Seated: Grandma and Grandpa Berg and "She Who Holds the Reins'.
Surrounding: The Instigators
Halloween.
Ghosts and goblins.
Witches, black cats and scary pumpkins.
Pirates, vampires and mummies.
An evening of treats, tricks and mischief.
And it has…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 31, 2011 at 1:54pm — No Comments
Mark. And a friend.
Our family loves root beer.
Homemade.
And our eldest son can sleep through anything.
These two facts are related.
Maybe I'd better explain . . .
My Husby loves to make root beer.
He's very good at it.
I got my first taste…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 30, 2011 at 6:51am — No Comments
We never got the chance to help.
Two days after that visit, my husband's mother suffered a bad fall, breaking her hip and causing considerable extra damage.
We spent several weeks alternately sitting by her bedside and arranging for her housing and care.
Finally, we were once more on the road home.
Mary's home appeared in the front window.
My husband made the now-familiar turn quickly and we found ourselves parked beside a strange vehicle.
Mary's car…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 28, 2011 at 9:35am — No Comments
As our visits continued, we quickly came to discover the positive, independent attitude and irrepressible sense of humor that marked our new friend.
"Mary?"
A scream, then sounds of a struggle. Then . . . gurgling.
"Mary are you all right?"
A rather breathless, "Come in! Come in! I'm here in the kitchen!"
I set my newest addition to her plant collection on the floor and the two of us quickly made our way through the inner door.
There we found our…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 27, 2011 at 12:00pm — No Comments
Our second son, Erik, enlisted in the army corps of engineers.
For a boy from a devout Christian home, it . . . took some adjustment.
He enjoyed the brother/sisterhood that sprang up around him the moment he walked in the door.
He loved the work and the action.
And…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 24, 2011 at 11:16am — No Comments
Vacation.
The best of times.
The worst of times.
My parents had decided that our family needed to visit Montana.
And Virginia City.
It sounded . . . Western.
To those of us from the ranch, that translated to mean – exotic.
We led a small life, I admit it.
I don't…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 23, 2011 at 2:51pm — No Comments
It was my husband's first job following our marriage.
He was . . . excited.
Foreman of a home-building company.
Sounded prestigious.
And it would be.
Once they got the plant built.
His new boss had a plan that would cut down on initial costs significantly.
They would remodel the boss' pig barn.
It was the right size.
It was in fantastic shape.
Perfect.
It just needed a few touches.
First, and most important,…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 21, 2011 at 9:15am — No Comments
I like snakes.
And it's because of my Mom's cooking.
Hmmm.
Maybe I'd better explain . . .
I loved to watch my Mom when she was in the kitchen.
I would sit on the cupboard, more or less out of the way.
And follow her movements closely.
She peeled potatoes so fast that I thought every potato had two skins.
I had watched.
Two skins.
Because there was always a skin where she had just peeled.
And at other times, she…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 17, 2011 at 9:14am — No Comments
I had finished college.
I was now a college graduate.
This meant several things.
I was no longer a student.
I had to earn my own living
I had no idea how to do it
I was a bit frightened
My Dad knew the people who…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 16, 2011 at 7:00am — No Comments
Our children learn from what they see.
And hear.
Most of the time, it's a good thing.
Ocassionally, it's not.
Sometimes, it's just plain fun.
My husby had our twenty-month-old son, Mark, in the highchair.
Eating pancakes.
His favourite.
I was across the room, nursing our two-month-old son, Erik.
All was well.
Everyone was happy.
Then my husby decided to take advantage of Mark's utter absorbtion in forking pieces of…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 14, 2011 at 4:19pm — No Comments
Better Meals
For the first twelve years of my life, 'cleanliness' and I really only had a nodding acquaintance.
I admit it.
Oh, I bathed. Whenever my Mom told me to.
And I cleaned my room/living…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 13, 2011 at 2:05pm — No Comments
My second son is a large man.
Large.
Six foot eight in his stockinged feet. When he puts boots and a hat on, considerably taller.
And he is a body builder.
He works as a cop in our fair city.
Let me put it this way . . .
No one argues with him.
They just nod…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 12, 2011 at 9:20am — 1 Comment
It takes a great deal of courage to meet the challenges in our lives without any discrimination of our fellow beings - how much more courage we need with it.
I believe our children were faced with an overload.
I certainly admired them for their determination and diplomacy. They were in constant contact with the human element and from my observation, carried on beautifully.
"Are you really living out there in the shed?"
"Why yes, we are. We love it…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 7, 2011 at 10:19am — No Comments
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Added by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 4, 2011 at 9:40am — No Comments
The calving field (aka: the tree field), was a quarter of a mile from the ranch buildings.
Not so great a distance if you wanted a good walk, or a short ride.
But a marathon in length when you were pushing sick, weary stock.
Dad came up with plan 'B'.
Metal…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on October 1, 2011 at 7:54am — 1 Comment
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