Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Friday, June 14, 2019

Off Day Off


“Gwen, you’re home! Hon, could you please bring me a coaster?”
“Sure, Mom!” I quickly shed my jacket and hung it on a hook by the front door. Then hurried to the kitchen to grab a little circle of leather from the heap in the basket on the cupboard.
The sunlight was spilling through the large picture window in the front room as I walked in, catching my mom and her recliner in a great shaft of light that turned her skin to gleaming gold and her light hair to silver. I smiled. For just a moment, she became something more than Emma Hart. Single Mom to two teenaged girls and newest Assistant General Manager of Sewel International. Department of Accounting.
For a moment, she looked like what she really was.
Amazing.
She lifted her cup. “Here, dear.”
I set the coaster on the small table beside her and she set her tea on it. Then sighed and sat back. “I could get used to this. I could really get used to this!” She smiled. “Pottering in the garden all morning. Sitting with my feet up and a cup of tea at my elbow all afternoon. Just . . . watching.”
“You’ve earned it, Mom,” I told her. “You worked a lot of years at the bottom. Now you’ve finally risen to the top and you get to call the shots.”
“And have a day off now and then.” She lifted her phone from her lap. “And maybe use the time to figure out this new iPhone.”
“Don’t push it, Mom. This is your first day off!”
She laughed. “Imagine being able to use the word ‘first’ in front of ‘day off’! Like there was going to be more than one!”
I turned to go back into the kitchen. “Well get used to it.” I stopped as something outside caught my eye.
“What is it?” Mom asked.
“Ummm . . .”
“Gwen?” She leaned forward to see past me.
A dusty and dented Volvo was coasting down the street, obviously driverless and picking up speed. Standing with her upper body sticking out of the sunroof was my sister, her arms in the air.
“Wheeee! This. Is. Aaaawesooooome!” she squealed as she sped past our window.
Behind her, long, skinny legs pumping as he struggled in vain to catch his runaway vehicle was the freckle-faced love-of-her-life, Mort. “Saaaaalleeeeee! Put on the brake! Put on the braaaaake!”
I looked at mom.
She settled back in her recliner and, lifting her cup, took a sip of sweet tea.

Once a month, Karen of Baking in a Tornado gathers words from her varied and wondrous group of friends. Then redistributes and issues a challenge.  You get to witness the results--as varied and wondrous as those same friends.
My words this month jacket ~ iPhone ~ coaster ~ sweet tea ~ recliner came from my very good friend, Rena, of Wandering Web Designer.
Thank you so much, Rena! 
Now continue the fun.
See what the others have created...


Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Love 'em or Hate 'em


I bless the longer summer days, the heavens filled with light,
The glorious, golden evenings that stretch far into the night.
And having sunshine join me on my early morning walks,
Watch shadows flee from yards and streets as I traverse the blocks.

I bless the longer days, and yet, there is another side,
And reasons that some other folks the longer days deride,
I live north, but further north, another side you see,
That’s witnessed by those ‘northern’ folks who live so far from me.

For them, these longer days are much, much longer than what’s here,
In fact, that big ol’ sun will never ever disappear.
Just circles quietly around, ‘bout halfway up the sky,
And causes consternation by this general act thereby.

The people living there cannot depend upon the sun,
And must consult with clocks and things to tell when day is done.
But there’s another reason summer fills the folks with dread
Cause in the summer, children never, ever go to bed!

I love poetry, you know, it really makes me grin,
And once a month, I'm blessed to have my Karen count me in.
And with her other friends, we craft some poems on a theme,
So why not skip across and read from others on my team!

Karen of Baking In A Tornado: Longer Days
Dawn of Cognitive Script: Longer Days
Lydia of Cluttered Genius: The days are long

Real Estates: All Murders Included in the Price!

Real Estates: All Murders Included in the Price!
My FIRST murder mystery!

Blessed by a Curse

Blessed by a Curse
My very first Medieval Romance!

God's Tree

God's Tree
For the Children

Third in the series

Third in the series
Deborah. Fugitive of Faith

The Long-Awaited Sequel to Daughter of Ishmael

The Long-Awaited Sequel to Daughter of Ishmael
A House Divided is now available at all fine bookstores and on Amazon.com and .ca!

Daughter of Ishmael

Daughter of Ishmael
Now available at Amazon.com and .ca and Chapters.ca and other fine bookstores.

Romance still wins!

Romance still wins!
First romance in a decade!

Hosts: Your Room's Ready

Hosts: Your Room's Ready
A fun romp through the world's most haunted hotel!

Hugs, Delivered.

Compass Book Ratings

Compass Book Ratings

Ghost of the Overlook

Ghost of the Overlook
Need a fright?

My Granddaughter is Carrying on the Legacy!

My Granddaughter is Carrying on the Legacy!
New Tween Novel!

Gnome for Christmas

Gnome for Christmas
The newest in my Christmas Series

SnowMan

SnowMan
A heart warming story of love and sacrifice.

Translate

My novel, Carving Angels

My novel, Carving Angels
Read it! You know you want to!

My Second Novel: Kris Kringle's Magic

My Second Novel: Kris Kringle's Magic
What could be better than a second Christmas story?!

Join me on Maven

Connect with me on Maven

Essence

Essence
A scientist and his son struggle to keep their earth-shattering discovery out of the wrong hands.

Essence: A Second Dose

Essence: A Second Dose
Captured and imprisoned, a scientist and his son use their amazing discovery to foil evil plans.

Looking for a Great Read?

E-Books by Diane Stringam Tolley
Available from Smashwords.com

The Babysitter

The Babysitter
A baby-kidnapping ring has its eye on J'Aime and her tiny niece.

Melissa

Melissa
Haunted by her past, Melissa must carve a future. Without Cain.

Devon

Devon
Following tragedy, Devon retreats to the solitude of the prairie. Until a girl is dropped in his lap.

Pearl, Why You Little...

Pearl, Why You Little...
Everyone should spend a little time with Pearl!

The Marketing Mentress

The Marketing Mentress
Building solid relationships with podcast and LinkedIn marketing

Coffee Row

Coffee Row
My Big Brother's Stories

Better Blogger Network

Semper Fidelis

Semper Fidelis
I've been given an award!!!

The Liebster Award

The Liebster Award
My good friend and Amazing Blogger, Marcia of Menopausal Mother awarded me . . .

Irresistibly Sweet Award

Irresistibly Sweet Award
Delores, my good friend from The Feathered Nest, has nominated me!

Sunshine Award!!!

Sunshine Award!!!
My good friend Red from Oz has nominated me!!!

My very own Humorous Blogger Award From Delores at The Feathered Nest!

Be Courageous!


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Ghost of the Overlook

Ghost of the Overlook
Need a fright?