The Old Folks Home

[Sally PB]

getting ready for thunderstorms Sunday Morning followed by a heavy thunderstorm according to the Guessers. Hoping this brings and end to the drought.

We're supposed to get 1-3" of rain, area wide, here. The creek behind our house is dried up. I think we're about 10" under average for the year.

Hoping we both get rain.

 

[Nomadicus]

Good Morning Old Folks. The forecast for rain is still holding with a day to go.... I've seen these forecasts dry up at the last minute and not a drop. l hope this is not the case this time once again. The need for area farmers is getting dire.

 

[Cynthia12]

We're supposed to get 1-3" of rain, area wide, here. The creek behind our house is dried up. I think we're about 10" under average for the year.

Hoping we both get rain.

You sound like us. Thankful for every drop.

 

[Cynthia12]

Good morning. Have a great Saturday!

 

[sourland]

Good morning, OF.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning Old Folks.
We get more rain on Sunday?

 

[CanuckBock]

The Big Boston Butt has been soaking up the Cherry smoke for 8 hours with 4 more to go. It's going to be worth it to stay up until Midnight to bring it in and put in the oven at a holding temp until pulling it apart after breakfast in the morning. Ordered a gallon of our favorite sauce this morning to use as we pull it apart and prepare to freeze meal size portions for the freezer.

Heel low:

Be right on over to help lower the number of "meal sized portions" that go in your freezer ... LOL ... happy to help save you some $ on utility costs, eh!

We go twice a year to a vintage vehicle sale swap meet in the nearest city. I always spy the items not so typical for vehicles...this pink crock pot...I should have bought it then and there when the seller said, "Oh that thing, it's for pulled pork...hot sandwiches!"

The best weather comes to us in green or white season; the transitional phases in between either are unsettling for me. My fav temperature is -10C (+14 F) because there are no bugz bugging me, I can don a wool sweater, and do some actual work comfortably.

We have no need this year to stock up on the firewood for the two wood stoves...there be plenty now up by the shome.

The new normal for winters here appears to be lots more frozen moisture (be it hail, sleet or snow) followed by short periods where the frozen becomes messy ice...slip hazards and well, we don't bounce, we simply break. We managed to get most of this gone with them trusty ice chippers but some still hanging in.

It is more than time to put up the storm windows for the Balcony; the short blast of winter snows blew all over inside this area and is rather annoying.

Took off the last two covers to be upgraded, leaving just one in front of the Balcony BBQ as it is a bit more fiddly to be completed.

Given we put "ice cleats" on our foot wear in right proper winter time, I can truly say that Cinderella has nothing over me and my choices right now, so long as I stay clear of the iced over areas and chose which chore foot wear I don. Same can be said about which item you use to haul feed and water with...the carts or the sleds? For now, it is back to the carts as the snow is once again gone.

If you think the foot wear looks tatty...never mind pondering how I look most days post chore time. Thankfully the creatures don't mind the haggard appearances...happy I show up indeed.

The Girls remained inside the office until we had finished moving vehicles around for the storm windows...1st thing Emmy wanted was for Lacy to play but Lacy decided laying at my feet was much more enjoyable.

A consensus was reached & they kissed to make up.

So I'll end with a short little story here about how "life is like a train." I am by no means the author as it showed up in my feed today and was a really nice timely bit to remind me of why we need to be enjoying each and everyone that is in our life, past & present.

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My grandma had a saying she repeated often: “Life is like a train, child. You don’t stay at every stop, and not everyone rides with you until the end.”

As a child, I didn’t really understand what she meant. I thought it was just one of her old-timey sayings, like the ones she whispered while sewing or baking pies. But now, as the years pass and my own hair turns gray, I see the truth in her words.

When you’re young, the train is loud, fast, and crowded. Everyone seems to be on board—friends from school, neighbors, coworkers, family. The compartments are filled with laughter, plans, and noise. It feels like the ride will last forever.

But as the journey goes on, people get off. Some step off at new stops because their path takes them elsewhere. Some are lost suddenly, leaving behind empty seats we can’t bear to look at. And slowly, the train grows quieter.

That’s when Grandma’s wisdom comes alive. She said the secret wasn’t to mourn every passenger who leaves, but to cherish the ones who are still sitting beside you. To look out the window and notice the scenery, because it changes constantly—sunrises, fields, cities, mountains, all part of the same ride.

Now, when I visit her memory in my heart, I can almost hear her voice: “Don’t be afraid when the train empties out. Be grateful you had company for as long as you did. And when your stop finally comes, step off with peace, knowing you traveled well.”

Life really is like a train—filled with comings and goings, goodbyes and reunions, noise and quiet. And if we’re lucky, by the time we reach the last station, we’ll realize the ride was beautiful, not because it was perfect, but because it was ours.

Credit - Echoes of Insight

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[pennyJo1960]

What a wonderful train to take through life.
and how true it reads.
I was gifted to be raised my first 8 years with my Grandma.

 

[CanuckBock]

What a wonderful train to take through life.
and how true it reads.
I was gifted to be raised my first 8 years with my Grandma.

Heel low:

The relative I lost that hurt the most was my Aunt...what a woman and she helped me understand the culture my ancestors embraced.

Having sheep, growing flax for linen, the farmy stuff.

I miss her terribly as I use to get to visit with her daily via my internet posts. She was pretty kewl for someone being born in 1928 and encouraged me to plant this 1/4 acre of flax.

When it starts blooming, the flowers last but one day but there are so many of them you never notice till the snow flies and ends the growing season. The bees here luved them.

My aunt enabled me and pestered me to no end to have Jacob sheep, learn to spin, weave, knit and crank out socks. Course she got the 1st ever weaving project I ever made, this scarf with my own handspun in it.

I shared every moment of making it from shearing the sheep to weaving it; she never knew it was all for her until I mailed it to her in January 2020. There is no distance between you if you are adept at using social media!

Her fav bird of ours was our Seb Geese...

I sent her this image Oct 9, 2020 for halloween. LOL

Yes, that train, we ALL need to enjoy the entire journey!!

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

 

[Nomadicus]

Good evening Old Folks. Chickens are on their roosts and I've been fed and watered.