Warm Day in January

Today started out with a temperature in the mid thirties but with sunshine and a strong dry southwest wind it reached near eighty by mid afternoon. This was warm enough to wake the creatures that should be sound asleep at this time of the year.


This rattler gave me a loud warning when I came within about twenty feet of him just outside my back door late this afternoon. I went back inside for the 22 rifle but the light was so dim that I couldn't see the sight on the barrel so I just aimed and shot several times. I know I hit him but the small caliber bullet did not have a lot of effect on him. I found a long handled garden cultivator tool and as I approached he struck out in my direction for a distance of about two feet. I was able to impale him just behind the head with the sharp tines of the garden tool.

Now do you realize why I always want the front door closed securely when you go out? Click on the pictures for a better view!

Jerry Comes Home

Jerry was able to walk today using a walker so she was dismissed from the hospital. Her leg is still very sore and tender and she is weak but able to get around using the walker. Hopefully her strength will return with time. We still don't know what happened!

Jerry Goes to Hospital

Thursday morning I hauled a load of cattle to the sale barn in West and returned home in time for lunch. Jerry had lunch ready and was playing a fast game of solitaire on the computer while waiting. She dropped something ( a pencil I think ) on the floor under the desk. Without thinking she reached out for it with her foot. This required twisting her knee and foot to the inside, something that the orthopedist had said that anyone with a hip replacement should never do!

A sharp pain hit her in the hip and continued to increase in intensity. I called the doctor's office but of course they were closed for lunch. As the pain intensified I called the emergency number and they told us to go to the nearest emergency room. With a great deal of difficulty we made it into the car which I had driven up on the lawn by the front door. By the time we reached Huguley Hospital the pain was almost unbearable.

The attendants helped her into the hospital and got her into bed. Soon they had installed an IV and given a shot of pain killer. After about a half hour with no results they gave another shot of pain killer. After another hour with only minimal results they gave a shot of morphine. This slowly began to ease the pain a little. They x-rayed the hip joints and saw no evidence of dislocation. A technician came to the room to do a sonogram of the leg to check for blood clods. This also proved negative.

By 6 pm we had been moved to a room on the sixth floor and Jeff came by to visit on his way home from work. They continued to administer morphine through the night and by Friday morning the pain was almost gone but the muscles were very sore from the ordeal. The doctor never came by the room during the day on Friday but Jerry was able to relax and get some rest.

I understand that the doctor did come by after I left the hospital and indicated that Jerry might be able to go home on Saturday after a round of physical therapy.

Monday At DFW




After leaving the Tatum girls at the airport ....




Sue Ellen took us to the airport observation park where we watched the planes take off and land for a while.










Yes, that is Will walking beside Jerry!












David had fun posing beside the statues

New Year's Day

New Year's Day marks the date of the annual Pipes Family Reunion in Grandview. This year we set a record high temperature of 83 degrees for the first day of the year!! We met at the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church because the Grandview Community Center is closed for remodeling. There was plenty of good food and lots of picture taking. Pictures of this year's event may be seen at

http://pipesfamily.blogspot.com/