While on Trash Patrol, I spied a brownish clump of papers/hairs/strings lying on the ground. I swerved over and picked it up and discovered that it wasn’t trash at all. It was a bird’s nest. A small, delicate, and decorated bird’s nest. That decoration had caught my eye. A shiny pink ribbon woven in the twigs had reflected just enough sunlight for me to notice it.

I examined it closer. And found all of those things that the animal shows have been showing me for years and years. Twigs were used for the basic structure. Then smaller twigs and little papers and that little ribbon were inserted to fill in the gaps. Finally, very soft bedding was laid in the bottom for the eggs to rest on.

I took the nest to John because I knew he would be interested. (John knows a lot about nature.) He pointed out a couple of more things……the lint and insulation in the nest showed that the bird was not afraid to come near houses and people, and the bedding for the eggs came from a rabbit.

I did take a picture for you. The pinkness of the ribbon didn’t come out too well in the picture, but you can still clearly see that it is a tiny ribbon. And you can also see the lint pieces throughout the structure. I added the pencil to give you an idea of size and to point to one feather. (Can you see it?!?)

Ya’ll take care,
Suzanne

I just never know when I’m going to be amazed. I heard some of my friends talking today about making Mother and about eliminating Mother and about taking Mother. You guys out there probably already know what my friends were talking about.

The subject was Mother of Vinegar. I just got on Google, and its definition pretty well explains it……

Mother of vinegar is a slime composed of a form of cellulose and acetic acid bacteria that develops on fermenting alcoholic liquids, which turns alcohol into acetic acid with the help of oxygen from the air. It is added to wine, cider, or other alcoholic liquids to produce vinegar.

(The word slime instantly turned me away from considering Mother as a health potion.)

Not only is the definition interesting, it’s also interesting that my friends who knew about Mother were all in different age groups. They were also raised in different regions of the USA. And there were just as many raised in the city as raised in the country. I just wasn’t able to understand the connection amongst my friends who knew about Mother.

So, I’ve decided to just enjoy this little bit of interesting trivia. And, one day, I’ll figure out why my 60-year-old friend from Chicago and my 80-year-old friend from Woodville both knew about Mother.

Meanwhile…………

Take care,
Suzanne

I’m still here. I’m still on the lake. I just haven’t written in a long time.

And so much has happened. I guess I’ll start with a story that I haven’t told anyone yet.

Every day, I go on Trash Patrol. I hop in my borrowed golfcart, head down the road to the main highway, and pick up the trash that people have thrown out the windows of their cars. I use a “grabber” to pick up the trash. I have a kitchen-size trash can to put the trash in. I grab beer cans and coke cans and save them for our aluminum sales. Only once in a while is Trash Patrol offensive.

The road that I patrol is through woods. I get to hear and occasionally see wildlife. I get to see bugs build a cocoon in tree branches and then watch their babies hatch out as caterpillars about two or three weeks later. I get to see turtles laying their eggs. And about a year ago, I caught a glimpse of a deer crossing the road. When I got to the spot and got out to try to see him, I heard him snort at me! So, he saw me, but I didn’t see him. This is why I enjoy Trash Patrol.

Well, two weeks ago, right in front of me, I saw a deer emerge from the woods and walk across the road. She looked at me and just kept going. And then, the second deer appeared and did the same thing. Oh, very, very nice.

So, I continue to do Trash Patrol. Maybe, I’ll see those deer again. And maybe, I’ll see those little baby turtles hatch.

Take care,
Suzanne

LOWBOY is a new word for me. I had not heard it until I moved here to East Texas. The term is used a lot, and I have slowly become used to it. LOWBOY means a utility trailer. Here’s a picture of a LOWBOY.



But the word still seemed strange to me, so I looked it up in the dictionary. And there I discovered that lowboy does not mean a utility trailer. According to Webster, lowboy only means “a chest of drawers mounted on short legs.” Here’s a picture of a LOWBOY.



Two definitions…..which one is right? Time to check out Google.

Google says that a LOWBOY is both. Right there on page one of the search is Scona Trailer Manufacturing followed by Equinox Antiques followed by Heavy Haul/Lowboys followed by Lowboy Chests. Every page of the search has entries for utility trailers and for chests of drawers.

Learning this new word has certainly been interesting. I still feel a little strange saying lowboy instead of trailer. But………….when I use the word, no one has any trouble knowing what I’m talking about. Do you?

Last year, I went to the town Christmas Parade. The parade included the fire truck, police car, several decorated lowboys, horses, and ATVs. And, as I’m watching, I got to thinkiiiiiiiiinnnnnnggggggggggg.

This year, I went to the town Christmas Parade. And brought some friends. Here’s a picture of me and the gang……throwing candy and yelling MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!