Traits

In my DNA file there is a section labeled traits. We have a tendency to be a certain way because of inheritance. My DNA says I am a leader. I know I have always “spoke up”. My hair and eye color are revealed in my file.  There are lots more pages of traits in my file.

I have longer eye lashes.

I enjoy dancing but I’m not very rhythmic.

I’m not really artistic but I am determined.

 

Stopped Up

 

I’ve been living like I did in the 1950’s. The gray water in my house goes out to the pasture. Only the bathroom waste goes in the septic tank. My drain has been slowly stopping up. Two years ago my house got a new roof because of storm damage. The next day the drain was worse. To wash clothes I have had to stand and pause the washer, wait and start it up again to allow the water to go out slowly. Last week my dishwasher wouldn’t drain out completely. The sink would back up if I rain it very long. It’s been a nightmare. I thought it had something to do with the vent pipe. Logan is a master plumber and he kept saying it didn’t. 

Logon had roto rooter snake the drain. They only were able to get down the drain a short distance and the drain was dead. It had collapsed. This weekend my sweet kids redid the entire drain.  I feel like I’m in heaven.  It works so well. 

It’s wonderful to have family to help you when you’re old. I’m so thankful for Logan and Astrid. I hate asking for help but I finally break down and call them. 

Tree roots had grown over the old line. They were big ones. When the roofers parked near the house to dump the old shingles in the big truck those roots were pushed down more on the line closing it completely. 

Painting

Erin spotted this art work at the library and shared it with me. The creator is my Sister Patsy’s great granddaughter. Patsy loved to paint. She created artwork on burlap feed sacks. They were unique, mostly farm scenes. I found an example. It’s not Patsy’s but hers were just beautiful. 

Patsy painted a serene mural over one entire wall of my Dad’s bedroom on the back porch.  Daddy made him a little bedroom in what was once the smokehouse He loved her painting. He called her my pretty Penny.
 

Ada’s a Hiker

Jonquils bloom with no help from humans. 

Astrid can still let her fowl free range. Hawks don’t venture among trees like they do in my open meadow.

Lily is wrapped in her blanket. Glad they arrived safely in Hawaii. 

No school for Ada Friday. She told Erin she wanted to hike. Off they treked to Tyler Bend to explore the historic Collier Homestead in Buffalo National River park. Also, they made a stop at Boone County Library. Her book stack was too high. She had a hard time putting a few back on the shelf. 

She’s been listening to the Romona books. I even remember how funny they were.

 

Watchman

This was my sunset last evening. My phone photo doesn’t capture  how beautiful it actually was. We have to be a watchman to catch the sunset.  From start until it disappears over the horizon is just minutes. I hope I can be watchful of other pleasing moments in my life. If not, the time will pass unnoticed and not even felt. Yes, I don’t just see a spectacular sunset I feel it too.

I am reading The Watchman and I like it. The scene is South Dakota and most of the characters are Chippewas Indians.  Then I  have a book Connie recommended—All the Colors in the Dark. I’m making the sage and pink baby blanket and have kitchen towels to make for Erin. 

I went to vote yesterday and paid my car insurance for the next 6 months. Weekend is upon us. February is about over. I will lift weights today, do my home exercises, and ride my bike 30 minutes,

 

My Blanket is Flying

Finished this baby girl blanket. This morning it’s on the plane to Hawaii. The baby girl’s name is Lily. I met her sweet Auntie Lisa at Focus Fitness🤍💗🤍 Lisa is helping me build strength in my entire body. My muscles have weakened. I retired in 2012. I have tried to stay strong but it seems I have failed. I’m not giving up but am often discouraged. Lisa has a masters degree in athletic training. Her sister with the new little one is a doctor there.

Greta made the local paper. I bought these two colors for the baby blanket for Cassie’s little girl coming in March. She is Astrid’s friend. I also know the grandmother well. I wanted to make pink hearts in the green but it had what my Momma called a gaudy look. That may not even be a word. For baby blankets, I like a simpler more subdued look. I ripped it out and am searching for a different pattern.

100 Days—100 Years

Flowers blooming along the old fence! They are simple  like me. Did you know you  shouldn’t place cut daffodils in the same vase with other flowers, especially roses and tulips because the cut stems release narciclasine, a chemical that’s toxic to other flowers but ironically preserves irises.

 I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

W. Wordsworth ~ 1804

Ada is celebrating 100 days of school and pondering being 100 years old. She loves school and loves books! What a blessing she is to me. She drew the stick figure yesterday afternoon. Erin fixes her a healthy snack after school and she does homework. She works at a little cedar table her Pop made. Sometimes she writes her spelling words, works on her arithmetic assignment, reads aloud, or draws! When Erin asked about the stick figure—Ada said it’s a man who lost one leg! And if you look at her drawing, she even drew a crutch.  What an imagination♥️♥️

Greta is a member of ChristianStudent Athletics. I marked her with a red dot. 🔴 I can usually spot her in the pictures. She looks like she’s listening.They lost their last basketball game. Now, on to soccer.

 

Outhouses

When Ada went on her hike, Erin explained what this little house was for. I love Ada’s reaction.

The presidency of FDR brought improvements to American outhouses. This was supported by the First Lady Eleanor.  The Works Project Administration would replace an old outhouse for $5.00 and it’d be built in 20 hours. They’d send  three men and a new outhouse was up in that sort period of time. It was properly ventilated, had privacy and a floor. The WPA built 2 million of them. Because of the First Lady’s commitment to the project they were nicknamed “The Eleanor”.

If you grew up carrying water and going to an outhouse, you appreciate indoor plumbing and running water!

 

Happy Birthday, Logan E

Sigrid’s Logan is 24. We celebrated with coconut cream pie and baked hand apple 🍏 pies plus Valentine cookies. Lighting the candles took two people.

Ada was perfectly happy to get clothes for Valentine’s Day. Laura made her a dress. Can’t wait to see her model it💜💗💜

Dress designed by Auntie Laura!
 

February 15

Laura threw all her button towels away. She requested new ones. I fixed these yesterday.

Ada got new PJ’s for Valentine’s Day.

 

Saturday

Astrid sent me a picture of the new baby and my blanket. Her name is Willow. I think I need to make the hats bigger.

Ada from a past Valentine. I love it.

Sigrid gave her pharmacy pals a bottle of pills….M & M’s.

Laura’s other special Valentines.  First is Ada’s, then Ingrid’s and then Astrid’s and Sigrid’s.  The house on Ingrid’s is the family home. Ada loved hers.