Finally Friday

  Good morning! Barely. Almost noon and I'm just now getting around to posting. We have another heat wave coming. Yay. (insert sad face here) Feels like August or September. I'll try not to complain because I know when it gets cold I will be miserable. I will miss the sun and the heat.

 Maybe not this much heat though!

Then there was this.....

too dang cold!

Guess it's the price we pay for living in these fine Ozarks. Seriously, having four seasons etc. but the plain old fact is ...it's home.

Been home for this family since 1837 plus or minus a year or 2. That's 174 years. Guess we're meant to be here. We're 5th generation Missourian on dad's side and 8th generation American on both sides. We're only 3rd generation Missourian on Momma's side as they were a  little slow making their way to Missouri. They really liked Indiana. lol  Pop's daddy came down here from Indiana. One of his (Albert's)uncles was in Springfield by 1900. Maybe he was here when Albert came or maybe Albert came with the uncles and his family.

Sparky sure was a good dog.

Hodge Podge (as usual)

  First thing: Dishwasher soap recipe- 3c baking soda
                                                             3 c Borax
                               for rinse cycle- vinegar
Not that I have my dishwaher actually in the house. It sits in the shop, waiting. One day I'll tire of being the dishwasher and have Tim install it.lol

Next tidbit: 10# of taters will yield 7 qts of canned taters

                   And three 100' rows of taters will yield about 500#.  A family of four using 10# a week=520 # a year... adjust accordingly and don't forget to keep some back for seed!

Isn't this fascinating? 
  Here's my tiny tater patch from a few years ago.

 This year the same patch is an experiment in weeds. Seeing how many different kinds I can grow and see how big they will get. It's coming along nicely. lol
  I've got one buttercup squash growing. It looks pretty good and is just a bit larger that a big softball. I've never eaten one.

Here's a little fry bread to make you hungry.

The afore mentioned squash plant.

Finally got my clothes line washed. Too many years of guck on it. Tim tightened it up for me too. Still stretched too far out - had to hang the towels "sideways" haha

Here's the first "Five Generations" picture that I was talking about. I sent it to Jenny and Lorraine this week. Left to right: Ira, John Allen (Ira's dad)Juanita, Momma, Sandi and Allen. Aren't you two just the cutest little kids?

Just about used up for the morning. Actually we're into the afternoon now. Time to rest my bones.

Some days are diamonds. Yesterday was a stone.

Mellow Monday

  Due to the heat wave we're experiencing, I predict a mello Monday. Too dang hot to move!
We topped out at 103.1 yesterday! Heat index in Monett-113* I think they said. Enough already.

Tim got the whole yard and the orchard mowed. Didn't have to work on the mower either! Oops, not the whole back yard as he can't get the rider in the "garden" spot or the berry patch. Still watching for snakes there. The only snake I found this morning was in one of the front yard flower beds. Dadgumit! At least I saw him while he was 3' away. I left him alone as I didn't want to walk that far for a weapon. lol
 Tim also washed the bike here at the house. Normally he washes it in town.
 Guess I'll crack the windows in the vehicles today in case gramma was right. lol Might get hot enough inside to crack them with the built up pressure. Something like that. Did she ever tell you guys that?

What a looker! I love this picture of Momma. It was taken on the Springfield square. She was around 16 I believe she said. Just at a glance she reminds me of Franni and of Ashley.

Here's one from the way back machine that only goes to about 1983-84 maybe.

One day she will be our RV. If we live long enough haha. Gonna take such a lot of work.

Now for some food

Homemade sandwich bread. I could eat my weight in this stuff! Oh, look at me, I probably already did....

Marie's Creamed eggs - to be applied to buttered toast according to Tim. Dry toast works just fine.

My homemade dinner rolls. Pretty dang tasty if I do say so myself. Yum-oh !

Some days are diamonds!

Sunny Sunday, again

 am I complaining? No way! I'm thrilled with the sunshine. Beats a cloudy or rainy day anytime. It will be 100* before the day is out and we're under another heat advisory beginning at noon.
 Tim got a load of 4 big bales of hay yesterday. Put one in the feeder for the kids and we plan on picking up enough thru the summer to get us thru the winter but it always depends on the $ of course. He also picked up the mower at the repair shop. Yay, he'll be able to mow this morning if I get him up farely soon. The weed eater is still at the shop.
  Got my chores done. Whew! It's only 84* and I'm dripping again, lol. Spent most of my time this morning with Spike. He's decided that I'm better than just ok. He's always let me go up to him etc and catch him, halter him  but now he actually wants to be with me.

Isn't he handsome? Sometimes in the fall he begins to get this Elvis Costello look going on with his mane. Too funny but hard to get those dang burrs out. He has a heavy mane and tail. He's also got some sort of "draft" in his line. The next time Sandi is up I need to take a picture of her and her favorite....Betty Boop. Betty just loves her too. Always glad to see her.
  I never did hear back from big brother. Dang it! I left another voicemail for him last night. I'm sure he's fine but wish he'd call.

Gifts from the girls.

Time machine entry:

Great great gramma Lacey Rethford(Ira's momma) and her turkeys.

At least the second time our family has had 5 generations together.

Now, look at this fine group of folks. I think it's one of the few pictures I have that everyone is actually smiling like they mean it. 1956 must have been a good year. lol

Some days are diamonds.

Super Saturday

  Oh my! It's so nice outside this a.m.. About 70* with a breeze and just wonderful. Had a quail in the front yard a few minutes ago to go along with the bunny. How cool is that? Nope, didn't take a picture, just enjoyed the view. Did I mention this week that I also had an encounter with a pileated woodpecker? That was pretty cool too. Never saw one live before. Just about 5" away while watering flowers.
 Up to 77* already and pretty humid. Turned the air back on. I'm just dripping!
 Poor Sandi about froze last night while eating dinner. It was so nice having them up for potluck. A nice visit and some good food. Tim helped with the cooking and grilled the meat.

 Here's Elvira as a week old baby. They were all so well behaved when Sandi brought the kids up to see them. They were all in the barn taking a nap and trying to cool off. Ash and John both were walking amongst them. Surprised with John doing that. Didn't think he had any interest in them. He was really interested in the buggy. Wants us to take it to a parade and let him ride. Maybe one day. That's a dream of ours but who knows?

This is Jo. El's half sister. Born 16 years apart. This was Jo's first day. Tim helped bring her into the world. The following picture is Jo a couple of weeks ago. She's just beautiful! But then, so are all of them. I can't help it. I'm just a little predjudice. lol

Life is good.

I sent my brother a Happy Birthday text but have received no reply. Left a voicemail for him a few days ago and he didn't call back with his address. Guess the present will wait a little longer. Hope things are alright with him. I worry. What can I say? It's a woman's job to worry about those she cares for. Just a fact of life and nothing to do about it. lol

Throwaway Thursday

 What will it be today? I'll find something I'm sure!

My poor drugged baby. Just waking up from his surgery a few weeks ago. Handsome little fella isn't he?

Busy day. Maybe another time....

Another great day ahead!

 Had several invites for the fourth but one to Lee and Brenda's won the day. The food was great. Some good visiting and watching the little ones play in the pool.

Wonderful day.  The weather is hot and humid. It is, after all, summer time in the Ozarks. Count my blessings and thank heaven for central air.