Country Grandpa

In 1988 there was a contest for country grandpas in the Country Magazine.  My daughters wanted to tell a story about Grandpa Pete, my dad, so they did with a little help from me.

The introduction to a double page of winning grandpas from all over the nation.

The girls were so excited to give Grandpa a copy of the magazine.  He received some congratulatory letters and one said how wonderful it was to have someone from Arkansas in a national magazine.

One thing wrong...they were sledding not skiing.  Those folks weren't so country after all.

Lawyer With Humor and Medical Update

My youngest daughter is now into her third month of healing after seven surgeries, a skin graft, and in home wound care.  She is still here with her six year old son, Z.

Today's visit to doctor was not what we wanted to hear...the bone may never heal.  On the bright side all the screws and wires are holding her bone together. Doc said the bone would not crumble so Maria can begin to test the foot a little at a time.

The man who was responsible for the accident did not have insurance.  It's true.  He didn't and there's nothing that can be done to help Maria with her lost car, lost wages and for right now, lost ability to walk.

You know what trouble I get into when I start thinking, well, I thought anyway.  I came up with a brilliant idea to show him as an unlawful and unsafe person. I compiled a letter to the editor for local newspapers.

That letter was some of my best writing, I thought.  I crafted it carefully making sure only facts were used.  I spun a tale that would make a repo man cry and a lawbreaker run for high country.

I decided to send it to my lawyer first to make sure the letter was not slanderous.  He replied it was a good letter and by no means was it slanderous, HOWEVER, he would not advise me to send it to the papers.  Why? you ask.  Well, my lawyer knows me and he said the man would reply publicly and, knowing me, I would respond and on and on. The lawyer said he could see no benefits for me or my daughter by publishing this letter. Then he made my day by saying, "Gail, you can never win a pissing contest with a skunk."

Oh, My...

I just realized I have been lax in my posting but sadly have had little to say.  I'm all talked out.  I'm stuffed to the gills with wonderful and some strange food.  The litter from opening packages is cleared. The next to last guests have returned home.

There is some sense of order in my world again. I am comfortable with order.

I sit in my area crocheting, checking now and then on the injured daughter still here.  Zander plays with Legos while his mother naps. Monday we return to the doctor.  Some one comes here three times a week and does what ever they do with a wound vac.  

Tuesday we drop Bonnie at the vet's for her shots, check up and spaying.  Hubby has a doctor's appointment the same day.  I'm hoping I don't get the places and patients mixed up.

Wednesday I take recyclables to turn in an hour away.

Friday, Zander's school begins again.  Monday Andrew's and Jake's begins.

And we begin the year to do it all over again.  We are grateful and blessed.

Happy New Year.

Medical Update On Youngest Daughter...

At the Friday return visit to doc, they decided to readmit Maria to the hospital.  They were not happy with the way things looked.  We've been unable to see the wound since the first surgeries because they put a cast on each time. She had surgery Saturday and more today. The doctor has left the wound open with a wound vac.  The problem in her chest has been resolved so she is in less pain.

It will soon be a month since the accident.

Thank you for your continued prayers and healing thoughts.

A-- Kicking By Life...

As you may remember from my backwards updates the wonderful icing on my birthday cake was to learn my youngest daughter and her youngest son had been in a car accident.  A serious one for her but no permanent injuries for her son.  After four surgical procedures and a full week in the hospital they sent her "home" to us.

It does change your perspective. We've never thought of handicapped as a problem. We now know it will be because of the problems we've had in caring for Maria.  We know for sure now Handicapped is not just a blue sign or a place we can't park...yet.

In my guest room I have a very high antique bed, had to make it lower so she could sit and then position herself. She sleeps with her head at the foot of the bed so Zander won't kick her leg during the night.

Three hops to the bathroom, six hops to the sitting room.  She has a walker but must hop on her good foot.  She can't use crutches due to her chest injury which they have not named yet. For her to reach things while in bed I had to take a shelf off my newly constructed "kitchen raft".  The old radio I had used for a night stand did not meet her needs.

We prop her in a wing back chair with phone, computer, tv remotes and drinks in hand's reach.  All her meals are eaten there since her ankle must be elevated most of the time propped on another chair in front of her with pillows, towels and ice packs and walker in reach.

It is a major deal to arrive at the shower.  She "walks" to the lodge door which has one step down, she turns her back to us as we brace an office chair. She sits. We wheel her through the tv room to the kitchen threshold where this move is repeated.  Roll through the dining room into the hall and hop into the bathroom.  We finally emptied the bathroom and got the shower chair in there so she can shower. We just don't think in handicap terms!

Our house is upside down.  Rugs rolled up every where because the walker will hang and the chair won't roll.  My craft/guest room/sitting area is her abode.  Shelves and decorative items for the bathroom have moved to the dining room.

That gently slopping yard to our lowest entry point even presented a problem but it was far better than the other entries which have three to seven steps.

I have a new found respect for the handicapped people in the world and especially for those people who live alone.  There is no way Maria could have gone home alone.

I also know, for sure, things can change in a instant.  I knew because of Hubby's health issues and my sister's health issues.  I never really thought how quickly it can change.  I am more grateful than I was.  She had a job, a car, and in one instant, despite all she did, both was lost from the foolishness of another driver.  We are blessed, it could have been worse.

Today she returned to the doctor after almost falling on her foot and screaming so loud I heard her from outside.

They removed the cast and the dressing.  Let me just say a pretty turned ankle does not have black oozing green...and that is how it looks!  The doctor asked if she took her antibiotics.  The releasing doctor did not write a script. Fortunately her earlier mishap did not harm the bone, still pinned and screwed.  The wound is open but the doctor today did not know if the doctor before had left it open or if the fall had opened it. Conclusion:  None.  Given antibiotics and sufficient pain pills.  Come back Monday and the doctor who did the surgery will look at it and decide if skin grafts are necessary.

Please continue to hold her in your prayers.  I'm losing faith in doctors!

Editing Dummy Here...

I am working on a clip so you can finally hear Andrew play.  I have no idea how to begin but just know I am trying.

I, the photographer, am fired. I have fired myself.  Andrew has practiced twice with the new 289 Band since they have changed things up.  Two old members remain four were added.  

Andrew was the only invited "special guest" with the band.  The Izard County Consolidated High School opened this act with their school band.  The entire band played well.  I'm a sucker for sax and horns...they were great.

The theme for this show was the history of rock and roll.  Chuck the writer/announcer/guitar player told the story as we traveled from the forties to the present.  We heard Beatles, Sonny and Cher, The Turtles, CCR with John Fogerty, The Carpenters, Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nix, Booker T and The MGs, Janis Joplin, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lynyrd Skynyrd The Kinks and many more I can't remember...not because they weren't good but because I forgot!

Andrew played three solos I think and was on stage playing back up the entire time.  He had been there since one o'clock and the show ended at nine.  He was tired but still had energy to get phone numbers

from some fans.  A young lady wanted him to join her in a talent show.  She sings.  He plays.  That's all I know.  Andrew ain't talking!

The crowd was great.  Hoots and hollers from old gray haired people...that includes me. Many people stood up during one of Andrew's solos.  He played solos in Hey Joe, Pride and Joy, Green Onions and more that I've forgotten.  Next time I will take notes and no pictures.

"...and the crowd went wild" was true this night.  The radio station from another county was there broadcasting live.  A good friend suggested maybe the radio has a recording of the complete performance

This was the best family photo I could get not including me, Hubby, Jake (middle grandson) and Stormi, Toni's daughter.  I was happy to catch this many in one spot with SOME of them looking at the camera.

Left to right:  Zander (youngest grandson, son of Maria), Toni, (nephew), Maria (daughter, Andrew's mom), Melissa (oldest daughter, mother of Jake) and our star of the night, Andrew.

I am so proud of Andrew's God gifted, self taught talent.  I am proud of all my family.

It was just a magical night.  

Soon, I promise, I will figure out how to edit film and make it small enough to post.

May your day be filled with wonderful music.

My Baby's Grown Up...

I send you flowers,

Happy Birthday wishes,

and love

from everyone At The Farm.

May your new year be the best ever.

A Rain!!!!

 The worst drought since 1937 has affected many states.  Stockman are selling out and farm are drying up.  Tuesday we received a great blessing.

My youngest grandson and daughter running

through the beautiful rain.

From my porch

I captured the downpour.

I did not measure it.

I only said, Thank you.

Possum Story...

Many of you seemed interested that we were dropper feeding baby 'possums.  It's not the first time.  When my girls were oh say about eight and ten the dogs killed a 'possum and Marcy saved one then too.

Melissa adopted him and called him Herman.  She dropper fed him.  He was even smaller than these I pictured yesterday.  Melissa kept Herman in a aquarium when she was not carrying him around.  He outgrew that and we moved on to bigger boxes. 

Herman would sit on Melissa's shoulder and wrap his tail around her neck and loved hiding in her hair.  As he was weaned, his favorite food became bananas and moist cat food. Melissa became his mom.

Marcy, my daughters and I decided to go to Branson for a week.  No problem.  Hubby would care for the animals until we returned.

Midweek, we got a call.  Herman wouldn't eat.  We told Hubby to take him outside and talk to him.  Hubby said, "I'm not doing that!  Someone will drive by and see me talking to a 'possum!"  We said, go buy bananas.  He grumbled but he tried.

Two more days passed.  Hubby calls and says, "Don't think Herman is gonna make it.  I've tried everything.  I've bought strawberries and bananas.  I've taken him in the BACK yard to play and I even talked to the #@*# 'possum.  He won't eat."

Returning home we feared the worst.  We walked into Melissa's room and there lay Herman stretched out, skinny and almost lifeless.  Melissa said, "Ohhhhhhh, Herman!"  He struggled to his feet and began to eat as Melissa handed him food.

Herman grew BIG and we talked to the vet about neutering him since he was a boar 'possum.  The vet said he'll always be a wild animal so it's best to let him go.

We just couldn't do it yet.  Our Herman was an unusual one.  Instead of the normal black and grey he was brown and white...beautiful.  We would let him in and out the back sliding glass door and he never messed in the house after he was older.

Herman was a good house keeper.  He would sniff the floor and find even the tiniest bit of food the girls had dropped and eat it.  Herman was also a good watch dog.  He was fine with the four of us but when someone else came that big 'possum mouth would open and he was hiss as loud as he could.

Eventually, he became accustomed to being outside most of the time.  One night he got confused and went to the neighbors sliding glass door and tried to get in.  Thank goodness they knew the girls had a possum. 

The same neighbor had a yard sale and left her stuff out over night.  The next morning a box of clothes was moving.  She carefully lifted the first piece and saw it was a 'possum and almost ran through herself getting away from it.  She called Maria as asked if we still had a 'possum.  Maria went down and said, "Ohhhh, Herman!" and swept him up in her arms.  The neighbor asked me how in the world Maria could tell one 'possum from another.  She also asked Maria to watch the yard sale while she drove to town to get something.  A customer came while Maria sat there with Herman in her arms.  Herman bowed up and hissed at the customer and she left.  Maria never told the neighbor.

Herman got married and moved away.  When we would see a 'possum that unusual color we like to think it was Herman's get.

So next time you see a 'possum know underneath that pointed ugly naked tailed body beats a heart of gold...if you get them young enough. 

Now, I've just confirmed for every one, I really am crazy.

Why Maria Hates Snakes...

The wonderful comments and questions I received on yesterday's post got me to thinking.  As a child I had snakes for pets but had to keep them in the barn.  Mom wouldn't allow them in the house, don't know why.  Snakes have never been a problem for me and have always had dogs that were trained to eliminate them.  I, too, have no problem eliminating a poison one.  I try to move the others to a place further into the woods.

Well, as my mind was traveling through all the snake tales, I thought of how terrified my youngest daughter is of snakes.  The evil me laughed out loud because I remembered why!

I had a pair of Thrushes building a nest by the chicken house when Maria was about twelve, I'm guessing.  I call them Thacker birds because this is the sound their song makes.  My Thacker birds were throwing a fit, Maria and I went to look. 

Sure enough, there was a huge black snake trying to eat my baby birds.  The parents were bomb diving it and trying to get the snake to leave. I sent Maria after the gun, while I kept an eye on the snake.  He is about midway in a thick cedar tree about twenty-five feet off the ground, I did not want to lose him, especially this close to my egg laying hens. He is wrapped around a limb, striking at the birds as they attack him.

Maria arrives with the gun and the dog.  I think I may have had to shoot a couple of times.  The snake was hard to see in the branches and I was using a twenty-two.  I hit it, it fell.

Zara, the dog, jumped on it and started shaking it like a dirty rug.  Zara let go, the snake was not completely dead and it wrapped around Maria's bare leg.  I'm really sorry but it was a funny sight!!!  Maria is hopping one legged, screaming, Mom, get it off me!!!  I am laughing so hard at the sight I can't function.  From ankle to knee, Maria is wearing a live snake and it's not happy.  Neither is Maria!

Come oonnnnnnnnnnn, guys, it was a black snake, perfectly harmless except to my Thacker birds.  I finally grabbed the snake and with Zara's help, we unwrapped it from Maria's leg.  She ran screaming to the house and left me and Zara alone for the kill.  Zara did the job.

Maria, I apologize for such a tramatic...but funny...event.  And that is why Maria HATES snakes.

Check out more Farm Friend Friday Posts at Verde Farm.

Naked With Two Men...

one at my head, one between my legs!

Bet that caught your attention!  It was a long time ago, thirty-five years ago, if I remember correctly. It was during the birth of our second daughter, Maria.  Happy Birthday, Maria Danielle!!!

After the first birth (Martin and Melissa) I experienced, I gave the doctor orders this time.  Hubby would be there with me, there would be no use of drugs and all would be natural.  The doctor looked at me like I had lost my last marble. I said, if you can't manage that, I'm going somewhere else.  He finally agreed.

The previous week I had gone into labor but stopped.  Home, I went.  The nurse said, you have an appointment next week and I said, won't be back until I'm ready.

Labor pains hit.  I cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, cleaned the living room.  By the time I decided to wake hubby, I could not tie my shoes.  We jumped in the vehicle, called my mom.  She met us at the highway. We almost threw Melissa out the window to get to the hospital in time.

At the hospital, the nurse laughed and said, thought you weren't coming 'til you were having that baby.  I said that is why I am here...she still didn't believe me.  We finally convinced them to check me in and Doc came by and said don't make me miss my piece of cake, we are having a party.

They left me in the room and went about their business.  I buzzed them on the intercom and said, ladies, I think you had better get in here, this baby is coming and you have done nothing to prepare.  They laughed. They came and they checked and they panicked!

To make a long story short, we traveled quickly to the delivery room, got fussed at by the doctor.  Hubby, the doctor and I were all joking during the delivery.  Had a little trouble with the shoulders and we joked about backing the truck up to the window and winching the baby out.  We got down to business, less than thirty minutes after we arrived, we had a bouncing baby girl, nine pounds eight ounces. Doc mentioned since it was so easy for me, maybe we should all go into the baby business.  We make 'em, he delivers, we sell 'em and divide the profits...easy money.

Doc was bragging on me and saying, what a great job I did...I begged him to let me walk out of the delivery room.  I said, come on, Doc, let's really blow their minds!  He would not go for it...some nonsense about hospital policy.

As soon as I got dressed, I wanted to go home.  Doc finally relented by clamping Maria's navel with a different clamp.  We went home the same day. 

If you're wondering about the cake, the nurses saved Doc a piece.

Happy Birthday, Maria!  May all your dreams come true!  Love ya, kid!!

Luke, Maria and Zander...

Been Gone Having a Baby...

My third grandson, Evan Zander...six pounds nine ounces, 191/2 inches long was born by c-section 11/05/2008 at 11:47am. Mom, Dad and baby are all well. Maria will shoot me when she sees these photos.

I will probably post too many pictures so tell me when you have seen enough.