Meeting Brittany, Lucy, dog poor

Mama and I took Rosie to meet Brittany in New Mexico so we could get her puppy and keep it for a few months. It was a pleasant drive to Des Moines, NM. It only took about three hours with a stop for breakfast and a potty break for Mama. We had set things up to meet at a restaurant in Des Moines – turned out to be the only restaurant in the area - so it was not hard for Brittany to find. Mama and I were there about an hour before Brittany got there and we got to visit with the locals some. It was enjoyable.


After we ate lunch and looked over the dress we had brought to show Brittany we went to a local attraction; Capulin Volcano National Monument. It was only about ten minutes from the restaurant and was highly recommended by the waitress there. It was fun to walk down into the crater which towered about three thousand feet above the plains. From there we could begin to see the hills and long cooled lava flows that had influenced the plains after the eruptions had ceased. It was well worth the trip.

In the Sierra Grande restaurant there were prints done by a local artist. All of them were very high quality but two really captured my attention. One that Mama and I liked best was already sold out – they are limit edition prints. The other I will probably buy when we go back over for Andrew’s graduation. It is of an older gentleman reading the King James Bible by the fireside. The title is “Line Camp Comfort.” I was just telling Mama that morning about the never ending task of riding fence in some of the large ranches in the south. Line camps are strategically set so the cowboys will have someplace to retreat to in bad weather. They are typically very primitive, but do provide a roof and a bed.

We split up after visiting the volcano and I think Brittany beat us in our separate journeys home. Mama and I had a long stretch of fifty five miles per hour leaving New Mexico. I guess they think all Texans are speeders that need to be slowed down so they lowered the speed limit on entry to their state. It was about a ten hour day for us.

Her pup, Lucy, is a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix called a Chi-weenie. It is a very active pup but not much bigger than a large rat. It has settled down a good bit since the first few hours free in our home. It has already learned the potty routine of exiting the back door and whimpering or scratching at the door to get back in. Mama leaves food out for it at all times and periodically it will pick up several prices and carry them to some other location to eat them. We are used to that with Rosie.

Mama mentioned that we were going to have to take three dogs with us to Florida. My firm answer was, No we weren’t. I was not doing that to Cori and Nate. She will have to figure out something else; just like I am not going to ask Grandma and Grandpa to keep the pup while Mama is away in New Jersey. Dodger can stay outside on the farm. Rosie can stay with Grandma and Grandpa. We will have to figure out what to do with the pup. Without a fenced yard at the farm it could be very difficult to contain the runt.

I think Grandma and Grandpa are going to get rid of Sasha. She bit Grandpa this weekend as he was putting her up for the evening. That we will not tolerate. I have been ready to get rid of them for some time. I do not know if Samson will stay or not, but I am ready to cut our losses. I am dog and horse poor at the farm and we have the burros to protect stock should the need arise. I will have to sit on the sidelines and wait to see how the situation plays out.

Grandpa got the sprayer working and was putting down either fertilizer or lime as Victoria called Saturday morning.

Another little success.

My hearing, sudden rains, Chase

My hearing test left me with more questions than answers. By the method used in the test I was not as bad off as I had thought. The doctor’s conclusion is that I have grown accustomed to minor hearing difficulties and simply prefer sounds to be louder; suggesting more of a listening problem than a hearing problem. I am not sure the issue is with my listening skills, but I will look into it.

The test showed a dramatic increase in cognitive understanding a s background noises were elevated. Mama sat in the sound booth with me as a voice read sentences in ever an increasing volume of background noises. While I was struggling to hear and repeat the sentences Mama was plugging her ears. I told the doctor if every person spoke with the diction and volume of the recorded sentences I would have no problem hearing and understanding. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

From the medical perspective I am not as bad off as I think I am. That does not change the fact that I have difficulty hearing and it will only get worse as I get older. It can be helped but the cost of hearing aids if far too expensive to merit the expenditure. So to all of those of you who would like me to understand what you are saying to me, stand on my right side and speak up. If the thoughts are more private than that, write them down, we will find a quiet place to talk later.

While we were in the sound proof booth the doctor told me, “It is pouring rain; in case you left your windows down.” I thought maybe he was kidding since it was so hot and dry outside when we had come in and Mama did not stir. Then I realized I was the only one who could hear what he said because I was wearing headphones for the hearing test. As soon as I told Mama she bolted out the door. She got the windows up on the car we were driving, but as we were driving home we both realized she had left them down on the little van.

Now, when Mama rolls a window down she does not just crack it open; she really rolls it down. We had a small discussion about that very thing at the dentist office when we parked. I told her the window only needed to be slightly open to let out the superheated air. She insisted that more was better and I left it alone. When we got to the mini van she began to wish she had not been so generous. It was soaked. Fortunately, she can roll the windows down all the way today and let the 96 degree, 28% humidity air dry it out. As a precaution, I would roll the windows up by early afternoon.

Victoria called while Mama was in the dentist office to tell her that the squash she planted was doing very well. The tomatoes are not faring as well. The potato plants are flowering and have recovered from the onslaught of bugs. Some of the garden is doing well, some is not. We will have to learn what to plant in a garden I this area and how to plant it to maximize its potential. It is certain we will have to fertilize more heavily next year. If we did not have the horses out all the time we could collect their manure from the stalls and use it to enrich the ground. That way, it would help the garden and the dogs would not have to travel so far to find it.

Chase and Mama talked for quite a long time last night and she is starting to understand that his feelings for Makayla (I think that is how to spell her name.) could be more than infatuation. It is difficult to tell. It is equally difficult to say anything – for or against. They are both committed to taking the high road of moral accountability in their relationship. They are both willing to obey their parents in the matter. They are both planning for their future together rather than scheming to find ways be together. We will continue to watch carefully, especially as Chase comes back home.

It is a matter of some concern, and much prayer.

Dr. appointments, lawn issues

Mama and I have dental appointments this afternoon. We have rescheduled them several times so I hope we get to follow through with them today. I have to interview four ladies today to see if I can find a backfill for Judy Calhoun, here in the Borger office. Such interviews are not to difficult but I can only pick one. I have prayed for the wisdom to get the right one and get her started soon. We need the help.


I did get my blood work done yesterday as part of the health assessment and the numbers partially proved a point. My total cholesterol was down ten points in just two weeks. My triglycerides were down by seventeen points and my LDL – the “bad” cholesterol – was down by 8 points. None of the numbers were high to begin with but the fact that they could fall that much after fourteen days of proper eating was proof enough that Mama and I need to eat differently than Grandma and Grandpa do.

My blood pressure readings were about the same, not good. My weight and the salt titration levels in my blood contribute to that elevation. I do not want to go back on blood pressure medication so I will again concentrate on diet and see if it will come into proper range again. The stress levels at work do not help any, but I will have to learn to deal with that in better ways.

Later today I have a hearing exam scheduled. I am being evaluated for a study of some new hearing aid technology. I do not know if I will qualify, but I will get an independent evaluation of my hearing problems; something I have been putting off for a long time. The woman who scheduled me asked Mama to come also. During their testing they will use Mama’s voice to test my hearing. I am not sure how it will work, but it will be different from anything I have had done in the past. After all, hearing voices is the issue I need help with.

After I mowed the yard here a week or so ago, the weather turned hot and the growth I was being threatened to be fined for has withered into the dust that is our front yard. It seems pathetic when I look at it now; especially compared to the farm. We could water the yard but it will never be a lawn. I think Mama misses that. We had a pretty good lawn at the Fairfield house. It cost me a fortune in water bills but it was pretty nice, especially for this area.

At least we do not have a neighbor that is as obsessed with the lawn as the neighbor we had in Victoria, TX . With the kids we had normally in the house and the kids that would come from the neighboring houses, we had some pretty big bare spots right next to his very lush and green grass. He would try not to step in our yard as he placed the sprinkler at the very edge of his yard and I had to constantly remind the kids to stay out of his yard when there were no real boundaries that they could see in the front. Things got tense a few times until he realized that we meant him no ill will, we simply did not care about the grass. I told him that I could raise grass or I could raise children, but not both. I stuck with raising children and let the yard suffer. Here, there is no such problem.

I read a marquee at a church in Panhandle this morning. It had some good advice: keep your words sweet, you may have to eat them.

Please be praying with us for a baler. It is the last piece of equipment we need to put up hay at the farm.

High temps, health, Brittany’s dog, insects

The air conditioning was successfully installed on the mobile home yesterday afternoon. It is perfect timing because today the temperature is supposed to get to 95. In Amarillo we are going to be closer to one hundred degrees, at 99 for the predicted high. By the weekend the temperatures are supposed to dip back into the sixties. There is some rain in the forecast but not until the weekend when things cool back down.


I am scheduled to go to another health screening this morning. It is just like the one I did in Decatur about a month ago. I signed up for it because I wanted to see if the numbers would change when I got back to healthier eating – away from Grandma’s cooking. My blood pressure and my cholesterol are the two indicators of particular interest; Grandma’s ubiquitous ingredients of lard and salt play into those numbers.

I was making some asparagus for me and Mama to eat the very last day I was there – I believe it was a Sunday. Grandma did not have any bacon grease so I used some real butter to fry the asparagus in an iron skillet. Grandma suggested I use lard and I told her that lard had no flavor, to which she replied, “I love the flavor that it gives food!” At least it is healthier than vegetable oil or fake butter, but I really do not think it adds flavor. She is probably tasting the greasy salt taste.

Mama and I went soul winning with the church last night and we did not get home until almost 10 pm. It was a great evening but a very short night. I went out with the pastor and we had three really memorable visits. Mama went out in the van with some of the women and teen girls but she gave out after several blocks due to her knee.

We went because this Saturday, when we would normally go, we will be meeting Brittany to get her pup – which has been evicted from her apartment complex. Not really evicted but it is better to let us keep the little pooper until it is over a year old, otherwise there is a $1000 deposit required. This manager does not like puppies – must be something in their childhood. I wonder if the same rules apply to cats or hamsters or fish.

Mama is adjusting to being alone again. There are pros and cons but she really enjoys the activities of the farm. The down time (being kept inside due to rain or extreme temperatures) there is a little difficult for even her to handle; for me it is incredibly wearisome. The necessary activities make all the other times enjoyable. Were it not for the dogs tearing up our garden or the things we have planted around the property, we would be enjoying great success.

The fleas and ticks are now multiplying on every animal we have. Mama and Victoria have bought all sorts of protective devices but I am not convinced of the effectiveness or any of them. We are still discovering both insects on the dogs. The fly spray they have used on the horses seems to be fairly effective but the amount of insects drawn to them is incredible. Every time they poop, several varieties of flies swarm the warm mass and do not leave until it is dry and crusty. I am starting to think we are keeping them only to feed the flies and the dogs. Both seem to think their excrement is a delicacy.

All the hens we traded for a couple weeks ago are laying now so we are collecting about a dozen eggs per day – even more than Victoria and Grandpa can eat per week. I think Victoria is going to start selling them to coworkers. It would help offset the cost of feed, but not much more.

It would be out first produce.

Farm injuries, laundry issues, Chase, Maggie

Mama and Victoria arranged for a farrier to come to the farm to trim the hooves of the horses. Rain has never had her hooves trimmed and they were in bad shape when we got her. We were waiting until the foal was born to do the work so the timing seemed right. However, with the move to the mobile home there have been other things to coordinate – like the move of the internet service to the new location; which happened to coincide with the farrier visit.

Grandpa, who believes the horses should not be penned up unless someone is fooling with them, let the horses out while he was making his rounds, not knowing what Mama and Victoria had been setting up for their care. Well, it turned out to be a challenge to get Rain to return to her stall after she had been grazing for a while. In her displeasure she kicked Victoria hitting her on the right elbow. Victoria said it was pretty painful but did not seem to be urgent. We will know more today.

Toi, who was thoroughly confused in the commotion, ran through a fence in her desperation to get away from whatever unpleasant thing seemed to be going on. I am not sure if she injured herself any, but I do know it upset the morning. I think each animal was cared for properly and finally allowed to get back to pasture. Victoria’s double injury will heal but I am not sure she has any more romantic notions about owning a horse.

We have been disappointed by promises of help that never came through, conflicting instructions from those who wanted to appear knowledgeable but did not really want to get involved and memories of horses past that do not seem to transfer to our current herd. Victoria has not really invested herself in the exercise and it is frustrating to see her tepid interest when we did much of this for her; frankly, I am not sure what she is interested in. In her defense, she has been bitten once and kicked once by Rain, so that may have dulled her enthusiasm.

I think, after the move, everyone is so worn out that individual enthusiasm is at an all time low. Maybe getting the air conditioning installed today will lift their spirits.

Mama and I are without a washer and drier so she had to go to the laundromat yesterday. One of the washers she used appears to have been used to launder some pretty soiled clothing, but Mama’s good white blouses seem to have cleaned most of the residue from the grease stained unit. One blouse is completely ruined; the other two may be salvageable. I am never sure why that does not happen in the load of jeans rather than in the load of good clothes.

She was so frustrated she had to go to Wienerschnitzel and buy an ice cream cone to drown her sorrows. Fortunately, the kind woman manning the laundromat took the grease stained items and washed them over in a series of cleaning agents to try to restore them to service. It was a brave effort but sadly short of the mark.

Chase sent us some graduation photos. They are pretty good. It looks like they had a great time taking them. Mama and I were impressed by how much some of the kids in the school there have grown. It is one of those “I knew you when” moments – especially for Mama. I always expect them to grow up, but for some reason it shocks every woman I have ever known.

Maggie called early yesterday. She was on her way to get her husband; nervous, excited, both chiding and laughing at herself.

It would have been fun to watch that reunion.

Demands, Mama’s working tan, lunch buddies, choosing a church

Because of insurance demands I had to go to Bowie to work on the mobile home Saturday. I called the insurance company after I had gotten a call from the finance company Friday afternoon. The finance company was waiting on the policy to be issued so they could finalize the loan. If it was not done by the end of this week we would loose our financing. The insurance company was waiting on pictures showing the steps complete with handrails.

While I had the insurance agent on the phone I asked if the underpinning, or skirting, also had to be complete before they would issue the policy. The answer was yes. So I drove over and spent the next day putting on handrails and underpinning. I took pictures late in the afternoon and we got the prints done at Wal-Mart that night. Mama will deliver them to the insurance company today and hopefully everything will get settled by the end of the week. We will wait and see.

While I worked on the mobile home Mama was brush hogging one of the pastures. She really likes playing farm lady and Victoria got a couple pictures of her. She, Mama, was not happy about the photo shoot and let Victoria know. She was working on her tan and had on a sleeveless shirt which she considers inappropriate for pictures but she did not make me erase them from the card.

Mama and I stopped for lunch in Bowie on our way out of town Sunday at our favorite fast food – Golden Chick. While we were waiting on our food a young couple came in with their three little ones and ordered. They had obviously been to church that morning. An employee asked the father a question and I overheard him answer that they were going to be missionaries to Nepal. So Mama engaged the wife in conversation.

We ended up relocating and eating lunch beside them while we all talked. Their almost two year old little girl really liked the gravy and was dipping everything in it – mostly food pieces but also her hands, the ribbon on her dress, etc. The mom and dad are studying at the language institute in Bowie and we got a lot of information about churches in the area. We are a little disappointed about some of the things going on in the church we have been attending and have wondered about other churches in the area. So the information was both timely and helpful.

He told us about a good church in Bowie as well as one in Decatur so the next time we are in town we will check out the one in Bowie. It confirmed what we had been told by a man filling in Sunday morning for the pastor at Bible Baptist Church. We need to find a good church in the area so we can settle Victoria in. We will also be in the area soon – within a couple years at the most – and Mama and I would like a place where we can serve the Lord also. We miss that when we are there.

Mama and I drove home after church on Sunday afternoon. We rushed to get to church in Amarillo and made it a little bit late for the ending of the conference. I hated to miss it but at least we got there for the close.

Sleep, shopping, Brittany’s dog worries, Maggie and Aaron

I was supposed to go to church last night for the second night of the conference but I laid down on the couch at 5 pm thinking I would nap for an hour. I woke up at 8:25. I just changed and went to bed. Surprisingly I slept to the alarm this morning. I have made some adjustments to my alarm and am getting up later now. The alarm is set for 4:15 a.m.; getting lazy in my old age.


Mama is coming home today. They all went shopping yesterday and spent a bundle on cabinets and fixtures for the mobile home. One of the drawbacks to the home set up is the lack of storage – including very small closets. To remedy that Grandpa and Grandma bought some cabinets to expand their storage. I have no idea what; I just know that gaining storage was the idea behind the purchases.

I would ask Mama to describe them to me but it usually does not work; something gets lost in translation. It is like asking me to describe a pair of shoes to Mama. Our frame of reference is totally different and what I describe is not what she envisions. I will just wait to see the additions when I get back to Bowie.

Rain is predicted for today in both Bowie and Amarillo. Last night we did get some rain here and whenever that happens it is a blessing. I have yet to see any accumulation of water in the playa lakes I pass going between Borger and Amarillo. They have been dry for over a year now and I am curious to see what it would take to refill them. If the five inches we got last week does not start the process, I am thinking it will take a hurricane sized storm to do it; not the best way to accomplish anything.

Brittany wants Mama to take on her little dog to house break it. I think she is having trouble with the apartment complex due to the age of the dog. She tells us they do not permit dogs less than one year of age. That’s a strange rule. I guess they do not like to house break dogs either. I can understand some of their concerns when I think about how careless some people are and what a mess is often left behind in a vacated apartment. Brittany does not fall into that category but they cannot tell that about any particular person – hence the rule. She wants to meet half way to give us the dog but I do not know if Mama and I are up to it this weekend.

Maggie is worried about the very thing she has been pining for for over two months now; Aaron’s return. I do not know what it is like to be separated for that amount of time, then try to blend two separate lives together for a brief interval knowing that the separation is coming again. Maggie has developed a happy life independent of her husband – from necessity. It is not that she does not want him in that life, he is simply not there. Aaron, on the other hand, has had no life other than the boat for the same amount of time. So, does he try to fit into her life where he can or try to develop some life of his own where she can become a part of that?

It is a difficult balancing act for both of them – especially Maggie because she has to be open and receptive to her husband for the time they have together, but she cannot live only for that. Aaron, on the other hand, as the husband and leader in the home, must adapt to the regimen she lives with day to day while applying his direction and leadership to the home. They are still very young and fortunately Maggie has gotten some very good council lately. I am not sure what council Aaron gets from the crew he lives with, but I do not think it would be the same as Maggie is getting. We will see if the principles she has learned lately translate into practice as they are together for whatever time the Coast Guard allows.

Monday is the day. (Subject to change without notice.)