Thursday, April 8, 2010

A Man and A Woman

When I looked at the title that I given this blog, I had to laugh. I had typed "a moan and a woman". Funny, but maybe that is what it is. I mean, I moan and groan about some of the strange things that the Rancher does and he sure moans about my lack of ability at some of his jobs. I have to tell ya' though, how a man does some things, never sieze to amaze me.

I guess that a woman is used to multi-tasking, as when I clean off the table, I stack the plates, silverware, and anything else that I can pile on and head for the cabinet, sink or wherever. I can tuck things in my arms and the table is clean in two trips. The Rancher carries one thing at a time. He usually helps with the morning table so we can have our devotion.

He carries the jelly to the refrigerator.

He puts his pills up.

He puts the milk in the refrigerator.

He puts my pills away.

He carries his bowl and plate to the cabinet.

He carries his water and milk glass to the cabinet.

Yadda, yadda, dah... You get ethe picture. It drives me crazy. I am not going to complain though because he is doing it while I do something else.

I can have an idea about some of his work that I think would save him a lot of time. He usually doesn't pay any attention to me though because he didin't think of it.
The other day, he wanted to go to the neighbors. Before we could go, he had to check some wells. They are located between our house and the neighbors house. I suggested we just check them on our way over to their house.

"Well, I need to check some cattle on the Highway," says Rancher.

"It is also on the way and I don't mind going in the old pick-up." I reply.

At this point, I am thinking...either he doesn't want me to go with him or he is meeting someone on the sly.(not really)

I think the thing is.....a man just thinks of one thing at a time and they get it done. I always am going in a circle, trying to do too many things at once and never complete any of them. Maybe a man is right.(DON'T EVER SAY I SAID THAT) Maybe I should just take one thing off of the table at a time. Maybe them I would at least accomplish one thing between breakfast and lunch. (besides checking things on my computer)Maybe I would at least have the kitchen cleaned.

Monday, April 5, 2010

The Rascals on the Square

When I was a kid......Here I go again, with another chapter of the little rascals Oklahoma Style. I have told you about living in small town Oklahoma and some of the antics of the neighborhood gang, haven't I. Well, if you don't want to read about it, you are free to go. You will miss a good story though. I am so glad that I never shared these things with my children when they were growing up. What would they have thought of me and what will they think today.

Oh well, we were just unsupervised kids who had a lot of fun. Our parents worked, we were to check in once in awhile and we sure had to come in and eat lunch and maybe take a nap. We roamed the town looking for things to do. We knew every older lady in town and what day they made cookies and who made the best ones. I loved Mrs. B's oatmeal/raisin cookies and she always enjoyed sharing one of them with her young visitors.

Our town's business district was in a square, built around the Courthouse, and the courtyard. The library was located in the basement of the Courthouse. I loved to go to the courthouse to check out books in the summertime. Well, I am not sure that I always checked out books but I loved to go to the courthouse. The Courthouse was 3 stories and it had a basement. There were wonderful stairs to climb and lots of banisters to slide down. These banisters were constructed of concrete and were wonderful to slide down. They were wide enough to actually sit on. Maybe these stairs were off from the offices, but I don't recall anyone ever making us leave this wonderful activity. There were always at least 3 of us so I am sure that we made noise. I learned in later years that my own mother had done this very thing when her Father worked in the Courthouse and that it was the thing they expected a child to do. Maybe that is why the library was in the basement.

We never went to the top story though as that is where the "prisoners" were kept. Now is the late 1940's and early 50's the only prisoners were likely someone who had a little too much to drink at the Saturday Dance out at the Legion Hut. We didn't know that though and we were sure that there might be a bank robber in the upper rooms. We would often take up quarters under the weeping mulberry tree, and eat green mulberrys and make faces at the windows on the third floor. This was to assure the prisoners that we did not approve of them and they better not mess with us. My, weren't we brave.

We were all friends with the proprietors on the square. There were 3 grocery stores, The Bank, Lawyers office, Hardware, Cafes, Theater, Clothing Stores, Abstract Ofices, The Chevrolet Dealer, Shoe repair shop, Filling(gas) Stations, Variety Store, Drug Stores, Beauty Shop, Millinery Shoppe, The Grand Hotel, and back in one corner....The Longbranch Salon. No kidding....right in my own town...Not the famous one of Dodge City Fame though. Just the Longbranch Salon. We never did go to that establishment.

Mr. W., the local shoe repairman, always had a story to tell us and we all enjoyed watching his skilled hands at work. He was a crippled man who had a wonderful smile and a friendly wife. He was a good friend even when I grew up and had children of my own.

Now that you know the layout of my town, ( I no longer live there) and the town has changed, you will be looking forward to more stories, I am sure. Well, you should be, I have some good ones. Some of them I will probably never tell though. I would be breaking a pact, of the Rascals on the Square.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

He is Risen!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes.

So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?" asked the men.

He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, "The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day'?"

And they remembered His words.

Luke 24:1-8 NKJ

Thank You Father for a Risen Savior and Thank you Jesus for taking my place.