because they are so pretty with birds of all colors and sizes! But if it can be imagined, you can bet that God did it first! Let us be grateful for each joy in life.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

 

 

Recovery!

 Recovery!

 

Yep, still sore from working in the flowerbed and then add several hotfooted steps following Lance around. So, the legs are sore and the rest of me would just appreciate a hot tub and soak. That will happen later this evening after the hens are fastened up. Had to forcibly detain one hen in a separate place because she thinks she wants to be broody. Not happening. She now has feed, water, and space without anyone’s egg placed under her. She can either lay her own egg or sit there a while. Mean ol’ woman!

 

These two wild ducks are ornery. They are not really afraid of the dogs, so it doesn’t do any good to try to shoo them off. And the squirrel that went up the tree and then over the top of the back fence to climb the electric pole had some sassy language to throw at the dogs and the old woman. Oh well. If he keeps getting in my feeder, maybe a trap on top of the workshop might work. Of course, the trap might end up with half a dozen doves in it instead of a stupid squirrel.

 

Have a dental appointment with the regular dentist tomorrow, but plan to ask him again about making at least an upper plate for me. He said he had trouble with the lab last time he tried this, but it could not possibly be any worse than those dingbats at Affordable Dentistry. Anyway, we will see what he says.

 

Thompson ran up and down the fence and barked so much yesterday trying to get to Shona’s grandchildren playing in her yard that he was hurting pretty badly last night. Had to give him a pain pill so he could rest. Next time the kids play outside, will shut the sidelot gate to keep him contained in the back yard. He can still bark, but he won’t be able to run up and down.

 

Finished the study by Lehman Straus on Daniel. Then ordered my own copy from Amazon. This copy belongs to Sterling. He will come to Texas sometime in the future and can take it back home with him. But for now, he needs to be in Arkansas. Kinda hope he will spend some time with Danny while the kid is still able to enjoy visiting with his dad. The doctors told Danny that the dialysis is for the rest of his life unless he has some kind of transplant of stem cells or something. Then it would be three years before he would be put on the kidney list. He is only 58, but in a way that is older than mud for some of us. He has always been pretty healthy, but who knows what caused this multiple myeloma in the first place. Your prayers for my nephew, his wife Rachelle, and his children would be appreciated.

 

My poppies, bluebonnets, irises, and a few other flowers have begun to look pretty good. The tulips and hyacinths are few and far between, but they are still pretty. Even the tiny flowers make me pretty happy. Tried to post some pictures, so maybe they will show up. Flowers are smiles from God.

 

We all need rest right now in my estimation. The world is too much with us. It helps to just enjoy your critters—dogs, cats, birds, horses, goats, etc. They are pretty close to being the kind of innocence we all need. They love and don’t hold grudges. They forgive quickly. Let us be like our critters—loving and hoping for only the best.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Slave Labor!

 Slave Labor!

 

Lance came early this morning and just left about 2:30 this afternoon. And yes, his old mom worked him to tiredness! He hefted 50 lb sacks of sand, feed, and other assorted good stuff like bottled water into the house or into the coops. He got the oil thing put back into the zero-turn mower after the old woman got it out too quickly and got oil all over the workshop floor. Now kitty litter is all over the oil to absorb that mess. He left before we even tried starting the mower, but it needed to be charged anyway. Bought one of those trickle chargers last fall and put on it, but apparently it doesn’t work forever. Sigh. Such is the life of an old woman who is pretty doofless about such things. Guess it is not a big deal since the men who mow will be back in two weeks. And there is a battery powered mower sitting in the workshop for little stuff.

 

We had fish at the Chicken Express on SWPkwy. Lance thought it had a bit too much salt, but it tasted good to me. We had a quiche for breakfast with three colors of bell pepper in it. NO onions. Lance does not like onions. He really is not crazy about tomatoes either. Oh well. It made me feel pretty good that my crust for the quiche turned out good. First time in a long time that a pie crust has been made from scratch around here. Flaky and nice! And we waited for too long to go for lunch since we were both about hangry. Doesn’t take long for folks to get tired and irritable when going full-speed ahead all morning.

 

Lance cut branches out of the plum tree and the hackberry tree that were either in the way or dead. He also moved some dirt from a high spot in the yard to be thrown into the old cellar. The hens hardly knew what that was all about. Have not had enough rain or good dirt to play in to get them trained to a spade fork or shovel. Once upon a time, all it took was moving a spade fork for the hens to cluster around me for a worm break. He thought these girls might be interested that way, but they simply have not had the “training” that goes with earthworms and turned dirt.

 

Sent 12 dozen eggs home with Lance to share among family and friends. All those cartons of 18 came in handy. Don’t remember who brought those to me, but would like to have more of them. Two cartons are the same as three dozen. Anyway, when Grayson gets into his house and maybe gets a decent chicken pen made, he will get at least six hens from here. He looks so happy to sit on his very own porch!

 

For two nights now the muscles in my right hip and both legs have given me fits. Some cream Jenn got from somewhere relieved the pain enough so sleep was possible, but those muscles definitely let me know that they are not accustomed to being used. Exercise is greatly overrated!! Still, walking makes me feel good if it is not too rushed. Today Lance was careful to not try to run a marathon with his old mom dragging along behind. Pretty considerate kid!

 

My dogs have exercised their lungs with barking today. They have to “supervise” if they see anyone outside doing anything. Our neighborhood is growing a little bit at a time. Maybe one of these days they will find more things to bark about. Or maybe they could shoo off the wild mallards who have decided they have found a fountain of free food in the chicken feed. Sigh. Later you may hear about what happens when the BB gun gets taken out of the kitchen corner. Silly dogs!

 

Talking to Lance today about how very grateful the old woman is to have this house and the land around it. He told me that young people today can’t even afford an apartment in a terrible neighborhood, much less a decent apartment in a nice place. Then he explained that nearly 400,000 people have moved into their area in the past few years. That would be enough for FOUR cities as big as Wichita Falls! Wow! No wonder they can’t find places to live.

 

Let us praise God for the love that we have been given through His son Jesus Christ. The perfect lamb of God was sacrificed for our sins. We must recognize and thank God every day for what He has given us.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.