Wholesome Living: Help from Grandchildren; Farm Life is a Good Life....

Wholesome Living: Help from Grandchildren; Farm Life is a Good Life....: My granddaughter Ruby was eager to carry the grey plastic bucket and pick up apples that had fallen off the tree. It's a good lesson for...

Help from Grandchildren; Farm Life is a Good Life.

My granddaughter Ruby was eager to carry the grey plastic bucket and pick up apples that had fallen off the tree. It's a good lesson for a 2 year old to learn where apples come from. Apples don't come from the grocery store, they come from trees. The good apples are for the people, some of them will be eaten raw, others will end up getting baked into an apple pie, and some will be made into applesauce. The bruised apples are fed to the animals.

Barney the mule and Hasbro the horse were eager to eat the apples that Ruby threw to them. Nana Laura learned recently that it's best to just let the horses pick the apples off the ground and not hand feed them. Horses don't know the difference between your fingers and a french fry, they don't want to bite your fingers, but they easily can bite your finger off while trying to bite an apple. So its' best to play it safe.

Ruby helped me collect eggs. She's always happy to help her Nana Laura. Reaching into the laying boxes takes some courage for a youngster, especially if there is a hen still inside. An important lesson here is to always wash your hands when handling eggs, they carry germs that can make a person sick. Nana Laura had to remind Ruby not to touch her face after handling the fresh eggs. There was soap in the barn, so everyone was off to the barn to wash hands as soon as the eggs were all collected.

Slow Down and Listen to the Bees

Independence Day! Celebrating 4th of July!

4th of July with family and friends. A perfect way to celebrate Independence Day.

The morning of July 4th, 2012 began with parade preparations in Junction City OR. with my friends from the Damsels in Disguise, 40 Something Cowgirls. Seven cowgirls brought their horses to the staging location and two, including me, cowgirls were there to help the other cowgirls and their horses and children. Mary Trummer and I rode in the back of the pick-up truck with 5 girls, waving and throwing candy. This parade is very much about the candy that is thrown to the spectators. People came with bags and grocery sacks to collect the candy being thrown. They were barking at the truck as it went by, "Throw candy!" Mary and I kept warning the girls that the parade was long and not to throw too much of the candy at the beginning of the parade, but they had a hard time resisting the demands of the candy hungry crowd. We did run out of candy about a block before the end of the parade at which time we heard rude comments from the greedy spectators, "Cheap-scapes!" One of our girls decided to chant, "We ran out of candy, throw us your candy and we'll throw it back to you!". We were surprised when a few people actually did throw candy to the girls, who in turn threw it back to them, with a lot of laughing a giggling!

This photo is of Dianna Chappell, Teresa Nielson and me.

I loved spending the evening with my family in Salem Oregon. My little granddaughter Ruby had about as much tolerance for the loud, smokey fireworks as I did. After reaching our saturation point, an hour or so before anybody else did, we watched the colorful fireworks from inside the house by the window. One of the especially pretty fireworks had sparkles and firey fountains, I said, "Ohhh, that one's pretty!" Ruby replied, "Pretty like Nana Laura". Could anything melt my heart faster than that? How can a little two year girl know how precious that comment was?

I said, "And pretty like Ruby!"

4 Generations Photo

What a blessing to have 4 generations of family at my home yesterday (6-25,2012). My father, Doug Conklin came to my house to visit his posterity. Back row: My son John Nielsen, Me: Laura Conklin Nielsen Holbrook, My daughter-in-law Rachel Nielsen mother of Ruby and Adam, My father: Doug Conklin. Front Row: My grandson, my father's great-grandson Adam Nielsen, My granddaughter, my father's great-granddaughter Ruby Nielsen. Time seemed to stop and love abound at my home with the company of my family. My husband John Holbrook and my father's friend Sharon joined in conversations of family memories. Old hurts and misunderstanding vanished as we realized our family relations are more important than any THING. It was fun, we laughed, I recorded stories my father told on the video camera. Not shown in the photo is my son Abe, who is my father's first grandson. He arrived at our house 30 minutes after my father left on his journey home to Washington state.

Family Visiting, Eating and Sharing, Good News For Some

John, Johnny and I enjoyed being treated to lunch at Los Dos Amigos in Sweet Home by my step-sister Sue Skilling. Sue is one of those thoughtful courteous guests who always brings something we will enjoy, this visit she brought cashew nuts and a cute mug, both very thoughtful.

While in Sweet Home we went by 1230 47th Street and delivered paint for the painter to use. Our new tenant doesn't like the smoke smell in our non-smoking rental. The previous tenant did not honor the contract and smoked inside.

Johnny heard good the news he's been waiting and hoping for, a job offer in Mississippi for a company that will use his Navy training. He is very happy about the job offer, I am saddened by the thought of him moving to Mississippi. I've always promised myself that I will not be a mother that holds her children back, so I have to be supportive of his decision.

I've seen mothers who selfishly hold on to their children and prevent them from living their own life, I don't want to do that. I can understand why a mother would do that, it's hard to see a child leave and go on their own journey, especially when it is so far away that they will no longer be a regular part of the family gatherings and the younger generation will not be able to get to know them. Uncle Johnny, who Ruby loves, may fade from her memory as he moves 1,000's of miles away. Life is individually lived and collectively shared by many.

House For Rent 1230 47th Street Sweet Home OR