Irises Still Blooming

I want to go to my friend’s house soon and dig some yellow irises she said I could have.  I love the yellow ones.

My Five Grands

 I am so lucky to have these five girls in my life.  They are all so different and all so special.  I hope I can live long enough to have a conversation with Ada and see her personality develop.

I have one grandson.  He is beyond  compare so I need only him.  Clayton is enough for me.  God has surely blessed me.

Ingrid Graduated

“Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.”

― E.B. White

Today Ingrid Elizabeth graduated from High School.  My dear friend Al Harpenau handed her the ticket to the next chapter of her life.   I must say I have attended several graduations—kindergarten, sixth grade, high school, college—Ingrid’s was surely my favorite.  I am proud of her achievements and success.  I am not sure of all of the accolades, but highest honors and 4.0 were two!

Laura’s Apron

Sisters came and we had a great visit.  Forgot to snap a picture.  We spend too much time talking!

Helen made Laura and Erin and all Pop’s Grand-girls an apron using his shirts.  She made me one from a shirt I made for my Dad in the 1970’s.  They are special gifts from a special sister.

Daddy's Shirt--My Apron

Fleta has been going through stuff in a "shed" is the way Helen put it.  She found some of Daddy's old shirts.  Dad passed in 1988--over 30 years ago.  Helen is a seamstress and she recognized 3 shirts she sewed for Dad.  She asked me if I made this one.  "No", I said...but then I started remembering it.  I did make it.  I bet she could tell by the sorry work!  Daddy loved it and nearly wore it out.  Momma must have loved it too as it was packed away.  Below Daddy has it on and Sweet Patsy came by his house for a visit.  I think I made the shirt before Laura was born in 1974.  I did not make another.  I guess the better sewer took over the task!  Seeing, remembering, wondering how I could have forgotten--it has made me really sad.  Erin, see the lawn mower on the front porch?

Well, today when my sisters came to visit.  Helen had made me an apron from that old shirt Dad cherished.  I have it lying on a chair.  You will have to imagine the ties in the back and the apron is the front of Dad's shirt.

Why did Daddy love the one I made so much and wear it out!  Helen is a much better seamstress.  I don't know why but will say--that is just how he was.  I guess because he knew I had "worked" really hard trying to make him a shirt--he loved it big!

Daddy and Sweet Sister Patsy on his front porch.  That is where he parked his riding lawn mower--a Craftsman from Sears.  

Book To Read

 I have a new book to read and I’m trying to read slowly which is hard for me.  The author is Lisa Wingate.  She wrote a book I liked about a family of children stolen by Georgia Tann and sold into adoption.  Her books are fiction but based on actual events.   This one is titled, “The Book of Lost Friends”.   It is really good.  I miss The Russellville Library and my friend, Jackie Blaney.  Jackie would have gotten this book for me.

Have you ever lost touch with an old friend and then find them again through...maybe Facebook.  Can you imagine losing your family and wanting to find them.  This happened to many in pre Civil War times.  Plus most of those searching could not write or read.  Many tried to learn to write with the main purpose being to find family.  A Methodist newspaper ran a column to assist these searchers.   The Southwestern Christian Advocate ran a "Lost Friends" page from 1877 until "well into the first decade of the twentieth century."

Two dollars in 1880 bought a yearlong subscription to the Southwestern Christian Advocate, a newspaper published in New Orleans by the Methodist Book Concern and distributed to nearly five hundred preachers, eight hundred post offices, and more than four thousand subscribers in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas. The "Lost Friends" column, which ran from the paper's 1877 inception well into the first decade of the twentieth century, featured messages from individuals searching for loved ones lost in slavery.

I Am Easily Disappointed In People

When we went to Kings’ River Falls, I recalled folks going to Kings’ River Bridge to swim.  I looked up a picture of it.  It does look like a nice place to coll off.

I am easily disappointed in folks I thought I admired, especially preachers.  I can’t call those who let me down ministers as they preach and don’t seem to minister.  Mostly, on FB they Copy and share what others have said not checking facts or how it reflects on the teachings of my Lord.  First, commandment is to love God and the next your neighbor.  They speak of love when on a religious subject and hate when they speak of anyone with a different view from theirs.  Lord, help me today to show love to these I feel like condemning so I will not be the hypocrite I despise.

Hypocrite—
a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.

Pretty Irises Try to Cheer Me

Three pretty irises bloomed for me today.  There are more than 200 different varieties of iris, and they come in an rainbow of colors. In fact, the name, ‘iris,’ comes from the Greek word that means ‘rainbow.’ These flowers are found almost everywhere in the world, both naturally and on flower farms.

Where does the iris come from? Its history is interesting, and we can trace it back to the times of the Ancient Greeks. The Greeks had a goddess, Iris, who was seen as the messenger of the gods. She was also the personification of the rainbow, and the people believed that she was the link between earth and heaven. Because of this, the Greeks placed purple irises on the graves of women who had died in order to summon Iris, the goddess, to help the dead reach heaven.

The Greeks were not the only ones who loved the iris flower, though. We know that the Ancient Egyptians also liked irises.  There have been a number of paintings of irises found in Egyptian buildings.  The iris is also associated with France, specifically with the French monarchy. This pairing occurred during the Middle Ages. The famed Fleur-de-lis eventually became the national symbol of France.  Fleur-de-lis means power of the lily.

Clayton cooks

Last night, Clayton cooked vanilla cupcakes with pineapple icing.  Brought back memories of my brother cooking when we were growing up.

King’s River Falls

 Hiked to King’s River Falls today with Laura, Astrid and Sigrid.  So nice to get out and get some fresh air.

New Mower

Pop mowed a lot of grass.  Eric is mowing the grass near my house, almost an acre and Logan is mowing near the shop and the rest that Pop mowed here.  He and Astrid brought a new mower today. I won’t buy one now when I have my auction.   This one is a John Deere.   Logan said it has complete maintenance for 3 years.

Visiting Irene

Cousin Irene got several calls while we were there.  Family and friends check on her and chat.  It helps fill her days alone.

 Visiting day!  Laura took me to see my dear cousin Irene.  She lives near Ben Hur. She sat on her porch and we brought our own seats and sat in the yard.  I was happy to see she was using her butterfly shawl and warm hat.  It was a windy day, but we had a great reunion.  I had crocheted her another shawl and ordered her some dresses.  Laura sewed several masks for her.  Irene is the nicest person.  I wish I had found her long ago.  Her daughter came to be with us.  Jannifer Collins England is kin to  Laura twice.  Irene’s great great grandfather, George Gregory and Laura’s great great grandfather  Solon Gaddy were first cousin’s. Howard Collins, Jann’s Dad and Laura’s Grandmother, Ethel Renfroe were first cousins. As usual we left there a little sad, but richer than when we came.  Irene gave both Laura and I a sprig of her Yellow Rose of Texas bush and promises of more flowers next visit.

Staying Busy

When it’s warm enough I like to piddle in the yard doing small things.  Astrid is like Pop.  There was nothing he wouldn’t tackle before he got sick.  Astrid is like that, too. Yesterday she made this chair.  She found the plan on Pinterest and built it.  I am in awe.

Ada loves Corgis

Big Brorhers

At one time I had two big brothers.  They were both really good to me.

Trying to Stay Busy

 Yesterday, I made Laura a towel to put on her stove handle.

 Astrid painted her raised beds.  

Last night, the sky turned black and a thunder storm came.  When Phinnie and I came in the house, Cora ran in too. She is afraid of storms.  I kept her inside all night.

Saturday

Erin came April 11.  We stayed outside and way, way apart.  Seeing Ada live, but at a distance was so nice.  The kids are sitting on the pallet Sister Patsy made Laura.  Erin has one she made for her,too.

Best Neighbors

Best neighbors are kinfolk.

Staying Home

This is what you call a drive by shooting.  Our photographer friend, Curt Jones, drove through our neighborhood taking shots of families in their yards.  Laura had me join in theirs.  Oh, and Phinias, too.

Coconut Pie

 Astrid. Chose coconut pie for her birthday cake.  It was really good.  The 20 candles made it warm.

My First Iris

 And my last Easter Lilies!

Pink Moon in Galla Meadow

ink moon over Galla Meadow and Galla Phlox, too.

The pink moon is also a supermoon. It is about 0.1% closer to Earth than the March full moon was, making it the most super of the supermoons for 2020, NASA reported. Moreover, this pink supermoon will appear 7% larger than an average full moon.

The moon, however, will not actually look pink unless it's covered by an opaque pink cloud or haze. 

So, why does it get a pink moniker? It's named for the pink wildflower Phlox subulata, which blossoms in eastern North America in the early springtime.  If you're unfamiliar with its scientific name, perhaps you'll recognize it by the common names of wild ground phlox, the creeping phlox, moss phlox and the herb moss pink.

Today's moon has one other claim to fame — it's known as the "Paschal Moon" and helps set the date for Easter. The first Sunday after the Paschal Moon is Easter, which is why Easter falls on April 12.

Simply speaking, the Paschal  Full Moon is the first full Moon after the Spring Equinox. Also called the Egg Moon, this Moon sometimes occurs in March and sometimes in April. The word Paschal means “Passover” in Greek (a transliteration of the Hebrew word pesach).