Smoke Signals and other news
The last lone hummingbird left this week. Hopefully, he got enough to eat to make him strong enough to fly to his winter home. Feeders are taken down, cleaned and stored for the return of their scouts in March. I probably should stock up on sugar the next few months.
Maybe I have cut my grass for the last time for this year. Maybe not. I have cut much later in the year than this wearing a jacket. I do remember a year when Doug was still able that he cut the grass in December. I would prefer not to do that.
The weather has been so awesome for doing badly needed outside work, for attending the Byhalia Homecoming Parade, attending the adult coed softball games and the kids soccer games. If you know me, you know I have been known to be at a baseball/softball game anytime the kids were playing, for more than thirty-five years. Soccer has been a new adventure for the Town of Byhalia and for me. It is something I have long wanted to try as I knew there was a great need. We have nearly 80 kids playing and having a great time. It is something boys and girls can enjoy along with kids with great talent, those who are not quite so strong, and kids with some disabilities. All get to play and all support each other. We are not a competitive league, but someone forgot to tell the kids. There is much excitement when a goal is scored or a goal is blocked. I am learning the rules much as I learned the rules, for baseball/softball in the eighties. I am working on learning Spanish, but that will take me a bit longer.
The return trip was made to Dr. Stubbs this week. Most of the pain in the shoulders and neck is gone. I have now gone more than 24 hours without an intense headache and only limited use of the ice packs. I did discover that when I prepared my medicines for the week, the heart/blood pressure pills were accidentally left out. Still not exactly sure how that happened. I didn’t have those for a couple of days which intensified the headaches, but the blood pressure headache and the neck/shoulder headaches are different. Now both headaches are gone. It is scary to check my blood pressure and see that very high reading, having witnessed what high blood pressure did to my mother.
For years I have carried insurance on automobiles and houses. I have recently found that the companies I carry house insurance with are getting pickier about insuring things. For instance, all limbs within ten feet of the house must be cut off. I see their point but at one time it was a good thing to have a bit of shade on the house. We pruned my Grandmother’s snowball bush, that stands at the end of the porch. I started some cuttings from it in case they insist it must go, also. Then I had to remove a “smoke house” that was older than me (and that’s pretty old) because it was leaning and in their opinion was in danger of falling. Maybe it was, but it certainly was physically hard to get it down. It seemed to insist that it had outlived winds, tornadoes, ice, snow, being used as a playhouse, storage unit, home to various animals including our resident King Snake, and many other worthwhile purposes. We didn’t find the King Snake so I hope he has gone underground or found a new residence. This was the last of the outdoor buildings my grandfather built in his lifetime. We did find solid bricks and the old-fashioned concrete blocks he used for the floor. We stored those along with the wood and tin that was still in good condition. I have not decided exactly how these items will be used, but his legacy will live on in whatever is built. He passed away when I was 21 years old, but there are so many memories of the times I had with him and the things he taught me, but that’s a story for another day.
I would love to report your news, activities, etc. Please share your news with me either at jchwagg@gmail.com or text or call 901 246-8843.
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