It has grown colder here on the prairie, as it should this time of year. This time it won't warm up again until May 2011. Ah, it may be cold outside but the warmth of the people around these parts more then makes up for the weather. They are a hearty bunch and I have a long way to go to call myself a woman of the prairie. I am working on it though. I have purchased my first parka with fur collar and all, fur lined boots and wool socks, I have a Carhartt stocking cap!! Have to get some photos of that. Last time I dressed like that I was on the North Shore January 1994, winter camping!
Other things . . .
Last week I found a black striped "woolly bear" catapillar on the sunny side of the deck and picked him up to take with me on my visit to mother's place. I knew she would get a kick out of seeing it, because when she was a child, the little fuzzy brown and black caterpillar would be a clue as to what the winter held in store for the
prairie inhabitants. So off Zak, the "woolly bear" and I went! And I was right! Mother looked him over and related several stories of her youth and laid the caterpillar on the window sill. We talked, had coffee and a snack and then it was time for Zak and I to go. We said our good-bys, I grabbed the list of things mom asked me to pick up for my next visit and and away I went. Later that evening I got a call from mom asking me if I took the caterpillar with me or . . . Well I hadn't thought about the little fuzzy guy once we started our visit and so the quest was on. Mother informed the woman who cleans for her that there was another resident and to be on the lookout for him while she dusted and vacuumed (Oh my!) Well, Kathy reported she had not seen a trace of the little guy, who now has a name, Wally, and assured mother that he would turn up and then could be disposed of properly. She does not know my mother!!! Wally did indeed show up near the bathroom sink, looking for a drink I guess. Another call from mother about what to feed Wally! And after a half hour conversation about not having a caterpillar for a roommate, mother informed me Wally had disappeared while we were talking. He has not been seen since and maybe won't be until a beautiful butterfly emerges from a cocoon next spring. Fairytale like! Of course the hard truth is it will be an Isabella tiger moth!
prairie inhabitants. So off Zak, the "woolly bear" and I went! And I was right! Mother looked him over and related several stories of her youth and laid the caterpillar on the window sill. We talked, had coffee and a snack and then it was time for Zak and I to go. We said our good-bys, I grabbed the list of things mom asked me to pick up for my next visit and and away I went. Later that evening I got a call from mom asking me if I took the caterpillar with me or . . . Well I hadn't thought about the little fuzzy guy once we started our visit and so the quest was on. Mother informed the woman who cleans for her that there was another resident and to be on the lookout for him while she dusted and vacuumed (Oh my!) Well, Kathy reported she had not seen a trace of the little guy, who now has a name, Wally, and assured mother that he would turn up and then could be disposed of properly. She does not know my mother!!! Wally did indeed show up near the bathroom sink, looking for a drink I guess. Another call from mother about what to feed Wally! And after a half hour conversation about not having a caterpillar for a roommate, mother informed me Wally had disappeared while we were talking. He has not been seen since and maybe won't be until a beautiful butterfly emerges from a cocoon next spring. Fairytale like! Of course the hard truth is it will be an Isabella tiger moth! Over the river and through the woods to granny's house we go for Thanksgiving dinner. I am fixing mother and I a German dinner from her mother's recipes for her and I to share on Thursday. On Saturday everyone will be at my house for the traditional bird and all the trimmings, followed by the best from scratch pies ever. Siblings, nieces, nephews, and of course mother will be gathering around the table and giving thanks for many blessings of this year. I am a little sad that my boys will be in MN with their respective other families and I will be missing them.
I am hoping all of you will have a wonderful holiday of thanksgiving with friends and / or family and don't forget to Pay It Forward, so many are in need of Acts of Random Kindness (ARK) at this time.
Be healthy, stay safe and keep it real!!
