'Possums and Church Bells.

 ‘Possums and Church Bells.

 

Standing out at the side fence and heard a church bell chiming. Then a voice said, “It’s 12 p.m.” Years ago the State Hospital had a six o’clock whistle that sounded every evening, but this chiming and noon time voice is much calmer and nicer. Not sure if it will happen every day or if it will only be at noon, but it pleases me. The other “disturbance” to our normal routine was the barking that Thompson started and Sylvia’s hesitancy to enter the long side of the coop. Went in there and shifted a couple of pieces of roofing that were propped up in there to find a young possum. Thompson grabbed the head and Sylvia the tail. No more possum. It now resides temporarily in the trash bin. Glad the trash man comes tomorrow.

 

Have wet down the ground around the crepe myrtle tree in an effort to save it. The hens and pullets have taken that area over for cuddling down in the soft, moist earth. Can’t blame them. Anything is cooler than out in the sunshine. Have already had to give them clean water. Wish the hens could scare off the wild birds to keep them out of the bowls. Oh well. Thompson would not eat this morning, so the chickens got his bowl of food. Sylvia ate hers and did not want more. These dogs!

 

Filled the water tub to the top for the dogs, and they have been getting in and sitting in it. Cooling their bodies looks like fun! Glad the old horse trough is gone, but it was a lot of fun years ago. The grands thought it was just for them! Lewis really enjoyed watching them play in it and the dump truck full of dirt he had piled out in the side lot. They dug caves in that mess! And, believe it or not, they did not really track that much of it into the house back then. The dogs are not quite as nice about tracking stuff inside. Sigh.

 

Just finished ordering a bunch of stuff from United Supermarkets. Had to think about my parents and grandparents. They had no such conveniences during their lifetimes. If Grandmother Pollard wanted to cook fried chicken, she had to go out and catch a bird, clean it, fry it, and serve the entire bird at one time. No frozen pieces or special ways to make things easier. Now Mom could go buy a fryer and prepare it by the next day, but unless she froze it, she had no more than two days before she had to cook it. And going for groceries for my parents was an entire production: make a list, decide if any of the stores were cheaper and if it was worth making a side trip to purchase whatever they had on sale, get up early and take frozen water in Old Hope So (the name for their car), and then drive 22 miles in to go to the stores on Mom’s list. She tried very hard not to have to buy things from the little local store in Petrolia because of the prices. Those folks had to make a profit, too. This evening at six, this old woman will drive a mile up the road and let the store know to come load my truck. Then all the effort will be to unload and put things away. Definitely a much easier task for me than for those even ten years ago. We are so blessed.

 

Patty decided after we talked this morning that she was going to ask the same lady who came to clean my house after my back surgery if she would clean her house for her. It is just too much sometimes to do the entire house. Even one room at a time can get to be a bit much. She has two dogs, too. Her dogs may not go outside for a dip in the water trough, but they shed mightily. She says the dust bunnies are rampant! Personally, they don’t scare me as long as they are not rabid!!

 

It is almost 120 degrees out on the deck right now. Sitting here wishing my trip to United had been planned for later. Oh well. It will just be important to get the frozen things in the freezer quickly. The fresh veggies will not hurt to sit on the table until everything else is put away.

 

Just went out to check on the critters. The water was nasty again. Yes, the wild birds need water, too, but dang! At least the chicks did not take off when water was sprayed under the deck. They are getting smarter and staying in the shade.

 

Please pray for rain. We don’t need a shower. We don’t even need just rain clouds. Dear Hearts, we need a good soaking for two or three days. The ground is splitting open for lack of moisture. While we pray for the people who are being burned off the face of the earth in different countries and those who are being washed away in floods, this part of the world—Texas and Oklahoma—needs God’s blessings of a good soaking. Thank you all meanwhile, for the prayers for Diann Dennis’ granddaughter, Tami Yonts, and those like Karen S. whose son has so many disabilities. God knows our needs, but we must ask.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.