New News

This morning before the sun rose I took my Bible and cup of hot coffee out to the deck. As I sat enjoying the cool morning air—it was 19 degrees F I was informed later, the smell of wood smoke wafted over the land. There was a light breeze and the fallen leaves rustled slightly. There are many sights, sounds, and smells that trigger emotions. Every season of the year has a memory to me. My first memory is riding on my rocking horse, playing with wooden alphabet building blocks, and a jack-in-the-box. My mother, sister, and I were living at my grandparents, and it was before my grandparents had electricity. I remember it not being light as our rooms are now with electric lights. There was a lamp of some sort in the room, otherwise the room was rather dark. My Adorable cousin tells that when grandparents got the electricity run in the house, grandpa would turn all the lights on in every room then go outside, stand on the road and look at the house. I can imagine it to be like when we decorate the Christmas tree then turn on the lights.

Time is fleeting

Time does fly.

I wouldn't tease you

I wouldn't lie.

Every January, on New Years day, I say the same thing. "Well, this year's about over". And it seems that the next thing I'm staring at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here we are half way through November, and Thanksgiving is next week.

In our world there isn't much eventful drama, thankfully. Since my oven caught on fire in October we've had several birthdays, several homeschool days, pot lucks, and the great annual chili supper at our son's house. November has continued with a hayrack ride and wienie roast Sunday November 12th with 25 in attendance. Everyone enjoyed the time together. Old Fuzzy and some helpers threw cornstalk bales on a 'low boy' trailer and took all the people that wanted to ride, on a tour around the field behind the tractor. I sometimes think on hitching our team up for the hayrack ride. Maybe next time? It was cool, but we put more cornstalk bales around the fire ring to sit on—close enough, but not too close, and that kept us pretty warm. We had hot dogs, marshmallows, buns of course, and everyone brought a dish.

I've noticed several things about toasting marshmallows. People's preference being one. My favorite Buddy likes marshmallows. Toasted or not. So why spend lots of time toasting a marshmallow over the fire? When he was younger and still taking care of his mum, he would pass them over the fire and hand it to me. That is not my preference, however. Some people like their marshmallows burnt on the outside, but not warm on the inside...that isn't my preference either. Nicely toasty all the way through, it can be toasted and even some burnt on the outside, but melty all the way through. Another thing about this art is, don't get your marshmallow too close to the fire. Unless of course you just like it burnt on the outside. To get them toasty and melty without the black on the outside takes patience and watching and care. Hot dogs and cooking over the bonfire is an art. My favorite Buddy is over the road again, so he missed the fun., and we missed him. Hopefully he'll be home on the holidays.

When Old Fuzzy and I got home from our Tuesday evening Bible study, Old Fuzzy got out of the car, turned on the yard light, and of a sudden there appeared two vans from somewhere in our farm drive. I had a moment of confusion wondering where they came from. As it would happen it was a surprise party, and yes, I was surprised. (Laughing face here, and out loud at that.) As it would also happen, I received two presents that night.

It was a surprise to replace my oven. Ovens are real handy when you are cooking and baking, especially for holidays. So several of my kids pitched in and bought a new stove. When the stove was unpacked and put into place I had a large empty box for little kids to play in.

My old stove had been 'going out' for some time. The burners had lost their self-lighting mode awhile back. Before the oven went out in a flame the oven temperature had become somewhat rogue, not reliable, and when you turned on the oven to preheat it took some time to light. When it did light it came on with a slight boom. The first time it began this habit it was a little sound of the oven lighting, but it kept progressing until of late when it came on it shook the stove and blew the oven door open.

Needless to say, the new one is quiet and so far much nicer.

I'm still working steadily toward finishing and getting the novel published. I've sent it to a second freelance editor. It should be getting back by next week then on to the next phase of cleaning up mistakes and so forth. Depending on what type of publishing is chosen, the cover will need to be revamped as well.