What a difference a couple of weeks makes! The last time I wrote I was lamenting the fact that our forsythia wasn't blooming and the peonies hadn't yet emerged. Now the forsythia is covered in cheery yellow blooms and the spirea in snowy white. The plum trees and the Oklahoma redbud brother Richard planted are blooming too. The daffodils are a little past their prime, but hyacinths beside the cellar are sporting pretty pink blossoms and the peonies are coming up. And, best of all, the strawberries are blooming!
The last Saturday in March was a beautiful day. I called and learned the county burn ban had been lifted and finally got our backyard brush pile burned. I carried out several flowers from the cellar and the hanging basket from the back porch, so they're now enjoying the sunshine and we have more room inside. We also did three loads of laundry that day, so I felt quite a sense of accomplishment.
There was an added treat in the mail that day, a note from Veda Boyd Jones of Joplin. Veda's an accomplished writer of both adult and children's fiction who's won awards for her books and magazine articles. She's written several books in the American Adventure Series for boys and girls ages 8-12 and is often asked to speak at area writers' conferences and workshops. Her novel, "Callie's Mountain," was chosen best contemporary romance novel in a reader's poll conducted by her publisher, Heartsong Presents.
One of the books in my home library contains her novella, "The Christmas Wreath," which has a mention of Gravette and features Mr. Luttman and his grocery store which were actual fixtures in nearby Sulphur Springs.
When we were youngsters, Veda and her siblings lived in Sulphur Springs and we occasionally played together when our families got together. Our fathers worked together at Empire District Electric Company, where Veda's dad, Raymond Boyd, was the company's meter reader.
When Aunt Leda died, I acquired her collection of "Hi-Voltage," Empire's company magazine. (She was given a bound volume each year since she was the reporter of local news during her employment with them.) I'd clipped articles and pictures featuring Veda's family and sent them to her, and she wrote to tell me of her pleasure in reading them and my "delightful" columns. It's always nice to get a word of encouragement from a fellow writer.
My sister Nancy has dropped by a couple of times lately. She's been feeding a pair of baby goats whose mother isn't doing the job. She sleeps on the couch, sets an alarm and gets up for the nighttime feeding, but the little critters are awfully cute so she's willing to go that extra mile. Marlin has plowed their garden and they've already planted broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, potatoes, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, radishes and three kinds of squash, so she's been busy down on the farm.
Jim's been suffering from a painful stomach cyst but is feeling better after a trip to the doctor last week. A hefty shot of antibiotic and a prescription for another antibiotic have succeeded in reducing the swelling and inflammation. His appetite is picking up now that he's on the mend too.
Last Thursday was another lovely day and I pulled grass and weeds from the irises and scratched up the dirt in the front flower beds. I planted a row of pink mallow and two rows of mixed four o'clocks in each bed. I watered them a little, but a spring storm moved in late that afternoon and gave them a better drink. The brief downfall of hail didn't appear to do any damage, but temperatures dropped after the rain passed through. The razzleberry pie I baked, with a filling of raspberries and blackberries, made a tasty dessert after supper that evening.
Susan Holland is longtime resident of Benton County and a staff member of the Westside Eagle Observer. She may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 04/09/2014