Saturday, May 25, 2019

Taro Bubble Tea


One nice thing about our area there are several Vietnamese who have settled here in the Ozarks. One thing they have, bubble tea. It is a fruit shake mixed with large tapioca pearls. We got to try taro bubble tea- tasted like the best vanilla shake ever with the gummy balls at the bottom. Now I understand why so many people in other countries stand in line for these. Americans do not realize how tasty these shakes are. No weird synthetic flavor nor aftertaste. Fresh and tasty. If you live around a Vietnamese restaurant go in and try bubble tea. Worth it!

Spring Farm Visitor


A good friend from El Salvador flew in just to spend the week with us.
He is moving to London soon and we will not see him again for a while.

He worked on his family farm and wanted to help with chores. So he got to tractor around, feed the farm and fish in our pond.

He wanted to spend one whole day just fishing and he got to do that.

He caught a lot of bluegill but released them after. It was so nice to have him stay with us. Farm life is not for everyone. But he had fun and will be missed.

Single White Duck and Farm Goodbyes


Last week a single duckling hatched under a chicken. I thought they were all chicken eggs. This big guy hatched- no others did from that clutch. My hens will not raise a duckling. So into our house it goes. It thinks I am its mama now. So I am looking for some siblings for it. Not an easy task around here as most are geese and chickens in these parts.


This guy will be raised outside soon with a foster older mama duck. It will not be easy to do. But if I can locate some siblings it will be a lot calmer raised as a duck and not a pet.


Yesterday I helped our farm neighbors host a farm moving sale. This was bitter sweet. He just retired from AC repair to raise cattle full time, but his wife has Alzheimers. He sold all 800 acres to another cattleman. But the house and all had to be sold as well. Everything liquidated for when she needs full time care.


It cost $5 grand a month to house a person in a nursing home here. But she is not ready for that yet. So they are moving into town in a smaller home near the hospital and the nursing home. Their adult children are supportive but the husband is stressed. This was not the plan they had for retirement. She was so full of life and now with the drugs she is a zombie. The stress of moving away from home, new home and selling off everything has her very anxious. But it has to be done. Everything sold except for a tiny table, a bed and some chairs. The farm house has become empty even down to the last barn kitten. 


These were our best friends here. They came over in a heartbeat to help with farm emergencies. They will be greatly missed. Alzheimers is a horrible disease. It is taking away the thing that make us who we are. Our personality, knowledge and experiences until we become a vegetable. I have seen over 6 people in my life die from this. Each one was different, from different walks of life from people born in 1930's-1950's men and women. What is lost in incalculable. So I listen to those I love. I pay attention to their stories, foods and music. So when they are down I can pull up a memory they connect with. We are so lucky to have portable computer/phones now. We can share photos, music and more instantly. And just for a moment, make someone engage with us once more.