Almost good as new?

  Our computer that is. ...Good grief, it was quite the week with a virus infecting our "rock and chisel" computer. The poor thing is memory challenged to the max. But.....with patience and perserverance(sp?) and both of us working in 12hr shifts we were able to isolate the dang thing and get rid of it and able to repair the poor thing. Thank you to the makers and to the antivirus folks.
  I've only gotten one lap blanket made but will start another today. Yesterday went to breakfast with Tess. After that we went garage sale-ing and to the flea market. Full day to say the least. Hate to be wore out by an 87 yr old! Of course after that I had to go to the grocery store. I made that an emergency run and only bought what I needed for a few days instead of 2 weeks. haha
  Temperatures are still in the 100's and pasture is beyond crunchy. The banties are settling in okay. They are still leary of venturing out into the back yard but doing nicely. Tim was finally able to kill the snake that has been haunting the yard and barn. Last night the dang thing was coming out of the chicken house as I was shutting the door with a poor frog in his mouth. Looked like a monster from the scifi channel. It was really funny looking.  The frog's head and front legs were sticking out of the snake's mouth. What a mutant!

Tim had to put another bale out last night. Gonna be hard to put hay up for winter when we have to feed and it's July!

Had a nice visit on the phone with my big sister this a.m.. hoping this week we can all get together for a visit at one house or another.

This is my horse guy  weekend online so gotta go watch my horseman.  

Sultry Saturday?

  Is that the word I'm looking for? sultry- oppressively hot and moist  Yep, that's the word.
Had a fun day with family yesterday even though it was only a grocery run. Went to Monett with Sandi and Mike. We all had a little shopping to do. To WM and then to SAL.

  Here's the clothesline I won't be using until winter time! Was such a good idea. Maybe if hell freezes over I will use it again in the summer with all the dang spiders.
  Got one of the lap blankets half done. Gotta do the simple quilting on it - with the machine and very few lines is all that is required. I topstitched around the border which is not normally done. I think it just gives it a little more finished look.
  I meant to ask Sandi about when do I know the buttercup squash is ready. Dadgumit! Maybe she'll comment here?
  I think Mike's plan is a good one. Hope he follows through with it. At this stage in life it may be harder than he thinks. I'm sure he can -

I really don't like our front porch. If I could have my dream porch it would run the link of the house and have a roof. Lots of chairs to rest in and lots of shade for the house. Oh well.

Here's some cute recipe cards. It's for a food party. haha The officer on the scanner just said "FYI, it's raining in Butterfield." Sure wish it'd rain here - one mile away and yet so far far away! Went and got yesterday's mail and no sign of rain at all. Not even one tiny bit. Got clouds/haze but thats it. Well, maybe this afternoon. There's always a chance. Right? 

Editor has gone nuts again. I sent a few more pictures to Jenny and Lorraine. With a few questions also. Maybe have more stories to share about the folks. 

Speaking of dreams. Wish my barrels were lined up like this in the corner of the garden spot. The metal ones are alright but I've decided that plastic is the better answer. Rust is an issue with the metal. The plastic will be here long after I'm gone.

Here's last year's picture of Franni and her two kids. Jordyn and Izabella. Wish she hadn't used the z haha. Will just make it harder on her daughter. Everyone will be trying to correct her as she grows up. So cute.

This goes back so far that Jr Mom is carrying Aunt Jo! Pretty cool.

The baby on the top right is Jr Mom. Another wonderful picture that Sharon shared with us.

And a great picture that Kate shared. I believe she needs a new pair of boots!

                                                                                            

Throwaway Thursday and behind in posting haha

  Haven't taken the time to post for a few days. Been busy doing other stuff. Working on family tree stuff a lot and you can use up an amazing amount time doing that. Mounds of paper work! And reading. Of course I love to read so I can get so engrossed that time gets away. I received a picture of an ancestor this past week that I've never seen before. Ran into a lady of our Rethford line back to James Samuel Rethford ( the ex husband of Rachel Wester etc)he abandoned/or something her and John Allen in some way. Anyway, she sent me a picture of him. Too cool. That's him over on the left. Handsome feller isn't he?

This is one of my favorites of Juanita as a little girl. She thought she might have been about 10. Puts it right around 1919 or so. Look close. You can see her in there.

This one is food for the day.

And how about some Christmas candy? Peanut brittle anyone?

Just got back in from outside stuff. Got a plant put in the ground and watered the rest. I'm thinking for now that I'm done planting. Need to move some things around this fall and hoping to get another fruit tree or two. We'll see.

 I've waited all this time for my tomatoes and danged if the place didn't mis mark the tom! It is NOT a Cherokee purple as marked and anticipated! Oh, that upsets me. Seems to be taking way too long for the dang things to come on anyway. Even the cherry tomatoes are slow going. Plants look good but not producing worth a crap.

  Talked to Kate this week. Everyone that way doing alright. They are going on a short vacation to see Annette's family in Ohio. Hope they have a safe and fun trip.

  Started this early and just now getting back to it! Gotta go find something to throw away!

One more thing. Was 104* at 5pm when I went to fill tanks AGAIN. Poor babies.

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.