A Good Monday Morning to one and all

[Jay Blair]

I'm starting this thread at 6:15 as my morning coffee perks in the kitchen and I finish off the last cup from my Stanly thermos. My thermos is the thing that reminds me of my days of engineering at the plant.

As the smell of fresh brewed coffee and microwaved turkey sausage and scrambled eggs fill my home, I look forward to the coming day.

After preparing my breakfast I noticed a half dozen hummingbirds at my kitchen widow feeders so this morning I think it will be breakfast at the kitchen counter before taking my thermos and paper out to the swing to wave to the morning drivers still running in place in their part of the Rat Race.

My slower home based agronomic lifestyle while enjoyable, activity filled to my capabilities and preserving my life, does still leave me reminiscent of the mornings running the race.

Dodging patrols staking out school zones, pouring coffee, talking to friends on the CB as we passed on the highway and watching the sunrise were the best part of my days then.

Now I watch them pass and say hello on my hand held from the swing and still plan my day. To be honest, I actually prefer not making that 40 mile drive to see the sunrise. A 40 foot walk around the house as my first daily therapy exercises is enough

Hope your morning is enjoyable and you have fun in the Rat Race. Don't worry, you will never really leave it . Just with good planning and preparation you get to trade the cheese maze for a hamster cage

Did anyone else get to see that beautiful full moon last night?

[JudyA]

We had RAIN! and Thunder. It was great, but now they tell us it's going to get hot today.

I like to start the day early and we end up staying awake too late (have to watch the news we already knew) I only have a 10 mile drive and it's a pretty Ozark highway.

As a member of the local chamber board, I am mentally recapping our latest Sept. 14-17 Laura Ingalls Wilder celebration. (Her last home at Rocky Ridge Farm is here at Mansfield) I had a good time dressed up in olden days clothes (mostly because it was a MUCH cooler day after dust settling rain). www.barjdcommunications.com/gallery.htm

We had lots of people dressed in period clothing -- whole families. SIXTY little kids were dressed up either as Little Laura or Little Farmer Boy to compete in a costume contest! (I think it was largely their parents) But, all of them had a good time. This next weekend, they can all wear their outfits at Norwood and get more mileage out of them.

There were many vendors selling Ozarks' specialities and fundraising. The ones of us who had the most profitable day are the ones who enjoyed 'playing' with the people because there isn't a lot of cash flowing at this kid thing. I want the Chamber to remember that when the 10-11 people who seemed to be doing all the work start feeling sorry for ourselves. It's okay to enjoy the folks coming to visit and to be worn out when they leave. That's not negative overwork and my revelation this weekend is that we have admit it and make more hospitable effort to enjoy our visitors and keep some happy memories of the cutest little kids in ruffles and overalls you ever saw.

I'm up early this morning gathering my graphics for my vermicomposting program in a month.

Better go!

[Jay Blair]

Glad you got some rain. Friends in northern Arkansas swear the trees have been following coon dogs since mid June

[su]

My workday ends @ midnight, and I love walking home by the light of moon.

[JudyA]

The Cardinals are back! I think they've been here all summer, but busy with babies. I saw the most resident pair in the sunflowers on a few mornings, and the bossy one spent quite a bit of time lecturing one of our friends while he leveled his motorhome during an August visit.

They are out there this morning, directing dawn. I better go start that coffee!

[Jay Blair]

JudyAnn,
Have a great day and remember Monday is over. Be sure to do the Tuesday morning happy tango.

I just got back from physical therapy and they said I can actually go out and pick my habernaro peppers and cut some okra pods as long as I don't walk too much and keep my crutch , garden stool close and cellphone clipped to my overalls with 911 set for voice auto dial.

The last 4 days of forced bedrest were like being in jail for me but the food was better

[tt]

Well su you must live in the country. I would love to walk at night but you could not do that here at all. Jay dont be eating those habernaro peppers raw. I dont think we get cardinal here to bad they are such a pretty bird. sorta like blackberries we dont have them here I was surprized. My stickbug likes bramble no blackberry bushes. did get some raspberry leaves but i guess it is going to be stuck eating lettuce.