Hickory Trees

I wanted to share a photo of a special tree that was valued by native Americans and our pioneer ancestors.  This tree is the Hickory and it’s native to Arkansas. The leaves turn yellow brown in the fall and are tear shaped.  They’re ten types but they can be divided into two groups—shaggy bark and smooth bark.  I have lots of Hickory trees growing on my land at the base of Crow Mountain.  Look for an Oak and you’ll spot a Hickory.

The Hickory tree is tough and strong.  The combination made it the favored wood for wagon wheels.  My Dad whittled ax handles and single/double trees from Hickory.  Baseball bats were made from hickory.  It is favored for smoking meats.  It was used and still is in flooring. Even one of our presidents was called “Old Hickory” because he was tough.  The Native Americans and our ancestors ate the hickory nut meats, but the Indians also made a butter from them.  They pounded the nuts (shells, too) in a mortar with a pestle then covered them with water.  A fat would come to the top.  They skimmed this off and used it like we use butter.

 

Working

Astrid dressed as a hippie today for work.  She has a new job and is really thrilled to have a little money.  So....I absolutely love C and D Drug store.  It’s my pharmacy of choice!  Well, I don’t take any prescriptions but if I have any to fill I’m heading to C and D!  Pop used to take Astrid here to look at Breyer Horses.  They bought a few.  Larry loved all the old time family owned stores.  

I was a teenager in the 1960’s.  I know about hippies first hand. My Dad did a great job raising his brood.   I never envied this hippie way of life.  Halloween was not emphasized in our house either.  He knew all the origins.  We could attend the Halloween Carnival at school.  Today, we live in a world where everything is hyped.   I’m going to hype humble and kind today—two of my favorite qualities.   I’m not that good at displaying those traits, but I know some who have it down pat.  My heroes.

 

Halloween

 

Greta dressed as a Razorback and Laura dressed as Winifred.  She makes a great witch.  Growing up I always wanted her to dress as a witch because of her flaming hair.  We never made a big deal out of Halloween.  I told Clayton I had cooked liver and onions and put it in ziplock bags for the trick or treaters.

Ada is Working Out

Walking Each Day

 I am trying to be diligent about walking each day.  I am loving my Smart watch.  It tells me how far I go, how many calories I use, and how long I walk.  I don’t try to walk briskly as that always injures my knee.  I just walk along at a stroll pace.  There are many things to stop and gaze upon.  My walk is not long in distance, usually about a mile and half.  I keep walking past 30 minutes as that is my goal daily.  When I walk back to get my mail in the afternoon, I walk another half mile.  When Laura, Phinnie and I go to Lake  Dardanelle Park on the weekend, I walk farther— about  two and a half miles.

I’m taking several supplements.  I take vitamin D as Dr. Fauci said he was doing and Lysine as it’s supposed to help if I get COVID.  Another person I know died.  She died at home as the hospital had no bed for her.  

Ingie and Astrid have both found employment and are both full tine college students.  Ing is at Dardanelle emergency room (St. Vincent’s) , and Astrid is a pharmacy tech at C and D Drug store.  I am happy they both have jobs again.  They are both wonderful grand girls.  

Sycamore tree.  It just turn a brownish yellow.  The leaves are large and heavy.

Maple that turns yellow in my yard.  Took the picture across my rooftop.

Neighbor’s Red Maple.  I took photo standing in the Meadow.

Ash tree.  They turn yellow.

Wild Flower Hairy Aster

Laura’s Red Maple

Flowers For Pop

Laura made a holiday bouquet for her Dad.  The coming Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations will be the first in fifty years that larry and I have not been together, but it’ll be Laura and Erin’s first of a lifetime.   We all miss his presence.  Today marks eight months since he took his leave.  Nothing is like it was.

God helps me through each day, but memories aren’t soothing at all.  They are just sad reminders.  I know one day I will cherish thinking back, but that is not the case now.  Memories are needles that poke and bruise.

We Set An example

This was in local Courier today!  I think there are people who care all around and we should shine a light their way!  So many ready to help!  Love Russellville Police, EMS, nurses, and Pope County by-standers! Together we can show the world the way they should behave!  ❤️❤️

Possum Grapes

 I think I’ll make something special,

A special treat for me.

I gonna to pick some possum grapes

And boil some possum grape tea!

Well, maybe not as they are too high up in the tree.  My friend said to lay a sheet down and swat the grapes with a broom.  I really want to try possum grape jelly not tea....but that didn’t rhyme. 🤣🤣

Fit Bit

 

Greta got a Fitbit for her birthday.  I bought myself a new smart watch.  It tells me when I sit around too long. Get up and move it will remind me.  When I walks it tells me how far I have gone.  My goal is 30 minutes a day.  I’m getting there.  Greta and I are getting in better shape we hope.  Good luck, Greta.

Sig and Company

 

Sigrid and her friends, Sadie and Ellie, took some fall photos.  I guess with their phones.  When I was growing  up we finally got what we called an instant camera, but the pictures were not clear like these.

Greta Is Ten

 

Erin took fall pictures of my three Harrison grands.  I am expecting a 5 by 7 of the 3 and one of Ada alone.  All of the pictures were good.

Picture Day

 

Friday was picture day at Laura’s school.  Her smile is a “big” asset.  She always tries to connect to anyone she meets and as she visited with the photographer they realized he took her picture at Russellville High  School in 1992.  

Decisions, Decisions

 

I bought 10 big red hens.  If Larry was still here, I would make a pie or a pound cake.  I’d cook them for his breakfast, but being alone makes my decisions stand out as maybe ridiculous.  I only eat an egg for breakfast about once a month.  I used to fix breakfast about once a week at supper.  I have 3 dozens eggs in the fridge now.  Why get 10 red hens.  I suppose it’s because I like chickens.  I had 10 banties and one red hen left in my flock.   Two of these are roosters and I have 3 sweet little Bantus chicks.  So I guess I bought 10 red hens to make me smile!

Corgi PJs

 Ada got Corgi PJs and she looks great in them.

Taking Little Steps

Most days something happens and I don’t really know what I should do, but slowly I am inching forward, making decisions.  I notice even buying groceries is hard.  I bought what Larry liked.  Most of the stuff I didn’t even like.  Our world revolved around what he wanted to do, to eat.  He picked what we watched on tv.  I am now choosing, buying what I like to eat (very little meat), watching what I want to watch.  Yesterday, I voted for who and what I wanted.  I am taking little steps.  I’m thinking about the future without crying!

In difficult times, you move forward in small steps.

Do what you have to do, but little by little.

Don't think about the future, or what may happen tomorrow.

Wash the dishes.

Remove the dust.

Write a letter.

Make a soup.

You see?

You are advancing step by step.

Take a step and stop.

Rest a little.

Praise yourself.

Take another step.

Then another.

You won't notice, but your steps will grow more and more.

And the time will come when you can think about the future without crying

- Elena Mikhalkova

Some of The Renters Flowers

 Astrid works all day today so she asked me to let her Corgis out around noon to go to the bathroom.  I took photos of all her pretty flowers.  Inside her house is just as beautiful.  

A friend driving down the road to my house asked Laura how I found such a wonderful renter—Laura said—she raised her!!❤️❤️

Today

 

Well, I voted and most of my choices will not be winners, but I voted my conscience not trying to pick a winner.  One of my picks could win.  I know the senators and reps I chose will not defeat those in power, but I supported them anyhow.  One Senator has been speaking about the price of insulin and how he’s going to do something about it.  Well, he has been in his position a long, long time and why hasn’t he been doing something.  It’s all rhetoric.  Garbage.

Making A Wedding Gift

 Astrid and Logan’s latest project is a table.  They accented the pine with wood burning.  They’re making two benches that will slide under each side.  Pop would be happy that Astrid is using his tools   The table is a wedding gift for a friend.

Masking Up

 

Wearing a mask all day keeps you searching for new ones.  Often friends gift you new ones.  Laura told one student about going to a wedding and be anxious that no one would have on masks, he wisely advised her to wear one of the purchased blue one And then a good clothe one over it.  Stand back too he said.  

Trumpty Dumpty

Snuff Brush

My favorite fall tree is the Tupelo Black Gum.  This morning I took a few pictures of a couple in my Meadow!   Old women who used snuff broke Black Gum twigs, chewed the end and used these as snuff brushes!   Gum sticks were also used as toothbrushes.  The gum twigs were dipped in salt or baking soda when used as a toothbrush.

Greta Ann Working

 Still kicking.  Greta trying to be better.