Goose Poop

 I was going through some old photos.  This one was taken in 1991 at Seney Wildlife Refuge in Michigan.  It is my nephew Jacob. 

This was taken right outside the front door.  My sister had a note on the door that said "Check your shoes for goose poop before coming in".  The goose poop was horrible. 

When we lived at the resort one summer was really bad...the Canada Geese seemed to gather up on our lawn next to the lake, Canada Geese are pooping machines.  ( I suspect that one tourist family was feeding Geese from the dock one week and the next week the Geese came ashore looking for food! ) What goes in one end of a goose comes out double in the other end.  I had to get the hose out two or three times a day...I finally kept sending the Sheltie's down to chase the Geese off.

Far Side

Wistful Wednesday: Gift from the heart

Each year I try to do something a tad special for someone.   Something that might make a difference someday.  Who knows how or when…but maybe if you just believe that is enough.

The antique sleigh bells were a Christmas gift a number of years ago from Jen, Andy, Noah and Adam. Last winter I polished them.

Some ended up with sparkly dark ribbon and some with sparkly white ribbon.

Back in 2006 we received a sleigh bell/jingle bell ornament from Brother In Law Tim, Nephew Jacob and Niece Rachael.  It always has a special place on our tree.

  They wrote; “ Merry Chistmas 2006 from Tim, Jacob and Rachael!  We hope you enjoy this authentic Victorian Sleigh (Jingle) Bell.  It would be difficult to figure out the exact date that it was made , but it is close to 100 years old if not older.  The kids and I have restored this bell and offer it to you in celebration of the Christmas season.  We hope that you will find a place on your tree or perhaps and entry door to hang it and each time you hear it jingle, be reminded of all your blessings in life.”

Tim died November 1st, 2018.  He has two grandsons both just babies…one is a year old and the other a few months old.  They haven’t a chance to remember their Grandfather.  So two bells along with the story were mailed to the oldest Grandson with instructions to share with his cousin someday.

My sister with Tim, Rachael and Jacob.  I believe this photo was taken in 1995.

Other recipients of the sleigh bells were our daughters, grandchildren and our great grandson.

Heads Up

Relatives on my side of the family have an autoimmune disorder called Celiac Disease or Celiac sprue.  When you have the disease you are very sensitive to gluten. When you eat gluten you may have a variety of symptoms; bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation or vomiting.  There are about 200 different symptoms.

My Dad was diagnosed in about 1999.  In retrospect his brother Adolf most likely died from it in 1998.  My Aunt Anna was diagnosed a number of years ago about the same time as Cousin Geraldine.

My sister Julie has been diagnosed with it and her son Jacob who not only has the gluten intolerance but a dairy intolerance also.

Our youngest daughter Jennifer was diagnosed about two weeks ago.

Cross contamination in kitchens, the same spatula used to flip a pancake and then used to flip your egg can cause you to become ill.  Using the same toaster for regular bread and then gluten free bread.  If someone in your family has Celiac then you are better off having the whole household go gluten free.

From the Celiac Foundation:

When people with celiac disease eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley), their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine. These attacks lead to damage on the villi, small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine, that promote nutrient absorption. When the villi get damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly into the body.

Celiac disease is hereditary, meaning that it runs in families. People with a first-degree relative with celiac disease (parent, child, sibling) have a 1 in 10 risk of developing celiac disease.

So far I have escaped this disease.  I do not eat certain foods…pancakes which I love but rarely eat.  There are also certain places I do not eat…some resturaunts are worse than others…some must not be as clean as my system likes.  Here at home I adhere to a clean side and dirty side of the kitchen and if they meet, then everything gets disinfected.  I also have a limited amount of fru fru on my kitchen counters.

My Nephew Jacob

My Nephew Jacob lives in Japan. ( He is my sisters oldest child.) After he graduated from College he took a JET job in Japan.  JET is Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program.   Jacob speaks fluent Japanese.

He met and married Saki last year.  I met her for the first time last week.  I was surprized that she speaks very little English but she does understand some of what is said.  In a group of people she seems totally lost and just smiles. ( Jacob quickly translates for her.)

They have purchased a piece of land on the outskirts of Osaka.  3,000 square feet of land for about $110,000 in our dollars ( I asked him to convert the price for me!) They will have room for a small house they plan to build and a small garden. They hope to begin building later in the year.  Right now they live in an apartment with a tiny balcony.

Saki baked cookies for the first time.  They have no ovens in Japan.  Jacob said they could get one for their new house but it would be very expensive.  He said eventually when they have children he would like to move back here for a few years so his children can experience life in the United States.

Jacob, my Mom and Saki

Mom and Dad had us over for breakfast one morning last week while Jacob and Saki were there visiting.

First Bingo

For you tried and true Bingo players out there..do you remember your first Bingo?   I think mine was on a fairground at a huge tent.  You picked a stool and a runner came over and sold you a card for 10 cents.  You covered your spots with hard kernels of corn that were up in the top section of the counter you sat at.  I loved looking at all the prizes you could win all stacked in the middle.  If you won you got a ticket.. and all the prizes were different amounts of tickets.

Then I played with the cards that had the little red windows that you slipped sideways to cover a called number.  It was less messy than the corn.  Then came the paper cards and the daubers.

I think I have had the same two daubers for over ten years now..how about 14 years.  I think we were building the house and still living in the camper when I bought one green dauber and one red one.  I don’t go to Bingo every week that’s for sure.

When we lived in Buxton North Dakota I had a part time job..you guessed it.  Bingo caller and Black Jack Dealer in the little bar on main street. I had previous Black Jack Dealer experience but being a Bingo caller was something I had never done before.  I really enjoyed it!

Last night my sister and my nephew were here so we all went to Bingo with my parents.  My Dad goes to Bingo just about every week.  He has a friend who is blind and plays with braille cards..Dad faithfully picks Darrell up and drives him to Bingo.  My Mother often times stays home and sews while Dad is gone.

I won once, Mom won twice and nephew Jake hollered “BINGO” for his very first time.

My sister Julie and her son Jacob or Jake.

Jake came to visit because he is leaving shortly for Ohi Japan where he will be teaching English. He speaks and writes Japanese. He spend part of last year studying in Japan. He is very excited about this upcoming year.  He told me that Saki tastes a little like vodka mixed with wine and he likes sushi…both things I have never tried.  His apartment is all set up and waiting for his arrival..it should be a wonderful adventure for him:)