Another Windy One!

 Another Windy One!

 

With gusts up to 50 mph today, it should not be surprising to see the horizon closing in on dirty, yucky looking air. We are in another fire alert, but at least the rain has brought the grass to a lovely shade of green. Green does not mean that it is fireproof, by any means, but it beats brown and dry waving stuff that would ignite with just a few sparks off an electric high line. Even the tightest lines at the top of the poles are moving in this wind. Sigh

 

Even though Lance is planning on being here early Saturday, if it is blowing like this that morning, will have to tell him to stay at home and off the highway. Even if we did not have to consider the cost of fuel and driving into the wind, the number of huge trucks on the road with their top-heavy burdens catching the wind would be dangerous. Texas winds remind me just a bit of the sea—ever changing! Our old lake swishes around in its basin and looks nasty when the wind turns its bottom to the top. It may not be deep, but it could dump the bravest—or most foolish—of boaters or sailors.

 

Have some kids in the family who are supposed to graduate this year—one in May and another one or two in December. For some reason it is difficult for me to keep up with which one is doing what. One of them wants a job that reminds me of what Julia Davis does—seeing what the rivers and streams are doing and how they are flowing. Ecological work would have to be interesting, but it might also be pretty disturbing when we think about how our populations are encroaching on nature and all the places where animals depend on for their lives. Sooner or later, those encroachments are going to affect humans as well—not that they have not already done so. Walking in the woods or beside a lake or river has become increasingly problematic. The Wichita River that flows through our town and out to the Red River is red, yucky stuff that makes a person wonder how anything can live in it. Sigh

 

Have not had the computer on much today and certainly did not attempt to see what is going on in the U.S. or across the water. Cannot imagine things getting any better for the time being until some drastic changes are made both here and over there. All we can do as just people is pray for God’s mercy and protection. Seeing families torn apart here or there is heart breaking. And seeing the mess on our Texas border just makes me hurt for those land owners who are being trampled underneath the flood of immigrants and drug dealers. One news source yesterday said that enough fentanyl had been seized on our border to kill at least 21,000,000 people. That is simply ghastly! How do they get rid of that crud? Can’t wash it away or bury the mess. And if it were burned, wouldn’t it make a cloud of poisonous gas? Guess the folks who are tasked with disposal will have to figure out how to do it.

 

Maria helped me move the couch the other day so that neither dog could jump up on the windows. So now Sylvia props herself up on the back of the couch and just looks out the window from a few feet away. The distance does not keep them from barking at anything that moves. Don’t you know that if we could translate dog to people language, we would hear some interesting comments: “There is another one of those risky people out there!” “Don’t you want to get your BB gun out and chase that freaking squirrel?”

 

Jennifer was working in her flower bed and kept digging up grubs. She said she definitely needed one of my hens to eat those things. Of course, with my little Marines taken to her house, she would soon have foxholes all over that hill! If the dogs did not chase the hens, it would be hilarious to see all of them out there covering up the area with feathers and fur! Nary a tick or flea or grasshopper would stand a chance!

 

As usual, don’t know diddly squat. Sent a message to Nikki to ask about Stephen, but she may be on the road home for the night. She will have to go back early in the morning to pick him up. Let’s pray that everything goes well and that he heals completely and quickly. This is not going to be easy on their family. Also hoping that Cindy’s hand is healing from the cancer that was removed. Seems like when it rains, it pours.

 

Remember to express your gratitude for life itself as well as the many blessings God has given us. We know that joy itself is a gift of life. You are loved.

 

 

A Clean House!

 A Clean House!

 

Maria came today and made my house smell and look so very clean! Something there is that makes my soul smile both inside and out when the floors sparkle and the furniture has the gleam of polish on it. Even the trestle table in the kitchen has been polished and reveals no telltale streaks of dust. Imagine having a house that stays this way. Sigh.

 

Talked to Stephen this afternoon and was told that he and his wife are going up to OKC this evening to spend the night. He has surgery bright and early in the morning at the VA Hospital there. He will spend the night, and then Nikki will go get him the next morning and bring him home in the van so he does not have to try to fold up his long legs to put them in their Jeep. Thank goodness the boys can handle just about anything else that comes along while Stephen is down for the count with his new knee replacement. It is amazing what the surgeons can do, but it is still more amazing how God has given us the ability to heal! Let us pray for their safety up there and back and for the successful healing of that knee on Stephen.

 

Sylvia just made a mess on the couch, so now two cushions are covered with a flannel sheet instead of the coordinating cushion covers. Argh! Guess they will wash just as easily as not. No sense griping.

 

Have been reading about this detective who lives on Jersey in the English Channel. Had to sit down and look up both the location and the type of government, industry (none—just financial), crops, and that sort of thing. The English Channel has been over fished, so each government has allocations—how much can be taken from any one area. It has to be difficult to live there, but the median income is something like $60,000 a year!! Unless one is a citizen, the services provided would be pretty costly. And the funny thing is, this island nation does not want any more immigrants. Imagine that!! Sounds a bit like Texas and our immigration problems. But they don’t have to build a wall—just watch the coast lines!

 

Made a cheese cake earlier—the “no bake” kind from a box. Using apricot pie filling on top makes it even more interesting. May have to get another one of those packaged mixes!

 

Lance let me know he plans to be here early Saturday morning. Looking forward to seeing him again. Think we may have to have some barbecue ribs or something along those lines. When Tracy and the kids come, we have fried okra and stuff from Chicken Express. Love their okra! Guess we could have okra with the ribs!

 

May not have done that much today—mostly just throwing stuff in the washer, dryer, folding stuff, and changing the sheets on my bed—but Dear Hearts, this old woman is a bit fatigued. It may take a few more months before my up-and-coming attitude and my physical strength match. Patience.

 

Think the phone call from my friend Barbara and a recent call from another friend who has to have some vascular stints removed makes me well aware of just how physically blessed the old woman has been and is. Let us remember those who are preparing for surgeries and ask our Father in heaven to bless them. It is a bit scary to put one’s self in the hands of the medical profession. God, however, knows what and when we need His help. Our prayers DO make a difference.

 

Let’s appreciate the fact that the wind does not ALWAYS blow in Texas the way it did last night. The number of small branches makes me remember Calvin and Hobbs—picking up branches and stuff in the yard lacks any level of satisfaction, but it has to be done!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

A Drying Wind.

 A Drying Wind.

 

We had a very nice rain storm last night, and now have the wind to dry up the puddles. While each one has some pleasant results, the pollen count just continues to climb. While the wind dries up the moisture, it simply spreads the pollen more heavily. Such fun!

 

Walking back up to the front porch this morning, noticed some more little flowers trying to make it in the front flower bed. Maybe just sitting down on a cushioned pad on the side of the bed out there would give me enough reach to get a few pieces of taller grass out of there. It is difficult to pull JUST grass when everything is pretty well packed in that space. Guess it does not matter terrifically. Flowers usually grow taller than grass anyway.

 

Saw the PA at Dr. Kern’s office this morning. It was great to tell his  nurse that she did not have to include a pain level this time. Soreness is not quite the same as pain. We laughed about my attempt to exercise to the 70s rock and roll. Even the nurse said that rock and roll might be just a bit much yet. But the PA just said to take it easy for a bit longer and not overdo anything like vacuuming and such. Six weeks won’t seem too bad when things get back to semi-normal.

 

Tried to call one of the boys today to talk about mowing and one other little task that is going to need to be done toward the end of the month. Not sure if both of the younger boys are working right now or what. Their dad goes in for knee surgery this Thursday, so they may have nurse duty for several weeks. Simply hope that he can get both done at the same time so they won’t have to repeat the procedure and the down time again. That has to be hard on the entire family. My daughter was such a blessing when she came and spent three entire weeks with me. Lance and Sterling were also very helpful in the same situation, but Jenn was having to work on her stuff online while caring for me at the same time. Stephen’s boys CAN do whatever needs to be done, but they are young. Guys have a different notion about things than a daughter who has raised children. Just sayin’.

 

Have a series of detective books started. Currently reading book four all about how an island needed one policeman to head up an entire police department of three others. Can’t imagine a place so small that crime is measured by a missing bicycle. But somehow these books are both interesting and enlightening. Loved reading today about why good police work does not necessarily involve the ubiquitous cameras, wire or phone taps, and stealthy tails following suspicious folks, but how observational skills and good note taking can make the difference in keeping up with a situation. Anyway, some books are just better than other activities under the circumstances.

 

Have tried—again—not to read too much “news” about the countries involved in the latest round of terrorism and inhumane killing of civilians. It just is enough to make a person sick to think of troops going in and wiping out half or more of a town and just dumping the bodies. These things have probably happened forever over the ages, but it is still sickening.

 

Oh, have to tell you one of my pet peeves: Spelling of words that sound the same but mean totally different things. We know in Texas that RAIN is one very important element we always have to consider. Now, if a person is familiar with horses—thinking about someone like Judie Brunson or Nikki Smith—we know that the lines that lead from the bit of the bridle are called REINS. Some of us know that Queen Elizabeth has had a quite long REIGN on the throne of England. These three words sound the same, but have very different meanings. Would you expect headlines to use the correct word? If one were to be found incorrectly used in the Wichita Falls Times Record News---no shock there at all! But it amazes me to see these words misused all over the internet in articles. Surely editing is not a lost art?

 

Talked to my brother today. He is still bragging about the eggs sent home to his house from here. Asked if his daughter was able to get everything out of her storage place in Pea Ridge, and he said it was TWO storage units!! Simply can’t imagine. We both mentioned how our parents never collected that amount of anything over the years. It is just amazing to me that folks think they need all these “things” to make them happy and then end up having them given away, sold, or otherwise removed in order to clean up a house. NOT that my house is any great shakes for not having clutter! Have one piece of furniture in the living room that took two grown men to put in here! It may have to go with the house someday! Oh well.

 

Will encourage all of you to enjoy the bird song, the sunshine, and the critters we love so much. Enjoy your families and thank God for His care for us. We are so very blessed. And you know: you are loved.

April Showers!

 April Showers!

 

Guess what is coming down out there! Lovely rain drops accompanied by thunder and lightning. Both dogs have on their Thunder Shirts. Thompson is curled up at my feet under the desk, and Sylvia is cuddled down on the couch. Yours truly took a nap earlier and had a big black dog lying next to me. Woke up to hear strange sounds. Sylvia had crawled under the bed. Poor baby. Storms really freak her out.

 

The yard around the back and to the sides is pitted with fox holes dug out by the resident Marine brigade of feathered furies. Think this must be grub season out there. One entire area about ten feet across is totally mushy from being dug up and re-dug several times over. Guessing that the lawn mower is going to have a dickens of a time in those places where the hens have remolded the ground.

 

Unfortunately, two trees that Jenn helped me plant have died. One tree made it simply because it was at the end of the grey water wash line, but there was no way to haul water to the other two successfully. They were half price, but that does not negate the fact that it takes lots of water to establish good roots and keep them going. Oh, such is life and growing things.

 

Speaking of growing things: my nephew Danny Pollard says that about one more batch of chickens is all it is going to take to bankrupt him. He had to pay a $9K gas bill this winter for one batch, and now he does not have that little cushion of cash in case of another disaster. We may all have to start raising our own critters or go vegetarian. Have killed and dressed pullets—little roosters mostly—before, but would rather never do it again. Jenn feels like we all need to stock up on canned chicken and tuna at this rate. Not sure how long that would last, however. Have ground wheat and barley to make my own bread, but even that can be pretty expensive if the grains are not easily available. But Dave’s Killer Bread with all those seeds in it could break a person’s budget in a hurry. That white stuff that stores call bread is just so much goo with a tiny crust in my personal opinion.

 

Got the invitation to my cousin’s 90^th birthday in the mail the other day. Forgot to tell Jennifer, so sent her a message today. Will have to find a dog, hen, and house sitter for that weekend. Getting down there should be interesting, too. Sterling can just haul off and go to Alabama when he feels like it at nearly 77, but at not quite 74, this ol’ gal does not feel quite that adventurous. Something will work out.

 

Have just been sitting still and reading quite a bit. Other than making some food, my activities have not included much in the way of house-keeping. Maria is supposed to come Wednesday, so maybe the dogs and the old woman can stay out of her way long enough to let her get things organized again. Jennifer did some really good organizing while she was here, so now it is not quite as difficult to get things cleaned up. But still, putting clean sheets on the beds is one of those stretch and reach combinations that can be avoided for a little longer. Don’t really expect to have anyone staying the night for a while, but still want the back bedroom to be ready for a guest. My bed gets straightened every day, but it will need clean sheets by Wednesday. Oh well.

 

We have mentioned before that common sense does not really seem all that common. My friend Connie Cooke has asked me to pray for her sister and her situation. Without going into it, let us just ask that sensible solutions occur more readily than not. With all the crud that is going on across the seas in other countries—not that ours is not just as much of a mess—let us pray that the violence against just plain people be stopped. Shootings here in the U.S. are horrible, but at least we are not aware of any mass graves being created to cover up atrocities. May God give this world peace.

 

Rest well, my friends, and know that joy is available just as much as love itself. And yes, you are loved.

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.

 

Feeling GOOD!

 Feeling GOOD!

 

A person might not think that physical situations are all that important until being restricted by what one is able to do. And if pain is an element of that restriction, it can also take a person’s outlook and totally defeat attempts at positivity. Well, let me tell you, Dear Hearts; this ol’ gal is feeling good! Even walked down to Patty’s today and visited with her and the two dogs. Called my cousin in Charlotte, NC, and she even noticed that my voice was more cheerful than the last time we spoke. Yep, things definitely are looking up around here.

 

We got a good rain last night. Connie did not seem to think that they got that much over where she lives, but the ground here just sucked it up and has bright green grass smiling up at the blue skies above!

 

Sterling just called and said that Karen and her son George got in last night and plan to empty out a storage building that they have rented up in Pea Ridge. Sitting here wondering why the place is named Pea Ridge. Hmm. Blackeyed peas? English peas? Cow peas? Oh well.

 

We also got to talking about sunburns and hot work he did when he was fourteen. The men of the church were tearing down the old building of the Baptist Church. They used the flooring to make the decking for the new roof, so nothing was wasted. They hung the bell out in front of the church on a pedestal, too. That bell was rung, for some reason, on the day my parents got married—July 31, 1944. Then it was rung again when Sterling rang it before they took it down from the church building. Funny how life makes things like that stick in your memory.

 

It gets a bit sticky when we read about the “news” that causes us to wonder what is next. The longshoremen in LA and nearby ports are trying to get a contract to improve their work conditions and pay. It is understandable that their jobs are dangerous and that they have to know what they are doing to keep from dumping those containers in the ocean. But if they slow things down any worse than what they have already done, our economic problems are going to be multiplied several times over. HOW can companies stay in business if they can’t send things overseas or get the parts they need brought into the states? Noticed that there are recalls—already—on new trucks that are going to be impossible to repair unless the parts are brought in. Pretty useless if your brakes won’t work when pulling a trailer!

 

Guess any news is not going to make us sit up and clap for a while unless most Congress members were to suddenly resign. Don’t suppose that will happen. See the glint in my eye when thinking about who should resign immediately?

 

Let’s remember those who are suffering from terrorists in the Ukraine and other places. May our country be protected from invasions and other horrors. May our doctors and nurses be given the help they need to keep patients healthy. May our pharmaceutical companies be more concerned with healing than the almighty dollar!

Rest and find joy in each day, my friends. Pray for those who you can love and for those who need love even more. You are loved.

Choices.

 Choices.

 

For years our family eschewed any pork products. Meanwhile, my daddy told me that he and Mom had discovered that even their old false teeth could chew pork loin or whatever much easier than beef. And while he was here, Sterling said that he managed to swallow gobs of beef on his roast beef sandwiches simply because that is what his wife used to make his lunches. He could not really chew it, but he did not say anything since that is what he had eaten for so many years. Well, Dear Hearts, let me tell you that plastic teeth simply don’t do a very good job of cutting through slices of beef unless it is already falling apart. Therefore, the beef roast that was put on this morning is going to get to sit in the slow cooker all night tonight. The potatoes are already done, and some carrots might be added to the pot, but otherwise, this is a major trial by error of cooking a roast long enough to hope for some tenderness. Can hardly ask for better beef than Bill Brown Beef out of Megargal, TX. But it is still beef and more chew than some of us old folks can handle. Market Street will be delivering a pork loin this evening, so don’t feel too sad for me. Know how to cook it and KNOW it will be tender enough to chew!

 

Talked to Carol Thonton today. She has a friend who was wishing her back could be repaired like mine was. Carol said the doctor had already determined that her spine was not a candidate for surgery. Think that is the same thing they told my sister-in-law, BR White, and some others. The bones can’t be crumbly if they are supposed to hold something together. God just blessed me with strong bones and not too much damage from arthritis. Yes, there was some “residual” slippage or something, but such is how things go. My left side is going to tire before the right side at least for a while. But my guess is that by this time next year, yours truly will be outside in the flower bed! At least that is my hope. SO want to have a solid bed of flowers out front again! Right now, it is going to be a hit or miss situation with bachelor buttons, bluebonnets, poppies, and dandelions! Whatever it will be, plan on enjoying it!

 

Dr. Blackwell came at noon today. She dug up a mint plant that we are hoping is the right kind of mint. She also dug up some chives to plant to use in cooking. No, Jennifer, Mom did not even bend over to pick up the digger thing. At this point, some of us are still trying to behave, ya know. Did have a sudden flash of love when Kissi told me that the last thing Hanan asked of her was to take care of his mom. No crying, but dang that caught my breath! She and her husband both have good memories of that guy.

 

Eight eggs today make a pretty good haul. It is never certain there will be any, of course. But usually, the girls give me enough for a breakfast if that is what is on my mind. Sterling is still gloating over those little lovelies that went home with him to Arkansas. He was bragging about how they stand up and wave that yellow center! Yep, healthy hens lay good eggs.

 

This bluebird box that Sterling built and hung on the front porch may never attract a bird of that hue, but it makes me smile to see it swaying in the wind. Sparrows and wrens keep trying to take over the other box, but it is totally empty right now. Think the door is too low to keep baby birds inside, but it is just how it is made. Know that wrens will make a nest in a wreath if nothing else suits them. Can’t remember what kind of birds made a nest in the door wreath when Jenn and Gary lived on Smoking Wood Court, but they began to go in a different door just to keep from disturbing the birds. Some people!

 

Took a short nap and opened my eyes to find my legs weighed down by the head of one butterscotch colored dog. Sneaky Sylvia. She knew better, but she managed to get up there close enough to put her chin on me. Oh well. At least they are still staying on the floor and not jumping on me.

 

Feeling quite sorry that Cindy Jones has had a place on her left hand removed. She can’t get it wet or anything. That would be difficult. She is thinking a long-sleeved glove taped around at the open end so she can get a shower or whatever. Simply have trouble imaging how to do much of anything with one hand. Let us pray that the growth won’t come back and that she will heal completely and quickly.

 

Decided not to go get any groceries and just let the store deliver them. Dear Hearts, when your “exercise” makes your muscles sore from one end to the other, driving is not any fun at all. Sterling tells me that this marching and swinging of arms is good for all the muscle groups—pretty much what the PT lady said as well. Listening to 70s rock and roll might have been a little TOO encouraging. Silly ol’ woman who thinks she is still nineteen!

 

Sent a very brief thank you note to the dentist and hope he gets it by Monday or so. Wondering how many people tell their doctors or dentists how much they appreciate their work. Guess that is something that should be done for the surgeon and PA at Dr. Kern’s office. It does seem he must be about the best in the west, but what experience this old woman has had would not be a definition of all that is great. Know that the drugs they were giving me kept me totally looped out. It is amazing how little comes to memory now. Don’t think this is an effect of aging but of the drugs themselves. Dilaudid is a type of morphine substitute, and Dear Hearts, it works. On the other hand, would not be able to tell you what was happening for a few days there at all. Oh well.

 

Have been wondering about my friend Roger Thonton and how he is doing. Know he attended the last group meeting of classmates, but have not seen him otherwise. He and Susan stay busy, however. They used to go to the Zone here in town sometimes to play games and whatever. Of course, that may have stopped when the remodeling was finished on their house. Think they might have been trying to stay out of the way or something.

 

The wind is blowing pretty good today, but the birds are sounding quite cheerful, so maybe it is not too bad for them. And then there are those pretty black hens out in the side lot. Ah, love those girls! They are enough to make me smile every day. By next year it will be soon enough to decide for sure whether or not to raise any more chicks. The feed is so terribly expensive. And the doves are the fattest around. Too bad doves are not all that terribly appealing to me. Right now, a purple finch is trying to decide whether or not to make a nest on the front porch. Guess the bird has better nest making ideas than the rest of us.

 

Won’t keep straining your eyes. Keith manages to use a couple of neat photos and some poetry to keep us entertained. Loved the story of the boat his dad made that is now a flower bed. Some things are just worth keeping around and filling with even more love!

 

Please remember those who need extra love and consideration right now. We can pray for all who we can’t touch otherwise. Let us be willing to give that love. Rest well and remember: you are loved.