The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Heat is hard on outdoor workers





Mart and Sue Hall, Brooke Brown, Izzy Hall, and Rose Ballard take a cruise on B& B Riverboat.

Mart and Sue Hall, Brooke Brown, Izzy Hall, and Rose Ballard take a cruise on B& B Riverboat.

Hello everyone!

How’s everything going in your little corner of the world? Well all I hear is it is hot, and I agree. Six months from now we will be hearing it is so cold as we will be enjoying Christmas decorations, cold and probably ice and snow. Did I hear someone say how hot it is?

I guess we can blame the hot weather on the Democrats as it seems they are blamed for everything that has gone wrong.

My son Keith Ballard works in construction along with thousands of others who work outside in this heat for many long hours, and I worry about Keith.

I finally found a portable air conditioner for Keith’s bedroom. He had to do some remodeling and restructuring to make it work as there’s no window. Keith insisted it needed to be vented, although the salesman said it didn’t, anyway it works and his room is cool. Now my window air conditioner in the living room is about ready to go.

As I write about the heat and the air conditioner, my thoughts turn back again growing up in the mountains. Years ago who recalls hearing what the temperature was? You walked outside you knew it was hot, and if you had work to do you just did it. I do remember that Mom would try to get in the garden in the cool of the early morning and late in the evening when it cooled down some.

There were times I have seen Mom put on a bonnet and out she would go with her hoe and get the garden worked out. Sometimes there was too much work to be done to only do it at special times of coolness.

As I’ve often said, I really don’t like air conditioning, although I can breathe easier with it on. If it gets too cold I will go outside to get warm, then come back inside.

Ike Adams, who writes for The Mountain Eagle, has put pictures on the computer of his garden. It is so beautiful. I wish I lived closer, but he would have to sit on his porch with a gun to keep me from stopping and begging a mess of produce.

There have been a few that have showed wilted lettuce and onions, and my mouth drooled as I could almost taste it. It has been a few years since I have been able to eat this wonderful stuff with a piece of cornbread.

At the time of this writing we had rain overnight and rain today so the air is cooled down, and right now I can let the air conditioner rest for a while. I wish it were safe to leave the windows up at night.

The insurance adjuster came to access the damage caused by the storm. Was I in for a surprise as I was told the insurance would only pay for half of the roof. The other side has raised spots, but he said it wasn’t going to leak. Please tell me who wants a house with half a new roof, and the other half looks awful?

Three months ago, I raised holy heck about appliances, and for the past two weeks I have been raising Cain about my car, well I am about to get riled up again. For someone not to have a husband, I sure find a lot of men to fuss with. At least they know I am not afraid to stand up for myself.

It is worth the money to stay at the Whitesburg Motel to have privacy and not have to worry about disturbing someone.

Southern Ohio

My niece Sue Hall has invited me often to stay with her, and I know she would do everything possible to make me comfortable. As much as I love Sue and little red-haired Izzy, I still prefer the motel. I used to tease my children about marrying someone so I could have a red-haired grandbaby. Izzy isn’t related to me, but I love that little imp and she loves me too.

When I go back to the mountains, I hope I get to spend some time with Sue’s granddaughter Brooke Brown. Brooke is such an affectionate young girl. It was so much fun to spend with Mart, Sue, Brooke and Izzy, the boat ride was wonderful. It would have been fun being anywhere with them.

Sunday is my granddaughter Jodi’s bridal shower. She is having a bachelorette party in Nashville, Tenn. sometime in August. Jodi wants me to attend, but I haven’t really decided to go.

If I should go, my greatgrandchildren Samantha, and T. J. Proctor and I will share a room as Sami is only 17 and T.J. is 11 so they are too young to be going partying.

My daughter Kay Gray says there are all kinds of things that Sami, T.J. and I can do for entertainment. We will just have to wait and see how my health is. September will be here before we will know it, as time has a way of slipping up on you.

Jodi’s wedding is so elaborate, I feel very uncomfortable attending it. Kay had a simple but beautiful church wedding, and Angie and Anna had beautiful weddings, but Jodi’s is going to be a storybook wedding.

When I think back to when Jack and I got married, it brings a smile to my face, and yet tears to my eyes. We loved each other and that is about all we had. We were married at a justice of the peace, and no one knew we were getting married. Our marriage was rough and rocky at times, it lasted 32 years.

As I drive my new red car, it is a reminder that after all these years it has paid off for me in the long run. If only I can figure out how to get a CD player so I can enjoy my CD’s when I head for the mountains that I love so much. There are a couple of places I want to go before it gets cold weather again, and I will have to see how my health is.

Hubert Caudill, I hope you are healing so you and your family can plan a trip that I know all of you will enjoy. Now you never know who might show up!

Johnny and Ann Calihan are trying to stay on the upbeat side of things. Their daughter Sue Wagner is with them part time, as Sue is helping her daughter Ashley. One of the twin preemies is home with Ashley. The baby girl has gained weight and is doing great. The other is still having a little complication. It will be a few days before the precious infant will be home.

Sue Wagner received some very good news, a prayer has been answered for her, and after I speak with Sue I will write more later.

My daughter Angie Wiederhold got the results of her needle biopsy, and thank God she doesn’t have cancer. Angie is facing surgery on her foot in the near future, among other things.

Today has been a rough day for me and I am bone tired so I am going to end this for now. Until next time, Rose Ballard, 9110 Lawrenceburg Rd., Harrison, Ohio 45030, email: Bluegrassmama4@aol.com.


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