Rain, rain, rain.

How did I spend my day? Sarah came over because the water was coming up and Mom and Dad weren't home either. She had planned on taking Timmy's fall picture like she does every year but the rain hasn't stopped yet and it's 11: 30, past bedtime. Instead, she did laundry, helped Timmy with his school work, cut up apples for my apple cake, dearly enjoyed her ham and egg sandwich with a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup then topped it all off with a cup of hot herb tea and a piece of fresh apple cake. She enjoyed her day. She then went on to Bonnie's to attend her graduation from nursing[?] school, in Louisville. Hope they made it home OK in the rain. I made Kenny a apple cake last night and 3 more today. One for the freezer, one for Sarah and one for church dinner on Sunday. Had old apples that needed used up. We are moving right along with school work, we're on lesson # 78, closing in on Christmas, that far ahead but don't tell Timmy. Got the metal building frame up, most of it. I didn't help this week, Jenny, her husband Chris, Scott, and Jerod helped him some, some he did alone, a laborious task, trying to put cross beams up for the roof, alone. Gotta get Timmy to bed, he's watching Animal Planet and hubby is snoozing on the couch. I tried getting to bed early, only could manage it about 2 nights and that was it. It's now 11:45, I'll try for midnight but it's iffy, by the time I read to Timmy and get him settled down.

Need I throw my hat in the door first? Been busy with school work, Working one day at Bea's and one day at the lodge. The rest of the time is taken up working at the building sight, trying to get the foundation ready. The semi arrives a week from Monday and we're not ready yet. Dug 10 holes, 3x4 feet deep the other night, half by flashlight. Used an old worn out backhoe, glad that's done. Made 10 wooden boxes, 3 ft. high by 2 ft. square, one for each hole, glad that's done. Bent the rebar tonight, 2? for each hole, glad that's done. Hubby says he wished he hadn't started this project but it's too late to back out now so we march on, and on, and on......... Good night, it's 1:35, YIKESSSSSS!

Hellooooooooo!

How ya'll been? Good. Same here. No news to broadcast worth crowing about.

Tim and I are knee deep into school work, takes up most of the day. I'm trying to get ahead so we won't have to take it on vacation, if we go. Timmy don't know it but we're about 6 days ahead, aiming for 15 or more. With me working 2 days a week, we fall behind and have to spend most all of 3 days to catch up and get ahead a little if we can. He doesn't know we're ahead or he'd balk, my secret. He's doing good, reading 3 and 4 letter words by sounding them out. He's ahead of the teacher, just picked up his blend book and started reading them. Of course I make a BIG thing of it and it spurs him on to do more.

Hubby put in 14 hours overtime today and just got called back in to work again. He was home about 2 hours. I'm going over to the keyboard and do a little practicing while he's gone, he don't like to hear it. I have to play an old pump organ for Nidrah on Wednesday so I'd better brush up, haven't played much in the last 6 years. So long.

GREETINGS

Hubby's home again for the long weekend. He spent the day over at his brothers, working on their backhoe. Timmy and I spent the day on lessons, trying to catch up the days we missed this week. I worked Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday I took Sarah Belle to the Endodonist in Louisville, down Dixie Hwy. We left my house at 7:oo A.M. and got there at 8:15, she filled out paperwork and was in the chair at 8:30. She spent an hour, reclined in the chair while the lady endodonist and her trusty assistant worked their magic. She left the office $780.00 poorer but feeling much, much better. The toothache left but her jaw was sore from all the pushing they did, filling up the empty root canals. We went to Lowe's and she bought a ceiling fan and we oooed and awed over their lamps and such. Denist said she could have some icecream in an hour so we made a bee line for Arby's and got us a shake. She hadn't eaten in 5 days because of the pain, so she really enjoyed the icecream. We then spotted 'Trader Baker's Mall' so we thought we'd take a peek inside for a few minutes, ha! We came out 6 hours later with lighter pocketbooks. Headed home [moms] and stopped along the way for us each a cup of yogurt and a banana at Georgetown. Got home around 8:00, Sarah packed up and went home, I packed Timmy up and went back to our house to put away our loot. Sarah didn't have room at her house for all her stuff so I took it home with me for awhile. We had a nice, enjoyable time together.
Made lasagna last night, so we have plenty to eat on over the weekend.
Timmy did three lessons today and wrote his cursive E, I, and U's beautifully, some were perfect. I'm really stressing GOOD penmenship and so far, he's doing great. He'll make a perfect letter and I jump up and yell, "yesssss!" and he is beside himself with pride and hugs me so tight I can hardly breath then smothers me with kisses till I holler "Uncle". I told him his letters were lots better than daddy's and as good or better then mine and he was so excited about that fact that I could hardly calm him down. I told him that if he try's and works at it, he'll be able to write better then most grown men. He's already been told in the past that he printed so nice and neat. Hopefully it will stick with him.
Have lots to do before bedtime so I'll talk at ya later.

Hubby finally made it back home from Ft. Wayne tonight after a long hard, fast drive. He walked in the door with a big smile and a Dairy Queen Icecream Cake, just for Timmy and me, he said. He spent the week up there on business.

Sister-in law and I had a 'Ladies Day Out' yesterday. She needed a break and wheels so away we went. Stopped at a big yardsale in Merango and picked up some good bargins. Every thing was dirt cheap and they said the next day a lot of it would be free. Saw a lady I hadn't seen in 15 years or more. We both knew that we should know each other but couldn't place us. Finally, before we left the sale, I took a shot in the dark and ask if she had anything to do with the English Elderly Housing years ago. Light bulbs started coming on and it hit us. I told her that I usted to care for Ruby and then she remembered me and I remembered her when she said she used to live there with her two little girls. Why yes, that was it. Hadn't thought of her in years. Now, to continue with our day.
Took Timmy to 'sitter' and we headed 'up town'. Stopped at the Dollar Tree, Big Lots, Tumbleweed for lunch, then on to Sams Club. Strolled the isles and loaded our 'stuff' then stood and listened to a 'Forever Sharp' knife demonstration and received a small paring knife free. Shopping makes a person thursty, so we walked over to the fountain drinks a got us a big, cold root beer to go. Oh so good. Checked out and headed West into the sun for home. By now it was 6:00 so I called Ruth and told her we were headed in her direction. Sister-in-law and I are ever so grateful and thankful to our kind, generous, benefactor, who made our enjoyable shopping trip possible. Bless her kindly. May the Good Lord let His face shine down on her with His Love and care. I bought some stickers for scrapbooking so we need to plan a 'get together day' and do some scrapbooking. We'd lay out all our supplies on the table and share them. I have paper and stickers, sticky tape and a pair of fancy cutting scissors. What more do we need? Just bring photos ( copies) snacks and a good time. Come one, come all. Gotta go.

Good Day!

It's 2:00 in the afternoon, Wow! I shouldn't be sitting here, I have so much to do.
Worked yesterday at the lodge, cleaning 3 bathrooms, every inch of them, changing king size sheets, many trips around the beds, sweeping floors, etc.
Yesterday was Mom's birthday. I had made her a 'Pineapple Lace' cake, placed it in my footed cake stand, placed the dome lid on and carried it to the lodge with me. At lunch time I took it down to Bea's and presented it to Mom. She was surprised. She liked it an so did Bea, she likes anything sweet. Think I made the pineapple filling to thick, which made the cake kinda dry.
Canned 15 qts. of tomato juice, that should be enough with what we had left from last year.
Took a package of 'round steak' from the freezer for supper. Don't know if I should fix it or a fast sandwich. Hubby is committed two different directions tonight when he gets home from work. He is supposed to meet his brother to get some log's ready to sell and he's supposed to go the opposite direction, meet with is son and go to Magnet and check on a backhoe that he needs and would like to buy. It's either buy or rent one to do some work over at the farm for the building foundation and some more work on the new road. I don't like this big debt we're taking on, it's scary.

To answer your question Sharon. Get a big kettle of water boiling, drop in your shucked ears of corn, cook about 10 minutes, remove with tongues and place in a clean sink of ice water to cool. Drain on a clean white towel, cut off the cob, scrape cob with knife and put over into your freezer bags. Add to the corn enough water to just cover corn, force out all the air and freeze. With the water in the bag, it doesn't get freezer burnt. to eat, just thaw in the microwave and cook about 5 minutes, there's plenty of juice and it's not dry. Just add a little butter and salt if you like and serve with a slotted spoon. Good fresh, frozen corn doesn't even need salt or butter to make it good.

Thank-you Ruth for the information I requested on 'Home Schooling.' Yes it was helpful. Looking at the list of things they should learn in kindergarten, Timmy already knows 98% of it. I'm hoping this is not a waste of money. Guess it won't hurt to brush up again on it again.
Best get started on supper.

I'm Back

It's about 2:00 AM and I'm winding down. Froze 11 bags of corn today and still trying to get the splattered corn juice off my glasses. It's messy, working in corn and hard to clean up if you don't do it right away.

Timmy and Kenny went over to the farm to work, Timmy wanted to stay home with me but daddy said, "No, you're going to go sweat with me today." He didn't like it but went anyway. He took his ' heavy equipment' toys and played in the dirt. You can't imagine how dirty he was when they got home at 9:30 tonight. I stripped him on the spot and whisked him off to the shower.

Also cooked some fresh green beans today and nearly ate half of them, they were so good. Put a little bacon, bacon grease, onion and a little sugar in them. Cooked them in a can of chicken broth and added some veggie bouillon also, very good. I'll share with yah, I have another bag to cook up yet.

Bought 6 more 'free range' chickens yesterday from the neighbors. Cut one up and fried it for supper. Used Aunt Marge's method, brown in the black iron skillet then but in the oven, covered for one hour to finish cooking. GOOOOOOd! Thanks Aunt Marge for the tip.

Bought a small, wooden, fold up rocking chair from the neighbors yard sale. It has been nicely stripped and the tapestry has been removed. He said it came from Italy or France, he couldn't remember which, he was told but forgot. It's another project to work on. Should I paint it white and use a pretty pink floral tapestry or stain it cherry or mahogany? It only stands about 3 feet high and folds up nicely. Rust on the hinges needs some attention.

Rachel came up this week and I loaded her car down with 'stuff.' Gave her a nice old coffee table that I had planned on restoring, of course, with white paint and a spray of pink roses. Sent her home with a small, half round, old accent table and a three legged piano stool to set a plant on. Went through my boxes down stairs and filled up her car, some nice things for her new 'china cabinet, buffet.' It fills up her wall and looks nice.

Went to holiday Inn Express yesterday in New Albany, by the Sherman Minton Bridge and got Timmy all signed up and set for school. It was a A Beka Academy Home School Materials Display. By going there to sign up, we saved $1oo.oo. Ordered their DVD program which features the master teachers of Pensacola Christian Academy in a Christian classroom setting. It's like you're right there in the classroom with all the other students and teacher with interaction with them, answering questions along with the students. I think it will hold his interest better than just a boring old ugly workbook in front of him for three hours each day. I liked what I saw and hope he will too. Our pastures daughter is using the same program, except for first grade instead of kindergarten, she's excited. She won't have to drive into Corydon every day for school.

Well, it's later then I think, I must catch a wink or two before church in the morning or I can't keep my eyes open and that is MISERABLE with a Capitol M! Good night.

Well it's 3:00 AM and I finally got the corn froze. Left mom's tonight about 8:30 and drove over to sister-in-laws house on the way home to give her a kettle. She said her water quit working. I just happened to have a gal. with me and she gladly took it. They have spring water and a pump house. Her Hubby was too sick to go check it out.They have farm animals to water but had enough for tonight. Any way, she had picked and shucked about a bushel or more of corn today then the water quit and she couldn't work it up. She had put it in a big bag and stuck it in the freezer for the night. It wasn't frozen yet so she told me to take it home and work it up for us. I just bagged 11 bags, PTL.

Helped Daddy mow a yard today, he rode, I trimmed and used the walk behind. He was real glad for the help, said he'd never got it done that fast before. The heat index was about 105.

Granny and Timmy played in the creek awhile tonight, catching crawdads.
Mom tipped a peck of green beans today for me and I drove off and left them in the frig.
Gotta get to bed, good night.

BOOOOOOOOOOO!

Man must work from sun to sun but woman's work is never done. Any body agree? That's so very true in my neck of the woods. We've been working every night and weekends on the road, getting home around 10:00, then my work starts up again and his ends on the couch for a well earned snooze. I'm proud of him anyway, he's out there getting the job done, a little at a time. There's not a lazy bone in his body, but I do wish he'd slow down and let me rest anyway.
I'm back, I forgot I was in the middle of making tea, loading the dishwasher, laying out Timmy's cloths for tomorrow, hunting up a couple pictures, getting Tims bath, putting groceries away, cleaning up supper mess that we hurried off and left, gathering up a few things for tomorrow that I don't want to forget, plugged the pool in so it could circulate a bit, forgot the eggs out in the truck so had to go back out there, need I say more?
Sure do miss Aunt Marge. I stopped in at Moms tonight and it was too quiet over there. I Miss her laugh and the sisterly banter between her and Mom.
I gotta get with it while the night is still young, talk to ya later.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Tim and 2nd cousin



















1. Sarah's longhorn
2. Tim & 2nd cousin
4.Flying 'or the river
5. Cowboy Up
6. Papaw & Gracie May
7. More road


Worked last Friday at the lodge all day then had to fill in down at Ms. Bea's from 4:00 when I got off work at the lodge to Sunday morning @ 11:00. Went straight to Ruth's church to pick up Timmy then we went over to the farm where Hubby was working. We pitched in and helped fill up the 18 ft. trailer for the 2nd time and haul it down to daddy's with the tractor with me bringing up the rear in case we lost a piece of wood on the road, it was so full. Went back to the farm and picked up and piled up tree tops and branches. Did some more dozing and cutting up trees. Built a small, little fire and roasted weinies and marshmallows. Back up about an hour. Kenny stopped to add water to the radiator on the dozer, Timmy jumped up on the track to watch and grabbed ahold of the HOT exhaust pipe. Ouch, ouch big time. He jumped down crying, came to me and took hold of my arm, let loose and grabbed it again, crying too hard to talk. He didn't say any thing but I put 2 & 2 together and figured it out. I guess he thought I could feel the heat in his hand. We ran to the cooler and got a handful of ice to hold. Normally we wouldn't have had the ice but I had just come from the store and had bought wieners and didn't want them to spoil so got a bag of ice to put them on. I put some old, expired burn ointment on his hand that we had in a first aid kit in the tool box but he kept crying and said it burnt worse so we wiped it off. Gave him a wet wash cloth to hold with ice in it and it quieted him down some. It was soooooooo hot and humid, he sat down in a lawn chair and fell into a fitfull sleep for a few minutes but kept whimpering and shaking his hand. The pain wasn't letting up so we went down to Moms and tried a couple things and they didn't help. We then tried 'oil of oregano' and within 20 minutes he was o.k. and started to use his hand. That is powerful stuff. Everyone needs a bottle of it to keep on hand. His finger print area on all five fingers was burnt and white but they never got blistered. He never complained any more about it after that. Anyway, I was away from home for three days without a change of cloths or a toothbrush, Yuck. Got home about 10:30 that night and boy did a shower feel good.
Sister-in-law, Timmy and I went to Sams on Monday. Treated her to some cash that I had made at Bea's and she was ever so grateful to have some 'shopping' money. Stopped at Wal-mart for a few things then hurried on to Grantsburg to take her home. I hurried home, got there just before hubby did, made him a turkey sandwich and we were off to the farm again. We picked up more sticks and branches and added them to the humungus brush pile. We all three jumped on the dozer, went a piece and picked up a big culvert, chained it to the side of the dozer and took it to it's rightful resting place. Hubby then proceeded to doze till dark while Timmy played in the dirt in the pond runoff ditch while I tried to catch 40 winks over the noise of the dozer. He finally quit when it got too dark to see and we headed home. It rained today, thank God, we needed it, or we'd have been back over there after supper. Besides, Kenny got called back to work at 8:oo and didn't get back home till 12:30. This took so long that it's now 2:30 so I'm outa here, good night.

Good golly, Miss Molly, It's midnight, already. Just wanted to answer your question Sharon. You probably know the answer by now, but I just read it last night. Sarah went to Texas to spend a week on Lori's ranch. She has some good pictures, maybe she'll post them on here sometime.
Yes, wish you were here to eat blueberries, they are delicious. I just finished making 3 1/2 pints of blueberry jam and it's gooood!
Timmy and I went to English today, picked up Sarah Beth and we went over to the farm. We started loading wood and nearly filled the 18 foot trailer in no time. We didn't get it all picked up but it was going time and we were TIRED TO THE BONE. Gave Sarah Beth $5.00 for helping so good and promised them a cold popsicle when we got home. Kenny don't know it yet, we won't tell till he gets over there and sees it loaded. He will be greatly surprised. I even started the tractor and drove it and the trailer around the hill and through the woods to pick up more wood. Never did that before either, never drove it, except for a few feet when Hubby was standing there telling me what to do. It felt kinda good. I just don't want him thinking I know enough about it to have to go out and mow the fields or something of the sort.
Here's a few pictures of the road about a week ago. It is now sown in grass seed except for the driving area awaiting gravel.
I have to go to work tomorrow, up at the lodge. She wants me to help cook for her company, family reunion. Gotta getta shower and get to bed. Nighty Nite.

Still kicking,barely, at times.

It's been so long that I hardly remember how to do this anymore. I shouldn't be on here at 1:45 am but gotta say ' boo ' once in a while.
Kenny finally got home about 10:30 tonight, he's been at his work for the last 28 hours. Said it started to rain at 7:oo this morning and he was ever so glad because he needed a nap. Said he slept 15 minutes before he was disturbed and that was enough to get him through the day. He was called in last night on July 4, because of the storm. He had worked outside all day over at the farm in the hotttttt sun spreading hay over the newly sown grass seed and fertilizer. He and Timmy rode his big tractor down to moms to get the 18 ft. trailer to fill it up with just cut fire wood. He was so very hot, mom made him a turkey sandwich and some of her homemade icecream. Hooked on to the trailer and away he went, back up to the farm to load wood. He no sooner got started and it started to rain so he had to HURRY and get out of there because it is all freshly dozed dirt and on a hill. He hurried through the gap and had to stop and put the gap back up. Got a running go [by now it was slick] and tried to make it out onto the blacktop but a car came over the rise and he had to abort the the run just at the edge of the road. Had to back up and make another run for it but it was really slick now and this attempt failed also. Finally the front tires hit the blacktop and away he went, on up the road. I was on my way there to help load wood, we met on the road, I gave him Timmy, said he was going home, we couldn't work in the rain and mud. Glory Be! He needed a rest. I went back down to Moms to get my blueberries. Pulled in the drive and stopped at the house, it was raining and I was soooo very sleepy so I layed my head back and went to sleep. Woke up a couple times when the thunder rolled then went back to sleep. Didn't even think about Kenny being on call and he and Timmy home alone. Next thing I knew, the car door opened and Daddy was standing there under the umbrella, said Kenny wanted me to call him, he had to leave for work. He had to find someplace to leave Timmy and I couldn't get there in time, it's a 30 minute drive from Mom's to our house. He ended up leaving the dirty little feller at the elderly neighbors, we've never left him there before. I got my blueberries and headed home. Tim was dirty because Kenny had him all day over at the farm helping him. He also got to play in the mud and a little stream of muddy water, great fun to him but great consternation to me. He gets so dirty that he has to ride home with Kenny in the pickup, tooooo dirty to get near the car. And his cloths, Oh dear! There's no soap on the market that would get them clean, Kenny's too. Mom and I spent the day picking 54 lbs of blueberries at the Blueberry Farm in New Salisberry. That's why Tim was with Kenny all day. One day last week, Sarah, Sarah Beth Timmy and another girl picked blueberries while I sat 2 hours in the denist chair getting a 'post and core' in preparation for a 'crown'. Left the denist and went to the patch, picked about an hour and by then, they were more then ready to quit. We picked around 60 lbs. that day. I hope to go back another day to have some to eat fresh. They are hanging ripe by the hand full. You just cant pick fast enough, they are everywhere you look, pulling the branches over thy are so heavy with fruit. It's hard to leave the patch, there are so many, just begging to be picked.
Back to the farm. We've been working every spare minute over there, trying to get a road built over the hills and jully's to get to the spot we want to put up a metal building. The semi won't bring it unless we have a rocked road leading to the location. Once we get the road built, we have to get the foundation built in a hurry because they deliver in September and the road isn't finished yet. The overtime Kenny just put in will help to buy gravel. Someone gave us 50 bales of straw and we have all the old hay we need to cover the grass seed. Now we are working on getting all the trees cut up that were dozed down for the road. The tree mess is right where we need to continue with the road.
Nuff said, it's 2:45 and I still have to spell check this. Good Morning.

Back Again

Picked up the seasoned traveler tonight at the Louisville Airport. Made a wrong turn, stopped at Buget Rent a Car to ask the quickest way into it. I was just a stones throw away but didn't have time to make any more mistakes, or so I thought. Made one more and had to circle again and enter the short term parking area. When I took her to the airport last Wednesday, I parked in the long term area and had to pay $4.00 for one hour. Only cost $1.00 tonight for 30 minutes. Live and learn. The part that bothers me is the car on my tail when I'm trying to figure out where to turn. Anyway, picked her right up and we left for home. Dustin was there waiting for her, napping in Papa's chair, Aunt Marge reading in Mama Bear's chair. She showed the pictures to Aunt Marge and they left for home. I went to Bible School and picked up Timmy. Had Mamaw Phyllis take him , since she was a helper there, said she'd be glad to. Our Bible school starts tomorrow so I'll be helping there. Last year I was in charge of the snacks each night and was asked to this time but wasn't sure when I had to pick up Sarah so I left it at that. I have to make cookies or something. Maybe Apricot Bars, I've been wanting to try out the recipe. Why don't all the area churches coordinate and stagger their Bible schools so the kids can go to more than one? They seam to be held at the same time. Well I'm rattling so I'll jump off here.

Whew!

Timmy and I went to Mom's today, took tuna salad, cherry coconut macaroons, and a loaf of fresh bread. Aunt Marge made tuna salad too, and deviled eggs. Ruth brought chicken salad, pickles and banana pudding.[ She also snuck in a chocolate bar.] Sarah made a light, lemon mousse, however you spell it. We had 8 around the table, and a very good lunch. We weeded some in the garden and by then it was time to go our separate ways, Ruth to the shop, Sarah back to Loogootee and I drove home without 'Little Britches'. He wanted to have a sleepover and go to Bible School with Sarah Beth. I unloaded the car, put supper on the table, and made a wilted lettuce salad to go with the bar-b-que chicken. Cleaned up after supper and Hubby went to plow. I went out in the yard, picked 2 kinds of mint and made almost 3 gal. of tea to freeze. Made Sarah a batch of Trail Mix Bars for her trip and planted a few flowers. Did a load of laundry, set the hamster outside for fresh air, walked to the top of the hill and weeded a little then back down to the house. Sat down in the old wooden, mission rocking chair to preview a good cookbook and fell sound asleep. slept a few winks, woke up and looked at another page and that's all she wrote. Had to get up, wake up and get busy. Soooooooo, that was my day and now it's almost morning already so I'll say, Day is done, gone the sun, God be with us every one. Good Day.

BOOOOOOOOOOO!

Still kicking, gotta save the bear. Went to 2 yard sales @ 8:oo this morn, now gotta go get it put away. Bought a few girl baby cloths [no, it's not what you just thought] they were so cute, just saving them till I know of a baby girl, sooner or later.
Now I gotta get up and make cookies, etc. for a auction tomorrow. Got drafted to work the hotdog and snack table, ugh. It will be a good auction Ruth, go if you can. It's at Grantsburg, Union chapel Road.
I must get into gear. What for supper? Oh dear, think girl think.

Not much to say and no time to say it. It's closing in on 2:00 am and hubby is at work. He was on his way home when he had to go right back on account of the storm. It was really rough weather but I haven't had the radio or TV on to know what is and was going on with the weather. I can hear torrents of water rushing down the creek out back and a deafening chorus of frogs and or toads, they must like all the water.

I made about 5 gallons of ditney and mint tea today to put in the freezer. I freeze it in empty 2 leader jugs. Timmy and I went for a juant in the woods yesterday to pick the ditney. It's good, and brings back memories from40 years ago when us girls used to trapes through the woods at Whetstone and gather it in to brown paper sacks, before the days of Wal-mart sacks. I heated up the house while I was making it, it was 80 degrees in here, sweltering.

Yes, we had some good omelets at mom's the other day. Timmy and I even had one the next day with the leftovers. I'm looking forward to the rest of the leftovers in the morning, well, a few hours from now.

Think I'll call Hubby and make sure he's OK, before I go to bed, make sure he didn't hit a fallen tree out there on 62, that's a bad road to be on in rough weather, especially if a person is sleepy and has been up for 20 hours. Weatherwise, he may be out all night and all day tomorrow. I hear it thundering again, I'd hoped it was all over with. Good night.

Guilty or Not Guilty

O.K., the jury has been selected, every one has been seated and the Judge has approached the bench. He sits down and calls the court into session. The first witness is called forward. The incident unfolds something along these lines. The witness and companion are traveling together and reach their destination. Vehicle slows, stops, and driver gets out, walks to rear. Valuables in car must be kept secure, if stolen or tampered with, great trouble could arise. A timespan of at least an hour will elapse before they return . Said passenger exits vehicle, stows valuables behind seat, looks to see if the key is removed from steering column, yes it has been and is nowhere in sight. Passenger in question hits the lock button and closes door. Doors are now secured so walks toward rear also. Driver looks back, aghast, just in time to realize that the lock button has been pushed and door has closed. "You didn't lock the doors did you?" driver asks, very upset. Said passenger assures driver that yes, doors are locked, valuables secured. Driver retorts, "!@#@$%$#&$%& I guess you realize there's only one key and it's locked up inside, don't you?" passenger replies, " I looked first to make sure and it's not in the ignition." Drivers response is, [as if looks could kill] "Well, we'll just have to break the window, there's no other way in." Errands are finished, driver and passenger return to vehicle. Pliers and prybar are used in attempt to gain entrance. No progress is made. Passenger looks in window and makes the remark, "There are no keys in there," and stops just short of continuing with, "So they must be in your pocket." Driver interrupts with, "They are in there, I should know, I threw them in the floorboard." Further attempt is made but the vent window cannot be opened. Said driver is on a short time limit to be at place of business, temper is by now short so window is broken and entrance is gained. All is well, or is it? Now, jury, who is at fault, the passenger who locked the doors or the driver who removed the keys from the ignition and threw them in the floorboard for save keeping? What, can't thieves see keys on floorboards? Just what are pockets for anyway? Just mere feet, across the road, keys were taken from the ignition of another vehicle and attempt was made to steal it. So who's right and who's wrong. Who pays for a new window, driver or passenger? Are both guilty as charged? Go figure.

Nuttin Much

Can't think of anything worth writing about, hence the silence. Except the hamster. Everyone is asleep but him, or it, don't really care. A little boy at church gave it to him because he got bit and was afraid of it. I didn't want it, no way no how, hubby don't like it but 'Little Britches ' loves it. I have to put it in the basement at night so we can sleep. It makes no noise but it's wheel rattles when he's in it and he's constantly in it at night, guess it gives him something to do. He slings his poop out of the cage, messy little dude. He sleeps all day and comes alive after dark. Timmy named him 'Diesel.' I can hear him down stairs now, running full tilt, with no place to go but around and around and around and........

What can we do to help Rachel? Get your thinking caps on. Short of the kids coming home, I don't know what would help her, any suggestions?

It's pouring rain and the wind is really whipping up, I need to go to bed but don't like to lay in there under that overhanging tree, all three of us are under it. I wish he'd get it cut but it's not a priority, talked of it for years. I must needs go, just trust that the tree stands and sleep like a baby. Hubby's on call, wouldn't surprise me to hear the phone ring soon and he'd have to go in, this kind of weather does stuff to phones. Big generators on wheels need hauled to different sites when the electric goes out, backup batteries are used, trees fall on lines, cell sites on top of hills have there problems and so on and so fourth. Good night.

RUTH I CAN'T GET YOU ON THE PHONE, CALL ME.8:45

S. Elaine, Papa wants to know where the little case is that the eye goggles were in? The ones you used Sunday to scrape paint.

Lucena R., plans may change on keeping Little Britches Thursday and Friday. Aunt Barb said he could stay over and play with her grandkids. I drove in their driveway tonight and they started yelling, "Timmy, Timmy, Timmy." I got out and said, " You boys didn't want to play with Timmy did you?" They both said, "Yes we do, we love Timmy, we want him to come over every night and play." The other day Barb said if they ask one time if Timmy was coming over, they ask 30 times. Said she finally told them, "If you ask one more time, I'm going to......" What ever it was. Don't know for sure but she said to bring him over and let them play, spend the night. We'll see.

Timmy and I drove over to Mom Moms tonight and gave her tax money for 74 acres, she said it would help. Her taxes were $l,8oo. Yikes! and she has no income. Brother-in law also gave some on his 80 acres.

Hubby plowed for 4 1/2 hours tonight then Tim and I had to go pick him up down at the river bottoms at the old dam. Had to quit, ran out of gas, nearly.

Yikes again, just looked at the time, the clock is lieing, has to be, it says 2:30! Nighty nite.