Astrid And Her ATU Friends

 Kayla, Astrid and Maddie--All ATU runners and Russellville girls.

Saturday

 Sigrid is helping raise money for the swim team today participating in a swim meet.  She is the cute girl sitting on the right!

Clayton and Greg went squirrel hunting!  Squirrel and dumplings for supper!

Astrid ran strong today.  I think maybe ATU won the meet.

Run, Girl, Run

Astrid is running at ATU today.  Laura sent the picture.  Astrid came over last evening.  She wanted to borrow the truck as she saw a little table on facebook and she thought it would be good to set a tv on.  Logan drove her over in Pop's truck to get it as he picked it up, it broke so Asti said the table was free!  She took her mirror home that Pop made a frame for.  It goes in the hall bath. 

Laura said she thought she finished 8th in the ATU meet.  Ran it in about 21 minutes.  Pretty awesome, Gigi thinks. 

Pop's Puzzle

Pop does this puzzle everyday.  Laura and Erin like 'em too!  Both my girls are smarter than me...and nicer...and better moms...better spellers...better at math. 

I got the 4 words unscrambled pretty easily but could not bet the phrase.  Well, Erin got it and I am pleased that she is such a good puzzle person.   I love word puzzles and so do my two smart girls.

American Government

Ingie made these for her Government class.  They are to represent cooperating in government, Laura thought.   The batter is at least 2 colors maybe 3, but one can see red in the icing.  Our government was set up uniquely in 3 parts to check and balance one another.  The Supreme Court is a life office so those appointed there must be above reproach.  Today, the 3 branches seem to be completely divided.  Cooperation has gone out the window and been replaced with "my way" is the only way.  I do believe this is a product of the "individual is special and so important" replacing the Christian way.   The importance of self is taught today.  At one time, deny self was an important concept.  Those who are Christians today are usually the strongest separatist.   I have lost all my faith in government.   My rant for today!

Lord is My Shepard

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.

Greta Drew My Red Hen

 Greta drew a picture of one of my red hens.  The little red hen was so pleased to have her image drawn!

Astrid got her test back in biology.   She was thrilled with her 86 grade.  I am too!

Larry worked on his fence today.  Next to the yard he is using wooden posts.  So holes have to be put in the ground for them.  He will reap the rewards next summer when he has about 2 acres less to mow. 

I made chili as this was the first really cool day.  I enjoyed the entire day.  Phinnie and I walked over around the pond and back.  He is the perfect dog for me to walk with...we both have squatty bodies.

The Cardinals have lost two games in a row.   Season almost over.  Hopefully, if they don't make it to the final play this year, next year will be better.

I like the Cardinals.  Daddy and I listened on the radio to their games.  I recall Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Curt Flood!  We enjoyed the games then and I enjoy them now.  My favorite player is the old catcher--Yadie Molina.

Teaching Speech

Laura is teaching speech by letting the children sew.   Isn't it neat.   They work on their goals without even knowing it.

Greta chose lucky 13 for her basketball number.  She is so smart.

Larry is working on his fence.  I am hot again.  I guess I am just old and fat.  It was 85 but to me it was so hot!

My new Patsy is getting me a bushel of apples for 15 bucks.  I am getting  Jonathan's.   At first I said two bushels--one yellow delicious and one Jonathan. 
I decided that was a lot of apples.  I will make applesauce and Larry loves to eat them.

Long Sleeves

When Astrid went to Fayetteville to the cross country meet, she went to the mall and found this dress with longer sleeves.  She thought it would be more appropriate for her ceremony for the Hall of Fame.

My brother would be 74 today...

Greta's New Duds

I sent Erin a little money for clothes for Clayton and Greta.  Clayton said he would pass on showing his wardrobe.    But Greta tried on what she got.  I zoomed in to see her eye and it is getting better. 

Erin had to put some cash with what I sent.   Greta sure looks happy.  All girls love clothes. 

I love the way she turns her weight to the outside of her shoes! 

Laura went to a wedding this evening and sent me a selfie. 

Her friend Shannon is the mother of the bride.

Into My Past

Growing up many times we had corn bread and milk for a meal.  We had this menu when we had no money and when we had had a enormous dinner we had this light supper.  I made it for our lunch today.  Larry said, "this is so good".  Back to his roots, too.  We did not have buttermilk to pour on it or it would have been even better.

Volleying Cross Country!

Astrid's meet was in Fayetteville today so Eric and Logan drove up to watch her run.  What I notice is her big smile!   She loves having family with her!  She will only have a few more meets and the traveling will end.  College meets are farther from here and often they have to stay overnight before the meet.  The meets start early so they would have to leave at midnight to get to some of them to be there 2 hours before the start!  I love to see her smiling.

Siggie is playing volleyball in North Little Rock so Laura went there to support her.  She will be glad when the traveling with her team is over too.  At first it is fun and then it is work!



The cool front arrived and I am making soup.  Glad to feel the cool air.  We also got a good rain!

Friday Night Football

Ingrid and her friends are posing before a Cyclone football game.  If she went to the game tonight, she surely needed a raincoat!

It is supposed to be cooler now.  I am ready.

Cousin Merle

Merle Haggard wrote this during his last days on earth.  His memory was traveling back to a time when he was riding his bus out of Bakerfield, CA.  He did not fly but perferred to ride in his bus.  His family said he moved out there for his last days as he felt more at home in that small bus than in his large house. I think Merle was a great song writer!


Willie is Larry's cousin and here our cousins sing together.   

Shed of a Shed

Larry is making the pasture bigger and the yard smaller.  He wanted to move this shed before he got the fence up because afterwards it would be impossible to get it though the narrow yard.  He used the same technique as he did with the other move.  I was afraid something would go wrong but it went off without a hitch.  Now if we can get some cooler weather he can seriously get to work on the yard fence.

Greta has a Green Thumb

 Greta has a greenish black thumb.  Pop would say she needs a hole in the nail.  He always did it with the end of his knife.  Like drilling--it really releaves the pressure.

Laura had company.  Even the coons like a dip in the pool!

Greta is Outstanding

Greta is progressing toward 3rd grade.  Clayton likes Middle School.  Sig is enjoying Jr. High.  Ingie is fitting in at High School.  Astrid is adjusting to college, running, running, running, and working, too.  Eric is helping coach High School wrestling.  Pop and I are just doing our same old stuff!  I am reading and he is working! 

Thumb Bash

Greta smashed her thumb in the truck door.  Erin says she needs to wrap this girl in bubble wrap!  She was able to go to soccer and gymnastics so she is a touch cookie.  It is her right hand. 

My friend--Coach Fish--posted a video from the hurricane of a weather man being blown over in the storm and then in the background two guys walk by with no problem!  The  weather guy was faking the strength of the wind!  I thought, "and now we have fake weather"! 

I hope you have a great day!

Getting Ready For the Big Day

 Oct. 5 is getting closer and Astrid was stressing over getting her dress so she would be ready.  I gave her enough money to pay for one dress, but she went to TJ MAXX and found 2 on clearance and she said she could buy new shoes too!  She will have a day time event and a night time one so she needed two outfits.   I recall Michelle O bought a dress for her first big event at that store!

Doesn't Astrid look great?

Astrid--My Renter

 Astrid and Logan went to Pope County Fair last evening and enjoyed Marty Haggard--her cousin!  Astrid's Grandmother--Catherine Tate Maples' sister was Martha Jane Tate Harp who is Marty's Grandmother.

Look what my renter added to our kitchen--a new sink!  I am loving my renter.

Erin said Greta's paint day was not a birthday party but just something she let Greta try as Clayton went squirrel hunting yesterday with his Dad.  I thought, "hot day to hunt squirrels" better day to paint a horse in the air conditioning.

Paint Party

 Greta was invited to one of those parties where they paint.  Helen likes horses!  Bet she will think Greta's is a great painting.

Less Yard More Pasture

Larry is moving the fence around the yard so more of the meadow will be in the pasture and less in the yard.  He mows a lot of acreage and this will save a little on that.  The post hole digger had not been used in a while and the drive was stuck.  It took him several days but he finally got it loosened. 

He dug a few post holes today just to see if it was going to work and it surely did.  We are just putting up a barbed wire fence.  Several barbs though. 

Erin made potato soup.  Wish I could have tried it.

Neighbor's Flower

Astrid is the new go to girl for Sig.  When Phinnie and I walked to the mailbox, Astrid was retrieving Sig's jersey.  She will deliver it to Jr.  for Sig.  Siggie is the youngest and she has had help along the way so she does not worry too much about when, where and how as someone will help her!

I took this of Laura's coelus.  It's really pretty.  Found this one on the internet.  Momma grew the ones here that are yellow and red.  I think they are easy to maintain.  Laura's surely are lush.

  Dad did not give a lot of advice, but he did tell me when buying eggs in the store to buy medium as they are pullet eggs and more nutritious.  When you asked his advice, he talked to you.  I can't recall him telling me EVER what to do in situation.  He listened, asked and let you talk and decide.  Now, he did tell you things to do such as chores.  But he wanted one to think through their problems and find solutions not be dictated to...is my opinion.  I was lucky to have him.

Sharon Kay's Rolls

I am friends on FB with my cousins Sharon Kay and Jerl Dean!  They lived a 1/4 mile from us growing up and Fleta and I loved to go down to their house and play.   Lovetta would let them walk us back as far as the cattle guard when we walked home.  Lovetta made homemade ice cream in the freezer.  I remember it was so good.  When I started first grade, Momma put me on the school bus with the other kids.  Patsy took me to my room and quickly went on her way.  There were papers to be filled out.  Aunt Lovetta filled them out for me.  My teacher Bessie Atchley was Lovetta's Aunt.  Mrs. Atchley was a great teacher.  I was lucky enough to have her in the 4th grade too.  She switched grades from 1st to 4th.  She was the teacher that got me interested in reading.  It has been a life long joy for me.  I read nearly everyday.  I am reading Orlean Puckett--Life of a Mt. Midwife.  I read it a few years back, but I am re-reading it and then I may send it to my life long friend, Jonell.  She is a life long reader, too!

Sharon posted a bread recipe made with water.  Thought I would try it as Momma used water in her rolls.  Larry paid them many compliments.  Recipe is simple--1 cup warm water, 1/3 cup of sugar, 1 t. of salt, 1 and 1/2 T. of yeast, 1/4 cup oil, 3 cups of flour. Mix sugar and warm water and salt and yeast.  I just used warm tap water.  Let sit 5 to 10 minutes.  Add 1 cup of flour, then oil, then  1 more cup flour.  I let rise after 2 cups of flour until it bubbled.  Then add last cup of flour and knead.  It said you could use dough hook with mixer, but I was too lazy just knead by hand.  Grease bowl and let rise covered in oven with light on about an hour.  Punch down and knead more.  Will have to add a little flour.   Let rise again.  Same way.  Pinch into rolls in greased pan.  It will make 1 loaf or 12 rolls.   I made rolls.  Cook 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.  Rub butter on top while warm.

Thanks, Sharon Kay--they surely were delicious!

Beautiful Bloom

This is Laura's Hibiscus blooming this bright orange flower.  I have never tried to grow one, but I may.

It is cooler here today and the humidity is lower.  Yesterday and the day before it was only in the 80's but felt so hot because the air was hanging with water.

Fleta sold her goats and has a bunch of money in her pocket.  I don't think I get ahead with my chickens.  I am sure the corn and laying pellets add up to way more than our eggs would cost in the store.  I bought a new waterer last week for 30 dollars.  That would buy a lot of eggs.

Friend or Foe

 Astrid ran in Conway today so Eric, Laura and Logan went to support her.  She met up with an old friend or foe.   He name is Anika and her mother is from Norway.  Astrid ran against her in H S.  I am sure it was neat to see each other again.  Astrid is not a twig so long distance running is hard for her.   She gets about $5 k a semester so I am hoping she can keep at it.  She has to go run with Coach Aspel each morning at 6 AM.  It is not an easy sport!    I am proud of her!

 I got Astrid a cord and fabric bowl.  Blue her favorite color.  Material is wrapped around a clothes line cord and then it is zig zagged together.  She put the bowl in her kitchen.  You can see the darker color she has stained the cabinets.  Everything is always clean.  Helen would appreciate Astrid's house keeping habits.

Phinnie Loves the Neighbor Girls

 Phinnie loves it when the neighbor girls come to call.  The new one is Penny.  He loves her most of all.

 He tried to share his toys and play.  He is over zealous and she hides under the chair.

 Finally, he is so worrisome that his Momma locks him in his bedroom.  The neighbor girls taunts him with a smile and wink as if to say, "ha, ha"!