Farmer Dan and His Hired Help

Last Friday I helped my orchard neighbor do some plowing. He farms a lot of sorghum silage around the perimeter of the pecans in addition to working for a large dairy. He was way behind on his own farming so I agreed to help him get caught up. After an early morning flat on one of the big tractor duals I got started running a field cultivator over the fields that he wanted to plant this week.

Beverly, Taylor and Presley brought me lunch and that gave Taylor an opportunity to ride in the tractor with me which is one of his favorite things to do. Taylor is much more savvy about tractors (especially John Deere} than most 5 year old children. He can tell you the model numbers, whether it is a 4 wheel drive or if it is articulated. You can ask him what that means! Presley and Beverly even climbed in the cab for a few rounds and Presley seemed to enjoy it as much as Taylor.

Plowing always brings back a lot of memories from my growing up days on the farm where we learned to drive tractors pretty early in life. There is something about plowing that is soothing and relaxing to me, especially if you don't have to think too much about what you are doing! We got a good rain this week so the planting will have to wait but nobody is complaining.

Kitty Litter Or What The Easter Bunny Brought Us

The only really good cats we've had since we've been married have been those that just walked into our lives off of the street. Oh, we got one from the Waco animal shelter that we named Shadow, but he didn't come with a personality. His stay in the shelter must have caused him a deep seated psychological disorder or it might have been because we had him neutered, but we had him the longest of any cat, about 7 years!

Beverly is really the cat lover in the family but these first two cats were such good cats that even I took a liking to them. Unfortunately, one of them died of feline leukemia and the other was hit by a car. One day about six months ago a cat appeared on the front porch one night that looked remarkably similar to the two that we had earlier. With a personality deluxe, she won a place around the Phillips household with no problem! She seemed to adopt the entire neighborhood, going from house to house for a free lunch, but always coming back to us for her home base.

Well, as cats will do, she started looking a little pregnant and then a lot pregnant. She delivered four kittens 3 weeks ago tonight. From the looks of things, their Daddy must have been a Siamese because 3 of them have that look and blue eyes. The other one, a male, looks like Mama. So, in about 3 more weeks, they will be ready for adoption. If you are looking for a kitten, we'll be looking for a home for them. Send us your adoption information and we'll review it before making a decision!!

Remembering Oklahoma City

Today marks the 14th anniversary of the bombing in Oklahoma City of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. It commemorates one of the saddest days in American history when domestic terrorists took the lives of 168 innocent American citizens, many of them children in a day care center.

A beautiful memorial, which was dedicated on April 19, 2000, now occupies the space where the building once stood. We visited the site in 2005. To say that it made an impression on us would be an understatement. It is something that you have to experience in person to appreciate fully. If you ever get to OKC, go by and see it. You will not be disappointed.

This entrance plaque helps to explain the contents of the memorial.


Looking across the reflection pool at the nine rows of chairs representing the nine floors of the building and those killed on each floor.


Looking at the reflection pool.


This statue entitled "And Jesus Wept" is outside of the memorial on a nearby street.


Danny, Dorothy and John after breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. We were in Oklahoma City for John's World War II Navy reunion.

Another Sister, Another Birthday!

Although it may not seem like it lately, I do occasionally blog about things other than birthdays! It's just that three of my siblings have birthdays in the first three months of the year unlike my personal family where there are seven birthdays in the span of about a month. But April 12 is my sister Brenda's birthday and I want to wish her the best birthday ever.

Brenda is an older sister and therefore was "in charge" a lot when we were growing up. Being in charge carries with it certain responsibilities but also certain privileges. I would have to say she rarely overextended her authority and we got along pretty well as far as I can remember. I do carry one battle scar, however. I have a scar down my back (although it has faded with time) of an encounter with her fingernail, probably gotten as I tried to escape following some wrong doing on my part!

I guess all of us kids are known for some trait that we exhibit in our lives. Brenda, as we all know is the "clean queen." You could eat from her floors and not be concerned. The floor would be as clean as her plates! She vacuums everything; the carpet, her sheets, even her refrigerator! We even accuse her of cleaning her baseboards with a toothbrush.

Brenda also loves to sing when we get together as a family. She likes to learn new songs and has introduced me to some really good ones, especially "Glory Land." Her only fault as far as I can see is that she is an Okie but I think her heart is still in Texas. She was born on an Easter Sunday so I hope you've had a good Easter. Happy Birthday Brenda and many, many more!

To My Sis, With Love

Have you ever known someone that just makes you feel good when you're around them? I'm lucky enough to have one as a sister and today is her birthday! My older sister Dayle Anita is just one of those rare individuals that lifts you above your troubles and makes want to laugh. One of her most endearing traits is her laugh; contagious, hearty and soulful. I could pick her out of a room blindfolded just by hearing her laugh!

One of the peculiarities of the Phillips family that I have noticed is that many of us are known by both our first and middle names. For instance, if anyone calls me Danny Fred, I instantly know that they are family or a very close friend. So it is with Dayle Anita, pronounced "Dell Neeta" in Phillips jargon. Named after my daddy, she is a natural beauty, not only from the outside but inside as well. No pretense, no put on; what you see is what you get, and she has a lot to give.

Sis is the wife of a hard working, successful farmer, now retired, not because he doesn't still love the land and the challenge of farming, but from too many years of literally back breaking work. She is the mother of five successful children: all boys!! Maybe that's where her sense of humor comes from because I suspect you might could use it with five boys.

My sister was the last one of us to be born at home. Mama said it rained all day the day she was born and Daddy had to go get the doctor and he barely made it to our house on those muddy Knox County dirt roads. He stayed the night and I'm glad he did or he would have missed the birth of an angel.

She has had her share of crosses to bear but you would never know it. I suspect she feels she is one of the most blessed people in the world but I think we who love her are the ones who are blessed. I hope you have had a good day, sis. You deserve it. I love you!

Presley Turns One and Becomes Mobile!!

Presley Nicole turned 1 on February 26! It's hard to believe how quickly the last year has passed. We celebrated with a big Princess Party at her house with family and friends last weekend. She had a blast and really enjoyed eating her cake, now that she has four teeth. She had been taking small steps for several weeks but just before her birthday--zoom, zoom, off she went and is fully mobile now! In some ways it is easier with her walking rather than crawling. She loves the outdoors and is Miss Independent, wanting to do everything by herself.

We all are looking forward to the spring and summer when she can enjoy the activities of warm weather. We are so thankful to have a granddaughter. She reminds us of her mother at this age and it's like having a little doll to play with all of the time.

Happy Birthday, Princess Presley!


Yum-Yum! My own cake!!


Uncle Jordan, Aunt Ashley, Mom and Dad with the birthday girl!


One of Presley's new birthday outfits.


Taylor and Presley celebrating early at PawPaw and BeBe's.


Our little sleeping angel!


Too cute!! Tennis, anyone?

Happy Birthday To My Big Brother!

February 26 marks two important events in my life. Our only grand daughter turns one, and her great-uncle, my brother will celebrate his birthday as well. Lester Lee, alias Uncle Pester, Lester Bob, Plugger and Looney Lester will turn another year older and wiser. Being my older brother, Lester Lee has always been my mentor, teaching me the finer points of carpentry, plumbing, electricity and other not so formal skills such as philosophy, the art of falling off of a roof or out of a tree and not breaking a bone and the importance of a sense of humor. My big brother knows a lot about a lot of things. He was a well known wedding photographer in Tuscon, Arizona, an admired, successful elementary school teacher for over 30 years, a real estate developer (similar to Donald Trump), a ham radio operator and a funny uncle to our children.

I can't remember our early growing up years together, which is my memory's fault, until he went off to college at Abilene Christian College, which is now ACU. Lester always went on the wheat harvest during the summer vacation. For you that don't know what that is, it is where you hire out to a custom harvester and perform every job needed on the crew including but not limited to driving the combines, trucks and doing repairs. I later followed in his footsteps and learned that you also spend a lot of time waiting for the rain to stop, the field to dry out or moving on to the next location. He loved it and would do it today if he could.

I recall the time that he and a buddy of his were coming back into town from out in the country. The back seat of his car was loaded down with phonograph records. Here they were, sailing down a dirt road, not a care in the world. Until---they discovered they were one road over from the intended road and this one dead ended into a T. Results---broken records everywhere and the fence at the end of the road and his car were in a general state of disrepair. Thankfully, no body got hurt and the next day was spent fixing the fence. He had a thing for cars. No one could pack as much into the trunk of a Camaro as he could.

Later in life we would spend much more time together as we built his house together and worked on a number of apartments and rental property. I learned a lot from him that I continue to use today. Jennifer is especially close to Lester and now we have two reasons to celebrate February 26. Happy Birthday brother and many more.


Earlier in life; enjoying a big Frosty!

At a recent family get together; talking farming with Toby!

A quiet moment. Thanks brother for all you have done for me!