Sunday, November 4, 2012
First Congregational Church Annual Craft Bazaar.
Well yesterday was the day and off I toodled to the annual Craft and Bake Sale. And a good time was had by all as you can see in the slide show. I saw lots of old friends and made a few new ones. I sold several copies of my book. Made a date to meet a couple guys at the library Tuesday evening. And I made some money. That is always the high light of my day!
Oh, and I sold a couple purses. I ate biscuits and gravy, and nachoes, and a big baked potato. Drank 2 cups of cappachino and one Coke.
I finished up the craft sale by modeling the vintage apron that I had just finished a few days before. I think I will sell it on eBay cause that is what I like to do.
After the sale I loaded up the car and drove over to the Anita Goodesign show that Sprinkles was putting on over at the Prysbeterian Church on University Circle. Amanda was working there and Bret was over on Eagleridge running the shop, so I did not get to see him.
Then I stopped by the Vail to see how the girls were doing at the Handweavers Guild sale. But more on that later today because I have to work there from 2-6.
I finally drifted home and the dogs were very happy to see me. I shut up the geese, set the clocks back an hour, ate a bowl of cereal, answered a few emails and then off to bed with me! Slept the sleep of the innocents and woke up this morning at 3:10. I hate time changes and it is probably a very good thing that I live alone!
So now I am off to bigger and better things. Will try to report in tonight with a slide show from the Vail Hotel. For now it is off to chores, shower and then to church in that order.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
What a lovely day I had and got a lot accomplished!
The guild always amazes me at how well organized they are. It took them 3 years to convince me that the inventory and the codes and the items numbers all had a relevancy. The first year I sat on the floor with Terri Rostad and wrote my initials, item #, code #, and price on 200 items on a little tag 1" x 3/4". But not this year! Hooray! I printed the sticky labels up on tiny labels on my computer and stuck them to the little tags. Well, I had one tiny glitch and that was the computer refused to print the item # so I left that blank and did it by hand. Thank you ladies for your patience and I will see you on Friday which is opening day, when I bring in my cookies.
You people have got to check this sale out. November 2- November 10, 10 AM -6:00 PM at the Vail Hotel. I work Sunday, Monday and Thursday.
After I had what I like to call a "Cappachino Blaster" we took our leave of Jan after promising that I would bring soap, lotion and body butter to sell in her area for Christmas. I told her I would be back next week. Hope that works.
Dan is quite the hiker and back packs a lot so I took him to the Rocky Mountain Park just up the road a ways and he located several trail heads. Now a little interjection here...I do not do this. As I understand he takes his little back pack and walks off into the wilderness and usually spends the night. I saw no signs of running water, heat, memory foam mattress, bathroom facilities and sure no stove to cook my daily meals on. What I did see was a poster telling about the wild animals in the forest and what to do if I encounter one. No, no, no. Not for me. So little Dan, with his dreams of a trip into the forest giving a happy glint to his eyes and me, sorely in need of a nap, started back down the mountain and home.
Upon arrival I decided to whip up a bunch of cream puffs. See, Dan wants to start his catering business and he is fascinated with my kitchen, so it is sort of a match made in heaven. Ater we ate our fill of cream puffs with French Silk filling, all made in my kitchen, Dan departed.
I spent a little time downstairs sewing and then it was off to the Chiropractor for an appointment at 6:30. Dr. Walters jerked, poked, massaged and manipulated my poor bones until I think she finally cracked a rib. I made it home at 8:15 and the geese were anxious to go into thier house. I was in bed by 9 and this is the first night I have slept all night since the back went south back in August. What a relief that was.
So, now it is the next day and I am full of piss and vinegar, I tell you. I am off to Canon City for a meeting, then stop by Sprinkles to see how they are doing for the Anita Goodesign show they are having at a church on the south side Friday and Saturday. So you have a good day and try to stay out of trouble.
This is the novel I have for sale. You can buy it by simple clicking the Buy Now button. This will take you to an invoice. Do not be confused by the title. Chapter One simply means this is my first book. There may never be another, or there may be many more. I am very proud of this endeavor and guarantee you will enjoy the book in it's enirety. Lou Mercer
Monday, October 29, 2012
Wrong day yesterday, today is October 29.
Like I told you yesterday, we were living on the Stroh place right outside of town. One day Dad went to the sale and came home with a Shetland Pony. Oh, we were in seventh heaven. We had our own horse. Now why we needed a horse is more than Mother could fathom. Years later as I put the pieces together I came to the conclusion that Dad was probably drunk and meant to buy a milk cow since ours had died. In his befuddled mind he decided that we would get more use out of a pony then a cow any way. The mere facts were that my father did not know he had children most of the time and while he did provide for us, the pipe and slippers and kiddies on his knee were not pictures I recall of my childhood. Back in those days, men were not "soft" like they are today and I was not the first nor the last kid in those days to only feel my fathers hand in anger, never love. More about my father in a different blog, when I can deal with it fully.
But all that aside, a horse it was. I remember seeing it unloaded in the moonlight. It was the most beautiful horse I had ever seen and coming down the ramp from the trailer it looked very tall. Daylight would bring many surprises. I could barely sleep that night as Jake and I talked into the night about the wonderful horse our wonderful father had brought us. From sounds drifting into our sleeping area we gathered that Mother was not near as happy as we were.
Morning found us gazing into pen where the horse was. He was spotted and not very tall. He had a long mane and it was spotted too. There was a sort of star looking spot on his forehead so we named him "Star." He came with his own saddle and blanket, but we were not allowed to saddle him or ride him until Dad was there to show us how. We had never been this close to a horseso the chances we could saddle it up and ride away were very slim. Unfortuneately Dad was not feeling well that day, so we only got to stare at the horse through the fence. I think that we thought if we looked at Star long enough he would grow taller. Ever see a Shetland pony? They are by nature much smaller than the big ones we watched Dad work with. See, my Dad was one of the last men in the area to give up the "team of horses" and go to a tractor, but more about that later. This is about Jake and his scar.
Mom and Dad played cards once a week with friends and that evening the friends came and brought there kids and we were left to our own devices. Of course we wanted to show off our new horse, so we gathered at the corral. I do not remember the exact chain of events, but I do recall the chaos that followed. Jake was always curious and tonight and the showing off for the kids was no exception. I remember the kids all screaming and Jake holding his face as blood squirted every where from his right cheek. Very quickly Mother and Jake were loaded in the back seat of the car and the couple visiting whisk them off the 11 miles to Hutchinson and the nearest medical attention.
I do remember being so afraid that Jake would die. We were sent to our beds and the visiting children were made pallets in the front room. I surely drifted off, because some time in the night Jake woke me up to show me his bandaged face. I cried. He had been such a handsome boy and now he had this horrible injury and he would carry the scar the rest of his life.
Over the next few weeks the story of what really occured that night in the moonlight came out in bits and pieces. Dad was going to shoot the horse and Jake confessed that maybe it was not all the horse's fault. Seems one of the boys visiting "dared" Jake to creep up with a stick and "goose" the horse. The horse reacted just like one would expect a horse to react and kicked backwards at the offending stick. Jake just happened to be on his hands and knees right behind the horse. And no one could see that coming?
Over the days and weeks ahead Jake slowly healed. Star remained in the corral because we were all afraid of him. Sometimes I would try to pet him and he would let me. Dad did finally saddle him and ride, but the horse was way to short for Dad. Josephine finally ended up riding him most. She would put us on his back and give us a ride around the yard, but we were always terrified that Star would kick us so that was really not much fun. I do not know if you know about Shetland Ponies, but they are mean by nature and I think they were looking right at Star when they wrote that definition.
So, my dear brother carried a very ugly scar on his right cheek until the day he died, but no one seemed to notice. He was such a charamatic kid that the scar never mattered. Nothing could have detracted from the personality that was my brother. And why am I telling you about him today?
Today is October 29, 2012. On October 29, 1965 I lived in Garden City, Kansas. I had two daughter's ages 2 & 3 years old. I had a daughter who would turn 1 year old tomorrow. I had a son who was 25 days old. Tomorrow would be my 5th wedding anniversary. And today, October 29, 1965, my brother, Jake, was returning home from a day at work and the driver of the pick up he was riding in went through a stop sign near McPherson, Kansas and ran into the side of a loaded gravel truck.
Tomorrow I would not have parties; tomorrow I would travel to McPherson, Kansas to visit my brother as he lay comatose in a hospital bed with his right leg kicking as if to apply the brake. He would not know I was there. He would not know my mother sat by his bed from the moment he was brought there. Or would he? I like to think that on some level he knew.
He died early the next morning....Halloween.
My dear brother, Jake
Delbert Leroy Bartholomew
10/ 4/ 1937-10/31/1965
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Today is October 28.
I was going to write about Jake, but memories of that period are very fresh today, so I am just going to remember them.
The year must have been 1947. Sister Dorothy was born while we lived on the Stroh place. Mom laid in bed for 10 days and missed harvest. Dad was not happy about that, but 10 days was how long one laid in bed after giving birth. At that time Josphine was in charge of us while mother helped with the farming. That would have made her 12 years old at the time. About right.
Mother always went to "Club" once a month. I do not know what "Club" was, but she drug us along and we all had to set in a row up against a wall with all the other little kids until club was over. And we had to stay clean. That was not hard to do unless there was a mud hole on the way to club, where ever it was. I know it was close because we walked.
The chicken house was where all the action was. Something was always getting in and stealing a chicken. Once dad thought it was a fox, but laid a trap and found out it was a weasel. No way to keep a weasel out of the hen house.
Once while we were setting in the back yard, the old yellow tom cat came up with a baby chicken in his mouth. Mother immediately sent Jake and the tom cat into the forest. Jake carried a hatchet and was under the strict orders that the tom cat must never be seen again. Shortly after that mother could not find her potato peeler. It seemed I recalled Jake taking that to the forest and told mother so. She said I was a trouble maker.
The best part of the whole day was when we brought the cow up. See, we had a milk cow and the grass was very green along the road that ran in front of the house. So each morning Jake would take her out and stake her along the road. He went several times and moved her, but when it was milking time, I went with him to bring her up to the barn to be milked. She was very slow, but if we grabbed her tail she would run. Sometimes we did that. More fun than you can imagine, but sure made milking her hard because she was upset and would not release her load!
Dad had three sons before he married mother. They had been placed in an orphange when his first wife died, as I recall. I remember when Gene Barthololmew, the oldest got out of the Army and came for a visit. I do not remember Richard or Earl coming during that period, but they had been adopted and had thier own family. I did meet them in later years. Richard Nichols and Earl Siefert.
One memory that is so vivid it hurts of that period is our hair care. When we needed a hair cut, mother would set us on a box on a chair, place a bowl over our head and cut our hair to that length. Then she trimmed our bangs. Wish I could find one of those pictures! But the worst part was the washing of the hair. We did not have running water, hence no hot water. What we did have was a pitcher pump that pumped water by raising and lowering the handle. When hair needed washed mother would grab the kid that was next in line which in this case was me and tuck me under her arm. Josephine would pump the handle up and down and water would pour forth and mother would jam my head under the water, the apply soap which I am sure was lye soap and work it into my poor scalp. Then back under the pump I went and my God that water was cold! Since I was only 6 years old at the time my memory of a lot of things is not real clear, but on that one thing I am sure. Bath time was once a week and it occured in a galvanized tub. Littlest kid got the first bath and the reasoning behind that was that the younger they were, the cleaner they were. Josephine always got the last one and by that time there was a soap scum floating on the top and bath had a whole new meaning. To this day I stand under the shower with the water as hot as I can stand it.
I remember the old cow dying and we had to move her body to the pasture because there was some sort of disease and the only way to get rid of it was to burn and bury the carcass. Must have been anthrax, since I think that occured about that time. Not sure she had it, but we did it anyway.
That was also the first time I was ever allowed to go to the store. I felt so big walking that mile to Flemings grocery with my hanky in my hand and the money for the loaf of bread tied safely in the corner. I remember Mr. Fleming gave me a piece of candy because I did such a good job. I recall that it was very scary being alone out in the big world when I was 6 years old. But I look back on that simple life and it breaks my heart that our kids today will never know the simple joy of a mud puddle, a dying turtle, or a trip down the dirt road to bring the cow up!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Oh, those silly geese!
For several days the geese had been acting strange. Now I been herding these geese, thirteen of them, around for several years, so I know strange when I see strange. Their living quarters consists of a wooden shed about 10 feet wide by 14 feet long. This has a big door on the west side that I go in to fill the feeder and such. On the south side down low is a small door about 12 inches wide and 20 inches high that leads to a wire enclosure that is the same size as their house and is covered and has a big door that they enter and exit from. When it is just dark I go out with my flashlight and they all go into the wire part. I close that door and secure it and they are snug and tight for the night. They can go into the house or sleep out in the wire part. Every night this happens like clock work. In the morning I open the wire door and they all come running out and over to the water tank which serves as their pond. Not so the last few days.
They began by being afraid to go in the enclosure. When I got them herded inside they would cower in the corner. The first night I actually went into the goose house to see if perhaps Brer' Fox was lurking their. Nothing amiss. The next morning they did not rush out as usual, so I just latched the door open and in due time they ventured forth. Same scenario that evening and the next morning. I was beginning to be concerned and checked everything I could think of to make sure nothing was able to get near enough to frighten them. It was a mystery and it really upset me to see them act like they were terrified. Yesterday was the clincher.
I opened the wire door and no goose came out of the goose house. I could see them in their milling about so I went and opened the big door. They cowered in the corner and my eyes finally spotted the "intruder". Yes! That is it. A piece of blue plastic cord that fell off of a tarp! That was blocking the door! I remembered it laying on the ground in the wire enclosure.
It sure seemed harmless enough to me, but then, I am not a goose. Did they think it was a snake? I am a thinking I would have been getting the hell out of there if I were them. Geese have the herd mentality and I do not know how they communicate, but they were all 13 of them scared to death of this piece of cord. After I took pictures of the offending item, I dropped it into the burning barrel. I think the geese now look on me as some sort of hero because they gather at the fence around the yard and stare at me. And then they take thier naps. So I take my cue from them and dose in my chair knowing that once more all is right in my world!
This is the novel I have for sale . Do not be confused by the title. Chapter One simply means this is my first book. There may never be another, or there may be many more. I am very proud of this endeavor and guarantee you will enjoy the book in it's enirety. Lou Mercer
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Memories of Great Grandma Hatfield.
The summer before I started my high school days, I was sent from my home in Nickerson, Kansas to Plevna, Kansas, to live with my great grandmother and my grandmother, both on my mother's side. My dear grandmother had suffered a stroke at some point and since great grandmother was over 100 years old, the family thought she should have some help and I was a likely looking candidate since the only girl cousins I had were of marrying age and I was barely into puberty. So off I went.
The grandmothers had a two story frame house. Two bedrooms upstairs, one down, a large living room, a dining room, kitchen and located in the hallway under the stairwell, a commode. That is to say a bathroom stool and that was it. No sink, no nothing and I was not allowed to use it. I might either break it or wear it out. It was for grandma Haas only. Great grandma and I could just trot on out back and use the "outhouse". And so we did. Rain, sleet, heat, or snow could not stay us from our several times daily rounds. Had a "chamber pot" for night time needs cause God only knew what was out at night.
I was not allowed to sleep upstairs in one of the beds because Lord only knows what was up there. So I slept on the couch right outside of thier bedroom. My clothes were kept in a box inside the stair way on the second step. I took a "bath" once a week by setting an enamel bowl on grandmothers stool and using a wash cloth. I missed the big zinc tub we had at home.
Great grandmother was a very regal lady. She was small boned, but tall. She always held herself in a very formal and staid position. At least I thought she had regal bearing, but as I think back, the woman was over 100 years old! She probably couldn't have bent if she had to. I am not near that old and I am beginning to get a little formal bearing about my own self! She was very hard of hearing (again the age thing no doubt). The high school was only one block from home, so I ran home for lunch every day. When I would come out the door and start home I could hear great grandmother's old stand up radio broadcasting the market prices for wheat and corn. The only time the radio was turned on was at straight up noon and that was to hear the market report. She did not always have it tuned in exactly and the news would bleed in also, but she was happy as she sat in her rocker and nodded her head to the man giving the report. No doubt she was lost in another time and place. Farming runs in our blood.
Every evening we set up the kitchen for breakfast. 3 plates on the table each with 1/2 an orange and silverware. A dripolater was filled with water, coffee grounds were put in the basket, and it was set on a pilot light. The egg poacher was filled with water and set on the other pilot light. 3 eggs were placed in a bowl on the table near the stove along with the bread. Jelly was in the center of the table and the table was covered with a cloth. Next morning the coffee was pulled to the burner and the fire started under it. Same with the poacher. Eggs were broken and placed in the poacher tins. Bread was placed in the toaster and it was plugged in. The toaster toasted the bread on one side and that side was opened and the toast slid into place so when I closed it the untoasted side would be next to the bare wires and it could be toasted. In the meantime the dripolater magically sucked the boiling water up into the top of the pot. I then turned it off and it magically let it come back down through the grounds again. Time elapsed making breakfast...5 minutes.
I was allowed to put the dishes in a dishpan and set them under the sink to wait for evening. Great grandmother had a sandwich for me at noon and I could add those dishes to the pan. When I came home from school I immediately put the kettle on to heat the water to do the dishes. Those being done and put away in the cupboard, I then went outside to water the plants. Sometimes I stole a leaf of mint off the big mint plant and chewed it.
You should know that the 85 year difference in great grandmother and myself was most evident in my schooling. She was very strict and very set in her ways. I was not allowed to read books for enjoyment. If I had time to read, I must read the Bible. Every evening I read to them for at least an hour. What we read was never discussed. It was the holy gospel and that was that. Never question and interpret the way she said. Needless to say, I got a goose egg for a book report. Mother explained that one to the principal and while he understood, a book report was required. So I gave him a synopsis of the Holy Bible. Kept me from flunking.
For fun she taught me to crochet. She gave me a hook and a ball of thread and I started the world's longest chain. Every night after supper, we would set in our chairs and "take up" our needle work. I will say this...I made some beautiful doilies under her watchful eye. If it wasn't correct, it was ripped out and the mistake corrected and done over. Guess that was where I got this perfectionist attitude I deal with today. Damn!
My introduction and education into matters of sex education took place one afternoon when great grandmother was at the outhouse. Grandma said, "Have you started your woman thing yet?" Since I had no idea what she was talking about I said, "No" and she replied, "When I did, mama let me stay in bed all day." I decided I sure wanted that to happen to me!
When they needed groceries great grandmother would ring up Mr. or Mrs. Hinshaw at the store and she would tell them what she needed. They would deliver it to the house. Some times if it was just a loaf of bread or something small, she would tie the money in the corner of a handkerchief and I was sent to the store which was a block away, being trusted to remember what I wanted. I really felt like a big girl then!
Grandma used a walker and the only time she got to get out of the house was to go to the doctor. But she was so sweet. Her smile would melt the heart of the devil himself. I am so glad I got to spend the little time with her that I did.
************************************************************************
This is the novel I have for sale on Amazon. Do not be confused by the title. Chapter One simply means this is my first book. There may never be another, or there may be many more. I am very proud of this endeavor and guarantee you will enjoy the book in it's enirety. Lou Mercer
The grandmothers had a two story frame house. Two bedrooms upstairs, one down, a large living room, a dining room, kitchen and located in the hallway under the stairwell, a commode. That is to say a bathroom stool and that was it. No sink, no nothing and I was not allowed to use it. I might either break it or wear it out. It was for grandma Haas only. Great grandma and I could just trot on out back and use the "outhouse". And so we did. Rain, sleet, heat, or snow could not stay us from our several times daily rounds. Had a "chamber pot" for night time needs cause God only knew what was out at night.
I was not allowed to sleep upstairs in one of the beds because Lord only knows what was up there. So I slept on the couch right outside of thier bedroom. My clothes were kept in a box inside the stair way on the second step. I took a "bath" once a week by setting an enamel bowl on grandmothers stool and using a wash cloth. I missed the big zinc tub we had at home.
Great grandmother was a very regal lady. She was small boned, but tall. She always held herself in a very formal and staid position. At least I thought she had regal bearing, but as I think back, the woman was over 100 years old! She probably couldn't have bent if she had to. I am not near that old and I am beginning to get a little formal bearing about my own self! She was very hard of hearing (again the age thing no doubt). The high school was only one block from home, so I ran home for lunch every day. When I would come out the door and start home I could hear great grandmother's old stand up radio broadcasting the market prices for wheat and corn. The only time the radio was turned on was at straight up noon and that was to hear the market report. She did not always have it tuned in exactly and the news would bleed in also, but she was happy as she sat in her rocker and nodded her head to the man giving the report. No doubt she was lost in another time and place. Farming runs in our blood.
Every evening we set up the kitchen for breakfast. 3 plates on the table each with 1/2 an orange and silverware. A dripolater was filled with water, coffee grounds were put in the basket, and it was set on a pilot light. The egg poacher was filled with water and set on the other pilot light. 3 eggs were placed in a bowl on the table near the stove along with the bread. Jelly was in the center of the table and the table was covered with a cloth. Next morning the coffee was pulled to the burner and the fire started under it. Same with the poacher. Eggs were broken and placed in the poacher tins. Bread was placed in the toaster and it was plugged in. The toaster toasted the bread on one side and that side was opened and the toast slid into place so when I closed it the untoasted side would be next to the bare wires and it could be toasted. In the meantime the dripolater magically sucked the boiling water up into the top of the pot. I then turned it off and it magically let it come back down through the grounds again. Time elapsed making breakfast...5 minutes.
I was allowed to put the dishes in a dishpan and set them under the sink to wait for evening. Great grandmother had a sandwich for me at noon and I could add those dishes to the pan. When I came home from school I immediately put the kettle on to heat the water to do the dishes. Those being done and put away in the cupboard, I then went outside to water the plants. Sometimes I stole a leaf of mint off the big mint plant and chewed it.
You should know that the 85 year difference in great grandmother and myself was most evident in my schooling. She was very strict and very set in her ways. I was not allowed to read books for enjoyment. If I had time to read, I must read the Bible. Every evening I read to them for at least an hour. What we read was never discussed. It was the holy gospel and that was that. Never question and interpret the way she said. Needless to say, I got a goose egg for a book report. Mother explained that one to the principal and while he understood, a book report was required. So I gave him a synopsis of the Holy Bible. Kept me from flunking.
For fun she taught me to crochet. She gave me a hook and a ball of thread and I started the world's longest chain. Every night after supper, we would set in our chairs and "take up" our needle work. I will say this...I made some beautiful doilies under her watchful eye. If it wasn't correct, it was ripped out and the mistake corrected and done over. Guess that was where I got this perfectionist attitude I deal with today. Damn!
My introduction and education into matters of sex education took place one afternoon when great grandmother was at the outhouse. Grandma said, "Have you started your woman thing yet?" Since I had no idea what she was talking about I said, "No" and she replied, "When I did, mama let me stay in bed all day." I decided I sure wanted that to happen to me!
When they needed groceries great grandmother would ring up Mr. or Mrs. Hinshaw at the store and she would tell them what she needed. They would deliver it to the house. Some times if it was just a loaf of bread or something small, she would tie the money in the corner of a handkerchief and I was sent to the store which was a block away, being trusted to remember what I wanted. I really felt like a big girl then!
Grandma used a walker and the only time she got to get out of the house was to go to the doctor. But she was so sweet. Her smile would melt the heart of the devil himself. I am so glad I got to spend the little time with her that I did.
Next time I pop in here I am going to tell you how this chapter of my life played out. So stay tuned.
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