Disconnected, travel plan update, Chase in sales

It is interesting to how disconnected I feel knowing Mama is away. Each of us attended church services last night with out each other. Each of us was asked by the people around us where the other was and each of us gave our respective answers. We said our goodnights long distance and will continue in that manner for many days to come. Maybe this is a taste of what may come should I take the licensing job. It is definitely a taste of what Maggie and soon, Brittany, will be patiently pacing themselves through. It is not necessarily difficult but it is different.


I spoke with Ruben Yoder yesterday afternoon about the possibility of him conducting an herbal training session for us in Decatur while he and his family are in the Dallas area. It will be during the last week of August and although I am not sure of the venue I am excited about the prospect of getting the help and the exposure within the community. I have always thought about doing this very thing but have been unsuccessful at getting anything started. Even though this may not be any more than a practice run, every little step forward helps.

We will firm up the details in the coming days but I have invited him and his family to our farm during the time they are in the area. It, too, is not much yet but it is a good start and I know they will enjoy the freedom to run. He is traveling with his wife and their two boys, age 3 and 5. That ought to be a great road trip for them and a business building venture for me and Mama. At least I am entertaining that hope.

I seem to have trouble getting my days right concerning the departure date for Grandma and Grandpa. They are leaving tomorrow. The date has always been Friday I just have had trouble remembering where that day falls relative to where I am at the time. Like the man who called up the control tower at the local army base to ask the time. The air traffic controller asked, “What branch of the service are you in?” the caller, taken aback by the question asked, “What possible difference could that make?” “Well,” he responded, “if you are a civilian, it is 3 p.m. If you are in the Army, it is 1500 hours. If you are in the Air Force it’s Thursday, but if you are in the Marines, it’s July.”

Anyway, they are still planning on leaving in the morning and making it as far as they can. I do not know if they are planning on taking two days or more to get to Point Pleasant. That will depend largely on Grandma and how much she can tolerate. I do know the return trip will be several weeks out if not a month away. Mama will stay for the duration to help ensure all the farm chores get done. With the pigs gone there is less of a load but we still have the dogs, chickens, horses and the donkeys.

It has been so dry that there is little else to do as far as mowing or gardening. We are keeping up with the plants that are still producing: watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes, peppers and onions. But it is more a matter of harvesting what ripens that it is weeding or hoeing. I am not sure how the chickens are doing as far as laying eggs. The summer seems to have slowed them down some. It has been brutally hot.

Andrew Fie is going to buy a TV from Chase next week. He had Chase do some research to find him a deal at a certain price, a certain minimum size with the extended warranty. Chase told him last night what he had found so he and Andrew will complete the deal when Chase is working and Andrew is off. The plan is for Monday but we will wait and see how that works out.

Chase is excited about the prospect.