Ashy Sunflowers

This is an old post card of a little community where I grew up. It’s on Arkansas Highway 311, northeast of Green Forest. Fairwell was established in the late 1800's when William Henry Lawrence donated land for a new school building for the budding community. In 1870, a log schoolhouse had been constructed by Augustus Callen on the deeded land. A larger school building was constructed at a later date, but a name was still needed for the new community. Legend tells of a town gathering that was organized to discuss names for the new town. Hours passed and a suitable moniker could not be agreed upon. Growing weary, Mr. William Lawrence reportedly threw his hands in the air, went to leave, and gave everyone his "farewell". The name stuck. Other early settlers in the area included the historic Gofourth Family of Carroll County. The town's name was sometimes spelled as "Farwell". 

In 1960 their little school of five grades closed and the children came to Green Forest. Many of my friends were among them. The last landmark of the little community was the store on the post card. There is still a Fairwell Graveyard.

In 1930, there were 130,000 public school districts in the U S. Most had about 150 students. Now, there are 13,560 and many have 5,000 kids. Consolidating of these small schools, took fire during the Great Depression. Many rural districts could not survive with low tax revenues. Departments of education looked at consolidation as a way to save money. Most of people in charge of education were urban educators and politicians. By 1960 where I grew up the little country schools were unified and gone. I don’t believe bigger is better. I think the main killer of the little schools was the automobile. 

Ashy Sunflowers are blooming in the fence row. They’re native to America. The name comes from the ashy, snowy look of its leaves.

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Headed Home

Sister Fleta headed home to Coin, AR at 8:00. Logan and Astrid sent eggs to all our folks up home!  Makes me smile.

This is Astrid’s flock. Much larger than mine. She has little turkeys in her brooder and 2 dozen chickens to replace her older hens. She hatched those in her incubator.  Hens start laying at about 6 months. They lay for their entire lifespan, but a three year old chicken won’t lay many eggs and they consume the same amount of food. 

Helen sent me lots of fresh vegetables from her garden. The new potatoes were delicous.
 

Rosy Cheeks

 

Ada loves makeup. She’s only five, but Princess dresses and lipstick favorites of hers. 

Sister and I are enjoying our time together. Eric cooked on the grill last night and we watched fireworks sitting on the mule in Galla Meadow. Another 4th is history. Soon it’ll be 300 years since it all began.

Never Ending Story

Limbs fell in the last storm so I had a pile. I burned them so I’m ready to pick up sticks again.

I mowed because Sister Fleta is coming today. It’d been one week and we were lucky get get two 1/2 inch rains.the grass was thick and tall. I had to weed eat some too.

The Tiger lilies are about finished. I’ve enjoyed their bright blooms.

 

Marigolds

Marigolds are originally from Mexico and Guatemala.  In the early 16th century they were brought to Europe. They quickly became popular in gardens.  They are easy to grow and bloom til frost! Marigolds contains lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that are essential for maintaining good eye health. These compounds help protect the eyes from damage caused by ultraviolet rays and reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.  Sister Helen told me that chickens love the blooms. I’m going to pick some and give my girls a treat♥️  she gifted me these that she started from seeds.

When I walked yesterday I saw this Robin egg shell. I hope it hatched and didn’t have an accident.

I’m going to leave my weights, ball and band at the gym and needed a small gym bag. I found this in the shop. It held a tool Larry had purchased. I washed it and I think it’ll work fine. Sister Helen says I’m tight. I say frugal! 

 

Paths

Logan mowed my path. I am thankful. Stuff (l don't know what) bites me when the grass gets taller. Bugs like me. Flies bite me. Gnats bite me. And for sure ticks, chiggers and fire ants can really hurt me. I noticed the pink sky near the Lake ahead of me. It beckoned me to come on down the trail.

I found a little snack as I walked along. I thought of the antioxidants they have.  I ate a few handfuls. Wasn’t enough to pick for a cobbler.. 

I really enjoyed the Frozen River. It’s written by Ariel Lawhorn and inspired by the true story of Martha Ballard, a midwife in America in the late 1700’s, an amazing tale about love, family, friendship, survival and a murder mystery as well!  I still am pondering if the murder was in her journals?

The Tell was a quick read by AmyGriffin. It’s a memoir. The author has ran from a hidden occurrence in her past since it happened when she 12. Using a drug it surfaced and she remembers again. It’s about facing trauma and trying to heal to live again. Amy reminded me of myself. I have tried to hide and run to forget. Just speaking what happened helps. But…it’s hard to trust and tell as you blame yourself.

Look at all the blooms on the “Covid” plant at Galla Lake. The Buttonbushes were all full of blossoms making the bees very happy. My bees have lost their queen. The keepers bought a Queen but it’ll be 2 more weeks before we can see if they accept her. Without the Queen the hive is like a house full of teenage boys. They sleep and play video games. Their home (hive) is neglected. Nothing gets done. No honey is produced. 

 

Thistles

 

Yesterday, I saw thistles growing along my path. They are called Milk Thistles and are an highly unwanted plant. They have sharp, pointy prickles found all over. The stickers cover the flowers, stems, and leaves and act like a shield to protect the plant from animals that might try to eat it. Birds love the thistle seeds. I will carry my loppers and cut them down.

The thistle the National emblem of Scotland. During the Battle of Largs on 2nd October 1263 an invading Norwegian force tried to sneak up on the sleeping locals but went through a patch of thistles. Their cries of pain (and probably profanity) woke up the sleeping Scots who defeated the invading force.

The thistle has been used to treat many ailments—bleeding, sores, abscesses, fever, dysentery, and worms.  Milk thistle seeds (Silybum marianum) have been used for hundreds of years to treat liver and gallbladder disease.  Milk thistle gets its name from the white veins on its large prickly leaves. An active ingredient is extracted from the plant's seeds called Silymarin— believed to be an antioxidant. You can still but milk thistle.

In Genesis 3 the thistle is first mentioned in the Bible. After eating of the forbidden tree, God tells Adam that the earth will now bring forth thistles. Thistle is a symbol of sin.

Yikes!

Visitor yesterday! I think he likes eggs so I put a hoe by my back door! He was cooling off on my back porch but scurried off when I opened the door!

Snakes used to really frighten me but now not so much. I won’t grab one by the tail like my brother Richard would. I’ve  seen him do that when I was just a girl and it scared me to death. My Dad’s farm had an old rock quarry on it. They quarried rock from it for building. It was a home to many snakes.

When we were teenagers, Fleta encountered a huge black snake on the old rock quarry. We look like we are pleased with our prize.

I see I’m wearing those knockoff Ked shoes. That was in style. I recall wishing I could have the real thing but ours were just copies. We would wash them and apply white shoe polish when they were wet. They dried really white. Mine would rip across my bunion on my big toe. I have big feet and a small brain. I wore a 9 when I was young. Fleta an 8 and Helen a 7. I hated my bigger feet. I still have them.

This is at Harrison,  AR. It must have frightened many crawling down the street.

Sunday Stroll

Over half inch of rain Friday and Saturday, in my Coach Fisher gifted rain gauge. I’ll be mowing again at the end of the week. Rain makes hay and it’s getting time to cut it.

When I went out early to walk, I saw Floppsy eating clover. Then just ahead hid from Farmer MacGregor, I spied Peter Cottontail. On a little farther, I ran into the winner of the race going slow but sure just like me. 

My Library has a book for me—The Frozen River by Ariel Lawton. It’s fiction but based on the life of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife. I think the setting is Maine. I’ve read 5 chapters online and I am happy to get a real book.  I’m working on a baby blanket for my yoga instructor. She’s going to be a grandmother in October. Sister Fleta is coming this weekend. We’ll work on our family tree.  Astrid and Logan are back home in Galla Meadow after a week at the beach.  I’m trying to stay positive. Still not keeping up with the news and the wars and poverty around the world. I can’t stop the insanity so why watch it. 

 

Week’s End

My grandson was 17 yesterday. I always tell him he’s my fav grandson. Well, he’s my only. He’s introverted like his mother. He is kind, helpful, and opinionated, but he keeps those beliefs to himself. He will be a senior this year and plans to go to college. Somethings about him that make be chuckle are: he doesn’t like ice cream. I asked why and he said, it melts. He doesn’t like chewing gum. He never chewed gum. He hates sports and he 6’5” tall. He’s really smart. He loves most soups. He has several good friends who are nice like him.  He doesn’t like church. Erin used to make him go and he’d put his elbows on his knees and have his fingers in his ears. When he was 14, Erin quit making him attend. He said I don’t like “preaching”.  He likes school and learning new things. He likes metal detecting. He said” I’m never drinking alcohol or using drugs”.  He has a punching bag in the garage and uses it.  He’s a very unique young man.

I finished another baby blanket. Astrid, Laura, and Sigrid go to lots of baby showers and they give then as gifts. I’m working on another one now.it’s something to keep me busy.  Idle hands are the devil’s workshop!

Saw a wild petunia when Laura and I walked ar Lake Dardanelle park this morning. 

 

Sigrid is in Little Rock today at UAMS. She starts to pharmacy school there in August. I was nervous about her getting to her destination and parking in the big parking garage. She made it and now I’m praying 🙏 her day is fruitful in knowledge of what is to come. She had to take Calculus on line from a College in Nebraska as that was the only class she lacked.  Cal is hard, but online is even harder. She got through the class with a passing grade. I’m proud of her. Most of the folks in pharmacy school have already graduated with a BS degree. 

Heating Up

Ingrid and Justin have been married one year.  They went out to eat to celebrate. That’s what Larry and I used to do. Old memories. New memories💙

Astrid and Logan are at the beach with his family. We have to share them with their other side of the family. They have a house sitter with the 4 dogs. Laura is feeding the horses and taking care of the donkeys. Laura waters for Astrid. We get the veggies as pay back. I’m just missing seeing them. They are the beautiful people on the right😂

Mowed yesterday! I couldn’t wait longer even though it was just a week!  It was hot but I’m glad it’s done. I mowed the sides of  my lane with the rider. Finally dry enough! I’ve been having to push mow it! Down and back is 1/3 mile. With the push mower it was lots of down and back😂 It took two hours. It was 95 degrees. I wear a long sleeved white shirt and a wide brimmed hat.  Since the rains seem to be over it won’t grow as fast but I’ll miss the rains. I water my few flowers morning and evening. I carry water to my chickens every afternoon. I am thankful for my chores as it gives direction and purpose!

 

Living’ to a Hundred

Yesterday, it was so hot I just stayed in most of the day reading.  The book is about the lives of people who lived past 100.  I have two great aunts who lived past 100 and a great grandmother who reached 95.  In the stories I saw a similar trait in most of them. They were able to adapt to change and didn’t dwell on the past.  I think a longer life has a lot to do with genetics.  None were fat folks! I’ve about decided living to be 100 wouldn’t be much fun😂

My great grandmother Ann Catherine lived most of her life in Carroll County, AR! Her first husband went to California to the gold rush and died in a mine explosion. She married again. She had a daughter by her first husband and a large family by her second. She lived to 95!

Aunt Clara Dell lived to 100 plus 2 months! She divorced her husband after 22 years. Had 4 children. Lived in Iowa, Ar, California and Oregon. Married two more times and out lived both of them!

Aunt Leona Belle married and had 3 children. She worked outside the home. Her husband died of an heart attack while filling up the car with gas. They had moved to Sanger, CA! Aunt Leona survived him 50 years and did not remarry. She lived to be 100 plus 10 months. Leona and Clara were sisters!