Making a short story long

I walked to the neighbor's gate today. I thought I might go up on the rock quarry, but turned around because it is blustery and overcast. Instead I stopped and talked with sister. She told me something I am going to put here because I know she had told me before, but I unremembered most of it.

This is a hairpin that belonged to our Grandma Gertie Powell.  Helen has about a dozen of these that are still as useful and new looking as when Grandma first got them.  Helen got them from Grandma's house when she died because Helen wore her hair up in a beehive that was popular then. The hairpins were useful. She said she put them away with her long hair that Mamma cut off for her.  Now, she wears a hair piece that she pins on with Grandma's pins from long ago. Knowing Grandma's thrifty nature, these are likely close to a century old by now.

Now for the long story.  She started off our visit by telling me a very, very long story. All her story amounted to was she poured her coffee into a cup that had a residue of her crystal light drink and the coffee tasted terrible. I told her about a lady at work that often starts off a story with, "to make a long story short", and proceeds to make her short story long.

I told her about a new cousin we have found with out DNA.  This person should be our second cousin, but she has a large detailed tree with family born in Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina. We cannot figure out any connection between our families.  Helen said I was making a short story about dead people very long and boring.

I am making Donna's Ham casserole, Aday version.  We will see how it goes.  I am also making beans with ham bone, so we have options. Hannah does not much like beans, but Robert does. It will be a short story for Hannah.

Tomorrow is turkey day. I thought Helen was cooking it all but she says only turkey.  I may make Hannah cook the rolls and Robert can do the dressing. That would probably be a Very Long Story. 

Look

Grandma Irene Gaddy came to visit.

Sunday

A day of rest for me. It is overcast this morning, but yesterday was gorgeous. I am including my pic of yesterday's sunset cause I am jealous of sister Betty's pics. 

I cooked a ham yesterday because it was on sale and I am going to try Donna's ham casserole recipe. It sounds like something all my family would like. With two teens in the mix it is hard to find easy recipes that go over with everyone. Hannah does not eat rice at all and Robert is suspicious of foods he does not immediately recognize. I'll try it later this week and we will see. Plus there is always ham and cheese sandwiches.

Off to walk now and then to Church. Brother Jerry should be back today. Last Sunday we had a substitute. I prefer our own.

Critter Cam 11-15

One big family, a set of twins maybe?, lots of pics of Spike, one scared up doe, and one buck.

Maybe twins?

Moma on alert.

Big family.

Lots of pics of Spike every night.

The only buck other than Spike.  Sunday night was the only time he showed up.

Lots of scars. Looks like a young doe.

I am not a good stalker...

 I went for an early walk today. Often on Sunday, I walk in the fields and woods instead of down the road.  I wanted to go down to the creek today to see if the eagles have landed.  I saw one in the air above the Mennonite's Friday afternoon.

This hawk was sitting in a tree by the pond on our side of the road. I often see him in this tree after the leaves fall.

I started down through the neighbor's new gate with my hunters orange cap and vest, but just as I started down the hill, I heard a shot.  I turned and came back to my own property.  I heard a vehicle start right after the shot, so I think the got a deer.

Clouds were almost hiding the sun.  It was well after daylight, but pointing the camera directly at the sun makes for a dark photo.

We went up the rock quarry road instead. The dogs had found a squirrel to chase.

The feeder in the far distance, just past the dogs.  It still had a handful of corn. We need to fill it this afternoon.  If the four wheeler will not start, as it often will not in cooler weather, we can take the tractor and just raise the bucket up to fill it. Tractors are so useful on a farm.

Someone's home.

We walked on down the woodland road son uses to take his wheeler up on top the hill.

Right here, we jumped a fawn that was hiding, probably waiting for Moma.  It was about 20 feet away when it jumped up.  Neither me nor the hunters with me had any idea it was there.  We are not good at this hunting thing.

 

This is a drake on our pond.  This is the second time this week I have seen a single duck on the pond. I zoomed in to see if it was male or female.  Usually they are in pairs or groups of 3 or more.  I wonder where the mate is.

Have to get ready for Church now.  Helen, Hannah and Allison are tagging along today.

 

 

Rise up, rise up

God's on his Heaven, All's right with the world. I am going to do better today than I did yesterday. Say it and make it so.