Blizzard Brings out Memories

I never read the Little House books until I home-schooled my children. We read through the series and I cried at the appropriate places (couldn’t help it). That blizzard was the saddest part. I thought they were so brave and strong. We also loved the series on tv with Michael Landon. I have all the books. The Long Winter was all about the blizzard. Here is an excerpt:


“This life is a difficult riddle,

For how many people we see

With faces as long as a fiddle

That ought to be shining with glee

I am sure in this world there are plenty

Of good things enough for us all

And yet there’s not one out of twenty

But thinks that his share is too small.



Then what is the use of repining,

For where there’s a will there’s a way.

And tomorrow the sun may be shining,

Although it is cloudy today.



Do you think that by sitting and sighing

You’ll ever obtain all you want?

It’s cowards alone that are crying

And foolishly saying, ‘I can’t!’

It is only by plodding and striving

And laboring up the steep hill

Of life, that you’ll ever be thriving

Which you’ll do if you’ve only the will.”



On the Banks of Plum Creek has a chapter about The Long Blizzard in it too.

My favorite books from childhood were the Little Women series. I loved Jo so much. I also loved Heidi. But I believe my favorite books as a child was The Boxcar Kids. I could make-believe that life all day!

Also we had a magical time in the fourth grade with our teacher Mrs. Gray. She would read to us after lunch for an hour. She read Silver Chief Dog of the North by Jack O'Brien to us. We waited excitedly every day for her to continue the story. I loved that book and that woman.

Too Much

     You can never spend too much time with the ones you love.  I remember the times spent with my children so clearly now that they are grown.  There were times we played in the sand.  Times we tinkered with blocks.  We went for walks in the pasture.  Took a fishing pole with us.  Good times we spent swinging on the glider of the swing set singing, "How do you like to go air in the air?  Up in the sky so blue?  I think it is the most delightful thing ever a child could do."  That was only yesterday or so.  We played with Barbies, built Legos and Duplos before that.  We drove our firetruck and hot wheels and tricycles all around the porch.  We sat on the rooftop.  Baked the tasty cookies together.  Swam in the pool on hot sunny days.  Trips were made to the zoo and parks.  With picnics here and there.
     There was bath time, supper time, bedtime, stories to tell, nursing time, rocking time, and days to fill.  There were tears to dry, laughter to share, hearts to hear, and time to listen.  We played dress up and make believe, and forts were built.  In winter we made snowmen and snow ice cream.  In the fall we raked leaves.  But spring and summer were always the best.  Trying to skate with roller blades was difficult for me but I tried.  We played basketball and softball.  Attended a lot of football games and watched a certain cheerleader proudly.  There were parades to watch, proms and dances, contests and competitions.  We drove many miles and shopped many hours.
     Trips made to shop for groceries, time spent reading books aloud, especially enjoying Little House on the Prairie together.  We read the Bible together, prayed together, and attended church together.  We went to many concerts and even won tickets for backstage passes a few times.  We stood in lines to meet our favorite music artists and get their autographs and photos taken with us.
     Time was spent learning to drive.  And taking that driving test.  Whew!  Three graduations from high school and three first time trips to move into colleges.  This mom had the hardest time with that.  Moving them several times through the years since.  All these years and all these joys have never been enough.
     You can never spend too much time with the ones you love.
     You will never look back and say it was too much.

The Best Cat in the World

Pebbles

He was the best cat in the world. My son could

carry him around like this and he loved it. We

named him Pebbles 'cause we already had a Bam

Bam and we also got his sister Wilma. We had him

for about eleven years. He got sick one day and died.

He is buried in our yard with a stone on his grave.

He was a very loving cat. He was nice to all the other

cats we had and loved to play with new kittens. We've

never had another cat quite like him. Rest in peace,

Pebbles.

The Office

For those of you who might like to see the view from my home office.
Here is what I look at while working. This computer is not online.

I like to keep the sun and the moon and the stars around for

company and light.

My three beauties below:  treasures they are!

My little Ziggy poster.  Capture all the joys life has to 

offer!  So true.