This is My Story - in Pictures

I could write a very long post on all the things that I have experienced this month, but I think I am going to let the pictures tell the story.

Joplin's devastation!

The Arch

Building for the Glory of God in Illinois.

Independence Hall Museum

The Bell

Bethlehem Steel 

Barn Tour

"What big udders you have!"
Amish Country - Dairy Farm without electricity.

Husband and wife hay baling.

Shenandoah Valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Monticello

Cheasapeak Bridge/Tunnel - 20 miles long!

Wild pony swim and auction.

Details and stories later! Boys, do not think that you are going to get out of seeing all 1000 pictures I took the month of July.

July 4th

This Independence Day holiday was just as wonderful as anticipated. We had good family time, food, friends, and exceptional fireworks. Before I get started many, many thanks go to my dear sister and her husband for literally giving up their place to host the north stand for Davis and Miller Fireworks. She finished Friday totally exhausted after four weeks of intense study for her new job title, to come home to a yard full of young adults ready to have some fun for four days. Her husband not ever saying a word does many things behind the scenes to make this all happen. Thanks, Rick and Diana, for your generous hospitality. We appreciate all you do.

Rick, Diana, and Family

After the girls smoked the guys at "their" game - cross- country golf, the kids brought out "old-school" games to pass time while waiting on customers to come buy fireworks. I believe Battleship was the favorite. The big catch out of the pond this year was by Chad at a little less than two ounces or two inches long - not a good year for fishing.

We all woke up today at least five pounds heavier. The good country cooking was a big hit as usual with  everyone that was around to eat. We served ribs, pork loin, tacos, steaks, chicken salad, and fajitas with all the fixings and many snacks over the days.

A friend let the kids borrow a water cooler fan. This was a great addition to the camp ground once it was figured out how to work it, which definitely lowered the heat factor.

The 2011 fireworks season will go down as a great success. We do not have to eat fireworks this coming year; they were sold to many customers - old and new. Thanks to all that supported either of the Davis and Miller Fireworks stands.

The Gunter Pyro Team before the show!

The shows in Gunter and Tioga were both spectacular. Many nice comments were posted on Facebook  In lighting the shows, the only excitement behind the scenes was 10-12 of the boxes/cakes of already shot fireworks caught on fire during both shows. The funniest story told was about Chad Harris beating a fire out with his flip flop while trying to light his share of cakes during the show.

A Pioneer Women - "wanna be"

Several of you who read my blog also follows "The Pioneer Woman." I am so very envious of this woman. She has made a very glamorous life of living on the farm/ranch doing all the things I love to do or "get" to do. She is famous for her blog at http://thepioneerwoman.com/ with a million followers.
I could do a comparison of our lives and there are a few minor similarities - cows, dog and cat, tractors, land, gardening, children (mine are grandchildren), cooking, Rick ( my Marlboro man) and even photography.  She has made it so glamorous and profitable.
Even though I am not famous doing all these things, nor do I have 20 followers, and no one has asked me to do my own cooking show, I am still living the good life in the country.

In anticipation for July Fourth, I hope that you will have good family time, food, fun, and fireworks.

Happy Father's Day

In my life, I have been blessed with the presence of several "father" figures - my dad, Carl Rickie, Rick F and Papa Ferguson. Each very special to me in a different way.  I have written numerous posts about my own father, who had a great influence on me growing up. But this Father's Day, I decided to give a special tribute to my Heavenly father, who truly has shown me grace and mercy in every area of my life. I know that I have disappointed Him many times, I have not listened to Him, I have rebelled, and I do not spend as much time with Him as I should. But no matter how much I disappoint Him and do not come close to living up to His standards, He loves me anyway. Thank you, God, for the relationship that we have.

Mississippi - Civil War: the houses and the "Help"

On our ladies's trip last week we visited Vicksburg, where we took a two-hour driving audio tour of the Battle of Vicksburg battleground and cemetery. Then the next day we toured three antebellum homes in Natchez.

On Monday I read the novel, The Help. I highly recommend this book for a easy, quick book to read. I also was told that they have made this book into a movie that will be coming out this summer.  In just these three events, I experienced the Civil War and the South from a totally different perspective.

Memorial Day

My father served in WW II. He was stationed in Germany and France. He did not talk about his war experiences very much. Since his passing away, I have found out that he was part of The Battle of the Bulge and that his fighter group destroyed many enemies planes. At his funeral, a brother-in-law insisted on draping the flag over his coffin. I still get emotional when the Star Spangled Banner is played or a flag is waving in the wind. The vision of following Daddy's flag-draped casket out of the church will be engrained in my mind forever.
I am thankful for the men and women that have served and are still serving for our freedom. May God bless the people richly.

The following was copied from the Sherman Democrat in the 1940's:


A presidential unit citation, "for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy" was awarded to the Pioneer P-51 Mustang group of the ninth air forces recently. The presentation was made to the commanding officer by Lt. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton, commanding general. Those from Grayson county entitled to wear the blue ribbon in a gold frame over the right breast are....(4 other men)and Sgt. Kennith M. Scoggins, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Scoggins of Tioga.

The ninth air force Pioneer Mustang group was the first to fly with long range P-51 in combat. They set the distance record for fighters, while escorting bombers on deep penetrations into Germany on missions to Kiel, Berlin and later Gydnia. They destroyed more than 380 enemy aircraft in seven months of operations and were instrumental in the effective development of precision daylight bombing. 


On a lighter note, Memorial Day 2011 was good. I have to say that I started out a little disgusted. Rick had been telling me that we were going to do "something". For someone who likes to go, I was excited. However, we needed a roof, and he decided that we could work during the day and play at night. So for starters, he thought I would help roof. I have always been right beside him doing whatever, and I was willing to try anything; until...he wanted me to stand up and walk on the roof top. I was on the roof setting on my bottom, but that was not good enough. I was a failure. Oh, well. We got over it.

We got lots of work done, and we played hard. We had great food and good family time. (I am on the road writing this from my iPad tethering off a friends iPhone hotspot. You have to love technology. So pictures will come later.)

Today in History

Today is a very sad day in history. Diana is no longer working for Gunter ISD for the first time in 33 years, and I no longer have my best friend and sister in the office next to me. It has been said many times that we sometime do not realize how valuable someone or something is until you lose it. This is definitely the case with Di leaving the school. It is all of our great loss. There were several things that you could count on while she was in charge: she always did what was best for the student, she was fair and consistent, and she was a very effective principal for students, teachers, and parents. On a personal note, I was so blessed to get to work with my sister all these years.

Diana's "Good-Bye"  (after the tears)!

Even though she has closed one chapter of her life, she is starting a brand new one. In one week she is starting a month long course to get her Diagnostician's certification. I wish her the very best, and I know that she will be as great of a "diag" as she was an educator.

Love and Best Wishes to you, Di!