30 - 29 - 30

No, those aren't my measurements. Yesterday morning I had 30 chickens. Last night I went to bed with only 29. Lily, my white Araucana had gone on her first free range outing and disappeared.

I was almost positive she had found a roost under the new house. I could not see her. The babies always go to bed at least 30 minutes before the adults and teenagers and all her group had already gone in and were on the roost. She couldn't find them, so she found her own place to sleep. I was sad to have to lock her out and I dreamed about finding her all night.

This morning I went out early to let the others out of the hen house into the pen. I passed Lily on my way and tried to act calm as I wished her good moring. Once I fed the others, I went out and began the chase. Her legs are still too thin for the hook to catch her. Finally she saw her family inside the pen and she ran straight to them Her head was poked through the fence and I grabbed her from behind and was able to put her over the fence. She ran to her buddies and began telling her adventures and did not even look back to say thanks. Then there were 30. Hooray!

Email to FOX News

Your newscaster, Steve Harrigan, who insists on prancing in the storm is totally disrespecting all the persons who are hunkered down in fear for their lives and the potential loss of their homes. How dare he act like a child splashing in a puddle in such a time of serious and severe weather? Fox could show how serious this is by taking that guy inside.

KITCHEN DANCE

The first time Ron showed me around NOL-NOC Estates, we walked into this old house. There I viewed the remains of a deer Ron had been cleaning. We stepped into the huge old kitchen and Ron flipped on the radio. He took my hand and pulled me close to dance on the sturdy old wood floor. Just think, when we move there and I’m working in that kitchen, I will always be able to recall that very special dance.

See my lovely garden window for my new kitchen! 

Add A Wishbone

Of course I pray each day for my son's successful employment search. Today he has a call back interview. I don't think it is a job he is very excited about, but you never know. Yesterday I cooked a whole chicken. This morning the wishbone was on the counter. My left hand was Tandy's wish and my right hand was my wish. I pulled and then could not remember which wins -- the long or the short. Then I realized it doesn't matter because left hand and right hand made the same wish -- good news and successful job search for Tandy. I'm just sure that prayer and wishbones mix.

Tunnel Vision

This issue does not have two sides -- President Bush and U.S. Government officials must condemn the remarks of Pat Robertson. We cannot, on one hand, condemn Muslim clerics who cry out for death to Americans and then turn around and condone such outcry from Robertson toward Venezuela's President Chavez. I am wondering if there is not some law broken using public air waves to make such a cry for murder that could incite war? We cannot punish Robertson for such talk because of freedom of speech but we still must not sanction him in any way, shape or form.


(Hey, there are three for you -- way, shape or form.)

Visit to Archie

We made a quick trip to Chelle's yesterday. Mike had his back-to-school doctor's appointment and Chelle had her own doctor's appointment later in the day.

Hope and I baked a cake together while Grandpa Ron took a nap. Hope then napped after lunch and Ron and I got to visit with Mike.

Grandpa had to tease Mike about girls, of course. Mike is excited for his school to start Thursday. Mike showed me his excellent designed Sim City motel and we marveled at the cool posters in his newly painted and decorated room. Mike went out to their garden and picked us some very nice tomatoes to bring home.

Chelle sang her talent show song for me. I started crying before she even got out the first line of IN MY DAUGHTER'S EYES by Martina Mcbride.

HOPE BAKES A YUMMY CAKE

Here is the butter for the pan.
Hope pours it in.
Brown sugar now -- Hope sprinkles it
And looks up with a grin.

"Pineapple please." Hope says to me.
Carefully placing each ring there.
Then comes a single cherry half
Hope places in each ring with care.

The batter next, eggs, juice and oil
Poured and baked it brought delight.
Granny Annie had fun helping Hope
Turn it upside-down to make it right.

Here is our old school for which we are Old School Traders. (It's the old music room -- we actually live in the one-room school house). Someday this will have to go, but isn't it great! I love it. 

to granny

(This is email from Hope)

jjzix / .c m,mncncnnncnn bcnb bnc bncbnnb
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
bnb bn nb ndidkdkdsjsss rfjl975 j0uknhtfmcxxxxxxn
gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
htoy70o7o0p6yoktjktgjktktkykykk......

The Word of the Day for August 18:

meme \MEEM\ noun
: an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person
within a culture

Example sentence:
"Blogs are an interesting way... of seeing which ideas, memes, trends and
news events are getting the most comment." (Clive Thompson, quoted in the
_Sunday Tribune_, February 6, 2005)

Hello Oreo. I believe Oreo will be the Araucana Rooster. See the red comb forming above his beak?

This young fellow is my Australorp Rooster named Tom-Twyla. He's pictured with a couple of the Junes. Maybe he'll grow into an award winner. 

This is a full grown Australorp Rooster -- not mine but an award winner. 

BREAK A LEG

Chelle and Mike are in the church talent show tonight. We were invited but decided not to try to go. Now I could not go if we changed our minds because I have finally caught the dreadful crud.

Chelle said she is singing a song that would make me cry. Actually, anytime Chelle sings, I cry because she has the absolute most beautiful and sweetest voice around. Plus, she can also belt out some great country! Why aren't my talented children making millions of dollars?

I'm not sure what Mike is doing for the talent show, but if he could tell a ghost story he would be the hit!

Anyway you guys, Break A Leg! We'll be thinking of you.

TODAY AND YESTERDAY

An adamant right
And an adamant right
Deadlocked
In an adamant fight.

Listing each wrong
Creating a song
Each quite certain
Who does not belong.

One says “I Win!”
The other “I Win!”
As they interpret
And categorize sin.

Neither admits a mistake
Both sincere -- not a fake.
None to bend,
Each attempting a break.

For the subject at hand
Each takes a clear stand
Determined to know best
For this land -- My land.

This adamant right
And that adamant right
Taking aim at a target
Moved out of sight.

Granny Annie aka
Angie Worth
© 11/07/02

TURNPIKE

Was anybody going to tell us that there is shooter in Tulsa taking potshots at travelers on the Creek Turnpike? Tandy and kids drive that everyday. It seems the shooter is targeting SUVs and other large vehicles, so they are fairly safe, but oh my goodness, scary deal!!!!!

IT IS SUNDAY AND RAINING

I will get off my soapbox now. It's just that it is Sunday, so I am compelled to write sermons, plus it is raining and cooling things off which re-boots our brains.

No Glamour

The media calls them Bonnie and Clyde. What fun glamorous nicknames they have given this murdering couple.

The man who threatened me was John Morris. Guess we could have called him Billy The Kid, because he sadly stated that he was only robbing the bank to get Christmas money for presents for his children. He was high on drugs as he held a gun to my head and pushed me around in the bank lobby, threatening to kill me if the bags he handed the tellers were not filled quickly.

That man was captured, admitted guilt and was sentenced to ten years in prison. He served three. I serve a lifetime of periodic flashbacks. Basically my enthusiasm for banking ended abruptly that day.

There are strong defenders of the poor, misunderstood criminals. The strongest defenders have probably not ever been threatened and held in fear of their life. It hurts me to hear the defense of these type terrorists.

Imagine how our military men and women feel as they stand with guns to their heads daily, only to hear our concern for the enemy and the rights of the enemy.

INVITATION ONLY

If I see a fish on a business card, in a yellow page listing or on a company logo, I decide immediately not to deal with that plumber or electrician or yard specialist.

I was in the banking world for 32 years. I had many persons request special privilege for policy exceptions because they were “Christian”. I never had one person of any other faith request an exception because of their religion.

My dad loved special benefits for senior citizens but, he never took a discount offered to him or his family because he was a pastor. Just because he was a pastor did not set him apart as deserving of discounts.

Inclusiveness was his stock and trade. Yes, we could hold dances in churches where he was the minister, but not rock and roll dances. With rock and roll, you need a partner. You needed an invitation to dance with another individual, thus leaving some poor soul seated on the sidelines. We could have folk dances or square dances because everyone could participate by choice and not by invitation only.

Our political choices are being muddied by small, sanctimonious agendas and we’re failing to see the big picture – The Land Of The Free and The Home Of The Brave ("....where folks agree to disagree" as my preacher brother would say :-)