Alzheimer's

For many, many years now I have been trying to learn something new. Those of you who know me well know I have tried many different  adventures. Naming a few have been, canning, jelly making, skiing, tubing,knitting,sewing, quilting, fishing, scrap booking. This year I was taking my car in for an oil change when the mechanic asked if I would like to see what he caught that day. Sure I thought going out to the garage. Out there by my car (which he was fixing) was 7 coon, 2 beaver, 2 mink and a muskrat. I was intrigued and listened to everything he had to tell me about them and how he caught them. I learned about different traps and how to bait them. Then  he told me about an Amish fur buyer that I should see for all my trapping needs. He told me he had been trapping since he was a little kid and if I liked the outdoors I may like it. I thought this will be for me. So I went home and talked to my son-in-law who would like to go in 50/50 with me. That meant I would buy the traps (2). I would check them and if I had something he would shoot it. (I don't want to shoot the critters). So he thought that sounded good and it would be part of his Christmas. Well my daughter heard us talking and she thought she would like to try it. OK...she can have my 50% if she checks the traps. So with son-in law in tow we went to see the Amish fur trapper. There were several buildings on the property so I said it must be the one with lots of mud mushed up as that meant people had stepping in that area. We knocked on the door and heard a voice that said come in. This was at dusk. Upon opening the door I couldn't see a thing. I stepped inside. I felt something squishy under my shoe. Still only seeing pitch black I said I came to buy some traps but I can't see you. The place smelled really rank! A small voice said I'm over here. Then an older voice said I guess its time for a light. Then the first lamp was lit. I could see I was surrounded by skins hanging from the ceiling. raccoon, fox, beaver, muskrat,coyote. Wow. I looked down and I was stepping on a raccoon as the floor was lined with animals to be skinned. I moved my foot quickly! The second lamp was lit. Now I could see supplies and a small boy who was helping his father skin the animals. He said he was 5, the only child, a good helper. Again I heard how to trap coon. How much each one was worth as they go by the pound and he pays cash. Well I left with 12 traps, 1 muskrat trap, a setting tool, and fish oil to bait them in. Then I learned the peak of the season was over but I have a  month to try it. My thinking was I will practice this season and next year I will be really good at it. So...each day I check the trap lines in my woods and along the creek (daughter quit after one day) and so far I have only caught 2 raccoons and a possum (no money for those) and ...hopefully not Alzheimer's as I have learned something new to challenge my brain!

Sigh

When it was over, I took a deep breath and turned to my husband, gave him a big hug and sighed. Then I said we made it. Now for a long time our rear ends will not be keeping these bleachers warm anymore. He smiled at me understanding fully what I meant by that comment. We have raised four daughters. Four daughters in many activities...choir, musicals, volleyball, basketball, softball, cross country, track, golf, geek- bowl, pageants and plays. Each time we as parents were there in the stands, cheering, yelling and smiling. My husband said it has been over a decade. He is right. Our youngest daughter told us numerous times this year she thought we were the oldest parents in the stands. We reminded her she is lucky we are this old and had her! Our last high school sport is over, Thank you girls! We loved watching you all each and every minute!  Sigh...sigh...sigh  * What am I going to do with all my free time now?


     

Woody

We have a new addition to our family, or so I think. Its been here for almost a month now. Its been on facebook and twitter by our daughter but no one has claimed it. So it stays, My husband said it has to go by winter. He has not let it in. So it is here waiting to greet me every time I go outside. It is a friend to the dogs. Its becoming part of our family day by day. It came out of the woods. Very skinny. It looked weird and ugly as its head was huge compared to its body. I did not feed it as I too wanted it to go away. But it stayed. I felt sorry for it so I feed it and it kept staying. It would not let us touch it. I called all the neighbors, no one wanted it or knew who it belonged to. My husband wondered why our dogs let it come up to the house as they chase everything that comes near. And it looks like a woodchuck. So I named it Woody Woodchuck. It is a dachshund. It is fatter now and looks nice. it lets us pet it behind the ears then skitters away. It runs around the field with Brownie and Chippy when we ride the four wheeler on those short little legs. It does not let us hold it, I think someone was mean to it as it is very shy. It sleeps outside each night because my husband will not let it in the garage yet. But its getting colder. He said we will have to take it to the shelter. We do not need 3 dogs. But, it is still here and he did pet it tonight. Woody likes us. I can not have a house dog as I am allergic. But he can stay outside. So we may have a new addition to our family...or so I think.   

Wedding

I went to an Amish wedding this week. I was my first experience at one so I want to to write my thoughts down about it. It was on a Thursday, I guess that is wedding day. My husband could not go as he was shoveling out a grain bin getting ready for harvest. So I went alone as I didn't want to miss it. When I pulled up to the house I first noticticed  that I was one of 3 cars. They had a sign just for us to park. Then in the field beside the house was hundreds of buggys. I walked past maybe 50 children playing volleyball and basketball. They all turned to look at me I smiled back. I tried to talk with a few in passing but they had no interest in me, just what they were playing. Walking up the stone drivway I took a deep breath then asked the first man that looked at me and he told me to put my gift in the tent. The tent was filled with presents. It thought , this is going to take Emma all day to go through these presents and write thank you notes. Going up the hill I stood beside a young mother with 2 children. She told me how she knew the couple and asked how I did. She then told me where to go inside. I was so glad she talked with me as I was feeing like an outsider. Exactly at 5:30 everyone went into the garage that had been conected to the barn for more seating. The men all sat by each other on one side of the room. They had about 15 of us english friends in the middle with young girls filling the end of the table. On the other side was the women. All children were at tables in the front and back. Boys at a table and girls at another. Then a man started to chant, we all bowed and prayed for 5 min. The food started passing. All on china plates, real silverware and glasses. Potaoes,stuffing, noodles, gravey, corn, beans, two kinds of chicken. Once plates were empty all the bowls were passed again for seconds. Next came a platter of fresh fruit, 7-layer salad, veggies and cheese. Finally a bucket of ice cream, oreo dessert, butterscotch, cheery and pecan  pie and cake. last was a comb with the bride and grooms name on it and a full size candybar for everyone to take home.  The man chanted agin everyone bowed for 5 minutes and everyone got up to leave. I asked when leaving if we got to see the bride and groom and they said they were talking with the bishop. So the only one I knew was the parents whick I told thank- you for inviting me. I left at 6:30 and more buggys were driving in as they would have another meal at 7:00. They feed 500 people at 9:00. The wedding was at 12:00 (for 3 hours) then they feed 500 people at 5:30 and 7. I was so impressed. She had over 60 people helping with everything and she bought each one a gift. Plus she sewed all the wedding outfits for the men and woemen in the wedding. It was something to see. I feel blessed to have been invited and even though I felt uncomfortable because I didn't know exactly what to do I could feel the love and joy these people had for this young couple starting their life together. Family is important to them. Over 1500 people went to this all day event. WOW        

Underwater Rain

Last night before I went to sleep at the cottage I decided to walk down to the dock. The air was a bit crisp but it was refreshing after the hot day. The moon was casting a glow on the water that made it seem to sparkle on its reflection. As I walked over the dock I heard rain drops. I looked up at the sky puzzled as I felt not rain on my arms or face. With more curiosity I knelt down to look at the water and yes there was splash marks of raindrops and the sound that went with rain. Odd. I went back up to the cottage to get a flashlight to investigate more. Once back on the dock...  again it was raining in sound only. I turned on my flashlight to discover more minnows than I could count jumping up out of the water chasing one another playing tag. When looking out over the lake as a body of water not only were they jumping around my dock but all over the entire lake they were jumping. I quickly went to get my husband to hear the underwater rain of the minnows. Something I may never see again. Wow! I need to walk down to the lake more often at night.

Campfire

Yesterday we invited 3 extra people over to the lake. As the day went on the girls texting went out and more people came over. Then a friend was kayaking by in the water ,stopped to chat, an hour later the car drove up. She stayed to visit. Soon the neighbors wanted to see what was happening at our place and they were over. After working all day a college girl drove over. I have learned to always take more food then we need as people just drive by to see if we are there at the cottage. I took a whole box of porkburgers, I'm glad I did. There were 22 people around our campfire telling stories, laughing, giggling and just plain having a good time. Rex and I love it. What a fun night! Today is another day. I'm thawing the brats out as I never know whos coming for supper. Come join us!

Evenings

Each morning when I wake up I start to think about the evening. My husband and I each ask each other what are the plans for the evening. I check with each daughter to see where they will be that evening or if I need to be along. Then I check the calendar to see what it entails for the evening. All day when I am at work my mind will occasinally drift to the evening. How many cars will we need? What I will make for supper? Do I tutor tonight? Is it card night? Do I go to BONS? Do I need to go to town? What do I need to buy for groceries this week? Is there a ballgame tonight? Are there any birthdays? The list goes on and on... I really think I live for the evening as that is when I spend time with my family so its important to me. So...What are you doing this evening???????