In today’s reading, I saw the JOY experienced by Job as the JOY we received when we give away God’s love. I saw the boomerang effect which I have wrote about many times before.

Read my Joy Thoughts

Leave a comment

Garden Snippets

Garden Snippets on YouTube

I finally found time to do another garden snippet video. I appreciate everyone who finds these interesting because I enjoy sharing. My front bed was prime about a week before this video, but it is still over performing, especially for its first year. See the different zinnas. I am loving the Magellen Zinnias, but the Profusion not as much. They took so much longer to get to their peak and they are more like little round mounds of small flowers. the Magellan blooms are huge and look more like zinnias to me. The Magellan also make better cut flowers. I have a lot of other short varieties of Zinnias in the beds I am testing as well, but most of them have such small flower blooms.

More Finished Camping Website Pages

Falling Waters and Six Finger Falls

I have been trying to get these website pages done since April to get them off my to-do list and I am getting close! The videos were shared in April. I hope you enjoy the website pages. The map and index are also done. These were two very beautiful waterfalls which I greatly enjoyed!

This website page was our last stop of our April camping trip. I am so glad to have the website pages finally done! In August no less! We had decided to find a place to camp to break up the long trip home and found this state park and the historic walk interesting.

Davidsonville Historic State Park

And that’s all folks! I finally finished the lengthy website page of our camping in the sheep’s pasture in May! There were almost 200 photos, but I got it down to under 100. Give the website page time to load! This was a memorable campout for us.

Mesta Meadows

Don’t forget to visit the map on the website to find places you can travel. We were going to hit the yellow area of the state earlier this year, but then life happened. Those are the counties we have not been to yet, that we hope to get to eventually. The map is on the index page. You can also visit the same map on Google where it is easier to navigate.

Here are the next Joy in Spite of Stoopidity verses to read ahead and make your own personal notes prior to the sharing. We invite you to share with us.

Until next time,

Cheryl

I find it kind of sad that no one celebrated us for our 40th wedding anniversary. 2026 is nothing like the 1980’s and 1990’s when the family put together a party to celebrate a long marriage. Now-a-days it seems as if the trend is that couples should celebrate themselves because it is an intimate thing.

So we tried to celebrate our 40 years, but life kind of stinks right now. We were going to take a week long trip, like we have done several times, and just travel whereever we ended up, but travel is not in the cards right now.

So we decided to go to an expensive restaurant (36 Main) here in Cape Girardeau and spent over $200 on a meal. We would never do it otherwise, nor probably ever do it again. $65 of that was the bottle of wine.

Then we went to the river to do our favorite thing, river wallowing, but were there less than 24 hours. We were going to stay longer, but our neighbors who have been doing dog care, and not doing it very well, but I have been practicing kindness all these years, forgot out dogs. So we packed up and came home. And then on our actual anniversary, there was stress over confronting the neighbors and the break up. I really want to “blog” about my revelations during that situation, but am trying to refrain. The one people we were counting on to help us make our day the best it could be failed us.

Regardless, we did have some fun in the river, until it wasn’t fun.

YouTube Link

There was a beautiful spring that fell over the cliff in a simple waterfall and private oasis that I found while adventuring and it captured a lot of time in this video. Maybe you will enjoy it. Maybe it is too boring and long for you. I almost did not post it and just kept it for myself.

I kind of feel like my son did when he went 13 years never missing a day of school and they handed him a certificate. He said, “Thirteen years and a piece of paper.” I say, “Forty years and not even a piece of paper.” No cards, only one text from my mother, no party, no nothing but heartbreak, and the day was here and gone.

Camping Website Pages

Car Wash Fall is such a cool place in Arkansas! Overlanders love to visit it. I finally put together the website page for this visit in April.

Car Wash Falls

The website for Union School House is done, and this is my favorite photo from the page of the four guys out discussing the safety of the river crossing.

Union School House

We visited this old cabin out in the middle of the back country where you would expect no one to be, but there were a lot of overlanding folks walking about. I was surprised. The best part of the cabin was talking with the owner Bub and he even showed us an old toy on the back porch. So if you missed that video, you may enjoy it. The website is finally put together!

Bub's Cabin

I finished the website page for the Arkansas overlanding with photos. Like the other pages, the video came out long ago, but in case you missed it, I am sharing again.

Overlanding Arkansas

Mary Oliver Documentary

Mary Oliver is my favorite poet, out of default I suppose, because I do not really know any other poets that have striked my fancy. I leave it open that there may be another I might like better.

I am super excited about the new Mary Oliver Documentary coming out Aug 25, 2026. PBS’s America Masters is premiering it: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/mary-oliver-documentary/37967

There is an article on the Literay Hub about it:

https://lithub.com/a-new-mary-oliver-documentary-captures-the-poets-wild-and-precious-life/
I found some places online:
https://kinolorber.com/product/mary-oliver-saved-by-the-beauty-of-the-world-amazon

Or some theatres it is playing at, but none by me: https://kinolorber.com/film/mary-oliver-saved-by-the-beauty-of-the-world

John Waters used to work in her bookstore and here is a podcast to listen to:

https://lithub.com/john-waters-on-working-for-mary-oliver-in-her-bookstore/

Well, I am already learning about her! One of the tags on one of those pages was LGBTQ so I looked it up, Mary Oliver’s life companion for over 40 years was photographer ⁠Molly Malone Cook. They met in 1959 remained together until Cook’s death in 2005.

Since I am influenced to write from my photography, now I want to know if Mary Oliver was influenced by the photography of Molly. Oh, ask and then read and you will know! That is how my inquisitive mind works. Wikipedia says, “After Cook's death in 2005, Oliver published Our World, a compilation of Cook's journal entries and photography, accompanied by memories, prose and poetry written by Oliver.” Mary Oliver died in 2019.

I am intrigued that Mary Oliver felt that the beauty of the world saved her. Saved her from what? I read that the film is to show us that there is so much more to her than a “nature’s poet.” I’m fine with her being just a “nature’s poet.”

I’ve been trying to get this done for a while now. I am so behind on so many things.

I hope to do a garden video today to go with the next Joy verse five days from now on the 20th. I have to get the joy verse study and graphic done yet too. I do not really have to. It’s not like anyone is really anxious to read or see the next one, or anyone will miss it if I do not do it. That is the way it feels anyway. It is just a self-imposed to-do that does not matter to other people. I learned a long time ago to recognize self-imposed to-do’s.

Until next time,

Cheryl

My mind is always working in analogies, and I saw today’s JOY verse regarding earthly JOY as a big and oh-so shiny bubble that pops! This is part of my graphic, click on the button to see the whole graphic and read my writing. It is shorter this week! Yeah me!

Click to Joy Challenge 31!

Be sure to read Kristin’s as well and leave her encouragement. As always, I’d love for you to join us and share yours too. Here are the next verses so you can read in advance with us. Find all the links and info over at Joy in Spit of Stoopidity.

Joy in Spite of Stoopidity

Arkansas Camping

We have not been able to camp since we last did so in April, and I am still trying to get the website pages done for this trip, although the videos were previously shared. Life really stinks this year. I’m bummed. So for now I am reliving this adventure. Here’s the first page finally done.

Haw Creek & Pack Rat Falls

Cyanotype Workshop

Ah! Pixel overload here! Whoo hoo! Green’s Garden - Farm and Garden Center is this camera lens lover’s delight! I could have snapped photos for hours. On Saturday I attended their cyanotype class and had a great time.

The folks made me smile and laugh, and the botanical flatlays made me oooh and ahhh!

You know how I love those flatlays, and the botanical interest just topped it off for me. I was in framing heaven!

We each made two papers and one fabric cyanotype. These photos represent random overlays from various guests, not just mine.

I plan on enhancing my paper ones further with some markers or other medium to get creative as gifts. The longer they set in the sunlight, the darker they get, and I did not let one of mine set long enough trying to keep it lighter, so some creative watercoloring fun developed spontaneously. I made my fabric one into four different scenes and then cut my fabric when it was done into quarters. I have plans to slow stitch each one of them and am excited to see what emerges next. There are so many ideas rolling in my head on what you can do with these pieces after they are done, other than merely framing them for display. Think of all the things you can do with paper art and fabric!

After the chemical is applied, the paper and fabric must dry, so they had some pre-made for us which was nice. Then we went into the great outdoors and gardens to cut nature elements for our layouts. With paper and botanicals squished between cardboard and glass, we went back outside to give them sunlight. The next step was to give them a rinse bath, and then to spray them with hydrogen peroxide which darkened them. After basking in the resulting creation wowness, we whisked them back inside to hang them up to dry, only to start our next bit from our imaginations.

Of course, I was amongst flower goodness with dried nature everywhere, and could not resist snapping even more photos. Some of these I think need to have some choice text put on them digitally and shared. Anyone got any ideas of what phrase or quote I should play with? Which photos do you like best?

Follow me on Facebook

P.S. I’ve had people tell me that they are seeing my posts even though they are not my “friend” on Facebook. Seems Facebook decided to do that with my posts in recent weeks. I got a notification that they had decided to do the same. Yes, I know it’s weird, but its okay to “follow” me with that button and like and comment even if I don’t know you. Facebook is doing some new things I guess. Everyone has seen these strangers show up in our streams here of late. Embrace and allow yourself to get comfortable with it because I think it’s here to stay. I could put this on My Corner Online which seems acceptable, but I never know whether to post here or there! Of course, if I want something private, I’ll choose that setting, so if you can see it, you are welcome here!

Until next time, find a little bit of happy in your day, and thanks for reading,

Cheryl

Leave a comment

The Long and Short of the Blooms

I took these photos for my friend to see of my Cut-leaf Coneflower blooming in my living room window. We've been discussed a lot about how some plants are meant to bloom in the Autumn, so you have to keep cutting them back until July 4 (Mums, New England Asters, and Autumn Joy Sedum), but that some plants are more optional.

I like playing with the Cut-leaf Coneflower because in some places in my yard, I let them bloom earlier so they are super tall, like the one in my window. If I cut it back so it bloomed later and was maintained shorter, I could not see it every time I walked into the living room shouting out at me to have a glorious day! Then there are other places in the yard that I do keep it shorter just because tall is so much more work! Hey, I am getting older and shorter plants are a thing now-a-days! Oh, and more photos: https://www.mycorneronline.com/flower/flower2_34.html

Tea Garden Workshop & New Plants!

I attended a tea garden worshop event Friday night at Green's Garden - Farm and Garden Center and had a lovely time! I think there were about 10 ladies attending. She had a lovely table set up under a canopy and we all sat on handmade log seating draped with color blankets.

There were two creative trays of treats, and the bread with the honey butter was awesome.

She had two herbal teas straight from her gardens made up, one was a gently warmed tea and the other a cold brew. She provided us all with a collection of white mugs. We carried them as we walked about. (The bagged teas in the photos are not the ones we tasted, but ones she sells in her store.)

We walked around her gardens as she shared her plants with us straight from her garden. Plant after plant she would pull flowers and leaves and hand them to us to smell or taste which was my kind of joy! Honestly, I ended up tucking some in my pocket because I did not know what to do with so many of them, but others I collected in a mini handheld bouquet because they were so pretty together.

We each took home a blue spice basil plant (similar flavor of vanilla, clove) for our gardens. They have a store and nursery plants, and I ended up buying three more plants because, hey, that's why I do!

I had to snap photos of them on my kitchen counter just because the little things bring me joy. One is a household plan that is an aspargus fern.

I ponder about the aspargus fern I added to my garden earlier this year and wondered whether I would need to bring it indoors. So there is a photo of it included in my pot outside. I looked it up. Seems it is a Asparagus aethiopicus, Sprenger's asparagus. Oh me, oh my. I looked it up. They are only perennial in zones 9-11, which means I will have to dig it up and bring it indoors for the winter. Little did I know I bought myself another adventure! On my sink is the aspargus fern where it is going to stay.

On my counter are the plants I am taking outdoors to plant, from left to right - chives, an agastache I fell in love with (see the photo of it in her garden), and the blue spice basil plant. I used to have some beautiful chives that bloomed, but some years ago hubby 'weeded' them, and I have tried several times to get more started from seed. I have a few going this year, but they are just spriggs. So I am happy to have a new start of them.

I have to laugh at myself with the countertop photo because not only do I have random plants where I cook my food, but there is also a bowl of Iris setting there waiting to go in the garden (I'm moving them all around soon, and all the Dave Niswonger Iris Hybrids ones are coming to the new front yard bed), and lemon balm hanging to dry. My kitchen is telling tales on me! Who needs room to cook when you can do plants instead?

River Wallowing - Finally!

and adventuring at Plantation Access Conservation Area

Whoo hooo! First River wallowing of 2026! Finally! And then it rained and . . .

Watch it on YouTube

Substack is Testing Posts for AI!

I put my last Techy Share on my personal Facebook page and apparently no one their cares about tech stuff. My followers-of-old used to love the tech posts. I miss those people. Where are my peoples! So I am trying here and on MCO. Anyone have any thoughts on Substack now having an option (under the hamburger three dot icon on each post) to test each post to determine if it is AI? I love it! I have actually unsubbed people because I thought they were all AI. My only concern is the tool thinking my writing is AI when it is not at all! I want to make sure the tool is working right. I tried my last post, and got a message that it is only for posts made after July 21.

I tried several of those I am subscribed to and they came back as 100% human. Yeah! I'm curious if I will ever see one marked as AI in what I read.

Substack is using the service of https://www.pangram.com integrated into their website, so I made a free account there and we can have 4 free tests per day. I pasted in my last writing from my website page and, whoohooo! I passed! 100% human! So relieved to see that!

Flooding

Here in Missouri there was horrible flooding along the Black River and campers lost vehicles, RV’s, campers, tents, and more, and homeowners lost homes, vehicles, and more. Then I saw this video recently uploaded about the 1993 floods and it really brought back memories.

More Tech News

I used to love keeping up with technology, but now it just feels exhausting. I should have known from past history that Google would combine two of its services. What is weird is that Gemini Notebook can be found as a stand alone

https://notebooklm.google.com and also within Google Gemini

https://gemini.google.com/app now. If I were a betting person, I’d bet eventually one url will go away and the two services will become one. They almost do the same thing except for the interfaces. One calls them “chats” and the other calls them “notebooks.” Were they just testing the waters to see which people liked the most?

It is hot out there!

Show me your thermometer!

And Ask AI what the heat index is! This is on our covered patio in the shade with the fan blowing on it!

Next Joy Challenge

As always, we welcome you to read the Joy Challenge verse in advance of our sharing, and to share yourself if you want to write something or do art.

Until next time,

Cheryl

Click to Read about Job 8:19

This study had me doing a double take! I had to read a lot of context to understand the one verse, and when I finally got it, I was semi-shocked. I was taken aback that this kind of joy was NOT the kind of Joy I wanted to have. You can read more about it on the website page and let me know in the comments your thoughts.

Leave a comment

July 4 Shares

After writing the article on 25 ways to show patriotism, I had to practice what I shared, which encouraged me to get out on July 4 to utilize my camera skills to inspire others. Since I am trying to do long videos for Facebook, I walked at the Cape County Avenue of the Flags and you can clicked to watch the video.

Avenue of Flags

Quiet reflective moments at the Avenue of the Flags, Cape Girardeau, Missouri Happy 250th birthday America!

I put the entire video on YouTube though, because I go back and delete things on Facebook, and I appreciate the views and likes on YouTube where I do make a little money.

Avenue of Flags on YT

Today we celebrate 250 years honoring the courage of 1776, when our forefathers marked their names on the Declaration of Independence. May these colors flying high at our Avenue of Flags, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, remind us of the bravery that built America and the legacy we carry forward. Let me know which photo you like best from today's photo op.
I shared a LOT of flag photos on Facebook. It seems 39 of them.

Avenue of Flags Photos

I went downtown and took videos of the celebration and the fireworks. It is also on Facebook.

But I would appreciate you watching the same video on YouTube as I make a little money there.

Riverfest Video & Fireworks

Then I shared some photos of Riverfest on Facebook and you can still see all 18 of those.
Riverfest absolutely brought the patriotic vibes tonight! There is nothing quite like watching the sky light up over the mighty Mississippi or the historic courthouse backdrop to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. On this day in 1776, the Second Continental Congress took a fearless, unanimous stand for freedom. Tonight, Cape Girardeau kept that spark alive with an awesome birthday party. I am proud of our history, thankful for our community, and feeling incredibly blessed to celebrate under these skies.

P.S. I do so love my and my camera during the blue hour! (I will look to see if I captured any worthy mobile phone photos next.)

Riverfest Photos

Recent Shares

The below shares are on my personal Facebook page and you are welcome to follow me there too: https://www.facebook.com/myspot/

My Spot

Yes, I did stay up late to get the url name of My Spot for my personal account when they first became available to get.

I went looking for these as I thought they said Danvers, but they say Baker's Restaurant, June 1986. 2123 Broadway, Cape Girardeau. There is a photo of Grandma Kent at the house we rented at 1706 Whitelaw Lane, and one other at the family reunion. There's other photos and I'll gather things together another time, but there has been a lot of talk about Danvers in Cape Girardeau online recently, so I wanted to share these. Manna Pauline (Windeknecht) Kent - June 9, 1987 to November 30, 1988 (at the age of 91). All of her 8 children, grandchildren, great-grandchilden and so on gathered together every June to celebrate her birthday. There were so many people no one knew everyone! Hubby's Grandma.

I found some 1979 Danver’s Restaurant, 2123 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Missouri photos of the crew that includes Cindy Barger, Janet Cobb, Carl Abernathy, (maybe Tim), Cecile H. and Brad Maevers. Anyone with memories to share?

(If it weren’t getting late, I might try to color correct these.)

Cape Girardeau t-shirts serving up the style since the 70’s! Best we can figure, the photos in the doorway were taken at Lindell's rental at 1308 Big Bend Road, Cape Girardeau.

Here are photos I took in June 1987 in the Red Star area of (1) the historic five-story Florsheim Shoe Company factory (originally built in 1907 for Roberts, Johnson & Rand Shoe Co.) located at 700 N. Main Street in Cape Girardeau (originally International Shoe Co.) that The Florsheim Shoe Company later acquired, was abandoned in 1984, and demolished in 1990; and (2) 826 North Spanish, and (3) a location I think is the Glory Barn (not 1441 Rand Street). Uncle Ercie and cousin Vicki worked at Florsheim.

Currently listening to — In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus…

I found some 1979 photos of Port Cape Girardeau and that iconic Coca Cola mural that has been tucked in a album in the basement. What a a fun piece of local history to rediscover and the fact that I can still go see it today.

Currently laughing at Miss Tizzy. She brings me so much joy! She is saying, "They tried to make me go to doggy yoga, I said, 'No, no, no.' Wait, isn't this how all dogs sit?” Hope this makes you smile too!

Then Meta AI encouraged me to allow it to make a drawing of my photo, so I played along. It cracks me up.

Sometimes I am reminded that life could be worse.
P.S. Thankfully, they were able to drive it away. I was afraid they were going to have to unload it all and reload it!

Click to Video

Video is here.

I see people sharing their stats on Facebook and honestly I rarely look at them. But Facebook decided it wanted to promote me and started sending me notifications to look at my stats. And then my cousin Dan who is doing some weird AI videos just for fun hit 1 MILLION views, so I just had to look at mine. This is the 59,351 that is this morning which you can see is way up. Why Facebook decided to like my personal page, I have no idea.

See. They sent me this message. If only I really did help bring people together.

In full transparency, this is the stats for My Corner Online which are way down because I have not been able to find time to post anything in a few weeks! I do not make any money or sell anything, so stats usually do not matter to me, but every once in a while they are interesting to look at. Regardless, if there were no support, I would not do it at all, so I do appreciate those who interact to keep me going.

I think that about rounds up everything which is always more than I realize I posted. I hope you enjoy these kind of posts. I never know what I will be sharing as I just share what comes into my life. Right now life has been kind of tough.

Until next time,

Cheryl

Click to Read Esther 8:16-17

I spent at least two weeks studying these verses! I do not like when I feel stuck and cannot move on to other tasks, but I have to tell myself that it is okay and to take the time I need.

I had read Esther before, but to understand these two verses, I had to first re-read the story of Esther and look through my notes. Hence, there is a summary at the beginning of the writing on the website page.

Then as I pondered, I realized it was easiest to visualize with a chart of before, transition, and after, that is before the moment God changed their lives from bad to good. In doing so, I realized that this story also mirrors our life in Christ! You will see that if you study my chart and notes for a while. It’s really cool how the Old Testament and the New Testament fit together. It reminds me that God’s Word is God-inspired and, although written with a man’s hand, most certainly written with God’s mind and heart.

The first verse has the four words: light and gladness and joy and honor and I got stuck pondering them as well! I really like what I got out of it. I tried bolding the letters on my page to help you see it.

Then of course, I went down the whole “what does providence mean” thing! It is on the graphic I made above and more on the page.

These are just a few highlights for you to look for!

Kristin makes these graphics. Aren’t they awesome! I love to see what she comes out with next. Be sure to read her writing on this challenge and give her encouragement on her post.

Kristin's Substack

And for reminders, and updates, and links to both writings, be sure to subscribe for free to the Joy in Spite of Stoopidty.

Joy in Spite of Stoopidty

At the end of my writing are two songs that came to mind while writing. This is one I used to listen to by Darryl Evans now, it seems, 17 years ago! My boys were young then. YouTube Link

The song kind of makes you think it is in our power to trade sorrows for joy, but in reading my notes, you will see it is all done by God in God’s timing.

This is the same song with lyrics. I am a visual person and like reading the words as I listen. YouTube Link.

Yes, Lord, Yes, Lord, Yes Yes Yes!

I am THAT river rat and it is river wallowing season! This song also came to mind and the lyrics are on the bottom of my page.
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul

I’ve got love like an ocean

I’ve got joy like a fountain

I LOVE the graphics on this. YouTube Link

Here is a version that is more like the accopella that I always sang as a youth oh-so-many years ago! YouTube Link. I find myself repeating “in my soul” after the lyrics because that’s what we used to do when they were teaching us to sing it in harmony. Now, it’s not like I could ever carry a note correctly, but this song does bring back memories.

There are many versions on YouTube! This one is fast paced! I also found one really slow paced! Wow! Not sharing that one!

If these guys don’t make you smile, then lift your head up! YouTube Link.

Maybe you would prefer to clap along and get on your groove while singing it! If all these versions don’t cause you to come up with your own variations while getting lost in singing, then find a friend who can lead you into that craziness fun! Ah! YouTube link.

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to be singing this all week!

Until next time, may God’s providence hit you in the face as an ah-ha moment causing you to know He is always with you,

Cheryl

How I am Going to Live as an American?

25 Do-its for America’s 250th Reflection

Today is the 250th Birthday of America. It is actually an all-year celebration in 2026, but then again, isn’t it really a lifelong celebration? I feel a need to reflect on what this celebration means to me personally. Not just what it means, but how I can put it into action.

First, read the words of the Declaration of Independence. It’s only 1371 words and 56 names.

Yes, I think a lot, and I write. So I am beginning this celebration doing just those two things. Here is my list of 25 actionable to-do’s to live life as an American.

1. Life to the Fullest. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness is a foundational phrase from the United States ⁠Declaration of Independence. So, I have the basic right of “life.” What does that mean to me?!!!! (said in my head in a screaming voice.) Well, I get to live life! I do not just get to exist, but to live! And I get to live it freely! I get to live free from coercion from other people. I get to choose to live it how I want to live it. I only get so many days, hours, minutes, and seconds to live life on this earth, and my first actionable item is to try to live life to its fullest. That sounds cliche, but in the daily grind of work and chores and jumping hoops to get through the rough times, I forget to actually live life. My theme online that I promote is to find the little things in life, or even create them for yourself, that bring you joy. Experience something new every day in this great adventure of life.

   "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." — Eleanor Roosevelt

2. Liberty to speak. I am really good at holding my tongue, moreso than most people think I am. They have no idea what goes on inside my head that is never spoken out loud. Not everything needs to be said. But when I need to say something, I am bold to speak up and speak with conviction, not being shy or ashamed for what I believe.

3. Liberty to take Action. I have been thinking about how the Colonists were content being under the rule of Britian and obeying their rules, until they were not. At some point the people moved from a state of contentness to a state of being fed up. When we get fed up enough, reaching our limit, we take action. The Revolutionary War was an action that started when the people were fed up with the way they were being treated. I have had people tell me that I should not let others treat me the way they do. My personal ability tends towards an abnormal amount of patience in others, until I finally get fed up and explode. People see my outward intenseness and ability to take a stand, but they do not see the quiet patience for long periods of time. I am not afraid to take action when the timing is right.

4. Liberty to Worship. I think most people who know me, know I do love my God and I do worship Him without hesitation or influence from others. I believe what I believe, and I share it freely. On the flip side, I also am an American and as such respect the beliefs of others. I will not push my faith on others, but I am always willing to share. I suppose that makes me a failure in an evangelistic sense because I will walk away from conflict or arguments over faith. I live peacefully in my faith and I let you live peacefully in yours. I am a child of God, but I am also an American.

5. Pursuit of Happiness. This is not about chasing feel-good moments, although I’m glad to have them! This means I have the right to strive to flourish. I think about how each generation wants their children to have it better than they had it. We all have a concept of what kind of life is good and worthwhile. I am not going to obtain something better sitting around twiddling my fingers. It takes intention and forethought to leave this world a better place, always outdoing what was before. Before I can be actionable, I have to first reflect on what needs to change. What do I hope America looks like 25 years from now?

6. Taking a Stand for Others. A repeated theme in my thoughts today is that being an American is not just about me, but as a community. Am I ready with the right words to stand up for others when the need arises? If I see another person being mistreated for the color of their skin, sex, religion, national origin, social status, wealth, or other forms of discrimination, do I have the words already formed in my head ready to speak up for others? Have I mustered up the will-power and courage pre-happening to fight for all people to be equal?

7. Vote. The Declaration is full of the ways the King of Great Britain repeatedly injured and usurped his powers over the Colonists. There is the whole “without representation” complaint of the Colonists which contributed to the formation of our government today. I AM represented, even if sometimes it feels like I am too small to make a difference. I have the right to vote and be represented, so at the very least, I can vote.

8. Enjoy shared land ownership. I do so love the great outdoors and I consider the beauty of public lands, parks, rivers, and backroads as something to take advantage of in an exclamation of gratefulness. These protected places belong equally to all citizens, including me! America sure is beautiful and I want to see it all!

9. Remember those who served. This seems like an overly used phrase that I want to take to heart. Every patriotic holiday is an opportunity to deeply reflect on those loved ones who have served, as well as all who have served in every war and non-war to protect our freedoms. I do not need a reserved holiday for remembrance when I can pause any moment of any day to ponder the sacrifices for which I benefit from today.

10. Remember our Founding Fathers. I do have founding fathers in my direct line, that being the Rutledges. (Click here and read about the Colonial Rutledges, and Edward Rutledge who signed the Declaration of Independence and his brother John Rutledge who helped write and signed the Constitution.) I have also started a website page to remember all those in my ancestry in the Revolution (click here). I am a DAR member through John Bybee, but I have others I can establish as well. Although it is fun to learn about my direct ancestors, I can learn about all of the forefathers. I can continue to learn about our nation’s history.

11. Remember the generations before me. As a Christian there is often a push to leave genealogy behind. It does not matter because most people are forgotten anyway eventually. We do not live our lives to be remembered. And yet the topic of “history” seems to be okay over the topic of “genealogy.” America was not just built by our forefathers, but by all Americans collectively. The generations before us built, defended, farmed, taught, and served. What can I learn from them? As I read the Declaration today, I saw a word I did not know, that being Consanguinity. I looked it up. Consanguinity refers to the state of being related by blood or sharing a common ancestor. It reads, “They [our Brittish brethren] too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity.” The Colonists viewed themselves as family to the British. Flesh and blood mattered. And yet those bonds had to be broken for our independence. I reflect on the fact that my own blood has ties to England, and France, and Native America, being three fighting forces of the Revolutionary War. My ancestors were once against each other, but eventually melded (including other origins too) into what would become me. It is a fascinating reality.

    

12. Celebrate. That sounds silly, but it is not. I can choose to sit home today and do nothing but enjoy a relaxing day off, or I can make the effort to get out and celebrate. The older I get, the more doldrum fireworks seem. It’s just blowing up money, right? I’ve seen the Avenue of Flags many times and I can see it online, so why visit again? Because celebrating matters. Celebrating is contagious. I complained just last night at the movies (watching Young Washington) how 40 years ago people would have clapped spontaneously, but today everyone is a fuddy-dud and complacent. The more people that celebrate, the bigger the crowds, the happier the people, the more patriotic pride is spread. I can do that.

13. Caring for Community. There are levels for country, state, and community, and I should care for all of it, but the easiest is my community. I can find opportunities to contribute to the care of my community. I see lots of announcements asking for volunteers. I should not ignore them. Sure, I love taking care of my yard and garden, but right on my own street there are others who do not do so. I should stop complaining and walk up and knock on their door to ask if I can help them. I think about doing it all the time, but then I chicken out. Care does not chicken out or choose the easy way out by sitting at home taking care of my body because I just need some time off. Yes, I am giving myself a pep talk. What is one thing I can do this year to strengthen my neighborhood?

14. Caring for my corner. How can I leave my corner of the world better than I found it. There’s a saying for campers and hikers to leave the space better than you found it. Pick up the trash left by those before you. Go ahead and clear that path or pick up those wind-blown sticks. Whatever it is, leave it better. If everyone did their part in thier own space, what a big difference it would make. Sometimes it is all we can do to just be a good steward of what God has given us and where He has placed us. Unknown and unsung accomplishments still matter.

15. Pray. This is an easy one to do, but it takes intention. I can pray for the country, leaders, communities, churches, schools, and individuals.

16. Photography. My camera and me are a thing. I like taking photographs to allow others to see the world the way I see it. I can photograph places that reflect the American story and share it.

17. Write. If I write, will people actually read it? Will it actually be preserved? I do not know those answers, but I do know I write naturally. I can write down family memories tied to war, living the American life, and histories. I love the America of yesteryear.

18. Send notes of thanks. Everyone needs encouragement and to feel appreciated. I can send notes to veterans, teachers, public servants, community leaders, state and national leaders, or anyone that I see making a difference.

19. Support preservation. I like to think that I am conservation-minded, but am I? Whether I am doing a good job at personally conserving our natural resources, or preserving history, I can find ways to support those who are doing the same.

20. Be a better listener. America is a melting pot, so the saying goes. People come from all walks of life. I need to listen to the people to learn about them. How can I see the world from their perspective?

21. Fly the flag. I think of those cute photos of children holding a small flag. They send a large statement to all who stop to appreciate the moment. I can carry a small flag. I need to take the time to honor my worn and tattered flag and replace it. Flying the flag sends a message of unity and pride in country. I do not see the personal flag flying now-a-days as much as I used to. Whatever happened to the patriotism of the average person?

22. Support American business. To keep a strong economy, which creates a strong country, intentionally buy from American business over other countries.

23. Support the legal system. I can be a law-abiding citizen to support the legal system. However, as a legal assistant in a law firm in my profession, I need to support by promoting with spoken words the integrity of the legal process. I feel as if Americans do not trust the legal process, but it is built on the foundation of the Constitution. I want to strongly encourage others to believe in the foundation of our country. Why do people believe in and have pride in our Constitution, but not our legal system?

24. Support the government. Our political world is kind of crazy right now. It has probably always been kind of crazy, but my present-day experiences have been sometimes doubting. Maybe everyone feels the same at least once. However, I do trust the structure of the three branches of the government that were formed to protect us from injury, that being the legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial branch. I have spoken up many times in current days to trust the system of checks and balances that our forefathers so ingeniously set up for us. It has stood the test of time.

    

25. Self-reliance. I wanted the last one to be some awe-inspiring actionable, but I struggled to come up with the last three, let alone it be awesome. I asked my hubby to spit out his thoughts and he struggled to think of just a few, so hopefully this list will be a helpful one to anyone who also would struggle to come up with a list. One word he did say that stood out to me was that our forefathers wanted to be self-reliant. That was one word I had not thought of prior. I asked him how we could make that an actionable item to do. Our minds went blank. Then I went back to a former thought thread wanting to include an American symbol, the bald Eagle. I realized the bald Eagle was self-reliant, so this was a sign that this had to be the last to-do. An Eagle determines its own destiny as it flies solo, exploring and hunting with its precision eye, relying on its own strength and sharp vision to navigate the world. I consider myself a very independent person, rarely relying on other people. This is not always a good thing, but it is who I am. I can commit to being myself by continuing to be that independent, impromptu adventurer that I already embody. I do not need to wait for the permission of anyone else to map my own route of life’s goals.

Bicentenial Remembrances

The 250th anniversary is officially called a semiquincentennial. Oh, I am not sure I can remember that word! I might have to say it quite a few times first.

• Semi Means “half.”

• Quin Means “five.”

• Cent Means “one hundred.”

• -ennial Means “year” (specifically marking a recurring anniversary)

I don’t think that helps me at all!

5 quin x 100 cent = 500 years (quincentennial)

Divide that in half and it is 250 years.

I don’t think that helps me at all!

Bicentenial was much easier math! 2 Bi x 100 cent = 200 years!

I am old enough to remember the Bicentinial celebration of our country. Coin collecting was a big thing for my family. In February I got out my coin collection that I had given to my son just because I wanted to see it again. I photographed it.

I wrote some notes for my son on some of the items to record my memories.

This was a really cool case where I collected 1976 coins.

The clear plastic piece comes out and can be annoying to carefully place all the coins in the proper places.

The is the Kennedy half-dollar.

Maybe you will enjoy observing the details in the coins and to ponder the reasons for the various special parts thereof. The back.

The quarter.

The back.

This is the dime.

The back.

This is the nickel.

The back.

The penny.

The back.

The $2 bill.

The back.

The envelope.

I have some more 1776 coins in the books. This one tells how many were made of each.

This took me all morning to write, but it was a great way to celebrate the 250th birthday of America. I hope you found some worth in reading it as well.

Now to get out there and celebrate! But first, tea and a shower!

Cheryl

I tried to get this posted yesterday, and it was mostly done, because today is the 250th anniversary or our country and I feel a need to honor the day, but it is what it is. I can only do what I can do. Tomorrow’s post for the Bible study is ready, so I may be bombarding you with posts after a few weeks of not posting at all. It’s a long one! I hope you enjoy it. Oh, and I finally found my favorite Zinnia to plant from year to year! Look how big the blooms! Plus the plant is short and easy to maintain.

GARDEN SNIPPETS

I made another garden snippet video on June 30. I sure appreciate those who enjoy watching these videos.

YouTube Link

Blossom End Rot

My first san marzano tomatoes looked like this!

Well, this is how I learn!

I have heard this term before, but as is often the way learning works, I did not understand it until I experienced it.

I mean, does this look like it has anything to do with blossoms?

This is a condition caused by a calcium deficiency. The good news is that this is not caused by a disease, fungus, or pesky insect or bug. The top part is actually still okay to eat.

What happens is the plant can only move nutrients up an active water uptake, and so when that uptake gets cut off due to inconsistent water in the soil, the path gets cut off. Well that makes sense!

It is a problem with San Marzano and Roma tomotoes more than any other variety. Well, that may just cause me to stop growing those two! I may give away my seeds I have for next year.

Now my cherry tomatoes are great! And they have that perfect taste I always wish for in a garden tomatoe that you cannot find in the stores. But these San Marzano tomatoes do not even taste that good.

The next question is how to fix it.

1. First, hold off on fertizers because high nitrogen prompts the leaf growth which hogs all the available calcium. Okay. Interesting. Easily done. But when to start fertiziling again?

2. Second, change how I water. If it is in the ground, it is suggested to water really deep one day and not the next so that the roots go deep. But mine are in a grow bag, so it is best to water daily with consistency and a deep soak. That makes sense! My grow bags dry out quicker. I’m thinking capillary action from high school science days. You know, that spontaneous flow of a liquid through narrow spaces that happens because H2O molucules sit next to each other. So if the molucules stop touching each other, the water stops moving! So we are going to attemp watering every single day.

I am recalling all of the rain we have had. We were watering every day, but then it would be a torrential rain one day, dry the next, and a forcast for more rain the next. So on the in between days, we did not water.

FLOODING

And that brings me to remember the two big floods that happened recently.
My two ways to get home. Oh the decisions we must make.

I do have two unlisted videos on YouTube that I am not going to share. I took them to help my neighbor fix his flooding problems.

Okay, I give. If you want to see them they are here for June 8 and here for June 26.

And yes, I did drive my truck through that water to get home from work both times. One of these days I am going to run out of luck doing water crossings.

FLOODING MEMORY FROM 1980’S

June 26, 2026

My spidey senses are tingling! They say that something is not right if Town Plaza and Kingshighway are flooding like it did back in the 80’s. We’ve had plenty of torrential, quick rainfalls since the new culvert was built to fix the problem, and it held all that water just fine, with room for more. I’ve observed it with my own eyes many times. Someone needs to get out there and figure out what is clogged. If it’s never been cleaned out and inspected since installation, it’s time to do the job now. It feels like common sense to me.

The rest of the photos I see online are like they have always been at those particular locations. I’m not talking about everywhere, just the places that were once fixed.

Oh, and I have my own 1985 story of flooding. I was working at B.G.’s in Town Plaza and was the last one to get out safe. Everyone who tried to leave after me lost their vehicles to the flood. When I turned down the road behind what is now the Cape School Board Office, water swooshed over my car! It freaked me out! I had no idea it was that deep. I had a split second and it was a good thing I thought fast to throw it in reverse otherwise I would have been floating. I drove with difficulty over to Danvers to get Keith who was a manager and oblivious that the water was coming up on his building. It was a good thing I came when I did. He wanted to finish up thinking it was no big deal, and I insisted they leave immediately. We took all those teenagers back to our house. We barely made it there, turning down one back road after another. We kept those teens safe all night and they called their parents from our house to let them know they were safe.

(Photo from in front of our house this afternoon and our neighbor getting a wee bit wet.)

The above post went kind of crazy on Facebook. Look at those stats?

I realized in reading comments on other posts on Facebook that I appeared to have influenced the tone. I am not sure I like that. I have an internal conflict between being internet shy and internet visible.

Facebook

Don’t forget you can follow me in two places on Facebook.

Personal Facebook

You can follow my personal page to see the posts I make public. I do keep some of them at the private setting.

My Corner Online FB

And I have been posting short videos that are only a few seconds long in my garden on My Corner Online that I am not sharing anywhere else.

Yes, I know I need to post more on Instagram. I don’t have the hours in my days right now. I’ll get to it.

NEW GENEALOGY FIND

June 28, 2026

I do love doing puzzles and genealogy is like doing a puzzle. Uncovering the stories when the puzzle pieces come together is great fun. I have never had time to research this line above Caroline Sweet before and yesterday, randomly, in what I thought would be a few minute filler moment, I clicked on a suggestion and discovered that Ancestry had uploaded old genealogy books on this family. I ended up spending a lot of time on it. Oh the distractions! I have SO much else to do! However, there are stories waiting to be learned and history waiting to be discovered.

It seems my 11th Great-Grandfather came to America in 1632 from Wales to Salem. (Mayflower was 1620.) He came with his wife and three children. He died in 1637 and his wife remarried. His wife, new husband, and children (Jonathan, James, Maribah) moved to Providence, Rhode Island with Roger Williams, establishing religious freedoms from Britian (aka separation of church and state). If you search the history of Roger Williams and Providence, you will learn a lot of history! My ancestor John Sweet is on the plat map of the original town of Providence. He was a Reverend of the First Baptist Church, and the other religion of the town was Quakers. He later moved to Newport, RI., which is near Jamesport, RI.

Jonathan’s brother, James, has a long line of famous bonesetters. What is a bonesetter? Well, it is exactly as it reads! They were “natural” at setting broken bones, even in the Revolutionary War.

If you know me, I also enjoy chasing the heritage of faith that is so evident in all of my lines, and the thought that it has been passed down all these generations is kind of cool.

The book was actually a collection of books of researchers, the oldest being 1929. Much of the date in the book was incorrect and it took a long time to untwine it, but I think I’ve got a good start. People confused the many “John’s” (there is another one down another line as well). It’s easy to confuse.

Time to stop this distraction and get back to my regularly scheduled life.

Vegetable Parts We Eat

I have today off and I started by reviewing things on my desktop that I had left there as a to-do list sort of thing. That happens to me sometimes, and then I end up gathering them all up and putting them in a folder that is supposed to be my to-do folder not on my desktop and forgetting about the tasks! I need to stop that practice! Anyone else do that?

Anyway, I had saved a writing about the different parts of the plant that we eat because it intrigued me. I love my new grow bags and am learning so much using them. I am THAT ever-curious person and that is how I have always learned.

When I was done reading I asked AI to make me a graphic to go with my notes I am saving in OneNotes so I can find them later. I love it!

This one was created in Gemini, which is the AI that I tend to use the most. I have so many AI’s and I tend to try the same instructions in different ones to see what they do. It is the new kind of fun for me in 2026! Ah!

This is what Microsoft Co-Pilot did with the same instructions. I’m not sure if I like the clear individual graphics from Gemini or the realist images in this one better. Both are kind of fun and I think different people will like different ones better. As a visual person, I think I like the Gemini one better.

Then I had to ask ChatGPT to do the same instructions and got this one. I could have asked others, but I realized I was spending too much time on it!

Leave a comment

Then, of course, after I made them, I just had to share them!

Here are my notes for you too:

Leaves

Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collards, Cabbage

Growing Notes: Insects chew holes; Conditions can cause yellowing, stunting, bolting, necrosis; Harvest often to create new growth

Stems

Asparagus, Celery, Kohlrabi

Growing Notes: Harvest at the right time; Consistent moisture to be tender

Flowers

Broccoli, cauliflower, artichokes

Growing Notes: Harvest before flower buds open up

Fruits

Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, melons, eggplant

Growing Notes: Pollination must occur - we need bees! Fruit contains seeds.

Seeds

Corn, peas, beans

Growing Notes: Harvest corn when tender before the seeds are plant ready; Corn tassels are male flowers and silks are female flowers which pollinate by the wind. Harvest immature beans to eat in the pod, but mature to eat fresh or dried.

Roots

Carrots, radishes, beets, parsnips, turnips

Growing Notes: Needs loose, well-drained soils, and space to grow; Some leaves can be eaten.

Tubers

Potatoes and sweet potatoes

Growing Notes: Potatoes grow from eyes; Sweet potatoes grow from sprouts called slips

Bulbs

Onions, garlic

Growing Notes: Growth influenced by length of day, so get cultivar for your location.

OLD PHOTOS

Since hubby broke his foot, he has been scanning in our photo albums. I should be sharing more photos as time allows. This one hit me because I sure did throw some very large birthday parties for the boys! I realize how crazy I was always doing things for large groups of children.

June 21, 2026 was Father’s Day and I shared some photos on Facebook. I shared more than I am sharing here for privacy. Other than hubby here, the ones I am sharing are gone and I miss them much. Hubby has been home scanning photos since he broke his foot and needs a sitting task. On this date, he had only scanned through the birth of our first son, so I gathered some photos of these special men in my life holding our first-born son.

This is my Dad.

This is my Dad, who always made the effort to spend quality time with his grandchildren.

This is my brother.

This is my Grandpa Geile, who was never too old to get down on the floor and play.

This is my Grandpa Rutledge, who ALWAYS held a baby like a football.

And this photo just cracked me up! This is hubby and somehow they have the same crazy-eyed expression about them. No, this is not their normal look.
I’ve shared a few other photos online, but I cannot put them all here.

Until next time, which should be very soon,

Cheryl

GARDEN HARVEST

My first time growing potatoes! The grow bags are awesome to utilize. I have harvested two cucumbers too! I found a second one the day after this photo.

Before this I harvested lettuce, spinash, arugula, and mustard greens, but now I have bush beans in that grow bag started.

I love using my garden for still photography.

I mean really? How does a cucumber look so photogenic?

JOY CHALLENGE #28

This is part of my chronological study that I started long ago, and I had done several graphics already for this section of my study. However, I had never studied the entire section that contains this JOY challenge verse. I spent several weeks studying it and writing many notes. If you do not want to read the entire section of notes, skip down to just verse 11 to read what I wrote about JOY for this challenge.

Read about Vine & Branches

I love these graphics that Kristin is making for our challenges! They bring me joy! This is the one for this challenge that includes the verse at hand.

I really got a lot out of my time studying the Vine & the Branches parable. I do love analogies, especially those that relate to the garden. Some of you who have been reading my posts for a long time may remember this graphic that is also on the page.

The fruits of the Spirit are all throughout the Vine & Branches reading and I made this graphic some time ago as well, which is also on the same page.

Garden video

Here is the newest garden video walk-through. This one has our flooding from last Monday on it at the end. That sure was crazy, as anyone in Cape Girardeay knows. I had to drive through the flooding at the police station to get home. It was flooded badly at the other end of my street too. Thankfully our basement stayed dry, but our neighbors did not have the same fate. All of this water that goes around both sides of my house flows down to contribute to the creek that floods the police station and they received 1.7 Million dollars of damage.

Watch on YouTube

JUST SOME GARDEN PHOTOS

I put these coneflowers behind the fence and the roses thinking they would get taller than the iron fence, but they are so short!

So people cannot see them from the street and that’s okay because my goal is shorter plants! they are perfect! I want a whole lot more of them in the front bed and everywhere else.

Sometimes I like to play with the focus on my camera and then I cannot decide which version I like best. There are so many layers in this scene to choose from. Here the focus is in the foreground with the hostas.

This is focused on the daylillies.

This one is focused on the coneflowers, but the hostas and the banana plant are out of focus.

Then I moved over and the focus is still on the coneflowers, but I get more of the annuals in the pot and I like the chair and table giving structure.

Now from this second stance, the focus is back on the daylillies.

Which one do you like best?

I like them all! I cannot decide. Plus they tell a story.

ROASTING CAPE GIRARDEAU

I asked AI to roast Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Ah yes, Cape Girardeau — where the town slogan should probably be:

“Close enough to St. Louis to mention it constantly, far enough away that nobody visits.”

Cape is basically what happens when a river town, a college town, and a truck stop all agree to share custody of one Walmart.

People there act like driving 12 minutes across town is an expedition.

“Whoa buddy, that’s all the way over by Kingshighway.”

The roads? Built like the city lost a bet. Even locals say driving around town feels like Mario Kart without the fun.

And the pronunciation? Half the town says “Jer-ar-doe,” the other half says it like they’re ordering French soup.

Cape has:

* the humidity of Louisiana,

* the politics of 1957,

* and the nightlife of a waiting room.

Downtown tries so hard though. String lights everywhere like, “Look! We’re charming!”

Meanwhile one block away is a vape shop, a payday loan place, and three potholes deep enough to baptize a toddler.

The town has exactly two moods:

1. “SEMO is the center of the universe.”

2. “I gotta get out of this town.”

And every local conversation somehow ends with:

“Well… at least it’s cheaper than St. Louis.”

Even the Chamber of Commerce describes the city like your grandma describing an average casserole: “friendly faces… welcoming smiles…”

But honestly? The riverfront is pretty, the people can be hilarious, and for all the roasting… everybody from Cape secretly loves Cape. They just complain about it recreationally.

——using a different AI

Alright, let’s talk about Cape Girardeau—or as the locals call it, “The Cape,” because saying the full name takes almost as long as driving through the city’s construction on William Street.

The Identity Crisis

Cape Girardeau is the only place where you can be on the “Mighty Mississippi” and still feel like you’re in a very humid, brick-lined waiting room. It’s a city that’s 50% historic charm and 50% “we’re not St. Louis, we promise.” You’ve got a giant concrete wall keeping the river out, which is basically the city’s way of saying, “We like the view, but we don’t trust the water.”

The Local “Flavor”

• The Traffic: Every person in Cape drives like they’re trying to get to the hospital—partly because Saint Francis and Southeast Health are the only landmarks people use to give directions. “Take a left at the MRI wing, if you hit the dialysis center, you’ve gone too far.”

• The Cuisine: You’ve got Port Cape for history, Lambert’s (nearby) for flying rolls that double as projectiles, and enough coffee roasters (shoutout to Red Banner and Ground-A-Bout) to keep the entire Southeast Missouri State student body vibrating until finals week.

• Downtown: It’s adorable, right up until the wind shifts and you realize you’re downwind from the river. It’s the only place where “historic architecture” is often code for “this building may or may not have a ghost that was a riverboat gambler.”

The SEMO Struggle

If you aren’t wearing a Redhawks hoodie, do you even live there? The university is the heartbeat of the town, which means half the population is perpetually 19 years old and the other half is just trying to find a parking spot near the Marquette Tower without getting a ticket.

The Verdict: Cape Girardeau is a lovely place to visit if you enjoy murals, antiques, and the constant feeling that a 19th-century steamboat captain is judging your outfit from beyond the grave. It’s the “City of Roses,” provided those roses can survive a Missouri humidity that feels like being hugged by a warm, wet blanket.

—-I do not think I shared this before! But I did this on May 16 and I think it is funny. Try it in AI with your town to see how accurate it is. Some of these are so spot on for our town, and others not so much.

Just thinking

Just thinking. I think too much. I’m deeply affected by what I allow into my mind and life. Thinks like loviness, quiet, calm, kindness, good conversation, and prosperous work all steady me and give me balance. Constant noise does quite the opposite.

Making Good Noise

I am being blessed by some much needed introverted quiet time today. But it is not all quiet. There are some good noises in my space like the birds and the breezes. I found this song that makes me think about the noises I make with my mouth and how I effect others.

“Tell me the truth

What are you living for?

Tell me why, why are you here?

’Cause if you cannot make yourself a good noise

Tell me what are you doing here?”

On YouTube.

Here is one more flower photo as we say goodbye until the next time,

Cheryl

And don’t forget I’m posting seconds snippets of the garden on Facebook that are no wher else.

MCO Facebook

I decided not to double post the entire Little Diddy here and ask you to read and listen to it on the website. I love writing these and recording me reading them.

Listen and Read Joy Challenge #26

Have you ever felt the pure satisfaction of completing a task well, standing back, and realizing your purpose has been accomplished?

John the Baptist’s JOY was tied directly to Jesus. It did not depend on his own personal success or being the center of attention. Instead he found JOY in helping another become greater.

I’ve just posted the second part of our current Bible journaling page, reflecting on this anchored joy of a faithful servant. I hope it brings a sense of simple satisfaction and encouragement to your heart and your creative space this week.

Keep up with Joy in Spite of Stoopidity

Read Kristin's too!

Sharing Music

God I am just grateful for You! Even though I don’t deserve it . . .

Garden Tour Snippets

It had been a few weeks since I shared a garden tour and I feel as if people really enjoy these videos, so I try to keep creating them. I appreciate your likes and comments on YouTube, as well as just watching it, as it helps me earn a small amount of money.

Link to YouTube Garden Tour

Eating from the Garden

I cannot tell you how pleased I am that I was able to pull three potatoes from the grow bags! Last weekend passed the 70 day mark and the potatoes are supposed to be done. I am learning so much!

These are an early variety so they take less time to grow, but they are smaller because of that. It seems that I am supposed to wait for the green growth to die and then wait another week before the potatoes are done, or at least that is what the internet says. The green growth is starting to yellow and bend over. It is certainly shorter, but it is not dead yet.

These are called “new” potatoes because the skin is thin and I kind of like that! Those that wait until the great growth is dead getting larger and get thicker skins so they can be stored. The new potatoes need to be eaten within a week.

Now I’ve bought “new” potatoes before, but I never had the concept of what they were. This is my first time growing potatos and since I love to learn, this is fun for me.

So we can reach in the bags at any time and pull out potatoes for dinner until such time as they are fully grown and done and done. How fun is that!

Flower Photos

I love finding little scenes in the garden for my camera’s eye and this one just delights me right now. In front are my Grandma Geile’s favorite flower, Snapdragons, and then there is Blue Monday salvia, and then a pink salvia, and then a pink yarrow, and in the far back, a bit of Bee Balm. Can you pick them all out? They are in the above video too.

Snapdragon on my Website

Blue Monday Salvia

Meadow Salvia

Yarrow on my Website

I want to try growing Snapdragon’s free seed again next year. I’ve never been successful, but I did buy these two this year and they are just gorgeous. You can see four kinds of flowers in this photo.

Maybe you can pick them out in this view better.

The ranunculus have been fun to grow as they are so challenging. I explained about it in the garden video before this one. They are expensive corms too! The catch in growing them is that they are cold weather flowers and once the temps reach 80’s, or even 70’s I have read, they stop blooming and growing. The peach ones I shared weeks ago have up and died now. There are still these pink ones blooming.

They looks nothing like the photo from the sales page where I bought them. That is a bit disappointing. Plus they are very short. I have read that if the temps get too high, you can still get blooms but they are short and small. This certainly is a challenging flower! If you like a challenge, go for it next year. There are places that they grow better than here in Missouri.

I started mine on March 14, but should have started them on February 14 and hoped I could protect them from any deep freezes below 27 degrees. They can be started inside, even in January, and transplanted outside in March or April. It is all a gamble to get them going with enough time to bloom but it not get too warm outside.

Mine are supposed to be a salmon and light pink, and here I have a red one now. I do not like red and try not to have it in the my garden. The pastel colors they were supposed to be have shown themselves to be very saturated.

The Stokes Aster are blooming next to the Coreopsis in the garden. Every time visitors come to the garden and see it, they ask me if they can have some of the Stokes Aster. I do not have enough to share and it is a slow grower.

Stoke's Astor on my Website

Coreopsis on my Website

Another view with two colors of the Meadow Sage aka Salvia and the Coreopsis.

I have SO many photos of purple coneflowers! I might as well have another. I do enjoy them in the garden and wish I could get more going. I am trying.

This photo has some Bee Balm, Meadow Sage aka Salvia, and Veronica.

Veronica on my Website

I had a great patch of Shasty Daisies such a long time ago now, back when the bed was lawn timbers in the 1980’s probably. But as has always been my problem, my hubby throws away flowers because he thinks they are weeds, and no matter how many times I have tried to grow them again, I do not get them the next year.

Now that I have claimed the garden beds as my domain a few years ago, and have battled him to leave my gardens alone, I am finally growing Shasta Daisies again!

I have not cut any yet, and actually have not had many flowers in vases this year like I did last year.

But they are bringing me a lot of joy!

Hubby broke his foot and I had to cancel my vacation day and our next camping trip and that makes me sad.

We have a visitor right now, Mabel, the dog next door, and between hubby and Mabel, I cannot seem to get much done. Ria and Tizzy getting to know Mabel up close and personal is entertaining and exhausting, but I am having fun nonetheless. I need to get a photo of her. It is a short visit and I am happy to have her here. She is adorable, but as a puppy, full of energy and never stops going!

I have even more chores to do now that I have to do hubby’s, so life is much different. Plus he cannot drive so I am driving him to doctor’s appointments and such.

I look forward to reading your thoughts on today’s verse and anything that is going on in your life. I do not like these posts to be one-way, but they often seem to be that way lately. Don’t be a stranger!

Until next time,

Cheryl

CAMPING IN A SHEEP’S PASTURE!

Really, I say to myself, I never know where we will camp next or what we will do! Ah! I surprise myself with our adventures and get a kick out of them.

We had a great time last weekend camping at Mesta Meadows in Glenallen, Missouri. I love unique adventures and we camped in a sheeps pasture! We booked it through HipCamp.

It was fun having them around our truck camper and getting them to follow us around. What a blast! We visited the rest of the farm too. Ed & Terri Crowley were wonderful hosts going above and beyond for us. You can really tell they love to share their place with others. They care about making a difference in their community. Ed showed us around and let us pick the spot that fit us. We could have camped in the forest, by the barn, or near the creek, because not everyone wants to avoid sheep’s droppings! Ah!

I have not gotten the website page done yet (and in fact have all the others from are Arkansas trip to do too), but I did put 80 photos on the Facebook page. Plus there are flower videos on the FB page that are no where else, so be sure to catch them. Plus, this smiling dog in the background of this photo just cracked me up!

My Corner Online Facebook

This lamb was on top of the feed box and made it look like it was standing on top of the other lambs and cracked me up. Isn’t it SO cute!

YouTube Link

Oh, go ahead and watch the video. It’s long, but I laugh every time I relive all the moments and I hope you enjoy it too.

This Nubian goat was my favorite!

I LOVED his long floppy ears. He did not care one lick about me! Ah! He was hungry and focused on eating.

They wanted to know all about me and followed paid close attention to everything I did. The one in the foreground was a red-head and is a Boer goat.

The one in the background had the bluest beautiful eyes! That face screamed at me to just snap a photo! Isn’t it adorable? We were in the petting zoo and Terri was our guide. Terri told me all of the types but I could not remember. The internet says this is most likely a Kinder or Pygmy goat, or maybe a Nigerian Dwarf.

The view was awesome outside our windows and we sat up top and just watched the sheep and the views and relaxed.

Watching the sheep was better than watching t.v.! We watched them and they watched us.

Caption this! Ah! I know there has to be some good ones. I forget what I said during the video. But I think of:

Just making sure you see our best sides.

Business in the front, party in the back.

Behind the scenes in the pasture.

When you are the only one willing to look at the camera!

Excuse me, do you mind? We’re trying to have a private conversation here.

Three ‘no ma’am’s’ a 'Can I help you?

One of these things is not like the others!

Three out of four sheep prefer to remain anonymous.

Business in the back, attitude in the front.

When you're the only extrovert in a group of introverts.

Three exits, one entrance.

Three 'no comments' and a 'hey there!

The rebel of the flock.

Rear view vs. Clear view.

I did not mind dodging the sheep droppings and was glad to walk around them as the sheep slowly warmed up to me and became friends. lol

We ate ice cream made with sheep's milk and thanks the sheep while we ate! It was good stuff! Terri opened the store for us and we did buy some other things.

Since we live in Cape Girardeau, we plan to find them again at the farmer’s market to buy some meat and other products, although we did pick up some at their store which is open every Saturday. If you are near Marble Hill for something (like the flowers in the summer), scoot on down the highway 4 miles and visit The Mason Jar. They also sell in other locations, including St. Louis.

They realized we were friendly and began coming around the truck more. When they first came into the field and I spoke to them, they jumped and paused as I could tell they had no idea that we were up high! It wasn’t too long before they figured out exactly where we were at. I was afraid at one point that the sheep was going to climb the ladder! Instead, another sheep sat down under the ladder and started eating it. Hubby had to climb down and shake the ladder to get it to move away. It was great fun!

We were relaxing in the tent as it was getting dark and the sheep were not in view as they had dropped down to the pasture on the other side of the pond. I said, “I hear footsteps.” Hubby had completely forgotten we were in a sheep’s pasture and told me later he thought it was Ed at first, and then a mountain lion. lol He jumped up and when he looked out the back of the camper, there they were crowded around the camper in a long line going outward. His surprise not expecting sheep was priceless!

I think it is a funny snippet in the video as we were laughing so be sure to catch that.

When we woke to watch the sunrise the sheep must have been down the other side of the pond, but eventually they came to their favorite spot under the trees.

This guy just wanted to see if I had anything to eat. We had settled in our chairs outside the camper having tea and coffee and I said to hubby, “I wonder if I walk around the pond if they will follow me.

They moved a little bit but decided to stick together in the corner and let me pass by. Ack! I walked around the pond with my cup of tea by myself.

When I got back I told hubby that it was his turn to walk around

He got half way around the pond and then suddenly one sheep got up and chased after him , and then slowly one by one the other sheep got up and followed, with a few straggling behind not wanting to give up their resting place.

He ended up with a whole entourage. I wanted an entourage!

When he got back to the camper I decided to see if they would continue following me when he sat down. And they did!

I videoed them following me and kept stopping to turn around to talk to them, calling them my friends.

It was SO much fun!

We had a little bit of faith time pondering our Good Shepherd, but I wondered where the literally head-butting fit in to the Bible. lol The one sheep really liked to surprise us and poke his head onto our butt!

Maybe that is representative of our sinful nature and wanting to go our own way.

Or maybe it is how we try to push God along like David in the Psalms who says, "How long, Lord!"

The highland cattle experience was a blast. What amazing animals! Ed took us to the next ranch over which he rents to have an up-close and personal visit with these special animals.

We were told for our safety to stay in the side-by-side and he gave us treats to feed the cattle that surrounded the vehicle.

There were two other cattle there which he showed us that the breed together to make this highland cattle. Such cute-hair yet strong and yet gentle at the same time beings!

This guys name was Homeboy and he was there for a temporary visit.

This guy came through the driver’s side and demanded a treat!

Hello! I see you! How can I not see you! You sure are gifted in demanding attention!

It was like they took turns and these had a much gentler approach.

Ed told us they would try to chase after us as we left and they sure did!

Before we left we went to the south farm which he also leases where we could have stayed as well. We had toured it with Ed, but I did not take any videos at that time, so we went back. There is an old house that was at least built in 1916, but probably much earlier.

We could have camped in several spots near the creek and the water is spring fed and crystal clear. We may go back and camp here another time.

There is a spring fed well next to the house and we bushwacked, literally, a path over to the well to check it out. We do love a simple adventure!

I have 193 photos, and will have to choose carefully what to put on the website page later, but between Facebook and this post, you have a lot to delight in with me for now.

JOY IN SPITE OF STOOPDITY

Keep up with Joy in Spite of Stoopidity

Here is the next JOY verse if you want to read ahead and study before you read our notes. Let us know if you are following along and like us sharing the verse in advance, please. And remember you can write and share too. We’d love that!

We are going to be working on extending the drainage ditch this weekend. We went shopping for supplies yesterday. So I’m not sure what I will have to share with the next post. The garden is absolutely lovely! Maybe I will take another video of it or get some photos.

Until next time,

Cheryl

Read the Bible Journaling

Since today’s Joy Challenge #26 is on my chronological digital Bible Journaling project, I combined the two tasks into one again.

Today we see the joy from having zero doubt! Seeing God's massive, centuries-long plan fall into place brings a reassuring joy. It’s the great ah-ha moment!

Also, uur verse shares how joy defies sadness! Normally, saying goodbye to someone you love means tears and sadness. But not here! When Jesus ascends to heaven, the disciples don’t experience a single bit of grief.

Share your thoughts, Please!

Read and Encourate Kristin too!

GARDEN WALK-THROUGH SNIPPETTS

YouTube video link — thanks for watching and hitting like on my videos as it helps me make a little money.

Lots of changes in the garden in recent weeks are shared in my video. I sure do appreciate those who watch and are interested in my lovely garden, especially those who have watched for years and kept up with its changes. Thanks all.

GENEALOGY DNA SOLVED - maybe!

Anyone familiar with St. Francois County, Missouri, that might be able to find me a clue I have missed on this brick wall for over 30 years?

Through DNA, I have just now determined Belle Edward's parents. I put together these facts and thoughts to help me, or others, in a concise manner to look for more clues.

I cannot find her birth or death or whoever the Edwards folks are. If you have time and enjoy sluething, I sure would appreciate some help.

Is it an adoption? A raising by Grandparents? Just an early missing marriage?

Just look at the number of DNA matches! Wow! And all of the lines I have to study and put together now on top of my other self-imposted genealogy tasks.

Keep reading…

OKAY, HERE’S THE NEWEST KICKER!

I just learned after I put all of this in here, that Cornelius has a brother that married a sister of Adeline!

So I am related by DNA to both couples and now hope to figure out which one!

Dennis O’Leary married Henriette Elvina Lahaye. So now I have to run some DNA testing again. I need to make careful note of the CM numbers of the relationships as they are with Cornelius and Adeline, and then move Belle’s parents over to see if the CM numbers of the relationships over there are higher or lower.

Will the real parents please stand up!

Then I also just receive a packet in the mail from a distant cousin and it suggests there may be a third O’Leary-Lahaye couple from family lore, but she was never able to find it. Oh joy!

Thanks for reading and your interest in the things I share,

Until next time,

Cheryl

I did a digital Bible journaling page and study on the Road to Emmaus because it was near our “joy” verse and I inadvently worked on it, so I had to finish it.

I went down a thought process with what is wrong with my Grandma Geile’s favorite hymn that she sung to me on my death bed, “In the garden.”

I went down another thought process about recognizing Jesus in “God’s presence” and also the message of this story which is unexpectedly about communion where Jesus reveals Himself to us.

Click to Read Emmaus Study Notes

Just a reminder that in a few days we will be posting Joy Challenge #26 and invite you to join in. So far we have had no one join in. It is rather disappointing, but there is hope. Are you are hope?

Joy in Spite of Stoopidity

Regardless if you join in, I sure do appreciate you reading and following.

I picked myself some lettuce, spinach, and arugala today for a sale. It makes me happy to finally be growing veggies and being successful again. I do love my grow bags so far and it was a perfect solution for me.

I knew arugula was peppery and was supposed to be combined with other leafy veggies as an accent flavor, but I had no idea how well it grew! It is out-pacing all of the other greens. I am not sure I will grow it again. I often have a lot of arugula with no peppery-flavor-taming teammates to eat it with and I can only eat so many sandwhiches. I do have some seeds left, and I will finish growing them, but only carefully in small numbers.

Apparently it is also called “Rocket.” Interesting. Arugula is actually part of the brassica family (Brassicaceae) and in the mustard family, also known as rocquette, rocket, garden rocket, rocketsalad or Italian cress.

I have planted a LOT of seeds all over the garden for annuals and they are coming up everywhere.

Plus my ranunculus has a bud! I am SO excited. I have never grown them before and they look great, but they are hard to grow as warm tempatures can make them go dormant and not bloom. The corms have to be started in February, but I did not start mine until March 14, so I am on an adventure. Will they bloom before the temps gets to warm?

My gardens are beautiful right now and I am in my happy place. We had dinner and played Hearts in the garden for Mother’s Day and that was so much better than the crowds are restaurants.

I’ve been sharing short video snippets on the Facebook page and no where else, so if that’s what interests you, please visit there to enjoy them.

My Corner Online Facebook

I really have not had time to produce much content at all recently, hence the delay in sending out this post.

We worked yesterday installing the mailbox and building a small brick garden bed around it. It's hard as the bricks go into the ditch. We fussed and fought the whole time, as always, but I’m glad that is behind me as I was dreading it. Except we have to tweak it today and finish it up. but the hard part is done and the boxes are now off the patio. I didn't like the clutter of it all there.

The new wall in the “Back 40” flower bed is also almost done, but that project has a way to seem to keep going on and on and on and never be finished. It should be in the next garden snippet video.

So I will type up a story right now that just happened.

I got my hair cut yesterday and a stranger (aka another stylist) interrupted the conversation I was having with the lady styling my hair and said, "I know exactly who you are!"

What? Uh, "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked.

She repeated it several times, "I know exactly who you are." And also said, "You are my role model."

I never did get a clue as to how she knew me. It bothered me all evening.

I actually regretted not taking the opportunity to share Jesus. I could have replied, "If you know who I am, then sure You know my identiy is in Jesus."

But it's common knowledge that we often think of things to say right after the opportunity is gone.

Fast forward to church today.

The sermon is about Acts 16:16-24, Paul and Silas in prison.

Pastor John shares in the beginning of the sermon, “Do you realize people are looking at you as a role model.”

To have someone say those very words to me just yesterday, and then Pastor to say them in the sermon this morning in the form of a question, was not just a coincidence, but was God poking me to listen up!

Pastor John said, “There are moments in our lives when people are watching us more than we realize.” “People are watching you when things are hard and want to know how you respond when things are falling apart.”

Every bit of our lives is an opportunity to be a witness.

Paul and Silas are in jail because they got a spirit of divination out of a girl and the owner who was making money off the girl as a fortune teller were not happy that they lost money, and the world is wonky and wrong.

At midnight Paul and Silas are up at midnight singing and praying and praising God. The other prisoner’s are listening and paying attention. The people are watching how the Christians respond to hardship.

But here’s the other God Winks. As the sermon continued, as oddly as it might seem, I saw a correlation between Paul and Silas in jail and my ancestor Richard Marshall who was also in jail.

Richard Marshal Website Page

Richard’s murder/murder story is long, but if you like to read and have not seen it, it is all out there on the website page. He was convicted of murder (I believe he was framed), sentenced to hang, and his sentence converted to a life sentence in jail.

Now I have no idea if Richard’s faith was shared while he was in jail, but people were watching him.

Richard was in the jail in the prison that is in front of the courthouse that sets in front of the Arch in downtown St. Louis when this incident occured.

• There is an earthquake and Paul and Silas do not run out of the jail.

• There is a jail break and Richard not only saves the deputy jailer from being killed, but also single handedly gets most of the prisoners back into the jail (a few did escape).

I have pondered before how short and small Richard managed to do something so miraculous and am convinced that the other prisinors respected him and followed his lead. The same is with Paul and Silas. Why didn’t the other prisoner’s leave? Did they respect them and follow their lead?

• Paul saved the jailer from killing himself because he feared what would happen when the powers-that-be found out the prisoners escaped (but they actually had not left although free to do so.)

• Richard saved the Deputy jailer.

Paul had no need to save this guy; Richard had no need to save this guy. “The jailer probably even treated them badly. Christians do not seek revenge.” “The jailer expected condemnation but instead receives mercy.” “We are called to proclaim something different than judgment.”

The real shocker? They didn't do what anyone else would have done. They completely failed to do what we would expect them to do. They astonishingly defied normal expectations.

• The jailer who beat and tormented Paul and Silas cleans them, washes their wounds, and he frees them (takes them home to his family).” “The same hands that beat these men now serve them in love.”

• The Deputy Jailer now works to free Richard by participating in the pardon process, and serves him in love.

People’s hearts are changed. God’s love is proclaimed in the way we live. People are watching. “People are watching when we care for others, when we express forgiveness instead of retaliation, when we seek hope in anxious times.”

“People are watching not because we are particularly impressive, but because Jesus is.”

Richard was eventually pardoned, but then he was murdered. Don’t let that change the contemplative comparison between the Bible story and Richard’s story.

People are watching.

That’s enough for today.
I’ll see you on Wednesday, May 20, when we post the next Joy Challenge.

Until then, be sure to reach out to me and keep in touch as I love it when you do,

Cheryl

JOY CHALLENGE #25

We continue with our twice monthly Joy in Spite of Stoopidity challenge and hope that others will join us in writing about the verse of the day.

(Luke 24:41 ESV) And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”

This one really through me for a loop and I had to ponder what “disbelief for joy” mean. What do you think it means?

Click to Read my Writing

Join the Challenge

GARDEN JOURNALS

I created a garden snippet video as soon as we returned from camping last weekend, before I even took a shower, just because it was so beautiful. It is now a week later and the garden has changed so much.

Click to YouTube

THANKS for WATCHING, CLICKING LIKE and COMMENTING on YouTube as that is the only place I make a little bit online and I appreciate your efforts.

We have made great progress with building the stone wall in the back and we spent the entire beautiful gorgeous perfect weather day Sunday planting flower seeds throughout the entire garden, front and back. We are dreaming of what it will be, provided we can keep the rabbits and birds from eating the seedlings.

Speaking of rabbits, my sweet little 8 lb Miss Tizzy is a baby bunny eater. Now Ria has in the past just played-to-death baby bunnies, but apparently this sweet little face is a bunny eater. We had a whole fiasco right before we left to go camping with baby bunnies in the yard.

I was photographing an Iris I was excited to see bloom for a first time and saw her munching in the grass. Now this sweet little face also eats poo, so I yelled at her and usually that is enough to get her to stop, but she would not. So I stomped out to the middle of the yard where I saw a belly-up with four little legs and a tail coming out of my sweet little Miss Tizzy’s mouth. She was fervently chewing the head. Yikes!

I was quite sure the entire neighborhood heard me yelling frantically trying to get Little Miss Sweetness to drop it. She was ready to sit for the evening and eat the whole thing. Really?

I really wanted to figure out how to wash Miss Tizzy’s mouth out. I wanted her no where near me. How do you wash a dog’s mouth out before it smashed you with a quick doggie kiss unexpectantly? Sure, she stops when I say “No kisses,” but that is too late!

We found four more bunnies and just don’t ask about that. I did have to laugh when hubby shouted across the yard at me, “What do we do with them? They are just going to multiply!”

A few days later Miss Tizzy had decapitated another one that had managed to survive the first fiasco. Sigh.

Now little Mabel, the young, new dog next door who is a miniature dachshund, as been running under their shed where the rabbits have lived for the last 40+ years, and her owner has trouble getting her out from under the shed. I’ve decided it is the ‘Miss Tizzy and Mabel Bunny Team.’ Mabel chases them out from under the shed and they escape to our yard where Miss Tizzy crunches their heads.

I did wonder later how well Miss Tizzy would digest a skull. Was my little bit of cuteness going to be ill while camping?

Then we spent a while asking AI for a better name for Miss Tizzy than “Rabbit Eater” and was delayed in leaving for camp because we were laughing so hard.

Hooportunity, Nibble Scout, Snack Seeker, Garden Supervisor, Critter Control, Little Miss Innocent, Hop Tracker, Nibble Patrol, Garden Security, Backyard Dectective, Bunny Berglar, Cottontail Culprit, Cottontail Connoisseur, Garden Buffet Boss, Bunny Muncher, and, you get the idea. The list went on and on.

Regardless, the sight of this horrific scene is indelibly engrained in my brain. It is hard to shake out of my memory.

May 1 was my first hummingbird sighting! I was SO excited! Turns out other Facebook friends saw them the same time as I did.

I shared some Iris photos recently into a private Facebook group and no one else saw them, so I am sharing now.

April 23, 2026 Just having fun with my camera and a NOID that's been in my garden for probably 35 or more years.

April 24, 2026 Such a delight! My tag says this is Lacy TuTu! ('Lacy Tutu' (Lynda Miller, R. 1989) I love it! I got it at the sale last year I believe. This one is bringing me lots of joy.

May 2, 2026, I returned from camping Monday to this wonderful surprise. I got this Edith Wolford ( Ben Hager, R. 1984) at the plant sale in 2024. It did not bloom last year, but it is this year! I think it's my first bi-color. I really like it.

May 2, 2026 This one bloomed a few days ago. It is 'Get The Camera' (O. David Niswonger, R. 2008) It's short! Ah! It's funny because I like the photos more than I do the Iris itself. I'm not a big fan of the speckled inside, but I love the white standards and purple falls and tangerine beards with the veins. It says it is a TB, but it is very short. It requires squatting to get the camera! I am going to move it in the Autumn to see if it does better somewhere else. (Note: Mr. Niswonger is a world famous Iris cultivator that lived on my street and I was blessed to enjoy his garden for many years)

I broke my middle finger over three weeks ago now and it is still healing. It is amazing how many things you do with your right middle finger that you do not know you do with it until you try to use it injured. That, of course, has nothing to do with this pretty photo of a peony in my garden.

CAMPING AND OVERLANDING IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

I have been delayed in posting because we went on a 4-day camping trip to Northwest Arkansas with the Midwest Lone Peak Owners group. We had a great time and the other folks were great to hang out with. We started with two campers and have doubled to four!

I spent last week putting together the videos of our trip, but I have not gotten the website pages done yet.

So here is a list of the videos.

Watch Haw Creek Falls on YouTube

We camped here two nights and the falls were right near our trucks and beautiful. I could hear the waterfall all night long.

Watch Pack Rat Falls on YouTube

This was a bit of a hike for me, and I had help putting the dogs up and down the rocks, but I made it!

Watch Car Wash Falls on YouTube

This is a common fun spot for overlanders. We had do do a water crossing to get here. Car Wash Falls is just like riding through a car wash!

Watch Union School House on YouTube

We had more water crossing to get to the Union School House where we stopped for lunch.

Watch Bub's Historical Cabin on YouTube

Bub is 91 years old and he REALLY made this cabin a special place to visit. Apparently he is here every day to greet visitors.

Watch Overland Arkansas on YouTube

We went on some more overlanding seriousness, some of which was a bit beyond my desires and a bit too extreme for me, but I made it out okay. It is fun, but the thought of messing up my daily driver is not a good thought.

Watch 2 Waterfalls on YouTube

The next day we visited these two beautiful waterfalls together.

Watch Davidsonville Historic on YouTube

Since it was a long drive, we broke it up by staying at this State Park in Arkansas overnight and walked around and enjoyed what it had to offer.

On April 28 I found this very funny! I’m not sure anyone else found it funny, but I was laughing all morning. After I put out our recycling can, three more people did so before I left for work. Apparently the entire street watches to see when we put out our can before they put out theres. There was one more out when I came home for lunch.

Thanks again for reading,

Until next time,

Cheryl

We are two friends who have been writing about Joy and Stoopidy who are now inviting YOU to join in writing.

Kristin lives in the State of Washington and I live in the State of Missouri. The hearts on our graphic even show where we live within the state! How cute is that!

Head over to Joy in Spite of Stoopidity where you can link up your sharing, or write directly in the comments. If you write in advance, you can copy and paste right into the comments after the post comes out.

Joy in Spite of Stoopidity

(Luke 15:7 ESV) Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

(Luke 15:10 ESV) Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Our two verses for today where on two different stories in my chronological through the Gospels project, so I actually did three new digital Bible journaling pages for this combined challenge because there were three stories on my designated page for these verses.

Whew, that was a lot of work for these two verses! I do hope you enjoy them.

To read all of my study notes and more about JOY, see the website page. On the website page is a link to the similar story in Matthew. I have not done that story yet, but I did put some study notes on the Matthew page regarding the difference between the two parables of the lost sheep and why they are two and not the same.

CLICK TO READ CHERYL'S

I truly appreciate everyone who supports us, whether reading only or in participating. Your encouragement means a lot to me for us to keep going with this project.

Cheryl

NEW ABOUT-A-FLOWER VIDEO: PANSY

Here is the YouTube link to a new video all about Pansies!

I started these videos a few years ago and I still have some collected photos for flowers I have never gotten to, including this one! You can see the photos on the website page.

Pansy Website Page

NEW GARDEN SNIPPET VIDEO

I put together a video of my garden that ranges from a very rainy day on April 4 through April 15. The garden is looking SO good! And we have worked on it since this date and it is looking even better. I love a clean crisp garden and it is getting there.

Watch Garden Snippets

Thank you to those who watch and click like and comment on my YouTube videos as I do make a little money there and I make more money when there is more activity on YouTube. Just remember my website has no ads and is completely paid for by me.

NEW COLONIAL RUTLEDGE WEBSITE PAGES

April 8, 2026

I started on yet another genealogy thing (I can never get anything done bouncing around!). It has to do with the “Mr. Rutledge” book I'm reading.

Since it is 250 years for our country this year I'd really like to break down this brick wall of being related to the forefathers.

So I've been wanting to start genealogy pages for the forefathers. I have DNA clues and trees to build going up that I don't have time to work on, but I also want to build from the top and come down.

Eventually the two should meet!

So this convoluted top layer has a good start.

It is interesting how Daughter Sarah inherits all the money and brothers John and Andrew marry the mother and the daughter to get all their money and it's what sets up John's sons to write and sign the Constitution, and sign the Declaration of Independence.

It's like they were nobodies who married intentionally to get into society.

Start with Edward & Elizabeth Rutledge

Start with Edward Thomas Rutledge and Elizabeth Graem. They did not come to America, but their sons John and Andrew did. Their story with the Boones and Hexts and a mother and daughter is quite interesting. They worked their way up in society via marriage.

Next Dr. John Rutledge & Sarah Hext

Continue on reading about Dr. John and Sarah Hext. He is the father or “the writers.” Everything is SO confusing that I have a “note” on the page giving the significant individuals ID’s. This one is “Dr. John” and I plan to continue to refer to him as such.

Next (Constitution|Atty) John Rutledge

Then there is a new page for the “John” I have ID’d as "Constitution/Atty John” who is the one who I (and my family) have Y-DNA to. I am working on adding the path of the known decendeant of Constitution/Atty John on the some pages so everyone can see that as well.

Look for this marker which indicates a possible Y-DNA path. As I researched, I found many male names fizzled out, making that male name a path we do not need to follow to see if we are connected. Doing this project has been extremely helpful!

Each Y-DNA possible path is getting his own website page as I have time to make them. There are many new pages, so click around and follow the paths.

Next (Declaration) Edward

The last page I will share here is to Edward who was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence. He also has possible Y-DNA paths marked, but I still need to continue making website pages going down for those men.

NEW 1790 CENSUS WEBSITE PAGE

April 9, 2026

In the past 24 hours, I have started yet another new website page. Since my brick wall was born 1790 in North Carolina, I have always thought I should study that census. There cannot be *that* many Rutledges in that year, right? Well, I counted 42! This is just a beginning and I have identified a few of them. There are a lot of Williams! It would be good to get to know each of these families to help put together genealogy puzzle pieces. IF YOU CAN HELP place your family on this page, please do! I need help. No one ever wants to help me. Sigh.

The biggest take so far from this page is that there are states missing and, the famous folks are there and only a few of the majority, so all these other folks had to have come from somewhere other than them. The famous lines haven't moved out of Charleston yet.

There are some cool graphics made by AI just for me showing exactly where the counties in the census are located.

I have started looking at the reconstructed censuses for the other states that lost the first census of America in a fire after the War of 1812 and will be adding that date to the page.

For your information, I have been playing with AI to help me with the census and in some cases it was very helpful and in other cases it gave me totally wrong information! Be careful out there!

Rutledges in 1790 Census

Just a reminder that tomorrow is our first writing challenge where we have invited others to join and we need you! My post will be coming out tomorrow.

Joy in Spite of Stoopidity

FACEBOOK PAGE

So much gorgeousness in the garden. Makes me happy. Show me you’re happy in the comments please!

I have been putting very short video snippets of the garden on Facebook and no where else! Just so it feels special for you. I hate cross-posting content.

Kristin has had access to the Facebook page for My Corner Online since last Autumn and both of us are trying hard to make it more active. We could use you there too. If you click like on posts it will show up in your stream more often. Of course, we’d love to chat with you too in the comments.

My Corner Online Facebook

One of my peonies is in bloom. I’ve taken some photos and am trying to get back at that as well, but I have not had time to share them yet, so here is just one for you first! It brings me joy.

Until next time, always appreciating those who enjoy the things I share,

Cheryl

Average First Bloom Dates

First, Blessed Easter to you!

I shared in my last post that I had an idea to use AI to determine the average first dates of my blooms since I have been attempting to journal the first dates for some years now. The further the season goes on, the more I fail though!

The key after I find the average date is to compare it to this year’s date to see if the garden is running early or late.

Here is the list.

• Crocus (corm) 1 | Average February 18 | This year late - February 26

• Narcissus | Daffodils, Jonquil (bulb) 2 | Average March 4 | This year March 4!

• Muscari armeniacum | Grape Hyacinth (bulb) 52 | March 17 | This year early March 6

• xx

• Hyacinthus orientalis | Hyacinth (bulb) 3 | Average March 14 | This year early March 8

• Spiraea prunifolia | Bridal Wreath (bush) 4 | Average March 16 | This year early March 8

• Iris Reticulata | Last year March 21 | This year early March 8

• Puschkinia scilloides | Striped Squill (blub) 62 | Average March 12 | This year March 13

• Tulipa gesneriana | Tulip (bulb) 8 | Average March 26 | This year early March 21

• Phlox divaricata laphamii | Wild Sweet William, Woodland Phlox, Wild Blue Phlox (perennial) 12 | Average April 1 | This year early March 22

• Phlox Subulata | Moss Phlox (perennial) 13 | Average March 26 | This year early March 22

• Mertensia virginica | Virginia Bluebells (perennial) 86 | This year March 22

• Prunus x subhirtella 'Pendula Plena Rosea' | Double Weeping Higan Cherry (tree) 55 | Average April 1 | This year early March 22

• Achillea millefolium | Yarrow (perennial) 96 | Last April 15 | This year early April 1

• Tradescantia | Spiderwort, Trinity Flower (perennial) 51 (Ernestiana) | Average April 17 | This year early April 3

• Convallaria majalis | Lily of the Valley, May lily, May bells, Our Lady's Tears, Mary's tears (perennial) 16 | Average April 11 | This year early April 3

On the website page there is a list of the dates per year if you want to see them. The videos embedded are not working. Why did YouTube have to mess with that? I am not fixing the hundreds now, but the links to see them still work.

I just KNEW that this year was running early in the garden. It feels more like three weeks early to me, but I am not sure the numbers show it that early. AI could probably tell me that too!

I could not resist! It came up with it so quickly!

It even gave me a chart within a few seconds! How cool is that!

And it gave me notes too!

So many people are scared to use AI, but I think it is like anything we have done with progress in technology in the past. It is here to stay and what we were once afraid to use, we will wonder how we ever did without it some day.

Joy in Spite of Stoopidty

Here is my challenge for April 1, 2026, Challenge #23.

(Luke 10:17 ESV) The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”

Since this is part of my long-going project to read, study, and create digital Bible journaling pages for the Gospel chronologically, I did this one to count towards both of my projects, the Gospels and Joy in Spite of Stoopidy.

For our JOY verse, I did focus on that part for the graphic and made the chart for the digital Bible journaling page, shown above. To read the whole study on this section of scripture, visit my website page on “Jesus Sends out the 72”. There are too many notes to copy them all here.

Read study notes

If you want to see what I have done for the Gospels project, I have finished from #1 to #105, and a few others thereafter randomly. Every scripture has been assigned a website page chronologically and there are 209, so I am over half-way done! Now I have done #122!

1. The cost of everything! Especially flowers.

2. Miss Tizzy had two ticks on her! We have never had them at home before so I am baffled and feeling icky like I might find one on me.

3. The cost of Brevacto for two dogs!

1. I get so excited to see the delivery people using our new walkway. lol It’s about the simple things. No more people walking through the flower bed killing my flowers.

2. Technology that creates little pills that kill ticks and fleas so I do not have to worry anymore.

3. The new flower bed and all of the flowers everywhere in my garden!

4. Setting up the new garden and making it new and different brings me joy.

   ---

We are making some changes on Joy in Spite of Stoopidty.

It has been to stressful for me to keep up with and I cannot seem to get anything else done!

I keep telling myself, “If something is not working, fix it!”

So, we are making this into a challenge that you can participte in with us. You will be receiving the Scripture in advance and you can merely read it ahead and then read what we write, or you can read ahead, write something, and post a link in the comments to where your writing is. Or you can just write right in the comments on the Joy in Spite of Stoopidty.

Also, it will be two verses a month, so it frees up some of my time to get back to other to-do’s.

Click here to read more about the changes and how you can participate.

We were both immediately relieved! I just could not keep up the weekly pace any more. Sometimes when it clashed with my chronological study, I was doing three in one week and finishing up just in time to start the next! I felt stuck always on the same project and spinning wheels.

We have also announced April and May’s Bible verses. (The post)

Save the Bees

I am always reprimanded as being bad for cleaning up my yard too soon because it means I’m killing the bees.

It’s a new trend. I’m not sure when it started. Maybe within the last ten years. This is a good writing as it points out some require dead stuff from plants to be left two years, and each bug emerges at a different time so there’s no catch all answer for how long to leave rotting dead stuff in your yard. Leaving it too long can also be detrimental to the plants so there’s has to be balance.

Credit this to Sedonia. I did not write it.

GARDEN CLEANUP Hi, all: I’m a pollination ecologist at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and I study plant-insect interactions, especially those involving native bees. I wrote a little blurb containing my thoughts on springtime garden cleanup in urban/suburban home landscapes. I wrote it especially for those choosing to use native plants to support pollinators, birds, and other biodiversity, although my focus here is bees.

There are many memes about leaving leaves and stems, and when to clean up gardens. A common one says to let your garden sleep in until temperatures reach 50F. Unfortunately, there is no one easy, meme-able answer regarding yard cleanup. All the memes mentioning 50F, 55F, and ensuing discussions of whether this should be air temperature or soil temperature and how many consecutive days of these temperatures, etc. don’t really have any basis in reality. Those numbers are arbitrary and can be misleading.

If you left flower heads for birds, those are likely picked clean of seeds by late winter/early spring, so they can be snipped to a height of 12” or so. If you want. Or not. Cutting or breaking them helps them get used this year by stem-nesting bees. In nature, nesting sites are often limiting; it doesn’t hurt to bolster them a little in a small yard by cutting or breaking stems.

The insects that can be fostered by leaving leaves and stems all have their own phenology (seasonal timing of lifecycle), so there is no one date they come out by, and there is no simple answer about how much cleanup to do.

Stem-nesting bees like leafcutter bees, small carpenter bees, and yellow-faced bees not only emerge at different times, but stems have to be left standing for two years to rear any bees. For the most part, these bees don’t begin to nest in living stems. The stems that grew last year do not have any bee larvae in them yet; they are potential nests for stem-nesting bees to use in the coming season, after which they must be left another winter and spring. If you just leave stems through one winter and then remove them all the following spring, you haven’t helped any stem-nesting bees.

Hibernating bumble bee queens are emerging now (March) in my region (lower Midwest), but I wouldn’t bet on all of them being out. Even among different species of bumble bees there are phenological differences.

Ground-nesting bees, including miner bees and digger bees, are generally quite tolerant of surface disturbance, including foot traffic and even vehicular traffic. In fact, many preferentially select the hard-packed surface of dirt roads. You don’t need to worry much about disturbing the nests of these bees just by walking in the area.

Specialist bees have to be synchronized with their host plants. That means specialists on the early spring ephemerals may be emerging now, but bees that are specialists on goldenrod, asters, hibiscus, Ipomoea, sunflowers, etc. don’t emerge for months.

Leaf litter around trees and in mulched beds supports a large diversity of insects, especially lepidopterans. They include lots of small moth species whose caterpillars are food for songbirds. Luna moth pupae look like rolled up leaves and emergence time is dependent on climate. In some areas they have multiple generations per year. Again, there is no one date or temperature. Leaving a bed of leaf mulch around oaks and other keystone woody plants is especially important for supporting native birds. All their babies are insectivorous, regardless of what the adults eat, and oaks support a huge guild of specialist moths that are small and inconspicuous.

On the other hand, a completely hands off approach (in the absence of fire and grazers) will eventually make certain species flowering start to wane. I try to strike a balance between habitat and aesthetics in my own small-ish small town yard. I thin out the dead stems selectively every few years, and not all the same year. For example, I have had a huge patch of wild bergamot for about 5 years that I’ve left untouched, but for the last couple of years, the dead stems have become too thick and flowers have been waning. I’m going to remove a much larger amount of residue from it this year.

I don’t and will never live within an HOA (for reasons that go beyond native gardening), so at least I don’t have that to contend with, but I do have a corner lot with strict setback codes for traffic visibility, so I have to trim and Chelsea chop stuff in those areas. I try to keep my turfgrass-free front yard more designed looking, and neater, but “neat” is relative. I leave other areas of my yard more wild looking. Most of my leaves blow away, but what doesn’t gets left in beds. I move it around here and there to make sure it isn’t smothering things out. But I know people with more mature trees and less wind exposure have a large quantity of leaves to deal with. If you can’t or don’t want to leave all of them, at least leave some of them. Same thing with stems. Leaving some is better than leaving none, but remember the two year cycle needed by the bees that nest in them.

It’s also okay to use some leaves to make compost for a vegetable garden. Growing your own food is always okay. There should be no animosity towards gardeners who use some of their space to grow food to feed their household or who make their own organic compost on site for their fruit and vegetable gardens.

There are still things you can do in your garden in early spring besides removing old plant material: work on hardscaping projects, clean your walkways and driveways off as needed, prep any pots and planters that you use for annuals or porch ferns, check the grading and guttering around your home to make sure water is directed away from your home, make a rain garden, plant a native tree/shrub, remove non-native trees/shrubs so you can plant a native, make a new bed to fill with more natives, start planting winter-sown plants. Some woody plants are best pruned before they leaf out (oaks for example) for disease avoidance.

Photo of my side yard this winter for attention.

Missing my Dad

Dad has been gone 21 years already (March 16, 2005). It's hard to believe. I pulled a random photo to share which happens to be my college graduation. I am blessed with so many photos, there is no way to choose what to share.

Irish DNA

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I am 24% Irish from both sides. My Mom’s Grandpa came from Ballybracken, Ballynure Ireland (just north of Belfast). I’ve always heard Rutledge is Scot-Irish, but it would seem they are more England and Munster Ireland (and other Southern Ireland in smaller amounts). Scottish is not showing up in the paternal DNA. From events in history, Northern and Southern Irish tend to have different cultures. I can see these holding true in my parents. I’ve always felt I was a good mix of the two being able to go either way. DNA says my gut was right.

April Fool’s Day

Just having a little fun! I am never good at this fooling thing, but Keith fell for it hook, line, and sinker this time! Whoo hoo yeah me!

Until next time, remember I appreciate you subscribing and reading,

Cheryl

Time sure does fly when you are busy. It is hard for me to believe it has been two weeks since I sent out a post. I have no lovely photos to share with you from my big camera, but here is a cell phone photo. I know. I know. You’re not supposed to plant annuals yet! But they were so pretty! How can anyone resist? Have you planted any?

I am beginning to do Garden Snippet videos again. I hope to keep them up better than in some years and to share more. I tend to think I talk to much, so I do not share. March 25’s is on YouTube here. As you can see, one of my big new things this year is using grow bags. I am excited about them. It was costly to get them started with buying the bags, but mostly with buying the soil for the bags! But from hereon I can just amend the soil and it should not cost as much to grow food.

This is yesterday’s Garden Snippet video. You can see our other big project this year is the brand new bed that I get to play in! I describe my goals in this video of having everything planted multiple times and spread out in the garden. I am having so much fun! It is a great time of year for me, although a bit overwhelming. The season sure did get started early. Here is the video on YouTube.

We did do one overnight camping trip since I last posted two weeks ago. The video is here on YouTube. It is not too long as we went to Hawn State Park and I have other videos and a website page for this place. I just wanted to away from the house so I would not be near all of my to-do’s. I cannot stop doing things while at home.

I did get started on reading the Mr. Rutledge book I bought last summer. I highlighted it this time. I have plans to use it to start some new website pages for genealogy. If I can find time to get around to doing it. I have a good start on the book now, so let’s hope I can find time to continue. Patio time on the futon with it sounds perfect. That’s my hope.

It was almost 90 degrees when we went camping and hiking. There were no leaves on the trees yet, so it was extremely hot, even moreso than in the middle of summer it seemed. Hubby and the dogs did not fair well and we had to turn around and come back before reaching the end of the hike. I had to take Ria (dog) and put her in the cool waters of the creek to cool her off. I was afraid she was overheating. This sure is a strange weather year so far.

Hubby also broke a toe at work and he was hiking with it, so he gets 100 points for effort.

We did take a nice ride to explore the land of my very early ancestor here in Cape Girardeau which is just above where the River House sits across from Thebes. We then ate at the River House and sat by the Mississippi River. The video is on YouTube and the associated William Ross website page that I am working on is here. We stopped and talked to some locals and I really began to get a better feel for the land. I had read about the town of Graysboro being in the location as well, but did not fully understand until I realized just how many years later it was formed than when my ancestor was here.

I find my inquiring mind attitude is what helps me adapt to AI. I was curious about the average first bloom date of my flowers, so wondered if AI could do that for me. Sure enough, here is the average first bloom date for Crocus this year! I want do do this for all of my flower journaling pages. I really think everything is ahead this year by about 3 weeks and my journal should reveal whether or not this is so. I wondered how to do an average for dates. I see it gave each date the number for the year (i.e. Jan 3 is "3") to calculate the average. That would have been a lot of work! I also note this year's date is much later than the average date.

I had to create a temporary OneNote table to keep the dates safe until I can move them to the website garden journal. I plan to do this for every plant, letting AI tell me the average.

I am still convinced this year is running about three weeks ahead and I want to prove it! I will share when I get the results done.

There have been two new posts on Joy in Spite of Stoopidty. This is a snippet of the Nehemiah 8:10 study. Listen to me read it all, and read Kristin’s too, here, or listen to it on the website here.

I got A LOT crazy with this one on Nehemiah 12:43 where the two groups march on top of a wall in opposite directions. My mind really went on a trip! Every time I read it, I laugh. I hope you find it just as delightful. Read mine and Kristin’s here, or listen and read mine on the website.

This one just came out today. Read mine and Kristin’s here. Be sure to see Kristin’s Holy Week painting she made! It took her three house (psst) to create it and it is just fabulous. I have no skill to paint like that. I am always impressed. There are some bonus Easter things from my website at the bottom. Or read my study notes on the website here.

Our grass has been mowed twice already, and the zoysia is not even greened up yet!

I am doing a recap right now of Joy in Spite of Stoopid writings on Facebook and hope to start posting more of my daily life there, like the bluebells and bees I shared last night in a quick video. I need to either use that page or be done with it. Can I make it alive again? Not without your help.

Miss Tizzy had two ticks on her this week and we have never had ticks in our yard! I had to get Brevacto early this year, which means they will need a second dose in three months. Sigh. I usually get away with just camping season in June, July and August, but not so this year. The neighbor dog had some ticks too. Did the squirrels bring them in?

I am a little worried about the war going on right now. I do not want our son to sign up for the military again. Also, with gas prices going up, will we be able to afford to camp? The majority of our cost is gas.

Until next time, keep your grounded,

Cheryl

I picked some Sailor Daffodils and Grape Hyacinth from the yard to put by my kitchen sink. The falls on the Daffodils are pushed back like they are sailing in the wind.

These two flowers make such great companion plants. It greets me each time giving off a big wide smile of gladness. (March 15, 2026)

Here comes the rain! I just know what it will do to my beautiful flowers. I will wake in the morning to their bright cheery petals bending down.

So I gathered a few before the storm and brought a little sunshine inside.

The Iris Society had a great meeting last Friday teaching how to make flower displays, and the teacher provided a bunch of supplies for free.

She was so generous! The Iris in mine are gone, so I replenished it with three Daffodils. Then I enjoyed a little camera shoot as the wind was whipping around the fabric on the patio. (March 10, 2026)

And one morning, just like that, there it is! It's a tiny green hello. I almost missed it. I just had to grab my camera to document the moment. (March 10)

This is just a part of the Little Diddy I wrote for the March 4 Joy in Spite of Stoopidty. You can read and listen to the whole thing here or here on the website.

Here is just a snippet of the writing for the March 11 Joy in Spite of Stoopidty which you can listen to me read and follow along on the graphic here or here on the website.

I share these here because they take me so much time to write, create art, read, and publish that it keeps me from doing other things I would normally share here, so I want you to know where my time has gone. I also hope you will read and subscribe over there too. Wink. Wink. Feel free to share the website pages with others. I’d love that.

I have been working extremely hard on this genealogy project for my ancestor William Ross. This is going to take me a long while to finish up everything I have to go through. Just to put out the information on these three surveys, I had to go down so many rabbit holes of information just to learn. After educating myself, I was able to divide some of the details into other projects and focus on just this one at hand.

William and Eliza Ross Website

You can find all of the information on the website and the downloads that you click within. Much of the information is on the downloads.

The first two Surveys are together in one document with a lot of details. I had to pay someone who lives in France to help me transcribe the survey. That only took a while to accomplish. Then I went through the survey an analyzed all of the details. I learned so much!
You can find this link on the website, but here it is for your convenience: Read the complete document, transcription, notes on people and processes for the Spanish Land Grant to William Ross.
If you have any early 1700 ancestors anywhere in Missouri, which was the Louisiana Territory at the time, maybe my research will help you understand to research your own.

Anyone living in Southeast Missouri probably knows the name Louis Lorimier, and William’s survey mentions him, as well as Antonio Soulard and Zenon Trudeau which are prominent well-known names for our ancestors here in Missouri. I think it is really cool that all these are mentioned in William’s survey.

Then if you scroll on down the chronolical page you will find the 1818 survey.

For your convenience, here is the link the full document I wrote which includes many graphics. In February 1818, William Ross's land is included in a survey in Cape Girardeau District, and Twyappity Township (click to view).

We took a country drive just yesterday to film the area of this land. That was fun! We stopped to talk to locals and then I had to come back today to tweak my writing. I am glad that I did that before sharing. WHEN I GET THE video done, I will share this as well. It is currently still on my phone.

I am just a wee bit proud of how deeply rooted a Missourian I am in so many lines. My ancestors came here and stayed, and not only came here, but came here very early on as the first settlers.

I have a lot of work to do with this line, so I will share when I get the next part done and the website updated. I sure hope others find this interesting as I know the readers are from all over the world.

My husband who gets a little case of the “I want one too’s” got me side-tracked working on his Kent genealogy. I cannot find Thadeus Kent or Sara Kent’s death dates and, because of that, I do not have any death certificate or obituary or gravesite that might give me information as to who their parents are.

Interesting enough, DNA has confirmed who Thadeus’s grandfather is, being Elisha and Louise Kent, but I cannot figure out which of their children is Thadeus’s father. I have been testing various settings and all of the children of Elisha and Louise show that they are related and that one of them fits, but I just cannot figure out which one it is! I can find no documentation to fit together the puzzle pieces. It is frustrating. Right now I continue to move Thaddeus around and then let the DNA scripts run to see what they do.

I thought I had it figure out last week, but then the DNA came back as half siblings, only for me to real that person with the same name was a brother of Elisha, not a son! I am back to the drawing board putting together this tree and learning about the family. That is always the best way to figure out these puzzle pieces. That is, to learn about the family and where they lived and other little details.

Oh, and I just put up a garden snippet video for you. This is the first one of the season. Whoo hoo!

Until next time,

Cheryl

March has dropped already! I made this video of my Shamrock plant. I have been trying to get this done for a few years, and yet it was so easy. I amaze myself at how long it takes me to get things done. I had planned this video back when I was creating so many of individual plants in the garden, and then it got stuck in the too-many-hobbies-and-projects realm of my world. Here is the YouTube link. Also, here is the website link with a few photos.

I had to laugh when I found in my planning folders 2006 photos of the Shamrock “weed” in my lawn. I have not seen one of those in a long time, so I must have finally irradicated at least one kind of week in my lawn. Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the website page.

Don’t forget the two indexes for all the types of plants and flowers that I have made videos for that is on the website, one with the name and one by plant family name. You can easily find it all right there!

Let me know if you have a Shamrock plant! I love comments on Substack, or actually anyway you want to communicate with me. If you are reading by email, feel free to hit reply. People do that and I enjoy it greatly. Of course, there I am on other social media platforms too, so take your pick. Show me your Shamrock!

Leave a comment

I note that I have now made 200 writings on Substack! Wow! I feel like I should celebrate. Okay. There. I paused for a moment. No hype. Unceremoniously. Understatedly. Low-key. Just a moment. That’s enough of that.

February 25. My First Spring Robin has me acting like I just spotted a celebrity—“Oh my goodness, it’s YOU! You made it! Spring is officially clocking in!” Yep! That's me today! (P.S. Today on March 3, they are STILL hanging around and not going anywhere! Whoo hooo!)

February 28. My first flowers, the Crocus, bloomed February 26. I need to plant some more in the Autumn as it seems I have been loosing them with all the garden construction over the years. I am going to make a "plant in the Autumn" list right now, before I do anything else, because when that time of year comes, I can never remember my needs! I'm sending a note to my future self! Maybe I should have a pop-up reminder on my phone.

Isn't my Crocus beautiful? Bring on the flower season! I looked up my flower journal and this date is the same exact as last year, and it was a late season. My gut has told me this is an early season this year. Let's see how the next flower compares.

February 28. I know. I'm odd. I do strange things like take my camera out into the weeds to photograph my moments. As anyone else been weeding like crazy the whole month of February? I normally do not weed like this until the end of March or April! I have made such good progress every day that was above 50 degrees during my lunch hour that I may have the official "Patio Party Opening Date" earlier than ever this year. Time will tell. I think the groundhog was wrong. Spring is nearer than the 6 weeks after Feb 2.

My "Back 40" garden bed (such as we named it) is a carpet of weeds! Somewhere under the unwanton masses are the starts of all sorts of flowers. I have my trusty tools, being my bucket that when full is all the weight I can carry, my sit-upon, my garden gloves, and my cobra claw. That and a pair of scissors is almost all I ever use in the garden.

The birds love to see me bring my tools to the garden! Oh, the ruckus they make in the trees telling all their friends that dinner is almost ready. I always imagine me leaving and them swooping down to the freshly disturbed dirt on a peck-a-worm-out hunt.

It's a sweet feeling when you take a carpet of weeds out and are left with a striking bit of clean-green appearing to be organized, but really living in their own chaotic rhythms.

I have finally done enough of the Back 40 garden bed that it feels a relief. This task CAN be done! And soon! The front beds have no weeds, and I have done many of the back yard beds, but there are two others that need tackling after this one. Yes, gardening is hard work, but the joy in the rewards is worth it.

February 28, 2026. Oh, the weeds! In February! I have a lot of this weed, so I looked it up and it is called Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) and apparently it is edible! I am trying to pull it as fast as I can before the flower pop seeds everywhere in an aggressive effort to perservere.

It is always best to pull weeds before they flower, but when they do it in the middle of Winter and often too cold for the normal human, they tend to win!

Then the other weed, believe it or not, that I pull the most is simply GRASS! Why does grass grow in the flower beds but not the lawn? I'm hopeful now that the neighbor is gone who never mowed her grass will improve my lack of grass weeds. Who knows how far those seeds of overgrown grass can travel on the wind.

February 22, 2026 When you’re already cozied up with a perfect cup of tea, with steam curling and life feeling just right, and your neighbor appears like a sweetness-delivering hero, holding two hot, fresh-from-the-oven cherry tarts, that’s it. Game over. The day is officially a winner!

We’re talking a soft, flaky, homemade crust, oh so thin and delicate, but sturdy enough to carry its glorious load of cheese and sweet cherries.

Nothing could go wrong with the day, even if I tried.

Everyone should have neighbors who surprise them like this!

February 22, 2026 I love my new self-written signage reminder! It greets me every time I walk between the kitchen and hallway, making me smile.

It basically sums me up: my introvert says, “I need silence, tea, and zero humans for at least a few hours a day,” while my extrovert other says, “let’s talk constantly even if no one but the dogs are listening, and also even if the dogs are not listening, starting now.”

I’ve had it displayed for a few weeks now, so naturally I’d like to report a great success, but unfortunately both personalities are still arguing in the house. Loudly.

February 21. I call many of those I had in my home childcare collectively “my 4th sons” because I hold them dear to my heart. I’m so delighted to hear Sargent Jordan Smith in this video speak about his work with Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC). Video is here.

I put up an 1804 marriage bond (scroll down as it is all chronological) on the Ross genealogy page I am working on, but I am stuck working on the next documents as they are more time consuming. I am still waiting for the land grant translation in French and Spanish to be done as well.

On March 1, I was able to finish a large part of the weeding and cleaning up in the garden. I cannot believe how much I have done and it is only March 1!

Is anyone else out there working in the yard? Our front yard project is coming along as well. The plants have been transplanted while they are still dormant, and much of the zosia grass has been transplanted via the switch as well, although there is still a huge are of grass to be dug up and moved somewhere to create the new bed. The walkway blocks have been bought and are setting there.

I finally bought some seeds over the weekend to try new flowers. I also have planned some vegetable plants and went shopping to do them in a new way. I’ll try to share as always.

Until next time, show me your shamrock, watch for your Spring Ribon, save me a tart, and always stop to appreciate the weeds!

Cheryl