Remodeling aka Cleaning out the Junk

Something has happened to my blog.  I don't recognize it anymore.  All of my labels, pictures and the all about me info is at the very end of my list of blogs.  I do not know how to put them back in order.  I am sure there is a way but I haven't found it.

I have been busy.  My older granddaughters are keeping all of us busy.  One is building a house and the other is getting married.  I am happy for them but I fear it is a bit much for their parents all at one time.  Now if the other 6 don't have any major happenings for at least 6 months it will be okay with me. Come to think of it...one will be graduating from high school in May. 

Building a new house is a major undertaking.  The Rancher and I did this in our second year of marriage too.  Our house was small by toady's standards.  It was only 1200 Sq. ft. We were so proud of our little bungalow.  We out grew it soon though as 4 children came to bless our home.  We added on.  Now this was not a new add-on...It was an old house on one of the places we had bought. It was a small structure but the extra 700 sq.ft.  made our house seem like a mansion.  It is still home, and I am happy here.

Building a house takes a lot of nerve too.  There are so many things to consider.  It is hard on marriages and relations with all of the relatives that tell you how to do things.  Oh, I know we were really too young to know what we were doing but I did know where I wanted my windows and that I wanted to sit at the table and look outside.  That didn't happen.  I hope that my granddaughter is strong about how she and her husband want things and then if things aren't quite right, they can only blame themselves.  I wish them all of the luck in the world and I know this is not a new thing for Jake. He is from a family of carpenters.

Saturday, there was a family paint party at the house that Molly and Josh are moving into.  We had a great crew and painted 4 rooms and a large hall and bath.  Paneling had to be primed and two coats of paint plus all of the trim.  There was a lot of taping going on.  It was a fun time.  I have a hard time getting used to different colors.  I know that my Mom would love the dining room and living room though as hers were of that color too.  She also loved bright colors. I know that she is smiling down from heaven at the grey walls that adorn the front room.  Now if Molly will only paint the front door RED!

To top all of this off, I have been on a carpenters list since last summer to have my bathroom remodeled.  We need a new shower, new floor and the flooring in there and my utility have been there since 1978.  Good stuff.  I was told to get something that would last but hey, I am tired of it.  It is time for an overhaul and I don't mean me.  Well, probably me but that ain't gonna happen.  So next week the carpenters are coming.  I need to find a place to put my junk so they can clean out and start.  This old house is getting another face lift.  I am excited. 

Lessons in January

January..Winter...Long nights and short days....Lazy?....or in a rut...Winter Blahs.....there has to be an excuse somewhere for me. I am content to take a nap everyday and sometimes sleep later than I should. The Rancher is kind and gets up and puts the coffee on and patiently waits for me to WAKE UP AND SMELL IT. I do get up and we have our morning devotion as we enjoy our cup of caffeine. The Rancher makes his coffee a little on the mild side. I tell him that I could read the date on a dime if there was one at the bottom of the cup. He doubts it and smiles. I know that he likes his coffee like that and that is the reason he makes it. He doesn't really let me sleep to be sweet.....He likes to make the coffee.


I like my coffee with a little more robust to it. I make it a little stronger but it doesn't compare to what daughter Nurse creates. I let her make it when she is here if I dare. She has worked in hospitals too long and for some reason she thinks one should be able to get a jolt when they take the first drink. She uses 1 tablespoon ..Yes that is right...one tablespoon per cup. I calmly pour a halp cup of coffee and add water to full it up. The Rancher either refrains and makes another pot or fixes 3/4 cups of water and adds her coffee to it. We can all be happy when she makes it. She is never happy with mine and can't even understand why her dad calls his Coffee.

Back to my Winter attitude. I have been reading. That is something I haven't done for awhile. I enjoy reading Christian novels and historical novels. I will write one someday. Really.....I have started but that was several years ago. I found it while doing some deep cleaning and wondered if I should start writing again. I still have the story in my mind but I am not very good with how I want to say somethings. I suppose that my daughters who are teachers, librarians and professors could help me. I don't know that I even want them to know about my ambition though. I think they think I am not overly ambitious sometimes. They are young and full of energy. I have been where they are and envy how productive and energetic they are. Growing older and being on medication is not for babies. Some of this medication breaks down my muscle tissue and some of it just zaps my energy. Hey, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.


Maybe this is a hardtime of year because I am remembering my Mother. She left a year ago to be with Jesus and I know that is a part of my attitude problems. I am trying to be happy about that though. She is in a wonderful place. I wear a piece of her jewelry every day and think about how she looked with it on and use her dishes and remember the good meals that she fixed on them. I am trying to celebrate her life this month. the librarian made me a pin to wear using some of moms clothing scraps. So what am I complaining and being weary about? It is a New Year. A time to start all things over. Set new goals and be happy for the things that God has blessed us with.


2 Corinthians 5:17 says: Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new. That's the key...start over and let Christ be my guide and lift me up.

A Brand New Year

Well, almost. This is day #5 and I haven't been on the computer for a week. A Windstorm played havoc around here and we had a power failure. I had to have a new black box from the phone company.

This is a new year. I looked at the calendar and all of the pages are clean except for 2 Dr.'s appointments. We have a fresh start. I hope that I do better this year. What I mean by that is...I hope that I do my best. You see sometimes I don't. I sort of blunder along and put things off until later. The first thing I know...it is sometimes too late to get them done. I just procrastinate too much. I did so much better before I retired. I knew that I had to do things in an allotted time and I made lists. I find myself just thinking, "Well, I will do that tomorrow." It doesn't always work. Tomorrow is full too. I am going back to lists and stick up notes. Oh, and I must remember to read them. What good are they if I don't read them???

I also want to try some new things this year. Be a little more flexible. Maybe do somethings that I used to do. Did you know that I paint. Not the walls, silly but I can really paint with oils and acrylics. I just put them away one day and haven't had them out in years. I decided that I had enough pictures and I don't want to sell them. Who would buy my paintings?? I guess that I could do the Esty thing that my granddaughters do. I would need one of them to be my business manager though. I also love to sew and used to love to create things for my family to wear. I even bought a new sewing machine and I cannot learn all of the things that it can do. I wonder what made me think I needed to try to embroidery with a machine when I have unfinished hand embroidery projects in a drawer.????

A New Year makes us want to do better...to reform our ways. I learned a long time ago not to make resolutions. Those things are a joke. Another one of the things that I would procrastinate about. I never did set any unreachable goals though. I guess I could try to not gain more than 5 lbs. Now that would be something that would work for me. Not gain too much weight. I did not say...Lose weight. I would like to do that but the realistic thing to say is I hope I won't gain any weight.

How about you?? Have you set any unreachable goals or are you going to be realistic and just try to be a better person in what you do. I think that is the best way to be.

Have a great year and glorify God in whatever you do and you will be a success.

Remembering Mama

One year ago today, celebrating her birthday.

I Thank my niece Diane for sending this poem to me. I have read it many times but this year is has more meaning to me. You see my Mom is spending..

Her first Christmas In Heaven.

I see the countless

Christmas trees,

Around the world below

With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars,

Reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular,

Please wipe away the tear,

For I am spending Christmas with

Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs

that people hold so dear,

But the sounds of music can't compare

with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you

the joy their voices bring

for it is beyond description

To hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me

I see the pain inside your heart

But I am not so far away,

We really aren't apart

So be happy for me, dear ones

You know I hold you dear,

And I'm glad I'm spending Christmas

with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift,

from my heavenly home above

I sent you each a memory

of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious

than pure gold.

It was always most important

In the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other

As my Father said to do,

For I can't count the blessing or love,

He has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas

And wipe away that tear.

Remember, I am spending Christmas with

Jesus Christ this year.

Happy Birthday to our Beautiful Mom. We do miss you.

Who Will be Home for Christmas?

As I was growning up, it was always expected that we would go to our Grandmothers homes for Christmas. Of course we all lived in the same community and it was a simple thing to do. We would visit with one family for a feast at noon and then go to the other Grandmothers for late afternoon visiting and leftovers. I thought that was the thing to do.

My mothers family was small. She had 4 brothers but one lived far away and one had not married. The other two brothers married late in life and their children were all younger than I was. If there were 15 at Grandma C's house, it was a crowd. This was not true in My Dad's family. Dad was number 7 of 8 children and by the time that I was three, there were great grandchildren in the family. We ate in shifts at Grandma R's. It was not unusual for there to be at least 3 to 4 dozen for a holiday meal. We kids would sit up and down the stairs, and even on the floors in the upstairs rooms. Grandmas never used paper plates either. Maybe that is why we ate in shifts....we had to wait on clean dishes.

The first Christmas after the Rancher and I married, we went to his Grandmothers for dinner. It was so quiet, There were only 8 people there county Me. No noises, You could pass the food around the table where everyone could sit at one time. It was not like any holiday meal I had experienced before. The Rancher was very kind and suggested that we go to Grandma's for supper. He didn't know what he was infor. It was standing room only in her dining and living room. All of the cousins and their families were there. He was as overwhelmed with that experience as I was with having dinner with no one there.

Through the years the program changed, Our grandmothers turned the jobs over to their children to have their own families in their own homes. For several years my own family has came home for the holidays. They don't always come on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day but they come home. It is where they want to be at this time of year. They also like to have a special time with their children in their own homes.

We enjoy our time at home too. We reflect on holidays past and recall the fun times through each generation. We attend services at one of local churches on Christmas eve. We visit with the Ranchers Mother and have a quiet supper or dinner with just 4 or 5 people. It is pleasant and at this age, I enjoy the peacefulness of the season.


We celebrate the real meaning of Christmas. My house has a tiny Christmas tree this year. The bulk of the family won't be here until New Years. Day. A big trea takes a lot of space and my collection of Nativties don't. I sit them out and enjoy them all. My son-in-law brought me one from Kenya this year. It is very primitive and of course the figures are long legged and black in color. I love it. I also have a special one from Uraguay. Jesus was for all people. He is in the hearts of all who have allowed him to be. The style and shape of the manger scene is what is in the eyes of the beholder. I saw one with longhorn steers this week. With this, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope that your home is filled with laughter from your children and grandchildren. If they can't be with you.....listen with your heart and you will hear their voices ring. In it all, let Jesus be present with you.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband. For 48 years we have shared our lives together. We were just a couple of kids 7 months out of high school when we wed. There was no need to wait. The Rancher always wanted to be a rancher and farmer and I always knew I would be a ranchers wife. After all these years I love him even more than I did then. You know I think young people don't really know what love is until they go through a lot of things in life. Love is what withstands all of the ups and downs, ins and outs, laughter and tears, and the happy times and sad ones. We have been through a lot of these things.

We have had a partnership from the beginning. I learned how to do all of the things that were necessary to be a partner in this operation and he helped me with the kids and house. This wasn't so in the beginning . One day the Rancher complained about never spending time with the kids and I thought that I never had a break from them. He taught me to drive the tractor and I would go to the field while he worked around the shop or spent time with the kids. This was usually for about 4 hours a day. In time, the kids got older and I could just farm all day if I wanted to. That was okay as he had a off farm job by that time and, we were partners.

When we were dating, I thought my sweetie was really in the money, I learned that he had spent it all on me before we were married. We had a short honeymoon at a nearby town and ate shrimp and steak for our meal. I had a conversation with a friend this summer and she mentioned where they had spent their honeymoon and where they ate their first meal and I had to laugh.....We had been to the same place.

If you are reading this my dear husband, Thanks for all the fun. It has been great and if I had to do it all over again, I would do it with you. You know the song,"Livin' on Love". That's us, two old people....Where did the time go?

What Season is This?

What season is this???? It is rightfully the time of year that we as Christians celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is a Holy Season and a time of feeling drawn closer to our family and friends.

The real celebration of Christmas has long been lost in the commercialism of our society. It is a time for merchants to make a profit of the sales in their stores. It is a time of supporting trade with China and other countries that have caused our own factories to close. It is a time.......Well, here I go and I suppose that I sound a lot like Scrooge did but that is not my intention.Christmas is a wonderful time of the year for me and my family. It does break my heart to see what it has become. As I shopped yesterday and earlier in the season, I searched for Nativity Sets. It is my custom to give the newlyweds in my family a nice Nativity on their first Christmas. I could not find one in the stores that I visited. I can remember when there was an entire section filled with them. I have several Nativity sets from primitive looking to elegant, but the favorite is one purchased at the local variety store when The Rancher and I were newly weds.

We were married just before Christmas and spent our first anniversary doing our Christmas shopping and going home and decorating our tree. It was and still is a special time for us. I have to start my shopping a little earlier as our family has grown in size and I don't do too well doing it all at once anymore. Back to the beginning and the "Reason for the Season". Isn't the gift that God has given to us more precious than anything that man has made? I love the Christmas story and I think as I grow older it means more to me. God gave His precious Son who in turn gave His all for us. We are so undeserving of such love. We are also so Thankful for this plan that God had for us.

As a child, I remember our own cardboard creche. My sister had gotten it from selling Christmas cards. Maybe she bought it, but anyway, I remember sitting it under the tree and singing "Away in a Manger" on Christmas Eve. Our Dad would read the Christmas story and even as children we knew that it was Jesus who we should be acknowledging. We were kids and Santa was pretty much on our minds too.

The sad truth is this: Today Santa has taken front seat to Jesus and that is what makes me so upset.

Today, I will get out my Nativity sets and place them around the house along with my artificial poinsettas and greenery and holy berries and light some candles and play christmas music to get me in the christmas spirit. Next week, the Rancher and I will get out our 'artificial tree" and decorate it with the ornaments that we have collected and the kids and grandkids have made us through the years. It will be a time of remembering when all of the kids were at home helping us and how much we miss their laughing and talk as we worked on this family project. It will also be a time of thanking our Father in Heaven for providing His Son.

Christmas Morning will be quiet as the kids will be in their own homes making their own memories but we will have them all at home to close the year out and we will probably be thankful for all of the gifts that Santa has provided. Our prayer is that each one is filled with the true spirit of Christmas and the gift of a great love.

The Holiday

We had such a wonderful time this past 5 days. All of our children and grandchildren were here. This is the first time in over 2 years we have all been together. We have even added 2 members since then. One married our oldest granddaughter a year ago and the other isn't in the family just yet. Since he is in the picture, we are keeping him around. Molly and Josh will be married in March. There are 20 of us with the Ranchers Mom and we love everyone of them.

Adding to our days of togetherness were 4 dogs. Mattie, a Border Collie, is the oldest granddog. She rules everyone is 16 and 1/2 years old. Kelsey, the Carolina Dingo is 7, I don't know how old the SweetieGirl is as she came to our son as a stray and is a Lab mixture. The newest member of the canine crew is Chesney. She is almost 4 months and is a Golden Retriever. The Rancher and I don't have a dog. We don't really need one...Sweet Girl lives just down the road and is here as much as she is at home. Every dog is inclined to think they are housedogs. Well, in fact THEY ARE. The Rancher and I never had one of those either but we had 4 over this Thanksgiving holiday. Aren't we blessed?

It is a fact, that the Rancher would never let a dog be in the house, but he wants all of the kids and grandkids to be here so he goes with the flow. I do hope that we don't have anymore additions though or the rule might change. I am not so agile as I once was and making my way through a maze of dogs on the floor can be a challenge.

We had a traditional meal on Thanksgiving day. The hunters never got the longed for deer but we had dove from the freezer and other fowl for our "beast feast". We have grandsons that love to hunt and we proudly fix what they bring in. (as long as it is something edible)

I remember as a child, I went hunting with my cousin. We bagged a squirrel and my Aunt was so delighted. She dressed it and fried it for supper with biscuits and gravy. Now, you know there wasn't much eating on a squirrel but we thought it simply delicious. I haven't had one since so I am not so sure how it would be today.

I wanted one of my blog literate daughters or granddaughters to help me change my blog but time did not provide that. As you can see, when I tried to do it myself, all I succeeded in doing was remove my picture. I decided to quit at that.

My next job is to put my fall decorations away and bring out the Christmas greenery. I am not into it as I once was so I might take a day or two before I really get in that mood. I love the fall colors in my house. I just makes me feel warm and cozy.

Thanksgiving is over and we do have so much to be thankful for. I am first of all thankful for God our Heavenly Father and for the Son that was sent for our Salvation. I am thankful for my family, friends, that I live in this land that I live in. The list goes on and on. We are all so blessed.

Seven Things About Me.

I recently received an assignment from the youngest daughter..The Nurse, to post seven things about me that you might not know. Well, in fact there are probably a lot of things about me that you don't know. There are some things that I don't want you to know. Some things are better left to myself.

I will share some things though, such as the fact that I hate Root Beer and Licorice. I don't know how and why such things could have ever been invented. It is a good thing I don't like them because I can say there is something I don't like. I like most everything edible. Some things are better than others but I am not picky. I guess that would be number 1.

The second thing you might not know is that I am not fond of escalators. I am sure there is a name for that fear. I am afraid I will put my foot on the wrong spot and stumble and make a fool of myself. I have always been that way. My smallest grandchildren delight in them and I cringe as I place my size 11 shoe on the step and take off. Maybe that is the clue.....a size 11.

I also like old movies. Just the other day I was thinking about a movie made in the early 50's called Moonlight Bay starring Doris Day and and Gordon McRae. it was on the TCM network this weekend. I was excited. I loved Doris Day. Whatever happened to her?

The fourth thing you might not know about me is that I procrastinate. Okay so everyone knows that. I just have so many things to do that I just take one day at a time and never get ahead. I always think I will get it done and end up burning the midnight oil once in awhile. A good thing came out of it though....My daughters are all very efficient. Didn't I do good. Maybe I just overextend my own abilities.

I went to school with people who became famous. Jane Jayroe and Jimmy Webb were in High School with me. Jane became Miss America, a news reporter, author, promotes Oklahoma Tourism...the list goes on....and Jimmy Webb. Oh Jimmy he has so much talent . He has written so many songs that are my favorites. He was an accomplished pianist in HS and the unknowing girls quartet that I sang in thought we had to have another girl to play for us. Weren't we stupid. He did play for us as we sang in the student center. He even wrote a song for my friend who I think he must have loved at the time. That would be number 5.

number 6...I am worried that I am getting more like my mother. That is not a bad thing but I just don't want to get out and go shopping anymore. I used to like to shop some but not at Christmas time. I always loved to look through the pages of the catalog and plan what I would order and not be tired from looking in all of the stores. Looking at the screen on a computer and going from one site to another is not the same as flipping pages and turning the corners down.

I love digging in the dirt. I love the smell of freshly turned, moist soil. I loved to drive the tractor when the ground was just right. I like seeing what will grow from a small seed. I marvel at the wonder of God's plan and how one tiny seed can grow into a giant tree. That is 7 and enough said.

What are seven things that I don't know about you????

A Tribute to my Dad

On our recent fishing trips I decided to take a road we had not traveled for several years. This road took us through the town and area that I spent my early childhood. It also took us down the first and last road that my dad worked on during his career in the Oklahoma Department of Highways.

Traveling through Arnett and south on Highway 283 brought back a lot of memories to me but when we came to the South Canadian River and crossed the "Packsaddle " bridge I had a longing to be a child again. This area had fond memories for me and my family. Returning home I found this poem that my dad wrote about "The Bridge". It had always been his dream to be a part of building a new one over the river if the need came. It was his last job before his retirement.

Cuttin' The Ribbon By Pat Richard

This little piece of ribbon maybe ain't so much to see.

Just a shiny scrap of fabric, but it means a heap to me.

Cause to me it signifies the realizin' of a dream.

That someday I'd help to build a bridge

to span this might stream.

For long the South Canadian was a river wild & wide.

And the only way to cross'er was to ford 'er at low tide.

Until there came an Engineer by name of C.V. Word.

To build a bridge, the like of which home folks had only heard.

A majesty of structure built of concrete, steel & wood.

He built it high and handsome and he made it strong & good.

To stand the awesome pressure of the river at high flood

And after fifty some odd years, still straight & proud it stood.

They named the bridge "Packsaddle" for a creek that runs nearby

And many came to cross her and to gaze a wonderin' eye.

But nothing lasts forever, so they say, and it is true.

And the thing that men call progress, done what nature couldn't do.

For though she'd whipped the river and had never known defeat,

The behemoth trucks of modern times have made her obsolete.

So now we have replaced her with a structure wide & new,

And we named it the "Buzz Bradshaw Bridge, Packsaddle Number Two".

She too will stand the test of time, she's solid, sound & true.

And I know she'll do the job just like she was designed to do.

I watched her rise from bottom up, she'll stand for many a year.

And I had a hand in buildin' her, as Resident Engineer.

So as we cut the ribbon maybe you'll forgive my pride.

Cause I think she's mighty pretty reachin' out from side to side.

And I hope she stands a hundred years for all the world to see

Before thy had a need to build, "Packsaddle Number Three."

A friend told me to post some of my Dad's poetry on my blog and I thank him for asking. Dad was a poet in his own right and mostly enjoyed writing "Cowboy Poetry". I will have to share some of that with you at a later time.

It is raining. Isn't that a wonderful way to start the week. As I look out the window at the pines and cedars I can also see the ice crystals starting to form on the higher tips. It is the time of year for colder weather and the TV said it was sleeting in the western part of the Panhandle .

The weather has been so unpredictable the past week. Yesterday there were several tornados in our State and some damage was done in rural areas. Nothing in the towns or cities. If you are the person it hits, it doesn't matter where you are. The destruction done to ones property is a hard blow. High winds in excess of 90mph were also reported.

This past week end the Rancher and I along with part of our children and grandchildren had a good time fishing at a State Park Lake in central Oklahoma. Yesterday that area was hit by a tornado. I am thankful we came home the day before. A camper is no place to be in a storm. We probably experienced the tremble of the earthquakes while we there but we just thought it was the force of the Oklahoma winds blowing down the plains.

Did you see that I mentioned earthquakes? Yes here in Oklahoma, that is getting to be a regular occurance in the central part of the state. Evidently the 5.7 tremor on Sunday morning was felt all the way to Wisconsin. I wonder what will be next. It mentions all of these things in Revelations. I am not going to dwell on that though, as only God knows the time of Jesus return, but I sure am working on being ready to make the return trip with Him.

I am watching the cardinals, Jays and finches feeding at the feeders. I love bird watching. They all share at the feeder and only when the ring neck dove or grackle come is there trouble. I don't know why they have to be so pushy. I guess the Jay birds are sort of bossy too. The quail are under the cedars eating the milo that The Rancher has scattered for them. I have other birds joining at my feeders lately as the days get shorter and colder, they come in for their handout.

This has been enough of a ramble. Hope that you get a good rain if you need it. We sure did.

Trick or Treat

Again it is the time of year,

To sit the pumpkins by the door,

When witches, on their wispy brooms,

Across the heavens soar.

The night is dark, as legend says,

When spooks and goblins roam,

And motley crews of pirates

Take siege of every home.

There comes a rapping on the door,

A face is peering in

A pumpkin Jack o lantern,

with a leering, toothy grim.

They cry out "Trick or Treat!"

Those rascals at the door

Who come each year on Halloween,

They've all been here before.

There is a gypsy girl, a skeleton,

And Pirates I can see,

A cowboy and Darthvader,

Are looking in on me.

There comes a tramp in disarray,

His knapsack on his back,

A big black cat, his tail a drag,

With an overflowing sack.

We greet them all, who come our way,

And do our best to please,

With popcorn balls and apples

And a sack of favorite sweets.

I didn't have many tonight. Our community doesn't have so many children anymore and they often go the distance to town. We are always happy for them to stop in and see us though and the Rancher and I have fun too.

Sitting on the middle age seat of life has been very humbling. Now some people might think that I am old. I am not! Well, maybe somedays I am old but I don't want to be. My Mother once told me she felt the same as she did at 65 as when she was 21. She then explained...Not physically but , she was still the same person. I was skeptical about that until I reached this time in my life. Guess what? I am the same person only different.

I have different ideals and dreams. Did I really want to be and English Teacher? I did, but I fell in love and married instead. As an adult, I remember that no one really liked their English teachers for all of the research, reading, writing that they had to do. I did like my English teachers though. I had two wonderful ones when I was in High School. One was very young and one was as very old. ( I thought) The younger one taught my children and I was glad that she shared her knowledge with them. They thought she was old. Isn't it funny how things turn around.

Why wasn't I brave enough to venture out a little further into the world? I have lived in three neighboring counties for all of my life. The Rancher has only moved 3 miles from where his parents brought him from the hospital so I guess I was a little more darring than he. In my growing up years, we didn't know there were so many choices. We lived in an area that had been tamed by our grandparents. They were the adventurists. They came in covered wagons from all parts of the Country and many never saw their families again. They started families of their own and made new friends. I thought it was hard to move into a new community and my parents were 45 miles away. How hard was that???? My worst adjustment was the fact that there were hardly any trees. Today I wouldn't change it. I love looking across the country at landmarks many miles away.

At one point in my youth, I thought I might be a missionary. Children always have dreams about different things. I knew that God wanted me to do something special and that was all I could think he wanted of me. My Mom told me that would be a very hard thing and I had to be really sure. (She had thought about beind a preacher herself) Here I post a note to my family who might think I am crazy. This is the truth. She practiced in the pasture and her mother could hear her all the way to the house as she preached God's word. Anyhow, I did grow up to teach children in their Sunday School classes and I know that is what God had planned for me to do.

I also dreamed of living in the mountains. I never even saw one until I was 21 years old. I had seen enough pictures to know how beautiful they were and I never once thought of the cold in the winter. I am thankful that I live where I do but I would like to spend more time in the mountains in the summer and fall months.

I would like to change the appearance of my blog but when I went to the site that I usually go to for new gadgets......I was advised not to go there because of potential virus.

The computer is smarter than I am..I think. There are some things that I wonder about though, such as some of those little unknown words that we type to identify ourselves. What is Unwin? Does that mean that you won but not really, so you have to "unwin". Maybe it is that you didn't even win at all. Today it was stilup. Is that a misspell for "still up"? I could have a lot of fun with these words but you get the picture.

Another thing that bothers me is the spell check. Why doesn't it know what word I mean? Sometimes I spell a real word but it is the wrong word so it doesn't make sense where I use it. Am I suppossed to know everything? That is why I have a computer with spell check.

This generation of young people is the first generation to have access to the answer of almost everything. All they have to do is go to the computer. They can find the answer to it all on wikipedia Of course it might not be quite true, but it someone's idea of how it might be. Kinda scary isn't it. One might go around thinking something is fact when in FACT it is wrong.

We interupt this story for a wonderful announcement. IT IS STARTING TO RAIN. Well, at least it is sprinkling and the air smells good. How is that for a news flash?

The cardinals are at the feeder. I love to watch them as I sit at the computer. I tell myself that is the real reason that I sit at the desk. I am trying to wean myself away and get on this every few days. Really, It robs me of time that I could be doing something useful such as clean, paint wash windows and all of that. I blame not getting anything of value done, on the computer. When I sit down here after lunch it was to look for a good camping site in Oklahoma, somewhere we had not been for awhile. Somewhere to go and enjoy the fall season and fish and just kick back. Maybe we will be joined by friends and I know our children will come when they can. My intentions were good but then I got to surfing...reading blogs...Not daring to go to facebook and seeing what was news. I better get busy before the Rancher comes in. First I have to play a game of free cell and solitaire. See what happens......I am addicted....

Fall and Homecoming

It is finally fall...The early morning temperatures have been in the upper 40's and I have not had the AC on for several days. Oh some people would run it but I just turn on the fans and tell myself it is cool enough. My August electric bill was terrible. We have several water wells that are on electricity and the house and corals. The Rancher has also been watering all of the pine and cedar trees around the homestead as we have worked so hard to get them established. Last year we lost several pines North of the barns as we weren't paying attention.

I love fall, the nights are cooler and the trees are starting to turn a golden color. We really don't have much color in the Panhandle of Oklahoma but the cottonwood trees on the creeks and the sumac and plum thickets put some color in these brown pastures. Brown has been the color this year. If one saw much green, it was a mistake as there just has not been any. A friend in an area southeast of us thought it was dry there until they saw how things looked here. We continue to pray for rain as everyone in this region does.

I have seen several Monarch butterflies in the yard. I read an article in the paper explaining how they were tagging some of them to track their migration route. the tag was a small tab with a number on it, stuck to a wing. Where there is a will there is a way.

Another thing I like about fall is the Friday night football games at the local schools and with them, the gathering of friends. This past Friday night was "Homecoming" in my community. There was a chili supper before the game and I saw a lot of old friends. It is amazing that some of the younger people are getting so old. I also noticed that not so many "old " people were there. Reality hit me in the face when I reallized that most of the old people were my age. When did this happen???? Oh well, I so enjoyed seeing so many people of my past. We are all different but I can tell you this, our home town is the fountain of youth. I know I have said it before but the people that stay close by or come home regularly never change. It is the ones that haven't been back in years that have gotten old. All I can say is they better be showing up more often. Oh, and if you think you haven't changed, get out some pictures and then look in the mirror. We aren't kidding anyone. After 50 years or so, who cares. We all have changed and if we are still around that is a good thing. It was just so good to see everyone. I look forward to seeing you again next year.

The picture is from last fall and I am hoping to see the aspen change again this fall. It is a beautiful sight.

Garage Sale Saturday

Today was "Townwide Garage Sale Day" in a nearby town. It is a town of fair size and one can usually find some really neat things at a bargain. I scanned the paper and found that I could buy all types of appliances big and small, clothing, home decor, fishing equipment, golf equipment, lumber, toys, tires, dishes, books, DVD's and players, a record player, cars and every kind of furniture and even a pet or two.

I did not go. I do not need any more "things". My house is overflowing and I need to do a "cleanup" act of my own. I have no place to put anything else period. I do not have a garage, only a car port. My utility room catches all of the surplus for a year or two and then it goes to the dumpster or resale store. I do not have garage sales. I have nothing of much value to sell. If it is very valuable, I tend to hold on to it until I get sick of looking at it . At this time it becomes worthless and goes to the dumpster.

Later this afternoon, I did see that I missed a great buy on a 1963 chevy pickup. When the Rancher and I were dating, we often went out in a 1963 chevy truck. It belonged to the Ranchers dad and was his farm truck. It was blue though. I have thought about this red truck many times and do wish I had the money to own something just for fun. What I need is something a little more energy effeciant though. My suburban is only 9 years old and has only 159.000 miles on it so I think it is good for at least another 40,000 miles or more. Remember I live 30 miles from nowhere and it won't take long.

Any now, back to the garage sale idea....I am getting ready to do some remodeling and I think I just deserve something new. I will probably just pitch what I don't want unless some of the kids or grandkids want to come and clean it out and I don't think they want it either.

The real fun of garage sales is just driving around seeing people and examining all of their treasures. It is really special if you can do it with a friend. I hope all of my kids and sister-in-law had a good day because I bet they were hitting the sales bright and early in the day. I bet they found some good bargains too.

Let the Rains Come

The weatherman out of Oklahoma City said we "could" have rain for the next several days. I am going to think positive about this. It has been so long since we have had a good rain. While the Rancher and I had devotion on Saturday it showered enough to connect all of the rain drops on the sidewalk. We were excited, we called it a rain. It was a lovely shower and made everything smell better for a short time.

Our land is so parched and we cry out for rain in our prayers. We don't understand why one area has flooding and we have nothingl They are wondering the same thing and pray for God to hear our prayers and send the moisture to us.

God is in control though and He does not forsake us. When the time is right, we will have rain. My patience is short though and I hope the time is tomorrow.

I read in the paper where the southwest part of the state has had over 100 days of 100+ temperatures. I can tell you this much....Yesterday when it cooled down to 92 degrees, I though it was cool. That was still pretty hot. I am anxious to see if it will be a high of 60 degrees on Thursday in our area. That is what one computer model says. How do they know all of this anyhow?

My dad had a plain old rock that he used to check on the weather. It was suspended on a leather strap in a tripod.

If it was moving....it was windy.

If it was wet...........it was raining.

If it was white........it was snowing.

I am sure there was some more thoughts connected with that rock but let me say this....It might have been just as accurate as the computers that they use today. At least it didn't cost anything.

With all of that said.....We do need rain. The folks on the East coast do not. People in Texas where there are so many fires need rain. The folks further east in the trail of Hurricane Lee, do not. Continue to pray for Rain. God wants to hear from us.

The Internet

The internet is a wonderful thing. It has provided a way for us to communicate with people thousands of miles away in just a few seconds. We can share our hopes dreams, funny stories, sorrows and everything else that we have a desire. We can also reconnect with long lost friends.

This is actually nothing new. God has provided this same way of communicating for thousands of years. It is called....PRAYER. Try it.

The Vacation

I have been a bum for the past 3 weeks. The first week I was in the hospital so maybe that doesn't count. Let me tell you the life of liesure isn't what I want. What was to be a surgury that my GYN has done thousands of times, didn't quite work on me. I am a person who does not have to be like everyone else but this time it would have been okay.

The Rancher is terrific. He has been a wonderful nurse and went way beyond what I ever dreamed. He has been my strength, encouragement, and prayer warrior. I also have a wonderful family and great neighbors that have stepped in but let me tell you this....I would much rather be on the giving end than this.

I have watched the Waltons, old movies, the weather channel, news, the Waltons ( this is Walton Marathon weekend on the INSP network) , John Wayne, Tom Sellack, I have even watched some old Roy Rogers and from the 40's and 50's. I have watched HGTV, Nathional Geographic, Antique Roadshow, and did I mention The Waltons. In it all I have also had a lot of naps. I take short walks around the yard and circle drive, check out the grandkids feeding bottle calves and read and worked more suduko and crossword than I ever dreamed possible and I am getting pretty bored. Never, never will I wish for more liesure time again.

The order for 3 weeks was to rest and drink lots of fluids. I can't sit at the sewing maching as I must sit in a slight recline. I have been able to stand and wash the few dished that won't fit into the dishwasher,(plastic) and fold clothes if the Rancher puts them on the bed for me. Wednesday, I will go back to see one of my Dr.'s and see if all is going well. Maybe I can get some of this extra junk that I am wearing, removed and at least sit comfortably. Oh well, this has been a humbling experience for me and it has made me know beyond anything else that GOD is in control. I praise Him for putting all of these people in my life that have taken care of me. I also know that I am to take more time out for Him. That I can do, as I sit in my recliner and watch everyone else do my work.