Nana’s journals

March 15, 2010 at 4:47 pm, by Betsy Freese

I finished a project over the weekend I’ve been working on for months — I transcribed and edited a stack of 11 journals my grandmother Jane, or Nana, kept for 30 years, from 1973 to 2003. In it she talks of her parents and siblings, her children and grandchildren, her travels, and, most importantly, what it was like being a mother to a son (my uncle David) who suffers from mental illness. She gave me the journals “to do with them what I like.” She told me on several occasions that she thought they might be helpful to other mothers who have gone through the same struggles. Nana is 98 and lives in a nursing home in Florida. Her mind is sharp, but her heart is failing. I will share the book with my family, then decide what to do with it after that. Stay tuned. — Betsy

---

Two hearts are better than one

March 13, 2010 at 10:05 am, by Betsy Freese

I’m spending the weekend with my folks on the home farm in Maryland. Dad was scheduled to have open heart surgery to replace a valve two days ago, but when he arrived at the hospital too many emergency cases had come in overnight. There were no available surgery rooms, so he was sent home. The surgery was rescheduled for Tuesday, and now Thursday of next week. Dad figures it could be weeks before he actually gets in.

 

Meanwhile, he gets shorter of breath and strawberry season gets closer. He was hoping to have the surgery in January and be fully recovered by June. However, he understands the need to do emergencies first.

 

Friends and family have been calling the house this morning, unaware the surgery was postponed and wondering how it went. They expect Mom to answer the phone and are shocked when Dad gives a hearty Hello. He enjoys telling them the doctor had him prepped and then saw that he had two hearts and couldn’t do the surgery. One woman actually believed him.

 

Humor is the best medicine. — Betsy

---

Need peace? Watch sheep

March 11, 2010 at 8:20 am, by Betsy Freese

There is nothing more peaceful than a barn full of content ewes in the evening eating their hay. I made two videos last night to show you. At the beginning of the first video you can see little Knock Knees, our baby lamb with twisted legs. He’s doing okay. The second is just sheep eating. I find these very calming. Thinking good thoughts for my family today. — Betsy

Lambs and ewes.

Peaceful sheep.

---

A horse at the window

March 10, 2010 at 8:09 am, by Betsy Freese

I’m enjoying going through reader mail this week. Here is a note and pictures from Michelle Hennessy in Bradenton, Florida. What lovely kids. Florida would be a great place to live this month!
We love our horses and most of the daily activities revolve around them and taking care of them.  Riding is a wonderful sport and our whole family loves it, but I think the best time is just spent enjoying these beautiful majestic animals. Getting up early every day no matter what the weather is outside just  to be greeted by the hungry nickering of horses is a good way to start any day.  Raven our walker is funny she spends a lot of time and energy knocking down palm trees seems she was a bulldozer in another life.  Dixie is a big beautiful paint who is good at making grouchy faces but really is just a big baby.  We have added two mini horses this year to the group and they are funny little girls.  Bella is sweet but she loves to roll in mud and is a light Palomino who is always covered in dirt.  Fudgie is just adorable with a blue eye but she likes to sneak up and give you a nip and toss her head and run.  Our farrier says they have a Napolean complex, which could be true.  Horse people are always interesting and usually very devoted to these big pets.  We spend tons of money feeding them, hours cleaning stalls and can never go on a vacation away from the farm,  but looking out my window at them is priceless, and we are never have a dull moment around here.

Michelle Hennessy
Bradenton, Florida

---

MUD

March 9, 2010 at 8:29 am, by Betsy Freese

I woke up to the news another Toyota Prius sped out of control on a highway and had to be stopped by force when the brakes wouldn’t work. Then I got in my Prius and headed up the highway to work. But I have a plan: Take the ditch, head out into the corn field and the MUD will stop me.
It’s been a week of 40 degrees and our snow pile by the barn is still 8 feet tall.
Here are two views from our lane, one south to the barn and one north to our new neighbors. — Betsy

---

Too productive to cull

March 8, 2010 at 10:31 am, by Betsy Freese

Bob and Caroline spent the afternoon yesterday sorting the older ewes from the ewe lambs in preparation for lambing season. We need to get our herd sheared, and it looks like rain all this week. Mud and floods for Iowa. Three ewe lambs have now given birth early, each with single lambs. That rogue market ram last year was busy. Our herd has grown too large for what we can easily handle at times now that both boys are away at college, but Bob finds it hard to cull ewes. He sends them to town if they aren’t good mothers, but most of ours are excellent mothers and calm, intelligent ewes. It’s a good problem to have. Bob took this photo of a ewe finishing her evening meal of hay. Have a good week! — Betsy

---

My movie list

March 7, 2010 at 10:55 am, by Betsy Freese

The Oscars are tonight, and I’m a movie buff, so time for my annual list of memorable movies. Even though the Academy expanded the list of best pictures to 10 this year, two of my favorites, Fantastic Mr. Fox and Crazy Heart, are not among the best picture nominees. Here is my list in alphabetical order, including films I haven’t seen, but think I will like, and a few I saw, but didn’t like.
Avatar — When I finished watching, I wanted to visit that planet. Battle scenes went on too long. Cool film, but District 9 is a better alien flick.

The Blind Side — haven’t seen it because I don’t like football or sentimental films, but I will rent it.

Bright Star — loved the book, saw the film, loved the sets, scenery, and costumes, but not the performances. Badly cast, in my opinion.

Coco Before Chanel — it’s coming on Netflix.

Crazy Heart — funny, touching, wonderful performances.

District 9 — a sophisticated alien movie that is creepy, gross, entertaining, and a better alien movie than Avatar.

An Education — haven’t seen it, but think I will like it.

Fantastic Mr. Fox — quirky, funny, weird. Foxes, farmers, and clever writing. My favorite of the year.

The Hangover – trashy, low-brow, fuuuunnny. Loved the guy who plays Andy in the Office.

The Hurt Locker — I watched it twice, once with director/writer commentary. My kind of war movie, and I’m not a fan of war movies.

Inglourious Basterds — weird, but I expected that. Loved the first extended scene in the farmhouse. Would recommend it on that scene alone. Best performance of the year goes to that Nazi commander.

Julie & Julia — saw it, was underwhelmed.

The Last Station — loved Helen Mirren, but rest of the movie put my husband to sleep.

Nine — wanted to see it, but bad reviews drove me away. Hate to see my favorite actor Daniel Day-Lewis in a bad film.

Precious – want to see it.

A Serious Man — depressing. I think you have to be Jewish to get the jokes.

Sherlock Holmes — sugar high entertainment, but doesn’t stick.

A Single Man — want to see. Colin Firth is fabulous.

Star Trek — cute guys.

Up — clever, sad, and I found it to be depressing in a way.

Up in the Air – not sure I can bear to watch a movie about corporate downsizing right now.

The Young Victoria — stylish, well-acted, beautiful costumes. I want to see it again with my Mom and a spot of tea.

---

Our herd of deer

March 5, 2010 at 8:10 am, by Betsy Freese

In addition to sheep and goats, we have a sizable herd of white-tailed deer on our small farm. They live in our woods and graze our alfalfa field at dusk, pawing through the snow for something to eat. Fences aren’t high enough to contain them, so they roam to neighboring corn fields, often getting hit by traffic as they move. Earlier this week, Bob slowed down when he saw them crossing the road, but the car behind was in a hurry and sped around him, and then plowed right into a doe. If someone hits the brakes on an open country road, it’s a good indication you might want to slow down, too. Have a great weekend, everyone! — Betsy

---

In like a lamb

March 4, 2010 at 8:26 am, by Betsy Freese

Our sheep herd isn’t scheduled to start lambing until April, but there is always one ewe that jumps the fence. In this case, Bob says there was a market lamb last year that didn’t get castrated and had some fun before he went to town. Here is one of our ewe lambs with her first baby. It’s knock-kneed and dorky, but might do okay. Mom loves him just the same.

---

Tour of duty ends

March 3, 2010 at 8:08 am, by Betsy Freese

My nephew Chris has finished his time in Iraq and is headed home. He will be in Georgia at Ft. Benning for a few days. He writes, “Hopefully within about 10 days I should be back in Iowa! DONE!  Can’t wait to see everybody. I’m out of Iraq, so good news there!”

Thanks for your service, Chris. Here is the final picture of his unit. Chris is third from the left at top. — Betsy

---