Mr. Ledbetter's Sandwich

The decrepit old Ledbetter's store sits alongside highway 160 on the west side of Theodosia.  It is no longer in business, but in its heyday, it was a thriving grocery store, and a place for neighbors to gather.  Years ago, when my husband, Don, first moved here, the store was already in decline.  Besides the occasional tourist, the store's only customers were old folks who lived nearby and didn't want to drive the additional 3 mile round trip to the newer grocery store in Theodosia, then known as Hill Country Supermarket.  Or, they might have been afraid of missing out on some juicy gossip that was a reliable offering at Ledbetter's store.

Don tells the story of being summoned there, by the late proprietor, the colorful and popular Hobart Ledbetter, to talk about his real estate.  The 2 of them were alone in the store, and lunchtime was approaching, so, as they talked, Mr. Ledbetter walked with Don around the store.  Stopping in front of the bread counter, he scooted one loaf toward him on the shelf, loosened the twist tie, and took out 2 slices from the center of the loaf.  Then he fluffed the remaining slices back together and replaced the twist tie, shoving the loaf back in line with the others on the counter.  Next, he rounded the aisle to the condiments, Don following along, and selected a jar of mustard.  He reached into his pocket and drew out a pocket knife, which he opened, and unscrewing the lid of the mustard jar, he used his knife to spread the mustard on the bread.  Then he replaced the cap, and put the jar neatly back on the shelf in line with the other jars.   Unselfconsciously, and without a comment about what he was doing, Mr. Ledbetter proceeded to the meat case, where he helped himself to some baloney, before resealing the package, and putting it back in the cooler, never slowing his stream of conversation.

Don, all this time, was trying not to notice, and was hoping he wouldn't be offered lunch. That idea, thankfully, never occurred to Mr. Ledbetter, who ate his sandwich as they wrapped up their conversation.

Mr. Ledbetter may have wondered why his store was in decline.  Let's just say he was a victim of progress.  At least, that will be a good way to remember it.

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Bloom Where You Are Planted

A stretch of highway in Theodosia between the lake and the business district is bordered by by high rock walls, close to 30 feet high in places.  About this time each year, I scan the rock face on the north side of the highway for a tenacious butterfly milkweed plant. Sure enough, this year, in that hostile environment, it was thriving once again.

Centuries ago, a prophet in Israel blossomed in such an atmosphere.  I like to think of Habakkuk as a sort of Butterfly Milkweed Prophet, because in the midst of deprivation, he wrote this:

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

He enables me to tread on the heights.

Habukkuk 3:17-19

Six Days in April

Barley helps with the lake cleanup.

It's quiet outside tonight; the sky is taking a respite after 6 days of rain. Our boots are parked at the front door; raincoats are draped over chairs in the dining room, and when we go to the grocery store in our olive green rubber Northerner boots, no one stares at us. The little red warning light on our weather radio has been on so much lately, I was beginning to think it was stuck, first warning for severe thunderstorms, then flooding, and today tornado. Fortunately, no tornados have developed, and though we won't be dealing with flooding at our house on the hill, plenty of people in this area will be. 

Have I mentioned that Don likes to count things? He has 3 rain gauges, all within a mile of the Theodosia bridge, and every time it rains he takes the average of the 3 and posts it on his calendar, so at least in theory, he gets a pretty accurate reading of how much rain has fallen at the bridge. Since last Tuesday, we've had over 15" of rain. In the same time, Bull Shoals Lake has come up 15 1/2' and is still rising. Our average annual rainfall is 43", so in the last 6 days, we've received more than a third of what we usually get in a year.

The lake is muddy and runoff from the creeks has washed down dead limbs, which gather on the surface in large drifts. Waterfalls are everywhere. Frogs sing in the ponds, delighted with their good fortune. A pair of wood ducks dropped into our yard when all this was starting; we've seen them in a big hollow tree behind the house, and heard them talking to each other on the big pond. They must think they have found a paradise, where it rains every day, and the ponds are full. They needn't concern themselves with the lack of rain tonight. There's more on the way.

Wildfires

Across the lake from us last night, wildfires burned and spread, fanned by stiff winds, and smoke lit up the late evening sky.  We haven't heard any damage reports yet, although just south of Theodosia, in Dugginsville, fires took 3 homes, and our hearts go out to the families involved.  

I don't want to seem insensitive to their plight, but when I hear of such a tragedy, I often think, "what would I do?" or in this case, "what would I take with me if I knew I might lose my home?"  I'm pretty sure I'd grab my camera first, and if I had time, my computer with its jillion wires.  When we see interviews on TV after disasters, the ones we like best are the ones with people who say, "We are so grateful that God spared us. We have only lost things; we still have each other, and that is what's important".  Though we've never been through such a tragedy, those statements ring true, and we hope we'll have the grace to say the same, should it ever happen to us.

The fires are still burning, but they appear to be headed toward the lake, where they will die of natural causes.  At times like these, when things seem to be out of control, it's good to know the One who made not only the fire, but the water as well.

Do not be afraid.   

Stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.

Exodus 14:13