A Movable Situation.

 A Movable Situation.

 

Today has been x-rays and appointments. The dental appointment moved three times, and the x-ray took a picture of my entire head—at least that was what it looked like with the jaw bones and stuff showing in the film. But Dr. Pitts was an excellent example of what a dentist should be. He explained things as he went and waited until things were well numbed before he started working. Family Dentistry has my vote! Now the x-ray at the Clinic was different—two pictures of the lower back from front and side. Read the report in my chart that came in somewhat later, and it said that there was “Slight residual L4 anterolisthesis.” That might mean that some of the mess could not be corrected—or not. Have no idea. Just taking it easy and wearing the “corset” or belt that they sent me home in. It is supposed to remind me not to bend, lift, or twist. Umm. Trying hard to behave myself!

 

Had no idea what to expect for pricing on these two cavities. One filling broke out at some time during the last few weeks. Not sure how that happened or why, but now it is filled and going to be great! The other one was a filling put there YEARS ago that Dr. Pitts thought needed to be replaced because it goes under the gum line. Anyway, it is done and paid for—well, paid by credit card. Paying the entire sum on the credit card bill is easier than other things—like having any finance charges! Kids need to be taught about things like that when they are still in 7^th or 8^th grade so they will know better when the credit companies start sending them applications. But someone said that all the kids that age need to know about interest on loans and the different kinds of bank accounts. Some of that stuff is still beyond me. Oh well.

 

Lance sent me a message saying that there is an update ready for my phone. Now he will have to issue the instructions for downloading whatever needs to be done. Sometimes feeling ignorant is pretty disgusting when it comes to technical stuff—or anything else, for that matter. But we simply can’t begin to know everything there is that is useful, much less just interesting. [Ah! Settings, General, Downloads!]

 

Lunch/dinner today was some leftover baked squash and chicken alfredo. Had thought about going to the store to pick up some veggies and fruit, but have a feeling it might be better to take a short nap rather than driving again today. Wonder Woman might not be that wonderful by tonight! Giggling. And currently can’t feel my bottom lip. Can see it now if pulled over by an officer: “Yeth, Thur. Been toh thuh dentust.”

 

Not quite ready to think about getting the grass mowed, but will have to get the zero turn out and clean it pretty soon. Lance swears he will never get on it again. He does not quite see the back of the mower in his mind. And the front is not the part that does the business of cutting—or of hitting whatever he might not consider in his way. Poor guy. Donny taught me or the trees around here would be just stubs!

 

Have seen some of the footage from the Ukraine mess. Feel so sorry for those folks. Run out of your town, your home, your country by a bunch of people who have been told to shoot anything that moves. Someone needs to have their backside kicked for that! Wars are stupid in general, but this one makes anyone who cares feel angry. Maybe things will get better for those who had to leave. May God give them protection and peace. May the children be comforted.

 

We still need rain, but will just sit here and appreciate the calmness of the day. At least we still can water the critters and take a shower as needed. Even doing laundry makes me aware of how much water is going out on the grass since Lewis put the lines out from the house to make the grey water useful. Maybe soon we will get those April showers that help the May flowers.

 

Let us be thankful for the blessings we have been given. Let us show love in whatever way we are able. Rest and rejoice in each day. You are loved.

Exasperation and Crazy Dogs!

 Exasperation and Crazy Dogs!

 

Patty called me about four or five times when my backdoor neighbors’ dogs—two of them—got out and decided to go down to bark at Patty’s dogs through the fence. About one snap, and the smallest dog would have been a snack for the brindle Pit Bull. The other dog was big, too, but it looked a little less scary. Anyway, got my big stick out and started down there to see if they could be run off, but it is just as well that they took off for the lake. Not too happy to try to run off someone’s dogs. Patty called Animal Control and then she encouraged me to do the same. The dogs came to my front yard and then took off for Church Street. Maybe the old man who lives over there called in as well. Whatever happens, those dogs need to be kept at home. Besides those two dogs, a German Shepherd came between my fence and Mark’s fence, but she took off as soon as she saw me. Think that she is the Acuna’s dog that lives on Texas Street.

 

Maria is coming to clean my house for me on Wednesday. By the time she gets here, it will definitely need it. The wind has been blowing sand and crud in every day this week. It’s only 61 degrees outside, but slightly warmer here in the house. Kinda cool. Not going to gripe about the cooler temps since the really hot stuff will be here soon. Just keeping clean water out for the hens has been a bit difficult with all the dirt blowing. The rain we got last night was hardly enough to do any good, but it beats nothing.

 

Called Sterling this morning after reading that they had a tornado close to his place there in NW Arkansas. He said he never knew about it, but he also sounded like whodathoughtit! Said he either had a cold or something close to it. Hoping it is not the flu. Read somewhere that the flu and this covid crud has combined in some places and is making folks mighty ill. We could definitely do without any more garbage viruses, any more tornadoes, any more fires, or any other types of stress-inducing factors.

 

Read a post by Stilton Jarlsberg this morning. He sounds somewhat more positive. Some of his friends and neighbors have decided to complete the flower bed that Kathy had him build for her. It might not be any great shakes like the scenery in Garvin Gardens up in Hot Springs, Arkansas, but if it means something to him and to his friends, that is what matters. Sometimes the things that grow in my yard make me think of those lost to me in this life. They will be in my heart so much longer than any blooming flower or clover—or the smells they produce. Deep sigh.

 

Brought my phone charger into the living room so it could be charged while it was close enough to answer if it buzzes at me. Not sure why it is so hard to remember to charge it. Oh well. Getting older and more forgetful by the day.

 

Really can’t imagine what kind of words Keith used when he fell this morning and took a picture of the horizon. Certainly hope that he wakes up in the morning without any sore spots. Know how that would affect me right now!! Horrors. The thoughts of falling are pretty scary at this point. Plugged in a music CD in my old computer and did some marching and lifting my arms to the 70s hits. It is not dancing—something others find useful for exercise—but at least it is moving body parts. Tomorrow maybe Diana (the PT lady) can tell me whether or not the surgeon will allow me to do PT here rather than go to that big gym place. Noise, people without masks, gasoline to get there and back, $40 per session, and just general uselessness is how it makes me feel. Stephen said that he thought the PT did the trick, but it just bugs me to consider going there again. Last time they kept asking me what was wrong with me when I could bend and raise my legs as they required. How they thought their knowing what was wrong with me would make any difference is beyond me. The head honcho knew, so that is all that mattered.

 

While Sterling was here, we asked ourselves how Mom was able to jump up and know a storm was on the way. We had no weather radio or other sources that would have warned us. We thought maybe she was super sensitive to dropping barometric pressure—like the beginning of a migraine or something. But when she hollered, “Hit the floor!” we always did exactly that. One of the things we learned early was to have our shoes and clothes folded and handy in the springtime. Living with Texas weather has been an education.

 

Since the Animal Control truck came by and the folks talked to me, guess the dogs won’t be coming back over for a little bit. Certainly hope that they found their way home again. Oh well.

 

Let us be grateful for all the many blessings we have. And let us pray for those who suffer from so much distress in this ol’ world. Rest well, and know: you are loved.

Mood Swings and Appetite.

 Mood Swings and Appetite.

 

What is it about cool weather or rainy days that can make a person feel that soup would be just about perfect? Have no idea why rain makes me feel happy—for the most part—but know it cleans the air of pollen and makes me happier. Now if all those storms that are currently predicted would just give us enough rain to totally soak up the ground and put out any potential fires!

 

Today was not a hungry day. But a big ol’ squash made it into the oven and became a meal of sorts. Just scooped up the rest of it and deposited the remains of the good stuff into the fridge. The hens were interested in the remains of the squash bodies. Love that my hens will eat almost anything thrown out there. Guess maybe hens have a super good reason to eat whatever. The grains and pellets must not be enough to keep them happy. Even so, they certainly are laying plenty of eggs lately. Hooray for hens!

 

My sister-in-law texted today and offered to let me have her appointment with her dentist. Will call tomorrow and just see if he will have room for another patient. She needs to get her tooth fixed before it gets worse. Think mine must have broken shortly after coming home from the hospital. It doesn’t hurt, but no sense letting it get worse.

 

The wind is blowing pretty hard this evening. The weather report says it is at 24 mph, but the little gusts are undoubtedly higher. No wonder we have so much shtuff in the air! Pollen count this morning was 11.6 on a scale of 12. Deep sigh.

 

The PT lady is going to try to convince the surgeon to let me do PT at home rather than drive to that big place with all those people in there. They just about make me cringe with all the noise and no one wearing masks. We will see what he thinks about what I can do here instead. A couple of the exercises she has me do are definitely not my favorites, but walking does not seem as difficult now. We shall see.

 

Received a paperback book that Diana Erbio talked about in her Statues posts. It will be a donation to a Christian school as soon as my doctor makes it by to pick up eggs and talk to me. Wished the book could have been longer, but it was just basically about how difficult the teenager found it to be to adjust to learning English and fitting in with others. Can imagine it would be the same no matter which other language and customs one has begun with in life. Teaching English as a second language is a challenge that only certain people understand—not my forte. Plenty of students went through my classroom who had to be helped to understand directions in keyboarding or MSWord. But then, even students who understood English did not always pay attention to directions. Some of us just THINK we know what we are doing!

 

Diana, the PT therapist, walked with me over to Jerry’s house today to see what they had done. Wow! It is now a three-bedroom house with two baths and a lovely laundry room. Closets are nice in each room, too. They still have not had enough rain to discover if there are leaks like Jerry told me about in the roof. Maybe it will rain tonight. Anyway, think they have the place closed up pretty well to keep critters and others out.

 

Last night it sounded as if a motorcycle was across the road. Got up and looked out and discovered that North Church Street had several flashing lights down there. Have no idea what was going on, but they left shortly after ten. If Jerry were still alive, they would have been chasing him or something of that nature.

 

Really don’t know diddly squat. (My favorite exercise!) You guys must be patient if you are still reading this blog. It just seems like everything is a bit blah right now. See that so many are trying to help those in the Ukraine, but Russia is still causing death and destruction despite their lack of supplies. Sad to think this is still going on. Let us pray for peace.

 

My bluebird house that Sterling hung on the front porch may never have a bird in it, but it makes me smile. And the birds sing all morning until we get up every day. Even the dogs are as lazy as the old woman! The birds have more energy! Good thing the dogs are not demanding cooked meals! No such thing going on around here right now for any of us.

 

Let us remember those who are tired and sick tonight. Those who mourn, those who lack the energy to find a way to get outside in nature, and those who feel somewhat hopeless need our care and concern as we are able to give it. My friend Barbara Mathews has to go to Dallas for an appraisal of her intestines this week. Let us pray that any surgery for her will be successful and that healing will be quick and complete. Others always need our prayers. Let us share our love in this way.

 

For those who have allergies and migraines, let us hope that spring will not be too severe for them. Blessings to our children and their mates.

 

Rest well, my friends, and know: you are loved.

A Dirty Sky.

 A Dirty Sky.

 

Dear Hearts, the temperature gauge says 88 right now, but it feels much warmer to me. Would love to put on shorts, but would have to go dig them out of the bottom of a bag in the closet. Guess barefoot will do until that becomes possible. Have been able to pick my big feet up one at a time to cross over a knee to fasten my shoes, so that is a big help. But it is still not a good idea to try to sit like an old squaw the way my mom did all the days of her life. Limberness is so wonderful—until trying to do what one has always done is just a bit more problematic. Such is life and healing. Patience, and then some!

 

Got a plant catalogue from Spring Hill this morning in the mail. Sat here leafing through it while drooling over the plants. Want to give some nice bushes to the kids this year, if possible, but probably won’t get them from this kind of a catalogue. Lowes has plants, bushes, trees, etc., and they don’t charge shipping. Hmm. Gift cards sound reasonable. That way they can pick out what they want.

 

Had liver and buttered Brussel sprouts for lunch. The dogs had a bite of liver and finished off the sprouts for me. Just don’t really feel like eating right now for some reason. It won’t hurt me to lose some more weight, so there’s that. Still drinking like a fish—sitting here wondering if fish drink or if they just get their oxygen from the water through their gills. Oh well.

 

Have to take the trash bin across the road sometime this afternoon, but will wait until the folks across the street have left for the day. Don’t ask me why. Just don’t want to be out there at the same time as they are. Nice enough bunch, but my dogs certainly don’t like them.

 

We really need a good soaking rain again. Just not too eager to see big black clouds hanging around after the storms hit Jacksboro. That was a mess and a half! And it will take a couple of years to get that school back together. At least they can start on it pretty soon as it is only two more months before school will be out for the summer. And thank God they knew to take the kids to the storm shelter area of the school and bring all the parents waiting outside in their cars into the building before the storm hit!

 

Have the AC on here in the living room. It has one of those control things that look as if it might be a TV remote. Works the same but cools the room quickly. Do not like extreme heat or extreme cold, but this is Texas. Am betting that my friend Roger Thonton is sitting around enjoying the heat! So many of my friends prefer the cold weather, but spring and fall are so temperamental in Texas that one day will be cold and the next hot, so someone is going to be happy at least one day a week!

 

As usual, don’t know anything worth sharing, but will tell you that living and loving others makes it all worthwhile. We have been so incredibly blessed to have freedom and other blessings. Please remember to pray for those who mourn, those who are being terrorized, and those who lack even the basic necessities. Let us show others love in whatever way we are able.

 

Rest well, my friends, and know that He loves us.

Drinking--LOTS!

 Drinking—LOTS!

 

Sitting here drinking coconut-lime Bai water and trying to convince Sylvia that the AC unit is not some big, bad device that is going to get her. Have no idea why she is suddenly apprehensive about an AC, but such is the case. She may eventually settle down next to me, but she is very restless at the moment. Not Thompson. He must be enjoying the cooler air because he is standing right in front of the vent!

 

Trying to remember to drink lots of fluids has been easier today. The Bai water is not sweet enough to bother me, but it makes me feel refreshed after downing one. So glad that Jennifer introduced me to this stuff. It has to be better for me than Dr Pepper or any of the other sweet soda drinks. Lance bought some kind of water stuff, but it contains green tea—caffeine. Oh well. Early in the day, it would not matter, but by nearly six, it is time to really slack off on anything that will keep m awake. Water is great, of course, but having bought some “Skittles” stuff to put in my water means that artificial color and flavors—and probably sweeteners—are in those little bags of flavored powder. Oh well.

 

The dogs, especially Thompson, have been begging for treats. Some of them have to be restricted because they can cause stomach upsets, but tell that to a dog! There’s one called Barky Bark Jerky that actually makes their stomach growl! And those treats last almost as long as it takes me to get up to get them down from the top shelf of the bookcase! Such is life with dogs.

 

The hens have not been complaining about the heat yet. The morning started out pretty decent, so they had five eggs in the nests before noon. This evening they had laid another three. Very productive little feathered friends. And now both kids have fresh eggs—and Sterling was able to take three dozen home with him to Arkansas. There he lives in chicken country and has to buy old store eggs!! Can’t imagine having that kind of room to raise critters and not having hens—maybe even one rooster—and assorted critters—a lamb or calf especially. Think he said that they tried a lamb once and did not like it. Simply can’t imagine.

 

So far, the old woman seems to be doing pretty well other than getting awfully tired pretty quickly. Walked outside a while ago with my big body belt on and my cane in hand. Have three peaches and a plum blooming in the back yard along with the big purple plum tree. It looked as if it had snowed under that plum this morning. Beautiful scent, too. It reminds me somewhat of the purple grape smell of Grape Nehi that is from the buffalo clover that Lewis loved so much. Some of those beans grew in the front yard, so they will not get mown this spring to see if they will produce more seeds. And the bluebonnets and chives have sprung up all over the front as well. Have a few bachelor buttons already up and thinking of blooming soon—and one great big dandelion. Love dandelions! Those are usually the best flowers for bees since nearly anything coming from the nurseries has that nicotated crud stuff that they use to kill worms in the potting soil. It causes the death of the bees that try to get the nectar from the potted flowers. So around here, it is seeds or nothing.

 

Started a series of books that are actually YA novels—teenagers would love them, but then, so does any fantasy fan or anyone who believes that animals understand our emotions and are sensitive to them. Know my dogs can tell when they need to leave me alone. They are missing all the petting and scratching they got from Jennifer and Sterling. Don’t think Lance is much on having a dog in his lap—especially one as big as either of these two! Will certainly enjoy being able to mess with my hens when the doctor tells me that bending will be permissible again. Not sure when that will be, but the hens like for me to feed them by hand. Sitting on the steps of the deck is fairly close, but they don’t exactly get their feathers fluffed up. Oh well.

 

Talked to my friend Connie this afternoon. Will try to remember to start calling her again. Patty pointed out to me that last night was my first night alone since February 22. Yep, it is definitely different to have someone here 24/7, but it truly was the only answer we could have had for this situation. So very grateful to Jennifer and Lance for staying with me, and glad to have had the chance to be with Sterling for a week. We caught up on several years-worth of experiences that he had with his family and his work. It was not an easy life for him. It made me realize how very blessed we were to have a home and all the other blessings of work and health.

 

Won’t try to discuss anything in the “news” at all. It is simply too much to believe what is going on in this world. Instead, maybe you would all enjoy the description of a red-tailed squirrel who knows these two dogs can’t get to him/her. And she/he taunts them~~~and some of its chatter sounds suspiciously like cursing in rodent language!! Such is life on Dickerson Hill.

 

Rest and rejoice in the blessings the Lord God has bestowed upon us! You are loved.

On My Own Again!

 On My Own Again!

 

Sterling left early this morning and called around 1:30 this afternoon to let me know he had arrived safely back home. He and Jacqui had bacon and pancakes for lunch—appropriate since he had not eaten anything before leaving my house. Anyway, it was good to know he got home to Arkansas safely and without incident. Know Jacqui was happy to have him back home even if he did take all his dirty clothes back to be washed. Not like my washer would not have done the job.

 

Talked to Patty today. Saw a pretty blue truck down there and thought Donny’s truck had been washed, but it was his son DG and his wife who had come to get the kayaks to take out on Lake Texoma in a couple of weeks. He also plans to come get the four-wheelers soon and have them tuned up. Patty said their batteries were dead. While they were here, they talked about taking one of the storage buildings up to their place near Lawton so that Michelle (DG’s wife) could have classes in it for her dyslexic students. Have no idea what it costs to move a building like that, but it is not like Patty needs them out there. She just barely gets out of the house. And with the pollen count at nearly 11 points out of 12, she does not need to be outside!

 

Ordered a dust pan with a handle today so bending over to clean stuff up won’t be quite so tempting. Now if yours truly can figure out how to dump the dirty water from the hens’ bowls, we will be cooking with coal! Or something along those lines. Going out to put out feed and gather the eggs is pretty much a no-brainer as long as the ground is not wet and slippery. And if we get rain, have boots that will work out there! Just not going out very much today. Felt pretty tired this morning—maybe just missing Sterling, too. He has been very good company. Feels as if we got to know each other again after all these years. Better late than never.

 

It's a bit warm today—83 degrees and no real wind. Won’t gripe. It could be much hotter and windy as well. But you can almost bet we will get another frost since the plum tree at the end of the deck has fully exploded with blooms. At least the apricots have still not shown any indication of blooming. Maybe we will have some fruit this year after all.

 

Got my house insurance paid off for the year. But the hospital still has not sent me a bill. Oh well. They will send it, and it will get paid eventually. But next week another x-ray will be on the agenda. Such fun. Have to remember to wear a mask. Still people getting covid here in WF, and at least one person died from the mess. Guess it is a good thing this old woman is mostly staying away from others—and won’t drive until it is necessary. Tried to get Sterling to drive my truck, but he wasn’t having any of that. Oh well. By next Thursday, my truck will get to run around again—at least to the clinic.

 

Nikki Smith has contacted me to check to see if she needs to send over one of her boys to do anything for me. That is about the sweetest family around! The boys are great, and the parents have done a super good job of giving them the right attitude. Not many people have that kind of abilities.

 

Really don’t know anything worth discussing or otherwise expounding upon. Listened to Sterling telling me about some of the books he is reading—Bible commentaries. He named guys that lived a century or more ago who led the Baptist revivals in England among a complete mixed bag of different beliefs who all claimed to have the same denomination. Interesting. Have a feeling that these men were doing good in their communities—feeding the poor and teaching the Bible FROM the Bible. No happy messages of great glory in just being a Christian in name only. These men—and some women—went through hellfire to preach in various places in Europe and then in America. It had to have been difficult. It makes me wonder how many do that sort of thing today, but he was telling about some of their congregation who have connections to the rest of the Ukraine. They gather money to take there to help. It feels better than seeing those stupid ads on FB that say we should donate to help the pets that have been displaced. Sadly, that happens in any war or even storms. And the scams are nearly always the same.

 

Will just remind you all that we are so very blessed to live in safety and relative peace. We have food even if we might not be able to buy a box of crackers or the sardines some folks think would be the best. Let’s be happy to eat what we have and give thanks when we can help others. God keeps giving us blessings.

 

Rest well and be happy. You are loved.

Let There Be Light!

 Let There Be Light!

 

Sterling took me to Lowe’s this morning to look for some different lights for my kitchen. Let the old woman tell you! My kitchen is bright!!! Amazing difference! And Sterling was talking about a hanging lamp over the kitchen window so things could grow there. Don’t think that will happen in my lifetime, but who knows.

 

Sterling keeps up with people back home by phone. While their faces never will come to my mind, it’s a pretty good bet that their names would go with their personalities. It is impossible not to hear the laughter from both ends of that little phone.

 

Wearing one of my new shirts: “Let’s eat kids. Let’s eat, kids. Punctuation saves lives.” Lance gets a kick out of those little things that make a smile happen. Think that must run in the family.

 

Honestly can’t talk about anything right now that matters. Having read an update on Mariellen Rose and Stilton Jarlsberg, we definitely need to pray for healing and comfort for these folks. When we pray, it helps both the recipient for whom we are praying and our own mental and emotional connections to God’s spirit.

 

My prayers will be going with my brother as he leaves early in the morning. Along with David, we can pray over the coming and going of our family, asking for protection.

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

 

 

 

Chicken Feed!

 Chicken Feed!

 

Sterling went to Sutherland’s for me today. Two bags of scratch were $41.98—to me, that means $42. The Pro Egg Pellets were $24.99--$25! Let me tell you right now, that if the companies selling eggs are charging more for those lovely little pieces of calcium and protein, don’t be too dismayed because it is costing a small fortune just to feed those birds! Jennifer warned me the day she went to Sam’s and brought back a boat load of food—“everything is more expensive!” No kidding!

 

We had leftover bacon and whatever for breakfast. You’d think the old woman could at least cook for us, but it is so easy to just make coffee and eat something easy like a muffin. Thank you for thinking of that, dear daughter!

 

Sterling went over and looked at Jerry’s house with the guy who bought it. Sterling said he is just one of those guys that flips houses and makes a small fortune out of it. Am guessing that he will never do anything to the road to improve the situation. Such is life. But also noticed that “little brother” warned the guy that two man-eating dogs live here, and the old woman is armed with a shotgun! Why he thought it necessary, who knows? But he told Sterling that he planned to put in two more houses after he finished this one—prefad jobs. Oh well. Too bad the place sold so cheaply, but no one else felt inclined to buy it. But not sure it was even advertised.

 

Tired this evening, but not hurting that much either. Hot soak in Dead Sea salt might have something to do with it. Felt pretty good!

 

Got Sterling to take me to Best Buy to buy a charger for my tablet. Somehow my charger stopped working—or at least my tablet did not charge until it got the new charger. Kinda expensive, but can’t live without books! It would be pretty hard if all my reading had to stay with just the books in my current library. Hardly have any good ones left that are big enough print to read. SO glad to use the Kindle app.

 

Put my brother back on Facebook by putting him on Mother’s account. Grandson Grayson called his mom and told her someone was on Granny Gene’s account. She called me and found out just who the someone was. Sterling made the comment the other day that he truly hoped that he would not vote Democrat after he died. Now Mom won’t be thinking about what might be seen on HER account.

 

These dogs are truly going to miss Sterling when he leaves. They back up to him for good scratch and he nearly always obliges. Know he is looking forward to going home. He has taken care of several little “honey dos” that he knew how to do easily. But he has mostly just been super good company this week. Jacqui will undoubtedly be glad to have his sorry carcass back home. But his dog will be the most excited! He will get a whiff of my dogs and hens and think he will need to roll on them!

 

Will remind you to remember those who mourn, those who are ill, those who fear for life itself. Our prayers DO make a difference! Find rest and peace in life. You are loved.

Catching Up.

 Catching Up.

 

Today, just like every day since Sunday evening, Sterling has kept me entertained and interested in what he has been doing all these years. Talk about different! We both had separate lives despite being brother and sister for all these years. Now we have a little better understanding of how each of us feels about more than a few things. His interest in the Bible and in reading commentaries seems totally different from what things were like even twenty years ago. We have had some truly amazing conversations—not to mention a discussion about how many of the terms we have had to look up about Calvinism and other “isms.”

 

Sterling has talked about his house and rebuilding it and trying to light it up so that a blind person can easily read. He might be able to find a couple of lights for my kitchen that will light up the room enough so that it won’t take a flashlight to find the floor! We will see how that works out. Then he plans to try to work on my wagon and try to get the nut to stay on to keep the wheel from falling off. The attic door also has been targeted for a couple of screws to keep it from rattling in high winds. Just little things, but it is wonderful to have someone here who has a clue how to fix things. Then he plans to see about getting chicken scratch from Sutherlands for me to fill my bins so that doesn’t have to be done again this summer.

 

The wonderful rain we had must have been a pretty good fire retardant, plus it has given the dust a place to settle and the grass a chance to grow. It won’t even bother me to call one of the kids to come mow the grass this summer! Now if only the flowers will bloom this year. Jennifer sent me a picture of a bluebonnet that came up in her yard that surprised her. It made me not exactly jealous, but envious.

 

Have a nurse coming from the insurance company in the morning, and she wants to check the circulation in my feet. Ok. Sterling suggested taking a couple of 2X4 blocks to put under the bottom of the bed’s footboard to raise that end up slightly. Sounds as if it might work better than a rolled-up blanket under the mattress. Anyway, we will probably discover that the old woman is just a mean as she has ever been even though it will be four weeks tomorrow since they cut up the old body. Today was pretty rough since it seemed better not to take anything for pain until late this evening. Just a little bit leery of taking pain meds and not really realizing what might happen if leaning over or something. Bending, lifting, and twisting come naturally, don’t they!

 

Really don’t know much. Have thoroughly enjoyed having Sterling here. It has been hilarious to see the dogs reacting to him. Today he was going to play his guitar. Sylvia was semi-terrified. Thompson barked at him and did not want him to make that noise. It made me laugh! They are not used to music or much noise—not even TV. But anyway, it has been nice to have Sterling here to take care of the critters and other little jobs from hauling the trash bin across the road to cleaning out the dog water bowl. Maybe by next week the old woman will be back on her feet a little better. Have to take the truck to Barnett Road and get an x-ray, so that will be interesting. Hoping taking it slowly will work just fine.

 

May all of you find joy in life and feel grateful for the blessings God has poured out upon us! You are loved.

Family!

 Family!

 

My daughter is back at her home; my sister-in-law stopped by to pick up eggs and visit a bit before she goes home to prepare for her daughter and family to visit; and my brother Sterling is on his way here to my house. So, we shift around a couple of times and things seem to be doing ok. Got my pep talk from Jennifer before she left, and then Anne gave me another one on the way out the front door. And yes! The old woman is trying to be very careful.

 

Sylvia jumped up on Anne despite being hollered at. Even tapped her with my reacher/grabber tool to discourage the jumping stuff. She has been SO good lately that it seemed she understood. Sigh

 

The hens have been laying like gangbusters, but so far today only four eggs have shown up. Won’t gripe! They are doing so well and staying healthy out there in all that dust and dirt. If we ever get rain, no telling what it will be like out there. Might need a pig or two to dig out the hens and root out the mud. Nah! No pigs, no cows, goats, sheep, turkeys, or other assorted critters needed!

 

Really do not know anything worth telling. Going to go lie down for a short nap before Sterling gets here. Wish it were not such a long trip, but he makes it look easy. And in Jacqui’s car, he won’t use as much gas—especially since it is lower to the ground and won’t be whipped as badly as his truck. Jenn said the wind really picked up the MiniCooper on her way home. Would not want to deal with Texas winds in either a big truck or a tiny car. Our winds don’t mess around.

 

May all of you have a wonderful weekend—or at least the rest of the weekend. Be happy for all the blessings we have been given and enjoy life to the fullest. You are loved.

Warmth and Slippers.

 Warmth and Slippers.

 

It is currently 82 degrees out on the front porch and 81 here at my desk. And yes, it may get down to the forties tonight, but that is hardly freezing and still comfortable. No electric blanket needed tonight. Feels like spring to me! Have the ceiling fans on so that we can be comfortable, but that may change before we hit the hay tonight. If it were not for the disaster that is waiting without rain, we could simply stand outside and feel like flowers swaying in the last breeze. Wonderful not to have a gale-force wind right now!

 

My niece and her family were driving down from Chicago and hit something on the road that flew back up and tore up their car. Now they are limping back home to Chicago rather than coming to Texas for spring break. Those boys are going to be so very disappointed. Well, their grandmother will feel the same way as the boys, no doubt. Trips home are so important to grands and grandmothers/daddies.

 

Have been watching an ongoing saga of adoption by a young couple in the Windthorst area. Not sure how many they have adopted, but know it may be more than one. This latest little guy is so very precious and makes his grandparents eyes light up. This is the second family that have announced the adoption of a little one on FB. But one young couple did not think they could have a child and discovered that the woman was pregnant after they had adopted a little girl. God just gave them a double blessing, but now she has diapers and formula for two! Guess it could be harder if it were twins or triplets.

 

The grass in the backyard desperately needs water. Sylvia rolled in it a bit ago and then wanted to go inside! Caught her before she got her head in the doggy door, but it was still not easy to get all the grass off of her. What a mess. Bet it will be pure mud if we actually get a rain next week. But mud is better than dust!

 

Jenn has not felt all that great today, so we have both been a bit droopy. A nap earlier made me feel a little less tense, but it just seems like it takes so very little to make me ache. It will get better, but patience is not really one of my strong suits. Guess it will be better by the time my body regains its strength and muscle tone. Then there was the little “chore” that Jenn did for me today. She took all the pots and pans from under the sink cabinet and cleaned it out good and washed it down and restacked the piling system to make it easier to access the pans normally most used. She also gave my girls clean water and fed them. They have really been putting out the eggs this week, so she will be taking some home on Monday.

 

Will truly miss having my girl here. This is the most time we have spent together since she left home at 18. She was not able to sleep for the first two weeks while she kept me from getting up or from hurting myself accidentally, but this week has been better for her. At least she has been able to get her office work done while she has been here. Plus, she has shopped for me, cooked special foods, and come up with some very easy meals to have here this next week. Sterling will be here sometime Monday afternoon, so it might be better if Jenn left on Sunday before we start having some stormy weather. Taking care of the hens by then will be a matter of closing up the hen house and throwing out some feed. This afternoon while the dogs were penned up in the house, the hens ate my leftover salad off my fork when it was offered to them. Funny hens. Silly ol’ lady who loves her feathered kids.

 

The Seven-Sisters rose at the corner of the deck is beginning to sprout. It is intertwined with the grape vine out there, and that makes it look as if they are both about to sprout out. Hoping the grape vine has grapes on it again this year. Think the rats will not get the best of them this year. We will see. The pink roses are one of the few that do not seem to try to reach out and grab me, so they are allowed to continue to grow in that corner. Other roses may smell better and look beautiful, but these smell just fine and never tear my skin with their thorns. Some plants are worth having around.

 

Looked in the front yard for the mint plants that usually are coming up this time of the year. Hoping that they have not dried up completely and will come back with some rain or other water. It’s the time of year when we notice these things, but it is definitely too late to water expecting them to make it through the winter. Sigh

 

Really do not know anything that would make good reading or might provoke thoughts of happiness. We have tried to stay away from the “news” about the Ukraine, but it is terribly difficult to ignore. May God clean and protect this world of hatred and pollution.

 

Rest well, my friends, and try to find joy in each day. Let us be grateful to God for all our blessings! You are loved.

Scheduling Life.

 Scheduling Life.

 

Have you ever noticed that if something is coming up on your calendar, invariably something else will sneak in there to fill up any spaces of time around that event. Yep, my calendar is filling up—more or less. This week the PT lady came twice and walked me down the road to help me with my balance. Then Jenn walked me down to Patty’s this morning to visit for just a few minutes. Her dogs were ecstatic—well, Roxie was thrilled. Rudy was not all that sure about that stranger with me. Even Roxie took a few minutes to get warmed up to Jenn but was in her lap before we got ready to leave. Think that was actually the first time that Patty and Jennifer had met in person. They both felt they knew each other because of Donny. SO miss that man and his good sense.

 

The wind is still blowing, with the sky in the west a bit brownish from dust and dirt. At least it is not smoke. The fires this year have just been horrible and have eaten up the acreage like cabbage worms in young plants! Speaking of plants: Sutherlands has plants on sale. It’s that time of year. Oh! Misery is not being able to plant things or to have enough space on the kitchen table to cover up the plant longings. Sigh

 

Jo Ann Hobbs came this morning and brought some delicious chicken and dumplings. That woman can COOK! Ummm. Then Jenn went to Sam’s and got a bunch of canned foods to stock my pantry. Now to get her recipe for tortilla soup. It sounds wonderful. We will see how that works out. It will be a lot of food, but maybe Sterling will enjoy it too and help me clean it up.

 

Jenn said that Sterling called earlier and said that he was making bird houses and asked if she thought I would want one. Have been wondering where a good place to put it would be. The silly Bradford pear would be a good place for shade and a branch that would hold it. Last year a mockingbird had a nest up there, but something got its babies. Will blame squirrels as we don’t have cats around here much. Well, and some of those big black birds kill other birds’ babies, too. Last year the rats would have killed anything that did not move fast enough, but maybe this year we will not have any more of those dreadful creatures.

 

Jo Ann said that the coyotes had killed one of the donkeys on their neighbor’s farm. Smitty has killed three coyotes and a bobcat out there so far. They were so thankful that they did not send their grandson out to see about the chickens when the bobcat got in their coop. That cat could have done so much damage to the kid.

 

Read the blog post by Stilton Jarlsberg this morning. He is in mourning, of course, and he and daughter J are trying to adjust to life without Kathy. She was the organizer in their home, so now these two will have to figure out how to make life work for them. It is not that difficult to understand how our lives are so turned into a routine that is led by the personalities of wives, husbands, and children. But the disruption of life by death and disease has upturned more than a few families. Right now, it feels as if the entire world is turned upside down by death and destruction. But all we can do is pray for those who mourn, for those attempting to escape war, and for those who need healing. Let us remember to be grateful for all the blessings we currently take for granted. We have food, clean water, and peace. May God continue to watch over our nation.

 

Rest well, my friends, and find joy in all that is around us to comfort and to help us see beyond our present circumstances.

You are loved.

Another Windy Day!

 Another Windy Day!

 

Supposedly we are not really under a weather alert since we only are allowing 60 to 65 mph winds—or maybe 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Good grief! The sky is brownish and the barometer seems to be falling somewhat. That always is a precursor to a headache for me. Such fun! But then, pollen and dust are just part of North Central Texas. Sigh

 

Jennifer made some potato soup today that just was perfect! Love potato soup with onion, cheese, salt, pepper, and then more grated cheese on the very top. Yummmm. Nothing as comforting as true comfort foods.

 

Other than getting the pots and pans organized where an old woman can more easily grab one, Jennifer has reorganized things around here to make life simpler. And she might get to that tomorrow. We can’t even put the trash across the road right now because of the wind. Maybe really early before the truck gets here the wind will have died down enough. Right now, it is truly howling!

 

The dogs are wearing their thunder shirts now. Sylvia is a worry wart when everything seems to be blowing around outside. Well, she has an old woman who gets a bit antsy during high winds, too. The electric lines can whip together and spark fires in this dry grass. Even with the grass cut short, the fires can go places before we can even think about it.

 

Have been watching the swelling of the tips of the trees, but the plum actually has a few blooms on it. Hoping that those blooms get to stay and make fruit this year. We had three plums that did not get pecked or chewed on last year. So, guess who got to eat them! So far this year, the apricots have not even swelled around the ends of the branches. They are the native-sized apricots when they actually get to make fruit. Tart and sweet both! Won’t hold my breath, but truly will hope for more fruit this year. Last year the new peach tree in the yard made three humongous peaches. Danged squirrel got into my tree, and the dogs did not rescue my peaches. Will have to find some kind of netting this year for that one. It’s just too sweet and juicy to give it to the critters!

 

We were talking about how well the old woman is doing considering that it was three weeks ago that this surgery took place. Even the PT lady thinks my attitude and balance have improved. Yes, still using a cane for balance, but keeping my head level and walking carefully forward. Tomorrow we may walk down to see Patty and sit and play with her dogs. Betting the dogs have missed their runs to meet me. Patty swears that the dogs only get real exercise when they run to meet me at the gate.

 

Smelling smoke now. Oh! joy to the world. Sigh. Will call Patty in a few minutes to check on her. Pollen, wind, smoke are all triggers for her breathing problems. Love having her for a neighbor, but have to think about how things affect her. Got tickled about Jennifer and then the neighbor Gail both being concerned about her using a flashlight around her yard. She tries her best to protect those two puppies. She also has to have oxygen all day every day. Jenn was saying that the shortages caused by the overseas mess and the trucking situations have caused too many not to have all the supplies they need right now.

 

Oh! Let’s try to think about something positive today! There is some grass coming up in both lower and upper lots of this place. A good rain would give my flower beds and the grass around here something to do. Yes, eventually things might have to be mown again, but for right now, will simply enjoy the sight of greenness! One poppy, one bachelor button, three or four bluebonnets, and some assorted weeds are growing great guns out front. Maybe in a few weeks the old woman can sit down on the side of the walkway and pull a few blades of grass without getting into too much trouble. It does not take long to tire out. Peeled some potatoes that Maggie and David Sewell gave me so Jenn could make our soup. It about wore me out just standing there. Will have to remember to use a stool next time. Those muscles have not been used for too long to just start doing whatever right away.

 

Want to fill up the feed bins before Jenn leaves, so maybe we will go to Sutherlands tomorrow. Other than going to the doctor’s office, have not been off the hill. Even called to see if Dr. Baird could fix a broken tooth for me, but he is filled up for two to three weeks. Told his officer manager a cancellation would be fine with me if they have one. She says that rarely happens, but sometimes it does do to have a drop in for those possibilities. Have no idea how that tooth broke, but it could be worse.

 

We are watching the Ukraine and reading stories about the people there. Mothers in the streets learning how to use guns just boggles the mind. May God bless this world and those innocents in it.

 

Let us remember those who mourn this night. Remember to pray for the health of those who are striving to improve their bodies despite what our world has done to poison us. Let us remember to be grateful for all the blessings and hold out our hands to those who need just a bit of help to see their way. Let us be filled with love.

 

Rest, my friends. You are loved.

Ode to Wind.

 Ode to Wind.

 

Texas would not be Texas without the wind in our hair.

Texas would not be Texas without dirt blown in our eyes.

Texas would not be Texas without the steers leaping in spring fields.

Texas would not be Texas unless our neighbors showed their care.

Texas would not be Texas without blue blazin’ skies and the wind whippin’ cutting sands with no trees as shields.

No, Texas would not be Texas without the larger-than-life heavens to share.

God gave us Texans a land big and wide. Beauty in faraway vistas draws sighs, but nothing compares to God’s hand by our sides.

Meeting the Builder.

 Meeting the Builder.

 

Jennifer had just finished talking about not exchanging phone numbers with the folks who bought Jerry’s place when both dogs began to have hissy fits. The guy who bought the place was on my front porch. He seems very nice and promises we won’t have a bunch of drug addicts living there. Of course, what happens in the future is never going to be assured, but it was nice to meet him and be told that he does not plan on letting it get terrible over there. Here’s hoping.

 

Have about decided to have a small cellar built right next to the driveway in the front yard. It would be convenient and safer than trying to take my dogs down to Patty’s basement. And who knows how much longer Patty will be living down there anyway. Life is pretty uncertain with age and health problems. Anyway, want to check out the cellar possibilities and how much it will cost to have one installed with a door that can be counter balanced so it will be easy to open. Daddy had some kind of balance thing on our cellar on the farm and then had something similar to that on the one in Petrolia. Grandmother Pollard said it had to be easy or she would just have to sit down there in that hole and wait for things to blow away. She was not even five foot tall, so anything she pulled on had to work easily. Mom was taller and stronger, but even so, our winds can really take a person sideways and upside down in a hurry.

 

Talked to my brother this morning. He will be coming on the 21^st of this month to stay for a week. Truly hope that yours truly won’t need a babysitter much after that week. Getting a bit restless, but still having to take pain pills. Can’t drive and take those things. But if worst comes to pass, Connie would take me for x-rays and my appointment on the following weeks. It is so good to have someone to call on in a bind.

 

It keeps feeling as if it should be raining. Certainly do need lots of that wet stuff. Everything is SO dry! Thompson came in and was totally covered in dead grass sprigs. Of course, that dead grass is now all over the living room floor and the couch.

 

Jenn has been doing some rearranging of things in the house. The water bottles and stuff are now in the shelves in the hall, and the pantry in the office may be rearranged tomorrow. It won’t bother me one way or the other. Just a few pictures to change around on the walls and some heating stoves (electric) to put in plastic bags for storage in the workshop. Wish the energy for cleaning out the workshop existed, but no such luck right now. Maybe later. Love the fact that Jenn does not mind messing with whatever she thinks needs to be moved.

 

One of the nurses called a few minutes ago and asked if she could come early in the morning. Since mornings are my time of the day, that works for me. It won’t be long until they simply don’t need to come, but if we can learn something to help with the itching and scar tissue, then so be it. Would love to just soak in the bathtub tonight. Is anything as wonderful as a tub of hot water?

 

Sharon Dickerson let me know that Stilton’s wife Kathy died the other morning. Can hardly think that he and his daughter J will have time to think of any of the good things that came in their lives this past year. Sitting here shaking my head at the horrors of chemo and other forms of “medication” that these doctors will submit patients to in order to look as if they are doing something useful. Eventually people will realize there are better ways of living and dying. Jenn’s friend Andrea lived through perforated bowels when her diverticulitis broke through a few places and nearly killed her before they removed some sections of her guts. Some things are truly necessary, but putting poison inside one’s body to “cure” disease seems pretty counterintuitive to me.

 

Need to think of something happy and uplifting. My cousin John and his wife Wham always have funny things to tell me or cartoons to send. Think I need a good Calvin and Hobbs book or something along those lines. Meanwhile, will be praying for rain.

 

Rest well, my friends, and be grateful for all the many blessings given to us in this life. You are loved.

Battery, Corned-Beef, Applesauce!

 Battery, Corned-Beef, Applesauce!

 

The truck now has a new battery; Jennifer cooked a corned-beef brisket; and a half bowl of applesauce has been consumed. The story of this silly day. Jennifer came home early enough that her brother was able to leave a bit earlier than he would have expected. Then a bit ago she came in the bedroom to let me know the other side of the lake was up in smoke. Told her that sometimes the electric lines hit each other and explode. “Ah, bet that was what that noise was!” Smoke is gone now. Always a bit scary when high winds can carry embers so far away. Even with the grass cut short, it can be frightening. Jennifer hooked up the water hose just in case.

 

Used the calendar the nurse brought to write down the next appointments—one for x-ray and one for doctor’s visit. Then sat and talked to Jenn about when to ask Uncle Sterling to be here so she could go for her own appointments that week. He goes to church every Sunday, so will ask him to try to be here on Monday early on the 21^st of March. She has missed this appointment more than once already and needs to be sure everything is ok. The surgeon who took her thyroid got more than he was supposed to cut on. Not a good thing. We can appreciate all the little bits that God put in there to keep things working right.

 

Jenn and Gary have some friends who went to Costa Rica for their second wedding ceremony. She is from the Ukraine and still has family there as far as we know. Where does one call to find out if your family survived the exodus from their homes? This is not exactly Red Cross territory. God bless them and all those forced from their homes and from their nation.

 

Jenn just told me that Uncle Paul, Gary’s uncle, woke up in West Virginia this morning to nine feet of snow!!! Simply can’t imagine. She said the house is well built with a warm basement—and this is not their first rodeo! Would have said the same about us here in Texas until February of last year. What a complete mess! Had Jerry not been here, my hens would probably have frozen to death.

 

Keep thinking that exercise of some nature would be good for me, but tire out so quickly that even the ones the nurse therapist suggested seem to be a bit much. These are supposed to be for the “core” muscles. Uh huh. But that does not relieve the pressure on my legs and the silly aches from my ankles to knees. Guess a question or two will be appropriate this coming week when she returns. Know for sure that the bath stool will not be used this week. Feels crowded in that shower with just me, much less four legs extra. Not to mention that the shower curtain got blown out and the floor flooded last time. Thankful that Lance was able to finish cleaning up my mess after I had dried off and dressed. Ridiculous old woman!

 

The wind has howled today and has not stopped yet. It’s only 24 mph, but it whips around from one point to the next as if it is chasing something. Might be chasing that 10.9 pollen count! Poor Patty must be down there gasping. So glad that breathing is not that hard for me.

 

Had a really bad dream a bit ago. Tiny little reminders blow into total melt downs very quickly. We don’t exactly determine what we dream about either. Looks like waiting for decent weather might be a good way to change an attitude if the wind dies down eventually. Gripe, natter, carry on!

 

Have no idea why my hens think that they need the dogs and Lance to dig holes for them. But they like grubs and Lance loves playing with them. It makes me smile to see him enjoying my girls. He took a carton of 18 home with him, too.—Eggs, not hens.

 

Know nothing and can think of even less. Just happy to be in my own home and safe from most things in this world. Glad that Jennifer slept well at home and Lance did not have trouble sleeping while here. See, home is still home even when rooms are totally different. Jenn said she slept well here, too, on the nights that yours truly did not wake her up. Sigh

 

Rest well, my friends, and be so very thankful for all the blessings secured to us by those who have sacrificed their lives to keep our nation free. Ask for guidance each day. We have no idea what surrounds us on each side unless we are shown. You are loved.

Improvements or Whatever.

 Improvements or Whatever.

 

Less pain today and still just as gripey. Well trained in the art of gripiness, ya know. But Lance has kept us in hot coffee, sausage and gravy, nuts and whatever, and then went to Wally World to get the ingredients for tacos which he will be making shortly. He makes them from scratch—well, he makes the taco shell things from corn tortillas.  The Bill Brown Beef hamburger can’t be beat, too. So, between the honey dew melon and the tacos, we should be in great shape. Looking forward to tacos. Have not had any in ages.

 

Lance had Jennifer start my truck the other day, but it hesitated. Today it would not start, so either tomorrow or next weekend he will get a new battery for the thing. Had him go get some cash from the bank today so he could pay for it with cash. My credit card is in Jennifer’s purse or somewhere. Not a biggie. She and Andrea went shopping today somewhere that they have this big craft fair thing. They go each year about this time. One year they were there when a tornado hit. They got home safely, but that was a bit much. As weird as the weather has been—22 degrees in the a.m. and 60 in the p.m.—it is not particularly surprising that the weather has its feathers ruffled. Sterling said they got 2 inches of ice, two inches of rain, followed by two inches of snow until it got up to about 60 this afternoon. Glad to have no need for the two extra quilts needed on their beds!

 

Lance has been entertaining my hens with a shovel. Have warned him more than once about the fact that they have a one-track mind. They ignore that sharp shovel and just go for the grubs! Thompson thought they were getting too much attention and wanted to chase them—the hens, not the grubs. Lance had to correct him about it. Funny dog. But now the hens have it in mind that the shovel is a source of tasty worms and grubs! Such fun!

 

Still have not decided to have Lance or Jenn go to Market Street or United to get a corned beef roast. Lance said he and Tracy tried one once. He liked it; she did not. Want to at least try it. Of course, nothing is as tender as a Bill Brown Cow from off the range in Megargal. Danged good meat!

 

Found a silly game on FB and played that for a bit today. Been a while since playing any kind of games. Usually just read, but the “news” is so depressing that it simply makes more sense to stay offline and out of sight of the strain our world is enduring. Even the happy sources of how folks are raising money to help seem a bit sad to me. So much kindness exists in our world right alongside of the stupidity.

 

Whoooo hoooo! Great tacos! And Lance had them ready in nothing flat! Then he had to try to convince the dogs that they needed treats instead of good stuff that goes inside the taco shells. Yeah, right. If the pieces of tomato had cheese on them, the dogs would have lapped that right up. Bet Jenn will share taco salad with me with the leftovers this week.

 

Got cool all of a sudden and had to turn on the heater. Came back in here, and it was off again. Obviously, the younger bones do not chill as easily as the old bones—even when the old bones have a thick layer of fat on them. Such is life.

 

Really have nothing to talk about this evening. Not quite as tired as yesterday, but took a nap this afternoon to the accompaniment of weird dreams about Lewis and Mother. So strange how dreams come to a person who is a bit under the weather. Now if sleep will come tonight, simply won’t gripe even if the dreams are as weird as they were this afternoon.

 

May you all have a peaceful evening and rest well. Let us be grateful for all the many blessings we have been given. You are loved.