The sun was shining bright this morning, reflecting into my bedroom as if the lights were on in the boys rooms. I eventually decided I wasn't getting back to sleep, so I got up. It was 6:35.
This really was sleeping in, by more than an hour and a half. The boys trailed out of their rooms before my tea was even made.
I got my tread milling done. The boys played some video games, as they knew I planned for today to be a house cleaning day. We got started. Cleaning up "hot spots" where clutter collects. Putting things back where they belong. Vacuuming, dusting, sweeping.... stirring up dust. Tom moved the stove and the fridge, and cleaned beneath and behind both. Then he took the stove apart and really cleaned it well.
I started sneezing in there somewhere. By the time we were working on the stove, my nose was dripping like a faucet. Kleenex wasn't helping- I was using a paper towel every 10 minutes. Eventually, I took one allergy pill. In an hour, I decided to use the heavy duty dope- Advil sinus. By the time it began having any effect at all, I had a sinus headache and my eyes are packed for vacation... heavy bags! The sinus dope knocked me out for an hour or so.
I could sure tell when it wore off... the nose faucet began again. I switched from paper towels to wash cloths. I took more dope. I can tell when its four hours has expired for sure. I am thinking this may be pollen as well as dust. Miserable!
Well, that's all my complaining for now. I hope you have a great and wonderful day!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Oh boy!
My last child to call me on mother's day was my #5 child, Tommy. It was after 10 at night, so we didn't talk long. Tommy mentioned he had been up for well over 24 hours, but it was his night off. He also mentioned his boss had tried to call him.
The next morning, I got another call from Tommy. His boss had asked Tommy to come in to work. So, instead of telling the boss no... Tommy headed the 40 miles in to work.
He made it 39.5 miles. Fell asleep at the wheel. Did a barrel roll in his truck. Tommy says barrel rolls are not all they are cracked up to be in the video games.
He is OK. His truck is not.
Blogger is not allowing me to upload pictures right now, but you can see the truck on Becky's blog.
*****************
It has been a fairly quiet week on the home front. More rain, grass growing.
The roses I got last year on clearance at WalMart are going to beat the band. The red ones are just gorgeous. The second bush, which we thought last year might be white or light pink, has actually turned out to be a very pale lavender.
The Tree has been out on the porch a couple of weeks now... I set it out too soon! Who knew May 1st was too early? We had a hard frost on the 3rd, so Tree is rather sad looking. I know it will recover... this is Tree! Tree survived the twins as toddlers. (They once plucked every last leaf off it.) I need to get Tree transported to my friend Laurie, who has a house with double height ceilings. Or else cut Tree waaaay back. It is getting too tall even for the porch, which has a good foot over our ceilings.
***********
Have a blessed day. Thanks for reading.
The next morning, I got another call from Tommy. His boss had asked Tommy to come in to work. So, instead of telling the boss no... Tommy headed the 40 miles in to work.
He made it 39.5 miles. Fell asleep at the wheel. Did a barrel roll in his truck. Tommy says barrel rolls are not all they are cracked up to be in the video games.
He is OK. His truck is not.
Blogger is not allowing me to upload pictures right now, but you can see the truck on Becky's blog.
*****************
It has been a fairly quiet week on the home front. More rain, grass growing.
The roses I got last year on clearance at WalMart are going to beat the band. The red ones are just gorgeous. The second bush, which we thought last year might be white or light pink, has actually turned out to be a very pale lavender.
The Tree has been out on the porch a couple of weeks now... I set it out too soon! Who knew May 1st was too early? We had a hard frost on the 3rd, so Tree is rather sad looking. I know it will recover... this is Tree! Tree survived the twins as toddlers. (They once plucked every last leaf off it.) I need to get Tree transported to my friend Laurie, who has a house with double height ceilings. Or else cut Tree waaaay back. It is getting too tall even for the porch, which has a good foot over our ceilings.
***********
Have a blessed day. Thanks for reading.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Laundry soap and rambling
I got lazy for awhile, and bought laundry detergent. With the boys cleaning their rooms this week, and me slacking on laundry, I saw the end of my latest purchased bottle looming soon. I had the ingredients on hand to make my detergent, and it really doesn't take much time at all. So I sloughed off some lazy and made the soap.I used:
1 cup grated Fell's Naptha Soap , which I purchased online at Amazon.
1 cup Borax (Which can be purchased at Amazon, or most grocery stores)
1 cup washing soda (a.k.a soda ash
) also available at Amazon, or pool supply houses) (NOT baking soda)1/2 cup DAWN
liquid dish washing soap5 gallon bucket or several empty laundry detergent bottles
Put the grated soap into a deep pot. Add 6 to 8 cups of hot water. Heat, stirring frequently, until the grated soap is all melted. Stir in the borax, and the soda ash. Stir until the powders are dissolved. Remove from heat. ***If this stuff starts to boil, turn down/off the heat. It will boil over in a heartbeat and clean your stovetop within and inch of its enamel!*** Set your 5 gallon bucket into the sink
Stir in the DAWN dishwashing liquid. Pour the soap mixture into the five gallon bucket, and begin adding warm water, stirring as you add, until the bucket is nearly full.
Put the lid on and let set overnight.
This will "gel" slightly, to something between egg drop soup consistency, to a much firmer gelled mass. (If the mass floats on a liquidy base, shake or stir before using. Use about 1 cup per load. Cost about 1.5 cents per load.
*******
I got several Mother's Day gifts a bit early. One son sent a pencil drawing of all the grandkids. Another sent me roses! I have received several cards... and it is still two more days til the "big day". The twins are cooking something up.... I have been informed I have to wait til Sunday to find out just what!
Tonight for supper, I am trying a recipe for Rosemary Chicken. I have never cooked with rosemary before, so we will see how it goes over. If it is good, I will post the recipe over at the cooking blog.
Meanwhile... Mt. Washmore beckons me back to its slopes. With no good excuse to NOT do the laundry, I best heed its call.
Have a blessed day!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
May the Fourth Be With You
I love that one!
*************
An issue at work Saturday left me shaking my head. I HOPE the kid was kidding, but I fear he is not.
At 18 years old, and graduated from high school... he was supposed to mop the bathroom at work. He set up the wet floor cones. He got the mop and bucket... whether he used clean water or not is debatable.
And hemopped slopped water all over the bathroom floor. Despite used tissue and paper towels and other debris on the floor.
When the Assistant manager asked him, "Why didn't you SWEEP before you mopped?"
"You didn't TELL me to sweep first."
"DUDE! You always sweep before you mop... it's PART of mopping!"
The kid passed it off as a joke. But as we all kidded him about it later... he still lives at home and his MOM cleans his room.
I have left notes in the break room suggesting that when the younger employees spill food and soda, they should clean it up right away... Momma does NOT work here.
My kids, by 18, may of had me clean their room a couple of times... but they were NOT happy about it. Because if *I* cleaned their room, they were in trouble and stood to "lose" much of their "treasure". (Mom cleaned with trash bags.)
The other young people I work with had "tougher" lives. They had to clean their own rooms. It shows in they do know how to clean things now. They can sweep and mop without step by step instructions. They can one and all cook a meal. And operate simple household appliances, such as washing machines and vaccuums. (Sadly, Sam hasn't mastered the "dryer" and "dishwasher" yet. He can get the clothes INTO the dryer... but fails to remember to turn it on. Sam also forgets to turn on the dishwasher.) But, there is hope, he is just 14... so before he is old enough to be on his own, he ought to have mastered these appliances.
These life skills DO have to be taught. A friend has gained two step children, when their custodial parent passed away. At 16 and 18, these two kids have no clue how to do the most basic of chores. Their custodial parent didn't learn the skills to pass on to these kids. So it is an uphill battle in remedial life skills just for them to learn that you tuck a shower curtain inside the bathtub before showering. You do not pile wet, dirty clothes onto the floor of your carpeted closet. Girls do not leave menstrual messes all over the bathroom.
It is sad that kids are growing up so coddled they cannot look after themselves.
That many lack common courtesy and respect for their fellow citizens.
OK, ranting is over.
Once more Happy May 4th.
May the fourth be with you!
*************
An issue at work Saturday left me shaking my head. I HOPE the kid was kidding, but I fear he is not.
At 18 years old, and graduated from high school... he was supposed to mop the bathroom at work. He set up the wet floor cones. He got the mop and bucket... whether he used clean water or not is debatable.
And he
When the Assistant manager asked him, "Why didn't you SWEEP before you mopped?"
"You didn't TELL me to sweep first."
"DUDE! You always sweep before you mop... it's PART of mopping!"
The kid passed it off as a joke. But as we all kidded him about it later... he still lives at home and his MOM cleans his room.
I have left notes in the break room suggesting that when the younger employees spill food and soda, they should clean it up right away... Momma does NOT work here.
My kids, by 18, may of had me clean their room a couple of times... but they were NOT happy about it. Because if *I* cleaned their room, they were in trouble and stood to "lose" much of their "treasure". (Mom cleaned with trash bags.)
The other young people I work with had "tougher" lives. They had to clean their own rooms. It shows in they do know how to clean things now. They can sweep and mop without step by step instructions. They can one and all cook a meal. And operate simple household appliances, such as washing machines and vaccuums. (Sadly, Sam hasn't mastered the "dryer" and "dishwasher" yet. He can get the clothes INTO the dryer... but fails to remember to turn it on. Sam also forgets to turn on the dishwasher.) But, there is hope, he is just 14... so before he is old enough to be on his own, he ought to have mastered these appliances.
These life skills DO have to be taught. A friend has gained two step children, when their custodial parent passed away. At 16 and 18, these two kids have no clue how to do the most basic of chores. Their custodial parent didn't learn the skills to pass on to these kids. So it is an uphill battle in remedial life skills just for them to learn that you tuck a shower curtain inside the bathtub before showering. You do not pile wet, dirty clothes onto the floor of your carpeted closet. Girls do not leave menstrual messes all over the bathroom.
It is sad that kids are growing up so coddled they cannot look after themselves.
That many lack common courtesy and respect for their fellow citizens.
OK, ranting is over.
Once more Happy May 4th.
May the fourth be with you!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Tuesday...
Today is Tom's sister Angie's birthday.
It is also Volunteer Appreciation day at the library. The boys arrived a bit later than normal for their volunteering today, as the "appreciation" is from 4-6pm. No sense in making two trips to town. We arrived around 3, and they will get their gifts and such, and we will head for the house some time around 5 or so. (We decided on Sonic's half-price hamburgers for supper, and they start that at 5:00pm.)
The new fish seem to be adapting OK to life in a fish tank. I laughed yesterday when I noticed one of the newbies is already following me around when I go near the tank. he has figured out that a person near the tank usually means FOOD!
I don't recall what I was dreaming about last night, but I do remember I dreamed I was hiding in a very small space. I woke up curled into a tight ball and aching all over. I stretched out and slept a few more minutes before the alarm went off, but I can sure tell I slept tensed up.
Well, I don't have too much going on today... same stuff, different day. (My cleaner version of SSDD). Work has been VERY busy. With so many new stores opening across the nation, they have asked for a lot of items back that we normally stock several of... resulting in me having pages and pages of shipping each day, rather than just a few items per category. After the endless days of rain, the sun coming out has spiked sales, so I had a bountiful amount of incoming freight today. I didn't get off until NOON!
And here it is... time to relinquish the computer, my hour on it is up. Have a blessed day!
It is also Volunteer Appreciation day at the library. The boys arrived a bit later than normal for their volunteering today, as the "appreciation" is from 4-6pm. No sense in making two trips to town. We arrived around 3, and they will get their gifts and such, and we will head for the house some time around 5 or so. (We decided on Sonic's half-price hamburgers for supper, and they start that at 5:00pm.)
The new fish seem to be adapting OK to life in a fish tank. I laughed yesterday when I noticed one of the newbies is already following me around when I go near the tank. he has figured out that a person near the tank usually means FOOD!
I don't recall what I was dreaming about last night, but I do remember I dreamed I was hiding in a very small space. I woke up curled into a tight ball and aching all over. I stretched out and slept a few more minutes before the alarm went off, but I can sure tell I slept tensed up.
Well, I don't have too much going on today... same stuff, different day. (My cleaner version of SSDD). Work has been VERY busy. With so many new stores opening across the nation, they have asked for a lot of items back that we normally stock several of... resulting in me having pages and pages of shipping each day, rather than just a few items per category. After the endless days of rain, the sun coming out has spiked sales, so I had a bountiful amount of incoming freight today. I didn't get off until NOON!
And here it is... time to relinquish the computer, my hour on it is up. Have a blessed day!
Monday, May 2, 2011
May... already
Today is the second of May. Wow. You'd never know by the weather... it is in the low 50's today... if it actually gets THAT warm. It continues to rain.
I have kept on goal of walking 50 miles per month this year, to eventually total 600 for the year. I barely made the 200 mile mark for April. So far, I haven't learned to love walking on the treadmill, but I persevere.
I got Mother's Day cards for mine and Tom's Mom's... but it doesn't look like I will be able to send them any type of gift this year.
So far, we haven't made any type of plans to vacation this year. Mr C still has four weeks he has to use up... probably in the fall. I told him we need to save some of that for the new grandbaby's arrival towards the first of November. He said that "going to see a new baby is driving in the wrong direction... Becky KNOWS Ohio State Football is every weekend in the fall! If she wanted us there for the baby's birth, she should of planned it for a different time of year!"
Yep. That's Mr C!
Though if it came to a choice between the two, I'm sure the grandbaby would win. (Well, unless it was the weekend of the Ohio State Vs. Michigan game). Then, He'd go see the baby as soon as the game was over.
I'm going to try a new recipe on the guys tonight: Swiss Chicken Casserole. It sounded good to me when I read about it on the Tons of Kids board. I'm already thinking of my own "tweaks" to the recipe.
It should make it over to the recipe blog!
Have a blessed day. Thanks for reading!
I have kept on goal of walking 50 miles per month this year, to eventually total 600 for the year. I barely made the 200 mile mark for April. So far, I haven't learned to love walking on the treadmill, but I persevere.
I got Mother's Day cards for mine and Tom's Mom's... but it doesn't look like I will be able to send them any type of gift this year.
So far, we haven't made any type of plans to vacation this year. Mr C still has four weeks he has to use up... probably in the fall. I told him we need to save some of that for the new grandbaby's arrival towards the first of November. He said that "going to see a new baby is driving in the wrong direction... Becky KNOWS Ohio State Football is every weekend in the fall! If she wanted us there for the baby's birth, she should of planned it for a different time of year!"
Yep. That's Mr C!
Though if it came to a choice between the two, I'm sure the grandbaby would win. (Well, unless it was the weekend of the Ohio State Vs. Michigan game). Then, He'd go see the baby as soon as the game was over.
I'm going to try a new recipe on the guys tonight: Swiss Chicken Casserole. It sounded good to me when I read about it on the Tons of Kids board. I'm already thinking of my own "tweaks" to the recipe.
It should make it over to the recipe blog!
Have a blessed day. Thanks for reading!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Happy Birthday to Bill!
Today, my second born turned 30 years old. He and his family are on their way to Texas, where Bill will see his sister and a couple of brothers.
Here is a link to Bill's birth story, if you missed it before.
************
Tonight, I am making some Chineasy Chicken. It has been a few weeks since I made this. Last night was Beef Stew , the natural follow up to Roast Beast. See, I don't do a lot of "new" foods. For the roast beef, I DID try a new recipe. I omitted the dry onion soup mix, and instead dumped a jar of picante sauce over the roast in the slow cooker. I thought it was EXCELLENT. Mr. C and the minor food critics all declared it "too tomato-ey".
************
At work, not a lot new going on. We have been very busy, but that is normal for this time of year. Boss told me today that I have a mandatory class coming up May 10th in Fayetteville. That should be interesting. I will learn about "loss prevention".
***********
Well, the cooking of the supper demands my attention. Be blessed, thanks for reading!
Here is a link to Bill's birth story, if you missed it before.
************
Tonight, I am making some Chineasy Chicken. It has been a few weeks since I made this. Last night was Beef Stew , the natural follow up to Roast Beast. See, I don't do a lot of "new" foods. For the roast beef, I DID try a new recipe. I omitted the dry onion soup mix, and instead dumped a jar of picante sauce over the roast in the slow cooker. I thought it was EXCELLENT. Mr. C and the minor food critics all declared it "too tomato-ey".
************
At work, not a lot new going on. We have been very busy, but that is normal for this time of year. Boss told me today that I have a mandatory class coming up May 10th in Fayetteville. That should be interesting. I will learn about "loss prevention".
***********
Well, the cooking of the supper demands my attention. Be blessed, thanks for reading!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Sunshine in my yard ....
drys up puddles!
Leaving fish stranded in depressions full of rainwater! The boys brought a couple more in to the fish tank, and are now out tossing the rest they are finding into the neighbor's pond. Sam says they have found several dead fish... it is so strange to pick up fish from an area you are about to MOW!
The boys rescued over 40 fish! Many more were already gone... they will be fertilizing the garden.
Sam quipped, "This was my best day of catching fish, ever!"
**************
Yesterday, the boys and I met my mom in Alma, AR. We met at the A-Z distributing place. Only found a few things I couldn't live without. Really, I probably could of lived without them.... but hoping for good values, I made a few purchases.
One thing was a package of cardamom spice. I tried this spice while in Texas... the cardamom is over $74 per lb. in bulk from Sprouts Market. This packet was several ounces... and was discounted to .80. So for 80 cents, I thought we might try a few more cardamom recipes. Daniel picked out a big jar of whole allspice, also .80. I got a couple of new kitchen towels... the kind that is half a towel with an end that buttons or hooks onto a handle. I like one near the sink... it save on paper towels! I got them for $1.20 each. My most expensive item was a picture for the boys room... a framed sailing ship. (The younger four boys all love old maps, sailing ships, and globes.) I think the framed print was under $7.00.
We had a really quick visit. Mom had brought up the stuff I got garage saling last time I was down there. She had another two hours still to travel, and I had left supper in the slow cooker at home. It was good to see Mom, though!
Hope you have a very blessed day!
Leaving fish stranded in depressions full of rainwater! The boys brought a couple more in to the fish tank, and are now out tossing the rest they are finding into the neighbor's pond. Sam says they have found several dead fish... it is so strange to pick up fish from an area you are about to MOW!
The boys rescued over 40 fish! Many more were already gone... they will be fertilizing the garden.
Sam quipped, "This was my best day of catching fish, ever!"
**************
Yesterday, the boys and I met my mom in Alma, AR. We met at the A-Z distributing place. Only found a few things I couldn't live without. Really, I probably could of lived without them.... but hoping for good values, I made a few purchases.
One thing was a package of cardamom spice. I tried this spice while in Texas... the cardamom is over $74 per lb. in bulk from Sprouts Market. This packet was several ounces... and was discounted to .80. So for 80 cents, I thought we might try a few more cardamom recipes. Daniel picked out a big jar of whole allspice, also .80. I got a couple of new kitchen towels... the kind that is half a towel with an end that buttons or hooks onto a handle. I like one near the sink... it save on paper towels! I got them for $1.20 each. My most expensive item was a picture for the boys room... a framed sailing ship. (The younger four boys all love old maps, sailing ships, and globes.) I think the framed print was under $7.00.
We had a really quick visit. Mom had brought up the stuff I got garage saling last time I was down there. She had another two hours still to travel, and I had left supper in the slow cooker at home. It was good to see Mom, though!
Hope you have a very blessed day!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Flooding on Vaughn Rd
This is looking from the front porch towards the road. There is no creek there, much less the river that appears here, headed to the pond.
This is the pond. The islands and trees are on the lower dam of the pond.
The water spills out of the pond and into our pasture/ back yard. This forms another river that isn't normally there.
This is Sam, wading in the lake that the pasture has become. 
The boys got out their Lego Pirate ship and let it sail along the rivers that have formed in the back pasture. They also caught a small bluegill in the pasture. It is now sharing the fishtank with Jimmy Raynor the Goldfish.
I have read on facebook that several local roads, as well as Highway 59 between Gentry and Gravette have been closed due to flooding. Both ways into XNA Airport are closed due to flooding. The county is under a flash flood WARNING (you think?).
It is still raining.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Another beautiful Day...
We did get some storms through here yesterday, leading me to turn off the computer all afternoon.. Supposed to lather, rinse, repeat today. And tomorrow... and the next day... and so on until next Wednesday.
I took a nice nap. I don't know that I could of helped myself... the nap snuck up on me and the next thing I knew, a tremendous "KABOOM!" of thunder awakened me.
Today is Tommy's TWENTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY! Here is a link to his birth story, if you haven't read it before or want to read it again.
Happy Birthday, Tommy. I am so proud of you. I love how much you love the Lord, and your desire to serve Him first. May you be blessed all the days of your life!
Tommy's "real" name is Stephen Thomas. Stephen means "crown". The day after his birth certificate was signed, Tom decided he didn't care for the name Stephen as much as he did "Elijah". So we went back to the birth registrar and asked to change his name. Since it had already been filed in OKC, we were told it would take a lawyer, a court order, and $300+ dollars. Money was reallllly tight then... so we settled for calling him by his middle name. The last few years, it hasn't seemed to matter WHAT we named him... he has gained a collection of names from various sources. I can't keep track of them all!
For his birthday, I sent him a spotlight, and a small tool kit.
*************
Whoa! I can't believe what just happened.
Samuel just gathered and started a load of laundry. Without me telling him to! There must be something going on around here.
Sam is the worst one for failing to do his daily chores without being told .... and told.... and told. And then he forgets essentials like STARTING the dryer after putting clothes into it. Or starting the dishwasher after loading it.
And he just put on a load of clothes to wash. With detergent in them. and the lid down so they will actually wash.
Who is this young man and what has he done with my son?
***************
Work has hired a new guy. He was a regular customer, so I already knew him by name... and has apparently worked several days before I figured out he isn't just hanging around. So my "every other Saturday" being an all day shift is over. Hooray!
That's all I can think of for now.
Stay tuned to learn what Bill Joe gets for his 30th birthday, next Friday. He has a very mean Mom you know, and brothers who have her same sense of humor.
Be blessed, and hug someone you love!
I took a nice nap. I don't know that I could of helped myself... the nap snuck up on me and the next thing I knew, a tremendous "KABOOM!" of thunder awakened me.
Today is Tommy's TWENTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY! Here is a link to his birth story, if you haven't read it before or want to read it again.
Happy Birthday, Tommy. I am so proud of you. I love how much you love the Lord, and your desire to serve Him first. May you be blessed all the days of your life!
Tommy's "real" name is Stephen Thomas. Stephen means "crown". The day after his birth certificate was signed, Tom decided he didn't care for the name Stephen as much as he did "Elijah". So we went back to the birth registrar and asked to change his name. Since it had already been filed in OKC, we were told it would take a lawyer, a court order, and $300+ dollars. Money was reallllly tight then... so we settled for calling him by his middle name. The last few years, it hasn't seemed to matter WHAT we named him... he has gained a collection of names from various sources. I can't keep track of them all!
For his birthday, I sent him a spotlight, and a small tool kit.
*************
Whoa! I can't believe what just happened.
Samuel just gathered and started a load of laundry. Without me telling him to! There must be something going on around here.
Sam is the worst one for failing to do his daily chores without being told .... and told.... and told. And then he forgets essentials like STARTING the dryer after putting clothes into it. Or starting the dishwasher after loading it.
And he just put on a load of clothes to wash. With detergent in them. and the lid down so they will actually wash.
Who is this young man and what has he done with my son?
***************
Work has hired a new guy. He was a regular customer, so I already knew him by name... and has apparently worked several days before I figured out he isn't just hanging around. So my "every other Saturday" being an all day shift is over. Hooray!
That's all I can think of for now.
Stay tuned to learn what Bill Joe gets for his 30th birthday, next Friday. He has a very mean Mom you know, and brothers who have her same sense of humor.
Be blessed, and hug someone you love!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Past Week
The past week was filled with fun and sun. The boys and I went to the Prairie Grove Civil War Battlefield & Memorial last Tuesday (or was it Wednesday?) (pretty sure it was Wednesday!)
I forgot to wear a hat.
We stopped at the Union soldiers cemetery in Cincinnati, Arkansas, on the way down. Wandered around there for awhile. I was pretty upset at the vandalism this place suffers... as I am sure may cemeteries across the nation do. Praying hands etched in headstones were 'modified'... leaving a memorial vulgar salute. Why do people do these things?
I saw several headstones with the family name of one of my co-workers. I had heard his family was from that area, and asked him about it the next day. Yes, it was his parents and grandparents buried there. He told me about a section which had been mostly marked with large rocks, no names carved in them. This was the slave section in the cemetery. I had incorrectly assumed it was unknown soldiers buried there.
After our tour of the battlefield, we stopped at a small lake nearby- Bob Kidd Lake. The boys caught a few fish there! (We have had lousy luck fishing in Arkansas up until now.) After Bob Kidd, we stopped at Lake Wedington... where the fishing wasn't as good and a controlled burn nearby had us choking on smoke. We headed home just in time to get supper started before Mr C arrived.
Lacking a hat or sunscreen, I turned a fairly good red on my face. Thanks to sleeves and jeans, my face was the only burn. It didn't peel, so maybe I will get some tan from the week!
Friday, the weather was cool and blustery. The boys wanted to go out and see what was going on at the semi-annual Tired Iron Of The Ozarks Tractor Show. They had such a grand time, we went back both Saturday and Sunday!
Saturday, Connor and Alana came out to stay the night. We went to the tractor show with them. Since both refused to wear jackets, we weren't there any too long. Most of the time we were there was spent in the blacksmith shop. (Thanks to the forges and big Franklin stove, it was warm in there!) Sam and Daniel discovered the Blacksmithing Organization of Arkansas... and we are letting them join.
Sunday, I got up and did my walking outside... but remembered the hat! Then we went back to the tractor show. Connor and Alana got to actually drive a tractor... WOW! I have never even sat on a tractor before, much less driven one! They rode on the little tractor pulled kiddy train in the parade. I'm pretty sure they had a good time.
I ended up with at least five days of being out in the sun during the week. Wreaked havoc with my sinuses... but I had a great time.
There are PICTURES to go with all this weeks adventures. they are located at http://www.moocrew3.shutterfly.com/. Feel free to leave comments1
Thanks for reading!
I forgot to wear a hat.
We stopped at the Union soldiers cemetery in Cincinnati, Arkansas, on the way down. Wandered around there for awhile. I was pretty upset at the vandalism this place suffers... as I am sure may cemeteries across the nation do. Praying hands etched in headstones were 'modified'... leaving a memorial vulgar salute. Why do people do these things?
I saw several headstones with the family name of one of my co-workers. I had heard his family was from that area, and asked him about it the next day. Yes, it was his parents and grandparents buried there. He told me about a section which had been mostly marked with large rocks, no names carved in them. This was the slave section in the cemetery. I had incorrectly assumed it was unknown soldiers buried there.
After our tour of the battlefield, we stopped at a small lake nearby- Bob Kidd Lake. The boys caught a few fish there! (We have had lousy luck fishing in Arkansas up until now.) After Bob Kidd, we stopped at Lake Wedington... where the fishing wasn't as good and a controlled burn nearby had us choking on smoke. We headed home just in time to get supper started before Mr C arrived.
Lacking a hat or sunscreen, I turned a fairly good red on my face. Thanks to sleeves and jeans, my face was the only burn. It didn't peel, so maybe I will get some tan from the week!
Friday, the weather was cool and blustery. The boys wanted to go out and see what was going on at the semi-annual Tired Iron Of The Ozarks Tractor Show. They had such a grand time, we went back both Saturday and Sunday!
Saturday, Connor and Alana came out to stay the night. We went to the tractor show with them. Since both refused to wear jackets, we weren't there any too long. Most of the time we were there was spent in the blacksmith shop. (Thanks to the forges and big Franklin stove, it was warm in there!) Sam and Daniel discovered the Blacksmithing Organization of Arkansas... and we are letting them join.
Sunday, I got up and did my walking outside... but remembered the hat! Then we went back to the tractor show. Connor and Alana got to actually drive a tractor... WOW! I have never even sat on a tractor before, much less driven one! They rode on the little tractor pulled kiddy train in the parade. I'm pretty sure they had a good time.
I ended up with at least five days of being out in the sun during the week. Wreaked havoc with my sinuses... but I had a great time.
There are PICTURES to go with all this weeks adventures. they are located at http://www.moocrew3.shutterfly.com/. Feel free to leave comments1
Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Back to Work...
At least I am feeling much better. Work was WORK today. I didn't get out of there until nearly noon. And once I got home, the boys asked if we could go to the library. So here I am, while they do their volunteer stuff.
Afterwards, I need to go by WalMart and get the groceries that were not bought this weekend. I also want to go by Hobby Lobby and SEE how much aframe and mat would be for my birthday sketch Chris commissioned. If you'd like to see it, it is at http://www.moocrew3.shutterfly.com/pictures It is the one of all the grandkids together. The one of Connor and Alana was commissioned for Jennifer. While at Hobby Lobby, I want to check in to how much some good drawing colored pencils would be for Sam. I am armed with a 40% off (single item) coupon!
Still to be decided is: tonight's supper!
I haven't done my walking today... and this may be one of my days it just does NOT get done.
At least having a goal is keeping going on the treadmill... I made the goal for the last 3 months... and good thing I had a few surplus miles worked in... because I have only done about 6 miles this month.
Oh another errand... the post office. Got some stuff I need to get mailed to Becky and the boys in Texas. I lumped it all into one box... figuring they can sort it out easily once it arrives, and they see each other frequently.
That's about all I can think of for today. Have a blessed afternoon!
Afterwards, I need to go by WalMart and get the groceries that were not bought this weekend. I also want to go by Hobby Lobby and SEE how much aframe and mat would be for my birthday sketch Chris commissioned. If you'd like to see it, it is at http://www.moocrew3.shutterfly.com/pictures It is the one of all the grandkids together. The one of Connor and Alana was commissioned for Jennifer. While at Hobby Lobby, I want to check in to how much some good drawing colored pencils would be for Sam. I am armed with a 40% off (single item) coupon!
Still to be decided is: tonight's supper!
I haven't done my walking today... and this may be one of my days it just does NOT get done.
At least having a goal is keeping going on the treadmill... I made the goal for the last 3 months... and good thing I had a few surplus miles worked in... because I have only done about 6 miles this month.
Oh another errand... the post office. Got some stuff I need to get mailed to Becky and the boys in Texas. I lumped it all into one box... figuring they can sort it out easily once it arrives, and they see each other frequently.
That's about all I can think of for today. Have a blessed afternoon!
Monday, April 11, 2011
A week already?
I can't believe I haven't blogged in a week! I guess it could be because I spent quite a few days of the past week sick... a tummy bug. The week passed uneventfully... I worked Wednesday and Thursday, went home sick Friday and didn't go in at all Saturday. Mostly I slept off the bug.
Spring appears to be trying to spring around here. My rosebushes are all leafed out. The beans and corn Tom and the boys planted last week has started to come up. Grass has been mowed twice now. Since the weedeater bit the dust last year and hasn't been replaced, we sprayed RoundUp* along the sides of the house and around the mailbox. I planted flower seeds in my aging green planting boxes. I have had them since Marlow! (And used them a couple of years there!) I told Dan I would probably get live annual flowers for the hanging baskets.... eventually.
We need to replace our grill... it finally fell completely to pieces. We grill a LOT... pretty much daily in the summer, and several times weekly the rest of the year. The old grill was coming up on four years old... we got it the year of our last annual float trip. (Float trip/ Birthday party for Dan and Sam/ father's day celebration. It was the year Becky was expecting Tyrel- and he will be 4 in July.) So much has happened in the family since then.
Well, I am certainly just rambling. Thanks for reading. Have a blessed day. Hug someone you love!
Spring appears to be trying to spring around here. My rosebushes are all leafed out. The beans and corn Tom and the boys planted last week has started to come up. Grass has been mowed twice now. Since the weedeater bit the dust last year and hasn't been replaced, we sprayed RoundUp* along the sides of the house and around the mailbox. I planted flower seeds in my aging green planting boxes. I have had them since Marlow! (And used them a couple of years there!) I told Dan I would probably get live annual flowers for the hanging baskets.... eventually.
We need to replace our grill... it finally fell completely to pieces. We grill a LOT... pretty much daily in the summer, and several times weekly the rest of the year. The old grill was coming up on four years old... we got it the year of our last annual float trip. (Float trip/ Birthday party for Dan and Sam/ father's day celebration. It was the year Becky was expecting Tyrel- and he will be 4 in July.) So much has happened in the family since then.
Well, I am certainly just rambling. Thanks for reading. Have a blessed day. Hug someone you love!
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