bone chilling

Picture this, if you will.  I stayed up way past bedtime and woke up refreshed enough to visit the cabin for some picking.  I check it every freakin' day.  It was about 35ish and me and the other two pickers on the lane were just about froze.  Looks like two days of a little warmer so, there's that.  I may be the only girl in the world who gets the yard mowed according to pecan season.  No, Lorna does that too.  Only she has an orchard!!

Living on Pecan Lane with its' hundred year old trees draping over gives me a sense of peace.  Not that times won't be hard or bad things won't happen.  It's just home to me.  There is nothing more beautiful than a winter sunset from my front porch.  

Art is perking along.  We are a far flung bunch and I'm not a great organizer but I'm getting better.  All it would take is one day of clerical work to get my ducks in a row.  That's on the calendar.  Thanks to all the good cooks yesterday I still have some leftovers.  The colors out here are straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.  

^j^

discussing the issues

The Dyer County Democratic Party hosted one of our hometown guys who now serves as a State Senator for a town hall meeting at Dyersburg State this evening and it was a howling success.  Jeff is a hard working Dyersburg loving legislator who knows how to mesmerize a crowd.  He was very informative and provided honest answers to the many questions posed by the crowd.  He also introduced our candidate for District 77 state representative Mike Smith who will face Rusty Grills in the special election coming up in December.  Many thanks to all those involved for making this event a success. There was enough food for an army thanks to the volunteers who work tirelessly for our party.  We had enough for lots of take home plates which is a win win.  

When we went out to set up this morning it was pouring rain.  Miraculously it stopped but the temp started dropping pretty fast.  My bedroom smells like skunk because of the pizza eating dog known as Ellie.  While I was cooking sausage balls today I had to keep everything on top of the frig and away from her.  She's quick to grab and run.  

Weather permitting I'll resume pecan pickin' tomorrow until it gets so cold I can't stand it.  If you find me frozen out in the yard just call 911 and tell them to bring hot blankets!

Love thy neighbor ^j^

red herring

I visited my FNP last week and I showed her my super sized clavicle bone.  She checked around for a carotid pulse and had a little trouble hearing on the right side.  I just assumed it was because of the big fat bone in the way but she sent me for ultrasound which was not a bad experience.  When we talked afterwards, she told me that one of my right carotid arteries is "occluded" which means time for a vascular surgeon visit.  Great.  Just what my underinsured self needs.  

I had a great day otherwise with lunch and intelligent conversation plus a cute baby.  Shhhh. It's a secret society y'all.  As I was leaving I spotted a very talented chalk paint artist doing the front window of GAFCO.  I stopped for a meet and greet and got a cool picture.  While I was out and about this morning I found the DSCC library and checked out the art show there.  Amazing stuff from a well taught group.

The Mayberry Lawn crew just left and the yard looks great.  I can't wait to get out there and see what kind of pecans were lurking under those leaves.

Namaste ~

church is where you have it

The struggle is real y'all.  I'm kind of bad about saying "thoughts and prayers" on social media so I choose usually to talk with folks by phone, at least, when I know they're struggling.  My bestie has a big job on her hands deciding on a care plan for her disabled husband.  We were talking about it just now and she asked me to pray for her.  Without blinking an eye I started praying on the phone and naming all those who are hurting at the moment.  It was a prayer for vision and strength and the ability to do the next right thing.  It got me to sniffling so there's the grief coming out already.  I think that we are constantly grieving something whether it be loss through death, separation.....even leaving a job or house.  

I woke up with the sunrise and went to WalMart ( i know, right?) to get a knee brace.  I chose a S/M and it was so tight it cut off the circulation in my leg.  Alrighty then.  Back to where I NEVER go to exchange for a L/XL.  Guess what?  That won't stay up.  *sigh*  I'm hoping if I wash and dry it maybe it will shrink.  I also picked up sausage balls at Kroger for a Thursday event and my brother saw me pulling in the lot!  Called me to say my deviled egg tray was in his truck out front and needs a refill.  UCMTSU.

I have hit up the two trees at the cabin most every day since the frosts.  I need to rake it like I did in my own yard.  Actually I'm getting pretty good exercise by doing this.  I can feel the hamstring pulls when I reach.  

Y'all be merry and bright.  Because Charlie Brown and the Thanksgiving turkey are right around the corner.  

spirit animal

Today's totem is deer, of which I saw a little group of four on Highway 412.  I'd rather think that their grace, quickness and agility are my omen for today rather than the road kill I passed.  Armadillos and skunks I believe.  Lauren ended up not going to work and I woke up not knowing what time it was because my phone didn't change.  Lerd.  We had a nice leisurely visit and she got to take a peaceful shower while Reaves and me played.  They have a coffee table with four small drop leaves and her new thing is to make that her bed.  The child is a hoot when she feels good.

I learned this morning of the passing of an old friend.  I haven't seen him except here and there in many years but we used to run as a pack when we were young adults.  It makes me sad even though he never missed a chance to be a smartass!  He and the guys were the type that claimed Superbowl Sunday a national holiday.  AND the day after.

It was a beautiful day for a drive with all kinds of color and cotton fields waiting to be picked.  Crockett County is cotton central.  It's all about to come to a close after the last stuff is harvested and winter wheat planted.  I love seeing that green when it's cold as a well digger's butt.

Be safe and grateful ^j^

on all fours

It's warmer today so I picked up a couple of nuts down at the cabin.   I've been doing this long enough to know which ones to pitch.  The native tree in my yard is doing well also.  As fate would have I have emergency Gaga duty tomorrow.  Long story and out of the blue.  The biggest problem with me traveling is in the dark because I can't see well.  Especially on two lanes!

I read an article today that really hit home about the way we the people behave in response to Trump as a person rather than the office of President.  The office itself has been filled by many great men who have solved some of our problems but never all.  I don't see one thing that he has accomplished ( well good things) but by imitating his behavior we give him more power.  Like Michelle Obama said "When they go low, we go high."  People scream and boo at baseball games all the time.  Personally, I wouldn't have gone there but he did.  

The far left is just as guilty as the far right when it comes to nothing getting done.  Most of us are about close to the middle.  I am a democrat for a lot of reasons which I won't go into again.  And to whomever pulled up Mike Smith's sign " A pox on you!"

Get out there and enjoy this glorious day kids.  They are fleeting toward duck season.  

frost on the punkin'

But yes!  Right on target for Halloween night.  The kudzu will be brown within a few days because it's drooping already.  Pecans fell, lots of them.  Remember we have attack dogs out here.  I fell on my knee the other day so exercise has been restricted to  bending over to pick nuts.  I assume that's good for your core.  

I am sitting here owing the propane guy a bunch of money and it ain't even winter yet.  Let's just say the electric bill will be higher from all these heaters.  Next comes quilts over the doors.

Kay and I have this thing where when we get the dressing mixed we let each other know.  Today was my day and I had to run to the 'gentral for more broth.  I saw Bubba and Sally so I stopped and we had a proper chat.  Just two siblings on a kinda sorta' day off.  If you go see the Funkmonsters, I'll be the one banding you so have ID ready.  This girl don't play well in crowds.  Burn baby burn.

^j^