HIGH BUTTON SHOE

HIGH BUTTON SHOE

April 2005

Ah... April 15th. Are you still working on your income tax? With all that mind boggling planning I did in January and February, mine were sent in weeks ago. Frankly I never understand people who are still needing the time until midnight today to mail their income tax. It's NOT like it just slips up on you. You know for the entire year, it has to be mailed in today. I remember a few years ago, TV reports showing long lines at the post office mail drop off boxes, people in cars waiting their turn to drop the taxes off before midnight. That would be cutting it a little too close for me.

Even when we have to pay, I mail it AT the post office a couple days before. I never trust the mail box here on the farm for the important stuff that has to be there.

Today, being the 15th is also the day www.crowsoup.com comes out. Probably later today, perhaps evening. The crow has gotten so big it takes longer to get it all together, I suspect.

We can be found at www.crowsoup.com/Market586.php

I apparently jinxed our weather ( big smile) when I wrote you last about the raining day. We haven't had a drop of rain since, and we need it badly. The grass is slowly greening up, but the fields are very dry and there are reports of grass fires each day. We have a several counties burning ban, but people still do it, and the results are fires that are destroying many acres of fields & woods.

Our country road went from mud to dust. Big time dust. I have been working out on the lawns and in the flower beds. I have mostly perennial flowers, but it still requires a good clean up in the spring. After almost 2 weeks of daily working at it, I am about done. My poor aching muscles are about done too. Spring chores are always a reminder that I bought too many bags of red licorice during the winter months. My flowers are already coming up, many of them. Others I have to remember where they are as it is too early for them. I plan to put more things in the fenced in beds this year. A glutton for punishment, I intend to try my pumpkin crop again this year. You would think the past disasters with this crop would stay in my mind long enough to prevent me from trying this again, but apparently I never learn. My last attempt at this, finally went good with the actual growing of the pumpkins. We fixed up an irrigation system, I watered them several times a day as that was ONE HOT summer. I even had to wear shoes in the pumpkin patch, as the dirt was so hot, I couldn't stand in it. I weeded it. Grandson Mattie came often and kissed each pumpkin (he was 3), and blessed them all, so of course, they grew. They were coming along really great, and were a great hit with the customers who always wanted to see the pumpkin patch. I was growing the white (lumina) ones and you don't find them as much. Anyway, one day, in my many checks of the pumpkin patch, much to my horror I found that nearly 3/4 of the patch had huge bites out of each pumpkin. We had taken measures to keep the deer out, deterred the rabbits. BUT had not counted on the groundhog that stayed in the barn yard (hate groundhogs, they are very destructive). In one night he had destroyed my pumpkin patch. So this time I am planting my pumpkins in the fenced in area. Along with my herbs, sunflowers, and sweet annie. This is a big fenced in bed, about twice the size of our house, and is full of bittersweet too. I love it there. I have a couple benches and lots of interesting things in there. When it gets to its best, I will have to have Beu post a picture of it on the website.

BrunieMae (www.saltboxfarm.com ) and me are running off on another day trip to Indiana next week. One of our many junking trips of the year. Both of us can hardly wait. I buy grungier junk than she does, but we both manage to find enough stuff to completely load up the truck. Now if we can just remember to get off on the right exit. We talk nonstop on these road trips and I don't think we have ever made the exit the first time, without having to turn around and go back. Last time, we were even paying close attention (we thought!) and still missed it. AND, it isn't just my fault. Brun tells everybody that I have a fetish for Walmart driveways, and I must admit I erroneously would have been in their parking lots had it not been for her vigilance, twice on the Wisconsin trip last fall. However, she is the one who is supposed to be the navigator on the Indiana trip exit and fails to see it too. Aside from the fact that we are like the blind leading the blind on these trips, we have the best time.

Ronnie and me are going to an auction tomorrow. We haven't been to one in quite some time, so I am looking forward to this too. I remind myself, that the reason we are having the big sale in July is to get rid of some of what we have, so why is it we are going to an auction, one might ask. Auctions are contagious. Gets in your system. We go to mostly farm type auctions, or farmhouse I would probably say. The kind that the old people have been there for 70 years and the grandkids are getting rid of it after they died because they have no appreciation for that stuff. It always makes me somewhat sad, that I love their families old stuff more than they do.

The turkeys are back. The mailman just drove by, and one of the big toms in the yard gobbled at him. They gobble at any noise. Crazy birds. They have raised havoc in my chores, however, because I must stop what I am doing, and sit to watch them. They are a tad skittish, as they often are in the spring. The groups have broken up into smaller groups. I can't wait for the mamas to come into the yards followed by a dozen babies. Their antics make your heart smile and calm even the worst of harried days. Course, the deterrent there is turkey poop to navigate around on the lawns!

Whelst, Ronnie is home for lunch. And I am warming up the grill outside. So best tend to lunch...

Check out the crow soup. We are adding more things to the new items on our website too. http://www.highbuttonshoe.net/newitems.htm AND we are working on new cards, that will show up there as soon as I can work out the snafu between the time I get them on disk in the computer and the trip to the printers. Somehow, they vanish and I get to the printer with a disk that says NO pictures. This is good for 3 frown marks, and bad words under my breath. But...I am working on it.

Thanks for asking to be a part of the farm. Spring here is delight. I wish you could all sit on the porch with me and watch the herbs grow, and these dumb turkeys wander around.

in fond regard,

Miss Clotilda