Category: Other Posts

A Day to Remember

State Fair, Anywhere

deborahanndykeman

I would imagine that the state fair was once an anticipated event for many. If you were a farmer, the culmination of your summer’s work would be celebrated and displayed for the state to see.

As a child, living in a home with a father that had grown up on a farm in his early years, fairs were something that we always did. Looking at the animals was a prerequisite for the day…and something I didn’t find too interesting. I mean, you’ve seen one cow…how many more do you want to see? The horse barn was a favorite for my father, and it seemed like we spent hours staring at horse behinds. Remember, I was a child, so that was about eye-level for me. In later years, when my family had several horses, and showed them at all the local fairs, I understood why the horses stood with their backs to everyone. They were just plain sick and tired of people, no pasture and having to look nice every day. When they arrived home, backed off the trailer and were led to their pasture…the first thing they did was roll. Kicking up their feet, and covering themselves with dirt was the highlight of their week! I’ve included these pictures before, but they seemed appropriate here. This one below is my brother showing for halter class with my parent’s Percheron, Bonnie.

Kreston August 1986 with Bonnie
Kreston showing horses.

Larry Johnson August 1987 driving BonnieThis one is of my father, also with Bonnie. She was a beautiful horse! I’ve posted before that my brother restored that market wagon, taking everything apart, sanding and painting to match the colors my family used while showing. He did a great job.

Yesterday, my husband and our youngest attended the Kansas State Fair. Here is a link if you would like to read up on it yourself.  http://www.kansasstatefair.com/ Every year the fair has ‘dollar days’ so you can pay just a dollar to get in. If you have a Dillon’s card, you get in for free! I think that’s a great deal! We usually walk around, look at all the animals, the displays, and a quick trip through the midway. Normally we don’t do rides. Long lines, hot sun, and chaos usually bloom here…not something us older folks find enjoyable. Since our daughter was the only younger one, and she didn’t want to ride alone, she didn’t go on any rides. She and my husband did ride the little train together while I had a blessed sit-down in a pretty gazebo. The breeze and the shade were the favorite part of my day!

At the end of the day, when we were eating someplace other than the fair…my husband said he had tracked how far we had walked. Almost four miles! I was happy to hear that…and believe me, my body was feeling it. My sunburned neck showed it last night. I did have a good time. It was lovely to spend the day with my husband and daughter, and I’m actually looking forward to next year…on dollar days, of course! There was another great find yesterday. Brewed, iced-tea, one dollar for 32 ounces! That’s a great fair deal! Thank you Kansas State Fair for a great day! Thank you to all the exhibitors that are willing to put up with less-than-wonderful accommodations for the week. Animals of all shapes, sizes and ages…I pray a quick return to your pastures where you can roll to your heart’s content.

I love this movie about a state fair. It gives you classic memories. Enjoy this little clip!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsqyCVBog8c

A Day to Remember, Our Christian Walk

Be Thou My Vision

deborahanndykeman

I am missing our children this morning. Missing the days when we all attended church together on a Sunday morning. Missing the days when we sung together, lifting our voices…usually in song! 😉

This song was one our children sung the day my husband was ordained at our church. They did a beautiful job, our son on the guitar, daughters harmonizing with him. The words were fitting for that service.

I made a copy of the song from the hymnal, and used a setting to make the paper look ‘old’. I then enlarged the words,

Be Thou My Wisdom and Thou My True Word.

Still Be My Vision, O Ruler of All. 

They are printed over the top of the music. This was hung in my husband’s office at the church, and now is where I can see it everyday, in my office at home. Seasons of our lives. I pray He is still my wisdom, my true word, my vision and Ruler of all.

This particular arrangement is also special because the woman in it is playing a Chickering piano. You don’t see very many of those. My upright is a Chickering and around 100 years old. My mother learned to play the piano on it, and she became an excellent pianist.

Have a beautiful Sunday!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihJAJA4ibEs

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Just For Fun!

Tubin’

deborahanndykeman

Watching the news has always been a rather depressing way to spend time, in my opinion. I think we do need to be informed, and not completely naive about what is going on in the world around us. But to watch endless reports of the devastation in Texas, Montana, Oregon, California and now Irma bearing down on Florida is more than I can handle. Hearing the child abuse, animal abuse, and murders that are occurring relentlessly saddens me greatly. I feel as though I cannot do anything…other than pray. And we are told to pray without ceasing. So whenever those news reports enter my head, I do pray. I also pray that if there is another way for me to help, God will point me in that direction, and I will be willing to go without question.

So, today, as I was checking my Facebook, someone had posted a video of Tim Hawkins. For those of you that are not familiar with him, he is a comedian, that also writes songs, sings and plays the guitar…very well. He is also a Christian. I appreciate his comedy because it is clean, and not filled with the language and the inappropriate content that so much comedy is today. Something does not need to be filthy to be funny.

Our first introduction to Tim Hawkins was about ten years ago when our children were at Word of Life in Schroon Lake, New York. I believe our oldest three children were there for the summer program, and they met up with another family there with three children as well. Long story, short…our two oldest girls ended up marrying the two sons. How does this apply to Tim Hawkins you ask? David and Jonathan are a bit on the funny side as well. They did some wonderful parodies of Tim Hawkins’ songs…and we spent a couple hours laughing until our sides hurt.

Times are difficult, and they will be. God has given us a heads-up in the Bible. But we are also told to have hope as Believers, and to focus on the good in every situation. So, here’s a bit of comic relief. I do not own the rights to this, and I’m sharing from YouTube. My goal is to laugh with you, in appreciate of what Tim Hawkins does. After all, laughter is the best medicine! Enjoy, and have a great Wednesday!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5UWfGf-TxE

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A Day to Remember

Let the Classes Begin

deborahanndykeman

Many places have started school again. When I was growing up in Colorado, our first day wasn’t until after Labor Day. I liked it that way. Labor Day always seemed like an end-of-the-summer kind of holiday. Once you had the prerequisite hot dogs and hamburgers with potato salad, the summer was officially over. Back in the olden days, wearing white was considered very bad and socially unacceptable after Labor Day. I don’t know what happened if you wore it…I just obeyed the rules and never tried. Thongs, or flip-flops as they are called now were also not allowed after this day.

I don’t recall when our last day of school was. It seems as though it must have been around Memorial Day, again, the official beginning of summer. Then, you could wear white, and thongs, and eat hot dogs and hamburgers to your heart’s content. They had no calories if consumed during the long, hot summer months, along with snow cones and ice cream. Oh! Those were the days!

When we moved to Vermont the winter I turned thirteen, I was appalled to find out that school went until June something! It was usually around the third week, give or take snow days, etc. But the sheer fact that it was June was very depressing to me. I would miss almost a month of what I deemed summer-time fun. As a side note, Burlington, Vermont still has huge piles of snow in their parking lots until mid-June. That alone rather ruined the concept of the summer I knew and loved! It’s difficult to dress in shorts, white shorts and thongs as you navigate your way around the Matterhorn!

Here in Kansas, school has begun for the year. Children make their way to school wearing shorts and sneakers, and even flip-flops. Tiny children waddled through the crosswalk, looking like so many turtles escaping to the sea. Their backpacks filled with supplies for the year ahead. I have pictures of our children looking like these baby turtles. And it makes me sad. I never liked the beginning of the school year, and the separation from our children.

My favorite memories of walking to school are from my years of living in Crown Point, New York. We lived only a few blocks from the beautiful school on Main Street. When autumn comes to the Adirondacks, it’s something to behold. Here is just a hint of the beginning of the spectacular color to come.lake-2294485_1920I’m very happy that our two oldest children had the privilege to attend The Word of Life Bible Institute in Schroon Lake, New York. They were able to see the amazing colors of autumn, and all the seasons so pronounced in this region.

For me, living in that area of the United States had a Norman Rockwell ambiance. Around every turn, there were beautiful vistas to behold. Tiny villages nestled in the green valleys, with emerald mountains flowing to the blue skies. Even winter didn’t seem quite so desolate with the blanketing of snow. Christmas was just that more festive with the centuries-old buildings, winding roads and tall trees canopying the road. It was as if everyone snuggled down for their long winter’s nap, just as the story says.

Autumn for me will always be in the northeast. That is what I think of, those are the colors I dream of when the days grow shorter and cool. Memories of walking down sidewalks strewn with colorful leaves, more drifting through the damp fog on an early morning walk to school. There is a certain smell of decaying things, that is strangely homey, bringing to mind crisp air and snapping fires. early-morning-299735_1920

Another school year is upon us. Autumn has begun it’s delicate flow into the countryside of almost any place in the United States. Even here in Kansas. The days are growing shorter, the nights more cool, and some evenings smell of decaying things. And not in an unpleasant way. Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Gardening

Froggie Home

deborahanndykeman

Water features make someplace special. Whether it’s your own backyard, a restaurant, or the local zoo. I added zoo to that list because a zoo near us is located in Emporia, Kansas. It is very small, but gorgeous. They have a large pond filled with turtles sunbathing on rocks, and ducks floating lazily in the Kansas sun. At one time, they even had a pair of swans. Every summer, the flowers are blooming in abundance, and it’s just a peaceful, beautiful place to take a stroll. It’s also free to walk through, so that made it a great place to take our children. Now, our grandchildren love going there. Add a picnic lunch, and it’s extra special. But for me, the best part is the water.

I’ve said many times, I’d love to have a home on water or near water, or even a view of water. As you all know, those kind of homes are usually rather expensive. So, when we first moved here, I purchased a small, black, pre-made pond. Digging the hole for it was the biggest challenge. The area I decided to place the pond in had once been the driveway, for many, many years. Thankfully, the pond was small! I built a rock formation around it out of limestone we found in the yard, and other places. A little pump completed the building process. The addition of little goldfish was the culminating act, and it was a delight for me to sit there and watch those orange specs swim around, happy with their environment. At least I believe they were happy. I purchased five goldfish that year, and when I took them out in November to spend the winter in a tank, there were eleven! IMG_20151003_170934444

This picture was taken two years ago.

Sadly, that little pond hasn’t been home to fish for a couple years now. I need a new pump, and we’re having some sort of electrical problem with the GFCI. So, it collects swampy water, and I occasionally scoop it out to water my potted plants. But I really miss those goldfish, and their cheery greeting of swimming to the surface each time I walked to the edge of the pond. I know, they were probably just hungry, but I can dream.

That little pond is still inviting to some though. About two weeks ago, I went out, neared the pond and heard splashing. To my surprise, around five or six frogs jumped in from where they had been sunbathing on the rocks. They were just teenager frogs, so just a bit scared. Soon, they each peeked out of the black water and blinked their big, frog eyes.

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For me, that would be a really disgusting place to live. I don’t keep it clean like I did when the goldfish made it their home. The water became a bit murky by the end of the summer, but I could still make out the fish. Now, the leaves and muck in the pond make it thick, with visibility at about zero. But I guess that’s the perfect place for a frog to be. Or, it’s the only water within miles!

This pond is my dream: pond-1184074_1920

An oasis on the Kansas landscape. Those little fish are happy. If I build another pond someday, this will be my goal. This one is gorgeous too, japan-74424_1920

but a little beyond my means to do with a shovel. It’s also in Japan, so the greenery would not be the same. But…after trimming the hedges in our yard the other night, it’s not too hard to picture. Periwinkle and hosta plants are taking over, and they are winning.

I’m happy with the little frogs. I’m glad they feel welcome to share our space. If I get motivated next year, maybe fish and frogs can live together. One year I had both! I miss the sound of the trickling water, and the slivers of orange smiling up at me. But autumn is upon us, and soon it will be time to dream again, and plan for spring’s abundance. Have a great Friday!

Just For Fun!

Splash In the Puddles

deborahanndykeman

We’ve all heard the cliche, when it rains it pours. When people say this, it’s not about the weather forecast…usually. It’s about the circumstances they are dealing with in their life. We are having a deluge right now.

My advice to those seeking to purchase new appliances, stagger them. Don’t buy the bundled sets they offer at big-box stores. If you do, you will have lovely, in-fad appliances for a few months, maybe even a few years if you are really lucky. But when they go bad, they all will!

When I was around nine years old, my parents purchased a new, matched set of a lovely avocado green washer and dryer. This was pretty exciting for our family. They were placed in the basement where all good washer and dryers once went. This was their allotted home. It was cozy for them, with the cement walls and floor, a shelf to recline above them to hold laundry supplies if they were really upscale. If not, the boxes of detergent sat on the machines. No one thought this was wrong. Only the wealthy had a laundry room! Of course the set was made by Maytag…everyone knew that was the best. It must have been, because fast forward to when I was doing laundry for our oldest daughter. The set was almost 15 years old by that time. It probably had a couple heating elements replaced over the years, but no big deal.

Seven years ago or so, we purchased three appliances. I was so excited! It was our third new refrigerator, but this was a big one. A Samsung, side-by-side, about 24 cubic feet. We purchased it for under $1,000. That sounds horrific, but have you gone refrigerator shopping lately? No more wire shelves and cramming a supply of food for seven people into a tiny space. I had moved up in the world. We also purchased a matched set of Samsung’s front load washer and dryer. This was my second pair of new, but again, I had moved up in the world. I could actually wash comforters and really large loads for our family of seven. And since it was HE, we were really going to save money! I’ll talk about that one in another post.

For some of you, this may not be a big deal. But for me, it was extra special. For many years, with all our moving around, we either moved into houses or apartments with filthy appliances, or we bought used. I cleaned them up, always in horrible shape, and used them, thankful to have them. To have three new appliances, that were large enough for our family, with warranties…I was speechless. My mother had just given me her flat-top stove/oven for a birthday gift. It was about five years old, but in excellent condition. I finally had the black and stainless steel that was now in fashion, adorning my kitchen. Kitchen work was now easy-peasy!

These appliances have served me well over the past almost eight years. We had a little glitch with the refrigerator after a couple years, but our extended warranty took care of that. Our son replaced the heating element in the dryer for a fraction of the cost of calling the repair man.

Life was good.

Then it started to rain.

The washer had been giving some kind of a code for a couple years. It would ding, then flash OE, sucking all the detergent down the drain. My husband would clean the filters, then it would be alright for about six months. Well, that no longer is good enough. Every other load has to be re-started. I think the drain leading from the washer must be really clean by now! But to top it off, water now leaks from under the machine. Not a lot, but I’m assuming that any is not good. Reading up on Samsung washer and dryers yesterday while I was waiting at the dentist to have my teeth cleaned…consumer reports said, (in my paraphrase,) count yourself privileged if your set made it to five years. Well, I guess I’m a winner!

July 29th we returned home after a very long day out in the heat for one of my events. It had been a great day, much better than I thought considering it was July in Kansas! Opening the freezer, because ice is good when it’s hot out, I found the ice cube trays to be liquid. The ice cream was also soupy. The refrigerator was also a bit warm. I started a load of laundry, and then the dinging began. I was not a happy camper!

We replaced a part on the refrigerator that was suggested after much research on my part. That did not work. Now we have narrowed it down to a leak, or the compressor. If it’s the compressor, we should probably just purchase a new refrigerator. Because believe it or not, reports say they don’t last more than about eight years. Again, I win!

The most frustrating part hasn’t been living without a refrigerator for almost a month now. I’ve done that before. The part that is driving me crazy is the inability to get someone in our area to look at it to tell us what is wrong so we can make a decision as to what to do. I like our refrigerator, it looks brand new still. The same model available in the stores now, pretty much looks the same, with an over $1,000 price on it. What to do when your phone calls are not returned, your messages are not answered? The real kicker…yesterday on my way home from the dentist, I stopped at the little building where one of the men has appliances. It said ‘open’ but no one was there. Right by the front door sat a white, Maytag washer, the exact one my mother purchased back in the mid-1970’s! It looked brand new.

When it rains, it pours. And the best thing to do is to just trudge along. Rather like these people in this race. Although, to me, that’s a huge pile-up waiting to happen!

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Children see rain like this:child-504321_1920

I once did too! When the difficult times come, and they will, splash in the puddles. See the prettiness of the situation.

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Sometimes it is difficult to see the rainbow, that bright ray of sun. Other times, you are privileged with both!

Yesterday I went to the dentist. No cavities still at almost 53 years old. I can live with that! I may not have a washer or dryer, or a refrigerator. But I will probably have all my teeth when I die. Life is good!

 

A Quick Thought

Around the World…in seconds

deborahanndykeman

Yesterday I had the most views here that I’ve ever had! How exciting! I love to see all those little flags lined up, showing all the places people visited from. Wondrous world that we live in!

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Thank you to everyone that stops by, reading my posts, liking and commenting. It’s been a pleasure to get to know you!

And I am just one ‘like’ away from 100 likes on my author Facebook page! That’s pretty exciting as well. Follow this link if you’d like to make it officially 100 likes and above.

https://www.facebook.com/deborahanndykeman

I know for some of you this is probably not a great accomplishment. I read your blogs and after only a few months, you have a couple thousand followers, and thousands of hits. It hasn’t been that way for me. I started this blog back in May of 2015, and it has grown, but it’s been slowly. It can be discouraging at times. You wonder what you’re doing wrong. I admit it’s been hard for me to know what to focus on here. I’m kind of out there with a lot of different stuff. So I’m thinking on that. But I have met some wonderful people…encouraging people, through this WordPress community. And it’s so much easier than sending a message in a bottle, hoping it lands in some faraway place! 😉

Thank you all for your support. If you have any tips on how to make this better…I’d love to hear them. Meanwhile, I’ll keep reading your posts and learn all that I can. Have a great Wednesday!

A Day to Remember

Before the Glitter

deborahanndykeman

I never had the privilege to see Branson, Missouri before. Before all the traffic, before the chain restaurants, and the Hollywood attractions. I wasn’t born yet when the book The Shepherd of the Hills was first published back in 1907. You may purchase your own copy right here: https://www.amazon.com/Shepherd-Hills-Wordsworth-Classics/dp/1840225815

It is a book I’m adding to my reading list, and hope to get to very soon. Because I think it will speak of a Branson, Missouri I somehow long for, although I’ve never seen. I have that feeling a lot in my life!

As you may have guessed by now, my husband and I just returned from Branson. I do love going there. At one time, we always went to Silver Dollar City, but we haven’t purchased season passes for a few years now. I think for our entire family, the memories we have, are about that magical place. I say magical, because the entire park seems to take me back to a more simple time. Those years when you were thankful for a roof over your head, food to eat, and clothing to do what needed to be done. Usually a pair of work clothes, and a set of going out clothes for the store, meetings, neighbor visits, and maybe even church. I’m sure some folks even had another set of clothing just for church, weddings and funerals. Those folks had even more than most.

I love the setting of Silver Dollar City. The rambling hills, cabins dotting the pathway, trees offering shade, and the smokey smell of the food vendors. If I close my eyes, I can picture the little stream, and hear the music as you enter Silver Dollar City…and that’s the way I picture the old Branson.

Progress…something we always strive for in our personal lives, what we as a society want to have. But what are we losing along the way? I’m just as bad. I not only want a roof over my head, but I want it to be free from leaks, well-insulated, heated and air-conditioned with running hot and cold water. I want easy-to-clean floors, and electricity so I may use my computer at two in the morning if I wish. That electricity sure comes in handy when I want ice cream from the freezer! I want several pairs of shoes to go with different outfits, and I most assuredly don’t want to go to the river to wash my clothes! Yes, I am spoiled by this life. And because of that, I don’t see the shaded woods, and the trickling brooks as much as I should. As much as I would like.

I love going to Branson. I would like to live in Missouri someday. But I don’t enjoy the traffic, the neon signs, the high prices, and the tired employees at the end of the summer. I don’t blame them…working with people, serving people is a thankless job. For some reason, even people on vacation can be rude and demanding. I have never understood that. A vacation should be a happy event.

Each time we visit Branson, there is another Hollywood attraction. I say that because I think of bright lights, expensive museums, and so much stuff to give entertainment. Ten years ago when we first started visiting Branson on a regular basis, there were still the old restaurants. The ones that made you feel like you were going back in time and experiencing the real Ozarks, the authentic cooking. Some of the older souvenir shops were still around. When I thought of Branson, I thought of talent. Talent in music, crafts, arts, and cooking. Now all I see is one more chain restaurant that I can visit in Topeka, Kansas, and way too much glitter.

Don’t get me wrong…there is still incredible talent there. It just seems harder to find, and when you do, it’s expensive, and it shouldn’t be that way. What is wrong with having places to go that are special just because they are what they are? No frills, no glitter, no competition to stay in business by having bigger and better. Maybe that’s just the way it goes in life, and we can’t get back what we once had. Not once we travel the path of being spoiled and catered to.

I’m going to read The Shepherd of the Hills…and dream of a more simple time. A time when the sun rose with a golden glow over the mountains, and set to the hum of cicadas flitting through the trees and meadows. The orange, pink and purple hues the only glitter to be seen. Cold mornings when you woke to the smokey aroma of the cook stove, and bacon sizzling beside eggs. Hot days when you could dip your toes in the cool brook, shaded with tall trees.

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Maybe even a quick swim between chores, the rocky bottom massaging your feet.

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I want to top a long hill, and look out over the deep valleys and the bushy peaks, water shimmering in the distance. Sitting on the long front porch of my cabin, my rocking chair creaking beneath me would be an excellent way to finish a day. Maybe a friend or two playing guitars, and singing gospel and bluegrass. That’s the Branson I want to see…the one I wasn’t privileged to view. Enjoy a bit of Bluegrass music!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah8JBK5hFgs

 

 

 

A Quick Thought

Sometimes It Hurts

deborahanndykeman

It is a sad day at our house. The two babies, (the two kittens) my husband rescued, were taken to the Helping Hands shelter in Topeka, Kansas, where we pray they find good and loving homes. They were only with us for almost three weeks, but they became a part of our lives very quickly. I must be getting old, but the emotional upheaval is more than I can stand. 20205746_10207245748420537_865269655_o

I sincerely pray that loving families adopt them, and that they have a good life. At least we know that three weeks of their lives were better than what they would have been if my husband hadn’t found them.

Last Friday night, our older cat came to the back door to eat. Cassie was to be an indoor cat, and for the most part for much of her life she was. But she really enjoyed the outdoors, and she was a very savvy cat. She would jump to the garage roof when it was not safe in the yard, and observe whatever dog, skunk, or intruder from her perch. When I left for work at 5:30 am, if Cassie was outside, and on the roof, I woke my husband to walk me to the car. Something was not right outside. Cassie would greet us each time we arrived home, running to our car and waiting for us to open the doors, greeting us with a “meow!”.

The arrival of the kittens didn’t make her happy. At one time, she rarely stayed outside after we went to bed. She would obediently come in when called, sleep with our youngest daughter, usually under the covers, and then head out again in the morning. During the cold months, her time outside didn’t last long, and on really frigid days, her nose was all that peeked out. But with the kittens here, she preferred to eat outside, or quickly in the kitchen, and then she left.

Last Friday night was the last evening she came for supper. We have called and searched, and Cassie has not answered. She was born the November of 2006, and became part of our family around Christmas time. She was a good cat.

So, we lost not one, but three cats over the past couple of days. Our hearts are heavy, and sadness meets us each time we enter a room where they once played, or snuggled on the sofa. And for now, I don’t want to hurt like this again for any family pet. I’ve lost too many over the years.

Our youngest daughter is devastated of course. I can’t blame her, but it’s the reality of life. One that I don’t understand, one that I don’t want to live through again. At times like these, you think it best to not care for anything, not let your heart melt at the touch of a kitten on your toes, or the soft feel of their fur against your cheek. For if you care for no one, or about nothing, you have little to lose. Right?

This life is painful at times. Your heart is ripped from your chest, and wounds are tore open, left to bleed. The loss of a loved one or a family pet is never forgotten. But it does ease in time. Time softens the sharp edges of pain, and blurs the memory just a bit. And I’m thankful for that. Maybe someday another cat will share our home, maybe Cassie will still return. But for now, that sharp pain is there. And I don’t like it. This is Cassie, taken last autumn.14536809_10155389110863009_1992044396_o