tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75426267546893820682024-03-13T14:48:16.145-07:00Country Side PoetWelcome to my world , my thoughts, my poetry.. Come on in and sit for a spell believe me there's lots to tell.
All material found on this Blog is subject to copyright. No Republication. Copyright, Susie SwansonSusie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.comBlogger486125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-70324341832707810562021-10-22T14:52:00.001-07:002021-10-22T14:52:55.222-07:00A Big Legacy<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iida4dmgIP8/YXMw8i6RzXI/AAAAAAAAEQg/qZGiYeeLBz04KuKjsVtq9dB2hPZp_s5TACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/31301658_171230393582407_8443468068959879960_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="778" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iida4dmgIP8/YXMw8i6RzXI/AAAAAAAAEQg/qZGiYeeLBz04KuKjsVtq9dB2hPZp_s5TACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/31301658_171230393582407_8443468068959879960_n.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sOKc-v97eo/YXMxARmCKLI/AAAAAAAAEQk/Sn24PDdMRxIZiSp8ocyYQA9s1q8CnLE-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/31239466_170968886941891_9162258737780257240_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sOKc-v97eo/YXMxARmCKLI/AAAAAAAAEQk/Sn24PDdMRxIZiSp8ocyYQA9s1q8CnLE-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/31239466_170968886941891_9162258737780257240_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is my grandpa and grandma on my mama's side and one of my uncles. Back when he was able my grandpa made many handles for tools such as shovels, hoes, mattocks, axes, etc. We lost him in 1974. They had 8 sons and 2 daughters counting my mama. He spent many a day in that little shed beside the house making handles for tools for others </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">He had one son that kept it up till he got disabled. They made them out of hickory, and white oak because they lasted longer. My uncle Clinton worked on them many years till his mind got bad and we lost him a few years ago at the age of 86. Lots of folks brought their tools and in his later years his mind started getting so bad that his wife would put their names on the tools cause he couldn't remember who brought them. She would sit in that little shop in later years and watch him cause he had already cut his hand really bad in the past.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Lots of people still have their tools that he put handles in today like my husband and son and many others as well. . Some folks may have some that my grandpa did as well. I know my daddy did at one time. My uncle even made handles for tools for the road department for many years. I know this is an old trade and a lost art but they sure did leave a big legacy behind..</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blessings to all ~Susie~</span></div><p></p>Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-76994866704393595402021-10-04T14:20:00.001-07:002021-10-04T14:20:35.897-07:00Update<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DKcDZxZksxc/YVtqCiOGuII/AAAAAAAAEQA/0_OeUFyVzjI8uvHyKCGtubNtVSIUirxMACLcBGAsYHQ/s259/imagesCA2O938E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DKcDZxZksxc/YVtqCiOGuII/AAAAAAAAEQA/0_OeUFyVzjI8uvHyKCGtubNtVSIUirxMACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/imagesCA2O938E.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thought I would give a little update to let you all know how things are going right now. I've been trying to push through and seemed to be getting my strength back a little each day but with Addison's disease it's hard to find a new norm. I've been trying to sit up more each day and it made me feel more like a human being but that all changed with me again last week.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have some old crud that I was calling the change of season crud and hoping it was just a viral thing and I could overcome it but no such luck so far. I know it's not the covid but it sure has hit me hard. I called my Dr. today and talked with her and she put me on an antibiotic like last winter when I had pneumonia and it took me two months to get over it. I haven't been out of the house since this past February and it's just me and my husband and my home health aid that comes in 4 hours daily and she has been very careful .</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">With Addison's disease we live on steroids to replace the cortisol that our Adrenal Glands can't put out. Cortisol is our Stress hormone that keeps us going when stress hits our bodies. Sickness of any type is stress on the body and taking antibiotics causes even more stress. So when this happens we have to double or triple our steroid doses to get through it. When we get better we have to slowly taper our steroids back down to our usual doses. I take five small doses daily and it takes a long time to taper each one back down. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I know you all get tired of reading about my ups and downs because everyone seems to have their own battles to fight. It's very sad times we're living in but God is our only constant and the one we can always depend on to help us through this hard walk of life. I'm clinging to him cause he has brought me so far. I'm sorry for not checking in on all of you like I should and keep up with your sweet posts. </div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm praying for all and for the day when we can feel better and secure enough to live our lives in some peace for a change.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I will close for now and will check back with you all soon as possible. Sending lots of Hugs, Love and Prayers to all. May God Bless. ~Susie~</div><p></p>Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-44800600734147941172021-09-02T11:19:00.001-07:002021-09-02T11:19:36.967-07:00Hello Everyone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cMJn3QmJxx8/YTEPco3aVoI/AAAAAAAAEPc/-0e3IagplV4ky3Fsp53YDxsJhanZuV7xgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/6c5ccf5cdf0adaa46b25bffc1eed5d47.jpg" width="214" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I guess you all think I've flown the coop since it's been long time no see. I just wanted to update you all and let you know I've missed everyone. I'm on a hard journey right now fighting a disease that has a mind of its own. We never know how strong we are till we face hard battles in life. Addison's is suppose to be a rare disease that not even the doctors know much about. It's basically called Adrenal Failure. When the Adrenal Glands go down we are in a bad place cause they produce so many of our hormones that our body lives on like Cortisol which is our stress hormone. All they can give us to live on is steroids to replace it. Cortisol is a very important hormone and living without it can lead to death because it goes to every organ in our body and without it one can go into an Adrenal Crisis and die within a few minutes. I've been bedridden since the first of May but I'm doing a little better since I had some in home Rehab for a while. I was to weak for much Rehab .<div><br /></div><div>Ok, I don't want to bore you all with my ailments but want to let you all know that I will try to do more and check in as often as I can with your posts. It seems time is flying so fast and is gone before we know it. There's alot going on in the world today and all we can do is pray. God is our only hope.</div><div><br /></div><div> I pray that all of you are well and have enjoyed your summer. We are starting to see signs of Fall here in Western N.C. I'm hoping I can get back to my writing soon cause I've missed it so much. I had to stop my quilting a long time ago and all the other things that I loved to do. But my husband is such a Blessing as he's been by my side every step of the way even with a bad back. One Blessing is having a Home Health Aid coming in four hours daily to help me with my personal care and help him with some house chores. Through this journey I've come to find out that the little things are the most important . I've grown even more close to God and he knows our needs even when we don't know ourselves. He is so good. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll close for now and will check back soon. You all take care and God Bless.. ~Susie~<br /><p><br /></p></div>Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-88618861410660480812020-08-30T14:50:00.000-07:002020-08-30T14:50:25.151-07:00Only One Shoe<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9_Qny7_Uksk/X0weU7VI4lI/AAAAAAAAEJE/XXiOgeaRYxkB0Amf6Bfinv0ulFzsePrFACLcBGAsYHQ/s259/shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9_Qny7_Uksk/X0weU7VI4lI/AAAAAAAAEJE/XXiOgeaRYxkB0Amf6Bfinv0ulFzsePrFACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/shoes.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><span style="text-align: left;"> Two old shoes sit in the corner</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> one worn the other brand new</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> tells the story of an old fellow</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> one of the finest I ever knew</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> Two legs are better than one</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> with one leg he made do</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> he really learned how to get by</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> needing only the one shoe</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> He was an inspiration to all</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> as he hobbled on through</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> despite the pain and anguish</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> gray skies were always blue</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> For him, nothing ever came easy</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> his struggles were more than a few</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> he was a very special uncle</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> with a different kind of view</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> Having fun was his trademark</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> plenty of joking came easy too</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> especially come Christmas Time</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> the presents he already knew</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> Driving a car was his dream</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> just like he used to do</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> if it wasn't for one shoe</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> his dream would've come true</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> He tried to teach me to drive</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> in a big, open field we flew</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> one cow in the whole field</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> I almost ran over it too</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> So many treasured yesterdays</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> in his mind on them he drew</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> the strength and determination</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> to face what he entered into</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> He never did have riches</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> of worldly things that grew</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> his heart contained the wealth</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> a giant measure of his virtue</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> He gave flowers to the living</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> fresh as the morning dew</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> no time was like the present</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> from his flower garden hue</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> Then one day he gladly bid</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> a fond farewell and ado</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> instead of wearing one shoe</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> today he's wearing two</span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">© Susie Swanson, 2020</p><p style="text-align: center;">My one and only Uncle on my dad's side and two of my brothers. He's been gone since 1975 and we still miss him so bad.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p>Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-19569691236408488912020-08-07T14:58:00.001-07:002020-08-07T15:24:07.576-07:00Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j-QbG7KQmcg/Xy3NxE7zDsI/AAAAAAAAEIU/-cIlOMt5yRAQGmmCbVKv6ZW8f6oEvVULgCLcBGAsYHQ/s868/116526255_10157494547355817_1991972381432911197_n.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><br /></a></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'm back
Folks and it has been awhile. I guess you all have been wondering if
I abandoned everyone and my Blog. I didn't intend on staying away so
long but I've had a very hard go of it since my diagnosis two years
ago of Addison's Disease.</b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I couldn't
tell you the whole story of what's happened because it would take to
long and I'm not able to be on here long at a time. But I'm coping
and learning how to live with my new norm .</b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Not many
people know what this disease is, not even the doctors know much
about it. The Endocrinoligists get a couple of patients in their
whole career and that's about it. They only know how to hand out the
steroids and tell you that you have to take them the rest of your
life. They fail to tell you that most of these steroids only last 4
to 6 hours in the body and you're on your own the rest of the day.
Steroids are our life saving meds and we have to be on alert and
listen to our body or else. I've learned to split my daily dosage up
into 5 doses daily. These steroids replace what the adrenals fail to
produce of the life saving hormone called cortisol. It's our stress
hormone among other things. If we get any type of stress on our
bodies such as sickness, mental, emotional, etc. we have to updose
our daily dosage to get by or go into an adrenal crisis which means
if we can't get enough steroids in our bodies to buy us a little time
to get to the ER our organs will start shutting down and we are a
goner.</b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I've had a
few close calls in the last couple of years but managed to get enough
steroids in me till I could get to the ER. We live in a small area
and have two hospitals but I only go to the same one every time. One
would think as many times as I've been and told them my issues they
would have it all in the computer and I wouldn't have to take my
paper work in and my card to show them I need immediate medical
attention. I'm a member of the NADF (National Adrenal Disease
Foundation) and they sent me a lot of paperwork to take with me each
time but the Doctors still have to Goggle it. But that's enough about
me for now.</b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We've also
had other sickness in my family as well. We almost lost my oldest
brother back the last of May and into June. He was diagnosed last
year with colon cancer and they were able to take it out and he was
put in with the Cancer Center Doctors. This past spring his cancer
numbers came back very high and he was sent for MRI'S and Scans. They
found it in his liver and he went through three of the strongest
Chemo's the human body can with stand trying to shrink it enough for
the cancer surgeon to go in and take part of his liver out.</b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>They did the
cancer surgery on May 28<sup>th</sup> and they found it not only in
his liver but in his gallbladder and lymp nodes too. They said they
got it all but that night after the surgery he had a heart attack and
they had to work fast to save him. They kept him on a ventilator for
almost 7 days till he could get a little stronger and they went in
and did Heart Bypass on him. They had to replace the main valve to
his heart also it was damaged so bad. He went through all of the
cancer treatments and surgery with no knowledge from him or the
doctors knowing anything about how bad his heart really was. The
heart doctor told him he wouldn't have made it much longer even if he
was at home without a major heart attack. Then on top of everything
else he developed an infection where they had to replace his main
valve to his heart and had to be on IV Antibiotics for six weeks. The
nurses taught his wife how to administer the antibiotics into his
port. She said, she and God did it all. We just never know what we
can do when we're up against a wall.</b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The nurses
have been coming into his home and drawing blood every week and
sending it to be checked out. But Praise God he is now on the mend.
The nurses are still coming in but he's been released from the Rehab.</b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I wanted to
tell you all this to show how God really does work when we need him
the most and my brother says it was not his time to go yet. Amen to
that and we all give God the Glory and Praise for what he has done
and still doing in our lives. </b></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let's just
say I had to take a lot of my life saving meds to get by</b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'm sorry
for the long post but wanted to let you all know I'll try to visit
each one when and as I'm able and I have missed everyone so much and
all of your posts. Thank you all so much for not giving up on me. May
God Bless you all !! </b></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>~Susie~</b></span></p><p>
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</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"> </p></blockquote>Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-11367925280988502952019-06-22T14:41:00.003-07:002019-06-22T14:41:59.880-07:00Blogger Break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;">As some of you
have noticed I haven't been on here much or kept up with you and your
posts. Due to my illness I have had to slack off quite a bit and not
even able to be on the computer much anymore. It has grown
increasingly worse for me to battle through this Horrific Disease
called Addison's.
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<span style="font-size: medium;">I don't have
much mobility at all anymore and can't see to good. But I'm clinging
to my Faith and God's promise of a better tomorrow. I know lots on
here are fighting their own battles and you all are and will stay in
my prayers. I will be back soon I hope but till then May God bless
each one of you. ~Susie~</span></div>
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Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-73931990803999948602019-06-14T14:28:00.000-07:002019-06-14T14:28:32.637-07:00My Hero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>When
I go home across the hills at evening</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My
little flock of memories gather in</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A
gentle peace and quietness will settle</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I
look back and remember my hero once again </b></span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
man I always knew and called daddy</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>That
worked so hard to keep us fed</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>With
a wrinkled brow and callused hands</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>He
provided a roof and a place to lay my head</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I
see him in the garden, come early spring</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>With
his overalls on and his favorite hoe</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>He
stayed with it from the beginning to end</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Nary
a weed was allowed to grow</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I
see him in the winter, in the fallen snow </b></span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Splitting
pine for kindling to start a fire</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Gathering
in the night’s water and wood</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In
his plaid coat and gloves, his favorite attire</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Each
day I hear and see him with his dog Toby</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I’m
going out to the old place, he’d say</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>As
they happily walked through my yard</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Oh
what a keepsake memory today</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I
see those big, apple trees he planted</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Tall
just like daddy, oh how they grew</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>So
many treasures I’ve come to enjoy</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>When
it comes to my daddy, I’m like glue</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>He’d
tell straight out, he never had much school</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Couldn‘t
read and write, certainly no degree</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
gift of knowledge flowed through his veins</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>For
ninety four years, he taught constantly</b></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To
all that listened and wanted to know</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Wisdom
from the most wise is a gift to behold</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>As
my daddy eased on down through life</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>So
much joy came in pouring out his soul</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>He
walked each road, climbed every hill</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>He
knew everybody for miles around</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>If
they didn’t know him, they came to know</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>He
owned and had many a stomping ground</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>So
many examples he set before me</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>So
many memories, such good times</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>From
when I was little and even grown</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>He
taught me life lessons, only he could design</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My
daddy is now walking and talking in heaven</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Up
there where fathers are a chosen kind</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I’m
now left with my precious flock of memories </b></span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And
my hero’s love he gladly left behind</b></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>© Susie Swanson, 2019</b></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Happy Father's Day to all Fathers and may your day be as special as you.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-25861327411627912192019-06-02T09:30:00.000-07:002019-06-02T09:30:47.972-07:00The Finest I've Ever Seen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
We no longer raise gardens, chickens and hogs</div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
No more smoking chimneys, we now use gas logs</div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
There's no more hog killings on Thanksgiving Day</div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Only turkeys and hams grace the tables today</div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
We no longer carry water in for the night</div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
There's plenty of running water and baths delight</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
There's no more sitting by an old oil lamp</div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
A light hangs from the ceiling, an electric revamp</div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
No more traveling preachers, a thing of the past</div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Big new churches, log churches are in the past</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
There's no more Store Truck making its way through</div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Like kids in a candy store, we stood like a statue</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
An orange and an apple used to be a Christmas treat</div>
</div>
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Now days electronics are the only thing that's neat</div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Keeping a milk cow and churning our own buttermilk</div>
</div>
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They now snarl their nose if its not store bought milk</div>
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<br /></div>
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There's not many clothes now blowing in the wind</div>
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We now have clothes dryers and washers that spin</div>
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<br /></div>
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No one takes time to visit their neighbors or the sick</div>
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My daddy's not here with his big walking stick</div>
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<br /></div>
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The canning and jelly making days are almost gone</div>
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Just a few old timers left to carry on</div>
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<br /></div>
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There's no one left to cure the thrash (Thrush) anymore</div>
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My mama's gone and her cure is no more</div>
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<br /></div>
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There's no more prayer and recess in school</div>
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It seems everything now has become man's rule</div>
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<br /></div>
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Those old aprons they wore with money tucked away</div>
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Is gone too, like their hair tucked in buns of gray</div>
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<br /></div>
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And those old time zinnas my grandma so loved</div>
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They now grace heaven with beauty and love</div>
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<br /></div>
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There's no more plowing with an old mule now</div>
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They use big tractors but that old mule sure could plow</div>
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<br /></div>
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There's no more hunting foxes, possums and coons</div>
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And sitting by a campfire listening to the dogs croon</div>
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<br /></div>
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That good squirrel gravy and dumplins I still smell</div>
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My mama sure could make them so yummy and swell</div>
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<br /></div>
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There's no more sleeping with six in the bed</div>
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With three at the foot and three at the head</div>
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<br /></div>
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And sweeping the yard with a worn out broom</div>
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Praying for some grass to grow really soon</div>
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<br /></div>
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There's no more swinging on those old grapevines</div>
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Or playing hopscotch in the sand with hand drawn lines</div>
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<br /></div>
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There's no more crawling through the barbed wire fence</div>
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Trying to escape the bull, we didn't have any sense</div>
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<br /></div>
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Playing in the cold creek was a summer time game</div>
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Claiming to fall in on a winter's morning wasn't the same</div>
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<br /></div>
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Going fishing at the old mill pond with fishing pole in hand</div>
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Losing track of time, the fishing was so grand</div>
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<br /></div>
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Helping mama find Poke Salad in the early spring</div>
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Climbing through the briars and snakes was her thing</div>
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<br /></div>
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Or picking creesy greens from the creek bank each year</div>
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Not knowing the difference with mama not here</div>
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<br /></div>
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Going to bed with the chickens on hot summer days</div>
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No time change did we have, we got used to the same ways</div>
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<br /></div>
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There's no more robbing the hen's nest in the early morn</div>
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Those old hens sure could lay, fed good with corn</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Those wonderful old days I loved and once knew</div>
</div>
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Is now gone and the old ways too</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The living was so good, the finest I've ever seen </div>
</div>
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I love to go back it makes my heart sing </div>
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<br /></div>
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© Susie Swanson, 2019</div>
</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-85769283453999346542019-05-24T10:06:00.001-07:002019-05-24T10:06:48.273-07:00A Warrior<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3X2K3b51jYQ/XOgkdYCG8wI/AAAAAAAAEC4/3u7KISbOfVwikSxx2RwlBBYjMbCHf3c6QCLcBGAs/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3X2K3b51jYQ/XOgkdYCG8wI/AAAAAAAAEC4/3u7KISbOfVwikSxx2RwlBBYjMbCHf3c6QCLcBGAs/s1600/untitled.png" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I have
fought a hundred battles</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In my mind
I've seen it all</b></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I have
raised my gun against the enemy</b></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And seen
my comrades die and fall</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I have
carried the armor of courage</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Always
wanting to do my part</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>On land,
sea, jungles and deserts</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It will
always lay heavy on my heart</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To my
brothers and sisters that have fallen</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I will
always remember them well</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>So much
sacrifice, they gave their all</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In that
place we all called hell</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Inside the
battles are still raging</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In my mind
I still see and hear</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Mortals,
shells and the enemy</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In my
sleep they still appear</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Yet each
day I try to carry on</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Although I
have cried many tears</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>If I had
to do it over again</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I would
shed my coat of fears</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And walk
straight into battle</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>With my
head held mighty high</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>For the
freedom I fight hard for</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I am
willing to lie down and die</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I will
always be a Warrior</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Even after
I'm dead and gone</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Please do
not forsake me</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fly old
Glory proud and strong</b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>© Susie
Swanson, 2019</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-26748968882649576292019-05-17T15:10:00.000-07:002019-05-17T15:48:00.418-07:00Down An Old Dirt Road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Old country roads remind
me of walking to church come Sunday morning and walking back come Sunday night.
They remind me of walking to the little country store with mama's list in hand.
Those early morning walks to catch the school bus and walking back in home at
end of day, stopping long enough take our shoes off and wade across the little
creek come warm weather, is priceless.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">The fresh morning smells
of honeysuckle, wild roses, mountain laurel or crabapple blossoms drifting in
the spring time air, or walking in those big snows that were knee deep in the
winter, rolling in the snow and throwing snowballs at each other along the way.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Taking refuge under a big
tree come a hard, summer's rain and still takin a wetting and loving it to no
end. Then we ran through mud holes with our bare feet, busting em wide open,
never thinking about getting the toe itch till it was to late.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Ahhhh, how can I forget
the huckleberries and that sweet taste. We knew exactly where they came up and
picked em fast as they ripened, along side the road.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">And those delicious
blackberries we picked for mama to can and looking forward to that fresh
blackberry cobbler, all the while eating more than we picked. Never thinking
twice about the chiggers or poison ivy till it was to late.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Climbing over barbed wire
fences and ripping our clothes to pick poke salat for mama. She didn't take to
kindly to the ripped clothes or the dangers of getting snake bit but the poke
salat changed the subject really quick.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> Riding an ole, rusted bicycle around every
curve and bend, with nary a brake knowing we'd hit the ditch or the creek. It's
a wonders we hadn't broke our neck or worse.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">And trying to outrun the
others to get the mail every day and stumping our toes along the way. They
never did have a chance to heal. When cold weather settled in and we had to
wear shoes we'd still hobble down those ole roads.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">I couldn’t count how many
trips we made to and fro carrying gallons of milk from the neighbors when we
were between cows, hungry for some good cornbread and milk to go along with
supper, sometimes making a complete meal out of it.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> And how can I forget takin a few poufs off of
a cigarette butt after snatchin it outta the yard when daddy threw it down.
Ahhhh, the sickness and turning green that followed, I'd sure like to forget
and is still a reminder today. I said then and there, "never again.”
Whewww.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">It didn't matter the
season or the weather, we made memories to last a lifetime and those ole dirt
roads paved the way.</span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">There's so many memories
that still linger. I go back quite often and listen to the echoes of a
childhood full of many seeds that's been sowed. How can we ever forget an old
dirt road.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> © Susie Swanson, 2019</span></b></div>
</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-13871261046748669012019-05-06T13:43:00.001-07:002019-05-06T13:43:07.576-07:00Left To Slumber<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jOQMHaHbcnI/XNCboH8aVXI/AAAAAAAAECg/5EweZTcfMtkPCcc5p0mqoWOxuQfuylv9gCLcBGAs/s1600/56158241_335850573732783_27324964189241344_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jOQMHaHbcnI/XNCboH8aVXI/AAAAAAAAECg/5EweZTcfMtkPCcc5p0mqoWOxuQfuylv9gCLcBGAs/s320/56158241_335850573732783_27324964189241344_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I'm just
an old home left to slumber from happy days gone by</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Many wind
swept memories still linger sweet as a lullaby</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My ole
run down heart still has plenty left to tell</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>if you'd
just step on in and sit fer a spell</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I'd tell
of the voices echoeing around me through the years</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>of so many
happy souls, still makes me cry joyful tears</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I yearn to
be a happy place where the sound of a bird's song</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>was once
deafened by the children that are now grown</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The pretty
daffodils still bloom around me in the spring</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I'll
always cherish the gardener and the beauty she did bring</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My
tarpaper shingles are not fancy but I miss shiny windows so clean</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>awe, I can
still hear the supper bell and it's my favorite ring</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Those
wrinkled, tired, ole hands from sun up to sun down</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>oh how the
table held plenty and the food did abound</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Come
spring, summer, Fall or winter, blue skies or gray</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>helping to
spread a father and mother's love in a boundless way</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I loved
being a peaceful, ole place to lay their heads at night</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>dreaming
of another day, the mantle clock a pleasant quiet</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">While the
ole whipperwills made their nightly call</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>trying to
out do the crickets, hoot owls and all</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>So many
feet running around every corner and bend</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>there was
never a dull moment before loneliness settled in</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Underneath
this ole roof a lifetime of living came to unfold</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>those
beautiful sunsets, sunrises and rain pelting never got old</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The tall,
bending grass makes me seem so empty and gray</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>time has a
way of doing that and history does slip on away</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I may not
look like much to some sitting here in the past</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>but these
old, weather beaten boards were surely made to last</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Today I
sit in slumber and remembering comes so easy</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>listening
to the yesterdays drifting in the leaves so breezy</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Waiting
for someone to walk through my welcome, ole door</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>then time
will stand still and I'll never be lonely anymore</b></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>© Susie Swanson, 2019</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-76130581853264755302019-04-22T13:56:00.001-07:002019-04-22T13:56:46.981-07:00Is it time yet?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d_YlhpVQVoo/XL4pR43wXKI/AAAAAAAAECM/9VN78B7nz1g0ro1Q6m9B0jU4Ut-GhfnUgCLcBGAs/s1600/c24748da17709aa91602b428afd73dcb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d_YlhpVQVoo/XL4pR43wXKI/AAAAAAAAECM/9VN78B7nz1g0ro1Q6m9B0jU4Ut-GhfnUgCLcBGAs/s320/c24748da17709aa91602b428afd73dcb.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Is
it time yet mama, can I go barefoot? That was the number one question
come spring. We’d see the dogwoods in bloom or the redbud trees and
always commence to pull our shoes off. The older people always said
wait till the first of May or you’ll catch ye death of cold. I know
for a fact my daddy never pulled his long johns off till the first of
May. He still wore his long sleeve shirts till mama made him change
to short sleeves. He always said he was afraid he’d take cold. It
didn’t matter if it got ninety degrees in the shade and in his
older years he had such bad circulation that we might see him put his
overcoat on in the middle of the summer.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>As for going barefoot,
when the shoes came off they stayed off all summer long till school
started. When we hit the door in the evening, off came the shoes.
We’d toughened our feet so and stumped our toes off so bad it was
hard to put on a pair of shoes and wear em all day. We walked the
paved road so much going to the store or getting milk from the
neighbors that we stumped our toes till there was nothing left but a
stub.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It wasn’t that we
didn’t appreciate a new pair of shoes when school started we just
couldn’t stand wearing em and it hurt our stumped toes and
calloused feet. We knew we had to make them shoes last as long as
possible cause there was no money to run back and forth to the store
buying a new pair. The boys were more rough on their shoes than me
and my one and only sister which happened to be a lot younger than me
was the biggest tomboy to ever come along. She wore out as many pairs
as the boys and had her head stuck in something all the time. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We run through the
thickets and briars till our feet were tough as a pine knot. Those
mud holes just about did us in. We’d bust every one of those
suckers dry and that toe itch was a killer. Mama would say, “don’t
complain to me, ye know what did it.” That never stopped us none
cause those mud holes were hard to resist. </b></span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I never see or hear of
a young’un anymore going barefoot and it’s a shame. I even admit
in my older years my feet are so tender I can’t stand to walk on
the ground to save my life. I walk around barefoot in the house all
day long but I gotta have an old pair of flip flops on when I go
outside. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I sure do miss those
days of going barefoot even if we wore our feet out and the joys of
running through those big, grassy fields will last a life time. And
every spring I still hear those words, is it time yet mama, can I
pull my shoes off ?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b> © Susie Swanson, 2019</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Hope you all had a nice Easter. It was a chilly day here but lots of sunshine. Wishing you all a nice week and still praying for lots of folks on here. Blessings, ~Susie~</b></span></div>
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Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-79933070803182081112019-04-11T14:47:00.000-07:002019-04-11T14:47:14.192-07:00The Wonders Of Nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PFmso7iAT6A/XK-0pVxlgpI/AAAAAAAAEBw/Tc1e3eBSYC8BxNAA5_q69cihYJvQ0pX-QCEwYBhgL/s1600/30594153_1633778216676141_6826425132799486291_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PFmso7iAT6A/XK-0pVxlgpI/AAAAAAAAEBw/Tc1e3eBSYC8BxNAA5_q69cihYJvQ0pX-QCEwYBhgL/s1600/30594153_1633778216676141_6826425132799486291_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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A little deer standing by the roadside</div>
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looking back and forth, to and fro</div>
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wondering if it should run and hide</div>
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and which way it should go</div>
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A long neck crane standing in the creek</div>
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an awesome sight to see</div>
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attempting to grab food, it takes a peek</div>
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then flies away with it's large, majestic wings</div>
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A large hawk sitting in a tree</div>
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looking around for its prey</div>
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whatever that may become or be</div>
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it'll never have a chance to get away</div>
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A strange flock of birds fly in</div>
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from some place faraway and unknown</div>
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on nature's food they do depend</div>
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they're here for a time and then they're gone</div>
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A little rabbit sits in the clover</div>
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everyday it sits in the same spot</div>
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late in the evening when the day is over</div>
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I can tell by the clover it never eats alot</div>
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A large raccoon visits from time to time</div>
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searching for something to eat</div>
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up the creek bank he does climb</div>
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grabs what he can and runs back to his retreat</div>
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A hoot owl makes his presence known</div>
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in my yard each and every night</div>
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he'll hoot until the break of dawn</div>
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and then return again the very next night</div>
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The squirrels are never a stranger and always there</div>
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running this way and that</div>
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hoping the birds will kindly share</div>
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each day they grow more big and fat</div>
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These wondrous sights my eyes do behold</div>
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takes my breath away and fills my heart with pride</div>
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to know that nature can be so bold</div>
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in a place where I live and abide</div>
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© Susie Swanson, 2019</div>
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Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-32974167119246029722019-04-02T13:45:00.000-07:002019-04-02T14:12:58.502-07:00Quilt Holes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em>As I faced my Maker at the last judgement,I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.</em></div>
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<em>Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles: an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.</em></div>
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<em>But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.</em></div>
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<em>I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.</em></div>
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<em>My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.</em></div>
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<em>Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me and nodded for me to rise.</em></div>
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<em>My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life and laughter, but there had also been trials of illness and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. I had to start over many times.I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would melt within my skin beneath the judgemental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.</em></div>
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<em>And now I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.</em></div>
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<em>I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.</em></div>
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<em>An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.</em></div>
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<em>Then I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in his eyes. He said " Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let me shine through, until there was more of me than there was of you".</em></div>
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<em>May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!</em></div>
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<em>Author Unknown..</em></div>
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<em><br /></em></div>
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<em>Thought I'd share this with you all in hopes someone will get a blessing from it as much as I have. Prayers for many folks on here and wishing you a Happy and Healthy April. ~Susie~</em></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-80599148614824163312019-03-17T14:33:00.000-07:002019-03-17T14:33:38.829-07:00An Addy Butterfly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YjzEMdWaVAk/XI68oxPZZ5I/AAAAAAAAEA8/0uX8S4w2jZ0jjzwk72QRKEvFLIUlGtCkQCLcBGAs/s1600/72Cipks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="481" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YjzEMdWaVAk/XI68oxPZZ5I/AAAAAAAAEA8/0uX8S4w2jZ0jjzwk72QRKEvFLIUlGtCkQCLcBGAs/s320/72Cipks.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The air is
filled with fluttering wings</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>a cascade
of blue struggling on through</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>holding in
their hearts such wonderful dreams</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>of so much
living they'd still love to do</b></span></div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Though eye
can not see nor heart feel their pain</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>only to
one who listens although the answers are plight</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>a soul
that searches for sun instead of rain</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>will
surely make it on life's downward flight</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
suffering is so real, they so often hide</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>only the
creator knows what they endure</b></span></div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>each
little butterfly was created with pride</b></span></div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>oh how
they long for a much needed cure</b></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Many wings
fly onward trying their best</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>to take
what life offers and hold on tight</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>never able
to explain and never able to rest</b></span></div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>each day
they awaken ready for another fight</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<br />
</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Take
comfort in knowing each is a worthy soul</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>God always
cradles them in his loving arms</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>he gives
them strength and shows them to be bold</b></span></div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>he created
them in his image like blue charms</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Dewey eyed
and charming they face each day</b></span></div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>though the
valleys may be deep with fear and dread</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>they
flutter their wings and take time to pray</b></span></div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>then the
light shines even more from the hills ahead</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>One can
even light beside you like a sunbeam</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>in all of
its beauty and glory for a little while</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>it may
show happiness with a huge gleam</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>depending
on the master with a hopeful smile</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>So when a
blue, Addy butterfly flutters on by</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>it could
be someone you cherish and love</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>take time
to treasure it and remember why</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>it's a
heaven sent creation from God above</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<br />
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>© Susie
Swanson, 2019</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Not
something you all would expect me to post on here but I wrote this as
a tribute and honor to all the Addison Disease sufferers out there
like me since the blue butterfly is a symbol of Addison's disease. I
know this is one of those rare diseases that not even doctors know
enough about to be able to treat it in so many ways.</b></span></div>
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Recently I
wrote a letter and managed to get my local newspaper to publish it to
bring awareness to Rare disease Day which was on February 28<sup>th</sup>.
I especially wanted to bring awareness to the medical community and
hope it did some good since I've experienced first hand how hard it
is to get the right kind of treatment after two ER visits last Fall.
If I hadn't carried in my paper work from the National Adrenal
Disease Foundation and gave it to the attending physcians they
wouldn't have known to give me a high dose of an emergency injection
steroids and also in my IV and my organs would have shut down in a
matter of minutes because my cortisol was so low. Steroids are the
lifeline to an Addison patient and we live on them every day and have
to learn how much and what amount it takes to keep our bodies going. </b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I had never come to know of anyone else in our town or community
that has it till that letter was published. Two more ladies got in
touch with me and that was a God answered prayer for sure. We keep in
touch and support one another now. I have come to know some on
facebook and one in particular and we stay in touch that way. When I
first got diagnosed she introduced me to some facebook groups and I
have learned so much following these brave but awesome people and
feel so blessed more each day to be able to know what's going on with
my body and be able to learn so much.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>This is a
very hard disease to live with and hard to explain just what it can
do to our bodies. It's changed my life in ways that I could never
explain. But I feel so blessed that God is walking this path with me
and carrying me when I need him the most. Thank you all for your
patience, support, encouraging words and most of all your prayers.
May God Bless you all. ~Susie~</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-91986726704764799772019-03-09T13:48:00.000-08:002019-03-09T13:49:58.356-08:00Funny Papers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DyJvqkusaBM/XIQ0TM7cV8I/AAAAAAAAEAc/CMzB67VX8psxGLqWgI1n6RUI8MK5BXU6wCLcBGAs/s1600/7ad8ae45ec12fec5b4a58f273aa9dac1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DyJvqkusaBM/XIQ0TM7cV8I/AAAAAAAAEAc/CMzB67VX8psxGLqWgI1n6RUI8MK5BXU6wCLcBGAs/s1600/7ad8ae45ec12fec5b4a58f273aa9dac1.gif" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">When I was
growing up I loved to roam through the neighborhood and visit the neighbors,
especially the older folks. Walking by myself down an old road was safe back
then. I never had any worries or fret about anything happening. It was a very
different time, unlike today. Everybody walked everywhere they went. There
wasn’t many vehicles on the roads and the few that we saw were people we’d
known all of our life. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> There was this one older lady we called Miss
Maude and I loved to visit her every chance I got. She lived by herself and
loved to see me coming. She wore her hair up in a little bun in the back and
always had on a little apron like both my grandma’s wore. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">She always
saved me the Funny Papers out of her Sunday newspapers. She subscribed to every
newspaper there was and they only put the funny papers in the Sunday editions. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">For the ones
that don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s the comic strips. We always called
them funny papers. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">She found out
early on that I loved to read em cause when I’d visit her and we’d sit on her
little porch and I’d pick up her newspapers that she’d laid down and start
reading em. I loved sitting in that little porch swing, swinging back and
forth, listening to her talk while she rocked in her rocking chair.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">She’d tell me
about how it was when she grew up and I could see the sparkle in her eyes when
she got in a big way of talking. I kinda figured it out that she got lonesome
and that’s one of the reasons I loved to visit. The other reason was to listen
to her tell about her memories. That always intrigued me so much. I loved to
listen to the older folks talk about the way it was for em in their childhood
and the things that happened way back then. They lived in a very different time
and saw so many things, stuff that I could only see through their eyes and
relive in their heart. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">It’d be close
to suppertime before I’d leave for home. She’d say, don’t forget your funny
papers and I’ll have you some more in a few days if you’ll come on back and see
me. I’d tell her that I’d try. I’d head towards home cause mama always told me
not to stay so late and be back by suppertime. I’d wear those funny papers out
reading em so much.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Then one day
she told me to ask my mama if I could help her do some house cleaning chores.
That tickled me to death and I asked mama if it’d be alright and she said as
long as I wasn’t so late getting in. I never neglected my chores at home. We
all knew what needed to be done and we did it without being told.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">I’d help Miss Maude
put out her wash and hang it on the line. She’d wash one day out of the week
and even then she only had an armful compared to what me and mama had. I knew
all about washing clothes in the wringer washing machine cause I’d helped mama
enough. Sometimes I did her dishes, dusting, etc. She’d give me a quarter or
fifty cents for helping her. That was big money to a kid back then. It burnt
holes in my pockets till I could get to the store.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> She then told me to ask my mama and daddy if one of my brothers could come and mow
her yard occasionally. Mama said it’d be alright but she’d only let my oldest
brother. He was the only one she trusted to run that push mower. It was the
kind of mower that didn’t use gas and ye had to really push. Since her yard was
small, flat and not big, it didn’t take him long to do it. I’d be doing
something else in the house for Miss Maude while he was busy mowing. She’d give
us a little money and we’d run to get home and show it to mama and daddy. It
made us feel so big and proud that we’d earned it on our own. I’d put a little
back and save it for Christmas, just waiting for the chance to go to the Dime
Store in town. I knew mama and grandma tried to go just before Christmas each
year. I always had in mind to at least get mama and daddy a present since they
hardly ever got anything. Of course, they always said if we had food on the
table and a place to lay our head we had plenty. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> That would always be in the summer. When
school started in the fall we’d try to go in the evenings as much as we could
and we’d sit on that little porch and listen to the crickets and katydids and
Miss Maude talk about her memories. It’d be dusky dark when we left for home.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">I miss those
days and all of the older generation that lived around us. I loved visiting
with em and listening to what they had to say. It was a goldmine of wisdom and
knowledge. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Today the
little house is gone, along with so many more. They’ve all been replaced by new
ones. But every time I pass by I can see Miss Maude sitting in that rocking
chair and me in the porch swing, swinging back and forth. I can still hear her
talking and see her eyes light up when she tells how she walked to that one
room school where they said a prayer each morning and the Pledge of Allegiance
and how they got by during the Depression. My daddy had told some of the same
but it never got old. It always brought sunshine to my heart and food for my
soul.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> Back when times were simple people enjoyed
life more, and oh how I miss those funny papers.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> © Susie Swanson 2019</span></b></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-59332283031316591642019-03-01T09:46:00.000-08:002019-03-01T09:46:38.183-08:00Memories Of March<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TMUNUwx9vJg/XHlvLKrVKmI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/62J7cfzWB2ARF6gebRWppv5XJ7STUfargCLcBGAs/s1600/Daffodil-Hill-2018-A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TMUNUwx9vJg/XHlvLKrVKmI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/62J7cfzWB2ARF6gebRWppv5XJ7STUfargCLcBGAs/s320/Daffodil-Hill-2018-A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>March can
come in like a lion and go out like a lamb or vise versa. We never
know what it's gonna bring. Sunny and warm one week, a blizzard the
next, and it's the beginning of tornado season in my neck of the
woods, but I love March and it's windy days. I guess because it
usually brings so many early spring time signs. I look out and see
daffodils, forsythia's, crocuses, tulips, and other early flowers in
bloom and it warms my heart even on a chilly day. The wind usually
blows every day of the month and sometimes late February and
certainly April borrows from March. There's nothing like hanging
clothes on the line in March and April. Shoot, I always start hanging
them out in February when it start's borrowing from March. Nothing
like fresh, laundry hung on the line in a good, stiff wind all day.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I remember
back when I was a young'un mama would start as soon as the March wind
came in, dragging out the quilts and all the bed linens and whatever
else she could drag out. You talk about many an all day job that
surely was, and every line was filled to the brim and those quilts
and sheets would flap all day on those lines. The next pretty day
she'd start taking down curtains, dragging out all the winter coats
and anything else she found laying around. Whewww, after all of that
we thought she would be done but oh no. She'd tell daddy to pull off
those long handles , they were going in the wash. I can hear him now,
“I ain't pullin em off to catch my death of cold till the first of
May and ye ought to know that by now.” Of course he had several
pairs but he acted like it was the only pair he had to save his life.
Let's just say mama always won the debate.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Oh, I can't
forget how she'd get us all together and we'd have to drag the
mattresses outside to sun all day and the pillows were hung on the
line to air out as well. But we always did this several times a year
in the warmer months. </b></span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Spring
cleaning came early with mama and March was her month. She always
said, “waitin's what broke the wagon down and I've gotta get in
that garden soon.” But what she really was hankering for was not
just the vegetable gardens but the flower beds. While daddy was out
looking for certain types of tater seed (and he wouldn't stop till he
found them if it took a week or two) mama was buying up more flower
bulbs. He'd always tell her, “I hope ye know, ye can't eat them
flowers.” Oh boy, what came next wasn't to purty. Mama loved her
gardens and worked hard in them just like all of us but she loved her
flowers more. I do believe daddy finally figured that one out cause
he kinda kept his mouth shut in later years. But in all honesty she
did have a green thumb and everything she put in the ground came up.
Mama did take pride in her gardens too. I know why she started her
spring cleaning so early. She knew when that garden stuff came in
she'd be busy in that hot kitchen canning all summer with the sweat
dripping off of her brow. </b></span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The only
thing I don't like about March is those stinky skunks. They always
start passing through mostly in the early mornings and it's hard to
stick ye head out the door. We sure did dread walking out the door to
go catch the school bus when that stink was lingering. It made us
feel like it was on our clothes and just knew someone would get a
whiff and turn their nose up at us but if they ever did they never
let on. And that's the one thing that has delayed a lot of laundry
hanging for me. There's been times I would leave the laundry basket
sitting full till the March wind got up enough in late morning to
blow the scent out. You talk about pitching a fit when one had passed
through when mama started to hang her laundry out. She called them
pole cats and she always said, “ if it wasn't fer getting stunk up
so bad a body ought to tie a paper poke to their tail and set it on
fire.” I still laugh today when I think of her saying that and it
comes to mind every time one passes through. But one good thing about
the March wind, the scent doesn't last long be it March or April.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I'll never
forget one March day our dog Ole Mack tangled with a skunk. He was a
full blooded collie and with that long hair it was the dickens
getting him cleaned up. We couldn't stand it when he came near us,
poor ole feller. I never in my life seen as much water carried from
the spring and boiled in an old iron pot in the back yard for his
bath or I should say several baths. That was the one time I saw mama
part with some of her canned tomatoes. She opened those cans and
poured several of them in that old wash tub. Shoot, we never did buy
anything like tomato juice from the stores. It took us a while to get
him clean enough not to smell it and it worked. Ole Mack was the most
gentle dog we'd ever seen and I think he quite liked it cause the
scent just about got him too. After we got him cleaned up we had to
start over and all of us had to take a bath as well and after that
we prayed really hard we'd never have to do that again. Of course,
skunks come and go and leave their mark just for show and I do
believe they laugh as they spray and go.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>March can
surely bring in anything including those stinky skunks and if I look
close enough I might see wild ducks swimming down the creek at the
back of my house. And I love hearing the frogs start their croaking
late in the evenings but the sweetest sound is the spring birds and
their serenading. </b></span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>But in spite
of all the things that can happen in March I focus on the good things
and good memories. All of life's pleasures and treasures awaken from
their long winter nap. It awakens my heart and soul to new birth and
a refreshing feeling comes over me of what's to come. And sometimes
it can start as early as February when it takes a notion to borrow
from March.</b></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
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© Susie Swanson, 2019</div>
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Happy March Everyone</div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-39823200074026616932019-02-18T14:32:00.000-08:002019-02-18T14:32:47.584-08:00The Little Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IwCyXfuKN0E/XGsx6ulbYEI/AAAAAAAAD_4/FC4rxxg8fKUBPW-6iHlFSyHjmTuAG_wLgCLcBGAs/s1600/enjoy-the-little-things-quotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IwCyXfuKN0E/XGsx6ulbYEI/AAAAAAAAD_4/FC4rxxg8fKUBPW-6iHlFSyHjmTuAG_wLgCLcBGAs/s1600/enjoy-the-little-things-quotes.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;">I learned a long time ago the little
things are the most important in life and can’t compare to wealth of money or
material things. When I was growing up we didn’t have much material things and
sure didn’t have any money but we made do with what we had and was so grateful
and blessed beyond measure. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;">We turned little things into big ones
in so many ways. We never had fancy, store bought toys to play with. We made
our own play things with a lot of imagination and a whole lot of ingenuity. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;">We built playhouses all over the mountain
side and we never stopped till we had a grand little playhouse. We’d use old
pots and pans that mama had discarded due to the holes in em or she’d let us
have an old worn out bed sheet, etc. We used anything we could get our hands on
when our imaginations kicked into high gear. We’d play all day if we had our
chores done and didn’t realize how hungry we really were till mama hollered,
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;">My brothers made their own cars and
trucks out of shoe polish bottles, matchboxes, etc. When they’d get tired of
playing house with us girls they could be found playing on the red, clay bank
over from the house. They’d play for hours pushing that dirt and using their
imagination on that bank. Mama grumbled a lot over the dirty britches and knees
that were worn out but she kept em washed and clean. Clorox was her best friend
and soap was our best friend, according to mama.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;">On Sunday afternoons we’d get a treat
and we looked forward to that. In the afternoon the whole family would go on a
picnic, especially in the warmer months. Daddy always planted watermelons every
year and when one got ripe we’d stick it in the spring to get cold. Mama would
cook a meal fit for a king and we’d carry our food in boxes, etc. and grab a
watermelon out of the spring and start out walking. We’d walk way back in the
woods till we found the right spot to eat. We’d spread out our food on an old
blanket or sheet and we’d eat till we popped. That was the best eating
anywhere. It tasted so much better on the outside surrounded by nature than at
the table. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;">We’d explore every little hole and
corner and mama would tell us not to wander off to far and step on a snake.
Daddy loved to explore as much as we did and we’d all spread out in different
directions and knowing those woods like we did we never had any trouble finding
our way back. We always made the whole evening out of it and by the time we’d
walk back home it was sundown and the animals had to be fed. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;">If daddy took a notion to go another
direction the next Sunday afternoon we’d all jump on the back of his old truck
and ride the backroads till we’d find the perfect place to stop and rest a
while, as daddy called it. He’d park the old truck under a big, shade tree and
search till we found the right spot to spread out our food, even if it was in a
cow pasture under a big shade tree. If it was early spring we’d pick a bunch of
poke salat and if we found a creek or branch somewhere we’d pick some creasy
greens to take home and cook. There’s different types of creasy greens but mama
always said the ones that grow near water are the best.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"> When it came time to head in home we’d jump on
the back of that old truck and it felt like heaven with the wind blowing
against our face and skin and we savored every minute of every mile. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;">We’d hurry and do our chores when we
got home so we could watch Wild Kingdom on our little black and white TV. It
came on every Sunday evening and we looked forward to it so much. Of course, this
was after we got a TV. After it was over we’d go outside and play till mama hollered,
“young’uns ye better get in this house before ye get a snake wrapped around ye
legs.” <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;">And then there was the little creek
and all its glory. We had one particular spot that made for a big pond and it
was called The Old Mill Pond. It was named after the gristmill my grandpa,
daddy and uncle had operated so many years earlier and was located just up the
creek a piece from where the gristmill sit, or what was left of it. You talk about having a blast, we did. We’d
play at that pond till sundown and we got so hungry and tired we’d almost crawl
in home for supper. Mama would give us a good going over for laying in the
creek so long, as she called it. But you talk about cooling off on a hot,
summer day, there was no better place to be found than that cold, icy creek.
The water stayed just as cold in the summer as the winter. We made many happy
memories there and till this day when I step in that cold creek that happens to
be located behind my house It takes me back to my childhood and those long ago
days we all enjoyed so much.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;">We had the best time of our lives
running through the thickets, woods or playing in the creek. It’s a wonder we didn’t get snake bit but
snakes never crossed our mind. We were to busy being a young’un and living the
good life and loving every minute of it.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;">I loved it when families all came
together and something as small but yet so big like sitting down at the table
come mealtime was the natural thing to do. I can’t remember a time we didn’t
all sit down together to eat and that table full of a delicious bounty we grew
in the gardens or big bowls of gravy and hot biscuits hitting the spot each
morning. Mama always took time to cook a big breakfast for us before we went to
school each morning even after she went to work on a public job. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;">I miss those days even more now since
I’m grown. In this fast, paced life we’re living in, folks ain’t got time for
nothing anymore. It makes me sad knowing all those little things are still
there wasting away.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"> Our childhood and imagination was our best
friend and the little things were big things in that long ago place where time
stood still and all was right within a childhood world. I just wish I could
ride the back of that ole truck one more time with daddy going five miles an
hour, what joy it’d bring.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"> © Susie Swanson, 2019 </span></b></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-68628874977250997522019-02-07T14:56:00.001-08:002019-02-07T15:54:29.324-08:00Quilting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp61ZSltMzI/XFy2XPFqnNI/AAAAAAAAD_c/OSXDFXrsOH8faQ0z13ZKQlZN9iPu49lwgCEwYBhgL/s1600/318978_429688987085076_905461210_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="960" height="239" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp61ZSltMzI/XFy2XPFqnNI/AAAAAAAAD_c/OSXDFXrsOH8faQ0z13ZKQlZN9iPu49lwgCEwYBhgL/s320/318978_429688987085076_905461210_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The art of quilt making
goes back many, long years and handed down from one generation to
another. I’m sure it came about as a necessity for many, as times
were very hard. People had big families and had to stay warm any way
they could and they believed in not wasting a tiny morsel of fabric.
Back then homes were hard to keep heated in the winter and the more
cover on the beds the better. My daddy and mama said some houses had
cracks in them big enough to throw a cat through. My daddy said when
he spent the night at an uncle’s house he woke up with a dusting of
snow on top of the bed covers. He said that’s the reason why his
aunt put so many quilts and blankets on the bed and he felt like he
was sleeping under a block of cement. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Coming from a quilting
family myself, I watched my grandma and mama make many quilts and was
very intrigued by it at an early age. I watched them sew every,
little stitch with so much enjoyment and love. I first started out
watching my big ma (on my mama’s side) and having a family of ten
young’uns there were never enough quilts according to her. In all
honesty, there were many beds and back then they didn’t have
anything other than a wood heater, wood cook stove, or fireplace to
keep heat in the house. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I’d make excuses to
go see big ma and pa just to watch her quilt. I’ll never forget the
day I got an opportunity to help her. She was a quiet person,
especially while she was quilting but when she spoke up and said, “do
you want to sew some.” I almost jumped up and down. She threaded
that little needle and handed it to me and told me to start sewing
and I looked at it for a second and said, “but I can’t make as
pretty a stitches as you can.” She said, it doesn’t matter just
do your best, we all got to start sometime.” I admit some of those
stitches were worse than bad but she never said a word, just kept on
sewing. When I look back on it now I realize that’s how she got her
start to quilting. I could never count how many quilts she made that
I know about, must have been hundreds probably. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Then there was mama and
her quilting. Before cold weather started coming in she’d get daddy
to help her put up those quilting frames in the largest bedroom.
When she lowered those frames and started on one I was right there
every stitch of the way. The only difference was that mama would tell
me when my stitches became to long or when I was sewing a crooked
line. I tried to listen to every bit of advice cause mama was
considered to be like big ma in my book. They both were master
quilters. Mama learned how to quilt at a very early age by helping
her mama. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Mama made many quilts
on those old timey quilting frames till she got arthritis in her
fingers. I’ll never forget the first fall when mama didn’t put up
any frames. I asked her if she planned on doing any quilting and she
said, “oh yeah, but from now on they’ll be sewed on the sewing
machine.” She only had a pedal sewing machine but she let the
hammer down on that thing and made several quilts. Then one day she
decided she needed an electric sewing machine and went out and bought
her one. I’d help her by putting the quilts together and basting
them and when we got one ready I helped to guide it through the
sewing machine. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Over the years mama and
I made many quilts together and loved every minute of it. After we
lost mama I started quilting on my own. I knew mine would never come
close to mama or big ma’s but I let the hammer down on those
quilts. Over the years I’ve tried to make quilts for all of my
family and then some. I have several hanging on quilt racks and
always keep one on my bed along with the pillow shams. </b></span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Then something happened
a few years ago that caused my quilting to come to a halt. I was
putting the finishing touches on one when I felt some kind of weird
symptoms that can’t be explained. I kept on working till I finished
that quilt and that was my last one I’ve attempted to make. I guess
it can only be explained by saying my health put me on a journey
that’s been a hard road to travel and my quilting was put on the
back burner.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>But I still look at
those quilts hanging on the racks or on the beds and a still, small
voice tells me that maybe, just maybe someday the stitching will
start again and the quilting fever will last to no end.</b></span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Quilting
is the life’s blood of a quilter’s soul</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Passed
down through the generations of time</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Knowledge
is worth a mountain of gold</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To a
quilter that’s patiently waiting behind</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Each piece
is linked with joy and pride</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Each
stitch sewn by a determined hand</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
patience for creation sits closely beside</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>As only a
quilter can understand</b></span></div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
pattern may become bright and bold</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It doesn’t
matter the color or size</b></span></div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It’s
there for the next generation to behold</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Then
becomes a cherished prize</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To the
heart of a quilter it’s a joyous pleasure</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>From the
beginning until the cherished end</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It’s an
honor to make such a lasting treasure</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And a
quilter is willing to do it all again</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>But when a
quilter’s job is finally done</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And they
lay their stitching down</b></span></div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
quilting fever has only begun</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To a
future quilter, what a glorious crown</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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© Susie Swanson, 2019</div>
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<br /></div>
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The quilt above is one of the last ones I made before I got sick and was diagnosed with Addison's Disease. I miss it so bad but maybe some day in God's time I will quilt once again.</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-60438762589648040102019-02-03T09:13:00.000-08:002019-02-03T09:13:48.810-08:00Days Of Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJYWXfjN0ZQ/XFcgcGDqODI/AAAAAAAAD_U/tc0yUe64H3sIbNFm6SovQ2rFu6q4EQKsACEwYBhgL/s1600/49498808_1055245237932654_4419039503792996352_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="960" height="305" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJYWXfjN0ZQ/XFcgcGDqODI/AAAAAAAAD_U/tc0yUe64H3sIbNFm6SovQ2rFu6q4EQKsACEwYBhgL/s320/49498808_1055245237932654_4419039503792996352_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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I miss days of old</div>
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when simple times were here</div>
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walking down a country road</div>
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not a worry or a fear</div>
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<br /></div>
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Playing outside all day</div>
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losing track of time</div>
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rushing in to mama's cooking</div>
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not a bite left behind</div>
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<br /></div>
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When prayer was in school</div>
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and the freedom to say</div>
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going outside for recess</div>
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learning mixed with play</div>
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<br /></div>
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Neighbors helping neighbors</div>
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through good times and bad</div>
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the most loyal friends</div>
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so willing and glad</div>
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<br /></div>
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Looking forward to church</div>
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spirit-filled revivals too</div>
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fried chicken Sunday dinner</div>
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and banana pudding menu</div>
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<br /></div>
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Walking to the store</div>
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a few pennies in hand</div>
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buying penny candy</div>
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thinking it was grand</div>
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<br /></div>
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Wearing hand me down clothes</div>
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feeling they were new</div>
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getting a new pair of shoes</div>
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to last the school year through</div>
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<br /></div>
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The joy of Christmas time</div>
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and waiting so patiently</div>
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for that apple and orange</div>
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under the Christmas tree</div>
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<br /></div>
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Each night at bedtime</div>
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saying a kneeling prayer</div>
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thanking God for his blessings</div>
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and tender, loving care</div>
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<br /></div>
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© Susie Swanson, 2019</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-22751331622113221582019-01-22T13:37:00.000-08:002019-01-22T13:37:24.866-08:00The Old Country Store<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8VMx2EF74-w/XEeMlpG9mgI/AAAAAAAAD-4/ZLSjmiKd2wgo3tcMIWSVRg3Hy7uoSYbGACLcBGAs/s1600/50766621_10156201464496819_7956894311361019904_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="430" height="293" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8VMx2EF74-w/XEeMlpG9mgI/AAAAAAAAD-4/ZLSjmiKd2wgo3tcMIWSVRg3Hy7uoSYbGACLcBGAs/s320/50766621_10156201464496819_7956894311361019904_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>She’s
seen many a season come and go </b></span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>That
old country store was one of a kind</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Those
big welcome doors were always open</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It
was the place to go and buy on time</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A
watering hole for the community</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Meeting
up with the locals was a daily trend</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>They
traded many stories and bartered too</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A
way of life they all came to depend</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A
weekly, anticipated trip to the that old store</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To
pick up supplies or pay on a bill</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Was
a pleasure that could never be denied</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To
everyone that came, it was certainly a big deal</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Wagons carried chickens, eggs and cream</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>That
good homemade butter was the best of all</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>For
a pound of coffee, sugar, a sack of flour</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>They
were all in it for the long haul</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Many
rabbits came straight from the traps</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In
exchange for tobacco or a Christmas gift</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Those
big bolts of yard goods looked so good</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To
the women folks, their spirits did lift</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Oh
how those candy jars stood out the most</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Sitting
on the counter so large and tall</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>That
array of penny candy sure looked tasty</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Plenty
of children would still recall</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Or
those big barrels sitting in the corner</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Filled
with pickles, potatoes or seed</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>With
a little extra money in the pockets</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A
chance for some much needed chicken feed</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>That
old pot bellied stove sitting in the middle</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Became a familiar sight for all to see</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Always
surrounded by a couple of chairs</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And
the famous spittoon and its popularity</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And
that old building acquired so many names</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
local post office was in the back</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Many
jobs for the proprietor surely did grow</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Even
an undertaker, nothing did he lack</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>That
weathered old building gave so much</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A
useful, old place where wonders never cease</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Where
skills became plentiful for pulling teeth</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Or
when the need arose, justice of the peace</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
welcome sign was always there</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>From
the time they entered till closing of day</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A
busy, old place filled with warmth and cheer</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Open
Monday through Saturday, closed on Sunday</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Now
it sits empty and feels so all alone</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Knowing
things will never be like it was before</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Where
many came and went and the living was good</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And
anything could be found at the old country store</b></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>© Susie Swanson, 2019</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-87308570424196370932019-01-18T13:35:00.000-08:002019-01-18T13:35:55.564-08:00Old Timey Home Remedies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hcoUz90dpDc/XEJGWh-PKOI/AAAAAAAAD-s/ZqS9ZWCIK_IGFyOlr6r6gbUoWYG12BoQgCLcBGAs/s1600/old-time-remedies-rc-dewinter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hcoUz90dpDc/XEJGWh-PKOI/AAAAAAAAD-s/ZqS9ZWCIK_IGFyOlr6r6gbUoWYG12BoQgCLcBGAs/s1600/old-time-remedies-rc-dewinter.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> It's that time of year again when all the sneezing, snorting, blowing and coughing starts. Here's a little something I wrote a couple years ago that might be of interest. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">I remember back when I was little we hardly ever went to a doctor when we got sick. Mama would doctor us with home remedies and she really knew a lot of em. She used a lot of Save the Baby. She’d put a drop or two on sugar in a teaspoon, hold our nostrils together and blow in our face till we swallowed it. You talk about stopping a cough and curing the croup, it did. It sure did break it up and she always said a cough has got to be loosened up before it’ll stop. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">I know everybody’s heard of Soltice. It came in a jar and was used to open up a chest or cough. It’d even open up ye head and make it run. Daddy thought he needed some on his chest every night before bed. Mama said, it was just a habit.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">She’d even cook up some onions and make us eat em. Supposedly, they were good for a cold and cough. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">No worries when we got a chest cold or cough, we either got some good ole tasting Save the Baby, rubbed down with Solstice, or Vick’s Salve, or eat a lot of cooked onions. There were lots more remedies, to many to mention.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Daddy made up his own cough syrup every winter. He used a small amount of white liquor, honey and lemon. He’d shake it up good and hide it so none of us kids could find it. Mama always accused him of sipping on it to much.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">For the sore throat it was vinegar diluted with a little water. We had to gargle it but mama gargled the vinegar full strength. She wouldn’t let us young’uns do that for fear it’d strangle us to death. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">For a nose bleed she’d take a small piece of a brown paper poke (bag) and fold it up real small and put it under the upper lip and it’d stop the blood. But most of the time she’d read the verse in the Bible, Ezekiel 16:6. It really works with faith. And camphor was used for the swimey head, also known as fainting and sick stomach. One whiff under ye nose and the sickness was gone. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">For burns, scratches or cuts, Turpentine was the best remedy there was. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Mama would rub a little around our belly button to worm us. It had to many uses to name but we sure did get wormed quite often.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">For bee and wasp stings she’d take a dab of snuff out of her mouth and rub on the sting to stop the hurting and draw the poison out. I don’t reckon we ever got snake bit. I’d hate to think what she would’ve done. It was pure luck that we didn’t. I’ve heard of a lot of home remedies used for snake bite. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Oh the uses of Sassafras Tea. The root or bark was boiled into a tea and sweetened. It was used to cleanse the system of the winter blahs as they called it and whatever else was ailing ye. It was good for the kidneys, cleansing the bladder, arthritis and other aches and pains. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">All the older folks spoke of it highly and were a firm believer in its healing and cleansing.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">I sure can’t forget the famous Castor Oil that she loved to punish us with. Yep, that’s what I called it at the time but now that I look back on it, I can honestly say it worked. The older folks always said a good cleaning out would take care of what ailed ye, just the thoughts of the taste still makes me gag today. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">We jumped for joy when Castoria came out. It actually had a better taste even though it was syrupy and we didn’t mind taking it. But when she’d come out with the Castor Oil we’d run and hide, still had to take our medicine though. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Take ye pick, Castor Oil, Castoria, Black Draught, or daddy’s all time favorite Epsom Salts. These are only a few, to many to mention. The older folks sure did believe in the cleaning out part. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">My oldest brother had the earache a lot when he was little and mama would lay him over her legs and drop warm sweet oil in his ear from a teaspoon that she’d heated on the stove eye. Then she’d cover his ear with a warm rag and it’d ease his ear. And if that didn’t do the trick, she’d take a puff off of one of daddy’s Camel or Lucky Strike cigarettes and blow in his ear. Cigarette smoke was the best medicine in the world for the earache mama proclaimed. I’ll never forget the first time we saw her do that. We all just stood there gawking. We’d never seen mama smoke in our lives and we told her of it. She said, that ain’t smoking it’s medicine. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">I remember her growing a lot of catnip for the babies around. She’d boil it into a tea and add a smidgen of sugar just enough to sweeten it a little to get em to drink it in their bottle and it was good for the belly ache (Colic). She said it’d even make em sleep better. Daddy would even slip in a few sips every now and then, especially at bedtime, said it made him sleep better.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> And of course there was the Thrash (Thrush) remedy. She used some type of plant or tree leaf. She never told anyone what it was except daddy and one of my brothers. She did that so they could fetch it for her. Mama cured everyone around at one time or another over the years. Most were young’uns but quite a few grown- ups came to her with their mouth covered in blisters. She said there was three kinds of the Thrash, yellow, white and red. She could tell by looking at the blisters in their mouth what kind it was. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Word soon got around and even her doctor started sending his patients to her. She never charged a dime, said it wouldn’t have worked. No one ever knew what she did. The young'uns sure didn’t know and grown-ups were blindfolded but it did the trick and there’s a lot of folks walking around today that can attest to that, including me.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Yellow root was used for the sore mouth, among other things and ye had to chew on it. Daddy sure did chew a lot of it. He said it was using that old backer that made his mouth sore. It grew on the creek bank or the branch bank. He’d strip the leaves and bark off before he chewed it. Back then a lot of folks paid many visits to the creek bank getting Yellow Root for various reasons.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> It could also be made into a tea and drunk for stomach problems. It’s been said that it helped the kidneys, liver, digestion system, etc. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">I remember us young’uns only going to a doctor a very few times. What was the use in going when we had our own medicines and own doctor. Mama even did surgery one time on my sister’s finger. She chopped it almost off with the axe. It was barely hanging on by a little skin when we all got to her. Mama took her inside and grabbed the alcohol and camphor and went to work putting that finger back together and bandaged it really good and kept a close watch on it. The camphor was used to put under her nose to keep her from passing out during surgery. She used enough alcohol to fill the ocean and my sister would squall out like a painter. She had to change the bandages at least twice a day but it grew back and she’s just got a small scar today. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">We did have one old doctor that practiced out of his house and his wife was his nurse. We only went when we absolutely had to. The first time I ever went to him I was six years old. I’d been laid up for days with the Strep Throat. Mama first thought it was just the sore throat but as time went on my temperature went up so high she couldn’t get it down. She told daddy to load me up and take me. He gave me a shot of penicillin and it did the trick. I’m deathly allergic to penicillin today. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">I know people were a lot more healthy back in the days when all they had to use was home remedies. A lot of it can be attributed to their lifestyle, exercise and eating healthy. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Some things they used like Save The Baby can’t even be bought in a store anymore. They took it off the shelves, said it didn’t work along with lots of other stuff, go figure. They said that a lot of the old time ways were old wives tales. Well I’m here to say I’m living proof that it did work or I probably wouldn’t be still kicking. My mama knew what she was doing and she wasn’t no fool. She raised to many young’uns not to know what to do for em when they got sick. My mama was our doctor and she had plenty of common sense to go along with it. She once said, if ye depend on a doctor to do anything for ye now days you’ll die. In my book, she hit the nail on the head. If she was still here today I wonder what she’d come up with to take care of what ails me. She’d find something, I’m sure.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Personally, I’m thinking about trying the Castor Oil again, if I can get up the nerve. It’ll either cure me or kill me. Maybe we all need to go back to the old timey ways. Probably get better results and a good cleaning out never killed anybody.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">I smile to think of what they used<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">To help us kids survive<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">But I am now going on 67</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">And very much alive<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">My sore throats were eased<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">I’m still holding onto my anchor<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">To think of sucking sugar lumps<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">With a drop or two of camphor<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">And camphor mixed with lard for<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">A winter chest congestion<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Baking soda cleansed my teeth<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">And helped my indigestion<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Because of mama’s tender heart<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">I hereby sing oh Gloria<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">For the few times she switched <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Castor oil with syrupy castoria<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Turpentine for tics and mosquito bites<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">And Turpentine on the scratches<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">The sickroom was fumigated with<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Our sulphur kitchen matches<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Somehow there’s quite a bunch of us<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">That’s never had a shot<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">But here we are still a kicking</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">And enjoying life a lot.</span></b></div>
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<b>© Susie Swanson, 2019</b></div>
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Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-27070317066765848432019-01-06T14:19:00.000-08:002019-01-06T14:19:32.671-08:00Our Best Childhood Friend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">I know
everyone remembers a favorite pet or two while growing up. We were blessed to
have several dogs and cats but there’s one dog that stands out the most. His
name was Ole Mack and he was a full bloodied collie and smart as a whip. He was
like a human in a dog’s body and instantly became part of our family. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">He’d obey
every command. If we told him to sit he’d be sitting there into next week if we
didn’t notice but we never did do him like that on purpose. It’s just the way
he was and so kind hearted. Every step we made he was there beside us. We used
to pull the blossoms off of clover after it’d bloomed and tie them together and
make a necklace to wear around our neck. We’d even make one for Ole Mack and
he’d just sit there and let us put it around his neck. When mama called us in
to eat we’d go running and he’d run beside us with his clover necklace around
his neck. The first time mama saw it she said, “what in the world have ye put
around that dog’s neck.” He was our best buddy and did whatever we did. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> There was only one thing that scared him and
that was thunder or the sound of a gun. Every time it’d thunder he’d run in the
house and crawl under the bed. We’d leave him alone till it’d pass and coax him
out. When we first got him we noticed that when my brothers or daddy grabbed
the gun to go squirrel hunting we noticed the fear in him. We never did find
out for sure but we always figured he’d been shot at before. We felt so sorry
for him and he never did get over it.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> Back then we walked everywhere we went and
every time we’d start down the road he’d be right at our heels waging that
pretty tail.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Daddy worked
away from home a lot and didn’t get to come home till weekends if he was lucky.
Sometimes it’d be two or three weeks before he came home. I reckon mama got
lonesome even with all of us youn’uns round her legs cause just about every
evening in the summer she’d say let’s go see pa and ma. That was her mama and
daddy and they lived upon the hill as we called it. I later realized mama got
lonesome for some adult conversation.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">About sundown
we’d take off to see pa and ma and Ole Mack would tag along till we got to the
footlog where we had to cross the little creek and we’d tell him to wait and
he’d lie down at the end of the footlog till we returned later that evening. We
were scared to take him with us for fear he’d tangle with other dogs. After
all, he was getting older and we feared he couldn’t take up for himself as good.
When we returned, he’d see us coming and run across that footlog to meet us
like we’d been gone forever just wagging his tail. We’d all bend down and hug
his neck and tell him he was a good boy till I think he got the big head. We
always tried to get back home before dark for fear of stepping on a snake, of
course Ole Mack would’ve killed it right there on the spot. He was very
protective of us in a good way and always watched out for us.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Back then
times were lean and not to many folks could find work and some just didn’t
wanna work, they’d rather steal their way through.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Mama always
had chickens that run loose and they had their favorite roosts every night.
Most of em roosted in the little apple tree that hung over the branch of water
that run down by the side of the house. Mama’s bedroom was on that side of the
house as well and she never had to sleep alone. One or more of us always piled
in the bed with her when bedtime came. She was always a light sleeper and could
hear a pin drop. Ole Mack knew where her bedroom was and he slept right beside
her bedroom under the porch and it was cooler on him there in hot weather. If
anything moved or someone came around he’d always growl or bark to let mama
know. We always called him our guard dog .<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">It all started
one summer night when a bunch decided they wanted to steal the chickens off the
roost. Mama was halfway asleep when Ole Mack started growling and then barking.
They grabbed a couple of hens and run
after they heard Ole Mack growling and barking. Mama heard em too, but was
afraid to go outside but she hollered at Ole Mack out the window to keep him
from following em. She always said her being a woman she hated to go out on
someone but if she had to she would. My oldest brother was big enough by then
to use the gun but she wouldn’t let him for fear he’d shoot or get shot. But
she didn’t have to worry about it cause the next night they came back. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Ole Mack first
started growling and the next thing he did was tackle em. Mama and my oldest
brother ran out at the same time and saw the shadows of em running fast as
their legs could carry em and Ole Mack was right on their heels. They dropped
the chickens in the middle of the road. On the way out the door my brother
grabbed the gun and fired it straight up in the air. They run even faster and
Ole Mack came running back towards the house so proud of himself. Mama said to
my brother, “what’d ye do that for, they were already out of sight.” My brother
said he did it more so for Ole Mack, cause he knew he was scared of guns and
didn’t want him to get hurt by the chicken thieves.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Needless to
say, the chicken thieves didn’t come back anymore. Mama figured it was a bunch
that knew daddy was gone and could carry off what they wanted to. We really
rewarded Ole Mack by trying to keep him in the house and feeding him anything
he wanted as if he wasn’t fed enough. But he wouldn’t have any part of sleeping
in the house at night. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Then one
morning my brother went outside for something and he noticed Ole Mack wasn’t
around. He called out his name and kept calling. We all went running out the
door and joined in the search but no such luck. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">We finally
found him in the cow pasture later in the day and carried him back to the house
and had the nicest memorial for him. <o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">We buried a
part of the family and our hero that day. Our hearts were broken and it was
never the same anymore. He lived to the ripe ole age of fifteen and deserved
his heavenly reward but there’s a place still void in our hearts today and we
think about him often. I’m sure he’s up there where all good dogs go and having
the best time of his life without any fears or worries about the thunder or
loud noises anymore and running through the meadows with his clover necklace around his neck. Rest in peace Ole Mack, you’ll always be our Best
Childhood Friend.<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"> © Susie Swanson, 2018</span></b></div>
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Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-89990916823183351412018-12-31T14:20:00.001-08:002018-12-31T14:23:46.889-08:00Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thank you for the flowers</div>
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you give to me each day</div>
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a blanket of warm sunshine</div>
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a smile's brightest ray</div>
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A few kind words, I cherish</div>
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worth more than any gold</div>
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given when much needed</div>
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feeds my weary soul</div>
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A simple handshake or nod</div>
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spreads the fragrance around</div>
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lifts my daunting spirits</div>
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when I'm low and quite down</div>
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A much needed prayer</div>
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a rose of elegance and grace</div>
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really touches my heart</div>
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I humbly accept and embrace</div>
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Ever close beside me</div>
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beautiful flowers does grow</div>
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or many gardens away</div>
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by some I hardly know</div>
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Thank you for the flowers</div>
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you give to me each day</div>
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each petal is worth more</div>
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than words can ever say<br />
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© Susie Swanson, 2018</div>
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May you all have a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year and let's all pray for a better one as many folks like myself have had a rough 2018. Just like last year I probably will not be up to open the door and let the old year out and the new year in and my husband has tried his best to get all the laundry done and the floors swept or we'll sweep and wash all of our treasures away. lol My mom firmly believed in this and worked very hard on New year's Eve to get it all done so she wouldn't have to on New year's Day. I asked her one time about why she never worried about cooking and washing dishes. She said, " it doesn't matter cause I do that every day of the year anyways". lol Couldn't figure that one out. May God Continue to bless each one of you and I'm still praying for many blogging friends and their family members on here. Blessings, Susie</div>
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Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542626754689382068.post-86811888370269940662018-12-10T14:26:00.000-08:002018-12-10T15:52:16.950-08:00Long Ago Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6l_V9P8EZ4Y/XA7mZyNTNlI/AAAAAAAAD-A/LCLgN8yxvEUqatAgNV_cGdmMnehQnakxACEwYBhgL/s1600/vintage-christmas-tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="570" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6l_V9P8EZ4Y/XA7mZyNTNlI/AAAAAAAAD-A/LCLgN8yxvEUqatAgNV_cGdmMnehQnakxACEwYBhgL/s320/vintage-christmas-tree.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I
dream of those Christmas's so long ago</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>When
things were simpler and time was more slow</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Searching
the woods for that special little tree</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A
few homemade decorations, so beautiful to me</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Strings of holly berries and popcorn so adorned</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Wrapped
in tin foil, a shiny star was born</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Listening
to mama read the Bible, how it begin</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Gathered under that old roof where love was a kin</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Rushing
off to bed, oh the thoughts we did weave</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>With
visions of that first Christmas and Christmas Eve</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And
those old, ragged socks laid out with care</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Under
that little tree with plenty of room to spare</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Waking
up Christmas morning, oh what a thrill</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>That
apple, orange and stick candy sure fit the bill</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Those
long ago Christmas's was worth it all</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>More
large than anything this world has so small</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I
can hear it now, welcome home come on in</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Oh
heart of mine go back where you have been</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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© Susie Swanson, 2018</div>
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I haven't posted in quite a while due to ongoing health issues and dealing with this horrendous disease called Addison's. I'll try to be back as soon as possible and till then I wish you all a very Merry Christmas filled with good health, joy, love and Many Blessings. God Bless, Susie</div>
Susie Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052734156809316397noreply@blogger.com7