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.

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.

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.