Dereliction of Duty.

 Dereliction of Duty.

 

Thompson just went to the treat jar and put a paw on it while remarking upon his dissatisfaction with my diligence. He knows it was my intention to stop by the feed store to pick up treat bones after my trip to Henrietta today. Alas, my body needed rest and some refreshment. The meat in the slow cooker will be quite tender along with the corn and mushrooms in the sauce, but by now, my appetite has subsided considerably. Two small potatoes boiled in their jackets actually proved to be too much food, especially with butter and sour cream. Indigestion was the result. Sigh

 

Anne had already used her powers of rejection for whatever had been in her stomach previously, but Lesli was taking care of getting rid of the evidence of that situation. It takes an iron stomach to care for patients with liver disease. It just makes me wonder how long she can exist with this situation. But she still drinks a few swallows now and then. While sitting in my truck preparing to leave, it came to my notice that the young girl who brings the flowers had arrived. A beautiful bouquet of yellow flowers was taken to Anne’s room. The ones from last Monday were still pretty today. Anne loves roses. She said today that she should have put ONE guitar on their headstone and a rose on her side, but such was her thoughts at the time that she merely put two guitars rather than have something discordant on it. Strange how our conversations have revealed things that we both had thought and never told anyone else. Probably just as well.

 

Tomorrow is Tuesday. The trash needs to be taken across the street. How one old woman can accumulate so much stuff is beyond me. Some of the problem undoubtedly could be resolved if items did not come contained in such big boxes. Cardboard seems to be the prevalent wrapping for just about any and everything that can be picked up and carried around. Not sure if that has something to do with the constancy of shoplifting or if there is a better reason for bulky packaging.

 

Just finished talking to Lance and then Jennifer. Although some of the standard sized tools will stay here, all of Hanan’s tools will go to Jennifer and Gary’s house. Even if their boys don’t need them, the old woman really would probably never use those two impacts or many of the other things that go with them. They are not the expensive type of tools that Lewis bought, but would not want to see them just go to waste. If nothing else, Gary can take them to work with him to use at Lone Star Die.

 

My truck had a strange odor when it was parked in the carport this afternoon. Now it makes me feel that it should not be driven until the liquids are checked in the radiator. Not sure what else to check. Being a mechanic’s wife did not really provide me with much in the way of knowledge of things mechanical. Sigh

 

Know it is supposed to get hot again this week. Guess the grass won’t need to be mowed. Do need to get out and whack some of the tall stuff with my weed eater, but we will see if that happens or not. Right this red-hot minute, working a battery-operated weed eater is not high up there on my favorite things to do list.

Have skipped over most of what has been on FB for a few days. Thinking about the damage and murders at the twin towers hurts. Seeing the disrespectful attitude of some Americans about the monarchy just frosts my flakes. AS IF their way of government is any of our concern! Ours certainly seems stinky to me right about now.

 

Let us pray for peace and forgiveness for our personal sins as well as the collective sins of this nation. May God’s grace consume the evil around us!

 

Let rest come to you each day with the joy given to us by our Creator. You are loved.

Time to Rest.

 Time to Rest.

 

Ok, the house is dusted, dust mopped, and a couple of rooms mopped after being vacuumed. The clean rugs are drying out on the rails around the deck, and the dogs are busy shedding fur all over the living room. Typical, huh? Rearranged a bit so it is easier to sit and watch a movie if the notion strikes me any time in the near future. No need to hold our breath on that possibility. Just really prefer reading. But right now, my favorite game is at a standstill until some points are gained in “decorations.” Just like anything else the old woman does, have very little patience for things that slow me down. Just want to know how the story turns out even if it is just a silly game.

 

Lance and Jennifer went over to Henrietta today, but the old woman did not go over there this time. It does tire me out a bit. And so much needs to be done here just in case Anne’s son and daughter-in-law decide to stay with me for a couple of days. No guarantees the “pet” snake won’t be hiding back there somewhere, but we simply won’t mention that little critter. Ahem.

 

Got up just a wee mite late this morning, and the hens were more than ready to have that door opened, thank you very much! The dogs were sleeping just as hard as the old woman. Think it was that cool weather that made it so nice to cuddle down in the covers. At least, that is my excuse. The cool weather is just wonderful! Right now (5:35 p.m.) it is only 82 degrees. The breeze outside is just pleasant, too. Nope, nothing to gripe about weather-wise!

 

Have some potatoes that need to be cooked up and made into twice baked potato soup. Not sure if that can be frozen or not, but will let you know how that turns out eventually. When those things start sprouting, doesn’t seem like they last very long. And these spuds are really small in my estimation. Have not seen a good-sized potato in a while. Probably shipping them to Russia to be made into vodka!! Argh!

 

Thompson has been pretty disgusted with me today because a certain person did not go get any dog treats this week. Guess a trip to the feed store is definitely on the agenda. And to top it off, he would not eat any of the canned stuff on the kibble this morning. He gave me that look—you know the one. That was NOT acceptable. Sigh. We can tell these dogs are not the least bit hungry, huh.

 

Have to go get the truck inspected Wednesday and then make the trip to Market Street to pay for the new tag to go in the window. Really like that we don’t have to go all the way down town to the Courthouse annex to get that done. Really do not like going down there at all. It used to make Lewis nervous for me to go down there where all the bums seem to circulate. Who knows! Things may be better down there by now. But at least Market Street does not care if a person is carrying.

 

Sylvia just brought me her favorite treat toy. Good grief!

 

We need a good soaking rain. Thought the grass would be needing to be mown this next week, but unless we get rain, there is no sense in even trimming it up. Need to go get some cash from the bank anyway if the old woman is going to have to pay to have this done any time soon. It certainly does not take long to empty out my wallet. Guess that happens to just about everyone.

 

Saw something strange on the internet about Illinois and the crimes that they no longer consider to be an offense worth jail time. Surely it was a spoof or something! Looked it up and saw that the judges and lawyers felt that poor people were unduly penalized because they were unable to pay any kind of bail. One would hope that the type of crime committed did not include rape, assault, or arson, but it was difficult to figure out how they classified misdemeanors and more serious felonies. Oh well. Eventually the entire nation is going to have to come to some type of consensus about criminal behavior and charges.

 

Had to smile when Sterling told me about mopping the house and running into a cabinet door with his ear. He just automatically swung his fist and crashed it right through the cabinet door. It seems Army training just does not go away. Or maybe that is just maleness. But don’t think any of my cabinet doors have ever suffered anything more severe than a good slamming around here. Lewis might have thrown more than a few tools and parts to Caterpillars, but at least he did not take it out on the house! But then, he never mopped the floors in this house either!

 

Other than truly enjoying the weather, know less than nothing to talk about—not that it stops me from chattering. Would appreciate your prayers for Anne and her children. This is just plum hard. Dr. Parkey is a really good doctor, but a doctor can only do so much. Whatever caused the liver disease has made her one sick puppy. My doctor thinks that we should all be avoiding carbs so that we can stay healthy. Here’s lifting a cup of coffee to that idea! Would really prefer to just go to sleep and not wake up rather than lie down in misery. If sticking with meat, veggies, and some butter will help keep us healthy, then let’s do our best to enjoy the good stuff and lay off the doughnuts, breads, and crackers! My recommendation also includes having dogs, cats, kids (the goat kind), hens, and any other animal that keeps you happy. If we could all have a horse or donkey to love on, we would make a happier community!

 

Let us pray for peace. Rest well and look for the joy in life. You are loved.

Independence.

 Independence.

 

The trip to Henrietta this morning was not hard at all. Stopped and filled up the truck with gasoline, got a something or other with scrambled eggs, sausage, wrapped in some kind of tortilla at Whataburger. Got a cup of coffee with some creamer and mixed that up before driving off. The lady asked me if hot sauce was needed. Nope, can make a mess all by myself without hot sauce. Anyway, got to the nursing home before anyone was easily available to open the door, so had to wait two ding-a-lings before it was opened to me. Interesting doorbell. They ask you to take your temperature: 97.6. They also have a page of questions with a sign in and out sheet. That probably helps somehow. See shrugging of shoulders.

 

Stayed through lunch—she refused to even taste breakfast. And lunch looked good going down, not so much the other direction. By that time Lesli was there and she said she stayed until Anne went to sleep. Then Les had to go home and feed her boys. She said they were much easier to feed than the dog who does not want to eat. My guess is that Snoop is upset without Anne there. But that is just me and my way of thinking.

 

Before all this came up, it did not feel good to get in the truck and go somewhere by myself. The traffic made me feel very nervous for some reason. It worried me that a mistake made by me would cause some kind of accident. Got to thinking about it and decided that the old woman was not anymore dangerous than some of those other folks out there. So will just decide where to go and how to get there as each situation comes up. Patty said that she has made up her mind that she can drive around here in WF just as easily as she could put up with getting her friend to take her. Must be a little whiff of independence blowing in the wind!

 

Lay down earlier to rest with what might have been a headache that tried to shift into a full-blown panic attack. Sylvia was all over me trying to get my attention, and Thompson stood there and barked at me as if he could fix something if he could just get me up. These dogs! Took a nice little pill that tends to calm things down almost immediately. Think the entire freaking world could use a few of these little white pills!

 

Anne talks about maybe going home in the near future. Don’t see how it could happen, but nothing is impossible. Would ask that you pray for her and her children. This is hard on them. Losing a parent just hurts. And Lesli and Tilak’s boys really love their Memaw. Erin had not been home in six years and had not seen either his sister or his mom. A lot changes in six years. At least Anne’s house is pretty much just basic stuff and not piles of whatnots and knick knacks. It makes me realize that the old woman needs to get busy and get rid of so much of this junk and stuff. Even the workshop still has things in it that will never be used. Can’t see one of my boys or grands using those impacts and all those sockets and stuff.

 

Found four eggs in the coop today. The cooler it gets, the happier those hens must be. Had some leftover cabbage that did not get used already and they really attacked it. It was really a sweet bunch of cole slaw mix that mixed well with some hamburger with diced tomatoes for dinn-upper. Nice to have things easy to throw together for a meal. Jennifer filled up the pantry with cartons of essential foods: black beans, diced tomatoes, tomato soup, tomato sauce, corn, black olives, and other veggies and soups. Life is so much easier with canned foods. We hardly can imagine how people lived before foods were preserved or canned in some manner. Root cellars would have had to be essential. Can’t wander from one place to another if you are dependent on a root cellar for your carrots and ‘tators!

 

Roger and Susan Thonton were telling us about a young woman who has a bunch of goats that she leads around and takes to places to let them eat up all the weeds or whatever grows. She takes them to a place across the street from Roger’s parents’ house in Petrolia. Susan wanted to feed them something and asked if she could. Then she took them some honeysuckle. Guess they liked it, too. Would love to be able to have a couple of goats like that for my weeds, but the city of WF would be on me like ugly on an ape. Noticed all the Johnson grass and other grasses growing high on the right of way coming back from Henrietta. It used to be that some farmers would cut, rake, and bale that stuff. It was good hay! Here we are still in drought and the old woman is wanting bales of hay—and nary a critter that needs it.

 

As usual, just about as dumb as a modern history book and twice as scatter-brained. Good time to remind you that we have been living—most of us—in one of the most peaceful times in world history. God has given us time to become more than we could have otherwise, but the question is: have we become more or less? What would be YOUR answer?

 

Rest well, and find reasons to be joyful. Make good use of the time we have left. You are loved.

End of An Era.

 End of An Era.

 

Today the Route 66 Group had lunch at Pioneer. Sweet Susan whispered something to the waitress, and then when we all started to dig out our credit cards, we were told that Roger had paid for our lunch. Susan was giving Roger a hard time about letting her have some cash. And he was giving her a hard time right back! They are so funny! But I love the fact that if Roger sees someone doing something, he will automatically say, “Now Susan does this . . .” He thinks she does everything exactly like it is supposed to be done. And then she got to tell us about having to learn state history in Wisconsin. She exclaimed, “You people in Texas have no idea how good you have it with battles, Indians, and the Alamo! We had to learn about a glacier field and how the rocks were formed!” We all got a big kick out of that one. But she is right. Read a headline today that said that the hardest working (not necessarily the smartest) people were Texans. For sure, most Texans feel like if they want something done, they will do it themselves!

 

Lowry and Roger were comparing the blood sugar lines on their little meters. Lowry’s was all over the place. Roger’s was a pretty straight line all the way across. Roger pointed at Susan and said that she takes care of him—and his diet. Can tell you for sure, each one of us had to have a “take home” carton for our meal today. We are all getting too old to eat everything in sight!!

 

When Lesli sent me the first text this morning, it felt as if maybe the old woman needed to get up and head to Henrietta. Anne was on oxygen and wheezing and gurgling as if she had pneumonia again. Am guessing that they are not giving her a diuretic, but not sure. Anyway, unless Lesli calls me, the old woman will go early Saturday morning. Worked hard yesterday and started out this day the same way. Still have not started on the vacuuming here in the house, but at least the workshop has more room in it with some of those weird tools taken out. One boy did not think his dad would want some of the things, but those things got left outside in case Stephen wants them when he comes to put the air hose on the compressor. Ya never can tell what will be something useful for someone else.

 

Walked the lots with the boys with a hoe in hand while they had a sharp shooter and that pokey tool to remove khaki weeds. Donna Reeves told me she just uses RoundUp on those nasty sticker weeds. Nope, not here. She does not have chickens or dogs that roam all over. Otherwise, yep! Would love to be able to just wave a wand and not have to fight these things.

 

Got to thinking about it: the folks at that table today were all born in the last century. We lived in the 40s through 2020 (plus two). That means we have lived in NINE decades. That sounds pretty big when the numbers are considered. But 1947 or ’48 had us all in that decade even if we did not live through it from the big four zero. Queen Elizabeth II was coronated in 1952 when we were all just little kids—four or five years old at the time. She is the only queen we ever knew. And now England will have King Charles. He is the same age as we are. His oldest son is younger than our oldest sons. And this is definitely a different age. Perhaps William will one day be king as well. Certainly, as royalty goes, Queen Elizabeth II was very dignified and wanted the best for her country. Only two days before her death, she dealt with the new Prime Minister as part of her royal duties. Now that is working all the way up to her death bed!

 

We talked today about how so many of our classmates have ended up in the hospital, care centers, rehab centers, or something of that nature. There, but for the grace of God, we all go. Someone mentioned that Mrs. Glascow is at the Presbyterian Manor. It’s a nice place. She should be happy there. They used to have a service there once a week for Bible study with a minister who has since retired. Hope they are still having those meetings. She can enjoy them. She was certainly appreciated as a teacher at Petrolia while she was teaching.

 

Well, wouldn’t you know that hearing aids came up as a topic today with our group. Funny how we all have learned to some extent to lip read! But if people would SLOW down their speech and enunciate their words, most of us would not have to ask them to repeat themselves or otherwise explain what they have just said. Amazing how we used to communicate as opposed to text messages and loud phones. Oh well. Things change or they stay the same. The things that change seem strange, and the things that stay the same can get pretty disgusting. Life goes on.

 

Honestly don’t know much except that the old body is tired. Dr. B is supposed to stop by tomorrow afternoon to pick up eggs. Always look forward to visiting with her even for a few minutes. Have house work to do tomorrow morning, so that will keep me out of trouble for a little bit. Or not. At least maybe the floors will be a little bit cleaner!

 

Let us pray for peace. Saw in the news today that Turkey is upset with Greece. Good grief! And Turkey is an ally of Russia. Sigh. Their president threatened to take Greece out overnight! Stupid! May God give this world an injection of common sense and peace in spite of itself!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Getting Dirty.

 Getting Dirty.

 

Worked on cutting back the rose bush called a Seven Sisters Rose bush today. It and the grape vine on the deck were intertwined. The rose was doing pretty well, but the grape vine has some problems. A drought is awfully hard on grapes. Just like every other plant, grape vines need water. Anyway, got that stuffed down into the trash bin and then took the bin to the end of the east lot and worked on those dead rose bushes down there. They fought back. But mostly they are in the bin. Will have to go down with the sharp shooter and get the roots out so the lawn mower doesn’t connect with them and mess up either a tire or the blade. Trimmed a few of those freaking Western Soapberries out of the fence line while down there. Got pretty hot before it was over with and just came back soppy wet. Have to take a shower here shortly. Can’t stand these clothes much longer. But had to go out to the workshop and look around at some things that will be sent home with the boys tomorrow. Just a lot of “shtuff” out there!

 

Talked to Patty for a few minutes today. She took herself to the dentist and then to Wendy’s to get lunch for her and her pups. She was pretty happy with herself. She is feeling much more independent. Know the feeling well after driving to Henrietta twice and not feeling worried.

 

Talked to about six different people on the phone today trying to get some money sent by check out of the interest on an account. Argh! Yes, old and hard of listening—especially when you are greeted by: helomynameisjasminandimheretohelpyouWhatcanidoforyoutoday? Good grief. Shellydannyjustin were about the same. Oh well. Sent the form off, so we will see what happens. Then just wait until the old woman gets ahold of their satisfaction/survey!

 

Shut one door on the coop last night and forgot the other, so guess whose hens were already happy to check out the morning crop of whatever it is they enjoy pecking. Oh well. At least we did not have a bobcat visitor.

 

Just got out of the tub with lotion and Epsom salts. Dang! My old body is not used to working in the heat and dirt. Just so freaking tired.

 

Got a box ready to send off with UPS in the morning. Have a letter to the bank in the mailbox. Poor Lesli said this has not been a good day for them either. Kind of an emotional roller coaster. So, she has not been able to check on the blanket sent from Florida. Sorry.

 

Think this is just about my closing song for the night. Ei ei oh! Will try to remember to shut the hens up sometime tonight. Rolling eyes here. Have jobs line up for tomorrow until it is time to go visit with the Route 66 Group. Just hope the gates all get locked before the old woman leaves the hill. LOTS of traffic up here today and this evening. Oh well. Two dogs on the job should be able to take care of things.

 

Let us pray for peace, for a sound mind, for less obfuscation from folks who know better and don’t care, and for truth rather than lies and innuendos. God give us clarity and right concern.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Khaki Weed vs. Teenagers.

 Khaki Weed vs. Teenagers.

 

The boys took a sharp shooter and a tool that Jennifer bought to dig weeds up by the root and attacked the khaki weeds today. Still saw a few after they finished today, but tomorrow is another yard day. Promise you! They will have plenty to do! Weed eating is not easy, but going to ask them to remove the two rose bushes that died in the east lot along with the freaking little trees that grew up in the fence row during the summer. Unbelievable how those things—well, khaki weed, too—can grow when everything around has been cooked and died big as Dallas! After the yard is semi-cleaned up, want to start the boys on the workshop. They can have a yard sale and get rid of all the tools that I will never use: hedge trimmer, chain saw, a weed eater, roto tiller, and that sort of thing. Have to remember to ask Lance if he wants any of that junk that Hanan used to use like a metal grinder and anvil [he did not]. Well, the boys’ dad might want those, come to think of it.

 

Since sleep did not happen until sometime after 3 a.m., the old woman took a nice nap this afternoon. Now may have the same problem tonight, but doggone if keeping the eyes open was even possible this afternoon! Since my doctor thinks exercise is going to help restore some muscle tone, the old woman will be working outside early in the mornings until things suit me in the coops and the workshop. It might just get my attitude improved, too. Wishing for flowers is one thing; planting seeds and watching for growth is a different critter altogether.

 

Was looking for something in my desk drawer and found some things written down about our dad. His high school motto in 1944 was this: I Can’t Is UnAmerican! He was in the Tank Destroyer Replacement Training Center from Feb. 12 of ’45 to June 9, 1945 before he was honorably discharged. Not sure when he got to come home, but know it was after Sterling was born on June 27 of that year. Guess many of the recruits were sent home after the war was actually over whether or not their two-year stint was up.

 

Have a few things to do inside the house tomorrow. These floors! Just have to vacuum and mop just to be able to live here. Dust mopped up enough hair for an entirely new dog the other day. How they shed so much is beyond me. But then, when brushing Patty’s little dog this morning, she was like a cotton gin explosion! Hair all over the place. But that is Roxy. Ruddy told me thanks, but no thanks. Not interested in being brushed. Patty laughed and said that was that much hair she would not have to clean up inside her house.

 

Guess the old woman needs to get something done to find out what the tracking number was for a quilt that was sent to Anne. The post office says it did not have it. Hmm.

 

Let us remember those who are still being attacked in their own countries. Israel, Ukraine, and even Canada now! Crazy! And the pictures showed some guys that looked a lot like the illegal aliens that came up from South America. Probably more drug dealers or something of that nature. Lord, please protect us!

 

Remember to look for joy in each day that God has given us. You are loved.

Surprise Tired!

 Surprise Tired!

 

Have you ever done nothing all that much in a day and suddenly discovered that your body was saying it was tired? Well, surprise, surprise, surprise: the old woman is tired and hurting a bit. A mess right in front of the fridge door convinced me that it needed to be cleaned—right that minute. The “icebox” {have called it that since childhood} got pulled out and the floor cleaned with one of those little metal scratcher things that are used in the dish pan. Wasn’t that hard, but then everything had to be pushed back. Kinda think driving to Henrietta might have helped along the tired part, but whatever. Everything turned out pretty good over there with the sister-in-law. Her daughter came after the old woman had been there a while, and we were able to visit for the first time in a long time without children or critters demanding our attention. Pretty unusual for both of us. She has the children, but my dogs act a lot like kids, too.

 

The dogs kept having fits about something out front, and when it got right down to it, that is their job, so looking out the window showed me the owner of the land across the road. He came over and told me that he and his wife are getting ready to move into Jerry’s place. Seems he put his house near Midwestern on the market and someone snapped it up. Jennifer said it is that way down in their area as well. A house just goes in a flash if it is decent at all. Anyway, they will probably be good neighbors for however long they stay here. They will just have to adjust to the smell of the lake like the rest of us.

 

When you are remembering folks in your prayers tonight, please include my SIL, Anne Perkins, my dear sister by another mother, Cindy Jones, and those folks in India who were hurt on the stupid carnival ride. Some things simply do not make sense to me. Anything that goes around and around is nice for some things, but my stomach and the feeling of being airsick is not something desirable in my estimation. And sudden drops? When even elevators give me the heebeegeebees! That is a carnival for you: a major no no!

 

Let us pray for peace and rain as needed for the places and people who need it. Let us show love to others as it has been shown to us.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.