Phone Calls Today.

 Phone Calls Today.

 

Spent nearly two hours hashing out the past and the future with my sister-in-law, but we did not get a thing accomplished other than exercising our vocal cords. Had to laugh at the idea that she could go all day wearing her night gown. Her mom could have done that. Of course, there was not a lot of difference between one of Joy’s gowns and her house dresses. Amorphous in appearance and comfort, they must have suited her. Guess that was what was important. Sweats are like that pretty much in the winter time around here. Comfortable and easy to wear. Warm enough outside and easy to remove when it gets warmer in the house.

 

Looks as if Jo Ann and husband are going to get rid of the house that Jerry used to live in. At least, a whole gang of folks have gathered around to discuss the place or something. Guess it can’t be much worse than what has happened over there in the years past. Was thinking just the other day that they would probably have some of their family moving in the place since some of them have wanted it for a long time now. Oh well. Not my problem as long as my gates are locked.

 

It has been cold and windy all day. The dogs have not been much interested in being outside. Can’t blame them. It was too cold to be out there long. Tim came and unloaded feed and put it in the bins for me earlier today. He was saying that his brothers are making more in their jobs working for fast food places than he is. Don’t think he wants to work in fast food, however much they pay.

 

The dogs have discovered squeakers in the toys that Michelle brought to them the other day. Now they know where the squeakers are and let me “enjoy” the tunes rather often. They must get tired of chewing on them, however, because Sylvia sits here and slobbers on them more than she chews. Critters!

 

Anne said that she does not want to have to leave her little house in Henrietta and go live somewhere else. We talked about it. Neither of us feel that we are anything like ready to give up our independence as long as we can still get around. She is better to get out and go places than yours truly, but she says she has to make herself get up in the morning. Even opening her eyes takes an effort apparently. Can remember when she was staying with us while she went to beauty school back in ’68—having to get her up in time to go to classes was not easy. Kinda think she has been like this all her life. As kids, we had to learn to get up the first time Mom said something to us. Mom did not mess around and expected us to be wide awake and up and at it early. Very seldom did we ever sleep past seven in the morning. Of course, we loved to play in the summer time. Winter was entirely different. Hated cold weather then and feel the same now.

 

Baked some meat earlier and think it got a bit roasted on the outside. Oh well. Thompson and Sylvia can take care of that part tomorrow. Or not. It doesn’t taste bad, but it is definitely crispy. Some people are much better at cooking than others. We know which one lives here.

 

Just went out and put the faucet cover on the back faucet. It is supposed to be down to 25 tonight. Don’t have any idea how folks in the North live with the cold temps and keep critters. Maybe they have water inside their coops the way it is in Arkansas. It’s about two blankets colder up where my brother lives in the northwest corner of Arkansas. My nephew said that he got an outrageous gas bill from the company that provides gas for his chicken houses. Folks, get ready for your chicken dinners to be mighty expensive. We may all have to learn to eat crawdads, sparrows, or doves. Remembering when my friend Hong Xing came to have a barbecue dinner with us. She was semi-offended by the amount of meat on the table. She said that ONE helping of meat that we had would be enough for a family for a week in her country. That did not seem logical to me, but since then, it has become more understandable. Not only the cost of the meat, but the simple lack of animals in China was a big deal. That may be the reason they eat bats, rats, cats, and anything else. Just enough to make us feel sick to think of a cat for dinner, much less a bat. Can easily see how becoming a vegan over there would become necessary.

 

My friend Robin Christian was telling about reading a book about a young Muslim woman who lived for a while in Saudi Arabia. The freedoms we take for granted are not that prevalent in the rest of the world—especially for women. Some nations are very different—Norway, Sweden, and other Northern European nations give women the freedoms we have now. But in the U.S., we have not always had it easy as women. My mother could not own a credit card in her own name years ago or even take out a bank loan without my dad’s signature. Things have definitely changed.

 

Reading books lately has shown me that attitudes about different sexual combinations have definitely become more accepted. One book that is currently on my Kindle has a man who decides from one day to the next whether he will be Jane or James. He wears dresses when he wakes up in the mood for that or pants when he decides he wants to be a man. Wow! Wishing to be a boy when we were young and my brother got to do EVERYTHING was one thing, and even wearing pants for playing outside was different, but the idea of trying to BE a boy or guy would have been a totally different concept back then. This old woman has been kinda happy to be just a mom, sister, daughter, and whatever was needed at the time. Being a guy would be pretty hard at this point with the mentality of growing up as a girl and woman. Guess it takes all kinds. No biggie in this world.

 

Have not read any news or even been on FB much of today. Probably just as well. Can’t imagine that world affairs are going to be bright and beautiful any time soon. About the only thing we can do is try to be loving to those with whom we come in contact. And some of us just stay home and stay out of the way of anyone TO contact. Have seen Tim today and spoke with him. Otherwise, the old woman is a bit of a hermit. Maybe it is just as well. Have enjoyed listening to piano music on the little Google speaker and listening to the music on the Advent application that Carla Beard sent to me. It has several games that amuse me. Now one thing that flies in the face of good sense is the stupid “game” on the Solitaire app that has the person try to prevent a chained puppy from getting crushed by a large stone. That stupid thing makes me want to write to whatever idiot thought that would be an acceptable game. If someone will tell me who to write, it will get done!!

 

Ok, will not persist in rolling my eyes—figuratively or otherwise. May each of you find the best way to know the comfort of God’s love and ask for the same comfort for others. Please rest in whatever your soul desires as joy. You are loved.