Feedback and the Soapbox 1999
Lots of perks go with the writing of this article, but feedback is one of the very best. I love stories that readers send me and the one I received last week is just too good not to share and it’s definitely country living. It came from a reader in Rainsville – some 15 miles from the Windy Knoll.
I thought you would enjoy this little true story. I don’t know what to call it – A Tadpole Tail or Tadpoles from Heaven.
My husband had several five gallon buckets set around the leak of the house to catch rain water for my house plants. I thought that was too much water setting around and didn’t want to raise mosquitos, so we emptied all the ones in the back and started on the front buckets. Two of the buckets had tadpoles in them. Well I didn’t want to pour them out so our daughter put them all in one bucket; we left them for several days. I wondered what to feed them – I knew they ate algee from pond’s or wherever they raise. I dropped a slice of tomato in the bucket and they ate it up, then I gave them cucumber and they liked that, too. Two or three weeks later our daughter bought fish food and turtle food and they really started to grow. We have watched them grow legs, climb up the side of the bucket, dry off and then hop away. They are little tree frogs. They are green, so cute and like to set on your fingers. We started out with 156, several died, maybe 7. I changed their water today and we have 57 in the bucket. Five more will probably leave tonight. We have three with only three legs, Daughter is worried they might not make it but I believe they will. I feel our family has been blessed for the opportunity to help these babies grow up.
Some people will probably say its crazy, but I’ve always been different. I was thinking maybe they were sent to us for a reason – the creeks, streams and branches have dried up around and the mother frog didn’t have anywhere to lay her eggs, so we were chosen to care for them. I’ve always been a firm believer in abortion, so when I saw those little tadpoles – little living things that came from an egg – my mind changed. I’m still for abortion if there’s rape or incest. I wish everyone could experience this miracle of life. When one of these little critters sets on your finger, you can feel this warm feeling around your heart – if they could only talk.”
Mrs. Reader, thanks loads for taking the time to share this sweet little story with readers all over the country. Best wishes to you and your tadpole family as you share country living.
Now for the soapbox part:
A young couple in our church had a new baby last week (Monday, I think) and would you believe they were at church this Sunday with that little baby? Why these young whippersnapper parents themselves are not dry behind the ears. Why, the very idea of taking this little un’ out and it not even a week old. Mothers used to have to stay in bed til the ninth day and then if the were able they could sit up some.
It was cold to me in the church and this tiny little baby didn’t even have a blanket around it. Why the very idea! They had him dressed out in new clothes, but I just know he was not warm enough. I really do need to share some savvy with this couple about babies and how to raise them.
He needs to fall off’n the bed before he’s a year old. If he don’t, he won’t live to be grown.
Always bite off his fingernails – if you don’t he’ll steal and you don’t want to have to deal with that.
Be sure to keep that belly band on ‘til he’s at least six weeks old.
Keep catnip tea on hand, so you can give him a little of that when he’s fretful.
An asafetida bag hanging around his neck will make it a heap easier on him while he’s cuttin’ teeth.
Well I could go on and on, but maybe this will give them enough to get them started – anyway it’s all country living.