The Pocket Comb

Well here I go again remembering something that I haven't thought of or seen in many years.  Like, maybe 40+.....  It was such an important little thing that all the teenage guys carried in their back right pocket of their trousers, pants and then blue jeans.  Now maybe not always the right side, if they were left handed I am sure it was the left pocket.  For the young folks watch a rerun of Happy Days.......you certainly will see "The Fonz"  pull that comb out and do what thousands upon thousands of guys did.  Ha!  I can still see my brothers and my husband like it was yesterday.  That slick pull of the comb, the other hand following along behind the comb as they combed that hair back in the perfect way.  Some where flat tops with the sides long and whipped back, some had the "big wave" on top, what ever they all looked slick.........as in that wet look.  My brothers used sugar dissolved in water to keep it in place.  Just like hair spray, gel or mousse does now a days.  So if you are my age or there about give or take a few years, or more, you know exactly what I am talking about.  I bet it hasn't taken you more than a second to bring up the memory of certain guys with that smooth move of  "the comb". 

My husband carried one until his late 30s.  You know what happened?  No need to get into the fine details.  What was nice about the pocket comb was,  he could always comb the kids hair on our way some where.  I usually did the lick and a promise which the boys hated.  Who wants to see someone (even mom) lick her fingers and come at them knowing it was either going to smooth the hair down or clean their face.   Geez, and all the memories of the "pocket comb" started while I was cutting the husband's hair the other day! 

Last week the peonies were at their finest in bloom and aroma.  They only last about a week and it just makes me sad to know they will be gone for another year.  What to do?  I pulled the petals off and poured very warm water over to let them steep for about 30 minutes.  Oh did it smell good.  I bottled it up, in the frig it went.  It is suppose to be good for the skin.  Why not? It was free, I have everything to gain if I like the results.  Desperate times need desperate tries............How did I get the face and body of a 69 year old woman?  My mind certainly doesn't think it is 69........ok, in a few week it will be 70....gahhhhh 

Ready to crush the petals.

The finished product!  Love the shade of pink.

This morning was the joy of eating breakfast on the back deck with the Orioles, that had grape jelly and oranges,  they Rose Breasted Gross Beaks that hate sunflower seeds and the humming birds that of course drank nectar.  All of them are bringing their little ones around and soon they will be gone and heading to better weather.  About September we will see the last of them.  What did we eat?  Beautiful fresh eggs from my nephew.  The kind with the dark orange yolk that tastes good and looks good.  What a way to start the day. 

Look at the beautiful orange yolk with the sun shinning on it!  

Yes, that is Salt Rising Toast :)

Happy 4th of July.  Remember what it means........God Bless the USA.

It's working, I'm working, everything is ok!

For the longest time the blogger situation was not up to snuff.  For some reason it insisted that everything was changing by a certain date and I wouldn't be able to blog under the new improved way.  So, being bull headed, mean and stubborn (all of the listed, a lot)  I ignored checking on it.  That is until today.  I can only knit, read, cook, do lawn work and gardening work for so long and then it is time to blog.  Especially with all the rain we have been getting.  There has been just a day or so that would let the sun shine and the wind blow to dry the lawn and fields long enough for me to get the John Deere tractors out and cut a little grass.  The field brush hogging is my all time summer fun.  I am "walking in tall cotton" when I am seeing nothing but green hills and fields, a few wild animals and clear blue skies.  It is where I find peace on earth, where deep breaths of clean fresh air relax my well being.   Just me, the sound of the tractor and the view.  I honestly think I could mow all day everyday and never tire of it.

The garden was put in about 3 weeks later than usual since the rain, wind and threat of frosts were frequent.  Finally we tilled and planted.  Everything is in and everything is coming through.  Peas, beans, corn, potatoes, winter squash, summer squash, cucumbers, radishes, beets, tomatoes and hot peppers.  Wait, didn't I say last August that we were downsizing the garden???  Why yes I did and NO we didn't.  I knew in my heart that once we had our winter's rest, sat around just "toe tapping" and waiting for warm weather we would be right back at it.  We are fortunate to be granted another year of the will and health to do what we love.  So remember, come August after all the summer work and canning the harvest I will say, next year not such a big garden...............

One thing all of this rain has brought is beautiful lush green from hills to fields, flowers and shrubs.  It just seems like everything has doubled in size around here.  Even the blueberry bushes are busting with beautiful leaves and lots of blueberries that should be ready to pick around July 4th.  Our wild apple trees are beautiful but not producing apples this year.  Sure hope the orchards around the Finger Lakes are loaded.  I just used the last bag of frozen apples for an apple pie.  I love buying all kinds from the big bins, my best apple pies are mixing different types.  The rhubarb came on strong and then fizzled out, not sure what is going on with it.  I usually have plenty and give some away.  Not this year,  I got 3 batches of strawberry/rhubarb jam and a batch of rhubarb sauce.  The end, no more growing, just little stems that are not worth harvesting.

We have been lucky to have friends visit us and the weather was nice enough to set on the back porch, have a few of our favorite drinks and snacks but best of all talk old times with the ones we grew up with.  After everyone leaves we always say, "that was a good time with lots of laughs".

Pass it on, a good laugh is a good cure all around here!