Day: December 2, 2024

Morning

Are you more of a night or morning person?

I am definitely a morning person. I am usually awake long before dawn looking for light to be peeking from around the curtains. If I am lucky, I can drift off again. I am always napping in my comfy chair by eight-thirty in the evening and in bed by ten pm.

Very Best Christmas Cartoons for You

Caroline: What happens when Santa Claus gets stuck in a chimney?
Jill: Tell me.
Caroline: He gets Claustrophobia!

Joke submitted by Caroline V., Castle Rock, Colo.

Drake: You find it in December but not in any other month. What is it?
Gina: I don’t know.
Drake: The letter D!

Joke submitted by Drake L., Charlotte, N.C.

Comic by Scott Nickel

Maggie: What is the most dangerous kind of body part?
Sara: I don’t know.
Maggie: Mistletoes.

Joke submitted by Maggie S., Madison, Wis.

Comic by Scott Nickel

Zachary: Which of Santa’s reindeer are dinosaurs afraid of?
Lee: No idea.
Zachary: Comet!

Joke submitted by Zachary A., Miami, Fla.

Comic by Scott Nickel

Ricky: What is a snowman’s favorite snack?
Zoey: I don’t know.
Ricky: Ice crispy treats.

Joke submitted by Ricky M., Atlanta, Ga.

Comic by Scott Nickel

Henry: What did one gingerbread man say after all the others were eaten?
Lauren: I haven’t the foggiest.
Henry: “It’s hard to bake new friends.”

Joke submitted by Henry P., Portland, Ore.

Comic by Scott Nickel

Tom Swifty: “I wish I’d never come to the North Pole,” Tom said coldly.

Joke submitted by Owen B., Maplewood, N.J.

Comic by Jon Carter

Young: What do tigers sing at Christmas?
Chris: I’m stumped.
Young: “Jungle Bells!”

Joke submitted by Young L., Chicago, Ill.

Comic by Daryll Collins

Surviving Hardship: Cousin Kat’s Life Lessons from Virginia

Cousin Kat was born the eldest of seven in 1916 in the mountains of Western, Virginia. Her father died of a cerebral aneurysm when she was only twelve. Her father and my grandmother were siblings. Sadly, Cousin Kat and her brother, only one year younger, had to leave school. They went to work immediately upon their father’s death. Neither of them ever got to live at home again after that. They took whatever jobs they could get. She did housework and canning. She helped with the sick or the elderly. She assisted with children and helped with gardening. She took on whatever tasks she could find. Her brother did whatever work he managed to find, usually on a farm.

Her widowed mother was left with five small children, the youngest on three. A kind-hearted neighbor allowed her and the children to harvest his bean field. Other neighbors helped harvest their fields, saving them from starvation. Another neighbor gave them a pig to fatten. These kindnesses saved them from starvation. Her father-in-law allowed them to move in a laborer’s house on his farm so they wouldn’t have to pay rent.

As the other children were old enough, they went to work for a dollar or two a week and their board, just as the older children had. Their happiest times were when they got to come home and be together on weekends.

Things got better for the family during Roosevelt’s New Deal. The oldest boy went into the CCC and was able to more money home. Kat got work with NYC and was able to get a earn some cash and get a little schooling. Eventually, there were benefits for women and orphans, easing the pressure. One after the other, the children joined the military or moved away to get better jobs. Cousin Kat married at eighteen. She and her husband moved to Maryland for five years to work and save every penny. They came back home and bought a small farm next to her mother. Her husband farmed and Kat took a job in a garment factory.

Cousin Kat was frugal her whole life, never spenting a penny she if she could avoid it, influenced by her hard early years.

Audio

Hard Time Marrying Part 24

frontier-woman-evelyn-cameron                                            Image of frontier woman in her kitchen pulled from internet.

 

“Are you havin’ more trouble?”

“I’m afraid it might come early.”

“Well, ain’t nothin’ to be done about that.  Just don’t overdo yourself and maybe it will hold.”  Emma reassured her.

“That’s not what I mean.  I think I was carrying this baby when I come here.”  Anya studied her lap.

“Well, Joe knowed you was a widow.  You don’t look too far along.  You been here long enough it might be Joe’s.”

“It ain’t.  Joe ain’t never touched me.  That’s why I ain’t told him about the baby.  It cain’t be his.  I wish I would just lose it!  I don’t want to Joe to put me out over this baby.  Our life is just starting to be good.”  Anya cried softly.

“Anya.  I know you a good woman the way you look after Joe and them young’uns.  Joe is a good man.  You are gonna have to talk to him about this.  Times is real hard out here.  They ain’t a town fer miles.  Good folks don’t just happen by.  You an’ Joe might have a chance.  I ‘spect Joe’s already suspicions ‘bout that baby.  I knowed you was in the family way the minute I seen you.  Rufus saw it, too.  The Lord has done joined you together and you don’t need to be parted, not without trying.  You’re a’thinkin’ Joe ain’t gonna want you with this baby comin’. You’re a figurin’ you gonna lose him anyway.  Joe’s a good man.  Even if it turns out he don’t want you with this baby, you need to talk to him.  He’s showed you kindness all this time.  He ain’t gonna grind you under his foot like a snake even if he don’t want you.  The two of you can figure out somethin’. Joe ain’t never had nobody to care about him before and that means a lot.” 

Even if Emma was wrong, her kindness eased Anya’s fears.

“I just don’t want to put no more on Joe.” She explained.

“Then don’t leave his feelings out of this.  Let’s get them dumplings started.  The menfolk is gonna be hungry.”  Emma was a good woman.

Tough Teacher

The new teacher intended to brook no nonsense in his one room school. The students took their seats as he walked around slapping his hand with his strap.

He whirled and turned his attention to the first boy in the first row. “You boy! What’s your name, boy?”

“Sam.” answered the boy.

“Hold out your hand!” The teacher snapped. He strapped the palm of the boy’s hand. “Your name is Samuel! Don’t ever let me hear you say Sam, again!”

He turned to the next boy. “What’s your name?”

“Zeke.” said the boy.

“Hold out your hand!” When the boy extended his hand, the teacher strapped his palm smartly. “Your name is Ezekial! Don’t ever say Zeke again!”

He turned to the third boy. “Boy, what’s your name?”

Trembling the boy answered, “Bobual?”