Since we are winding down to the last of the year I have decided to post some of my favorite photos from this past year. I typically keep about 200 photos from each month- more if there is an “event” of some sort that needs separate storage. So…here are my eleven favorites from my basic garden/critters files- one from each month. These are not necessarily the best photos from a technical standpoint, but the ones that make me smile!! Enjoy!
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Nothin' but net...
Honestly, how did we get to the point where an old grandma spends at least two hours a day in front of this screen? LOL I was thinking yesterday about how many people have complained recently because they have had internet problems and have been suddenly cut off from shopping and socializing. And a couple of FB friends have mentioned storage problems and computer crashes. We all do so much photo editing and storing and ordering and sharing with our computers! And I am so “technically challenged” that I can’t even imagine what younger people are doing and how much time they are spending on their computers.
What did we do before we spent so much time here? I have a puzzle on my dining room table that I am slowly completing. However, I have not crocheted one single thing this year, and that is usually one of my more enjoyable winter pastimes. My garden is not nearly as neat and tidy as it has been in previous years. I’ve been reading about half as many books. I don’t watch as much television.
Makes me wonder what the future holds.
Some Assembly Required
I’m a very visual person, so when I bought a new squirrel feeder last weekend I looked at the box and tried to assemble it just the way it showed on the package. No luck. Tried again. Ugh!!!! Handed it over to Gary. He looked at it (not the package) and figured it out. Handed it back to me. I looked at it and then at the package and realized that the illustration on the package didn’t make any sense. Not sure what they did. It almost looked like it was reversed.
Despite that experience, I am still going to follow the directions on the next product, project, etc. that I encounter. I’m just that kind of person. My son seldom even opens the directions for anything. Gary usually makes a decision based on what the task is and how familiar he is with the basic idea of it. I think most people are probably like him.
In my classroom I expect my students to follow my directions for any and all assignments because they lack the experience to just jump in and do whatever they think will work. It is a constant, daily struggle to get some of them to do so. I’m sure they will grow up to be like my son, and throw out the instruction booklet that comes with their newest electronic gadget! But unlike my son, some of them do not have the knowledge or the logic to manage without the instructions.
Yesterday I made one of my students re-do a paper, twice. I did so because I suspected that he knew the answers, but just wasn’t paying attention to the instructions and therefore got all of the answers wrong. So I called him up to my desk and reviewed the paper. The second attempt wasn’t any better. I explained once again and made him answer four questions verbally. On his third attempt he only missed two answers out of fifteen. Did his knowledge base suddenly change? No. He finally did what I asked him to do in the first place and it all made sense.
Another example: we decorated paper sacks yesterday so we can use them for candy at our party tomorrow. The students had already assembled a Santa to put on the bag. The only thing they had to do was glue it on so that the opening of the bag was behind Santa’s hat. I demonstrated that concept two times. Six of my students glued Santa on upside-down! I know that two of them were whispering to each other during instructions. Another one was playing with his shoes. I don’t know what the problem was with the other three, but one of them went through three bags before getting it correct. And your first assumption is wrong. My three students with the lowest academic scores did theirs correctly the first time.
So…I guess my point today is that there are two kinds of people in this world: those who follow instructions, and those who don’t. I’ve generally had more success with the instructions. Although I know that sometimes you have to be a little creative and do things your own way. Just be careful!
One Name at a Time
This morning I made a glorious discovery!! Merry Christmas to me!!!
I have often made the comment that I find genealogy fascinating. Putting a family history together is like assembling a giant jig-saw puzzle. Love the 1,000-piece puzzles? Try a 5,000 piece puzzle and that might give you an idea of the challenges of putting a family history together. It takes tremendous patience and motivation to just keep looking at the pieces and wondering where everyone fits.
Of course friends and family have advised me that if I didn’t spend so much time researching for other people I would have more time for my own family research and therefore be more successful. Seems logical, but doesn’t quite work that way. Moving back and forth from one family to another keeps me from becoming bored and frustrated by the “brick walls” I encounter in my own family research, and I feel a tremendous sense of satisfaction in helping others with their requests. I’ve learned so much about Caddo’s history and I am able to envision what life was like here for my ancestors.
This morning there was a sudden juxtaposition of my Caddo research and my family research that prompted me to discover something that has eluded me for years! I posted a wedding announcement to my Caddo blog for Don Lynn Maddox and Edna Green, 1902. My great-great grandmother’s name was Mary Martha Maddox Carlton and I wondered this morning if the two families were related somehow. I searched for Don and a couple of his relatives, but didn’t find a solid connection. My grandmother always said she didn’t know who Mary’s father was, but she remembered that he was murdered when Mary was 14. That would have been 1868.
I Googled Mary’s name again, as I have done at least once a year for the past several years. Lo and behold, here is what I found:
- Source: Clay Co. MO Archives News. Deaths in the Newspaper 1868
The Liberty Tribune 1868
Liberty, Clay County, Missouri
Sept 4, 1868
Murder- Robert Maddox was found in the road about four miles north of his home on Friday morning last, Murdered. He had been shot. It is to be hoped his murderer will be brought to punishment. Of all the systems of murder, that of private assassination is the most damnable.
Put Robert’s name into a RootsWeb search and found out his wife’s name was Ann. My grandmother’s journal says that “g-grandmother moved back to Kentucky after her husband’s death and Mary was baptized in a pond in Kentucky”. Checked Ancestry and there they are in Daviess, Kentucky in the 1870 census!
Have I told you lately how much I love the internet?
One more piece in the puzzle. The search continues….
Did or Did Not...No Regrets
My grandmother was fond of saying, “If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.” I was never quite sure what she meant by that, but it usually cut off my greedy whining, so it served her purpose well. My wishes these days are more likely to refer to actions, rather than things. I often find myself whining to myself, “I wish I had done that differently.” “I wish I had done something about that.” “I wish I had been a better _______ (friend, mother, wife, teacher) today.” The whining in my head never stops!
I try to reply to my whining inner critic that I’m doing the best I can. I try to live my life each day in a manner that I will not later regret. I try to be fair to myself and others. I try to be understanding and kind. I try….but as Yoda said, “There is only do or not do. There is no try.” So as much as I would sometimes like to wish otherwise, there aren’t many fond memories of “tried”, only of did or did not. We seldom recall effort, only results. There aren’t many trophies given out for “played the game”- only for won.
I suppose I am introspective today because of some things that have happened in the last few weeks. I overlooked a couple of things. I was unaware of a friend’s problem because I was so busy fussing over my own. I forgot a birthday. I neglected to do something that I had fully intended to do. Things add up to the point where you have to have a little quiet time for prayer and introspection before going on.
No regrets, just a few wishes…
Ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hate it when things go wrong…especially online. There is no customer service or feedback or other option that is helpful at 5am!! I have been trying to order something for the last thirty minutes and NOTHING works. I’ve tried every version of “order” on the website- and it is one I’ve used a dozen times- and it keeps bouncing back to the home page. I guess I will just write it off to site overload or something and try again later.
I worked in retail for five years and each Christmas I recall the “good, bad, and ugly” of those years. I learned so much about people during that time. The main thing I learned is that we “want what we want when we want it”. We are not by nature patient creatures. Adults still harbor childhood moods and a sense of entitlement coupled with a little greed and mistrust. If not managed and controlled, that can lead to some unpleasant retail encounters. I recall some of our sales associates being insulted, cursed, berated, and even hit by customers. I try not to be that customer!
My husband still works in retail. He leaves the house each day with a smile, but he doesn’t always return that way. Lol Apparently not much has changed since my days at the cash register! These next few days will get even more hectic and we will become more frantic as we strive to complete our shopping. Whether we are online or in a store, let’s try to keep our tempers under control and make it a pleasant experience for everyone.
Have a great day!
Winter Haven
I enjoy feeding and watching the birds and other critters any time of the year, but it is especially satisfying to watch them in the winter and know that I am helping to make their survival a bit easier. This weekend we have had the privilege of sharing the hill with a fox, two opossums, several raccoons, a skunk, a couple of squirrels, and about ten different birds. They seem to be checking out the food supply and making plans for the cold weather!
I spent the weekend shopping, wrapping, writing cards, and packing boxes. In between wrapping and writing I gravitated to the windows to watch the critters. I am so happy I captured the squirrel doing his acrobatic act! He always has to explore the bird feeders, even though he has his own corn feeder.
The fox heard my pleas and arrived a little earlier last night. I was able to capture a photo that at least proves he exists! And I was fascinated by the fact that he ate just five feet from the opossum without a confrontation.
Later on there was a close encounter between the skunk and one of the raccoons. The skunk raised its tail, but didn’t spray. The raccoon moved to within three feet of the skunk, and the skunk ran off to the woods!
I know there are other critters hiding in the woods and trying to decide if they should venture out to eat. We welcome any of them if they behave themselves! I now have suet, corn, sunflower seeds, mixed seeds, dog food, and raisins out for them. Later I will add a few oranges and apples. We’ll see who shows up.
Probably not an exciting post, but at least you understand why I don’t watch more television.
Poor Mrs. Claus
Ever notice that men get all the important holiday roles?
Santa, Easter bunny, Cupid, Uncle Sam- all guys.
I’m guessing we only get to be the tooth fairy because men don’t like to touch yucky teeth!
Women across the country are scurrying around with lists of holiday chores- gifts to buy and wrap, cookies to bake, cards to send, parties to attend, kids to transport- while the majority of men are sitting around watching football and drinking eggnog.
Women do 90% of the work, while Santa and his elves get all the credit. How did that happen?
Oh, I know the whole St. Nicholas story. And I know about the Coca Cola Santa. And I know there are bound to be some men out there who are working as hard as women to make this a Merry Christmas. But I’m thinking women need a lot more holiday recognition. And Mrs. Claus deserves some books and movies. Who do we think actually reads all those letters from children? Who do we think feeds all those elves and reindeer? Who do we think washes and irons that dirty red suit after all those trips down the chimney?
We demand equal rights for everyone else. It’s time Mrs. Claus gets hers!
Happy Birthday!
Today is Karen’s birthday, and while I won’t blurt out her age, I will say that it makes ME definitely old. LOL
Good excuse for dragging out a few of my favorite photos! I especially love the one with the afghan hanging on the clothesline. That was Karen’s “blankie” and she is holding on to it and waiting for it to dry!
Happy Birthday sweet girl!!
Are you kidding me???????????????
Ever hear one of those lame news reports that makes you want to slap someone? You know I’m not usually a violent person, but everyone has their limits! LOL
Last night there was a dismal report, repeated several times, about Oklahoma’s low ranking on the “healthy states” list. In past years we have consistently ranked in the forties and the fear is that we will be #50 very soon. Sad but true. Obesity, smoking, and lack of exercise are apparently statewide problems. Lots of work ahead of us to correct the problems.
Here’s the “slap your face” part of the news report: the state needs to educate people about healthy habits!!! That’s a quote from some government authority! Excuse me? A person would have to live under a rock to not know that smoking is bad for you. And who hasn’t heard that fruits and vegetables are better than fat-laden cheeseburgers? Exercise is touted on everything from the evening news to the early morning infomercials.
Who doesn’t know what is good for their health?
Do you think people smoke because they imagine it improves their chances of running a marathon?
Do you think people who start the day with a 32-ounce Dr. Pepper don’t know it is a bad habit?
Do you think parents who send their children to school with a bag of doughnuts for breakfast think it is good for them?
Do you think people who eat fast food five days a week do it because they’ve never read the nutrition charts posted next to the cashier?
We’ve heard. We’ve read. We know. We just don’t care!
That’s truly what it comes down to…
Knowledge is only power if you care enough to USE it.
Don’t tell me I’m harsh and cranky, because I’ve been there, done that. I drank a Coca Cola every day for fifteen years, until I cared enough about the effects to quit. We can call it motivation or willpower or whatever, but it comes down to caring more about health than whatever comfort or pleasure we are getting from our bad habits.
My biggest fear with the government’s response to this problem is that money will be spent on programs and agendas and ad campaigns to tell people what they are already ignoring! And that money could be spent on other things.
