Living Well.

 Living Well.

 

Received a couple of pictures this morning from Sharon Dickerson who is now down in Shreveport, LA. The little cover of woods could hide a deer or two easily, and she said she was sitting in her glider out on the front porch just enjoying the morning. Music and her breakfast cooked and brought to her by her son did not hurt at all! Just a big difference in atmosphere can make one’s heart swell with joy. So glad she is going to be happier now.

 

The surveyors were here this morning to be sure that the land lines were right on Jerry’s land since the man who is buying the place is doing it with a VA loan. Remembered that my parents had a VA loan to build our house back when the old woman was about three years old. My dad and granddad did the actual building of the first part of the house which was just a one-bedroom place to start. Eventually, when we two kids were a little older, Granddad Pollard and our dad built on the rest of the house. We had our own rooms by then. Our parents were so proud of themselves when they were finally able to pay off the entire loan. Think our first house cost $3000. Can’t imagine even building a chicken coop for that now!!

 

Dr. Blackwell came to pick up eggs today. Really enjoy visiting with her even if it is just for a little time. She said that her husband Justin made the dressing for Thanksgiving using his great-grandmother’s recipe. Keeping traditions like that going means a lot to families eventually.

 

Just read an article about how things were unavailable during WWI and WWII. Grandmother Pollard gave me her “jam cake” recipe that used whatever they had in preserves down in the cellar to sweeten cakes that were made when sugar was rationed. It always reminded me of applesauce cakes because that seemed to be the most prevalent item in the cellar—that or plum butter. Can’t imagine how difficult it must have been in Europe when those folks had absolutely nothing to eat except what they could dredge up out of the forests or out of the streams. Kinda wonder if Texas will ever run out of wild hogs!

 

Sometimes it is difficult to imagine what it was like when my parents and their parents lived back during the world wars. The great-grandparents and great-greats left a certain amount of history, but back then our society was much more consistently agrarian. Just about everyone knew what it was like to have hens in the back yard or at least out in the barnyard. Today’s children think that milk comes from cartons and eggs in plastic containers. What would it be like if we suddenly had no power—no electricity? Some folks have already considered this as a likelihood. And then there are those who have already prepared for what they consider the inevitability. Even during the world wars, most of Europe had little to any of what we consider the necessities. We never really think about just how blessed our nation has been. One of the largest places on earth (next to Australia) has been the garden and storeroom of nature’s bounty. God has SO blessed us. We should remember to be grateful.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.