This Wednesday the 27th, shows the rain temporarily over giving us the promise of a break from the flooding. Up until last night we had had 13 inches of rain since last Friday. It is too early this morning to check the gauge.
Little Creek has been out of its banks, but had run down Sunday letting us get to Easter services. We had over 50 out in spite of the rain and we had very good services. We studied from the Bible the chapters telling of our Savior’s last days before the crucification and truimphant rise from the grave. Dyanna brought the sermon. It is good to hear her from behind the pulpit and had been a long time. We all miss Mark and his joyful nature. He would have so enjoyed our Sabbath and thankful that most all his church family are still coming to worship together.
We were so so very happy to have Ron and Bev Smith back from their winter out West.
The children gathered many eggs from inside because it was raining and when one of them found a real boiled egg, they were overjoyed even though the artificial ones contained candy. It shows our kids know the differences between real and fake and appreciate the value of the real thing.
After they calmed down everyone enjoyed dinner together and companionship even though it was raining steadily. We barely made it across the bridge because in twenty minutes or so the water was rushing over it. Church services Sunday night were cancelled.
Karen, Burr and Ruth had supper with me Tuesday night. We all really enjoyed the watercress.
Kasey, Terry and Tasha came by Saturday to bring me a present on my 82nd birthday and every one of my other kids came at different times including Joseph and Aaron, my grandsons and Nicole, my granddaughter, who took her mother and me to town for dinner out one day. Everyone at church sang happy birthday to me and Burr sang a Mother song as his special.
Granville Beasley a Little Creek protégé, called from Bolivar. We reminesced for an hour or so. When Granville calls we catch up on everything. He signed off with his trad em ark goodbye which is “keep smiling.” Granny is 86 years young and says he can still dance as spritely as always.
I didn’t get my news sent because I couldn’t make it to the mailbox and Vonda, who always posts my letters, is flooded in and hasn’t been here this week. Ruth and Karen have helped with the housework. Vonda keeps everything so clean that it hasn’t been hard.
Tim and Katrice Kirlin visited Jim and Jean over the weekend. They had planned to help with some landscaping but that has been put on hold.
My sister, Jo, called with the news that Brian and Kelly, their grandkids, spent Easter break with them. Brian plans on moving back here from north Missouri. Brian has always been a farm boy so I exprect he will be near enough to help Pa with chores. He is a good looking, respectful, young man and certainly loves his grandparents.
All the little girls were dressed so pretty in their Easter gowns and I noticed the heels of their slippers being rather high so I supposed they are getting prepared to be in style with the very high heels of today. We had six beautiful little girls and one baby girl. The new baby boy is very good in church. His name is Evan.
One week later – May 1- This Sunday is a repeat only hopefully not as much rain. The bridge at the foot of the hill is totally uncrossable. About a third gone (or washed out). And up the creek has a very muddy and loose spot making it worrisome to drive through. But things could be worse.
We had good services with Rev. Stan Strong coming to preach to our church today. He and his wife are welcome and appreciated. We missed Julie and Tamara and their kids. Also, Jamie, Christie and Burr.
Ruth and Burr enjoyed Devin and Evonni over night. They had supper with me Saturday night.
Nicole visited her mom, Karen and Greg, and her Dad and his fiance over the weekend. She is studying for finals.
Tom helped Greg and Karen work on the greenhouse Saturday.
Kasey, Burr and Ruth worked to clean out Kasey’s shop on Saturday.
Charlie visited on Friday. He spent last Sunday with Mike and Lucy. They were returning to St. Louis for further treatments. I’m sure they covet your prayers and are most appreciated.
Charlie has some new ground cleared and ready for tomatoes. Reminds me of my very young days when the tomato factories were in our area. Bob Burton had a canning factory on Little Creek and new ground was cleared far and wide to supply tomatoes. Mom worked in the canning factory.
I really miss my sewing buddies at club and in fact I miss sewing, but I almost have my sewing room cleaned. Then I will be ready to attempt some projects that have been nagging at me to finish as I come across them one by one as I clean. I must make Karen a bag and Ruth potholders and Vonda pillow shams first of all. Then I have to get a quilt top ready for my quilting turn.
But for it being the Sabbath and the Lord’s day I would be in my sewing room. Sewing on Sunday was forbidden in the houses of my ancestors. Who hasn’t heard the old adage, “Sew on Sunday, rip on Monday?” I have heard that stitches sewn on Sunday would come back to haunt you in the afterlife when the devil would make you pick them out with your nose.
Some other superstitions and lore in respect to our favorite pastime the thimble brings good luck to the user. A broken needle ensures good luck, but only if the one who has broken it, buries it in the ground immediately. Otherwise expect bad luck.
Spider webs, my almost favorite quilting pattern, brings good luck. Pricking your finger was a sign of imminent good luck.
A dropped needle with eye up indicated good luck, but point up and you were a sure candidate for disaster, which probably occurred when a husband stepped on it. Dropped scissors on a Sunday and a stranger would call (most likely the devil coming to make you pick out those stitches you were making just before you dropped those scissiors.)
Past quilters knew if you started anything on Friday it would never get finished. That probaby explains all my UFO’s (UnFinished prOjects).
We know that anything made by Godis perfect according to His plan. Quilters of the past always included a planned mistake in a quilt, dedicating that area to God. Personally I make plenty of unplanned mistakes and need never worry about a planned one.
I’m not saying that I suscribe to any of these archaic customs and beliefs so then why is it that I can never leave a penny lay? I recall this little chant that must have impressed me a lot for me to remember it to this day, “See a penny leave it lay, bad luck you’ll have all the day. See a penny pick it up, all rest of the day you’ll have good luck. Good luck to all and keep smiling.
