Another Garden

     Okay, I know you think this is going to be more about my flowers, but it is not.

    Below is a picture of my great-grandmother, Estella Smith, perusing her vegetable garden in 1940.  She would have been about 54 years old.  Look at the size of that garden! 

Too Busy to Blog

Found Treasure - Part Two

The last post on Cousins, Found Treasure,  featured a list of life's learnings. Here are the rest of those little bits of wisdom.

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. Age 62

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands.  You need to be able to throw something back.  Age 64

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.  But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.  Age 65

I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness. I usually make the right decision.  Age 66

I've learned that everyone can use a prayer.  Age 72

I've learned that it pays to believe in miracles.  And to tell the truth, I've seen several.  Age 75

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. 
Age 82

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.  People love that human touch - holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.  Age 90

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.  Age 92

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As much as I enjoyed reading all these words of wisdom, the real treasure of this find was the email to which it was attached. 

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Date: 12/10/01   7:07 PM Central Standard Time
From:  D. J. Grisso

Just got back from another wonderful hunting trip to the Wright farm.  We always have the best time.  Your folks are truly wonderful and I enjoy them very much.  They both are doing quite well, it's remarkable.  Watching them always reminds me how much they live and love to hunt deer all that comes with it.  As I sat out in the timber, I wonder if they don't have a better understanding of life than most anyone I know.  I'm glad they share it with me.

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These words from my cousin about my parents brought me to tears.

As the words of wisdom said, "...regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die."

So True!

Found treasure

To know me is to know I am a hoarder. Well, I don't think to the extent that I qualify for the T.V. show, but I do have trouble parting with things. I save everything. Paper is a big one for me. So, whenever I am cleaning out an old drawer or box, and I come across some paper that I have kept from whenever the last time was that I cleaned that drawer or box, I might just keep it again. This can all be justified with the content of today's post.

I found a commonly circulated reading that has no author mentioned. It goes like this:

Time Gets Better With Age

I've learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sing "Silent Night".  Age 5

I've learned that our dog doesn't want to eat my broccoli either.
Age 7

I've learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back.  Age 9

I've learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, Mom makes me clean it up again.  Age 12

I've learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up.  Age 14

I've learned that although it's hard to admit it.  I'm secretly glad my parents are strict with me.  Age 15

I've learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice.  Age 24

I've learned that brushing my child's hair is one of life's great pleasures.  Age 26

I've learned that wherever I go, the world's worst drivers have followed me here.  Age 29

I've learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.  Age 30

I've learned that there are peole who love you dearly but just don't know how it show it.  Age 42

I've learned that you can make another's day by simply sending them a little note.  Age 44

I've learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others.  Age 46

I've learned that children and grandparents are natural allies. Age 47

I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.  Age 48

I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace" can lift my spirits for hours. Age 49

I've learned that motel mattresses are better on the side away from the phone.  Age 50

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.  Age 51

I've learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills.  Age 52

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents you miss them terribly after they die.  Age 53

I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.  Age 58

I've learned that if you want to do something positive for your children, work to improve your marriage.  Age 61

( to be continued because this is long)

Mondays With Mary - June 1, 1970

The 1970 calendar is lying here as a possibility for a Mondays With Mary post on Cousins.  Since June 1 is a special day in our family, I quickly checked to see if she had written anything about her only grandson. Oops. I forgot. He wasn't born until the next year. Obviously, no mention of him.

Monday, June 1, 1970

 Cloudy and damp all day in the 50ties and 60ties - Wayne B. (B meaning Black) here in the morning - got 89 chickens today. 2 litters of pigs 10 & 9.

Tuesday, June 2, 1970

1 litter of 9 pigs in s side barn
went to town & got generator on 460 fixed  - 
I went to town with Dad (meaning Bert Grisso) to Carroll
in afternoon.  Vern started plowing corn again w of house.

Wednesday, June 3, 1970

windy & cool - sunny in the 60ties to-day
went to Wed (Wednesday) Club picnic at Laudenbeck park
mowed yard
Vern plowed corn all day-  sow had 9 pigs 
went fishing-  got one fish

 Thursday, June 4, 1970

 cool again to-day but nice
Vern finished plowing corn 2nd time
hoed beans in afternoon
I finished painting the kitchen

Friday, June 5, 1970

up in high 80ties to-day
went to Neva's and picked strawberries in morning
2 litters of pigs  8 & 9
got load of hay from Jack Miller
Cheryl & boys & I went to Jeff in afternoon
Gene's here for supper

Saturday, June 6, 1970

hot again today - Gene and Vern
got the rest of the hay 221 bales
I cleaned house in the morning
clipped teeth on 4 litters of pigs
1 bull calf from No. 6
Gene's down for supper - fried chicken

 Sunday, June 7, 1970

 hot & dry again to-day  high 80ties
1 litter pigs of 10 this morning
Vern cultivating beans.


Reading about clipping baby pigs teeth, reminds me of a family story.

We lived on the sixty so I was just a little girl. We were in the kitchen and Mom was trying to find out what was in Dad's eye.
She looked and looked. She used a flashlight, but there was nothing. Dad was fussing to say the least. He could not believe she couldn't see what the problem was. He shouted that it was the size of a boulder so why couldn't she see it. If you ever knew my dad, you can imagine that there were also a few choice words.

I guess they must have gone to the Dr. because it was discovered that a piece of baby pig's tooth was in his eye. Because the piece was white on the white of his eye, Mom couldn't see it.