Lost dog

As we were driving down a road to check on two families whose homes burned this little dog was trotting down the road. She looked just like my old dog Crackers. We stopped and picked her up as there are many pets that got separated from their owners dung the wildfires. We had eaten breakfast at the Bluebonnet that morning and I had saved a pice of toast and a piece of bacon which she wolfed down in no time---and drank a bowl of water. We took her to the local vet and then posted notices at all the local stores and the disaster centers. I wanted to keep her if no one claimed her even if she did look like she was over 12 years old.
So last night I got a call from the owner. What a weird story she had to tell. She was not a fire victim but this dog belonged to her mother in law who had recently entered a nursing home so she had only had the dog for 3 weeks. The day we found her she had left for a lunch date and guessed the dog tried to follow her car. The next day she is in the dentist office and begins to chat with another lady in the waiting room who works at the vet office. That lady mentioned how they had ben getting in many pets due to the fire. So the owner said that she was missing her dog and described her and discovered it was Pupkin. So dog and owner are happily back together again and the nice owner made a donation to Red Cross in our name. What a great ending!

paranoia

We have been working in the midst of the wildfires that destroyed over 46 homes in Spicewood. You just cannot imagine the devastation. Nothing but ashes....and an occasional chimney---and maybe some tin from the roof. Many of these were nice, big, stone homes. You know what is strange---you never see a toilet or a bathtub--not ever---where did they go? And often you do not even see burnt appliances like freezers and fridges and washers--they are just gone. People needed sifters so Home Depot made a bunch of them to give away and it is amazing the things people have found sifting through the ashes. Our friend found a gold piece that had been in her family for generations---was kept hidden back when the government confiscated all the gold and passed down through the generations. How thrilled she was when she found that.
The land is nothing but ashes and sticks. Like a moonscape or something. I cannot even imagine how hot that fire must have been. It was a crazy fire being whipped about by tropical storms winds. It did not behave as most wildfires. One of the guys we talked to literally had to outrun it.....he was sound asleep with TV going when sheriff came around sounding the alarm to evacuate, woke up with a wall of fire coming towards him and he had no transportation so started running. Thankfully the last fire engine out---fire engines were running from the fire---that tells you how bad it was---they picked him up and had to drive through a wall of fire to get out. Lots of harrowing stories but miraculously no one lost their life.
We have met the greatest people--and are amazed at their resilience and good attitude. And so many volunteers out in force helping folks clean up their places and bringing food and water. Red Cross is not really needed because the community is doing an awesome job of caring for their own. It is heart warming. We hear so much negative stuff on the news but I have to tell you there are lots of really good people out there. And you cannot judge "a book by its cover". We have met the greatest people whose appearance might make you be wary but who have hearts of gold and a soul of integrity. I have been blessed doing casework on all these people. We have worked hard and combed the area not wanting to miss anyone who might need help. But I must say these people have their priorites in order----it is just stuff. Yes, they are sad to lose precious photos and jewels and money and documents but they realize that it is lives that are most important. And then there is the survivor guilt----some houses right in the midst of the fire were untouched---it was like a fickle tornado---destroy one, leave the one next door untouched and who knows why.
So back to my paranoia----top on my list after live things to grab if we had to evacuate suddenly is the photo album Jenny made me of our family. It is so precious to me. I keep it in a drawer as we have noticed in the many house fires we go to for Red Cross that stuff in a cabinet or drawer often is salvageable after a fire. But let me say----we have seen many,many house fires and they were no where near as devasting as these wildfires. A drawer will not save anything in a wildfire. So today I set the photo album on the hood of the car outside in daylight--a cloudy day---and took photographs of each page. At least I would have that as I plan to upload it to Shutterfly and back it up on my hard disk plus they are on my ipad which is always with me. I feel better now.
We had a Red Cross friend who lost her home in the Bastrop fire. Don is helping her to clean up with his Bobcat. Today he cut his arm on jagged piece of sheet metal and is at hospital in Smithville getting stitches as I write this. We have worked with Red Cross for the last 10 days but left the job yesterday because I just need a break. I am exhausted. We came straight off of the floods in NY for hurricane Irene to this wildfire. I have been in a car all day for over a month and I just need rest and family and order and time with my dogs. It is so good to have just been home all day today and clean house and get my life back into some semblance of order. I need that. But there is still so much work to do at Red Cross so I am sure we will go back and help out. But I struggle, I want to help out, but i yearn to just be home, back in my simple routine, to do chores, to cook meals, to go to Bible study and home group, to walk my dogs. Am I selfish to want these things? it is so hard to achieve balance sometimes.

Sent from my iPad

Keepsakes

The other day I decided to go around and take photos of my house for insurance purposes. These wildfires have affected me. I feel vulnerable. But as I was taking photographs, I decided to also go around and take photos of all the little keepsakes that mean so much to me. Then, if they were to all burn up or blow away in a tornado, at least I would have a photo. Somehow this just gave me peace. So the following pics are just some of my favorite keepsakes. But if you know me well.........you know they are just the tip of the iceberg. I can barely toss out anything from a family member or a treasure that reminds me of a special trip or time. Yeah, I like stuff. I get very attached to stuff. It brings me pleasure to look at something I have saved and relive that memory.....or think of the person who gave it to me.

And I'm just saying.......everyone should do a photo inventory of their home......just in case of disaster......and just to remember things by.

Keepsakes

Keepsakes

Keepsakes

Keepsakes

The Biscuit Queen

This is the painting my husband gave me for my birthday. A replica of the scene that greeted me each and every day at 5am when I arrived for work at Atwwod's Cafe. I just love it and was so surprised. It was painted by a loyal customer of many years. What a perfect gift and keepsake. Thank you, Don, you did good!

The Old Front Porch

This post was found on another blog I read called: Chickens in the Road. It expressed my thoughts so well I thought I would use it in my blog. Hope you enjoy.

Vote Front Porch

Take a drive down any one-lane country road dotted with century-old homes then swing through a modern suburban neighborhood and you’ll see one glaring difference—the front porch, or lack thereof. The front porch as we know it is a purely American creation, meaning it was the combination of cultural influences from the architectural heritages of a number of countries. The result was our classic understanding of a front porch as a transitional space between the family’s private interior and the free-for-all exterior. The front porch, by its very nature, is public, open and welcoming. It’s been replaced today by the back patio or deck, which is, in contrast, private, exclusive, by invitation only. Front porches started disappearing as a common architectural element around the end of World War II as air conditioning started appearing. People didn’t need to sit outside to be cool. But the front porch isn’t only about the shade. The front porch is a way of life. The front porch creates a bridge between the home and the community. Whether it’s a wave to a passing neighbor’s car, or whether that passing neighbor pulls over and comes up to sit a spell, the front porch welcomes interaction and connection. It’s sociable and inclusive. The front porch never knew a stranger. It encourages down time with its rocking chairs and porch swings, fosters conversation, and offers a view not a television. Few modern homes are built with spacious porches anymore. If a newer home has a porch, it’s more likely a small, “decorative” porch, just big enough for a rocking chair from Pier 1 and a few perfect-looking planters, certainly not enough room for half a dozen neighbors to stop by and everyone have a seat while they shoot the breeze. In fact, we really don’t want our neighbors to stop by, especially if unannounced, and if they do, we don’t want them to stay long enough to sit down. Did we become this way because we stopped building front porches, or did we stop building front porches to foster more private lives? It’s a chicken and egg question, but either way, the disappearance of the front porch has had a huge impact on the way we live and connect with our neighbors, an impact that trickles through society in layer upon layer. I found out firsthand how much it costs to put on an old-fashioned front porch when we built our new “old” farmhouse a few years ago. It’s no wonder people today are unlikely to put their resources into a front porch, but it’s a value I haven’t regretted. Even secluded and surrounded by trees as we are, I can see the road and the river, making me feel connected with the small country community around us. Neighbors stop by and the transitional space of the big front porch offers an easy place to invite them into with its informality and lack of pressure. It’s a setting that demands freedom and relaxation, providing an atmosphere and a tone that no indoor space—or back deck—can recreate. If it’s true that all good things come back around, maybe the classic American front porch will make a comeback. As with anything, supply is all about demand. The next time you buy or build a house, “Vote Front Porch.” Your country is depending on you.

Peace

We are at the ranch, Don and I. It is hot, very hot, over 100 hot and we have been chasing sheep and goats all day. We are sweaty, bloody, bandaids all over our hands, exhausted, dirty and dusty, but thankful we got the job done. We caught and hauled 39 sheep and goats to the auction. We hate being forced to sell animals we have raised for years but the severe drought has taken it's toll on our land and there is nothing to eat. And feed and hay prices are exorbitant. So we did what we had to do and are glad it is done.
     It is after dark now but the bright moon is casting moon-shadows and the stars are plentiful. There is a nice cool breeze and the tinkling of the many wind chimes adds to the buzzing and chirping of the night insects. I just showered and scrubbed myself clean in our wonderful outdoor shower and now I am soaking up the peace around me in our big metal stock tank filled with very cold fresh well water. So cold it takes courage to climb in but oh, so worth it. I sit and cool my body down and drink in the peaceful night. Peace, pure peace. I just want to savor this moment. Thank you, Lord, for moments like these. I am blessed indeed.

Note: I am just learning how to post from my iPad and how to add photos to my blog from my iPad. There should be another photo to go with this blog but I don't know if it will be added here or in a separate post. Please bear with me til I get the hang of this.

Youngest reunioner

Abby

You gotta read this

I am reading the greatest book. It is called Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo. He is the father of a four year old who during a serious illness spent some time in heaven with Jesus. It is an amazing story. Go to your Christian bookstore and get it soon. You will be so uplifted and encouraged. It is a #1 New York Times bestseller. A must read.

About that STUFF....

OK...here is my story and I am sticking to it. AFter everyone left on Sunday, I just felt I had so much to say, so many feelings to share and I have missed blogging so much. So for the first time I tried to blog from my ipad. But I could not figure it out--I could not figure out how to get to the posting part--it would not work. Until nearly 11pm when I talked to Jenny for help and found out how to do it. By then my brain was already in bed so I decided to follow it, not knowing that somehow the blog had published with title only. So that's my story and I'm stick in' to it.

My name should be Mary Martha

I struggle with the Mary/Martha syndrome. When family or company is coming I stress out over trying to have the house look perfect, having plenty of food prepared, and trying to figure out ways to entertain them and make them comfortable and enjoy their stay. BUT, when they are actually here, I suddenly go brain dead and dive into a fog of denseness. I just get so caught up in my joy and desire to visit and chat and listen to them talk with each other and watch the kids play that I just forget about everything else. I mean, all week I have gathered treats for the kids, thought of games to play or places to go, meals to fix.....my menu plan looks really good....but what do I do but sit on the couch and ignore everyone needs. I simply fill myself up with their presence which delights me so. So when the visit is over and everyone has gone home and I am cleaning up I slowly discover the popsicles unopened in the freezer, the boxes of kid treats still in the pantry, the new butterfly net I forgot to bring out, the bacon and pancakes for breakfast that never happened, the photos I wanted to share, and dozens of other like things. Then I feel so guilty like how bored everyone must have been, and what a terrible hostess I was, and how Alisa must have felt yesterday at lunch when she was here and there sat a cake in front of her while I told her of all the strawberries we picked...but did I offer her cake??? No, I was too busy just enjoying the visit. I feel like such a Mary. But before anyone arrives I am such a Martha. Why can't I just combine the two in perfect harmony? Whenever the guests or family have left to go home, I always feel such an emptiness and sadness.....even though it is good, and as it should be, and all is well, and even though I am exhausted and welcome the quiet time alone, there is that longing for them in the pit of my stomach....and a guilty feeling that I just didn't do enough, that they feel neglected somehow, even tho I know that is not the truth and that all is well. I am just a bundle of mixed up feelings.

So, I will just say to anyone reading this that comes to my home to visit.....PLEASE, PLEASE for your sake and mine, ask me for something to eat and drink; ask me if I have anything new for the kids; ask for a piece of that cake sitting in front of you; help yourself to any food you can find and understand that the menu plan might be divine but reality is not; know that at some point before folks arrived the house was clean and tidy; and know that my heart desires so to serve you and minister to your physical needs but the brain neglects to carry out those tasks because I just so enjoy spending time with you and listening to you and laughing with you and showing you my garden and animals and talking and talking......and playing Scrabble on our ipads while sitting right next to you.

And family, especially Tammie, I must confess and ask forgiveness for this same feature of mine carries over when I come to your house and get so carried away with the visiting and fun that I do not help out like I should in the clean-up process. I am so bad about that and I will make a concerted effort to change. AS I so appreciate the clean up help I receive when we are all at this house. So a big thank you to everyone for your splendid job in clean up this weekend. I am most grateful.....but it made the wonderful weekend fade away much too quickly.
And I will have to add that their are some good friends who know me well enough who feel right at home coming in the house when we are not here to return some things and have no problem helping themselves to a piece of cake and leaving us a thank you note for it. Now that's my kind of people! I love it. So the purpose of this blog is to let you know, friends and family, when you come here...help yourself and make yourself at home and do not hesitate to jar me awake and ask me to remember what preparations I made for your visit. And be prepared to go out to eat when I realize I forgot to cook your meal. I love ya'll so very much.

stuff