Lest anyone think that these two were not "present in the moment" - they did occasionally stop eating and checking whatever it is they incessantly check on those laptops to talk. About football.
In regard to annexation, the problem is the state law that allows annexation that is forced!The word “forced” in forced annexation is galling.The very concept of forcing annexation on someone indicates that they would not choose it if their expected democratic rights were available to them.
Of the fifty states in this union, forty-four of them do not allow forced annexation.In those forty-four states, annexations are only allowed when it is mutually beneficial to the municipality and the community being annexed.Interestingly, this concept has been spoken of derisively by individuals within the local governing bodies (as quoted recently in the Southern Standard).Obviously, Tennessee is one of the six that does allow forced annexation.I have emailed both my state representative and my state senator with my concerns about this very unfair law.Representative Matheny has responded; Senator Stewart has not.
A few years ago Lt. Gov. John Wilder sponsored the “small cities law” to benefit some of his friends who did not wish to be annexed.The provisions of this law were so liberal that apartment complexes incorporated in order to avoid annexation by nearby towns.Although this short lived law was ridiculously liberal, the very fact that it could pass at all indicates the contempt felt by many for the existing laws.
When annexations are proposed it is with grand expressions like “we want to control the growth” or “we have to grow”.However, when decisions are made as to whether to proceed or not, the decision appears to hinge on whether or not it will turn a profit.Purchasing the Regions Bank building, spending thousands to renovate it for occupancy, computerized water meters, renovating downtown, the geo-thermal experiment at the civic center, etc. -- perhaps all are good ideas, I don’t know.However, I do know that if you can’t afford them, they are not good ideas.And, if you spend all your money, you should not be able to cover your mistakes by simply annexing more territory for the sole purpose of taxation.In fact, if the city were serious about providing services, tax revenues generated would be absorbed in providing those services.There would be no net gain in revenues.
Again, the problem is with the law!To make the point clear, Tennessee is one of only six states that even allows one community to legally conquer another.I think this law has only been able to stay on the books because it affects relatively few people at any given time.People who live far removed from a city limits sign do not feel threatened and just don’t have a dog in the fight.People who have chosen to live within the city limits are not affected either, except that they may see annexation as a way to keep their taxes from increasing. Those who are concerned are the families who wait to see if their neighborhoods become the target of the next forced annexation.
I live in area 2 that was recently deemed unprofitable to annex, according to what was reported in the local paper.In the last six years, we have been threatened with annexation twice.The first time, despite almost 100% opposition, we were able to stop the action only after we employed an attorney to fight it in court -- despite the fact that anyone driving through our area could tell it would not be profitable to build sewer lines and roads to homes that are a quarter of a mile apart.It would almost cause you to assume that there was never any serious consideration of providing services; services that the majority of us never even wanted.I am sure; however, they were serious about collecting city property taxes.
Rolling Hills, Woodland Hills, and Hickory Hills are residential communities.Not one of them is going to be the site of a strip mall, industrial park, or other sales tax generating enterprise.What growth is going to be “controlled” in such communities?People chose to live there because they prefer moonlight to street light.If they want to build a storage building in their back yard, they have already agreed to community covenants that govern such things. They already have adequate law enforcement protection and they would rather take their trash to the convenience center than have a garbage can at the curb.How arrogant for a governing body to assert that they have the right to legislate another way for them to live!
If annexed, property taxes would increase by an estimated 75-80 percent.People who live outside the city decided to do so because they did not think the benefits of living in the city were worth the cost.The people who live inside the city, decided that they were.Both decisions should be honored.
Is there no other meaning to the word “growth” than more acreage?Is there some reason that the city needs an industrial park to compete with the one the county already has?Aren’t businesses closing rather than opening? Isn’t there a need to consolidate and strengthen rather than expand? Are we only going to compare McMinnville with Cookeville and Manchester in regards to expanding borders?Are there not other comparisons that need to be made as well – such as access to I-40 and I-24, a state university, population growth, strong industrial presence, etc.?
The problem is the law!The email addresses for our state representative and senator are as follows: sen.eric.stewart@capitol.tn.gov and rep.judd.matheny@legislature.state.tn.us .Please join me in contacting these two lawmakers in the hopes that the forced annexation law will be changed.Perhaps then, we can avoid “Groundhog Day” -- the analogy that the Southern Standard editorial chose.County residents will no longer wake up periodically to another report that once again they’re being considered for forced annexation.
Yesterday, a record was broken when the temperature reached 80 degrees. That beat the 187?? record of 79 degrees. Joe and I took advantage of the nice weather and spent the afternoon and evening at Rocky River. Joe put fertilizer and lime on the yard. Then, he made and hung a swing from the one and only limb we've been able to find that fit the bill. To make sure it was safe for the grands, we each took a turn to make sure it was adequate. Works great! While he planted some southern magnolias, I made two BIG piles of brush -- one down on the sandbar and the other on the hill above it. Joe cleaned up a bit and went to Spencer to return some things Hugh had left after the building project and to go to Chas' game. While he was gone, I studied my seminary lesson. I was on the back porch and all of Winton Hillis' cows were right across the river. It was such a pretty scene. I noticed a little calf that was close to the bank of the river. After a little while, it became obvious that it was really interested in getting to the water. It would try one spot, chicken out, and try another as it walked right along the edge. Something spooked it at one point and it ran like crazy. I thought that had put an end to it's adventurous spirit. Iwent inside for a few minutes and as I came back out, I heard a big splash, and all the cows took off. I looked up the river and sure enough, there was the calf. It started walking up the river and I hurried to catch up with it to see if it was going to have to have help to get back to the pasture. I watched it until it was out of sight, walked all the way to where I could see the bridge and never saw it anywhere. There were some gradually sloping places upriver, and I'm guessing it got its footing on one of those and made it's way back to the pasture. Moral of the story: don't get too close to the edge. It was nearly dark when Joe got back but we decided to burn one of the brush piles anyway. It was all dead stuff and we knew it would burn quickly. It was a really pretty fire and to add to that, there was a beautiful full moon that came up over the mountain. It was a warm, beautiful night.
I made lunch and took it to Grandma's yesterday to celebrate her birthday. She proudly told us she is presently working on her 93rd year! I am so grateful that she is still able to care for herself and stay in her own home. I'm also grateful for everyone who helps bring joy and security to her during this season of her life.
My birthday on the 4th reminded me how quickly time passes.This was not just any birthday since I made my trip to the social security office to “sign-up”.In my early years as a school teacher the first week of every new school year was taken up with “old” teachers asking questions about retirement benefits.I thought “who in the world is interested in that stuff?!”Well, it wasn’t long until I was interested.
I started high school when I was twelve—of course, the youngest kid there.I was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the army when I was eighteen—the youngest one I ever met.I was talking with a crotchety old great uncle, Joe Mason, once about often being in situations when I felt like a spring chicken in a flock of old chickens.He told me not to worry about it, it wouldn’t take long until I would feel like the oldest rooster.I thought he was talking about something a long way off in the future.Well, it really wasn’t that long ago.
My birthday was a special day.Debby and I went to the temple in Franklin and then out to eat.Debby fed me shrimp at Red Lobster. (Not literally – he is still able to feed himself – Debby)!We had planned to go to an afternoon movie but couldn’t find anything we wanted to see.
The only negative about getting older is the occasional meeting with someone my age.Whenever I run into an old school friend that I haven’t seen in a long time I always walk away saying to myself, “I hope I don’t look that old”.Of course, I have to assume they are walking away saying the same thing.
We have worked at Rocky River continuing the never ending quest to destroy every possible hiding place for snakes and ticks.We continue to slash and burn.I have also planted some muscadines and some hybrid blackberries.I plan to plant some fruit trees in a few days.They should have been planted in the fall---but…
One Sunday we talked mom into coming down to Little House with us.Knowing she did not like the water, we were expecting her to be full of words of caution; such as, “Don’t you let those grandchildren near the water!”But, she didn’t say that.She just appreciated our efforts to clear the underbrush.We had a nice walk along the “beach” and she seemed to enjoy it very much.After our walk, we sat on the back porch a few minutes.She quickly announced that it was time for her to go back home.
We continue to go out there whenever we get a chance.Occasionally we spend the night but more often we go for day work.I don’t think Debby looks as longingly at the rocking chairs on the back porch as I do.Someday…
We have had several small daylily and hosta orders this spring.Buyers seem to be cautious.Their orders are fewer, smaller, and they often pay with credit cards.We have picked up a new customer as a result of my phone calls to North Carolina.He is a landscaper who has ordered twice already, a total of 600 Stella de Oro daylilies.He is my new friend!One old customer drove down from Northern Illinois to pick up his order. It was nice to meet him after knowing him only as a phone voice.His wife had planned to accompany him but became ill as they were ready to leave.We offered him and his wife a free stay at Rocky River on their next pick-up trip.We instantly liked him.
The Ellsworths came to stay a week.During that time I went with them to purchase fruit trees.I am always up for that.I found my new favorite fruit tree buying spot-- CCC Nursery in the Dibrell area.We bought really nice trees for $6 each.I am going back.The owner told us that he had 8000 trees to ship and he had already shipped about ¾ of them.He also said that during economic recessions his fruit tree sales go up.He was a young man.He said his father had told him that during recessions a nurseryman needs to sell fruit trees, garden seeds, and then produce to sell to all the people who bought the trees and seeds but didn’t take care of them.
On the 7th Brett, his friend Theo, and I went with several other young and old men to Kentucky to help clear the debris left over from the ice storm.We rode with David Blocker who is married to the former Debbie Stuart. I used a chain saw almost constantly all day long.Brett and Theo were busy dragging and piling limbs and chunks of tree trunks. There were around 120 of us who went from our stake.Our directions were to go to the homes of the church members in the area, clear their yards, and then go to their neighbors and offer to help them.We were divided into teams of about 12 people each. Each team had three or four chain saws.It was interesting to watch the Altamont loggers laugh at the toy chain saws most people had. Our team cleaned up 12 yards.One elderly widow had a tree limb through the roof of her house but we weren’t allowed to remove it because the insurance company had not yet seen it.We were in an area where every single tree was either down or had most limbs broken off.Power lines were sagging at eye level.At the time we were there, they had been without power for 10 days but most had received it the day before our arrival.Some homes had the electric service meter ripped from the house by the weight of ice on the power line.It will be quite a while before those people receive power.It felt good to help.
Jonathan Wade took his own life and the funeral was on the 21st.Jonathan has had a very sad adult life.He had three children who were not a part of his life.His youngest was adopted by his brother David and his wife Sandy.Jonathan suffered from severe depression/bi-polar disorder.He was not pleasant to be around.I don’t know how much of that was in his control and how much wasn’t.I saw his first wife, Amy, at the funeral home and went up to introduce myself.I said, “I don’t suppose you remember me.” She replied, “You married Jonathan and me, I remember you.”I said, “I hope you don’t hold grudges.”I wish I had a better memory!!
Anyway, I spoke at the funeral.There were several people at the funeral.Jonathan’s mother, Joanna, is loved and respected by so many people.I was reminded again of how much it matters to “mourn with those that mourn”.We really do lift one another’s burdens when we share their sad times.Something miraculous happens when we attempt to share the pain of one we love. Somehow their burdens are lifted by us, and yet we feel lighter also.Both of us are blessed in the process.
Joe & I celebrated his birthday on the 4th by going to the temple.I wanted to take him to a movie afterward, but there wasn’t anything he wanted to see that fit with our schedule.We did go out to eat, though.Joe had shrimp and I had a really tasty lobster pizza.
It was very, very cold the first of the month and water froze again somewhere in the lines to the geo-thermal unit.But, we won’t go into that again.It warmed up considerably after that very cold snap.It was a good thing since Joe and Brett were part of the work party that went to KY on the 7th to help clean up after the very destructive ice storm that hit there.
Grandma Moffitt spent some time with us at Rocky River one warm, Sunday afternoon.It was nice to get out and enjoy the mild temps and to spend some time with her.When we were walking along the sandbar, she told us that when she was a little girl, her mother would have her find some sand and rub it on their wood floors – cleaned them and made them shine!
On Monday the 9th, Joe and I went to the Hoyle House to watch Kerry, his son, and his friend install tile. (Joe is the Hoyle Family’s home teacher). Kerry had done some tile work in the kitchen a while back and I had told him when he started his next project that I’d like to watch.Michelle remembered halfway through their latest project and let me know.It looked fairly easy, but most things do when I’m just watching those who know what they’re doing.On the way home, we stopped at a few nurseries until we found some crape myrtles that we liked – Pink Velour.Joe got them for me for Valentine’s Day.Right after we got home, Arthur brought us some crappie, bream, and catfish that he and a fishing buddy had caught earlier in the day.They were in icy water in a cooler and they were still alive!!!Kind of freaked me out.Joe got them out of their misery, cleaned and cooked them, and we enjoyed some very tasty fish for a couple of meals.
We spent the night at Rocky River on Friday 13th.After we planted the crape myrtles by the front porch, we cleaned off another area and burned a lot more brush.We worked until dark.After we cleaned up, we had some yummy Subway sandwiches that we’d taken with us.After a walk along the river the next morning, we came home to prepare for the Ellsworth arrival.
They arrived late on Valentine’s Day.It was so good to see them.Ceseley was happy to be out of her car seat, but she didn’t let me have much to do with her for the first few days they were here.She finally decided that I wasn’t dangerous, though, and warmed up to me.She even got to the point where she’d let me give her a bottle.She’d cuddle until her tummy was satisfied and then decide that there was no compelling reason to continue to do so.She is a very happy baby and her parents seem pretty happy, too.I believe they are all smitten with each other.She really liked to get into the kitchen cabinets and she and William had a lot of fun making a mess one night.A day or so later, Ceseley tried it again and broke a glass bowl.That put an end to her fun.No more playing in the cabinet.
On Monday, we all went to Grandma Miller’s to have lunch with her.She had made some delicious turkey salad and we took different kinds of crackers and breads to have with it.She had used a turkey breast to make it, so there was a lot left over.We happily ate it over the next few days.Joe and I had gone to Rocky River earlier in the day to burn some brush.It was windy, and he was afraid to leave the fire.So, after I helped clean up after lunch and visited a little bit, I left to take him some lunch and to work with him the rest of the daylight hours.Julee’s bunch and Lori & William came by later so that the Ellsworths could see for themselves what makes our little spot on Rocky River a favorite place for us.
We were saddened to hear of the death of David & Joanna Wade’s son, Jonathan.They asked Joe to speak at his funeral on the 21st and, of course, he did.It’s been a very difficult thing for their family.There were lots of people at the funeral.I talked to Joanna for a while after our church meetings that next Sunday.She became emotional as she acknowledged how overwhelmed she felt because of such an abundant outpouring of love and support they had received from their church family and their friends and neighbors.
Later on Saturday, we rode with the Ellsworths to Woodbury to have cheeseburgers at Joe’s Place.It was the longest wait Joe and I have ever had, but Ceseley endured well.They had planned on leaving that morning, but because Julee got a tummy bug and Dan got a neck bug, they decided to give themselves one more day to recover.They left Sunday morning, instead.I’ve missed Ceseley’s growls and giggles.
Our ward conference was that day.Sacrament Meeting was so uplifting.Jenny sang and played the most touching song, “Consider the Lilies.”Simply beautiful.
I attendedGertie Miller’s funeral on the 24th.She was 82.Her husband passed away some years ago.He was my daddy’s younger brother.
We learned a few days ago that the City of McMinnville has tabled their plan to annex our little community into the city.The last time they tried that – not long after we moved here – the community banded together, hired an attorney, and the city backed down.This time we’re not sure what happened – we’re just glad it’s over – for a while, anyway.It would have cost us another $1000 in property taxes each year if they had been successful in their conquest.Joe hardly ever gets worked up about anything, but he sure got a burr in his saddle over this.He researched annexation and discovered that TN is one of only 6 states where it is even legal.He’s fired off some letters to some of the powers that be – even the Channel 4 I-Team.It’s very frustrating because there is no one to speak for county residents.You can be annexed by politicians who are not accountable to you and that you never even had a chance to vote for in the first place.One thing is for sure, if it had gone to a vote, we would have known who NOT to vote for in the next election had we been forced to become city residents.
On Thursday the 26th, I took Mom to the doctor.She’s not been feeling very well and decided it was time for some blood work, etc.We should know the results in a day or so.I took her back home and then went to do a little shopping for her.After I left her house, I went by Rocky River to drop off some things there.It was such a nice day, I decided I’d pick up trash along the road and ended up with five bags FULL.That’s after picking up several bags already.Some of the bottles and cans had obviously been there for a long time and some were new.I guess throwing them over that bank on the lower end seems likes the perfect spot.Oh!Don’t get me started on what I think about people who throw trash out and leave it for someone else to pick up.I have zero tolerance for such behavior.
Every year in February there is a special meeting for CES instructors held via satellite.This year the speaker was Elder Quentin L. Cook.Joe went with me and really enjoyed his remarks.Me?Not so much.By the time we got home, I decided that I didn’t just have a bad attitude, but that maybe I was getting sick.I felt pretty yucky.By Saturday morning, there was no doubt I had a bug.When I got up, my goal was to get back to bed as soon as possible.I had a low-grade fever, a headache, and was freezing.I mostly slept until afternoon.I spent the rest of the day propped up in the living room watching a series of movies on the Hallmark channel.Several weeks ago we were channel surfing and found and watched Love Comes Softly.I told Lori about it and she said it was one of a series.As luck would have it, the second one, Love’s Enduring Promise, was coming on when I went in to watch TV.After that, Love’s Long Journey, Love’s Abiding Joy, Love’s Unending Legacy, and Love’s Unfolding Dream came on.It was a Love Comes Softly movie series marathon!At the exact same time I didn’t feel like doing anything and therefore didn’t feel guilty about taking the day off.What a rare find in this day and time to discover entertainment that is so wholesome, enjoyable, and uplifting.The movies are based on the books by Janette Oke.If it’s like it usually is, the books are even better than the movies.
That same day, February 28, was the one year anniversary of when Joe, Layla, Olivia, and I discovered 14142 Rocky River Road.That’s the day we walked along the Little House property for the first time.
grapevine swingin' . . .
thanks for the push, sis . . .
a swingin' good time . . .
love this pic of Ashley . . .
playin' on the "beach" . . .
lookin' for "seashells" . . .
makin' friends with Earl . . .
posin' . . .
neat tree . . .
little boys . . .
headless Seth (almost) . . .
careful . . .
posin', too . . .
bubbles . . .
afternoon siesta . . .
the sun is in our eyes . . .
the sun is still in our eyes . . .
one last shot before loading up. . .
de-ticking Seth . . .
