Fragging Round The Bend on a Friday

.
Each week Mrs. 4444 invites us to weave the fragments of our lives into one pleasing post. I'm so glad she hosts this party as I seem to be more and more fragmented with each passing day.

So, let the fragments begin.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I traveled "round the bend" this week and while doing so I snapped these drive-bys through the bug splattered windshield.

I'm pretty sure Sister Pam and Cousin Dar, both of whom read this blog without doing much commenting, will know EXACTLY where I was before I even reveal my destination.


This hilly region of Wisconsin is called the Ocooch Mountains, though I did not know of that name until recently. Both of these pictures were taken along Highway 33 in Vernon County between Wildcat Mountain and Hillsboro.

I have never lived here, but my mother's roots are in this land and we spent lots of time in these hills during our growing up years.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The Hillsboro Drive In, found in the heart of the Ocooch Mountains, is still a "hot spot" of activity.


A car hop will take your order and deliver your food right to your car window, or you can get out of your car and sit at the tables.

I had a Hillsburger which was juicy and delicious and root beer which came in an old fashioned frozen glass mug.

Heaven.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Just down the street from the Hillsboro Drive In is this little green house.

My mother's only brother, my Uncle Clinton, had this house built for our grandparents' retirement home. It's only a two bedroom house, but we packed it to the rafters with large family gatherings.

I am so thankful to see that those who dwell there now are taking loving care of it. It looks just as pristine as it did in "our" day.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Just look at these three lovely ladies. They are Kayla, Britney, and Tracie.

Kayla and Tracie are sisters, Britney is their big "almost" sister. The girls' moms are best friends and so these girls feel like cousins at least.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I met this young man this week. I had never seen him before, and we aren't related in any way that I know of and yet I thought he greatly resembled - - -


Our son Kelly.

I say we aren't related to him in any way that I know - - - but I did meet him in the Ocooch Mountains where our roots run deep and we're related to just about everybody - - - so who knows, maybe we share a tiny corner of the same gene pool.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

We have had nearly 24 hours of soaking rain.

HALLELUJAH!!!!

The rain started around 7:30 Wednesday night and fell pretty steadily until around noon on Thursday. Later in the afternoon on Thursday more showers fell.

We'll TAKE IT and pray for more.

Notice the green "cushion" growing around my patio solar light. Those are weeds. Would someone please tell me how weeds can grow to distraction during a drought while all else dies?????

* * * * * * * * * * * *

See this pile of rugs? There's a reason why I have them all up off the floor and piled by the patio door.

I wanted to shake them outside and it was raining too much so they had to wait patiently for a lull between showers.

And the REASON why they are piled up to be shaken is that I have hired my friend Mary (used to be Olson Sister Pam) to come in once every two weeks to clean.

I know, it seems silly to clean up 'cause the cleaning lady is coming - - - but that's kinda how it works.

Mary owns a home cleaning business and I have a home that needs to be clean. See how nicely that works out???

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Have you EVER seen this?????? It was a first for me.

It's a zip-lock baggie half filled with water and six pennies on the bottom.

It's purpose??? To keep flies out.

OK - - - I confess - - - I'm a total skeptic. I can't readily "see" any scientific explanation that would satisfy me that this would ever work.

I googled it and the only explanation anyone can offer is that the water and pennies in the bag "sparkle" before a fly's compound eyes like light flashing from a disco ball.

Hmmmmm - - - I wonder if disco halls attracted flies? And if a disco ball would deter flies, wouldn't it be more attractive to hang one of THOSE in the doorway???

I'm just sayin'

* * * * * * * * * * * *

These are my two adorable grand nieces, Carson and Morgan who reside way up in Sitka, Alaska where their Auntie Keetha can't really get to know them.

See how Carson has her little sister in a stranglehold? Their grandma, who is my Sister Pam, says this is proof positive that Carson got quite a few of her genes out of my pool. See, back in the day, I may or may not have dragged Sister Pam to school by putting her in a stranglehold very similar to this one.

It may or may not have been because if I didn't put her in a neck lock she would run to school ahead of me instead of walking with me. She was fast. I was not.

Anyway, if I did or didn't put her in a stranglehold, I'm sure she deserved it.

;-)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Now please hurry over to Mrs 4444's place
and see all the Friday Fragments!

.