The winds pickin up from the south and gettin kinda fast. The dark clouds comin in from the north west and movin rather quickly over the farm. The tall maple trees north of the house, in the little draw, are bendin almost half way over. Mr. Lightning has now made it's appearance with Mr. Thunder close behind. Now the winds change direction and comin from the northwest also. Rain starts to beat against the side of the house with lightning gettin closer and closer. Almost time to unplug the puter from the phone line as we kinda like the modem we already have and hate to replace it. The 700,000 kazillion blackbirds [more or less] are really scarfin down my milo before it gets too nasty outside. Weathermen are talkin about cooler temps next week and maybe even FROST! Well, I'm ok with old Mr. Jack Frost! Its been a spell since I've seen'm and was gettin kinda lonesome for'm to make his'n appearance. Bugs, skeeters etc. needs kilt before they do any more harm to man or beast. Energy cost goin outta sight and expected to go even higher before it's all over with. Wood boilers are movin rather quickly-sales that is, as people ponder just what they're gonna do. Some say they cant pay triple last years heatin bills but yet don't wanna go into debt for something else. I don't blame'm a bit. I had to borrow money to buy a new demo too. I'm just awaitin the day, shortly, when I can set on my porch with my coffee and watch the birds gettin ready to fly south for the winter. Cool breezes with leaves blowin around the yard and pilin up against the many trees in my yard, wood smoke risin straight up towards the heavens and smellin real good in the process. The mowin is all done for this season, I rekon. None too soon for me either. Gotta think sometime this winter if'n I wanna replace the old Troy Bilt rider or put up with it another year. No big hurry right now and actually not next year either. Probably I'll keepit as long as it'll run. As pap always said "Leave sleepin dogs lie"! Nuther words, if it ain't broke don't fix it. More sheets of wind and rain are pepperin the side of the house and Mr. lightning and thunder are gettin closer and closer. Time for some Iced Tea-in a quart mater juice can, filled with ice cubes and Sweet/Low. Rekon the Lord would wanna set a spell with me and drink T? I also wonder if they have iced T in heaven? I wont have to use sweet/low up there, I'll bet. Well, back to reality for the moment. Gotta get off've here and start makin phone calls. Life goes on and it's true, I am just a small cog in the whole scheme of things but a necessary cog, however; not any more important than any of you folks. We are here for a purpose and it makes you feel good to be where you're supposed to be at this time. Tomorrow things may change and we have to change with it or be left out in the cold. Choppin wood? Nopee, I can't seem to find that old double bitted ax that I so carefully hid from Lil Dumplin! Don't nobody tell that red headed woman that I "hid" it in the pump house. She'll never look there as she's afeered a snakes and I told'r they probably was sum in thar. Everybody have a good fall, enjoy it to it's fullest but at the same time take just a little time for yourselves to set and ponder the coming weeks and months that await us all and start thinkin about next summers garden and where the new trees will be set out. Billionairs have it so good? I'd like to have more cash for a ministry of helps but guess things'll get done anyhow without me bein a rich dude. Gooday mates. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), September 20, 2000

Answers

I suspect lil dumpling knows were the ax is.And I bet your not suposed to be chopping wood right now!

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), September 20, 2000.

Hoot, you are sure a "hoot"! Thanks for the great stories! Actually, stories are the wrong word. Thanks for the autobiography!

-- Michael W. Smith (kirklbb@penn.com), September 24, 2000.

God Bless! and thanks Hoot! I gotta go stack that wood now.

-- Phyllis (almostafarm@yahoo.com), September 27, 2000.