Refills and Other Thoughts.

 Refills and Other Thoughts.

 

Since discovering that Sam’s pharmacy will fill Thompson’s Rx from our vet, it has been so nice to be able to pick it up here in WF so that we don’t run out. When going to see our vet the next time, maybe he will allow us to have a written prescription so that it can be refilled by Chewie since they offer it so much more cheaply. It is just amazing that the different prices are for the exact same drug. My neighbor has been buying a drug here that costs a small fortune simply because only one drug company carries that particular drug. Still, even at Sam’s Thompson’s Rx is a tiny bit over $71.

 

Have to take Roxie to the vet in the morning. Her nose has a little place on it that keeps swelling for some reason. They tried to get something out of it the last time we were there, but it just seems to get bigger. Praying that it is not some kind of cancerous growth or something. Patty really loves her puppers. They are pretty much all the family she has left. Sad, just sad.

 

It’s all cloudy out this evening, but Siri says it does not look like it is going to rain. Guess we can just appreciate the fact that it is not freezing or something—or flooding. Feel so sorry for folks who are having to deal with bad weather. Reading today on the history channel and looked at the earthquake damage that they had years ago in Missouri. Folks lost ACRES of land and everything on it back then. It was the first time Congress ever stepped in to offer assistance, but the common people did not profit much. Land speculators got there first! Still, those must have been some doozies of earthquakes because they even felt them clear to the East Coast!

 

Walking through Sam’s this afternoon made me think of that deal where someone asks you if you had X number of dollars and only so much time, where would you spend it? Walked by lilac and hydrangea plants along the front aisle going to the pharmacy. Wow! It would not take me long to spend a small fortune if the old woman had that kind of money. Plants always appeal to me! And anything that stays around from year to year is especially neat. One year the only thing that lived was a grape vine. It is still there and doing just fine. This year some seeds might come up, but it will have to be warmer before they get put in the ground. Sterling tells me that the stuff that the Chicken Chick suggested for my coops would not make a good soil amendment. So, back to shaved wood. DE is supposed to be carcinogenic, so that turned out to be a bad idea even if it did keep the flies and odor down. Shaved wood may do better anyway. Can always put the rest of the DE around the base of house to keep out bugs—or not. Not sure what else to do with it.

 

Reading a series of books about women whose lives changed drastically after many years of being married to one person. Ya know, a woman does not have to be divorced to find out that she needs to be independent and be able to make her own friendships. Guess the same goes for men if their status suddenly changes from married to either widowed or divorced. Just notice that some things are understandable from a woman’s point of view. We tend to overthink things, or at least, some of us do. It is so easy to become dependent on the help from a mate or our children when we really need to either make friends and/or learn to take care of ourselves. For some reason, my “go to” help is always a quick prayer for help from my Father. He has a tendency to help me make up my mind or to find a solution to a problem. But then, He is ALWAYS there! He will never leave us alone. So glad for that.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Another Day in Paradise.

 Another Day in Paradise.

 

Got another attitude today. But at least the floors have been dust mopped and vacuumed. NOT mopped with a wet mop, but there is always tomorrow. Cleaned some dog blankets and a cover sheet that is kept between the dogs and whichever one of them decides to jump up on the bed. Usually Sylvia keeps me company, but lately Thompson has requested some pets and talking to either late at night or in the morning. He is such a sweet boy!

 

Michelle Malay and her brother-in-law Tim just left. They had to be in town today to see a doctor and whoever else, and Michelle got the cutest haircut and color from our hairdresser Amber. Love the way she does hair. Well, my neighbor helped my hair a bit this afternoon. It kept getting down in my face, but Shona had a hair thing and pulled it up and back for me. Neat to have someone nearby to keep me from screaming at my hair! Like the way she keeps hers up in a bun. Used to keep mine up like that, but Lewis really preferred it down or shorter. The problem with short hair is that it grows out and always needs another clipping or two before the summer is over. Oh well. Small irritations.

 

Have a request for you all: my doctor Kissi Blackwell has covid. Please pray that she will get over it quickly and that the rest of her family does not come down with it. SO many folks have got some kind of crud right now. Sterling actually sounded better today when he called, but his stupid shingles are still giving him fits. Don’t know how long that stuff lasts, but hope to never find out!

 

Also, the folks in Alaska are freezing; and the folks in California are either getting washed away or covered up in landslides! They have received a year’s worth of rain in three days! That may fill up every lake on that side of the country, but it is awfully hard on the folks that grow anything at all. Then, too, they have another kind of insect or pest that has infiltrated the state and is ruining the fruit on the trees. They have gone through every community and knocked down the fruit to remove it and try to eradicate whatever this pest is. Let’s pray that it does not get out of CA and can be stopped by their actions now.

 

Since this is Texas, we know that February is just a tricky month. We may yet see a deep freeze out there where the hyacinths are trying to come up in the flower beds. Would love to put some things in the ground, but common sense tells me to just be patient. Meanwhile, Sutherlands has a 20% off sale for those of us who are willing to use their credit card. Since all my bills are paid in full each month, that is not a problem for me. Think the Chicken Chick suggests construction sand for the chicken floors, so will be trying that as soon as the sand can be unloaded and dumped in the floor. Ordered a long-handled litter scoop to pick up the poo while online today. We will see how this works out. Really would like to see the sand and zeolite make a difference in my compost pile. Wouldn’t it be something to grow worms! Sterling told me to get started with seven or eight night crawlers. Not sure what kind of worms that is, but he thinks they can be purchased at a bait shop. We will see!

 

May you all find something to look forward to in your lives whether it is spring or just the next good book. God has provided all the variety in life for us, so we can simply choose the happiest things for each day.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Scheduling Life.

 Scheduling Life.

 

Thinking this evening that it is a super good thing that the older set of falsies (teeth) still work. The next appointment available at Affordable Dentures is this coming Tuesday—NEXT week. Definitely am not going to be giving them a good recommendation for either fit or service. The one lady is nice, and another younger one has an attitude, and who knows why they have such a strange amount of time between fittings or whatever. Argh. Yes, the old woman has an attitude. Surprise, surprise, surprise. Just try eating with sore gums and a raw tongue!

 

It is strange to me that a loving, thoughtful gift today has just left me nearly bawling. Jo Ann Hobbs knew my husband and how much he meant to me. She made an acrylic transparency that included two pictures of him—one of both of us and one with his great big happy grin and a chocolate pie made just for him! She could not have given me any gift that meant as much as this. She knows how it is. She lost her first husband suddenly; then she lost a granddaughter (murder); and then she lost Jerry (her son). We talked today about how horrible the city jail is here. Prison is much cleaner and less dangerous than this jail. It is horrible to think that a jail “nurse” would not check on patients the way they should be checked. If a person is afraid to be around sick people, then that person should not be in charge of people who are ill. Hanan told me some things about the jail that horrified me. Not sure if our jail is strictly for those arrested by the city police or if this combines city and county. Either way, it says something that this is the worse jail in Texas.

 

This afternoon the wagon that Lewis bought for me needed some welding and something along the line of fabricating work done on it. Took it over to leave it with the guy who will work on it. They had fresh produce from one of the grocery stores to feed to livestock. My hens said hooray! Little tomatoes and other good stuff that they like was immediately attacked by these girls. They DO get all the feed they need, obviously, or they would not be laying as well as they are. Gave Jo Ann a dozen eggs, but need to save up some now to give to Dr. B. Her children really do seem to enjoy fresh eggs. Well, who doesn’t?

 

Tried to call my friend Billie Ruth, but she either is not home or simply ignoring her phone and answering machine. Have to call her as she never calls me. Oh well. Still love her!

 

A friend wants a Black Maran rooster. Am trying very hard not to think about raising any more baby chicks right now. Already have 21 hens! Guess that is more than enough for this little half acre of land. Have been learning more about how to keep the coops clean without having to shovel DE and poo. The Chicken Chick suggests that builders’ sand is the way to go and then just keep it as if it were a cat box. Who’d a thought it! Anyway, will clean out the front coop and try it soon. Going to move the feed bins inside the workshop again. It bugs me to have to walk under their roosts in the morning while they are up there. So far, they have not deposited anything in my hair! Now to get a long-handled pooper scooper for cat litter.

 

After having my eyes dilated, had a headache for a bit, but now a good book is calling to me. This series has several more to go in it, and it is fun to know that there are more to make me laugh. Women are funny—much funnier than men. Guys just do things without all the thoughts that go with it most of the time—not talking about planning a project—just life in general. Women overthink everything!

 

Siri says the weather is going to be pleasant the rest of this week, so we can thank God for beautiful days and decent weather. Between the rain and the sunshine, we can know that it is about time to grow something. Have some potatoes with eyes that need to be stuck in the ground. Wouldn’t it be funny to see the front yard as a garden! Let’s celebrate a new year soon with things that are green!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Medical Exams.

 Medical Exams.

 

This morning the young man from the insurance company came to give me a physical—checking blood sugar, blood flow through the veins, breathing capacity, etc. Everything is just hunky dory. The only question he asked that caused me to pause was “do you want to hurt anyone or yourself?” It took me a minute to understand what he said. Thought about the incident at Pioneer and assured him that the old woman was not particularly violent toward anyone normally. It would really take something to get me angry or scared enough to use a weapon, but turning the dogs loose on someone in the back yard would not bother me in the least.

 

Took a nap this afternoon and then went out to gather eggs. Now it is raining again. Not going to gripe. We will be crying for rain in nothing flat when “sprummer” gets here. Am sure you recognize that time of year, right?

 

Just put on a big package of chicken thighs in Jennifer’s roaster. Here’s hoping that they turn out good. Not really sure that the dogs are as hungry for chicken as they once were, but can guarantee that they are not getting beef around here. Their kibble is lamb and rice and that is pretty doggone expensive. It makes me wonder what is in the various types of dog food. Maybe we don’t really want to know, however. Read the other day that shredded cheeses have a bit of sawdust in the package to keep the cheese shreds from sticking together. So, maybe we are all becoming part termite? Have accused Thompson of being part termite when he chews on things that don’t need to be chewed on. He stopped being a puppy years ago! But the handle on their toy basket has wooden things twisted around the metal handle. Well, it DID have wooden things twisted around it. Most of that has been swept up now.

 

Have it in the back of my mind to make some cookies. Used to make them all the time to keep the kids and Lewis happy. Never did have much luck with cakes, but cookies and pies were pretty easy to make. Have a recipe book for dog cookies, too. Silly son-in-law used to have a bite of dog cookie and say that the ingredients were just as good as any in people cookies. He was and is absolutely right. But he always did that in front of folks to startle them. It worked!

 

Patty was telling me about a story that she heard about a nurse who was going to take some food to some homeless people who ended up attacking her. That’s one of those “shake your head” stories that makes you wonder what some folks use for brains. She said that she never put her purse down in her shopping cart. Her husband always put it on HIS shoulder. Can’t imagine anyone trying to rip a purse off of that man’s shoulder! Crazy!

 

Saw that Olga’s son-in-law’s cow had a calf this morning. Those are always the finest kind—raised at home and pampered from birth! Their goats are the same way—kids are so very cute! Just wonder what they do when the kids are grown. Granddad always had to neuter the male lambs, so my guess would be that the kids have to be cut as well. Some lady asked my brother what it meant to “work” calves. He didn’t want to be specific, so he just said that they had to be dehorned and branded. And no, he did not tell her about “mountain oysters.”

 

Another week starts in the morning with things to do and places to go, so let’s be glad that we have the energy to get things done and go where we need to be. May God bless our decisions and actions in all ways.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Willie Nelson

 Willie Nelson

 

Way back—well, some time ago—Willie Nelson wrote and recorded a song called Something You Get Through. It is about loss and how it affects us and our attitude going forward. It pretty well says what some of us think when we don’t already have words for how we feel. So, the old woman bought the CD for that one song. The rest of the songs are vintage WN and his breathing way of singing. The CD title is Last Man Standing. Just know that for me, the things we have to get through just are always part of life from that point on. It makes me wonder. We know that there is a promise of no more tears and no more sorrows. Is it possible that the memories that hit us every so often or every day will no longer be seen with the same attitude? Guess for now, at least, we can pray to have eyes to see as God sees.

 

Sterling and Jacqui are sick with some kind of crud. Sounds pretty rough with coughing and snorting. Kinda hope that none of that stuff makes its way down here to Texas. Some sunshine and warm days might just improve our attitudes and altitudes! Looking up instead of hanging our heads is always a bit more helpful. Anyway, will be praying for them and those around them that seem to be getting this mess. Arkansas is not the only state affected by viruses and infections of lungs and sinuses. Argh!

 

The ”nurse” that the insurance company is sending out called to talk to me about the appointment in the morning. Much prefer to do things early in the day so that the afternoon is open to whatever comes along. This guy likes to get things done early, as well. Suits me! Then have a 9 o’clock appointment with the eye doctor on Monday. As soon as that is finished, the old woman will be talking to the people who made this set of “falsies” for me. Thought maybe just toughing it out would work, but it simply is not worth having one’s gums that sore just to “adjust” to new teeth. Funny to me that the last dentist took an impression and then made the plate without five or more tries. Oh well. Will see what they will do. May have to get one of those Dremel things that sand down spots!

 

Seems as if something always needs to be done around here. Got the hay from Mary and John the other day and put it down around the drain pipes to keep them from freezing in case we have another freeze. This is Texas, after all. Folks were making comments online about how much it cost to keep their faucets dripping through this last spell. Would MUCH rather pay for a little extra water instead of having to call out a plumber!!

 

Then today had two little Spanish girls come over—one at a time. They wanted eggs. Gave the first one a dozen eggs, and then told the second one that when extra eggs were available, they could have some. Her grandfather wanted to buy eggs from me. Nope. Not an egg seller. It makes me wonder if the grandfather understood what his son told him. Had already told the son that they could have eggs as extra ones showed up in the coops. Never know exactly what will be out there. They may lay twelve eggs today and six tomorrow. Cycles in laying.

 

Hoping all the neighborhood dogs are quiet tonight. Thompson got up and was concerned with all the barking going on over on Texas Street. Not sure who has dogs over there, but they were really on the warpath last night. Maybe the cats were all out having fights or something.

 

For right now, let us remember all those who are suffering with pain and aches from the temperature variations, and from the seasonal sneezes and flu that seem to be going around. May God heal us and prevent more illnesses from happening in all our schools, churches, and wherever folks get together. And Dear Hearts, if you aren’t feeling up to snuff, just stay away from everyone! Oh! And in case you are wondering, most of us have already decided that bad attitudes are not contagious. They just require another cup of coffee or a kitten to cuddle.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Another Weather Report.

 Another Weather Report.

 

Looks as if we might get some more rain—or not. For the ranchers that might be good news. For the farmers, it means the fields will still be boggy. Any farmers with fattening steers on their wheat are going to notice there will be more bog than wheat for those steers! Well, maybe another shower will fill another pond or two and raise the levels on the lakes. Just have to enjoy it and keep on going along.

 

Two loads of laundry today. And it looks as if the old woman is going to have to go buy a new keyboard. The letter j refuses to be capitalized. Go figure why it would be that letter! Just turned the keyboard upside down and whammed it a bit. Now the letter J will capitalize! Don’t you just LOVE technical expertise! Wham!

 

Reading the daily devotional from a book by Max Lucado today reminded me of how my life has always been something of a conversation—knowing that He is listening. Lucado suggests taking problems to the One who is always listening. It seems to me that the mornings and sunrises are meant to be another assurance that life goes on, that love is always there, that looking up is always better than letting my head droop to meet emotions. We can’t—and aren’t suppose to let emotions rule our lives, but neither can we remove those emotional responses. The reason we sorrow over those who we have lost—dog, horse, cat, husband, child, situations—is that God makes us aware of what loss means. He does not intend to lose any of us. He promises to pursue us and find us no matter where we wander off to in our silly rambles. Praise His name for His love for us!

 

Went down to Patty’s and ran the puppers. We sat and talked, and she told me how the “Karen” term has now been changed to “Gavin” for the governor of CA. He basically thinks that if the stores are going to allow criminals to take things out the door without any confrontation, he should be allowed to fuss at management or get HIS stuff for free. Duh. Who the hey does he think came up with the idea that shoplifters are allowed to take so much stuff before they are stopped. And some other congress person (a woman) thinks that Walgreens should not move their stores out of predominantly Black/Latino neighborhoods despite the fact that their employees are constantly under attack. Maybe we could call her a “Gavin.”

 

Having cottage cheese and blueberries for lunch. Could always make some scrambled eggs that don’t have to be chewed. Whew! Getting used to these teeth is not only a process, it is a major adjustment to my way of thinking. Certainly not ready for a steak. Enchiladas might work. Or not. Tried eating some peeled oranges yesterday. Nope, not one of my better ideas. Funny what things have to be chewed that one never even considers. Sterling has had to change his diet even more than the old woman. Smoothies with chia seed just does not sound particularly appealing to me. Can see those little seeds getting between the plate and the gums! Ouch and stuff!

 

The things we see on FB!! The company where my son, daughter, grandson, and son-in-law work spent the morning with the American Red Cross people there in the office building giving them lessons in CPR, wound care, and other emergency reactions to be able to help in case someone gets injured. SO, Siri decided to help them since one of the scenes calls for someone to say “call 911.” Siri did. The police came after listening to them for 14 minutes as they practiced disaster reactions. No problems. The police were very nice about it and were glad that they were getting instructions in wound care in case of cuts or something along those lines. NOW they all have to get back to work and get the morning’s work done that was put to one side for this class. Reece posted that his paranoia came true! Siri called even though she was not asked to do so. Can think of worse scenarios.

 

The laundry is done and ready to be put away. Guess the old woman will get some reading done this afternoon. May you all find peace and happiness in the many blessings given to us from our Father in heaven.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

VERY Good Day!

 VERY Good Day!

 

Enjoyed visiting with my granddaughter Rachel and her boyfriend, Damian. They spent the day with me, and we fiddled around and talked a blue streak. Well, the old woman talked their legs off, to be honest. The dogs were in dog heaven with two dog people to love on them. Sylvia did put us out of the room once with her gas attack, but apparently this is not an uncommon event for other folks who have dogs. Rachel said that Codi jumped up in Lance’s lap and planted a great big blow on him! Such good fun! Giggling.

 

We went to IHOP this morning for breakfast and had fun sharing each other’s food. My breakfast came with hash browns that went to Damian, and Rachel shared some kind of cream cheese something or rooty tooty fruity thing. Mighty tasty. Anyway, that was a pretty good start to the day. It never even occurred to me to offer to feed them lunch, but they had to leave about two to go to his grandparents’ place in West Texas. They said the name of the place, but it just did not stick with me. It’s out toward Odessa and places that Carol Thonton would know. Anyway, loved spending time with the kids!

 

John Rhoads brought two more bales of hay this afternoon. Covered the pipes that drain from the sink. Stephen repaired the one that cracked all up and down the thing, but winter is not over. We will probably get another deep freeze before the end of February. That is what happened in 2022. Brrr.

 

Got a spaghetti squash from Stephen the other day and plan to try to save a few seeds from it to get plants started out in the long coop. Will have to close the door to keep the girls out unless any plants are put in the enclosed pen where chicks are raised. [And no, not raising any chicks this year.] Hoping to start some hollyhocks and other flowers from seed this year. Bought some snap dragons from Sutherlands on sale. Which reminds me—as Rachel and Damian drove by Sutherlands, she told him that Sutherlands was Ma’s favorite store. She is completely correct! May spend more money on groceries (including things one cannot eat), but Sutherlands is much more fun!

 

Still slowly reading through Lehman Straus’ study on Revelation. It takes awhile for anything to really stick with me, but some of this stuff has been discussed by preachers for years. The mark of the beast and who the person is that Satan will resurrect though his head has been struck—Straus shows the numbers that coincide with the names of a few people, including Hitler. He mentions Judas and the fact that the devil had used him to betray Jesus. Some of this stuff is deeper than any well, but he explains that Satan is imitating the resurrection of Christ and uses the fire from the heavens as if he were Elijah using the flames to prove that He is the god to be worshipped. It figures that men would fall for the imitation. But it is twice as scary for those living in those times. He believes that the Church will be taken up before the woes strike the earth. But there will still be those on earth who refuse to worship Satan. Those will be sought out and killed if they don’t starve to death first—no buying or selling without the mark of the beast. Anyway, one of these days all of this will be easy to under-stand and compare the lies with the truth of God. SO glad that we can know the truth right now!

 

Let’s pray for the farmers all over this world that they may get rain in due season and not be flooded out! Some of us still like to eat a meal or two each day, and without those farmers and their work, we would get mighty hungry!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.