I, along with my class, have been watching the stories about your ram and I may have a suggestion for a use for the wool that doesn’t meet the standards for clothing. Our Junior ROTC class has a problem in finding cleaning supplies for our target rifles. Wool-tipped swabs are perfect for putting a final coat of oil on the bore of a larger bore rifle. Obvious the quality of the wool is of little matter as long as the fibers are of a reasonable length.
A number of the younger children are sending you their drawings of Brillo in another package, but I did not want my letter to get lost in the shuffle.
P. Henry Johnson
Grantville Middle School
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Dear Veleda,
I agree completely about the rustic smell. Enough is enough. Market or no market, expensive or not, Something Must Be Done.
Fran Genucci seems to think a composting operation is the answer. I simply don’t have the time or the space for this operation.
Perhaps the kids involved with the 4-H club might like to get involved with this. They’ve certainly done a good job of salvaging plants.
I know it wouldn’t be popular, but have you considered a “pooper scooper” law? I’m sure most of the ladies of the town would vote for it. If we got enough signatures, surely the city council would listen. I don’t care how big a pooper scooper would have to be, the amount of manure on the streets and roads is getting completely out of hand.
I’ll see you at the meeting.
Your friend,
Flo Richards
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Dear Fran,
According to Veleda, the Garbage Guys don’t feel there is any profit to be made from a composting operation. Like you, I feel that there is some profit potential there.
Unfortunately, I just don’t have the time or space to run this type of operation. I suggested to Veleda that we might try and interest the 4-H Club.
I believe that the second Saturday of next month is when the Methodist ladies host the luncheon for the Catholic ladies. I could be wrong about that, and will check with Mary Ellen Jones to be sure.
You are coming to the League of Women Voters meeting, aren’t you? See you there.
Your friend,
Flo Richards
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Dear Mr. Johnson,
The drawings were adorable. Please let the children know that I really appreciate them.
I would be perfectly willing to provide the Junior ROTC class with some of the lower quality wool. Please let me know just how much you need. We don’t have a huge amount of the lower quality wool, but I’m pleased to find another use for it. The pincushions are proving to be rather popular.
I do hope that the children will be able to make the swabs themselves. I’m afraid that things are pretty busy just at the moment so we won’t be able to make the swabs.
I would appreciate a receipt for the wool. Taxes, you know.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can do.
Regards,
Flo Richards
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Dear Flo,
Someone suggested horse diapers. I saw some of those bags on horses when Tom took me to Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell.
Those are just a very few horses, though-for historical carriage rides. Here in Grantville, we’ve got thousands of horses it seems like, every day. It looks like we’re going to keep on having them.
We can keep the idea in reserve, but I’m also afraid that just making the bags would take more cloth than we have right now. We pretty well need most of it to put clothes on people. The Ecumenical Emergency Refugee Relief Committee is bound to think that people are more important than prettifying the scenery.
Not to mention what the men are likely to say! I know what Tom said when I mentioned it to him at dinner!
Maybe at the meeting we can have one of those brainstorming sessions where everyone comes up with ideas and then we weed them out gradually.
Would one of those scraper things that the guys are using to scoop up creek gravel to surface the roads work as a giant pooper-scooper, do you suppose?
Your friend,
Veleda Riddle
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Dear Veleda,
I do suppose the cloth shortage will end someday. I’d certainly like for it to be soon. My jeans are wearing out, and you know me, I just hate to have to pay those kinds of prices at the tailor’s. Perhaps the canvas people will be able to develop those bag things someday. Are they really called horse diapers? I giggle every time I think those words.
J.D. did do one of his snort noises when I mentioned them. Men! No imagination. Can’t live with them and there’s no resale value. Sigh.
I do wish someone were able to use Fran’s composting idea. We’re already composting here on the farm, but it’s the rabbit waste. It’s amazing how much waste such small critters can produce.
I really don’t see why one of the scraper thingies wouldn’t work. The trick will be getting one of them released for the work, I expect. Still, streets full of horse poop are not a good thing.
Well, I see I have yet another snooty noble type coming up the drive. Wonder if this one will do that “stare past me and demand” thing like the last one? I’m really getting tired of this dress-up and suck-up thing. And, I still don’t understand this fascination with that rotten ram.
See you at the meeting.
Your friend,