Monday, March 14, 2011

Snow

Yesterday the temperatures barely got above freezing, but Cliff and I went to a friend's house and brought home his tiller... the kind of tiller you pull behind a tractor.  Cliff hooked up to it to the John Deere, and within a half-hour, each garden plot was a perfect seed-bed; we returned the tiller to its home and waited for snow.  
Yes, you read that right.  Snow.  This morning the ground is white, and there's a mix of snow and sleet coming down.  It won't last long, because the weather-guessers are forecasting temperatures in the seventies for Thursday.  
Meanwhile, the most exciting news around is that seeds are sprouting in the mini-greenhouses placed all over my bedroom.  I've learned over the past few days that different varieties of tomato seeds germinate at different speeds.  The Legend tomatoes showed themselves three days ago, but the other varieties are just now beginning to come up.  None of the several varieties of pepper seeds I planted have sprouted.  Saturday I took my cabbage plants out to get them used to sun, wind, and cooler temperatures; Sunday morning I started out with them and decided to check the temperature first.  They stayed inside all day because it was cold, even for hardy little cabbages.      
Cliff has a dentist appointment this morning, so while we're out, I'll probably pick up some seed potatoes.  Who knows, I may yet plant a token few potatoes on St. Patrick's Day.  I usually plant most of my potatoes on Good Friday, which is late this year, April 22.  
I love my morning Eight O'clock Columbian coffee, which you can get as whole-bean or ground.  That first cup of the day is heavenly, and I always think perhaps I should have made more than three cups.  By the time I've drunk all three cups, though, I don't want any more.  I've seen people who could drink coffee from morning til night, but once I reach my limit I don't want more unless I have a cup after dinner (the noon-day meal).  


Here's something that strikes me as funny:  Cliff has picked up the habit of calling guys "Hon" in the course of conversation.  Now, he's called women "Hon" for years, but not guys.  Here's what I think happened:  


When I went to work in the year 2000, the twins next door gravitated over here and practically lived with Cliff every day until he left for work at 2:30.  They'd been pulled out of school and were allowed to spend time however, and wherever, they wished.  It worked out well for Cliff, because he isn't a loner; and as much as he liked me bringing in some money, he missed my presence.  
The twins loved all things mechanical, and picked up a wealth of information from Cliff.  Not only that, but they were excellent helpers, willing to jump in and assist him with any task, no matter how unpleasant.    
I believe they were eight or nine years old when they first showed up, and being cute little boys, Cliff called them "Hon" a lot; back then he wasn't sure which boy was which anyhow, so this worked.  Once the boys discovered girls, they stopped showing up regularly, but they still keep in touch with Cliff by phone, and they'll stop by the shop once in awhile to bend his ear.  Travis has often confided in Cliff, saying, "You're like another grandpa to me."
They're probably twenty years old now, but when Cliff is talking to one or the other on the phone, I'll hear him calling them Hon.  And now, any man on the street is liable to be addressed as Hon.  I've seen Cliff get some strange looks, believe me.  He said one of his co-workers asked him the other day, "Did you just call me Hon?"   


One of the twins now has an aggressive form of cancer and will soon be undergoing surgery followed by months of chemo.  Now, those of you who think it's nuts to pray for people, just go on your merry way, because this isn't a laughing matter; but Cliff and I, and more importantly, Tyler and his family, would really appreciate all the prayers anyone can send in this young man's direction.  Any brand of prayers.  This is a serious situation.  
    

14 comments:

  1. We will pray for Tyler. The last time I checked, God's still listening.

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  2. I'll be praying for this young man and his family. May the dear Lord bless him with a successful surgery and guide the hands of the doctors caring for him. No snow here today and we should be up in the 50's by Thursday.

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  3. Donna prayers on the way!

    Your snow slipped down our way. It was a mistake I just know it.

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  4. Definitely praying for Tyler & extended family!

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  5. Vicki9:30 AM

    Prayers and good thoughts for Tyler and his family. Vicki

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  6. Anonymous9:46 AM

    Tyler and his family will gladly be added to our prayer list.

    sam

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  7. I'm not that big on praying, but I'll try to send some good karma his way. It works sometimes. Like spiritual bactine.

    At work I often will call someone "Miss" or "Ma'am" just to throw them off a little. Especially since 99% of the people there are men. I get some of the funniest looks sometimes...

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  8. I will be praying~ and because of this sweet post, I will be praying for "Hon". How amazing that they all found eachother when they did. I know that there can never be too many folks that love a child, and my kids have a few special grandparents that are not blood. My husband and I have carried this on and have a few cuties that we treat as thought they are grandbabies.

    May God lay His healing hands on this young man, his family, and his dear friends.

    Jennifer

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  9. So sorry to hear about the cancer--it hits particularly hard when it's a young person. I giggled about "hon." I'm glad your snow is just temporary. I sure hope we get tomatoes this year. Last summer was lousy.

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  10. Anonymous8:47 PM

    My prayers are with them. I hope you don't mind but I think I love Cliff! Any man who calls everyone hon and not just the females has got to be wonderful!

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  11. My thoughts and prayers will be with you all.

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  12. tell hon to keep it up.

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  13. I'll put my money on God any day as I know that He is listening and cares for each one of us. I will gladly put the young man and his family on my prayer list!!!

    Tell Hon I said hi! ha!

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  14. Anonymous12:04 AM

    Dee

    Just read this. I will be praying and then praying some more. May God's mending Hand be on him and may his family members be strengthened also throughout each day. I have a great-nephew -- who is so very close to my heart - the same age, and I can't imagine what the parents are going through. Praying for all.

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