Friday, March 29, 2024

Home on the Range

 My new abode has given me a totally different outlook on the changing of the seasons. I now live on a hillside overlooking what we call the pond. Actually it's a small lake, fed by a creek that meanders down the hillside, to the West. The creek then empties into the Blue River. 

So, what was a cold mass of water surrounded by bare trees, a month ago, is now a completely different place. The native Red Bud Trees are blooming. The Bradford Pear Trees, purposely planted ones and the bad, bad rogue ones, have been stunning. Next will come the dogwoods.

Daffodils or Jonquils, whatever you call them, are blooming everywhere. Some of them are recent plantings and others remain from what was a homestead, on the edge of the Kansas prairie, settled decades ago. Those brilliant yellow blossoms are incredibly hearty.

The grass around the pond is all bright green. Wild turkeys are strutting their stuff, along the banks, and some of our days have actually been warm enough for us to wander around without a sweatshirt or jacket. The landscape seems to change daily.

While walking though the woods surrounding the pond, I've spotted numerous tiny flowers breaking though the carpet of dried winter leafs.  There are white, blue, yellow and pink blooms. A deer carcass has been lying on the North side of the pond for several weeks now, food for turkey vultures and other scavengers.

Autumn used to be my most favorite season, but right now it's coming in a distant second, to Spring.

           

Monday, March 18, 2024

"Look it up."

 Intelligence could possibly be measured by how many times a day one refers to "GOOGLE". Years ago, the Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and the World Book Encyclopedia, held all the general knowledge any one ever needed. Today, we have it all, at a simple click of a mouse!

Recently, the name Chouteau was dropped in a simple dining table discussion. I knew a tiny bit about Auguste Chouteau (his first name for instance) and the fact that he had been involved in the fur trading business along the Missouri River. But, my interested was piqued. 

Auguste Chouteau was born in 1749, in New Orleans. His mother, along with Pierre LaClede, moved the family up the Mississippi River. Chouteau and Laclede (Laclede County, Laclede's Landing,etc.) are considered the co-founders of St. Louis. Chouteau organized trade with the Osage Indians, along the Missouri and amassed great power and wealth within the region. After the Louisiana Territory was purchased by the US, he became one of the first Judges of the region. He died in 1829.

Lots of items, all over the state of Missouri are named for Chouteau....streets, schools, bridges, buildings, counties, clubs. Actually it's about the only French word, "Missourahns" pronounce correctly. Now thanks to a quick search on the Internet, you, informed reader, know all about him.

Here's a quote to think about......"there are two types of families. 1. Those who need a dictionary to get through dinner 2. Those who don't." Pausch

Never stop learning.

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All Knowing and Powerful God. You have given us free will to knowledge and truth. Teach us to use it wisely, for the good of the all.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

News from Hollywood

 I haven't been to an actual movie theater in years, but that doesn't mean I am not a fan of the cinema. No longer do I park myself in front of the TV, as I once did, eager to watch the unfolding annual Oscar Extravaganza. I just figure, one of these days I will see the movies, maybe on cable or something, that have been just released. I'll just wait until all of the hype mellows a bit.

I did get a chance to see one 2023 released movie, via a small screen airplane viewer. Trapped, and buckled in my skinny seat, I sat through the whole thing. Maybe, I missed the point (if it had one), but, frankly, I thought it was really dumb.

Last night, we happened across a really old thriller "Woman of Straw". The cast looked good, and we decided to give it a try. Excellent. Produced in 1964, and set in a Downton Abby-type country home, Ralph Richardson and Sean Connery fit the parts they played, nasty old man and his debonair nephew. But, surprise, surprise, I would have awarded a Best Actress Oscar to Gina Lollobrigida, for playing the title roll. At the time, she was just a pretty face and a gorgeous body. Who knew that woman could act?

Some movies, like wine improve with age. Maybe there is hope for "The Barbie Movie"?

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Dear Lord. We are blessed by many things. Sometimes we fail to see the forest for the trees. Blessings come in all sorts of packages, often as surprise.

 



Thursday, March 14, 2024

Gesundheit

 The last time that I had a rip-roaring, slug down both the DayQuil and NyQuil Cold Medicines, was way before the advent of COVID. I mean, weren't we all so worried about getting Covid, that we didn't worry about having a simple old cold?

Last week, when I began to feel a heaviness in my head, throat and chest, I was puzzled for a moment. What was happening to me? Within 24 hours, I developed a hacking cough, sore throat, headache and the normal surliness that goes along with the common cold. Now, almost a week later, I feel like I will recover sooner than later. Maybe a couple of more days and I'll be good as new.

 I don't know where I caught this bug, but my wise daughter is convinced that my cold was caused by stress. More likely, someone sneezed on me. Whatever the reason, as I stumbled through this thing, I  realized that help is there, friends and family, when you really need them. I was reminded that our lives are not meant to be perfect, we have to adapt to our situation and tomorrow is another day.

I would try to think of a few more appropriate adages, to close this post, but, I need to take my NyQuil and hit the sack.

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GOOD LORD; Thank you for answering our prayers.


Friday, March 1, 2024

Give me a "K"

I'm moving. For the past 45 years, my ranch style house has been my one and only home. I have enjoyed living there, but I am headed to a new place, in another part of town. Actually, in another state, but still in the metropolitan area. I'm headed back to my home state.

In spite of being the "Lyric Queen of the Universe" I know only two songs with Missouri, in the title or in the lyrics. "Shenandoah" happens to be one of them. The words repeat in every verse, "across the wide Missouri." Actually, the Missouri River is wide, but it can better be described at very muddy and extremely fast moving. The other is the "Missouri Waltz", played reluctantly by Harry Truman, every time he happened to walk in a room that contained a piano.  Apparently, it was not his favorite tune.

But, I am moving "Back to Kansas, where the great big Sunflowers grow". I will always be "A Sunflower from the Sunflower State". After all, I graduated from Kansas University and "I'm a "Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay, Jayhawk from up at Lawrence on the Kaw".  And one of my favorite songs (please have it played at my memorial service) is the Kansas State Song, "Home on the Range". 

Who doesn't appreciate "Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" (Kansas towns)? And we have all listened to songs by the group, Kansas (They are from Topeka, by the way.). Kansas is more than a "Flyover State", and how about " Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell?

Anyway, I am excited to going "Back to Kansas". I have plenty to sing about.

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Thank you, Lord, for showing us new paths along our life's journeys.




"The proof is in the pudding".

 I'm going to confess something. I have a slight addiction to recipe videos. I'm admitting that, not only do I watch them, I waltz i...