Janet's Blog

It hangs in the guest room closet--that green, velour robe that my Grandma made for my Dad so many years ago. I don't think Dad has ever worn it. Robes just aren't his thing. But I wear it every time I stay with my folks in their house in Fairbury.  Even as I write, I can almost smell that faint, distinctive, velour odor. You would think the scent would have faded by now, but velour, along with some other synthetic fabrics manufactured in the 1970's, always seems to retain that vague, chemical smell that must have been a necessary part of the fabric-making process. The robe is soft and bulky, cozy to wear, but not too warm, even on sultry, summer mornings. It falls almost to my ankles. The sleeves are too long for me, but they are easily rolled up. The unattached sash is long enough to wrap three times around my waist. If I'm not careful when I tie it, the sash drags on the floor, causing a definite tripping hazard. I'm sure that Grandma just used the selvage, the u...

I love thunder and lightning, puddles, and rainbows. I love the smell of rain, and the beauty of the thunderheads as they overtake the entire sky. The last few years have brought an abundance of rain to the Nebraska Panhandle, but this summer is different. This year, our last significant rain was more than two months ago. Since the beginning of June, we've seen some promising clouds, heard a little rumbling thunder, and experienced some devastating hail, but we've only felt a few sprinkles. Just this week, I saw these unwelcome words in print: severe drought . Ugh! So, this summer, we've had to celebrate the wonders of water in other ways, and in other places.  Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.  Zechariah 10:1 We set up our pool early this year, before Memorial Day. Pool accessories have been hard to find this summer, so we've made do with a pa...