Mr woods wren has taken up residence on my back porch-in an empty cracker box--in an upright deep freezer that's unplugged and the door left open. Everytime I come out or in the back door that silly little thing flys out right in front of my big ugly nose and frits me haff to death! I don't mind'r hav'n a nest there and actually think it's kinda nice to be see'n her that close to the house. Ole calvin lays on the porch rail and watches'r fly in and out without any effort put forth to catch'r. I don't think the lazy cat could catch'r if she wanted to!

The flood waters have receeded about 4' lower since yesterday. The threat of more rain is still in the forcast but it sure don't look like it now. Sunshine and warm temps this afternoon.

Went to town today and bought the hardware to put up a slidin door on my shop. The two big doors I had were on hinges and were so heavy two hinges broke and one door fell completely off!! Talked to ole jeep awhile ago and told'm what I was fix'n to do and that I was in a hurry kinda. A thief moved in down the road about a mile. Two neighbors have already lost tools--both of'm are real close to me with our place inbetween'm. Figgered the thief has probably decided to come shoppin at my house. Anyhow-after ole jeep heard that story-he decided to help me out and build the door I need! He's even furnishin the lumber!!! Thank God for his Woodmizer sawmill! Thank God ole jeep has lumber on hand! Thank God he's willin to build it for me! I DID take'm some water and some Stevia this evenin.

Lil Dumplin and the old hick are plannin on a little trip this weekend. Bro. Leroy Jenkins [the healin preacher I went and seen in Jan-in TX] is back at his home church in Delaware Ohio this weekend. I'd kinda like to see'm again and thank'm for callin me out for healing. I'm still healed and still praising God for it! We'll be back sometime Monday I guess. I get homesick when I mosey only over to ole jeeps house. Me a hillbilly? Yeah, rekon so! I love what God has entrusted me with and like to stay home and watch my songbirds and even those rambunchous deer who destroy my trees!

Ya'll take care and enjoy what ya'll have been blessed with! We're homesteaders--! That says it all. old hoot. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), May 16, 2002

Answers

Is that the same Leroy Jenkins that was on television a few years back?

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 16, 2002.

Hey Jay! Yes-sure is. He's still on each weeknight on "The Word Network" on Direct T.V. satallite. He's different but the Annointing is all over'm. old hoot. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), May 16, 2002.

Hey Hoot! I haven't been watching the news lately and didn't realize you all in Illinois have been getting so much rain. The waters' not creeping up close to your house, is it? Hope not. We had flooding here in Tenn. in the spring, and it was a mess. I've never seen it so bad. Hope your all well and stay dry!

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), May 16, 2002.

They pulled his show here a few years back. I enjoyed watchin' him.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 16, 2002.

Hey Annie! Thanks for askin. We have really had flood waters here but not on my farm. It gets really close to my fence tho. I believe it's the highest I've ever seen it in the over 20 years we've lived here. The river dropped last night a bunch--as near as I can tell about 5 foot of backwaters. More is commin in now and expected to be about 3 inches tonite and tomorrow.

Lil Dumplin and I were down your way 6 weeks ago. Noticed the damages caused by all that water. We'll probably head back down that way again in about another 4 weeks or so. I've laid around most of tghe winter gettin fat and lazy and need to get busy doin some stuff around here. LOL.

Old hoot. Matt. 24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), May 16, 2002.

Hoot, I'm always grateful for sometime during each day seems a little blessing passes my way. Today, it was a beautiful bright red cardinal landing on a bush near the creek while I was out counting noses and checking fence, and a again when I stopped a while to watch a little squirrel playing right under the noses of a bunch of lazy cats I wrongly worried would try to catch it. And when those spring babies throw their little tails up in the air and run like the wind, I always stop and watch and smile.

Life on the land is so rich and full. I wish every child could run barefoot through a meadow, and dangle little dirty feet in a stream. It is astounding how fast rural land is vanishing in America.

In your post you mentioned Stevia. I've been aiming to try some of that. I am a sugar addict! I've read it sweetens just as good as sugar, then I also read it has an off taste. Is it a good sugar replacement - - taste wise?

-- Granny Hen (cluckin along@cs.com), May 16, 2002.

Granny hen! You're so correct about bein raised in the country. As kids we had many thing to do that were all enjoyable. From wadin in the creek to fishin in the neighbors pond. Never a dull moment-- however--we didn't wait for somebody to make the fun for us. We did just about everything imaginable because we were always taught that we could if we set our minds to it. I am really sad for the young folks growin up today. They have so much more to be troubled with than we did 50 years ago.

Stevia. I can't really compare it to sugar as I havent' tasted sugar in so many years that I don't really know what it tastes like anymore. I did give some stevia to ole jeep for his iced t. He had his first taste of it last night and most had a fit. His wifey heard'm say "Put sugar in this stuff"! I like it and had very little difficulty in switchin but I was already accustomed to sweetner.

old hoot. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), May 17, 2002.