Friday, April 19, 2019

Thursdays Thoughts on Friday......

Yesterday I finally sat down and opened up my documents to work on my book.


It's been months since I have written a word so I dumped out my bags of old photos and let them take me back in time. I'm actually past the point of these photos. Still, they helped me center myself and pick up where I left off.


I'm back in the fall of 1965.....I get anxious wanting to just get this book written and done.
However, it only gets written word by word, sentence by sentence, one memory floating into the next until I am, indeed, back in 1965 and wading into the holidays. I am 17 years old with a 2 year old daughter and we are doing Halloween for the first time with Summer. My sister, Deanie, is with me and we take Summer out trick or treating and then come back to the house and all three of us sit on the floor and eat candy together.

This whole writing thing is like traveling to another place and time and watch life the way it was then. It's almost like seeing a movie in my mind as I write.
I suppose reading The Time Traveler's Wife is affecting me more than I thought!

I was more than happy to leave my writing when Sherry called me yesterday afternoon to tell me she was doing some tractor work. I dearly love to watch her run that thing!


We have had some really wild winds blowing down here and one of the hen houses was blown over.


I came down as fast as I could get here to watch and document!


She got that one back up with the help of Dean using a big board to pry it up so she could slip the blades under it. Then she went to work moving one of the duck houses over in case they need to use it for some of the baby chicks that have grown too large for the brooder.

I love watching Dean and Sherry work together.
They make a really good team. What one doesn't think of, the other one does.

They were getting everything ready since they were leaving the next morning for a long weekend.
Sherry and I went off to Waco to pick up feed for all the critters while Dean finished up repairing the pens.

They came down this morning to say goodbye.
Roy and Ruth Ann have a brand new RV - one that you drive - and they are taking it and them all to Oklahoma for a wedding. It's really a great opportunity for them all to spend some time together.

I decided to make Louis Dean a good dinner since this was Good Friday.


It's so perfect to use our chicken plates down here.
What Goodwill treasures I get down here generally stay down here.
Some things I find at the Goodwills at home find their way down here, too.

I made a fried chicken dinner.....


complete with candied carrots, mashed potatoes and biscuits.


And gravy but it was the most awful gravy every.
Too greasy and lumpy and I made a big mistake in using the leftover flour/water/egg mixture to thicken it with. It.was.awful.


Changing the subject as fast as I can -
Sherry gave me this bottle of sweetener and it made my tea taste special!


Louis Dean went up and brought Rufus down to spend the day with us.
Blue went with Dean and Sherry but we are keeping Rufus with us.

I worked some more on my book this afternoon and am now at Christmas 1965.
Once I get to 1970 or so - whenever all my siblings are married - I am closing out Part 1 of the book and skipping about 30 years to Part 2. Not sure exactly how I'm going to do that but I am praying God will help me figure it out.


We went down to do the critter chores this evening.


Thumper was the last of the four goats to bring in.


It's nice that it's dark later and we have plenty of daylight to get the critters taken care of.


Dean told me to look through their movie collection and find some things to watch.
I think these all sound like good possibilities.


Louis Dean is playing some music while I finish up this journal entry and then I';; pop us some popcorn and we will give one of those DVDs a try.
I can hear the nightsounds outside the window.
Frogs or peepers or whatever are making a steady background of nature music.
Louis Dean has stopped playing so I guess this is my sign to close up the laptop.

I heard from Dean and Sherry about an hour ago.
They are all safely in the campground and having a good time.
Ruth Ann and Roy were telling us of a funny story about the trip up there.
They are pulling a white pickup behind the motor home and Roy saw a white pickup - just like the one he's pulling - come up beside him. He glanced back and at that moment he could not see HIS truck behind him so for a while second or two - he thought his truck had come loose and was sailing along the highway!! We were all laughing so hard on the phone together!!




19 comments:

Ginny Hartzler said...

I am sure glad to see a post from you that all is well after this scary weather! Your dinner looks delicious. I know your book will be very good.

Blondie's Journal said...

I so loved catching up with you, Linda! You are making wonderful strides with your book. I not only think of the writing aspect, but going through the old photos would have me stalled in traveling back in time and the writing would become emotional for sure. I think skipping some years will bring you to a place where you aren't totally exhausted from the work, and have time for present living. Still--I hope you publish because I will be first in line to buy it!

Continue to enjoy your time in the country!! :)

Jane x

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Hi Linda - love seeing your 'day'. Full of good things. Big job writing but important to write the past history.
Hugs.
Joy

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Praying God gives you direction with the book. Happy Easter to you and Louis Dean!

Susie said...

Linda, I can not wait to read your book. Thinking back to our youth is sometimes easy, for we know we survived it. LOL Lots goes on there at the ranch. Pretty blue skies while Sherry works. Fried chicken probably tasted so good , with biscuits. I am sure LD loved that. LD and Rufus look like they enjoy being together. Love Roy's story of the white truck. Stay safe at the ranch. Blessings, love you, xoxo, Susie

Bluebird49 said...

I am so glad you're at your writing again! I can't wait to hear how you handled being such a young wife and mother. I was a mother a month before I was 17, and the baby in my family. I didn't have the chance to help mother my siblings!
Good to see Thumper, and I know having the dog around is good company!
Hope your Easter Saturday and Sunday is peaceful and joyful. I know you were so pleased to see your "partner in crime", (Ruth Ann), and Roy!!

Vee said...

The good news is that you did get back to the book...so many leave one in a drawer and that’s the end of it. Will be praying that The Lord provides the direction you need. A life is a big story to write.

Oh how funny about Roy. I have heard that story before and it was true that the vehicle had come loose. How we laughed so I am imagining the laughter there.

That wind had to be wild to blow over the hen house. Poor chickens!

Enjoy your guest...he looks very relaxed...and have a fabulous weekend, you two!

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I can't even imagine being able to go back that many years ago and trying to remember exactly when things happened and put them in the order.they happened. I don't remember when I first took the kids out trick or treating or what they wore for halloween when they were little. I do remember the days when they got a bit older and my older kids took the little ones out. That tractor has to be a must for those living on a farm. Glad they were able to put the chicken house back up. It must have been very windy to blow that over. Hope you have nice days this weekend for critter duty. It is so very nice to have the longer days to enjoy. And hope you enjoy your Easter weekend there in you Happy place.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I admire you writing your life story. I don't like thinking back to some of mine so I would have a hard time during my teen years. You and I both had our childhoods cut way too short! Hope you have good weather this weekend! Hugs!

MadSnapper said...

first thingsw first. so happy to see Rufus laying on the floor and happy to be with LD... you know I love the goats and wow on the coop retrieval... she is good with that machine whatever it is called. that had to be some kind of wind. glad it did not destroy it. I can't image writing about my past, I have no memories, but I might it if looked at photos. also can't imagine at 17 have a 2 year old. I did not do well at 20 .

Anonymous said...

Enjoy your days in the country with all the animals and
have a nice Easter Sunday.
Phyllis

Joyce F said...

Your "awful" gravy brought back a memory for me. My mother died when I was 14. I lived with my dad and brother who was 8 years older than I, the rest of my siblings being married or in the military. I had to do all the housework, laundry and cook. The first time I made gravy it was so lumpy I hid it until I was able to dump it out without them seeing it. I did learn to make gravy eventually though we don't eat much of it these days. It seems to be one thing that sets off my gall bladder.

Happy Easter!

FABBY'S LIVING said...


My goodness dear friend, how exciting to start on your book and all the compilation of photos and pics you are gathering for it.
Wish you the best and enjoy every minute of this new venture.
I love the food meanwhile too.
Happy Easter to you, LD and all your lovely family.
Fabby

Carole said...

Happy Easter to you and yours. And good luck with the writing. Cheers

Teresa P said...

Linda,
I am laughing so hard at the story about Roy thinking his truck had come unhitched and was passing him in the RV. That actually did happen to someone we know who was towing his boat behind his truck. He looked and the boat was sailing (pardon the pun) pass his truck!

Enjoy you time in the country and have a Happy Easter.

Tina said...

Your fried chicken looks delicious and I can sympathize with you on the gravy, mine doesn't always turn out so good either! I'm sure that Dean and Sherry are happy to be able to get away and know that their critters will be happy and well taken care of! Rufus looks right at home with you guys! Hope you have a wonderful and relaxing Easter!

Debbie said...

the book sounds so interesting...i do not have the memory to do something like that. nor do i have too many happy childhood memories!!!

next time you make that chicken meal, have me over...i make the best gravy if i do say so myself!!

those goats are precious!!!

Nonnie said...

I don't think I knew before that you are writing a book. Going down memory lane is something I love to do and looking at old photos really jogs my mind to remembrance. How sweet to have someone play the guitar in the background as you journal. Love the chicken dishes.

Judy said...

I'm glad the book is still in the works...one memory at a time! I'm looking forward to reading it one day. I hope you had a happy and blessed Easter! PS I like your closing quote. So true!