Word Choices.

 Word Choices.

 

Ok, there is “tired,” and there is “pooped.” Exhausted comes from an entire day of something without stopping—definitely not the case in my situation. And there is “no energy” tired, or lack of desire to even lift one’s fingers in a wave. That fits. Who knows when tired becomes lack of energy? Just have to decide how we want to approach each desire for getting things done—or not. The laundry is done; the fresh bedding is back there waiting to be applied to the bed in the back bedroom; the chickens have feed and fresh water; the dogs have been petted and then petted some more. They seem to think that all the petting they got from Jennifer, Lance, and Sterling means that they can hop up on the bed, get in my lap, or otherwise get just as close to me as possible. It is not all about treats, at least. They just want to be petted and scratched some. These critters make me feel loved.

 

Poor Michelle Malay lost a dog the other night to time. They only live so long before they lie down and just go to sleep. That was the case for her oldest dog. And then on top of that, it was the anniversary of Joe’s death. Mourning is difficult. Grief has its own tiresome dragging of our spirits through memories and lack of light. Knowing that this world has plenty of reasons to mourn currently from the Ukraine to the little homestead south of Henrietta. May we remember to pray for those who mourn that they can have peace.

 

Have felt SO much better that it is terribly tempting to do stuff that the old woman needs to put off a bit longer until the muscles all get back in a shape that does not resemble a tow sack out in the cotton fields. Yes, the hen house needs to be cleaned out again. And no, Jennifer, it will wait until Lance comes or until my back is better able to deal with stretches. Tried doing the moves the physical therapist and Sterling suggested. It took two days to recover from marching to the rock and roll of the 70s! Will do it slowly next time instead of trying to look like a cheerleader! Not that anyone saw those maneuvers. But it did make an impression on me. Who knew that the muscles in the back of your neck are connected to the same muscles you have in your lower back!!

 

Have thoroughly enjoyed watching and listening to the birds singing and scraping little pieces of bark from these cedar posts out front. Someone is making a nest somewhere. The purple finches (whose little heads—on the males at least—are actually red) have been almost as active and vocal as the wrens. Of course, the stupid black birds, cow birds, and assorted grackles take over the “singing” duty every day sometime during the day. They have no song as pretty as the red-winged blackbirds’, but they certainly make up in volume what they lack in melodious sounds.

 

The few apricot blooms out back make me hopeful, but walking out front feels like a blooming snow storm with the white petals coming out of that silly Bradford pear. It is only good for a shade tree or a place for birds, but yours truly did not realize it was not a productive tree when it was purchased. Such is life. And one of the trees that Jenn helped me plant is deader than a doornail. Sigh It takes water to help trees live in Texas.

 

The U.S. and Texas flags waving atop the campus over at the State Hospital have a strange glint to the area right along the sides of the flags near the flagpole. It makes me wonder if they hung them with a new chain or what. Maybe the glint is lights or something of that nature. That would be neat. Will try to remember to look again tonight after dark.

 

Last fall Lance pulled the stalks up from the sunflowers that grew out in the corner of the closest side lot. They are collected in a pile that gets moved around—either by me or by the gale-force winds that we have been having. Eventually they may get chopped up and burned or thrown in the trash bin. Not sure exactly how that will go. They need to be chopped up in smaller pieces so that either will work, but the old woman is not going to sit down and try to chop them up. But will tell you that my hens have joined the Marines! They are constantly digging foxholes! Jennifer thinks it is the grub worms that attract them. Whatever it is, one area near the road is completely “tilled up” from these girls’ efforts! Walking across that patch makes me think of how Lewis used to till up the grass when he wanted it smoother. NOT that this will end up being smooth! Oh well. Moved the pile of sunflower stalks today to uncover a nice growth of green grass. That made the girls happy! Nice tall, fresh, green grass!

 

Jennifer said that she wanted a house plant that she saw at the grocery store. She did not look it up before her purchase, so, of course, it turned out to be quite poisonous to critters. She put it in an area the cats and dogs don’t attempt to search hoping they would leave it alone. Thinking that a good hanging basket might have been a decent answer to keeping the cats out of it. Or not. Atlas (Reece’s cat) is thirteen pounds of search and destroy!

 

Honestly do not have anything insightful to share with anyone today. My sister-in-law removed herself from Facebook and then tried to come back on a different account. So, she sent me a friend request. Had to call her to be sure it was not a spam thing. She said that FB had gotten so tacky with her that if she reposted anything, she was threatened with jail or some such. Have been accosted by FB a few times in the several years on this service, and sometimes it did not feel warranted at all. But it is “free” in a manner of speaking—if you don’t mind all the bra, dog allergy meds, shoes, lights, and assorted crud that they want you to buy. Yep, it is hard to navigate between flowers, pretty horses, hens, and the things we really want to see. But it is also a way to keep up with the grands, the friends, the family. Guess we can make up our minds about what we click on. Will probably stay with it until it is not useful.

 

Will ask you to remember those who are dealing with pain in its various forms. Only God can give us relief, but we can ask His help for others. And our prayers DO make a difference.

 

Rest and enjoy each day, my friends. You are loved.