Dirt Road Lives

Mary Jo

2012-01-28T10:24:00.003-06:00

Found on Ancestry, May 6 1975, Oxnard, California.

Day Twenty Eight

2012-01-28T09:24:00.001-06:00

The look out.

Day Twenty Six

2012-01-26T18:09:00.002-06:00

Today was another soggy, dreary day until after 4 when the skies started to clear. The sun came out and brightened everything for an hour or so before it set behind the rock quarry for a gorgeous sunset. George says the rain gauge had a little over 2 1/2 inches over the last couple of days.

Tomorrow is the end of the work week and I always leave work at noon on Friday, so I will probably live through this week. We are going to have the babies this weekend. Maybe it will turn off sunny and bright Saturday and they can play outside.

Day Twenty Five

2012-01-25T19:24:00.002-06:00

Helen's Cinnamon Rolls

4 cups milk

1 cup Vegetable Oil

1 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon Salt

2 Packages Yeast

1 teaspoon baking powders

1 scant teaspoon baking soda

5 to 8 cups of flour

margarine, sugar or brown sugar and lots of cinnamon

Pour milk in large bowl and heat about 4 minutes in microwave

Add oil and sugar, heat in microwave 2 or 3 more minutes siring to dissolve sugar

Let set till cool

add yeast to 1/4 cup of baby bottle warm water with a teaspoon of sugar, stir to dissolve

stir 2 or 3 cups of flour, salt, baking powders and soda in a large bowl

add to flour mixture to milk mixture and mix till smooth

add yeast mixture

stir in flour till you get a stiff dough

turn out on floured board or counter and knead till it feels like good bread

place in greased bowl, turning to grease top of dough

let rise till double or refrigerate up to 1 day

divide into 2 or 3 parts

roll out one part at a time to a large rectangle

spread margarine over dough

sprinkle with sugar and lots of cinnamon

cut in slices and place in oiled pan

let rise till double

bake at 375 degrees till light brown

frost lightly with butter cream frosting

eat

Recipe can be halved if this is more than you need.

I made these to take to work tomorrow, but mostly because I wanted cinnamon rolls. I had to search around for the recipe because I could not remember where I put it. So, with it here, I will know where to find it next time. I usually do not use a recipe and this one is simple and easy to remember except I had forgotten how much milk to use. I really like it for making regular rolls for holidays because you can do the hard part the night before and just take it out of the fridge 60 to 90 minutes before you plan on serving the meal. I used it at Christmas and it worked great with much less fuss than bread usually causes. I think the secret is heating the whole thing to really dissolve the sugar. The oil is what makes it work well with storing till the next day to finish.

I have not had a dough board for 30 years. I have always used the counter top for making bread. My new counter top made a really nice dough board, until, it came time to slice the rolls. Huto, I can't use a knife on my new counter. I sliced with a case knife this time. I guess I will have to look for a dough board. I wonder if they still make such things.

Also, I have several other pictures of parts of me making the rolls but this is the only one with my entire head in the picture. George is picture challenged.

Helen thanks for the recipe and thanks for the pictures.

Day Twentyfour

2012-01-24T18:08:00.002-06:00

Today was Mama's birthday. Ninety One years ago.

It was a beautiful day.

Not much news. Had beans and cornbread for supper. It was really good.

Day Twentythree

2012-01-23T17:54:00.001-06:00

Another stone in Pickens Cemetery. Frances and Truman are buried in the Rudd plot but they are surrounded by Jesse Powell's family.

I did not take any pictures today.

It was a nice day for January 23. Maybe we will not have any winter this winter.

I have been reading. I tried to read a book by the football player that was on the shipwreck off Tampa Florida where three of his friends onboard died a few years ago but it was way too depressing. Now I am reading Arabian Sands by Wendell something or other. He was an Englishman that crossed the desert of southern Saudi Arabia in 1948 with the help of nomads from the Bedu (Bedioun) tribe. It is really interesting. The area is called the Empty Quarter. I had never even heard that name for a desert. He writes about the desert, plants and animals but mostly he tells about the people and their way of life. He had a very high opinion of the Arabs in the desert which is unusual for a modern day writer writing about a primitive people. Within a decade after his exploration, the life he writes about of the nomads of this desert had largely vanished. They had lived much the same existence for centuries, protected from civilization by the harshness of their environment. Motorized transportation, both land and air, took away that protection.

George says he sees a bunch of deer outside. They are mostly does and babies we see now, but occasionally he says he sees a buck. We have a heard of a dozen or more that hang out within a quarter to half mile of our house all the time now. We enjoy watching them. I can't tell anymore which ones are our Mama and the twins. All summer they would come out of the corner where the dogwood tree is almost every evening. Now, they all hang out in the woods to the right of us on Dan's [the woods he bought from Daddy]. It is odd that I do not remember ever seeing a deer on this place until fifteen years ago or so. I wonder what the difference is from when we were kids.

Day Twentytwo

2012-01-22T12:48:00.001-06:00

This was a hawk up by Barnhill's place. The electric pole is the one in front of the Gibbs house. Grandson was here and was driving so I had time to take pictures.

It is a beautiful day today, temps in the low 50's but the wind is howling. We saw our herd of deer this morning. First in the pasture over by Clayton then down by the salt block on our side of the road. We saw at least 8. We enjoy having a large herd of Mamas and babies.

Day Twentyone

2012-01-21T18:07:00.001-06:00

Today was cold and disagreeable. Google says the high was 38, but it is 31 now. But, I looked at last year and the high was 30, low 9. I guess today is a little better than that.

I downloaded 3 books to read. The first was Ma Yan a diary of a 13 year old Chinese girl. It was somewhat interesting. Her life was so very hard trying to go to school with only one bowl of rice a day to eat much of the time. She is saying that she needs to go to school so she can have a career and get her family out of their poverty. It does not sound to me like there was much hope of a better life for her. But then a French journalist comes to the village, Ma Yan's mother gives him her diary. He gets the diary published. Ma Yan and other children of the village get help going to school and food in excess of one bowl of rice a day. Ma Yan later gets to go to Paris and attend a University. Her life is so much different today all because her mother gave her diary to a stranger.

If the stranger had not taken such an interest in her and her plight, it is likely she would be working the fields like her mother still existing on a bowl of rice a day.

If you watch the video you might notice that no one there has a problem with obesity.

Eula Flowers

2012-01-20T18:19:00.000-06:00

Died, January 18.

http://cosmicexchange.infosaic40.com/Obituaries/SingleObituary.asp?ObitID=4565&email=nelson@nelsonfuneral.com

Day Twenty

2012-01-20T17:08:00.003-06:00

This is a story about getting old. Sometime probably ten years or more ago I lost my SS card. I have not needed it for anything, so I have not went to get a replacement. Next year, or maybe the end of this year, I will be so old I will need a SS card for something. I looked online to see what I needed to get a replacement. I printed off the application and started filling it out. It asked for my parent's SS#, if I knew them. I did not but thought I would find them in the SS death index online. Well, I found Daddy's right off, but I cannot find Mama in the index. What I did find was Aunt Lovetta with a death date of September 15, 1992. That is just 1 week after Mama died. I do not remember that they died that close together. Today, I took my camera to work and stopped by Uncle Floyd and Aunt Lovetta's grave to see if the SS list was wrong. No, Mama and Lovetta died within a week of each other. I still do not remember it that way. But, then, I am old.

Big Bird in a tree by the 'little pond' just past Clayton's house.

Day Ninteen

2012-01-19T18:27:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday Emmy. Big eleven today. Two more years and a teenager.

Today was a beautiful day, up in the 60's. George spent the day playing on the tractor. This is Gustav, the stump of a huge oak down on the fence between us and Dan that was blown over the night Gustav blew through here at the end of August, 2008. He started working trying to dig it out last fall. To me this is just stupid make work but George sees things differently. I do not see that it makes any difference in anything whether the stump is here or somewhere else. It is a big waste of money and time trying to move it. Besides, how many people do you know that have a stump with a name.

Tomorrow, end of the work week. Hurrah!

Day Eighteen

2012-01-18T14:43:00.001-06:00

Today is Grandma Powell's birthday.

This was taken at Grandma's house on North Springfield about 1958-59. I remember at least 3 really large trees in Grandma'a yard. I think there was one to the right of us here in the front yard and one to the left back about the middle of the house. In the 1910 photo Betty posted there are only small trees on the north side of the house. The huge trees that were in Grandma's yard had not even been planted yet in 1910.

Betty says Grandma bought the house from a Brasswell. I do not remember. I looked at the 1910 Green Forest census and there are only 11 households listed on North Springfield in Green Forest. Someone on this list lived in Grandma's house in 1910. Anyone recognize this first name?

Green Forest town, April 15 1910, North Ward

HH#	Fname	Lname	Relationship	Age
1	Crawford	James	Head	26	Salesman, Commission
		Dollie	Wife	24
		Buel	Son	1
2	Coxsey	Mike S.	Head	44	Salesman, General Store
		Maudie	Wife	31
		Willie G.	Son	20	Cashier @ Bank
3	Phillips	John W	Head	54	Stone Mason
		Mallie	Wife	54
		Ray	Son	18
		Cecil	Son	15
4	Rhodes	James L	Head	62	Post Master
		Minta	Wife	37
		Pearl J	Dau	20	Deputy Post Master
		Clarence M	Son	13
		Clyde G	Son	12
		Thelma C.	Dau	1
	McDowell	Mary J	MIL	74
5	Villines	Floyd G	Head	28	Minister
		Sally M	Wife	21
		George N	Son	4
		Sarah	Dau	1
	Price	Willie	Sister	24	Music teacher
6	Reynolds	Tim	Head	35	Clerk, grocery store
		Contis??	Wife	36
		Jewel C	Son	14
		Ruth M	Dau	2
7	Coxsey	George W	Head	46	Owns dry goods
		Ona	Wife	29
		Pearl	Dau	4
		Carl	Son	3 / 12
8	Sneed	Willie L	Head	25	Stock dealer, buys & sells
		Grace M	Wife	24
		Millie	Mother	57
	Baker	Denton	Hired Hand	25
	Fultz	Alice	Servant	21
9	Wise	Eliza	Head	50	Blacksmith, owns shop
		Thelma A	Wife	53
		Mary J	Mother	77
10	Edgman	Alice	Head	43
		Ruben	Son	20	Cashier @ Bank
		Clyde	Son	18	General Farmer
11	Pickines	Americus A	Head	83	from New York
		Mary N	wife	76
	Skinkle	Corneal	SIL	70	General Farmer
		Nora S	Dau	57	From Michigan

Day Seventeen

2012-01-17T18:04:00.001-06:00

No picture, no news.

Day Sixteen

2012-01-16T15:45:00.001-06:00

Russell Molder died this weekend. He was 77.

It has been a warm, windy day. Tomorrow it is supposed to turn cold.

George said he saw a buck right out in front of the house in the road today at 10 am. Something must has spooked him to be out in the open at that time of day.

Today is a no picture day.

More Fifteen

2012-01-15T17:46:00.001-06:00

This was Day Fourteen that did not get posted. Hannah with a treasure she found, a sparkely rock.

Does this remind you of anyone? Looks like Grandpa to me.

And Sunset over the Rock Quarry.

A beautiful day overall.

Day Fifteen

2012-01-15T10:57:00.001-06:00

We had lots of grazers this morning. George said they looked like a herd of cattle.

Winnie says her friend is home from the hospital and doing well.

The babies are still here, but we will take them back this afternoon. Hannah gets to take her kitchen home. It was raining the last time when they went home so she did not get to take it. She really enjoys playing house with it. I think she is related to Aunt Helen. She straightened up their room, and picked up all there toys yesterday. She does a good job of picking up. She even made the bed in my room.

Today is supposed to be in the 60's but George is complaining about the wind. The sunshine looks so much better than the grey we have had. I like bright days. Actually, as I get older, I want perfect weather more and more. I dislike hot and cold equally.

Day Thirteen

2012-01-13T17:48:00.001-06:00

Trying out the repaired camera lens. What do you think?

Winnie email a message to pass along.

I can't get my blog to work down here in Texas...please let all your sisters know that my friend came through her brain tumor surgery ok. They just moved her out of ICU to a regular room...I love and miss you all. Please let me know if you get this email sent from my phone....Winnie

Day Twelve

2012-01-12T17:29:00.001-06:00

In color.

Day Twelve

2012-01-12T16:50:00.001-06:00

A greyscale day. It is now 22 and blowing cold. Tonight it is supposed to get down to 11 degrees and not get above freezing tomorrow. The weekend, though, is not supposed to be too bad.

Two more months of winter and then SPRING!!!

I made a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting to share with the grandbabies tomorrow. I used Helen's 325 degree, water pan suggestion and it is really moist and good. Then, I am making chicken and dumplings for George. I had just chicken soup, but I will add dumplings for him.

Looking for better weather.

Day Eleven

2012-01-11T17:32:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday, Kelly.

Today was a nice day, but watch out tomorrow. George says he heard the high for tomorrow is supposed to be 28. And, we are supposed to get our first snow tonight, but only a dusting. Two more days and then the wicked can rest. I guess I will go get the babies Friday after school is out. On my birthday they called and sang happy birthday to me and Robert said, 'I love you grandma.'

Day Ten

2012-01-10T15:23:00.002-06:00

My lucky day. I have my work keys (about a dozen keys) and my work ID badge on a key chain. Today I went to the restroom at work and the keys with ID attached fell into the stool. It was my lucky day because I was using the production restroom instead of the front office restroom. The front office stools auto flush, production stools do not. And, I only had to Pee. And, Vicky, the nice lady that cleans the restrooms was in that restroom. She had just cleaned all the toilet stools and she had sanitizing solution for my dirty keys and badge. My lucky day.

All of these photos and some more were on my work computer. I think most of them are on our blogs somewhere else, but here they are again.

Day Nine

2012-01-09T18:49:00.001-06:00

I got my camera lens back and it seems to work fine. These were taken with the other telephoto lens, but I took some with the repaired lens took.

Betty is needing one of her school pictures when she was in the 7th grade or about that time. I have looked, and I do not think I have any of her school pictures. Mama usually gave our school pictures to each of us, so I think Betty got all her own pictures, unless Helen has some.

I have school pictures of her after she started teaching. I guess she was in the 7th grade teaching then.

Day Eight

2012-01-08T18:05:00.001-06:00

This afternoon, we took a birthday cake down to Donna. She will be 78 tomorrow. I told her if the cake was not good, she should blame Helen because it was her recipe. Actually, it was Betty Crocker, but Helen gave additional instructions. Beat the mix 5 to 10 minutes, not just the short time it says. Bake at 325 instead of 350 and put a pan of water in the lower rack in the oven. She said this gives

a more even and moist cake. It did look really good. They will eat it tomorrow with their grandkids.

Happy Birthday Donna.

Brian Dunn is CEO of Best Buy should change their name to Worst Buy

2012-01-07T19:48:00.001-06:00

Good to know. Brian Dunn isthe CEO of Best Buy and he is a blogger.

If you have had problems with Best Buy, as in maybe thinking theyshould change their name to Worst Buy, you can go here

http://forums.bestbuy.com/t5/Best-Buy-Geek-Squad-Policies/bd-p/Policies

and send them your comments.

Or you can go here

http://www.bbycommunications.com/briandunn/

to Brian Dunn's blog and click on the Send me a message button.

If you happen to misplace the links, you can just go toGoogle and type in Best Buy should change their name to Worst Buy and you willbe taken right to the front door.

I feel better now.

Best Buy to Worst Buy is not a bad slogan, but it does not makefor a good customer experience. BrianDunn CEO of Best Buy, wonder if Brian is Done.

Day Seven, restart

2012-01-07T16:52:00.000-06:00

Maybe. After literally hours on the phone, I am told my camera lens has been repaired and should arrive at my home address via UPS on Monday.

In the mean time, I want everyone to be warned, Do NOT buy electronics from Best Buy. I truly believe they have changed their name to Worst Buy. Try www.WrostBuy.com and see if they answer. AND, do not ever try to do business with Geek Squad. They have changed their name to the Goon Squad.

Actually, one of the techs at Geek Squad named Nick told me he, even while on their payroll, could NOT recommend Geek Squad services. You know service is bad when the hired help recommend that you take your money elsewhere.

Lesson learned. I will never again buy any products from Best Buy and I will never again use Geek Squad services.

And, Clayton has the Turkey Platter. I used to see it at work every year at Xgiving.

Day Six

2012-01-07T09:06:00.003-06:00

Was canceled due to operator error.

Day Five, back to the grind

2012-01-05T18:15:00.001-06:00

For both me and George. He said he went down to Frank's and cut a big dead tree down and did not get hurt. As if that was not the norm. Imagine that.

I was back to work today but things were still pretty slow. Still don't know if I am going to have to break in a new boss or not. Probably will not know until the end of the month. I guess if I get a boss I do not like, I will just quit going to work.

It was a beautiful day. I went after work today and got a perm. Tomorrow, after work I am going shopping on Patsy's dime. I think I will buy some pigs. Or maybe some goats. I have always wanted to raise goats.

Day Four

2012-01-04T18:07:00.001-06:00

A beautiful day. I think we topped 60 degrees today. Did not do much. Too old, I guess. I did take a nap in the afternoon which I almost never do anymore. George was off working with his wood cutting. I make fun of him for napping during the day so I would not want him to know that is what I was doing.

Tomorrow it is back to work, but only for two days. Then, no more extra days off till probably spring.

I did talk to Clayton today. I was afraid he would be busy on his exercise equipment and would not have time to talk, but that was not the case.

See ya.

Day Three

2012-01-03T18:32:00.001-06:00

And counting.

Today was a lazy day. I read an ebook, Don't Forget to Write by Pam Hobbs. She was a ten year old child in England in 1940 when she and her sister were evacuated to a different area of England because of safety concerns during WWII. I enjoyed the book because it told of experiences so different from anything I know of. It was interesting to me and confusing to Pam that she and her sister were sent way across the country a days journey from her home while children close to where she ended up were evacuated over very close to her home. Sounds like our government.

I did not enjoy the book by the Columbia captive very much. I remember reading the book, Out of Captivity by her fellow captives and it was really interesting. Somehow, this one was not nearly as interesting.

I think tomorrow I will go junking again over towards Berryville. Today was much nicer than yesterday. Today's high was 51 and low 18, yesterday was 37 and 25. A year ago the high was 51, low 23. So, now you know.

I went for a walk over to the graveyard by the Stone place this after noon. I stopped off and asked Clayton if he wanted to go along, but he had a tread mill and a exercise bike so he did not need to go walking. I told him he could keep one foot on the tread mill and use the bike with the other foot and get double the effect. I am sure that is what he was doing as I walked.

We saw two deer this morning down on Dan's eating acorns under the oak tree, three more this evening down in the corner across the road and two just across the fence from the salt block. That is the most we have seen for several days.

Tomorrow, to the moon and back?

Day Two

2012-01-02T18:00:00.003-06:00

I went to Harrison today and took the road over by the turkey farm at the top of Morris Hill. I think this is a young eagle. Not sure, but it was all brown and I think it was too big to be a hawk.

This is an eagle on the left and a hawk on the right.

And eagle.

A buzzard.

It was cold today. The weather site says it got to 53, but it felt really cold. There was lots of sunshine.

Not much going on here. Just sitting, not doing.

First Day, 2012

2012-01-01T18:32:00.001-06:00

Coming Up.

And, going down.

Today, I mostly did not. I did cook the beans and ham, but did not cook anything to go with them like cornbread or the spinach I bought to cook today. The beans were really good though.

I walked up on the hill this evening. Saw a few white tails running off through the brush but nothing but the tails flashing through the trees.

I did not buy much junk yesterday. I saw a few things, but resisted most. I spent $1.20 and got a small candle and a candle holder for my new counter top. George likes to burn candles to cover up the smell of the cigarettes he is not supposed to be smoking in the house. He usually sets the candle in one of my bowls so it does not set directly on the counter top. I got a new candle also, but it is too large for the holder I got for 80 cents. I set the candle on a hot pot holder [trivet?] I have on the counter. But, since I am home, we have not had to burn candles today.

George has a bad cold. It is the first time he has been sick in almost a year. I wish it would go away. When he gets sick, I am always afraid it will be really bad as he always has so much trouble with his breathing anyway. He sounds a little better today but he does not feel much better. It has been several days now and I think he is tired of being sick and just feeling bad in general. It is a new year, maybe he will be a new George tomorrow.

I did buy 3 dollar books at the dollar store. I have already threw one in the trash. I read one by Charles Grodin, How I got to be whoever it is I am. It was alright for a dollar. I have now downloaded a book Even Silence has an End by Ingrid something or other. She is a politician in Columbia South America that was held captive for years. I remember reading a book about some Americans that were held captive for years down there. They were captured with a woman political figure and they had some harsh things to say about her in their book. I am wondering if this is the same woman but so far I am not sure. I may have to go to google to find out.

Happy Year.

Or else

2011-12-31T09:36:00.000-06:00

If you are going to do it this year, do it today or else.

I am off work until next Thursday and don't plan on doing anything I do not want to do. Today, I am going junking at Harrison. I really enjoy just making the rounds of the junk stores but I usually do not buy anything. I try to think twice about buying anything anywhere as really, if it is not food, it is all junk. I already have lots of junk so I try not to bring more stuff into the house that is just more junk to find a place for. Some days are more successful than others. We will see what today brings.

Then, I need a few groceries. I am going to get some beans to cook with the Christmas ham bone. Have beans and cornbread tomorrow. It is supposed to be blackeyed peas and hog jowl, but beans and ham will have to suffice.

We have been seeing more and more deer all the time. George and Clayton are up to 14 at a time now. I wonder if they are just making up numbers to try and beat each other's count. I never see that many.

I am off to shop now. Stay tuned for the bargains.

Beautiful Day

2011-12-30T16:26:00.001-06:00

Up in the 60's, I think. And, today was go home early day. And, since I worked late Tuesday it was go home at 10:30.

If you want to know exactly how warm it got today, click here http://www.greenforestchamber.org/weather/Current_Monitor.htm

or there. This is a weather station on top of the Green Forest School. It says, beautiful day today.

Picture It...

2011-12-27T18:54:00.001-06:00

Progress

2011-12-27T16:12:00.002-06:00

June 2008, removed ALL carpet from floors

June 2008, new subfloor from living room through backbedroom

June 2008, new deck

December 2009, painted back bedroom

December 2009, enlarged living room by removing wall betweenLR and small bedroom

December 2009, living room and hallway to back bedroom wallsand ceiling painted white

March 2010, back bedroom finished, new flooring, paintedwalls and ceiling

April 2010, removed ALL cabinets from kitchen

April 2010, painted walls and ceiling in kitchen white

April 2010, new subfloor in kitchen

April 2010, new living room furniture

September 2010, painted our bedroom

September 2010, new flooring in back bathroom

November 2010, new windows in our bedroom

May 2011, new flooring in living room and kitchen

September 2011, ordered new cabinets

September 2011, new hutch for computer

September 2011, new dining room table

October 2011, all new windows installed

October 2011, new door installed

December 2011, new cabinets finished

December 23, 2011, new countertops and new sink installed

2 Do, 2012

Back splash in kitchen

Trim around windows

Repaint kitchen and living room area walls around newwindows

New floor by back door

New back door

Roof over front deck

Hallelujah

2011-12-25T09:37:00.002-06:00

Christmas Eve...

2011-12-24T18:40:00.000-06:00

Coming up...

And Going Down...

We got our presents...

2011-12-23T21:02:00.003-06:00

And now we are going home.

Merry Christmas to the grandkids

2011-12-23T21:01:00.001-06:00

First Grandson, snoozing while others toiled.

Robert, FINALLY CHRISTMAS.

His favorite present. We have all had to take turns racing against him. He just keeps pestering, you want to race grandma, you want to race grandpa? Til we finally have to race. He always wins. And, you have to pay attention and do everything just so. Grandpa was not doing it right. Robert says, you have to push the button and proceeded to help Grandpa push the button right. It is a lot of work to play with Robert.

Hannah and her kitchen.

She must be kin to Aunt Helen. She loves washing dishes.

Merry Christmas, to me.

2011-12-23T20:56:00.000-06:00

August 17, 2004.

November 03, 2007. Who is this?

November 17, 2007.

December 23, 2011, added new counter tops.

All done, except connecting the plumbing for the sink.

Sink installed. Looks great and is much deeper than the old one.

Tada.

Giving sister a helping hand, Helen See

2011-12-20T19:03:00.002-06:00

Helen See, Helen See, Helen See

See Helen See...

Sunday Morning Coming Down

2011-12-18T08:28:00.001-06:00

Pictures

2011-12-14T17:22:00.000-06:00

I ordered 8x10's of these two pictures. They turned out beautifully. Look just like Grandma, don't you think. New camera did good. Much better than Helen's pictures.

Fun, fun, fun

2011-12-13T18:25:00.003-06:00

Not!

George has been complaining about the desktop computer being really slow. I decided tonight to try to do something about it. Not really that I was so concerned about his computer being slow as I was concerned that he was using my computer more and more. Well, I really messed it up. I could not get Google Chrome to run at all and Norton Security had a problem that it could not fix.

I restored it 3 or 4 times to different points but I could not see any difference. Finally I thought to uninstall Google and then installing it again. That finally worked. I don't know if it is any faster, but I am not messing with it any more.

Patsy, you should download Pat Conroy's book The Water is Wide. I think this was his first book. It is about his experience teaching on an isolated island off the coast of South Carolina in the 70's, I think. I saw a TV movie made from the book, but the book is much better. The movie glossed over a lot of what he told about in the book.

I tried to read his basketball book but just could not get into it. All his books, even the fiction ones, are about his life. The Great Santini was his father. His books were so obviously about his family that sometimes that would not even talk to him.

Wish you were here working on George's computer.

Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

2011-12-11T10:34:00.001-06:00

Hannah insisted we had to decorate for Christmas. She was not pleased with my 6 inch tree so we had to get a real WalMart tree. It looks pretty good. She was happy with it.

And we took her picture in front of it.

Robert has made signs and put on all his truck. The signs say H R and he made them himself.

Update

2011-12-05T18:29:00.001-06:00

I called Tony. He said his mother was doing even better today. She was sitting up visiting with everyone when he was there. He thinks she will probably get to come home tomorrow or the next day.

Tomorrow, the cabinet guy is coming out to measure for my counter tops. With a little luck, I will have new counter tops for Christmas.

No news

2011-12-05T17:00:00.001-06:00

I have not heard from Patsy today. I tried to call the hospital, but they were not answering their phone. It is way too cold to go over there. I think she will probably come home tomorrow.

I have been reading a few books. I read Donna's Water for Elephants and really enjoyed it. I got Regis Philbin's book, but did not read much of it. It was not interesting at all. I got the Steve Jobs book at the library and read the first part about his early life and the start of the computer industry but did not read much of the rest. I did not know he was such an awful person. He was the original 'It's all about me' guy, selfish, self-centered and narcissistic. I did enjoy some of the early computer history as I was a part of that.

It is colder than it has been so far this fall. I would say this year but maybe there are other people out there that think the year starts on January 1. I was raised on a farm and to me the year is 4 seasons, starting with Spring. I always consider January and February as the last part of the year. George makes fun of me when I say something happened last year when it was last January. He is not a true farmer or he would know that the new year does not start until then end of March or the first of April when things start to grow.

Camera advise...

2011-12-04T16:38:00.001-06:00

One of Helen's daughter is wanting a new camera so Helen told her to call me and ask what to buy. So, here is my camera advise.

First, decide how important a camera and you pictures are to you and how much you want to spend. Now all over the net you will find plenty of professional advise on how to buy a camera, or computer, kitchen mixer. What most of these advise places leave out it really the FIRST step, how important is this device to me and how much am I willing to spend. Just like when you consider buying a new car. You ask the salesman, what is your bottom dollar. You ask yourself, 'what is my top dollar?'

Example, Helen, I bet has a very expensive kitchen food processor. I have a avocado green mixer that I think used to be Mama's. Last Christmas I bought a pretty red one on Black Friday at wally world for $3. It was way to weak even for me. I threw it in the trash and went back to the green machine. A food processor is not very high on my priority list.

But I LOVE taking pictures. I really love taking digital pictures because I can view the pictures at no cost. I take LOTS of pictures.

Anyway, here is my camera advise. Decide how much you are willing to pay. Search the net for Canon and Nikon cameras that fit in your budget. Ok, so I left that part out. Only Canon or Nikon cameras. If you prefer a different brand, include that brand, but consider Canon or Nikon. How did I come to the Canon and Nikon choice? By looking at pictures on pictures blogs, that is blogs that consisted mainly of beautiful pictures of whatever the blogger was interested in. Then, when I saw beautiful pictures, I checked to see what camera they used. The best were amateur photographers usually had Canon or Nikon cameras.

Now, once you have some choices, look for reviews of the cameras you are considering. The problem with reviews is you need to sort out company paid reviews from non paid reviews. I like this site for camera reviews
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews
Just type the camera name in the search box. CNET also is a good mostly unbiased source. And then you can search for the camera on Amazon. com or at Walmart and read the real customer reviews. But on true customer reviews, be aware that if a customer has a camera that is 10 years old and just purchased a $300 zoom digital they are naturally going to be overwhelmingly impressed with the camera.

Now for Krissie, she wanted a Kodak.
The MaxZ990 is alright for pictures of the kids, but for action pictures [soccer] it has a slow shot to shot rate. That is, the reviews say you take one pic and then there is a lag before it is ready to take a second pic.
The most highly rated zoom I found was the Nikon Coolpix P500. This seems to be the pro review sites choice of superzoom cameras.
I like the Canon SX40. I prefer Canon over other brands.

All these are sub $400 cameras. They should all take really great pictures of the kids, and maybe decent soccer pictures. They are what the name implies, point and shoot and get good pictures.

If you want to go over $500, I would get a EOS camera with changeable lenses. Canon EOS, maybe the Canon T3 or T2i or T3i. Any of these will run close to $1000 when you add a short zoom lens, and you still will have less than a 10x zoom. A Canon or Nikon EOS camera (with changeable lenses) will take beautiful portraits of kids. A good EOS zoom for these cameras [soccer or wildlilfe at a distance] with even half the zoom of the above superzoom point and shoot cameras will run around $1000 or even more. And, there is a learning curve on these cameras. But, they all have auto modes that will take great pictures right out of the box.

See, it is the money thing. Around $400 versus $1000 plus.

My last and most useful piece of advise about buying a camera, is buy one from Walmart, keep the receipt and all the packaging material. Try it out right away. Take lots of pictures of the kind you bought the camera to take. If, after a week you do not like what you bought, take it back and get your money back.

The one I bought is the Canon 60d with a 18-135mm lens and a 55-250 zoom lens. When I get the camera paid for [I charged it on a no interest card], I am going to buy as loooong zooooom lens as my budget will allow.

Patsy is

2011-12-04T16:30:00.001-06:00

in the hospital. She has phenomena. She went in last night. This morning I went to see her and she was doing good, breathing better and even being nice to the hired help. She had oxygen in her nose but was not under a tent. Her color looked good, she was feeling good and her breathing sounded good. I think she will be there till at least tomorrow.

She said Janet could not post, Mom is in the hospital and I said I would do it. Helen, if you have her password you can post a notice on her blog.

Today in History

2011-12-02T19:53:00.001-06:00

Five years ago at 5 days old. My hand is almost as big as she is. You can see around the eyes that she is jaundice.

Last Sunday, 5 days less than 5 years old.

And then there was One year ago when she had to take her second helicopter ride to a hospital.

My beautiful little girl. We are so proud of her. She dressed herself.

Happy Birthday

2011-12-01T19:22:00.001-06:00

Princess Hannah, we love you.

Got the tree up

2011-12-01T17:33:00.001-06:00

Back to work

2011-11-30T15:32:00.001-06:00

It was not to bad today. Sometimes, I have a lot to do to get caught up after I am off a few days, but today was alright. Partly because I did not do all the things I was supposed to do. There is always tomorrow.

On Calendars and Counters

2011-11-29T06:43:00.001-06:00

Helen, Outlook 2003 cannot use the Outlook 2007 calendar. You can use it with Google mail or Outlook 2007. Or, just check the blog.

As Patsy says, poor ole George. We ordered our counter tops yesterday. They are going to come out and measure, make the counter tops, and then come back and install them. They will call for a time to come out, probably next week. So, George has to get the cabinets fastened down. He has been putting it off. I think it would have been another 2 years if we wait till he is ready. So, now, it has to be done by next Monday.

I picked an entirely different color than what I originally picked. This one is gray veins with a little black dark gray and a light cream color running through the background. I think it will look really pretty. I found a swatch online but it does not look anything like the sample I swatch I got, so I am not posting the color. It looks like stone, well, fake stone.

We also got another upper cabinet to go on the wall where the bar is. After we got the cabinets in, I thought the upper cabinets stopped too soon. He put it up last night but is not satisfied with it. He says we are redoing it today. I say not.

We will see. Lowes said we would probably have new counter tops by Christmas, depending on their schedule.

World Peace

2011-11-28T08:59:00.001-06:00

Helen sez, it looks like Robert is signing. What Robert is really doing is playing with his bubble gum, that stuff on his finger that looks like a ring.

At my place at least. Everyone one went home. Just me and George and he is not talking to me because he knows I will be giving him a list of DIG [do it George] jobs if he is not really quiet.

I do not understand...

2011-11-26T12:32:00.001-06:00

How Betty can make a rule that someone has to post everyday when she posts once a week...

Different Strokes

2011-11-25T10:59:00.001-06:00

Helen told all about her marathon cooking for giving. There was a time when I would have cooked all sorts of food for a family gathering. In my old age, I try to be more practical and cook what gets eaten. I do not enjoy cooking as much as I once did and I hate having a ton of leftovers. George does not eat leftovers. Yesterday, I had a chicken and dressing casserole that I made Sunday and put half in the freezer because I love turkey and dressing but just barely tolerate ham. All my family would much rather have ham. I made mashed potatoes and for the first time ever bought a package of brown gravy mix. George really wants brown gravy on his potatoes but I was not cooking anything to make a gravy from. The mix was terrible. I did not see if George used it or not but I just asked him and he said no. I don't think anyone ate any of it. I made sweet potatoes with marshmellows from canned sweet potatoes [2 cans because you have to have plenty]. I love real baked sweet potatoes but I did not think anyone else would want them. I threw away most of the sweet potatoes. I guess there was plenty. Then I had green beans [2 cans]. Not sure if they ate much of them but I put what was left in the fridge as I will eat them or can reheat them for George. They ate lots of ham but there is lots left. It will be eaten as leftovers. In fact some of them had ham last night and for breakfast again today.

I made 3 pumpkin pies. One is gone. Me, Robert and George all love pumpkin pie so the other 2 will not go to waste.

My bread did not go over as well as usual because it looked weird, but still most of it was eaten and some of it went home with jr.

I did all the cooking and all the cleaning up, except I got George to slice up the leftover ham and put it away. When you only have guys, you get to do must of the cleaning. Between the birthday party and turkey day, there was lots to clean up. Oh, and the kids all loved the cake. I think Robert and Emmy both had cake for dinner last night.

They all stayed here last night except jr, but now they are gone shopping. Greg was taking the little kids and I suggested the big kids go along. It worked for me, maybe for Greg not so much.

Now they are back. Both girls and Robert got new shoes. They already had plenty of toys, but Robert and Emmy needed new shoes. Robert's are light up shoes with Velcro straps so he can put them on himself. Greg got Emmy shoes, too. That was nice of him.

I think they may have gotten something for Lane's truck also.

Hannah already has her regular clothes off and is putting on one of her princess dresses and we are watching Tangled.

Family

2011-11-25T06:48:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was turkey day, so we had ham. I made bread from Helen's recipe and it was good. George got yeast so it made good bread. The cinnamon roles were great, but when making out the dinner roles, I thought it would be nice to make parker house roles, you know, the ones with the fold in the middle. But, I got rid of all my muffin tins because I hate cleaning them, so after rolling out the dough, I decided to cut it in strips and fold them. It worked not at all. Everyone complained about the weird shaped roles that the ham did not fit on.

And, next Thursday the little girl will be 5, so we had a surprise birthday party. Remember when we had a surprise party for Debbie. This went the same way. She would not blow out the candles, and it took her a while to even get into the presents.

Robert, on the other hand said, 'I like birthdays.' He helped me decorate and set up the presents while Hannah was outside. He was a little concerned that it was Hannah's happy birthday and she might get all the presents. He kept asking, 'for Robert?'

After a while the presents won her over. She got no less than 2 princess play dresses with crowns and a real kids camera.

Robert got LOTS of trucks.

Both girls got an 'I am the favorite' shirt.

We went to the store with this on. Daddy said we had to change, but Grandma put leggings on her and she looked beautiful.

Everyone had a great time. The big girl played at the neighbor's house most of the day, so this is the only picture I got of her. She looks so grownup now. It makes me want to cry.

Happy Birthday Erin Marie

2011-11-24T18:53:00.001-06:00

My Calendar

2011-11-23T14:22:00.001-06:00

Last week Helen was playing with blogger and changing her design around. I like my blog the way it is and do not see that any of their designs would be an improvement. I like for the actual blog post to be the main feature of the page, with everything else as just side dressing. That means that all the things around the post need to be low key. However, as you can see, I now have my Google calendar at the top of the page right under the header. A year ago when I got my new laptop, I took the calendar Helen had made for us and put the birthdays and anniversaries into my Outlook calendar. I took me several hours to get this all entered, but since then, Outlook reminds me of all these days. I really like this reminder feature. This morning, I was thinking maybe I could have outlook send reminders to the sisters of all these dates. But, while I was trying to figure that out, I found that I could export my Outlook calendar to Google mail. After I did that, I found instructions on how to make my Google calendar a part of a webpage. I really just wanted to put my Google calendar on the blog and have it stay at the top of the blog. Well, actually, I wanted it in the left margin, but that was not a ready option with the design I have. Anyway, now, we will have our calendar of days at the top of my page all the time.Maybe I will find something else I want to add, not that I have figured out how it works.

News on the net

2011-11-20T16:11:00.001-06:00

I do not watch the news on television much anymore. Instead I read on the net. I favor Google news over many of the more popular news sites because it seems to be more diverse and relies more on text than video. One of the things I most like about net news is reading the parts I want to read and skipping the parts I do not want to read. Video is just someone reading the text to me. I would rather read for myself, or not as is often the case.

Anyway, there are three net news sites I often go to, Christian Science Monitor [good articles that do not try to impose their religion into the news], NPR and The Guardian. The Guardian has an article about the stupidity of Republican Presidential candidates that ends:

Obama sold the nation on hope and has presided over despair. It's because the Republicans have been so dysfunctional that he still has a shot. It's because he has delivered so little that their dysfunctionality may not matter. The stakes are high, the standards are low, and the choice is paltry.

The full article is here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/20/gaffes-republicans-herman-cain-rick-perry

Other good real news sites are CNN, Reuters, and Associated Press. Much less likely to try to impose their politics into the stories. And, the local paper from the area of the event, whatever it might be, is nearly always likely to contain more real news than any of the network sites, in my opinion. And that is what I like about net news, my opinion can control what gets my attention.

Photo of the day

2011-11-20T11:57:00.001-06:00

Mama.

Baby, eating on my fruit trees. There was mama and twins, but not our twins, eating my trees this morning. I would not even need a new camera when they come right up to the yard.

This is our crane with a frog in his beak. He usually flies away when he sees me taking his picture, but he could not fly away with his food and he would not give it up. He kept walking along the bank try to get farther away from me, but he did not fly off.

Merry Christmas

2011-11-18T19:18:00.001-06:00

To me. I got a new camera.

It will likely take a while to learn to use it. George also got a gift.

This is likely all he will get as the camera was way over our entire Christmas budget. Only grandkids will get presents this year. Everyone else will get a photo.

Pictures by Robert

2011-11-14T15:09:00.001-06:00

Helen, we got your package today.

Second day of deer season...

2011-11-13T17:45:00.001-06:00

And, Helen, there are no deer in the last photo, but it is a nice photo of the pond.

Thank You Aunt Patsy

2011-11-13T09:13:00.001-06:00

NOT!

Two that got away!

2011-11-12T17:59:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday Baby Boy

2011-11-12T04:13:00.001-06:00

What is this?

2011-11-10T20:38:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow is Verteran's Day

2011-11-10T15:57:00.001-06:00

George got this card from a really nice little 4th grader down south. He was really surprised and please. Thank you, Ingrid. You made his day. It was so nice of you to think of Uncle George.

This is George, in uniform at his sister's home in California in 1968. He served 3 tours in Vietnam. In 1969, he was in Vietnam serving in a unit with his brother, Robert Lee Aday, when Robert was killed. He was sent back to the States immediately and was the one to notify the family of Robert's death.

Robert Lee Aday, 30 March 1950 - 24 October 1969, in Tay Ninh, South Vietnam,

hostile, ground causality, SP4, Regular Army, 25th Infantry Division. He was riding on a tank, with his head out the top of the tank and was shot through the head. He died instantly. He had been in the Army less than a year. I remember he was in C Troop.

Robert Lee Aday, II, proud kindergartner. George remembers using toy trucks with his brother to build roads, hills and forts in the dirt in their California back yard just like Robert does in our yard today.

Can't see me...

2011-11-09T17:35:00.000-06:00

Questions??

2011-11-08T18:37:00.001-06:00

http://www.csmonitor.com/tags/quizzes

Patsy did it, I know she did

2011-11-06T15:55:00.000-06:00

I have not had a book to read on my computer for almost 2 weeks. I just went to the library site to download one and it said

There appears to be a problem with your library card. Please contact your library for assistance.

I know Patsy is to blame. I guess I will not be reading any ebooks tonight.

Free is good

2011-11-06T12:05:00.001-06:00

I have found a free service online for storing and updated files between my computers. I know many people with multiple computers have them networked so files can be shared with all the computers. That does not work with my computers, partly because our desktop computer is really old. And, sometimes I want some of my personal files on my work computer. I cannot network my work computer and cannot install any programs on it.

Dropbox at www.dropbox.com has a service, free by the way, where I can store files and access from any computer. I installed their program on my laptop and desktop computer. Now, if I want to share a file between computers, I just put it in the dropbox folder on the computer I am using. The next time I connect the other computer to the net, the my dropbox files are updated automatically. If I change a file in the dropbox folder on either computer, it auto updates the online files the next time I connect and auto updates the files on each computer each time I connect to the net. I can use it from work by logging into my dropbox account but it will not update folders on my work computer because I cannot install their program at work. It has worked out really great for me.

I just finished typing the Rule school census for the historical society. I type it on the desktop because I need the 10 key to easily type the dates. But, I want to send it to Shirley from my laptop because it is faster and more reliable for email. I just saved the file in the folder on the desktop, connected to the net. Went to the laptop and connected to the net. In just a couple of minutes, the new file was on my laptop.

The also have a public folder to share files with anyone. I made a PDF of my entire school census file and put it in the public folder. Dropbox says anyone can view the PFD file here:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/45964438/Green%20Forest%20School%20Census.pdf
Lets try it and see if it works. It is a large file because it has all the Green Forest schools in alpa order upto rule. Daddy and his siblings are in Sunny Lane and I have not gotten to that one yet.

I am really pleased with their service. It is easy and really useful.

poem

2011-11-05T20:18:00.002-05:00

It's Dark in Here by Shel Silverstein

I am writing these poems
From inside a lion,
And it's rather dark in here.
So please excuse the handwriting
Which may not be too clear.
But this afternoon by the lion's cage
I'm afraid I got too near.
And I'm writing these lines
From inside a lion,
And it's rather dark in here.

Understanding

2011-11-05T19:36:00.001-05:00

And miss thereof.

Patsy says I disapprove of Andy Rooney's opinion of ebooks. I do not and I did not say anything along those lines. I said he said he did not like ebooks. That was his opinion. Patsy read what I wrote and formed the opinion that I disapproved of Andy in some way because he did not like ebooks. I read what I wrote again trying to determine how she got that idea from what I wrote. I think she may have arrived at her opinion in much the same way I arrived at my opinion that Andy did not like reading ebooks, i. e. reading one line and skipping the rest. I did not listen to what Andy actually had to say which was that he did not want his books given away, he wanted to sell them. I am thinking most people who read his books, even real books they hold in their hands, get them from a library. Andy would not have made any profit from the books at the library either. And, again, even though I never knew Andy, I bet he really liked libraries and library books. It is my opinion that most people who liked the kind of books Andy wrote, were library book people, like me.

And, I think Andy no long cares about books, hard cover, paper back, ebooks, books he wrote, or books others wrote. And I know he no longer cares about making a profit from anything.

And Betty wants to know of the new Philippa Gregory book is available as Ebook. It is not on my library's ebook list. There are 4 or 5 of his books as ebooks here though. Interestingly, Helen's library that has many more ebooks than ours does, only has 2 of his books as ebooks. Usually, you will not see many really new books on the library's ebook list.

Unsolicited advice...

2011-11-05T17:33:00.001-05:00

On ebook readers and cornbread.

Andy Rooney died. Evidently he does not like ebooks. I know I have heard him say he did not care for computers, but I will bet that Andy Rooney never tried an ebook. Since he was not into computers, and an ebook reader is in reality only a limited option computer with limited options, and he did like books, and he had plenty of money to buy any book he wanted to read, and with computer help he could easily have any book he desired delivered directly to his door, it is unlikely he ever gave ebooks a spin.

Of course, I do not actually know Andy Rooney, but I thought I did know myself. I always liked books, real solid books that I could hold in my hand. I have never actually spend much money purchasing books, but at one time I had I bet at least a thousand books in my house. Now I am down to a few hundred. The problem with real solid books that I can hold in my hand is that I only have two hands. That leaves a few hundred books that I need to find a place for in my limited space home. Then, as Betty can attest to, even if I do enjoy reading a particular book, most books have no real use for me after I have read them. Hence, where unread books are treasures, read books are often trash that I need to find a way to dispose of humanly. I think I could easily dispatch any animal with little remorse. Disposing of books in the trash is agonizing for me. Ebooks to the rescue. Little cost to obtain either in time or money, and no cost, no quilt disposal. I never thought ebooks would be for me, but I find the selection at my library greater than their real book selection with the added benefit of being available at anytime, like when I wake up at 4 am, going to work time, on a non work day.

Twice in my life, I have purchased a book as a present for someone so that I could read the book before delivering the present. I purchased Cold Mountain for Patsy's birthday the year it came out because I wanted to read it. I read it and did not like it. Patsy read it and did not like it much either. I thought is was about the Civil War, but the primary theme was fantasy other world beliefs.

I purchased Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein for Lane when he was only 3 or 4 years old because I saw it at a book store and wanted it. This book I really liked. I wrote a note to Lane in the front of the book and put it on my shelf. It is still here with me. Someday, I will give it to Lane.

If you own an ebook reader and the purpose in owning an ebook reader is reading ebooks, as long as you can read books with the one you have, buying a new reader is a waste of money, time and effort.

And, cornbread secrets. First, take an acid reducer tablet of your choice. Wait 30 minutes. Pour a bowl of milk, add stale or fresh cornbread, heat in microwave for a couple of minutes. Add plenty of chopped onions. Enjoy fresh hot cornbread AND milk. In my experience, if I omit the first step, I will regret not omitting the onions. I have about enough stale cornbread left for one bowl of fresh cornbread AND milk. George can fend for himself. He will not eat cornbread AND milk. Off to slave over the microwave.

More Buffalo

2011-11-05T16:41:00.001-05:00

Buffalo

2011-11-05T16:34:00.001-05:00

Saturday, in the park

2011-11-05T04:53:00.001-05:00

George is supposed to take me, and himself, to the Buffalo today to see the elk. It will be a great day for a ride and maybe a walk in the park. Pictures to follow.

I got this blue and white crock yesterday at St. Vincent de Paul. I can put an arrangement in it or just leave it like this. I do not like artificial flowers on the table, so it will either be none or real flowers. None will probably look neater over time. Or, maybe I could do a fall leaf arrangement.

Aren't the sheep napkin rings cute?

Thursday, I made chicken and dumplings for George. I made a pan of real cornbread for myself. Real as not Jiffy Mix and cooked in the iron skillet. It was really good. Yesterday, I took the left over chicken and cornbread and made chicken and dressing casserole. It was medium to fair but better than most of the stuff I cooked when Helen was here.

I have pictures too...

2011-11-03T18:47:00.004-05:00

Robert took this picture.

Hannah can wink.

My Tree

2011-11-02T19:03:00.001-05:00

It is a beautiful evening but it is supposed to get cold, around 40, tonight and not climb out of the 40's tomorrow. The trees are turning and are really pretty.

Helen, I gave Lisa S. one of your pans of rolls. She took them home to her family and they loved them. She said she tried to 'friend' you on facebook, so you might check.

Friends

2011-11-01T15:20:00.000-05:00

I saw Vivian Tushing at the grocery store today. Patsy, she said to tell you she was so sorry and she had been thinking of you. She can only see out of one eye now, but she is still driving although limited to the store, doctor and church. She looked really good.

Betty Bass, Donna Kay and many more have asked about you.

Helen said I did not cook while she was here. That is not true. Saturday morning I made pancakes and Saturday night I made spaghetti.

Us, with ID's

2011-10-30T19:35:00.001-05:00

Helen has left the state...

2011-10-30T18:29:00.001-05:00

Hallelujah!!!!!!!

Everyone had a great time. The kids loved Aunt Helen and she helped entertain them. Robert and Hannah both told her they loved her. Grandma tried to be funny and tell Robert he should not call her Granny because Grandma did not like that. Robert said 'I sorry', hung his head and big tears came in his eyes. He fixed Grandma good. She will not be saying things like that anymore.

We saw the big buck yesterday morning down by the salt block, a little fawn in the road right in front of the house, a small buck about 6 point in the yard this morning and about 15 to 20 turkeys over by the red barn when we took Helen to the airport.

I meant to take the kids into the airport so Robert could see a plane, but Helen and Papa had other ideas. Helen said 'you can just drop my tail off.' Robert really like that. He kept saying drop her tail off, just drop her tail off.

I have written a poem for Benjamin about his Granny.

Granny saw turkeys,

Granny saw dear,

Hannah saw Granny's

Underweer!!!

Correction

2011-10-29T19:55:00.002-05:00

Helen is crazy...

Kids LOVE the green toy.

Helen is

2011-10-29T13:22:00.000-05:00

the best sister in the world... I am so glad she is staying with me so I can cook for her....she is so nice.....and has the best Grand kids....

Family Photo

2011-10-27T14:25:00.001-05:00

Pic of the day

2011-10-26T19:10:00.003-05:00

And Pick of the Litter.

Revenge is sweet...

2011-10-25T14:48:00.001-05:00

Saith the Sister.

Sister Patsy is blaming Pretty Sister for throwing away everything in her kitchen. Well, the Queen of Clean does not throw away, she cleans. When Sister of Sweetness arrived at sister's house yesterday the Queen of Clean was way deep into her cleaning mode. I asked what she needed me to do. She said, I have cleaned these cabinets and shelves so you need to wipe off all these things piled on the counter and replace them on the cabinet shelves. So that is what I did, for about 5 minutes. I had about a dozen items wiped clean and replaced on the shelves and I was tired of cleaning. Therefore, I stopped cleaning and started tossing. Sister says, are you sure you should throw all that out? Patsy may want to keep that stuff. I know Patsy was not setting foot in the kitchen because she was afraid the Queen would ask her to wipe things clean. I kept tossing until the counter tops were completely clear of all the things sister had removed from the cabinets. Now, Patsy thinks Queen of Clean threw away all her stuff. Plus, Sammy is mad at her too because he had to haul it all outside. Serves her right.

See...

2011-10-25T08:45:00.003-05:00

I had this. So elegant.

And now, peanut hulls. Can you believe this?

Today and Tomorrow

2011-10-25T07:25:00.001-05:00

Today is Janet's wake. Nelson's Funeral Chapel at Green Forest 5 to 8 pm today, family 4 to 5 pm. Funeral is graveside services at Alpena cemetery, 10 am tomorrow. All family and friends are welcome to gather at Fleta's home after the service on Wednesday with food and refreshments provided.

Cards of condolence will reach the family at Patsy Poor, PO box 822 Green Forest, AR.

Does that not all sound very proper and uppercrust? Helen has been instructing as I type. Does it not all sound a bit more like Helen or Betty than the other sisters?

Well, the older sisters think alike, sometimes. Pretty sister was helping on the wording and practical to the point sister wanted a word for the after funeral meal. Wake is the proper name for the grieving gathering before the burial, usually held the day prior to the burial. Funeral, burial or internment are interchangeably used for the ceremony associated with the burial. The only proper name I found for the meal at the gathering after the burial was repast. Helen did not like that word, but I appreciated its conciseness. It is succinct, or in my own words short and sweet. I really like that, but, I want to please Helen because it would please me if Helen would do for me as she did for Patsy and deep clean my house. So far, all she has done is make messes in my house. I think she likes Patsy best. Right now, she is walking all around my house while applying her powdery makeup, and in the process scattering said makeup all over my floor. Why oh why does the Queen of Clean come to my house and morph into Messy Bessie?

And, if anyone needs the low down on funerals on the cheap, give me a call. Dry Ice is on the list of necessary materials but I need to try for more details as to quantity needed. So, I am off to search for further instructions. Hopefully, Sister's clean jean will kick in soon.

Into the mist...

2011-10-23T08:32:00.001-05:00

Barbara Janet Poor

2011-10-22T15:50:00.000-05:00

August 24, 1965 - October 22, 2011

She was a sweet, sweet girl and she will be sorely missed.

New to Lane

2011-10-20T15:23:00.000-05:00

The son bought the grandson, son to be 16 and driving age, a new old pickup. It is not that pretty, but it is in good shape, mechanically. Grandma helped with a few $$$, but Dad paid most of it. Lane did not help pay and I don't think he even got a vote on what to buy. I wish I could find a charm that says, 'I love my grandma best'. I would put it on a chain and hang it from the rear view mirror.

They bought it from Bud Rowlett's brother. George said someone who worked at the plant for years and his brother did too. He said Al something for the last name. Rowlett, Al, almost the same. And, he said the brother's name was Jack. I guess Bud's name could be Jack, because I have no idea what his name really is. I was trying to remember the father's name. All I remember is Old Man Rowlett. He said their mother is still living. I think the father died 30 or more years ago.

Making beef stew and a German Chocolate cake with coconut frosting for supper. Should be ready soon. George is haying down at Frank's with cousin Kenneth.

Helen, I think Harvey had cancer. He was in hospice for a month or so.

Anyway, that is my news for today. Next week is BIG audit week. I will be glad when it is over.

A book for Patsy

2011-10-15T21:05:00.002-05:00

Ava's Man by Rick Bragg. I have read several of Rick Bragg's books and I liked all I have read. This book is about his grandfather that died a year or so before Rick was born. His grandfather and grandmother, Ava, were born in the early 1900's in Alabama. His grandfather lived in poverty all his life but was a hard working, hard drinking, family man.

During WWII, two sons from this family are drafted into the service. They are sent to, I think, Ft. Polk, in Louisiana, for basic training. In spite of having almost no money, their father drives from Alabama to Louisiana at least once a month to check on his sons. As he explains it, he did not worry about his sons surviving the War, he worried about them surviving the peace. He had taught them early to fight and drink hard, and he thought he might have taught them too well.

The book is Rick's attempt to know a grandfather that he never met. At the end of the book, Rick and I both thought his grandfather was a good man.

Patsy, I think you would enjoy this book. I know we thought we were poor when we were growing up, but this family was really poorer than poor. You may have to go to a library a thousand miles from home to find this book and some others by Rich Bragg.

New Day,

2011-10-15T17:14:00.002-05:00

New door.

Morning,

2011-10-15T09:42:00.001-05:00

Glory...

About 9 this am. First thought this was fog off the water tank on the mountain, but George said it was smoke. He is right, but just this once.

It is creeping up on 60 degrees. We are going to take the makeshift door down in a little and start putting in the framework for the new door. George says it will be in by dark thirty. Mostly I just watch. And criticize. Maybe tonight we will have pictures with a view through the window in my door. It will be superior to Helen's window view.

George got mad...

2011-10-14T19:25:00.000-05:00

and knocked down the door. Tomorrow he gets to put up a new door.

Traveling

2011-10-13T18:22:00.000-05:00

I walked over to the cemetery and saw this. I think she thought if she stood really still I could not see her.

We have sure had beautiful weather. One more half day and then two days off. Tomorrow is GO HOME EARLY DAY!!!!!!!!