Day 312 CJSM-book IV

Day 312

 

 

Sled riding down the big hill

 

 

Snow! Snow! Snow! I absolutely love---Snow! Winter is my 2^nd favorite season.

We make the very most of any, and every, event making it an adventure. Ah! Sled riding!

Cold nose, tingling ears, frosty-breath, snowflakes on your tongue! Voila! Nirvana!

A fair number of people actually get angry when I extol winter’s excitement. Too bad!

I will wake up in the wee hours of darkness and know by “sense” only that it is snowing.

Up to 24 hours prior to the 1^st snowflake, I “smell” the event coming! Absolutely---True!

We had a big hill on our property and utilized it for sled riding; had a few “public” ones, too.

Every “kid” loves snow. Don’t let the years sneak up on you forgetting to live---Fun!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Let it snow!” Memories!

Day 311 CJSM-book IV

Day 311

 

 

Polish Pottery for Candy

 

 

I reckon people can find anything to collect. Sure enough!

I once had a very nice gun collection. The year our grandson, Z. Tyler was born found me in my fortieth year; I made a momentous decision with regard to material things that very year.

I did not want to own anything; sold the guns, RCBS reloading equipment, a Vers-a-Mec shot shell reloader, golf clubs (Hardly? Thrown!?), all I had save some shabby, old comfortable clothes and worn out cowboy boots.

We lived on the farm then, finally sold it, too; only after adding a 72-acre contiguous parcel and an 80-acre farm I had tried, and failed, to purchase ten years earlier.

With all that “material” conclusion about “not owning anything”, and, then buying another 153-acres in the next year, we sold it all and picked up and moved to Oregon! Wow!

I reckon I confess to a “distaste” for the material of life; if somebody, somewhere finds “value” in a material treasure---I miss the attraction…I’m too busy living to spend time collecting. Now, for those I love, I insist on some “pretties” for them to dote over and cherish.

Lady Candice has some fine “material” holdings and I am all for it, and, responsible, too.

Our girls and grandchildren do not escape my “Santa Claus”-fixation, either. But---for me?...Nah! I find my life-pleasure of treasure-measure in---Giving…got more than I need; way more than I want. Of course, they insist on giving me things, and I sincerely appreciate the effort.

I am satiated with life’s myriad blessings; I am not “satisfied” enough to---quit…not, yet!

I do love horses and when I get another ranch---Well!?...”50” seems to be about the right number! Yee! Haa!

We have a house chock-full of antiques, some “family” pieces and several curved glass cabinets filled with "Depression"-glass.  Lady Candice enjoys some fine jewelry pieces, too. Our home is elegant and filled with---Love! My Lady exudes…Class!

Our latest “gathering”-endeavors involve a little treat name of: Polish-pottery.

We found a little shop on one of our many day trips to old St. Charles, MO front street.

Colorful fired pottery designed, thrown and glazed in Poland and imported into the U.S.A.

In a few years we have managed to collect quite few very nice pieces for Miss Candy’s view.

I truly enjoy seeing the pieces tastefully displayed around the house, but they belong to her.

Hmm! An anniversary is coming and Christmas and---well…just any old day for having fun!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Polish-pottery” Memories!

 

 

 

Day 310 CJSM-book IV

Day 310

 

 

Ice cream Drumsticks from the little store in Waterloo

 

 

“Sweets” really never interested me, much, until I was told not to eat them. Hmm!

Might be that Rebel-Rascal-Rogue-recalcitrant strain within my psyche? Hmm! Again.

But, while I did not crave the “sugar train delights” I knew the kids’ penchant for the tasty-treat delectables so ole Santa Clause managed to spoil my progeny with everything imaginable.

We had our very favorite “forbidden-fruit” ,as it were. Chocolate Dixie-cups from Robert’s grocery store in Prairie du Rocher, candy treats from almost all the temptation-sites (everywhere), pizza, soda ice cream (including Drumsticks), cookies---you name it…I bought it for the kids. (Ate a few, myself, too.)

They were so active that the pounds just stayed away from them, no “thanks” to me.

The “little store” up the street from our house offered just too many temptations. Drumsticks were a very favorite “No!-No!” and I indulged the kids in them on a regular basis. Ah! Fun!

We sure enough had us a “roaring” good-rime making every day an adventure. I reckon!

Well! The result was “happy”-children---a satiated “Daddy”…and a satisfied Santa Claus!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Drumstick” Memories!

Day 309 CJSM-book IV

Day 309

 

 

Tiger “running” on the dining room door---

watch that belly swing

 

 

We had a fabulous cat name of Tiger; he really lived up to his namesake; thought he was human!? Part of the family, no doubt.

When we played ball, he came out in the yard and joined right in, chasing the ball and laying in the outfield waiting for a pop fly.

At the pond in winter, when it froze into a skating “rink” and we traipsed down to the “arena” for exercise fun and games, ole Tiger-cat joined right in the excitement (sans skates). Hmm!

One day a friend came by to visit and took my chair by the fireplace. Whenever I vacated that comfortable seat, Tiger pounced on the opportunity to conscript it for his own leisure. The whole time Jim sat there talking, Tiger sat “patiently” waiting for his chair to be vacated. When Jim finally leaned forward---zip…Tiger jumped up behind him wiggling him out of the seat! Wow!

When we let him go outside, he would come to the dining room patio door and “run” back and forth across the screen announcing that he wanted to be let in. That habit soon ended.

I have certain “rules” which I apply in situations in life. One is: Children and animals behave!

 

 Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Feline!” Memories!

Day 308 CJSM-book IV

Day 308

 

 

416 Park Street, Waterloo, Illinois

 

 

With college successfully (really) behind us, promising careers begun and baby-Beth making life Grand, we found our 1^st house: 416 Park Street, Waterloo, IL 62298. Welcome to America!

We redecorated that quaint little home with our personal touches. Just Beautiful!

I built-in 4-feet of book shelves which we promptly filled with novels. The dwelling had a front porch clear across the front which we utilized to its fullest. Beth had a yellow nylon rope about 3/8” diameter and some 30’ long which she fashioned into a make-believe stage coach harness; she drove that 5-horse team sitting on one side of the porch pretending adventure.

I finally got the pool table I had so long wanted; eventually sold it! Imagine that!? Bought another. Sold it, too! Hmm! Had several over the years. Bought one for Z. Tyler, also.

We installed a limestone patio off the rear porch and added a raised flower box for looks.

Had several cats and dogs housed in a shed on the back corner of the property. Daughter Beth got her 1^st horse while we lived there; Little-Lady, the white Welsh pony. Enjoyable!

I started a gun collection, got into re-loading center fire pistol and rifle; hunted and fished.

We lived there 3-years before we purchased 10-acres on the bluff and built a new home. We added more critters: horses, dogs, cats, chickens; added a stable;  installed a pond for ice skating; installed a swimming pool, had myriad bar-b-ques and pool parties and trail rides. Fantastic!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Let the Good-times roll!” Memories!

Day 307 CJSM-book IV

Day 307

 

 

On the all-night drive back from Colorado,

Becky watched Mom nod off in the car.

Dad laid his head back to rest his head and

Mom woke up and yelled “Carl!” and slaps

him in the chest.

 

 

Reckon I sure enough pulled some real “boners” in my time & space. Yeah! I reckon so!

We have vacationed in colorful Colorado on myriad adventures with the entire family; I don’t even like to go anywhere, any more, if the entire tribe cannot go along. With school and jobs and other interests in our “busy” world-wind, getting the entire clan together is nearly impossible.

I seem to “fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants” as a matter of practice. Seldom will I accede to the “necessity” of making motel reservations when we travel, save the times we went out of the country; then, I sided on the side of better judgment than I generally exercise.

Several ventures to Colorado found us stranded for the night without benefit of lodging; my ingenuity always discovered a “miracle” to save the day; my Independent-Individual acumen usually managed to see us through---well…all the time but, once.

Taking in a Colorado-Rockies baseball game on our final day on vacation, we set out about 10:30 pm from Denver on an eastward trek headed home planning to motel overnight in Kansas.

Uh! Oh! No reservations. We tried town after town until 2 am---no luck! The great state of Kansas was holding its annual State-Fair and every bless-ed cowboy, and girl, was out and about and all the rooms were full---Hmm!...No room at the Inn!? As it were!

We pulled into a motel in Hays and---“No rooms!” We slept in the car in the parking lot.

Leaving at dawn with only a few hours sleep, we headed east into the rising sun.

Everyone was exceptionally quiet; sleeping, or trying to, while I pushed on toward the sun.

At some point, I laid my head back against the headrest; Candy caught the motion and thought that I had fallen asleep driving. She loudly called, “Carl!” and slapped me in the chest. Wow!

I really was fully awake; apparently, she was taking no chances. Hmm! Lesson-learned.

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Reservations? What are reservations!?” Memories!

Day 306 CJSM-book IV

Day 306

 

 

Whale-watching off the Oregon-coast

 

 

Ah!---That wicked temptress…The Great Northwest! If I am to be tempted? Oregon wins!

I confess that I have never been bored in some 7+ decades; people are bored, lonely, afraid.

In that “choice” of spending  precious-sacred time, I just simply choose not to participate.

Should one find it difficult to cultivate a positive habit, allow me to offer the Oregon coast!

We lived in the Willamette Valley, an equal distance east to mountain-snow and to the west, the fantastic Oregon coast (50-minutes to each). We could day trip to many venues offering beauty as we appreciated, and took advantage of, the beautiful region. Even, on up to Seattle and onward through the San Jan Islands and on to Victoria, British Columbia. Spectacular!

The Cascade Mountains to the east sported snow on July 4^th while the Coast Mountains to the west ushered a vist of the great-blue Pacific Ocean. We spent most of our leisure time on the coast; “Whale-watching” in the fall months and “storm-watching” in winter-time. For our Z. Tyler, who was age 2 and 3 when we lived there, got a fantastic natural education.

I found nary a dull moment in all our adventures in the Great Northwest. Fabulous!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Great Northwest whale-watching” Memories!