Update

This old homestead near the river has seen better days.

Drive with care.

Caution, road ends here.

In light of the days tragic events, this pales in comparison.

River update

Pretty Spring Colors

Sunset on the Ohio River

Watching the big ants build a maze.

Hi ya'll this is Sarah Beth takin over Lois's blog ;]....... well she wanted me to write about what I did today so Timmy and me went to Marengo Cave with megan, we went on two tours one was in the crystal cave and the other was in the drip stone cavern now the crystal cave got that name because of the limestone crystals that form on the cave walls when their dry but since it rained really hard last night it washed all the crystals away, the drip stone cavern got that name because of all the stalatites that are dripping from the ceiling or their better known when their that small as soda srtaws because their hollow in the middle but my favorite part was when we got to throw pennies onto the cave ceiling, the stick because of the mud :], in all the tour was about two miles long and verry cold, but we had fun!

first flower!

To Her

Happy Valentines Day! Here's a poem by Edger Guest born in 1895. He was known as "The Poet of the People" I like his poetry, if you ever see anything by him, read it.

"To the mother of my children
And the faithful wife o' mine,"
That's the line that I shall scribble
On a simple valentine,
Just to sort o' reassure her
In an old man's blundering way,
That I'm always thinking of her
Through the troubles of the day.

" To the mother of my children,
And the faithful wife o' mine,"
That's the way that I shell greet her
With some simple valentine,
And her eyes will start to gleamin'
And her heart go pit-a-pat,
For there isn't any title
That would please her more than that.

So it's just the way I'll greet her,
Just to sort o' let her know
That she's still the same old sweetheart
That she was long years ago;
That there's no one any fairer
Than my early valentine,
Now the mother of my children
And the faithful wife o' mine.

Valentine Past

Well, O.K. Since you ask for it. I wrote this one for Honey a few years ago.

Kenny.....
You say I don't love you
Well Honey, you're wrong
For it's too late for you
To sing me that song.

You turned on your charm
You lit up that smile
You winked those blue eyes
Knowing all the while
That you had me hooked
You put out the bait
I swallowed it whole
And now it's too late
To say I don't love you
To feed me that line
'Cause I'm Hopelessly hooked
On You, VALENTINE!

Sweet Thing

Well it seems every one [family] is posting so here goes. Wrote this for my Honey, he hasn't seen it yet so shhhhh.

Oh Valentine, Oh valentine,
Calm this wild heart of mine.
Bid it slow it's dizzy pace,
Each time I see your handsome face.

My heart it jumps around with glee,
To think of you right here with me.
To hold your hand so warm and strong,
Tells me here's where I belong.

For you're my friend, my first true love
Bestowed on me, from God above
He gave me you, and you to me
To share our lives in harmony.

And still you set my heart awhirl,
Just like when we were boy and girl.
But now we're up there, over the hill,
Our love has sparkle in it still.

You're the one, aft all these years,
Who gives me love, smiles and cheers.
So I commit my love, till the end of time
And you'll always be my valentine.

What to do, what to due? Being pulled from 4 different directions. What does one do, take sealed bids then go for the highest bidder?

Recap

Yes Sharon, Maybe I should have said, "I wrote this one morning last spring, sitting on my 100 year old couch, with feet propped up on my old hassock, stuffed with 'horse hair' if you remember what that is. It may be older than that even. The lady I got it from is 92 and it belonged to her Aunt. Oh if the divan could only talk! what stories it could tell. Who sat on it, what were they like? Maybe a little Grandmother sat and talked of Abe Lincoln, with pearl buttoned high tops, hair piled high, white gloved hands and a high lacy collar? Maybe....~~ A young lady all proper and prim, smiling and blushing, her bou just waltzed in. He takes her young hand, with a smile and a wish, thinks, Oh if I dared, I'd plant her a kiss...They sit side by side and talk of their day, It's getting so late, but he wants to stay. The oil in the courting lamp, is burning so low, She smiles , he whispers, "I really must go" He gives her a wink, Oh she's lovely no doubt, He sneaks her a kiss, as the lamp went out. ~~ Who knows what stories it could tell. A peak, deep in it's folds, shows that in it's day it was a beautiful golden bronze color. Over my left shoulder sits an old, ornate floor lamp, topped in a pretty Victorian, fringe trimmed shade. The clocks chime 'Big Ben' one after the other. Sometimes it sets the mood to write.

Take a break

This was written early one spring morning, '09.........Come, Share with me a moment in time, before the world wakes up. With coffee in hand we pause for a moment of silence and thanks for the blessing of a new day for sight and sound, and for health and breath to enjoy it...... It's the still of early morning and dawn has just broken the cover of darkness. All is quiet except the ticking of the clocks inside and outside, the pileated woodpecker nearby, drumming intently on an old hollow tree. The air lays still, heavy with mystic dew. Droplets, like diamonds, shimmer on a spiderweb just outside the window. The keeper of the web, oblivious to the intricate details of her palace, decorated so artistically by diamond dust (a.k.a. dew drops) sits on her thrown like a queen, surrounded and dazzled by jewels......What wonders He has wrought!
A heavy sweetness wafts through the open window, tantalizing the senses. It's so intoxicating and exhilarating, that it invites a long pause to drink in it's flowery scent. Is it locust blossoms or honey suckle? There's nothing in sight to give a clue to it's origin. It seems to be a 'Mystery Scent' but yet it has lingered for some time, mornings and evenings, hanging thick in the air. Could it be the sweet heavenly aroma of the presents of God, waiting to commune at the dawn and dusk of the day? If so, can you imagine the awesome scents in heaven, surrounding our heavenly home? Oh the beauty of an exquisite, velvet red rose, the deep hue of a purple lilac, or the dainty teardrop, suspended from a pink bleeding heart. Aint God Good!
I watch a family of gray squirrels. Two young ones, recently graduated from their high lofty nest nearby, are racing about, rustling the dry leaves on the ground. They chatter a sassy cry and chase each others bushy tails around the tree at a dizzying pace. They pause for but a moment to regroup and off they race again, faster still. A chorus of colorful birds are heralding the start of a new day, with sweet songs of praise to their maker. Their songs are upbeat and catchy, nature's music to the soul
Oh look! Is it? Yes! There's a silent, stealthy doe, half hidden behind the maple tree. Her white tail is working overtime, like a flag set asail in the breeze. She's cautious, peering around a low hanging branch. She ever so slowly edges closer to the big rock nearby and licks up the salty earth, enjoying the remains of a salt block, long gone. She savors the minerals for some time, allowing me to enjoy her regal beauty. She soon has her fill and ambles closer, her head bobbing for a better view, always mindful of her surroundings. Her long ears twitch forward and backwards. She spies the cat and he too, is watching her intently. They eye each other a long moment, then respecting their distance, she ambles away to forage on the tender new grass and pretty wildflowers. From her point of view, all flowers are edible, even mu bleeding hearts, purple cone flowers, hydrangeas and seedum, she enjoys them all.
Well, that's a piece of my morning, home alone, enjoying the quiet and stillness of nature. I love it, it doesn't happen very often but this morning, Hubby is off on a tractor somewhere, plowing a big field and and planting corn. Little britches, (not so little anymore) is visiting his Sissy where he also spent the night. Hence, my quiet morning.
I did have a couple interruption's though. The loud, clamoring phone rang, breaking the stillness, and peace of the morning. Next, a piercing call of alarm from the cat (General George Patton, per Tim) brought me quickly to my feet. A big, wild Tom cat snuck up from the woods and was forcing Patten, , to the edge of the deck. He was ever so slowly inching him backwards, to the corner, to a big drop off. Before I could break it up, Yellow Tom succeeded in forcing him over the edge where he fell about 10 feet to the ground. I hissed the big bully back into the woods and also startled several deer nearby who also ran off into the cover of trees, snorting as they bounded away. In a couple minutes, here came cat, creeping up the stairs, sneezing bleary eyed but still walking. He sought the comfort of my arms for a spell while he composed himself, got his dignity back and his head on straight again.
Well, I must needs get going, clocks need wound, laundry done, weeds in flower bed pulled, windows washed and floors swept. Hope you enjoyed the morning along with me, I did. We'll do it again some time. Perhaps about the foggy mist that hangs heavy over the Ohio River, the mournful foghorn from an enshrouded barge, that echos and bounces back and forth off the hills along the river. It's haunting reverb, meant to clear the way ahead, is muffled by the density, so thick you can feel it envelope you. The night is still, damp and dark. The only light comes from the long beam of the beacon in the pilothouse, swinging from side to side, searching opposite banks for it's safe passage up the swollen, rushing river, pushing hard against the swift current. The grown of the tug boats motor labors as it fights against the force of the cold , murky water. Curves lay ahead, several sharp, horseshoe bends that require careful navigating in the daylight, and still more skillful hands at the helm when the fog is thick enough to cut with a knife, the night is dark, and long miles lay ahead. The pilot's heart races as he fights the treacherous waterway, nervously glancing at his watch as he prays for the first light of dawn and the morning sun that evaporates and lifts the white, heavy blanket that suffocates his view..............I can hear it chugging up river and it's mournful foghorn, piercing the night, as I lay safely in my comfortable bed, glad that I'm on good solid ground as I drift off in a peaceful sleep.................and dream of calm, still waters on a glassy smooth lake, reflecting perfectly the azure blue sky and Cotton candy clouds above. I sit ladylike in the small skiff, one white gloved hand holding a fringed parasol. It compliments my summer hat, bedecked with a dottedswiss ribbon and pretty pink roses for adornment. My long white dress, trimmed with a blushing sash, protects from the warm suns rays. Bare toes are half hidden under the lacy skirt, enjoying their new found freedom from the high top button up shoes, tossed aside with reckless abandonment. Oh these wonderful, carefree, summer days spent daydreaming, drifting along on the placid lake. The ever so slight breeze tickles the fancy and stirs up the perfume from the lilac bushes on the waters edge nearby. My hand shades the eyes as they scan the distant shoreline, searching for the quaint little summer cottage near the rocky cove. Home.....with it's white picket fence and tall colorful hollyhocks half hidden behind the blue morning glory vines. I see the small boathouse with it's image mirrored on the still water, it's reflection a perfect likeness, down to it's gingerbread trim. 'Old Glory' displays her colors proudly, ever so slightly moving as if kissed by the breeze...........The year is 1900, the dawn of a new century, waiting to be experienced. Hi expectations, new hopes and dreams. Oh the wonders of it all. The thrill of life!

Sitten here at Discovery Beach Resort in the exersize room, it's 90 outside, much better in here. Timmy has swim trunks on and begging to go to the pool. Problem is, I have to go out there with him and just sit and bake. I've already baked my feet so now I can't get them in the sun, bummer.We need someone his age for him to hang out with, he wants to go, go, go, to the pool or the beach, all the time. A man was fishing on the beach and gave Tim a smallish fish he caught. Kenny brought it up to our place on the 7th fl. and cleaned it. Now Tim has 4 little finger size strips to try out. Talk later.

Saturday

Shooooeeeee, puff puff, pant, pant! Just made 5 trips up and down the hill without stopping. Gotta sit a spell. Picked blueberries today. Arrived at the 10 acre patch around 8:00 this morning and didn't leave till 4:00. Picked nonstop except for one much needed pit stop. The picking wasn't as easy today. A couple weeks ago I could pick by the hands full. Today went much slower, had to hunt and pick one or two at a time, much smaller too. I picked 31 lbs @ 2.oo a lb. Picked on other days, 47 lbs one day, 22, 31, and 22 lbs on different days. Of those I froze, we ate some and shared some. Good eating. This last bunch are to eat on and share. I'll be sorry to see them go. I've picked every year since Timmy was a toddler. He didn't like to pick then and don't like to pick now, but does like to eat them. I saw a little hand full in the store for $3.00 for either 1 or 2 cups. Can't imagine paying that much for so little. It's late again, good night.

Hi Y'all, just a line to let ya know I'm still kicken. Been busy putting a new roof on the house. Finally put the last shingle on today, glory be! Now wouldn't ya know, he wants to paint it, NOW! Oh my stars! No rest for the weary. Yes, I was weary. After bending over for hours this morning, trying to beat the sunshine, hurrying like crazy, I could hardly stand or walk. We then had to hurry to recycle to empty the load of old shingles. That wasn't fun either, picking them all up by hand and slinging them up over the top of the BIG dumpster, in the hot sunshine. Any way, Honey bought me a real, bonafide banana split at the Curbette afterwards so that was a nice reward and treat. Now it's close to 1:30 am and I need reviving again so I'd best lay my head to rest. Nighty night.

These branches don't look very big here but they're bigger than they look. They were big enough to knock plaster off of the ceiling and off of the nail heads.

Ice

Ice..

And more ice.
Looking towards the Overlook Restaurant in Leavenworth. Look close and you'll see it. Looking down on the Ohio River.

Near our driveway.

Walking up the driveway to his truck. He's halfway up here.

A lone doe seen often hanging around near the house, bedding down at times.

Too crowded!

The hungry birds ate most of a 50 lb. bag of sunflower seeds during the week of the ice storm. Counted 30 birds in one picture like this.


A slick path up the hill.

Another view towards the Overlook.

Timmy walking up the driveway.
A cool, cool, seat. See the pine tree that fell over in the background.

Cool, cool, cheeks! Standing beside the pine that fell over from the snow and ice.

I finally got these on, thanks Ruth for your help.

I guess we all have our own story about the ice storm and power outage. It was freezing and drizzling on Monday evening, Hubby took his truck up to the top of the hill before bedtime. The cold wet stuff just kept falling and freezing, falling and freezing. We all went to bed as usual, I went last and reported to Kenny about midnight that sleet was a big factor in the mix. It wasn't long and the phone rang requesting his presence at work. I went back to bed after seeing him off, walking up the iced over driveway in the dark. Was shortly awakened by a scary, eerie sound, wind and popping, snapping trees, too close for comfort. I jumped up, ran to Timmy's room, routed him up and we made haste for the basement. Now living in the big woods, with big, TALLLLL trees just feet from the house is no fun at 2:00 am. with the power already out and no hubby around, no cell phone service, electric line, laden with ice and broke in two, the temperature falling inside and out, the wind chimes going crazy outside the window and the amplified sound of great timbers, heavy with ice, crashing to the ground around you. You feel so small and helpless, like an ant must feel on a busy New York sidewalk during rush hour, it must find shelter fast but where? No spot is safe amid the thundering, pounding feet of the masses. Poor little ant, I now know how he must feel, like we did, huddled under the covers in the spare bed in the basement. All of a sudden the house shook and a sickening sound met my ears.Timmy was fast asleep by this time, thank goodness. My heart was in my mouth and I could just picture a big hole in the roof as I lay there, as if I could see in the dark, too scared to go look, but also to unsafe to go look. I wasn't about to go upstairs. My little flashlight would only make eerie shadows anyway and at any moment another could come crashing down.That gives the heart a workout, it pounds pretty good, not good good, but you know what I mean, fast and loud. But wait, there is a Place to go, into the Sheltering arms of Jesus. Another big thud was heard somewhere upstairs and this time it woke Timmy. So, together we went to the Lord in prayer, ask for His sheltering arms around us, His pavilion over us and His guardian angels to camp around about us. We talked to those tall, tall trees and told them to stay put in their place, in no uncertain terms, that we were off limits to their reach. We quoted and claimed the verse,...There shall no evil befall us, neither shall any plague come nigh our dwelling. For He has given His Angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways.... You bet we did, and He did too. We presently settled down and went sleep, I slept off and on. The freezing drizzle and sleet kept up it's relentless siege, all night long. Before daylight, the temperature dropped low enough to turn the drizzle to snow, after EVERYTHING was solidly and heavily encased in a THICK coat of ice. About 5:00 I was awakened by the sound of a loud rushing wind accompanied by trees snapping right and left, one right after another. It sounded like a war zone outside. I guess that movement of the wind in the trees was the last straw and the heaviest ones just couldn't take any more strain. Dawn soon arrived, not soon enough for me, but it did arrive.You've heard the song, 'The darkest hour is just before the dawn.' The daylight was a welcome sight after a long night. We bundled up in layers of cloths after crawling from under warm covers. We ate bread and peanut butter, cookies, chips, whatever we didn't have to heat up, couldn't open the frig. I kept hoping Kenny would stop in and dig the generator out. Meanwhile he was having troubled of his own. Trees down everywhere he turned, couldn't get around, roads blocked, lines down, quite a mess. Finally after about 18 hours with no power, I had to figure out a way to get to the generator and get it over to a plug in. I managed that much but just couldn't pull the starter rope hard enough to get it going. Kenny called home for an update, said he couldn't make it by so he called Jimmy and had him come from Corydon to start it. I spent the next three days alternating the refrigerators and freezers, trying to keep them cold. Thank God for generators. We bought ours at a yard sale not far from home two summers ago and put it to good use several times since. The third day, a State Police walked down the hill to ask if we were OK or needed anything. Saw Kenny a very short time the whole week. He said while out on the job, several people stopped along the road where they were working and thanked them for restoring their phone service. The second night, Tim and I were sitting at the table about 9:00, had candles and 2 oil lamps lit, reading his book when another big crash hit the roof over the living room. I let out a scream and Timmy let out a yell and flew towards the basement door. That one was practically over our heads. We put out the candles and headed down stairs to bed. It's over a week later now, and just last night it was 50 degrees, the last of the ice melted off enough for Kenny to get on the roof today to inspect it. Wouldn't you know, there was no damage he could see, Praise the Lord! Well, it's after 1:00am so I'm saying good-night and I'll post pictures later.

LETS TRY THIS AGAIN

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

Welcome Libby [Granny Riggs]

This picture is just an update for Libby.

Wow, Sweet 16 T'was the year of 1948

Thought you might like to see this picture. Found it at Mom's. Even Grandpa and Grandma were young once. Is that Daddy's first car? The caption reads, At uncle Alberts, 1948

And a few years later there were three little girls.

Watching for the returning Orbiter

Sat with Bea today for mom. Poor lady, she is so bored. She begged for me to let her wash dishes. Saw 14 deer out her big picture window, running through the park. Stepped out to leave after dark and SURPRISE, everything was white. It took about an hour to get home instead of the usual 30 minutes. I started to drive down the hill in first gear, very, very slowly, but started sliding. I put it in reverse, hoping to back up, it would only go a few inches at a time but I got it back on the level and parked it.

Now I can take the Christmas tree down, the last two grand kids came over for their gifts. The 5 year old was tickled pink with his second gift, a box of popcorn, all his own. His face lit up like the Christmas tree and his smile went from ear to ear and then some.

Bask in the warmth of Florida.

There's no place like home on a day like this. Only ventured outside to fill the bird feeders, empty the trash and set the tea and scalloped potatoes out on the rail to cool. The sunshine streaming in the windows was nice.
Timmy got up early and went with Jenny on her bus route while I kept Quigley. Quig sat on the counter and helped me make up a concoction for the birds. We mixed peanut butter, raisins, black oil sunflowers seeds, old expired cornbread mix, millet, oats and a little strawberry jam to sweeten it up. Mixed it good then put it in a plastic mold to shape and set it out for the birds. Didn't get to check and see if they liked it.
Jenny came back after Quig and said that the school superintendent radioed her on the bus and told her to check and see if there was a kid that didn't get off the bus at school. She stopped at T-Mart to check every seat, thought maybe one was hiding. She radioed back, said all she found was a hat and a glove. He said it was reported to him that a child didn't get off the bus. It had to have been Timmy they saw. He told her to call him back on the phone later. Tim has ridden half a dozen times with her. She said the rules say that any school age child can ride the bus so that's what she was going by. She picks up some Amish kids and transports them to their school area. We'll see what becomes of it.
Well I have four kids to put up for the night, guess I'll put them all 'in Grandma's feather bed.' I hear one crying, and the others all wound up tight, running and hollering, having a big time. One says he's starving, he can't go to bed, one just crawled up in my lap crying, said she don't want to go to bed, she's hiding from Papaw. Now another says she's thirsty and they are arguing about who is sleeping in the middle and who gets the edge. Guess I better go be Grandma. Good Night.

Thanks Ruth for the 'new' old pictures. Here's a few I found packed away. Taken with my old Brownie camera I'm holding. My dress was canary yellow.

.

Hi Y'all,
Spent a couple days with Bea, Timmy opted to spend his time at Sarah Beth's, can't imagine why. Bea had good days, slept all night and part of the day while I was there, thank God.
We cut a few trees in the side yard and Kenny spent yesterday cutting and loading them into the pickup. He and Timmy are delivering it to Gary's tonight for firewood. That leaves me a little down time. I need to be taking down Christmas decorations, writing a couple letters, wrapping a box to be mailed........so here I sit, and with a blank mind at that. Oh, the doctor called Mom and gave her the good news that her shoulder wasn't broken after all. He thought it was but the X-ray tech said no, that what they thought was a break was the scar from the last break. She's so sore but that will work it's way out in time. She spent last night with Bea after we put her to bed, I need to call and see how she faired.
Well, I'm still drawing a blank so I'll just post a few pictures Sarah ask for and call it a night.

Home Again

Took the last 11 days off and went to Florida. Have no pictures to share as of yet. When we got home last night, my new camera was sitting on the trunk of the car, along with Timmy's last set of 60 lessons. No, we didn't forget them, UPS brought them while we were gone. Wish the camera had been just a few days earlier and I could have taken it with me. Hubby put in the last 35 years of his life, working for Verizon Phone Co. and the digitalCanon PowerShot camera is my Christmas gift from him. He let me pick any gift I wanted from his anniversary catalog so, now I'm up to speed with the rest of you. I dropped in it's batteries late last night but that's as far as I had time to look at it. Help, Ruth, I need you!
It was cold the whole time we were there, folks said it was 10 degrees below normal.. It was 45 some mornings, windy, warmed to maybe 60 or 65 but the wind made it feel colder. Kenny and Timmy got in the pool while I reclined in a pool chair, under shirt, knit shirt, flannel shirt, and 2 big long pool towels layed over me, trying to get out of the wind. Didn't work, I stood it for a little while then retreated back to our warmer room on the second floor. That was another bummer, too low to have a good view. Couldn't see the beach this time but could see the water farther out. The bushes, grass and greenery was too high to see over but we could still hear the waves crashing. Out in the distance we saw a couple submarines, fishing boats and cruise ships coming and going. someone told Kenny that you can see 300 miles out over the water at the point where it starts going down where you can't see it any more. 300 miles? Go figure. Gotta run Hubby will be home soon and I don't have a thing fixed for supper.

Just a Quick note.

Yes, I'm still here. It's after midnite and hubby is asleep on the couch. He got Gracie to sleep watching HI HO [Disney sing a long]. She's on the big bed and Timmy is upstairs in his bed.
I've been busy putting up applesauce, some with redhots in it for Timmy. I'll post my canning list when I get all done with everything this fall, still have pears coming up then maybe I can breath easier. Last week I had maybe 3 bushel or more sitting on the livingroom floor, all in boxes and bags. I'd put them outside at night to keep them cool then haul them back in in the morning and cover them up with blankets to retain the cold. That was a job, they were heavy. It made me weary just to look at them. The big wind storm we had blew them off of the neighbor's trees and there were so many on the ground I couldn't walk without stepping on them. It was a loss for them but a God send for me. They said I could pick up all I wanted, so I did, nice big beautiful, worm free apples, BEAUTIFUL. There were maybe 6 or 7 different kinds so I mixed them all up for applesauce. He grafts his own trees, has 3 different kinds growing on one tree. They also gave me a good amount of red plums and 2 flats of good purple plums. Made some jam and canned some after sharing with mom.
Had a break today from cutting apples. Cleaned house, Jenny made supper and brought it over for Kenny's birthday, big 57. Made two fresh apple cakes this week, one for Kenny and one for the freezor. Gotta get off this chair, my back is screamingggggggggggg! Nitie nite.

Had a nice visit tonight with Rachel. Parked her truck at the truck stop and Tim and I took her home for supper. We then walked up the hill to check out our new blacktop, visited some then took her back to the truck for a treck on home to E-Town. Sent her home with some frozen corn, blueberries and ripe plums.

Been Busy.

Hope I can get through this before I fall of the chair. Canned Mom 20 quarts of tomatoes last night till 3:15 AM then slept till 7:15. Got up and fixed breakfast for hubby and wanting so much to go back to bed, even told Hubby not to get Tim up yet 'cause I's goin back to bed for a bit. He left and I started looking through cookbooks for a recipe to put in the crock pot 'cause I didn't want to spend 3 hours cooking supper. Remembered I had a half bushel of fresh green beans in the frig that needed worked up, also a half bushel of apples and 2 pecks of plums. Also Tim's lesson takes all day of hard pushing, so I told myself to just suck it up and wake up, didn't have time for the bed. Fixed oats with maple syrup, brown sugar and cinnamon for breakfast then started in on lesson #19's paper work. Worked awhile and mom called, said the apples were screaming for attention, the deer, bees and birds were helping themselves and we needed to get some worked up. Loaded up Tim and his lesson and headed for Shady Creek Farm, East of English. Saw daddy in the barn, digging? Walked in the house expecting Mom to be busy, busy. She's sitting at the table, relaxed, with a book? I ask what was up? She says they had a disaster just after she talked to me. Said daddy was backing the tractor in the barn with a load of water in the trailer and clipped the water hydrant with the bucket. Busted the pipe off under ground and had a major water leak. Had to shut off the water at the pump house, had no water in the house to do apples so Mom was taking it easy. I took over the digging in the heavy sticky mud till we found the problem. It was broke in a good spot, thank the Lord. Daddy went to the hardware and got a piece to fix it, so I did. A person don't know how blessed they are with running water, till they don't have it anymore. Screwed the new end cap on the pipe and WOW! We had water again! Just capped it off and left the hole open for now, can fix it back later. Covered it over with plywood and set an old wash tub on it for decoration, how's that for 'Getten'er Done?' We tied in to the apples and cut like crazy. Washed and peeled them and the applesauce was white and pretty. We finally left around dark and headed home. Dear ol Hubby had a Blizzard from Dairy Queen waiting for us. Yum, Yum good.
Also froze 6 1/2 five gal. buckets of corn, which translates to 70 bags for the freezer.
Gotta get up and fix orange juice for breakfast. So Long.

Good Time, Girls?

Well, did anyone of you ladies have a good time on Mom's birthday? Glad you put it all together girls, it was a wonderful idea, and we actually pulled it off without a hitch. For cousin Jeanie, this is what we did. Had someone fill in for mom at Bea's, girls met at Mom and Dads then drove on over to my house. We all piled in our chiriot [Dad and Tim also] and we drove to Jeffersonville to Derby Dinner Playhouse for Moms birthday surprise. Rachel met us there also. We had a nice buffet, all we cared to eat, and all the coffee we could drink. Desert was extra, way extra. The Hummingbird cake looked devine, [looks are deceiving though] so we ordered two generous slices to share amoung us. We were stuffed so didn't want a whole piece. It wasen't what it looked like. I'm a sweet eater and I didn't like it either. Daddy had mounds of strawberry shortcake, or more like mounds of whipped topping, and Sharon ordered a Brownie Supreme, a moist chocolate brownie, piled high with creamy vanilla icecream, pour on gobs of ooey-gooey hot fudge and a mountain of whipped cream and there you have it. Anyway, tables were cleared and a cast of seven very good actors performed the play "Smoke On The Mountain Homecoming." It was very nice and we all enjoyed it emencly. It was nice that we could all manage to get together again, especially for moms birthday. Here's a little something I wrote afterwards to send to Rachel on her birthday the following week.

SO GLAD YOU CAME TO VISIT,
TO GRACE OUR FAMILY TIES.
HOW NICE TO SAY HELLO,
HOW HARD TO SAY GOODBYES.

WE'LL HAVE TO MEET AGAIN,
SOMEHOW, REAL SOON
TO SHARE AND LAUGH AND TALK AND EAT,
BEFORE THE NEXT 'BLUE MOON'

TILL THEN WE'LL HAVE TO KEEP IN TOUCH,
BY PHONE, OR NOTE OR LETTER,
BUT MEETING FACE TO FACE AGAIN,
WOULD BE EVEN BETTER.

That goes out to all of you who drove the distance to 'Keep in Touch.' LOVE TO ALL

Yes, believe it or not, I'm still here. Think I've messed my page up, somehow, I have to go through a setup that I've not had to go through before today. I installed 'Realplayer' to go to a kids program, didn't like what I saw so I've sat here a couple hours trying to get it out. Finally uninstalled it and also lost my direct way to the bloggs. Just hope I didn't mess up hubby's page. He don't like me installing things and messin up the computer. Any way, took Little Britches to the last day of CARES program at the school, stopped at 2 yardsales, visited a neighbor, made orange goatmilk icecream [with orange Koolaid and orange Jello] and waisted the rest of my day trying to outsmart this computer. I had plans for 'My Day' but they didn't pan out.
Little Britches has completed 5 lessons in his second grade program. We started a little early on purpose. Would have been three weeks ahead but had a couple little boys staying the last two weeks to go to Bible school with him. It was their first time inside a church and they really likes it. They are 7 and 8 years old and Tim had a blast with them here. I was ready to run away.
I thank God for the rain we had, a tad less then 1 inch, but still a much needed rain. Hubby planted soybeans over at the farm, about 15 acers, and the rain was a Godsend. He planted 'no till' on a hilly old cow pasture so now we are waiting for a guy to go spray to kill all the pasture grass. I ask the Lord to send rain, bless the crop abundently and make it prosper. So, that rain was just what I ask for and I'm believing for a good harvest. PTL!
Oh how I need to get up and dust, sweep, gussy up my hair, fix supper, go pick up Tim, prepare the papers for the rest of his lesson tonight, stir the icecream in the making, .............. there's no end to it...............................So Long.

Well school is out, finally. I had high hopes for him to read every day and do a little writing, like thank-you notes for birthday cards and gifts, but that isn't panning out very fast. Started one two weeks ago but it still lays, waiting for attention. He's spent a week back and forth between Granny's and Ruths and loved it, I did too.

Canning season has begun. I've frozen 10 jugs of tea, 10 qts. of strawberries and 10 qts. of sour pie cherries. Talk about a job. Yesterday, in the heat and humidity, I picked, and picked and picked, cherries. After about 3 gal. I had to give it up and head home, had company waiting at the door when I got there. Ended up with 6, and three to spend the night, so need I say it was a long night. Had to work up all the cherries, it was too much work to let them sit and spoil, finished about 3:00 am then crashed. Had to get up and get kids bathed and ready for church, hubby helped. He was a walking zombie himsalf, out disking till 4:00 am then up and out again, all day in a closed tractor with a broken airconditioner and 95 degrees in the cab, or more. Said he couldn't leave the door open on account of all the dust boilong in. He was beat! Finally, tonight, all is quiet and back to normal, whatever that is. I need to get up at the crack of dawn and go pick cherries in the morning, brfore it gets hot or the birds get them. Last year a late hard frost got them, the year before, a hoard of birds swooped down and devowered them all in one day. One day they were there and the next day they were gone.

Little Britches and I went down in the woods Friday to gather ditney tea. I guess it likes to be harvested because this year I found more then the 2 previous

Sneak Peak

Took a quick sneak peak at the family page but it was Greek to me on how to get on it. Right now I'm pushing Lil Britches to WRITE. He's spent over an hour on five very short lines, like 25 short words. He's sitting at the table, it's 10:00 am and his latest excuse is, 'I fell asleep.' Until this school work is done....................................

Field Trip

Went to the zoo today, field trip for Lil Bit and Sissy. Surprise of all surprises, Hubby took off work and went with us, took us actually. We all spent the day together. It was cold this morning, 22 degrees when we got up. My poor bleeding hearts were all droopy. Anyway, the group all met at 10:00 at the zoo and we went from there. It did warm up some and the sun felt wonderful. Left from there and ate at the Golden Coral, stopped at Lowes, Sams and a couple parts stores. Kids slept on the way home, I wanted to, it was a long day. Hubby changed cloths real quick and left again to help Son rescue the bull dozer, he had it hung up. It's now 10:00 and he's not home yet. Kids are watching Narnia and eating popcorn. I need to get things picked up and put away and get the younguns to bed, I have to work tomorrow, one goes to school and one to piano lesson.

Spelling Paper

How's this for a first grader? I told Tim if he'd write a good spelling paper, that I'd post it for all to see. His eyes lit up and he got busy and wrote nice. Sooo......., here it is. How about a little encouragement, a little feedback, something he can read for himself and get inspired to get his work done. We are on lesson #146, with 24 more to go, Glory Be! I'm pushing to get it done before warm weather. Already he's giving me grief over having to get lessons instead of out playing "because it's WARM outside" he laments. Thank you Ruth for all the work and time you put into his chart. It has helped some, hopefully it will continue to inspire through the remainder. I have offered stars a couple of times and he said "I don't want a star, I want a marble"

TEA PARTY

I had a little tea party, this afternoon at three
T'was very small, three guests in all
Just I, Myself and Me.
Myself ate all the sandwiches
While I drank all the tea
T'was also I who ate the pie

And passed the cake to me.

Oh! Hi there, you caught me dreaming............ T'was a fun dream anyway. Join me won't you?

Now, down to earth, the very stuff of life. My 'real' day was full of, "Change 'Y' to 'I' and add 'ed', drop the silent 'e' and add 'ing', double the final consonant, circle the special sounds and mark the vowels, underline the root words and circle the suffixes, 'when a root word ends with a silent 'e', drop the 'e' before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel, put the spelling words in ABC order, write 9-99 by 10's, horizonally, write two words for each sound on PHONICS CHART #9, Use these spelling words in sentences: CHURCH, CHIN, CHOOSE, PATCH, DITCH, BENCH, copy spelling list #28, consisting of 16 words, four times each, copy the following 16 spelling words and underline the prefixes, circle the root words, copy, THE LAZY MAN AIMS AT NOTHING AND USUALLY HITS IT, THERE IS ONLY ONE THING TO DO ABOUT ANYTHING, AND THAT IS THE RIGHT THING. And on and on it goes, hour by hour, day by day. So.............. that's how my days go, just incase you wondered. And now it's midnight, Good Night,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Sisters Forever!

This was taken on Jan's birthday in
Aug. 2004

WOW, how about that snow? It just kept coming and coming. It reminded me of the poem by John Greenleaf W.[I think] Who's woods are these?
I think I know,
His house is in the village though,
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
Got up this morning to a thick blanket of pristine whiteness.
We measured 11 inches on the table on the back deck. Hubby was called to go in to work at 2: 30 am but he told dispatch that we had 10 inches of the stuff and the roads were not plowed. They called back and
told him to wait till noon to come in. That was just fine with him. His truck was parked at the top of the hill, that would have been a long cold walk, trudging up hill in 10 inches of snow at 2:30 am. After he left for work I started shoveling and kept it up for a couple hours till he came home and took over. It's now dusk and it's all cleaned off, ready for the cold night to settle in. Had our leftover birthday pizza and apple cake for supper, hatches battened down, cat fed and hopefully we're settled in.....till dispatch calls again.
Farmgirl....don't know if this is still good, found it in a 2004 magazine. Check out www.kbhilltopstables.com it would interest you. It's a video monitoring system for animal lovers to share in the wonder of birth. I intended to check it out before I got on here but didn't get it done.
Don't forget to change your clocks back tonight.
Thanks for all the birthday wishes for us both.

High Speed Here We Go!

WOW! I'm cruising now baby. This high speed Internet is NICE! Now I don't have to go wash dishes or do laundry while I wait for something to come up. I highly recommend it. It would be easy now to spend too much time on the puter, to sail from one thing to another.
Hubby has worked for weeks to get it for us and a handful of neighbors. We are right on the border line to get it, our neighbor to the North is out of the boundary line, we barely made it. He made phone calls after calls, pulled some strings, tweaked some noses, twisted a few arms, made some 'inside' phone calls, went over heads to work around some 'stallers' and WAALA, it's here. If our house set just a few more feet down the road, we couldn't get it. Eventually, who knows when, next year maybe, it might have come our way. It's nice to have a hubby who works for the phone company. He was pulling hard for our neighbor to get it ,her husband left for Iraq and she needed high speed to communicate with him. Mom, you know her, she and her family lived in your travel trailer twenty some years ago.
Home schoolers went to the IMAX yesterday. Took Tim, Lucina and Miss Beth, had a nice time. It was cold, windy and rainy, snow blowing, yes both, but we found a nice parking place under I64, overlooking the Ohio river. We just sat there awhile, since we were early, and watched the wind whip up white caps and [sea?] gulls bobbing up and down on the waves. The film was interesting, about 'Our Wonderful Ocean' not the exact title, I've slept since then. Of course, we hit the Goodwill stores on the way back, it was nice to spend some time together. Came home in time to warm up leftover good, creamy rich potato soup for supper. It warmed the tummy and hit the spot.

Hi Y'all, Not much to say. There's an ominous, threatening black cloud hanging over us, hope it moves on. The wind is gusting something fierce. I suppose it's the same in your area too.
Hubby just brought me a piece of icecream cake, trying to plump me up some more.
Wow, the sun just popped through the dark clouds, nice. I'm sitting here soaking up the gardenia perfume, hanging heavyly around me. I recomend a gardenia plant to anyone who likes flowers. I told myself, "Myself, I'm not going to bother bringing it in this fall, just let it freeze." I then thought of how long I've had it, maybe six or more years, and how good the one lone flower smelled last year, so I repotted it in a bigger pot and brought it in. Glad now that I did. It took off with a new lease on life and rewarded me, covered in blooms. I have so enjoyed it this winter. They bloom on new growth so don't trim them back at the wrong time.
I'm watching a bird in the feeder just inches from the window. He's trying to pick up two sunflower seeds at the same time and can't, guess he's afraid another will get it.
I'd best get to my icecream before I have to drink it. So long.

Hi'ya all, I know, I know, I'm in hot water for not writing. Thanks Jeanie for the photo, that's a 'new' one I've not seen before. I too love to look at old photos, post some more when you have time, please. Thanks Lucena for your update too. I check in about once a week but usually don't have the time to write, and it won't let me comment, but I do check in. Little Britches is calling, wanting to know what to do on his math paper. Gotta jump off of here.

Hi there Miss Beth, WELCOME aboard. We needed some new young blood in our midst, just what the Dr. ordered. You go girl, keep us on our toes, keep us rocking, keep us guessing. Tried to comment elsewhere but it just would no except anything from me.
Son is better, still coughing, thanks for your prayers.Hubby spent the day just trying to breath, said to just shoot him and get it over with.Said if getting older is this bad at 55, he don't want to be around at 80. He's always had a breathing problem since he broke his nose years ago, or rather, a horse broke his nose. Nights are really bad , trying to breath. Any suggestions anyone?
It's midnight and I'm waiting for a load of laundry to finish.
Got the window finished except for 4 decorative brackets that need holed drilled in them. Got the shelf up across the top with pretties on it and the mantel clock. I'm waiting for the calender clock to get finished at the Clock Shop. Don't have a place to put it but I'm still waiting. BY BY.

Surprise

Just checking to see if this thing still works, or if I can still work it. Hubby left for work again at 10:30 tonight and I've been sitting here catching up on blogs for 2 1/2 hours. Antique Mommy's story about "The Box" was a tear jerker , have a Kleenex handy if you haven't already read it. Number One Son got sick , could hardly breath, sore throat, tummy hurt. Took him to After Hours Care on Sunday noon when they opened. Said he had strep throat and the Croup. Got med for both. Throat got relief fast from the 4 little pills. He felt some better on Monday but worse on Tuesday. I checked his temp. about 50 times, it was hovering at 102 as best I could tell. He had a red rash that itched. His tummy was REALLY hurting so I called Doc and they said bring him on in. They checked his temp to be 104, cooking as she put it. She gave him some fever reducer, looked at his raw throat, ask questions, looked at rash and said he has Scarlet Fever, brought on from high temp and strep throat. Very contagious. He itched like crazy at the doc's office and scratched till he drew blood. I hate to give med. but doc said this was very dangerous if not treated properly and promptly. Gave him his two different meds awhile ago and put him in his bed. He'd been on the couch all day sleeping. He don't want anything to drink which is not good. His tummy hurts so, I'm wondering what's going on there, that's why he don't want to drink. Doc said if he's not better by Friday morning to call early in morning and I guess they'd run IV's. My back side say's it's time to get off this hard chair and the clock says so too, it's 1:30. Hubby's not home yet. Need to go check on my baby. So Long.

Need I throw in my hat first?

On second thought, think I'll keep it on my head, it's a might nippy on the ears out there. Where do I start, it's been so long time comming.Really, there's not no much news since last year. Went to Cocoa Beach Fl. in Dec., took Sarah Beth along, finally, after how many years of asking her to go with us, maybe 3 or 4 ? She and Timmy pretty well kept each other intertained, one way or the other.There's 6 years between them so the age factor played a roll in it too. Timmy wanted to do 6yr. old things and she is into the 12 [or 16] year old range so the gap has been widening over the last couple years. A little pink gameboy went along for the ride too. It was great intertainment at times but notttttttttttt so great at other times. One game and two kids wanting it all the time, at the same time, was a challenge, betimes. Fun was had by all, memories made, I'm sure. We got to see the space shuttle take off on it's mission. We were staying about 10 miles away, on the beach. We walked outside at takeoff time and down to the beach, it was after dark, and EVERYONE was out there too. The beach, the boardwalks, the roof tops, balconies, you name it and there were people there, all waiting breathlessly, for the big event. We had went to WAL-Mart earlier in the daylight, hours before liftoff time, and folks were camped out all along the roads, everywhere there was a good spot within seeing range, still miles away from Kennidy Space Center. Meanwhile, back at our beach, folks were waiting, talking in hushed tones, cameras ready, watching for the BIG event. Countdown time came, 7,6,5,4,3,2,1, BOOOOOOM. The whole sky lit up like a megga ton bomb had gone off. Being ten miles away, it was still a sight to see, the whole area was a bright orange. The crowd erupted into victory cheers, some whistleing, somecrying some clapping. Heard someone within earshot, sending a prayer up with them. Someone was shouting, GO, GO, GO! Someone else was saying, "Look at her go, my isn't that something, this is history in the making." Everyone was watching for the solid rocket boosters to drop off after it lifted up into space. This, I suppose, was a crucial point. When the big bright, white light fell away from the main body, the happy crowd erupted again, cheering, whistleing, shouting it's support, a rising crescendo lifted up with the shuttle as it soared heavenword, it's light becomming dimmer and dimmer as it ascended into outerspace on a mission. It carried a lady [among others] to the International Space Station, who is still up there today, doing expierments and such, she holds the record for the longest stay at the station. Another mission will go up before long. I'm not a fan of outer space but Kenny would go up there in a heart beat. Our week in Florida was cool, the water was cold but that didn't detur the hail and hardy. Timmy's teeth chattered so that it seemed they would break from clicking together. Sarah Beth and Kenny also braved the cold water. The waves were so strong [or the kids were so lightweight] that they got knocked down and washed back upon the beach, brushburning their backs as they rolled. OUCH! I did take my shoes off and get my feet wet, it was chilly though. We walked the beach for hours. We'd maybe walk one direction for 1 1/2 hours, then have to walk back. That's a long walk and it seems like you'll never get there. We ate good when we did get back. I took along a nice kite that I'd bought there in English at the Sun Oak Trading Post, Paid $20.00 for it, best one we'd ever had, even as kids growing up. Sarah Beth was flying it on the beach and the wind was too strong for her to hold onto it. A big gust of wind tore it out of her hands and it took off, undwinding the string as it went, just out of reach as she and I both chased franticly after it, trying in vain to run real fast in the soft sand. It eluded our grasp then lifted and sailed back toward the condos, road and streets. Kenny hollered for us to let it go but I didn't want to loose it. Sarah Beth and I took off as fast as we could, she was barefoot, I had camera in hand, in the direction it went, around the condo, parking garage,and across the side street till we could see it again. The kite was visable,way up high, so we had to look real hard for the string, and finally found it. Had to walk over into the next condo property, look up to spot the thin little string again, then follow it to where it had hooked it's self onto the very top wire of a 10 foot chainlink fence, caught by a little piece of cardboard that the string was wound on. One inch higher and it would have been gone, over the 4 lane highway and into the electric lines. Wow, that was close. Sarah Beth managed to climb up the high fence and retrieve it, it was murder on her bare feet. Kenny couldn't believe that we got it back. He was still back on the beach with Timmy when we returned from our chase. His concern was the electric lines, I had never given them a thought. I guess the Good Lord was looking out for us. --------------I've forgotten how to move down for another paragraph, so in order NOT to loose what I've written, I'll just have to run it all together. I've lost too much in the past to push the wrong key now.---------------Well let's see, what's next? Sarah Beth was glad to get home, but maybe her mamma and dadda were even more glad. I think we got home in the wee morning hours, so she spent the next day before I took her home..........We didn't have our last Christmas supper with the kids till the end of January so didn't get the tree down till into Feb. I was glad to see it go. I still have to go downstairs and put it all away.....................I had been helping Kenny put up the metel building, there's just he and I to do it. We finally got the roof on before we went to Florida, a couple of the kide did help some with that part. He and I started putting up the sides . The sheets are 20 ft. long and about 3 feet wide. I had been the one to hold it's weight and walk forward with it while Kenny guided it up into position and hold it till he could get a couple screws in to hold it. That was o.k. at the time, till one day I went to Bea's to work. I was getting my overnight bag out of the car, bent over to pick up a piece of paper and WHAAAAAAAAAAAAM! It hit me big time. I could hardly walk up the sidewalk and Ruth had to help me up the steps. I stayed all day and Ruth called a couple times to check on me. I called Mom at home and told her I was hurting. I hung up the phone and did manage to get Bea to the bathroom but couldn't get her back up. I went back to the phone to call mom for help but it just rang and rang. I thought, "Oh dear, now what.?" By then she was saying, "I can't sit like this all day." Actually ,she was only sitting maybe 5 minutes. Next thing I knew, there come mom, flying in the driveway. I was so relieved I could have cried. Mom stayed a couple hours then had to go get Daddy's supper, said she'd be back. In a little bit Bea's daughter came and sent me home, said she'd sit till mom got back. It was a good thing 'cause by morning I couldn't get up out of bed. Kenny had to get me into a sitting position and when he did, the pain was almost unbareable, my arms went numb and tingly, I started shakeing uncontrolable, got dizzy and on the verg of passing out. This was 7:00 am. time for him to go to work. He managed to get me dressed and into the vehicle and off we went to the chiropracter in Corydon. It would be two hours she said before they could see me since I was a walk in. I didn't know how I'd make it for two more hours. But I did. We went driving around till time, and sat in the Wal-Mart parking lot awhile. I couldn't manage to set down low in the chairs in the waiting room. I just couldn't manage, that's all there was to it.He took x-rays and a heat scan and I had to go back the next day for treatment. I've been going 3 days a week and just now am down to 2 days and feeling much better................. We also had waffles, Sharon, for breakfast. Hadn't had them in ages. Got up late to snow, we are snowed in, so that called for something different. I chopped up pecans, poured the batter in then sprinkled the nuts on and closed it. They were good. Had your maple syrup on them, I was saving it for a special accasion. Thank you Lord for the snow. It saved my day. Hubby was all set to go over and put sideing on the building and I was dreading it. I see no great hurry, especially when it's so cold, to have to work over there ALL DAY TILL DARK, like I had to the last two Saturdays and Half day on Sunday. Timmy is soooo board, being ther all day, he's cold and nothing much to do but play in the mud, from head to toe. He gets so dirty that I can't take him home with me in the car. He either has to go with dad or strip down to a cleaner layer. Kenny don't quit till he can't see to put another screw in, then he has to put everything away, so he doesn't get home till well after dark. He's been watching the days get a litter longer. He'll go over to the window in the evenings when he gets home from work and say something like, "See, look, it's 6:00 and not quite dark yet, it won't be long." In other words, he can hardly wait for enough daylight in the evenings to make it worth while to go to the building and work on it. NOTTTTTTT me. That means I have to go to and work till after dark, every evening. Then there's fence to build, grass to mow, road to work on, and on and on, chiggers, chiggers, chiggers! Help! I say sell it!....................Well I've sat here about 4 hours till I've gotten a headache. Timmy is asking for something to eat and hubby is on the couch down stairs in front of the T.V. He just don't know what to do with himself when he can't get out of the house. I like to get snowed in, he's dissapointed that we didn't get to work on the building today. I'll be ever so glad to get it done though, but not when it's 25 degrees outside.