Yada Yada

My two girls are great mothers. I don’t think it’s from my model. I did a lot of correcting and lecturing about what NOT to do. Yada yada yada yada. I’m sure they tuned me out. Ada has summer workbooks. This one had a survey. She called, “Gigi, what’s your favorite ice cream?” Then she called Auntie Fleta and Auntie Laura. Fleta said butter pecan! Ada was excited and reported when finished—vanilla won! Excited about learning and doing. Ada and Greta playing with their similar fake glasses makes me smile. I’m thankful today for my two daughters. God’s gift, not earned by me!

The antiviral med has kicked in. Wow, I can think. I slept. Shingles is more than just a rash. It’s like an attack from a foreign invader. The pill isn’t making me dizzy. That’s the only side effect Siggie said to watch out for. Now, I’m not having the heart issues so I hope that doesn’t mean this has skewed my test. I know old people are so boring. It’s all about them….me. When we go to the bathroom. How much how often. Just like a baby again. Yuck. Yuck. No wonder everyone rolls their eyes at what elderly folks say. We’re infants again. All the unfiltered responses are one’s a young child would be told— don’t talk about that it isn’t appropriate! Good grief.

 

Wednesday

Well, my shingles spot is better. I guess the anti viral med was in time. I am overwhelmed by all my issues.  I will just continue forward.

Until July arrived, I was still having the Goldfinches coming by. I think they have flew on as I haven't been seeing them in a week. Mr. Squirrel is still doing clean up below the feeders. I remind him he's not allowed to climb to the poles. He's the first squirrel I had visit who stays on the ground. I doubt it continues, but there are a lot of seeds dropped to him.

I can't help but wonder what their conversation is about.

Halter Monitor

Astrid shared another of her pretty flowers blooming. It’s verbena, I think.

Well, the halter monitor is like a big bandage. I thought it’d be a halter. I wear a week. I was afraid I wouldn’t have episodes but I am.  I pushed the button once but I feel my heart racing and slowing.

But now I have shingles. I’ll have to call the doctor at 9. I had the shot. What else?!?!

 

Ada had Erin send this saying Gigi will think I have glasses.

Eric power washed around the pool. Looks better.  Laura saw 5 deer, bucks, crossing she only caught two in the photo.

 

Monday, Monday

 Yesterday

Logan and Astrid took Laura and I to visit his grandparents.

I shared the genealogy trees Fleta and I had researched for Logan. 

We came back by a nursery and I bought a plant called Penta, I

think. Full sun. Pretty bloom. I planted it when we got home.

I get the halter heart monitor today. I had an episode riding

along in the truck yesterday.  I hope when I get it on I still have

some so they can see.  Astrid said it may be a fib. I'm nervous 

so I won't write much.  I don't fear death, but dying isn't something

I look forward to.

My Fire plant is alive. LE’s is big. I listen to Connie. My Logan’s are now LE and LR.

I snipped this plant from the front of the shop where get a haircut. I rooted it. I forget what it is.

Fleta plant on left and Helen on the right.

Helen plant.

My new plant….maybe penta. The stuff around it is seeds from dollar tree. I kill plants so I try to not splurge!

History lesson with LR’s grandparent.

July 5

I watched some fireworks on Crow. Mountain. There’s a bunch of very good shows all around me. I live in a cove surrounded by flat top Crow Mountain.

I saw this and could relate most dogs are terrified by the loud noises on the fourth.

I can identify with this one too. When I get bite it takes a week or more to get over it.

Astrid and Logan went to Logan E’s and  celebrated with his family. They play volleyball and cooked out. Sigrid was recruiting players. Astrid said they called Logan R. “Uncle Sam”. Logan E.’s mother is from a big family. I think 12 children. His dad is an only child.

Eric and Laura went out for lunch to the Skylark Cafe.They brought me a slice of strawberry pie.  It was their first 4th in 26 years without being with at least part of their three. I know it was hard for them. They celebrated with Grace.

Ingrid and Justin were invited to a friends. Ingrid took her pretty cheesecake.

Independence Day

Mowing was not fun, but I’m glad the grass is green not dead like some summers. Astrid told me not to mow at ”high noon”. Too hot, she said, so I waited until 5:30 and it was still hot. 😂 But after the chore was over, it was worth the effort.  "Well done is better than well said." Benjamin  Franklin

Asti and Logan went on a date. They went to a place in Conway. The pizza with the spinach and mushrooms looks good to me. Logan likes ranch dressing. Surely, he has enough of it. 😋 These two kids are support for me. ♥️♥️♥️

Got a watermelon at Kroger. I went with Laura. During the school year, she shops online and Eric picks it up. She dug through the watermelon vat and picked me one. Her dad taught her how to pick a melon. He loved them and she does too. I cut mine and it was delicious. The chickens love the rind and bits left. I lost another hen to the heat. I think I’m down to 8. Astrid said she’d give me some. The hen was an olive egger and one of my favs. I got her in April of 2022. She was 4. 😢

Ingrid made a cheesecake. It may be for a Justin’s birthday. She’s a great baker. No cracks across the top. That’s hard to do. I don’t worry about the cracks; I just enjoy the flavor. She said she was adding cherry topping to this one.

Happy Independence Day! My fifth great grandfather, Charles Powell,  at age 37, volunteered for the army of Virginia January 3, 1777. He was with George Washington 3 years. He was at Valley Forge that horrible winter and in many battles. He was a bombardier,  a specialized artillery soldier responsible for operating the heavy, siege-style weaponry of the era. Charles Powell, bombardier, fired speciality  weapons, mortars and howitzers, sending explosive shells at high trajectories to destroy fortifications. After he served his 3 years, he went home to Virginia and was in the militia until the war was over. He received a grant in Ohio but sold it and before 1790 moved to Kentucky traveling over the trail Daniel Boone hacked out. What a hero he is to me.
Charles Powell In the First Artillery Continental TroopsExtracted from National Archives Records
Appointed January 3, 1777, for 3 years
At Valley Forge June 3, 1778 , Pay rate $9 a month paid in New York currency, in 1778
At Camp White Plains August 8, 1778
Sick in Camp at Camp Fredericksburg October 1, 1778
Promoted to Sergeant October 1, 1778 Pay rate $10
At Camp Pluckamin December 21, 1778
At Middle Brook June 3, 1779
At Camp Smith's Clove July 4, 1779
At New Windsor August 3, 1779
Discharged January 10, 1780 - Morristown, New Jersey 
Worse Winter of 1780 

On Sept. 1, 1783 Charles Powell signed as receiving 79 Pounds, 8 shillings, and 5 pence. 

July 3

Astrid and Logan are reaping the rewards of their gardens. 

Someone gave Logan corn. Laura cut it off the cob and froze it. She put 2 cups per bag. She’s planning to use it in vegetable soup this winter.

 This plant came from Siggie’s Logan. It’s called a fire plant. The ends of the stems turn red I haven’t killed it….yet.

I didn’t sleep much. I like plans and order. I’m living with too many unknowns that I can’t fix. No more tea. I’m just drinking water. Well, I’m drinking my 2 cups of coffee now. Pretty much the high light of my day. I like coffee. I’m trying to drink milk, small glass 2 or 3 times a day. I’m eating to live and I prefer living to eat what I want.

July 2

Ingrid’s Justin has a birthday today. He’s 24. He loves to fish. I hope he gets to go fishing today!

Went to my favorite pharmacy—C&D—and had intern Isaac check my blood pressure and sugar! Didn’t even feel the stick! Blood Pressure 106/68! I give Isaac an A+❤️

Greg and Erin took the children to a museum in St. Louis Tuesday. It was interactive. Ada loved it. Clayton invited his friend Tyson along. Greta wasn’t excited about it so Greg paid her $50 to go with Ada through the exhibits. 

Today they headed to OK City to a big water park. Hope the children enjoy it.

 Clayton and Tyson

I’ve been having episodes with dizzy or disconnect spells. I’m sort of concerned. Laura went with me today to Dr. I had ekg and it was ok. I going to wear a heart monitor.i want to be well.

July One

Half 2026 is history. Gone. I hope I live a better life the second half. Not better for self but for others. 

The world is large; the world is small. From a short distance from my yard, one can’t see my lantana. Even when you stand near, you don’t see the completeness to the blooms. You have to lean in. You have to lean in to feel for others. If one builds up a shell around yourself, you’ll cease to feel. Lord, I don’t want to be a terrapin. Recently (5 days ago) a twenty year old girl carried her 6 week old baby and walked into the Arkansas River. Well, she told her grandmother that was her plan. Grandmother reported it and the policeman went to the River. Her car was there about 5 feet from the water. I felt the sadness. Many could possibly DID something. The search continues but they have not been found.

This morning a former student told me who the GREAT grandmother was. I taught her in one of my first classes. She was short and the sweetest girl. She developed diabetes and died young. The connection to that girl and baby made me feel more deeply. The world is large, but if you care it’s smaller. So many of us have shells. They shield from caring.🫶🏻

 

Arkansas—The Natural State

 

Richland Creek

Falling Water flows into Richland and Richland Creek dumps into the Buffalo River! The Buffalo River is a National River, America's first designated National River. Stretching 135 free-flowing miles, it is famous for its towering limestone bluffs, crystal-clear waters, and world-class canoeing and kayaking.

Paradise is in our own backyard! One can travel far on vacation but there isn’t anything more spectacular that Falling Water Falls and Richland Creek! Erin’s family is vacationing this week. They have day trips planned! They always include our hidden gems Falling Water and Richland Creek. Clayton and Greta jump from the Falls. Ada is still a little afraid but she can jump from the huge rocks on Richland and side down nature’s water slide at Six Fingers! They take a picnic and enjoy the cooler temperatures and mountain air! Arkansas truly is the natural state💎

Falling Water Creek