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.