What I did on a Snowy Day

Do you recognize this beautiful movie star? Probably not unless you are on the upward side of 50. This is Doris Day. She was one of my favorite entertainers when I was growing up. Doris was a star, and she, along with many others, helped me to pass many hours on a snowy afternoon. I grew up before Barbie came along. Barbie did evolve about the time that I was in High School but alas, I was too old, and besides she was sort of a "risque" looking character and I didn't want to have to compare myself to her.

I loved buying paper dolls. I saved my pennies and when a new star was born, there was usually a book of "paper dolls" promoting her for just 15 cents at the local variety store. In my collection I had dolls of Jane Powell, June Allyson, Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor, Vera Mills, The Lennon Sisters, Annie Oakley along with Dale and Roy. I also had Felicia Farr, I love the name Felicia. Dolls from the circus, Country Cousins, and fashion dolls of the fifties. Oh and don't forget the Bridal Party.

They all wore the latest fashions and had many changes of clothing. I would take my time punching the cardboard dolls out and cutting out their clothes. I kept them all in a large shoe box. We didn't have plastic storage boxes and even if we did, why would we buy one???

When I married and left home, my mother, not knowing any better, gave my paper dolls to my neice. After all, I was a grown woman and didn't have a need for them. I still think about all of the fun that I had with my friends and cousins and even by myself when I would get out the shoe box and let my imagination go.

I looked for sites to buy authentic paper dolls and who knows, I might just put them on my Christmas list for next year. Today looks like a good day to play.

The Fluff in my Dryer

Do you every wonder about all of the lint in your dryer? Sometimes I wonder why after all of these washings and dryings, I have any clothes left. Maybe it is because on nicer days and in warm weather, I hang my clother on the clothesline in my back yard.

There is nothing that smells better that sheets dried on the line. They may be a little crisper than drier sheets get them but I am for crisp, fresh smelling sheets.

Back to the lint. Webster explains it like this:

Lint (n) 1. a staple cotton fiber to make yarn. 2. minute bits of ravelings or minute shreds of yarn; bits of thread. 3. cotton waste product from ginning. 4. a soft material for dressing wounds.

In all of these definitions, I do not see what defines the fluff in my dryer. Maybe cotton waste from Drying??? Or maybe it is the waste from the washing. I know this is rediculous to even wonder about but my mind if just about that stable today.
I really do wonder when my favorite jeans, that are only 4 years old, are going to be completely gone in fluff.

If I would save all of the lint waste in the dryer from drying jeans would I be able to make another pair if I would weave it into new fabric?

I certainly wouldn't want to use it to dress any wounds. I think it would not hold together.

I think the best use for it is to start the fire in the fireplace or let the birds line their nests with it. What do you think?

Ponderings of my Mom

Today is January 10. Ten days into this new year and I haven't had a post. I have had a lot on my mind and much to do. This year did not start out as I had wanted it to. On January 1st my precious mother had a big stroke that has affected her left side and her swallowing. This has not been an easy time for my siblings or myself. Mom is 88 years young. She has always been such a trooper and so very conscientious of everything that would have an effect of her body and health. It is hard to see her in the condition she is in. She is my Mom. She will always be the one I look to for advice and approval. In my mind I am still the little girl when she is around. Where did all of the time go and when did it happen? My mother is fragil and I myself am not young. Now my own daughters are the ones with the strength and energy.

I remember the fun times. We were not a family of means but mom knew how to make us wonderful meals with her imagination. She could feed our family of 7, with a pound of hamburger for 3 meals. I am not kidding. She created meals that would make hamburger helper look meager. After two great creations she could take the last of the hamburger and make hamburger gravy. It was delicious on her homemade biscuits.
Our family didn't know that beans weren't good food. We loved them and we had to as we ate them at least twice a week. Served up with a pan of corn bread and fried potatoes and onions.....What could be better. Of course, I don't know about fancy foods but who cares, I know about good food.

Mom sewed, gardened, had a rooming house and raised us kids with the help of our dad. Dad was gone most of the time on his job with the DOT though. She was the one who was there every day.

It doesn't seem fair that there is nothing I can do for her at this time in her life. It is all in God's hands. We pray. We pray for wisdom, strength and ability to say the right words.

Mom loved to swim. She grew up with a swimming hole close by and she made sure we all knew how to swim. She would take us to the local lake or public swimming pool and spend the afternoon having fun. I don't know who enjoyed it more...she or all of the kids she took. She also taught us how to dance. She loved it. With her fun, she knew all about hard work. She expected us to do our share.

When I was in the 7th grade, my mom bought new shoes. She didn't get them very often as she had 5 kids. The one pair of shoes that I had broke and she gave me hers. We had the same size and they were a loafer style. She said she really didn't need them as bad as I did. I have thought of that often over the years. A mother always wants her children to have the things they need.

Through the years, times were better and Mom could afford a lot of things but she is a frugal person and does not see that she needs some things. One thing she is extravagant about....Shoes.....She is always looking for a new pair. I am glad.

Pray for my mother and cherish your own. They are precious.

Holiday Celebrations

December is such a busy month. Not only is it Christmas but it is a month of many birthdays and Anniversaries in my family. Today is December 28, My oldest daughter and her husband were married 25 years ago today. There are mixed emotions about getting married at Christmas time. You are so busy doing Christmas, that the special time for you to celebrate your anniversary is sort of put aside until a later time. I know....I was married on December 14th. My mother, daughter, one granddaughter, 6 nieces and nephews and a brother have birthdays in December. Well my brother was fortunate enough to be born on January 1st but it is all in the same time frame. We have had other family members with anniversaries and birthdays but they are now the exfamily members. I have friends that were born on Christmas Day. That is special!!! You share a birthday with Jesus. They thought they never had a birthday though as they were too busy enjoying the excitement of Christmas.

Today I say "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY' to Dawn and Leslie. And "HAPPY BIRTHDAY " to Popcorn on the 30th. You know that I am going to be busy the next few days with all of my family coming home to celebrate these things. It is the time that we will have our "Holiday Celebration". We have so much to celebrate and a lot to be thankful for.

On the lighter side...When you are young, you have aspirations that never come to pass, as we age, we reminiscence of things that never really happened. And that my friends is the truth.

Have a Happy New Year and allow God to be an important part of you everyday.

Santa Remembered

This is a true story about me when I was almost three years old. I know it is hard to believe that I can remember something that long ago when I can't find what I had yesterday. This was such a traumatic thing that I didn't like Santa Claus for a long time. Santa always came to our house a few days before Christmas to see how we were acting and to be sure he had our wants on his list. We lived in a very rural area and electricity had not even came to the area. The year was 1947, so for all you young people, I have lived in a way that you cannot imagine. I remember my mother standing at the cabinet washing the supper dishes. We did not have water in the house either. My dad was in the barn doing the evening milking. This is what happened.


Santa Remembered

When I was nearly three years old
And christmas time was near,
My folks told me that Santa Claus
Would very soon appear.

I really didn't know too much
About this jolly old Christmas Elf.
But they told me he would bring some toys
For sister Patty and myself.

I wanted a new red wagon
And I tried to be ever so good
So 'Clanty Laus' would stop for a visit
In the Harmon Neighborhood.

He would come by and check us out early,
So much to my sisters delight,
One evening, he tapped on the window
And I never had such a fright.

This hairy, red face in the window
Was Santa--who I'd heard all about
"Go away and where is my daddy?"
I started to cry and to shout.

"Your daddy, "old Clanty Laus told me,
Is down in the barn milking cows,
I stopped for a quick visit with him
and he sent me up here to the house."

Now who was this guy in this red suit?
The one with the white flowing hair.
This surely isn't dear 'Clanty Laus',
Giving me such a bad scare.

Mamma wanted me to go and talk to him,
Patty thinks he's a jolly nice man.
I think that he is really quite scary
And would he leave just as fast as he can?

Ole 'Clanty Laus tried to be friendly
And said he thought he could bring
The toys that each of us wanted,
Then my sister started to sing.

The songs that we all sing at Christmas
Of Santa and the Babe' in the hay.
Santa asked me to sing along with her
I told him to "Just Go Away".

Then we all heard the reindeer start pawing
So 'Clanty Laus said "I must run".
And then as he left, Daddy came to the house
And said, "Gee, I missed all of the fun."

I can still see all of this in my mind today. Later, I sit on Santa's lap at the one room Harmon School. The next year, when Santa Came for his visit, I was prepared.

Happy Birthday Baby

 

Happy Birthday Andi. I guess I won't mention how many years ago we were so proud of our baby girl. We are still proud. Andrea is the one on the left, Grandma Dolly, who will also have a birthday this month is in the middle and Jaimie, Andi's beautiful cousin is on the right.

Have a great day today and know that you are loved.

Bring them Down

Isn't this just a neat picture. We were so blessed to watch them bring these "woolies" down from the high country. Summer was over and they were taking them to a different location for winter.

We had a small sheep herd at one time. The Rancher has tried about everything. We had 100 ewes and it was an experience. I am sure some of our neighboring confirmed cattlemen would never agree that there could be anything good about them. Our children learned a lot with them. One thing in particular was how to move fast when one particualr ram was around.

I never did care for mutton. I guess that makes me a true cattle rancher. They did bring us in a profit at a time when we needed it though so it was something we were thankful for.

The preditors soon learned when lambing season was and our years as sheepherders was short lived.