This and That by Cathie Shaffer
This week’s weather forecast makes me think I can finally put the winter clothes away. I’ve thought that since the end of April, but whenever I decided the day had come, it turned cool again. Or frosted again. Or did both.
I’ve had the bedroom windows open for two solid weeks now with ceiling fan above the bed rotating as well. That makes me think I won’t need the hoodies and sweaters and flannel sheets until fall.
Oh, I know. I could still be surprised. This spring has been a weird one. And it is still spring officially despite heat in the 80s. We’ve got some time until summer rolls around according to the calendar. And while much has changed since I was a kid anticipating the freedom of long summer days, there are many things that haven’t.
Like popsicles. Those were a strictly summer thing, although I suppose my mother could have bought the anytime. Since those were a two-stick treat, she broke them in half. I got a half, both my sisters got halves and she had the last half. I noticed that the one got always seemed to be red. I was smart enough, though, not to point that that she got her favorite and we got the luck of the draw.
We had outdoor chores like mowing and pulling weeds, of course. If we did them well, every so often my father would reward us with ice cream. We’d jump in the back of his pick-up – back before that was outlawed -– and ride the couple miles to the local ice cream stand. Funny how that twist cone tasted so much better when we worked for it.
Another thing that hasn’t changed is lightning bugs. I haven’t punched holes in the lid of a washed-out mayonaise jar to catch them lately, but I do appreciate seeing those flashes in the front yard.
Don’t care for the mosquitoes, though, They love me, a feeling which I do reciprocate. Their sting isn’t just a little poke. No, it’s a big ole bite that gets red and swells up, and itches me to death. Sympathetic folks have offered me various solutions, like their favorite lotion or covering it with a wet tea bag for a time, but nothing seems to work.
Still, that’s better than poison ivy which is, alas, still with us. I’ve always been highly allergic. As a kid, before the era of steroids, my reactions to the vile weed were momentous. The rash would spread and itch like wildfire and have me begging my folks for something, anything, to help. We ran the gamut from good old calamine lotion to a folk cure my dad found, soaking the rash in iron water.
Said iron water was water in which welded iron had been dropped to cool it. That was convenient because not only did my father happen to have a welder in the shed, he had a friend who was a blacksmith.
For the record, that didn’t work. All I got was wet.
A family tradition was created. To this day, I receive the same caution, whether it’s my kid mowing the lawn or if we’re out camping: Don’t go over there. Poison ivy.
As we know, the Fourth of July is on its way and it’s a special one. I think as long as I stay away from green areas and wear a suit made of mosquito netting, I’ll be able to celebrate that weekend with maybe a family barbecue and definitely a popsicle - maybe a whole red one all my own.
I’ve had the bedroom windows open for two solid weeks now with ceiling fan above the bed rotating as well. That makes me think I won’t need the hoodies and sweaters and flannel sheets until fall.
Oh, I know. I could still be surprised. This spring has been a weird one. And it is still spring officially despite heat in the 80s. We’ve got some time until summer rolls around according to the calendar. And while much has changed since I was a kid anticipating the freedom of long summer days, there are many things that haven’t.
Like popsicles. Those were a strictly summer thing, although I suppose my mother could have bought the anytime. Since those were a two-stick treat, she broke them in half. I got a half, both my sisters got halves and she had the last half. I noticed that the one got always seemed to be red. I was smart enough, though, not to point that that she got her favorite and we got the luck of the draw.
We had outdoor chores like mowing and pulling weeds, of course. If we did them well, every so often my father would reward us with ice cream. We’d jump in the back of his pick-up – back before that was outlawed -– and ride the couple miles to the local ice cream stand. Funny how that twist cone tasted so much better when we worked for it.
Another thing that hasn’t changed is lightning bugs. I haven’t punched holes in the lid of a washed-out mayonaise jar to catch them lately, but I do appreciate seeing those flashes in the front yard.
Don’t care for the mosquitoes, though, They love me, a feeling which I do reciprocate. Their sting isn’t just a little poke. No, it’s a big ole bite that gets red and swells up, and itches me to death. Sympathetic folks have offered me various solutions, like their favorite lotion or covering it with a wet tea bag for a time, but nothing seems to work.
Still, that’s better than poison ivy which is, alas, still with us. I’ve always been highly allergic. As a kid, before the era of steroids, my reactions to the vile weed were momentous. The rash would spread and itch like wildfire and have me begging my folks for something, anything, to help. We ran the gamut from good old calamine lotion to a folk cure my dad found, soaking the rash in iron water.
Said iron water was water in which welded iron had been dropped to cool it. That was convenient because not only did my father happen to have a welder in the shed, he had a friend who was a blacksmith.
For the record, that didn’t work. All I got was wet.
A family tradition was created. To this day, I receive the same caution, whether it’s my kid mowing the lawn or if we’re out camping: Don’t go over there. Poison ivy.
As we know, the Fourth of July is on its way and it’s a special one. I think as long as I stay away from green areas and wear a suit made of mosquito netting, I’ll be able to celebrate that weekend with maybe a family barbecue and definitely a popsicle - maybe a whole red one all my own.
News to use this week
GREENUP
The Greenup County Democrats will have a general monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 25 at the Greenup County Public Library. There will be discussion on concerns and future planning for events. Information is available on the Facebook page, Greenup County Democrats Group.
WURTLAND
The Wurtland Freewill Baptist Church will host Vacation Bible School June 15 through June19 from 6:00 to 8:30pm. All ages are welcome.
Greenup Gazette
The Greenup County Health Department has released the food inspection scores for last week:
Clarks Pump-n-Shop (Food) 97, Clarks Pump-n-Shop (Retail) 97; IHOP 93; Taqueria Las Lalis (Original) 86, Taqueria Las Lalis (Immediate Follow-up) 90.
Also inspected were INK BY CECE 100 and Budget Inn 86.
FLATWOODS
The City of Flatwoods will be conducting *mandatory* fire hydrant flushing the weeks of June 15 to 26. This may cause discoloration of water and/or low water pressure. Use caution when doing laundry. The city apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.
The Greenup County Democrats will have a general monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 25 at the Greenup County Public Library. There will be discussion on concerns and future planning for events. Information is available on the Facebook page, Greenup County Democrats Group.
WURTLAND
The Wurtland Freewill Baptist Church will host Vacation Bible School June 15 through June19 from 6:00 to 8:30pm. All ages are welcome.
Greenup Gazette
The Greenup County Health Department has released the food inspection scores for last week:
Clarks Pump-n-Shop (Food) 97, Clarks Pump-n-Shop (Retail) 97; IHOP 93; Taqueria Las Lalis (Original) 86, Taqueria Las Lalis (Immediate Follow-up) 90.
Also inspected were INK BY CECE 100 and Budget Inn 86.
FLATWOODS
The City of Flatwoods will be conducting *mandatory* fire hydrant flushing the weeks of June 15 to 26. This may cause discoloration of water and/or low water pressure. Use caution when doing laundry. The city apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.