Reflections From the Fence: July 2015

Friday, July 31, 2015

One Blue Moon, Two Blue Moon, Three Blue Moon, Thank you Photo Editing!

The Blue Moon is tonight, July 31st. Won't see another till January 2018 they say.

Last night, we had clear skies. Well, I thought they were clear. The moon was almost full, I am calling it Blue Moon Minus 1.

So, last night, just before I grabbed my pillow and hugged hard, I glanced out the window, and there was the moon popping up over the tree tops behind the house.

So, I grabbed Sony Too and outside I went. As I tried to focus on the moon to get the "bumps and bruises" to show up, I discovered that there would be NO focusing, seems there was a lot of "moisture" in the atmosphere. All I was seeing was fussy, almost misty photos.

Funny, the mist does not show particularly well when I view the photos on the computer. Silly techy things.

It is clouding up right now, not going to hold my breath about possible photos tonight.

And, then, a moment of creative genius struck, otherwise known as "silly Carol".

Here, with the assistance of my loving photo editing program, are three views of the BLUE moon, err, sky, around the misty moon.

I know, I know, stretching as far as I can, silliness supreme. Hey, it is hot, it is summer and it is all I can offer. Enjoy!

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Can You See Me Now??

July has slipped away. How does that happen??

The last few days have been close to unbearable with lots of heat and humidity. This morning while trying to revive the potted plants on the deck, I noticed pretty pink and ????

Can you see me??

Look closer, I'm there, really I am. Can you see me now?? I am less than 1/2 inch long.

Thanks Sony Too zoom!

Saturday, July 25, 2015

It's Summer, It's Hot, It's Summer, It's Busy

I just realized it has been a couple of weeks since I posted here. Just HOW does that happen?? Well, it's summer, it's hot and we are busy.

One of the goals this summer are some do-over fixes on Tana. You can read about the project up to now, here.

And, here is the most recent photo:

Gotta run, it's summer, it's hot and we are busy!

Thursday, July 9, 2015

The Ole Country Vet and the Horse

From the Arkansas City Daily Traveler, Arkansas City, Cowley County, Kansas, published on August 6, 1900, page 1:

“CONSIDERABLE EXCITEMENT

A Supposed Mad Horse Causes Lots of Trouble.

Several days ago B. G. Doughty, proprietor of the north Summit street second hand store bought a buck skin pony and used it to drive to his delivery wagon. At the time he bought the pony it appeared to be allright (sic) and continued so until Saturday evening, when it was taken sick with what appeared to be an attack of colic. Dr. Jones was called and pronouned (sic) the trouble congestion of the stomach and brain. He gave the owner of the animal some medicine and it was administered to the horse. He appeared to be getting a little better until this morning when a change for the worse took place. Dr. Jones was dismissed by Doughty who though the (sic, probably should read “thought he”, oops typo) 1900 style had paid out enough on the animal. Dr. Lashbrook came along about this time and said that he could cure the animal. He was given a chance, with the understanding that if he did not cure the horse he was to receive no pay. He was at work on the horse nearly the whole day. This morning the animal became violent and made things lively around the corral in which it is kept. It would bite the fence and anything, in fact, that it could reach. While giving the horse a dose of medicine, Lashbrook received a severe bite on the hand. At last reports the animal was apparently getting better.”

* Graphic courtesy of Daily Clip Art.
.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

The Love of A Dog

From the Arkansas City Daily Traveler, Arkansas City, Kansas, published on April 26, 1900, page 2:

“During his life Joe Grace, who recently died at the Soldiers home, was the owner of a dog, and this dog stuck closer to his master than any brother. When Joe went away he left the dog with the crony of his later years, Doc Lashbrook, as was stated in this paper at the time of its occurrence Joe death came soon after entering the home. His personal effects, to-wit, the dog, fell to his friend Lashbrook. The arrangement seemed perfect satisfactory to the dog, and he has developed the same liking toward his new owner that he showed to Joe, and how the dog is Lashbrook's constant companion.

Drunk or sober, Joe was never to be seen without the dog, and many a story of the dog's faithfulness is told. The dog is of common stock and his ancestry was always uncertain.”

* Doc Lashbrook was undoubtably, Aaron D. Lashbrook, born in England, died in Blackwell, Kay County, Oklahoma on October 23, 1921, buried in Parker Cemetery, Arkansas City, Kansas on October 25, 1921. Aaron was a "country" vet for many years, "Doc".

** Graphic thanks to Webweaver.

.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Just WHO is W. A. Lashbrook??

Found, in the Abilene Daily Reflector, Abilene, Kansas, published Wednesday, October 18, 1911 - Page 1

ALL HUNTING BURIED TREASURE

Oklahoma Auctioneer's Story Starts

Extensive Blasting Operations on

Newkirk Man's Farm.

Wichita, Kan., Oct 18 - - Before he was reported to have died two years ago, W. A. Lashbrook, a veteran auctioneer living at Newkirk, Ok., gave a friend in Arkansas City, Kan., a diagram of an abandoned cave on J. A. Coleman's ranch, six miles east of Newkirk, which he said contained thousands of dollars of treasure taken from freighters immediate after the rebellion by members of the Quantrell and Dave Pool gang of guerrillas.

The Arkansas City man sought Mr. Coleman's permission to explore his farm for the lost cave. It was granted and some blasting has been done. No gold has been found, but the story leaked out about the hidden money, and now Mr. Coleman is entertaining quite a number of treasure seekers who are perforating his ranch with dynamite and gunpowder. Lashbrook who did not die as reported has joined the fortune hunters. He has been no more successful than the athers (sic).

Now, many of you know that I have done just a spot of research on that Lashbrook name, and that I have done some in the locales stated. And, no, I have no idea who this W. A. Lashbrook is. I even did a quick search on the 1910 census to see if he was enumerated in Oklahoma. You guessed it. NOT!

So, who are you W. A.??

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th!

Remember, it's not about the burnt hot dogs and hamburgs.

Thanks to all who have given the ultimate sacrifice for the USA. Your sacrifice is humbling.

*Graphic courtesy of Bitmoji. Yes, I do love my Bitmoji.

.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Twenty Years, Really?? Yes, It's Been Twenty Years

Twenty years ago today, Man and I moved into this stick built. It was a step out of his comfort zone, he had never lived anywhere that did not have paved roads or sidewalks, more-less a septic system.

We arrived in fashion, err, with a bit of a show, I believe there were 5 vehicles in the caravan. A U-Haul enclosed truck, 3 cars full to the top with people, stuff, house plants (feel for the family member that had to deal with the cacti), pets, a few bottles of beer (cold beer), food and Carol pulling up the rear of the caravan with the van pulling an enclosed U Haul trailer, again, full to the brim. There were 6 of us I believe, maybe 7.

We drove into the yard and I heard rumors that the neighbors started with palpitations, wondering who was moving in and how many of us there were. It would take us till Thanksgiving week to get settled in, put in carpet in the three bedrooms upstairs, paint a bit, hang the art and such. We would eventually purchase two mowers, the garden tractor/mower and the Gravely. Also purchased a large generator, chain saws, a large snow thrower, my little trailer that goes behind the garden tractor (Carol's Toy) and so many other "country" toys I cannot remember them all.

In the 20 years we have built a pole barn and had the front part of the house rebuilt due to water damage. We have replaced the furnace, while Man was conveniently at his Mothers and I was home freezing my keester, err, back side off. 50 in a house is just toooooo cold, the heating blanket was my savior! We replaced the pump on the well and the water softener. The central air is still going, much to our surprise!

We even built "Carol's Folly" a bridge. It was always wet down there, except for the 3 or 4 years after we built the bridge, then, it was dry, dry dry. Of course.

We have wildlife, wild turkey, skunk (eww), possom, rabbits, deer, wood ducks, mallards, geese, snapping turtles, sand hill cranes, lots of song birds, hummingbirds, and one blue herron that comes only in August. And, those are the creatures I have seen.

We have cut trees down, planted others. Every hole we dig to put in flora is a challenge as we sit on a gravel pit created by receding glaciers a few years back. Every hole is full of sand and rocks of varying sizes.

The first few years I drug hoses from April till November, 300 foot of hose all hooked together. I watered flora for up to 12 hours a day. It takes that long when you have 30 some new trees to water, not counting the bushes and flower beds. Truly, it is a miracle I did not burn up the pump on the well (it lasted 18 years!)

We have had our share of storms, a few tornado like storms, and one doozie of an ice storm. Said ice storm took out the power, of course. Man hooked up the generator in the pole barn, but, we could still hear it running all night. We also heard the crashing and crunching as the ice broke and shattered in so many pieces and took down so many limbs. It was unforgettable! And, it took a lot of work to clean up all those limbs. Thank you chain saws!

The seasons change, the fog rolls in, the sun rises. I listen to the geese arrive in the spring and depart in the fall. They make a lot of honking noise, but, you get used to it. Even more amazing is hearing the "peepers" in the spring. Sometimes I have to close the windows and doors to have some peace and quiet to fall asleep to. They are louder than trains at some campgrounds we have been in.

We have had some significant snows, one or two that were 18 inches and more. Driving out in 18 inch snow storms can be epic, or at least thrilling. Driving out the gravel roads during an ice storm is not so epic or interesting. That is because after the first 360 degree turn, at the end of the drive, you just limp back up the driveway and stay home. It is about 1.5 miles to the paved road, when it is icy, it could be 150 miles. Makes no difference. Just. Stay. Home.

Yes, 20 years. It is hard to believe. Laughter, tears, fear, joy. 6 yorkies and 2 kitties. Marriages, births, deaths. Graduations. Life goes on, good and bad, happy and sad. And, yet, every spring, life renews.