Merry Christmas!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Ours was really nice. The weather here was warm, a little rainy and misty and foggy, but warm. Today is two days later and it's cooled down again. That's the way it is in Oklahoma. If you don't like the weather, just stick around and it will change.

One of my piano students brought me a Christmas gift - a candle and smelly-good scent for me a a Santa hat for Cookie. I put it on her and put her in this little wooden sleigh we have sitting under the Christmas tree and then started taking pictures. I really didn't think she'd stay in the sleigh but she did for all the pictures we wanted to take.

Here's how she looked. Adorable I think!!!

We have it on good authority (our Granddaughter Mistie) that Oreo Cookie is the cutest dog in the world. Of course, we agree - not that we're in the least biased. But really!! Isn't she precious??? She lost her first tooth today so I guess she'll be getting big dog teeth pretty soon. I don't know how they will look in that tiny little mouth but I guess they'll work out OK.

Our church Christmas program went really well this year and was one of our best. It involved basically our entire Sunday School - each class had a special piece of the program so that was a lot of folks. It all went good and took a minimum of rehearsal time so that was a plus as well.

Don't know what we'll do next year to come up to this one. But I say that every year and every year we have a really good program, so I'm sure next year will be the same.

Elicia and her family were here for Christmas and just left for home this afternoon, so we had a lot of fun. Learned a new game, "Settlers of Catan". I played it at friends' house after Thanksgiving and really liked it, so I bought one for me, and while the kids were here we played a couple rounds. It's a good game - strategy and dumb blind luck all involved, but is a lot of fun.

Granddaughter Lori made a gingerbread Christmas tree and trimmed it all up, and I made a batch of "My Favorite Molasses Cookies" for her 'cause she told me she'd never had homemade gingerbread cookies. How sad!!! So I just made her a batch. I think they liked them OK because they were about gone today.

Bill got me an Oogah horn for my buggy as well as some flannel lined jeans and wool socks. I'm not going to freeze this year when it gets cold. I got him a pair of aluminum ramps so he can load the buggy in the back of the pickup when we want to take it someplace, and then I got him some warm clothes, and a couple signs for the barn, so we had a very good Christmas.

Hope everyone reading this had a very happy day and enjoys a great 2009.

Till next time.

JB

Oreo Cookie - 5 months

Just thought I'd do a little blogging once. Cookie is growing, getting fuzzy, and becoming a real member of the family. We are both so glad that we got her. Even Rudy is liking her now. They play and fight and roll and just have such a time together. It's really fun to watch them.

Here's a picture of her in her winter coat. It feels good when she has to go out and go potty. Is she adorable or what??

If you want to see some Havanese dogs, you can check out the following web sites. www.havanese.com and www.elitehavanese.com Both have some real good pictures of the little guys and they are so cute.

And, now I'll try to finish this blog and actually get it posted. This month since Thanksgiving has just flown by. I think that Christmas actually sneaked up on us because of that one Sunday still in November after Thanksgiving. All at once it was December and only three weeks until the Christmas Program. But, I believe we are ready in spite of it all.

We're doing something different this year - an entire program of mini skits by each Sunday School class. Interspersed with special music, congregational singing, and a "very" entertaining conversation between two visiting "angels" disguised as homeless people. Should be good!

We had a little snow the Friday after Thanksgiving, and nothing else till yesterday when we got some sleet and freezing rain. School was cancelled today due to icy roads, but cars seem to be buzzing by now so I guess it's thawed enough to make travel possible again. We actually went to bed last night figuring to lose our electricity from ice bringing down the lines. But, the rain stopped during the night, so that ended that.

Otherwise, nothing much has been going on here. Bill spends time each morning with the horses and spreading horse by-products. And of course, he's an e-mailing fool these days and has more fun reading all the stuff his e-mail buddies send him and then sending it on, etc. etc. etc. He did get energetic last week and put the Nativity set up this year, and our lighted animated deer and some star shaped icicle lights on the highway porch, so we look rather festive this year. First time we'd put the Nativity set up for several years. He built a really neat stable for the characters out of old tin and lumber, and it's a big thing. I can stand up in it. Of course, the night after he put it up, the wind came up like gang busters and blew it over. Luckily, nothing was hooked up yet. Same thing happened the last time he put it up. But, all is well now and it's looking good!

My piano lessons will be over for the most part this week due to the holidays next week and week after. But, the kids always enjoy the break, and that's fine. My accordion student is really getting proficient on his accordion these days. I'm so glad that he enjoys coming up every month. We play a lot of different stuff and I'm always looking for some music for him that I think he'll enjoy. He's even posted one of the songs we did at a singing last year on his U-Tube site. We want to record a couple more duets to post up there as well. Kind of neat.

Our trees are all really pretty in the yard with their little coating of ice. Of course, don't want much more or they'll start breaking down.

So, hope everyone has a good Christmas with friends and family. We still miss Mom - especially now at Christmas time. She loved baking cookies, and getting ready for company.

Take care till next time,
JB

New Baby

This is our new puppy. I got her Friday night from a couple here locally who raise dogs. She is a Havanese, thus the green eyes, and is just a ball of fluff. She looks like a little fat guinea pig with a puppy face to see her run around.

I named her Savannah when I got her, seeing she was a Havanese, I thought Havana, and that didn't sit well, so it became Savannah. Then today Kaitlyn, one of my piano students and good buddy was here and she said, "Oh she looks like an Oreo." She's black and white everywhere except that brown on her face and ears. So, I rolled that around for a while and thought that Oreo would be a good name. When I mentioned it to Bill, he started calling her Cookie instead of Oreo, so we decided on her full name being Oreo Cookie and then we can call her either. But, I'm still trying to decide if that tastes right or not. I figure I'd better hurry up and get settled on something as I want to take her to the vet and get her wormed, and checked out, and they always want a name.

Bill likes a 2-syllable name rather than a 3-er so Cookie it will probably be.

The reason I went ahead and got another dog so fast is that I was losing it over having Tippy put to sleep. I cried for two weeks before I did it and have been crying off and on since she's gone. I just missed her so bad. So Friday I made up my mind that I had to get me another baby or go crazy. You dog people probably understand. The rest of you - sorry you don't get it. Anyway, I called several ads in the paper, went to the Humane Society over in Mena and almost got an adult Pomeranian, then came home and called the two places here locally who I knew were in the puppy business. One a lot bigger than the other. I had to leave a message on the answer machine at every place, and the place that got back to me first is where I ended up buying the baby.

I went over and picked her out and up and when we got home I put her down on the ground to go potty, and of course, here came Skipper to check her out, and then Mama Kitty from the barn decided to get in the act as well. So, in trying to keep the cat away from the puppy because I wasn't too sure how she'd react, I picked Cookie back up, had my cell phone and planner in hand and started to go up the stairs to the front door. AND THAT'S WHEN I SAW IT!!! There was something laying in front of the bottom step and about 2 inches draped up on the step. AND IT WAS A COPPERHEAD!!! I almost lost it. There I was - hands full of puppy, planner, and papers. Nothing to whack it with, and Mama Kitty and Skipper just about on it. So I shooed them both away, put the puppy back in the car, and ran around to the highway porch where I'd just set the three-tined digger thing. I grabbed it and hoped to heck that snake was still in the same spot because I really didn't want him roaming around the yard. Luckily, he was still laying there, head up on the step and body stretched out right along the front of the step.

AND THEN THE FUN BEGAN!! I turned the fork thing over to have more to whack with, and started hitting. The first blow hit the concrete and sent sparks flying and got the snake's attention. He pulled back off the step and coiled up and I just went to beating him. He tried to get away and I wasn't about to let that happen so I just kept with him, whacking and whacking until he finally quit wiggling. Then I hit him a few more times for good measure and picked him up and threw him out in the flowerbed in front of the house - where, trust me, we will probably never walk again.

So, now I am REALLY on the lookout for snakes. Bill has been telling me for years that they are out there and you have to watch where you are stepping and I always do, and I am just so thankful that I spotted him before going up on those steps. But that's a first for me as long as we've lived here. Ma saw a black snake one time coming over the fence and on to the porch, but I haven't seen a copperhead that close up and personal since the one that was in the house over on the creek when we were remodeling. That's a whole nother story.

But, all's well that ends well, and that story ended well. The snake is dead, the dog and cat didn't get bit, the puppy is adorable, and I'm smiling again. Life is good! By the way, all this happened while Bill was in Texas helping granddaughter Lacie remodel her barn where she keeps her horses, so I was ON MY OWN! Did pretty good for an old gal if I do say so myself!

Till the next time,
Joan

Tippy Toes

Tippy Toes
Came into our lives May 27, 2007
Left this world - September 29, 2008


My baby is gone! I find it almost impossible to deal with the fact that I made the choice to have this precious little girl put to sleep, but I had to do it. I can't believe the strong attachment we had - right from the beginning, and it never wavered. She loved me and I loved her.

She brought so much joy to our lives. It took about a month or two before she trusted Bill enough to let him pet her. Every time he reached down to her, she just ducked her head. We've always wondered what kind of mistreatment she had at the hands of some man someplace. But, she finally got to the place where she knew that he wouldn't hurt her either, and then she was fine.

She'd sit in the kitchen when we were eating supper in a spot where she could see us both, and then look at me and then look at Bill and then at me and then at Bill to see who would cave first and give her something yummy from the table. (It was usually him) After we were all through eating, THEN she'd go to her bowl and eat HER dinner. Guess by the time I was clearing the table she figured out that treats were over.

She loved to ride on the buggy with us. She'd sit there with her ears blowing in the wind just enjoying the breeze. One time I took off a little fast, and she slipped right under the back of the seat and ended up standing in the back part of the buggy where the golf clubs would go.

Tippy was well trained from the time we got her. She knew to go outside to potty, she didn't mind baths - too much anyway, she was used to being brushed, and loved being held. Wherever was, was her favorite place to be. If I was at my desk, she was underneath at my feet. If I was playing the piano, she was there under the piano bench. If I was playing my accordion or autoharp, she was under my chair. If I went in to talk to Bill in his "wild room", pretty soon here she came and laid down where I was sitting.

The past couple of months she started going downhill. I never knew how old she was, so blighfully convinced myself that she was probably only 9 or 10. Still several good years in her. But she got a sinus infection so I took her to the vet. After checking her over, he told me that she was old! Probably 12 - 13 and maybe older. Then I knew that her days were numbered. He also told me that she was virtually blind in both eyes - one I think a little bright light would make it through judging from all the wincing she did when she got outside in the sun. The other was completely sightless. Then it made sense why she fell down the staircase a few weeks before that. She couldn't see the steps and just missed one - she rolled all the way to the bottom.

The last couple of weeks really saw her condition deteriorate, but I had such a hard time making the phone call to set up an appointment with the vet. I know she was hurting, and not a happy little dog like she used to be, but I couldn't face my life without her in it. But sometimes we have to make the hard decision, and after asking God to show me what was the right thing to do, I know it was for the best. I watched her all day Sunday, and it seemed like everything said, "I'm ready to go." She couldn't even come in the house across the threshold without stumbling and falling.

The reason we even came to have her was that someone from Oklahoma City brought her down her to our church in a pet carrier and left her under the drive-thru with a note reading: "Please give a good home. Owner had to go to a rest home. Her name is Tippy Toes." They will never know what a precious little bundle of joy they discarded. But, I tried to give her a good home, and I hope that her last year and four months was happy. I know my life has been made infinitely richer from having her in it.

I'll always love my Tippy Toes. She's resting in our front yard in a nice wooden box that Bill built for me to bury her in. She deserved a good home in death as well.

Sadly and with a big hole in my heart I bid farewell to my precious Tippy.

Tippy's Mama

Fresh Carrot Casserole

Hi again,
I haven't posted a recipe for ages it seems, so thought I'd give you something to try. If you are among the unfortunate masses who DON'T have a copy of the "famous" Babcock's Store Cookbook", this is for you. Those of you with the book can look on page 20 for the recipe.

I made this to take to a funeral dinner a few weeks ago, and didn't get to try it then. I always HATE to take a new dish someplace and not really know how it actually tastes. Unfortunately, sometimes my "evil" self takes over and I just think, "oh, well, I really don't know these folks anyway." TERRIBLE attitude, and I apologize!!!

Anyway, I made it again after that and took it to our First Sunday fellowship meal last month. So, I did get a taste, and, whooeee!!!! It's REALLY good. I think you'll like it - A Lot!

One little variation I made was when boiling the carrots, I boiled them in "salted" water. The recipe didn't call for that but I'm not overly fond of flat carrots.

So, here's the recipe for you.

4 1/2 cups, or a 2-lb. bag of fresh carrots. (I like to use the baby carrots. All peeled, and measured What could be easier!"
1/2 cup Velveeta Cheese
1 stick margarine or butter (butter is better)
2 med. onions, diced
2 tbsp. flour
Croutons

Boil the carrots and onions until tender. Save 1 cup of the carrot water. Drain the rest from the carrots and put them in a 2 qt. casserole dish. Melt the velveeta in the saved water. Add 2 tbsp. of flour and the margarine or butter. Stir until all blended together. Pour over carrots in the casserole. Top with croutons and dot with butter. Bake 1 hour at 400.

This is really delicious.

Hope you like it, too.

JB

A Little of This and A Little of That

Hello all,
I thought I'd write a bit and let you know what's been going on here in SE Oklahoma. The first thing is we are enjoying some GORGEOUS fall weather this past week or so, and it just keeps coming. We only got about 1 1/2 inches of rain off Hurricane Ike (we were expecting 8-10) so that was a blessing. No major wind either, although the driveway had some dead branches laying in it when Bill went down to feed that next morning.

We currently have two extra horses down at the barn. We basically bought a Halflinger from our pastor's mom. His name is Joe. He's a pretty nice little horse. But was lame when we brought him home so had to make a trip to the vet to see what was going on. He had "gravels". A term we'd never heard of, but basically it comes when they get infection in the hoof wall which gravitates up through the hoof and into the ankle, and if left untreated, can make it necessary to amputate the leg. Or, what really happens is you have to put the horse down. Luckily, this was caught in time, and with some soaking, antibiotics and and three day stay in the animal "hospital" at the vets, he was on the mend. Bill is still giving him antibiotics on his feed, and soaking his foot in Epsom Salts twice a day. He takes a bucket of warm water down there and puts his foot in it for as long as he'll hold still. He told me that the other day, when he set the bucket down, Joe just picked his foot up and put it in it. Usually, it's a little more of a struggle than that. Come to find out the horse has been foundered, so don't know if he's going to work out for what we were wanting him for or not. Bill thinks he could pull a little buggy but the vet said he should never be taken on a trail ride. So, we're keeping him for a few more weeks to see how he gets, and then will probably sell him. We have a neighbor who wants him to help train some of his horses to pull a wagon.

The 4th horse down at the barn as of yesterday belongs to our granddaughter, horse girl. She trained and then sold our Cinnamon, who she got from us last spring some time, so thought she'd try that again. So, she bought a 2 yr. old to train and re-sell, and she also bought a colt. He's not weaned so the seller is weaning him this week. Bill's got to take her horse to the vet for Coggins, shots, and all that stuff that has to be done before Lacie can take the horse to Texas. We're getting to know that vet pretty well at this point.

She'll probably be up next week to get her investments, so hopefully we won't have extras too much longer.

I've been dealing with the "horrible" possibility of putting my little Tippy to sleep. She's pretty well blind now and gets lost in the house, and kind of wanders around in the yard, and she can barely get around. Her legs don't even hold her up on the linoleum anymore. She gets out in the kitchen, and when she stands still, her front legs just start sliding out from under her. I feel so sorry for her, but the thought of making that decision to end her little life is just killing me. I don't know if I can do it or not. Unless you've had to do this for a much-loved pet, I don't think you can understand. I don't think I ever understood how HARD it would be. I just thought she had a few more years left. But the vet said she's at least 13 and in little dog years, that's pretty old.

This Friday I have to go in for "oral surgery". I went to the dentist a couple weeks ago, and he said a back molar that's been bothering me has decayed badly underneath the crown that's on it, and there's no way it will come out in one piece. So he suggested an oral surgeon in Ft. Smith do it as it will have to be taken out in pieces. Then I guess he'll make a bridge to fill in the gap where the tooth currently is. "Oh how I love dental work!!!" Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

So, that's what I've got ahead of me this week. I hope it goes a little easier than the surgery favorite sister had to have to remove her wisdom tooth. She hurt from that ordeal for months. But I don't think this one is quite that bad.

Well, that's about all that's happening down here. I guess it's fall now, so we can expect cool evenings, and beautiful days, and spectacular colors soon. We are just going to have to start doing a little riding. It's been quite a while, and this is the nicest time of the year to do it, so "Heigh-ho, Silver".

JB

Mom's Story: Final Note

Well, I said last time that I would post the final note I had written at the end of her story, so here it is. I hope you all have enjoyed reading her story. I know there would have been a lot more to it had she had more time to think about it, and we could have gone over it together. It's one of those things that I mistakenly thought we'd have plenty of time to do.

How ironic, that we put things off till later, knowing full well that there might not be a "later", but somehow we never really think about someone we love not being here anymore. I guess that feeling of loss never really goes away, no matter how many years pass. I remember Mother saying that she still missed her Ma and it was 30+ years since she died.

Donna's and my only joy in this entire situation is knowing that she's in heaven. We know that because she was confident in her standing with Jesus, and said from the get-go that if He was ready for her to come home, then she was ready to go. And we know she was. She was a wonderful example of a Christian - not only in word, but in practice. She lived the Christian life everyday, loving people, showing kindness without partiality. No, she wasn't perfect, none of us are, but she was forgiven and knew where she would live for eternity. Donna and I look forward to seeing both her and Daddy again, and meeting a brother and sister who we've only been told about. What a reunion that will be!!

Here's "The Final Note".

*******

FINAL NOTE: by Joan (Howard) Babcock

Sunday evening, Sept.10, 2006, after supper, Mom started yelling that she was having chest pains. She had thrown up and was hurting pretty bad. I called the paramedics and they came right away and brought the ambulance. We took her to Mena Hospital where they treated her for a heart attack. They wanted to transport her to Ft. Smith Hospital to see a cardiologist there but had to get the pain stopped and her blood pressure regulated before they did. That finally happened at 7:30 the next morning. Our pastor rode in the ambulance with her and me, and stayed with me all night until she was transported to Ft. Smith.

She didn’t want any open heart surgery or surgery of any kind but did agree to having stints put in if there was a need for that. She had the angioplasty Monday evening and when the doctor came out he said that her three main heart arteries were almost completely blocked. He was able to insert some stints but the surgery really weakened her condition.

Donna and Wil started toward Ft. Smith on Tuesday after there didn’t seem to be any improvement. Bill and I came home to sleep on Tuesday night as I’d been up since Sunday morning and had to get some rest. We got a call about 2:30 AM from the nurse in ICU that her heart rate had dropped and I needed to come up. About 30 minutes before we got there, Mom died on Sept. 13^th. 2006 with the ICU nurse holding her hand. I called Donna to head to Wisconsin, and after calling Twohig’s in Campbellsport, Bill and I headed to the airport.

Mom’s funeral was Saturday, the 16^th, at the First Baptist Church and then after we returned to Oklahoma, where we had a Memorial Service at the Octavia Baptist Church on Sept. 23^rd.

She lived with us for 1 year and 9 months, and left a huge empty spot in our lives. Everyone that knew her loved her. She had friends everywhere. I know she is enjoying all the reunions in heaven but we sure do miss her here.

Signed,

Joan Babcock

Mom's Story - Installment #21

Well, today it's been exactly two years since we lost Mom. I still find myself thinking of things I've got to be sure to tell her, or heading to the phone to give her a call. It's been a little easier this year - as long as I don't think about it too long - (this is probably not helping) but we miss her and wish she was still down here with us.

This is the last post of her story. I wanted to post it on the anniversary of her going home to heaven, and it worked out that way.

We're waiting for hurricane Ike to get here - at least what we're going to get of Hurricane Ike. There's a possibility of high winds and lots of rain, so we'll see what happens this afternoon.

We've had some adventures over the past week or so that I'll try to get busy and tell you about in upcoming days. Hope you enjoy the rest of Mom's story.

****

In May Joan and Bill got two horses for them to ride. They ride whenever they can. We got a telephone call from Butch and Judy and they plan to come for a visit on the 29^th. of May on their way to Lynette’s surprise 60^th. birthday party.

On Mother’s Day we took Okla Kirkpatrick from my Sunday School Class along to the Catfish King restaurant in Idabel after church. We had a good dinner and Okla was glad to have a place to go as her family hat just been to visit so weren’t there on Mother’s Day.

Delores called and said that Sharon said that they were coming to visit the 9^th. or 10^th. of June. Joan and I went to Espye’s on the 16^th. to practice All the players were there and it was good to see all of them again.

May 29^th, 2006 Butch and Judy Schickert came here. We had a really fun time but it was just too short. Maybe they’ll come back again when they can stay longer.

On June 3^rd. Lacie came up to go riding with Bill and Joan. They spent most of the morning and a while in the afternoon riding. They left the horses saddled up as they planned to ride again after supper. I cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher, and the three of them went riding on a new road behind the church. On the way back, Joan’s horse, Blaze, got poked with a sharp stick and jerked back. Joan fell off and landed on a flat rock on her back. It knocked the wind out of her. Lacie rode Big Guy to the house and left him in the yard and got Joan’s car and went to get her. Bill told Lacie to take the horses to the pasture and he took Joan down to see Debbie, the paramedic who lives in the house by the creek where they used to live. She put oxygen on her face and then they took her to Mena Hospital to see if anything was broken. This was about 9:00 PM. The X-rays showed 6 cracked ribs and they sent her to Ft. Smith in case one punctured a lung. On Sunday morning Bill & I went up to see her, and she was full of pain medicine and couldn’t come home until they saw the doctor. Bill went back up on Monday and she came home Tuesday evening. She was really hurting but could walk OK.

The Adlers and Kannebergs came on the 9^th. and helped a lot with the food and stuff. Joan went to church on Sunday but didn’t play that week. The company stayed unitl the following Wednesday and we had a lot of fun. Sharon and Stan and Bill went fishing a lot, and Delores and Ed and I got to do a lot of visiting. Joan was getting around but slowly. She and Stan played music a couple nights and acted crazy. They made a cassette tape of it for us. They left on Wednesday to go to Gassville by Marty and Sylvia.. They called that they were home on the 18^th.

On Father’s Day Elicia and Phillip came up. They got here on Saturday. When we were doing the supper dishes, a big glass bowl that Elicia was washing slipped out of her hand and when she tried to catch it, it broke and cut her little finger bad. We called Debbie to come and look at it. She cleaned it up and bandaged it, and the next day it was really hurting her a lot. We went out to eat at Mena at the New China. Bill really like that place.

Ann and Kenneth from the singings brought over 2 five gallon pails of sweet corn to freeze. Bill and Joan went to his 50 year class reunion in Heavener, so we did corn the next day.

The week of July 15^th. – 22^nd. Bill and Tommy Phillips took a fishing trip to Colorado. They had a really good time and by this time Joan was well enough to do the feeding of the horses.

On July 22^nd. They took Gary Dupont on the helicopter to the hospital. He fell off a ladder and broke his hip really bad.

Shorty Howard called on Sept. 1^st., 2006 that Danny was in the hospital in Falls Church, VA on life support. She called on the 2^nd. that he had died. Nancy was there and she is going back to Illinois with her for a month or so.

Today, Sept. 9^th., Lacie came up from Texas to ride horses with Bill and spend the night. Around noon today 3 guys from the Octavia Fire department, Steve, and Norman, and Donald, came with a Booster Certificate plaque for their appreciation of what I gave the Fire Department in 2005.

I got news that Doris Donaldson had moved from Lehigh Acres, Florida to Milwaukee. She’s at Luthern Manor in Wauwatosa and is doing well health-wise.

******

Well, that's the last that Mom wrote. In the following post, which I will post in the next few days, I wrote a Final Note to tell you what those last few days were like.

Thanks for reading along with me.

Joan

Mom's Story - Installment #20

Well, I guess it's time for a bit more of the story. Things have been about the same around here. We didn't get a lot of rain off Gustav but did get about 3+ inches - nice and slow so it was a good soaker and was great on the grass seed Bill had just planted.

My poor little Tippy is really getting feeble. She's about totally blind now and runs into the walls and the side of the house when she's outside. Sometimes it looks like she can barely walk but then she'll run across the music room floor when I come in from outside and call her, so I think she's not too cripply yet.

Bill went horseback riding this afternoon for a while and he caught a possum in the feed room. Something has been getting into stuff lately down at the barn, and the cat won't even stay down on the floor - she perches up on the beams. Someone told Bill that if he put something good to eat in the bottom of a plastic trash can and then laid a board up against it so whatever could climb up and get in the can, he wouldn't be able to get back out, and sure enough! This morning he had a possum in the trash can. Hopefully, there aren't anymore down there, but he was going to rebait the can again anyway. I think it was a possum who got the kittens this last time. Mama Kitty was pretty stove up for a while after that encounter. We didn't know if she'd make it or not.

Well, so much for the Octavia Babcock happenings. Here's some more story.

*******

I went to see the hip doctor in Hot Springs, AR the first week in December. He said the hip was shot and would need to be replaced if I was going to walk again. Surgery was scheduled for Dec. 20^th.

On the 17^th. Joan had 10 ladies over for a birthday party. It was a lot of fun and then on the 19^th. we went to Hot Springs to check into the hospital. Surgery was scheduled for early the morning of the 20^th. Pastor Ed got there just before they were going to wheel me in. He stayed with Joan until I was back in my room. Joan stayed in my room with me at the hospital until I could come home. We came home on the 23^rd. of December, the Friday before Christmas.

I couldn’t get out of bed by myself or back in for a couple weeks so Joan had an intercom so she could hear me call when I needed to get up during the night. She had to help me get my feet back into the bed as I couldn’t lift my legs and keep that hip straight.

On Jan. 3^rd. I had my first followup with the doctor and he said all was going well. Went back on the 31^st. and then started seeing the doctor in Mena for the rest of the follow up appointments. The home health girls came to the house to take my blood pressure and take care of the incision. And then a therapist started coming a few times a week for 6 weeks. She made me get up and walk with her holding a belt and I had to do breathing exercises. I didn’t like them.

On April Fool’s day we went to a cake walk and supper at the Octavia Fire Station. I wasn’t going to go, but Joan thought I should get out, and the food was good.

On April 14^th. Joan was 61. Bill got her a vanity table and chair for her room. We went to Smithville for dinner as we were going out on Easter.

Sharon Hadley wrote a note to me that they were heading to Wisconsin but weren’t stopping here. She’s getting her ankle fixed in May.

The Muskego relatives are coming for Easter so that will be fun. They got here Saturday the 15^th. and left on Monday. We had a really good time We went to the Chinese Restaurant – all 7 of us in the Mercury. Sunday was Sharon Anderson’s 55^th. birthday. It was a lot of fun and I can walk with out the cane but I have to be careful.

Joan and Becky Phillips went to Baton Rouge, LA the end of April to see Andre Rieu, and Phillip and Lacie and her friend came up to ride horses. Bill took me to church and came and picked me up, but didn’t go because of the company. Joan got back home around 9:00 PM Sunday night. It was a long weekend without her.

Well, that's the end for this time.

JB

Mom's Story - Installment #19

Here is is, the end of August already. Today Bill is 70 years young. I asked him how it felt to be 70 and his answer was, "Not much different than last night when I was 69." Duh! I guess that was a dumb question to start with.

It's time for another part of Mom's story so here it is. We're nearing the end, so I hope you've enjoyed it.

This is October 8^th, 2005. Fall is here but it still feels like summer. I went to the dentist and had my black stomach tooth pulled Friday morning. The dentist said it needed to be pulled before putting in the new partial upper plate. That night we went to a singing at a little Indian church, and then Saturday we went to Idabel to the Free Will Baptist Church where Eden Gospel Bluegrass was playing. We ate afterwards and got home about 10:00 PM. My face was swelled and had a big red spot on it where the tooth was pulled. I got some pain pills that helped and by the next Friday, it was fine.

I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving as Donna and Wil, and Greg and family and Connie are all coming. Connie flew into Ft. Smith and Donna and Wil timed their arrival to pick her up, so they all arrived on Nov. 19^th. It was a really nice day. Greg and Dawn and the girls didn’t get here until the following Monday.

On Tuesday evening the kids gave me a surprise birthday party. Donna got my birthday ring fixed and gave it to me. Dawn and Greg gave me a housecoat, Connie – 4 CD set called “Tuesdays with Morrie”. Joan gave me three star shaped candles to put in my room, and then Donna gave me a box with all the love letters in from Les. After we got done, Bill hooked up the slide projector and we watched a lot of our old slides. It was really fun to see the grandchildren when they were little. Molly and Maddie really got a kick out of that.

Wednesday Bert and Kim came up from Conroe, TX to spend Thanksgiving with us. We had a good Thanksgiving dinner, and then Friday morning after breakfast Greg and family and Donna & Wil left for home. Bert and Kim stayed for lunch and then they left for Texas.

That's it for this time.

JB

Mom's Story - Installment #18

Well, it's time once again for some more of Mom's story. We've had some good rain, and now are enjoying some wonderfully cool temperatures. For August in Oklahoma, this is really a BIG deal. We were burning up a couple weeks ago with 100+ temperatures, so this is a welcome relief.

So, enjoy some more of Mom's story. I'm afraid we're getting close to the end.

JB

Now it’s Memorial Day weekend. There’s lots of traffic and we had a nice rain. On Saturday we went to the Italian Fest in McAlester Oklahoma. I called Mr. & Mrs. Tom Hathcoat and they met us there. We had spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, and salad. Bill walked around the grounds and Joan and Carolyn looked at the crafts. Tom and I were slow going so we sat under the tent and listened to the bluegrass music and visited. We were glad to see each other. He was glad to meet Bill and Joan also.

I hurt the next day so didn’t do much all day.

On June 5^th. we went to the Octavia Church, and then came home and picked strawberries. We froze a lot and made 3 batches of jam. Then on Tuesday night we went to the monthly singing in Mena. We got home about 10:00 o’clock. Joan is teaching the Books of the Bible at Day Camp. My leg still hurts. Dr, Maxwell gave me some medicine for it and I have to go back in July.

Got a note from Donna that the people didn’t take the farm, and also that Greg and Dawn were in their new house. However, I found out that Tom Wiedmeyer wanted the farm. I was so happy because I wanted him to have it all along. He’d been renting the land from us for a long time already.

The end of August there was a big hurricane in New Orleans. Katrina. I watched the news on TV and it looked so terrible. So many people are out of their homes. One lady came to this area and stayed with us a couple nights while she decided where to go and what to do. Her home was gone and she couldn’t even get back in the area to check on her pets that had to be left behind.

On the 3^rd. of Sept., Sunday afternoon, the helicopter stopped across the road. They loaded a lady from church who had had a massive stroke. They took her to Ft. Smith where she died. I was very sad as I liked Ramona a lot. The funeral was on Wednesday. Joan had to play for it and sing a song.

Well, that's it for this time.

Mom's Story - Installment #17

Well, I haven't posted anything for a couple weeks now. Sorry about that! Last week I was sick and didn't do ANYTHING for a few days. Thankfully, I'm back among the living and about over the cold, snotty nose, croupy cough, etc., etc.

And then last Friday afternoon our pastor's dad died suddenly. He and Bill were pretty good friends and it really hit him hard. We went over to see the family Sunday after church, and then the funeral was this past Wednesday. They lived over in Arkansas just across the Oklahoma line, so it was a good hour's drive from here. They had 12 children, so there was a lot of family at the funeral. It was a very different kind of service, but Ed's dad was a very unique person, and the service suited him perfectly. The sons and grandsons had gotten busy and built his casket out of red cedar planks he had in his workshop. It was all a real labor of love.

So, things have been a little crazy the past couple weeks. School started here yesterday, so now things will get back on schedule somewhat. Hope you enjoy this next part of Mom's story.

Joan

On the first of May, 2005, Joan took me to Wisconsin to get more clothes. I had to sell the farm and move to Oklahoma for good. My back and legs hurt so much and I didn’t pick up my feet far enough so I stumbled over rocks and bumps. So from then on I was living with Joan. That Sunday, May 1^st., after lunch, we drove to Lebanon, MO. and had supper and slept in a Super 8. Had Chinese food at the restaurant across the street. We left in the morning after we had breakfast in the motel, and got to Rockford the middle of the afternoon, and then slept in Illinois. We got to Campbellsport Tuesday afternoon, went to the cemetery, got groceries, and started packing.

The phone didn’t work too good so Joan called Bill on cell phone. We went to the Baptist church on Sunday, Mother’s Day. I treated my family to dinner at the Campbellsport Inn. Greg and Dawn and girls came to dinner also. We had to wait so long to get served. Then we went to the farm to look things over and had Manwich for supper. Donna made a chocolate torte which was very good.

On Monday, May 9^th., 2005 we went to Maddie and Molly’s dance recital. They look like little movie stars. They did well and after the recital we went to see Greg & Dawn’s new place. They just bought it and weren’t moved in yet. It’s big and very nice. The kids have cats to play with.

Tuesday we packed and I went to the doctor and got my pills at the drug store. We kept packing, taking pictures down off the walls, and had lots of company to see our packed boxes. We sent several boxes with UPS.

On Thursday Wil came over and we washed our bedding and then left for Oklahoma at 11:00 AM. I gave Wil the garage door opener that was in my car. We got as far as Bloomington, IL, when the brake cylinder got hot. We had to be towed into a Ford garage for repairs. We stayed at a Super 8 and Friday noon the car was ready to go. It worked fine the rest of the way home.

We got to Oklahoma about 3:00 PM the next day. We were very tired. It took me a week to recuperate. Bill helped unload the car. He had sore knees but worked anyway. Joan made me return address stickers with my new address on them. I had to write lots of notes. By the 20^th. of May we were picking lots of strawberries to eat and freeze.

Donna and Helen Medinger held a big rummage sale up in the hay barn for all the stuff that wasn’t sold to the auction place in Waubeka. Some of the furniture was sold before we left for Oklahoma and the kids all came over and picked out what they wanted to have. The auction and the rummage sale both did real good.

Well, "that's all folks".

Mom's Story - Installment #16

Hello again,

Well, once again this week has flown by. It's a sure sign that you are getting old when yesterday was the 4th. of July and today it's the 22nd. already. I just don't think that we're having THAT much fun.

It's hot, hot, hot down here the past few days. It's always amazing as to how fast everything dries out and the ground starts cracking after just a couple weeks without any significant rain. Even my little zinnia beds were looking pretty dry so got some needed watering last night. And it goes without saying that the tomatoes are demanding water daily. But, they are producing, so we're eating fresh vine-ripened tomatoes every day for lunch and supper.


We closed on the sale of the 32 acres where we had the horses last year and got the hay a few cuttings. We are glad to be out from under that whole thing. Didn't need it in the first place, so were glad we found some young folks who did and do. They have 6 horses down there and are planning to build as soon as they get their house sold, so I think they will be fine neighbors. If we ever decide to quit riding horses, the 17 acres with the barn and pond will be up for sale as well, but we're still enjoying our equines.

Well, here's another piece of Mom's story. I hate to say it, but it's getting toward the end. I know there were so many more things that could have been included in this story, and perhaps with more time, she would have thought of some more stuff from her childhood and earlier years. But, I have what I have and that's all that there is, so that's what you're getting as well.

Hope you are still enjoying it.

****

Donna and Wil always drove us to Oklahoma & to Texas to see Joan and Bill Babcock till Les passed away in Jan. 2000. Joan was already home before he died and Bill drove up from Oklahoma as soon as he heard about Les’s passing. Joan stayed for a month to get paperwork done, and I came back with her and stayed till Palm Sunday in April 2000. Then she drove me home in the 1992 Mercury. Donna took her to the airport in Milwaukee and she flew back to Dallas.

I got two great grandchildren within 5 years, Maddie Helen Peterson and Molly Elizabeth Peterson, and they live in Sheboygan. Lots of parties those years. (Note: she had a great-grandson this past June, but unfortunately never got to know it. I know she would have been as thrilled as we all are.)

In February 2004, I had my left hip out in Mercy Bone Hospital in Oshkosh. Dr. O’Laughlin did this one. Was in the hospital four days and then went to rehab at Lomira Nursing Home for months. Donna and Wil had to take me to the doctor two times and I had lots of company while in Lomira.

After I went home in June, I had lots of hurts and tried lots of stuff but nothing helped. Ruth Weis did my cleaning.

In 2004, after Christmas Joan came up to Milwaukee on Dec. 29^th. and drove me back to Oklahoma, Jan. 2005, for the winter. It was a good trip. In April my legs were lame so it was decided I should not be by myself on the farm.

We went home in May and I came back to live here in Oklahoma with Joan and Bill. I like it here in winter. It’s spring all the time and I can’t expect Joan to come and get me again every fall. She gives piano lessons every day.

Bill gave Joan a surprise 60^th. birthday party at the Fellowship Hall at the church. A lot of people came. Bill bought cake and ice cream for 100 people. It was fun. Two days after the party, on Friday, Martin and Sylvia and Gary Adler came. We had a great visit and they left on Saturday at 11:00 AM. It was nice weather – 76 degrees.

The garden Bill fixed for me was coming up but it didn’t grow very fast. By the end of May the strawberries were ripe and Bill put netting over the patch to keep the crows from eating them and there are lots. We ate strawberries every day as much as we wanted and still had some for freezer jam. Delicious!!!

Well, that's it for this time.

JB

Mom's Story - Installment #15

My, my, my, my!!!! Where does the time go? It seems like just a day or two ago that I last posted another bit of Mom's story, and here it has been a week already. I really don't think that I've been that busy, but the days seem to fly by. It's gotten hot, but we've got a little rain along, so that helps.

We went riding this morning on an all-new spot. About a two hour ride I guess, and that was plenty. The sun was under clouds for most of the morning so that made it very pleasant. I wish I could tell you something hilarious that happened but nothing really did. The most excitement I had was when Blaze decided to jump a little ditch thing rather than wade through it like the lead horse did. I thought he'd just walk on through it as well, but, no, he decided that JUMPING over it was the way to go. Needless to say, I wasn't really expecting that so got a really good adjustment. Why pay a chiropractor when a horseback ride or two can do the same thing. I heard things crack in my neck that haven't cracked for a long time, but it feels really good, so I guess all is well.

One of the funniest things that happened was last week when Lacie was here. We went riding with a couple of our friends who gave us quite a trip. On the way back down the far side of the mountain, we came upon a black snake by the edge of the road. Tommy showed it to everyone and then proceeded to walk his horse right on top of it. It took off and then doubled back and wound right around Lacie's horse's left front leg. I don't even think she saw it, and I'm sure her horse didn't see it. He just walked right out of it. Good thing it wasn't a rattle snake or copper head. That's the first snake I've ever seen on the trail since we've been riding. This morning we came across two deer and two fawns so that was nice.

Well, here's some more of Mom's Story.

Enjoy.

***************

On Dec. 20^th., 1997, Joan and Donna gave me a surprise 80^th. birthday party at Bublitz restaurant in Lomira. Donna and Wil and Greg and Dawn and Connie and Les and I were all planning to go out for dinner for my birthday. When we got to the restaurant, they took us to the back room and there were a lot of the relatives and friends and neighbors all yelling “Surprise!!”

I couldn’t believe my eyes. My sister Jane and brother Herb and his wife were there, and Stan and Sharon, and lots of nieces and nephews and their families. And so many neighbors were there as well. It was really a shock.

I started walking through the guests hugging them and laughing, and all at once I came up one aisle and there was Joan with her video camera. I was SO surprised!!! I had no idea that she was going to be home. We had a really good meal, and the girls got me a cake, and give me a necklace with the number 80 in gold letters all embedded with diamonds. Bill and Joan’s son-in-law, Phillip Stone, made the necklace for me. It was really beautiful.

After we finished eating, Joan read a poem titled “Now That You’re 80”. and Donna and Connie sang “I Won’t Take Less Than Your Love”. Then Joan sang a song she’d written for me called “Out on Howard’s Farm”. She played it on her autoharp and Donna played her guitar. It was to the tune of “Out Behind the Barn”. It was funny. Jane even started dancing around the tables. That’s always been her song. And she sang another song with her autoharp called “Mother Is Special”. She had everyone crying.

I got some really nice gifts, and when Donna mailed out the invitations, she put a little note paper in each one asking them to write down something special they remembered about knowing me. There were lots of those little notes in the box. They made me cry. It was a really nice surprise party, and then Joan stayed up in Wisconsin through Christmas. Bill didn’t come along, so she drove up herself.

******************

Well, that's it for this time.
JB

Out of the mouths of babes.

I saw a cute story while I was in the waiting room at the dentist office Tuesday, and thought I would share it with you.

It seems that a young couple with a little 3 yr. old daughter had moved to a new town back in the 20's or 30's. This town was dry, and all of the residents were solid teetotalers or at least gave the outward appearance of being teetotalers. Shortly after they'd settled into their new home, the lady of the house was invited to a social gathering with a group of the town elite. She decided to take her little daughter along as she was always very well behaved and quiet.

They sat in the parlor sipping tea from dainty little china cups and engaged in boring conversation that would put anyone to sleep. The little girl was sipping her tea very properly as well. Finally, after a while of this, she leaned over to her mother and in her clear childish voice said, "Mother, let's just pretend this is beer."

Mother smiled weakly at the other ladies, and left shortly thereafter. Needless to say, she was never invited to another social gathering with that group again!

I thought that was really cute. And so typical. If kids hear it at home, don't be surprised when it pops out of their mouths.

Another good example of that is two little boys who take piano lessons from me. They were going to Bible School last month and rode the church van to get there. The driver told us that the minute they got on the van and away from their Grandma, they unbuckled their seat belts and started cussing like sailors for anything that came along. I've met their "PaPa" and I imagine that they hear quite a bit of that kind of talk at home. I told Bill that someday when he gets a chance, he ought to question them about it, but I don't think he's had the opportunity yet. They've never talked like that around me, but then, someone is always there with them, so guess that's why.

Changing the subject - we had a really good week with #2 granddaughter, Lacie, while she was up her on vacation. Granddaddy is FINALLY recovering from all the riding she put him through. Pretty hard - a 70-year old trying to keep up with a 20-year old. But, he did rather well. I knew I wouldn't have that much riding in me, but did manage for two pretty good ones while she was here. The Saturday before we left, the three of us and a couple of friends of ours took off up one side of Short Mountain just south of us. It wasn't horribly steep, but the trail was very rocky and just a steady pull up. By the time we'd only gotten about a quarter of the way up the trail the horses were really sweating. It was a real workout for all of them.

We made it to the top, and then went down the other side to a creek. Walked the horses across the creek and then got off to eat lunch. It was really a nice place for that. The remainder of the ride wasn't quite as long, and we sure didn't get any flack from any of the horses about getting back in the trailer to RIDE back to the house. I think they were as glad to see the truck and trailer as we were. I did fine until we quit and then I thought I would DIE from the heat.

But, after a few days rest, we're ready to go again. Last Tuesday we rode about 4 1/2-5 miles down to some friends' house, got off, had coffee with them, then loaded up and rode back to the house. That was a good trip, too.

I'm not playing in the bluegrass gospel group any longer - gas too high, and I'm kind of burned out with it, so I have a little more time to spend on other music endeavors. A group of kids from our church are coming once a week to play recorders so that's fun.

Well, it's about time to add another segment of Mom's Story, so keep an eye out for that.

Till next time,
JB

Mom's Story - Installment #14

Well, it's time for another installment of Mom's Story. These weeks sure seem to fly by. We've had a busy one, but will save that for another post. Enjoy Mom's story.

In September of 1987, Joan and Donna along with Leslie and Randy Miller, the preacher at the 1^st. Baptist Church, surprised us with a 50^th anniversary party at the Gazebo in Fond du Lac, WI. The kids came to church with us that morning and the girls even sang, and then we came back home till it was time to go out to eat. Wil and Bill both put on wigs and acted silly. We’ve got good pictures of the son-in-laws with hair.

Then we left to go to Fond du Lac to eat. The girls were taking us someplace special since it was for our 50^th anniversary. I had wanted to have a party and invite the relatives but Les didn’t want one. When we got there, they led us back to a back room and there were all the people from church, and Bucky and his family, and Sharon and Tom and other old friends and relatives. What a surprise.

Les wasn’t too sure he liked the idea but after we ate and the girls sang some special songs for us, and he had a chance to visit with lots of the old neighbors who were there, he was pretty happy we had a party.

It was a really good time and we got some nice Golden Anniversary gifts. When we got home, Randy and Leslie came to the house afterwards and we had supper and a good visit.

JB

She Can Cook!!

Our #2 granddaughter, Lacie, is up here this week for a visit. She hasn't been up since last fall, so it's really nice having her around. She and Granddaddy are spending a LOT of time "horsing around". I told him that it was really nice that he had someone to play with this week.

She got up here Sunday mid day, and by that afternoon, they were on the trail. Monday morning we got situated and the three of us went on a nice LONG ride across the highway and back in the woods. It was a good ride - no major disasters. We were planning to make a ride that Bill and I did back 4 or 5 months ago. We enjoyed it then, and said that Lacie would like it as well.

So we started off through the church yard, up the road behind the church, past our new high speed internet tower (which, by the way, is now providing 5 bars of cell phone service IN OUR HOUSE!!! We've NEVER had cell phone service in our house before.) And the trail continued up the dirt road, through the old dump, across the pipeline and then up the little trail we'd found through the woods. Eventually we came back to Hwy. 259. And, that's where the similarity to our previous ride ended.

Being a true MALE, William decided to "take a different trail" back to civilization this time. It was heading in the same general direction as the one we took before. Couldn't hurt. We'll see some new territory. No problem!

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! We're riding along on a very "not very ridden" trail deeper and deeper into the woods, when lo and behold, there's a fence crossing our path. OK! We'll just backtrack a bit and ride up alongside it because it's bound to end sooner or later. Well, he was right. It did. Right into another cross fence. Now we were really blocked.

So, we turned around once again, and headed back the way we came. No, I shouldn't really say that. We just found ANOTHER slightly used trail that our "fearless leader" thought sure would take us where we wanted to go. But as luck would have it, we came across a pretty good sized tree blocking that path. Now, all three of us were pretty sure that our horses could have gotten over that tree. And if we'd been ABSOLUTELY sure that they would just neatly step OVER the tree trunk, and continue on, we'd have probably tried it.

BUT, there's always that teensy-weensy little chance that they would try to LEAP over it. And vaulting was definitely NOT in the program for Monday morning. I could just picture Blaze deciding to jump, getting in stance to jump, beginning to jump, and then, just at the last minute, changing his mind. Of course, by this time, my body would have already been in motion and would have probably continued on the set path - over his head, over the tree, and hopefully still in one piece on the ground. WE WERE NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT CHANCE!! Flying through the air on a quiet Monday morning in June was not my idea of a FUN ride.

So, once again, we turned back and started up another trail. We actually made it back to the highway and proceeded riding up the ditch to the road we were trying to find. Luckily, by that time the horses were pretty well pooped out, and the traffic didn't seem to bother them at all.

Our ride lasted about 2 1/2 hours all tolled I guess. Lacie and Bill, tough-butted people that they are - have been riding at three times since then. NOT ME!!! I'm so sore I can hardly sit much less THINK about putting my "tender" nether regions back in a saddle. I'm sure by tomorrow I'll be feeling much better, and maybe by Friday, I may even attempt another ride, but for now, the Granddaughter/Granddaddy duo are on their own.

Anyway, back to the title of this post. Last night Lacie "cooked" supper for us. She made a really mean Taco Salad. Huge taco salad. All the while talking about "slimy" lettuce. Actually, a little wilt in lettuce doesn't bother me too bad, but apparently doesn't do a thing for her. But, the salad was really good - we ate way too much and have lots left for lunch today, so I was quite impressed that she did it. She said taco salad and guacamole where her specialties - but, alas, no avocados, so no guacamole. But, we had refried beans (out of a can), and plenty of taco salad, and life is good!

Have a great week.
JB

Mom's Story - Installment #13

Boy! Time sure flies when you're having fun. It seems like just yesterday that I was posting part #12 of Mom's story and here another week is already gone.

Our granddaughter, Lacie, is up from Dallas for the week so I imagine she and Bill will be doing a lot of horseback riding. I'm sure I'll do some, but it usually takes me a few days to recover between rides, so if I do 2 I'll be doing good. They've already made one while I was a church tonight. (little heathens!) They did have supper on the table when I got home though, so that was good!


So, here's the next part of Mom's story. Hope you enjoy the read.

After Joan and Donna could drive, we went to my parents 50^th anniversary and Stanley’s wedding in Humbird in 1965.

Joan’s wedding was in 1967 and Donna’s in 1969. Both took place while I was working at the school. We got the flowers at the Kewaskum florist, and had the receptions at Nonn’s at Forest Lake. Dinners were $1.25 a plate. The Julida Boys played for Donna’s wedding.

Les’s cousin’s son, Danny Howard, who lived in Arlington, VA, started coming to the farm every summer to help with the yard work and garden and picking cherries, and other chores. He started coming when he was 11 and came every year until he was 16 when he could get work in Virginia.

Donna drove me to Dick and Kathy Adler’s wedding in Illinois. When Donna worked in West Bend factory, she and I flew to Seattle Washington to visit Joan and Bill Mertz for a week in 1969. The three of us went to Victoria, British Columbia on a big ship for a day trip. Joan and Bill took us all over. Joan took us over a mountain and I was afraid, but Joan drove all over the most. Bill was in the service. On Sunday he drove to Mt. Rainier Park. It was great and we went to Snoquomish Falls to see that. We also went west to the Pacific Ocean and walked on the beach. This was the first time we had Kentucky fried chicken in a box. It was so good. We ate outside.

On Nov. 29, 1969 Donna married Willard Peterson in the Fillmore church. They went to Florida on their honeymoon and bought nice sea shell gifts and cuckoo clock for Christmas gifts. They settled in Plymouth and had Greg in October 1970. Then the moved to Waubeka in 1971 and bought a house on Tagay-Tay Terrace. In August of 1972 they had Connie. Lots of good visits there with all of them.

They celebrated their 25^th. wedding anniversary in Nov. 1994. All the relatives and friends came.

Well, we'll leave the story at this point since she's got both of us married off, and wait till next week for more of the story.

JB

Mom's Lemon Meringue Pie

I always thought that my mother made the best lemon meringue pie in the whole world. Of course, back in those days, I hadn't eaten too many other ladies' lemon pies, so I'm sure I was a little bit prejudiced, but hers was really SO-O-O-O good!! And I LOVE lemon meringue pie - even to this day.

However, in my grownup life, I have come to realize that "not all lemon pies are equal." Never was this made more clear than the fateful day I had a piece of lemon meringue pie that a neighbor lady had made for Bill's Dad's birthday. We had gone to Heavener to see his folks, and there on the counter sat this BEAUTIFUL lemon meringue pie. And, it WAS pretty. I asked Hermann where he'd gotten it, knowing pretty well that Bill's mom probably hadn't made it, and he said that a neighbor had brought it over for him. I should have left it go right there, but no!! I HAD to say, "I really LOVE lemon meringue pie." So, of course, generous person that Hermann was, he said, "Well, get yourself a piece."

And I DID!!! That was the most AWFUL lemon pie I have ever put in my mouth. It was chewy - I believe the lady had ground up the whole lemon - rind and all - and put it in the filling. And SOUR!!! Apparently, she was not a real fan of sugar, because there wasn't much if any in that pie. Well, now I was in a fine fix. I'd gotten a very nice piece of Hermann's birthday pie, so felt morally OBLIGATED to eat the entire thing. But, I learned a valuable lesson. Just because something LOOKS really good, doesn't necessarily mean that IT IS!!!

But, the pie you make with THIS recipe is wonderful, so I hope that you all enjoy it.
Joan

MOM'S LEMON MERINGUE PIE

1 baked pie shell
1 cup boiling water
1/4 cup corn starch
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, separated
1 tbsp. butter
Juice and grated rind of 1 lemon

Place sugar and cornstarch in a pan. Pour boiling water over and cook until thick. Add beaten egg yolks and lemon juice and rind. Cool and place in a baked pie shell. Cover with meringue.

MERINGUE
Beat egg whites till fluffy. Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar and continue beating until mixture stands in peaks. Pile on cooled lemon filling, sealing to the edges and put in a 375 degree oven just until the meringue begins to brown.

There you have it. Lemon meringue pie heaven!!

I thought I'd do a little editing on my post titled "Biker Chick at 60". Favorite sister pointed out that she wasn't QUITE 60 yet, so did not want to be there before her time. Now, I understand that perfectly, so I have changed the title of the post to reflect her real condition. I also added a picture (which I just received) of her on her "hog". I hate to admit it but she looks GOOD on that bike. Black leather pants, and some shades, and she'd really be smokin'. Not bad for a Grandma!!!! So, go check out her picture on "Biker Chick at (almost) 60" back in May.

I gotta tell you about my VBS skit. It was so-o-o-o much fun. Of course, when you are playing an "old, snooty, past-tense actress" who still feels she has it all to offer, and is still beautiful besides, how can you go wrong with a part like that. Nothing was too much when it came to the lines and the actions. The kid who played the director was only about 14 or 15 but he really looked the part.

He had the "California director" shirt, shades, cap on backwards, and a pretty good "attitude" for a kid. We had a real good time getting ready each day for our "performance". I was supposed to dress in a "long, slinky" gown, sunglasses, and of course, a long blonde wig. Well, the wig and the sunglasses weren't too much of a problem, but the long slinky gown was not to be found. Now, I'm not saying I don't have any long slinky gowns. I have had a few of that sort in my day, but NONE of them have grown along with me. I've always said, "Eating makes my clothes shrink", and they have done so - badly!!! I actually think my ribs have even grown.

Anyway, since long and slinky wasn't going to work, I settled for "long and flowing (baggy, actually)". Mom had a really pretty blue caftan-type thing that was actually too long for her, so I've had it in my closet since I cleaned out hers. With that and a long white penoir set jacket, I was set to play Gloria Gonn. Oh, that, and 3 1/2' spike heels. Don't do much walking around on those babies anymore either. There are just some things that shouldn't be attempted after you realize how bad you could break if you fall.

Here's a picture of my get up. Actually, you can't see the layers of jewelry that I also wore along with a different colored feather boa each day, but you get the idea. I think every long gold necklace I had in my jewelry box was worn that week. And at least 3 or 4 bracelets per arm. Trust me, I was a sight. But, needless to say, we had a lot of fun - I had great lines that were really funny. And, got sprayed with silly string 4 out of the 5 days because the boys kept answering more Bible questions than the girls did. Only thing I can figure, is there were a lot more boys in attendance than girls. Otherwise, we KNOW who would have answered the most questions.

Everyday, as soon as the program was over, I would start memorizing the lines for the next day. Actually managed to get them all learned, so I didn't have to rely totally on the teleprompter they had set up. Good thing, too, because one day it totally failed.

Needless to say, it was quite a week, and on the last day, when we were going in for the final skit presentation, the little director kid gave me a big hug, and said he really enjoyed the week, and "Maybe we can do it again next year."

Maybe. Who knows. Perhaps I've FINALLY been discovered!!!!!

Take care,
JB

Mom's Story - Installment #12

Boy! This week really flew by. I "VBS'd" all week and seems like any extra time was non-existent. But it was great fun. I may put a px of this "old aged actress" on the previous blog but I was much better in "real life". Ha!
Thought it was time for the next installment so here it is. I visited with Aunt Dee this weekend and she's been able to access the blog as well so welcome, Auntie. Always nice to know you all are enjoying the site.

Les taught me to drive the 1929 Durant before we were married. He stopped on 67 over the railroad track and got out and said, “You can drive home” and he told me what to do. And that was the beginning. From then on I could drive tractor and all the cars we had.

There was a ’36 Chevrolet, ’49 Ford, ’55 Olds, ’73 Chevrolet, and a 1985 Olds. We went to Texas and Oklahoma with that one, and in 2000, Joan drove me down to Oklahoma and left the Olds there, and we came home with a 1992 Mercury Grand Marquis.

I worked at West Bend Aluminum Factory dropping screws in handles and welding electrical wiring on the bottom of large coffee pots. When I had to join the union, I quit and got a job sewing at Gilbert Shoe Factory in Campbellsport. I worked there and rode with Delores Zern. Earl Streen was the boss, Mrs. Rayjack was floor lady and knew I was making many mistakes, so I quit, and Les went to work at Grafton. The girls and I did the night chores.

After he was done at Grafton, I worked in the kitchen at Campbellsport School for 17 years. Sadie Mathers was the office girl and planned the meals. It was nice. I liked it. I made yeast rolls, pie crusts, pizza crusts, cakes, cookies, and frostings. Met Ruth Weis there. We are still friends.

Well, we leave the story here for this time. I'll try to get a couple of Mom's good recipes added before too long.

JB