Cousin John and the Roosters.

 Cousin John and the Roosters.

 

Cousin John and his sister came to live with us in Petrolia back when Little Rock was in an uproar with integration and kids feeling as if they needed to express their parents’ disapproval. Anyway, he was older than us and thought we were just “little kids.” That’s ok. Time keeps up with us one way or another. Anyway, it was John’s opinion that my “girls” out in the coops needed a rooster to make their lives complete. Well, he might approve of their situation now. Last night Julian and Maria came and took all fourteen to their little farm along with the feed buckets, the heated water bowl, the nesting boxes, and other assorted hen things. Maria has TWO roosters. Julian says that one attacks him every time he turns his back. Wouldn’t take the old woman long to cure that rooster of attacking! Last time a rooster attacked me, Billie Ruth got to watch him being clobbered a couple of times until he backed off. Just not going to be attacked by a critter.

 

Went to bed early last night and woke up at 5:30—naturally. Thompson wanted out anyway, so it was about time to get up and get some long-legged sleepers on along with socks on my feet. The wind is howling this morning, but the weather report says that it will get warmer today. We will see. Just hope that the hens are adapting to their new home and discovering that the roosters are pests. At least they will be loved. Yes, you can tell what is on my mind this morning. It will undoubtedly take awhile to adapt to this change, for both the old woman and the hens.

 

Finished reading the Lis Howell Complete Tarnfield Cozy Mystery set of six books. Truly enjoyed them and will look for more books by this author. Apparently, the author is much like the character portrayed in her books. Guess that helps to make the ideas even more believable.

 

Have bottles of water and those neat cups that the kids have given me filled with water on just about every surface near where the old woman might find herself, so, naturally, the one usually on my desk is in the kitchen awaiting a refill this morning. If it didn’t hurt so much just to move, that cup or container would already be in here in the office! At least with bottles and cups everywhere, there is no excuse to become dehydrated.

 

This morning my prayers have come back more than a few times to my sister-in-law. Jacqui is having surgery this morning to try to alleviate the problem with her hiatal hernia. Hers must be pretty bad to need surgery. Some of us have minor hernias like that, but don’t keep having problems like she has had. Would appreciate your prayers for her and for Sterling as he takes care of her. After a person hits the eighth decade, things can get drastic in a hurry. Well, for that matter, even five decades can force some changes in our “usual” behavior. Julian told me last night that in his head he is still 25 years old (he’s 72). And there was the old woman crippling along at 77 as if she might be ancient! May God give me patience and common sense to deal with life on a better footing.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Sniffing Mr Clean!

 Sniffing Mr. Clean!

 

Maria cleaned my house and mopped the floors with Mr. Clean. AH!! Lovely to be able to walk across clean floors that are not currently coated with dog hair. She also ran up to Walmart and picked up a few things for me. Meanwhile, Julian went to pick up chicken feed and hauled off some sunflower stems for me. Here’s hoping that he was paid enough. It certainly saved me from doing too much today.

 

Went out to the third coop and dug out the heated water bowl and strung the extension cord between the shop and the first coop so that the water bowl had electricity to it. Filled the water bowl and put out feed for the time being. With any planning at all along with keeping up with the weather reports, it should be possible to take care of the hens without too much tromping back and forth to the coops. Even though Mary gave me the phone number of a lady who might want the hens, it just doesn’t sit quite right with me to give them to someone who might not take good care of them. Maria has five hens, and it would be easier to give all fourteen to her and Julian than to some stranger.

 

The back surgeon requires a referral from my doctor, and then the quickest appointment with my GP is next Tuesday. It made me laugh to think that my back may be perfectly all healthy by the time it would be possible to see a doctor. But then, that might be ok, too. The main thing is to forget how life used to be and just handle things a bit more slowly and with less expectation of being able to do the things in the “usual” way!

 

Lance sent me a picture of a bunch of goodies plus the box with the flower bulbs sent to Tracy. He thought that his mom had sent the goodies. Nope, his friend David from New York had sent them. Kinda neat. Had never considered doing it the way David did with little containers of all kinds of neat things to nibble on. May have to remember that idea.

 

The weather report says that tomorrow will be warmer, but then this next weekend will be another cold one. All this ol’ person can do is keep up with the days of the week and which day the trash truck comes!!

 

Have been reading a series of books that include scriptural references from different books of the Bible. A person never can tell where knowledge may dribble into one’s mind. Did you know that some folks say that there were three Isaiahs? Did you know that the “Song of Songs” does not mention God? Yet three separate entities believe that those songs relate to God and His bride. Neat. God provides the backgrounds for life in nearly every thing to which man has set his hand. And God’s love keeps each thread taut to weave our world. Praise God!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Considering a Few Good Ideas.

 Considering a Few Good Ideas.

 

Monday afternoon, Maria will come shovel out the dog hair and dirt from this ol’ barn. It feels so irresponsible of me to need a house cleaner and helper, but such is life in the “fast” lane. Having dogs living in the house simply means that they shed inside as well as outside the house. The more they are inside, the more they shed in here! They don’t care where they shed and are probably totally unaware of the entire idea of shedding. Oh well.

 

Have been considering giving my hens to a new home. They are loved here and spoiled rotten, but getting out to take care of them has become increasingly difficult. Finding a safe and loving home where they can still remain “free range” hens may not be all that easy. Maria’s husband thought that they were very neat hens when he was here working on taking down the pagoda recently. But his hens were attacked by a coyote and had to be replaced. That worries me a bit. Not that the hawks, bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, possums, and assorted stray cats are not a problem here. Recently lost two hens simply because they got out and the old woman was unable to go get them. Thinking of Brenda Jones who has hens and sells eggs. Not sure she would want any more hens, however. Just really appreciate fresh eggs that didn’t come from a factory setting. Can’t stand the thought of animals being forced to sit in a cage and produce eggs whether or not they have any freedom.

 

My “turkin” hen has a tendency to jump the driveway gate and scratch out all the dirt in the front flower bed. She has already managed to dig down to the flower bulbs that should be coming up this spring. Silly girl. She strows dirt all over the place and digs holes like a danged armadillo! Don’t know what the old woman would do without them, but unless this old body gets over the major problems with mobility, it seems more sensible to stop trying to get out and about that much.

 

Going to look up a recipe for Spanish rice this morning. It just sounds so good to go with chili and tamales. Know it’s the weather that makes me think about such foods, but such is the way my mind works. And yes, that is a lot of carbs, but that does not happen often. Usually Brussel sprouts, cucumber, spinach in one form or the other and such as that. Still have some crackers that Jenn bought for me when she was here during the knee recovery.

 

Sterling reminded me that Jacqui is going in for surgery on her hiatal hernia on Wednesday this week. Please keep her in your prayers.

 

Have the heater going in the bathroom so a shower will not leave me like a popsicle. Patty said that she took a shower and washed her hair yesterday and felt frozen most of the day. Her house stays warm, so the old woman is just going to have to be tough! Central air may be more expensive, but at least the rooms are not like a refrigerator!

 

Looking up at the bulletin boards above my desk. SO many good memories up there. God has blessed this old woman in so many ways. A good husband, sweet kids, friends, neighbors, and a home that has welcomed others for food and laughter. No longer make cookies to share with the neighbor kids, but still remember the kids’ delight in seeing those cookies come out of the oven. Recently heard from one of the neighbor kids who reminded me of those cookies. We never know what kids will remember about us.

 

Let us hold on to the love that we can share with those we meet and find in our lives. Let us praise God for His love that He allows us to share.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Just Little Things.

 Just Little Things.

 

Sometimes the little things are what can get to a person quicker than the big ones. This morning—or maybe yesterday—my favorite coffee cup from Padre Island got a chip right in the space where one drinks. Hate to throw it away, but know better than to try to use it and cut myself. Maybe a vase for flowers? Sigh.

 

Texted Shona since her trash was not out on the roadside. About that time, Albert came driving up and moved her bin to the road. He is taking good care of her, but today she finally realized that she—and probably her daughter—have covid. Dadgumit!

 

The dogs have been on a tear about mice/rats in the hen coops. Opened the third door today to have them go tearing into some panels and a long ladder leaning against one wall. Well, those things are no longer leaning, Dear Hearts. The old woman will have to close up that door tonight before the hens go down or it will be Katie-Bar-the-Door to get the dogs out again. Just glad the hens are used to these two dogs. Would prefer not to have them refusing to go inside just because the dogs are in there.

 

Getting more capable of moving around now, but it is such a difference from what has always been the “normal” for me. Can hardly stand up straight in the morning. Wish some of the energy and strength that we have as young people could be spread around more when we are older. Even so, it is a blessing to be able to walk and get around at all. Cousin John’s wife has had two hip and two knee replacements and still does not seem to complain. Gutsy lady!

 

It looks as if the congressional actions taken about limiting government offices to only those who are actually Americans may cause some upset folks, but when we think about the fact that our friends, uncles, fathers, and brothers and sisters have given their blood in defense of our Constitutional rights, how can we allow those from other countries (with or without dual citizenship) to have a say in how our laws are administered. Plus, the idea that those from other countries can prevent women from sharing equal status in this country just irks the living crud out of me. It has been difficult enough for women in this country to gain the rights of men as it is. And if a person just reads through some of the historical posts about women inventors, scientists, doctors, lawyers, and other professions, how can we allow anyone to prevent a woman from being whatever she seeks just because of her sex? Well, it does not take much to get an old woman hot and stomping, so we’ll just say that Senator John Kennedy has my appreciation.

 

Let us attempt to stay healthy and keep a loving attitude toward friends, family, and those with whom we associate. At least be kind even if gritting one’s teeth.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Still Thankful.

 Still Thankful.

 

Got up this morning to hear what sounded like little pebbles hitting the house. Guess it was sleet. But nothing was coated with ice and the water for the hens was not frozen solid as it had been a couple of days ago. So, that’s a reason to be thankful. No ice on the lines to stop the electricity.

 

Rolling over in the bed sometimes reminds me that the muscles are attached to the bones. Yep, aches over-easy sometimes. But the old woman can still walk—bent over a bit maybe, but still moving. Another reason to praise God.

 

The dogs are happy and relatively healthy. Thompson “talks” to me when it is time to be fed, but at least he is not too picky. Can’t get a dog coat on Sylvia, but still trying every so often. If she gets cold enough, maybe she will let me put a jacket on her. At least she gets in her crate fairly easily. Again, something for which to give thanks.

 

Patty and Roxie are doing better. They are sleeping almost all night and Roxie is taking her meds. They are happy. So, there’s that.

 

Shona has bronchitis and Albert is having to play school child taxi, but Shona is on meds and will get better soon. SO glad that Albert will take good care of her. Prayers needed.

 

Sterling says that he is sleeping better now than before. Maybe something is working for him with the blood pressure meds and such that he can get a good night’s sleep. Jacqui goes in for hiatal hernia surgery this next Wednesday. Prayers needed.

 

My children are dealing with life just like grown ups usually do, and that means God is showing them the way. May God bless them with common sense and patience.

 

The house has not totally collapsed or otherwise fallen into a canyon of dirt and dog hair, so at least the old woman can keep the dishes washed even if the floors are desperately dirty. Praise God.

 

The hens are still producing about two eggs a day. They come running if the back door is opened and talk to me about some treats. Still have a few treats just for chickens. Two eggs are better than none. Praise God.

 

Each day is another blessing in this life, so still have reason to be thankful. Being mindful of blessings can change each day.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Lack of Patience.

 Lack of Patience.

 

Since the turkey Max brought over last night needed to be cooked right then, the old woman stayed up a little later than usual to get that done and then get the meat mostly off the bones so it would fit in the fridge. Then today, all the good parts were put in Ziplock bags and placed in the freezer. Already had some ground meat with corn, mushrooms, and tomatoes cooked up for some meals, so three containers of that stuff went in the freezer and enough for two meals stayed in the fridge. You’d think someone around here liked to cook or something. THEN, this afternoon the old woman got hungry for a cookie and not any kind of ice cream. Made bar cookies—at least maybe they will be bar cookies if they come out of the pan one piece at a time. They are still cooling, so they have not been sampled yet. We’ll see if they turn out since the recipe got ripped in half and the print was so tiny that it was hard to read. Pretty sure none of the ingredients would cause an explosion. [Not very much of a bar, but tastes great!]

 

The wind was not blowing a gale today, so it was not terribly cold. Even so, going outside early this morning made me appreciate a good jacket or long-sleeved shirt. Wore one of Lewis’ old shirts. This one is maroon colored and was too tight on his long arms. It made me think about how difficult it was to find clothes he really liked and could wear well. One time, a very different shirt came home with me from the Big and Tall Shop that made me feel as if he might send me back. Funniest thing! It became one of his favorite shirts! It tried to be an orange rust, but was just bright enough to be pretty. Anyway, it looked good on him. Not exactly a church going shirt, but still one of his favorites.

 

Patty has called on her friend Roy to take Roxie to see the vet tomorrow. The dog is keeping Patty awake all night and acting as if she is miserable. Of course, that upsets Patty to think that the little critter might be hurting. Honestly think that Roxie is unable to settle down at night because her little mind is not well. Dogs get “sundowners” too. Anyway, we will see what the vet says tomorrow.

 

Finished a book last night and returned it to the Houston Library today. Think it is so neat to be able to check out e-books from the library rather than getting them from the Kindle app on Amazon. Sometimes a favorite author will have three or four books free in a series and then the next few will have a pretty good price on them. Sigh. Nothing like trying to finish a series and having to pay for the last three.

 

No reason to even look at the latest shootings or other things that are going on. Life is too short to focus on bad things. Just happy to not have the snow that Illinois is getting. Six inches of snow around here would also include ice on the electric lines!! Praise God for some dry weather. Let’s just appreciate what He gives us.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

No Mosquitoes!

 No Mosquitoes!

 

The nicest thing about this really cold weather coming up is the fact that we can run around outside and not be attacked by those nasty little blood-sucking skeeters! Now, if we have to TRY to have a positive outlook about cold weather, that should be the first thing on the list of benefits, don’t you think?

 

Lance and Tracy came today and did a few things for me that made me grin. They brought me a big container of Thanksgiving goodies along with cookies and a moon pie made by Tracy’s dad, Phil. He loves to cook all kinds of sweet things, and he is very good at it. Seems he and his brothers learned to cook in order to eat as they were growing up. So, Phil got to be the cookie and cake cook. Had never had a moon pie like that, but it was very tasty. Have not started on the cookies yet, but tomorrow is another day.

 

Lance covered up the faucets front and back for me. Think he also warned the neighbors across the street that it will be freezing soon. Monday night should be pretty cold, but tonight and Sunday night will only be 31 and 34 degrees. With the wind howling across this hill, even that little bit of frostiness can mess up the water lines. And the colder weather also affects some folks’ joints. And then there are folks like Roger who wears two shirts even in the summer time!

 

Tracy sat down and put the Houston Library connection on my iPad for me. Now the old woman can download books from there and not have to mess with Kindle unless they just happen to have something that really appeals to me. Houston Library is available to anyone in Texas! That is SO nice. It just amazes me at how much my daughter-in-law knows about all these different things. The woman could have a doctorate just in the different sources of information available through libraries.

 

Jennifer and Gary got home from Virginia this afternoon. At least this set of flights did not cause them to have to be at the airport by 2 a.m. That is EARLY, don’t you know! But then, the picture of the four lanes of traffic leading into the DFW airports before Thanksgiving were just about frightening! SO many people were leaving the day before Thanksgiving. Some things are worth the effort, but traveling right now just doesn’t really appeal to me.

 

Daniel Hernandez worked over my computer again to download something that kept the flashing lights from occurring. Not sure exactly what he said he downloaded, but apparently it worked. It makes me feel much less threatened by the possibility of the computer going down. So many things in my life are on my computer these days. Besides using Amazon Prime, all my banking is normally on my computer. It is just so much easier to pay bills and have things taken care of this way. Glad to have met Daniel back in college and later worked with him.

 

The kids helped me by mixing up some nuts and stuff to make little gift bags today. Sent some home with them and then one for Jennifer and Gary. Tracy made some comment about never having received the jar of apple butter that Grandma Joy made years ago. Kinda think the things that are sent down that direction have a tendency to get sidetracked occasionally. Know for a fact that it is easy to mess up who is supposed to get what.

 

The kids picked up chicken and ground beef for me at the store, so the old woman needs to get in there and bag it up or cook the beef and bag it this afternoon. Having things ready to use in a dish makes life so much simpler. Energy is never a given around here. Just moving around seems to hurt some days, so getting things done while still moving makes good sense.

 

We have so much for which to be thankful. Life and love and good health mean more than anything right now. Friends, neighbors, and good stores that cater to our needs make life better for all of us. For all the problems we might have in our nation, we are still so very blessed to have relative stability and calmness in our communities. Let us pray for those who make a difference in how our nation works and in how it is perceived. Let us reflect the love that God has given us.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.