Tonight I will be celebrating New Year's Eve for the 50th time in my life. What a ride so far, I can't wait to see what the next 50 bring. Optimistic aren't I? There were many times in my younger years that I thought I wouldn't make it to 30, so I find it quite amusing that I'm looking forward to 50 more years. Funny how your life changes the older you get.
We have plans tonight, something we haven't done in many, many years. I think the last time Dave and I went out on New Year's Eve was the first year we lived in Kentucky and we went to my cousin's house in Nicholasville. I'm really thinking that's the last time we were even up at midnight. Again, funny how your life changes....
I have many memories of New Year's Eve, and yes, some of them involve partying. I was a child of the 70's, and I did my share of partying. But not all of them.
I spent my middle school and high school years babysitting on New Year's Eve. For the same family usually. I was always a babysitter, my first job being in northern Maine when I was 10 years old. For a couple that lived two doors down on the military base. I was scared to death that first night, although excited at the same time. But, I was always the 'babysitter' in the family anyways.
I actually don't have any memories of new years before moving to Lewiston, Idaho in 1974. We moved so many times growing up in the military, I couldn't [accurately] tell you which state I lived in each new year much less what I did. (Note to self: this needs to be documented....).
One of my first good memories of New Year's Eve though? Sledding at my aunt and uncle's house in Deary, Idaho. They had a little farm there, in a little logging community high in the mountains of Idaho. It snowed alot there, at least it did back then. They still get their fair share every year, but not like years ago. All my cousins were there that weekend and we were having a blast sledding down this one hill behind their house. We pulled our sleds up that hill for hours.
After a while my great aunt Marie called us in to eat chili and we all said 'no', but she then informed us that it was 18 degrees below zero. We were having so much fun that we didn't even realize how cold it was. I also remember my great uncle Wesley tying all of our sleds together so it made a big long train. Then he hooked us up to his pickup and pulled us through town. What fun we had!
For some reason my best memories involve snow..... another wonderful time I remember was when I lived in Pierce, Idaho. Jenni wasn't even in school yet and we lived high up on a hill overlooking town. Pierce is about an hour north of Highway 12 in the mountains of North Central Idaho and at the time most of the people were supported by a lumber mill that was located there. Unfortunately the mill is gone now, but several of my good friends still live up 'on the hill', a term commonly known by the locals in the area.
The local band, who was composed of Jack Smith and the Graham brothers, had quite a following of fans. We would drive to wherever 'Shotgun' was playing, no matter how far sometimes. So, alot of people came up the hill from Orofino for New Year's Eve. We went into the Timber Inn that night and it was barely snowing. We came out of there several hours later and you couldn't hardly see, much less drive. Snowmobiles were used to get people home. Needless to say ... there were alot of people sleeping on floors in various homes in town that night. The roads were pretty bad and most of those there listening to the band ended up not going home until later on the next day. I just remember coming out the next morning and seeing bodies laying everywhere, with whatever blankets and pillows I could find to keep them warm.
Ahhh, it's days like this that the memories start flowing. Remembering the past .... and looking forward to the future. The holidays fall at the perfect time of the year. Right at the end. It's a great time for reflection. I'm wishing every one of you a happy and safe New Year's Eve, wherever you are. And all the best to you in the new year!
God Bless you all.... Pam
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Week Between The Years ...
The week is called the week between the years, a time to visiting with friends .... at least that's how they celebrate it in Germany. I think it's a great week. Well, for the most part. For some, it is the end of the year, which means lots of work for business-people. Trying to get everything done before the close of business today.
I kind of like the "visiting with friends" tradition myself. Although I seem to be too busy to do much visiting, because I'm one of those trying to get everything done. And of course, throw in deadline week and I'm really busy. As busy as I am this week, I took the time to go to the Kiwanis Meeting last night. It was so nice catching up with people I haven't seen in a few weeks. Plus Dave did a pretty nice presentation about All Things Country and our farm.
Dave does a lot of visiting with people, but I rarely get away from this computer long enough to go to town. Now, I don't mind that at times .... but I sure miss talking with some of my friends down in town. I guess I should make it a goal for 2012 to do more visiting!
This week also brings alot of Year-End Reviews. Highlights of what has happened in the past year. Whew. The scope of how our world is changing is evident when you watch these reels of highlights from 2011. The world's weather sure did alot of damage in the past year. Gosh, I hadn't realized how many earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes happened. Or just had forgotten. The folks in those areas surely haven't forgotten.
And we lose so many people each year. Not just family and friends, but greats from the world of music, actors and actresses, sports starts and so many more. When you wrap it all up into a 10 minutes montage it brings it all home.
So, I hope you get to do lots and lots of visiting with your friends and family in the next two days. You just never know what tomorrow will bring. It is definitely not guaranteed.
And Happy New Year to all of you. Thanks for reading.
Pam
I kind of like the "visiting with friends" tradition myself. Although I seem to be too busy to do much visiting, because I'm one of those trying to get everything done. And of course, throw in deadline week and I'm really busy. As busy as I am this week, I took the time to go to the Kiwanis Meeting last night. It was so nice catching up with people I haven't seen in a few weeks. Plus Dave did a pretty nice presentation about All Things Country and our farm.
Dave does a lot of visiting with people, but I rarely get away from this computer long enough to go to town. Now, I don't mind that at times .... but I sure miss talking with some of my friends down in town. I guess I should make it a goal for 2012 to do more visiting!
This week also brings alot of Year-End Reviews. Highlights of what has happened in the past year. Whew. The scope of how our world is changing is evident when you watch these reels of highlights from 2011. The world's weather sure did alot of damage in the past year. Gosh, I hadn't realized how many earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes happened. Or just had forgotten. The folks in those areas surely haven't forgotten.
And we lose so many people each year. Not just family and friends, but greats from the world of music, actors and actresses, sports starts and so many more. When you wrap it all up into a 10 minutes montage it brings it all home.
So, I hope you get to do lots and lots of visiting with your friends and family in the next two days. You just never know what tomorrow will bring. It is definitely not guaranteed.
And Happy New Year to all of you. Thanks for reading.
Pam
Thursday, December 29, 2011
He sure paints a pretty picture
What a gorgeous sunrise this morning. Dave took a picture to show you .......
We got to talking about it out on the back porch this morning, how beautiful the sunrises are here in Kentucky, when Dave said "God sure paints a pretty picture." Boy, isn't that the truth? If we are lucky enough, we get a beautiful picture twice a day. And it's different everyday. The sunrises and sunsets in Kentucky just can't be beat.
We didn't get this in Idaho. Not in the same way at least. The sunrise this morning lasted about 30 minutes for us. We watched for a very long time as this beautiful picture happened right before our eyes. We knew is was going to be awesome and we just stared in awe.
Dave and I were both born in Lewiston, Idaho. It's located at a little over 800 feet above sea level. The mountains surrounding Lewiston, Idaho? Oh, about 3,000 feet! Lewiston is literally down in a deep valley and you have to drive up and over a mountain in any direction you go anywhere. So, the sunrise and sunset last about 5 minutes, if you are lucky enough to see one! The mountains block them. And certainly not in the wintertime, like this morning. They are probably looking at big fluffy clouds containing moisture of some type, be it rain or snow. At least I don't ever remember being as impressed with them like I am here! Maybe some of my Facebook friends will send me a picture if they have them there.....
I try about every day to get a picture of the beauty outside my window. Whether it's the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, or just one of the critters, we take alot of pictures. No matter how bad the day might go with All Things Country, you can't help but smile when you arrive back at the farm and view the wonder that is our lives. And when we have a really good day, it's just an added bonus!
Here's hoping that you have a beautiful sunset to view tonight - and every night for the rest of this year! God bless you all.
Pam
We got to talking about it out on the back porch this morning, how beautiful the sunrises are here in Kentucky, when Dave said "God sure paints a pretty picture." Boy, isn't that the truth? If we are lucky enough, we get a beautiful picture twice a day. And it's different everyday. The sunrises and sunsets in Kentucky just can't be beat.
We didn't get this in Idaho. Not in the same way at least. The sunrise this morning lasted about 30 minutes for us. We watched for a very long time as this beautiful picture happened right before our eyes. We knew is was going to be awesome and we just stared in awe.
Dave and I were both born in Lewiston, Idaho. It's located at a little over 800 feet above sea level. The mountains surrounding Lewiston, Idaho? Oh, about 3,000 feet! Lewiston is literally down in a deep valley and you have to drive up and over a mountain in any direction you go anywhere. So, the sunrise and sunset last about 5 minutes, if you are lucky enough to see one! The mountains block them. And certainly not in the wintertime, like this morning. They are probably looking at big fluffy clouds containing moisture of some type, be it rain or snow. At least I don't ever remember being as impressed with them like I am here! Maybe some of my Facebook friends will send me a picture if they have them there.....
I try about every day to get a picture of the beauty outside my window. Whether it's the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, or just one of the critters, we take alot of pictures. No matter how bad the day might go with All Things Country, you can't help but smile when you arrive back at the farm and view the wonder that is our lives. And when we have a really good day, it's just an added bonus!
Here's hoping that you have a beautiful sunset to view tonight - and every night for the rest of this year! God bless you all.
Pam
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Such sadness on the news today .... and everyday!
Gosh, the early morning fire on Christmas Day in Connecticut has really broke my heart. This morning's news say it was because of embers cleaned out of the fireplace. Even more devastating to this family is the thought it could have been prevented. I survived an apartment fire when I was 13 years old, and my memories are always revived when I hear stories like this. Our family had to jump out off our 2nd story deck to safety. I remember so well the noise. Between the actually roaring of the fire and the sirens of fire engines and ambulances, it was so loud. Worse yet, the screams of those on the top floor balconies who couldn't get out. There were people yelling at them to jump, people yelling at them to wait for the ladders. The same noises that I'm sure were heard Christmas morning in Connecticut. Simply heartbreaking.
That was just the start of the bad news though. An interesting series has been on the Today Show for the past few mornings. I'm sure it's going to be an all-week series, so I'm equally anxious to see what tomorrow brings. We sure live in a scary world, that's about all I can say. The story yesterday involved identity theft. We all worry about identity theft, especially when doing alot on the internet. We run our credit scores to check on things from time to time. But yesterday's story didn't involve adults - who are well aware of the risks out there. No, the story revolved around children, babies even! Crooks are stealing baby and young children's social security numbers and by the time the child is grown up, there credit has been ruined.
Like I said, we all watch our own credit history. But never would I have thought to run a credit report on my child. They don't need credit. The story says you really should run credit checks yearly on your kids. Sad, huh? The sadder part .... they actually showed the people that had stolen this family's social security numbers. They showed them right there on the television. But nothing can be done? Hogwash.....
Today's story? Locksmiths, of all things. Who would think you can't trust your local locksmith? (Well, actually you probably can trust him if you live in a small town! Love small town living!!!). This story showed people looking up locksmith numbers when they are in need of one. They call, get a quote of $49.00, as an example. The homeowner thinks they are getting a good deal and say come on over. By the time the 'locksmith' has left, the bill totals over $600.00. They destroy the lock, sometimes the door. Whatever damage they can do and then say you owe more than the quote. And they want cash. If you pay by check they tack on a couple hundred dollars more. What a racket!
The saddest part of these stories? All of the 'masterminds' of these crimes, the ones they showed on television doing it - not a one of them could speak english. Several had interpreters. Are you kidding me? Our world is getting overtaken by people who can't speak our language, who are taking our jobs, and even stealing our identities. It's no wonder everything is so screwed up.
Again, I've made the mistake of watching the news. The newsperson in me can't resist, but I'm almost to the point of just throwing the television out the window so I don't start my day off by watching the horror that is our world around us. Again, I'm thankful for the small community I live in, for the many friends and neighbors I've got around me every day, for the love that small town folks show to each other. Sure, we've got problems too. But, I would have no problem calling any of the businesses in our area for help. At least most everyone speaks English!
Have a wonderful day everyone. I'll be busy today finishing up the typing about our reader's favorite snow memories for our January book. And I'll be thanking God for everything he has given me yesterday, today, and hopefully tomorrow too!
That was just the start of the bad news though. An interesting series has been on the Today Show for the past few mornings. I'm sure it's going to be an all-week series, so I'm equally anxious to see what tomorrow brings. We sure live in a scary world, that's about all I can say. The story yesterday involved identity theft. We all worry about identity theft, especially when doing alot on the internet. We run our credit scores to check on things from time to time. But yesterday's story didn't involve adults - who are well aware of the risks out there. No, the story revolved around children, babies even! Crooks are stealing baby and young children's social security numbers and by the time the child is grown up, there credit has been ruined.
Like I said, we all watch our own credit history. But never would I have thought to run a credit report on my child. They don't need credit. The story says you really should run credit checks yearly on your kids. Sad, huh? The sadder part .... they actually showed the people that had stolen this family's social security numbers. They showed them right there on the television. But nothing can be done? Hogwash.....
Today's story? Locksmiths, of all things. Who would think you can't trust your local locksmith? (Well, actually you probably can trust him if you live in a small town! Love small town living!!!). This story showed people looking up locksmith numbers when they are in need of one. They call, get a quote of $49.00, as an example. The homeowner thinks they are getting a good deal and say come on over. By the time the 'locksmith' has left, the bill totals over $600.00. They destroy the lock, sometimes the door. Whatever damage they can do and then say you owe more than the quote. And they want cash. If you pay by check they tack on a couple hundred dollars more. What a racket!
The saddest part of these stories? All of the 'masterminds' of these crimes, the ones they showed on television doing it - not a one of them could speak english. Several had interpreters. Are you kidding me? Our world is getting overtaken by people who can't speak our language, who are taking our jobs, and even stealing our identities. It's no wonder everything is so screwed up.
Again, I've made the mistake of watching the news. The newsperson in me can't resist, but I'm almost to the point of just throwing the television out the window so I don't start my day off by watching the horror that is our world around us. Again, I'm thankful for the small community I live in, for the many friends and neighbors I've got around me every day, for the love that small town folks show to each other. Sure, we've got problems too. But, I would have no problem calling any of the businesses in our area for help. At least most everyone speaks English!
Have a wonderful day everyone. I'll be busy today finishing up the typing about our reader's favorite snow memories for our January book. And I'll be thanking God for everything he has given me yesterday, today, and hopefully tomorrow too!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
The year is almost over.
We are almost to the end of another year. Where does the time go? Seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating Christmas of 2010 ... and now Christmas of 2011 is over. The older you get the faster time flies. Hmmm.... not sure I like that. But I'm sure most people don't like it either.
Now that the holidays are over, we switch back to newspaper mode. Yes, the January paper will be heading to the printers next week, so that makes this week our deadline week. It's always a rush around here to get the newest magazine off to the printers, but I have a feeling this is going to be a rough week. Lots of people take the whole week off. I'm just praying that the folks that want to advertise are in.... so we'll have a good size magazine for our readers to enjoy.
The news on the television is saying we have now surpassed the mark for the wettest year on record. This morning's downpour put us over the mark. They say rain will be switching to snow this afternoon. My goodness, we sure haven't had any snow to speak of. It's been a pretty warm December, especially in comparison to last December! We had already had snow several times by this time - and boy was it cold!
We have decided to cancel our Chili Feed and Snowman Contest for New Year's Eve day. There are several other functions going on that day in our community, so we don't want to conflict with them. And heck, with no snow it wouldn't be a bit of fun anyway!
Well, here's hoping you have a fantastic week. And if you are wanting to try out our advertising, give us a call. We've got several end of year deals going on now!
Have a blessed day everyone. Peace to you all.
Pam
Now that the holidays are over, we switch back to newspaper mode. Yes, the January paper will be heading to the printers next week, so that makes this week our deadline week. It's always a rush around here to get the newest magazine off to the printers, but I have a feeling this is going to be a rough week. Lots of people take the whole week off. I'm just praying that the folks that want to advertise are in.... so we'll have a good size magazine for our readers to enjoy.
The news on the television is saying we have now surpassed the mark for the wettest year on record. This morning's downpour put us over the mark. They say rain will be switching to snow this afternoon. My goodness, we sure haven't had any snow to speak of. It's been a pretty warm December, especially in comparison to last December! We had already had snow several times by this time - and boy was it cold!
We have decided to cancel our Chili Feed and Snowman Contest for New Year's Eve day. There are several other functions going on that day in our community, so we don't want to conflict with them. And heck, with no snow it wouldn't be a bit of fun anyway!
Well, here's hoping you have a fantastic week. And if you are wanting to try out our advertising, give us a call. We've got several end of year deals going on now!
Have a blessed day everyone. Peace to you all.
Pam
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Merry Christmas from All Things Country
So, I woke up this morning in a sour mood. Guess I didn't sleep too well, or maybe I slept too well. Who knows. I hate waking up and being in a bad mood. I'm guessing that the Dave person hates it when I wake up bad too.
As I enjoyed that first cup of coffee, and contemplated life ... our life to be exact, we turned on the television. First thing I saw, gas prices are going up. By a bunch. A busy travel time arrives and prices rise, hmmm. Even though I'm not traveling farther than Olive Hill this holiday season, it still means more money for gas. Even worse, it means our business expenses just went up. And why? Because of greed. We travel alot each month. Between Dave and I we put alot of miles each month on vehicles. And the daily expense of gasoline is dictated by greed. I hate it.
Can you guess that my mood isn't getting any better? Nope, not a bit. And the next news story involves our crooked politicians and the fight 'this time' over how much money we make each month. These crooked politicians who make MILLIONS of dollars themselves are dictating my bottom line. They've been fighting amongst theirselves for years now and get nothing done. Again, my life dictated by greed.
Maybe another cup of coffee will help. Surely can't hurt by this point. But, oh yes, in my bad mood I figured out a way to ruin that too. I put sugar and cream in my coffee .... chocked full of preservatives and junk that is killing me. Our conversation turns to how our food is slowly killing us all. Dave and I consume alot of our own food, grown out in our gardens. We have really only eaten beef off of the C2H2 Farm since moving to Kentucky, except for eating out. Yet, we consume alot of crap too! And our food is all approved by agencies that don't care about the consumer, they would lose their jobs if they spoke up. And goodness, they have big salaries. Greed, yet again.
Well, goodness. I poured the coffee out and headed to the back porch. What does the morning bring now? Fog, that's what! It's so darned foggy out there, I can't even see the neighbor's house. And there is rain on the way. More rain. Can nothing be beautiful this morning?
Yes, it can. You see, in just a few more days it's Christmas. It's a magical time of the year, at least for most. That is, if you see the true spirit of the season. It's not about the gifts and trying to have the next 'big thing'. It's about the music, the lights, the spirit of why we have Christmas. At least it is for me this year. I could spin this thing around and make it another bad part of my morning. I really could. Ad sales are non-existent this month. Between businesses being closed, some of them for good, and people taking time off during this time of year, the Dave person has had a hard time. Which makes his mood as raw as mine. Our book is printed each month through the generosity of our advertisers, so when we have no ad sales ..... it makes it pretty darned small. And realistically .... no paycheck for me!
But, even that isn't going to ruin my day. Nope. I can't do anything about it but to keep on working hard each and every day. As long as the good Lord gives me another day, I'll do what I can to justify being here. And for today, well I'm going to go with all my might. But as I go through my day, I'm going to listen to CHRISTmas music, enjoy my CHRISTmas lights, eat a few CHRISTmas cookies and keep in mind that I'm here for a reason and the man above has a plan.
Here is wishing each and every one of you the very best CHRISTmas yet. I appreciate that you've taken the time to read my blog and hope you'll pass it along. YOU have improved my day just by reading!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Blessings......Pam
As I enjoyed that first cup of coffee, and contemplated life ... our life to be exact, we turned on the television. First thing I saw, gas prices are going up. By a bunch. A busy travel time arrives and prices rise, hmmm. Even though I'm not traveling farther than Olive Hill this holiday season, it still means more money for gas. Even worse, it means our business expenses just went up. And why? Because of greed. We travel alot each month. Between Dave and I we put alot of miles each month on vehicles. And the daily expense of gasoline is dictated by greed. I hate it.
Can you guess that my mood isn't getting any better? Nope, not a bit. And the next news story involves our crooked politicians and the fight 'this time' over how much money we make each month. These crooked politicians who make MILLIONS of dollars themselves are dictating my bottom line. They've been fighting amongst theirselves for years now and get nothing done. Again, my life dictated by greed.
Maybe another cup of coffee will help. Surely can't hurt by this point. But, oh yes, in my bad mood I figured out a way to ruin that too. I put sugar and cream in my coffee .... chocked full of preservatives and junk that is killing me. Our conversation turns to how our food is slowly killing us all. Dave and I consume alot of our own food, grown out in our gardens. We have really only eaten beef off of the C2H2 Farm since moving to Kentucky, except for eating out. Yet, we consume alot of crap too! And our food is all approved by agencies that don't care about the consumer, they would lose their jobs if they spoke up. And goodness, they have big salaries. Greed, yet again.
Well, goodness. I poured the coffee out and headed to the back porch. What does the morning bring now? Fog, that's what! It's so darned foggy out there, I can't even see the neighbor's house. And there is rain on the way. More rain. Can nothing be beautiful this morning?
Yes, it can. You see, in just a few more days it's Christmas. It's a magical time of the year, at least for most. That is, if you see the true spirit of the season. It's not about the gifts and trying to have the next 'big thing'. It's about the music, the lights, the spirit of why we have Christmas. At least it is for me this year. I could spin this thing around and make it another bad part of my morning. I really could. Ad sales are non-existent this month. Between businesses being closed, some of them for good, and people taking time off during this time of year, the Dave person has had a hard time. Which makes his mood as raw as mine. Our book is printed each month through the generosity of our advertisers, so when we have no ad sales ..... it makes it pretty darned small. And realistically .... no paycheck for me!
But, even that isn't going to ruin my day. Nope. I can't do anything about it but to keep on working hard each and every day. As long as the good Lord gives me another day, I'll do what I can to justify being here. And for today, well I'm going to go with all my might. But as I go through my day, I'm going to listen to CHRISTmas music, enjoy my CHRISTmas lights, eat a few CHRISTmas cookies and keep in mind that I'm here for a reason and the man above has a plan.
Here is wishing each and every one of you the very best CHRISTmas yet. I appreciate that you've taken the time to read my blog and hope you'll pass it along. YOU have improved my day just by reading!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Blessings......Pam
Thursday, December 15, 2011
I appreciate Kentucky even more!
Good morning everyone. I have just returned from a 8 day trip to the West Coast and although I enjoyed parts of my journey more than others, what I enjoyed the most was returning to Kentucky safe and sound. Well, as sound as I get anyway!
Our kidlet graduated with her Master's Degree in Special Education on December 10th from the University of Idaho, so my sister and I headed west for the special occasion. Unfortunately the Dave person had to stay behind in Kentucky to keep the farm and All Things Country running. Roben and I had a nice visit with our children and grandchildren, saw a few special friends and toured the Winter Spirit display in downtown Lewiston.
As much as I love visiting our hometown, I was pretty much ready to head home to Kentucky by day two. Well, maybe day three. But it didn't take long. I was kind of surprised. I hadn't been to the valley in over two years, so figured I'd enjoy catching up with what's changed and all. The sad part was, I would have to get out in the hustle and bustle to see all of it - and what hustle and bustle it was! The traffic, the stop lights, the POLICE!
I did most of the driving back there - and my daughter would constantly warn me about the police. On one occasion when I took Jen to work, we saw three different vehicles pulled over in about 10 minutes. The speed limit is 25 everywhere ... and police sit on every corner waiting for someone to go 27 miles per hour. I don't remember that many police. Is this how those cities pay their bills? By giving out tickets? Gosh, I could think of many better things for the hundreds of police I saw there .... hundreds of them in two towns that aren't that big. Yes, I'm probably inflating that number a bit, but it was a bit much.
The weather back there? No snow. Very little snow in the mountains even. There was a lot of it north of us, but I really expected to see more of it. What I didn't expect? The cold. I absolutely froze to death while I was there. It was a straight to the bone type of cold. Even to unlock the car doors froze you to the bone. It was actually pretty cold in Kentucky while I was away, but I was blessed to arrive home in Louisville Tuesday night to weather in the 50s! No coat was even needed to get to the pickup. And yesterday, oh my gosh! Over 60 degrees most of the day, bright blue sunny skies. And again, a day with no coat and gloves.
My sister and I talked all the way up to Spokane Tuesday morning to catch our flights home. We weren't sad and not ready to leave like I had figured when we headed out there. Of course, we miss our kids and grandkids, miss our friends and family. But we were definitely both ready to come home. Back to where we know that our cell service works .... even in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. Back to where we know to drive decently, but aren't fearful of a policeman on every corner just lying in wait. At least the speed limit is reasonable here. And it's more of a drive safe and prudent environment. But, heck, if I want to go slow here and there are cars behind me, I don't freak out thinking they are going to run me off the road or honk. We just know that sometimes there are slower drivers and we respect that. I'll never complain about it again.
I'm thankful to be back on the farm now, watching the serene wildlife out the front window. I'm thankful to be working on our January magazine and spreading the good that is in Kentucky. I love the people here, the many friends I've made and my very simple way of life. Sure, Dave and I stay very busy ... we like it that way. But, it's still a simple way of life compared to what I just witnessed in our old hometown. Note I said old hometown ..... I really think that beautiful Palmer, Kentucky is my new hometown. I think they'll have me now, after 9 years of being here. I'm not a native Kentuckian, but I call myself a proud Kentuckian!
Have a Blessed day everyone.
Pam
Our kidlet graduated with her Master's Degree in Special Education on December 10th from the University of Idaho, so my sister and I headed west for the special occasion. Unfortunately the Dave person had to stay behind in Kentucky to keep the farm and All Things Country running. Roben and I had a nice visit with our children and grandchildren, saw a few special friends and toured the Winter Spirit display in downtown Lewiston.
As much as I love visiting our hometown, I was pretty much ready to head home to Kentucky by day two. Well, maybe day three. But it didn't take long. I was kind of surprised. I hadn't been to the valley in over two years, so figured I'd enjoy catching up with what's changed and all. The sad part was, I would have to get out in the hustle and bustle to see all of it - and what hustle and bustle it was! The traffic, the stop lights, the POLICE!
I did most of the driving back there - and my daughter would constantly warn me about the police. On one occasion when I took Jen to work, we saw three different vehicles pulled over in about 10 minutes. The speed limit is 25 everywhere ... and police sit on every corner waiting for someone to go 27 miles per hour. I don't remember that many police. Is this how those cities pay their bills? By giving out tickets? Gosh, I could think of many better things for the hundreds of police I saw there .... hundreds of them in two towns that aren't that big. Yes, I'm probably inflating that number a bit, but it was a bit much.
The weather back there? No snow. Very little snow in the mountains even. There was a lot of it north of us, but I really expected to see more of it. What I didn't expect? The cold. I absolutely froze to death while I was there. It was a straight to the bone type of cold. Even to unlock the car doors froze you to the bone. It was actually pretty cold in Kentucky while I was away, but I was blessed to arrive home in Louisville Tuesday night to weather in the 50s! No coat was even needed to get to the pickup. And yesterday, oh my gosh! Over 60 degrees most of the day, bright blue sunny skies. And again, a day with no coat and gloves.
My sister and I talked all the way up to Spokane Tuesday morning to catch our flights home. We weren't sad and not ready to leave like I had figured when we headed out there. Of course, we miss our kids and grandkids, miss our friends and family. But we were definitely both ready to come home. Back to where we know that our cell service works .... even in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. Back to where we know to drive decently, but aren't fearful of a policeman on every corner just lying in wait. At least the speed limit is reasonable here. And it's more of a drive safe and prudent environment. But, heck, if I want to go slow here and there are cars behind me, I don't freak out thinking they are going to run me off the road or honk. We just know that sometimes there are slower drivers and we respect that. I'll never complain about it again.
I'm thankful to be back on the farm now, watching the serene wildlife out the front window. I'm thankful to be working on our January magazine and spreading the good that is in Kentucky. I love the people here, the many friends I've made and my very simple way of life. Sure, Dave and I stay very busy ... we like it that way. But, it's still a simple way of life compared to what I just witnessed in our old hometown. Note I said old hometown ..... I really think that beautiful Palmer, Kentucky is my new hometown. I think they'll have me now, after 9 years of being here. I'm not a native Kentuckian, but I call myself a proud Kentuckian!
Have a Blessed day everyone.
Pam
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