It’s “Hey Rene J” Today!

A beautiful sight – one of the newer buildings in town and pride of farmers – the Farmer’s Cooperative Association. My father managed the Co-op for years, juggling his duties as mayor of the Village, also. The best popcorn in the world is sold through this hallowed institution, and I refresh my stash upon visits.

If you want to try the popcorn, you just have to promise me a good game of Scrabble. The two are intertwined. I finally won a game with my mother claiming two victories and my sister and I each claiming one. (And my mother had both letter v’s, my least enjoyable letter choice.)

P.S. Popcorn and Scrabble fun ala the Co-op.

Recently replaced and newly painted – as in this past year – the water tower is another highlight on the Village tour. The new tower is taller than the old and larger. It is such a promising sight when you spy it as you drive the country roads leading to town. As kids we always wanted to be the first to see it.

I wonder what happened to the old tower? Where would those be recycled?

Yes, the second home of this author is the tour highlight. The first home no longer exists, and apparently was a drafty farm house with no heat and a dog named, “Rex.” This abode came complete with a church on the grounds, and the lumber became the bones for the home. The concrete steps leading to the house are remnants from that first the house of worship. The road in front of the house is actually a highway, of course, and sitting on those steps trying to get truckers to honk was big entertainment for us kids. My sister and I took turns playing house on the steps, too, each having our own concrete living quarters. We probably fought over the wide ones in front?

Can you even imagine letting your kids play outside with a highway in the front yard? Ah – those were the days!

Just around the corner from the local cat is the Veteran’s Memorial. It’s painted on the side of the Post Office and is larger than this snippet. The names of all those from the Village who served in the military and have passed away are painted on a rock. See if you can find my dad’s name.

It’s a beautiful tribute.

Main Street and its businesses comprise one block – two if you count the half block with the Farmer’s Co-op. Along the thoroughfare you may be lucky enough to espy the local cat. You can’t miss the opportunity anyway.

On my ambling ‘round the ‘hood I finally captured him as he tried to avoid detection, and he looks really happy about it.

Next on the tour – the Veteran’s Memorial.

This lovely gem came at the appropriate time. I plead guilty.

My recent book titles involve stealthy animals. “The Shadow of the Lynx,” a love story by Victoria Holt which I began on my last visit here. “The Panther,” espionage at its best from the master, Nelson DeMille. Both are older publications which never made it earlier to my book lair.

Actually, “The Shadow of the Lynx” has been on the bookshelf in “The Game Room” for at least 15 years. The bookcases in there were always filled with past reads, books acquired at auctions, and historical books or encyclopedias. My family has pilfered from there for various reasons: need a new read, need a book slim enough to support a wobbly table leg, need a book with a red cover, need that title for a gag gift, need that set for decor purposes.

Since I just finished “Lynx” and will be closing “Panther” soon, it’s time to go back on the hunt for a new older read. I’ll be curious to know which title I choose this time? Lion? Tiger? Bear? Oh my!

Yesterday we watched a video stream on Facebook where a baker crafted an entire cake to look like a jar of Jif peanut butter. It was a perfect replica, down to the UPC code and ingredients listed. It was entirely edible, which is quite amazing, and probably a good five hours worth of meticulous work. Maybe more?

And that was my question, “But, why?”

It was really just one of those days of odd news. A man in Lincoln went before the city council to passionately plea for a name change to boneless chicken wings. He had a compelling argument, since they really aren’t wings at all. This lie is apparently bothering him a great deal. I did think, “But, why?” Then I considered, this could be his entry into politics. This could be his attempt to take our minds off of greater issues. This could be for the mere sport of it.

This could all be for fun!

Maybe we should do something that innocuous today? Something just for fun? I’m going for the donut, friends.

My friend comes across the yard to view the new deck, and she’s wearing a breezy cute new sundress ala Target. Of course, I’m in my breezy smock ala the Kroger Grocery. It’s just been too hot and too casual in our neck of the woods for much of anything in the line of haute couture.

Then, my sister sends me this:

Turns out we’re on the cutting edge of fashion – and only a few more days to acceptably wear white ala “subjective rule of fashion.”

When the dryer dings and you think, “It’s time for a donut,” you may have a bigger problem than wrinkled clothes. And when a friend mentions that very predicament and you can’t get the word, “donut,” out of your head, then you, yourself, really have a problem!

Years ago there was a dive-of-a-donut shop my sister and her kids shared with me when I visited. Once inside, the north wall was plastered with coffee mugs from the “regulars.” I have no idea if the mugs were ever washed? The place wreaked of smoke, too, because we hadn’t regulated that aspect of health yet. Regardless of the dumpy interior, cigarette-infused air, and cracked floor tiles, we all looked forward to the donut shop and their homemade delights.

I think the closest donut is currently 30 miles away. It shall remain safe from consumption and I shall go and exercise another option!

Perhaps if you work backwards, you can devise an answer? How many people are re-shingling the roof, and for how many days will they be working? How many of those days will you be having pancakes with said number of “shinglers”? Take the serving amount times the number of days and “shinglers” and add extra in case a visitor arrives during the process. As for the canoe losing a wheel, it would have gone faster than 2 mph without it, so no worries.

Sometimes the solution is not so difficult.