RITCHIE COUNTY'S BEASON NEWS

(01/30/2009)

Kathleen H. Taylor
fieldaflowas@yahoo.com

Welcome back to Beason. It is good to see you!

We are very sorry to hear about the local lay-offs. It is unfortunate things like that have to happen. But, times are tough for us all. I am really hoping things look up or that the Publishers Clearinghouse dude will knock on my door soon.

The boys and their Uncle Mike went to the stock sale on Saturday hoping to purchase a Big Daddy for the farm. Unfortunately, they had no such luck. However, it has been said absence makes the heart grow fonder. So, maybe, the ladies will find the new man (whenever he arrives) even more thrilling. Well, since a bull was unavailable, the boys felt it was wrong to leave the sale empty handed. So, they ended up buying two piglets.

Ethan brought that idea to my attention earlier in the week, so, when they came home with them I wasn't really shocked. I was horrified when I found out they were pot-bellied pigs. I couldn't blame Ethan; he didn't know that they were any different. When someone mentions bacon and pork chops, the detailed information doesn't seem quite as important. Needless to say, these little fellas will be taking the fast train back to the stock sale this weekend.

I do need to give Ethan credit for taking excellent care of these little guys during their brief vacation in Ritchie County. It does concern me that the auctioneer let my child bid on these animals without parental consent or making sure that he was with an adult. Ethan told me they sold a horse for forty dollars prior to bringing the pigs out. Wouldn't you have a heart attack if your kid came home with a horse he bought with his allowance? Apparently, I do not know the ropes of stock sales. Next time, I will know to give Ethan a description of animals he is allowed to purchase, a weight limit and a limit of how much care it requires.

Winter has found its way to West Virginia again. Some of my 'Hounie friends are or were without power. You never realize how much you love the basics until you are without them for a little while. However, I do believe during the time you are without, you use your brain more than ever. I've come to the conclusion that all the great inventions must've come during the time when there was lack of what we call "necessities." Why is that? I feel that since there were no electric distractions, that left plenty of time to think, create, solve problems, etc.

I remember a time last summer we were out of power for about six or so hours one evening. I sat around for awhile and then my brain just had a major power boost or something (could've used that years ago, but, better late than never I guess) and next thing I knew I had written several pages of a story I had been thinking about for some time. It might make it to the shelf one day, but most likely in the CLEARANCE aisle and not the CLASSICS aisle. But, anyway, it is a drag to go without power no matter how you look at it.

The crew and I used our winter weather wisely. We drug all of our winter clothes out and anything that even looked like it would slide down a hill. After I got all my winter gear on, I looked like that snowman that's on Rudolph. The one that looks like three marshmallows squashed together. However, I was having a particularly good hair and make-up day and it's important to look pretty while airborne before crashing to the ground. At least one would have some really nice "BEFORE" pictures. The hospital may have to keep them in order to put you back together the way you were prior to the "AFTER" pictures.

My pick of the week is, "Over and Over" by Nelly and Tim McGraw.