I Have too many clocks in my house. At least I have a lot of things that have the time on them. I don't know how this happened. It has a lot to do with the fact that everytime I buy something electronic--it has clock--watch--timepiece or whatever you want to call it made into it. In my kitchen alone are 5 different things that I can look at if I want the time. Well, actually, the approximate time, as none of them say the same thing. That would be partly my fault as I am the one who sets them. The digital ones on the stove, microwave, coffeemaker, and phone all blink when the electricity glitches, and that happens about once a day in the heat of the summer. I finally decided not to set the one on the microwave and coffeemaker. I fix the stove as it continually blinks if you don't and the phone resets itself. I really do enjoy the big clock on the wall with the hands that move slowly around and is pretty much right until I need to change the battery.
In the living room, I have a beautiful Grandfather Clock, inherited from a great Aunt. I love this clock, but it gains about 5 minutes every week and I am not sure how to slow it down as I did not inherit a book of instructions. There is also the proper time at the press of a button on the TV. Part of the day, there is a cell phone laying about the house showing me exacatly what time it is.
In each of the 3 bedrooms, there is a bedside clock. I just know that my company will want to know if they are oversleeping at my house in the morning. They may even want an alarm to wake them. HA! Through the years I have acquired the habit of having a clock in each of the 2 bathrooms. When my children were at home, this was suppossed to hurry them along and let them know that 15 minutes was long enough when someone else was waiting to get ready for school. I have a clock on the radio in the sewing room along with a decorative clock that my son bought for me.
The Den has the time on the computer, on the phone and a lovely barn timepiece hangs on the wall. At anytime, there are about 15 different places that I can look to see just what time it is. They all say different things. Oh the phones and computer are probably right as they are set with some satellite in the sky. The rest are set by me and I am not perfect.
In the home that I grew up in, we had a clock in the kitchen, and one in the bedrooms to get us up in the morning. My grandmother, carried her clock from the kitchen to the bedroom and back. She only had one clock, never a watch and probably was more on time than any of us are today.
For some reason, I have never put a clock in the utility room and Thank goodness, the washer or dryer does not have one. That's okay though as I am just passing through that room. I am glad that no one has bought me a clock for the patio or the porch, I think that would be the last straw. I just try to consider which clock I am looking and take a stab at the right time and be on my way, and I hope that I am not too late. That's my excuse and I am stickin' to it.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Summer Fruit
If you have read Andi's Ramblings or It Just Dawned On Me---You know that our family has been blessed with abundant apricots. Unfortunately, I do not have batteries for my camera and they are dead. I am not as fanatic over cameras and pictures as my daughters are. Shame on me. It might be that I grew up in a time when we didn't take pictures just to be taking them. I guess I just never got addicted to it. Anyhow just ask my daughter, Andi, as she can tell you that a roll of film of her eighth birthday party was finally developed when she was 20 years old. Not as clear as it could have been, but none the less we got the pictures, and proof of who broke the lamp.
Back to the reason for this addition to Perils of the Sandcreek Ranch. We did and still do have a wonderful crop of apricots. It makes me sad how many have gone to waste. I know that my grandmothers would be so ashamed of me for the waste. They each would go out each morning and gather all of the "windfall" fruit and either make it for lunch, make jams and jellies or can the fruit itself. Nothing went to waste. I have made jams, pies, froze apricots, gave buckets of the fruit away and begged others to come and get it. It seems that this is a bumper crop year for everyone. I heard one friend say that she was just putting them into peoples cars at church. Made me think of the squash season. You know everyone locks their car doors for fear of being blessed by everyone who raises them.
This morning, I went with the Rancher to check cattle on the west end of SandCreek and decided to check on the plums. I have NEVER seen so many plums. The bushes are loaded and hanging over the banks of the creek. We had two buckets and filled them with ripe fruit. There are areas that are still green, some just turning and an abundance of ripe ones. God has blessed us. I told the Rancher that we had to gather all that we could as it was the best crop we have ever had. Is this a sign that we will not be having any for several years? I always freeze several gallons for the years we don't have any. Making too much jelly at a time is not good.
Sandhill Plums make the best jams and jellies. I can hardly wait. I remember my grandmother telling of packing a lunch and the family taking the wagon and making a day of picking sandhill plums. They were the only fruit available in the early days. Grandma also made a wonderful Plum pudding and cobbler. She didn't always take the seeds out though and we had to be careful when eating it.
If you haven't had a hot piece of toast topped with homemade sandhill plum jam, you don't know what you are missing. Grab a bucket and head for the country. The thickets along the roadsides are loaded (if they haven't all been picked). Gather the kids and grandkids and make a fun time of it.
Back to the reason for this addition to Perils of the Sandcreek Ranch. We did and still do have a wonderful crop of apricots. It makes me sad how many have gone to waste. I know that my grandmothers would be so ashamed of me for the waste. They each would go out each morning and gather all of the "windfall" fruit and either make it for lunch, make jams and jellies or can the fruit itself. Nothing went to waste. I have made jams, pies, froze apricots, gave buckets of the fruit away and begged others to come and get it. It seems that this is a bumper crop year for everyone. I heard one friend say that she was just putting them into peoples cars at church. Made me think of the squash season. You know everyone locks their car doors for fear of being blessed by everyone who raises them.
This morning, I went with the Rancher to check cattle on the west end of SandCreek and decided to check on the plums. I have NEVER seen so many plums. The bushes are loaded and hanging over the banks of the creek. We had two buckets and filled them with ripe fruit. There are areas that are still green, some just turning and an abundance of ripe ones. God has blessed us. I told the Rancher that we had to gather all that we could as it was the best crop we have ever had. Is this a sign that we will not be having any for several years? I always freeze several gallons for the years we don't have any. Making too much jelly at a time is not good.
Sandhill Plums make the best jams and jellies. I can hardly wait. I remember my grandmother telling of packing a lunch and the family taking the wagon and making a day of picking sandhill plums. They were the only fruit available in the early days. Grandma also made a wonderful Plum pudding and cobbler. She didn't always take the seeds out though and we had to be careful when eating it.
If you haven't had a hot piece of toast topped with homemade sandhill plum jam, you don't know what you are missing. Grab a bucket and head for the country. The thickets along the roadsides are loaded (if they haven't all been picked). Gather the kids and grandkids and make a fun time of it.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
My Dad, A Builder of Roads
I am late with this post. I was trying to scan a picture of my Dad for Fathers day and NO LUCK!! I hope that I get this computer figured out before long. I think part of the problem was being without one for so long and this old gal just don't remember like she used to. Imagine That!! Anyhow back to the topic of the Day.
Sunday was Fathers Day, a time for remembering our Dads. My own Dad has been gone for nearly 12 years but I have many special memories of him and still think of him almost daily. My dad wasn't always around when I was growing up as he had a job that kept him away from home. He built roads. Every road I drive down in our part of the state, I know that my dad played a part in the construction of them. He started to work for the Highway Department in 1950 at the end of a shovel (so to speak). He retired with the title Resident Engineer of Division Six in 1984. His hard work, determination, night school, correspondence courses and his "I will do my best" attitude, helped him to achieve this goal.
When I was a child, not many roads in NW Oklahoma were paved. Most towns had a strip of pavement about 3 miles coming into them on the major highways. This was a time before the Interstate System, so a major highway was one that went from one state to the next, or a US highway. The State Highways, weren't paved until later. My dad was away from home as these roads were being improved. In that time, one did not drive home at night if it was any distance. I think an hours drive must have been too far, as some of the places he talked about are within that distance.
When he was at home, I loved to hear about the places he stayed. I just knew that they were wonderful places. What lovely names they had. Elmwood----Doesn't that just sound like a place filled with tree lined streets. I used to ask Dad about it..
Daddy, is it a pretty place, Does it have a creek....Are there lots of trees? I am sure my questions went on and on but that perticular name just fascinated me. Guess what....When I married the Rancher, Elmwood was just down the road. I really had to laugh about my childhood fascination with that name. Elmwood, was just a crossroads of two highways. NO town at all, but a Service Station, a motel, Cafe, and Post Office to serve a large rural area. Oh, there is a beautiful creek about a mile down the road but, Elmwood sits on a hilltop with few trees at all.
As I drive down these roads, I have memories of my Dad, I remember his frustrations and pride with certain bridges and curves. I think of Dad each time I approach them. I am proud to see that his works are still in use today. Through time, much of the pavement has been replaced with updated products and I know that eventually all of the bridges will be replaced, but today, I can still see the the products of his labor and feel a great pride.
Sunday was Fathers Day, a time for remembering our Dads. My own Dad has been gone for nearly 12 years but I have many special memories of him and still think of him almost daily. My dad wasn't always around when I was growing up as he had a job that kept him away from home. He built roads. Every road I drive down in our part of the state, I know that my dad played a part in the construction of them. He started to work for the Highway Department in 1950 at the end of a shovel (so to speak). He retired with the title Resident Engineer of Division Six in 1984. His hard work, determination, night school, correspondence courses and his "I will do my best" attitude, helped him to achieve this goal.
When I was a child, not many roads in NW Oklahoma were paved. Most towns had a strip of pavement about 3 miles coming into them on the major highways. This was a time before the Interstate System, so a major highway was one that went from one state to the next, or a US highway. The State Highways, weren't paved until later. My dad was away from home as these roads were being improved. In that time, one did not drive home at night if it was any distance. I think an hours drive must have been too far, as some of the places he talked about are within that distance.
When he was at home, I loved to hear about the places he stayed. I just knew that they were wonderful places. What lovely names they had. Elmwood----Doesn't that just sound like a place filled with tree lined streets. I used to ask Dad about it..
Daddy, is it a pretty place, Does it have a creek....Are there lots of trees? I am sure my questions went on and on but that perticular name just fascinated me. Guess what....When I married the Rancher, Elmwood was just down the road. I really had to laugh about my childhood fascination with that name. Elmwood, was just a crossroads of two highways. NO town at all, but a Service Station, a motel, Cafe, and Post Office to serve a large rural area. Oh, there is a beautiful creek about a mile down the road but, Elmwood sits on a hilltop with few trees at all.
As I drive down these roads, I have memories of my Dad, I remember his frustrations and pride with certain bridges and curves. I think of Dad each time I approach them. I am proud to see that his works are still in use today. Through time, much of the pavement has been replaced with updated products and I know that eventually all of the bridges will be replaced, but today, I can still see the the products of his labor and feel a great pride.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Making a memory
I remember as a child going to the row of mulberry trees that lined the lane to Grandads pasture and picking the wonderful fruit that they bore. I loved mulberrys until someone older informed me that they had bugs in them. I should have know that to eat them was okay though as my grandmother would pick them and make a delicious cobbler or just serve them with sugar and cream for desert for lunch.
Last evening, Logan, Paula and I went to our own mulberry trees and picked mulberrys. The hot winds have dried many of them and the have not all ripened but we did pick about four cups with a few black currents added. I decided that I would try making my grandmothers cobbler. We washed and washed to currents (just in case there were bugs)
Aiden helped make the cobbler and I forgot to take his picture. He loves to cook.
Just add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.....
YUM!!!!!! Grandma was right wasn't she Logan?
Last evening, Logan, Paula and I went to our own mulberry trees and picked mulberrys. The hot winds have dried many of them and the have not all ripened but we did pick about four cups with a few black currents added. I decided that I would try making my grandmothers cobbler. We washed and washed to currents (just in case there were bugs)
Aiden helped make the cobbler and I forgot to take his picture. He loves to cook.
Just add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.....
YUM!!!!!! Grandma was right wasn't she Logan?
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Memorial Day
Today as the wind is blowing , I have decided that I don't want to be out mowing when is as blowing a gale of 30mph right on the ground. I guess that I will reminisce. Memorial Day is approaching and this year it will be celebrated on May 31 which is the last Monday of May. At one time, Memorial day was traditionally celebrated on May 30th, regardless what day of the week it fell on. A Monday gives the work force an extra day to go to the lake, or whatever it is that they do. I have found that most people don't go to the cemeteries on that day.
Memorial Day was traditionally observed to honor the dead servicemen of all wars. At sometime, it was decided to honor all dead, and time was spent decorating graves around the country. I imagine it was observed in that matter more in the rural areas than the cities.
Today, elaborate wreaths, and silk flower arrangements are purchased and placed on graves. When I was a child, things were much different. There may have been some wreaths to purchase, but I mostly remember buying a poppy made of crepe paper from the local American Legion and proudly wearing it pinned to my dress for the day.
Mom, my grandmothers and Aunts, made all of the flowers that were placed on loved ones graves. The flowers that they made were so beautiful. My mom could make the prettiest roses out of crepe paper. She also made lovely hyacinths, sweetpeas, and carnations. When the flowers were finished, we would dip them in melted wax to help them stay pretty for a longer period of time. When we had all of the flowers that we needed, we would cut cedar branches and form a wreath or swag out of them and attach the flowers. I thought they were beautiful. I am not sure when we started buying everything. Perhaps it took less time and looked a little better.
Memorial Day was spent visiting with neighbors and friends from far away who had came home to honor passed family members. There was often a program and a military salute. We dressed up for this occasion. It was a special day. Grandma would walk around and comment on names on the headstones that she knew. She knew them all as she had homesteaded with most of them. We would have company for lunch, it was a day of memories.
Today, we hurry to decorate sometime in the days ahead so we can have the whole weekend to run around. We go in our jeans and hurry, hurry to get things done. We don't have time to walk around and remember. I imagine that this is a tradition that will soon pass. Not many younger people pay this tribute unless they have lost someone who is very close to them.
I hope this hasn't been a morbid post for you to read as I wanted to remember how it was. Our lives have gotten so fast paced and it is good to look back once in awhile. I still take my mother and mother-in-law on their rounds to the places where they want to decorate the final resting place of their loved ones. We do this to remember and cherish those times spent with them. I will carry on the tradition.
Memorial Day was traditionally observed to honor the dead servicemen of all wars. At sometime, it was decided to honor all dead, and time was spent decorating graves around the country. I imagine it was observed in that matter more in the rural areas than the cities.
Today, elaborate wreaths, and silk flower arrangements are purchased and placed on graves. When I was a child, things were much different. There may have been some wreaths to purchase, but I mostly remember buying a poppy made of crepe paper from the local American Legion and proudly wearing it pinned to my dress for the day.
Mom, my grandmothers and Aunts, made all of the flowers that were placed on loved ones graves. The flowers that they made were so beautiful. My mom could make the prettiest roses out of crepe paper. She also made lovely hyacinths, sweetpeas, and carnations. When the flowers were finished, we would dip them in melted wax to help them stay pretty for a longer period of time. When we had all of the flowers that we needed, we would cut cedar branches and form a wreath or swag out of them and attach the flowers. I thought they were beautiful. I am not sure when we started buying everything. Perhaps it took less time and looked a little better.
Memorial Day was spent visiting with neighbors and friends from far away who had came home to honor passed family members. There was often a program and a military salute. We dressed up for this occasion. It was a special day. Grandma would walk around and comment on names on the headstones that she knew. She knew them all as she had homesteaded with most of them. We would have company for lunch, it was a day of memories.
Today, we hurry to decorate sometime in the days ahead so we can have the whole weekend to run around. We go in our jeans and hurry, hurry to get things done. We don't have time to walk around and remember. I imagine that this is a tradition that will soon pass. Not many younger people pay this tribute unless they have lost someone who is very close to them.
I hope this hasn't been a morbid post for you to read as I wanted to remember how it was. Our lives have gotten so fast paced and it is good to look back once in awhile. I still take my mother and mother-in-law on their rounds to the places where they want to decorate the final resting place of their loved ones. We do this to remember and cherish those times spent with them. I will carry on the tradition.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
A New Computer
I finally took the plunge and bought a new computer. I thought I had better just get a new desk top as the Rancher would never get the hang of a laptop. I wonder if either of us will get this one figured out. It is so nice and has a wonderful screen that is big enough to watch movies on but it LOOKS SO DIFFERENT. It seems the older that I get, the harder it is for me to accept change. I am maybe in a rut. I like things the way they are. Maybe I think if nothing ever changes, then I won't either. That is a good laugh. When I opened up my pictures on this screen, I was horrified at the women who looks like my grandmother in some of the pictures. Turns out, they were me.
I remember, when I was a child, that people always told me that I looked like my paternal grandmother. What a horrible thing to sayto a child. My grandma, was old, wrinkled and had white hair. Turns out, maybe they were right. I do have some of those features now. I just hope that I can be half as nice as she was. She always had kind words to say. I think I maybe better work on that one.
Thanks Dawn for helping me get this together. Now for the really hard part-----getting it all together in my head. That will be an undertaking.
I remember, when I was a child, that people always told me that I looked like my paternal grandmother. What a horrible thing to sayto a child. My grandma, was old, wrinkled and had white hair. Turns out, maybe they were right. I do have some of those features now. I just hope that I can be half as nice as she was. She always had kind words to say. I think I maybe better work on that one.
Thanks Dawn for helping me get this together. Now for the really hard part-----getting it all together in my head. That will be an undertaking.
Monday, May 3, 2010
A Computer for the Day
Dear family and friends, please be patient with me. It has been so hard to be without a computer and I do not have a library handy (27 miles). My computer has been so sick and I cannot get anyone to seem to know how to fix it. I do need a new one. I would have never believed that I would miss the few things that I do with it. One of the most rewarding things I do is keep up with my family and friends. No, I am still not a face book person, I enjoy personal e-mail and my blog. Most of all I enjoy reading about the happening on the blogs that I follow or the ones that I check into once in awhile. It has been hard.
The Rancher has had a really hard time. He has been forced to watch some TV as he cannot play his beloved games. He is a solitaire and free cell whiz. I guess that he is anyhow, he spends a lot of time playing it. Maybe he is still trying to perfect the game......I don't know. The worst part about all of this is the fact that I down-sized my TV programs. I am not about to pay $65 for a bunch of junk. That is just how I feel about it. I am now on the Family package and it has more things than I can watch. Hey, it is garden and yard time anyhow and that will keep me busy for the summer.
It is also time to get the 5th wheel out and get it ready to go camping. I hope that Mr. Rancher gets in the mood a little quicker this year than he has in the past. I think it is time to slow down and smell the pine trees, and enjoy some of this beauty that God has given to us. I am also feeling led to do a service work as we vacation this summer too. I feel that God has been directing me to help in an area where there are small churches needing someone to help for a bit this summer. I have talked to Pastor about it and he has given me a direction to search but I just haven't made the connection yet. I guess that I am waiting to see if God really has that plan for me. Pray for me.
We enjoyed our family over the week end. The Nurse came home with Studmuffin and Popcorn and Bookworm. They had things to do, and we had a great time. Popcorn now has curley hair. (a new perm) We also went to the School Art Show and saw our Senior artist win the best of the show. Wooo-woo!!! She also received another award and came home with money in her pocket. Also viewed the wedding dress for the oldest granddaughter. We are proud. I haven't found out how the ballgames in Texas came out but hope that they were okay.
Here's hoping that I get a new computer soon and that someone will help me get it set up. Have a good week and Happy Mother's Day to all of you Mom's. Remember to send me a real card, as the computer is out!!! HA It was good to be in touch.
The Rancher has had a really hard time. He has been forced to watch some TV as he cannot play his beloved games. He is a solitaire and free cell whiz. I guess that he is anyhow, he spends a lot of time playing it. Maybe he is still trying to perfect the game......I don't know. The worst part about all of this is the fact that I down-sized my TV programs. I am not about to pay $65 for a bunch of junk. That is just how I feel about it. I am now on the Family package and it has more things than I can watch. Hey, it is garden and yard time anyhow and that will keep me busy for the summer.
It is also time to get the 5th wheel out and get it ready to go camping. I hope that Mr. Rancher gets in the mood a little quicker this year than he has in the past. I think it is time to slow down and smell the pine trees, and enjoy some of this beauty that God has given to us. I am also feeling led to do a service work as we vacation this summer too. I feel that God has been directing me to help in an area where there are small churches needing someone to help for a bit this summer. I have talked to Pastor about it and he has given me a direction to search but I just haven't made the connection yet. I guess that I am waiting to see if God really has that plan for me. Pray for me.
We enjoyed our family over the week end. The Nurse came home with Studmuffin and Popcorn and Bookworm. They had things to do, and we had a great time. Popcorn now has curley hair. (a new perm) We also went to the School Art Show and saw our Senior artist win the best of the show. Wooo-woo!!! She also received another award and came home with money in her pocket. Also viewed the wedding dress for the oldest granddaughter. We are proud. I haven't found out how the ballgames in Texas came out but hope that they were okay.
Here's hoping that I get a new computer soon and that someone will help me get it set up. Have a good week and Happy Mother's Day to all of you Mom's. Remember to send me a real card, as the computer is out!!! HA It was good to be in touch.
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