Fleta's Legacy

Raise some guineas

Raise some gourds

Make a little gesture towards

A richer life in service passed

To leave some imprint at the last

If not great deeds

Or golden words

Then raise some guineas

Raise some gourds.

 MARY ELIZABETH MAHNKEY

Allie Poor's Mother

 Leonard and Myra Stacy Atchison--Allie Poor's brother.

John Atchison is the John who married Tammer Youngblood.  Don't think he is Andy's father but probably his cousin.  Most researchers on Ancestry say it is the same man, but I have concluded they are two different Johns.

Leonard Atchison--Allie's brother

Allie Poor's mother Lanora Jackson Atchison, James Andy's wife!

Below is Emma Atchison Peebles--Andy's Sister--Dillard's Great Aunt!

I Remember Your Eyes

The picture is of Ma Barker.  She married Dillard's first cousin's (Bertha White) father in law's brother.  So I think that makes Tony and Kelly kin to the Barker gang! lol

After I got back from Erin's, I went to gas up.  I went to Kroger's as I get a discount on a tank of gas a month and it was the end of June and I had not used my discount.  A young man was in front of me.  I have to pay and then fuel up.   I don't use a credit card for gas so everywhere I have to go give them money first.  This young man was doing the same--plus--he was buying 4 packs of Marlboros.  They were a dollar off.  The checker was an old lady--older than me.  I waited and waited. It seemed to take forever. He did not have his Kroger card for his discount and could not remember his phone number, but he remembered me! He turned and smiled.  "I know you," he said.  I looked and thought "oh, I know your eyes'.  But I just smiled and said "6th grade Russellville Middle School!"  "Mrs. Renfroe" he almost shouted.  You remember me I am Connie K.'s  (forget the name) son!  I told him I did remember his eyes.  There was no need to explain it to him as I guess I looked about the same but I taught 40 years and I had 6 classes each year with 25 plus in each class that comes to 150 times 40.  But yes, I remembered his eyes.  I was staring at his arm.  He had his last name tatooed in 2 inch letters down his left arm. He held it up for me to see.  What do I say--"well, you won't forget your last name".  He smiled and showed me his right arm which read Madelyn in the same HUGE letters.  He explained..."you see, I thought she was my daughter but turned out she belonged to someone else".  (I pictured dna test, child support hearing, etc.)  But he added quickly--"I do have a daughter down in Florida, anyway"  but..."oh, I don't get to see her".  Then he grabbed me into a bear hug.  when I prepaid, he ran and started my gas.  I could tell he remembered more about me than I did him.  He said he was 28...I said well, you were 11 when I knew you and now you look different "but I do remember your eyes!"

I guess I was good to him because after all that time he remembered a lot more about me than I did about him, but still I wish I could remember more than just his eyes!

Texas Pictures

 Laura sent me some pics by phone.  Here Sigrid is swimming on the roof!

 I think this one of the girls is at the Alamo and below is Sea World.  Sigrid will be an expert on all of it and I will get an update when she comes home!

Spending The Day With Two Great Friends

 Erin had to go to Marshall to do a home visit today and she had to something else with work.  Greg works 12 hours and got off at 7 this morning. Greg's Mom could not watch Clayton and Greta.  When I asked Clayton why Gelisha could not watch them he said that "Meme was on a date".  Hope she had as much fun as I did.  Greta went to the bathroom all day...no accidents.  She even told me that she needed to do number 2.  She said she got to get something from the treasure box for that!  Clayton immediately said he was going to do the same and get something from his treasure box.  Greta completed the task, and Clayton said he did.  I just took his word for it! yuck!  Greta's hair was in her eyes but she and I did not care!  She knows blue and pink and yellow...but would not try to say green.  I guess that is a hard word.  At first she wanted her Dad, but within 3 minutes we got to be great friends.  Erin came home a little after 12.   And I stayed awhile longer!  I enjoyed the kids but don't want a full time job!  Oh, I did not sweep or clean!  I made alittle mess and left it.  Erin will know, Helen, that you and I are not similar in those lines!   I got home about 4.

Someone knocked on the door and I thought "Jehovah's Witness!"  No, it was Sister and we had a good visit.  I left Erin's about 2:00!

Making progress

 Only one small section and my grass will be history!

I will live to regret my decision!

 Yesterday these two baby coons were having breakfast in our wild Cherry tree.  I watched them and filmed them for almost half an hour.  I knew I should have called Larry to get his gun, but they looked so sweet just like a couple of kids.  Now, they will probably raid our corn patch, kill my chickens, and no telling what else, but still I just let them go!

The videos are at the bottom if you want to watch them, Fleta!

Eating High On the Hog?

I was able to glean enough corn for supper.   I picked one ear that was a little early but will cook it.  Now, I am wondering what does -- eating high on the hog -- mean?

Lily in my side garden.

This lily blooms in a cascade.  It only lasts a day or so, but sure is pretty when it shines!

Sigrid Going to Texas

Sigrid wanted to stay overnight last night as they are leaving in the morning for San Antonio, TX.  When she got here she felt bad I could tell.   She did not want anything to eat and said her head hurt.   Well, 30 minutes later she starting throwing up.  I promptly called Laura and they came back to get her.  She was fine today.  I guess it was just a 24 hour thing.  I told Laura I figured she was better off at home.   Laura said today--I know you Mom, you did not want to take care of her through the night.  Yes, she knows me.  Sure am glad our girl is fine today.  We went over to watch her swim awhile.  She was her old self.  I can't wait for her swim meets.  She showed us all the strokes and her dive!

Forgotten Dreams!

My Lilies are blooming--Forgotten Dreams!

Potatoes Are Dug!

Dug the potaoes today.  We had already harvested about a dozen hills and had a few that were in the ground too long, but we will enjoy what we dug.   We had some cooked with the jackets on and steak for supper. Pretty tasty!

Raising Good Kids!

 Laura's bunch are going to San Antonio!  Remember the Alamo--Sigrid said she was going to see it!  Well, I suggested that before they left we should have cinnamon rolls one morning!  Tada!  Today was the day!   Laura delivered them warm in the pan.  Larry and I sat on the back porch and had breakfast with our coffee. Larry made the coffee so it was good.  Coffee is so much better if someone else makes it!

I am sure am glad I taught my girls to cook and follow the recipe never just throwing stuff in the pot!

I Meant To Mislead You!

 I have been carefully cropping the grass out of my garden photos...but decided to bare my soul today and let you really see how it looks.  I am working to rid myself of this sin! lol  Other misconception that you may have is that I am a great gardener!  Someone else is the brains behind the garden.  I am just a simpler hoer!  I have to ask daily questions about what I need to do for this bug or that yellow plant.  He has all the answers to my questions.  Knows what fertilizer goes on each plant.

We may have corn by weekend.  One thing this country girl can do is tell when the corn is ready.  You just feel the ear to see if it is full.  Also, the ear will stick out from the corn stock asking you to check to see if it is ready.

 I got buckets of grass out today and gave it to the chickens.  When I give them greens I get double the number of eggs.

 We are going to dig our potatoes...so this morn I pulled the vines.  These were just the ones attached to the potato vines.  Larry will dig them with the tractor.

 My onions are making heads!  I have never had onions make heads.  Below you see the Texas Navy beans that that Peter Rabbit and his family were living off of.  Larry has shot about 18 rabbits in the last two weeks and we still see them.  I blamed the deer for this but now I believe it was Flopsy and Mopsy and all the rest!

 My Kentucky Wonder Pole beans are blooming and maybe we will have green beans in about a week to 10 days.

 My okra is coming on but not blooming yet.  You can see my soaker hose.

 Pumpkins and Georgia Jets are going to town.  I water the garden every night from 6:30 to after 9:00.

 I am getting peppers.  Last night I fried onions, peppers and new potatoes. It was yummy.  My tomatoes are big and turning white.  Probably 10 days until I will have a few ripe.  Below is Larry's pea patch.

This is a weed growing in Larry's disk.  He used the disk in the spring and left it by the garden.  The weed is so pretty.

 Watermelons blooming.  We are not watering them.  Sure hope it rains.

 Tie alerting us to this snapping turtle weeks ago.  He is now garden art!

 Larry will have to take this hiller off and put the plow on the Kubota so we can dig the potatoes.  I may just video it!