Hi, everyone! I've been lurking here since about December. My husband, Walt, has to go to the doctors 4 times a week, so I walk over here to the library and use their computer. Just wanted to share a thought or two with you. I am 82 years old, and Walt is 87, and we're doing real well. We live on a ten acre farm pretty far up in the hills, off the grid. Our driveway is 4 miles long, and when we don't have to go to town we walk to get our mail everyday. We kept the farm, but moved closer to town while the boy's were going to school, so I have lived with electricity and all the ammenties, but prefer it up at the farm. We raised our 5 sons, and when the last one left for college, we scooted back up. We've got a Guernsey milk cow (I know a lot of you younger type like the Jerseys--I've had a few over the years, and let me tell you, if you ever had a Guernsey, you'd never go back!) A couple of Lamanchas, which I'm seriously thinking of selling off--all those kids, and the bottles, and then they are such picky eaters, and if they go off their grain, it sure shows in the milk bucket. They heard a few fireworks over the fourth, and went from 6 lbs a milking to about 2! We raise all our own beef, pork, and rabbit, but buy our chicken at the grocery when it's on sale, you can't raise it for the price, and if the hormones and antibiotics haven't killed us yet, guess it ain't going to. We do have running water, full bathrooms, hot water is solar in the summer, and off the wood cookstove in winter. We got a dandy little generator, which we run when I need to do laundry, make butter, etc. Also, on the long winter days when we can't be doing anything outside, Walt likes to play his video games--the "role playing" games like Final Fantasy, and he loved the new Zelda. Surprised? Most people are. We supplement our retirement by selling pork, beef, milk, butter,eggs, organic vegetables and flowers. We're thinking of getting bees again, had to sell them off when one of the grandkids turned out allergic to the sting, and figured it wasn't worth the risk, but he's a doctor in Phoenix, and only makes it up at Thanksgiving, so probably safe to do it now. Well, this is getting pretty darn long winded for an intro, so I'd best get to what I wanted to share....The doctors around here, and my 3 boys that are doctors seem to think Walt and I are "medical miracles". We eat meat with every meal, we both have used homemade butter our entire lives, Walt smoked for 40 years, and has been an insulin-dependent diabetic for 30 years. We both still have all our own teeth, although I gotta admit they ain't real pretty anymore. My cholesterol is 165, and Walt's is higher, at 190. No heart, lung or any other kind of serious internal problem. Walt has to go to the doctor so much for physical therapy...Damn fool fell of the roof last winter when he was cleaning the chimney--he forgot he was wearing his reading glasses! I have my own theories about this, but would like to hear all of yours. I was going to share them, but I got too long winded here, and will have to put them in next time we come to town. Also, wanted to let you know, that I am here with a whole lot of knowledge about small farming, and making a living at it--and a wonderful life, too. So I would gladly answer any questions some of you kids might have, about living off the grid, raising kids, or farming. If there is something that can be raised on a small place, we've tried it, and know pretty much what works and what don't. Just maybe put my name in the question title, because I'm limited a little on time, and with not coming everyday, sometimes it takes me a while to read everything here on the forum, and these dang tri-focals are awful for trying to read a computer monitor! I want to thank you for entertaining me the last several months, you guys make me laugh, you make me want to cry, and sometimes you make me miss my family. I've got at least 12descedents here every weekend, but they have no interest in the farm, or how to do everything--but they sure like the fresh food! And most of all, you give me something to tell Walt about--after 64 years of marriage, conversation can kinda lag a bit. Thinking about it, I could probably answer a question or two on relationships! Well, thanks for reading, I hope I have lots of responses when I come back down Friday. Thanks for listening to an old lady. Gladys and Walt p.s. Before any of you have a cow, we do have a cell phone, and a pretty elaborate solar charger for it!

-- Gladys and Walt (gladys&walt@aol.com), July 12, 2001

Answers

Welcome to the forum Gladys (and Walt, by way of Gladys)!

My mom (78) just got trifocals -- she doesn't like them much! You give me hope, though, that she can someday learn to use a computer!

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), July 12, 2001.

Welcome aboard Gladys and Walt! I will enjoy hearing your advice, and tales! My best friend is a 68 year old farm woman, and boy, has she taught me alot!! In His Grace, Sissy

-- Sissy Sylvester-Barth (jerreleene@hotmail.com), July 12, 2001.

Gladys, What a wonderful introduction, you are my idol.HA Your life sounds wonderful. Four mile driveway, sounds like my kinda place. Your post gave me a very good start to my day. Please post often and share your wealth of information. LOL Sherry

-- sherry (chickadee259@yahoo.com), July 12, 2001.

Gladys, will you be my grandma? Mine died before I was born, so I never had one. I think you would fit the bill perfectly!

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), July 12, 2001.

Hi Gladys and welcome! Oh my do I have questions! I have tons and tons of questions. Seems like everytime I get one thing figured out it leads to more questions on another. I have really been wanting to correspond with someone who is still homesteading late in life and how they make out. Your post was so delightful and inspiring. Would you consider emailing me with your mailing address so that I could write to you? I know what you mean about limited computer time. I have a computer and can hardly get through all I want to do! Thanks and God bless!

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), July 12, 2001.

Hi Gladys and Walt, nice to meet ya. Hope Walt's doing good with his physical therapy and please Gladys, make sure he's wearing regular glasses next time he gets up on the roof! I loved read your intro, you're just what I want to be in later years. What an inspiration! And please post more. You remind me of my brother-in-law's grandma. She always cooked with lard, ate cold butter while she stood and cooked (loved the taste of it), always had a garden and canned, and lived to be 103. Welcome aboard.

-- Annie (mistletoe@kconline.com), July 12, 2001.

Gladys, You're intro was wonderful. I think you should write for Countryside. Do you get the magazine? Where are you located? WELCOME, you are my kind of person!!! DW

-- DW (djwallace@ctos.com), July 12, 2001.

This is provided for what it is worth. Another forum user notified me they happened to be in the forum when this thread was posted, which was at 1:30 AM EST. Doesn't seem likely a doctor's office or library would be open at that time. I cannot verify this through the site administrator's functions. Thus, you might want to take this thread with a grain of salt.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), July 12, 2001.

Ken, I think that may be right! I am just recalling that I know this post was not listed when I went to bed at 11:00 pm but was here when I checked the forum at 7:00 a.m. It never occured to me when I read to relate those times! Darn, there sure are a lot of Bozo's out there. I feel bad though for this person that they have to lie to get people to respond to them.

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), July 12, 2001.

Ken, You old bubble buster! Maybe they still have that place in town . :[ Sherry

-- sherry (chickadee259@yahoo.com), July 12, 2001.

I haven't been to this forum in MONTHS and this is the first post I've read...I think this is a bunch of "hogwash". I'm a homehealth nurse in a rural setting and I've never met an elderly couple who "talked" like this person. I know a lot who are ver spry and able to do much of what this person claims but they sure aren't into video games. Give me a break!!! I just noticed at the bottom of this page it says "please don't use a fake e-mail address" maybe you should ask for people not to make up any wild stories too. Also, This person would have to have a yahoo or some other address wouldn't they? I'm really dumb when it comes to computers but I thought you had to pay for aol..how would you do that thru the library? In His Hand, Artie Ann

-- Artie Ann (rokarns@arkansas.net), July 12, 2001.

I agree with Artie. I vote "delete" content and get rid of these offenders.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), July 12, 2001.

Well it could be true but they did use a fake email address. She didn't specifically state she was sending the post from the library itself, just that she used their computer at times and she did mention having a generator at home and possibly a computer also since they place video games. 1am EST is 10pm PST so there's still a remote chance it could be true.

-- somebody (something@somewhere.com), July 12, 2001.

hmm, maybe she did imply she sent it from a library since she said "so I walk over here to the library and use their computer". Anyone have a library that stays open til 10-11pm?

-- somebody (something@somewhere.com), July 12, 2001.

I was really enjoying this thread until I got to the part that it may be a fake. I think what is so bothersome is that this is the ideal that many of us hope to be someday and it is sad that the only one that appears to exist is a fake. I sure hope it turns out that they are not. Although I have to admit that a four mile driveway is a bit excessive and would take quite awhile to walk to get the mail. LOL I do have hope, though, that someday, this will accurately describe some of us. I will say that my mom and dad are in their 80s and a lot of what was said applies to them (excellent health, physically active, uses a computer) but they are not homesteaders so they don't have that stuff. My Dad is 82 and plays golf every week day in the summer. And there is new research that is showing that people in their senior years can be just as physically fit as a 20 or 30 something if they workout. They have to start slower and build up but they can become just as fit. In fact, that is the age group that is currently being targeted at workout facilities because they are available to be customers during the day when things are usually quiet at the exercise places. They have aerobics workouts with music from the 30s and 40s and they have special safety devices on some of their equipment to assist them in getting started. I plan to be one of these people as I age as well.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), July 12, 2001.

While I suspect you kill-joys may be correct, the post appeared sometime between my early morning and late night. While I'm not saying anyone's wrong, always remember that the internet automatically means a global forum - if not on this post then on another.

Also, sometimes e-mail servers blurt stuff out many hours after it's entered. I would suspect that might particularly be the case with a library system - people could be entering e-mail all-day, but unless they actually send it, it will be stacking up. A thoughtful system administrator would kick off a "send-and-receive" late at night, just before a system backup,

P.S. My father's just turned 85 (on our longest night of the year - your Summer solstice), and Mum's about to turn 80, and they still live on the farm (with one of my brothers). Dad still does a bit of sheep work and farming, although his knees are giving out on him; and Mum still does everything you'd expect a farm wife to do (there is NOTHING IN THIS WORLD better than her tomato sauce (well - that I've tried - and, yes - I've been married, and I've got sons)). They also still deliver "Meals on Wheels" to the elderly 70-year-olds (and up) once a month; Mum's still active in the Country Women's Association (including being on duty at their shop and Tourist's/Visitor's Information Centre) once a month; and they're both still active in church matters. What was spoken of is by no means out of the range of feasibility.

-- Don Armstrong (from Australia) (darmst@yahoo.com.au), July 12, 2001.

I was on the forum when this was posted and I assure you, it is a fake. I know who posted it, when, and I why. It simply boggles my mind to think that anyone would bother to go to such lengths in order to perpetrate a hoax.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), July 12, 2001.

If this is a fake, it is very sad. If it is true it is an inspiration. My ex-mother-in-law ran a 110 acre farm by herself for thirty years after her husbands death. In her eighties she finally gave up hogs but kept the tobacco. She is a diabetic, but otherwise is in better shape that I am. When I would go visit she was up before me (and I get up early) and had breakfast made and had already done many chores. She kept a huge garden by herself. She ran that place and somehow found time to do volunteer work and take care of her elderly mother. She was an amazing woman. And she liked video games too, she said they kept her mind sharp. I just wanted to share that alot of this can be done late in life.

-- Auntie Annie (sahamett@msn.com), July 12, 2001.

Perhaps the 4 mile driveway on a 10 acre piece of property was a clue.

-- na (na@na.com), July 12, 2001.

See Martha..................I TOLD you if you wanted to break into the homestead crowd you had to start SLOWLY.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), July 12, 2001.

Gee, Ken, way to spoil an inspiring post! I just want to say that my husband and I e-mail each other several times a day while he is at work. 95% of them go through immediately, but there are the ones that show up hours, even days later..usually the ones that tell him to pick up something at the store, or his telling me what he wants for dinner. Seriously, it happens a lot. My son calls them "Bumps" or burps. As far as the video games, my father-in-law, who we lost in 1997, at the age of 87, LOVED Zelda and Final Fantasy....got hooked on them when my boys were young, playing with them. He was real upset when they announced they were going to Playstation, because he had trouble with that controller, but could easily run the Nintendo, even though he had Parkinsons. Also, my son installs computers for people, and a good 85% of his clients are 70 or older, they are the largest part of the population getting into computers. Also, my Father in law used the expression "Don't have a cow" all the time--and you should hear that said by an elderly man with a Swedish accent--it was wonderful. Grandparents pick up a lot of stiff from the grandkids! I say, give Gladys a chance, she said she'd be back tomorrow, and if you doubting Thomases haven't scared her away or hurt her feelings, I'd like to hear more from her! Gladys, what do you do about refrigeration? We lived without power for about a year while we were building our house, and that was the biggest problem we had. You mention you sell milk and eggs, so I assume you have come up with something to keep things cool? Kathie p.s. We only have five acres, and our driveway is almost a mile long, she didn't say they were the only ones on it.

-- Kathie in Western Washington (twinrosefarm@worldnet.att.net), July 12, 2001.

Time stamps may mean nothing, you're assuming that the system which sent the message was set correctly. I know many systems which have incorrect time zones and incorrect times.

-- time (timezone@time.com), July 12, 2001.

Elizabeth, You stated that you know who and why this was posted, could you share with us?

-- cowgirlone (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), July 12, 2001.

Cowgirl, I realize that in the interest of credibility I should share the details of my discovery- BUT, I am not going to do so, because it would mean slandering someone else on this and another forum. It seems that some people need to have constant controversy and when it does not exist they create it- I think the term for this is "excited misery". Notice how nice everyone on this forum has been lately? In truth, it doesn't really matter anyway. I don't care if someone thinks I'm wrong- in fact, I wish I was wrong, 'cause I wanted Gladys and Walt to adopt me! I never had grandparents of my own, and wouldn't someone like them be perfect? And, wouldn't it be cool if this thread continues for awhile? If nothing else it has proven to be very entertaining. As long as it doesn't create any problems here, which is what I was afraid would happen, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), July 12, 2001.

This is a bummer, though- I have a 6 1/2 mile long driveway at my tree farm and wanted to know how they manage to sell so much stuff, because I would never be able to get anyone to travel down my driveway to buy milk and eggs- which is one reason I don't live on that property.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), July 12, 2001.

My husband thinks that "Gladys & Walt" have been drinking to much moonshine! My question is why? Is this person so lacking in things to do that they have to fictionalize their lives! My grandmother always said that idle hands are tools of the devil!!!! If things seem too good to be true they usually are. Blessings to all!!

-- Jan Sears (jcsears@magma.ca), July 12, 2001.

I was wondering...when I post to this forum it goes up immediately upon sending. Even if I am at another computer outside the state. Doesn't the rest of yours????

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), July 12, 2001.

Karen,

So far each of my posts have appeared moments after I posted, but that doesn't mean glitches don't occur.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), July 13, 2001.

Ok, well here's a question: Gladys says that broiler (or eating) chickens are cheaper to buy than produce, so she buys them in the store, but she sells eggs. Are eggs cheaper to produce than meat? I suppose it depends on whether or not you like stewing chickens, which I do, but of course some can't abide them. But if you can't abide them, is there such a great difference in the cost of raising the two different types, and if you are such a "prolific" homesteader, raising your own pork, beef, rabbit, and raising laying hens, then why is buying store-bought chickens for meat so much better than eating your own, layers or not?

Gladys, if you are for real, then this is something I'm interested in.

-- Leslie A. (lesliea@home.com), July 13, 2001.

I'd say it's the devil lady from kentucky. she knows who she is,a constant prankster who's well liked on another forum .I believe she is stirring up trouble over there and her own friends, who she's gained their trust don't even suspect it's her. they think it's trouble makers from this forum comming over there trying to disrupt their forum.A real anarchist by nature.Soon it'll be karma time for you kentucky lady and I think you know who I am .I don't have to use my eyes to see.

-- no (Fake mail@BS.com), July 13, 2001.

This really disturbs me. Here are some people that are coming to this forum and thinking that they are going to get accepted and they are about to get kicked in the teeth. So much for 'Country manners'.

There are some very MEAN spirited posts here and I think that everyone who is making accusations about the poster should be held accountable for what they claim and prove it. Then we get the ones with their 'cute' pseudo-names. Up until this point, I was in favour of the forum remaining open, but you all are sure changing my opinion in one big hurry. You may very well be convincing the moderators of the same thing.

For Gladys and Walt, I am going to give the benefit of the doubt, as I am SURE everyone ELSE on this forum would like to receive. Gladys and Walt -- welcome to the board. I hope that you will find helpful things posted and that your years of experience will be helpful to those just starting out. We have a real need for moderate and down to earth people here!

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), July 13, 2001.

I have to disagree with you Julie. I don't think any of these posts are mean-spirited. I do think that some of them display a healthy dose of skepticism, and I think that "Gladys", and probably Walt, too, would appreciate the fact that it results from their using a fake email address, among other factors. As for accountability I take full responsibility for casting doubt upon Gladys' post. So Gladys, when you read this- I hope that does not disqualify me from consideration for adoption!

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), July 13, 2001.

diane--do you mean Martha Stewart?? LOL, I'm slow but sometimes I get it:o)

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), July 13, 2001.

I agree with the other Elizabeth that the responses are not mean spirited. Anyone can tell that we all *want* Gladys and Walt to be real, and several posters tried to come up with possibilities to explain the discrepancies in Gladys' post. Noone wants to feel that someone's pulling their leg, though. I'm certain that if Gladys is real she'll have the wisdom to not be offended/saddened by the scepticism.

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), July 13, 2001.

This person is the mean-spirited one who likes to create post on 2 different forums of Lusenet that either upset people or play with their minds,she's very intelligent to a point and she's good with details.She enjoys people's frustation and likes to stimulate anger in people.It is her entertainment.She's creative but her entertainment is at the exspence of others.Her own so called cyber- friends have no idea it's her on another forum by lusenet and she likes to see the reaction of others as they get angry or try to figure who attacking their forum.Ken don't delete this so quick as her friends will read this and put the puzzle together and figure it out.They won't appreciate the frustration she's been causing them.That's what she needs and maybe she'll stop playing these games with people.

-- no (fakemail@bs.com), July 13, 2001.

julie was in favor of keeping this post open but she's changing her mind in a hurry and she's hoping the moderators do the same.Perhaps she knows something and is hoping the moderators delete this before someone else figures who this is. I think the posters friends will be a little upset at her when they figure out it's her. her other post on another forum weren't as pleasent as this one it had people very upset and angry.

-- no (fakemail@bs.com), July 13, 2001.

No Julie didn't say that. What I said was this forum, the whole thing. I have never seen anyone else post an introduction on this board and have this attitude taken with them. Everyone else has been welcomed and given the benefit of the doubt. They didn't have to 'prove' themselves to people who don't have the common courtesy to use their own names. Put up the evidence or shut up, as the saying goes.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), July 13, 2001.

Gez, the natives are getting restless! All over a stupid idiot posting a post that is not real! So what??? If you think it is real welcome ol' Gladys aboard. Those that believe it is not are just upset because they are "disappointed" that someone would go to such extent to make up a big story. There is nothing to get into a big debate about...each to his own opinion.

Personally, I think that those who think it is real should think it over. Hellllloooooo....Gladys and Walt aren't real!!! I thought it was real in the beginning and then the time of the post (ok, so sometimes there are glitches, but I have NEVER had one) but look at the email address-- you have to PAY for AOL and it isn't done on a library computer. Another thing.. I also know a lot of spry older people (my grandma lives with us is 91) but you can't tell me 80+ year olds (one almost 90) can milk a cow plus goats, raise beef, pigs, chickens, bees, rabbits, flowers, produce (all for sale), clean thier own chimney, make butter and walk 4 miles (would be 8 MILES round trip folks) to get the mail! And if they are selling all those dairy products you would have to have a graded dairy facility...and that there would be a full time job for a 20 year old!

Hey regardless, don't you feel sorry for someone who has to lie like this just to get attention? I think they are just misdirected...they might be able to make a living writing fiction!!

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), July 13, 2001.

Sharon wildflower your games with people's minds on this forum has come to an end ,you can still mess with the minds at beyond the sidewalks .they'll forgive you no matter how frustrated you've gotten them over there even when you had jim cussin and a few other thinking it was coming from CS trouble makers thanks for revealing yourself.Your now the victim of your own game.

-- no (fakemail@bs.com), July 13, 2001.

IF Gladys and Walt are real,what happened here would be a real shame,if they are not ,lets not give the poster the attention they apparently so desire.Elizabeth,I think you need to tell Ken or Dave privately who this is,for the integrity of the forum to continue as it usually is.

-- teri (mrs_smurf2000@yahoo.ca), July 13, 2001.

Hmmmmmm, when I read the intro., I thought it was too good to be true, but what the heck, I'm not that old and you never know. It's hard for my little pea sized brain to comprehend why someone would go to these lengths, for what????? I've been on this forum for a long time now and have seen alot, and know alot of the old posters. IF, No is right, it should be stated, that most of the new people here would not automatically know the poster is from Ky., and the poster hasn't been on here (legitamately), for a long time. Right, Mr. or Mrs. No?

-- Annie (mistletoe@kconline.com), July 13, 2001.

Hey Come on...Lighten Up...Be Happy...Its A satire, a good one at that. No one sees us, as we see ourselves.

-- Nathan Harris Sr. (barnyard_mini@yahoo.com), July 13, 2001.

No, I guess we posted at the same time. So much for being subtle, huh?

-- Annie (mistletoe@kconline.com), July 13, 2001.

Can anyone guess why I didn't post a response as soon as I read the above nonsense? Okay... some poor soul out there has a sick and twisted mind! Jesus have mercy, let's get on with it! Maybe we should pray for that person! Anyway, lets not allow this get our knickers twisted! Lets get back to some interesting posts!!!!!!

-- Ardie from WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), July 13, 2001.

OOoooh, lighten up folks..

-- Hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), July 13, 2001.

Our tractor repair man and hay man are both in their 80s. My dad in CA,. is a building contractor and still at it with hammer and all in this late 70s. Some of us age better than others I guess.

-- Debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), July 13, 2001.

Hey Mr. No, when you point your finger at somebody, there are 3 fingers pointing back at yourself. Don't ya think this is just a tad bit rude?

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), July 13, 2001.

FWIW, if you have an AOL account you can access your email from any computer in the world that has internet access. All you need to do is go to www. aol.com and log in. AOL allows you to have up to 7 different users on an account, each one has their own email address. Maybe one of Gladys and Walt's kids owns the account and lets them have one of the email addresses. That's what I do with my parents. They are retired and travel most of the year, and we mainly keep in touch via email. So just because Gladys says that she's posting from the library and she's using an AOL address doesn't mean that she's imaginary. My parents do it all the time and they are very real!

-- Sherri C (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), July 13, 2001.

sharon??? Is that really you honey?????? Haven't I told you you can NOT be Martha in this life...........the role is already taken!!!!LOL folks, I don't get it. What is to be upset about here???

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), July 13, 2001.

Can't we all just enjoy the story and get on with it .Fake or not it was good reading .I like to give the benifit of doubt .I can only hope it is for real , i would love to be so active at that age.Lets all get something else to do besides read this forum !

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), July 13, 2001.

"no (fakemail@bs.com)",

Sharon wildflower your games with people's minds on this forum has come to an end ,you can still mess with the minds at beyond the sidewalks .they'll forgive you no matter how frustrated you've gotten them over there even when you had jim cussin and a few other thinking it was coming from CS trouble makers thanks for revealing yourself.Your now the victim of your own game.

-- no (fakemail@bs.com), July 13, 2001.

Well, I guess when you mention me in your post it's time for me to get involved.

Why are you making these accusations against sharon and how do you know for a *fact* that it's her?

If you don't want to talk about this on the forum then email me (you can even use a yahoo or hotmail account). But I think you should come clean rather than making insinuations on this forum. If you don't contact me and provide conclusive proof then I'll have to conclude that YOU are the troublemaker and not sharon. It seems to me that if you're so concerned with the well-being of forum members, you'll resolve this problem quickly.

-- Jim Morris (prism@bevcomm.net), July 13, 2001.

the aol address they used does not exist. you can't use '&' in email addresses and I also checked just in case. ----- Transcript of session follows ----- ... while talking to air-yc02.mail.aol.com.: >>> RCPT To: <<< 550 MAILBOX NOT FOUND 550 ... User unknown

-- somebody (something@somewhere.com), July 13, 2001.

Gladys, you sound like good old country folks, and characters, too! Welcome to the forum, never mind the naysayers, they'll calm down if you're real. About the goats and the bottles, have you tried a lambar? I hated bottle feeding, the lambar is so much easier and less work! There is another forum you might enjoy, it doesn't get as much traffic as this one, but we have our share of characters theer too. feel free to wander by sometime!

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q- and-a.tcl?topic=Freedom%21%20self%20reliance

-- Rebekah (daniel@itss.net), July 13, 2001.

I'm on the side that wished it was true. Quite an inspiring story and 64 years of marriage is very impressive and rare nowadays. I grew up on a farm with my grandmother who still at 92 was walking about 1 mile a day, tending a 20x40' garden, etc. She swore by brewers yeast and black strap molasses. She was completely healthy up to the day she decided her work was done, laid down and died.

-- somebody (something@somewhere.com), July 13, 2001.

You'd think it was winter and everyone had cabin fever!

-- Ardie from you-know-where (ardie54965@hotmail.com), July 13, 2001.

yeah, good thing we're not all in the same town. someone woulda probably been strung up by now ; )

-- somebody (something@somewhere.com), July 13, 2001.

How cynical you all are. Welcome Gladys and Walt........

My grandmother was 96 last year and on husband #6. (she's outlived all of them) She has a garden,likes to dance, ran a restaurant until2 years ago and an antique shop over the restaurant. Winters she spends in Sanibel Island painting patios (Indian rug designs with masonry paint)and feeding her "friend" marshmallows.(he happens to be a 16 ft alligator that suns himself next to her lounge chair as she drops marshmallows into his very large mouth, and periodically she uses her "toothpick" to remover mallows that have gotten stuck between his teeth.She had husband #6 make the "toothpick" out of an old broom handle with a long nail in the end.)

Grandma is quite a character so I'll believe anything.

-- Peg (Ashlinep@localnet.com), July 13, 2001.

I have many many times posted something on this forum and waited till the NEXT DAY for it to show up!!

What exactly is it about some people on this forum that makes them so eager to jump down someone's throat? Always at the ready to pounce, judge, criticize. Sounds like serious insecurity to me.......

And as for the people who referred to Walt and Gladys as 'sick and twisted', 'sad', etc., how on earth does one determine from what they posted that they (whoEVER they are!) have need of psychological help?? I thought it was sweet and fun and lovely, and it certainly did no one any harm, whether its authentic or not! Looks to me like the author of this post is not the one in need of couseling! What about all the stories others post to this forum? Do you honestly believe that all of Hoot's yarns are REAL??

Unbelievable.

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), July 13, 2001.

OK - I lied... I'm posting. I've still been reading all along anyway.

The address was miss represented, but not fake. If you CHECK the message that comes back, you will see that there is a valid addy. I have already gotten an answer, though I just posted a bit ago. It is currently 4:42 MDT - for those interested.

The libraries back in IL (Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Mount Prospect just to name a few) all stayed open till 10 PM several nights per week, and in most larger cities (Boise size and bigger) have those hours - some later. The U of I library here in Boise stays open till midnight on Fridays... Don't know the rest of the hours though. It is NOT unheard of... Even in Idaho City the library is open till 8 pm - and there are only 300+ people here.

In the 'hills', it is not inconcievable to have a four mile driveway on LESS than 10 acres or up to your 10 acres. You could be at the end of a private road... you could have neighbors but still be on a private road... If there is a steep slope, you have to circle it. I have seen plenty of places that would qualify, though four whole miles I doubt out here - not enough flat ground at the top to justify it here.

When you can get chicken for 39 cents per pound (ok, thighs and drumsticks only), why would you raise it? If feed is $7.50 per 50# bag, and it takes 2 - 2 1/2 pounds of feed per pound of (live) bird, she's right. By the time you figure in your time, the few antibiotics you use at home, cost of housing, cost of storage for feed, any equiptment you use for butchering (knives, barrels, defeathering machine etc, and the time butchering takes, its cheaper to buy it.

In that same Albertson's, SMALL eggs are 99 cents per dozen. Go figure. She didn't say she never ate the older hens, just that she doesn't raise them for their meat. Hell... how many of you raise Toggs, Nubians, or Alpines for THEIR meat??? If you want the phone number for Albertson's, I can provide it. Its on Federal Way in Boise.

If my father can play video games, why can't Walt?? Dad plays with my daughter all the time. Course, Dad isn't 87 years old - he's in his sixties. (born 12/19/1936)

I understand skepticism. Some of the points were well taken. However, nothing that was posted is out of the realm of possibility. Veiled accusations and inuendo don't hide the true gist of a post.

If nothing else, and if in fact Gladys is a fake, at least the creativity would prove useful for providing ideas for some to get out of working in town and truly becoming more self-sufficient.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), July 13, 2001.

Boy howdy,

I don't think I've seen such a mess of supposition, innuendo, leaping to conclusions, character assassination, and judgement by weak circumstantial evidence since... well, pretty much every scandal to have come out of Washington D.C. since I was born.

Y'all really should go back and reread the original post and your responses. Even if it *is* fake, which I do not know for a FACT that it is, your behavior is less than civil. Are your children reading this?

I don't give a particular damn if that post is fake or not. It was nice to read and if Gladys never comes back to post again well she'd hardly be the first bogus post to have passed through this forum now would she? If she's a real person and she never comes back again because of the behavior of the fine, upstanding Harper Valley citizens that represent this forum well, I guess that's just life in the modern day U.S. isn't it?

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), July 13, 2001.

Some of you guys should really consider a career in law! Seriously! You have talent for following details and argument, and examining minutiae. It's unfortunate that there are already so many attorneys already because it would be a natural course for some of you. Of course, I understand it's kind of hard to get accepted to graduate school. And it takes money and connections, and probably a new wardrobe, too.

The appeals part of it could be interesting, also, for some who don't want to let go of a position easily. I really think that's why some folks on here like to discuss these things to the point of exhaustion for others. For some folks, it's just how they think and act.

Peace to you all. My $.02.

-- sheepish (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), July 13, 2001.

Welcome to the forum Gladys!

-- Paul (hoyt@egyptian.net), July 14, 2001.

I believe that this post should stay as an example of what mr no does and is responsible for. Also anyone that says they have information and choose not to share it, is probably lieing.

This sort of thing is not new and it is the main reason I left this forum to find another that did not have a mentally unbalanced stalker playing mind games and messing with others computers.

Just messing with computers is obviously not enough for mr no. he-she or whatever it is today, had to try to tear someone down to their level.This task is not possible since Sharon is a good hearted person and would not do the things stated. I should know since I'm her husband and have known her for almost 20 years

But if you must talk to someone mr no, try me. I've worked with mentaly unbalanced inmates before, so maybe I can help you.

-- Nick Tepsick (wildheart@ekyol.com), July 15, 2001.

Hello Gladys. Welcome. I enjoyed reading your posts. I replied to this one to bring it back to the top of new answer list. There still a few people that owe you a welcome or an apology. Some people say thing they wish they could take back. Here is their chance. Sounds like you have a great family and good life. Keep posting.

-- ed (edfrhes@aol.com), July 19, 2001.