Signs of Spring

One of the first signs of spring on the ranch is the arrival of the Kildeer birds. I can almost mark my calendar for their arrival as it is usually on the first of March, without fail. How they keep on schedule is a mystery to me but I always begin to look for them on that day. This year on the first of March, we were not at home but camping at a State Park Lake. That was the first day, we noticed the Kildeer running along the water. Maybe he had been there all along, but I especially looked for them at that time. When we arrived back home, the little brown and white bird was running aroung the feed bales as they do every year on their return. This is also where they nest. I think it is a safe place away from the cats. "Im Here, I'm Here", they announce as they take flight, steering us away from their territory. This is where they will lay their brown speckled eggs in a rock and gravel nest. Pretty primitive, don't you think?

I am a bird watcher. I was so excited that my Nurse daughter found a new bird book for me, listing all of the birds in Oklahoma. At least the author thinks it is all of them. I am not sure though as a birds habitat changes with the times. What was once rarely seen in this area has became a regular summer resident. I am thankful. Thanks for the new book dear daughter, I am enjoying it.

Nothing to write about

I have nothing of interest to write about so I will get out one of my editions of "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader". Do you have any of these wonderful books in your house. I used to purchasae them each year when I worked at school and the "Book Lady" would come around with her books.

This wonderful book of knowledge, that no one really cares about, can be picked up and read at random and laid back down without regrets. It is good for a few laughs though and is a great book for the person who needs to read while they are taking care of business.

READ ON BUMPER STICKERS

Suburbia--Where they tear down the trees and name streets after them.
Support Bacteria, it is the only culture that some people have.
My Reality check just bounced.
And what about--The older we get the better we realize we were.

TRUTH OR URBAN LEGENDS?

You know how we Americans are about things that belonged to celebrities? They will try to sell us anything and sometimes the joke is on us.

Did you know that Bat Masterson, the legendary Wild West lawman became a New York sports writer. Because he needed the money, he reluctantly agreed to sell his famous six gun---the "gun that tamed the West".

The truth is he actually bought and sold old guns at pawnshops and junk stores and carved notches in them (one for each kill) and sold them to admirers for a tidy profit. Each time, he swore it was the authentic gun he'd used in Old Dodge City.

And for the last bit of information----

"I had a dog named Duke. Every fireman in town knew that hound, because he chased all the firewagons. They knew the dog's name, but not mine, so the next thing I knew, I was Duke too. I was named for a danged dog!" John Wayne

So much for that, I will do better next time.

The Drive In Movie Theater

When I was growing up, the Drive In Movie Theater was a popular place in our area. We enjoyed the Saturday Matinee at the theater downtown, and On a cold winter night when we didn't have a ball game to go to but the excitement of the Drive In was a treat.

My first trips to the drive in were with my parents and family. Before the movie we kids would race to the play ground area complete with swings and jungle gym. The folks would visit with the people in the car adjacent to them and we would load up on popcorn. The speakers were on a post by the car and could be put in the car when the movie started. The Movie couldn't start until it was dark enought to see the pictures on the big screen and that was often late in the summer time.

I would later go with my friends and of course the Rancher. Our local Drive In had "Buck Night" on Tuesday nights. This meant a whole car load could get in for $1.
We could really cram the kids in my old 1953 ford. That was before seat belt laws and some would even climb into the trunk. I think some people even tried the trunk act to get in free. You could't fool the man who owned the theater though. He could see it all from his window in the upstairs projection room. He would just come and collect the money after the show started.

It was a relaxed way to go to the movies. Kids would run all around and the parents would put kids in one car while they sit in another and a lot of other things would go on that wouldn't in the local theater. That is probably another story.

I remember going to "Old Yeller" a Walt Disney movie, and watching my friends, who were teen age boys, cry. Of course, I cried too. Sometimes there would be a double feature. The first movie was the main attraction and the second would often be a science fiction thriller. I never did like thriller movies much less science fiction ones. There were even times when they had an all night movie. Who could stay awake all night? Not me but I am sure that some of my grandkids would have been able too.

I remember taking my own children to the Drive In before it was dismantled. They too would go and play on the playground. We would visit with friends and return to the car when the feature started. The kids would be asleep before the movie was over and the Rancher and I would snuggle like in the old days.

This past Summer when passing through a town in Colorado, we passed a Drive In Theater. I thought it would be a fun place to visit. The Rancher reminded me we were on a fishing trip and hadn't put movies on the agenda. That was okay though, it was pretty romantic sitting by the stream watching the moon rise over the mountains. What movie could beat that???

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.