ALMOST DONE !

I've been mowing yard the last couple days. I started yesterday evening, mowing the shaded areas, thinking I'd mow the front yard after the sun dropped behind the hill. I made 4 or 5 rounds before it started raining. Today, I went to Mt. Pleasant to get some "puppy food". then on up to Mike and Linda's. I took a cassette tape I had recorded off of old - really old - records for Mike to record on a CD for me. My pickup or car neither have a tape player (both have CD players) thus, I keep Mike busy 'burning' CDs for me. (I suppose I SHOULD buy my own CD recorder instead of bothering him so much) But I think he kind of enjoys listening to some of the OLD music too. At any rate, When I got home this afternoon I finished mowing everything except the "puppy yard" and I got the "push" mower in there. But I came in the house to drink a pepsi and it got dark on me - Maybe in the morning, then I need to pick raspberrys. I found I have a pretty good crop of them growing back by the creek. I haven't decided quite what I'll do with them but there's no use letting them go to waste. I'll probably donate them to someone.
I thought I'd make it through today (the 6th aniversary of Matt's death) dry-eyed, I did till I read Cindi's blog. There are so many untold memorys about him! ! ! And I will NEVER forget how BEAUTIFULLY he played Amazing Grace at my mother's funeral. I was concerned he might "choke up" Because as Linda used to say "He not only lost a grandmother, but a best friend". He played it on his Electric Guitar with a borrowed Amp, - never missed a note - And I've never heard it played any prettier! The last few months Mom was alive, Matt used to go over there before school and fix Tea for her, put in a stainless Thermos bottle and put it by her chair. That was an every day routine - she would have Tea at hand all day till he got home in the afternoon. Whether she was "up" yet or not was immaterial if not, she had hot tea when she got up.
I better shut this thing down and turn on the TV if I'm gonna catch the news. Would you believe - the tv hasn't been on ALL DAY - thats unusual for me!!!

A disappointing Week-end

I went to Birmingham (Iowa) to their "Homecoming" primarily to watch Caleb and Derik drive tractors (old - restored) in the parade. When I got there, they had been taken to a wrestling meet by Derik's father. I did have a great visit with Merlin Williams ( an old friend and our former mail carrier) He had a restored 'Gamble's' tractor - I never knew Gambles Stores ever sold farm tractors! They did for a short time in the "30's"!
Then I went to 34 raceway - maybe for the last time. I realize track officials (like referees, umpires and others that officiate sporting events) can make mistakes - BUT the officialls at 34 it seems to me have their "pets" that are going to to be given ALL the benefit of doubts and some that are going to be penalized for no just reason at all. Two weeks ago the scorer "Made a mistake in the sprint restart after a yellow flag. BUT the last two weeks there have been too many "mistakes" to be accidental, and totally unjust penaltys. I am TOTALLY DISGUSTED with them. If I don't go to Knoxville on saturdays, I think I'll be at home! I love going to the races but not when some of the drivers not only have to out drive the the competition but have to overcome the bias of the officials too!
The weather here is HOT and HUMID the temps in the 90's and high humidity that has put the heat index over 100. Plainly miserable. I need to mow the yard - but not when it's that hot. According to ch. 6 I may need a baler by the time it gets cooler and dry enough to mow.

GOT MILK ?

I DO! . . . there's a story behind that. My old refrigerator has been giving me fits. It would "frost up" (it was supposed to be frost free) and at maximum setting I could get the freezer down to 27 to 34 degrees. So after numerous times defrosting and trying various other things, I finally gave in and bought a new one yesterday. I went to burlington and picked one up thinking it wouldn't be that bad to change them out - WRONG - since Linda and I bought the old one, Jeff and I replaced the front door. This one is taller but obviously narrower. I couldn't get the old one out without removing, not only the door but one side of the door frame! I finally got the old one out. I then got Caleb and Josh (a friend of Cale's) to help me move the new one in, and found out it was about 1/2 inch to tall to fit under the 'over frig cubbard'. So today was spent "remodeling" and replacing the door and door frame (last night the door was 'leaned' into place!) BUT now I can keep milk without it souring! I don't normally use that much milk but when you can't keep it, You seem to need milk for about anything want to cook.
So, about the first thing done after getting the house 'put back together' was go to Hy Vee and buy some milk and had a bowl of cerial.

Other than that, there's not been much noteworthy going on around here, I went down to Molly's sunday and attended church with her. I had kind of intended on going on down to Cherry Box, Missouri. (another HUGE Mo. city) and visit my aunt. But I visited with Molly and Gerald too long and plainly didn't have time to go on down there.
My late uncle used to say "Cherry Box has two streets, Main and Plumb. If you miss main street - you're plumb out of town!"

Money in the Mail

It's that time of year again. Explanation: When I completed 25 years service with Heatilator, I was "inducted" into the "Silver Circle Club" and given 10 shares of HON (now HNI) stock. each quarter, I recieve a dividend check. The first few was for a whopping $1.25, over the years it has gone up to $2.15. I always joke with the teller at the bank when I cash those HUGE checks! They always include a form for Direct Deposit - NO WAY - that would spoil all the fun and humor involved in getting them and cashing them!
It does kind of irritate me that the company isn't making enough money to pay 'profit sharing' to their employees but for the "Fat Cats" that have money to invest - the dividend checks are not ONE CENT lower! Somehow, that don't quite seem right. I shouldn't complain, I guess, I also have a much larger number of shares in my retirement fund, That will keep it going for a longer period of time. But it still isn't right ffor the employees - even if I do benefit!

My Fantastic Weekend !

I went to Chicago saturday, I took Mike, Cindi, Sarah, and Lyric to Outback for dinner, It was kind of like "Beauties and The Beast". They were all dressed up and looked absolutely gorgeous! and as normal I was wearing jeans and a western cut shirt and probably looked like Hobo compared to the rest.
Sunday, Cindi and Mike was to "baby-sit" Lyric. I should say "big girl sit" Lyric is very insistant that she is a "big girl". At any rate, we four went to Brookfield Zoo. I always kind of like zoos but like shopping - it takes on a whole new outlook when you're with Lyric! a quick example: we saw a rhinocerous - it was laying in a mudhole not moving except to switch it's tail now and then. Lyric watched a little bit the at intervols would say "Go Rhino" and almost as on que it would switch its tail, a few second later the process was repeated! As we were watching a ground squirell came out from among some trees, we pointed it out to Lyric and was assured "They're Friends!"
We, of course, visited a gift shop. I can't tell you how many times she (being impressed by the selection) said "OH MY GOSH !" And of coarse, Mike being 'hard-hearted' told her "You pick out what you want." (I'm jealous, no one EVER tells me that. :) )
I had the most enjoyable week-end I've had in a long time! But, that's Lyric - she is always totally delightful to be around. She is SO SWEET!
Today, I took the puppys to the vet. for their first shots. Before I left Mt. Pleasant I was able to sell the little female. Plus her older sister (Harriet Houndini) and I have 1 of the boys tenatively sold, so I'm pretty pleased! It was time ,I needed to "thin my herd" some!