School Beginning

Laura and Erin make homemade cinnamon rolls for the first day of school. Laura started today. No little girls were there to help get ready! She brought me a cinnamon roll driving her Dad’s old Chevy. Her car is being serviced! 

In my lifetime, I started to school on a first day nearly 60 times—regular school, college, graduate school and 40 years of teaching. It’s so important to get started in a positive way! Ada’s first day of school today too! I’m wishing all first dayers great beginnings!

Laura’s above and Erin’s below…I got one of Laura’s. They were delicious and Erin’s looks delicious too.

My Momma sent me off to school on the school bus with a cinnamon on many days. We had no visit to the school. Had to figure things out after we arrived at Green Forest Elementary School. 🏫 I had great teachers there…it was all positive♥️

Ada starts 2nd grade today at Forest Heights Elementary. She’s excited. She loves her school and all the people there. She had a homemade cinnamon roll to start her day! She struck several poses for me. She has on the shoes I got her.

Greta starts later in the week..maybe tomorrow.

Astrid is painting inside their camper. It was all dark. She’s adding a lighter color. Just the primer on so far.

That bed looks really comfortable.

Yesterday it was almost 100. I hope she was able to run the air as she worked. The next coat will make it look even better.

  

8-9

Tupelo Black Gum turning red

Walnut trees adding yellow

Maple showing pink and orange hue

Surprise lilies popping up

The signals of fall are everywhere even though it’s still above 95 daily, nature knows what’s coming next. I love fall, but we often skip it entirely going from hot to cold with only a short span in between. 

 I went to my favorite library and found all the Ann Patchett books they had in the shelves. Laura gave me one from ThriftBooks she ordered. I’ll save it til last. May not be able to red them all before they’re due August 29…but who knows. I found three new books they’d just put on the shelf. They’re nonfiction and have an Arkansas connection.

A local lawyer has written a memoir. I know her and enjoyed reading about her life. I knew her mother well. We met in a graduate class— History of the South. Reading about all the hurdles she had to overcome was startling. She has a heart for the poor as I do. She was a Vista volunteer at 17. Her son was in my class in 6th grade. He died at 17 from injuries of an automobile wreck. I read the book 📕 yesterday and plan to pass it to Laura. I learned a lot about laws and crime and life from her book. I wish I could share it with Fleta.

Lady Lawyer

Greta can jump

Erin sent me a video of Greta touching the bottom of the basketball goal. It’s 9 feet high. She’s 5’10”. So she’s elevating over 3”.  She has been trying to hit this target for a long time. Success! 

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Weekend

We love our donkeys. They are: Johnny Cash, June Carter, Rose Ann, Kitty Wells, Opossum Jones, Kenny Rogers, and Loretta. Yes, a herd.

Donkeys are special animals. Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. Instead of riding a war horse, Jesus came as the prince of peace on a little donkey. The donkey is a beast of burden. They can carry a heavy load.  Jesus carries the heaviest burden—the sins of all. Legend says the donkey stayed near Jesus at Calvary and when our Lord was crucified the shadow of the cross fell on the the little donkey’s back. It’s still there today!

The Coming of Zion’s King

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!

    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you,

    righteous and victorious,

lowly and riding on a donkey,

    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The R. M. and Gertrude Powell farm painting is displayed on the wall once more. Aunt Winnie Powell Reed painted it in 1982 from an a fly over picture. My Grandparents bought the Sunny Lane farm about 1918 and owned it until after Grandpa passed in 1954. Then Grandma moved to the big house on Springfield Street in Green Forest where she rented apartments—two upstairs  and one down. The downstairs apartment was always rented to a single lady.  Grandma was able to support herself! Our Aunt Una Powell lived across the street. 

I love that you can see Grandma in her apron on the front porch and Grandpa in his overalls near the garage.  The back of their car is visible. The outhouse stands in back yard. The chicken house the family lived in after 1927 tornado is special. The barn shows large and strongly built.  The cows and horses are grazing in the pasture.  

My cousin Winnie’s family entrusted the treasure to me! I took the painting to a framer and had the frame reinforced. I want it to be here long after I am gone! I passed the Powell farm picture to Astrid. She has the farmer’s spirit. It hangs in the house that Pop built.

Lord, bless the meadow, you have loaned me!

As I tend the crops and animals 

Let me remember you are the one who created them.

Bless us, the creatures, and the land. 

 

Friday

Last night we received a drink! 1 1/2 inches will keep the grasses alive another week. It’s really hot, above 95 each day. I sit on the porch each evening and guard my chickens for an hour. I take my crochet out there. It’s suffering for but the chickens love it. No coyotes or hawks last night. I'm a chicken Shepard!

Ada and Laura had “meet your teacher” night. Ada is wearing the dress Laura made her. If Erin will let her, she always chooses a skirt or dress to wear. She’s the opposite of Greta at that age. Erin bought her skorts last year. I hope they’re still in style. Ada’s teacher has been at it 7 years. Praying she has patience and structure. Children need structure to learn, not freedom is my belief. 

Laura said she had some parents come by. She gets to leave at noon today because of staying late last evening.

Eric gave Frodo a bath. Doesn’t look like he’s enjoying it.

I lost another friend this week. Her Dad’s sister was married to my Dad’s brother. So her cousins were my cousins! We grew up together. I stayed overnight at her house in elementary school. She loved butterflies, flying flowers. Her son married my great niece. Her sister has been my friend since 5th grade. Her father was my older brother’s hunting Buddy and best friend. Her mother was one of my sister Patsy’s dearest friends. They shared rides to work and traded flowers. Take me home country roads. We traveled the same paths and loved the same people. Her people are my people. I know my sadness doesn’t match her families…but oh, how I feel her absence. 

Barbara Rudd Wade 1958~~2026

The Rudd family minus Lorissa about 1965

L to Right Esther Faye, Ann holding Cynthia, Jonell (my good friend), Barbara Jean in front of Jonell , Mary Ellen, Frances Sue (Lorissa wasn’t born yet. Cindy has passed now Barb.)

Yesterday, I went to the Nursing Home to visit my friend Mary. She’s in comfort care. She and her husband worked hard all their lives. She’s having to pay 232$ a day to stay there. She said that’s where their labor has gone. She said —“spend your money. Why am I still here?” I paid to have her dna done and have built a tree for her. Each time I visit, I’m going to print one of her family lines and tell her about what I found about them. Yesterday, we talked about her surname family. Next week she asked that I tell her about her mother’s family—the Curtis line. I plan to go each week until she passes. Her mind is still sharp at 96.  Living is hard, dying is easy.

August 6

Ada read this book this week and really enjoyed it. I’m wondering if she’s retaining the things she reads about. Hopefully….

Laura won a door prize at her back to school breakfast sponsored by the chamber of commerce. It was a $20 dollar bill from Tyson Foods. That’s where Sister Fleta has worked 38 years. Cash is always a good win.

Camp ended for Ada. Parks and Rec of her town sponsors it. They face painted and celebrated the summer’s end. I had Erin ask her if this was a tattoo. She said to tell me it was just face paint.

I was able to add rotating pictures of Ada on my watch. I can see her the entire day. Erin makes her work in work books each day. She can read well enough to do most sessions with little help. The reading skill has carried over to better math too.

Laura has meet your teacher tonight. I received one of those half off everything from a local store. She found this sweater and said she’d wear it tonight. I like it. 

 I went to Dr. Rasool. He prescribed a beta blocker. As what is causing my rapid beat isn’t exactly pinned down. I am to have an ultrasound of my heart. I will see him in 6 weeks. Beta blockers slow the heart I know. The one I’m taking is toprol xl. One thing it treats is arrhythmia.  Maybe this will help. Hope I’m not so tired I don’t feel like doing my work outside. My life is like walking in a fog.

August 5

Sigrid’s Logan likes plants. Sigrid does too. Logan has had his Fire plant for a while and I liked it. Siggie brought we several cuttings. We stuck them in my old bucket. I had an impatient in it but it died. Every sprig lived. I was so proud of how mine was progressing. Yesterday, I asked Sig to send me a picture of theirs. Wow, mine is puny in comparison. But I still like it. I plan to bring it inside when the cold weather gets here. 

The Fire Plant is called a Pencil Cactus and Fire Stick. It isn’t a cactus. It’s a succulent that loves the sun. The tips of the branches turn red and it can grow into a small tree. I doubt mine will reach tree size.

Lots of House finches are visiting my feeders. I like all the little birds. Fleta has a Carolina Wren nesting in a potted flower. She sent me a picture of the two eggs. I said—put them back fast. She said wrens can’t smell. I sure hope these raise as the Wren’s song is melodious. 

My Dr. appointment is today. Hope I learn it’s not a big issue.

Here’s a Fire Stick turning red…not my picture.

August 4

Well, memories can make you smile and cry! Yesterday my FB memory was my Sisters coming to see me a year ago. Then almost a year later Fleta came alone. It was Helen’s last visit here! Sad memory, but I recalled all the fun we had! Helen always brought lots of food for us because she knew I hated to cook and my meals were the pits.

I got my big yard mowed yesterday. Lessons from Logan!! I didn’t start mowing or working much in the yard until I was 69 years old! I certainly never bought diesel in big containers and hauled it home! Well, after my Farmer Gigi life started, I have to do things I’ve never done before! I just went to Walmart to get my diesel. Logan said, “Gigi, go to the Hob Nob and get off road”. I’m ignorant! Today I did just what Logan said! Closer station, cheaper price! And I support Larry’s old friend Mark Fletcher!

Logan also told me to not mow throwing grass on my gravel lane. Seeds make more grass! Who’d even thought about that! I’m still learning everyday and I’m heading down the life road toward 80!

Loretta is getting cuter everyday. She’s a little sweetie, too.

I will go lift weights and bike ride at the gym today and then I’m going to Aldi’s for milk. Tomorrow, I see  Dr. Rasool about my racing heart.

One of my College professors is getting inducted into the ATU Hall of Fame. She’s asked my friend Kay and I to sit at her table at the banquet. I feel honored. She’s 89 and has few family members to ask to join her in the celebration. 

 

Greta’s First Car

Ada came and got to meet Loretta. She still has on her “church” socks. She loves ruffles.

Ada in the Driver’s seat.

 Greta will be 16 last of October. Astrid wanted a truck to drive as she is a farmer. Greta is getting Astrid’s Camry as her first wheels. Astrid has had it since her last year in college. Now, Greta will take the wheel. She will have it 3 months before driving alone. She was surprised!

First August Sunday

Sister Fleta left for Coin, AR at 8:00. We’re morning drivers. I bragged to our cousin Frankie Powell about cooking her an omelette and toast for breakfast. He teased us with his meal—homemade biscuits, fresh garden tomatoes topped with iron skillet gravy. This was our Dad’s favorite. Ought to have known I can’t top Frankie.

The small Carroll County settlement known as Coin was located on Dry Creek, east of Green Forest. The Coin Post Office was established on April 9, 1891 with Bailey M. Boyd acting as the first postmaster. The town had its ups and downs, with postal service temporarily shutting down in 1893 and again later from 1907-1911. The Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad would come through town in 1901. The Coin Post Office permanently closed on August 5, 1944. Mail service was then transferred to Green Forest.

Sister and I had a great visit. She brought cooler temperatures. We sat each morning and watched the birds. We spent time identifying the bird songs. We both loved the little Carolina Wren’s loud tune. Each evening we let the chickens out and acted as watchmen of coyotes. We road around in my buggy to visit Sigrid, Eric, and Laura. We saw Loretta Lynn. She’s getting more active, kicking her feels high and running as fast as the wind. 

I’ll be back to my boring life tomorrow. Laura starts to work and Fleta will be getting up at 3:30 each morning to head to her job getting there at 5 or 5:30. She’s 78 years old and still running with the big dogs. I’m just a yard dog now!