Saturday

I tried making  cinnamon rolls for our breakfast like Helen did, but I told Fleta not to be expecting them each visit. The rolls weren’t as good as sister’s! Oh, well, it’s the thought.  I  taking her for a steak today. She’ll go home in the morning.

Sigrid and Logan E came to see me. I bought a little shelf from Amazon for my bathroom. Logan put it together for me. 

I’m trying to walk for exercise two days each week. Other days I ride my therapy bike. I have to use a hiking stick but I’m doing it. It’s hot still. I am trying to go before7:30. I. Walking for time not distance because my speed is sloooow.

The two horses and Johnny were grazing. The sight of them is calming.

Friday

Sister got here about noon. I fixed meatloaf, baked potatoes, corn on the cob and a salad. Too much work. I especially hated cleaning the pan I cooked the meatloaf in. I put in on a rack so it was two pans. It wasn’t worth it. She brought a watermelon. I’m thinking that can be supper.

I took everything off my bed and washed it. I even washed my Grandma Gertrude Powell quilt and hung it on my clothesline Laura redid for me. I’d had the quilt over 50 years and never used it. I decided the last years of my life, I’d enjoy it and I am. Grandma made it for me in 1968 for my High School graduation gift.

Picture is Aunt Una Powell on right and Grandma 1956. Both widows! They married brothers and they were cousins, not first cousins but kin. They lived across the street from one another for many years!

Aunt Una Powell and Grandma in 1956.

Ada got the Goblin math award again. Greta had volleyball so Erin fixed her a hamburger after school. Greta’s team won and she won the last game with her serve. Ada has no interest in sports. She reads during the game. She’d like to run around but Erin makes her sit with her.

 

Thursday

 

Laura got new glasses. Her eyes haven’t changed. I need to make my appointment to have mine checked. It’s usually months ahead before I can get in.

I made astrid 4 pumpkin coasters. Now I’m making Sigrid 4. I bought new yarn because I wanted all cotton for them. I’ll just keep making them til I use up the orange.

Yesterday I mowed and today I weed whacked. Today was harder. At least while mowing I’m riding along. It took an hour. I checked the temperature when I came in at noon. It was 92 but said it feels like 97. I believe it.

Fleta is coming tomorrow to stay 2 nights with me. Makes me happy.

September 16

I mowed my yard. It was really hot and dust and debris blew on me, but it’s done. Last time I mowed was August 15. There were lots of leaves covering the grass so it was a chore. A lot of them got chopped up but there’s still a lot and more will fall.

I moved my lantana to the ground. I hope it survive the winter. I used a pick to dig the hole and it was still hard to dig. It’s isn’t down but about 6 inches. I will mulch it thick . I’m watering it twice a day. 

I cleaned all the mess off the concrete pad for the well. I have city water. Larry used it for the gardening. But the electric line was used for another thing that needed 220. So I had to get all the pipes, air tanks, a big stack of concrete blocks. I have a bucket over the well casing but hope to find something that’ll work better.

At 11:00 today I went to the local hospital for my echo cardiogram test. It took quite a while. Next Wednesday Dr. Rasool will let me know what it showed. The technician said she bet I have A Fib. I’ll be glad to know what it is.

I took my walk here this morning. It was hot but I completed it. I had to take a shower after I walked then another after I mowed. It was 99 yesterday and forecast says 95 today. We’ll go from this to cold probably.

 

Fifteenth

I have another squirrel cleaning up under the bird feeders. I hope he doesn’t start climbing the pole and draining the feeder. I don’t like trapping and moving squirrels but I’m feeding birds not squirrels!

Yesterday the Varsity Volleyball team did a greet with the kindergartners at Harrison. The coach moved Greta to varsity a few weeks back. Greta is the tall girl with long dark hair.

Ada’s second grade picture is here. I am glad her missing tooth shows, she had to wear a hair bow and the one that matched broke. She insisted and wore the pink one. It makes the picture even more special. On Sunday morning Ada always wants to wear a dress. No skirts for church just dresses. She made a loud announcement last Sunday about her new pink boots. Greta never says two words. Ada is vocal. Every child is different!

I follow Ada’s class at school. Today there’s a picture of her. The students were doing stations in math. 

I may try these. I’ll check my colors. I may have to get some yarn.

 

September Half Over

Astrid has the new table runner in place. I think it’ll work til Christmas season.

Month is half gone. Time whizzes by. Still hot but not super heat below 95. 

Ada got to wear her new pink boots to church. She’s always reading. I can’t read when riding in the car. Greta drove to church. In a month and half, she can drive without an older driver in the car.

Sigrid came for the weekend because Logan E had drill. It’s usually at Fort Smith. Many of her friends are getting married. She attended a wedding shower while here. She came over to say hello to me. She’s back at classes today. She made a B on a test last week and was disappointed. B’s are okay is my thinking. Sigrid is serious about school. 

 

Sunday

Greta has a dance coming up. She went to Springfield, Missouri looking for a dress. She’s  5’10” so dresses are too short.  But what made me laugh was Ada trying to entertain herself the entire time. Greta is a sophomore in High School. I liked the blue dress the best because it was the longest. 

I think Ada loves the three mirrors.

The Pole barn only lacks the ridge piece. The farmers wrangled donkeys last night moving them about to new pastures. They aren’t finished but maybe today they’ll get them located.

Laura’s finished her table runner! Love the falling Maple leaves, pumpkins and the black cat! I guess being quilted adds the final touch. It’s for Astrid. 

 

Saturday

The best rewards come after a long dry spell— 3 1/2 inches of rain fell. By afternoon noon the brown was fading to green.

Laura is making a tablet runner for Astrid. Pumpkins, maple leaves falling, and the black cat make it special for this time of year. I’m wondering if she’ll quilt it.

Ada missed school Thursday with a stomach virus. By late evening she was better and went to Greta’s volleyball game, but she carries a book and reads. Some kids run wild at the games. But Erin makes Ada stay with her. A bunch of bad things could happen when a child is unattended.

I have another squirrel visiting and eating the seed droppings. I’ll let him be until he climbs the pole and then I’ll have to trap him and haul him away.
 

Today

Today was a day I will never forget! On 9/11, 2001, I was with a class of 11 and 12 year old children. I went into the bathroom and knelt on the concrete floor and prayed for guidance in what to say and do. In 2023 at ATU in the Ross Pendergraft Library, I listened to Deena Burnett describe her 9/11! Her husband called her from Flight 93 , the hi-jacked plane, and told her to report to the authorities what had happened. She got the phone book and thought—who do I call?!

I am so glad I took time to hear Deena tell about those events and what came afterwards in her life. When bad things happen we can be stuck forever in that sorrow and live with bitterness or look for strength and guidance. Deena had 3 little girls to care for and she pushed forward to create a good life for them. Deena is an Arkansas girl and she still lives in our state. I was inspired to do better just hearing her story. Be vigilant or hate will turn you into what you despise! Love overcomes darkness

 

Thursday

 Blogger won’t let me load an image. Every few days something doesn’t work. It’s quite irritating as I always think it’s something I’m doing and its blogger is not working.

I’m giving up today.

Well, I decided to see if blogger was working and it is. Above is a picture of my chicken bread. In the south there’s a saying about poor food. It’s vinegar pie and chicken bread. The vinegar pie is made with vinegar when the housewife runs out of vanilla. Momma made it and it is good. Tastes a little like cheesecake. Chicken bread is made with water and no egg just baking powder and salt. We had cows so we had milk. I have never eaten chicken bread.

Hump Day

Ada’s cowboy boots were too small. She got two new pair~~brown and pink. I’m sure she loved the tassels.

Sigrid came to visit yesterday. She did some homework before heading back to Conway. She said school was getting doable. Last semester was so hard. She had 18 hours and every class was extremely demanding. This semester 14 hours plus she has a base of knowledge she’s building on. She came because the owner of the clinic she where she interned called her and said she wished she had some eggs. I gave Sig two dozen to give her. I’m sure Sigrid didn’t tell her she’d have to drive to get them. The plus was I got to have her with me most of the afternoon.

I’m making two big pans of corn bread for my chickens. I give them a treat everyday. They are spoiled fowl! I had milk that was bad, corn meal in the freezer I would not use, eggs from my hens. The corn meal wasn’t self rising. I bought it by mistake over a year ago. When I saw my mistake I put it in the freezer. So I’m making chicken corn bread! It’ll be enough for their afternoon treat for several days as it’s two big iron skillets of bread. 

I walked 30 minute this morning. It’s not easy but it’ll harden my bones. At the Lake I saw hawks. They’ll move back up here when it’s cooler. I still stand guard when I let my chickens out each evening to eat greens and bugs.

I enjoy jeopardy everyday. It’s my favorite tv show. They are in reruns which I don’t like. I know the results. September 14 the new season starts. I’ll get back to my old routine. Roots is reruns too. 

 

Tuesday

Last evening, Eric and Laura cooked hamburgers and onion rings for Astrid and Logan. They worked in the heat all day. They put the roof on the donkey pole barn. The siding was the wrong color of red. Not what they ordered. The sides will wait til the exchange is made. I was invited to eat. Laura made the onion rings homemade. They were really delicious. Eric’s grilled burgers are always good. I was happy to be included.

Softly the evening came with the sunset.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The waterline is done plus the roof. Astrid has worked so much in the heat that she has a heat rash. But she kept helping. Today she left before 7 pulling the trailer to return the digger. Then she came back and left for work by 7:30.

Siggie has been in town today. I was pleased she came by and stayed the afternoon with me. She’s doing her homework now.

Laura sent watermelon rind to my little flock. They had a hen party.

In honor of Dolly Parton, Laura and I made Ada a Dolly dress. Well, Laura made the dress andI crocheted the color. The skirt is made from scraps like Dolly’s coat was. I sure hope the children don’t laugh at Ada like they did Dolly.