THE SCANNER SPEWED OUT THE ADDRESS....

of dad's road.  My ears perked up.  It was next door at the school house apartments.  Cardiac Arrest.  Mmmmmmmm, both apartments have young tenants, could it be the wrong address and actually be dad's place?  Called, no answer, quickly got dressed, grabbed Archie, headed over.  The ambulance was at the school house.  The two brothers that I'd mentioned in an earlier posts...........the oldest one found the younger one dead in bed this morning.  He was already blue, so, must've passed in the night.  The other neighbors are saying it was a drug od.  The cops were there, so I guess that's how it is being treated.  Such a shame, to die so young, of your own foolish habits.

Later...............

QUIET SUNDAY............

at least that's what I tell the dogs.  Only one open carriage and one buggy went past the house this morning.  That was before I got out of bed, then, while walking Archie in the back yard, a young man went by on a scooter.  My house is in the bottom of a valley, sorta a small bowl, with slight hills all around.  The biggest hill is towards the village.  These kids hunker down on their scooters at the top of that hill and by the time they pass my house, they are FLYING!  And, he was.  He was pass the house, almost to the bridge by the time the dogs noticed him.  Archie and Coco just barked, but, Daisy went running past me like a race horse.  Funny.  Anyhow, this will be a Quiet Sunday with few Amish going by.  I'll be able to watch the British Open in peace.

Had a nice lunch by the river yesterday with Sue and Sarah.  Got on line yesterday and outta 14 reviews, 9 were very bad.  I told the girls, they agreed we would see for ourselves.  When we got there, I mentioned to the hostess about the reviews and she told me they have a new chef.  OK.  Well, we got a LOT of attention from 3 different waitresses, the hostess was at our table, the manager stopped by and then the chef came over.  I guess they were concerned?  I didn't mention the reviews to get all of this attention, but, we assured them that the food was excellent, the wait staff was attentive and, of course, the view of the river was excellent.  Last night, I got on the web site and put in my own review saying how great the place was.  Hope it helps.  Gotta go, fix breakfast, or lunch, whatever.

Later.............

COUSINS..............

This has been a week for cousins.  Monday, had supper with Jack and wife, Wednesday, got several emails from Terry in NJ and today, Faye came to my house and we met for the first time!  Her dad and mine were buddies as teenagers.  They are 21 months apart, and, outta 24 grandchildren, dad was the oldest and Billie was next.  We had a great time, she came about 9 and left at 3.  Gave me some cool family stuff, and I gave her a pic of her parents wedding and one of her great-great grandfather, with two grand children, all holding musical instruments.  She plays piano and organ and always wondered where the talent came from.  I told her the story of Grandpappy Sam loved playing in the band SO much that he lost the farm.  He'd rather play music than milk cows.

Got a spotty shower last night and again this after.  Getting black over towards the river and I hear some thunder.  Dad said that they are calling for soaking rains the next couple of days.  I sure hope so, corn is beggin' for rain. 

Going for breakfast tomorrow, then into town to pick up chicken b-b-q to support the fire company.  Need to stop at the amish grocery store for coffee and Archie's cereal.  It's a lot cheaper there.  Having lunch with Sue and Sarah on Saturday.  Sarah's birthday is the week after mine, so we'll celebrate both at the same time.  I sure hope it rains.

Later...............

THE BOYS CAME THRU.....

yes, they did.  Dad's neighbor showed up with his chain saw.  Then came his buddy, Bill, not long after that, here comes the third one on his HUGE tractor.  Took care of that tree limb in short order.  Dad called me this morning to tell me all about it.  He never suspected I talked to the guy.  Except, now he fussing about getting it split up so it can dry out for winter.  It's shumac, which is not the best wood to burn, makes good ashes, some people won't burn it saying it's poison.  I told him, "This ain't wood-splitting weather."  He agreed, but he'll keep on fussing about it until we get it split.  He tried to pay them, but they wouldn't accept anything.  He also showed them the hole in his screen door, and they said he should call the police, but, he's gonna let it slide for now.  The guys suspect the two brothers next door that live in the old school house apartment.  They call them bums 'cause both have bad backs, can't work and are trying to get disability.  My father believes that how we treat the weakest among us is how we will be judged.  I told him he's gotta do whatever he feels is right.

Then later in the day, my nephew and brother-in-law showed up.  They're coming back from a car show and stopped in to see dad on the way home to Baltimore.  Then another young man showed up on his restored Farmall to show dad.  It was a busy Saturday for him.

Had a nice rain last night, but probably only 1/2" in the gauge.  The Amish, in the next town over, lost a barn to lightning.  Neighbors managed to save the equipment and the two puppies that were in a shed that was burning.  They'll have another barn raised before the end of the month.  That's one thing you can say about the Amish, they pull together and help each other, and, sometimes, us 'English' also.

S'pose to be 91 today, so, guess I'll turn the A/C back on. Gonna be worse tomorrow, around 97, with storms. Then cool off. Already feels muggy and humid.

Oh........67 years ago, today, at 5:30am, Mountain Time, the first atomic test bomb was dropped in New Mexico.  One hour and fifteen minutes later, Eastern Time, I was born.  Fallout.

Later..............

WOKE UP TO A NICE DRIZZLE.............

then a steady rain.  But, it stopped before 11.  Still, it was nice, just short.  S'pose to have thunderstorms later and maybe more rain tomorrow.  Hope so, mowed yesterday, first time in three weeks and the yard is dying.  Trees are suckin' all of the moisture out for themselves.  That's OK, rather have trees than grass.

Got my haircut this morning after stopping at the feed store for black oil sunflower seeds.  Then went for the mail and some B-B-Q'd chicken.  Got dad a piece and dropped it off.  WTH, a big limb from the hugh tree in his back yard came down.  Just got the corner of his wood shop.  He says he can get it with his chain saw.  NOT.
Then he showed me his front storm door.  Last Sunday, Fred was down, I asked him to come to dad's with me and put the new latch on the door.  Which he did.  Now it can be locked.  Today, dad showed me the lower corner of the screen, looks like something or SOMEONE poke a hole in it and pushed their finger in.  The screen is curved in, right at the new latch.  I told dad we should call the cops, but he wanted to talk to his two neighbors first.  One knows all about the low-lifes in the area and the other guy is in the fire police.  Wouldn't want to mess with either one, glad they are on our side.

So, when I left dad's, I saw the one fellow down at his garage, pulled in and talked to him.  He said, he'd get a hold of a couple of his buddies and they'd have that tree limb outta there in a heartbeat.  Then I told him about the screen.  He agreed with me that dad shoulda called the cops.  We'll see what happens after dad talks to him.  Maybe he can convince him, remember, I'm only 2 years old.

Later................

I THINK I'M GETTING BACK TO MY OLD SELF....

Last week, I felt REALLY bad.  In fact, on Friday, after breakfast with the gang.  Phillip said, "We'll call you mid-week."  Which might not sound like much, but, it's a pay call for them and there's not much money coming in.  'GOD, I must look as bad as I feel!'  So, Friday, I stopped at the store to pick up a few things, was hungry for fruit, and, I have always felt that if you crave something, your body is telling you 'Hey, I want this in order to feel better!'  I saw 'Joint-Juice' on the shelf and picked up a 6-pack for around $5.  Have an 8oz bottle every morning, and, am feeling much better.  Think I'll totally go off of red meat, especially bacon (damn) and stay away from sodas.  But the weakness in the legs is subsiding and that was what had me worried.  I know if I went back to the doctor, he'd be talking MRI and surgery.  Ain't goin' there!!!!

Last week, while feeling like shit, I dropped a sale bill off at the Amish Market 'cause I'd talked to John about the sale and he was interested in it.  The Amish around here are starting to buy tractors, especially the younger ones.  They can keep them on rubber wheels for a year, before the bishop starts givin' them the 'hairy eyeball'.  But, they get around that by lending it to their brother, cousin, nephew, etc, etc. for a year and back again.  It's the usual double-standard.  I seriously doubt if any Amish would be buying these tractors, but they love a sale, and love looking at them.  But these are restored and will bring more $$ than they'd want to spend for a working tractor. 
Anyhow, I digress.......
John was busy with a customer looking at very large fishing hooks, telling him he only had that one in the store but he had more at home, the young man said he'd take them all.  John turned around and I quickly handed him the sale bill, he thanked me and I walked out of the store and up the side walk towards the PO.  By this time, there was another dude, that wasn't with the two buying the fish hook, standing at the front of the store, who said, "Yeah, you could hang a day-old kitten on that hook."  I stopped in mid step, probably about 15-20 paces up the walk, and said, "THAT'S DISGUSTING", turned around, looked him in the eye....."You're an asshole".  He just looked at me.  I thought, come on, get up here and say something else, I feel like jerking a knot in someone's tail today.  He walked back into the store.  I went into the PO.  When I came back out, he was getting in his SUV, I backed out, looked at him, an the idiot waved to me!  I hope he went back in and asked John who I was, 'cause I ain't forgetting what he said.  Jerk.  I told my dad and he just laughed, told me I was 'Little Betty'  which is my mom's name.  And, that's a compliment.

Later.................

SUNDAYS AREN'T THE SAME......

without Ben's funnies to read.  So, I didn't even turn the 'puter on 'cept to read the obits, and, there was my old girl scout leader.  Eleanor.  She was a classy lady.  Well, this is turning into a downer-of-a-day.  So I finished reading my book, Lights Out by David Crawford.  Been at it for about 2 or more months.  75 chapters, small print, chapters are only 5 or 6 pages, characters are many but good, some of it seemed a bit juvenile.  Found a few typos, don't think the local grocery stores would be open like they were in the book, but, all-in-all, not a bad read.

Cleaned out 3 cupboards this morning, did 3 loads of wash and hung out.  Mmmmmm love the smell of sheets that were hung on the line.  Towels will be scratchy tho.

Went over to Dads, he was cleaning up the JD60.  The other guy, Bob, that's having the sale with him was down on Saturday and told him he was going to buy it.  I think it half pissed dad off, now he doesn't want to sell it.  He was on the fence before, I guess he's jumped over.  Whatever.


Later..............

BOY, IS IT HOT!!!!

and suppose to hit 101 on Saturday.  I haven't mowed the yard this week and ain't gonna.  Just sittin' in the AC with the zoo crew and staying cool.  Except for going over to Dad's I ain't budging.  He has central air but won't turn it on.  I don't argue, it is his choice.  
Check out http://gowestferalwoman.blogspot.com/ and read what she has been going thru . I had to read it twice. 

IT HAS BEEN UNBEARABLY HOT............

and I have been running the AC, for the dogs, of course.  Was over at Dad's yesterday, he wanted to put the new latch on his front storm door.  Well, we hemmed/hawed with it for 20 minutes and the sky was getting blacker, and I was concerned about a storm 'cause I'd left the car windows down.It takes the man forever to do anything, and, between that and the heat, we just forgot about it, and, since Fred is coming down next week, I volunteered him to do it.  Guess I'd better tell him.
Going over to 'the farm' today for their '4th' celebration.  As usual, good food, good company.  Then going up to Fred's, going to take the chair so he can fix it.  He said the table leg is done. 
Dogs woke me up at 4:15 this morning, pee brake.  Went back to bed, heard critters in the meadow, sounded like deer.  At 4:30, dogs started BARKING!!!  I mean BARKING!!!  Got up, couldn't see a thing, told them they were nuts, went back to bed.  5:00, repeat.  5:20, Elijah started growling, Elijah is a 25lb cat.  WTH.  Got up, again.  He had a fat mouse, got it away from him, threw it outside, took Achie for a pee brake, stayed up.  Guess who is now sleeping.  ALL of them.  Think I'll take a nap.


Later..............

WELCOME TO NUMBER 27......MATT........

nice that you hit the 'follow' blog.  I am always humbled by the fact that people are interested in what little-ole-me has to say. 

Got the yard mowed today, wasn't bad, nice and dry.  S'pose to rain for a couple of days.  That fellow that was drowned when his mower slipped into the pond and pinned him under water...............turns out I knew the guy.  Actually went out with him a couple of times, nice guy but too much of a bigot for me to get serious about. 

Not much else going on here at the Meadow House,  a quiet week for a change.

Later................

GOODBYE BEN..........

may you rest in peace.  I hope some kind soul will take good care of your cats.  There is something to be said about a man who likes, or loves, cats.  I have found that a cat-loving man is sweeter, kinder, more of a gentleman.  My ex-husband hated cats............enuf said.  I will miss Ben's blog and the cartoons he provided on Sunday, never met him, but sure did enjoy his "Mo Coffee, BBL, You Betcha".  RIP and condolences to his family.

On a brighter note, went to breakfast Saturday morning at the Methodist Church.  Sue and Sarah picked me up since they had to come this way anyhow.  Chet showed up and we were there almost 2 hours.  Great eats for $6.  Doing it again next month.

S & S brought me home and then Sarah helped me with the anti-flea meds.  I can do the dogs but the cats don't cooperate some times.  We had a nice visit, they went home to the city and Archie and I went over to Dad's.  Gas is now $3.19, so got the truck filled up and bought a veggie sub for supper.  Just finished half of the sub and Trudy called, "Hey, we're picking up Jim and going for ice cream, want to join us?"  "Sure, I'll meet ya there."  I took Archie so Trudy  could get a doggie fix, I know she misses her dobie, Fancy.  I got there in about 10 minutes, so I people-watched.  There were 7 other dogs that came and went with their people.  Trudy was surprised to see Archie and we had a good time.  Archie enjoyed the ice cream also.

The sun was beating down most of the morning, now it's cloudy and they are calling for rain.  At least its not as humid as it was last Thursday and Friday.  A lot of people were mowing their yards because a storm was forecasted for the weekend.  One fellow, on the road behind me, got too close to the pond with his zero-turn mower, it went in, flipped and pinned him under the water.  I heard the call on the scanner when it happened.  He didn't live there, just mowed for the people.  So sad.  Seems to be a lot of tradgedy here of late.  Last month, a father and his 2 sons, died in one of those manure pits, and two days later, 2 brothers were killed when they hit a milk truck.  I guess, when your time is up, it's up.........

Later..................I hope.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY......

I am blessed to still have my dad, who will be 94 on July 6th.  He's outlived his sister, baby brother, all four cousins on his father's side and about half of the cousins on his mother's side.  All of his old friends are gone, but, he makes new friends easily.  When my mom was dying, and, we had hospice come in, they interviewed the family.  I remember the lady asking him, very quietly and sympathetic-like......''So, how many friends do you have?''  Which I thought, at the time, was an odd question.  My sister and I looked at each other, wondering why she asked that.  He replied, "Oh, I don't know, what do you think girls, 200?"  We both said, "Yeah, about that."  I thought that women would fall off of the kitchen chair.
Went over to Dad's this morning, we took one of his cats, MoMo, to the vets on Thursday with ear trouble.  She cleaned them real good, no ear mites, gave him a rabies shot and flea medicine that also takes care of intestinal worms and ear mites.  Sent him home with drops, twice a day.  He is such a good cat that I can do it myself.  Dad gets ALL worked up, so the cat stays calmer if dad doesn't help.  I wished him a Happy Father's Day, then left, he was headed to church.  After church, he and Miss Sarah are going to a neighbors birthday party at the fire hall.  Marion is turning 90 and she told her daughter she wants a party, so, a party it is!  Just ice cream and cake and such.  I'm sure a good time will be had by all.
Spent most of the time yesterday in the yard.  Trimmed trees that are hitting me in the head or making me duck so far that I almost fall off of the mower.  Each time I mow, I tell myself to trim the trees before I mow again, so finally did it.  And then, finally got around to burning the trash.  Why is it....there is NO wind until you light that match.  My burn pile is right at the creek, so I don't get too concerned.
Gotta go, clean house.

Later.................

LAST WEEK WAS ONE OF.......

the worse weeks in my life.  After breaking the table, almost breaking my foot, then discovering the mold.  What else could go wrong!  Got on the mower Thursday, wouldn't start.  Nothing, nada, zip.  Called the mower guys and Ken told me Tom would be in the area on Friday, he'll pick it up.  OK.
I'm waiting, it's getting later, and later.  Around 3 he shows up.  He says, "Oh, that's the original battery."  He tested it, sure enuf, it's dead.  Well, crap, never dawned on me, duh!!!  Time does have a way of slipping on by.  He puts in a new battery and ta-da.  He leaves, I mow.  Now I'll have to pay for a service call, that's what I get for being thoughtless and stupid.

Went to supper on Monday, left about 6:30 and coming down the highway, which is one of the main roads to go north and south, approaching this blind curve, doing the speed limit of 45, and, IN.THE.MIDDLE.OF.MY.SIDE.OF.THE.ROAD......are two amish boys, maybe 4 and 5, in a freaking express wagon, sitting there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I had plenty of time to go into the north-bound lane, and go around the little cretons.  But, what if a tractor-trailer was coming north, what if I was a tractor-trailer?  What if I'd taken my eyes off of that road for an instant?  I almost stopped and asked them if they had any brains, or, go into the house and ask their mother.  But, I was so shook-up over the what-ifs, that I knew I'd lose it.  A lot of people think the amish are so quaint and godly and 'oh, it must be great living around them, they are so peaceful and hard-working, and yada-yada-yada, blah, blah.  Well, let me just say, some of them don't have the brains GOD gave a goat.  Absolutely, no fear of stuff.  "Oh, GOD will protect us and if something happens, it's his will."  Bull-hockey.  Ever hear of common sense?  I think I'll travel another road for a while.

Started raining at 7:02 on Tuesday.  My grandfather always said, 'Rain before 7, quit before 11.'  It rained all day, till after dark.  Wait, I'll go check the hippy-dippy rain gauge............1".  Gosh, thought it seemed more like 3-4. 

Plummer Jon was hear today, the leak is in the spigot, he's getting a new one and will be back on Friday.  Guess I'll bathe in the creek.  He told me what kind of black powder I need for my muzzle-loader, so, Archie and I went to town and picked up a couple of pounds.  I was told to put powder in the powder horn to keep the moth-larvae from eating the inside of it.  So, that's done.  When Jon and Kathy have their next shoot, they're gonna call me so I can take my toy over.

Need to get to dad's, yesterday we were cleaning up the barn and sorting stuff for the auction.  He found 3 electric motors that he'd forgot about.

Later....................

SO, IN PREPARATION FOR.......

the big visit from my former boss, I've been REALLY cleaning home and hearth.  Moved the table out to use my new Shark Steam Vac, those things are great by the way, and the leg cracked where it joins the table top.  Shit.  But, good old Fred, my carpenter/adopted brother, will fix it.  So, I turn the table over on its side.  THUD!  OH.MY.GOD.IN.HEAVEN!!!!!!!!
The table slid apart and the lower half fell on my right foot, landing where my big toe joins.  I not only saw stars, I saw satilites, the space station and neighboring universes. 
Called the foot doctor, too booked, sends me to the health center in the same little town for x-rays.  The next day her nurse calls and says nothing is fractured, prop it up and put ice on it.  The doctor will call later when she is in.  Surprisingly, it doesn't hurt.  Just aches when I am on it too much.  I did finish cleaning the house and such.  Doc called later Tuesday night, again, no fracture per the report but when she looked at the x-rays, she saw a 'dimple with fuzzy stuff surrounding it'.  Her words.  I should wear a surgical shoe to keep the toe from bending.  OK, I know there's one in this house, somewhere.
I keep everything medical in the bathroom closet.  Looked in there and WTH is that!  The whole wall next to the shower is black with mold.  Crap. A leak.  Nothing like adding insult to injury.  Started taking everything out of the closet, threw two shelves in the burn pile.  Two more to get to.  Called Fred last night, he's coming down on Sunday.  Oh, found the surgical shoe upstairs.
Had a nice visit with Marie and Mike, we ate at the golf course.  They went home.  But, the house looks great, and, since I should sit here, propping the foot up, I won't have to do much else except feed the critters and mow the yard, maybe today, since more rain is coming for the weekend.

Later.................

IT'S ALL MY FAULT......

'cause yesterday I washed the windows and then we had nasty storms go thru.  Sorry, but those windows were filthy.  Now I gotta wear shades IN the house.  Truth be known, my old boss and another friend, Mike, from where I last worked, are coming down on Wednesday.  Marie has never been here, Mike has, but not since I've done some updates and changes.  The first thing Marie will say is, "I can't believe you drove that every day!!!!"  Now she'll know why I didn't make it in on the snow days.  It was 33 miles, one way.  But, it was a very good job, intense, stressful, and, sometimes, gratifying.  I miss the people I worked with, but, not the job.  It'll be good to see them.  We'll do lunch at the golf club, yummy.

Watched a movie yesterday, It's Complicated, with Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin.  It had it's good moments but I'm glad it was free.  I think most would label it a 'chick flick'.  Can't remember the last time I saw a movie in a theater.  Just never find the time to go, or, justify the expense.

I should be dusting or cleaning or something...........

Later.............