Good Horse Sense from an Ol' Nag

Car Repairs are Easy

2010-03-15T13:55:00.005-05:00

Image by Rev. Xanatos Satanicos Bombasticos (ClintJCL) via Flickr

Well I have told you how I have always been so bad about getting things done. My car needed some work. I was married to husband #1 and he was a very top notch mechanic. I ask several times as it was over heating for him to fix it. As I am sure most of you know, a mechanic's car , a plumber's pipes, a carpenter house, are the last to get any thing taken care of. After months I decided to take care of the problem."Miss I Can Do Anything" took a different approach to this. I got in the car and drove until the car would not go any more. in other words I burned up the motor. Back then there were no cell phones to call for help. But pretty soon a farmer came by and I went back to town to the garage where my husband worked. Then I told him where the car was. I proceeded to get his car and go home. Husband #1 then had to put a new motor in my car when if he had fixed it to began with it may have only needed minor repair.

Several years later with husband #2 my car needed new spark plugs and wires. I knew if I was to get this done I was the one to do it. So off to the parts store I went one Saturday morning. Purchased what I needed and back home to get to work. One spark plug and wire at a time so I would know just where the wire went. I did the job myself. When my husband finally got out of bed he said was going to go get parts. With a smile on my face I told him it was fixed.

NEVER GIVE UP

2009-10-12T12:57:00.014-05:00

More first time experiences for "Miss I can do Anything".

I had now lived in the big city for one year. Always in a furnished apartment. Finally we found a house, so I had to go back to far west Texas for my furniture. This was over 400 miles away. Since my parents lived there still, my sister said she would go with me. We loaded up my 5 children and her 2 kiddos. I had a station wagon at this time, thank goodness. And this was before the child seat and seat belt laws. Thus all 7 kids and 2 adults could fit in a station wagon.

When we arrived we then went to U-Haul for a trailer. The only one they had was a long 6' x 12' flat bed with side rails about 1 1/2 feet high. My sister and I was able to get everything loaded and tied down with our dad's help. I had never pulled a trailer before and a 400+ mile trip back to the big city was ahead of me. My mom and dad were going to see my grandparents which was about the halfway point in the trip. My dad said they could travel that far with us as he was worried about me pulling that long trailer. (Makes me think of the movie The Long, Long Trailer.)

Seven children in one car is enough trouble without adding to it. We went to Grandma's with out to much trouble. There we spent the night and then next morning I had problems. I could not back the trailer out of the back driveway. "Miss I can do Anything" failed this time. My dad came to the rescue, thankfully. So away we went no problem as long as I didn't have to back up. Finally we made it home without much problem. (If you call 7 kiddo's in the back seat not much of a problem.)

I said "never again would I pull a trailer any where". But 20 years later I had a service station that had U-Haul equipment so I had to move a lot of trailers around. "Miss I can do Anything" learned to back up a trailer and park them correctly. I knew I could if I just kept trying. One should never give up.

Plane Crash

2009-09-15T08:42:00.007-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

In 1958 I worked for a crop dusting firm. This is where I learned to use a Spanish typewriter (quite different). Across the hall from my office was a farm office and the two girls working there and myself took turns going on trips when one of the private plane had to make a trip. It was my turn. They had to take two pilots on the other side of the Guadalupe Mountains to pick up two crop dusters from a cotton gin. We went in a four place Cessna plane. As we were landing at the gin, which was at the base of the mountain) we ground looped. Sometimes if you go into a wind tunnel when landing in a small plane (as we were in) it flips the plane. We lost one wing, the windshield popped ou and when the pilot opened his door it fell off. I could not get my door open nor could I get the seat belt off. One of the pilots behind me cut the belt with his pocket knife. All four of us got out without any one hurt. All of us were pretty scared because we had enough aviation fuel for the two planes we were picking up. It was in the luggage compartment. Not knowing if it might explode we

Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

needed to get away from the area. The real fun part was I had to go back to the office in a crop duster plane. The crop duster was a Stearman biplane. The front seat had been taken out as that was where the dust was put to spray the crops. The guys washed it out real good and the guy at the gin gave us an army blanket for me to sit on. Remember I was dressed for the office. In 1958 tight skirts and high heel shoes were the only option or you were not dressed to go out of the house. I had to take off the shoes because I needed to climb on to the wing in order to get in and climb over the side into the plane in my tight skirt. I sat down into the front of the plane could not see out except straight up. Back across the mountains we went, scared you bet. Finally we landed back at the main hangers. And sure enough there were plenty of people to see us get out of that plane. Remember tight skirt climbing over the side and off the wing to the ground. But we were all safe.

ONE LONG TRIP

2009-08-19T14:33:00.010-05:00

School was out the second week of June and it was time to go to the city.
Husband (#2) had a job and was waiting for us to arrive.
I start loading the car. The back floor was stuffed to seat level, then blankets, sheets and such. A A baby bed mattress was on top of that up til all was level with the back seat.
On top of the car was the a baby bed, ironing board and baby high chair.
The trunk was stuffed full and my mother was shoving canned foods any place she could find. Finally the car was loaded with four children (10 months, 4, 7, 10) and myself.
My oldest son was on vacation with his grandparents and joined us later.
This was way before car seats were required.
The car did not have a/c so I put a window a/c in the front passenger window.
This is a water cooler for a car.
You put water in the bottom and as you drive the air coming thru is cooled.
Instead of water I put a bag of ice which helped a lots.
Four children and I had a very long trip to make (about 9 hours).
When the ice would all melt we would stop and get more.
This was in the same car I had replaced the water pump on.
I had no trouble with it. (ha ha)
Finally we arrived in the big city.
My children had never been to a big city and I was not sure of their safety.
This was really a big adjustment for all of us.

Grease Monkey, I Don't Want To Be

2009-08-10T11:54:00.008-05:00

Here I am again with memories.

After divorcing my first husband (his drinking just became to much) I finally remarried.

Image by kendrak via Flickr

We were in business for ourselves and lived in Billy Sol Estes country.
As so many people did at that time we had to close up shop and go else where.
Husband #2 went to the city for work while I stayed at home waiting for school to be out for the kids.
Then my car broke down .
I found out it was the water pump so I call a good friend who was a mechanic.
I asked him to go get me a water pump (he could get it at a discount).
One morning I started, pulled the fan and then the water pump.
Then I put the new one on and replaced the fan .
Next I put water in the radiator and checked for leaks.
Sure 'nuff had one so I went back and tighten all the bolts up better, surprise no leaks.
Was finished by lunch time.
My mother had lunch fixed, by the way she was watching the children for me.
If not it may have taken me several days to finish.
When husband #2 found out I had replaced the water pump he was sure the car would never work again.
It lasted a long time and we never had to replace the water pump again.

Getting Old Is No Fun

2009-08-05T15:24:00.009-05:00

Image by bensons via Flickr

I am so thankful I have done so many things when I was young.
I can't seem to do anything now days.
I lose things that I know where I put them and then they are not there.
Five days ago, I cleaned out all seven drawers of my desk
looking for a new cell phone I had put up.
Did not find it but I found six new refillable lighters (yes I smoke).
Took one out to use, did not remove the other five.
I gave mine to a friend today so went to get another and they were no where to be found.
Emptied all seven drawers again to no avail.
Just because I am older than dirt would someone please tell I am not loosing my mind.
Love My 2 Dogs was asking if I was alright, Yes I am fine I think.
Not sick as far as I can tell.
But I so think someone is messing with my mind.
It may be that it is just gone.

Water, Water Everywhere and not a drop to Drink

2009-07-16T06:54:00.005-05:00

I thought the hard work was complete with the house and yard finished. About a year a half later we decided we needed a water well for the yard. I also wanted to plant a garden. My husband ha

Image via Wikipedia

d a friend with an old contraption that they drilled wells with (forgot what they are called). We used it that spring. My then husband showed me how it worked. You had to run water in it as it was drilling. When you had drilled so far down (I think it was 10 foot ). Next you had to stop the drilling and add more pipe to the drill stem. Well here goes "Miss I can do it". When my then husband was at work I would start the drill and drill most of the day. Adding more pipe was not the easiest thing I ever did but no one should ever tell me I could not do somehing. My then husband would work on this after work and weekends and I worked on it day. It took forever but we finally had a well for watering the yard. Don't ever think the work is finished there is always something to do. What ever it is that needs to be done just remember make up your mind and you can do it. Have a wonderful day.

Sisterhood Award

2009-07-15T21:34:00.004-05:00

It seems I am making some friends out in the blog world. A sweet lady named Sharon gave me this award. She says she is amazed by the stories of what I've done over the years. I am so glad she enjoys reading what I have to say. Go see the sweet things she had to say about me here.

Here are the rules for this award:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude!
3. Be sure to link your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Remember to link the person from whom you received your award.

Juls is getting this award from me because she is just a great gal!

LoveMy2Dogs is one of my followers who writes a great blog.

annie kelleher is a lady who found me via my daughter's blog. It's so nice that her friends find me interesting enough to read.

Aunt Rene is another follower who made her way over from Lynette's blog. I am so glad she did!

50s Housewife is a really good blog about a woman with old fashioned values. That's great in my books!

These are the ladies I am passing this award along to. I hope I will continue to be of interests to you as I recount my life's adventures.

Meatless Meatloaf

2009-07-09T15:04:00.003-05:00

With the cost of everything going up here is something that is really good and will help the budget.

Image by Ryner12 via Flickr

You could use leftover pinto beans or canned refried beans.
If you are using pinto beans they should be drained and then mashed up very well.
It depends on how large your family is as to the amount of beans.
Use the same amount as you would meat.
Add an egg, bell pepper, onion,celery, can of tomatos, some crushed crackers for filler, salt and pepper to taste.
Mix well and put in a loaf pan.
Then bake at 350 about 45 minutes.
You can vary this depending on what you prefer in your meat loaf.
Just use pinto beans instead of meat.
Try it, I think you will like it.

BRICKS

2009-07-01T12:15:00.003-05:00

When the third child was about 3 month old I knew it was time I got back to work. It was now fall and winter coming soon. The house was on a pier & beam foundation about two & one half feet off the ground. If this was not closed in it would be colder in the winter. The house has pink siding, red brick around the bottom would look good. So off to the lumber yard I went. Ordered brick and mortar mix. Was delivered that afternoon. I was told by my husband that I did not know how to lay brick. It didn't worry me because I had looked at some brick houses to see how it was done. Just a little over a week and I had bricked all around the house. That would stop the cold air. We needed a front porch and steps. I made a foundation with brick 2 1/2 feet tall then same thing for steps. After waiting almost a week to make sure the mortar was set, I filled the porch and steps with rocks and dirt. I left about four inches at top for cement. Back to the lumber yard for cement mix. This was much harder than it looked to be. Getting it smooth on the top was not easy, but I finally finished before bad winter set in. I just wish "Miss can do it" could do things she wants to now!

Another Beautiful Texas Morning

2009-06-29T08:42:00.008-05:00

I want to continue with the more of what I did as a young mother.

In 1956 we bought our first house.

It was a Jim Walters home.
For those who don't know what a Jim Walters home it is a house built then moved to your site and put on a foundation.
The inside was not finished.
The sheet rock had to be taped and bedded and then painted.
Everything else had been done.
This I knew I could do, so I went to work.

The yard was another question.

Image via Wikipedia

My husband's parents had given the land to us and it was covered with salt grass.
I got me a spade, rake and wheelbarrow and went to work.
I never want to have to dig up salt grass again.
But after lots of hours and days of digging and hauling off salt grass,
I then started spreading grass seed.
Finally I had a good lawn but all of the work was not finished.
"Miss I can do it" had to slow down for a while as I was into my 7th month with my third child so a lot of heavy work had to wait.
Have a great day.

Beautiful Texas Morning

2009-06-24T10:02:00.005-05:00

Image by Dra sick Love via Flickr

Good Morning!
Let me tell you some of the things I did when I was young.
When I was 19 years old I thought I could do anything.
My husband's grandparents house needed to be sheet rocked so "miss can do it" under took the job.
Grandfather was blind but I told him if he would help by holding the sheet rock in place while I nailed we could do the whole house.
So off to the lumber yard we went.
Got everything delivered .
Went to work, sheet rock went up, tape and bed was next, then painting.
Finally after about one month the whole house was finished.
I did this while taking care of my own house and a three year old boy.
Although grandmother helped a lot while we were working.
This is just one of the things "miss can do it" under took .
Let me tell you young women you can do anything you put your mind to.
Women are very smart and can handle most jobs of any kind.
Don't let anyone tell you it can't be done.
I will tell you about how to lay brick later.
Have a very nice day

Just Getting Started

2009-06-22T16:32:00.006-05:00

Image by Today is a good day via Flickr

I have no idea what to say.
My daughter tells me I need to do this.
So here it goes.

I try to do what she says to do.
But IT does not always work.
If you have been the boss for as many years as I have been the boss, it is hard to take orders from somebody else.

I live with my daughter.
She tells me I am a world of knowledge.
And she tells me that there are a lot of people who would like to know how to raise children on very very little.
How to feed and clothe them and see that they come out very good.

I have 5 children and I did not kill any of them.
Although it was debatable at times.

I may have some very easy money saving recipes, how to cut corners, make your money stretch further and not kill the kids.

Every morning when the children first wake up the first thing they get is a nice sugar cookie.
And they will be pleased until you have time to make breakfast.

Image by _rathernot via Flickr

After breakfast sugar cookies are another good idea to entice them to sit down and play quietly.
This is advice from a grandmother, not a mother.
And NOT the way I raised mine.

So come on and join me. We can share stories and swap ol' wives tales too.