The Fireman’s Wife and Dog

Sometimes Far Guy and I are out and about when his pager goes off..he is still a Volunteer Fireman and is on call from 7 to 7 during weekdays. In our area most of the young guys are out of the area working during the day and the fire hall can be short handed. Sometimes Chance and I drop Far Guy off at the fire  hall, they will see that he gets home.

Every evening at six o’clock there is a pager test, Chance knows that it is just a test..but it is a signal to him that someone should be in the kitchen cooking supper (usually Far Guy).  Other times during the day, if the pager goes off while Far Guy and Chance are outside..Chance heads for the house ..he knows he will be left behind. He plops himself down next to the door and sighs.

The other day, we were close to the location of a fender bender..Chance and I watched from afar.   Now that reminds me of a joke. “Did you know that the wisemen were really fireman? ( pause for effect)  It says so right in the Bible..they came from afar.”

On Thursday night we had a “date night”..there was a control burn, and I got to take photos. Chance watched from the car, and then Far Guy took him for a walk.  I watched and took photos from afar. Far Guy was there to see that all of their cameras were set to take photos and to be a driver just in case there was a rescue call.

Control burns are done for a number of reasons usually the houses are no longer inhabitable and the owners wish to burn them down.  It provides a great training exercise for Fireman, this house provided valuable training that may some day save a Fireman’s life..or maybe yours.    I got some great shots of some awesome fire behavior:)

The Neighbors Farmhouse

It was a landmark, the big white farmhouse with the big red barn and a windmill. The lonely house stood empty. Memories are all that remain. The children all grown with grandchildren of their own. The old timers both now gone one to heaven and one to the nursing home.

They moved from Nebraska back in 1954, to the big old house, full of hope and possibility. We welcomed them as neighbors. They were friends of my parents, when my Mother went to work at the Osage Boat Factory their house became the daycare home for my brother and I .. and the lovely lady became our "Second Mom." Through the years, they have welcomed us back to the neighborhood twice, we lived across the road from them when we lived at the resort, presently we live just down the road. You couldn't have asked for better neighbors.

Cookies warm from the oven, kids to play with, warm loving hugs.

A piano on the porch, playing hopscotch in the yard, a windmill turning.

A claw foot bathtub, fun in the girls room, memories made.

Laughter, old stories, blueberry pies, cookies made with lard and egg coffee.

Red Christmas doilies, Christmas bread braided, warm cinnamon rolls and a pickle in the Christmas tree.

Church quilts, a precious white puppy and plants in the kitchen window.

Tango red geraniums, pretty plates, Cardinals, and orange begonias.

Buttercup squash and cucumbers, jars of pickles shared, recipes freely given.

Coffee is always on, the door is always open, the sweet voice always hollers "Come on in" Welcoming hugs. Then silence..

The house, had stood for 109 years. It had served its occupants well, it was time to move on.
On Saturday it was used as a control burn for the local Fire Department to train firefighters. For many young firefighters this was their first time being inside a burning house.

Early Monday morning, the elderly gentleman was called home. It is the end of a generation. The windmill keeps turning, the next generation is in place. Wonderful neighbors they are, part of the family that moved from Nebraska so long ago. You couldn't ask for better neighbors:)

Photos from Saturday May 23, 2009