Rain, Rain Go Away

But don't forget us in July, please. My friend and dance/ gardening partner was sweet enough to take me out to the Boathouse for lunch ,today, after I helped him find some references to the property he just bought, in the basement of the courthouse. He estimates the property went from the Indians to speculators to the Bixler family, through several owners after the Bixlers and now back to the Indians =Rainwater. Although I have found very few Rainwaters in this country who could claim ties to native Americans, I won't burst his bubble.
We celebrated Easter all day yesterday with a little nap in the middle. Hersh (Rainwater) made it in for the big ham event about 6:30 p.m. Son, Chris Long, did most of the food after being up into the wee hours of the night with band job and church.
Uncke Jack Anglin was very happy in church yesterday because his kids and cousin Dave Anglin from Fort Wayne were there and stayed for dinner.
I was out to see Count last week and she told me more about life on the farm where she grew to a teen. The upstairs "dorm style " room was never finished beyond the studs. The boys- Wayne, Herm and Doyle slept on one side of the big chimney and the girls -Mary, Count and Anna on the other side until you know, PUBERTY. Then a small civilized room was made up for the girls downstairs. Count could draw a detailed chart of exact placement of every room in that house right now Talking about it seems to bring her comfort.

Garden time for Count

I went to see Aunt Count at Grace villiage today. We talked a little bit about farm gardening when she was a little girl. Between grousing about the too smokey "BBQ ribs" they served her for lunch and the "interfering activities lady"she almost waxed poetic about her 8 year old hours weeding the carrots and beets. She allowed that the very best carrots are the ones you pull out of the sandy soil, wipe off on your dress and chow down right there. This was so satisfying because these were the very vegetables where she and Anna poked holes in the newly prepared area and dropped seeds just weeks before. Sometimes her dad took excess produce and fresh dressed chickens to the farmer's market in South Bend. The night before she would hold the comb on the head of the chicken and drag the entire chicken up on a prepared board for execution. EEOOW!! She didn't have to pluck the feathers ( a really stinky job). Then they had to get up about four in the morning. No stop for a fast food breakfast on the way up . One trip she remembered: the old truck was runnin' OK but about half way there on 19 the windshield just fell right out onto the road. Count was born on the farm in 1920. They moved to Burket and opened a grocery store without benefit of a market study and sure enough it folded within a short time. The only thing I remember about that store was the time K and I were toddlers and Count and Anna who were late teens taking care of us for the afternoon. They decided to have a little fun watching us try to eat peanut butter. They opened a new jar and sat us up on the counter. then they insisted that we each eat a huge spoonful of the thick gooooooy stuff. It is a wonder we didn't choke to death. I know I gagged. Teens can be stupid- watch 'em.

New and old times

I had a well rounded day starting with some yoga and pilates exercising , went to lunch with a friend then drove out to see Aunt Count. She was just waking and glad to see me . I read her some stuff and then she asked if I could bring in the big Rapp family picture so she could tell me about some of the relatives that lived ever so close to the her dad's farm so I will have more to say about that later if I can find the picture.
Grace called to tell me that the Dr. said that she has shingles. I hope the meds take care of it.
I talked to my daughter Cecily to get permission to copy an essay that she wrote when she was seven or eight. Here it is: Titled MY DOG BITE
I was walking with my girlfriend (no names so to protect the inocent) when she usherd me into the neibor house. I didnt know they even had a dog, but presto before I knew it the dog had jumped up on me and scratched me. I sat down on the couch and the dog, named RASTISS, jumped up and licked me very hard. one of the boys called him away and he went immediately.
Mrs. X as I will call her, called me over to look at my scratches, I didnt think he did anything but scratch me. We soon left and I showed my girlfriend what he did to my back. She was alarmed and said it was bleeding. She took me home and her mother put aniseptic on it. Soon the Mr. came and said it was a mere nip and took me home.
Mother was upset because it broke the skin, but thought it was alright. Later when she was examining it carefully she got worried because it was a hole. Dad was mad because he did not hear about it until 10:00 because we forgot. The next day I had to get a tetanus shot. If the dog was a stray I would half to get 21 rabies shots. But it was a house dog. They half to keep it pened up regardless as a state law, and if it gets sick or dies of rabies within ten days I will at least have 5 rabies shots. I'm sure looking foreword to NO more dog bites. THE END