Gaudy

I bought my distant cousin Irene a dress for Mother’s Day.  Then I thought about how thin it looked and decided to make a poncho over it.  I chose to dark a color and it looks rather gaudy as Momma used to say.

I looked up the word gaudy— extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless. Yelp, that’s how it looks.  Irene is 83 and sort of in her childhood again so maybe gaudy will appeal to her.  

 

Life is Moving on

Rooster is such a nice cat.  His Momma left him in the hen nest for Astrid.  She thought Asti needed a cat among all her other animals. I guess Momma cat was right.

I read these two fiction books last week. Mostly, it has rained and I am stuck inside.  Olive is a retired teacher in Maine.  She speaks her mind.  The books are really about not just her but others who live there. I enjoyed both books.  The second book extends to her life at 80 and moving to assisted living.  Elizabeth Strout is a well known author and I plan to read her Amgash series about Lucy Barton.  The story takes place in Amgash, Illinois and all four books center around this town. The first book is My Name is Lucy
Barton.  I have several books I’m reading now so I’m saving these until I have nothing to read.

Emily

Sister Fleta’s granddaughter Emily and her friend Lexington.  They attended something at U of A concerning the Track team.  He is a runner for the Razorbacks.  

I walked early this morning and saw an old friend—the sun.

With all the rain, the Iris blooms don’t last long.
 

Family or Fowl

I shop some at a little store attached to a factory here.  They sell things their plant makes.  They have Rotel and it’s 70 cents a can.  They have other canned vegetables they manufacture.  They have dinners by Marie Cavenders.  They sell pies, lots of other frozen foods.  All are name brand.  They make Orville’s products.  I bought a big box of this popcorn over 6 months ago but last October I stopped eating at night. I try to only eat in an eight hour window.  I’m have not been highly successful.  But I don’t eat watching tv in the evening and that was when I would have fixed this popcorn.  I set it on the table thinking I’d send it over to Laura’s.  Maybe she or Sig would eat it.  Well, a light bulb came on in my head.  My flock would enjoy this so everyday I pop two bags and when I turn them out at 2 PM they have a popcorn party. Am I choosing fowl over family?

When it’s cool, I sometimes wish for a pan of cornbread.  I eat it covered with milk.  I prefer buttermilk but usually don’t have that.  I made a pan Monday.  Since it’s cooked at 425 it really warms the kitchen.  And then I eat a bowl.  Later, I may open a can of black eyed peas and have another meal from it.  What’s left I crumble and feed it to the chickens.  They are excited to have a treat.  I can’t cook anymore.  Most of what I try to create gets fed to the chickens.  Glad I can still make a pan of cornbread.  Growing up on a farm with milk cows we had it almost every evening.  In the summer we had green onions to crunch with the bowl.  Momma cooked a meal at noon.  I’m glad I can still make cornbread if nothing else.  Yesterday, Astrid made yeast rolls.  I think it was her first try.  I hope they turned out delicious.  She works Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night this week.  Logan is on nights too.  He’s doing something at the nuclear plant here.  

Laura ordered a new canvas bag from Shutterfly.  Lovely.
 

Run, Run

My first Iris is blooming, but we’re having “little winter”, rainy and cool.  Sunday, I saw a hummer and decided to hang my feeder!  Then “little winter” arrived!  Don’t know if it’s Dogwood Winter, Blackberry Winter, Locust Winter, Whippoorwill Winter, or Redbud Winter, but I’m ready for it to pass by.

Astrid averaged 9 minutes a mile for 13 miles.  Push, push to finish and she did.  I’m really proud of her willpower.  She was 6th in her age group.  Wow.  Anyone that thinks it’s not a feat should try running a few miles.  Frankie’s daughter was there and ran it too.  I wish they could have met!

 

Columbine and Spiderwort

Red Columbine and Spiderwort—Red Columbine always makes me think of Colorado.   “Spiderwort" refers to the sap which dries into web-like threads when a stem is cut. It’s also called Dayflower as the blooms in the morning are gone forever at dusk.  The best known moniker is “wandering Jew" referring to Jewish people who taunted Jesus on the way to his crucifixion.  They were condemned to wander the world like the little flower in punishment.

 

Prom Pictures

These are Sigrid’s friends.  The two below are Sadie and Ellie.  .

I like that Sigrid choose a dress without a big leg slit.  Her dress is classy I think.

This young man with Siggie is Brodie I think.  His parents are friends with Eric and Laura.  Sigrid has known him all her school life.

 

Prom Night

Sigrid is off to prom tonight.  I hope she has a wonderful time filled with precious memories.  She is beautiful but so much more.  

This is the last prom for Momma Laura.  Bet she’s glad it’s over.  

Ingrid did not get to enjoy a senior prom.  Covid killed it for her.  Her senior year was stolen.  Sad.
 

Run, Run

Astrid and her friend Faith ran the RussVegas today.  They did the half marathon—13.1 miles!   👏👏 I say your time isn’t what’s important—it’s you finished.

Roses

 Astrid planted roses over on Galla Creek Lane.  They are blooming and beautiful.  She keeps the yard nice and neat.

Two Books

My near ancestors were Baptists and Methodists.  Larry was always a Nazarene.  I don’t really identify as any denomination today.  I am just me.  I believe our religion is a personal thing.    Finding our faith is a journey.  We have to find what fits.  I have found mine.  Ira Wagler was born in Canada—born Amish.  He spent his early years trying to fit into the religion he was born in.  He could not do it and that is what is first book is about.  The second book is about trying to reconnect to his 90 year old Amish father.  I recommend both books.  Today, I hope you have beliefs you hold dear.  I do. 

 

Is it Worth it?

 

My friend who had total knee replacement is getting around really well.  She doesn’t have the arthritic pain anymore.  She stands taller and I think she’s happy she chose this route.  It’s a big decision.  I’m not to that point yet.  I’ll just keep trudging along and limping around.  That big scar frightens me.

Flying Flowers

Astrid named the new baby Rosie after Johnny’s daughter Rose Ann.

I spied a swallowtail the other day.  It’s time for butterflies here.

Took Phinnie to the doctor.  He walks sideways. His back rear leg has torn ligaments.  He got a back adjustment.  But the ligaments may heal with time. He gets excited and jumps around.  I made an appt August first to have him neutered.  Maybe that will calm him down..
 

Get a haircut at the Post Office.

 I used to love seeing this postcard column in the Little Rock paper.  Usually one each week was published.  This is the Deer, AR post office.  Irene Cooper was the post mistress in 1940.  Russell Cooper added a barber chair and you could get a shave and haircut when you went for your mail.  Deer still has a post office, but you can’t get a haircut there. 

Daisy Time

Scenes from my  morning.  Saw my first Daisy when I walked to Pop’s pond.  Ever wonder where the name Daisy came from? It is considered a corruption of "day's eye", because the whole head closes at night and opens in the morning. Geoffrey Chaucer called it "eye of the day". In Medieval times, the English Daisy was commonly known as "Mary's Rose".  It is also known as bone flower.  Lots more daisies to see this year.  Today was a beginning not an end.  

Daisies may be used as a potherb. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads,or cooked.  Flower buds and petals can be eaten raw in sandwiches, soups and salads.  It is also used as a tea and as a vitamin supplement.

If for nothing else, daisies can been used for making daisy chains with children or a pretty bouquet🌼

I’m feeling quilty.  I want Connie to know things rehomed to the graveyard are dead, especially black snakes 6 feet long.

 

Ingrid and Sigrid

Ingrid and sigrid attended a wedding shower today.  They were both looked smashing!

 

Ada Came

Ada came for a late birthday. She liked the dollar tree presents the best.  She’s always a joy.  

 

Mowing Time

First mowing done!  Two hours of work!  Can’t say I mowed grass—weeds mostly, but now I’m on the porch and it’s raining so surely the grass will start to grow.

 

Warm Day

At noon it was 82!  Humid and very warm.  I got out a little fan.  I try to not turn on the air until June.  I seldom make it but it’s a goal. Laura carried me to Dardanelle Park to walk.  This was the first time this year I did not take a jacket.  Coming home we used the air in Larry’s old Chevy.  Such a good feeling.  Astrid bought a pretty plant this week and I spied a bouquet of Bluets.  Spring is here.  I have rehomed  two big Black Snakes to the graveyard.  Yesterdays was waiting in the hen nest.  He was longer than me!  Life of a farmer girl!

I’m slow!  Everything takes me awhile.  I have to let it soak in.  Walking is the perfect way of moving for me because I want to see things. It gives me freedom. If I go anyway but afoot I get there too fast, and miss a thousand tiny joys along the wayside.

 

Rationale

Yesterday, I heard tap, tap on my door, almost dark.  Is that the wind, I wondered!  No, my sweet Sigrid was there with a white rose for me🤍 She’s an uplifter🤍

Laura saves her old bread for the ladies.  Today the chickens feasted.  The way they clucked said, “happy”.

I moved my lounge chair to the sun and read today.  My book is growing up Amish.  It’s really interesting.  My rationale for lying in the sun was “I did a lot of work yesterday”.  I used my Dollie and moved a pile of chain link.  I cleaned some on Larry’s shop by the house.  It’s been over 3 years.  I couldn't touch it, but I have to get my chin up and go.  I’ve put things in the trash that I will never use, but he treasured.  This is hard work mentally and physically so today I’m warming my bones and reading my book.  I’m also reading “The Queen”.  It’s about the clothes Queen Elizabeth chose and how her style evolved.  It’s good too.   
 

New Entertainment

I’m enjoying watching the new baby in the meadow.  Astrid kept them in the stable a few days.  Yesterday, she let them out in the pasture.  Baby ran circles as fast as she could go.  It was sweet.  Baby does not have a name yet that I know.  

Sister Helen arrived home safe and sound.  She said she left at 3:30 in the morning and got home at 11:30 last night.  Guess it was a 20 hour drive.  She could have a truck driver!