EEEK--A mistake!

 Each of these squares have two lines of crochet around them...well I have found one row about 10 rows back where I only did one line.  Do I rip it all out back to the mistake or just continue on and say as I remember Momma saying "no one will notice on a galloping horse!"

Daddy Was A Dreamer

My Daddy was a dreamer.  He always had hope for another day.  He was not brought down easily.  This is his 'new barn'.  I recall the building.  I was in the 4th grade.  New things all age and get old and rotten.  Daddy's new barn brought him down fast.  Price of milk fell.  Mortgage on the Holsteins and barn still came due.  Milk check would not even pay for the cow feed.   I still hate cows to this day.  Never wanted any.  I love chickens but cows I hate.  I remember adding water to the milk cans trying to fetch a few more pennies.  
Dreams and men are broken!  Daddy spring from all this a better man.  His new dreams were of retirement and the little government check he would get.  He got that 10 year vacation.  He did not look back and worry about the past.   I recall he always said it was a waste.  Look forward and dream of a new barn!  Spring is coming and flowers will just pop up to cheer us!

January and July

Things never turn out like you want.  Isn't that bird feeder beautiful...well after enduring several January's and July's it does not look the same.  It is sort of nasty pink and covered with bird manure.  Two months I don't really look forward to are January and July.  January--I think of being cold down to my bones.  I recall Fleta and I gathering wood on the hill to keep the house warm.  Maybe it was kindling but it seems like it was fuel to keep us warm.  I have decided I will not be cold in January anymore.  I will spend whatever it takes to be warm down to my bones.

Now, in July it is harder to be cool and comfortable because the air conditioner does not feel like a cool breeze.  It only feels cool to the outside of your skin and down next to the bone you are still hot.  I remember  sleeping in the yard in July and finally feeling cool up in the morning, but wet with dew.  What a Momma I had to let me take her quilts outside to the yard in the summer.  I also remember the one metal fan we had and we would sleep on a pallet at the foot of Dad's bed and feel a hot breeze.

The good thing about January is February comes next.  Merle Haggard says 'if we make it 'til December' but I sang 'if I make through January'.  February brings hope that the garden can be planted and good times lie ahead.  Put out peas, onions, potatoes, cabbage!  Think of the harvest.  Don't think of July when it all burns up and no rain comes to water it.  Think of May and everything being green.  I am glad I was born in June not January.  Sister was born in early May!  What a hopeful time.  Poor Fleta was born at the first of January and probably she was cold during her first days on earth!

I hate the TV.  It just tries to stir a pot about whatever they can get to bubble.   We are the pot.  Everyone today echos and no new thoughts seem to come forth.  Hope springs eternal as February is coming and I can just turn the TV off.

I am looking forward to my first spring when I do not have to rise and go to work.  I can go to work in my garden or whatever I want.  Today I am off to the library in the afternoon.  They have a Rick Bragg book put back for me.  I probably have already read it but maybe I will find another one.  Last time, my books were a wash.  Rielle H.'s story makes one want to puke.  I got a Maya A. cookbook.  It was not very good.  I will not even bother you with the others I lugged home only to lug back again!

Sorry, I have not posted, Sisters.  I have worked on Helen's throw some, but am not nearly completed.  I did a stupid thing.  I bought expensive yarn at Hobby Lobby because it felt good.  When I go by, I take the 40 percent off and get another skein.  I have worked up 4.  The other day...I noticed they raised the price on each skein to 7.99.  Fleta's throw did not cost much...about 24 dollars.  Helen's is going to hold a gold mine.
And Patsy, it has a pineapple fringe and i am afraid I will not understand how do make it.  I may have to bring it up to you to finish.  I am still on the throw and not even to the fringe but I am afraid it may come like January or July--labor to survive.

RMS Foggy Mountaineers

Coach Fisher is the sheriff!

New Gun Safe

Everyone needs a good gun safe!

Dirt

Patsy and Richard loved playing in the dirt.  Fleta and I did too.  Things have not changed as Greta and Clayton love dirt.

No Picasso--Patsy Please

 Clayton brought his rocket when he came yesterday.  All the kids had fun making it blast off.  The red head could send it the farthest.   Here's hoping Patsy will repost these right side up!

American Doll

Greta has on the Christensen's girls coat and hat that they wore when they were little.  She reminds me of one of those dolls that you see advertised in magazines asking only 29.99 for a year.  I always wondered who could afford an American Doll?  Now, I have one!

Heart Attack, Heart Attack!

We beat Morrilton by one point tonight.  Astrid always seems so calm.  I had to get up and pace by the bleachers.    Such a great game and winning by one only makes it better!

Chicken Vegetable Soup

I have been craving soup.  I have made chicken soup and potato soup this week.  The chicken was the best.

Making the Best of a Bad Situation

 If your life turns as sour as lemon, make lemonade.  If you have another big snow day, make snow ice cream.  We are making the best of it as we are snowed in--again!

Yesterday and Today

 Top picture is yesterday and bottom is today.   It has snowed all afternoon and is cold.  I am just glad I do not have to get out and go back and forth to work.  I remember how crazy all the kids get when it snows...I am happy to be retired!

Cold Here

 It was 23 last night and then at 10 it got up to 26 but now we are warm as it is 30.  I told Larry that this cold was good for the garden to which he answered--why?  I guess I was just looking for something positive.  Ready for spring. Daddy hated winter and I do too!  The pictures are of the same place--one day apart!

Hard Rain

 Lake and pond are full after our 48 hour rain.  I walked around the Lake yesterday morning and today I could not even get down the little road to the Lake.  This crane visited us on the pond and I took the photos from the kitchen with the zoom.

January is half over and we are dreaming of spring and planting garden.  Will not be long.

Dr. Today

Well, I was at the Dr. office all afternoon.  Test, test, blue arms from drawing blood.  But no more blood thinner.  I can eat spinach and broccoli and asparagus.  I asked when I got to stop taking the warafin  and he said NOW!  I am so happy.

He wants me to take something for the arthritis and I will try it awhile and see.  There were lots of sick people  there.  I tried to not TOUCH anything!  I sat in a corner and tried to stay away from all the coughers!

Well, I can go eat what I want.  I was only 5 feet 4 inches. Where did 5 feet 5 inches go?  I had lost some weight.  Need to loose some more!

Love all my sisters!

Another Player

 Sigrid is playing basketball and if you look closely at her shot...you can say....not bad for a 7 year old.

Bookmobile

One of the first bookmobiles!  Nothing greater than a good book and time to read.

Sisters From Yesterday

 Fleta said she does not even remember me taking all the walnut tree money when we were kids.  I wish I had kept quiet about it.  I wondered why I remembered and she did not.  I think I walked to the Mill from school and I bet Daddy told me as he gave the walnut money to me that half of it was Fleta's.  She did not hear him tell me that the money was not all for me...

We don't look all that different from when we were kids about 1962 in the picture below.  Oh, Erin took the pictures.

Couponing

I bet I am the only sister that keeps a big bag of coupons in her purse.  I went through them this morning as many are dead as of 12/31/2012.  But the Little Rock paper had a bunch of new ones that I clipped and replaced the stack that went in the trash.  Couponing is a hassle I guess but I enjoy it so I do it.  I have one from Kroger for free Kraft mayo...now that is a good one.

I 'run to fat' and have all my life.  I feel better without the fat blanket 6 inches thick covering my body.  And my knees feel better too.  My nurse daughter told me that for every pound I lose, 4 pounds of weight are lifted from my knees.  She is wise.

Sigrid taught me a lot yesterday.  We talked the two hours to Harrison and the two hours home.  Heaven is in the sky and they keep adding rooms as when more folks pass away they have to add on.  I used to be an assistant to the dentist.  I told her she had me mixed up with someone but she quickly let me know that I was the one confused...so I used to help the dentist.  If you want kids to be good, you have to 'whup' 'em.  The Bible says so...oh, but first you should get a warning!  I think she is speaking from experience.  She stayed with a friend and they ate chicken nuggets and macaroni.  She wanted more but they were out.  She knew she should not ask for more, but wanted them to which she was offered chips and she promptly let the host know she hated that kind.  She said most kids like pizza but I prefer spaghetti and rice with soy sauce.  I made chocolate gravy once for her on a visit and she wanted it over her sausage.  I  doused it on there and she ate it all.  The girl knows what she wants is all I can say!

Happy Birthday

Walnut Harvest

In the fall of about 1963?, Fleta and I picked up black walnuts.  We had a bunch.  Daddy already worked at the Eldridge Mill and had a paycheck coming each week.  He took our walnuts to the hullers and sold them. I think we got almost $40.00.  I took the money to Seitz Dry Goods in Green Forest and bought a green jumper that went with a peasant looking blouse that was pale green.  The  Store was an expensive one.  I remember seeing the outfit and wanting it.  Fleta had no say.  I worked out in my mind that she could wear it too.  NOT!  She did not weigh even 100 pounds and I was probably about 140.  Needless to say it would not fit her, but I wore it a long time.  I wonder if Helen or Fleta remember this happening?

Happy Birthday, Sister, I look forward to Saturday.  The cake will not have walnuts, but Erin will make a tasty carrot cake I am hoping.

Still At It

Larry has put together another puzzle and I am still working on Astrid's throw. It is really pretty, but I will be glad to get it finished.

Going Saturday to Harrison and meeting the 65 year old sister for her birthday.  Maybe Siggie will go with me.