Monday Monday

• a new month and a new week
• and spring is coming
• today was a good weather day
• but weather man is teasing us
• about snow tomorrow-
• papa hubby went home on a Monday
• but I still enjoy Mondays- he was a monday
• kind of guy.........we never had a blue Monday
• I like every day of the week and
• I am thankful we have 7 days to enjoy
• some thing new every day
• today was bill paying day and I
• had enough to keep the house
• going one more month and then
• I trust the Lord for the next month-
• today is our robyn's 14th birthday
• and I can remember what we were doing
• the day she was born
• waiting with her dad who was waiting
• for her to come join us as a family member
• she was cute as a button and still is
• made her a nice dinner yesterday and all she
• wanted was her mashed potatoes- she lives
• for mashed potatoes- yes, her dad is Irish
• and yes, I let her eat mashed potatoes to her
• hearts content........it is her first birthday with
• out her papa so she is feeling some blues
• she wanted to know how papa will know her (?)
• but Miss Ashley told her that papa will still know
• her when she leaves this earth as a wrinked old lady
• some times kids word things just a way that
• makes you want to laugh-- sigh-
• It is hard for the kids to understand
• change as they want
• papa to know them
• we forget that kids see things differently
• at times than we do.....
• _________________
• update on Jordan- the man posed as a policeman
• with flashing blue lights and a uniform and a gun
• and now we are all stunned that this
• could happen in our little town - and area
• we continue to pray for her
• huggles from Meme is going to make a left over supper
• -------------------

sense of safety

• one of the things I do miss about the old days is the sense of safety
• that we had
• brother Bill and I would walk to grandpa's farm 3 miles away
• 1/2 mile was side road
• and the rest was the main road
• there was no phone to use to say
• we were coming or
• that we had even got there
• and the next day we would walk home
• we walked to our friend's houses miles
• away and again no phones
• we were never afraid
• and our parents were not either
• they had taught us road safey and we
• all walked to school every day
• and nothing happened
• all the kids in our area could do the same thing
• now I am afraid to walk to church
• after dark and this week-end added
• to the fear
• in town next door to our town or about 8 miles away
• a young lady-age 16 - was kidnapped from the back
• of her home
• she had gone to the store to get some apple juice
• due to a sore throat
• an hour later her dad looked out the window
• and saw her car sitting there with the lights on
• and the door open
• when he checked it out- her purse and juice were
• in the car and he immediately called in the police
• great police work -20,000 posters put out with
• in hours and loads of volumteers to help
• they knew she was in the city due to pings
• off her cell phone
• they could not pen her down to a place
• as the kidnapper kept her on the move
• they did not give up and
• the good news is after 46 hours she got away and
• got to a pay phone for help
• she called her daddy-- daddy daddy-
• I begged for my life--
• she had been kidnapped and raped by a man
• 56 years old- the girl had begged for her life
• and finally ran for her life
• she was smart in that she took something
• of his with her to help identify him
• sigh-
• they got the man today-
• how sad is this world that a young lady
• can no longer drive to a store and
• safely come home again with out fear
• pray for the young lady whose name is Jordan
• honor student and so very hurt
• she did receive injuries but the doctor let her
• go home as that was where she needed to be-
• this is such a sad story and true to
• how we have to live today -
• I often think how our world has changed
• and some for good and some for bad
• hugs from Meme who is praising God for this
• girl coming home

missing meme

• I have been missing out here
• writing some of the things
• we did in the old days and
• not even that far in time ago--LOL
• I like remembering == how it was,,,,,
• but I also remember how hard it was
• and I feel we are indeed blessed
• to be where we are today
• ----------
• I miss mama and I am glad that she
• did get a new house with running water
• and electricity and all the things
• that I now take for granted
• and all in doors- (smile)
• she did not get the house until later
• in her life but she so enjoyed
• it and yes, she missed some of the old ways
• but was thankful for her new ways
• some times the old days sound romantic
• but there is nothing romantic about
• sitting up all night beside the heater
• to keep the home fires going
• and making sure that there is no
• chimney fire and your nest and
• family are safe......
• mama did this often in the winter
• and then had to sleep during the day
• ------but mama was a homesteader-
• and that was just one of the ways
• of the way it was....
• thank God that we now have furnaces
• that keep us warm and we can sleep
• at night,,,
• warm hugs from Meme

daddy's coffee

I remember how daddy made coffee in the old days. Coffee was low on the list of groceries so often daddy had no coffee. Coffee was considered a luxury but when he did have coffee this is how he made it....
- we had a wood stove to cook on- and he used a small coffee pot-blue enamel similar to the old cowboy type we see on westerns only smaller.
He used fresh well water in the pot and would bring the water to a boil- then he would pull the pot closer to the back of the stove and add the coffee grounds plus an egg shell and a pinch of salt- then simmer for a minute and take off the stove and let the grounds settle- I do not remember how much coffee he used but he always used the Nabob brand-
He would pour the coffee into his favourite cup which came with a saucer- not a coffee mug nor a teacup- - The coffee cups were larger in size and not made of fine china.
- He always took 2 sugar cubes and would place one between his teeth and drink the coffee while the other one cube went into the cup- - he always drank his coffee quickly and never more than one cup. The coffee grounds and left over coffee were fed to the rose bushes at the end of the day.

HOT WINTER APPLES...

I spoke the other day of our hot apple snack at bed-time in the winter
mama always felt hot food would help us to stay warm
during long cold winter nights
so I can only tell you how she did them
-----------------
the apples were kept on top of the cellar steps
she always picked out 4
rinsed them in water and then polished them with a towel
we always polished apples before we ate them
she cut them in half--
scoped out the core with a teaspoon
put brown sugar in the holes
and topped the brown sugar with butter
always butter- we never used margarine for anything
she used a cake pan- one of her two-
I think it was called a 8 by 8 inch square cake pan
she put a shot of hot water in the base of the pan
popped the apples in the pan
and sprinkled them with cinnamon
and put tthe pan in the oven
on top of 4 bricks-the kitchen stove was wood
so the oven was always warm to hot
and the bricks were in there heating up to place in our beds
always at the foot of the bed after they were
- covered with a clean gunny sack
I do not know how long the apples baked
or what the temperature would have been
mother just stuck her hand in the oven
to gage the temperature-
after our apples were done
she knew how to eye them and
knew when they were ready
she set them on our kitchen table for 5 minutes
then put into our breakfast bowls and poured
real cream over them- the real cream was what came
from our milking cows-
we ate every bite including the skins-
while they were baking a syrup of the juice mixed
with the butter and sugar would form
and she always shared the syrup equally
----------
I have often tried to bake
my apples
like mama's
but they just do not turn out the same
I think that the wood and mama are missing
- she just made them this way for ever
- and that is her story and mine
huggs from Meme

SHANK'SPONY

I wrote this for the g' kids a few years ago-- it needs to be re-written some day and proof done but sometimes I just like to leave things alone until the right time--LOL- part of the reason is this is part of the way I talk so would sound more Meme like to them- and that is my story and I am sticking to it-
--------------------------
When we were kids on the farm when ever we wanted to get somewhere we walked. My Aunt always called walking “ going by Shank’s pony.” The nearest neighbors who had kids our age usually lived about a mile and a half away. Arrangements would be made through the parents after church or school and the day picked out by them. Of course, the day depended on the weather but as a rule we were able to go. Daddy was a good weather man and seemed to always know if the day was going to stay nice.We would leave generally after dinner and maybe because we nagged mama about leaving sooner we could take a sandwich to eat on the way- We took our cold drinks in glass jars. When we were finished drinking we hid the jars with care in a ditch- Then on the way home we would pick them up to carry home. Jars were valuable and expected to be returned in one piece. In all those years and all the trips I don’t remember Bill and I ever breaking or loosing a jar. Traveling on the way to our friends was quick and fun as we were excited to see our friends . We knew we would have a lot of games to play . It never occurred to us to ask Daddy to drive us as gas was reserved for working the fields and other farm business. The business from the farm was taking the cream and eggs to town once a week.We nearly always had a good time and there were few arguments at our friend's house. We played outside and the other mother would send us on our way home at the right time. She knew how long it would take for us to walk home in order to be there on time. There were no phones to check in with or beg to be allowed to stay longer.. We usually left with a cookie or two to fortify our return trip.
It was a slower walk home as we were usually tired from a hard day’s play. We knew how to make games up to play on the way home and to help make the walk go by faster. We always got home safely and generally on time. We knew it was wrong and unkind to worry our parents. One rule we had was we were not to take a short cut across any one’s field- In the spring , there would most likely be some one’s bull stored there. Bulls in the spring time do not care what color you are wearing- LOL-
Then as summer progressed it was either a grain crop or hay field . Good manners as farmers, kept us from trampling through the neighbor's crop.
And if we stayed on the path the neighbors could watch for us coming and going and mama would be watching for our return. -Sometimes mama would have time to walk part way and meet us. She was ready to hear any news the neighbor lady sent via us. Bill and I never got lost as we knew the safe way to go. We walked on the right side of the road which was/is the left side . Cars would slow down when they passed us and we always waved. We did not get to go often as we were needed on the farm for chores. Daddy had the fields to work and mama the garden and we had daily chores that had to be done.

God has a path for us to follow and we need to walk on the path that He has prepared for us. He has given us Christian friends to watch out for us and parents and teachers. We can not follow directions when the map is closed. We have the bible to show us the way but we have to open it and read.
And there are no safe shortcuts to take.

If we open our hearts and our Bibles we will find the right direction.
Isaiah 28:10 says “A rule here, a rule there. A little lesson here, a little lesson there. When we have a listening heart we will be on the right road. We will get home safe and on time. We will know what the rules are to keep us on the safe path. -
huggles me, Meme

the day the lights turned on,,

• living on the farm out west - the first years of my life we did not have electricity so I remember well the day the lights were turned on......
• Daddy and the neighbors on our road had to clear out the trees and make a path for the poles and the lines- this is how we paid to put the electricity in- every spring daddy would clear out new growth and any trees that looked like they could fall on the lines- if our power went out; it was often days before we a lineman could come out to fix the problems-
• this is one of the few paying jobs that daddy had outside of the farm
• I think there were six men who cut by axe a five mile stretch down the side road and then they also had to cut paths to most of the houses- houses in our area often were sight unseen from the road.....
• there were no bulldozers that could go in the areas where the poles had to go--
• it was years before I realized how hard the men had work to get those trees down and also cleared out... and of course- they save the trees for fire wood--
• we only had two lights put in the house- and two electrical plugs- a few years later a yard light was added---the barn never was wired- it was just too expensive
• we had a radio but no television- and mother finally was able to have a modern iron- before that she heated the old fashioned iron on the stove and she always used tissue paper between the clothes and the irons- we never bought things like electric coffee pots or toasters etc.
• we were able to convert to an electric washer wringer- before we had some type of gas washer- all our water was heated on the stove- and washing did take a whole day and our sunshine was the dryer-
• even after the lights came we used coal-oil lamps for part of our needed light- daddy had lanterns for outside chores-
• now I have light and/or lights in every room- and most all of my appliances are electric- in the old days we made toast by holding the bread in a special fork over coals- the toast was always a treat-
• Daddy was a second generation homesteader...and cleared a lot of the land by hand-
• this reminds me of one day when Miss Sidney was asking me about how God made the sun and moon - I told her that God had said ''let there be light- and she asked me how come God did not know how to turn the switch on......then she ran over to our light switch and turned it on and said with all seriousness--- ''there God, that is all you have to do........

hugs from Meme -------

Mama and Scratch

I grew up on a farm which was always described
as out west.........(Alberta)..........
mama did all the baking
and we never saw a ''mix''
she baked all the bread for the week
at one time--usually 6 loaves and
a pan of buns and a pan of cinnamon buns
on birthdays I had a white cake
and brother Bill had a chocolate cake
and we always knew that we would
have a cake
mama did not bake cakes often
just birthdays including one for daddy
her sister- known as auntie Sis
baked one for her and we got together close to the day
birthdays were celebrated often of the sabbath
as the actual day was committed to the farm and the weather
she did make cookies - generally oatmeal with raisins but
never chocolate chips ............
and of course, all baking was done in a wood stove
she would stick her hand into the oven
and knew if the temperature was right
only certain wood was used when she baked
as some trees gave off a more steady heat
than others
and daddy always brought in the baking wood
which was kept away from the everyday cooking wood
even when mama got the electric stove
with the new house she still baked from scratch
she tried a few mixes but soon nixed that idea
claiming that they were not correct in texture ----etc
and she could bake cheaper with her own recipes
she often did make a ginger cake recipe
for a fine sabbath desert --
I wish I had more of her recipes but
they stayed in her head rather than on paper
she did collect recipes but generally stayed
with what she knew
I miss her special baking and I have
never tasted bread like hers......
hugs from Meme

THE IMPERFECT TREE

When brother Bill and I were kids back in the fifties our Christmas was both a exciting and magic time for us- our favorite part was putting up the Christmas tree. We did not set it up until few days before December 24. We often had a special supper before setting up the tree in our favorite corner. It was a winter celebration during those short days with long nights.

Daddy always found the tree in our farm's grove of trees . All the farms in western Alberta had long groves of trees that were originally planted by the homesteaders. We had both poplar and spruce trees. Trees were needed on the farm as they not only served as wind breaks but they were also our only source of heat. We needed both types for firewood as they burn at different rates and even give off different heats.

Daddy did not cut down trees-unnecessarily or carelessly. They were too important to our way of life. All the trees had a job to do in helping run the family farm.

Daddy never picked a perfect tree that would grow tall and strong- He would find a small tree that was weak and perhaps only had a few branches on one side and a lot on the front side. One side would have received more sun light than the other side as often the trees shaded each other. Too much shade caused some trees to grow sparse.

The back side did not matter as it did not show when it was in the corner and decorated. No matter what tree he found it seemed the most beautiful one in our child eyes and when mother decorated the tree it only increased in beauty. No matter how imperfect it was to others it was perfect to us. Daddy choose the imperfect tree knowing that we would love it and it was worthy. He knew that it was small and weak but it could still bring joy.

When the tree was finished bringing us our Christmas joy we put it in our front yard. Here for the rest of the winter it served as a bird feeder. Mama would leave the stringed popcorn on and then put out bread slices covered with suet. The rest of the winter we watched the birds come and go and listened to their songs. In the summer when the tree had dried out and shed its needles daddy used it for firewood. That tree was useful until the end as even ashes were saved for gardens or put on icy paths to keep us safe.

Jesus accepted me in my imperfect ways and loved me while I was still a sinner. He did not choose me for my perfections. To Him I was beautiful and worthy to be useful. He did not choose me because I was perfect. He decorated me with his Love and Peace and Joy and Hope. I am useful. Maybe you feel weak and broken and of no use. God will not throw you away because you have challenges or problems. We can all shine for Jesus even when our back is up against the wall. We can be a blessing where ever we stand.

"Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another

with whatever gift each of you has received." ~1 Peter 4:10

We can be thankful for whatever imperfections we have. We can still perform, in the little things, as a faithful servant for God. We can be doers of God's word, not just hearers. Every day brings a new opportunity to be used in God's kingdom.

huggles me, Meme



this story was written before cancer came to our house- dug out of meme's archives

why? another blog :-)

• I decided to have a blog
• where I tell my tales from yesterdays
• as a daughter- wife= mother- sister, grandma and
• simply me
• I hope you will enjoy hearing my stories
• hugs from Meme