Walking Near the Sky

Today’s walk was high in the sky.  Astrid wanted to fast walk up Mount Nebo and Laura joined her.  They drove me to the the top and I walked there.  That’s the place to walk in hot weather as it was really lots cooler than down in the valley.  The mountain was named Nebo by Mrs. Louis White after the Civil War in the late 1860s. She named it after the mountain mentioned in the bible from which Moses had a view of the Promised Land. The Whites and other Dardanelle families lived on the mountain during the summer months. The White home stood on the bench by Nebo Springs until 1934.

 

Ada Makes a Sale

Ada went to Home Depot with her family.  They’re redoing some things in their house.  Little Ada tried to “create her own” sale with the price tags.  She’s caught a ride back to the truck.

 

Farmers Came

 

The farmers came and mended our fence where Johnny and June had been crawling under to visit their neighbor, the Appaloosa.  The donkeys are singing a new song—Don’t fence me in! 

Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above

Don't fence me in

Let me ride through the wide open country that I love

Don't fence me in

Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze

And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees

Send me off forever, but I ask you please

Don't fence me in❤️❤️

Sisters Reunited

I had some of the best visitors.  They came and stayed overnight.  I talked them into hauling a truck load of “junk” home with them.  They bought mixed Bantie chickens to Astrid from my sweet nephew, Willis Powell.  I hope they’ll come again and I plan on going there more often.   So glad we all three have our shots and can visit once again.

Reunited, and it feels so good

Reunited 'cause we understood
There's one perfect fit
And,Sisters, this one is it
All three are so excited

 'cause we're reunited, hey, hey💓💓

Bill’s Bike

 My nephew Bill won this in a raffle fundraiser.  He came to AR and is riding it to AZ.  This is where all Pop’s overalls went!  Bill loves motorcycles just like Pop.  I love seeing him on this bike and wearing these overalls!  Pop had a blue bike exactly like this one.

Bowling Ball Bowl

Laura got the neatest gift from her friend, Amy.  Amy’s husband Doug made the bowl from a bowling ball.  It beautiful inside.  

“Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.” — Woodrow T. Wilson.

 

Redhead Day

 

Yesterday was National Redhead Day.  I am a day late.  I’m proud of my little red head.  She very unique as she has blue eyes too.  

Did you Know?

--Red hair is a genetic mutation.

--Red hair is seen on the heads of only 4 % of people. Most in the UK, Ireland and Australia.

--In the US, only 2% of people have red hair.

--Redheads have a specific gene called the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), found on the 16th chromosome. This single gene is responsible for red hair.

This wasn't discovered until the late 1990's.

--Redheads sometimes require up to 20% more anesthesia, concluding that we are much harder to sedate.

--Redheads have always been thought untrustworthy.

Judas is depicted as a redhead displaying the first prejudice against red hair.

--Bees are thought to sting redheads more than others.

--In ancient Egypt, red hair was seen as so unlucky, red-haired girls were burned alive.

--In medieval Europe, the infamous witch-hunting manual, Malleus Maleficarum, instructed that red hair and green eyes were marks of a witch, as were freckles, which redheads tend to have aplenty.

--Redheads tend to bleed more, due to slightly different clotting factors, which again is a genetic factor.

Redheads bruise more easily than people with different colored hair.

--In Denmark, it is a high honor to have a redheaded child.

--The redheaded gene is recessive, so red hair can show up many generations later. It takes both parents carrying the specific gene to produce a redheaded child.

--Because of the rare pigment in our hair, it is often harder to dye red hair and usually takes longer.

--It is said that while in Poland, if you pass three red-heads you'll win the state lottery.

--If a man with dark hair has a red-headed beard (such as Daniel) they are more likely to carry at least one different copy of the red haired gene. (obviously.)

--There is a belief that redheads are prone to industrial deafness. This actually could be true as the melanocytes are found in the middle ear.

--In the late 16th century, the fat of a redheaded man was an essential ingredient for poison.

--There have been studies done to confirm whether or not redheads are more prone to become addicts than those with blond or brunette colored locks. It is thought to be so.

--Red haired/blue eyed combinations are said to be one of the rarest combinations. It is usually more common to see a redhead with brown or green eyes than with blue.

Horse Nettle

This is Carolina Horse-nettleof the night shade family.  Other common names include radical weed, sand brier or briar, bull nettle, tread-softly, Solanum mammosum ("apple of Sodom"), devil's tomato and wild tomato.  We called them sticker weeds.  They’d reach out and grab you.  They spread mainly through being in the hay.  The cows ate the hay and seeds in their manure spread the nettle.  The manure also fertilized the nettle so in the barn lots it would be huge.  It’s poisonous but there’s not enough in the hay to hurt the hurt the cows.  

Nightshades are a worldwide family that contains many plants with highly toxic fruits; in fact, the Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is one of the few nightshades that is edible. 

Carolina Horse-nettle is native to the southern Piedmont; shipments of hay and other agricultural products have helped extend horse-nettle's range into farmland of the northeastern and northcentral U.S., where it has caused poisoning in livestock. In spring and summer, its large-lobed leaves and one-inch purple or white flowers with yellow stamens can be seen in weedy areas and disturbed meadows, but it is most easily found when its drooping clusters of golden berries sparkle in the winter sun.  As in all noxious nightshades, the fruits of Carolina Horse-nettle contain solanine glycoalkaloids that cause severe gastrointestinal distress in humans. There also may be toxic levels of nitrates, and the green plant can cause dermatitis, especially if one's skin is scratched by its spines; this alone should be enough information to keep a knowledgeable person from eating or touching the plant.

As might be expected of a highly toxic plant, dilute concentrations of Carolina Horse-nettle have been used for medicinal purposes as a treatment for epilepsy, kidney problems, internal worms, poison ivy rash, and dog mange, and--perhaps surprisingly--as an aphrodisiac.

Mowing Galla Meadow

After he got off work yesterday, Logan bush hogged the Meadow.  He could mow about 3/4s of it.  The rest was too wet.  Johnny and June didn't even get close to the tractor.  

 You can't see it well from my back porch, but the Meadow looks so much better.  This will kill many weeds.  Galla Meadow is terraced.  This was probably completed in the 1930s as part of the New Deal.  The terraces hold water and keep top soil from washing away when it does rain.  It makes it a little more difficult to trim.  Logan figured out it was easier to mow with the terrace.  I am thankful for Logan.

No Masks for Clayton

Proud of this Goblin.  He got his first Covid shot today.  He’s tall like his Pop.  The nurse (male) thought Clayton was 18; he’s 12.  He doesn’t really like needles so I am really thrilled he decided to be vaccinated.  Next year no masks!

Sigrid Says

 It’s summer.

Sigrid decided it was warm enough to swim.  She said she was done for the year so she’s now a junior in High School and has a job.  The days crawl by, but the years seem to fly.

May 24, 2021

This morning I took my camera as I thought I might see the Painted Bunting.  I didn't but this is Foxglove out in the Meadow.  

Laura's friends at work gave her a white Wisteria when Pop passed.  One year later it has blooms.  Pop is remembered with joy and a sweet scent.

Galla Meadow is lush.  All the rain is made this a green wonderland.

I saw several Scissortails on the fence hunting flies.

Johnny and June wanted the carrot treat but I forgot to grab them.

I mowed yesterday for hours.  It is such a huge chore.  I'm not good at getting close to stuff and I do not like moving over roots above the ground.  My yard looks sloppy.  Pop would not be pleased.

I hurt my knee dragging this old wheel barrel out of the dump and then dragging it to the yard.  I should have used the Mule to haul it.  It's been a month and my knee is still hurting daily and sometimes during the night.  I may still go to the Doctor.  I just don't want surgery.  Doctors that make their biggest money doing surgery want you to choose that course.  I am too old for knee surgery and I don't ever want knee replacement.  If I am in a wheel chair, I'll go that route, but never until the last resort. 
 

Today the Sun is Shining

 I saw the Rock in this shirt and chuckled.  The nonmaskers  and no vacciners are now in a tight spot.  Those of us that took the vaccine have protection.  They don’t.  So if they don’t wear their mask they’re on thin ice.  It reminds me of a poker game and we have said “I’ll call”.  

This morning when we went to walk at Lake Dardanelle I was feeling discouraged.  I hurt my knee 4 weeks ago and I’m not over it.  I was trudging along and I met a blind woman with a tap cane and her seeing eye dog.  Her husband was by her side.  God often sends me a wake up call.   I appreciate Him reminding me that I am blessed.  The rest of my walk was a breeze. There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. Albert Einstein 

The wildflowers are Bluestar and Spiderwort.  Spiderwort got its name because it was used on  spider bites.  Yelp. I used my new App.  I knew these two, but I checked to see if the App was correct.  It was.

Greta Shines

 

Greta did great this year.  She graduated from Elementary School!  These two awards are for graduating from Elementary and the second one is the Taskmaster Award.  It says Greta puts first things first and works hard at her assignments.  Her third award was for all A’s all year.  It’s called the President’s Excellency Award.  It’ll come in the mail.  I’m so proud of all my Grands.  I know I’m blessed with each.  So thankful.

Johnny and June

 

Johnny and June have been misbehaving.  They are getting into the neighbor’s pasture to visit her horses.  Astrid and Logan have tried to fix the fence.  The donkeys are crawling under.  A part of the fence needs an extra barb at the bottom.  I have referred to Johnny and June as donkeys but this week they’ve been “little asses”.  I think the kids have finally fixed the fence.  They put a hog panel in a spot where there was a ditch.  Johnny and June are not happy as they loved visiting the big Appaloosa.

What's a donkey? A donkey is a domestic member of the horse family. Today's domestic donkey is a descendant of the African wild ass, and these hard workers have been hauling goods since 4000 B.C.E. . Donkeys are related to horses and zebras, although they're often stockier, stronger and have much different personalities.

Unlike horses, donkeys aren't easily startled. Even when they are, they don't panic. Donkeys stop to assess the situation, a trait that's commonly confused with stubbornness. This surefootedness paired with strength — they can carry up to twice their own body weight — make them ideal beasts I’d burden.   These creatures are still used for transporting goods around the world, although other common uses like sheep and cattle protection play into the donkey's strengths. Once a donkey bonds with a herd of sheep, cattle or goats, it will protect the animals as it would its own, keeping dogs and coyotes at bay.

A jackass is just a male donkey. Before "donkey," there was ass — a word that comes from the Latin phrase asinus, which refers to the animal. While ass is interchangeable with donkey, "jackass" refers specifically to a male donkey. This derives from the male donkey's nickname "jack" paired with the original donkey terminology "ass." Female donkeys are called "jennies" or "jennets," but a female ready to breed is known as a "broodmare."

A wild donkey is a burro. "Burro" is the Spanish term for the common working donkey in Spain and Mexico; it likely entered the English language in the U.S. when Spaniards brought burros to America's southwest in the 1500s. This means unlike the jackass and mule, burro is actually just another way to say donkey.

For starters, those living west of the Mississippi River often say burro while those to the east use the term donkey. Others use burro to refer to smaller donkeys or wild donkeys still roaming rangeland in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Oregon.

Trebek

 

I know now this is Beardtongue Foxglove.  I’m putting this here to remember.  The last picture is from the internet.  There’s lots of this in Galla Meadow.  

I read this today.  Alex Trebek picked three presidents he’s like to see play Jeopardy. Here is what he thought.   “All other things being equal — I would think perhaps Woodrow Wilson might have been a good contestant,” he says. “Jimmy Carter was known as one of the smartest presidents when he took office. Certainly, Barack Obama would qualify as well. So, I would pick those three as legitimate Jeopardy! contestants.”

Dean’s List

 Ingrid Elizabeth made the Dean’s list.  I’m so proud of her success.

Would you rather be beautiful or smart?  Why not both 💓💓

“A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.” ― Nelson Mandela

Surprise—the Sun

 

Today when Phinnie and I walked, I had to wear my tall Muck boots.  I inherited them from Clayton Jones when they got too small for his big foot.  That was some time ago.  He's 12 now and I think wears a 13.  He has Pop's foot.  

I had to dodge puddles to walk but still enjoyed my time wandering around in Galla Meadow.  Galla Lake was at high water and I could not walk hardly as far as usual.  

Johnny and June came to the fence to say hi.  They are in trouble as they have been escaping to the pasture to visit the neighbor horses.  How do they get out?  They go UNDER the barbed wire fence.  Logan and Astrid are going to do some fence mending when it stops raining.

The most exciting thing I saw on my walk was the sun!  I hope to see it more in the coming days.

Moving on Up

 Logan has a work truck, but two weeks ago his Company provided him a company vehicle.  It’s really nice like a raise.  He works really hard.  Astrid and Logan are kids that make one proud.

And…Sigrid is excited.  She has a summer job.  She will sit two young boys in their home.  The boys are 8 and 5.  Their mother is an accountant I think.  The work is Monday through Thursday and $75 a day.  Some weeks not as many days, but she said if she worked all week she’d make $300.00.  This will be her first job.  First Astrid babysat these boys and then Ingrid did it after school.  Sigrid said the boys’ Mom is structured.  She leaves a list and time table for what they can do.  The three neighbor grands are all growing up.  

Ingrid is doing well, too.  She quit the emergency room job because it was an all nighter.  She got a job at a Day Care.  She worked first from 2 to 6 so she could go to her college classes.  After the semester ended, they let her work more.  Then she was promoted to lead teacher to a room of 5 year olds.  Her children have disabilities.  She also got a raise.  

Astrid is 21, Ingrid 19, and Sigrid is 16.  It’s hard for me to absorb it.  They’ll growing up.  Clayton is 12, Greta 10, and Ada is 2.  They are my chapter 2.

Fragrant Privet

My renter has lots of roses.

Galla pond is over flowing.

This is really an invasive shrub but it smells so good.  I wondered what it was and my Friend Amy helped me see it is called Privet.  This is how Southern Living described Privet.  It may be invasive, but at least  smells good.

Privet is a villain—a large, evergreen shrub or small tree called Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense). It's worse than kudzu, in Grumpy's always correct opinion. Yes, I said that. Worse than kudzu.That's because kudzu needs sun to grow. Chinese privet, on the other hand, grows just about anywhere. In sun. In shade. In wet soil. In dry soil. In the city. In the country. On the surface of Pluto.  It entered the South from its native Asia as an ornamental plant in 1852. Nurseries in towns like Birmingham, Atlanta, and Jackson often ignored its true appellation and sold it simply as "hedge."

 

Today in between showers, Phinnie and I walked to the pond.  No surprise that water was running from the spillway.  We looked at my renters’ roses and snapped a few pictures.  If renters got a rating Astrid would get an A+.  She has flowers everywhere. I saw red, coral, white and pink roses.  I recalled how hard it was to mow the said yard as it’s a natural rock garden.