High Button Shoe
July 15
...sitting in front of a big fan with wind blowing a damp unattractive ponytail, no makeup as I seriously doubt I could keep it from sliding off my face onto my equally damp t-shirt, I got my things uploaded to crow soup for the month, and decided to pen you a newsletter while I am at it, as this does seem to be the coolest part of the house. My computer is housed on my old Sellers Hoosier flour cupboard in the kitchen, which used to look quite attractive with crocks and such but now just always has computer work sitting on it. That does manage to take away from the great look of an old Sellers piece, but it is handy. I finally located every extension cord I own, except for the ones I used at Christmas time, and as we haven't had a tree for that season in at least 3 years ( I know! isn't that terrible?? I think so too, but Ron still refuses to budge on my dead cedar tree from the swamp, and that is all I have room for..) I don't have a clue where most of those cords are. And it is too hot to look. So I rigged up a big fan at the base of the basement stairs where it is lovely cool, to blow the coolness upstairs, where it is caught by another big box fan and blows on me! I had to move the coffee pot over to another plug by the microwave, as yes, we still in spite of the heat, need to have coffee. I know, that occurs to me too, but we have drank caffeine for too long now to give it up. When I am serious in my plans to reduce the chocolate and red licorice intake, I definitely cannot give up coffee. If I were to eat chocolate, I would have to stand in the well pit, I do believe, as it would surely melt all over me. I haven't been in the well pit for years. Perhaps I should check that out. Anyway, suffice to say, it is hot! The trusted (?) weatherman is predicting higher temps for Saturday and Sunday with "feels likes" over 100 degrees and high humidity. OK, enough grumbling.. I know it is hot where you are too.My work in the barns continues. I had a major setback yesterday. After spending some time in Cadillac getting groceries, always a joy and high light of my day..NOT, Ronnie told me of his progress in the one barn. He is putting a new floor over the calf pens in the upper part where we used to store baled hay. He took a couple days off and was happy with his plans to work on that.After supper, says he, would you like to come see what I did today? I am thinking, oh sure, THAT sounds like fun, when it is 90+ degrees (ever been IN a barn when it is that hot??) and I have just been in town doing my favorite pastime, buying groceries and THEN have to put them all away.... BUT instead, says I, trying to sound cheerful, sure. Because it is hot, and I am tired, we drove my truck to the barn, rather than walking up, which we often do. Also for some unknown (at the time) reason, I decided to slip on some shoes, which I also rarely do. I am used to going barefoot and walking thru the long grasses, and even on the barn floor. I drive. Therefore, I am slower getting out and to the barn doors. They face the very hot west sun, and are closed. HAD THEY BEEN OPEN, I would have gotten a first hand view of the SNAKE just inside the door as Ronnie bent down to remove the stake that keeps the huge tin doors from rattling in the wind. The "he" part of this duo doesn't scream when he sees the snake. The other duo/part wasn't screaming, but making some loud breathless guttural noise that I probably couldn't replicate unless I see a snake again. And even the "he" admitted this was a BIG snake. We often have a disagreement on the size of snakes. He believe them to be small, while I believe them to be the kind you find in the swamps of the Amazon. He chases it back out of the barn, into the long grass where I had been but now I am almost on the hood of my truck. The snake does not want to go into the tall grass, but wants to go back into the barn. It does make me wonder how long I can hold my breath in terror while he tries to force the snake back down past the granary and away. Eventually he assures me it is gone. un-huh. Like I believe that! But we did come to see his work. Cautiously, WITH my shoes on, I walk thru the barn, checking for any snake-lings who surely must be the offspring of the BIG snake. I could barely whisper the appropriate ohs and ahs to see his work, because I had to watch my feet and the full 6 feet circle around me at all times. Have I mentioned I hate snakes? So NOW each time I am supposed to be working in this barn, I will have to watch for the snake! Ron just casually mentioned he had seen it before. YEGADS! And here I am moving boxes, moving furniture, and wandering around in that barn with no idea that an 'anaconda' lives close by! So, I have decided I will have to drive on all future barn trips, wear shoes, possibly hip boots, perhaps carry my pepper spray, AND will probably find it difficult to work in the barn WITH an ax in my hand, that I can dismantle the snake with.Ron, as you know, is a born farmer, and feels snakes are important to our land. But I will tell you, IF I see this snake again before he does...this big snake will die! Our secret however, as unless Ron hears the screaming (either the snakes or mine..), I will only tell Beulah and you...www.crowsoup.com comes out tomorrow on the 15th, as it always does. We can be found athttp://www.crowsoup.com/Market586.php and are offering some marked down prices on some things. It often is released late in the day, so if you don't see new things, wait until around supper.When I get myself more together, and I do realize you all understand what an undertaking that is on my part, I am photographing antique things for upload to the website.We are continuing to have sales out of the shop, and the OTHER barn, the snakeless one, is full of mark downs. Today I went thru several of my own collection of old quilts and am taking them to the shop. I am planning already what I will be taking to the Primitive Homeplace Harvest Gathering show September 23 in Bradford TN. This is a link to that. www.picturetrail.com/primitivehomeplace Ruth has sent me a roster of the so far signed up vendors and I must say I will be selling with an impressive group of people. Beu and me are so excited.Well, I have to cart all my things over to the shop. The emptying of my house has begun. But eventually the shop has to be emptied too. Ronnie will start the bathroom total remodeling soon. All I will have left of that bathroom is the old original sage green door with the old glass and the old glass doorknob. Our bathroom door will have a big window in it!My gourds are coming along nicely. So far no varmits have bothered them. I bought another hose attachment yesterday that makes the gourd garden waterings much easier. I got myself drenched (oddly enough) before I figured out how it worked, but that felt good in that heat.The sweet annie is popping up all over from seeds of last years crop. If it all comes, I will have a lot. It is right in my planned brick path's way...but I haven't gotten past the first 9 bricks yet anyway, so I guess that is not a problem. I may transplant it to another spot however, as IF I get so inclined to work on the path, it would surely NOT be Ron's design pattern were I to have to 'brick' around sweet annie plants.Check us out tomorrow on the crow! Watch for changes on the website soon! AND just to give you fair warning, I am planning to make the witches shoes again this fall! Thinking back on all the perils of that experience last September, I may have to try out the well pit and some chocolate.in fond regard,Miss Clotildaoh, and IF you are a lover of Net LaCroix patterns (and WHO isn't?), go visit goodest friend, Miss Elspeth at http://www.pineberrylane.com/finishedgoods1.html She has some lovely creations of folk artist Bonnie Kidwell, on her finished items page. Go thru her entire website however, Your primitive heart will smile... Els is a great folk artist!At the bottom of this email, and as an attachment, is a recent picture of our baby turkeys with some mamas. They are several weeks old now.