A loss

This last week has brought some sadness in to the family. The matriarch, an aunt, on my side of the family passed away. She was in her seventies and in failing health from cancer. I didn't get to see her a lot because she lived along way off, but talked to her on an occasion. She and my uncle (who has been gone for about 10 years) never had a lot but always seemed up beat and positive. You know - people that you liked being around.
Gloria and I had the fortune to visit her last Sunday for a short time. When we got up to leave, she said something that I'll never forget, "I'm glad that I married into the Paschal family."
Our family is probably a lot like yours. We love each other, but sometimes fuss, gripe, argue etc. with each other. But, through it all there is still love. If we don't watch out, we can let that negative stuff over influence our lives. The good things that we have with us, love, support, patience with each other, etc. FAR out weigh the other stuff.
Although there may never be a person of fame, power, or influence to the masses, in my family, we influence each other to be a little better than we would ever be if alone. So, I can say that I'm glad that I'm a Paschal too.
For those of you who are reading this, I encourage you to look at the good things in your family. Learn to forgive and forget, to over look a lot of those things that you think aren't right. They most likely won't be important in a week or so any way.

Enjoy your spring.

21st Century Power

Yesterday, as I was coming home, I passed a lot in our addition on which no one had ever built a house. However, I knew that the owner had sold the lot and had seen some activity on it last fall. Now, there was lots of activity. Trees were being felled and hauled off. How it was being done was very interesting and I thought that I would go and take some pictures. But, being a t.g.a.er, I didn't get around to it. However, as I was going into Mooresville this morning, they were at it again. I stopped and asked if I could come back and take some pictures and the man that I talked to said yes.

So, here are some pictures of how things are done in the 21st century.

Draft Horses

Waiting to be hitched up

Pulling a log

It didn't look as though they were making much effort

Some things have to be done more 20th century

Beautiful animals.

Peas lettuce spinach and pak choi

Today, a sunny and  mild Wednesday, I ventured into the garden to rake back some of the leaves in places where I plant peas and lettuce/spinach/ pak choi so that the ground can dry out a bit. It was good being outside.