“The RoseBouquet”

I don’t want to say too much because I don’t know if it will come off the ground yet, but nearly two years ago I had what seemed a bright idea for a website and the twist was that I could visualize it blessing a lot of my friends with a good income. It filled my daydreams, so finally earlier this year, I promised myself that I would work at bringing my current sites up to speed until the end of May and then research this idea and see if it could really fly.

My other sites were not up to speed yet, but I decided last week to keep my promise and set them on the back burner to do more serious reseach on this one idea. To my chagrin I discovered that there was not a lot of interest in this at the search engines, and with the ecomony as it now stands people would just not jump in with both feet as I’d hoped. It looked like I’d let my imagination run away with me - again.

But then I stumbled upon another idea and it lined up well with what I already know to be true, only I need to do some more research to determine if this route is right for me. I think I have the skills, and could learn the technique, and instead of having to enthuse a huge team of helpers, I could do most of this idea myself.

Crazy thing is, - over the weekend I started daydreaming about the other idea again, and just scaling down my sense of how fast and big it would grow. What if it isn’t so dumb an idea after all?

So aside from this RoseBouquet time, I’m dedicating my mornings this week to continued research. I’m discovering new techniques for that too, as I go along. There’s fodder for another article soon.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve leaped into new ventures often enough just because it “felt’ right. Now by asking the right questions and hunting up the answers I’m trying to get a better sense of what are the strengths and weaknesses of an idea before I plunge in.

If you have more experience with weighing pros and cons and digging for answers, especially with business ideas, then I’d be ready to hear from you this week.

At that reunion now two and a half weeks ago, Dad’s cousin Rose from Three Hills, AB., introduced and had a new book for sale. She has written a few and printed short runs on her family history, but this one was for and on their son Kitt’s experiences as a trucker all across North America.

Rose writes in Kitt’s voice so you get the impression he is telling you all this. I’ve met him, and he’s a shy man in a cowboy outfit. So I think Rose heard his stories and then fleshed them out so they would be a story well-told. I’m reading this book now in my spare moments, and it quite a pleasure and an eye-opening.

From early school age, Kitt wanted to be two things, a cowboy and a trucker. He has accomplished both, but now has decided to stick with cowboy work.

The chapters I read yesterday were real eye-openers on the difficulty truckers have in getting decent food when on the road, and the trouble they have with people who cause accidents and then blame the truckers. I’m now up to the chapter on difficulties in crossing the USA/Canadian border.

I haven’t got to the part yet, which Rose told me orally, tells about how Kitt helped out a fellow who was down on his luck and needed a chance, only to have that man steal his $100,000 rig right from under him. Rose has gone along with Kitt on some long hauls, and so I think she’s seen these things with her own eyes.

Rose is selling this book of over 220 pages for $17. (They make 2.2% profit with that, she said). And though I am not quite half done reading the book, I think it should come to the attention of the general public. There are a lot of amazing insights in it. If you should want a copy let me know and I can give you Rose’s address. She would gladly send you a copy.

I want to commend Rose with a bouquet for doing this to honour Kitt’s experiences. This way they won’t go to waste without a chance for others to learn from them.

Hey, I bet YOU have a story to tell, or know someone else’s that needs to be put down on paper and shared with the world. Rose is just a retired housewife and mother, in her 70s I believe, who has learned to use a computer - just enough to write books and to keep in touch with a missionary daughter in the UK. If you are reading this you probably know as much or more than Rose.

See, I’m giving you a push. Get started on YOUR book!

This last weekend my sister Elsie came from B.C. (delivering her daughter and grandchildren for a special 90th birthday party), and she came to help me with my garden. The weekend had some pleasant surprises for me. I had not expected to be blessed so heartily and thoroughly.

So again, though it took longer than I’d hoped, I’ve got another photo story ready for you. I’ll try to take a break from them for a while in case you are looking for something meatier from me each week.

But if you are curious about my garden and my flowerbeds, you’ll want to skip over here;
Elsie in my Garden

With my circus of so many balls in the air, I hardly know which end is up any more, I don’t care for an idle life, but there are moments when I would like more time to think and absorb all that is happening in my life. Perhaps they are up ahead; I just can’t see them yet.

I am doing more serious researching an idea I have, and temporarily setting my web business hours aside. I really would like to know whether it is feasible or just a daydream that follows me around all the time.

More news another day.

I wish you a lovely summer with just right weather!

Cousin Robert passed this on, which he had received by email from someone else.

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A couple of weeks ago, I was stung by both a bee and hornet while working in the garden. My arm swelled up, so I went to the doctor. The clinic gave me cream and an antihistamine.

The next day the swelling was getting progressively worse, so I went to my regular doctor. The arm was infected and needed an antibiotic. The doctor told me - ”The next time you get stung, put a penny on the bite for 15 minutes.”

That night, my niece was stung by two bees. I looked at the bite and it had already started to swell. So, I taped a penny to her arm for 15 minutes. The next morning, there was no sign of a bite. We decided that she just wasn’t allergic to the sting.

Soon, I was gardening outside. I got stung again, twice by a hornet on my left hand. I thought, here I go again to the doctor for another antibiotic. I promptly got my money out and taped two pennies to my bites, then sat and sulked for 15 minutes.The penny took the string out of the bite immediately.

In the meantime the hornets were attacking, and my friend was stung on the thumb. Again the penny. The next morning I could only
see the spot where the hornet had stung me. No redness, no swelling. My friend’s sting was the same; couldn’t even tell where she had been stung. She got stung again a few days later upon her back - cutting the grass! And the penny worked once again.

Wanted to share this marvelous information in case you experience the same problem. We need to keep a stock of pennies on hand. The doctor said that the copper in the penny counteracts the bite. It definitely works!
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A huge bouquet of thanks to Elsie and my nephew Jasel, for the gifts of their time and all those flowers and seeds, and fertilizers.
When I don’t hear from family members for a long time I get to thinking I’m all on my own, but they have proved that they have not forgotten me.

Of course, I pray for them daily, and now I feel like I know them a bit better again, and can pray more specifically for them.

I can only wish you, dear friend/reader, a family and friends who are as good to you!

Well, that car repair took two days and gave me a bill of just about $670. However, the trip was safe and the car served well for Tom and my weekend at the Friesen cousins reunion in Alberta.

This morning I thought I could set aside one hour to prepare a photo story of the weekend reunion for you. However, it ended up taking all morning. So I’m going to be rather brief here and get this out to you.

You’ll find the photos here; Friesen Reunion 09

I will need to do some more looking back on the past weekend as I’ve promised two aunts a more complete report. But that may take a few Sundays to produce yet.

Especially as this coming weekend my sister Elsie is going to be at my place. She’s bringing her daughter and grandkids to attend Jalise’s other grandmother’s 90th birthday. Since Elsie herself doesn’t feel comfortable any more with her ex-in-law family, she’s going to help me get my double-garden planted.

(By the way, I saw 2 pink tulips up yesterday when I got home! 12 more are above ground with green leaves!)

On top of the above report, I’ve also committed myself to starting to produce a Friesen clan newsletter - about twice a year. We need to drum up more interest in the reunions and this is something that I can do. Somehow I’ll squeeze it in.

One of my second cousins, a missionary in Europe, is coming to see me this month.

Then I’m looking ahead to various projects and visits from others that I will fit into my work agenda. It should be an interesting summer.

Sometimes sisters have some friction between them. Generally though the older ones are quite loyal to their family and siblings.

Are you an older sister? The one who is always expected to look after the younger kids? Well, here’s a book where the older sisters shine! Not just Ruthe, the heroine, but a lot of her friends are too. You ought to have a look at the sample chapters.

Just a simple bouquet of thanks to Val Sinclair and Yvonne Stratalut, the second cousins that organized this reunion last weekend.
They worked hard to prepare for this, and it was a bit disappointing to see the turn-out so low. They especially chose well, the music entertainment for both Saturday night and Sunday morning. I was very impressed!

Another second cousin that I just got to know a bit better through conversations was Roxanne Thiessen from Winnipeg. She has such a good head on her shoulders, and it was good to see the care she gives her parents.

Oh, now that I’m naming names, I should also toss a bouquet to my second cousin Kitt, and his mother, Rose Kroeker, Dad’s cousin, who took the time to write a book about Kitt’s adventures as a trucker. Kitt was there too, and is a very nice, gentlemanly cowboy now. He was a gentlemanly trucker too, but so nice that someone took advantage of him and stole his $100,000 truck! Rose said that he’s too willing to give people the shirt off his back if he meets someone in need.

I’m sure the Lord will reward Kitt for all that one day!

Meantime, I will find or make time to read that book.

Remember, the link to the photo story is; Friesen - Reunion 2009