Monday, May 11, 2009

Turtle

Warning this is sad.

We have a few acres of land on which we would like to graze a couple of cows. Mostly I want the cows so that I can have the agricultural exemption on our property taxes. I also want them so my as yet unconceived grandchildren will have something to pet and feed Dandelions to. Dandelions I have a lot of.

It has been raining every other day for the past month. This is truly a blessing, the grass is growing, the wildflowers are gorgeous and the lakes are totally full. The problem is that the ground has been too wet to mow with the tractor. A heavy tractor can really rip up the ground. On Saturday it was finally dry enough for me to knock down some of the taller vegetation.

Monday morning I and my pup Reggie were out enjoying the morning. I am trying to give Reggie a bit more freedom thus I am letting him wander without a leash but with a large jingle bell clipped to his collar. Reggie kept going over to an area that was out of my sight as I sat crocheting a baby blanket (also for my as yet unconceived grandchild). I would go get him, get his attention focused on something in the front yard where he was in my sight and then go back to my rocking/crocheting. Reggie kept wandering back. After we had preformed this little dance about 3 times I decided to look at what had his interest. There on the freshly mowed ground was the bottom half of a turtle. The top had apparently been caught in the blades of the mower. Such a sad sight to my eyes, but pure heaven to a puppy. I got the shovel and disposed of all of the parts I could find.

Today Reggie is still sneaking off to that area of the land, called by his curiosity, I tell myself, surely not by his hunger.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Rain

It's a rainy day and I can't go out and play. Who needs the rain anyway?

This is a rain song that my children and I would sing when we were cooped up and going stir crazy. I don't know if I made it up or if it is off of Sesame Street or some such show. We would all sing the line and then someone would say an answer like "the trees." Then we would all sing the line again. Of course the fun in this was to try to come up with new and unique answers like "the earthworm." I know, you are thinking 'the earthworm' is unique? Yes it is, when the captive player is 5.

I have been singing this song a lot this week. I am no longer feeling blessed by all those things that need the rain. They and their precious rain are starting to get on my nerves!

Then tonight the sky cleared and I saw a hint of blue-- right before the sun went down.
I am dreaming of tomorrow and planting Zinnia seeds on my hillside for the forth time! I have become the Johnny Appleseed of Zinnias. If you are between Dallas and Houston and see Zinnias growing along the creek beds, I, the rain and my barren waterlogged hillside are to thank. This month I have personally kept the Burpee seed company in business.

The sun will come up tomorrow. The weatherman on TV is being a naysayer but I have hope. I saw the blue of the sky and all is right with the world.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Sick puppy

My puppy is sick.

He is laying in his little bed with his head flopped over dragging the floor, motionless. Yes motionless!

I know I should be ecstatic. How I have longed for times like this. How many times have I said 'If you would just sit still for 5 minutes I could ...............' Now he is still and my mind blank of what that all important .............. was.

I know what is wrong. He is suffering from a trifecta of Rabies shot, new heart worm medicine and teething. I need to bring out the carpet shampooer to eliminate the evidence of his ailment.
But for now, I hold him. He lays willingly in my arms and looks into my face as I stroke his ears. No squirm, no little paws running in place desperately trying to reach the ground to set off on a new adventure. I should be loving this, this calm, this respite.

Soon, I know, he will jingle his bell to go outside to chase bugs (should probably add tasty, crunchy June bugs to the trifecta list.) But for now, we will gaze into each others eyes and speak of undying love.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Apples

I love apples!

This may come as a shock to my family because, if truth be told, I really don't like apples very much. I hate to bite into one and get the peel stuck in my front teeth. I hate not knowing if the latest Gala apple purchase is going to be juicy or mealy.

My dislike of apples goes back to my youth.

When I was growing up we lived next door to a parsonage. That sounds so grand and evokes visions of a English country setting with a rock house that has moss growing on it. But no, I grew up in the desert and the parsonage was a house in a normal city block, it just happened to be owned by a church. This parsonage had a few apple trees in the backyard. Every year when the apples were ripe, full of worms from non-care and falling to the ground my mommy would send us sneaking over the wall to 'steal' apples for "Apple Pie Day." As my mother was a saint (do all children think their mothers are saints?) I am sure she had permission from the Reverend, but to us kids the fun of 'stealing' and not getting caught was wonderful. We would each fill a bucket with apples for our own individual pie. Yes, that is right! Our own, individual pie. I am not talking a miniature version of the real thing, I am talking about a full scale pie. My mommy would peel, cut out the wormy parts and slice up enough apples for 6 full size pies. The counters were covered with flour and pie crust that had been rolled out using my great grandmothers rolling pin. The smell of cinnamon and sugar and apples was pure heaven. And on that early fall night, one time each year of my youth, my family would eat apple pie for dinner. No meat, no vegetable, just our own pie with a glass of milk and a slice of cheese for those who wanted it. Ahh the memory------- except for one thing----- I hated apples. I loved the pie. I loved the crust. I loved the cinnamon. I loved the sugar!!! It was just those pesky apples I could not stand. Don't get me wrong, I ate it. Are you kidding me, pass up dessert as your whole meal!!! It just didn't thrill my 'entire' soul like it did my siblings.

My mommy also used to make apple dumplings every once in a while. This entailed taking a whole apple, peeling and coring it, filling that hole with cinnamon, raisins and pecans, then encasing the apple in dough. Everyone loved this dessert. I would say 'No thank-you.' Please realize this was in a time when candy and soda were a huge treat, not an everyday occurrence as they are now. Passing up dessert was passing up your one chance of sugar for the day. A very big deal! But I was not allowed to only eat the dough, I had to eat ALL of the apple. Not worth it.

Now, I love apples.

I love Apple Brown Betty, apple cake and yes, apple pie. I am sitting here eating a piece of wonderful apple cake I made yesterday. A cup of coffee and apple cake for breakfast! I would take a picture to show you the cute daisy plate and mug set that I am eating it off of, but I am not that kind of blogger yet. Someday.....

So bring on the apple tree. I can deal with the worms just like my mother. Just don't ask me to eat one without crust or cinnamon and plenty of SUGAR.

Maybe I haven't changed at all.