Saturday, March 2, 2019
Lou Mercer Words of Wisdom: Meanwhile, back at the ranch!
Lou Mercer Words of Wisdom: Meanwhile, back at the ranch!: To say my life here on my little acre is boring would be an understatement. It seems like there is always something going on...well, not d...
Meanwhile, back at the ranch!
To say my life here on my little acre is boring would be an understatement. It seems like there is always something going on...well, not during Jeopardy! Everyone knows what happens to me when I set back in my recliner with the cat on my lap and pull an afghan up over me so I do not get cold. I watch Jeopardy! at 3:00 and again at 6:30. Sadly, I have yet to see a full half hour. If I manage to stay awake it is imperative that someone call to ask just one quick question.
Now yesterday, I stopped at Big R to buy goose food since there is a storm coming and I do not want the geese to miss out on a meal and I hate unloading 150 pounds of feed in a blizzard. So, I pulled into the back acre and started in with the first bag. You should know, the neighbors have a Billy Goat Gruff with big long, curled horns. He does not know where he actually lives so he spends a lot of time ripping things out of the ground on my side of the driveway. As I started into the shed, I had to bump him with the feed bag to get inside. I emptied that one, chased him off and grabbed another only to repeat the same scenario. I do not even like goats and that is why I do not have one. Third bag was tossed on top of the barrel and the goat chased off again. I drove out and closed the gate behind me with him glaring at me from his yard.
To make a long story short, I got busy doing something and it was almost dark when I went to put the geese up for the night. I let them in the outside wire enclosure and they were acting funny. Since they usually do, I did not give it a second thought. Then I remembered I needed to open that third bag and dump it so I opened the big door and took 2 steps inside and stopped. Holy mother of God! Inside the shed was dark and I caught a glimpse so something out of the corner of my eye. It was big! It was not a goose! It was that damned goat curled up in the corner of the shed. He was settling in for the night. In order to get inside the shed he had to squeeze himself through the little door I have in the side of the shed designed for a much smaller animal. Even the geese have to duck their heads to get inside. Dammit!
Luckily I have a very good flashlight, so I went over to Mr. Goat and nudged him while shining the light on his path to freedom. He could have cared less. So I got him by one of his horns. It became increasingly clear that he did not want to go home. I finally got him out the door and that was as far as he wanted to go. So I went next door to the house he actually lived at. Cory came with me and between the 2 of us with a hand on each horn, we got him into their yard. It was clear also that in the leap over the fence into my yard, he had hurt his back leg. So I missed Jeopardy! at 6:30. Dammit!
So, Michael brought up the subject of gardening a few days ago and I explained that I would not be doing that this year. Why? It seems that the last few years I have had a snake infestation. I do not know how many times there was a snake in the goose house. I reached my limit when I was harvesting my zucchini and as I reached to move a leaf, I saw a snake curled up under it. Centipedes love my basement. Wasps build their little nests in the corners of my deck. Spiders watch me from the shadows. Farm living is just no longer conducive to my lifestyle! I want to be where the lights are shining in my window and the jukebox is blaring from down below. Well, not really.
I do love my solitude out here, but there is a lot to be said for the wild life that makes itself at home here on my acre. I realize goats, spiders, snakes and centipedes are not exactly wildlife, but you do remember how the foxes devastated my duck farm. But yesterday at the Big R, I saw my first signs of Spring. They have three tanks full of baby chickens and they are so damn cute. Maybe if I had chickens they would keep the snakes away. I know they eat grasshoppers.
Something to think about.
Now yesterday, I stopped at Big R to buy goose food since there is a storm coming and I do not want the geese to miss out on a meal and I hate unloading 150 pounds of feed in a blizzard. So, I pulled into the back acre and started in with the first bag. You should know, the neighbors have a Billy Goat Gruff with big long, curled horns. He does not know where he actually lives so he spends a lot of time ripping things out of the ground on my side of the driveway. As I started into the shed, I had to bump him with the feed bag to get inside. I emptied that one, chased him off and grabbed another only to repeat the same scenario. I do not even like goats and that is why I do not have one. Third bag was tossed on top of the barrel and the goat chased off again. I drove out and closed the gate behind me with him glaring at me from his yard.
To make a long story short, I got busy doing something and it was almost dark when I went to put the geese up for the night. I let them in the outside wire enclosure and they were acting funny. Since they usually do, I did not give it a second thought. Then I remembered I needed to open that third bag and dump it so I opened the big door and took 2 steps inside and stopped. Holy mother of God! Inside the shed was dark and I caught a glimpse so something out of the corner of my eye. It was big! It was not a goose! It was that damned goat curled up in the corner of the shed. He was settling in for the night. In order to get inside the shed he had to squeeze himself through the little door I have in the side of the shed designed for a much smaller animal. Even the geese have to duck their heads to get inside. Dammit!
Luckily I have a very good flashlight, so I went over to Mr. Goat and nudged him while shining the light on his path to freedom. He could have cared less. So I got him by one of his horns. It became increasingly clear that he did not want to go home. I finally got him out the door and that was as far as he wanted to go. So I went next door to the house he actually lived at. Cory came with me and between the 2 of us with a hand on each horn, we got him into their yard. It was clear also that in the leap over the fence into my yard, he had hurt his back leg. So I missed Jeopardy! at 6:30. Dammit!
So, Michael brought up the subject of gardening a few days ago and I explained that I would not be doing that this year. Why? It seems that the last few years I have had a snake infestation. I do not know how many times there was a snake in the goose house. I reached my limit when I was harvesting my zucchini and as I reached to move a leaf, I saw a snake curled up under it. Centipedes love my basement. Wasps build their little nests in the corners of my deck. Spiders watch me from the shadows. Farm living is just no longer conducive to my lifestyle! I want to be where the lights are shining in my window and the jukebox is blaring from down below. Well, not really.
I do love my solitude out here, but there is a lot to be said for the wild life that makes itself at home here on my acre. I realize goats, spiders, snakes and centipedes are not exactly wildlife, but you do remember how the foxes devastated my duck farm. But yesterday at the Big R, I saw my first signs of Spring. They have three tanks full of baby chickens and they are so damn cute. Maybe if I had chickens they would keep the snakes away. I know they eat grasshoppers.
Something to think about.
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Is it my turn yet?
Yesterday I took an afternoon and played Scrabble with a friend and his sister. They are both very intelligent and loving people (Would you expect me to spend time on a Saturday afternoon with anyone who is not?) To make a long story short, I got my little ass trounced royally. I must say they were very gracious winners which in my world is a rarity. It was nice. I have not played a game since I played Dominoes with Bill Brown a couple years ago. I beat him and never went back because I was afraid he would return the favor!
On my way home from town I stopped at another friends house. This was not so much fun, but nonetheless a very satisfying visit. This lady has always been open and loving and in her final hours I should have expected no less. She smiled and actually beamed as I told her I loved her and wished her a peaceful crossing and a happy reunion. As I kissed her goodbye she smiled the brightest smile I have seen from her in a long time and it came from the bottom of her heart. I am going to miss her more than I can say, and I hope she will pop in on me from time to time in the hallowed memories of my mind.
As the angel of death (no capitals ) hovers quietly in the corner of yet another of my friends, I can not help but wonder when I will get my turn. I have attended many of these and I have to say this lady is the picture of grace and never have I ever seen a person more ready to go. Oh, Lord that I can be that accepting when it is my turn.
I look back on the shambles of my life and can not believe some of the crap I am going to have to answer for when I knock on those Pearly Gates. Those of you who know me now only think you know me. My mother always said "Your never really know anyone, you only know OF them. You know what they let you see." But here is the kicker on that: I have let people see my kind, loving, caring side so long that I have become that person! Who would have ever thought that the little girl growing up on Strong Street in a run down shack with an outhouse in the back and no running water would ever be a respected member of any thing? And yet, here I am! When my sisters came for Kenneth's service they did not stay and visit. (The largest chapel at Imperial Gardens was full and people were left outside.) They went home the same day. The sole comment made was "Louella has a life out here that we know nothing about." And that sister was right.
I do have a life with friends and acquaintances and respect from my peers. That is something I never had in Kansas. I was always just Louella, Chris's daughter. Louella, Donna's sister. Bob's cook. Some body's mom. Some body's Aunt. I guess that is good, but this is better. Now that I am old, I can be selfish. I can play Scrabble on a Saturday afternoon. I can sleep through Jeopardy!. I can have a sink full of dirty dishes. I can smell the roses and kiss the wind. I can pet my cat and dream of all the things I am going to do someday. Who was it that said, "Of all the things of mice and men, the saddest of all is what might have been."?
I am not quite ready for the Angel of Death or the grim reaper, but when it comes, and it surely will someday, I will embrace the trip. It is some place I have never been and I think it is just over the rainbow. There I will see my loved ones and it will be wonderful! I will get to meet Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King, Jr., Hank Williams, and all the people I have admired and loved for so long.
So enjoy my blog while it is here! Hug your children. Pet your dog. Sing in the shower. But most of all, get your house in order. If you hurt someone, tell them you are sorry. If you love someone, tell them. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow never comes!
Peace to all!
On my way home from town I stopped at another friends house. This was not so much fun, but nonetheless a very satisfying visit. This lady has always been open and loving and in her final hours I should have expected no less. She smiled and actually beamed as I told her I loved her and wished her a peaceful crossing and a happy reunion. As I kissed her goodbye she smiled the brightest smile I have seen from her in a long time and it came from the bottom of her heart. I am going to miss her more than I can say, and I hope she will pop in on me from time to time in the hallowed memories of my mind.
As the angel of death (no capitals ) hovers quietly in the corner of yet another of my friends, I can not help but wonder when I will get my turn. I have attended many of these and I have to say this lady is the picture of grace and never have I ever seen a person more ready to go. Oh, Lord that I can be that accepting when it is my turn.
I look back on the shambles of my life and can not believe some of the crap I am going to have to answer for when I knock on those Pearly Gates. Those of you who know me now only think you know me. My mother always said "Your never really know anyone, you only know OF them. You know what they let you see." But here is the kicker on that: I have let people see my kind, loving, caring side so long that I have become that person! Who would have ever thought that the little girl growing up on Strong Street in a run down shack with an outhouse in the back and no running water would ever be a respected member of any thing? And yet, here I am! When my sisters came for Kenneth's service they did not stay and visit. (The largest chapel at Imperial Gardens was full and people were left outside.) They went home the same day. The sole comment made was "Louella has a life out here that we know nothing about." And that sister was right.
I do have a life with friends and acquaintances and respect from my peers. That is something I never had in Kansas. I was always just Louella, Chris's daughter. Louella, Donna's sister. Bob's cook. Some body's mom. Some body's Aunt. I guess that is good, but this is better. Now that I am old, I can be selfish. I can play Scrabble on a Saturday afternoon. I can sleep through Jeopardy!. I can have a sink full of dirty dishes. I can smell the roses and kiss the wind. I can pet my cat and dream of all the things I am going to do someday. Who was it that said, "Of all the things of mice and men, the saddest of all is what might have been."?
I am not quite ready for the Angel of Death or the grim reaper, but when it comes, and it surely will someday, I will embrace the trip. It is some place I have never been and I think it is just over the rainbow. There I will see my loved ones and it will be wonderful! I will get to meet Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King, Jr., Hank Williams, and all the people I have admired and loved for so long.
So enjoy my blog while it is here! Hug your children. Pet your dog. Sing in the shower. But most of all, get your house in order. If you hurt someone, tell them you are sorry. If you love someone, tell them. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow never comes!
Peace to all!
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