Fires.

I took these pics yesterday of a fire about 4 miles from our house.  Luckily the wind was from the SW instead of SE.  We would have been in deep doo-doo had it been.   A few farmsteads lost buildings.  Don't know whether any houses were lost or just outbuildings.  One firefighter collapsed, but is doing ok.  No other injuries that I know of.  Temperatures were hovering in the 115 degree (F) range during the afternoon.  Today is supposed to be cooler, only 109!  No relief in site for at least a week.  It is so hot and dry that just the friction from a birds butt while taking a poop will ignite something!  This one was started by a car on the hiway who had pulled over in the ditch with car troubles.  There will probably be more.  Most of what burned was wheat stubble and pasture grass.

Nothing much more new in this part of the world.  Garden is still holding in there.  We have picked carrots, beets, and of course zucchini squash.  The heat has kind of slowed some things down.  The sweet corn is setting ears right now.  Can't wait for that to be ready.

God Bless All--johnnyb

Things my parents taught me

1. My Parents taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .

"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside.. I just finished cleaning."

 

2. My Parents taught me RELIGION .

"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

 

3. My Parents taught me about TIME TRAVEL .

"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

 

4. My Parents taught me LOGIC .

" Because I said so, that's why."

 

5. My Parents taught me MORE LOGIC ..

"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

 

6. My Parents taught me FORESIGHT .

"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

 

7. My Parents taught me IRONY .

"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

 

8. My Parents taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .

"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

 

9. My Parents taught me about CONTORTIONISM .

"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

 

10. My Parents taught me about STAMINA .

"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

 

11. My Parents taught me about WEATHER .

"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

 

12. My Parents taught me about HYPOCRISY .

"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

 

13. My Parents taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE .

"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.."

 

14. My Parents taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION .

"Stop acting like your father!"

 

15. My Parents taught me about ENVY .

"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

 

16. My Parents taught me about ANTICIPATION .

"Just wait until we get home."

 

17. My Parents taught me about RECEIVING .

"You are going to get it when you get home!"

 

18. My Parents taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE .

"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

 

19. My Parents taught me ESP .

"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

 

20. My Parents taught me HUMOR.

"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

 

21. My Parents taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .

"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

 

22. My Parents taught me GENETICS .

"You're just like your father."

 

23. My Parents taught me about my ROOTS .

"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

 

24. My Parents taught me WISDOM .

"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

 

And my favorite:

 

25. My Parents taught me about JUSTICE .

"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.

Another season starts

Summer, summer, summer.    Six months ago, one topic of conversation was, "Sure will be glad when warm weather gets here.  Tired of the cold."  Summer is here.  Topic at the local watering hole last night was, "Ready for winter.  Enough of this heat!"  I guess that is just something about the way we are put together.  If it was 80 degrees the year around, it would be those "damned tourists" that would be the topic of conversation.  We did have a couple of days of very nice weather this week. The rest has been a touch on the summer side.  One day was 109 degrees.  It was so hot, I saw a bird frying a bug on the sidewalk.  That is hot, let me tell you!  By the way it was done medium rare, just a hint of "squishy" stuff.

I have been helping out at the local dining and drinking establishment for the past couple of weeks.  Owner is down in the back and is short of help.  I enjoy doing it, and it is a way of keeping up on the local color.  Let me tell you it can be colorful at times.  Most would not be for public release.

The garden is doing well.  The corn is in the tassel stage.  Corn on the cob in the near future.  Beans are blooming.  Tomatoes are setting on.  We have had carrots, beets, and squash on the table so far.  It is so nice to have fresh veggies and we thank God daily for that blessing and pray for a bountiful harvest of it all.

Our quail chicks arrived yesterday.  They made the trip through the mail in pretty good shape.  Which amazes me that anything can get through the mail unscathed.  But that is another story. 

 These pictures were taken shortly after getting them. They seem to like their "toys".   They were hatched on Tuesday morning, then endured a 36 hour trip by mail.  They are doing well.

I hope this finds everyone ok and God Bless you all.--johnnyb

Storm Clouds

Storms again moved through the area tonight, but only noise here. Got some pics though.  Here are a few of them.

And then there was sunset---

God Bless ---johnnyb

It's Thursday

I've been a little lazy lately about writing any posts.  I've been reading through my blog list daily, but just haven't put the "pen to the paper."  We have been fairly busy around here gardening and other projects.  Garden is doing ok so far.  I have been rabbit- proofing it some more.  They were kind of raising havoc with the beans.  I haven't seen too much damage lately, so I must be getting ahead of them.

I helped a friend  release some pheasant chicks this week.  We are just trying to keep the population going good.  We released some not too far from the house in a area with a lot of shelter.  As you can see from the pictures, one is checking out the neighborhood.  I don't know if it knocked at the door or not, but was resting  on the front steps and then cooled off in the sprinkler.   If he would have knocked, we would have invited him in for a cold one.   Oops, couldn't do that.  3 Lab Retrievers in the house.  Wouldn't have been pretty.  

 And in the picture below we have some of the "Ladies" all prim and proper along with "Foghorn, Stud-Muffin Extrordinaire," (or so he thinks),  out for an evening of dining and drinking at the local establishment.  I'm thinking that Foghorn thinks he might get lucky tonite. 

I hope everyone is having a good week.  I hope that god may Bless All of you and that you take the time to thank the Man in Charge for those blessings.---johnnyb

Proof of Death

There is finally conclusive evidence that Osama bin Laden and Muammar Gaddafi are dead.  Yesterday, they both registered to vote in Chicago ,  Illinois .

Have a good one and God Bless--johnnyb

Motherhood

Motherhood Truly Amazing!

On the riverbank ...

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 In the Arctic ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  In India ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Africa ...

Within the Ocean ...     SOMEWHERE NEAR WAL-MART

 

Donkey Story

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well..
The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up..

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well, and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen..
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more. Expect less

NOW .......Enough of that crap. The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

           When you try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.
 

Drone flyover

I heard on the news yesterday that the government has been running spy missions over Nebraska and Iowa and probably over states as well for the past 10 years.  Most recently using drones.  The EPA is making sure that farmers and ranchers are polluting the environment, especially ranchers with their cattle.  I guess they would like everything to be nice and pristine as it was hundreds of years ago.  Millions of buffalo crapping in the water, thousands and thousands of antelope and elk that are not in abundance in the plains  doing their thing in the water! The EPA would just be in the height of their glory. ........but just thinking--johnnyb

Buzzard/ Bat / Bumblebee

THE BUZZARD
If you put a buzzard in a pen/coop that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top,

the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner.

The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet.

Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly,

but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

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THE BAT 
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air,

cannot take off from a level place.

If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and,

no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air.

Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

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THE BUMBLEBEE

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out.

It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out


through the sides near the bottom.

It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

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PEOPLE

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee.

We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up!

That's the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem...

just look up!



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Sorrow looks back,

WORRY LOOKS AROUND,

But faith looks up!

Live simply,

love generously,

care deeply,

speak kindly, and

trust in our Creator,

who loves us.

Feuds

The following link is about the feud that occurred in our area.  I am sure that most areas of the country had feuds at one time or another.  The Hatfields and McCoys just got more attention.
 http://www.historynet.com/the-dewey-berry-feud.htm
The gang wars of today are no different than the feuds between farmers and ranchers of pioneer times.  Usually over a trivial matter that gets blown out of proportion. We kind of  had disagreement with neighbor over his dogs.  I didn't particularly like them crapping in our garden and he didn't really see a problem with it.  We are back on speaking terms now without shots being fired.  My thought is---it don't take much to spark a fire when conditions are right.

I have said this before--go ahead and taken that wooden nickel.  The wood is probably worth more than whatever is in the nickel.
God Bless--johnnyb