Ants in Your Pants...Redux

 

 Note: I first posted this on Memorial Day 2019. I hope you will enjoy it.

 

 Memorial Day Weekend. This holiday has been around since the years after the American Civil War. It was initially called Decoration Day, and it was the day that post Civil War Americans decorated the graves of their soldiers. Then, it became traditional, for families, to use the holiday (which used to be May 30th, whatever day of the week on which it fell), to decorate the graves of their family members, soldiers or not.
It's a nice coincidence that late May, is the time that many indigenous flowers and shrubs are in bloom. Native flowers have always made showy cemetery floral displays. Lilacs and Dogwoods, Peonies and Iris (we called them Flags and they were always deep purple) were the choices of my Grandmother Wintle. Those things flourished in her yard and every last blossom was destined for the cemetery.
Peonies (pronounced pee OHH nies) start to bud out in early May. Grandma Wintle cut those buds, with very long stems, and placed them in Mason Jars, full of water, in her refrigerator. There they stayed for a month, in the cooler, until we took them to the cemetery.
Now, Peony buds are chock full of teeny black ants. There were never ants in the Grandma's refrigerator. That would have been unacceptable to Grandma. The cool air must have made the ants hibernate or something. The iris and the lilac buds (minus the ants) went in the fridge, too.
Early on Decoration Day, we would haul those jars outside, to the back seat of the car. Sister and I would be in the back seat and jars would be placed between our feet and of course we had to hold some, too.
Off we'd go. Grandpa was driving and as the car bumped over the bricks (our town had brick streets), water would spill out and soak our ankle socks. The ants would warm up and start crawling up our legs and onto our arms. The ants went into our shirts and up into our underpants. It was awful.
It never did any good to complain and because our hands were full, we just had to bear the torture.
To this day, no Peony blossom has ever been allowed to enter my home. They stay outside where they and their ants belong!
Artificial Flowers are very beautiful, these days.
........................................................................................................................................................................
Great God. We thank you for our memories. We wonder at the beauty of your universe. We have many blessings.

Whatever Happened to.......

In September, I'll have a big...and I mean really BIG....... BIRTHDAY. It's big because when I was a youngster NOBODY was ever this old. They couldn't have been. The old teachers were probably in their early 60's. Our Grandparents, if alive, couldn't have been older than 70 or so! Anyway, I'm old and I'm rockin' it....so far!

But, whatever happened to things I remember?....... like:

•  Grape and Orange Nehi Soda. Is someone still making them? If so, where can I buy them?
•  Slips. I still have a couple of old half-slips, and I wear them all the time. But they are going to die before I do. I don't have any full-slips, and I could use a black one and a white one.
•  Clothes made from decent fabric, not slinky, cheap feeling stuff. 
•  Anything that's not expensive, or ever slightly under budget. I'd settle for really good deal.
• Cheap fast food. I paid 15 bucks last week for a chicken sandwich, soggy fries and a drink.
• Affordable donuts or cookies.  5 Bucks for one cookie? And can you just eat one??????
• Any news that's true. Not AI generated. No dancing cats, please.
• Advertisements for solicited items only ...for real usable items (correct sizes, please). Who sends me this stuff, anyway?

Okay, I know I sound like a mean crotchety old lady, and maybe I am, but I miss some of this stuff. The good old days weren't totally good, but how about if we just stop eliminating stuff, because it's old. Old is sometimes just fine.

.........................................................................................................................................................................

Dear Lord. Patience is a Virtue. I fear, however, that my patience is running out. Help me as I work on acceptance and tolerance. Bless me with Peace.

 

"There's no place like home......"

 In about a week, we will be returning to our hometown for a reunion of our High School Graduating Class. This is a group of folks that have meeting regularly, for over 60 years. There will be few surprises because most of us have known each other for 75 or so years. Certainly, we're aging, but we always enjoy each others company. We enjoy catching up on our current lives and circumstances.

We all had our cliques in school. I seem to remember that I was part of the music/art crowd. I had a good time and didn't put much effort into my studies. Small towns in Kansas, were a great place to live in the 50's and 60's. There were lots of activities and fun things to do, to keep us entertained 

Many years have passed since graduation day. We are all turning the big 80, this year. But, I'm sticking to the proposition that "80 is the new 60". This group, diminishing in numbers, still has "a lot of livin' to do." And, while doing this living, there's a quote I'd like to share with you. It's from one of everyone's favorite Kansas-related movies. Glinda, the good witch tells Dorothy Gale, "You've always had the power, my dear. You just had to learn it for yourself."  

My thought is this. It takes a life time to realize you've always had the power. Your power comes from a lifetime of experiences and from the wisdom that you gain from others in your life. Good Events and tragic events. Good choices and not so good choices. Those years have made us who we are, today.

We may not be able to click our heels together for many more years, but we're going to keep doing it for as long as we can. 

......................................................................................................................................................................

Good Lord. Thank You for the lives we lead. We are blessed to have You, traveling along on this worldly road with us. You have been with us as we have traveled far, and You will be there for us when we come home.

 

 

 

"Judge not.........."

 Reminding myself every day, that being judgemental is wrong, has become my daily mantra. Problem is.....I'm really great at judging others. I know what I like and believe, and it's difficult for me to accept that not everyone has the same standards.

High on my list, of acceptable living, is indoor plumbing. Sewers have been around since Roman Times. There have been lots of improvements since then, so it seems logical to me that we should be taking advantage of them.  Running water, flush toilets, bathtubs and showers. Great inventions, and I'm not living without them. 

Someone once tried to explain to me that living "off the grid" was preferable to living a normal 21st Century life. I know that we "modernists" are often guilty of excess. No one really needs a triple car garage, or the vehicles that reside in each bay. But, it's nice to be able to drive or ride somewhere when one needs transportation. Seriously, when an emergency trip to the hospital is needed, I'm going to want a ride, via ambulance if necessary, to a near-by modern hospital (preferably with running water).

I get the off-grid appeal of alternative energy. Many folks I know have a back-up generator and/or wood burning stoves and fireplaces. But, if the temperatures get below freezing or climb to the 100s plus, I need some seriously modern HVAC. A cook stove, electric or gas, is a necessity to most everyone. 

Refrigeration is convenient, too. I like to eat.

The argument for off-grid living (let me venture to use the word "primitive", because average Americans have not lived without plumbing and electricity, for over a hundred years) is that "we don't have to depend upon anyone for anything. We are self-sufficient". Really? Do you grow cotton, spin, weave your own cloth, hand-sew your own clothes? How about food? Build your own homes and roads?

Community is important. And, where two or more are gathered, a toilet is almost necessary, let alone  modest. Human contact has been found to be essential to good mental health. Those "Off Grid, Alone and Survivor" shows, have actually been filmed by a sufficient group of cameramen, make-up artists, wardrobe experts, directors, etc....all using and needing modern conveniences. Bet they all dive into nice modern campers, the minute that filming is over.

.................................................................................................................................................................

Lord. We are all different. We have specific wants, needs and hopes. What all of us have in common is your Good Grace. Remind us to live kindly and fairly with one another, celebrate our differences and try not to be judgemental. We must walk with You. Acceptance is a virtue.

 

 

 

 

 

"Larkspur and Hollyhock......and Tomato Plants"

Here we go again. Mistress Nancy, quite contrary, is going to take a stab at gardening, one more time. I'm a sucker when the bedding plants start appearing at Lowes and Walmart. I can't drive near my old house and not stop at Larry's Northland Garden Center. Today, I made a trip to Suburban Lawn and Garden (they have everything that has ever been grown there) for tomato plants and flowers. The flowers are going in our deck planters and the tomatoes in my small veggie bed on the upper deck.

Last year, tomato worms ate all of my beautiful plant leaves, and I was left with no tomatoes and two over-productive zucchini plants. I am not fond of zucchini. Truly, I'm a really bad gardener. I plant, water, and weed. But, I can never get much to grow. 

My grandpa Tom, had a marvelous garden. It covered a whole vacant lot. He grew corn, cabbage, lettuce, beans, peas,watermelon and cantaloupe. His six brothers were gardeners, too. I seem to remember that they were quite competitive about their produce. Our families all ate well. But, that was in the day when growing and canning were the norm. (Do they still make pressure cookers????)

So, here I go again. Wish me luck. Will I be successful? I'll report back, in August.

........................................................................................................................................................................

Lord. We have an abundance of blessings. We thank You for every day. 

 

 

"Magic carpets made of steel"

 What is it that really bothers you? For me it's just plain stupidity or maybe I should write it more politely as ignorance. Or perhaps, even more politely written, maybe I dislike indifference to historical accuracy. Although, you might think, of course, that I may be just too picky?

Take historical facts for instance. I can understand that dates are unimportant and confusing to some folks. But when someone asked me, "Are the First World War and the Viet Nam War the same thing?" Well, that made me shake my head in amazement. How does one answer that question? And, why bother?

Do folks just not care about history? When I moved to my current home in Stilwell, Kansas, one of the first things I did was look up the origin of the unusual spelling (3 Ls, instead of 4), of the town. Arthur Stilwell was born in the 1850s and became quite a wealthy Railroad Baron, building a railroad from Kansas City, through the town of Stilwell, through my hometown of Pittsburg, Kansas, and on down to the Gulf of Mexico (Port Arthur, Texas). He actually founded and named about 400 towns, along the route. Obviously, some after himself. 

Here's a little more history for you. In the 1840's, steam locomotives were called "Iron Horses". Locomotives were heavier and faster than the other mode of transportation.....horseback or wagons. Now,  all of that makes sense. (Lou Gerhig was also called :The Iron Horse" but that's a whole other story.)

Just a couple of miles down the street (near the old KCP and Gulf Railroad Line) is the Iron Horse Golf Course, the Fairways at Iron Horse Subdivision, Villas of Iron Horse and the Iron Horse Bar and Grill. Now, this is the disconnect. Not a Steam Engine anywhere to be found.....just statues of wild horses.  Big old horses on every prominent intersection. Horses on the logo. Horse statues everywhere.

Just shaking my head. One wonders if the cost of old locomotives or their replicas was too much for the developers of the area. Just plant those cheap horse statues and put shrubs around them. They look real nice and to heck with history.

 "He who knows not and knows not that he know not, is a fool. Shun him.

........................................................................................................................................................................

Dear Lord. You know and understand everything. You are patient and wise. Show us how to be more understanding of all things and persons, in Your Universe. Guide our feet while we run this race. 

"Where Did You Get That Hat? Where Did You Get That Tile"

I have to admit that I do appreciate attending a fun "costume event". Quirky, maybe and I realize it's not everyone's cup of tea. We all know when the invitation says "costumes suggested", most folks ignore it. Not me! I enjoy dressing up and adopting the life style and persona of someone other than myself, temporarily.

For years, I have had a whole closet containing just costumes. If, by chance you need a costume for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, I've got one. Once, you are dressed in the matching coat, vest and knees breeches, you could don one of my nice wigs, to complete your outfit. Hanging next to that costume is an spiffy, early 1900's baseball uniform. Then, you'll find a variety of leggings, slacks, cloaks and of course I have a "Darcy" shirt, ready to be sprayed with water!!!

Because, I consider myself a "Janite", I can go resplendently dressed for any Austen-like occasion, in both summer or winter seasons. My Regency Collection contains era appropriate jewelry and shoes, too. Included in my vast feminine collection is a 1900's high-neck blouse and skirt, along with a splendid 1950's "mother of the bride dress", with a matching hat and purse. That outfit has been used to portray both Queen Elizabeth and Bess Truman (at different events, of course)! I used to wear it with a wig, but considering my own hair color, now there's no need.

Finally, my costume closet contains various accessories, that are adaptable for many dress up occasions. There are a couple letter jackets (abandoned by offspring), from various decades. A black cape, Darth Vadar mask, Pirate attire, shawls and bonnets, wigs, caps, and tiaras, etc. 

Just waiting for an invitation. 

....................................................................................................................................................................... 

 Great and Gracious God. Life is an adventure. Often we are blessed with the opportunity to choose a path. Sometimes the path chooses us. Our Faith in You, keeps us moving forward. You walk with us.