Sunday, May 2, 2010

Highs and Lows

Lows-
We just found out that our next-door neighbor has acute leukemia.  He has been sick all winter, but they thought it was a cold.  He is in ICU and is expecting a long hospital stay. 

I had been looking for him out in his yard.  (His backyard is pictured here.) I wanted to introduce him to Baxter.  Our last dog, Kiley, spent a lot of time visiting Lynn while he worked in his yard.  We hadn't seen him out, which should have been a sign that something was really wrong.  Poor guy. We'll be praying that he will be back tending his tomatoes soon. 

Highs-
I took a bike ride on Saturday afternoon.  It was beautiful.  As I was biking through town, I saw some dollar bills on the ground.  Jackpot! Strange.  I pulled over and went back to pick up the money and found a wallet, too. Luckily, it was a former student on the ID so I biked by his house where his dad was returning his cell phone.  Seems like the billfold and the phone had taken a ride (unsuccessfully) on the hood of his car.  Lost blocks apart, he was lucky to find his loot.  Only in a small town...!

We picked up a rain barrel yesterday, too.  Our environmental conservation organization was selling them.  I have been wanting one for several years, but this was a bit nicer than I expected.  There is a water spout at the bottom so we can hook a hose to it and water the garden.  There is also a wire filter to keep bugs, debris, and varmints out.  I am excited to set it up under our gutter spout.  That will probably be the best $15 that I have spent in awhile. 

And I've been humming this song all weekend:
"Oh playmates, come out and play with me
And bring your dollies three
Climb up my apple tree
Yell down my rain barrel
Slide down my cellar door
And we'll be jolly friends
Forever more."

That takes me back to simpler times. And it really makes me miss my Grandma's cellar door, to say nothing of missing my Grandma.

6 comments:

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Good morning Mrs. E. ~ Hope your neighbor is feeling better with each new day. I'm sure he misses being out in his gardens. He has a lovely back yard.

Quite an amazing little story about the wallet and cell phone.

What a bargain on rain barrels.

Have a lovely Sunday ~ FlowerLady

Mary said...

Forever more, more, moremoremore!
I haven't thought about that "jingle" in years...not having girls, there wasn't any "hand play" in our house!
So sorry about your neighbor.

Puna said...

Blessings this Sunday mrs. e.

Gayle said...

I'm sorry to hear about your neighbor. I hope he gets back to his garden soon.

The rain barrel sounds great! Only $15?!

Shannon said...

Maren and I were just doing the "rain barrel" thing the other day...so funny that you mentioned it here. Prayers for your neighbor.

Anonymous said...

My mom always does that song with the hands clapping, brought back some memories here too :).

Bk