Early Morning Sounds.

 Early Morning Sounds.

 

Stepped out on the back deck this morning and heard a killdeer calling. Not sure just why it was away from the shoreline, but never did see it—just heard it. Love being able to recognize birds from their calls. It is something that Mom and Dad did when we were children and learned to follow suit. Not sure that our children ever learned much of that, as Lewis loved to tease: sparrows, just sparrows! He would laugh about the doves and translated their calls to English—the manly kind of English. It would not do to tell anyone here what they said in his estimation. But Lance and Jennifer will remember—and laugh.

 

The sky over Lake Wichita often is filled with birds of one kind or another. The geese go over so close to the house tops that it seems that they might even scrape over the satellite pole, but hardly anything lights on that area of the house. But oh! Those grackles squawk and chatter ever so often when they are going wherever it is they go. But my favorites are the Cedar Waxwings! They get out in the Western Soapberry trees and pull the berries to share with one another. If you have ever seen them passing a berry from one to the other and back again, you might wonder if they ever get anything to eat at all! But each year they clear out the berries in the tree on the west side of the house. Between the birds and the southwest winds, those trees have to be relatively tough. They drop a few berries, but more often they drop small branches and twigs big enough to go “whack” when hit by the mower. Those trees are appreciated by the birds; and then the trees are appreciated by folks like me simply because they provide shade. Otherwise, a good elm, hackberry, oak, pecan or even a fruit tree would be better to have around. The stupid bores will kill any kind of tree in this part of the country, so Lance says they have to be trimmed correctly to prevent bore infestations. Not sure exactly how that would help, but will take his word for it. He is the one in the family who really has a thing for trees.

 

It has been a very good day of feeling good and moving freely while walking. These things make a difference in life, believe it or not. Even Michelle Malay seemed to be feeling pretty good when we went to Hunan’s today. We laughed about a few things, but mostly we enjoyed the good food. Good company is as important as good food. And Michelle is good company.

 

According to our retired weather man, Skip McBride, we could have storms tonight. Looking for straight line winds of 50 to 60 mph. Guessing that my dogs are not going to be overly happy. Will have to get their “thunder shirts” out for them. Thompson gets right under my chair to huddle up. Sylvia really, really wants in my lap, thank you very much. She is giving me looks as if she knows she is the subject of this epistle. Funny dog!

 

Michelle reminded me today that there is still such a thing as a “no call” list. Will have to look it up since it seems my cell phone is collecting so much garbage in nasty calls or commercials. Bleah! Every time one gives out one’s number, it gets sold to the highest bidder—or to several of those bidders. Disgusting. Irritating, too.

 

Fed the dogs their first “real” food in the tube from Walmart this morning. One pound seemed like too much, so gave them a half pound and put dry food out for them to nibble on if they still wanted something. Think the tube food satisfied them for the time being. Lance suggested buying ground turkey and cooking rice to go with it. The stuff in the tube has carrots and peas in it, too. That should not be too difficult to manage. Anyway, we will see if it helps Thompson feel better. He is already acting as if the allergy “bites” are helping him not to be so itchy.

 

Last night the driver from Walmart told me that they basically make what little money they get from tips alone. Walmart does not pay them enough to even pay for their gas. That is really sad. So many people need a job, and then those who do their best don’t make enough to hardly make working worthwhile. It makes me realize that tips for drivers of whatever service deserve to be helped more than the companies that send them out. It would be better if they actually worked for a place like Market Street so that they would get a salary instead of hopes and maybes.

 

Even if we did not have a weather man to tell us, the house flies coming in the screens would tell us the weather is about to change. They are getting “sticky.” Persistent little bugs!

 

Made some banana pudding this morning with the two bananas that were left from the last grocery order. They were about ready to go flop, so it was pudding or trash. The hens really are not crazy about bananas, and the dogs aren’t fond of them either. Such is life. This is why my weight never goes down very far for very long. Sigh

 

Really don’t know much this evening. What little has been accomplished around here is no more than any other woman would do: laundry, a few dishes washed, extra bed stripped and remade, one floor mopped, and a few things done in the hen house. Well, not every woman would have fourteen hens talking to her about the feed and whatever they could finagle out of her larder. A handful of lettuce and sunflower seeds made them happier this morning. Doesn’t take much.

 

Let’s remember those in Missouri, Illinois, and all those under threat by the Northeaster storms that seem to be about to hit the East Coast. Life can truly be hard just making it through the normal stuff without worrying about storms and the elements that can kill us. May God protect this old world and His children.

 

Rest and be happy. You are loved.