Sunday Afternoon Thoughts

I was recently reading how to remember to spell things.  Little tricks that we learn to encourage our minds.  It reminded of sayings that we learned in grade school to help us remember how to spell geography and arithmetic.  To remember arithmetic we would simply say "A rich Irishman thought he might eat toads in cream". For Geography it was George Edwards old grandmother rode a pig home yesterday."  How in the world this came about, I do not know.  I was in the 5th grade and I am sure the teacher thought we would have more fun saying these little chants and remembering the 1st letter of each one rather than actually just learning the word.  I am sure she wasn't the only teacher to use this theory.  Today, arithmetic is simply MATH.  My grandchildren look at me in wonder  when I ask them about their arithmetic homework.  It sounded scary to me too. 

It has been HOT in the Panhandle.  It was over 100 degrees on three different days this week.  Today, it is 73.  A windy Sunday afternoon and a good day for the rancher to take a nap and rest.  He has been buying cattle, putting up hay and planting feed.  It is a busy time on the Ranch.  We still have calves to work.  Some of that is done but as we don't have cowboys around , The Rancher and Son do it when they can.  Times have changed.  When you get older, you find that you need to have  a slower pace if you are going to make it through the day.

Last year at this time I had mowed the yard....This year I can say that I have mowed the yard 5 times.  Love the moisture but it keeps me busy.  Now the yard on the Ranch isn't 200' X 150' like some of those in town.  It is a major project to mow this place.  We mow the area from fence to fence and what we can't get, we put up a hot fence and let the cattle eat.  We mow the ditches from the corner to a certain fence north of the house.  It is just something that I want done.  I hate snakes, and other predators that like to slither through the grass and disturb my otherwise welcoming homestead.  By the way,  I saw several snakes on the road this week.  They are finding their way about.  

I am not having a garden.  The Rancher says we will be traveling and that I do not have time for one.  Isn't he sweet.  I really like fresh garden though.  I put some tomato plants and peppers in some liquid feed tubs and they are doing great.  I had to laugh as I thought "If I have to, I can just take these with me in the camper."  Wrong!!! I can't even scoot those things around .  I might take a planter with some petunias in them but that is about all I can lift anymore.  I just a weakling not as strong as I once was. I really am reminded of that each Spring when yard work begins.  

We had a wonderful church service this morning.  We had a visitor.  It is so exciting when someone stops by.  You see, we are pretty isolated and hardly see any new faces.  The Rancher always prays for the little church on the hill to be filled on Sunday morning.  I remind him that God will be there and if WE are filled with His spirit, that will be amazing.  There are so few neighbors that don't go to church somewhere that we truly feel blessed when a new face joins us.  Isn't God wonderful?