Pictures around my house

Hannah's graduation

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Forlorn and waiting .......

This barn has housed sheep, cows, calves, horses, geese and pigs - lots of pigs.
When Lowell bought and sold feeder pigs he would usually use the pickup and buy anywhere from 10 to 20 at a time and then they would be housed in this barn until he had enough to load a 2 ton truck to take to a feeder pig market (once a week). One year we had 10,000, yes, 10,000 pigs go through this barn and we didn't lose any! I think the reason we didn't lose any was because after each load of pigs went out one of us - usually one of the kids - would hose down the floor so that it would be clean for the next bunch of pigs. Lowell was very carefull so that the pigs wouldn't get sick.
One very cold winter we farrowed out several bunches of babies. We divided the barn using old carpeting and tarps so that we could keep the heat by the sows. And we used heat lamps. That was hard work and we decided we wouldn't do that again in the winter. But it was fun watching the baby pigs and educational for the kids. My favorite breed of pigs was the duracs.
So now the barn stands empty waiting for new windows and doors. And maybe another generation raising calves and maybe pigs. But it wont be me :)

Easter remembered

It seems that Palm Sunday was "celebrated" more when I was a girl than it is now -- Although I don't remember specifics except that we sometimes had our choir contata on Palm Sunday.
We had a communion service on thursday night and on Good Friday most of the churches participated in a 2 hour service. Each pastor had 20 minutes with a hymn beginning and ending each section. People were free to come and go as they pleased although when it was at our church I was there for the two hours since I was organist. I never minded because it was interesting to listen to each pastor talk on the particular scripture he was given. Oh and ALL the stores closed for those 2 hours.

My non church memories include the many Easter dinners we had at my Aunt Beth's home. She was my mother's sister. We all lived in the same town so it was easy to get together which we did often. Aunt Beth loved to intertain. Since there were quite a few of us she had to have several tables . Everyone had their own place setting including a bread and butter plate, a finger bowl, salad plate, several forks, knives and spoons, water glass - even our own salt and pepper shakers. There was so much food: different kinds of meat, vegetables, salads, and many desserts. Mashed rutabagas was the one dish that neither my dad or I liked. Each family would bring colored eggs and after the dishes were done and food put away we (the kids) would go Easter egg hunting. I suppose the adults hid them but I don't remember. Even after I married and had kids we often went to to Aunt Beth's for Easter. It then became my age group to hide the eggs. She tried one more time when my kids had kids to have a big Easter dinner. It was still very good food but it was too much for her. So that tradition ended.

I wish I had - - - - -

Today is Lowell's birthday - the 2nd one without him. I'm getting used to my single life but I find myself "wishing I had"
1. Told him I loved him - more
2. Went with him on the truck - more
3. Talked with him - more
4. Went camping with him - more
5. Held his hand - more
6. Listened to him - more
7. Went on driving excursions with him - more
8. Had a chance to love him - more

Ollie

Ollie, my little dog was attached by a BIG dog last week. This big dog lives down the road and seems to be able to roam the neighborhood at will. He and a another dog friend make regular rounds and I have had to scare them off my yard a few times. Before I realized they were around one of the bit Ollie. I didn't think it was real serious at first because Ollie ran into the house but when I tried to pick her up she cried and snapped at me. Saturday I took her in to the vet and he discovered she had 3 punctures. One of them quite serious and she was terribly bruised. So the vet cleaned the sores, gave her a shot and sent me home with some pills. Today she is pretty much back to normal although you can still see the sore. He suggested I shoot these dogs with bird shot. Hmmmmm. I wouldn't know what gun to use or how to use it -- maybe David can show me when he gets home. So now when I let my dogs out I look around to make sure these big dogs are not on the yard. It's most annoying.

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