Sorghum, and the Mill

As I was on my way to Shell Knob today I drove past an old decaying, falling in building that was built by my Dad and a cousin named Harold (my Dad’s nephew).  They had a dream, and desire to supply an income for their families, and grow in the process of making this dark, syrupy, fragrant, and sticky stuff called sorghum.

I have some pictures I want to share with those who will come here to read and see them. The first one is of a plaque my wife made for me of the old can label they had put together for the sale and promotion of their business.

The next two pictures are of the old mill which they built using cedar logs set in the ground.  They then built a base to set the sorghum pan upon of rock and clay or cement.  They were a couple of men who did not have much money, but they had a little bit of a dream, and desire to make a good product; and they set to it.

 

 

 

I was standing next to the road by the gate into this property which belongs to a brother of Harold’s now.I was able to figure out how to do a zoom in on the camera of my phone.

I remember this quite well as a young boy in the early 1960’s  When they were making sorghum there were trees all round the back and to the east side (right) and my cousin who was nearer my age at the time ran through those woods having a great time.

Sorghum is made through squeezing sorghum cane, which my Dad and Harold grew on the ridge somewhat nearby.  They would take a tractor and wagon, go with cane knives, and cut down a heaped up load, and bring it back to the mill to make the sweet sorghum.

Before they squeezed the cane on the press, they would light a fire under the pan, get the heat going, then they let the juice roll down the delivery chute.

We used to eat quite a bit of Sorghum cake.  Pretty good stuff  putting butter on while it was still hot is delicious.

Most sorghums you find in store nowadays is mixed with corn syrup which ruins the good flavor.

Well that is really only part of the story.  My Dad and Harold are in heaven together now.

I just thought I would share something that was part of my upbringin’ as a child.

from the banks of Flat Creek,

`tim

 

Preparing the Garden Spot

It has been some time since writing on Flat Creek Rolling, but here goes…

I have nothing in the ground to call a food garden.  We have plenty of things to call garden. They have flowers and such growing in other spots, some have already bloomed and died off like they are supposed to do.

However, back to our garden spot.  It had been covered in tall weeds and grass.  I mowed it down, rode it down with the mower on Wednesday (6/6/18).

This morning (Saturday June 9) I went and tilled a small spot at the lowest part of the old garden.  My thinking is, that when the creek has risen out of the banks the time or two since we moved in here, the water, as it lowered left better soil for growing things.

I may be too late in planting anything.  I am going to plant some beets, carrots, and things such as that, but we need some rain. The ground, this morning, was really too dry for tilling, but it got tilled anyway.

I am going to try, and we will see what happens.

From the banks of Flat Creek,

`tim

Snow in April 2018

It is not real rare, but we are hardly one month into Spring and we get a snow.  I remember a day in April of 1971 we received about six inches during the day, and it was gone by sundown.

Here are a couple of pictures from this morning, and from our front porch…

It is wonderful to live in the southwest Missouri Ozarks.  You just never know what the weather is going to do.

From the banks of Flat Creek

`tim

 

Let it Rain

I was planning on doing some mowing today.  The very back of our yard that is beside the Creek needs mowing.

I will not curse the rain though. It is a much needed blessing.  There are places in the U. S. of A. that needs good rains.  Even in those places where they live by irrigation they still need much rainfall, and snowfall that only comes from the Creator to sustain their sources of irrigation water.

The rain we are getting at this moment is intermittent showers; but much appreciated.  If the sun would shine in a few moments for the rest of the day, then I would do some mowing.  If not: Thank you LORD for the rain.

That is my story on the banks of Flat Creek.

~tim

Too Much Snow

I have never made any secret of the fact that I am a Spring and Summer man.  I do not like Winter at all.  I can appreciate it, and its purpose and lesson in life.  I can even thank God who made it for making it, if for no other reason that it helps me appreciate Spring and Summer that much more.

This Winter season has been a great one, with no snow here in our valley, except for last night and today.  I measured at around 7 a.m. and we had 7 inches at out back door.  It is about the prettiest site you will ever see.  The brown of Winter is covered.  The leafless trees are trimmed with snow.  It makes beautiful scenery.

Though it is beautiful; beauty is not everything.  The warmth and comfort of Spring and Summer are certainly great.

As I titled it, “Too Much Snow”.  It is.  So stay warm, stay in, thank the Lord for those who keep our roads and streets clear; and the utility people who must get out in it to keep our electricity powering our homes and businesses.

From the snowy banks of Flat Creek,

~tim

Spring Is On the Way

Here we are in the middle of Winter, and I am thinking of Spring.  I do not think that I am alone.

It has not been a hard Winter or anything like that, but I am still longing for Spring.  Spring is a time of renewal, hope, life.

Yesterday I went out to burn trash, and noticed the singing of the birds in the trees in our backyard.  My what lovely music they were making.  I then noticed hundreds of birds fly from the tree tops, and they were Robbins.  There were many of them on the ground.  I guess they were looking for food, or something.  I do not think I have seen a larger flock of Robbins together at one time as then.

There were many of them on the ground in the backyard today.  Not near as many, but several, scattered over the whole yard.

I always see the Robbin as the hope that Spring is just around the corner.  I know what Phil said the other day.  I however do not need Phil to tell me there are six more weeks of Winter.  If you look at the calendar for the year; Spring begins on March 20, and it is about six weeks from February 02 through March 20 with only a four day difference.  So what?  Spring is on the way.

I am very glad.

From the banks of Flat Creek.

I Can Hear it Coming

…the colder air that is.  They (the weather people who are in the know) have told us that this day is to get colder throughout the day.

As I was sitting here working on my blogs, a cold wind started blowing.  Usually when I hear the sudden wind changes, that is when I hear it coming.

I have never made any secret of my dislike for Winter cold; but it is a part of life, so I bear with it, and just endeavor to stay warm.  I am looking forward to Spring.

That is the Winter word here on the banks of Flat Creek.

-tim

Needing Water

Well we were blessed in the Spring with a good amount of rainfall.  The Creek came up a bit, got washed out, cleaned up, but never rose out of its banks.

Now, however, is a very different story.  We have not had any significant rainfall for several days now.  It was June 15 when it last rained.  We had a great rain amounting to 2+ inches.  It was a blessing.

This morning before the sun was over the hill I went out and watered everything with a garden hose.  It is not as good as rain, but it does provide moisture for the plants.  I hope I did not wait too long to water  the trees I planted a year ago last Spring.

Praying for rain.  Thank you Lord for sending it.

tim

Blessed with some Rain

As I sit here at the computer writing; it is raining; with some lightening and thunder. It sounds almost like Spring.

Yesterday evening  I was watching the evening news, and I heard a noise I had not heard in a while.  It was the sound of rain hitting our house.  It was coming down pretty hard, and it came down for at least five minutes, and maybe ten.  I looked out the window, and it only appeared to be raining on us and to the North of us.  There is still a need for a good general rain, and it will come.

It was a blessing and a reminder that there is more coming.

We must remember that rain is a blessing from our Creator; and it is given for our crops, for our health, and reminder of the wonderful graces that He gives us each day.

Thank YOU LORD.

-tim

Rain in November

When I awoke yesterday morning it was raining, and I got up, dressed and went and let the dogs out before it began to pour down.  This morning I awoke to thunder, about 2:45, got up, dressed and by the time I went to let the dogs out of the pen it was pouring.  I was practically soaked just stepping out the door.

I did have sense enough this morning to put my coat on which turns water a bit.  The front of my jeans was soaked by the time I returned to the house.  I am thankful it has been so warm of the mornings.  Yesterday morning I think it was 52 degrees, and this morning it was 58 degrees.  That is getting pretty near late Spring or early Summer, late Summer temps.

The dogs go and find shelter soon as I let them out I suppose.  I did not watch where they went, or where they go.

I think the weather is supposed to get cooler by tomorrow.  Hey!  That is the time of year we are in.  Let us not be surprised when it snows.  NO! NO! NO!  I don’t want snow.  It will come though.  At least somewhere it will come.

It is amazing as I look out my office window; the grass is still green, and looks really green with the rain fall.  Blessed be the name of the LORD who blesses us with all these benefits.

Flat Creek is rising from this rainfall.  I can see it better looking out the back window now.

-Tim

November Twenty Eleven

That is right.  It is now November and several days into it as a matter of fact.  The month of Thanksgiving, though, my prayer is that we are thankful every day; not just one day a year.  To whom should we be thankful?  The Pilgrims who came to this country?  The Indians/Native Americans who aided the Pilgrims? or should we be thankful to the Creator who has given us all things to enjoy and blessed us immensely?

That last one, of course.

It is a great thing to get up every morning and know that the Lord GOD who has made all things, has also given me strength to arise from bed with a beating heart, air to breathe, and feet and legs on which to stand.  Thank YOU Lord for all these things and so much more.

November is also the month weather is iffy.  In the Ozarks of Southwest Missouri it is kind of like Forrest Gump’s phrase, “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get”.  The weather around here is like that box of chocolates.  Of course it is like that year round; but especially this time of year.  It can be cold one day, warm up that evening, and be cold again the next day with spitting snow, or ice; or maybe just the reverse.

I am thankful for the seasons around here; though, I do especially like Spring and Summer.  The best part about Winter is that from the first day of the Winter solstice the daylight hours begin to lengthen.  That means to me, that Spring is on the way.

Do not forget to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed; unless you want to stay up until 2 a.m. and do it.  If you forget it will not be a big loss; you will be early the next morning for wherever you are going; and that hopefully will be to worship the Lord with other brothers and sisters in Christ.

By the way;  the puppies are growing, and they will be two weeks old tomorrow (November 06). From the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

Moving Dirt

Last October (2010) when the movers were preparing for the set up of our new manufactured home they poured concrete footings.  All around what would be the outer edge of the house and about four rows of cement footing for blocks and shims to sit on underneath to level the house, and set on.  When the concrete dried they moved a large amount of dirt off to the side; and a large part of that mountain of dirt is still there.

There are several low spots, dips and holes I need to fill so I have occasionally taken a couple of five gallon buckets filled them with dirt and moved some of it myself.  This week I have done it practically every morning before the sun gets too high and becomes hot.  I am waiting for the day when Dennis in our church comes and uses his skid steer to move it for us.

I told him a week ago to wait until it cools off a bit.  Most of it is probably going to be moved over where the septic lateral lines run, to level out the ground and get them covered a bit better.  I have used some of the dirt that I have moved around the front of the block skirting to slope the water from the roof away (that’s right we have no guttering, yet), and that is needed any way.

Back in the Spring I planted some wild maples to give us trees in the yard, but I am not sure they are going to survive the Summer.  I water them practically everyday, but now the grasshoppers have eaten the leaves off of them.

Anyway this is supposed to be about moving dirt; so back to it.  I have got a lot of dirt to move; and a lot of other work to do to get this place shaped up and looking really good.  It looks good, but it can look better.

It won’t be too long and we will be able to see Flat creek as it rolls on by.

-Tim

Thanksgiving, Winter, and Christmas

It has been over two months since I wrote here. To do some catchup work I will be short.

We had a wonderful family get together at Thanksgiving as usual. On Saturday following my son Timothy, his son Josiah [my grandson], and son-in-law Sam made a trip to St. Louis to watch the Cassville Wildcats defeat the Bowling Green Bobcats 23-7 in the Edward Jones Dome for the 3A State Championship. Quite a trip.

Now Winter has come. Such a delight it always is for me for the shortest day for daylight hours of of the year to roll around, and then, the days start getting longer. The sun has reached its lowest point in the Southern hemisphere and then begins its trek back North. That tells me that Spring and Summer are not far behind.

Now another Christmas has come and gone. We have celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior. It is sad to me that far too many do not know what Christmas is about. How can it be wrong to remember God sending His Son? “This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He sent” (John 6:29). “Sent” to die for the sins of the world. “Sent” to do the Father’s will. “Sent” through the virgin conception and virgin birth through a woman named Mary. “Sent”, born in a manger in Bethlehem. No shame, no guilt, no sin for all who will trust in this One who was “Sent” to die for our sins.

It may be Winter, Spring is however, just around the corner.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Talk About Seasons

Seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter are inevitable for us, and we appreciate them; most of the time. The things which we may call “Seasons” of our lives also come with mixed appreciation.

It seems sometimes that the seasons of my life have been stricken with only the “Winter” mode, and that of my wife as well. This is not meant to capture anyone’s sympathy, empathy or what ever, but I pray it will encourage you. I know, and am trusting completely in our Lord’s goodness, grace and love. He holds my life, my wife’s life, all our family’s lives in His powerful hands.

You see I cannot see the finished picture which He is painting for my life. I have only what is today; however, He sees the complete picture. When He is finished with this painting it will be a glorious picture which will glorify His Son Jesus. No work He has began in me or any of His children will fail.

Before I go on with this let me tell you what my wife and I have found out from our doctor, and blood tests. According to my last blood test I have a high glucose level, and a failing liver. She has also told me that my kidneys are only functioning at 60% (just the other day a woman gave one of her kidneys to her husband whose kidneys had failed completely, so she is on fifty percent kidney function) WOW!!! Thank the Lord.

My wife has an aortic anyrism (an enlarged aorta of the heart). When it was first discovered she was told it was at a 4, and when it reached a 5, they would need to do surgery. We were told Monday that it is now at 4.5. The surgery we have been told would be open heart surgery. I am so thankful that our God who has created all things, and holds all things together has it all in His mighty, everlasting hands.

We have also determined to fight these things through prayer, praise, and eating right, or at least closer to right, and getting some much needed exercise, starting with walking as often as we possibly can.

He can heal us if He chooses to do so, and we would be thankful, and we are thankful to Him for the privilege and “Right” through His Son Jesus for having a personal relationship with Him.

Jesus our Savior and God is the Creator of all, is worthy of our praise. We will love Him, serve Him, and will not bow to the words of men or the devil; but we will praise and serve the LORD of hosts. There is no rest without this God and Savior who died on the cross for our sins.

Look to Him today. Have peace through faith in Him. Live His faith.

Give thanks for every day you can arise from your bed, take a breath, take a step, look into the early morning skies and see the stars, the moon, the planets, and have a knowledge that there is the Creator. There are those who cannot do those things and are thankful still.

When we are oppressed by the rough seasons of our lives; let’s be sure we make it a season of praise to our Creator.

-Tim A. Blankenship

What’s Happening???

Here we are in the final week of January 2009, and we are being hit by a Winter storm. Ice is falling from the sky, and making the roads and streets slickery (that is a word coined by my grandson, Josiah), and unfit for traveling, so schools all over Southwest MO. has been cancelled today.

I was scheduled for a medical procedure today at 9:00 a.m., but that was postponed yesterday when the hospital called basically asking if I would do that – they left it up to me – saying that I might not be able to arrive there due to weather and some of the hospital staff may not be able to arrive either, and my prep for the precedure would need to be repeated when it is rescheduled. So, I told them to postpone it. I had requested a couple days off from driving the School bus due to this.

When it was known that the event was called off for today, I called my Supervisor and told him I could drive now. He went ahead and let me off for the evening run, because he already had a sub driver, and told me I could go ahead and plan on driving today, but today “NO School”. That is a good thing considering the road conditions. I am already longing for Spring. I always look forward to Spring.

I am learning more everyday that our God is good. He is full of grace and mercy. What’s Happening??? God is working and moving in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.

HAVE A GREAT WINTER!!

-Tim A. Blankenship

It is Autumn Once Again

It seems to come upon us quickly. Summer is too short to suit me. It could be Summer all year long and I would be happy. I do know some people who are my friends who like Winter weather, so I guess I am probably in a minority concerning Summer.

Autumn does have its beauties, and I can’t be where it is Summer all year round – in fact I don’t know if such a place even exists. On this planet, there are four seasons during the year wherever we may be. If it was Summer all year round though, things might begin to be a bit monotonous. I best be thankful for all four seasons of the year.

Our God and Creator of all things has made our earth, since the fall of man, to have the four seasons; and I think to remind us of lifes circle. Every life has a Spring and that takes place at our birth, then there is Summer, our Autumns, or Falls; whichever you wish to call it; then there is Winter in our lives where life has its end. The end is what not too many people like to deal with, talk about or confront.

There is a question I have always had in my mind. When whoever it was who came up with our present calendar (is it called the Gregorian calendar?), why didn’t he begin the year with the first day of Spring, and end the year with the last day of Winter. That calendar would make a lot more sense; to me anyway. Wouldn’t it make sense for January 1 be the first day of Spring, and December 31 be the last day of Winter?

Anyway here we go toward Winter, then thank the Lord, then Spring and then Summer. Thank the Lord He has designed things so.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Winter’s Cold Ice – Again

It has happened once again. The State of Missouri has been hit with an ice storm again. I think this makes the third one in the past 13 months. In January of 2007 several thousand homes were without power, and for quite some time people were hurting without heat, and the comfort of their homes.

I don’t know of any in my area who have lost power. I must give our Electric Cooperative applause for their maintenance of our electric lines. The Barry Electric Cooperative is very good at keeping the wires cleared of timber and brush. Even that though, sometimes is not enough. This ice can grow quite heavy as it builds up on the lines. These men are ever vigilant to keep the power on and for that I am grateful to them, as should be all their customers. Let me make one thing clear before I continue with this post; I am not an employee of the cooperative, but only a customer, and I guess since it is a Rural Cooperative I am a member as well, who is very proud of these men and women who keep it going.

This is being written on the second day of school cancellation at the Cassville School District. My usual departing time for the morning – to go and drive the school bus – is about 5:15 a.m., and it takes me approximately 30 minutes to get to the bus garage. When I left yesterday morning it was about that same time. There was ice on the car, which I had to break loose from the door, then started the car, took the ice scraper to the windows, then departed. I had gotten nearly half way to Cassville when my wife called my cell phone and told me that my Supervisor had called with his automated call, and informed all drivers there was no school.

I found a place to turn around, and I came back home. The roads were getting “slickery”. That word “slickery” is a word I learned from my four year old grandson. I liked it so I use it here. They were icing, slushy, and driving carefully is required in such conditions. When I found a good place to turn around I came home. Then, it continued to pile up some more.

The temps are not bitterly cold, but it is still Winter, and I am still waiting for Spring to arrive. I have never made it any secret that Spring and Summer are my two favorite seasons of the year. I am, however, very grateful to our God and Creator, for everyday of life and living. It all comes from Him.