TALKING TO STRANGERS

How many times did your mother say, "DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS!" Mine said it many times and when I am tempted, even now, I hear her stern voice remind me.

How many times have you seen a sight like the one below? A weary worn and forlorn looking soul. Alone in the world?

 

Today I took a drive around my little town of Fairhaven and ended up at Marine Park on the Bay.
As I drove in I noticed a gentleman sitting at a park bench, his back to me, looking out at the sea. There was a sleeping bag rolled up beside him and a back pack on the table along with a grocery bag and a few cans.
It was a cloudy day so the park was fairly quiet except for the ever hungry seagulls.

I grabbed my purse and camera and walked around taking pictures of the bay, trees, grasses, etc.
I was eventually on the beach and turned to take a picture of a sea-worn log when I got a look at this man. Although he was quite a distance from me, I could see the lines in his face and the glint of silver in his long unruly, hair. Immediately my shutterbug instincts kicked in and I did NOT hear mother say 'don't talk to strangers.' OH MY GOSH DID I EVER WANT TO GET A PICTURE OF HIM!

I know I could have, should have asked but I was afraid he would refuse. So I nonchalantly snapped pictures of everything in his direction, carefully adjusting my camera and zoomed in on him.
The picture does not do him justice.

His hair and long beard were white, he had lost his left hand and wore a metal appliance.
It seemed he was looking directly at me.
Slowly I worked my way to his table and started a conversation. It was about this time that I 'DID' hear my mother's warning, but It was too late.

This is what I learned about this gentleman who had the most beautifully colored bluegreen eyes I have ever seen,
He was born in Massachusetts, and left home at around 12. Worked at many jobs and loved President Kennedy whose advise he took and joined the army, to do something for our country.
Since then he has traveled mostly by foot across the US and around it's perimeters at least twice, he said.

I stood a good distance away while this lonely fellow told me of his life, but could smell alcohol. He was drinking beer from a can and had more in the bag on the table.
He said he didn't have any use for TV evangelists but quoted Billy Graham's "If America don't straighten up soon she will have to appologize to Sodom and Gomorrah."

I believe he would have talked all night If I had stayed to listen. He was very lonely. When I was about to leave he asked for a handout.
I told him I would pray for him and asked his name.
"Shamrock, just call me Shamrock, and thanks for the visit ma'am."

  

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MY DAVEY CROCKETT

 

This is my grandson David when he was a little guy around two years old. In this photo, He has just been found playing in a container of old motor oil of some sort and brought into the house to be cleaned up. It took some doing but he finally came out shiny clean and the oil was disposed of.
In this photo he looks as though he's wondering why he can't continue to play in that black stuff.
Aren't kids fun!!

This is the same little guy who when around that same age, asked for a cookie. I told him to wait until after lunch.
Davie has always had a profound sweet tooth and waiting until after lunch was just too much for him.

So he ran to me and hugged my leg as tight as his little arms would allow and said, "I wub ya fweety." interpretation: 'I love you sweety, now give me the cookie."
What's a granny to do. Davey got cookies. Lots of cookies. 

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REMEMBERING WASHDAY

 

For those who remember the old wringer washers, I would like to hear your memories of washday.

My mother worked weekdays so Saturday had to be our washday.
The washer was rolled into the kitchen and filled with hot water. Mom set two chairs close by with washtubs filled with cold rinse water.

The dirty clothes were sorted into piles on the floor. Whites, coloreds, jeans, sheets, etc. The first load washed was the whites. Then she would turn on the agitator and let it run for five or so minutes. Then came the terrifying job of putting the washed clothes through the hard rubber wringer, careful not to get our fingers too close.

The clothes went through two rinses then were hung out on the clothes line to dry.

I remember sitting in the living room of our little house, reading comic books on the cold winter days. The house was steamed up from the washer, and the windows were covered with condensation. The smell was not pleasant. Imagine all the dirty clothes, the homemade lyesoap,the smell of hot oil from the motor, and the pot of brown beans with hamhocks bubbling on the back of the wood cookstove, all mixed together.

Now here's the part of my story that may make you raise your eyebrows.
Our Washing machine talked.

After hours of listening to the drone of the motor, a child's imagination went to work.
My sister thought our machine was saying, "ringworm-ringworm-ringworm,"

Did your washer talk too? What did it say?
Come-on, speak up.
 

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WASHER EVOLUTION

 
 
 
 
THANK THE LORD FOR THIS PROGRESS! 

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Have you ever been to a place where you felt so close to the Lord that you could just reach out and take His hand?
A place where the warm sun on your head may have been His breath as he placed a holy kiss in your hair?
And where the sweet, warm breeze caressed your face and you knew it was His hand?

I found this place in Eastern Washington. High in the mountains, where there was not a sound, save that of the wind high in the trees.
He came to me there. He touched me and brought me to my knees.
I will never be the same. 

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I am in the process of cleaning out my Photo File and found this cute plaque.
Sort of says it all, doesn't it? 

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BE INFORMED

I just read a post that I believe everyone should check out.
Ken over at
Squamata Report
has some info you need to know about.

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A friend sent me these and made me smile.

A little boy was overheard praying:"Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.
I'm having a real good time like I am."
..................................................................

I had been teaching my three-year old daughter, Caitlin,
the Lord's Prayer for several evenings at bedtime.
She would repeat after me the lines from the prayer.
Finally, she decided to go solo.
I listened with pride as she carefully enunciated each word,
right up to the end of the prayer:
"Lead us not into temptation," she prayed,
"but deliver us from E-mail.
..................................................................

One particular four-year-old prayed,
"And forgive us our trash baskets
as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."
....................................................................

A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service,
"And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?"
One bright little girl replied,
"Because people are sleeping."
...................................................................

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3.
The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.
Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.
"If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,
'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'
Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,
"Ryan, you be Jesus!"

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This is my youngest, taken in 1973, when he was almost four.
A short time later we moved and were doing a major remodel while still living in the house.
We had installed a new washer and dryer, and Shawn snagged one of the boxes they came in for a playhouse which sat in the livingroom area. We cut windows and a door to make it more fun for him. I also gave him a blanket and an old sheet which had several holes in it.

I had been doing some very intense Bible study at the time and Shawn heard my sisters and I discuss what we were learning.
We never know how much our children pick up from what they hear us say, and we also don't know how they perceive what they hear.

One evening as we were watching TV, Shawn came out of his playhouse door with the holey sheet over his head, and in the spookiest little boy voice he could muster up, he announced, "I'm the holey ghost."

This made perfect sense to him. He saw kids put a sheet over themselves and say they were a ghost, so if the sheet had holes in it, it must be the holey ghost.
I sure laughed and I bet the Lord did too. 

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THE MYSTERY IS SOLVED
When my grandson Luke was small he had an imaginary friend.
'Gootcher' was as real to him as his brother was.
He never mentioned 'who' or 'what Gootcher was, and apparently no one thought to ask.
Now Luke is a man of twenty-seven and has finally revealed that his friend Gootcher was a bear.
Isn't our imagination incredible.

I wonder if seniors have imaginary friends? I am quite certain I would choose Sean Connery. ((((SMILE))))
 

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Maddie is my youngest great granddaughter. She will be three next month. Her Nana (my daughter Cyndi)is raising her and her two older sisters. Last night Cyndi called me while she was putting the little ones to bed, and asked if I would like to hear maddie sing a song.
Of course I did!
Over the phone came a little baby girl voice soft as silk and sweet as honey, as she sang to her great granny, "You are my sunshine."
I purred!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

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SUNSET

Way back in the 1960's my folks used to take mini trips. They didn't travel far but went to some very interesting and beautiful places, especially in Eastern Washington, and the Olympic Peninsula. I found this photo in Mother's album. I believe it was taken on one of these trips. I love the colors and decided it was worth sharing.
 

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FIELD OF DREAMS

I had a lovely ride in the country not too long ago and of course had to take some pictures. It seems odd in a way, that I like to take pictures of old broken down houses and barns, when there are many lovely modern homes around. But they don't interest me at all.
I also like pictures of fields that are not being used, but are overgrown with tall grass, and spotted with weathered fence posts.

I imagine the people who lived in the houses and the children that ran in the fields among the cows and horses, and somehow my spirit connects with those long ago times, And a longing fills my soul.
I guess I'm really just a country girl, at heart. 

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A little boy opened the big family bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages "Mama, look what found," the boy called out.
What have you got there, dear?" With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear."

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It may not be for everyone but as a Cake Decorator with an Irish sense of humor, I think this a hillarious idea! Make it for someone who is getting a cat,for your vet,or just for laughs.

KITTY LITTER CAKE
Cake ingredients:
1 box spice or german chocolate cake mix
1 box white cake mix
1 package white sandwich cookies
large package vanilla instant pudding
a few drops green food coloring
12 small tootsie rolls or equivalent
serving dishes and "DISHES AND UTENSILS"
one new cat litter box
one new cat-litter box liner
one new pooper scooper
(the box and scooper are reusable)
Directions:
1.Prepare and bake cake mixes according to directions in any size pan. Prepare pudding and chill. Crumble cookies in small barches in blender or food processor. Add a few drops of green food coloring to 1 cup of the ccookie crumbs. Mix with a fork or shake in a jar, and set aside.

2.When cakes are at room temperature crumble them into a large bowl.
Toss with half of the remaining cookie crumbs and enough pudding to make the mixture moist but not soggy.
Place liner in litter box and pour in mixture.

3. Unwrap 3 tootsie rolls and heat in microwave until almost melted. Shape the blunt ends into slightly curved points. Repeat with three more rolls. Bury the rolls decoratively in the cake mixture. Sprinkle remaining white cookie crumbs over the mixture then scatter green crumbs lightly over the top.

4. Heat 5 more tootsie rolls until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake and sprinkle with crumbs from the litter box. Heat the remaining tootsie roll until pliable and hang it over the edge of the box.
Place box on sheet of newspaper and serve with pooper-scooper.
 
A country curtsy to my sweet East Texas Rancher friend who sent me this fun recipe! 

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This is the female and fmale Hobo Spider and the result of their bite.
I have learned that this spider is common in my area and is often confused with the Brown Recluse. Both are poisonous.
There is a lot of information on the internet about all spiders and I urge you to learn which are in your area.
My niece told me that there are spider traps we can purchase that are treated with a sticky substance which has a pheromone that attracts the spiders.
I plan to get some soon! 

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Meet my newest great grandbaby.
Joseph Randall is five weeks old.
Born about a month prematurely he is actually about a week old.
Isn't he a little doll. I got to hold him. 

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PECANS IN THE CEMETERY

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence.
One day, two boys filled up a basketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts.
"One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me," said one boy.
Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence.

Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, "one for you, one for me. One for you, one for me."

He just knew what it was. He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along.
"Come here quick, "said the boy, "you won't believe what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls!"

The man said, "beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk."
When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled slowly to the cemetery.
Standing by the fence they heard, "one for you, one for me. One for you, one for me.

The old man whispered, "boy you've been telling me the truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord."
Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet they were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord.

At last they heard, "one for you, one for me. Thats all. Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done."
They say the old man made it back to town a full five minutes ahead of the kid on the bike.

A country curtsy to my friend Joan in Mission,BC for this one.

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This picture was taken by my daughter Patty-Jo.
The puppy is sucking on Hailee's finger and obviously Hailee is delighted.
Patty-Jo certainly captured the moment. 

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A few years ago while visiting my cousin, I admired this lacy looking plant in her yard. She didn't know what it was but broke off a branch for me with the previous years seed still attached.

I brought it home and planted seed in several areas. It grows to nearly two and a half feet tall and is a beautiful backing for my pink snaps.
However, it is now growing everywhere, in all of the flower gardens in the back yard, in the walks and it even grows in brick and gravel.

I finally did a Google search and discovered it is Loosestrife, which is considered a noxious weed.
I am pulling it up from all over the place.
Live and Learn! 

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Did you ever have 'one of those draggy days?'

  

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This morning I went to open the shower curtain in the bathroom and my hand nearly grabbed this uninvited fellow.
I don't know how these things get into my house, but they certainly do. Of course I had to grab my camera and get a few shots.

I'm not sure what kind of spider this is, but think it may be a Wolf Spider, which are not poisonous. (I don't think) I am not afraid of spiders as a rule, however when they are in my house and I nearly shake hands with them, I can get a bit emotional.

A few years ago my 122 pound mastiff/shepherd mix dog was resting in front of the fire when he saw one of these making a bee-line in his direction. He didn't waste any time getting out of the way.

When I smacked this visitor with my flyswatter it came flying straight at me. I'm not a screamer, usually, however I sure let out an ear piercing screech and sprung a leak as it landed at my feet.
My little dogs ran for their life as I managed to scoop the deflated spider onto the swatter and flush it.

The moral of this story is exactly what my daddy tried to teach me all my life, "Watch what you're doing Bev!"

Oh yes, did I mention that the earring is two and a half inches long? 

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A blog friend in East Texas sent me the following:

A TEXAS SIZED SNAKE
This snake was recently found at the Old Turkey gas plant located just south of the Alibates Turnoff on Highway 136 south of Fritch Texas. (That's just north of Amarillo)
She also sent a recipe for fried snake steaks, but I will let you use your own.

 

I don't know how it was found but it measured nine feet and weighed ninety-seven pounds. 

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I call this picture, "Whiskers In The Snow."
The Pansy is a type called 'whiskers' and the white behind it is allysum, which is a very fragrant annual. 

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MICHAEL
1961-1991
Please buckle up and drive carefully. You are loved.

 
 

 

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