Geography Lessons.

 

Geography Lessons.

 

So, Michelle’s sister has been here visiting from Alaska. Our trip to Skagway along the “inner passage” did not include a stop in Juneau as memory serves me. And Juneau is south of Skagway. Anyway, was looking up the fires in BC, Canada, and saw that some fires were going on in Alaska as well. But do you have ANY idea of how big Alaska is? Humongous! It is also strown out all over the ocean between the U.S. and Russia. Tiny islands, big islands, large land masses, oodles of mountains, lots of forests, and streams enough to float California and Arizona both! Too bad that Mother Nature sends her children to bed with storms, earthquakes, and droughts all in the same night. Have always lived in Texas where droughts and floods can happen in the same day/month. Seriously doubt that Alaska gets droughts, just some dry spells. And lots of freezing stuff between heat waves! Never a dull moment!

 

Even though the fire crackers and big booms shook the house last night, today has been relatively quiet. Maybe the police are watching more carefully this year. At least the grass is green and not as likely to catch fire and burn the neighborhoods.

 

The hens were pretty productive today. Got enough eggs to finish filling up a dozen. They have been chuckling right along today and digging up more holes. Calling them my little Marines as they dig holes under the sunflower circle! Then noticed that Thompson was out there helping Isa dig a deeper hole than what she had started. Crazy critters!

 

These hens have to have fresh water at least once a day, and then their feed bins have to be refilled each day. Have no idea what would happen if they did not get all the feed they wanted, but don’t care to be chased around the back yard if they get hungry! As it is, they want to know what is in my hands when they see the dogs getting something from me. They don’t get too close because the dogs don’t share, but it is not for lack of trying on the part of the hens. The other day the hens got some cereal that was only so-so for taste and texture. Milk did not help it in the least. Dumped it out next to the deck on the west side and watched the wildness come out in these birds! Oh! Goodie! The dogs were in the house with the door shut, so the hens had it made. Come to think of it, maybe the cereal was part of the reason for all the good eggs. But more likely, the cooler temperatures helped the girls be willing to sit in those nests to lay. Whichever it was, glad to have the eggs.

 

Saw a video posted on FB the other day that showed a tree that touched the power lines above it. The Bradford pear in my front yard is not quite that tall just yet, but have a feeling it should be cut back drastically this next year. These trees are pretty useless except for a bit of shade. Of course, in Texas no one should poo poo at a shade tree at all! For years we had a huge old elm in the front yard. Had it cut back along about 2013. It had been hit by lightning at one point and some of the inside of the tree was already dead, but it was still one very tall tree that shaded the entire front yard. The children loved it. It came home from Montague County in a load of dirt that Garland dumped here in the front yard. It bent a metal fence all to thunder before it was very old, but that part of the fence was gone by the time of our marriage. That was fifty-three years ago. It is something to live in a house where one’s father-in-law laid the foundations and put up the first fence. Not many folks have that kind of history with their homes. And all the homes on my side of the family have all been sold or torn down. It is something that my cousin John Pollard can remember the two we knew in Clay County. Good memories.

 

Sat out on the bench on the front porch this afternoon and looked at the flower bed. The hibiscus and Mandeville plants may do ok. The coleus and sweet potato vines don’t look bad, but they did not look great when they came home with me. This is really not the time of year to plant things, but will just keep watching and see if they make it.

 

Also took out a set of drill bits that Jennifer bought one time and took apart an old office chair. Had four pieces to throw in the trash bin. It was either that or haul it to the transfer station. Not too keen on that nasty place with all the garbage in the floor. Always just a bit leery of nails, screws, and assorted sharp things. Anyway, it will be dumped this week if nothing rips, rears, or ravels.

 

Have a book started about a widow woman living in the Hill Country. She is trying to make a living partly by teaching at a college and partly by using her farm as an events center for weddings, celebrations, and assorted get togethers. So far, she has not done very well as the folks who are supposed to be paying her for the events have rubber checks. Just one of those would pretty well mess a person’s finances up if that was the money a person had to depend on for living. It makes me wonder how folks around here even make a living in those circumstances. Wichita Falls has some pretty sneaky “rich” people who don’t mind cheating others. Just heard lately about someone who lost several hundred dollars to a dishonest guy who owns considerable property here. Guess that is the way to make money—cheat others out of it! Eventually it will all come back to bite the bad guys in the backside, but meanwhile the little guys get the rear end of the deal. Sad.

 

Finally got the clothes out of the dryer and have them folded—not all put away, but at least folded. Someone around here is just a wee bit lazy. However, a nap happened today! Take enough naproxen and the aches will let a person relax! So, there’s that. Now we will see if sleep will still be a possibility tonight.

 

Know that so many are suffering tonight from wildfires, storms, building collapses, and general stupidities that happen every day. Let us pray for our fellow man. May God bless those who mourn.

 

Rest well and look for things we can appreciate in each day. You are loved.