I would be remiss in my duties as a blogger if I failed to let my readers know that International Women's Day is tomorrow, March 8. Meesha reminded me of this fact, and I am at this very moment plotting ways to get all the men in my life to give me gifts and take me out to eat. In Russia, according to my friend, International Women's Day is a big deal. We in this country need to get with the program! Click HERE to read what Meesha has to say about the holiday.
While we are on the subject of the Kansas City Russian, you might want to learn what dentistry was like when he was growing up in Russia (he is about the age of my children, so it wasn't THAT long ago). It makes me thankful I was born in the good old U.S.A. You'll find the dentist story HERE.
We went to the reunion of relatives on my dad's side of the family yesterday. My sister met us at a convenient spot and rode along, so we had a good visit with her. Coming home, we saw dark storm clouds ahead, and before we reached Liberty we were hit by heavy rain and strong winds. We saw motorcyclists taking shelter under overpasses; I always feel for those people, because we've been out on the bike in the rain and I know how scary it can be. As we approached Buckner, there were limbs down and leaves on the highway, and whole town seemed to be without electricity. We were without power when we arrived home, too. Although there wasn't any major damage, some limbs had broken.
My old cabin sat under lots of big trees in the woods and never had limbs on the roof. It isn't harmed, by the way, at least as far as we can tell.
Two of the big evergreen trees behind Cliff's shop broke off. There's a propane tank underneath those fallen trees. It's a shame to lose the tall trees, but still not a big deal in the vast scheme of things. On the news, I heard them saying winds were clocked at Higginsville at 95 miles per hour. At the reunion, I caught up with cousins I see once a year.
As always, we four 1944 baby girls lined up for a picture. I find it amazing that four brothers managed to sire baby girls in the same year, although as the others pointed out, the Allens tended to have more girls than boys. I graduated with the two girls on the right.
That's me, top row, right. Left of me is my cousin Alice, and on the bottom left is my cousin Frances. Lela, the other 1944 baby, stayed home on the farm where she was born, and one of her sisters still lives on their old home place in north Missouri.
Here's a stained old picture of the four 1944 baby girls. In all my baby pictures, you will see me wearing a hat. I was bald until I was about two years old, and my mother wanted the world to know I was a girl.
While I don't have any earthshaking tales to tell, my favorite Russian (also the only Russian I know) is back home in Kansas City after a visit to Argentina, and is doing a series of posts on his travels. If you're interested, check out the Kansas City Russian.
On another note, I'm rather excited that enough people have clicked on the ads on this blog to get me past $98; at $100, I'm supposed to receive a check from Google. It has taken me five or six years to accumulate this much, so I imagine it will take another couple of months to actually hit $100. With the economy like it is, I appreciate any extra money that comes in. For some reason I just haven't been in a blogging mood lately, so think nothing of it if I skip a day or two.
My friend Meesha did this entry a couple of years ago about what dentistry was like when he was growing up in Russia. I guarantee you that if you read this little piece, you will start thanking your lucky stars for whatever dentist you patronize. You will also be glad you live in the good old U.S.A. Click HERE.
I mentioned on Facebook that I was making the Russian salsa. Here's the conversation that ensued (click on it to read it more easily):
Notice that my Russian friend, Meesha, said this: "You start eating this, next thing you know you are drinking vodka and dancing like this. And he posted the link to the following video:
Then I said something about how I was picturing myself in one of those dresses, and it wasn't a pretty picture. It just went on from there, and I was eventually photoshopped into a Russian costume with a group of dancers. Here's the picture.
You know why I like it? Because I haven't been that slender in my entire life! Now you have seen me as a Russian, and a skinny one at that. Who'd have thought that eating some Russian salsa would take fifty pounds off me.
There's an Arkansas blogger I follow who is not afraid to voice her opinions, which sometimes conflict with my own. But you know what they say about opinions. Anyway, something about her entry today made me crack up laughing as I was nodding in agreement. Check out her views on presidents' wives at My Life and Times, and say hello to Patsy while you're there.
My Kansas City Russian friend, Meesha, has decided to put his blog to work: He's going to try using it as a dating site. Check out the entry HERE. Don't bother reading the million dollar bill, just scroll down until you get to the meat of the post.
Sister Mary Martha is always good for a laugh, too. If nuns could be stand-up comediennes, she'd be a good one.
My Kansas City Russian friend has a different perspective from most of us, having grown up in the Soviet Union. And you know what? I'm starting to pay more attention to what he has to say. Click HERE to see what he thinks about the health care reform we're being handed. Other than local school bond issues, I may not be voting any more. What does it really matter?
We were privileged to have that Kansas City Russian Jew visit today, with his daughter and her friend. They all met my horse, Blue. The girls even got a brief ride later on.
We went for a tractor ride.
I showed Meesha where the blackberries grow, and he ate a few of them.
My two local granddaughters were here, and these four girls took turns churning butter. Then they went inside with me and they all had toast and Bonnie-butter and a glass of Bonnie-milk.
We sat in the shade by Cliff's shop and chewed the fat.
If it's going to rain, I'd much rather we'd get some accumulation. Today it's just drizzled off and on all day, but not much measurable precipitation.
Mike had contacted me this morning saying they might drop by this afternoon; I actually had given up on them, with the rain and all. But around 6 P.M., here they were!
I'm a faithful reader of Meesha's blog, so it was a treat to really meet him and his beautiful daughter, Samantha. I took a picture, but you won't be seeing it here. Mike doesn't want his picture floating around the Internet. I'm pretty sure Meesha must be Russian for Mike. Hmmm, I wonder what the Russian word is for Donna?
Anyway, I was having a bit of a blue day, and these visitors perked me up a bit. I only hope they show up in good weather sometime; Samantha wants a tractor ride, and Cliff likes any excuse to put one of his tractors to work.
At least they got a glimpse of my goldfinches and hummingbirds. And of course, they got to meet my pesky dog, Sadie.
Cliff says almost daily, "This thing will affect us before it's done." Of course in small ways, it already has.
While his job appears secure at present, we know about that old snowball effect. Who knows where it will stop?
Meesha, at Kansas City with the Russian Accent, addresses this topic, and there's quite an interesting discussion in the comment section of his entry from yesterday. If you'd like to check it out and perhaps add your opinion in comment, it's HERE.
