The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings to everyone in western Illinois.
As I write this the wind is a howl'n up a gale force, worse than Grandpa when he ate that whole can of prunes.
The rain is a come'n out of the sky as a real toad strangler. Least wise I think it's a come'n out'a the sky that a way.
There is a genuine possibility it could just be a blow'n that heavy from the neighbor's lake.
Won't be surprised to see it's level down a foot or two by next morn'n.
I've heard it said, "A bird in hand is a dern sight safer'n one overhead."
Over in Warren and McDonough counties they might say "A bird in hand is worth two in the bush."
Anyway you look at it, the meaning is the same.
If'n you got busy when the weather was fair your corn fields are planted and mostly up out'a the ground.
But then, "Hey!" when it frosted last Saturday you had a heap more to worry on than the one whose seed was still in the bag.
It froze hard enough up north to burn the corn to the ground level.
Those folk in southern Illinois claim that in some counties, over one half the corn will have to be replanted.
Well, who's to say for sure at this time which is better-planted or unplanted.
One thing for sure I know, "Mr. Short Britches with his cap on backwards" has a father who is all done plant'n beans, which are mostly up and you kin row em.
He was a sweat'n blood when the frost was a lay'n in last weekend.
Fact of the matter is, Sunday morn'n was the first time I seen him in church since last spring when it was too wet to get his crops planted in a timely manner.
Can't say for sure, because he sat in the back row, but there was no change in the collection plate like there was last spring when he last attended.
I'm a think'n he was so grateful to be saved from the frost that he either forgot or was will'n to make change from that one dollar bill that he has customarily given ever since he was a small tike in grade school.
Ever "little" bit helps, ya know!
Now mind ya, I'm not complain'n on his generosity.
To hear his wife tell, he is much more benevolent to the collection plate than he is to her. She states his philanthropy lays with the United Auto workers in the Quad Cities by the way he keeps machinery around with new paint.
Me self, I'm grateful for both "Mr. Short Britches with his cap on backward" and his "Pappi."
As long as the wind keeps on a blow'n, his neighbors save on chemical expense.
It don't slow them down one bit in spray'n like it would any feller try'n to stabilize his cap on front wards in a gale wind.
Mothers Day has come and gone. Over 80 million mothers in the United States receive an average of 2.5 gifts each and close to 250 million cards.
The holiday ranks second only to Christmas for the number of calls in a single day.
According to the National Restaurant Association, only Thanksgiving brings more people to restaurants in the United States than does Mothers Day.
In the United States, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed an official day of recognition for mothers on May 9, 1914. Many people have followed the custom of wearing a carnation on Mothers Day.
A colored carnation meant that a person's mother was live'n.
A white carnation indicated that a person's mother was dead.
Anna Jarvis is the lady given'n credit for promote'n the idea for her mother, Mrs. Anna Reeves Jarvis.
And the good book says:
"Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she shall rejoice in time to come. She opened her mouth with wisdom; And in her tongue is the law of kindness.
"She looketh well to the way of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.
"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her.
"Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."
-Proverb 31:25-29.
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
Barnyard Bruke