Random Thoughts.

 Random Thoughts.

 

Went to the eye doctor with my sister-in-law today so that she could have someone to drive her home after her cataract surgery. Everything went very well. By tomorrow she will be seeing much more clearly and actually feel better after the numbing agent wears off. It truly is a blessing to be able to see after gradually losing one’s vision in either or both eyes. Now she has had both of them worked on. This ol’ gal still has one to go, but won’t see Dr. White until November. Who knows what will happen between then and now.

 

My friend Connie drove over to Henrietta to pick me up. Yours truly does not drive at night, so Anne drove to my house and picked me up at ten minutes to six this morning. It seems a little complicated, but it gets the job done even if we have to rustle things around a bit.

 

On the way back to Wichita Falls, Connie was saying how much she enjoyed the series “Foyle’s War.” It is one that is currently entertaining me. She was so surprised by the fact that the people in Britain did not have any food. It did not take long to remind her that France, Germany, and most of Europe was in the same boat—the reason for part of the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan furnished money, food, fuel, and machinery at a time when the Western European economies were all in disarray. It was years before Europe did not have to import most of their food stuffs from other countries—mostly America. Rationing was not just seen in America. In Britain people learned how to ration and cook and grow their own food. That is something that we may eventually need to do in this country again. Grandmother Pollard taught me years ago how to make “Jam Cake” from preserves that she had put up when she still was able to get sugar—before the war. Anyway, the idea that people could be so devastated by the lack of food reminded me of what happened in the South during the Civil War. No crop was spared, no animal left alive, and nothing left unscorched by the Northern armies. The only fields the Union soldiers did not burn were those filled with “cow peas.” They thought the peas were only fit for cattle fodder. Guess what kept the South alive after Sherman burned a path through the states? Cow peas. They are not quite as good as black-eyed peas and are much harder to shell, but they will fill a person up when cooked properly. My guess is that the folks in Britain would have been happy to have had some of our cow peas. According to some articles on the internet, in Britain, healthy eating habits came out of WWII, and the only truly amusing result of their restricted diets was the increase in flatulence. People had to walk or ride bicycles wherever they intended to go, so they grew healthier because of that kind of exercise! Fewer heart attacks, no gout, no diabetes, and healthier babies!

 

Thinking about what makes people leave their homes and go to another country gave me a reason to research the migration of the Haitian people from their country to the South American nations that have allowed them to come in for a short season or two. It seems that some of the countries needed cheap labor for a period of time, but then jerked any type of visas or other permissions for the Haitians to be in Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, or even in Mexico. Right now, we have thousands of these people trying to get into the U.S. at Del Rio on the border of Mexico. Usually they would come here through Florida. However, the fact that they have been in Central America or further south for at least one year means that they have already left behind any ties to their native country. One man being interviewed by a reporter looked too clean to have walked all that way across Mexico, but his complaints were about food and the necessities for their children. So many people are filled with compassion for those who have no homes who are coming into the country. My thoughts are that these other countries are sending them straight back to Haiti, and that might be the best idea for us as well. It seems reasonable not to send Afghans back to their country under the current circumstances, but Haiti does not have terrorists to the same extent as those in the Middle East. Anyway, sooner or later we must make a decision to protect our own citizens or to allow our country to be overrun by those who do not believe in the same laws that the rest of us must respect.

 

My own problems with invaders include a few more dead rats and mice. One rat was in a snap trap hanging from the fence, and a large mouse or small rat was drowned in the water trap devised by Lance. Spooning an ample amount of peanut butter on the lid obviously made the difference. The only problem was getting the lid to stay up and trying to avoid being stung by the stupid ants. Such fun!

 

The cool front in this part of Texas has been totally wonderful! Noticed that Carla Beard who lives in Indiana had turned on her furnace. My AC has been on today despite the cooler temps. Not quite likely to turn on any heaters until the frost is down on the pumpkin! And it will be a day to celebrate the death of the doggone chiggers when we get our first frost! The dogs will feel much better, you can bet!

 

Plan on being lazy for the rest of the day—not much more day left since it is already five in the afternoon. But getting up so early makes the day end a little earlier anyway. May read some of the Clay County Leaders that Anne sent home from Henrietta with me. They had the rodeo last weekend, so that is great news. Last year, because of this stupid virus, folks had to stay at home and away from each other. We are not in great shape here lately with our covid deaths going up somewhat drastically, but sometimes folks need to get together anyway. Will just pray that no one dies from this particular event. Just having the kids and teachers back in school has been scary enough. Thinking it would be a good time for all of us to pray for protection for everyone who has to be out and about.

 

Rest and be happy with the many blessings in our lives. You are loved.

 

 

Birds of A Feather!

 Birds of A Feather!

 

Lately the hens have been dropping feathers in the yard, but it does not necessarily mean that they are molting. Not really sure if the summer heat caused the extra feathers to drop or exactly what, but feathers are in the bottom of the coops, in the nests, and all around in the yard. The Black-laced Wyandottes have the prettiest feathers! Well, Athena has pretty feathers, too, but she has already molted once already this year and finally got all her feathers back in. She was pretty sad looking there for a bit. Have you ever seen a chicken with its neck almost naked? Pretty sad. And then there are the tail feathers that should be there and weren’t. Oh well. She is happy and healthy looking now. Still only lays an egg maybe every two weeks, so obviously we are on the downhill slide of her hen life. Some of them just don’t live very long. Grandmother Pollard had only one hen who lived to be at least eight years old. She would look out there every morning to see if the hen was still alive. She fed her and talked to her, but no amount of encouragement got any eggs out of the old girl. Not that Grandmother was counting on her for their breakfast or anything. Still, the reason Athena came to live here was the fact that only one hen was left of the Gold Sex Link hens. Chickens need a mate or at least another chicken to be happy. They are, after all, flock birds.

 

Don’t remember now who it was who noticed that my hens seem to stay together by color—the Marans and the Wyandottes separate themselves from the Rhode Island Red, Athena, and Isa. When they are all out there around the drain from the washing machine looking for bugs, it is a fairly mixed group. Not sure why they appeal to me so much, but they are just lovely in my estimation. But it does not take much to make me smile some days.

 

Took Patty’s trash bin back down to her place this morning; then went to Sutherland’s and got two house keys made for her to give to her friend and to her step-son. She told me how to easily get into the house without breaking a window then in case something happened and she needed to be rescued. Hope that never happens! Took her mail to her and loaded up some more pants of Donny’s and some new socks that he never even got to wear. Those will be sent to Ft. Worth with one of the kids for whichever boys need them. Really miss Donny, so know for sure that she does, too.

 

Our road is so quiet without many drivers going up and down it now. Patty has her lunch delivered sometimes, and the Fed-Ex or Fed-Up trucks or the mail truck sometimes make it up the road, but otherwise, the street is pretty quiet. My bark-alarms go off more often when the folks over on Church Street move around their trucks than for anything else. Patty says that her bark-alarms go off because of my dogs! Or rabbits. She calls them “bunny rabbits.” They set off her motion detector lights during the night.

 

Still have a passel of rats and mice. Need to go slather more peanut butter on Lance’s trap. The snap traps did not catch anything last night, but the critters may be getting wiser. Just wish the dogs could catch as many rats as Thompson catches doves!

 

Did not really need the AC units today. It has been pleasant all day, if somewhat windy this morning. If the cushions on the yard swing had not been fastened down with a bungee cord, they would probably be in the freaking lake! As it is, the rose bush had a yellow plastic bag attached to it by a handle, the hanging basket on the deck was blown off the deck and onto the ground, the OFF spray ended up against the post on the far side of the deck, and the rug under my chair was blown up over the bottom of the chair. Yeppers. We had wind last night. Patty said that one of the last times we had wind like this, it blew over her yard swing. But this time the swing was in a more protected place. Good thing! It is fairly light weight, but not sure that the two of us could have put it up right.

 

It won’t be long before we start getting our fall rains. The dressed stone path that Jerry laid out between the deck and the hen house will keep me from bogging down in the mud, but have begun to hope that we don’t have the kind of snow storm we had back in February of this year. Staying warm has never really been that big of an issue except for this year and one year back in the 80s. We had a freeze that year that froze WAY down into the ground and caused all kinds of problems for the city water pipes. Not sure if all those pipes have been replaced by now, but would not be surprised if they had not. Our city only does what it HAS to do at any given time. Sad, but probably about par for most cities. At least we have decent water that is not poisonous or full of lead. It may be recycled poo, but the drugs in it are not as dangerous as the lead in the water of Detroit.

 

When Jennifer was here over the weekend, she asked me not to plant anything else in the flower beds. She wants me to use containers that don’t have to be weeded. It makes sense because weeding is not easy to do unless one is sitting down on the ground—and then there is the situation of getting UP off the ground. My “go-to” position is the “rising cow.” That means my hands are down on the ground, while my back end comes up to get steady enough to let the other end get balanced. Just watch your favorite cow if you are wondering. A horse gets up totally opposite of a cow.

 

Guess it is about time to go put out some peanut butter and see if the hens are ready to go up for the night. The dogs have been a bit lazy today—our excuse is that it felt too good to work at anything. They got more exercise than yours truly, but they don’t drive, either. They would have been happy to go to Sutherland’s if a stop at McDs had meant a sausage biscuit for each of them. Nope, not today. Maybe the next trip. Lazy ol’ woman has to bring the truck up so they won’t get too far away from me. It’s funny, but Patty exercises her dogs by watching for me to come down and letting the dogs out to come greet me. They run like a house on fire! Good exercise! And now that Rudy no longer bites my ankles, he wants to be petted as much as Roxie does. Strange things to make friends with dogs!

 

Please remember those who mourn, those who have to suffer watching their loved ones hurting and dying, and those who have no where to go in this world. May God give us compassion and wisdom.

 

Rest well, and know that you are loved.

Confused--and STAYING That Way!

 Confused—and STAYING That Way!

 

So, this morning my sister-in-law told me that she put her appointment down on the calendar wrong. Some days knowing which day of the week it is just makes me look at my calendar and then my computer or phone. Now it occurs to me that yours truly is not the only one who is easily confused, but it still makes me wonder if anyone else stays that way a majority of the time. Oh well.

 

Both dogs have been talking to me this morning. Sylvia earned her treats this morning by distracting me during a bad panic attack, so now both dogs have one of those things from Chewy called “Dream Bones.” Crunch, crackle, slobber! They also have had part of my sausage sandwich—just the meat. The dressing was artichoke dip—ummm. Good stuff, Maynard! Now sitting here wondering if anyone gets that reference to the TV series that was around during my youth. The Dobie Gillis Show was not too silly and lots of fun for us. Maynard only ate hamburgers—nothing else. He reminds me of one of my grands—won’t eat beef and only chicken. But Chic-Fil-Et is only open six days a week.

 

Repackaged the box of sausage patties that came from Sam’s. It is easier to take out just what is needed when parchment paper is stuffed between the layers so that they don’t get freezer burn. This reminds me of some of Mom’s attempts to keep meat from having to be defrosted all at once. Then the story about why the roast was trimmed on one side before it was put in the pan to cook came to mind. She was asked why she always cut the roast into two pieces. She didn’t know. Called her mom to ask her why they did that. Granny Connie said that her pot was not big enough for the entire roast, so SHE cut it into two pieces. It just gets funnier to learn about family stuff that is handed down by the generations.

 

Another load of clothes is in the dryer—my favorite Duluth pants! They have lots of pockets! One load is ready to be hung up or folded, too. And this living room floor needs to be vacuumed desperately. After that, the kitchen floor is going to be mopped. Such fun! Jenn got a new mop thing for me over at Walmart so that my mopping would only be pushing forward and not side to side. Had no idea that sideways mopping could hurt one’s back. Learn something every day!

 

Jenn fell over their black dog in the dark and messed up her knee recently. Her chiropractor popped her knee, and now it is not hurting. Then he put three ribs back in place. Wish Dr. Jensen was closer to WF!

 

Sylvia’s little lamb toy has no squeaker any longer, but she can really nibble up a storm on it anyway. Dogs are funny. She has favorite toys just like a child. Thompson is not particular, but he got the basketball down and chewed it so that it will never be a circular shape any longer. If they made tennis balls that did not pop, would have to get them a couple. They love to play catch and then keep away!

 

One of the snap rat traps caught a rat last night, but not the water trap that Lance made. Think another application of peanut butter may be called for. Nothing like trying. But a big ol’ bucket of rat bait might also help if it were placed between the fences where the hens could not get into it. May look on Amazon today. These rats and mice are just totally horrible!

 

Tomorrow is trash day, so will have to see if Patty needs her trash bin brought up. She is not as messy as yours truly. But she is still trashing stuff that keeps coming up among Donny’s treasures. She said that one of the safes has coins, stones, and assorted “shtuff” just lying along the shelves. Guess that would be a bit of a problem to organize or otherwise do something with. Lewis only collected tools and CDs or DVDs of movies. Sent most of those home with Lance or left them on one shelf of the back bookcase. Then there are all those books that go with the air tools and other kinds of appliances. Think most of the appliances have been changed out since those were organized in one drawer. Will try to remember to give Michelle Malay the book on the lawn tractor that she took home this spring. Changed out several things on that sucker trying to get it to run right and start as needed. Never could get it to cooperate! So much for my mechanical inability!

 

Should have a dozen eggs to take home to Anne’s by Wednesday. Think the last ones went home with her when she had her first eye surgery. She should need some by now. So few eggs are eaten around here that it is easy to save some up for other folks.

 

Honestly don’t know doodlely. Watched a movie series recently that was a very interesting mystery. Never would have guessed the person who was the culprit! It is a wonder—even with DNA and all sorts of other scientific tests—that police detectives can figure out who did what to whom and when. Just amazing!

 

Let us pray for those who are afflicted with this stupid virus and ask God to give peace to those who have lost their loved ones. My nephew’s wife said that a stomach virus was rampant in Gentry, Arkansas, so we can also pray that it does not make it to Texas! It lasts three weeks or more! Sounds like food poisoning!

 

Rest and rejoice in life! You are loved.

Family Matters.

 Family Matters.

 

A message from my sister-in-law included a request to take her back to get her other eye worked on this Wednesday. My calendar said it was Monday of next week. Good thing she keeps up with thing better than yours truly! Guess we will figure something out about getting her here, there, and back again. Her friend who was going to help her has a daughter who has been in the hospital for about a month with covid. And she is not doing well at all. More prayers needed!

 

Another lazy day around here. Woke up at 4 and then went back to bed about an hour later. Got up in time to let the hens out, but otherwise just have not done squat today. Sore, grumpy, and otherwise out of sorts. Such fun to try to get along with an old sorehead—even if it is only one’s self!

 

Jennifer brought some Lume body wash and some deodorant when she came. Great stuff! Not to crazy about perfumes of any sort ON me, but like the smell from a distance. But this stuff smells good and does not grow rank the longer it is on my body. About time something came out that can be enjoyed by someone sensitive to perfumes!

 

Found seven eggs in the nests today. The hens are happy. The rats must not be bothering them inside the coops. Caught one rat last night. Had to reset the other trap. Probably a mouse set it off without getting caught. Now the rat trap in the five-gallon bucket has been placed where the rats can get in it. Had to sic Thompson on the entire flock of doves that attacked the grain and mini-pellet chicken feed. Danged wild birds! Oh well. Can’t keep them out of the water bowls or the feed buckets, so might as well teach the dogs to catch them!

 

Honestly am tired still tonight. Not sure exactly why the body feels ready for sleep, but not going to argue the point. Will just turn off the AC and go to bed. Maybe tomorrow will be a more productive day.

 

Let us remember those who are suffering from the effects of this stupid virus. May God bless those who are trying to recover and those who have lost loved ones as a result of the virus.

 

Rest and be happy. You are loved.

Still Learning.

 Still Learning.

 

Some of the old f__ts in this world have a bit more difficulty learning about tech stuff than the younger generation. My granddaughter tried to teach me how to use her modeling program when she had not even started school! Ahh. Little buttons and dials and assorted ideas of clicking on things! So much to ignore or learn. Often it is just easier to ignore the lessons, but eventually they are always needed. So, my children are still working with their mom in order to keep her using her telephone. Installing apps is one job that always seems to go sideways! Installed the Sam’s site on my computer, and Jenn put it on my phone. It is not quite as bad as accidentally buying two of everything, but that is what happened to Connie. She got home with $200 worth of double everything! Humongous bottles of detergent for her machine! At least she gets her kitty litter from Chewy!

 

It was so nice to have Jennifer here today. She helped me pick stuff up at Sam’s; she made a quick trip to Walmart; and she turned around after heading home and brought me credit card back to me! She had stopped to get gas and noticed my card in her purse. Anyway, loved having her here.

 

Caught a big ol’ rat in one of the traps last night. It is now in a feed sack in the trash bin. Maybe another one will be that dumb tonight. And then there is a new “water” trap in the middle coop. Lance made that one. Will check it before going to bed to be sure no hens have taken a dunking!

 

Will let you know what JoAnn’s husband told me this morning: Jerry is now on Hospice Care. They took out the feeding tube and assorted stuff, and now he is on morphine for pain. The doctor said the blot clots on his brain will cause a lot of pain. They plan to keep him comfortable. JoAnn got to go see him. She had to suit up like an astronaut, but she held his hand and talked to him. He held her hand and would not let go. He knew her. Now it is just a matter of time, so it is up to God. Let us pray for whatever is best for everyone concerned.

 

For some foul reason, the old woman who lives here is tired again. This waking up at all hours really is not conducive to a better mood. Maybe tonight the eyelids will stay shut for a change. Sigh

 

Should have vacuumed today after the dogs had some dog cookies. But it is just as well that it did not happen since popcorn got scattered in the living room as well. At least the dogs don’t have feathers! Never would get the stuff swept up!

 

Really don’t know much. Other than a few jokes and a post by Tara Ross the historian, this old girl has not even read much on FB. Deleted most of the political things just to keep from getting disgusted. Ah, the times have changed and never for the better.

 

Rest well and pray for our world. You are loved.

When Prayers Are Best.

 When Prayers Are Best.

 

This morning my old neighbor JoAnn came over to Jerry’s house and was walking around while talking on her phone. She seemed somewhat upset, so it didn’t take long to ask her what was wrong. Over a week ago Jerry came down with Covid. The other inmates of the jail let the guards know that he was unable to breathe. He may or may not have been taken to the hospital, but whatever was done was apparently ineffective. He developed blood clots in his legs and lungs and had a stroke. The inmates told the guards that he could neither talk or walk, but apparently that was not considered a problem. An inmate hauled Jerry to the phone so that he could talk to his mom. All he could say, “Mom, help.” She called everyone she could think of to get help. The nurse on duty at the jail hung up on her. Then Jerry had another stroke. If the doctor had not taken pity on JoAnn, she would not have known much of this, but now she knows that they won’t even let her see him because 1) he has covid, and 2) he is a prisoner handcuffed to his bed with tubes going everywhere. Mind you, he could not possibly be an escape risk. Anyway, our prayers are needed for JoAnn and Jerry’s family. No matter which jail—in Wichita or Archer County—he was in, it seems to me that they are responsible for not getting proper care for an inmate who desperately needed help. May God protect the other inmates and bless them in whatever way is best for them. And may Jerry pass quickly and no longer suffer.

 

This has been a hard day. Some things bother me more as memories come up. Jerry and Hanan were friends and helped each other. Jerry was good to help me, too. When he was not partaking of meth, he was a good person to be around. But drugs are often the cause of so many problems, just as alcohol is disastrous for those who try to use it to assuage their problems and demons. PTSD comes in all forms. Jerry spent two and a half years in solitary confinement. Not exactly conducive to good mental health. Hanan saw too many deaths and had too many concussions to be able to live life without the terrors of nightmares. All we can do is pray for those who have this kind of problems. May God grant all those who suffer from such problems with peace.

All of the stuff accomplished today included shopping for feed and diatomaceous earth, unloading same, and filling the bins with the feed. The two sacks of powder just were flipped into the two front coops and sliced open—left the stuff in the sacks. The hens will spread it to suit themselves. Also, got online and ordered stuff from Sam’s that Jenn will pick up tomorrow afternoon. She could not come this evening because they are attending a memorial service for the mother of one of their friends. Covid! Horrible stuff.

 

Got the chicken wire out of the truck bed and stuffed into the trash bin, so that went with the trash truck this morning. Then got out the OdorBan and cleaned out the trash bin. Not sure where the liquid came from that was in the bin, but it stunk! Now it is clean and smells decent. Yes, some of us are a little OCD about such things. Such is life.

 

Got seven eggs today, so with the one already in the carton, by tomorrow eight dozen eggs will be ready to go to Ft. Worth. It amazes me that it does not take very long to get that many eggs saved up. And if the weather becomes cooler, it may provide incentive for the girls to lay more eggs. All things considered, seven eggs a day is about right since only fourteen of the hens lay on a regular basis. Athena’s little white egg only shows up occasionally. And every other day the hens will not lay an egg since it takes 26 hours for them to produce an egg.

 

Bought two great big rat traps at the feed store. Sutherland’s was out of anything except mouse traps and glue traps. Took bacon, as Jack Culpepper suggested, and wrapped thread around it on the bait end of the trap. Then wood screws fastened the things to two different spots—one on the fence between my place and the messy neighbors behind me, and one on the edge of the coop roof. In the morning we will see if either was effective. Here’s hoping.

 

Patty has suggested that she will talk—or try to talk—to the post office about reinstalling our post box on our street. She cannot go get her mail and pretty well has to depend on me. And driving down to Texas Street has various problems involved—the backing up portion being the least of those. The Acunas have a German Shepherd that bites and can clear their fence given the opportunity. It bit Jerry one day when he was down there to get his mail. But they did not do anything about it. Anyway, driving down there is really inconvenient, to say the least. Now that only two of us are going to be getting our mail down there, the post office might say that we don’t warrant the box being on our street. Here’s hoping that Patty’s disability will make them change their minds.

 

Really looking forward to seeing Jennifer tomorrow. It makes me feel a bit guilty for the kids to worry about coming to see me once a month. We talk fairly often, but yours truly is feeling so much better now that it seems unnecessary for them to come to take care of things that need to be done. Jennifer reminded me again that the Cymbalta helps with the neuropathy, the pain, and depression. Whatever it is doing, something is helping because my balance is better now. Walking still wears me out, but at least it is not as difficult. Won’t be working in the flower beds anytime soon, but at least reaching over to pull one or two pieces of grass doesn’t leave me unable to untrack!

 

Not going to mention anything political, but our nation needs help. Honesty and integrity seem to be a thing of the past. May God bless those who know what the truth means when they hear it or speak it.

 

Rest well, my friends, and look for joy in your lives. You are loved.

Just Listening.

 Just Listening.

 

Sometimes other folks just need to have someone listen. Actually, think that happens to ALL of us at some time or other, but more often to some folks. Patty needs to have someone to listen right now. So today was my turn to listen. She called again this evening because she knew she would be heard. Not too many comments from me gave her the opportunity to forcefully state her feelings on the particular situation. Understood how she felt without feeling it was necessary to explain my own experiences. But doctors, tests, procedures, and all that garbage can seem so totally unnecessary at some point in our lives. In her case, she knows that she would not likely live through being put under deep anesthetic, so she sees no reason to even submit to any more tests to find more cancer in her lungs or anywhere else. Yeppers, treatments of the type used today are pretty sure to kill anyone who already has a weakened immune system.

 

Then family situations invariably show up whenever families have to deal with far-flung cousins, nieces, nephews, and assorted offshoots of the tree. Whether it is our own tree or the tree of the spouse, the nuts come out in full force after a death. And some of us just don’t need to be around all that drama. Especially right now with covid running rampant, being around others does not really make sense. So, ordering groceries online, staying away from gatherings, and limiting one’s contact with anyone else without a good reason just makes one feel safer. Jennifer told me tonight about a semi-friend that did not get the covid vaccine who took the virus home to his parents. His mom is in ICU now. No excuses.

 

Cleaned out the bed of my truck this afternoon and threw the pieces of chicken wire in the trash bin. Now we can load diatomaceous earth, chicken feed, and whatever in the truck on Saturday. Still need to make out my grocery list because it depends on what is needed before Jenn decides where to go for the best prices and availability. Looking forward to filling up the fridge with cheeses, fresh veggies, and maybe some fruit. The grapes bought at Market Street recently were so tough that it made me disgusted. That stuff is not cheap, but the hens could eat them easier than yours truly. Oh well.

 

Sat here listening to Jennifer trying to talk on the phone and being harassed by her dogs. She has three very active dogs, one ancient Chihuahua, two cats, her husband, and one son still at home. Talking on the phone is an iffy proposition. It reminds me of trying to talk on the phone when the children were little. Never a dull moment! But back then, Lewis swore that the PTA should have helped pay our phone bill since so many calls were about PTA business. Oh well.

 

The lack of rain means that the grass does not need to be cut, so no one around here has a really good reason to gripe, but the hens appreciate anything green right now. Lance suggested planting rye grass so that it would be green this winter and into spring. He is probably right that we should plant the seed pretty soon, but then, the hens will probably be out there picking up the seeds!

 

Patty showed me her latest visitor on her “ring camera.” A nice sized bobcat got a little spooked when the light came on with the motion detector, but it made her a little nervous about letting her little dogs out. That bobcat could easily go over her fence—or sit in the big cedar tree next to her porch! Praying that it will go away and leave her and her dogs alone. Maybe it will catch a few of these danged rats or even some of the rabbits! Sigh

 

Put another dozen eggs in the fridge today, so by Saturday evening we should have at least eight dozen to send home to Ft. Worth for the kids. Lance said that currently they were eating eggs big time. We all just seem to go at it by spells and spurts. Sometimes it will be a couple of weeks before any are cooked around here!

 

Looks as if the State Hospital may be making a new route into the grounds—or something. They have a lot of ground graded up all the way out to the highway, so it would make sense that they were putting in a new roadway. It certainly would prevent some of the accidents that have already happened. At certain times of the day—and while it is dark, around 5:30 to 6:30 in the morning—it is nearly impossible to get on that highway from any of the side roads on the south side of Kemp. And they are often going MUCH faster than 50 mph approaching the turn. Remembering that Donny used to say that the only difference between a state hospital patient and an employee was that the patients sometimes got better!

 

Have tried not to read anything on the news lately. Have even taken to deleting posts on AOL from political or religious sources. Everyone and his kid sister are outraged by something. Well, duh. Things are not going to get any better. Right now, all we can do is try to make the ones we have contact with to feel that we care about them. Kindnesses are never wasted efforts.

 

As we head into winter, it is frightening to think that flu and covid look so much alike. Guess yours truly will go get a flu shot pretty soon. Those shots sometimes make folks almost as sick as the flu, but even so, it is better to feel a little punk for a few days than to be totally wiped out for weeks. Thinking about how we survived the smallpox vaccine—a live vaccine! It made some of us pretty sick, but now we no longer have to deal with smallpox in this country—at least we have not since back in the 50s. Pray that the aliens coming into the country will not bring any horrible diseases with them. We would be like the American natives—unable to resist diseases for which we have no immunity!

 

May God bless you and yours with patience and faith in His love. Rest well, my friends, and know that you are loved.