Elk Festival at Jasper

For weeks when we were planning this mini vacation I kept callin' it
the Moose Festival, but as everyone told me there is a big difference between
moose and elk.....really?? they are both ugly and smell and sound like
an elephant in hard labor to me when they are calling or what ever in
heavens name you call that racket. But the lil festival was pretty neat
in the town of Jasper, an ity bity town up north Arkansas. The rain almost
cancelled the whole thing but the sun came out and so did the dozens of
vendors. My husband and daughter and her friend all were delighted
to see the vendor who was selling fried alligator. Not me!!! That ranks
up there with fried snake in my book. They kept telling me how good
it was as all three of them munched down on the stick of fried meat.
A lot of the young men had these hose looking things slung over their
shoulders, I was informed that these were to call the elk. Now why in the
heck would you want to call one of those nasty things. Oh well, Grandma's
book of knowledge just got larger. But seriously do they really eat those
elk or just shoot them?? UGGGGG!!! Had a good weekend if you don't
count the few thousand chiggers who found my legs and back. Well I am off to
find a wire brush to help with the itchin'.

Lunch for Grandma

How many of you parents or grandparents remember the first time
a child of yours cooked something for you to eat. Besides the "mud" pies!!
I can remember some of mine cooking something but not all of mine
did, I had to wait until they were grown and then they or their spouse
cooked us (my husband and myself) or me something just wonderful.
But today my next to youngest granddaughter cooked me lunch. She
cooked an omlet. It was so amusing to watch. I had to as she is not allowed
near the stove unless an adult is present. She lined everything up on the
counter and things were going great until one of the eggs started to roll.
Her younger brother grabbed at it and caught it smashing it on the counter,
at this point I am about to laugh but know better as they are trying so
hard to get it right. Well, by the grace of goodness all the eggs made it into
the pan and then the granddaughter proceded to add the filling. Much to my
suprise and delight she flipped the omlet and then put it on a plate. She fixed
me something to drink and we set down to eat. It was good and I told her
so which seemed to tickle her pink, besides a lil egg shell never hurt anyone!!

Where we are not going and cann't do

Well, a bunch of folks I know are headed out west to see the Grand Canyon
and to see San Francisco and other points out west. We just cann't afford to drive
out of the state this year but have high hopes of going somewhere next
year. That is if gas prices start to level off at something less than $20.00 a gallon
at which case I am sure we will have plenty of company staying at the ole home
stead.
My oldest grandchild is heart broken as her boyfriend has left to go to Iraq.
So we are all keeping him and so many others over there in our prayers that
they will return soon and safe. One of her best friends also has a fella over there
as does someone in our lil church. I wish I could end the mess over there so
she would have stuff like thinking about college instead.
The newspapers are filled with ads of get your Dad this or that. Oh how I wish I
could but this is the third Fathers Day my Dad is in heaven. I still miss him
very much but know we will be together again some day. I love you Daddy.
The only father in law I have ever had is entering the third phase of Alzheimers
and I wish I could stop it but we cann't. He has been the sweetest person
you will ever meet. He always could find time to stop and talk to me when we
lived close bye years ago. His mind is going now but he remembers some of the
family. Last Christmas as he was leaving our house I gave him a kiss and he
grinned and said that was a nice present. God Bless You Dad.