Thursday’s Thoughts ~ Around Our House…

Around our house, it’s very wet!  It’s been many years since I’ve seen our area this saturated with water.  On Tuesday, I had the same view out of every window and door.

One side of the house looked like this

While the other side of the house looked like this

At least we just had our small dirt road plowed and fixed about a month ago!  Thanks to the hard work of our local road crew, our ditches are cleaned out and we still have a high and fairly dry driving surface.  Many in our area were not so fortunate.  If we hadn’t had the road work done, we’d be stranded!

Around our house, it’s about to be planting time, but nobody is able to plant anything!  Our local farmers are already saying their crops will have to be planted later this year.  I’m not sure how this will play out in the whole scheme of things, since most farmers usually plant two crops in a growing season.  As for us, we’ve already missed the deadline for planting potatoes.  It’s okay since we don’t use many potatoes anyway, thanks to our new diet.

I’m glad to report that my new greenhouse withstood the wind and torrential rainfall intact.  A newly installed thermostat has been controlling the light bulb which provides necessary warmth at night.  At the moment, tomatoes, cabbage, squash, cucumber, watermelon, strawberry, and marigold plants are happily growing in the greenhouse.

 tomato and cabbage seeds  I planted in January

 All be transplanted into the garden, as soon as it dries off, and the danger of frost is over.

We also have a grapevine, and two blackberry bushes waiting to be planted–as soon as it dries off!  A cold front is headed our way over the weekend, so I may be forced to bring the younger plants indoors for a day or two.  Temps are predicted to be below freezing on Monday morning.

I purchased a new gardening wagon last weekend, and transferring the plants indoors will give me an opportunity to try it out.  I’m looking forward to lots of adventures with that gardening wagon this summer!

Our hens presented us with their 800th egg on Saturday, in the midst of a downpour.  It’s good to know that rain doesn’t affect their laying ability!

I’m so pleased with how well  the girls have kept us supplied with fresh eggs since last July.  We briefly contemplated adding to our flock this spring, but decided against it.  There’s no way Ed and I can use all of the eggs these six are producing.  By next summer their egg production will most likely have dropped, and we’ll rethink it then.

All of the rain brought Ed’s treasure hunting activity to a halt.  He never did find the highly sought after, lost pocket knife, but he found a strange assortment of items while looking.

buried treasure?

All items were found in the field in front of our house, and I believe most, if not all, items are bits and pieces of farm equipment.  I can’t help but wonder how long some of those items have been buried!

Speaking of Ed, this has not been a good week for Ed.  He started out the week with a toothache.  Even though the dentist couldn’t see a thing wrong on the xray, it turned out that the poor guy had an abscessed tooth!  He had a root canal done yesterday.  He’ll be taking antibiotics for a few days, then getting a crown once everything has healed.  Gotta’ love life’s unexpected curve balls.

So that’s what’s been going on around our house, what’s been going on around yours?

Farewell February, Hello Hodgepodge…

Yet another month has almost come and gone, and we’re still having fun with the Wednesday Hodgepodge!  As always, thanks to Joyce, our hostess, for providing some thought-provoking questions.

1. When were you last facing an ocean? Using just ONE word, describe how you felt as you faced that ocean.

I haven’t faced the ocean since last summer.  Now, thanks to Joyce, I’m beginning to feel the urge to see it again!  One word describes how I felt then, and always, whenever I’m near the ocean– happy!

2. What are three sounds you hate to hear?

The sound of the pine trees cracking near our house, (I’m always afraid one will fall– Ed’s aunt was killed by a falling pine tree limb ), my dentist’s drill (for obvious reasons), our phone ringing in the middle of the night ( usually means bad news).

3. This question comes to you courtesy of some real life friends. Hi real life friends! When you shop for yourself, do you try everything on in the store before buying or do you buy, try on at home, and then return what you don’t like or what doesn’t fit?

I always try on clothes before  buying them.  I hate having to return something since we live over thirty miles from the stores!

4. February 26th is National Pistachio Day…are you a fan of the little green nut? Do you use them in cooking and baking or prefer to eat them right out of the shell?

I’m not a real fan of the pistachio, but I will eat pistachio salad–otherwise known as “Watergate salad”.

5. When did you last have to compromise with someone? Were you happy to reach the compromise or slightly irritated it was necessary?

I thought and thought, but nothing particular rings a bell with me.  Once you get married and have a family, life is just a series of compromises anyway, isn’t it?

6. Have you ever written a letter to an elected official? Did you get a response?

Yes.  I  wrote  letters to a couple of our local elected officials, a State Representative and a Senator, about thirteen years ago, concerning a proposed House Bill.  I received responses to both letters.  Both officials live in my county, and the (former) State Representative is a friend.  I, also, once asked for (and was granted) a meeting with our County Commissioner Chairman, too.  I guess sometimes it’s good to live in a tiny town.

7. We ‘March’ into a new month at the end of this week…what’s something on your March calendar guaranteed to make you smile?

I’m looking forward to Easter, and watching everyone hunt eggs.  Our youngest grandchild, Chase, will hunt his first Easter eggs this year!  I’m also looking forward to getting our garden planted, as soon as the ground dries out enough to get Ed’s tractor in the field without bogging it down!

Random:

We’ve received more than our fair share of rain during the month of February!  After two more days of rain, my poor hens were wading in their pen, again yesterday.  Thank goodness for the ditch that Ed plowed, the day before Valentine’s Day, otherwise they would have probably been swimming! There were at least four inches of water surrounding their chicken coop!

School has been cancelled here for two days, due to the poor condition of some country roads. There was an accident involving a school bus on Monday. One person killed, several injured.

Here’s a short video of granddaughter, Madison, enjoying her day off from school yesterday.  Children know how to make the best of a bad situation, don’t they?

Remembering “The Red Room”…

I found this old photograph among my mother-in-law’s collection. It’s a picture of her, taken sometime in the mid-seventies. I apologize for the quality of the photo, but it was taken with a Polaroid camera, and didn’t stand the test of time very well.

In the photo, Ed’s mom has her hand on a set of spiral display shelves. The shelves were a gift to her from my brother and his wife, nearly forty years ago. Vivian had seen the shelves, while visiting their home, and greatly admired them. Eventually, the couple decided to give the shelves to Vivian. I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled she was when they brought the shelves to her–all the way from their home in Florida!

From that day forward, the shelves have been used to hold various “what-nots”, as well as for hanging family Christmas stockings during the holidays.  For many years, the railing of the shelves also served as a hand rail for climbing up and down the den steps, as Ed’s mom grew older.  Today, they continue to stand in their place of honor!

The photo was taken in my MIL’s den, or what we commonly refer to as “the red room”. The room was originally a carport, but it was closed in and turned into a den around 1971, while Ed was away in the army.  It was decorated in Spanish decor of red, black, and white.  This decor was quite popular in the seventies.

When I first met Ed, in 1969, the den was still a carport. If you look closely, you may be able to see the steps, just to the right of Vivian. (The steps are covered in red carpeting, so they’re difficult to see.) I was sitting on those steps, watching Ed work on his car, the first time I ever met my future mother-in-law. She and I still remember that day, but I often wonder for how much longer we both will, as time continues to dim our memories.

I was a frequent visitor to the home of my future in-laws during their carport renovation process, often spending weekends there while Ed was away in the army.  I was with Vivian when she chose much of her decor, much of it purchased after Ed and I were married in 1972.  Vivian’s good friend, Maxine, made all of the cushions and pillows for the long seating area lining the brick wall of “the red room”.  Maxine’s husband, Paul, assisted Ed’s dad with much of the construction of “the red room”, as well.

Ed’s dad and Uncle “B”- enjoying Christmas in “the red room” 

The family has spent many happy hours in “the red room” throughout the years.  Ed and I held our rehearsal dinner in “the red room”, and Ed’s oldest brother held his wedding there, as well.  I remember many Saturday nights spent together in “the red room”, watching “Hee Haw” or late-night wrestling with Ed’s parents.

Of course, there were also lots of family Christmases in “the red room”, too!  There was always a huge Christmas tree, and we’d gather around it to open our gifts.  Ed’s dad would build a roaring fire in the fireplace, and many times we’d  have to open the outside door to cool the room off!  By the end of Christmas, Vivian’s red Christmas tapers, on the mantle, would usually be drooping from the heat of Grandpas’s fires!

Happy grandchildren at Christmas – The spiral shelves are in the right of the photo, decorated for Christmas

The grandchildren (older) playing a game of Monopoly in “the red room”

Over the years, but at different times, both of our (young adult) sons lived with Ed’s mom, following the death of her husband.  During this time, “the red room” was their domain, since Vivian’s house also has a second den located in the back of her home.   Vivian stayed in the back of the house, and gave the boys their privacy in “the red room.”  I’m sure, each son has their own memories of time spent in “the red room” while living with their Mema.

Time marches on, and “the red room” has now grown dark and silent.  Ed’s dad, and friends, Maxine and Paul, left this world several years ago, but their memories live on through us.  Vivian currently resides in an assisted living facility.  Both of our sons have married and moved on, as well.  I’m not quite sure what the future holds for “the red room”, but it sure does have a glorious past.

Rainy Days and Mondays…

In case you haven’t guessed from my title, it’s raining again, here in our neck of the woods!  We received nearly four more inches of rain over the weekend.  This, added to the ten inches we’ve received in previous days, gives us a grand total of fourteen inches for the month of February!  People, it’s wet here in Gooseneck!

We’d just gotten our well cleared up from our last downpour, and the chicken’s pen was drying out nicely, too.  Now, we’re back to square one again 😦

There’s nothing I can do about the weather, but a rainy Monday is a great time to join Heather, Wayne, and friends for another edition of  the “Monday Quiz”.  Feel free to join in the fun, too, by clicking the button below.

1. If you could go to any festival or event in the world; which one would you choose?

I used to love such things, but to tell you the truth, now I can’t think of a single festival or event I’d really care about attending.  Over the years,  the thrill of such things has left me.  I believe I’ve grown old!

2. What is the first sign you see that tells you spring is near?

I used to think it was spring when the trees began to put on new leaves,  but sometimes trees have gotten confused and put on leaves at the wrong time!  Here in the south, we depend on our pecan trees to tell us when cold weather has truly passed.  They are always the last trees to put on their new leaves.

3. When you were in school did you do your projects as soon as they were assigned or as close to the last-minute as possible?

Procrastination is a pet-peave of mine!  I always did my projects soon after they were assigned–unlike my two sons, who would drive me crazy by waiting until the last possible minute to do theirs!

4. Would you rather have the power to be invisible or the power to read minds?

I’m not sure I’d enjoy knowing what everyone is thinking, but it might be fun to become invisible from time to time!  I’m always saying, “I’d love to be a fly on the wall”, and being invisible would be even better than that!

My question for you:

5.  If given a choice, how would you prefer to spend a rainy Monday?

I’m leaving you with an appropriate song today.   It’s an old one, but a good one, plus, Karen Carpenter is wearing the same style of dress I wore for my wedding. Gotta’ love the styles  and music of the seventies!

Thursday’s Thoughts ~ Semi-Private Rooms…

Every time our family gets together there’s always a lot of conversation going on.  More often than not, an interesting story or two will evolve out of that conversation.  Recently, the topic of “semi-private hospital rooms” came into play.  Semi-private is somewhat of an oxymoron as far as I’m concerned.  There is nothing private about a “semi-private” room.

I sort of assumed that semi-private hospital rooms were a thing of the past, but apparently they are not.  It’s been years since I’ve visited anyone who was a patient in a semi-private room, but I still remember those visits well enough to know that, given a choice, I’d never want to share a hospital room with anyone!

First of all, if you’re sick enough to be in a hospital, you’re feeling pretty low.  If I’m feeling low, I certainly don’t want to be around strangers!  You not only have to deal with a strange roommate, you have to deal with their visitors when they come.  Let’s not forget how you can hear every word that’s being said in the room, as well.  That pulled curtain offers very little privacy!  So much for confidential conversations–even with the doctor!  There’s nothing like listening to the patient on the other side of the curtain discussing their condition with their doctor.

Next comes the matter of the television.  What if the two of you don’t like the same type of programming?  Imagine being stuck in bed all day, watching or listening to shows you can’t stand!  I’d absolutely die if I got a roommate who only watched “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” or old reruns of “The Jerry Springer Show”!

Last, but not least, it the subject of the bathroom.  Heaven forbid if your roommate is required to use a bed pan!  I certainly do not like the thought of sharing a bathroom with strangers either!  Think “public restrooms”…  Which brings me to the true story which came into the conversation the other day.

Two ladies were stuck sharing a semi-private room–and I use the term “ladies” loosely here.  Apparently, they were less than thrilled with each other for roommates, and lacked any discretion at all.  An argument began when one of them opened her bottle of perfume.  The other lady said the perfume was a “knock-off” of an original, which made the perfume owner mad.  Words flew and the argument escalated.  The lady with the perfume actually went into the bathroom (located on the other lady’s side of the room), left the door open, and proceeded to–as we like to say in the south– “take a crap”.  Then she asked the other lady, “How do you like that perfume?”  Oh my word!  You can imagine how that went over!   In the end, hospital security had to be called!

Now I know for sure, I’ll definitely be requesting a private room for any future hospital stays!  What about you?

Joining In The Hodgepodge…

1. When were you last ‘on a mountaintop’? You may answer in the literal or figurative sense.

The last time I felt as if I were on a mountaintop was in the summer of 2011. It was immediately after all of the stress of Brad and Jennifer’s wedding was over.  I was still basking in my feeling of relief, when I learned our oldest son, Brett, and his wife were expecting another baby!  (They’d known a while, but kept it a secret, so as not to take anything away from the wedding excitement.)  Our grandson, Caden, came walking in wearing a little t- shirt that read “I’m going to be a big brother!”   I wish I had my reaction on film.  I’m sure it was priceless!

The last time I was literally close to being on a mountaintop was during the summer of 2010, when we  rented a cabin in the mountains of Helen, Georgia.  Ed and I hiked up to Anna Ruby Falls while we were there.

 Anna Ruby Falls

2. Do you establish and maintain a strict budget in your household? What is one piece of financial advice you would offer someone just starting out on their own?

Yes, we have a household budget, and we are working toward becoming debt free.  I’m sure I don’t have to tell anyone how it’s becoming increasingly difficult to make ends meet on a budget with tax increases, health insurance premium increases, and the rising prices of food and gas!  So frustrating!

My financial advice to anyone just starting out is “Be patient and don’t get too deeply into debt.  You can’t have everything at once, and you will appreciate things more when they don’t come so quickly.”  Also, “Pay yourself first–into a retirement account.”  I know you think you have plenty of time because retirement seems to be light-years away,  but time passes quicker than you think!

3. Cherries-yay or nay? Cherry pie, cherry cola, black forest cake, or a scoop of Ben and Jerry’s Cherries Garcia…pick one.

I like cherries, but I don’t love cherries.  I’d love to have a piece of cherry pie though!

4. Should you ever discuss religion or politics with people you don’t know?

Probably not.  Both topics are often guaranteed to make some sparks fly–even among friends, if they don’t agree.

5. When you take a road trip do you prefer to be the driver or the passenger? Where were you headed on your last road trip?

I always prefer to be the passenger.  Our last road trip was to Florida to visit my brother and his wife.

6. If we peeked inside your closet, what color would we say is most prevalent?

I have more black and blue than any other color in my closet, but actually, red is my favorite color.

7. Who’s your favorite senior citizen and why are they special?

My favorite senior citizen is my mother-in-law.  She’s been in my life since I met Ed, at age fifteen.  For many reasons, my MIL has always been like a second mother to me.   I’ll never forget the many things she’s taught me throughout my life, or the kindness and generosity she’s shown our entire family.

Random:

Yesterday, I wrote an update about my “feathered friends”, the chickens.  Some people suggested that I have Ed take a photograph of me holding the girls.  I will do that as soon as time and weather permits.  In the meantime, here’s an older photo, taken last summer.  The girls are so much bigger than this now!  Also, some people asked if the odd-shaped egg tasted or looked any different.  No, the egg looked and tasted exactly the same.  I’d wondered about that, too!  Thanks for all of your comments!

Thanks to Joyce for hosting “The Hodgepodge”. If you’d like to play along, or read more answers, simply click the button at the top of this post!

My Feathered Friends…

If you’ve been wondering what my red feathered friends have been up to lately, then today is your lucky day.  It’s been a while since I’ve written a post about “my girls”.

my girls-having a turnip for lunch

Previously, I mentioned that we received eight inches of rain over a two-day period, last week.  During this time, Ed and I realized our chicken coop is located in the lowest spot of our yard!  Of course, the fact that those silly chickens are constantly digging holes in their pen sure didn’t help matters any!  Their entire pen is filled with huge holes, especially around the edges.  Once the rain began, it just naturally filled up all of those holes!  As soon as it dries up enough to add some dirt, a home improvement project will be in the works for the girls!

Actually, I think the rain bothered me more than it bothered “my girls”.  They seemed quite content to wade around in their puddles and search for soggy food all day, but they weren’t quite as content with the blue tarp which Ed spread over the top of their pen to help keep them dry.  Chickens are very funny about strange things–like tarps that suddenly appear out of nowhere!  They avoided that area of their pen like the plague!  They seemed to prefer the rain over the tarp.

After a brief slow-down in egg production, those crazy girls are at it again.  As the days keep growing longer, now it seems everyone wants to lay an egg!  They’re  back to averaging four eggs per day.  Sometimes I get three, sometimes five, but I’ve never gotten six in one day.  By the end of this week, my girls will have laid over 800 eggs–in just seven months!  That’s a lot of eggs for six chickens!  We have all the eggs we can use, plus we share with our neighbors!

note the strange egg on the bottom

Speaking of eggs, a few days ago, I found an odd-shaped egg in the nest!  It was long, very pointed on one end, and lighter than the rest.  What’s up with that?  I’ve never seen another egg shaped quite like it.  I wondered if  one of the girls is just now laying for the first time.  Every day or two I continue find one of those odd-shaped eggs, but the end is getting more round as time passes.

The hen who laid the odd-shaped egg, also laid it in the previously unused nest on the left side of the hen-house.  Up until that day, nobody would lay in that nest.  Suddenly, I’ve been finding more and more eggs in that particular nest!  Chickens are funny like that!  They don’t like for one to get ahead of another–especially when it comes to eating!

Chickens like to eat–a lot!  In fact, I sometimes wonder if I could ever fill them up to the point where they would refuse food.  I don’t think so.  They get an unlimited supply of laying pellets, along with some cracked corn given twice daily.  In addition to that, I feed them some type of greens–mustard greens, turnips, cabbage, lettuce, or even grass clippings, when available.  Some of their favorite treats are bread, carrots (pulled fresh from the garden), cooked rice, grapes, and freeze-dried worms,  but they’re not picky, they’ll eat anything!  They are getting quite large, and I’d estimate their weight to be around 3 to 4 pounds each.

Even now, the girls are still quite affectionate, and will sit in my lap if given the opportunity.  The other day I had two in my lap, and one on my shoulder, with the rest looking for a place to sit!    Just yesterday one girl hopped onto my back while I was bending over raking dirt and filling in some of their ridiculous holes.  I got my daily laugh when I gave them a stale rice krisipie treat.  It was hilarious watching them run around trying to eat their sticky, gooey treat.  Silly girls!  They never fail to make me laugh, while also furnishing an egg or two for breakfast.  Scrambled eggs anyone?

A Very Chilly Monday…

Brrr!  It’s cold here in our neck of the woods!  We’ve been having a cold spell for the past three days.  This morning, the frost is so thick on our daughter’s roof, it looked like snow.  The thermometer says 27 degrees, but it feels much colder than that!  It’s Monday, and that means it’s time to join Heather for the Monday Quiz.

Here are today’s questions:

1. Who was the last person you said ‘I love you to?’

My hubby, Ed.
2. What was the last non-kid friendly movie you saw?

I’m not sure.  It might have been the Clint Eastwood movie, “Gran Torino”, a movie we’d seen before, but watched again.
3. When was the last time you got angry about something that you felt silly about later?

There have been so many occasions during the past two months, it’s hard to remember just one.  Low carb/sugar-free diet + me = cranky person!   I actually learned there’s a name for this crankiness–“Atkins Attitude”.   I’m now taking a vitamin/herbal supplement to help alleviate it.
4. Where is your favorite object at this moment?

In the living room, sitting in front of me.  The only problem is, I can’t decide if it’s the television or the laptop.

My question:

5.  Have you ever had a reader leave a vile or inappropriate comment ?    

Recap:

When I last posted, on Wednesday, it was raining.  We received 8 inches of rain in just two days!  By lunch, on Wednesday, I called Ed in a bit of a panic.  The chicken coop was flooded, and our poor chickens were wading around in several inches of water!  I spent the morning trying to ditch the water myself, without success.  Ed came home right after lunch, and began to plow drainage ditches with the tractor.  By sunset, most of the water was gone, but our troubles weren’t over.

Whenever it rains a lot in a short period of time, the water in our well gets cloudy.  By Thursday night, the water coming out of the faucets was nasty looking!  We’ve been drinking bottled water since then.  Our well is finally clearing up, and should be normal within another day or two.  I just noticed it’s supposed to rain again on Tuesday evening!

Ed surprised me on Valentine’s Day by taking the day off!  He announced to me, “I’m yours for the day!”  What a nice gift that turned out to be!  (I neglected to mention, before, when Ed came home to rescue me and the flooded chickens, on Wednesday, he came home bearing a vase of three pink roses, too!  Love a guy who not only comes to rescue his lady in distress, but brings her flowers, too!)  I baked him a heart-shaped German Chocolate cake–his favorite.

We spent part of our Valentine’s Day eating lunch  in front of the fireplace at The Cracker Barrel.  The day proceeded with visits from all of the grandchildren, plus we made a visit over to our daughter’s house later in the evening. It was a special Valentine’s Day, and I won’t soon forget it.

The weekend began with the birthday celebration of our daughter-in-law, Christina, on Friday evening.  We celebrated her day with pizza and an ice cream cake.  The rest of the weekend was quiet and uneventful.  We just stayed inside, tried to stay warm and comfortable, and watched a lot of television.

I’m glad it’s a new week and there are no special occasions this week.  I may have been tempted by the cakes in my presence, and may have been guilty of trying a piece– or two.  I may now be paying the price of my guilty pleasure.  Increase in sugar in body = increase in yeast in body 😦  Sometimes life can be cruel…

Happy Monday…

Lovin’ The Wednesday Hodgepodge…

1. This week marks the beginning of Lent…will you be giving something up or adding anything to your life during this season of the year?

Our religion doesn’t observe Lent, but the good Lord knows I’ve given up plenty during the course of this diet I’m on, and I’d sure like to be able to add some of it back in the future!

2. The day before Lent is Shrove Tuesday… tradition states you eat pancakes on this day. In some parts of the world Shrove Tuesday is actually known as ‘pancake day’. How do you like your pancakes? Or don’t you?

Pancakes are okay, but I don’t eat them often.  I actually prefer waffles.    If I do eat pancakes, which won’t be anytime soon,  I’d prefer them plain, with a little butter and syrup.

3. I’m sure there are many, but what’s one love song you really love?

You are right, Joyce, I have lots of favorite love songs, but a timeless favorite is My Endless Love sung by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie.

I  like this video version of it on YouTube.  It’s quite appropriate for Valentine’s Day.

4. What are some things you do to let others know you love them?

The usual things– family dinners, meaningful talks, a hug, a kiss, a phone call, an email, a visit, a gift, or some other random act of kindness.  Then, of course, there’s this blog–a lasting record of my innermost thoughts and memories.

5. Roses…red, pink, or do you prefer another color? Can you recall the last time someone gave you flowers? Given your choice would you like to open the door and see a dozen red roses, a dozen purple tulips, or a dozen pink peonies?

I like pink, but I’m not really choosy when it comes to roses.  The last time I received flowers was for my birthday back in August– a dozen red roses from Ed.

As for my choice between a dozen red roses, purple tulips or pink peonies, I’d choose the red roses.

6. President’s Day will be celebrated in America next Monday. Does US Presidential history and trivia interest you? Many Presidential homes are open to the public and offer guided tours…Monticello (Jefferson’s home), Mount Vernon (Washington’s home), Montpelier (James Madison’s home), Hyde Park (FD Roosevelt’s home) and The White House (home to the sitting President) to name just a few. Of those listed which would you be most interested in touring? Why?

No, Presidential history and trivia doesn’t really interest me, and never has.  Of all of the places listed, I suppose I’d most like to tour The White House because I’m most familiar with it.

7. Are you good at keeping secrets?

Yes, I can keep a secret, but I’m glad to be able to say that I’m a horrible liar.

Random:

I went to visit my mother-in-law at the personal care home yesterday.  I arrived just in time to sit with her and watch the residents play several games of Bingo.  Those Bingo games were courtesy of two kind ladies who come each week and volunteer their time.  Bingo winners are awarded prizes from a small basket of goodies furnished by the ladies.  After Bingo, the volunteer ladies also entertained with a few hymns on the piano.  Thank God for volunteers who give freely of their time and talents, so others can have a brighter day!

Ed, also, went by to see his mom after work yesterday.  She told him that I’d been to visit, and we sat around and played cards!   I can only imagine the look on his face, since he knows I don’t like to play cards!  He couldn’t wait to get home to ask me if this was true!

One other note before I go, we are entering our third straight day of rain today!  We’ve received SEVERAL inches of rain, over 4 inches yesterday alone, and it continued to rain hard all through the night!  It will take a month of Sundays before all of this water dries up.  I’m going to have to borrow Ed’s rubber boots while I go outside to feed the animals this morning!

Family Revelations…

I just love it when our adult off-spring get together, and begin reminiscing about the days of their youth. I almost always end up learning something new! Recently, the subject of the game of “kickball” came up as the topic of conversation.

You see, our granddaughter, Madison, has recently been introduced to the game of kickball at church. Her first experience didn’t turn out to be a pleasant one, and she came home saying that she no longer wished to attend AWANA on Wednesday nights! Madison’s kickball experience opened the door to an assortment of childhood revelations from the adults in the room.

Madison’s mom, Brandy, shared how much she hated the game of kickball, too, when she was in elementary school. This revelation came as no great surprise.  After all, she is her mother’s daughter! Anything involving a ball and kicking, throwing, or running has always ranked low on my list of things I like to do!  I’d do almost anything to avoid PE in school, and my daughter is a chip off the old block!   A headache would develop at the mere thought of running or playing ball…

Brandy recalled how, in the school’s version of kickball,  some of the children were required to line up on the wall of the gymnasium while other children tried to hit them with the ball.  What kind of game is this, where the children are lined up as human targets?!  Where’s the fun it that for the kids standing on the wall?

Our oldest son chimed in to reveal that his fear of the wrath of the kickball was the reason he quickly became a member of the fifth grade band. He recalled how a fellow classmate (who was apparently a bit of a bully) would always go out of his way to hit him  very hard in the head with the kickball! ( I had no idea!) We spent nearly eight hundred dollars on a saxophone because we thought our son was musically inclined–and all the while he was trying to avoid being blasted in the head by a bully with ball!  

All’s well that ends well,  so they say. Our son learned how to play that saxophone, in spite of these facts: (a) the band leader claimed his mouth wasn’t shaped correctly to play one, and (b) that saxophone was nearly half as big as he was! The following year, we made the choice to move our children to a private school;  thus ending the saga of the sax, and the kickball bully I never knew about!    The saxophone was later sold to a cousin.

Last, but not least, our youngest son offered up a couple of school memories of his own. Brad’s memories were purely the result of bad timing, on his part. Once, he walked into the gym, and straight into the path of a flying ball. The ball hit him square in the face, resulting in a bloody nose!  Brad’s second encounter with a flying ball…well, let’s just say, the ball hit him in an area even more sensitive than his nose!  Ouch!  Enough said.

I don’t know how Madison’s future encounters with kickball will go. For now, she’s chosen to sit and watch while the others play kickball at AWANA. One thing’s for sure, as time marches on, even if not about kickball, I’m sure Madison will have some revelations of her own, one of these days!