William Westey Carpenter

William Wesley Carpenter is Grandpa Gaddy's Grandfather.  Mom's Great Grandfather and my Great Great Grandfather.  His second wife is Sina Josephine Myers, but she is not our Grandmother.  Mom spoke of Dennis and Dorthula Carpenter (Linda King is a Granddaughter of one of them).  They are half siblings to Martha Jane Carpenter Gaddy.

New Is Not Better

Remember waking up to the smell of the coffee Momma was perking on the stove.  We never had a glass pot like the one in the video, just an old metal one.  Maybe the coffee was so good because she washed that pot everyday.  It took a lot less coffee.  I remember that little metal cup and it only held a small amount of coffee.  I also recall when I was little all our coffee cups had saucers and Daddy was pour coffee in the saucer and slurp it out!   I may get me a perker and try it again, not a glass or electric one but just the plain one like Momma had.

EEEK--A mistake!

 Each of these squares have two lines of crochet around them...well I have found one row about 10 rows back where I only did one line.  Do I rip it all out back to the mistake or just continue on and say as I remember Momma saying "no one will notice on a galloping horse!"

Daddy Was A Dreamer

My Daddy was a dreamer.  He always had hope for another day.  He was not brought down easily.  This is his 'new barn'.  I recall the building.  I was in the 4th grade.  New things all age and get old and rotten.  Daddy's new barn brought him down fast.  Price of milk fell.  Mortgage on the Holsteins and barn still came due.  Milk check would not even pay for the cow feed.   I still hate cows to this day.  Never wanted any.  I love chickens but cows I hate.  I remember adding water to the milk cans trying to fetch a few more pennies.  
Dreams and men are broken!  Daddy spring from all this a better man.  His new dreams were of retirement and the little government check he would get.  He got that 10 year vacation.  He did not look back and worry about the past.   I recall he always said it was a waste.  Look forward and dream of a new barn!  Spring is coming and flowers will just pop up to cheer us!

January and July

Things never turn out like you want.  Isn't that bird feeder beautiful...well after enduring several January's and July's it does not look the same.  It is sort of nasty pink and covered with bird manure.  Two months I don't really look forward to are January and July.  January--I think of being cold down to my bones.  I recall Fleta and I gathering wood on the hill to keep the house warm.  Maybe it was kindling but it seems like it was fuel to keep us warm.  I have decided I will not be cold in January anymore.  I will spend whatever it takes to be warm down to my bones.

Now, in July it is harder to be cool and comfortable because the air conditioner does not feel like a cool breeze.  It only feels cool to the outside of your skin and down next to the bone you are still hot.  I remember  sleeping in the yard in July and finally feeling cool up in the morning, but wet with dew.  What a Momma I had to let me take her quilts outside to the yard in the summer.  I also remember the one metal fan we had and we would sleep on a pallet at the foot of Dad's bed and feel a hot breeze.

The good thing about January is February comes next.  Merle Haggard says 'if we make it 'til December' but I sang 'if I make through January'.  February brings hope that the garden can be planted and good times lie ahead.  Put out peas, onions, potatoes, cabbage!  Think of the harvest.  Don't think of July when it all burns up and no rain comes to water it.  Think of May and everything being green.  I am glad I was born in June not January.  Sister was born in early May!  What a hopeful time.  Poor Fleta was born at the first of January and probably she was cold during her first days on earth!

I hate the TV.  It just tries to stir a pot about whatever they can get to bubble.   We are the pot.  Everyone today echos and no new thoughts seem to come forth.  Hope springs eternal as February is coming and I can just turn the TV off.

I am looking forward to my first spring when I do not have to rise and go to work.  I can go to work in my garden or whatever I want.  Today I am off to the library in the afternoon.  They have a Rick Bragg book put back for me.  I probably have already read it but maybe I will find another one.  Last time, my books were a wash.  Rielle H.'s story makes one want to puke.  I got a Maya A. cookbook.  It was not very good.  I will not even bother you with the others I lugged home only to lug back again!

Sorry, I have not posted, Sisters.  I have worked on Helen's throw some, but am not nearly completed.  I did a stupid thing.  I bought expensive yarn at Hobby Lobby because it felt good.  When I go by, I take the 40 percent off and get another skein.  I have worked up 4.  The other day...I noticed they raised the price on each skein to 7.99.  Fleta's throw did not cost much...about 24 dollars.  Helen's is going to hold a gold mine.
And Patsy, it has a pineapple fringe and i am afraid I will not understand how do make it.  I may have to bring it up to you to finish.  I am still on the throw and not even to the fringe but I am afraid it may come like January or July--labor to survive.

RMS Foggy Mountaineers

Coach Fisher is the sheriff!

New Gun Safe

Everyone needs a good gun safe!

Dirt

Patsy and Richard loved playing in the dirt.  Fleta and I did too.  Things have not changed as Greta and Clayton love dirt.

No Picasso--Patsy Please

 Clayton brought his rocket when he came yesterday.  All the kids had fun making it blast off.  The red head could send it the farthest.   Here's hoping Patsy will repost these right side up!

American Doll

Greta has on the Christensen's girls coat and hat that they wore when they were little.  She reminds me of one of those dolls that you see advertised in magazines asking only 29.99 for a year.  I always wondered who could afford an American Doll?  Now, I have one!

Heart Attack, Heart Attack!

We beat Morrilton by one point tonight.  Astrid always seems so calm.  I had to get up and pace by the bleachers.    Such a great game and winning by one only makes it better!

Chicken Vegetable Soup

I have been craving soup.  I have made chicken soup and potato soup this week.  The chicken was the best.