Changes.

Beautiful November 6, 2009




Dear Kith & Kin,

Since the last posting we have had some wonderful, poignant and gladsome moments.
We have a new granddaughter and she came to us all grown up! Our special grandson Alan married his sweetheart Abigail last June 27. She is a delightful addition to the family. They reside in Elgin where Alan is finishing his education (can one truly do that?) at Providence Bible College and holding down a full time job, preaching, visiting and whatnot! Abby is a perfect partner for Alan.

Many of you knew our good dog Emily. There was no guile in Emily. She would have been 18 years old next month. When she came to the point where she would fall and not be able to rise up on her own we knew what we had to do. She had been deaf and mostly blind for the last year but always very happy. I am so glad that I have someone to take care of hard things. Jerry took Emily to the vet and stayed with her as she dropped off to sleep. I know my Father God loves his good dogs so I have no doubt that I shall be greeted by her someday tail wagging and eyes sparkling.

Jerry has finished this house. He installed new floors last spring, new central heating and air conditioning. Over the years he has completely remodeled this house raising the ceilings back to 9 feet, installing all new windows with beautiful crown molding woodwork. It is gorgeous! So of course, we are moving. Yep, we are moving to a quiet street only one block long in town. We have a lovely bungalow in Streator with hardwood floors, basement and a two car garage. It is time for us to cocoon. We are both looking forward to it hoping to be in by mid December. You are all invited to visit. Heck, you can help move us! I'll feed you.
Anyhoo (as my mother would say) that's the news.
Love to you all,
Mother, Grandma, Sister, Auntie, Cousin and Friend Laura-Jean

Pure pleasure gardening

Hello Kith and Kin,
As I promised, you will now be introduced to pure pleasure vegetable gardening. I hate vegetable gardening. I know that comes as a surprise to many of you but it is the truth. Planting is enjoyable; harvesting is enjoyable and putting by is the most fun but all that stuff in between is the pits. Weeding, sweating, spraying, sweating, pulling, sweating. Not worth it. Why did I do it for so long? Hey, I am a country woman and that is what one does. I found a better way. Just look at the wonderful vegetables I grow. We are eating tomatoes

and peppers
and green beans
and will start on patty pan squash if the promises of that venerable plant are achieved.
Well how does this happen almost work free? Plant in double rinse tubs. No bending, no sweating. If I want enough to put by, I will visit the farmer's market. You can do this on a roof top I image. This is the way I am going from now on! And last but not least here is my golden delicious apple tree giving her all.



I am on a campaign to eliminate grass. What a waste. My perennial garden now has my heart and work. We have 13 perennial foods, count them. Mulberries, raspberries, Jerusalem artichokes, asparagus, grapes, horseradish, rhubarb, apples, pears, apricots, plums, peaches, strawberries. They don't all produce every year but someone is always giving. If I am going to plant a tree it better give me more than shade.

One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. ~W.E. Johns, The Passing Show

Happy gardening.
Laura-Jean

Happy Birthday, Jerry

Tomorrow, July 8, 2009, is Jerry's 72nd birthday! He does not look a day over 60 and a good looking 60 at that.
Jerry and I have decided that since we have so much, too much, over much stuff that this year we will not "stuff" ourselves for our July birthdays. We will be celebrating by attending the Prairie Air Show in Peoria this coming Saturday the 11th. Both of us enjoy air shows but they are so hot and sweaty and luggy, as in lug around chairs and water bottles, that it takes all the fun out of it. This year will be different. The most expensive tickets sold are $45.00 for the Flight Deck section which provides front row seats, a tent to come in out of the sun, lunch and unlimited drinks from 11am to 4pm. That is what Jerry and I decided we want for our birthdays. Are we living the life style of the rich and famous or what! The Thunderbirds will be performing among many others. Fun, fun, fun.
Our dear little Anna is almost 10 months old and has turned into a Benji dog of the girl variety! Just look at her. All she needs is a handle to be a mop.











Alice immediately adopted her as her own so now Alice has two daughters making Anna and Little Nell sisters.


It took us 10 months but I think we have finally weaned Little Nell. We had to spray Alice with bitter apple for she would never have weaned her kitten.


Perhaps I will post a garden blog later and tell you about my fun, work free, enjoyable garden.

"For the bliss of the animals lies in this, that, on their lower level, they shadow the bliss of those--few at any moment on the earth--who do not "look before and after, and pine for what is not," but live in the holy carelessness of the eternal now." George MacDonald

My you find that Holy Carelessness,
Laura-Jean