Saturday

Greta had a soccer game here last evening. Ada came hang out with me. Laura and Astrid cheered Greta at her game. I enjoyed my evening with Ada Mae! We played Candy Land, Connect Four, Princess Dominoes, Matches, and puzzled. She was tired when Mom and Greta came just before 10:00. She watched some Princess tv the last hour and I popped pop corn. She munched away and was gone too soon. I’m so glad she came.  She is an inspiration for me to linger on earth even though living gets harder each year.

2017

Astrid posted yearly pictures of the two of them in a collage. I looked back at 2017 when they first became friends. They are special to me.

2018 and below years following. 

 

Yippee

Ada is coming to visit me today. Greta has a soccer game here. I was allowed to pick between having Ada and I enjoy an evening together or watch the game. I chose staying home. Laura and Astrid will support Greta at the game. I’ll be excited all day waiting for my little friend to get here. She’s been telling me everyone how much she loves them. She told Erin she loves her 90. Greta she said 20 and Clayton just 1. I think she’s studying percentages. She said she loved her Gigi 100! 💯😊

My Ada is focused. She loves to read! I am blessed. She wasn’t able to concentrate for extended periods until she learned to read. Reading builds essential literacy skills, boosts vocabulary, and enhances cognitive development improving memory and focus. It strengthens comprehension, empathy, and emotional regulation. Reading fosters a lifelong love of learning.

And…use of digital devices—specifically tablets, smartphones, and computers—is harmful to 6-year-olds leading to eye strain, sedentary habits, and screen addiction. These devices cause cognitive behavioral problems such as reduced attention spans, increased hyperactivity, and decreased tolerance for boredom, and increased tantrums.

Officer Short sent me a commendation for bravery and assistance! Laura conveyed my story to him! He’s just being funny! I remember him as a 6th grader!

Red, White and Blue

 

Poor boy with the stolen truck and robbery of his $600 and lots more—looks like his truck hit an outbuilding. Guess this is the rest of the story.

The Indigo Bunting is sitting in the white clover but eating a seed off a grass there.

This Red Headed Woodpecker found me. I hope he keeps coming back. The crows are teaming up to knock the suet out of the feeder so I hung an aluminum pie tin at the bottom of the feeder. It’s working until they figure out what else to do,

Hump Day

Just when I thought all my Iris blooms were history, this pale yellow one blossomed. I remember digging up some that had drifted out in the pasture over the fence. I think it’s one of those. The dark yellow ones are my favorite and these are a pale yellow, but I was glad to have a new color.

I had excitement yesterday. I was crocheting in the afternoon and heard a knock at my door. I hadn’t heard or seen a vehicle. I could see it was a young small male. I opened the door and he said he’d been knocked out on the hi-way and his truck was hijacked. I called the Sheriff. I got him a bottle of water and sat with him on the porch til help arrived. He left with the deputy. He told me he knew the robber, a woman friend. I checked the inmate data and she was arrested last night. She took $600.00 from him. If I’d had that doorbell cam, I could have talked to him through the closed door. Well, I tried to do what I thought I should, but it was scary. 
 

Tuesday

I had a new bird this week— the Summer Tanager. The female is pretty too, sort of yellow to a green color. I think my favorite bird is a new one! I saw a Red Headed Woodpecker this morning. He flew away quickly but I hope he’ll return.

The Orioles are still here. Early they were yellow but now more deep orange. The Gold Finches are a deeper yellow too. Nature is a amazing.

Mowing is completed again. It’s lots easier since I’m not mowing all the way to Galla Lake. My back porch is a jumbled up mess just like me, but I enjoy the view from there.

I made a crocheted collar. Most often worn with a tee shirt dress!  The thread is heavier than the one I tried to copy. I may try again with a lighter thread.

 And Happy Mother’s Day to me! Laura created four quilted and pieced place mats for me. I told her I was afraid I’d spill something on them but she said they were made with love to use!

 

Monday

Farming 

I’m trying to start some geraniums from Astrid’s pretty plants. It’s worth a try. One plant is from $5 to $20. I can’t afford to buy plants. I bought a few from the Master Gardner Sale to support the group.

Eric saw this booger at Galla Lake. It’s a Water Moccasin. They are always fat looking. They are more aggressive than Copperheads.

This is Logan with his family. He’s the tallest between his Mother and sister in the hat. His brother is on the right. 

This is a Calico Dragonfly. 

 

Sunday

My friend Patti is a serious bee keeper. She has a bunch of hives. If I were younger, it’d be a hobby for me but I’m just too old to learn all about it. The hives when full weigh 50 pounds. I’d have trouble lifting them. She sent me a photo and asked me to find the queen. I was successful.

Logan and Astrid went to check out a used camper. It was near my favorite restaurant at Leslie, AR.  The food they selected looks appetizing.

I rode over to Pop’s Pond and spotted this wild flower. It’s Foxglove Beardtongue. It was blooming all around the Pond. Some are purple but all these were white. Foxglove, also known as Digitalis, gets this name from the Latin digitus meaning finger.  Leonhart Fuchs first invented the name for the plant in his 1542 book, based upon the German vernacular name Fingerhut,  which translates literally as 'finger hat'.  It actually means thimble to us today.   The plant is  used in heart medicines.  Parts of it are very poisonous.

 

Big Bird!

Well, I had a new “bird” at my feeders. I stayed indoors as I didn’t want to shoo them away. I noticed the male watched as his sweetheart ate her fill. He steadily turned his head like radar protecting her.   We can learn from  birds. Heads are small so their brain must be too. It doesn’t take high intelligence to love. It’s how much is in the heart.  I think she was enjoying the white clover.

Geese are monogamous and typically mate for life, forming strong, year-round bonds that last for their 10–25 year lifespan. Pairs usually form at 2–3 years old. They work together to raise young and then remain faithful until death, spending their lives together, flying south and home again. When a goose looses their mate, they grieve.  The widowed bird hangs its head, losses the desire to eat and shows signs of apathy and confusion. Sometimes they find a new partner. Amazing to me!

 

Bird Whisperer

Painted Bunting 

Rose Breasted Grosbeck

Oriole

Indigo Bunting 

I am still being entertained and amazed by my friends eating at my feeders.i have all my daily birds too. Over on the pond bank I beheld Astrid’s birthday tree. Her parents gave her this Redbud tree and a Pink Dogwood in April ‘25. She planted the Redbud by the pond and the Dogwood to the south of her house where it’d have shade. The Redbud is a special type, a Forest Pansy Redbud. It is known for its heart-shaped leaves that are a glossy, deep purple-red in the spring, and a maroon to purple-green color by summer. It’s a gorgeous tree.

I wish I had remembered that today was May 1. I go to the grocery store on Friday. The store was full of poor people who get checks on the first. They are having a difficult time. It made me ill and teary. Poor people need help. Everyday is worse. Hamburger was 6.99 a pound. Gas was up again. Lord, have mercy on us.

 

Thursday

 

Crocheted Collar

I’m making this from the image. Most written pattern now cost money so I’m looking at the image to make this. Mine will be a little different as is not easy just to copy an image. I’m using white thread. I’m about half finished.

Astrid posts picture of her suppers. They always look like a southern living dish. The salad greens came from her gardens. 

I drove in my buggy yesterday to see the pretty wild flowers as I can’t walk a distance as I once loved to do each morning. Over by the pond I spotted this pretty daisy. They remind me of a sunshine that’s smiling!

The Painted Buntings are here. The orioles may have moved on. The Grosbeaks are still making me watch to see them. 

My Ada Mae is ready for spring.  Of course, she wanted to wear a dress and hat for spring picture day. Erin picked this pink belt and she decided she could wear her jean skort. She loves dresses, purses, hats, belts~~ a girl needs accessories with any outfit. Erin asked her to remember to smile so she could see her tooth gap. So Ada practiced in the mirror and she nailed it!

Sigrid has new rubber to keep her safe. She has AAA with me, but we’re hopeful she won’t need it. She’s almost finished with her first year to become a Dr. of Pharmacy. She’s taken one final and has the rest to pass this week and next. Logan E. Helps her study. Three more years of hard work, but she’ll  reach her goal. We are shaped by our environment as well as our dna. Sig’s first high school job was with an old pharmacy in our town. That sent her down this path. She thought about being a doctor too. To me she’s just “my baby”.