Month: May 2025

Mistaken Identity

Eavesdropping is one of life’s great pleasures. My daughter-in-law was lucky enough to hear this exchange between some women in the elevator the other day.

“I don’t believe that story about Anne Frank.” the first woman asserted. This caught my daughter-in-law’s interest. She had wondered what a holocaust denier would look like.

“What are you talking about?” asked her companion. “Why on earth would you say that?”

“God wouldn’t make somebody deaf and blind!” said the first. “That would be too mean!”

“You’re so silly!” said woman #2. “You’re talking about Helen Keller! and it was true!”

Andrew and Molly Part 21

Molly was exhausted. The work of her farm, family, responsibility for her indentured servants was unrelenting. Ailing since he was injured in the Indian attack, Bartles had never enjoyed a full return to health. Lately, his left leg dragged a bit and his mouth drew to the left. In the short time since his return, Andrew had picked up most of Bartles’ work. Molly could see the relief on Bartles’s face.

Aggie was grateful to have Bartles about the house with her and kept the little girls at her side when Rosemarie was too busy to care for them leaving Molly free for other duties. Jamie kept busy following everyone at their farm tasks.

Though she appreciated Aggie’s help, Molly regretted not being able to tend her own house and children. She was worried about being able to care for four little ones should she not be able to keep Rosemarie once the baby was weaned. Orphaned herself, she felt for the wee mite but wasn’t anxious to take on another child. It seemed like everytime her life was looking better there was another bump in the road.

Even the baby did not lie abed. Though it was early, he was on his way into town wrapped in a sling on Rosemarie’s back. The storeowner’s wife stopped her to talk after Rosemarie gave her the list. “I heard you’d lost your baby but here you are with one strapped to your back! How’d you get another so fast?” she asked snidely.

Knowing her place, Rosemarie avoided the discussion as much as possible. “This is not my babe. Mistress Wharton has me minding the baby her man Andrew brought when he escaped from the Indians. I’d best go. Mistress Wharton won’t like me gossiping.”

Voting

Do you vote in political elections?

Absolutely! Voting is a duty.

Oh No!

My delightful friend, Becky, shared a story about her simultaneous introduction to the birds and bees and graphic language. At the tender age of four, she was playing with little Jimmy next door. He showed her his prize package and asked to see hers. She thought it was weird and wanted no part of “it.”

After showing her his big news, he told her. “When you show somebody your penis, you are f—-ing!”

His mother got suspicious and showed up just in time to hear that.

She tore into her son and told Becky. I’m gonna tell your grandma what y’all were doing.”

The child was the type who preferred to tell on herself rather than have the neighbor tell on her. She rushed in crying to her grandma.

“Jimmy’s mama is gonna tell on me!”

“Why?” queried Grandma. “What did y’all do?”

“We were f—-ing.” shied boo-hooed.

Assuming the little ones had actually done the deed, Grandma went ballistic without investigating. She tore into the Becky and confined her to her room.

When Becky’s mom got home from work, Grandma met her at the door with the awful news.

Mom talked her down, telling her hey needed to talk to Becky. Happily, the situation was quickly cleared up and they learned there was nothing to worry about, except to make sure Becky knew not to play show and tell.

Andrew and Molly Part 20

Though Molly had lived through an exhausting day, she slept fitfully. She couldn’t ignore the fact that thinking Andrew dead, she’d married a kind man and given birth to three children, While she’d been sheltered and loved, he’d been enslaved, tortured, and struggled to stay alive and returned to find her married and his son belonging to another man.

Andrew found no peace in his cot in Bartle’s cabin. He’d dreamed of his escape and return to Molly for years, imagining their joyous reunion. By now, she’d have completed her time. He’d known, he’d likely have to complete his bond, but she’d be free, possibly able to help him buy out of his situation early. They could still have had a good life. He’d been hurt to find she’d moved up in the world. Beyond that, there was the awful possibility after her marriage to the master that he’d find himself bound to her. He had no idea what their situation might be.

He tossed in misery, vacillating between hurt, humiliation and miserable anger that she hadn’t waited for him and knowing she’d not had that choice. He couldn’t deny that they’d both been pawns. She’d come up in the world while he remained at the bottom of the heap.

He couldn’t deny that he wouldn’t have made the same choice, given the opportunity. Had he had a choice in those dark days, he’d have seized upon opportunity for escape, even if it meant not coming back to her.

Direction

What gives you direction in life?

I get direction in life from knowing the difference in what I want and what I need.

Creating a Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Your Backyard

Monarch protective enclosure in my back yard

Monarch life cycle; egg, chrysalis: caterpillar, butterfly

For years I’ve planted butterfly weed hoping to attract monarch butterflies. Alas, none ever accepted my invitation. About two weeks ago, I was delighted to find two plants with caterpillars. I hurried home and put them in their protective cage.

I was just in the nick of time.They had pupated by the next morning, I’ve been anxiously watching their progress and was so excited this morning to find two incredible monarch butterflies in my enclosure. I opened the cage and they’d left within the hour. I am so in hopes monarchs will find their way back here in their fall migration.

Butterflies, Birds, and Berries: A Garden Guide

A strawberry patch sits in the middle of my flowerbed. I leave the luscious strawberries for the critters. I love it when this little guy comes to call.

Strawberries are in center of my bed. The white structure to the left had two monarch butterflies who hatched out and left today.

I have one flowerbed with dewberries that get the full attention of birds and squirrels. They also love my mulberry tree.

Gift

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

I have never regretted anything I gave away.