Friday, July 25, 2008

Cat "Cooler"



It is so hot, the cat lays by the tomato plant! We water the plant, and he thinks we are doing it for him, and not the plant!

By the way, dad took the picture for Tesa to see that we have 'critters' in our 'garden' too!

Random Quote

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage-payer.

You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatreds.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative and independence.

You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

-Abraham Lincoln




Thursday, July 24, 2008

Obituaries

I have to admit, I read the obits every morning in the Salina Journal. I read this one, and it brought back a wonderful memory.

Sada Munkres

COLBY -- Sada (Thompson) Munkres, 99, Colby, died Monday, July 21, 2008.

She was born March 18, 1909, in Gove. She was a lifelong area resident and a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Shurl, in 1993.

Survivors include her sons, Ward, Colby and Kenneth, Madison, WI; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, 2008.

The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2008, at Harrison Chapel, Colby, with the Rev. Carroll Morony officiating. Burial will follow in Gem Cemetery, Gem.

Memorials may be made to the city of Gem, and may be left at any Colby bank or the chapel.



Sada was well known around town, if not personally, but for her wonderful personality. She was always dressed to the 'T's', ( even though they weren't always "fresh"), her makeup on (always a garish red lipstick and rouge), red, painted nails (even in the creases around her nails), and "Roses, Roses" perfume, enough for a lot of people!

My first memory of her is during a shopping trip to the grocery store when we were new-comers to Colby. It was during the summer of '73, right after Josh was born. We were at the store, Carole and Phil, Josh and me, and this 'old' lady came up to me. She looked at me, and me being from the city where people don't always make eye contact, I was wondering what she wanted. She looked at me, and asked, "Are you related to Betty Bell?" I am thinking, WHAT? Now if you don't know, Betty Bell was my mother. I told her, "Yes, I am her daughter." "Why?" "How do you know her, because it has been a long time since she was Betty Bell."

Well, Sada told me that she used to babysit for her when she was a baby, in Hoxie. Now, I can't remember who I used to babysit for, much less their parents, but Sada knew. I'm sure if everyone could put a memory down about Sada, it would fill many, many books.

Over the years, we have had many opportunities to visit with Sada. She made it to all the major functions in town, went on cruises, visited with many people. She had a town-wide bash for her 90th birthday, which I'm sorry to say, we didn't make. I heard those that went had so much fun!

We went to her funeral this morning and it was mentioned about Sada thwarting a robbery at a local jewelry store. She was 95 at the time. She chased the robber after he left the store, swinging her cane at him. Right after that signs started appearing saying "Sada for Sheriff"!
The sheriff arrested him too.

She was your typical, 'town fixture'. She will be missed by many. She almost made it to 100, which was her dream.

I wonder what people will remember about me when they read my obit in the paper?


Monday, July 21, 2008

Family

It is always fun when different family members come for a visit! We had a nice visit today with Toni and Steve. This is the first time in many years that they have driven across the country, and they decided they will go back to flying. Our country is pretty big when you are driving, but they agreed that there is a lot of beautiful areas in the USA. They made it in time for lunch.

They also brought their dog, Dooley. He was fascinated with the cats, different smells, and especially Larry! It looks like they took a liking, or a licking, to each other!




Dooley and Larry


Steve and Toni Michelsen



Sisters

Linda, Toni, and Lana

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Wonderful surprises!

Isn't it wonderful when the Lord gives us more than our needs? This week He provided a "want" for me. A few years ago, we bought some new furniture for the family room. The colors were wonderful, and we really liked it. However, the couch just didn't wear well. The cushions got "flat", and even though the salesman said he had new cores put in, I don't think he did. Well anyway, I've kind of been looking for a Charles Schneider sofa. My twin sis, Lana, has one that she has had for 5 years, and it still looks brand new, and sits like brand new, so I started looking for one.

I went to the local furniture store and told them what I was looking for, but they told me that they don't really buy from CS anymore, because they have to buy 10 sofas at a time. I told them I understood.

Then, the lady, Joann by name, told me she might have an idea. I had taken a pillow from my sofa in to her so she could see what colors I was looking for. One of her clients was moving into the retirement, independent apartments, and she had purchased 2 CS sofas 2 years ago, and only 1 would fit into her new apartment, so Joann took the pillow, and guess what!!! The colors are exactly the same! She called me, so Lana and I went to look at the sofa, and it is EXACTLY what I was looking for.

I told her I was very interested, and when she told me the price (about 1/2 of a new one, but this one is brand new!), I told her I wanted it. I asked when we could get it, and she said if we could come either yesterday, or today, she would open the door for us. Well, Larry was in town with the pickup, and Vern was in town doing a job. We all met at VI for lunch, and then went and got the sofa, brought it out to the house, took Vern back to his job, and I am enjoying the sofa!

Isn't it beautiful?

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Mingo Excitement

Well, who says there is never any excitement in the ole' town of Mingo! Last night, the crew came to put up the new electrical poles! It was so much fun watching the big trucks and the men positioning the pole in Aunt Lana's yard. Of course, it didn't go without incident...they cut the phone line!

Here are some pictures of our 'excitement'!



It was fun watching the men handle the pole and get it into the hole, and how they plumbed it, and then finish the job.

Who says life in Mingo is boring?