The View from Here

Clothes on the line...

I couldn’t help smiling yesterday! Each time I passed by a window and saw my towels flapping in the breeze I recalled a memory that brought a smile to my face. What started out as frustration over a “stupid broken dryer”  ended up as a testament to natural power and a trip down memory lane. Most of the memories involved my mom and the hours we spent talking over a clothesline.

I should first tell you that my frustration comes from the fact that this is the second time the cycle-selection knob on my two-year-old dryer has broken. I have had previous dryers for ten years without any sort of breakdown! So…

I was prepared to go to the Laundromat yesterday and finish my laundry before vacation, then deal with the dryer when we return. However, when I looked at my errand list I realized I would have to spend the entire day in town! I hate that with a passion. Option two- buy some clothesline and hang my wash out to dry, just like I’ve done a thousand times in the past. Great idea! (There are already poles in the yard, but over the winter the line had rotted.)

I had a couple of things on my list that I needed from Tractor Supply, but was surprised to learn that they didn’t have anything even resembling clothesline. Same story at two more stops. I had to go to Walgreen’s to get my prescriptions and walked down the laundry aisle holding my breath. Yep! Clothesline and clothespins and even a pin bag, although I already own one.

I was proud of myself for stringing the line tightly. It takes a little effort! Hung my towels out and they were dry and sweet-smelling in an hour. They may seem like an eternity, but I was in the house doing other things while they dried. I wasn’t sitting in the stifling hot Laundromat listening to kids squeal and praying they didn’t hit me while they raced laundry carts! J

Today I’m going to hang out my sheets and comforter!

Yes, I will go back to using my dryer when we return from vacation. Everything I own isn’t suited to line drying. And all of my laundry memories are not good ones. I’ve shivered in the cold wind and melted in the hot sun while hanging clothes on the line. But for this weekend I am loving this step back in time.

Have a great day!  

Garden Walk

Just a brief walk in the garden this morning folks. More later.

 

 

Five Days

 

 

Almost vacation blast off day and I’m getting little things checked off my list. Went to the doctor yesterday for my annual checkup. Yes, I’m still too fat. Duh. I don’t need a $50 co-pay office visit to figure that one out. However, my EKG was perfect and my cholesterol is good and blood pressure is improving. Changes in medication and I have to monitor the blood pressure for the next two months. So…big as a house, healthy as a horse. 

 

Did I mention that I want to do employee training at WalMart? I did that during my time at Macy’s.  I know that WalMart is a totally different ballgame, but customer service is still customer service. I’d like to speak directly to a few people and give them some much-needed advice!! I recently needed some paint so I stopped at the fancy little “home improvement” counter in our newly remodeled store and asked the young man for advice. “What you need is on that back wall and to the left.”  Oh, sure, don’t actually walk back there with me or show me which of the nine hundred spray cans might contain what I need! Stay with that paperwork you are staring at- it’s spending money!

Then yesterday I picked up my photos at the lab. I haven’t used WalMart’s photo service in nearly a year, but because of our impending vacation I needed some photo work handled by the one-hour lab. The woman in front of me wanted her picture taken! Well, I realize she was elderly and might have been a bit off the mark with her request. However, the young woman behind the counter simply said, “Oh, we only take passport photos.” She did NOT say, “The photo studio is at the front of the store and they can arrange that for you.” If she had tried that bit of helpfulness the woman might not have said very loudly, “Well, I’ll just go somewhere else!” and they both would have had a better day.

A few weeks ago I needed some raisins and couldn’t find them because of the remodeling confusion. I asked a clerk where they might be and she said, “I don’t know”, and went back to what she was doing!!  I know we are a “captive audience” once we go through the doors, but come on. You don’t have to mistreat us!

I have five bags of mulch, five bags of river rock, and a beautiful new lily waiting for me in the garden this morning, so I’d best get my breakfast and walk down the hill. I could get used to this summer vacation stuff! Five days and I’ll be on the road…traveling…my second favorite thing to do besides gardening. 

 

Have a great day and be careful out there!

Babies!

Well, they came, they ate, and they played. The babies followed mom to the yard last night and I got some cute photos of them! There are three- I’m guessing two males and a female. For clarity and simplicity I’m going to call them Riley, Rob and Roy. Photographing them was like photographing a circus act, or a busy ant hill, or the Three Stooges! Movement and mayhem every moment!

 

Rob and Roy seem to be typical boys. They came bounding into the garden after their mom. Roamed around, gobbled the food, snapped at each other, tried to climb the clothes line pole, and tumbled into the water tub after each other. When the food was about gone, one of them ran off to the cottonwood tree and scurried up. The other followed and then Riley reluctantly joined them. They shimmied up to the very top of the tree, which is at least twenty feet! Mom got to the base of the tree, changed her mind and went home. I snuck out the front door, snapped one shot from the corner of the house and then went back inside. I was afraid if I stayed outside they wouldn’t come down soon enough to follow mom home. Although I assume that like most animals they followed her scent back. Anyway, within a few minutes they were down and gone.

 

Riley is smaller and lighter than the boys. She hung back during the whole feeding time and seemed very timid. Mom fussed at her and slapped at her a few times when she interfered with either her own eating or the boys. Riley actually moved away and lay down in the grass behind or in front of Mom a couple of times. She didn’t go in the water tub with the boys. Everything she did seemed timid. I tried not to feel sorry for her, but it seems that even in the animal world girls aren’t always appreciated!

And don’t get the wrong idea. They may look cute and cuddly, but I’ve watched raccoons enough to understand that you wouldn’t want a hug without leather gloves and a protective vest- maybe even a helmet! Lol  These little guys already show an aggressive attitude. They have to be that way to survive in the world.

 

Enjoy! Have a great day with the critters in your yard. Hope you like having two posts in one day. I just couldn’t wait to share the other one.  

P.S. More baby pictures in an album later today.

Save the Birds

 

Sometimes we assume that the only thing we get from our ancestors is their coloring, bone structure, and a few diseases and conditions we wish they had kept to themselves. I look a great deal like my ancestors- so much so that I was once asked by a stranger, “Which Springer are you?”  I have my mother’s skin and her high blood pressure. I have my great-grandmother’s hair. But until yesterday, I didn’t realize that I shared a love of nature with my great-grandfather!

I found this piece in the paper and will of course add it to my family collection. Calvin W. Banta, using the name Rufe Bolts, often wrote about the news and politics of Liberty Hill. However, the pieces that I treasure are the ones that reveal his character and values.

The Caddo Herald

Friday, October 18, 1940

Liberty News, Save the Birds

For the past ten years this scribe has labored to make our place a bird refuge, and began to think we would accomplish our aim, but the nimrods have raided our pets until it looks like they are in danger of extermination. Too bad, for our farms will be desolate indeed if the bird life is taken away, but boys will be boys and we can do nothing about it. The worst part is some men who should put away such childish and cruel sports are worse than the boys because they are the better marksmen. We wonder if it would be possible to persuade these nimrods to desist their ruthless slaughter, and help us to make this community lively with the song birds. Last spring we had 13 mocking birds nesting on and near our premises, also bluebirds and wrens galore, but now we rarely ever see one of the feathered tribe. Paul said: “When I was a child I thought as a child and acted as a child, but when I became a man I put away the childish things.” Neighbors, won’t you join me in protecting the bird life of our community? Birds are our friends and but for them the insects would despoil us. Such conduct by grown men reminds me of Hitler sending his army of destruction in a defenseless nation like Poland or Denmark and dropping bombs on defenseless children. Our pets are as defenseless as they, and have no way of resistance. They cannot fight back and it is a heartless cruelty to murder the little things.

No rain yet, and this is the 13^th of October. (We had one that day, brother!)

Roy Springer and family visited J. L. Springer Sunday. He has land interests near Boggy Depot and was looking after his interests there. He brought back a jug of crude oil taken from the well over there. It is the genuine article if only it is in paying quantities.

Our winter school will be a week old when this is printed. We anticipate a successful session. The Caddo school bus comes right to our door for the pupils who passed the eighth grade last term. That brings us closer to town than before. Rufe Bolts

 

Road Trip

Imagine traveling across the deserts of California, Arizona, and New Mexico at 45 miles per hour. Now imagine doing it in the summer…without air conditioning. I was remembering that this morning as I thought about our upcoming vacation plans. We often traveled from California to Oklahoma in the summer, sometimes to visit, and sometimes to move or work in the cotton.

My father always woke us up at 2am to begin a trip. I thought that was so strange when I was a child, but now I understand the wisdom of it. He wanted to drive as many miles as possible before the heat of the day took over. Even though we traveled with ice and water and a canvas water bag strapped to the front bumper, there was always a chance that the car would overheat or one of us would get sick or mother would get a migraine. Heat can be a killer! I’d like to say that I have many fond memories of our travels, but most of my clearest memories are of flat tires, overheated radiators, and lunches under the not-so-cool shade of picnic pavilions at roadside rest areas.

These wonderful road trip pictures were taken in 1965 when we moved to Oklahoma for the last time. I think they speak volumes about the times and about us. We moved with a car and an old pickup pulling a cotton trailer filled with our things. That lovely line across so many of the shots is our radio antenna- fashioned from a piece of wire. We traveled with a dog and three cats! At least it was winter. Good times…

 

  

Healthy Brain

I give up. I can’t focus on my weight any more. I have gained, did you hear me gained two pounds this week!! I walked more, mowed more, and generally ate less. However, I also ate one meal at a restaurant and ate homemade ice cream three times. If that is what made the difference then I had better throw away my scale right now and work on something else. I will be on the road next week and I’ll probably gain ten pounds!

I wrote that before I went on my walk. I was definitely in a bad mood- a foreign feeling for me. I talked to myself all the way down the hill and back. “I am tired of feeling like a failure because of a number on a stupid piece of metal!” “I am tired of being conscious of every bite I take!” “I’m tired of being in pain every waking moment and then feeling guilty because I don’t do more!” Of course by the time I had stopped to admire a tiny wildflower no bigger than my little finger, watched a funny little dragonfly, and said good morning to the hummingbird and the bunny, I felt calmer and more in control again. I reminded myself that I feel better and sleep better now that I’m eating less salt and sugar. Even if nothing else changes, that is a good thing!

I helped Gary mow half of the lawn, watered the garden, and started some laundry before sitting down to write. I needed some time to think.  Reading my email and watching TV gave me some answers…and a new plan. 

Rather than be discouraged, rather than feel like a failure, rather than pout, I’m going to work on improving my brain! I know this is a good plan because I got an email from Everyday Health this morning that listed some great foods for your brain, and then the Today show had a segment on breakfast from Elizabeth Somer, author of Eat Your Way to Happiness . She talked about waking up your brain and staying motivated. I don’t have to be hit on the head! I can take a hint! I will work on my brain for a few weeks and hope that my body behaves better when I get home from vacation.

Foods for your brain:

Carbohydrates: whole grains, oatmeal, barley, brown rice, fruits, vegetables

Fats: salmon, walnuts, canola, flaxseed oil, avocados. Look for omega-3s and monounsaturated fats.

Antioxidants: berries, nuts, seeds, fortified foods

Iron: lean meat, soy products, beans, vegetables

B vitamins: green leafy vegetables, whole grains, fortified foods, vitamin supplement

I’m already eating most of these and that made me feel good! I must admit that I still don’t eat enough fruit and Ms. Somer makes the point that you should always put fruit on your cereal, which I forgot to do this morning. I have blueberries in the freezer, so it was just forgetfulness.

I think right now I just need to be a little more mindful of balancing each meal. Healthy brain. That's my focus for the week!

Note to all my animal fans. The raccoon came as usual last night, but without the babies. I don’t know why…I will watch again tonight. Surely one night I will get photos of babies! Interesting that shortly after the raccoon left the opossum showed up to finish off a few pieces of dog food that were overlooked. I still can’t bring myself to photograph that big rat!!

Enjoy your day! Tell someone that you appreciate them. I sure appreciate YOU!

 

Guests for dinner.

A few people have questioned the wisdom, and the safety, of feeding wild animals in our yard. Let me just assure you that although I enjoy it, and benefit from it, it wasn’t my idea! The animals were already roaming this hill before I came here. The skunks, opossums, coyotes, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, mice, stray cats, and dogs were scrounging this section of land for bits of food before I showed up with that highly prized gourmet delight- garbage!

That is what happened at first. The animals raided the compost heap and the garbage sacks. They left a trail of coffee grounds and egg shells all over the ground. They tore up any paper they came across. They licked cans. They generally just made a mess! Then I noticed the raccoons and opossums finishing off any cat food left on the porch. Then the raccoons started climbing the posts and trees to raid the bird feeders I hung. One night Gary and I saw a program on television about a man who feeds the neighborhood raccoons dog food. I thought that was a great alternative to bird seed and cat food, especially if it allowed me to dictate where they ate it.

I admit that I foolishly let the raccoons eat on the front porch last fall because I wanted to watch them and photograph them. That terrified the stray cat that eats out there, and it probably just wasn’t a good idea to let them get that accustomed to being near the house. The opossum still eats the leftover cat food, but I don’t think I care what that ugly thing is doing…sorry. Ick. The skunks no longer approach the yard. I’m not sure why, but I’m grateful.  

Anyway, I’m rambling in my own defense, but I wanted you to know that this summer things are perfectly perfect. I feed the raccoons in the backyard under the security light where I can usually photograph them through the window. Since I started giving them our vegetable and fruit leftovers plus a cup of dog food, they don’t raid the compost heap or the garbage. They seldom bother with the bird feeders. They just eat and go back to the woods.

I did figure out that the female has her babies in the woods, not under the house. I think the few times that she went under there she was just exploring future options! Anyway, I’ve seen her arrive dozens of nights by the same trail from the corner of the pasture, and last night she brought her little brood with her. Yep! Three tiny ones followed mom to dinner. Unfortunately it was too late and dark for pictures! Mom usually arrives by 8:15, but I’m sure it took her a while to get the little ones organized and they are probably a tad bit slow at this stage in their lives. They didn’t show up until nearly nine.  I hope tonight they are a little earlier so I can get some decent shots. They are so very cute!!

So…I just wanted you to know that I didn’t arrive up here and decide to put out the welcome mat for all the neighborhood critters. I just like to live in harmony with my neighbors and they like to eat. As long as I remember that they are wild, and respect their ways, I think we will continue to coexist. Of course the big brown field mouse that showed up at the bird feeder last night better remember that there is still a mouse trap under my sink! I have to draw a line somewhere!

Just a country farmer.

He was just a country farmer.

I doubt that most ordinary people realize the impact they make on others. I don’t think my grandfather, John Springer, thought much about what he was teaching me when I visited his Oklahoma farm. I think he was simply too busy enjoying my company. I don’t say that because I was particularly entertaining; I just always felt that his focus was on being together and cherishing the time we had. I spent a lot of years in California and only brief weeks in Oklahoma, mostly during the summers. I don’t think Pappa felt any obligation to impart his wisdom during my visits, it just happened, as naturally as breathing.

He called me “doe”. If speaking to someone else about me, he called me “Marylizabeth”, all melted together in a slow drawl. He spoke to me of plants and animals and how to stay safe in the woods. He talked about watermelons and soil and how to feed cows. He laughed at me when I balked at using the outhouse. He said, “well that happens” when the horse stepped on my foot. He liked to think he could cook. He taught me to plant tomatoes and dig potatoes. He always saved the freshest, sweetest new potatoes for me. He took all the grandchildren on wagon rides and let me ride his horse.

Pappa had a way with animals and people. I always had the feeling that he was a person who could see right to the very heart of who you were. He wasn’t judgmental…he just understood.

I’m sure Pappa had his faults and his detractors. He was a man, not a saint. I’m sure there were sides to his personality that were less than perfect. My mother made the comment once that he was a very, very strict father. But as a grandfather he was gentle and wise and wonderful . I often think of him when I take my morning walk, especially when the ground is heavy with dew and there is a certain smell in the air. I think perhaps it might be the wet cedars, like the ones that surrounded his home, but something about foggy mornings always triggers thoughts of a wise country famer who taught me to respect the land.

Friends like you...

I heard a brief report yesterday about aging. Of course no matter what I’m doing in the house, if the subject of aging comes up I wander into the living room to listen closely! The report said that one of the key factors in aging well is to continue old friendships and cultivate new ones. Women tend to be better at this endeavor than men. As their parents, siblings, spouses, and even children die, many men tend to isolate themselves until they are functioning in a social black hole. Women reach out to family and friends and create new social networks while still maintaining the old ones.

I haven’t always been a good friend, or had very many friends. I’ve always been somewhat reclusive and solitary, but in the last ten years I’ve begun to reach out to more women and enjoy their company more and more. I suppose what set me apart in my younger years were my “male tendencies”. Having grown up in a predominantly male household and engaged in a lot of male activities (playing Army in a ditch, going hunting, watching Westerns), I felt awkward and unsure of myself around other young women. I hated shopping, wasn’t good at small talk, and didn’t follow fashion trends. Frankly, I didn’t care about a lot of the things that other young girls cared about. I wanted to read a good book, not go to a pep rally.

However, as I’ve grown and matured I’ve found women of like minds who care about books and children and gardens, and serving God with faith and love. I’ve learned to appreciate those who are different from me and have wonderful traits and talents that I don’t possess. I’ve even come to value a few friends who love to shop and wear stylish clothes and get their hair done! J I finally understand that those activities are just a small portion of who they are and what they believe in.  I grow as a person when I embrace the friendships of people who are not mirror images of me!

I also did something this year that I would never have done ten years ago. I told a friend to just “stop by when you get a chance”. There was a time when I never, never wanted anyone in my house unless I had been cleaning for two days!! I was so self-conscious about everything. I was so afraid that other women would be critical of my lack of housekeeping skills or see that I didn’t know the first thing about decorating or simply know that I lived in an old house. It was all about me. Now I ask others to visit because I want to see them.  Attitude is everything.

Of course the internet and sites like Facebook have made friendships even easier and more rewarding. I love keeping up with old high school friends or just finding out what a friend on the other side of the county is doing today. We are all much too busy, but manage to connect early in the morning or late at night. And I think that as we age and are physically unable to get out and about, sites like FB will provide a vital link to the rest of the world. I remember how my Grandmother mourned the passing of her friends. If I remember correctly, she was the last one of her Sunday school class to die. I think she missed those women more than some of her family members. But the key problem with her lifestyle was that she was physically unable to make new friends. She was isolated by her condition and surroundings, until her involvement with others was limited to those who cared for her and visited her in the nursing home. I don’t think many women in my generation will face that, at least not if we keep our laptops next to the bed!

So I encourage you to reach out to family and friends and continue to keep active socially. I received a letter, yes a real letter, from a cousin yesterday and it made me happy all day long. We need those connections, whether by phone or email or Facebook or cards and letters. We need to know that we are part of a village that cares. It may not keep us young, but it will make growing old a whole lot more enjoyable. I hope to be around for another thirty years! That’s far too long to be lonely.

Be a friend. Connect with one of your friends today.