Wash Day

My new dryer Laura gave me for my birthday worked really well. I waited until I got new clothes pins to use it. The bow tie quilt was gifted to Larry by his Grandmother Gladys Houston Garrison.

Growing up at Coin, AR, wash day was an all day job. Momma washed clothes on the back porch. The water was heated on the kitchen stove. Bluing was used in the rinse. We had a wringer washer. We funneled the clothes through the wringer squeezing the water out. Our family was large. The clothes filled the clothes line and then the extras were hung on the fence around the yard. Momma mopped the floors that day after we washed the clothes using the rinse water. She used a rag mop. It was a contraption that slid open and an old towel could be clamped in it. The next day we ironed. The clothes were sprinkled with water and rolled in a basket🧺 then ironed.  I really don’t miss any of this except the smell of clean sheets on the bed.

The Library got the Judy Blume book for me. She was a little crazy but I am too. I enjoyed reading about her life. 

 

Friday

Clayton and two friends attended a concert in Springfield, MO. by Weird Al. I supposed it was a rock band, but no. He’s more of a comedian and old. Clayton and his friend Tyson are both majoring in computer engineering. Their friend Victor came from Wisconsin to meet them. They’ve known him a while but just on the computer. Clayton is still loading groceries at Walmart. He saves most of his money and is really frugal. Below is Weird Al. He looks like Tiny Tim to me.

My Forgotten Dreams are blooming.  I have many forgotten dreams.   I always wanted to write a book.   No, write lots of books.  I never have written even a short story!  Dreams forgotten are replaced by new ones.  All those old forgotten ones were about ME and all my new dreams are about my grandchildren.  I dream so much for them.  Please, Lord, do not forsake me as I ask for Your blessings to go to each one of them and for you to protect and prosper them.   

Astrid’s Penny is 8. She is her sweetest Corgi. Pop went with her to pick her up from her birth parents. She has one blue eye. Astrid gets each of her dog’s a treat when they have a birthday. 

Today Eric and Laura have been married 27 years. The days are long the years are short.
 

June 18

Dagger Monster on my porch! 😂 it’s an American Dagger Moth Caterpillar. Don’t touch it as the  hairs can break off and embed in the skin, causing irritation, rashes, or allergic reactions. They are native to North America and typically feed on the leaves of hardwood trees like maple, oak, and ash. I have all three of these types of trees in my yard. I just looked and left it alone.

My baby granddaughters have the same gap in their teeth. Siggie looks smaller and she was. Sig was not a good eater. She wouldn’t eat lots of foods. Eric had her try green beans and she threw up. She’s trying to eat a more varied diet as an adult but she still doesn’t really like several foods.

Laura bought me a bottle of this lotion at Walmart. Siggie had it when we went to the beach. It’s made to put on after being in the sun. I just use it as one would any lotion. It’s a lime fragrance. I really like it.

Today I lift weights at the gym.  I’m trimming limbs on trees using my hand saw. The limbs slapped me in the face when I mowed. I guess the leaves had chiggers. I am covered with bites and in misery. I have worked at it more but I sprayed with tick repellent first. I worked in my chicken pen. I put changed the nesting hay and fixed my corn dispenser. I also put a new hook on the door to the pen. Larry built my chicken pen in 2009. It’s really worn down.

 

June 17

I’m still celebrating being 76 by having cheesecake in the afternoon. It’s what Laura made for my birthday. Yesterday my blood pressure was 98/68 so I had coffee with it.

These mushrooms are under by side shed. They look like fried eggs. They’re  Golden Reishi and too tough to eat. I wouldn’t gather wild mushrooms to eat anyway as I’d probably kill my self with poison one’s. 

Astrid’s flowers are so pretty. 

Sigrid handcrafted my birthday card. 

 

Tuesday

Got my yard mowed yesterday afternoon. I weed eated a bit too. It was tall again, but I like mowing when I can see what I’m doing.

Ingrid and Justin go out to eat near the beach about once a week. She posted these and the food on FB. She looks good in yellow !

Sigrid is on day two of her internship. She’s at a pharmacy in Little Rock. She works 8 hours a day for 4 weeks is basically what it amounts to. I paid for the new shoes. Hers were all stained and worn. She picked light so they’d match all her scrubs.

 

Year 77

 

A baby Blue Jay was in Laura and Eric’s yard. They fixed a rescue pen. It will be flying away soon.

Astrid harvested some pretty carrots.

Mostly I have cardinals at my bird cam. This morning I saw a Chickadee.

Sigrid starts her internship at a pharmacy in Little Rock today. I hope she can make some connections here that help her later.

Laura is redoing her coffee table and an end table Larry made for her in my shop. His tools are all this there.

This starts my 77 year on this earth. It I live another 6 months, I’ll have out lived my brothers and sisters who have passed. Fleta will be 79 in January. Maybe we can go like Adams  and Jefferson— on the same day.

Flag Day

This is Denver, AR about 1900. My mother was born in this little village. Her father had a grocery and gas station here. Someone enhanced the photo with AI. No cars whatever year it was.

Laura is fixing me a new clothes line for my birthday. Yes, I requested it. I like hanging things on the line. Larry put the wire up in 2009. It was rusty and ruined anything I hung on the line.

Eric fixed my supper last night. It was as good as it looks. I saved half of the t bone for another night.

Ada lost another front tooth. She was caught in the rain yesterday. It rained most of the day there. She’d gone to a party at church and had to get to the car when Erin picked her up.

I’m going to Sam’s today with Laura. Siggie and Logan E. Are fixing me lunch. 

 

Saturday

 

This is the pattern I’m using for the neighbors baby girl. Mine will have 5 rows pink, 3 rows yellow, 5 rows pink, 3 rows white…repeat. 

Astrid’s tomato is loaded and so pretty. She said she’s wanting ripe ones.

This is the baby blue blanket I made using Red Heart. I soaked it in vinegar water an hour, then washed it and used Downy. Dried it on gentle with dryer sheets. Took out early and blocked. It is lots softer. Astrid is gifting it to a friend who is having a boy.

Astrid, Laura and I went on a Master Gardner tour this morning. Astrid wants to find more about the group. I think she’s already a master. We had a smoothie bowl before coming home. Very good. One of Sigrid’s friends has the store. Tomorrow I’ll be 76. OLD.

Alpena Cemetery

Ingrid shared this today. The Great Blue Heron is fishing. They are known for their ability to concentrate on the water watching for a fish to catch.

My neighbor’s Jake and Maggie are going to have a little girl. I bought these for a blanket. I’m not really good at picking colors. Laura said no gray or lavender so I’m getting another yellow and white. I want to make the blanket big enough they can use it longer than the baby stage. I’m working on a blue blanket now for a boy. Astrid knows who gets it. I’m using up a big skein of Walmart Red Heart yarn. I hate Red Heart yarn. It feels coarse and rough. I saw that if I wash it and use fabric softener it will soften. I’m going to do it before astrid gifts it. If it doesn’t help, I’ll just trash the project.

The cemetery where my family rests has rules. I can see why. Keeping it mowed is a big deal.  Fleta sent a photo of the rules for the Alpena Cemetery. I will be able to find them and the address to send a donation now by searching my blog. Helen fixed this bouquet one year when ours had blown away. The wind is always strong here. I guess it’s caused by all the spirits whirling there. 

Results

Astrid made this trellis in early spring.  She planted Mandevilla to climb the wires. And tada it is working. The pink blooms will be all over it by fall.

My friend came back to exercise this week. She moved to assisted living from her home. It’s a big adjustment. She wanted to go back to her house but her son said no. He has since sold her house. She has adjusted to the new environment. She still has her car and go as she pleases. She’s 87. I made hats for her to wear as her hair was burned off a part of her scalp. She was trying to light her gas fireplace and it blew back burning her. Some older folks really amaze me. Just seeing their lives makes me realize that I’m doing ok. A hairdresser comes to the center and she can have her hair fixed to hide that bare spot. Only 15.00 too. Sounds like a bargain to me. 

 

Wednesday

 

Logan and Astrid got a new camper. They love camping and their dogs love going too. Logan sold his side by side and they used the money to get this one. Best part is no payment. They are excited to try it out. In September they are planning a trip to Utah. 

Laura bought new chairs for her patio area. They’re Adirondack. Astrid made her two but over time they decayed. These are plastic covered and will stand the weather. This type of chair was used to treat tuberculosis patients. They could rest and nap outside.

I requested this book about life along the Buffalo River. It’s a history of who lived along this National River. I’m still reading about the Edward Fitzgerald.

June 9

I mowed yesterday afternoon. It was like cutting hay. Afterwards I weed eated for about 30 minutes.

Today I went to Focus Fitness and did my weight training. I road the bike there. I chose interval training. It goes from easy to really hard and then through the cycle 3times. It’s more difficult than my therapy bike ride.

Our electricity was off for 4 hours. The alert said an animal caused it. A large area was out. FF was out but I just did my workout anyway. Really got hot in there. I push mowed my dog pen. And I must weed eat some more after I rest a while.

Astrid shared this showing how much her plants have grown. She invited me to the Master a garden tour Saturday. I’m going to try it. Hope my knees how out.