Tribute To A Dog

Today, marks six years since my dog, Yankee went on to dog heaven.  I miss him very much, I love him dearly.  He was very special to me.

Yankee was born epileptic; at eight months he was put on medication and the only time he would have a seizure was on Halloween.  He could not stand the fireworks, the blasting noise.  Yankee love to sing with me, his favorite song was Happy Birthday.  We would sing that all the time, you could see the love in his big brown eyes. 

We had Yankee for 15 years.  I knew Yankee could not go on much longer.  He was having difficulty getting up, his hips were not like they once were and his had quite a time just breathing. 

Every Sunday, I would say to my honey do, Do - it is Sunday, I love you twice - I will always love you twice on Sundays.  I still say that on Sundays. 

Yankee had a million nick names - Do, Honey Bunny, My Little Boy - we also had our own language.  I recall one day when I was blow drying my hair, Yankee was in the bathroom with me and of course, we were singing Happy Birthday.  I was not paying any attention to my hair, I was busy singing.  I looked up to the mirror and lord have mercy, I have wrapped my hair so tight around the brush, it isn't coming undone.  I left the blow dryer and went downstairs to Noisemaker.  Oh Noisemaker, look what I have done!  He just shook his head.  We tried to get the brush out, to no avail.  I called the hairdresser and explained my situation.  She said to come on in, she would remove the brush.  Alas, all was well.

The photo is of a wooden box which contains Yankee's stuffola.  Noisemaker made it.  The white urn contains Yankee's ashes, he is surrounded by bunnies.  He will always be my honey bunny.

Love you Yankee, we will meet again one day.

The Wooden Heart and The Angel

As some of you may know, on the mountain side we have many pine beetle trees.  The beetles burrow in the trees and cause a faint blue tinge to the wood.  When I see something to which has character, I keep it.  Here is the Wooden Heart.  Neil may have the Heart of Gold, but I have a wooden heart!  Next to the heart is a wood knot that pop out of a log to which we had fell.  Can you see the angel, she's a bit cracked, but she is there.  She is my Angel From Montgomery (John Prine)

Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery

Make me a poster of an old rodeo

Just give me one thing that I can hold on to

To believe in this livin' is just a hard way to go

It's A Big Old Goofy World

Bev, Mark, and Charlene having a great time at an eatery in Davenport.  Mark, he is quite the character, well - all Priners and Prinettes are characters.  We are unique, Prine Unique!
Photo - Reeda Buresh
(www.jpshrine.org)

From the reviews and pictures, what a great time everyone had.  From food to John Prine and everything in between, a weekend to remember.

One day, I would much enjoy to meet all the Priners/Prinettes.  One day when I win the lotto; we could have a big Prine wing ding.  I like to dream.

Ultimate Prine Picture

ah, the Ultimate Prine Picture - thank you Reeda Buresh {(www.jpshrine.org) - currently under construction}

John Prine, you wear a fine pair of boots.  I have been told they are of harvest gold in color.  Sounds to me like something Neil Young should be wearing.  However, Neil - I do not believe is that acquainted with the find product of boots.  Neils' feet, do not quite fit the same picture because there's more to picture than meets the eye.  My, my - hey, hey.

What meets the eye here is not only the fine pair of boots, but the hemline of the jeans.  For Prine perfection the hemline has to be over the ankle bone - it should line up perfectly with the line of where the body of the boot meets the heel of the boot.

In my opinion, these are comfortable toe tappin' boots.  

Toe tappin'~ head noddin' ~ John Prinein' ~ SLUAPO

(So Let Us All Prine On)

Great Days!

Thank you, Reeda  

Egads!

Being as it is such a beautiful day here on the side of the mountain today, I decided to wash my outside windows.  Not one of my favorite lady bug duties but it has to be done.  I am challenged on the vertical side so I have to get the ladder out and go up and down it several times.  I managed to do two windows and started to get a severe itch on my hands.  For the love of god, I have broken out in hives.  There must be something in the window washer cleaner I used that caused me this grief.  Odd, I have not changed window cleaner for years, I have always used Windex.  Needless to say, I had to cease and desist on the window cleaning for today.  I will tackle it again tomorrow morning.

...broken hearts and dirty windows, make life difficult to see
that's why last night and this morning, always look the same to me...
John Prine

My Prine Garden

My small flower garden, no problem it Prines'!

Wild Pink Columbine, my favorite wild flower.

hmmm...

The last 24 hours have been on the side of fortunate for me. 

Around supper time hour of yesterday, my brother - the retired postman called me.  Ah, we always have such uplifting chats.  We talked mostly about music ~ John Prine, Bruce Springsteen, and Neil Young.  We share a few incidental words about family and then it is back to music.  My brother and I both enjoyed the music of Clarence Clemons; so yesterday the conversation revolved around Clarence, his life and times with Bruce Springsteen.  It was so nice to hear his voice, I miss him.

Early this morning, I came in from the outside shortly after Noisemaker awoke.  I took my gumboots off and walked into the house.  I looked down the path towards the creek and there stands a doe with twins.  These twins were just born - they could barely stand on there feet.  They struggled to stay on their feet.  They would fall down and jump back up, it was nature at its' best.

I had to go to the general store this morning to get some milk.  At that time, I purchased a lotto ticket.  I returned home and Noisemaker and I decided to walk down to the creek.  Well low and be Prine hold - what you see in the picture is what I found.  The biggest four leafer, yet!  I swear lotto is in the winds of the north or the four strong winds may blow me skyward.  Either way, I feel strong that I am on the side of luck.

...I'm a walkin' down the street, like lucky Larue

Got my hand in my pocket, thinkin' 'bout you

I ain't hurtin' nobody

I ain't hurtin' no one...

John Prine

We'll End Up Sittin' On A Rainbow

First time on the mountain side, we saw a rainbow.  Noisemaker said I should run across the creek and see if I could find the pot of gold.  The creek is running fast; way more than 1/2" of water, I declined.   I could have gone down the drink if I had crossed that creek.

The first photo is our front yard ~ there were a total of 15 deer here yesterday.  The food supply is excellent for them this time of year.  Second, is the rainbow.

In spite of ourselves

We'll end up sittin' on a rainbow

Against all odds

Honey, we're the big door prize

John Prine

Oh, Bev - and it is not me...

Bev - John - Ruth

Photo Credit - Mark Sannes

They all got gold. 

Iris Dement - Davenport

Photo - Thank You, Mark Sannes

 Iris Dement and Mark Sannes, Davenport, Iowa - 2011.06.18

Prine - Davenport, Iowa, USA

Photo Credit - Mark Sannes.

Top Row - Mark, Charlene, Ruth Ann, Reeda

Bottom Row - Bev (not me), Terry

Photo Credit - Mark Sannes

A Prine Fine Time we held by all.  I should have cashed in the retirement savings, this concert was the ultimate Prine.

My Dad

Being as it is Fathers' Day weekend, I am posting the last picture of my Dad and I.  It was taken September 2003 about a month before my Dad died.  I miss him. 

He was such a strong man; he had such determination to fight for what he believed in.  My Dad was a plumber/pipefitter and worked out of Vancouver, B.C. through UA170.  He always seemed to be in turmoil with that union. 

I recall one time my Dad received worked through the union on a job in the city where we lived.  There was some uproar over travel time, I can quite remember the issue.  My Mom had left to attend a relations wedding in another province.  My Dad, my brother, and I were on our own.  On the second day after my Mom had left; my Dad came from work and said - we are going out for supper.  He explained the contractor on the job was to supply him with meals/accomodation.  Off we went to the hotel room.  My Dad placed the food order 4 steaks with vegetables and all trimmings and a raisin pie.  Oh my, it was delicious.  We went there for about a week.  Then one day, my Dad came home from work and said, my job is no longer.  We asked what happened and he replied; the contractor did not appreciate all I had to eat.  (Yep, like my Dad can eat 4 steaks). 

My Mom returned home to find my Dad is not working but that she has an assortment of new platters.  My Dad explains in more detail than I have written what exactly has transpired. 

What is priceless about this writing is years later, I was employed at a pulp mill.  One day while sitting at my desk I noticed a contractor out in the hallway looking at my name on the door my office.  I asked him, do you require assistance?  He said, Beverlee Traxler.  I replied, yes, that is me and how can I help you.  He says his name and I knew immediately who I was talking with.  The contractor that supplied my Dad with those fine restaurant meals for a week.  His name was John and he asks me if I am a relation to Bert Traxler; I said why certainly, I am his daughter; and how would you know my Dad.  He replies, it is a long story.  I laughed and proceeded with my day.

Needless to say, in seconds of sitting down at my desk I was on the telephone to my Dad.  I still remember the conversation.  Dad was laughing saying ... remember the raisin pie, Bev - then we'd laugh (geez, I am laughing right now). 

Moments with Dads' are so precious.  Happy Fathers' Day!

Photo - I do not have a scanner; so I took a picture of a picture - a picture in a picture show -- oh, oh

Busy, Busy

It has been a rather busy week for me.  We received our new refrigerator the other day, it is so nice!  I near have to stand on a step stool to get to the top shelf.  I have been arranging and re-arranging to my liking and have been humming Wedding Day in Funeralville - the line - the king and queen will alternate with the refrigerator light ~ John Prine. 

On Wednesday, the final game of the Stanley Cup was played in Vancouver, B.C. between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins.  The Bruins outplayed Vancouver and Lou, geez - he was having a most difficult time in this series.  

To what happened after the game is a disgrace.  How people can riot in the streets for no apparent reason is beyond my realm.  I was so digusted with it all.  I am thankful for the internet and facebook, for those folks that published the photos; that was great.  I hope the people that did the damage face many a charge.  

Now for the news of Prine... eh, they should all in or nearing Davenport today for the Prine concert tomorrow.  Oh my, it will be one fine concert to attend.  I shall wear my Prine t-shirt proudly and think of the fine Priners and Prinettes tomorrow.  I hope they all remember to do the paradise wave when John plays Paradise.  Always has been my favorite Prine song.  I do not believe there is a Prine song I do not like, I just have favorites.  SLUAPO! {so let us all prine on}  

I planted a small garden about a week ago; to no avail.  We have had so much rain I think all the seeds I planted are somewhere in the Fraser River.  I shall plant again and maybe with some luck I can get a carrot or an onion, perhaps even a cucumber! 

Holy Bugsville

Yikers, I am a walking mosquito/black fly person.  I have so many bites and I seem to have a reaction to them little buggers.  Those black flies take such a chuck out of your skin, it bleeds, and then you swell up.  I had a few of them fly underneath my shirt the other day - yep, you guessed correctly - bit me right between my fried eggs.  They bit me on my head, my butt, my hands - everywhere.  I wear a Bounce fabric sheet, folks have told me that deters insects.  The jury is still out.

This morning I made a cheesecake, I shall try to remember to take a photo of it.  We have it with E.D. Smiths' canned cherries - yummers!

Prior to that I went for a walk, an early morning walk.  I enjoy it.  I sing - I enjoy that too.  Sometimes, I have so many songs floating around in my brain, I blend them all together and add what has been going on in my life.  Todays' song ~

...what do you want to be when you grow up, jesus said god...oh my god what have I got myself into...I am just human corkscrew and my wine is blood...they're going to kill me Mama - they don't like me bud...

However, it turned into...
What do you want to be when you grow up, I say Dolly Parton - I have so many of these (curse words) bug bites, I am going to have breasts like hers!  Mama, these bugs are going to kill me, they love me bud.  :)

Prine Tree

I took down a small poplar tree today and made it into a Prine Tree for my small flower garden.  Can you see the Prine, it really sparkles when the sun shines on it.  The deer do not like it; they do not like the spinning therefore they will stay out of the flower garden. 

Second photo is Johnny Jump Ups - they are so cute!  I laugh when I hear that name as it always reminds me of John Prine doing those jump ups thingys when he was, in his earlier years, Twinkle Toes!

Manitoba Tomato

Yesterday coming back home from the village we stumbled upon Mr. Tomato Man.  A fellow, my guess, around 45 years old who grows tomatoes.  40 varieties.  I purchase a Manitoba Tomato and one other - a Stupuis.  I hope they grow and that the deer not bother to come to the deck to eat them.  The photo is a Manitoba Tomato, I hope mine turn out this good.  I am wondering if my friend, skunkeyejan grows these - she lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  That is why a purchase the plant, reminded me of her. 

On the side of the mountain today, noisemaker has decided to cease and desist on his medication - Yikers!  I am not in favor of medication - there are alternatives.  You have to maintain a healthy diet.  My noisemaker would be silent on this issue.  I, also, have healthy diet issues, I do not eat enough fruit and vegetables.  Noisemaker claims he will give himself 72 hours without medication.  Trust me, I am watching every move and to be honest, I do believe the medical establishment in Noisemaker case,  has written one to many prescriptions.    So we will await the outcome. 

I could not live here, mountain side without noisemaker.  I did just over two weeks in the dead of winter when he was hospitalized and I knew; I could never do this alone, nor would I want to.

On the Prineville note - the Priners/Prinettes will soon be flocking to Iowa.  What an exciting time it is going to be.  I will be thinking of them in Davenport, wearing my Prine proudly.

Cheers, Beers, and Prine!

Jason Wilber

I wanted to add a link - http://jasonwilber.wordpress.com/

I have been graced with the Wilber Shine twice, oh I was a flutter - once I was able to be in a photo with Jason and David Jacques (Vancouver, B.C.).  This photo - thank you - RuthAnn Peacock.

Jason is a fine music, a talented song writer, and very much a gentleman.  He sports up regularly with John Prine in many of his concerts along with bassist, David Jacques.  David Jacques - hmm., I keep missing him at John Prine concerts.  But eh, third time lucky - you betcha!

See more at www.jasonwilber.com

The Creek

Pictures of the creek - our front yard.  It is very peaceful place with lots of fish and eagles.  Generally I walk down once a day, sit a spell - hope not to fall off my perch.  The eagles have certain trees to which they perch on.  Sometimes there are a pair of eagles, sometimes there about eight of them.  Geez, they are a huge bird.  When they swoop down to catch a fish, yikers I think they are coming for me.  They get so close to my head, I can hear their wings flap and see just how big they are, their mighty wing span.  A very majestic bird, indeed.

Clover

Holy Smucksville, today while out walking I found 5 - 4 leaf clovers and 2 - 5 leaf clovers.  I think I shall go to the General Store tomorrow and purchase a lotto ticket.

hmm...Wood

I worked so hard today on wood, I am near spent.  After two solid hours, finally Noisemaker awoke ~ compliments on the work I have done.  I explained to him, this wood is not good - it is poor quality.  My take it has been laying on the ground for five years and these folks are peddling it off - I do not want any part of it.  I tell Noisemaker to call 'em up - tell them we do not want anymore - cease and desist. 

If I wanted pinebeetle wood, I can get it for free, my neighborville is filled with pinebeetle wood.  For those who are not acquainted with pinebeetle wood well, google it.  You will find everything and more ~ and soon enough it will be spread across North America.

After five hours of dealing with wood and fighting the itch to scratch the bug bites from yesterday, well, let me tell you, I am in one heck of a bitter mood. 

The only happy moments I had outside dealing with the wood today, was trying to make that splitter sound like Jason Wilbers' guitar - you know when he plays with John Prine - and of course, his concerts also.  Too funny, I struck up the song Long Monday - only made it long Wednesday.  I proceeded to Blow Up Your TV/...lalala eat a lot of peaches, and Jesus - look down on me with the win of lotto.  Please.

After Noisemakers' dealings with the wood, he understands what I am saying.  Noisemaker called to the wood people and said STOP.  The folks were not available so a message was left.  Good grief, I walk up to the mail boxes and here the truck comes, filled with the same sh*t wood I received yesterday.  I could not speak.  I stomp back down the path to the house, said to Noisemaker - you deal with it.

For those folks who are not acquainted with wood - (good lord, M. Wood on the shrine - www.jpshrine.org )  I would take you any day, hmmm, Wood.  I know you are a better branch/twig of wood than what I have seen today.

Noisemaker tells the wood people, the wood is bunk.  Bunk is not in reference to a bunk bed.  Bunk is wood that has been laying on the ground rotting.  The fellow becomes very upset and goes back to his truck, door a slammin' - and goes off.

I say good riddens to bad rubbish.  I am getting far too old to be taken advantage off.  I am getting very tired of living on the mountain side, I am near spent.

However, tomorrow is another day - I will awake (hopefully) and join up with my nature buddies and proceed.

Last but not least, the tune of the day on the splitter - Old Dogs and Children - and Wadermellon Wine.

It took me years to get the Wadermellon Wine :)

Glorious Wood

Glorious Wood, not to be mixed up with M. Wood who tends to www.jpshrine.org (teehee).

Oh my goodness, we received our first cord of wood yesterday; two more to be delivered.  The next week I shall be splitting and stacking til no end.  The god of wood loves me dearly. 

While splitting yesterday, a little black bug flew up my shirt.  The heathen bit me four times before I was able to kill it.  I hate bugs, I detest having them remove chunks of skin from my body. 

I am thankful we have a wood splitter because I could never split with an axe, heck I can barely lift an axe let alone use it.  I have the splitter activity down to a fine art.  I can make that splitter sound like a guitar.  I think I am giving Jason Wilber some competition ;)

I am late for work; I was to start splitting at 6:30 a.m.  Ya'll have a wonderful day!