Linda Roorda

Agreed - very well written!!

I couldn't agree more! I'm in that Winter Season too... funny, don't know how it happened so quickly!! 

7 hours ago, Hal said:

Thank You Linda . 

You're very welcome, Hal!  Thank you for reading my blog. And I'm glad this reflection and poem was special to you and Ann 🙂

1 hour ago, Ann said:

Words are often inadequate when offering comfort.    You have your memories of Ed and the life you created and shared together.  Thank you, your words describe a very special man and the life he lived.

Thank you so very much, Ann... yes, there's so much more that could be said, and so many memories tucked away to savor...  🙂

I'm so glad you have those special memories with your Dad, and that you can hold onto all that he taught you and passed on!  That's the key 🙂 Enjoy a great weekend!!

Awww, thank you so much Hal! I'm glad this was so meaningful to you 🙂 

1 hour ago, Ann said:

I have no doubt you both will stand strong against whatever the future brings.

Thank you so much, Ann...

On 4/5/2022 at 11:17 AM, Chris said:

I couldn't agree more. It's bad enough in the more populated areas but anymore our country roads are becoming miles long dumping grounds for household garbage, furniture, tires, and more. It's disgusting. 

Agreed! and that's why I'll do a pick-up-trash day when I'm able to take walks up my road for a bit, limited with worsening sciatica. The littering is just unreal - not only along the edge of the golf course, but also along and into the farmers' crop fields here and elsewhere. Folks don't know about cows getting what's called "hardware" - when they ingest metal or maybe plastic, it gets caught in their throat or one of four stomachs, can't be processed, aggravates and causes them to "go off feed". They can't eat or drink, lose weight, and end up being shipped to market. We lost several good cows because of that very problem when my husband farmed with his Dad... even tho we picked up trash along the roadside then too, some gets missed and gets into the silage. Roadside trash is a dirty blight on the eye, but a nasty problem for farm animals.

Yes Ann!! I LOVE that image - so perfectly fitting 🙂 

Gotta admit, my favorite of the above is Little Drummer Boy, but by King & Country:

Absolutely loved this! No... I did not grow up on Fluff, or fluffernutters! Never knew such a thing existed until my kids were growing up... and then I was shocked that such a white sweet goo would be used for a sandwich with all that sugar!! No way was I going to spend hard earned dollars on that for my kids! Never mind I fed them Kool-Aid with all that sugar! But what was my favorite snack growing up? My Mom's homemade bread/toast (until a few years and a few siblings more later, we had Stroehmann's bread and thought we were coming up in the world!) slathered with oleo and white sugar with cinnamon sprinkled on top, or taking some of her fresh-made raw bread dough, and rolling it in sugar and cinnamon! Mmm! Mmm! Good!  LOL! The irony is not lost here!  

36 minutes ago, Chris said:

If someone has never been to D.C. to see the memorials, they should...

And Chris, thank you for the perfect header photo, and for adding Ernie Pyle's photo! Much appreciated!!

22 minutes ago, Chris said:

If someone has never been to D.C. to see the memorials, they should. We were there a few years ago when an Honor Flight group came through. To see the very men those memorials were built for see them, was an experience to witness. I wanted so badly to talk to some of them, but also didn’t want to interrupt their moment.

It was a privilege to be there, in their presence and I’ve never forgotten it. 

I've never been there, wish I/we could, but Ed is not able to travel, even going to the dr's takes everything out of him. I can only imagine how touching/emotional it would be for you or anyone to stand among those who were honoring their fallen friends and family members at the memorials. One of my younger brothers is a retired 20-yr Navy man, in the Gulf War, on a ship's tender out to sea. One of our son's best friends was among the very first going into the worst area in the middle east war after 9/11 as a Marine, Special Ops I believe. But, earlier this year, this summer, a long-time friend of ours, my mom's age, was at the D.C. memorials as part of an Honor Flight out of Binghamton.  Bob sent us the WBNG-TV news clip; they had spoken with him, a Korean vet, and he was deeply honored, in tears just to be part of the event and share the time with other veterans. He'd told us quite some time ago that his plane had been shot down by a Russian plane; he was the radar man, with a few survivors. I'm ashamed that I can't remember the exact story. So I totally understand how honored you felt to simply be in the presence of those veterans, like your Dad.  Thanks for sharing, Chris.

23 minutes ago, Chris said:

No, but we should try that. Maybe next year. 

Yes, you should!  I used to get a special packet of spices for the dill; my mom grew her own dill. And she invented putting slices of her homemade dill pickles on toasted cheese sandwiches made with her homemade bread - unless her mother did that too that I never knew about - out of this world delicious! The bread-and-butter pickles are super easy. Love, love, love sweet gherkins but they do take time with the brine, soaking and heating it up, etc., but so worth it in the delicious munching!!  Enjoy!  

25 minutes ago, Chris said:

Despite a bumper crop of apples this year, we sadly have no apples in storage. I had a bushel downstairs but the extended warm weather kept the basement from chilling down to a good temp for the apples. They all ended up on the compost pile. Good news is, we have several gallons of cider pressed and stored in the freezer so the crop wasn't a total loss. 

It was also a great year for the Yukon Gold potatoes, which are happy down there. 

PS - I just saw the photos you added above - love them! That's what my canning shelves sort of looked like decades ago! all the many dozens of quarts of tomatoes, fruit, pickles and certain veggies! Do you make pickles? Used to enjoy making dill and bread-and-butter pickles, but also the sweet gherkins that took alot of soaking in brine to process but oh so good!

20 minutes ago, Chris said:

Despite a bumper crop of apples this year, we sadly have no apples in storage. I had a bushel downstairs but the extended warm weather kept the basement from chilling down to a good temp for the apples. They all ended up on the compost pile. Good news is, we have several gallons of cider pressed and stored in the freezer so the crop wasn't a total loss. 

It was also a great year for the Yukon Gold potatoes, which are happy down there. 

Oh my goodness, Chris! That's still quite a loss!  But, as you said, at least you were able to make a good amount of cider to enjoy! and glad to hear your potatoes were so successful and happily taking up residence in the basement! I remember our huge gardens years ago - growing potatoes was fun!  In fact, our oldest daughter as a youngster enjoyed digging in the dirt to find them! It was like a treasure hunt to her at that age 🙂  I know you'll all enjoy them on the table this winter!!

Admittedly, I laughed! Does the beret come with an eye patch? But... admittedly, don't think I want "you" in one of the classes where I'm subbing LOL! 

Great read! My sentiments exactly. I do not like corn mazes, never tried one, have no interest! I already fear getting lost driving to a new-to-me destination even with directions, and not about to try a corn maze... ever!!! 🙂

So very well said/written... The intensity of stress is why I retired early last year, and so thankful and blessed to be able to sub in our local school system, helping others...  Thanks for posting this article!!

1 hour ago, Ann said:

My niece called Friday night from Arnot ER to tell me they brought her Mom in.  She asked me to call the Aunts (my sisters) and all we new was Pat was unconscious.  I called my daughter in law who used to work in the ER to see if she could check on Pat for me.  When Chris and Abby came through our front door I knew it wasn’t good.

I still can’t believe Pat is gone from us.

I'm so very sorry, Ann. How difficult and painful a loss for you all.  Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

7 hours ago, Ann said:

There was an empty chair this evening at my sister Pat’s home.  She died very unexpectedly last night and we are all trying to understand.
She turned 63 in March and retired in April.  She was my sister, co-worker for 9 years, confidant, advisor, friend, shoulder to lean on when needed.  
Yesterday was a difficult day that turned so much worse.

Oh Ann! I am so very sorry to hear this. How difficult this must be for you and everyone in your family. You've now lost two sisters. My heart goes out to all of you as I keep you in my thoughts and prayers during this very sad time. Sending my condolences for this tragic loss to your entire family, with hugs.....

10 minutes ago, Ann said:

So beautiful Linda.  For our family it was Mom’s kitchen table.  Thank you for sharing this and, again, so very sorry for your loss.

 

Thank you so much Ann! I love your kitchen table image too! Supper time with our kids was time we could share our day with each other; it helps glue you together - love those memories 🙂

20 hours ago, Chris said:

I'm sorry about your Mom Linda. Sure sounds like she lived a full life though!

Thank you so much Chris!  She did have quite a full life... among that great generation!!

37 minutes ago, Hal said:

Thank you Linda for your poem and sharing yours and Eds situation ! I also believe that we are sometimes handed  more than we can bear in this life , as with watching our life mates struggle through pain and illness and in some cases losing the battle . 
Ann tells me that God never gives us more than we can handle and I know in my heart what she says is true ! But I still wish that I had that “ magic pill “ to take away her pain , Eds pain and the pain of MsKreeds loss ! 
But then I read your words and a message comes through them to me . Put it all in Gods hands because inevitably thats were “ It “ all goes ! But then again He gave us each other to reach out and hold onto as well , maybe that is the magic pill . 
Again Linda , Thank you . I believe a lot of us needed those words right now . 

Thank you, Hal. You said it very well in understanding, as we all struggle in so many different ways. I truly believe God gives me words to write, and I always pray they will be used to touch someone's heart.  So I will give God the praise for using those words for each of you who needed to read them. Love to all my friends here on TTL!

12 minutes ago, Mahatma said:

these are very comforting words Linda!   i am very sorry for your loss!

Thank you very much, Mahatma! Thank you...