Welch Happenings Blog

Changes

2012-01-12T19:51:00.004-06:00

Soo, I've noticed something today (I pretty much do everyday, but this one stuck out..haha).
Well since we are soo close to broke due to hubby's layoff and two week delay in getting that first paycheck, I have been only buying the bare minimum of groceries, like only what we absolutely need to go with what we already have. I never really noticed how much was spent on...maybe I will make this this week or I'm sure the hubby would like this. Most of the time these impulse buys end up stacking up in the freezer or in the pantry.
I never was a big junk food buyer, most of my groceries is your basic meals but planned (in my head)weeks in advance. BUT I would do this every week whether I needed to or not I always picked up more meals. In a way this worked out for us cause we had plenty to eat on for like the first week or so(of no paycheck) without really having to buy anything else but hubby's lunch supplies and milk. Since only getting what I need, my grocery bill has decreased by at least $20-30 a week already!
I'm thinking maybe I will try to keep this tend going and see how long before I really have to break down and buy a large load of groceries. I'm thinking that we could possibly go another month before that happens.

In other news...the hubby has informed me that he is thinking of changing jobs to a company that has more trucks, newer equipment and pays by the hour rather than paying by the load. I told him that if he is going to do it he had better do it now while I am still in poverty limbo rather than later when I get a routine going and we won't be able to go 2 weeks without pay.

Now for some lighter news...I decided to clean my office. Every box and every piece of paper is going to be gone through and assessed, thrown, kept or shredded. I'm an idiot!!!

Introducing... Southern Gal's Crochet!

2012-01-11T21:08:00.006-06:00

So I have been debating this for some time now and have finally went through with it. As most of you know..here lately if and when I do blog, I blog about my crocheting. I'm sure some of you have been seriously tired of this convo and wish I would get back to the regular topics of animal antics and the hubs humor or maybe even my ponderings.

So in light of my realization, I have created a new blog just for all my crochet talk and creations. www.southerngalscrochet.blogspot.com

If you happen to enjoy all my crochet talk, then please feel free to come on over and join me. I will be posting about what I am making, where I got the pattern, what issues I might have had and also will be introducing fellow crocheters, their lovely work and links to free patterns I find across the web that interest me.

This will not only be for the benefit of you my readers and other crocheters but will also allow me to have all my saved patterns all in one place..LOVE that!!

Old Year yields new hopes for the New year

2012-01-01T00:19:00.004-06:00

Last year at this time I was making a blanket for my brother and his girl. Yes I was still in the baby steps of making JUST blankets. I was just venturing out into the www and finding out that I could get patterns online! I was amazed but still too chicken to try anything out of my comfy blanket zone. Shortly after making the said blanket, his girl passed away suddenly. The family was devastated, needless to say. Sad to say but Yes life does go on and makes ya think and appreciate.

I tell you this cause I am convinced it was this time of refection after her death that made me stop and rethink what I had been doing with my daily life. I spent my days glued to my computer, doing my blog, reading blogs and feeling tons of pressure to keep up with it all. Not to mention the neglect my hubs was feeling over us being in two separate rooms all the time, him watching tv and me wrapped up in other peoples lives. I tried my hand at photography and really liked it but getting the opportunity to go places and explore with my camera wasn't feasible with our income.

So then came along crochet! I have known how to crochet since I was a teen but never really tried anything other than blankets and scarves. Squares and rectangles! LOL! I suddenly had mustered up the courage to try designs in my blankets which required learning to read patterns and new stitches. Learning how to read patterns opened my world up to all kinds of new possibilities. I look back at the pics of all the things I have done this year, I marvel at how far I have come and how much I have learned. To think that last year at this time I was still stuck behind a blanket and now I am doing hats, clothes and even toys! Oh what a difference a year makes and there is still soo much more I want to try!

This last year also brought us a new grand-daughter and we was lucky enough to go and see her and the family. Yes I know I have already told you that but I still squeal under my breathe when I think of the grandkids, I can't help it!

I do believe my last post was about the layoffs at hubby's work...well he escaped the first round of layoffs but not the closing of the company. He was out of work for three weeks but it has been 6 weeks without a paycheck. Times have been hard for the last few months but I have high hopes next year will be better. Hubby has a job (which is a blessing) and now that I have been doing soo much better with my crocheting I am also making a little bit of money to help out.

For the New Year I hope...
to further my knowledge in crochet
to teach my niece how to crochet
hubby has good luck with this new company
hubby's health doesn't worsen
Save a little money! (I can hope!)
And maybe if I am really lucky I can kick this habit of smoking. (wishful thinking!)

I hope you all get all your hopes fulfilled and have a wonderful New Year!

Unemployment?? Boy that was a close one...

2011-10-19T21:24:00.005-05:00

Today was a super scary day for about 30 minutes. Hubby called to tell me that "Two Speed" (a coworker) just found out that he was laid off and there is rumored to be 15 expected layoffs. Two Speed went into the office to turn in his paperwork and WHAM he was asked into the big office and handed his severance package and told to clean out his truck, with best wishes and a list of hiring companies. There was no warning that this was going to happen, just a simple hello, goodbye kinda day.

I told hubby to let me know how it went for him.

THE LONGEST 30 MINUTES.....EVER!!!

The fear crept in instantly and I was close to tears. If it hadn't been for checking the mail and finding my current package of yarn there, I'm sure I would have broke down in sheer panic. I was already trying to figure out what things will would have to cut and where I could find a job.

The phone rang...Hubby took in a deep breathe (my mind went numb in fear), finally he uttered the words...I still have a job!
OH, THANK GOODNESS!!!! That was all I could say.

Later when the hubs got home he told me who all he knows got cut and why he didn't.

First.. he lost a good portion of his buddies that he runs with and chats with all day. He is very sad over this loss.

Second...he stopped one of the main girls in the office and asked her what the criteria was for keeping his job. She said for him it was mostly because he is in the top 10 of drivers who make the most loads and don't have alot of expense coming out for repairs. Basically saying he does his job efficiently and doesn't tear up is truck doing it. Plus combine that with is safety record (nobody calling in on him for unsafe driving or accidents)and always passing a DOT (Department of Transportation) inspection. Also unknown to the drivers but they have been spying on them all just looking for anything to pin on them... Speeding in the pits, failure to wear safety equipment, taking extra long lunches...just anything really.

All the while he was talking, I was thinking of the story of the Rabbit and the Turtle. Steady and careful vs fast and damaging.

It's just good to know that my hubby is a great truck driver and they value him as an employee...for now.

Recap of the last few months

2011-10-08T12:43:00.002-05:00

Soo...it has been a super long time since I have written anything. I knew I had been neglecting my blog but hadn't realized just how long it had been..4 months!! Well to be honest not much has been going on around here, except a whole lot of crocheting and some super hot days. Lets see if I can break it down and remember some things. I'm gonna cheat an use my Facebook status's for a guide.

June and July...basically those were the dog days of summer. So friggin hot it was torture just to walk to the mailbox. We didn't do much of anything outside. The scorched weeds did need mowing but the fear of fire was too great to risk it.
I had the ac's cranked and still it was hot, but I still managed to get some crochet projects done.
I did go to the zoo with my sister and her little family, that was lot of fun, but it was super hot!!
I also went to a family gathering for a late Father's day and early b-day celebration for dad.
Daughter Jennifer came out to spend the day with her dad on father's day, that was fun getting to spend time with the grandkids.
We also had a new addition to our family, granddaughter Pearl.
Hubby was home for a whole week while his truck was being worked on, that was a scary week not knowing just how long he was going to be out of work.
One more thing...I began to teach myself to knit! I have gone 40+ years without ever trying, it was time to muster up the courage and get it over with.

August...Going on our 3rd month of 100+ temps and all energy has been zapped out of human and animal alike.
I started the month out in pain from a pinched nerve in my lower back that hurt all the way down to my toes.
I did have a good visit with my brother and his little family, it is always a treat when they visit.
We did go on vacation to visit with friends and family up in the Dallas area. It was only a three day trip but it was wonderful getting to see and spend time with everybody. We saw alot of old friends that we hadn't seen in a super long time, also we got to meet our newest granddaughter and spend time with the grandkids, so that was pretty exciting.
Another good thing was that the trip didn't cost nearly as much as we had predicted.
The only bad thing that happened was I kinked my neck on the trip home and had a stiff and sore neck for a week afterwards. Well worth the pain, I'd say!
I also started a blanket for the hubby...Harley Davidson blanket! I was all excited cause it was the first time I had worked on a blanket that had multiple strands going all at the same time.

Sept...Sat around hoping for rain and watched the ground shrivel up and die.
Hubby did mowed the dirt, that was pretty funny. He had a huge dust cloud rolling behind him, reminded me of the character from Charlie Brown. LOL! It's still funny just remembering the image.
We did manage to get a few sprinkles now and then in the beginning of the month but nothing that could be measured.
I made a trip up to see the folks and work on their computer, I even got dad set up for Facebook. That lasted for about a week!
Got to go visit with my bf for a day, I do miss being able to see her whenever I feel like it.
My mom had 4 deaths on her side of the family and had to go to Maine, us kids had to do what we could to watch over the old man. We can only do soo much with someone so stubborn! LOL!
I got a lot of crochet projects done in the month of September, finished up some that had been in my closet for years.
Made another trip to parents house to AGAIN mess with their computer.
Got a few decent showers in the latter portion of the month.

October...Finished the blanket for the hubs, he has been using it ever since. He loves it!
Made a trip to brothers house to clean up for the arrival of his new girlfriend from Australia in 2 weeks. I have talked with her and already like her very much.
One of my kitties has been missing for the last week, pretty sure she met with fowl play.
Hubby has been home since mid-day Thursday..AGAIN having work done on his truck, not sure if he will be back to work Monday or not.

Well that is about it, it is actually more than I thought it would be!

Her Puppet Masters...

2011-06-07T09:36:00.004-05:00

Sitting here drinking my coffee and going through my emails (it's been awhile). I get the weekly newsletter from Mama's Losing It, delivering the prompts for the Writer's Workshop for the week. As you must know already I haven't participated in some time. Anyway I got to last weeks prompts and the vlog option was "Show what a typical day looks like at your house". This tickled my funny bone pretty good. I started envisioning myself sitting down to watch the most boring movie ever! LOL!

She was wakened by a snorting/sneezing dog that was trying to tell her it is time to get your lazy bum up and let me out. She throws back the covers, slips on her slippers and lets all dogs out while keeping an watchful eye on the escape artist cat. She gets her coffee, puts it in the micro, gives the cats their treats and goes to the bathroom. She retrieves her hot coffee, looks over at the computer and tells herself "Stupid! You left the computer on all night". She fixes up her coffee with cream and sugar, steals a sip and puts it down.

Grabs a glass of water and a scoop of cat food. Opens the front door to watch all the kitties come a running. She feeds and waters them and sitently counts to make sure none are missing. Momma and 1,2,3,4,5. Humm, where's the daddy? Oh well, he'll show up.

Back in the house she grabs her coffee and sits down at the computer, time to see what is going on in the world and with my friends. She briefly glances over Facebook. Stitch barks that he wants back in, she waits for all three to come in but of course Taco has to be a little subborn and says no by laying there and ignoring the opened door. She comes back to the computer only to be summoned back to the door just a few short minutes later. False alarm, Tacos just barking for the sake of barking. Again he fools me for a second time, on the third time she forces him to come in so she can stop this merry go round.

Back in front of the computer in her swivel chair. She gets snorted/sneezed at by one dog and whined at by another. She swivels around and asks WHAT? Three beds for three dogs there shouldn't be a problem. Ohh, I see. Tacos bed is occupied by a cat and Stitch wants covers. She fixes the problems and returns to her browsing.

Now that the cat has been awakened and removed from said basket, he needs someone to pick on in his grouchy mood. He picks a fight with Peachy, who was fast asleep in her own basket. This morning is not quite going off without a hitch! She rubs her face in aggervation and heads outside to water the plants.

Anything to get away from being the puppet to the puppet masters. They pull her strings and move her along through another day, but sometimes they try to pull those strings just a little to tight and taunt. This just happens to be one of those mornings.

Lets see if another cup of coffee fixes anything!
If this was a movie, it really would be boring. That was two hours of my morning. Sitting here writing this and doing the same chores I do every morning. The cat fight was not a typical thing but does happen at least twice a week! LOL!

Now it is time to get on the phone and do my daily phone calls to mom and bf. Then it will be time to get some crocheting done before the heat picks up to a miserable 100 degrees.

My "little boy" is down to eight lives left!

2011-06-03T23:36:00.007-05:00

One of my favorite of the kittens just gave me the scare of a lifetime! I was going to go back to sitting in my chair and pick up my crocheting again...I had to walk past the front door to do so and I heard momma kitty let out a strange meow. I opened the door t see what was going on.

To my horror the little outdoor end table was knocked over and one of the orange kittens was tangled up in the legs!

As you can see (from the pic I took 2 days ago), this little table has curly legs and the kittens head reaches one end and his hips reach the other end.

I rushed out the door and he was soo wrapped up in those curly legs I was frantic at trying to loosen him. I had to get his head out first and the try to free his hips, as I was trying to free his hips, I saw the look in his eyes. It was a look of "Your too late". I rushed him up to my chest, grabbed the table and threw it towards the garbage cans, ran into the house and proceeded to check him over.

I thought for sure he was dead, his eyes were glassed over and he was like a rag doll in my hands. After quickly rubbing my hands all over his body to see if there was damage, he lifted his head! I can't even relay to you the feeling that washed over me.. relief and joy, mingled with the still present fear and panic.

He was stuck in those legs in such an odd way...The upper leg had his head and his body was bent over the leg to where the metal was pressing on the back of his neck and hips stuck in the opposite direction.

Now that I knew he was alive, I wanted to check his mobility. I put him on the floor and waited to see if he could walk. He did walk but it was only two steps. I picked him up and plopped myself into my office chair. My heart was racing, I needed to sit! I sat here for a good while just stroking him and he finally started showing signs of being more alert.

I took him out to his mother (who had been meowing most frantically the whole time), who promptly proceed to lick him to death as she was leaning on my leg and purring. I stayed outside long enough to be sure he could walk good and to get some leg rubs and swishy tailing from my little boy.

If cats DO have 9 lives, then he's already down to eight! AND I gained at least a dozen new greys!

What a night! I'm worn out from all the excitement, nighty-nite.

Memorial day weekend

2011-05-29T23:39:00.006-05:00

Saturday I spent the morning and the evening with the hubby watching some really great old war movies on the tv. I absolutely adore Van Johnson and he was a huge star of the b&w era, so manage to get my fix of him almost all day. During the afternoon I spent a few hours with my bf. I had a pretty good pile of things to take to her and we had some crocheting to share with each other. It was a good visit and we sat and watched History Detectives together (very interesting episode), it had been so long since we had the chance to just sit in each others presence. I do dislike that we now live so far away.

Sunday the hubby and I lazied around almost all day. I cooked twice and crocheted till my tush went numb. Then we took a nap. After the nap I was full of energy and the sun was setting, the temps outside had finally dropped down into the 80's. I decided it was a great time to get the mowing done. Watching the beautiful sunset across the sky made me long for my camera but I knew I had to finish the mowing before I lost all sunlight. Kinda a bummer to have missed the opportunity but at least the mowing got done. BUT before the mowing was finished, the hubby decided to come outside (first time since friday evening) just to aggravate me about my mowing technique...grrr. I was pretty peeved. I was very close to saying something ugly but thankfully refrained.
Meanwhile while mowing the race was on. There was about 77 more laps left to the race and Earnhardt was in 3rd by time I came in. Okay NOW this is a race to watch! I decided to sit and watch it while giving myself a foot soak. There I was sitting in my chair with my feet stuck in water and suddenly Earnhardt was in the lead. I was slapping my knee begging and pleading for him to go go go, while my whole body wanted to be jumping up and down but couldn't cause my feet were stuck in water!. It was torture! Only to watch his car slow down, he ran out of gas on the 4th corner just yards away from the checkered flag. OMG it was so disappointing but yet it was a thrilling race.

Tomorrow I plan to finish the yard, go to the grocery store, do some laundry and hopefully finish the throw I have been working on. Just a plain old regular day.

Yeah we really know how to party, huh?

Tagged

2011-05-27T23:16:00.004-05:00

So here I was blissfully hiding in the shadows and crocheting my life away, totalling ignoring my responsibility to my blog and all the lovely peeps that have been so kind to continue with me through my wishy-washy way of blogging. I was suddenly reminded (kicked in the butt) of certain peoples loyalty and was slapped with a tagging. LOL! My dear friend Spot has been reading my occasional posts and has been a true blue friend on facebook. She is all up to date on how much time I have been spending with my hook and yarn and decided it was high time I focused on something else, hence the tagging. LOL! Isn't she just the sweetest! Seriously, I really do need the break.♥♥

So lets see...where did I put those questions. Hold on, still looking...Ah, found them!

#1...If you could go back in time and relive a moment, what moment would it be?
Okay I have thought long and hard about this one and it has to be this...
Hubby and I had gone to visit my grandparents in Florida. Nana lived with them and was sitting in her chair crocheting..blind. I sat down on the floor in front of her chair and watched. Then she proceeded to teach me a particular crochet stitch. It was the first time I ever had the chance to really be close to her and feel that bond of learning something from my Nana in something that we both enjoyed doing.

#2...If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?
I'm not really sure there is anything that I would change cause that would alter the reality I live in and also alter me. There are things that I regret but in all of those things were a lesson learned. If I was to change the outcome of things, then I would have changed to lesson I got from it. Although...I could stand to go back and change that hairdo I was sporting in the eighties! LOL!

#3...What movie/tv character do you most resemble in personality?
I would have to say this would be a mixture of Ma Ingalls or Ma Walton. Very down to earth and strong, tough and at times even rugged and yet the homemaker with heart.

#4...If you could push one person off a cliff and get away with it, who would it be?
Wow what a question! I'm sorry to say, but I don't have anyone that I hate that much to end their life just for my satisfaction. Now if you had asked me that question back in my teens or early twenties I might have been able to come up with an answer. Thankfully I learnt that if you really dislike someone that much and can't get past it, it's best to stay away from them for both of your sakes.

#5...Name one habit you want to change in yourself?
Just one? Hummm...Give me a minute! I'm thinking...
Balance. I have a really bad habit of not being able to balance more than one thing at a time. Blogging, crocheting, photography, sewing... so on and so on. I wish I had more balance in my life to accommodate all of my loves, everyday.

#6...Describe yourself in one word.
I can't do it. I am a woman of many words. Lets just say I am a 50's housewife with a slight twist of modern. I am my grandmother.

#7...Describe the person who named you in this meme, in one word.
♥♥Friend♥♥

#8...Why do you blog?
For many reasons...To have a record of my life, to have a place to get it all out(vent), to have a place to keep family and friends up to date.

Now here is the part that everyone dreads..Hahaha (evil laugh)!
I am to name some folks to bestow this on. This might be harder than I realised considering my lack of blogging has lost me alot of readers. So in my good person fashion, I am NOT going to tag. I'm a meanie arent I?! You was soo looking forward to getting your name called out, weren't you? LOL!

Instead I will just direct you to some of my favorite peeps.
Tink
Suzicate
Peg
Angelia
Grace
MrsBear
Sprite's Keeper
Carol
Consider yourself tagged if you really want to be.

The day I talked to my birth mother...

2011-05-22T00:47:00.003-05:00

Well as some of you already know, I wasn't raised with my birth mother. It was just me and dad for 8 years till he remarried. I have seen her 4 times throughout my life and of course there have been the polite Christmas cards and the occasional birthday card. Since my Grammies death there hasn't been any contact with that side of the family except for those cards.

As usual I sent the Christmas card last Christmas and shortly after I received a short note from her wondering why I hadn't sent a picture like my brother did. Basically I was being chastised for being not as good and thoughtful as my brother. Which at the time stung a little but yet pissed me off too. Like SHE really didn't have the right to get on my case about anything! But yet there was that nagging little piece of me that said...Why don't you give her another chance? Surely she has calmed her ways and besides she is old now.

This produced a large argument with my conscience. If you only knew the words that were spoken up in my head. Phew, it was awful! I mean how many chances can you dish out in hopes of not getting hurt AGAIN? Deep in my heart I knew I must of been sending those cards every year in hopes of some kind of relationship. In the end my conscience won and I finally broke down and sent her some pics and a small note.

I wrote, she wrote (immediately) and had been going on for nearly six months now. Then I hit a wall. I knew she was waiting for my letters but for the life of me I couldn't seem to put anything to paper. I would try and throw away, over and over again. So I stopped and waited. Mulling actually.

A few weeks ago she gave me her phone number, I logged it in my book but couldn't muster up the courage to call. I hadn't talked to her, person to person since I was 11 with out somebody else being there as a buffer. It's kinda funny but I was actually afraid of her for the longest time, but that was mostly because I had expectations of who I wanted her to be. Thankfully I don't have those illusions anymore. I have come to think of her more as a long lost family member (like an aunt), than the grandeur of the word "Mother"

So today as I sat here with nothing to do but crochet, I picked up the phone and dug out my phone book. My finger hovered over the buttons for what seemed like forever then I dialed. I hesitated just long enough for me back out of it before I pressed the talk button. Suddenly my tummy was churning and I couldn't sit still. I was pacing the floor even before the phone was answered.

I believe it went well other than the fact that I was talking ninety to nothing and probably didn't even give her much chance to talk. My nerves had taken over and I dominated the convo. By time we finally hung up, I was exhausted! I had walked the length of the house probably fifty times in the span of an hour! My nerves were as if they had been hit by electricity, my hands were still shaking and if I was still a drinking girl, I would have seriously put a hurt on a bottle!LOL!

Soo...is my fear conquered? Demons demolished? Maybe not fully but hey...it's a start.

Update with a little rant...

2011-05-20T01:31:00.005-05:00

So as you have noticed I have been MIA from blogging. What can I say..I'm a slacker! I guess I'm not really good at multi-tasking. It's either blogging, chatting on the phone, facebooking, photography or crotcheting. One or the other, but never all at once. Sad I know, but that is just how things roll with me. If I am crotcheting (which I have been..ALOT) there just isn't much time left for anything else.

AND of course my friggin dial-up takes friggin forever to load a pic! Every pic I take I have to go and downsize just to get it to load (either here or on facebook) in 20 minutes! Drives me INSANE! If I leave it as it is, it takes 35 minutes or wont load at all...error is becoming way too common on my computer. Anyway, just incase you were wondering... what happened to that girl? I am increasingly getting frustrated with dial-up and of course I have to live in the freaking twlight zone where no satalite can reach! Can ya tell I'm losing it?! Do I feel better now...naw, not really.

So another year of my life has gone and passed by. I woke up on my birthday and looked in the mirror (by accident) and HOLY SMOLY, where the heck did those wrinkles come from?! I swear I instantly looked older! Naw, what it really was was I had had four teeth pulled a week ago and the swelling just suddenly went down and left my mouth a little sunken in...thus a new line on my face! Just what I needed ON my birthday! LOL! Cruel fate.

All them pretty little kittens (wow, look at all them T's) on my front porch are driving me nuts! They are cute and all but for the life of me I can't seem to find them homes. At one point I thought I had all but one spoken for and suddenly everyone bailed on me. Not one person has actually come and gotten one, lots of interest and promises, but alas they are all five still here. I am going though what used to be a months worth of cat food in a week! Oh and apparently word got around that this was the house to get food at cause earlier today I had to chase off two other cats and the neighbors little dog. It's bad enough I am feeding three adult cats and five kittens, I don't need the whole neighborhood thinking I am giving away free food!

Well after sitting here and rereading what I have written...I have come to the conclution that I seriously need to get out of the house! I NEED to find something to do other than sit on my duff all day. BUT of course leaving the house always ends up costing money, particularly gasoline. Sigh.

I guess I better go to bed before I either have a freak out or a meltdown. Tomorrow will be better, it has plans. Thank goodness the weekend always yeilds something to do.

Sorry if this turned into a pity party. Just one of those days that seems to weigh heavy.

Mother's Day

2011-05-07T23:40:00.003-05:00

I guess most of you are mothers and are going to be waiting to see what you got or where you are going to be taken. Perhaps you are the one that is going to be doing something for your mother or you'll be waiting by the phone in hopes of that phone call from one of you kids. Soo many ways we celerbrate this day.

For myself I will be spending the day with my bf while she sits and waits for that phone call from her son who probably already sent her some flowers. Then it's on to visit with daughter Jennifer and the grandsons. Most of our Mother's days are spent with hubby's mom, a lunch at Luby's or her favorite seafood joint. Apparently that is not going to happen this year, if it is..then we wasn't told about it.

Do you see a pattern here, my mother! Where is she in all this? Well...I just saw my mother last week and the week before. I already gave her her presents (I should be good till Christmas (jk mom)). It is kinda sad that I have never been able to see her or spend time with her ON Mother's day, but I know she understands. (I hope she understands) Besides, my brother is taking her out for dinner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How interesting. I just looked up Mother's day in Wikipedia and was surprised and intruiged that the first idea of Mother's day was not as it is today. What started out as a protest of war with the Mother's Day Proclamation and then a more personal celebration of mothers (introduced by Anna Jarvis and passed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914), became a commercialized holiday. Anna hated what became of her holiday so much she spent the rest of her life protesting against her own creation.

Very interesting reads if you have the time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well anyway I do hope you all get the Mother's day you are wishing for and have a happy one!

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Wondering....

2011-05-04T22:54:00.005-05:00

Sometimes I start thinking and wondering why we have so much stuff. I'm not just talking about myself here, nearly everyone I know has a storage shed or even rent one. Is it because we don't have large barns. basements or attics to put in all in, like days gone by. I tend to watch hoarding shows and old movies. One thing strikes my interest when comparing the 30's and 40's to people of today. We have a bunch of stuff!

In the old era regular woman (not the social elite, they had everything) had:
A handful of clothes, maybe just enough to fill a trunk.
Two pairs of shoes, if they were that lucky.
One tube of lipstick and some face powder. They just had to powder their noses!
When the young ladies got married they didn't need a moving van to transport their stuff. Most were capable of carrying their stuff by hand. Most had all that they needed and no more than that. The essentials.

The essentials...my have they grown.

When we moved 3 years ago, it took many many loads of a jam packed flatbed trailer to get all of our essentials relocated. AND I did some major throwing away while packing!

Back to the wondering phase... I wonder if the great depression has anything to do with our desire to have more? Lots of people had to sell what little they had just to survive and as times got better they replenished. BUT I think a good portion of those folks suffered emotional scars so deep that they passed on this compulsion to "have" onto their kids and so on.

I know my grandparents had very little in the 40's, their love, a child and the basic essentials. BUT over the decades my grandmother was on a constant receiving, acquiring and hoarding binge. To the point that in the 80's the attic, basement and half of the 2 car garage was full to the brim. Not to mention the rest of the house.

I also see this same pattern in my dad. His most common phrase..I might need it someday! I must have the extra washer, cause what if the one were using quits on us. Yeah that is my dad. LOL! You just never know when your going to need something and then you'll regret not having it. Soo even with their tiny budget they pay for storage.

I am also a victim of this "Have" syndrome. We have a storage unit out back and it is full of tools (his stuff) and such. One corner is portioned out for me and yes it is already full. I have debated on getting another one for some of the things in the house that need to go out. BUT then I think...Why? Why do I have stuff that I'm going to put outside and leave there for who knows how long?

Then I think about hubby's side of the family.

When Granny Faye (his grandmother) died hubby was told to go through the garage. All of his grandfathers things were in there and he had been dead since hubby was a child. All of his stuff was left there untouched for decades. It was kinda cool going through all that old stuff and coming across some treasures of his youth.

Then their is his own mother. She has 3 storage sheds, a full house and a 2 car garage that has never had room for a car.

Soo I sit here and wonder why do we have the need to buy, get, acquire and hoard it away in every nook, cranny or storage shed? What happened to just having what we really need?

Still searching for those Money saving tips...

2011-05-03T01:48:00.004-05:00

Well if you really know me, you know I am always trying to find a way to save a buck here and there. I am constantly browsing sites and reading articles to find anything that will work for me...the lower class of society. It can be funny at times and other times very frustrating. I mean most of the stuff I have looked at it based towards the middle class and most of their advice is to spend money to save money. Well golly gee...If I had the money to spend in the first place, I wouldn't be soo friggin desperate to save some money. Of course I'm talking about RIGHT NOW (this week preferably), not 20 years down the road. I mean yeah it would be nice to look that far ahead, but if I can't save a few bucks this week or the next or the next, then how in the heck am I to save for the distant future? Gezzz!

Here are a few of my latest finds. Source: Money saving tips: 122 ways to trim your budget. http://frugaldad.com/2009/05/06/ultimate-money-saving-tips-collection/

1) Make your own Christmas presents. To be honest I haven't done Christmas in 3 years already and am very satisfied to be out from under that financial stress of a money grubbing holiday.

2) Cut your own hair. Been doing that all my life.

3) Dry cleaners?? Really? Never been to one.

4) Ride a bike. Yup I really do need to do this one, but it seriously won't save me any money until I can get good at riding it 60 miles round trip and add a tow trailer behind it to carry all my goods. Not very practical.

5) Don't worry about upgrading to the latest technology. You have got to be kidding?? I still get laughed at cause my cell phone is just a phone! No pics, no ring tones, no email, no texting...ect..just a phone. We did upgrade our tv 2 years ago, but only out of necessity. The old fashioned tv was dying. We don't have recording devices and our only dvd player is the travel one I bought the hubs a few years back. The funny thing is that some of the things we wanted to get, are already obsolete. There is just no keeping up with all the new things that come out.

11) Okay this one is good. Find things in the store that are basically the same but cheaper cause they are in a different section of the store. Hubby sent me to get him some plastic gloves for oil changes. Naturally you think oil changes...automotive..right? Not! The ones in the automotive section are a few pairs and cost more. I found a large box in the medical supplies (50 pairs) for just a few bucks more and just as disposable. They will last him a few years vs a few months.

12) Stop buying disposable things. (Ignore the last statement..LOL!) Now I admit I am a paper plate junkie, but of course the cheapest and highest quantity I can find (usually Walgreen's..99 cents with coupon). I did cut back on paper towels and opted for the regular hand towel.

17) Check you print preview to be sure your not going to be wasting a second sheet of paper for the last few unnecessary lines. Yup that's a good one! I hate wasting that extra sheet!

20) Car expenses and minor repairs. DIY! Paying someone else to do the simple things like airing up a tire, or filling the windshield washer fluid, is simply a waste of money. I mean we do have Utube and such, these things are very easy to do or learn to do.

I have read a lot of talk about cutting the cable off or downsizing your subscription. This would be great if we was the type to go out to the movies or something like that on a fairly regular basis. BUT our cable is our only entertainment. Yes it would free up 60 bucks a month, but if we was to use that for a night out, it would only be 2 nights of the whole month! The WHOLE month! Me and him in a room with nothing to do but talk, yikes! NOT going to happen! LOL!

(so far these are things that don't or can't apply to me or things I have already done, not much help for finding that extra buck or two right now, but I continue the quest.) Hope yall might get some use out of these ideas and don't forget to check out that website.

Wake up Sleepy Head!

2011-04-30T22:11:00.002-05:00

Funny how this old woman still gets woken up by her father.

Ring...ring...call from mom or dad, the phone says. I groan, turn over and grab the phone. Helllllo in my rough sleepy voice.
Dad..you was still asleep? (well duhhhhh!) Wake up sleepy head!

I moan and groan as I creek my bones out of bed.
Me...What's up?
Dad...nothing, just calling to chat.

I'm thinking..seriously, this couldn't wait another hour? Oh well, might as well get me some coffee.

Dad...How ya feeling?
Me...fine.
Dad...I mean how are your aches and pains?
Me...Well dad I don't know yet, my body hasn't even gotten the blood circulating yet!

By time I get to the front door to let the dogs out, ohh...there it is...the ache creeping into my hip from laying on it all night long.

Dad...So what's on the agenda for today?
Me...Uhh, wake up for starters. LOL! Later today I need to go get some yarn for the Special Olympics Scarf project. They would pick new colors for this year and they just happen to be colors I don't have, then on to some grocery shopping.
How about you?
Dad...I don't know yet, your moms not here to tell me.
LMAO!!! (good boy)

Me...Did you take your meds?
Dad...Ohh, I better do that! You take yours yet?
Me...getting to it right now.

Me...Okay well have a good day and don't cook on the stove. (he tends to burn things and fills the house up with smoke) Thanks for the wake up call.
Dad...Yup, talk to ya tomorrow!

Another This and That...

2011-04-27T06:40:00.003-05:00

Soo if you have been following my stats on Facebook, then you know I have been a berry picking fool lately. I have blackberries gallore! So far I have filled up 20 quart sized bags and one gallon bag (that I gave to my mother). I'm trying desperately to get as many as I can before the heat dries them all up. Just last week I was outside for two hours and got to gallons of berries. Yesterday it took 4 hours to get the same amount. They are getting harder and harder to find berries that aren't dried up, half eaten or just plain falling off the vine.

I had a lovely visit with my mom, sister and her two youngest. It's funny how we need to see each other at least once every month or so to exchange stuff. By time they got here I had a pretty good stack of stuff for them to take and of course they were bring me stuff. I also had to do some checking on mom's computer, turns out all it was..was her impatience! Not a thing wrong with her computer! LOL!

I finished dad's blanket on the 19th and started mom's blanket on the 20th, I'm 3/4ths of the wat finished with her blanket already! Every chance I get I am crocheting.

I am begining to think that I am repetative and quite boring. LOL! If I am not mistaken my last few posts have been about the same things. What can I say..I'm predictable..sorta.

Back to mom's computer..Any of you computer savvy people know how to change the settings on a computer to enlarge everything? My mom's computer was enlarged to the point that everything is soo blown up it looks distorted. I'm talking everything, from the welcome screen, icons, wallpaper..ect. We need to put it back to normal, but can't find the place to change it.

I guess that is all for today, time to get some yard work done.

This and That...

2011-04-23T01:12:00.005-05:00

I'm sitting here thinking..Is it possible that I am losing interest in the process of blogging. Naw..not possible! I just don't ever seem to have the time that is necessary to dedicate to it as I should.

Ever since I picked up my crochet hook last September, there is nothing I want to do more. I have always been a crocheter but maybe only one blanket a year, if that. I have a blanket I was worked on for 3 winters. Since September I have done..6 queen sized blankets and have currently started number 7. I don't know what spurred this obsession other than once I did A blanket for one person, bam I had a list of people to do blankets for. Like enough to keep me busy for the rest of the year! Then I got into exploring crochet websites for patterns and I got carried away. Soo many pretty patterns and new stitches to try!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I got my new camera today and am dying to get outside and play with it. If only the stupid batteries would hurry up and charge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I washed both the truck and the car by hand. The car was beyond filthy and The hubby's running mates at work was giving him a hard time about it. Fingering in "Wash Me". The biggest culprit is his friend Grumpy. He goes back to work in the clean car and

Grumpy says...I did a good job BUT I should have used a towel to dry it.
I said "Dang, I just can't make that man happy!"
Hubby says.."They don't call him Grumpy for nothing!"
LMAO!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hubby gets home Thursday night knowing he is going to be off for a three day weekend, so he hangs up his bib'alls and says aloud..see ya Monday morning.
I said..What, your not going to get dressed till Monday?
Hubby..Dang toot'in!
This afternoon he gets dressed. I asked him why.
Hubby..I figured I better get outside and mow so you would think badly of me.
Me..You nutcase! I was perfectly resigned to the fact that you was going to do nothing all weekend. (stupid girl)
The bib'alls got hung back up!
Me...No, No, No...I didn't mean it! Go ahead and go outside!
Too late. Dang it, will I ever learn?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The new kittens are such a joy to watch. I love watching them learn new things. Like getting their little legs to stand up, they sway at the attempt and I can't help but to laugh. Yesterday one had learned how to get out of the box. She is my little explorer, she has already learned how to roam all over the place and tumble down the stairs. Her other sisters are trying to follow her lead. He brothers on the other hand..well lets just say they are slower to try. They seem to be saying...why should we get out of the box? It's nice in here. LOL!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yall have a nice day!

Hot weather and new camera...

2011-04-20T09:36:00.004-05:00

I'm sure most of you know already that Texas is in the worst drought in 44 years and is being consumed by an explosion of wildfires. Let me just say...dang it's hot! The temps are now up into the nineties with heavy humidity, but still no rain. I can't even open the door without breaking out a sweat from the extreme heat.

Here at my house we haven't had any measurable rain since Sept. I do envy those who are getting rain, but yet I hear some are getting way too much rain with violent storms and even some tornado's thrown in. I watch Facebook status's and here lately I have had major concern for the safety of my friends and have a wave of relief when I see that those folks have posted again and are okay. Thank goodness.

I also learnt this morning that one of those wildfires is very close to my sister-in-law. The news was posting pics of places and hubby was calling out their names with a gasp. I think the hardest blow was the swimming hole that he played in many a summers while staying with his sister. We are both hopeful that they can get those fires under control. A little rain couldn't hurt either!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have wild blackberries all over the place around my house. I have been trying to go picking for the last few days but I can't stay out there for too long. BUT I will keep trying cause well....they are FREE! I already have 5 bags in the freezer, would have had 7 but we ate some already! LOL! I just might try my hand at making a pie, that requires flour...right? Hmmm, I'd better go get some.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Soo remember the camera I soo wanted to the point of obsession. Well thanks to some donations and a sale, I was able to upgrade. No I didn't get THE camera of my dreams but I did manage to get...

Kodak® EasyShare Z981 14.0-Megapixel Digital Camera, with 26x optical zoom.

It should be arriving today!! I am super excited and want to thank all who donated to help me out with the camera fund. Yall are AWESOME!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay well I'd better get out of this chair and get out there and pick some berries before the heat melts them away. Yall have a great day!

Poteet Strawberry Festival continued..

2011-04-07T07:43:00.008-05:00

A unique looking windmill

and a unique looking trike

Cool rides

Great prizes

and neat crafts

A old west show

And a Rodeo!

Poteet Strawberry Festival

2011-04-04T11:31:00.014-05:00

Friday night on the news I heard that the Poteet Strawberry Festival was going on, it's a three day event in the nearby town of Poteet. I always seem to forget about it and never know when it is happening, the first and last time I went was in 98'.

As soon as the hubs got home, I asked him how to get there. He shocks me and says he will take me. The hubs going to an event..with all them PEOPLE! I was truly shocked! Well Saturday came and I was ready to go by noon. The hubs hadn't called yet to tell me to go on ahead, cause he had had time to think about his impulsive blurt and changed his mind. I was feeling pretty confident that he was actually going to go through with it. NOT! By 3pm he called with the news that I knew was going to happen. It was too late to go now. Needless to say I was very disappointed.

Saturday night bf said she would like to go (since she had never been) but was hesitant to confirm wether or not it was a planned trip. I had already made up my mind that if I had to, I would go by myself! I was going, no matter what! Thankfully she said yes the Sunday morning (the last day of the festival).
I was greeted by Mr. Strawberry

Bf was greeted by her favorite..Scratch offs!

Strawberry milk?

I love the ferris wheel

Very tempting on a hot day, but we were good and stuck to the free samples of Sierra Mist

Take a spin in a strawberry

There was some fabulous and cute latin dancers

and lots of painted faces

Most delicious Strawberry Shortcake

and some awesome local bands

To be continued...

Randomness

2011-04-01T09:34:00.009-05:00

Yesterday was a bad day for Taco, he was getting hurt left and right all day.
He tried to jump up on the chair and missed, he landed on his side and whimpered for a good two minutes. Scared him is all.
He wanted down from the chair and I raised my crocheting to let him pass and he jumped his face right into my hand. He has a loose tooth, so I know that really hurt.
He was doing circles in front of the door (The "let me out" dance), I go to open the door and Stitch rushes over and pushes Taco into the moving door. Hurt his right front foot.
I'm sure if he could, he would file "elder doggie abuse" on me! Really an "Off" day!
Today..he acts like he is going to try to sleep through this day. No chance of getting hurt while your sleeping, unless the cat pounces on him! Poor old man!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know most of yall are still being pounded by rain or snow and most think I am pretty lucky to be in Texas and to be getting spring already. For the most part I would agree, but believe me we are already hitting some problems.
For the last few days it has been gloomy and chilly outside, like it really wanted to rain. Heck it did rain all around us, but here at my house..Nothing. AND yet the grass keeps growing!!
The temps are already starting to climb back up and the fan in the livingroom decided to die and the AC in my bedroom isn't working right. One thing I have learned here in Texas, there is NO happy medium! Okay maybe there is but it only lasts about a week! It's either hot or cold, in a drought or flooded...warm with light showers is a rarity to be treasured. I want some of that!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I forgot to post my last project in crocheting.

It's really hard to tell, but there is a large heart in the center of the bed. I made this for my bf's birthday.

I am currently working on a blanket for my dad, I'm about halfway finished with it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you will notice there is a donation button for paypal over on the side panel, it is for a camera fund. I was talked into putting it up there, by a few folks. It's not that I don't already love the cameras I do have, they are both great in thier own ways. It would just be nice if all those features where in just one camera. Soo, I have been drooling over this camera for some time and of course the price of it is soo far out of my range it's pathetic.

Yeah, it sure is purty! I have it on my Christmas list, but the hubs hardly ever pays attention to the list, if he looks at it at all. He is NOT a shopper! LOL!

Sooo, I thought I would give the button a gander, we'll see.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I guess I ought to give yall a little update on some past posts.

Mom and dad didn't kill each other, they stopped talking for a day and now they are both back to normal with some extra umph and gusto at working out some of the issues.

I appreciate all of yall's help with the address labels and placed my order last night. #3 will be "mine" and #10 will be "ours". Between friends, family and awesome bloggers those are the ones with the most votes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boot Scootin' Boogie

2011-03-30T10:07:00.004-05:00

Sitting here drinking my coffee and a song is now stuck in my head. Facebook is jumping with some "Boot scootin' boogie" and I want to crank up the music and get busy. Music always makes me get lots of things done around here. It's nearly a crime to have the music jumping and to just be sitting on my hiney. Although I really do need to dedicate this day to crocheting, I don't see that happening now. So I sit here wondering if I should go with my desire to rock out or calm myself down and find something to squash that jumping song right outta my head.

Oops..I just cranked up the jams! Boot scootin' boogie!!! Got love Brooks and Dunn! Oh crap, I gotta dance! Be back in a moment.

Blood pumping, heart racing...looks like it's going to be a busy day, I need to clean something!

Yall have a GREAT day!

A Touch of Spring

2011-03-28T05:56:00.007-05:00

There she blows....

2011-03-26T09:57:00.004-05:00

Well good Morning.

Boy oh boy yesterday was a doozy. I played peace keeper with my parents. NOT fun!

I guess as a child it is expected to have, see or hear your parents fight. Even then it wasn't fun, you sit in your spot and watch or listen in silence, with fear running through you. Fear of the unknown of how it is going to turn out. Are they going to leave? Are they going to hug and all will be better? The worst is when they stop yelling and there is a deafening silence between them and you know that you could set them off at any moment.

Me, being the hateful step-child...would side with my daddy and secretly hope she would leave. Somewhere along the way I grew up and became friends with my mother and started viewing her as a woman, a person. A person married to a man, that I would never put up with! Don't get me wrong, I love my daddy, but as a husband...Geezzz! Sometimes I think my mom is amazing to have put up with him for 35 years.

Yesterday, started with a phone call. Mom was red hot livid and finally blew her stack, she stormed out and quaked the house with the slam of the door. What happened to make her so crazy? Well, she asked dad to spend some time with her and he turned her down. Okay well, it really isn't that simple. I talk to my mom nearly everyday woman to woman, this has been brewing for some time. Dad's response was NOT the right thing to say to a woman that has a storm building inside of her. BUT, then again, poor dad. He was oblivious to what is her problem.

What is her problem? Well to be honest everything! She is stressed beyond what any person should have to deal with. Mom gets up each morning with a grunt, she just wishes she could sleep a whole day or two without something being asked of her. She has the grandkids to watch, nearly everyday. A daughter that is in the works of getting out of her abusive situation, with the help of mom. A husband with declining health, but yet still has the ability to demand this and gripe about that. An income that is soo small (I'm talking tiny), I am baffled as to how they manage. A housing complex that appears to be going under and dad wants to move back out in the country, while mom wants to stay in housing cause it secures her future once he has passed. Plus more children needing her help.
Oh and the topper of all this is that my dad is a hoarder, not like on tv, but he is always finding things folks throw away or just give to him. He is a tinker. Computers, appliances... the problem with that is that they live in housing! You can't be having all that stuff in those apartments or outside...Thus the reason he wants to move back to the country, no rules or regulations, no inspections, no limits. We all had hoped that dad would realise his limitations and abide by them, but instead the apartment looks more like a storage facility, which drives my mom MAD. AND we can't forget mom's own declining health.

I'm surprised she doesn't just freak out on everyone and totally lose her mind. Everyone needs something of her, all the time! I always wondered about why she hides in her room whenever she get the chance, now I get it. Me, I would be hiding under the bed with a note on the door "Leave me alone!" and the phones turned off! LOL! The poor woman is exhausted, all the time!

Soo in the end I am siding with mom and totally get why she blew up. Thankfully mom has a woman's retreat coming up and she is soooo looking forward to getting away.

Now back to me...Yesterday I felt like a marriage counselor, to my parents! I hope it will be awhile before this happens again, it is really weird and strange to have my elderly parents fighting. I felt like that little kid sitting in silence hoping for a good outcome. I still don't know the outcome, so fingers crossed!

Design Decisions!

2011-03-24T00:06:00.006-05:00

I have been on a mission to find a decent design for address labels. Weird thing to be focused on, I know.
Here are the reasons why.

We get address labels in the mail all the time. Some are cute and some are awful, but most all only have the hubs name on them or the ones with my name say "Miss", like the hubs fell off the face of the earth or something. In some instances, this just will not do. Say I want to send my bf a letter or card, when she gets the mail first thing she sees is that my hubs sent her something. Yeah I know she knows it's from me, but it sure would be nice to have my own label so there is no guess work. Another example would be both of us sending something and of course it only says it's from him.

I'm goofy like that, I want things to be right and proper. I guess the only way to do that is to make some myself. Vista Print here I come! Seriously I really like that website.

Sooo after browsing through over 2000 designs I have 78 saved to figure out which ones best suit "Me". I'll work on the "Us" ones later. I have managed to downsize that number to 10, but can't make up my mind. I figure yall know me pretty well though the designs I have had on my blog and through the pics I take, so maybe yall could tell me which one you like best or thinks suits me best.

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
I would really appreciate some help from my friends. Thanks in advance! Decisions!

Emptyhead...

2011-03-21T10:03:00.002-05:00

Well this is not the post I was going to do, so I figured I would throw ya a funny instead.

I was standing in the kitchen looking out the window, not really looking out the window but my eyes were, my brain was thinking without really looking. (Somebody please tell me you know what I'm talking about.) I asked hubby if he knew much about Woodpeckers, he totally took that wrong. LOL!

Me: No seriously, do you?
Hub: a little.
Me: Is the black headed ones the females and the red headed ones the males? Or are they different breeds?
Hubby comes to the window and looks out.
I inform him that they are not out there, I was just thinking.
He grabs my ear and puts his eye to it and says "Yup, two fingers"
On the other side of my head he is holding up two fingers!!!
Me: You butthead, get your laughing ass outta here! (he was choking on his own laughter)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The T.V. got me going...

2011-03-19T09:07:00.005-05:00

Last night I was listening to Inside Edition, not something I usually watch/listen to, it just happened to come on the last channel watched and nobody bothered to change the channel.

Anyway, I don't know if any of yall caught it, but the story that had me up out of my seat and standing in the livingroon gawking at the tv was...

Hollywood women choosing to have their babies out of wedlock.

Wedlock..not a word you hear very often anymore. I was stunned that this topic would even make headlines now-a-days. I mean..What is that? Are we still in the fifties? Are these hollywood women so special that they should and be expected to adhere to "traditional" lifestyles?

When I think of the old fashioned phrase "born out of wedlock", I think of these poor children that are going to suffer from not having a two income family. The struggles the mother/teenager is going to have trying to handle it all alone. The strain it can put on system and grandparents as well. I think of all the unplanned pregnancies that happen all the time with young girls who are just mere babies themselves. I think of the educations that are lost due to economics forcing them to choose, money for the baby over staying in school.

Never do I think about the rich and famous adult women who have chosen to get pregnant and never do I worry over their childs well being. It's not like these women can't afford the best for their child. These woman have soo much money they can have a dozen children and never see a strain on their finances.

As for having a two parent life for the child, I can think of maybe a handful of people that have had the experience of having both "birth" parents in their lives, all there life. Most of the folks in my life have or have had (with the exception of my younger siblings) one, three and sometimes even four parents in their lives.

Why would it be soo important to have a baby in wedlock? Spend all that money on a wedding just because of a pregnancy and most likely even bigger money on a divorce. Not very many people actually stay married anymore anyway and hollywood folks are no exception.

I appluad these women who have the money to "choose" their futures. Not so many have that type of "freedom of choice".

I hope to do better...

2011-03-17T13:27:00.002-05:00

I guess you could say I got quite bored with blogging. I mean let's face it, I don't live a very exciting life. Most days I dream up stuff to do to fill my day, watch a movie, play games, go for walks, take pictures, talk on the phone, light housework and of course crocheting. To tell you the truth, I'm pretty boring. My day doesn't brighten till the hubs gets home and that's only an hour or two before he hits the hay.

Here lately I have been filling my time with crocheting, and have gotten alot of it done. Well that time is about over since the high today will be 87, impossible to work with yarn and blankets in that weather.

Soo, what's left? Do I return to the blogging world and try to win all my friends back or do I find something else to comsume my time? For now, I have opted to try to win back the bloggy love. Yall have all been so kind and patient with me, I really don't deserve such loyalty, considering I can't even remember the last time I read some one elses blog. I am determined to read at least ten blogs a day, so if I don't get around to you but once a week, please bear with me. Ten blogs is about 2-3 hours of my day, so it's a start.

Tuesday I started my spring cleaning and totally kicked A** in the livingroom, it was spic and span by time I got done. Although it did take all day to do it. Yesterday, I started tearing apart my closet, getting it all reorganized and in top shape but halfway through the process I started not feeling well. Temp of 101.2 and feeling run over. I spent the rest of the day in and outta bed till this afternoon. My fever broke and all I am left with is a sore and constant tickle in my throat. Thank goodness it wasn't one of those long drawn out death scenes, where you not completely convinced your going to make it through.

I guess I'd better close this up, so I can get to reading them blog posts. See ya around.

Buying American

2011-03-14T11:39:00.004-05:00

Sooo here lately I have been on a political kick, sorta. I watched the little series that ABC did in thier evening news about buying American. Thier series was more focused on creating jobs, but mostly I got out of it..Just how much of our money is going to other countries, in the little things that we buy? I was entralled in it and started examining all the things that I have in my house. I am sad to say that my house is at least 70% china, and then throw in some Mexico, Japan and India. What little I do have that is American made, is mostly old stuff aka antiques.

What happened to American, that it has been invaded with foreign goods? I mean..yeah we have always had foreign goods here, but it seems like we have an over abundance of it now. The series revealed that in the 60's in a typical household, only one in ten items was foreign, now it is more likely to be the reverse. Which to me, is kinda sad.

I know somethings are unavoidable, but do we even look or care that the item sitting right next to the one you grab was made here instead of China (or other countries)?

I went to the store Saturday, along with groceries we also need some other items. A large sponge for washing the car was one of those items. There were several to choose from, but I just grabbed the contoured one and went on about my shopping. I then realized I had forgot something on that isle and went back. I guess someone had moved one of the sponges and it was visable that it was Made in the USA. I picked up the one in my basket and sure enough... Made in China! The Made in the USA sponge was actually cheaper, but I grabbed the one that looked the nicest, packaged better. Totally ridiculous on my part! It's just a sponge! LOL!

Another item that I was looking for was a new hand held can opener. The store had three different ones to choose from, all from different companies, but yet ALL "Made in China". I was a bit shocked by this, considering this particular store prides itself in selling local (Texas) goods. What's a girl to do? Buy it anyway? or just live with the one she has till she finds a suitable replacement? I opted for waiting. Hubby says I can always just get used to the old army can opener he has on his keychain and the problem will be solved. That ain't gonna happen!

I know a lot of companies go overseas for cheaper labor and cheaper materials, which is why they are soo appealing to us in the stores because they are cheaper for the pocketbook. Very understandable, but really it can't hurt to look and be sure. Do we really need that item soo bad that we are willing to buy foreign for it?

I find it funny that we (our goverment) is so wrapped up in finding ways to get out from being dependant on foreign oil, but we (the people) aren't willing to do the smallest thing as look before you buy. Our dependency on foreign goods has really gotten outta hand. I mean really.. do you think foreign households are filled up with American goods? I think NOT.

I step down of my soap box with one last phrase...

BUY AMERICAN! (if you can)

(This post is not meant to offend any of my foreign blogging friends, I hope you understand.)

A Little bit of Something...

2011-02-15T14:20:00.003-06:00

Okay so I know it has been awhile, so I wanted to at least say something. "Something" there I said it! LOL! Naw, just kidding!

After my last post, I am truly blessed with such good and thoughful friends, yall are awesome!

It has still been hard on the family, but most especially on my brother. Which in turn makes it hard on us to see him suffering so. But we will get past it and resume some sort of normalcy(is that a word?).

Now on to other things.
.
.
I have come to realise that my cats have to be the stupidest cats ever. (Just a slight warning this might be a tad too much information.) Now I have always had a cat, most of all those times I have always had an indoor cat or two or three. Indoor cats require a litter box. I have gone through all sorts of sizes of litter boxes trying to find just the right size for certain cats. Usually this is not that much of a big deal. BUT I currently have the biggest size I have ever had and these stupid cats still manage to poop on the edge. Aggrevates me to no end, how hard can it be to actually get "it" into the box?! It's the largest box ever!! Lets not even go to the subject of actually covering it up. Okay lets do, for just a little...Whiskers is the worst at covering! He will scratch at the wall, the rug and even sometimes the shelf right next to the box, but never will he touch his paw to the litter for the art of covering. All I can do is shake my head and do cleanup. Ohh and lets not forget all the litter spillage they manage to do. Well actually that is Peach's doing, she can really get messy with her art of covering, almost to an obsession.

Well...thanks to my hubby's sister we now have an extremely large litter box, complete with a hood. The cats have to actually climb (not step) into the box. This sucker is soo big, I had to do some rearranging in the bathroom just to get it to fit. We will see if this sovles any of "our" problems. Today is its first day and so far things are looking up. I caught Whiskers actually covering it up!
.
.
Yesterday we went to hubby's mommas house for his birthday, I never get to bake him a cake cause his momma does. No point in having two cakes for just us two to eat. Goodness we are big enough already! Anyway... I was out in the back yard and saw something I wanted to get a photo of. I went back inside to my purse to get my camera. I pulled it out of my purse and wow, it was hot! I felt down in my purse and all was cool in there but the camera was HOT. I quickly realised it was the battery compartment that was hot and opened it up and let the batteries slide into my hand. Wowza! Hot potato, hot potato! They were melted to gether and as hot as fire. I rushed them out the door, I couldn't think what to do with them, not knowing if they were going to explode or not.

After the camera cooled down, I tried putting some new batteries in it and it wouldn't come on, I did that four times before I gave up. I was soo distraught at the prospect that it was broken and now I am without a camera. As soon as we got back home, I hit the internet like a mad woman on a mission to find a decent camera in my price range. With my price range being so little, it was more difficult than it would be for most. After a good while..for some reason (lets call it denial), I tried my camera again. Walla! It works! Weird and freaky! I am soooooo glad it works, but concerned as to why that happened in the first place.
.
.
I finally finished blanket #4 of this winter season and halfway finished with a baby blanket to be donated to Ft Hood's massive baby shower for soldiers or soldier's wives who are expecting. Bf is donating 3 baby hats and bootie sets.
.
.
That is all I can think of for right now. Yall have a great day!!

Sad, Sad Week

2011-02-07T23:04:00.004-06:00

This last week has to be the hardest week I have ever went through. My sister in law went to the hospital monday and by the next day she was gone. Not to mention all the other deaths that happened last month and folks having surgery. I feel soo drained and unresponsive to any thing good and funny. This is one of those time when you have been punched in the gut and there is nothing you can do about it, but to eat the pain of it all and try to get back up.

I have always thought it to be best to go quick and have no suffering, instead of having a long drawn out illness. I have come to realise that that is all and good for the person who is dying or has died. BUT for the folks left behind the truth is quiet the opposite. To have someone hanging on deaths door gives the family time to adjust to the fact that the person is going to die, but to have someone ripped from life so suddenly, leaves one doubting that the event ever took place and yet you know it has cause your heart is the heaviest it has ever been.

I have been trying to compose a short bio of my sister in law, how she came into our lives and what she brought to it. I was sure I could whip it out in no time, but no I am having a heck of a time getting my head into it. My emotions keep getting in the way. *Sigh*

It's weird how funerals get a person to think of their own mortality and what sort of things they want to happen at the event of their death. I have been thinking on this alot this last week.

Okay sorry, but this is getting too depresssing and I wont subject to this dreariness any longer.
I'll try again next week.

The Cardinals

2011-01-31T10:09:00.004-06:00

Four pairs of Mourning doves are pecking the ground looking for anything that might be edible. Along comes Mr. Cardinal and his lovely mate.

Look dear, all them doves seem to be finding good things to eat. Lets go and check it out.
Mrs. Cardinal being of the nervous type, chirped in that she just didn't know if it was a good idea.
Mr. Cardinal being unafraid, leads the way.
The pair land in the tree and Mr. Cardinal says.. Now dear you just stay up here and keep watch, I'm sure these doves won't mind sharing.
He leaves her up on the branch, her protests could be heard by all the surrounding watchers.
The brave feats of Mr. Cardinal were well know among the cardinal community and many had come to watch.
He lands on the ground and looks around, hops over a few steps and still finds nothing.
Mrs. Cardinal is yelling...Careful, careful. She flutters from branch to branch to keep a better eye on him. What she sees alarms her. The doves are getting closer and closer to her hubby and he's not paying attention. It is beginning to look like they are surrounding him. She is in full panic now and yelling even louder. Enough! We can go somewhere else!
Mr. Cardinal flies up to her and tries to calm her. See dear, the doves are not even bothered by me, if they were then they would have drove me off by now.
Mrs. Cardinal calms herself and agrees that he is right, but her nerves wouldn't let her relax.
She asks did you find anything good to eat? Trying to find something else to focus on, which wasn't hard cause her tummy was hungry.
No, nothing. I just can't understand what these doves are finding that is soo good. I am going to give it one more try and then we can move on.
Once again he leaves his nervous wife in the tree and ventures down to the ground.
This time he thinks he has found something, he takes it up to her and they crack the shell. She takes one bite and says..this is awful!
He goes down again and still finds nothing new. Distraught over finding nothing he ventures away from the area a little bit.
He heard the rustle of the doves flying away and turned to see what was up. He was frozen in his spot by the stare of a huge orange CAT.
Suddenly he remembered his wife and all their friends were watching and he ruffled up his feathers and willed his body into motion.
His delayed response was almost the end for him. The cat leaped and barely missed his tail feathers, by a tooth. Mr. Cardinal felt the cats breathe on his tail and thought for sure this was it, the last day to fly, ever again.
When he landed on the tree branch, he was soo surprised he squawked as loudly as he could! He turned to look at his wife who had flew to his side, she was soo shocked and scared she was utterly speechless.
When Mrs. Cardinal finally got her feathers smoothed out and found her voice again. Dear do you think we can move on now? I have had enough of your risk taking ways for one day.
Mr. Cardinal agreed. Yes dear, this day has been a bit too much for me. I am ready to go home and nestle down for the evening.

And they were off.

Making it through the winter chores...

2011-01-21T16:33:00.005-06:00

There is just something about the winter months that keeps me soo busy.

First it's the holidays and all of it's hoopla, get ready for, then doing and then there is the recooping. Then we move into the switching over to the new year, for me that is a big deal. Switch out all the previous folders of bills and reciepts, tally the expenses of the year, file away all this junk and throw away the stuff from years past (but first go through it all and determine that it is throw awayable). Then there is all the stuff that was in storage that we are going through and repackaging, organizing and downsizing, what a chore. AND lets not forget TAX season, what a big stresser! Naturally I had to add to the mess with taking on 6 crochet projects to be finished before the warmer weather kicks in, which happens fast here in Texas.

Well I made it through all the paperwork and craziness and managed to get it all done. My desk is finally clean and my drawers/folders are ready for the new year, finally. The holidays are finally behind me (except for hubby's upcoming b-day)and the crocheting is more than half done. Still working on the storage stuff.

Maybe now that I have eliminated a large portion of it all, I will be able to think straight and get back on track with this blog and all my friends.

A Busy Weekend

2011-01-16T22:30:00.004-06:00

This has been a very busy weekend.

Saturday... I went to my best friends house and picked her up in the sloppy mess of weather we have been having lately. We ventured out into the abyss of people in the caos that is Walmart. Our mission was yarn. What a huge disappointment. The one color we was most certainly after, was not there, as it should be. The one thing that made the trip bearable was getting to see bf's greatgrandkids, who met us there for a brief visit. We were off to the next closest walmart to do another search for that one color. This time the selection was good, much to our relief. We loaded up our buggy with as much as my card could stand.

The torment of the day was the rumor that walmart is going to discontinue their yarn sales. This has us greatly distressed. Walmart is the cheapest place to get yarn and soon we will no longer be able to get it. Okay maybe we will be able to get it, but at a much higher price. A blanket that once costed $40-50 to make is now going to be around $65-90, depending on where you get it. "They" say crochet and knitting is a dying art, well when forced to fork out higher bucks and search at length for places to buy, that really just might happen. Very sad.

Okay, enough of that pity party.
Soo we are driving along and I see this batch of black cows just standing around, I guess they we holding a meeting or something. I suddenly burst out laughing. My mind comes up with the stupidest stuff and amuses me greatly. Hubby says "What's soo funny?" Okay soo what I saw was one of the cows face was half white and he or she was the only one with any white on them. My mind wondered...I wonder if that cow knows that it looks like that? Has the other cows told him that he was different? Do they not let him play cow games? LOL! It's still funny, at least to me. Then I got to thinking about all the other animals in the world...How do they know what they look like? Do my dogs know? Do they judge each other by looks as people do? AND there ya go...the mind is a curious thing and super funny at times.

Sunday...We spent the whole day cleaning out the spare/storage room. I told hubby that in order for us to save $40 bucks a month to go towards this **** new car payment, we were going to have to clean out that room and bring home everything we have in storage. I said that a week and a half ago and all I had done to begin this process was to fill up the back of my truck and left it sitting there all week. I was determined to get this done TODAY! Hahaha, the joke was on me. Kinda like the eyes are bigger than the stomach thing.

I got up and opened the door to the jungle of the spare room. Sigh. Okay heather, just move one item at a time and all will be okay. First I begin at picking up an item and expamining it, do we really need this? Is it broken? Could I possiably get away with throwing it away? Could I find a perament place for this item? Before I knew it I had made a dent. Then the unexpected happened (secretly expected), hubby got up from his lazy sunday position in front of the tv and joined in on the expedition. I say secretly expected cause it is sooo easy to get him to join in. All I have to do is ask questions about this item or that item and the response is almost always the same... What are you doing? What are you throwing away? LOL! AND up out of his chair he comes! He just makes it way too easy. LOL!

I told him I was wanting to find at least 20 items that could be trashed. We ended up throwing away 74 items. I was very impressed! We worked hard and the room looks soo much better, well for now it does, cause I still got plenty to fill it back up again. Ohhh I sure do need a linen closet. Sigh.

That is about it for now. I need to get back to my crocheting.
Yall have a great one!

Randomness

2011-01-12T20:28:00.002-06:00

Soo I finally finished blanket #3 of this winter season. Yes I am thourghly pleased with myself for working so hard this year. I think I might be able to get at least two more done this year before the warmer weather kicks in, if I keep at it. I would post a picture of this last blanket, but the recipients are watching/reading and I want it to be a surprise.
.
.
We have had two deaths in our friend circle (hubby's and mine, not ours here in bloggy land). First a long time friend from back in our truck driving days, died last week from a long illness. Now, a friends sister (very dear to me) had a freak accident and suddenly died. I am waiting on bated breathe to hear who's third. They always seem to come in threes.
.
.
The IRS are nuts, if they think I can remember what I did or did not recieve last year or the year before! Seriously? I can forget to go to the store as I am driving to the store. How the heck am I supposed to remember something from years ago. Audit me if they must, but I'm checking "No" since they don't have a box for "Maybe" or "I don't know".
.
.
I have a loose tooth. I was thinking maybe the tooth fairy would give me money for it, till I was reminded by bf that adult tooth faries are the dentist, they don't give..they take and take and take. LOL!
.
.
I finally posted some new pics on my other blog, just incase you missed them.
.
.
My show is on, gotta go.
Yall have a good one!

Gone to Doggie Heaven

2011-01-05T21:41:00.008-06:00

Dash's daughter, who looks just like him

Brownie

Yesterday morning I learned from the landlord that our neighbors lost two of thier dogs within hours of each other. Dash and Brownie. I know I have taken a dozen or so pics of Dash, but can't seem to find any. I guess I thought there was more time to get a better pic.

Dash was here the day we moved in and greeted us. He was a friend from the beginning. My dogs loved him like part of the family. He would come over and scratch on the door asking for the others to come out and play. Nearly everyone that has come over to our house has been greeted by Dash either by barking or tail wagging depending on wether he had made up his mind about you. He was Chaquita's "want to be" boyfriend, he was very persistant in trying to get her to join his harem. He was so much more than all of this and we loved him. He will be missed greatly.

Brownie was Dash's mate. She was shy at first and was hard to get to know, but she came around as frequently as Dash, they were a pair and was always together in all that they did. She had such a sweet face and if you was lucky enough to touch her she would jump all over you as if you were golden, till the next day and you had to start all over with her. LOL! She was funny like that.

I did this post about them back in March of last year.

Apparently they either got into something that had antifreeze in it or the unthinkable happened and they were posioned. No evidence of where they got it has been found.

I do hope it was all an accident, I would hate to think that we have evil people living out here.

Soo yesterday was spent morning the loss of these wonderful dogs and also in fear of how their demise happened.

I'm going to miss his little bark.

I Hope to Beat This Smoking

2011-01-04T09:15:00.005-06:00

Soooo, yesterday at 1pm I suddenly decided I was going to quit smoking. Excuse me while I yell at myself...WHAT WERE YOU THINKING??? The responses to said announement was amazing and very helpful, but yet sorta like peer pressure. I definately worked for like the fist 7 hours and when I did slip, I was all like "Should I tell them? I need to tell them." I was disappointed in myself and fearful of disappointing all my cheerleaders. I got over it real quick, I mean yall are all great and such good sports to support me in this.

The way I see it...it was only one cig compared to the pack I didn't smoke. For me that was huge! I am a pack and a half a day smoker and have been smoking for 30 yrs. Lets not lose sight of the little miracle that happened yesterday...I decided to quit smoking. That in itself is words I never thought I would think more or less say and then try to do. Yes, I AM patting myself on the back, even though I am stumbling.

My hands are shaking, no make that my whole body is shaking. My head is killing me, no pain reliever has been able to touch it, so far. WHY have I decided to put myself through torture? Well for a few reasons...My breathing for one. Over the last few years I have noticed the difficulting in breathing has been getting slightly worse each year. To put into a nutshell, I'm scared.

The secondary reason is the expense. The expense has been a concern for some years now, but never has that been deterent enough to force me to quit. I have rolled my own, when times have called for it. Unfortunatly the "Money" I would be saving, won't be seen till next month. Just last week I bought the cig supply for the entire month.

Soo I have 4 cartons of cigs that are taunting me and driving me crazy! There is NO way I am going to throw them away, I mean that's like $165 bucks sitting there. IF hubby follows suite and quits too, then I guess I will have to find something to do with them, but if he doesn't then I guess I won't have to buy anymore for some time. Then maybe I will start to see some benifit.

As of right now, there is no benifit, there is misery, there is pain. Thinking of the future or even just down the road, isn't helping tha quake of right this minute.
Quitting drinking wasn't even this hard and I drank heavy for 23yrs!
Quitting drugs..yeah this is equal to that, if not more so.

Off to bed with my throbbing migraine...

I Slept through the New Year!

2011-01-03T10:04:00.003-06:00

Wow my first post of the year, you would think it should be grand or something but really not a whole lot has been going on around here lately.

Hubby came home super sick last Monday and by Thursday I was into the flu full blast, thankfully he was on the mend. New Years Eve came and went in a drugged out blurr of load noises and shaking dogs, as I was snuggled down in the covers and asleep by 10pm. Even though I was awake every few hours as the drowsiness of the nyquil wore off, I still missed everything. By mid New Years day my fever finally broke, that truly was a relief. There is just something about a fever that just zaps all energy from your body and just trying to lift your arms is exhausting.

Well the cloud has lifted and I can sorta think now. Although thinking might not be such a great thing, cause there is a mountain of paperwork waiting for me on my desk. Yes I pushed it aside just for you, temporarily. Tax season is such a drag! Then there is the cleaning out of my desk and preparing it for the new year, categorizing, collating, filing away. Yes, I'm a freak.

I've been super busy trying to get blanket #3 done (except for the days of being sick), looks like I might get it finished in the next two weeks. Yippie! I think I will be taking a break from crocheting for awhile, other things need my attention.

Surely yall have noticed I haven't been posting any pics on my other blog, well that's cause I haven't been anywhere. Seriously, the last time I was away from the house was Christmas day. I seriously don't have anymore new photos to show. Sad, I know. I think this Sunday I'm going to hijack hubby's new ride and go somewhere... anywhere! I am truly sick of being confined. I can't count how many times I thought of just going for a walk, but I am allergic to the cold weather. LOL! THAT IS WHY I LIVE IN TEXAS!!!! Or so I thought. LOL!

That is all for now, time to stop staring out the window and get some house work done. Yall have a good day!

Dizzy Randomness

2010-12-27T13:55:00.003-06:00

Most of ya know already by Facebook, but just incase you don't know...

We ended up having to get us a newer car/van. It truly wasn't a popular desision in this house. We were both scared out of our minds, still am actually. This was hubby's second time going through a dealership, my first. Hubby's first was back in 77', so in a way he was a newbie at it too.

The loan asspect of it all has me frazzled more than anything ever has. I am sooooo not used to these super high numbers. Hundreds scare me, thousands freak me, tens of thousands...I am losing my mind!!! I just don't know how people do it without panicing. I know lots of folks that turn thier cars in for a newer one all the time and it doesn't seem to phase them all that much. I am a "What if" kinda girl but yet can't afford all those "what if's", which in turn throws me into an even bigger frenzy. It's a vicious cycle with no end.

I have been crunching numbers all morning and still don't feel any better. Cancel this and that, pay off this and that. If I use the money I have now to pay on this, will I be able to find this amount again in just a month. OMG!! I can't stop! I so wish I had some calm right now. Even the sweet birdie at the window ain't getting it.

Okay, hold on...let me try to refocus my thoughts. Back of the brain please, BACK OF THE BRAIN, I SAID!! Happy thoughts, happy thoughts. Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...Did yall watch that last night? I did. Hubby was asleep within the first 30 minutes! Musicals are just not his thing.

We had a good time at my brother J and SIL J's for Christmas. Just a food get together for some of the family. Thankfully there wasn't the added pressure of gift giving, but I did get to deliver the blankets that I did for them.

Hubby gave me a new hand mixer, fry daddy, blue jeans and a sweater. I got him a shirt, new longjohns and something from the sports store. AND then there is the van. I give. The brain won't stop thinking about that car and all the stress that comes with it.

*Sigh*

I guess I better sign off now, before I drag yall through the ring around the rosie's going on up there in my mind.

Listen"ing"

2010-12-23T00:00:00.000-06:00

While sitting outside on the porch, this is what I heard:

Dog growling

Squirrel barking

Birds singing

Woodpecker pecking

Kittens mewing

Traffic roaring

Water dripping

dog scratching

Leaves rustling

Wind blowing

Doves cooing

Windchime chiming

Hawk screeching

Train whistling

Fly buzzing

Crickets chirping

Trees creeking

That was only in ten minutes.

Watching the Lunar Eclipse

2010-12-21T08:23:00.016-06:00

6:00pm

For the first, time I got to see the lunar eclipse. Yes, there have been many partials and and totals in my lifetime, but for the life of me I don't ever recall seeing one before.

Apparently last night was a once in a life time event for us, unless we figure out how to live hundreds of years. The last total eclipse to happen on the day of Winter Solstice (first day of winter) was 372 years ago.

Hubby and I knew it was coming and were watching the clock. Hubby crashed out on me at 9pm (way past his bedtime). I stayed vigil in my quest.

12:30am come and I was outside looking up at the sky. Slowly, there was just a smidgen of a shadow in the southwest edge. I guess I thought it was going to go by fast (silly, now that I think about it) cause I went and woke the hubby.

Shortly after 12:30am

We were standing on the porch with heads held back, eyes to the sky. Waiting...Watching...
Hubby's head started hurting and my eyes were losing focus. Lets go in and wait a few minutes. But before we could get to the door, suddenly we was surrounded with the howls of what seemed like every dog or coyote in the area. It was very strange and eerie. Chaquita, who went out with us, got really scared. (so did I)

Around 1am

Around 1:30am

The fog has rolled in pretty thick and the vision is getting harder to see. This really tested my knowledge of my camera to get any visible shots.

Around 3:00am

That is it, folks. That is all we were able to see. By the time that we should have been able to see the reverse side the fog was so thick we couldn't even see the trucks in the driveway.

Nothing but the street light was visible

Hubby said...That was cool and thanks for waking me.

Pretty neat.

Randomness

2010-12-15T10:03:00.004-06:00

The Christmas cards are done.
The second blanket almost finished.
Christmas is 10 days away and I'm not ready.
The sky is gloomy and the air is way too crisp.
The trees are bare and the ground is crunchy.
One truck is broke down and the money is not to be found.
Family drama continues on, season doesn't matter.
I'm feeling a little scroogie. Bah humbug.

Well now that I got that dreariness out of my system, lets move on to better things.
I finished the first blanket of the season.

To my bf's surprise (and my own) who is always on me about finishing things. The last blanket I did (for myself) took me two years to finish and the one before that three years. Yes, I am a very slow crocheter and do procrastinate ALOT.

The second blanket of the season:

Just two more stripes and then I can put it together and trim it out. Must finish before Christmas.

Currently waiting on my order of a series of books by Patricia Hickman. She writes religious novels set in historical time periods. They are so well written, I sometimes I forget they are fiction. As most of you know, I'm not big on religion but every now and then I dabble.

Just in case I don't make it back by Christmas, I hope you all have a very merry one.

One of these Days!

2010-12-08T12:21:00.004-06:00

One of these days I am going to be down one less cat! The monster Whiskers has been at it again and OMG I am so friggin MAD!

Apparently the birds are out and about trying to feed up for the winter or something, cause there are a crap load in my yard and driving Whiskers to run from window to window. Like here he is now, he just jumped up on the desk to chase ...what? A bird, a lizard, the tree branch is moving in the wind...who knows!

Thank goodness I don't need my mouse at this point, cause his butt is on it.

I'm sure your wondering why am I so mad at him...
Well, see that window there, note that it no longer has a screen on it.

That's right this stupid cat seems to think that if he body slams the screen in pursuit of a bird than he will catch it. Instead the bird gets away and he is hanging from a very old screen that rips from its seams and comes crashing down.

Chasing birds is fine but when it tends to destroy my house, then it is war!

There are about two dozen doves out there under the tree.

It is going to be a long day. I wonder what else he is going to destroy. Gawd I hope it's not my curtains! He wont live if it is!

Tidbits of the Vacation / Holiday

2010-12-01T16:40:00.000-06:00

Miss me? Well even if you didn't, I missed blogging.

Vacation is over for now and I am much happy to be done with it. It was 10 days of laziness. Laziness is good sometimes but I was sooo ready to get back to our regular routine. Hubby would differ in that opinion, he was whining that it wasn't long enough and went by tooo quickly. Awww, poor baby, now get back to work and outta my hair! Just kidding folks! It was fun and I do love having him around (but only if I can get some work out of him). Okay I'll stop picking on the boy. Maybe!

Sooo, what did we do on our vacation/holiday? Let me just say it was nothing like we had planned for the first half of the year. Plan was to do a triangle of the state of Texas. To do a whole lot of visiting with family and friends throughout the state. We had such lovely plans...sigh. Well life had other plans. Things broke down, extra expenses came up and before we knew it the money we had saved back was gone. Sad.

We instead had a staycation here at the house. Although we did spend a lovely time at his niece's for Thanksgiving. Resigned to the idea of having to stay home, I had visions in my head of all the things we could do at home and possiably get done. I guess I do tend to get carried away with my ideas, cause they didn't match up with hubbies ideas at all! LOL!

Hubbies ideal staycation is to sit around in his chair and be glued to the tv. Syfy all day baby! Sleeping in late with no alarm clock buzzing him awake (yes, I admit that was nice, realllll nice!).

The biggest difference of opinion came about four days into it. I was informed that I was slacking on getting the coffee ready for the next morning. LOL!
Me...that is cause I'm on VACATION!
Hubby...NO I'm on vacation!
Repeat this several times back and forth and we was roaring with laughter!
Needless to say..If he wanted coffee before I got up (which was the whole vacation), then he had to make it himself.
Okay I am cracking myself up (I'm such a mean old lady), lets move on.

Excuse me while I go change out the washer and dryer.

We had our first freeze the other night and stupid me forgot to put my plants up or wrap them. Some survived and some didn't. It wasn't a harsh freeze just right at freezing temps. We had to dig out the heaters for the first time and in response to the artifical heat, my hair now looks like I rubbed a balloon on it. It's not a pretty sight and is driving me insane! Okay fine, it's not a long drive but I am sooo there!

In the crocheting news...
Bf and I pledged 8 scarves for the Special Olympics and have 14 ready to mail.
I am four days away from finishing my brothers 7ft x 7ft blanket.
I have been asked to do a king sized blanket for other brother and his lady's first place together.
Currently waiting on some yarn I ordered to come in, so I can finish the lap blanket for my chair.
@ Kaylen...Wish I could have donated some yarn for your drive, but the expense to ship was too much. Sorry. Glad to hear you got the hooks though.
Looks like I'm going to busy for the rest of winter.

I guess that is all I got for today, talk at cha later.
Yall have a great day!

"Poor Folks That We Were"

2010-11-20T12:23:00.004-06:00

I was standing over my chair folding laundry. Some of the laundry came from the dryer from the forgotten load of last week. I am forever forgetting that last load. I noticed hubby's shirts were wrinkled. DIL's comment on a questionarrie came to mind..Pet peeves..wrinkled clothes. I busted out laughing!

I then got to thinking about when I was a kid. Yes, we ran around in the wrinklest clothes you ever saw! There was teasing from fellow students, but I was yet to learn the solution to the problem. I'm not even sure we owned an iron. Anyway when I was a kid we went to the laundry mat. "Poor folks that we were" we had to go about this in a system. First there was the food stamps, you know the paper ones from way back. Momma would send each child into the store with one dollar, we had to get just one piece of penny candy (remember those) and bring back the change. The change then became the laundry money. Again, "Poor folks that we were" we didn't have a car. The solution to this problem was to always have a shopping cart from the local grocery store at the house. We would stuff as many clothes as we could (for our large family of 6) into pillowcases or lay out a sheet and fill it up and tie the ends together. Stuff all this into the shopping cart and push it about two miles to the laundry mat. Most of the time this was me pushing and demanding the rugrats (my three much smaller siblings) to hold hands, stay out of the road, stop running off, don't eat thaaaaat! Fun times (NOT)!

You must know though that this was a step up in our world. Going to the laundry mat was hitting the high times. It was a heck of a lot better than filling the bathtub up with soapy water dumping the laundry in and putting the smaller kids in to stomp on the clothes, repeat the process for rinsing, then bend over the tub and wringe everything out and hang it all out to dry. Chapped hands anyone! Especially hated when the freeze came overnight and your clothes were still on the line, frozen stiff! There was many a times when I would go to school in wet clothes. Sooo yeah, going to the laundry mat was a huge step up. Except for the embarrassment factor.

Back to the laundry mat...We get there. The process of doing laundry took hours, the kids would get bored, fuss, cry, tantums were common. Finally the laundry in the dryers come to a stop. Hopefully they are done, cuase money was scarce and I had to stuff as much as I could in them. Sometimes I even had to bring them home still damp. Well with the kids and the massive amounts of laundry and the time (and my patience) running out, I very rarely folded anything (I think I remember folding them three times). I would just stuff them back into the pillowcases, load everything up and we would walk the two miles back.

Now the reason we never had unwrinkled clothes is because those pillowcases full of clothes rarely ever got folded. Yeah, dad bellowed all the time for me to fold them, but seriously after the excursion I went through, that was the last thing I wanted to do. I did my duty even though I hated every minute of it, but I was done! Let someone else do it! (Gawd I was an awful child)

It's funny now that I think about it, in just a few short years later..Wrinkled clothes where in fashion! LOL! You know the long skirts that you purposely twisted to get that broomstick look. I was ahead of my time! LMAO!

Now I do fold my clothes fresh from the dryer, except for that forever forgotten last load. Thanks DIL for the laugh and memory!

Poem

2010-11-16T14:50:00.004-06:00

The storm breaks
The cold sets in
The ashes fall
from the burning end
(Just something off the top of my head)

Oops, it wasn't supposed to publish, my bad!

New Glasses

2010-11-13T01:00:00.000-06:00

So as you know I have been a little off lately with headaches and dizziness and I pretty much limited my computer activities to Facebook only. A quick on and right back off again. I did do some research into my symptoms and concluded it was a vision problem.

Well that figures since I haven't been wearing my glasses for some time cause I broke them for the third time in the same spot. The area is soo full of super glue that it wont even go together any more. Soo they have been sitting in the desk drawer for months. Occasionally I would try to wear them with one bow but that is a little difficult with them sitting on my face crooked!

I finally checked the books and figured a eye exam was possible, then I was reminded we had to get propane for the winter. While in my debate as to what would get done cause both wasn't possible, I was reminded that I would need my eye sight to light the pilot light! Yeah makes sense! The propane would just have to wait.

I went to the store and on the way home I went the back way, which came out right next to the convenience store. I quickly pulled in. I had quit going to convenience stores cause it was too easy to fall into the trap of scratch off tickets, the money guzzling wastes of paper. I had conquered that addiction two years ago and avoid the convenience stores like the plague. Well the back slider that I am, I went in and bought a $5 ticket and won $100. Woohoo! (No worries I won't be falling back into the trap) Now I have the money for both items!!

Yesterday was the big day, the eye exam. I was curious as to how much different my eyes are now compared to how they were 6 years ago, but apparently they don't keep the records of folks that don't come on a regular yearly basis. I have no clue what my script was back then. This time I was informed that my script called for bifocals, but the doc said they were optional at this point. Yikes! Seriously? When the heck did I get old enough for bifocals? Thankfully I learnt that the bifocal part would be a non script section in the lens, with the script in the upper portion.

As finances as they are I opted out of getting them. I kinda wish I hadn't but oh well I had to do what I had to do. The doc said all I would have to do is remove my glasses when I was reading or something was right in front of me, but definitely need them for driving or anything some distance away. The problem already has risen from not having them. To crochet in my lap and try to look up at the tv occasionally is not working. With my glasses the tv looks great, but with them crocheting looks weird.

Looks like I'm going to have to work on saving some more so I can go ahead and get them. Sigh. I had turned grey, produced a colony of wrinkles and gone snaggle-toothed, so why not just go all the way and add on some bifocals. How many more steps till I am officially considered "falling apart"? LOL!!

Taking some time for the Special Olympics.

2010-11-07T22:45:00.000-06:00

So your probably wondering what happened, where have I been, what have I been up too?

What happened...Well first I got sick but was still trying to stay with it. The lingering dizziness and fatigue that is still here, but has eased up a little, have really taken its toll on me body and mind. If you feel neglected, you should see my house! Hubby has done the dishes for me many times since this thing set in. Bless his heart!

Where have I been...Well I'm embarrassed to say I have been right here, hiding in the cloud of a mindless woman. Okay that was stretching the truth, but it was like that at first. I guess you could say I detached myself from blogger, not literally but mentally. I know it's not fair to yall for me to be soo neglectful, it wasn't intentional,, it just evolved it to a blah. Matter of a fact all my Internet experiences of late have been a blah. Does that mean I am done with blogging? No, it just means it's a little slow around here in this old brain of mine. Maybe I will slow down for now, hubby has been very happy to have lots of my attention and it's been good for me too.

What have I been up to?...Crocheting! Yeah it is finally in the temps of crocheting weather. It is a passion that definitely interferes with blog reading or creating, very difficult to crochet and blog at the same time, well at least for me it is.

My perfect model
I finished up some unfinished projects and went looking for yarn on ebay, when I couldn't find what color I was looking for I went to the Red Heart site. My world changed for that one decision. Up at the top of their site is a "Follow us on Facebook" button. I did that! Then I learnt of the Special Olympics Scarf Project. The details are here, just in case your interested as much as I am. I even got my bf to get busy with some scarfs and trying to talk the old man at our local craft store to put up flyers.

My current work with the Special Olympics colors
It's funny..last year I pretty much skipped crocheting season and this year I can barely put it down. I am having a lot of fun, knowing some of my work is for such a good cause doesn't hurt.

The scarf I sold
Oh and I posted my finished work on the Read Heart Yarn Facebook page and sold my first scarf! I guess you could say that motivates me even more to get the most out of this season as I can. I also signed myself up for the next available knitting classes here in my local town, that should be interesting.

Hope yall wont miss me too much, but I'll still be around just not as often. Okay soo back to work I go!

Writer's Workshop: Favorite Actors from my Childhood, Plus One I Adore!

2010-11-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

I chose writing prompt #1..What actors from childhood do you think about?

When I was a kid my favorite actors were:

First and forever there was Michael Landon:
Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza
Pa-Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie(I soo wanted him to be my daddy)
Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven
Then there was Lorne Greene:
Ben Cartwright in Bonanza
Adama in Battlestar Galactica
And of course there was Victor French:
Isaiah Edwards in Little House on the Prairie
Mark Gordon in Highway to Heaven
I can't forget Parker Stevenson:
Frank Hardy in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries
Craig Pomeroy in Baywatch
Now we get to the man that makes me catch my breathe everytime I hear him speak. The most amazing Sam Elliot:
Gar in Mask
Wade Garrett in Roadhouse
I'm thinking..Wild Bill Hickcock in Buffalo Girls
Virgil Earp in Tombstone
Just to name a few, cause there are soo many more movies he was in that where great.
Ohhhh yeeeaaahhhhhhh!!!!
Excuse me...Brain overload

Hope that was fun for yall!

Waking the Hubby

2010-11-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

I sit in my chair with the foot rest up. I have a dog inbetween my calves, another along side my thigh and another at my hip. They are all under the blanket we use to cover ouselves, then I have a cat on my chest and another up on the headrest grooming my hair.

It is almost time for the alarm to go off for hubby to get his day started. As soon as he is up, I get to go to bed. Which is a good thing since I have been fighting sleep for about an hour already. I wish I could trust him to get up on his own.

Beep, beep, beep...

Dear! It's time to get up!

Beep, beep, beep...

Dear! You need to get up!

Beep, beep, beep...

Dear! Are you going to get that?!

Beep, beep, beep...
Grumble. Arm comes out from the covers and groops the air. It finally moves and manages to turn it off. AND he falls back to sleep.

I grab the remote and put the tv on the news.
2 minutes..Dear! It's time to get up!
Grumble, but no movement.

3 more minutes..Dear!!!
Movement at last, but nope were not there yet.

I tap Peach on the butt and she jumps down. I throw back the covers and 3 pairs of eyes stare at me like I am crazy. I say..up, up, up, let me up. Two get down.

I go get his coffee and stand at the table, waiting.
Dear! Here's your coffee!

It roars like a bear that has been disturbed. He blindly groops the table, when he finds nothing, he tries to go back to sleep.

Deeeeaaaarrrr! Your coffee is going to get cold!

I'm up.
His mouth says it, but his body didn't hear it.

I reach down and take the covers away from him. If that doesn't work then I shake his body at the shoulder.

*Cough, cough, cough* *Hack, hack* His body moves to get to the spittoon and whalla he is finally up.

Good morning dear!

I wait for the 2nd cup of coffee to be made, then I throw back the covers again. Okay kids, it's time to go to bed! We all get up.

As I drag my tired body towards him for a kiss, I say:
Love you Dear. Have a nice day.
Love you too and if you say so! or Love you too and I'll try to!
No matter how many times he says it or different ways he says it, I still manage to smile and chuckle.

I force the dogs outside for one last reststop and then it is off to dreamland!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!

Love yall and have a nice day!

Weekend with Hubby

2010-11-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Saturday I went to the flea market. I was really in the need for a personal shopping trip, even though it wasn't an extravagant trip (15$), it was alot of fun just browsing around for a little while. Then I went grocery shopping, which is always an exhausting ordeal. The store was packed with last minute shoppers for Halloween, I was just doing my weekly shopping. I came home content and tired. I saw hubby was already home and I was thinking I was finally going to get some help with carrying the groceries in. NOT! (normally he would)

This is the reason why:

Here is his story (after some henning from me about bring things home, but this time I was kidding cause this work bench he really needed):

He saw this man on the side of the road selling alot of things but mostly he saw that bench. On his way home he stopped to look it over. He asked the man how much. The man said he wants a 100, but he would let it go for 85. Hubby lets him know he only has 65, so if he was still around next weekend he would give him 80 for it. The man mulls it over and says he would hate to have to come back next weekend, so he will take that 65. Hubby spent all of his saved up pocket money, but personally I think he made a good deal. Anyway he was piddling with his new toy that came with a vise and a bench grinder with a light. Very happy hubby! BUT he had to work really hard to get the shed cleared out to put it in there. Soo he was happy, but tired.
~
~
Saturday night we watched Scared Shreikless, yeah it was funny! Loved it when gingy was telling his story! I tried to stay up to watch Gremlins, but couldn't stay awake. I thought I was going to take a short hour nap, it turned into 5 hours! I know, I was just as surprised! I stayed up for 5 hours and then slept even four hours more. NINE hours of sleep! Blows my mind!
~
~
Sunday morning I had soo much energy, must have been from all that sleep. I attacked the kitchen and started moving things and cleaning behind and under and a little reorganizing. Plus putting a roast on.

Hubby the channel flipper, was bouncing between the race and old scary movies. You know..Boris Karloff and Vincent Price, then suddenly it's Brian Vickers and Clint Boyer. I let him do his thing, well cause...both were good choices and I was watching both with him.

Suddenly out of nowhere (most likely brought on by a commercial) I say this:
Me: Soo, you think we will get any trick or treaters?

Hubby: Me!! (with his hand out)

Me: You’ll have to get dressed up in order to get any candy.

Hubby: What I’m not scary enough right now?!

Me: I‘m laughing and decide to share this with yall and as I walk by he says

Hubby: “Hey”

Me: Yeah

Hubby: “BOO!!!”
~
~
Hubby later out of the blue says:

Trick or treat?

I get up and go in to look at him.

I say (Stupidly)..TRICK.

Hubby: Ohhhhh, you are sooo in for it now! Your gonna wish you had given me a treat!

I laugh and come back to the computer.

About 20 minutes later, while sitting here all engrossed in what I am researching...

BOOOOOO!!!! Right in my ear, with finger jabs to my sides!

#@%&!!! Scared the "you know what" out of me!

~
~
I spent the rest of the day buying yarn on Ebay, finishing up the mess I made in the kitchen and watching Avatar with hubby (my second time, his first).
~
~
Not a single trick or treater as I knew we wouldn't. We haven't seen one of those since the late eighties!
~
~
A very nice weekend with the hubby. HAHAHAHAHA (insert evil laugh)

Grateful for my Poverty.

2010-10-29T01:00:00.002-05:00

Today was a time to be grateful for what little I do have.

My childhood friend called today just to have some one to listen to her and hear her woes. We have talked many times in the last few months since we got reconnected and it has been great getting to know her again, but something in me is off. I feel a great sadness for what all she has been through and what these things have lead her life to. I guess I thought that with age comes wisdom, but for some reason this doesn't seem to be the case. Maybe I said that wrong, it's not that she hasn't learnt wisdom from her experiences, but it doesn't seem to have gotten her to change the path her life has been on for all of her life.

When I first met her she was just as poverty stricken as we were. Only difference was we were a family of 6 and they were just her and her mom. My dad worked his scrawny butt off to provide for his large family and they got a monthly check from the VA. I remember a time when she and I was talking and I learned that the check they got was for a thousand dollars a month. I was in jaw dropping awe! I couldn't understand how come they couldn't make it, when their money was 200 more than dads money. To tell ya the truth I still don't get it.

They rented just like us. They didn't have a car just like us. They struggled for food just like us. And so on and so on. Our lives were nearly exact, except for the size. They moved nearly as much as we did, but for different reasons. Our reason was crappy landlords that didn't want to fix the places up. They moved in the search for something better. At least I think that is why they moved all the time. I can't be positive, it may be something deeper that I never knew about. I do know of a few times it was to get away from all the drama in their lives or to just leave it all behind them and start fresh in a new place. I understand that to a degree, I did the same thing when I moved away from that town and came here.

Any way what I was trying to get at is that for some reason her life hasn't changed at all. They are still in the extreme struggling mode every month. They still move from one place to the next, it is almost as if they get restless after a few years and have to start over in order to keep things in chaos. Her life is chaos to me and for that feeling, I am upset with myself. It was a long time ago that I was in the same situation, but surely I didn't forget. I have become comfortable with my life, stable hubby, stable house, stable income (Most of the time, except for in the winter).

I guess in my mind all them years we were apart, I figured her life to have become like mine. Settled, fixed, stable. I was expecting to hear about her long lasting relationship and the wonderful hubby, the place she has been working, the house they finally found after searching for so long and the kids all doing well in school (even collage perhaps), blah blah blah. Basically I figured her life to actually have turned out better than mine. Reality check, this did not happen for her. None of it actually, except for the good boyfriend for the last 2 years and one child who left home at a young age and got an opportunity for himself and is currently in college. Well at least there is that, right?

For me all the moving around as a child lead me to NEVER want to move! The chaos of boyfriend after boyfriend lead me to hold on tight to the best man I stumbled across. Just kidding but you know what I mean, right?

The finances of poverty lead me to sacrifice all niceties just to make sure the bills were paid and food on the table, for me that comes first above all else! I will wash my hair with dish soap, if that is all I can afford to do. I will not drive my truck more than absolutely necessary (like 8 miles a week, most weeks). I will not eat out, when it is soo much cheaper to eat at home. I will not buy those jeans or tennies I need, if it means not paying something. This is something I have learned (Through our phone convos)that she still hasn't learned.

Like she was just today, returning a wanted item just so she could get some needed items.

My life is not all that it could be, but at least I don't have to worry about paying the bills or having at least some food on the tv tray. Even if we do eat chili or spaghetti three nights in a row or a brisket for a week, at least we have food.

I just never thought our lives would be soo different. I know I have changed and some would say "Hey what happened to that wild and crazy girl?", But I say (after learning what happens if you stay that way) "Thank goodness she got lost somewhere along the way!" I can NOW imagine just how my life would be, if I hadn't had changed my life and mindset around. I would be right there along side her struggling for every morsel, every roof and in as much emotional pain.

Maybe our losing each other way back when was an unforeseen blessing. Is it wrong that I am having a difficult time with all of this? I am finding myself pulling away from talking to her as much and I feel awful about it. Like I am betraying our friendship over something that she has no control over. She is who she is and I feel like I need to step down off my short pedestal and be there for her, but I am finding that difficult without getting angry at her for not trying to change her situation (even just a smidgen). It's like I knew her, but I'm not understanding the woman that she has become. I don't know how to get past this ugly feeling of disappointment.

*Sigh*

Well anyway, this has all made just a little more aware of just how grateful I am of how my life is/has turned out and appreciate all the more of what little I do have. It could definitely be worse, as I am slowly remembering (I guess I did kinda forget) and learning.

First Memorable Sunburn

2010-10-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

Searching through the last few writing prompts from the Writer's Workshop, looking for something to activate my brain.

"It was a bad burn. Tell about the worst sunburn you ever received. How did that happen!?!"

Well this one could work but I'm going to change it a little. I'm going to tell you of the first sunburn I remember getting.

I was 11 years old and we were having a yard sale. We were preparing for our journey across the world. (Well that is how it felt at the time!) We was headed to the wasteland of Texas. From what I had see in the westerns on the tv, it was a land of desert with no trees and mirages of water. I was scared, worried and very much in protest, not just in words but in actions too.

I was told that I had to down size all my belonging to ONE small suitcase. We was selling everything for money for the trip. I mean everything, from clothes to toys to beds. I trudged around in a sour face at every purchase that was made of my things. It was bad enough that I was being taken from my friends, grandparents and even my cat, but to have to watch these strangers walk off with my treasured toys was unbearable. Everything that I forced into my suitcase was at least safe.

I was dressed in a girls undershirt and a skirt. For those of you who have no clue what a girls undershirt is Except mine had lace around the edging, with a little bow at the neckline. Not much different than today's regular shirts.

My dad was yelling at me to go get a shirt on and I was being all rebellious and refused. (What it really was.. I didn't want to let my parents see what I was keeping in fear that they would decided I had to get rid of it.) I guess he got tired of fighting with me, cause I wore that undershirt all day with nothing else on top of it.

The next morning when I woke up my skin was tight and when I tried to move the pain crept in. Yup I had a sunburn on my arms, shoulders, neck and face. I was scared and yet fascinated. I keep remembering me standing in front of the mirror checking it out and touching it, watching the flesh go from red to white and back to red with each touch.

Of course my mothers cure for all things was Epsom salt and Calamine Lotion. So after soaking in a bath of grainy salt, I was lathered up in pink! I was not a pink kinda girl, so you can imagine the horror!

Guess I should have listened to my dads yelling and went and put a shirt on! LOL!

Little did I know, I was moving to the kingdom of many many sunburns!

Spin Cycle: Then and Now

2010-10-22T00:00:00.001-05:00

Then.. I wore make-up, LOTS and LOTS of make-up. Must hide and pretend to be someone else!
Now.. Maybe twice a year, I dig out that fake face (that now weighs a fourth of what it used to).

Then.. I colored my hair. I spent sooo much money and time and worry for something so trivial.
Now.. I'm enjoying my grays, they are coming in nicely.

Then.. I bejeweled myself up. It was the thing to do, necklaces, earrings (more than one pair), rings, bracelets, broaches.
Now.. Two rings is all. I prefer to be seen instead of hiding behind the ornamental glow! Today folks have earrings in places I don't even want to know about!

Then.. I spent hours getting my hair perfectly curled and sprayed into place. Sleeping on bulky curlers, burning myself with a curling iron, sweating to the heat of a blow dryer, choking on the cloud of hair spray.
Now.. A ponytail will do. Wash and go!

Then.. I did everything I could to try to look in fashion (Thank goodness fashions were nothing like they are today). Dresses went down to the mid-calves or just above the knee, jeans actually covered ones butt and the wait lines were at the belly button. Shirts covered the essentials!
Now.. I have no clue what happened to the rest of the material in today's fashions. I bought a new shirt and had to give it away cause I was constantly trying to re-adjust it to fit properly, you know..COVER!

Then.. I thought I knew all there was to know.
Now.. I laugh at that thinking!

Then.. I watched cartoons.
Now.. I watch the news. (When the frack did that happen?)

Then.. I loved Freddie!
Now.. What the heck was wrong with me? I can't even hardly watch any of the new horror movies out nowadays. (Sorry Spot) Blood and guts has lost its appeal.

Then.. I could have cared less what was going on in the world unless it messed with MY world.
Now.. well lets not get into that, it's chaos in there (pointing to my head)!

Then.. I would turn the light off and run and jump on my bed so the monsters couldn't grab my feet and drag me under to eat me.
Now.. I sleep with a night light and three dogs as my protectors!

Then.. I lived in a house of filth. Cleaning was high on the list of things I got in trouble for NOT doing.
Now.. I love a clean house and strive everyday to keep that way!

Then.. I wanted, wanted, wanted! Material items, that is. I always felt like we didn't have anything.
Now.. I realise I had all that was important. Family, health and.. well yes, even love.

Then.. Life without music was unthinkable, a crime actually.
Now.. I find that the only music I am exposed to is from the tv in shows or commercials. (My old classmate aka Orchestra conductor would definitely call that a crime!)

Then.. I slept peacefully and at least 8-10 hours.
Now.. Well..crap, I miss that!

Then.. The idea of a computer was sience fiction.
Now.. Well look at us NOW!

I could go on, but I wont. So if you want more on the then and nows, go visit Sprite's Keeper.

Abuse is NOT Love.

2010-10-20T00:00:00.001-05:00

Today I would like to talk about troubled relationships. Through out my life I have been the victim of several types of pain that was dealt to me.
Pain can be dealt in many forms.

There is emotional pain.
One mean look from a love one can inflict pain.
One turn of the back can inflict pain.
One roll of the eyes can inflict pain.
One's careless indifference can inflict pain.

These things happening over and over, will break your spirit and leave you feeling alone in a relationship with a person that has no regard for your feelings. The emotional pain varies from person to person, depending on how strong you are.

There is physical pain.
One push can inflict pain.
One pull of the hair can inflict pain.
One slap can inflict pain.
One punch can inflict pain.

These things happening over and over again, are a real good sign that you are in a very troubled relationship and it could very easily turn into a murder. Physical abuse is nothing to continually forgive. We try to teach our children not to hit, that violence is not okay, so is it okay to let your loved one hit on you? Physical pain/abuse is never okay!

There is verbal pain.
One curse word can inflict pain.
One argument can inflict pain.
One defamation of character can inflict pain.
One derogatory statement can inflict pain.

These things being said or yelled to you over and over again, are going to make you feel helpless. This is a form of making you feel worthless, incompetent and dependent. If you are made to feel these things, you should know that this is all about control. Not good at all!

These pains dealt constantly are....ABUSE!!

I have experienced these abuses and have seen them happen all the time. Spouses doing all they can to hurt one another. How can we possibly think these things are okay or have anything to do with love? The never ending question.

It's so easy to fall into the trap of the words "I love you". They are just words, it's the actions that straightens the truth or the lie in them. How many times are you going to accept the words "I'm sorry"? If they were truly sorry, then they would try with everything in them to never do it again. In abusive relationships, "I'm sorry" is used as an escape, not cause they truly are sorry.

How much are you willing to put up with and at what cost? Your life, your spirit, your soul? Would you be friends with a person that abuses you all the time? Then why would you stay with someone that does the exact same things?

These types of pains/abuses don't have any place in a relationship that is supposed to be about love. If there isn't enough love to make you want to cherish, treasure and PROTECT, then I would have to say the relationship isn't going to work.

Please...Please! If you are in an abusive relationship try to find one thing about yourself that is worth saving. May it be your life, spirit, soul, your children's well being, your children's mental health, your mental health or how about that smile that you've been hiding behind your tears...something, anything!

Please love yourself enough to save yourself! I did it, you can too!
(This post is meant for all persons: male or female.)

Chasing Kittys

2010-10-19T00:50:00.000-05:00

I was outside watering my flowers, as I "Try" to do every evening. Stitch had went out with me. As usual any time he spots a cat in the neighbors yard (which is everyday, they have 6 of them), he will bark his fool head off and run back and forth at the fence. If they are in our yard he will chase them out or up the tree.

So, he is running and barking. I am watering and ignoring him. I suddenly hear a ruckus and look. Not only is Stitch after this cat from our side but the neighbors own dogs were chasing it. With four dogs after it from both sides, it had no choice but to make a mad dash for the tree!

I walked over to the tree and looked up, this is what I saw...

Contortionist kitty!

Checking out the dogs

Straightening herself

Accessing the situation

Might as well get comfortable

View from the back

I laughed my fool head off at the way she was sitting on her butt in the tree!

Foggy Morning

2010-10-18T09:44:00.011-05:00

I woke to Taco doing his "I got to go outside" noise, it sounds kinda like a snort/sneeze. It can be very annoying, but hey I can't complain, at least he tells me. My eyes fall on the clock, I groan. It's only been 4 1/2 hours! I stumble into the kitchen and then to the door. The bright light temporarily blinding me. Once I get my focus on, I realize the morning is so foggy I can barely see past the neighbors house. Photo op!

I quickly do a turn around and come in to get the camera and my flip flops. Yes folks I went out in the street in my nightgown! Not like anyone saw me, except for the neighbors dog, who greeted me with a some not so friendly barks. I had to make my presence known and then it was all wags between us. We walked to the field and I was taken aback by the pure spectacular beauty. I love fog, it makes all things glisten and the smallest things stand out.

The fog was disappearing right before my eyes, the timing of me getting up couldn't have been more perfect. Another 10 minutes and I would have missed it.

I walked back out of the brush (sorry excuse for trees).

To find cuteness waiting for me at the corner.

What a great morning!

Toys, Positive Thoughts, Hubby's Funnies and Doggie Birthdays

2010-10-16T00:45:00.002-05:00

One year and two weeks later from my fourth post (back before I had followers), we were back at the store for a replenishing of Nana's toy box. After a year of playing, things got broken, lost or commandeered by the dogs. It was time to find some new and updated toys. The rules were basically tossed out, except for the no weapons part. I was no help to the process, I ended up getting things with small parts and and way over $10 a piece. Shopping fail on my part but once again the kids did fabulously at picking out some great toys.

I just spent over an hour CUTTING these toys out of their box's/package and ready for instant play! It's not like you can just give a child a toy straight from the store anymore, you have to have a friggin degree to get them loose from their theft ware packaging! By time I was finished I had three large bags of trash, that is plastic, wires and bulky cardboard! (Fisher Price..really, what is up with that?)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In other news...

Positive thoughts for

Angelia's new hubby Jason. He is currently in the hospital with possible heart trouble. Haven't seen an update yet. Anyway, please keep them in your thoughts (they are supposed to be on their honeymoon, not having all this happen).

My SIL is going in for surgery Tuesday, need some more positive thoughts there too. With the new baby and brother with a new job, need to hope that the surgery isn't invasive to the point of being confined to the hospital for days. (As usual they won't know how invasive it will have to be till they get in there)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hubby comes home and asks if I bought new flowers.
Me...No I haven't, not in a few weeks. Why?
Hubby...Where did those yellow ones come from?
Me...(giggle) One has been there for three weeks and the other for two weeks!
Hubby...Hmm, they sure are purty.
Me...LMAO! (He walks by them everyday and just now realises they are there!)

(Them stupid horse apples)
Hubby...What'cha got planned for tomorrow?
Me...Nothing, oh wait, I have to go grocery shopping. Why?
Hubby...Well I was going to suggest that you could tear open those apples and see how many seeds you can get from them.
Me...(Stares at the boy like he has gone insane)(Shakes my head)(Starts giggling at my response forming in my head) I don't think that is something I would like to put on my list, sorry!
Hubby...sits there grinning and suppressing laughter
So guess what I'll be doing tomorrow...tearing apart a super sticky green brain like horse apple. Yuck!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today is Chaquita and Stitch's birthday! They are 8 years old! Where has all the time gone? (Getting woken up for birthday pics)

Have a good weekend!

P.S. Something is going crazy with my Nana's Nature blog, it's posting more than one a day and I can't figure out why. Sorry for the confusion.

Writer's Workshop: Boysitting

2010-10-14T00:00:00.001-05:00

This week I choose prompt #5, A memorable babysitting job.

Waaaay back when I was 17-18...

I was married and my husband at the time (NOT my current hubby) had been transferred to a different store in a different town. The commute was long and the graveyard shift was dull and boring. I went along to help keep him awake. A local woman was looking for a babysitter for her 6 boys, ranging in ages of 6 to 12. The job came with a place to stay on their property and it was just blocks from the husbands work. Her husband was a truck driver and she wanted to go with him to help earn extra money.

I was extremely scared to take the job. I mean we are talking BOYS and being responsible for all of them 24/7 was a huge thing to consider. My husband was all for it cause of the location and housing and apparently men are not intimidated by a group of boys. In the end we accepted the job.

She took me through the tour of her house and showed me the ropes of money, chores, food and schedules. In two days of getting to know the boys and there routines the "Parents" were gone. I say "Parents" cause I still felt like a child in soo many aspects, I was instantly terrified! Thankfully the husband was there to enforce the authority and the boys were very kind and on their best behaviors.

What made it memorable other than the boys, that should be memorable enough, RIGHT? Well a few things stand out.

The mother helped me get my drivers license that first weekend they came home, so I could use their van to take the kids places and so she wouldn't have to come home as often. On another weekend they purchased a one ton flatbed pick-up, I got taught how to drive it. That was very intimidating but yet thrilling and powerful too. I always manage to remember her when ever I get my license renewed or look at my birth certificate that she sent away for.

I was exposed to a new religion. Mormon. They weren't the type of Mormons you hear about, they didn't have a harem of wives and kids. They were like the Brady Bunch, him and his kids, her and her kids, makes for one crazy house! I slightly took an interest in their religion till I got to the levels of heaven.

My Grandfather died on my 18th birthday and I went back to Maine for the funeral and to say goodbye to my parents who were staying in Maine. My baby brother bawled his head off and begged me to put him in my suitcase and bring him back with me. The tears flowed for many reasons that week. My husband came up the next day and we left together. At the change over in New York, the husband got his wallet stolen.

I was exposed to the lovely quality of organizing. With six boys, the mother came up with a system for her children. Each child had his own color. This color was on everything that belonged to that child. In the toes of their socks was a loop of that color thread, it was also found on the tags of their clothing, in the waistline of the undergarments. They had their own set of dishes in that color, of which they were responsible for washing. Even their towels were of their own color. There was no confusion of who's stuff belonged to who and blessedly no fighting over things. I found this system to be amazing. She had a chore chart that had that child's color on it for what chores they were to do for that day. When the child did said chores they got a popsicle stick that had been mark with their color and at the end of the week they turned them in for a quarter apiece for their allowance. I also learned the importance of financial organizing.

I took the kids to the city pool for some fun, a good time had been had by all and we stayed till they closed. We got back to the house and all the kids lumbered out of the van and into the house. I let them leave their stuff in the van with the strict instructions to retrieve it in the morning. The next morning we was rushing around getting ready for school and I sent one of them to go get all of their shoes out of the van. The boy rushes back into the house and yells that the van is GONE!
The whole herd went out the door to confirm this. I called the police, the school and then the parents. Come to find out it was a repo. I had experienced my first repo! I'll tell ya though, walking out in the driveway and that van being gone was a moment I will never forget!

I guess the mother felt it was too much hassle to try to keep up with the financial things at home and being out on the road, so she came home. We stayed another two weeks and then moved on.

All of my time with them was an experience that will always be remembered.

Now go visit Mama Kat to join in or just read some more posts.

Drive A 100 Miles For....

2010-10-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

Wednesday evening hubby suddenly asks "Do you want to go to Seguin this weekend?"
I look at him and say...well yeah!
Hubby...don't call your mom just yet, cause I don't know whether or not I will have to work Saturday.
Me...oh so this suggestion is just a tease! (I left him giggling to himself, yeah he made himself laugh, very amusing indeed! Please note the sarcasm)
From the kitchen I tell him he is mean. This leads to a full blown hysterical fit, followed by a "stop it, stop it, your killing me!".
I swear the boy don't play fair, how can ya even try to get and stay mad at a guy that cracks himself up so hard that you find yourself being sucked into the laughing? Ya can't, I can't.

What would you drive 100 miles for? Well apparently my hubby will drive that distance for...apples! (future teasing already running through my head) Hubby kept saying Beau d'arc apples. For the life of me I have never heard of such a thing and was super curious. I could have easily looked it up, but was afraid if I did, that would cancel the possibility of a road trip. Come to find out his mission was to collect the apples, get seeds and plant them. Now it was my turn to laugh and laugh my fool head off!

He had delivered a load way out there in the boonies, were the deer roam, the cows lay in the shade of the trees, the dust from the unpaved roads will make you choke and the stench of the oil refineries will make you gag. On this particular stretch of back road, he ran over a "Beau d'arc apple" and briefly looked up and saw them hanging in the tree. He wanted sooo badly to get out right then and grab one, but he had trucks behind him waiting to get a move on to the next load. "Loads are money moron, get out of the way or we will push your ass up this road!" (Yeah that's trucker talk for ya) So he kept going, but his longing did too.

As most of you know hubby can spot the strangest things on the roads that most folk wouldn't see. Well since spotting that apple tree, he has been looking at the trees instead of the road. Watch out people the boy is NOT paying attention!! His running buddies were mystified that he didn't see that bucket, bolt or pliers sitting on the side of the road. Yes this is getting serious, a road trip is a must for his sanity and the safety of all drivers!

After much teasing from the men and hubby asking (bugging) everyone he came across if they have a "Beau d'arc tree on their properties (no one knew what he was talking about). He decided to take Saturday off, specifically for this road trip.

After doing a oil change, we were off.

I saw soo many photo opportunities but only made mental notes of where they were so that maybe hubby will stop on the way back. When he is focused on a destination, there is no deterring from it, it's like tunnel vision! I kept seeing this flower along the sides of the interstate and was wondering what it was. Finally I mentioned to hubby that I wanted to stop on the way back to get a photo and what did he do, he pulled over right there. I was soo surprised and grateful.

After a little more distance, he slowed to a crawl with his eyes focused on the trees. I spotted one off in a fenced in field, he debated going in there. I had to quickly remind him that he could easily get shot! We trekked on. He finally decided he had gone too far and turned around. We rounded a curve at a snails pace and I was like "wait go back just a little" There is was, I found it!

The elusive Beau d'arc tree. Not much about this tree is very telling or standoutish. Except for this:

Big, green, brain looking "apples"! Funniest looking apple I ever saw. Just to be clear these are not real apples! I mean there is nothing about this fruit that resembles any kind of apple. Hubby found one already busted open and the insides are like a stringy white pulp with seeds simular to a orange, it smells simular to a honey dew melon mixed with a hint of orange and VERY sticky (like a sap sticky).

He was now happy as a lark and stopped everywhere I asked him to. We spent about an hour with my mom and continued on heading for home, but stopping occasionally for photos.

After getting home and looking those supposed apples up on the internet, it was reveal that they are most commonly known as horse apples and the tree itself is called an "Osage orange tree", hmmm...maybe that's why it smells like a orange!! Sadly it is not ediable for humans.

Ya think he is still going to try to grow some? You betcha! That is just how he rolls! Why even try when they aren't edible? Who knows????? LOL!! Who is going to end up trying to grow these things? Me!

Benton City School House

2010-10-08T21:15:00.000-05:00

All of this post (except for the photos) is brought to you by the websites Texas Escapes(One of my favorite sites) and Texas State Historical Association .

First let me introduce you to the history of Benton City.
Benton City, Tx
Benton was settled in 1876 and was granted a post office that same year. It has three possible namesakes. The first was Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton, the second Samuel L. Benton who served at San Jacinto or possibly one of Samuel Benton’s sons. Since the sons inherited land in this area, it was likely one of them.

By 1878 the town had a Masonic lodge, the Benton City institute and its own newspaper. By 1879 residents of Benton attempted to form a separate county, but Medina and Bexar counties weren’t willing to contribute any of their land for the experiment.

The town suffered a blow to its collective ego when it was bypassed by the railroad (the International-Great Northern) in 1881.

By the mid 1880s the population was a mere 50 residents. In 1904 it reported just over 300 residents, but ten years later it was down to 200.

In 1904 the Benton school employed two teachers to instruct 75 students. By 1914 there were 104 students, but the high school merged with the Lytle district in 1919.

The population returned to just 50 residents by the mid 1920s. The grammar school closed in the mid 1930s and today the ruins of the Masonic lodge and the city cemetery are all that are left from Benton’s “golden age.”

The School:
Benton City Institute, originally known as Benton City Normal Institute, was founded in 1876 and located on the ground floor of the Masonic building in Benton. The school, first run by Col. John D. Morrison, offered accounting, law, music, and surveying, plus basic academic subjects. It was funded partially by the state, though it was a private institution. The remainder of its funding came from tuition. By 1878 the institute was coeducational and owned and run by Professor and Mrs. Bernard C. Hendrix, formerly of Kentucky. When the Masons moved to Lytle in 1909, the institute expanded to utilize the entire building. The school was renamed Benton School in 1889 and Old Rock School in 1910. The institution ceased to exist when the Benton schools were consolidated with those of Lytle in 1919. A state historical marker was erected at the ruins of the building in 1971.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi, it's me. I don't know about you but to me that was interesting! I am fasinated by town history and especially ghost town history.

Well let me clarify a mistake in the last paragraph. There is no marker at the school, maybe there was at one time but not anymore.

Now lets get to the photos. I saw in the Lyle visitors book, the historical school and begged hubby to take me. He was such a good sport about it. I had such a blast, it was truly amazing.

Writer's Workshop: Where do I live?

2010-10-07T00:00:00.002-05:00

This week I decided to go with prompt #2...Where do I Live?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Right here in this little bubble I call life. Oh, maybe you would like more info than just that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I live on a county road, in a county that is ate up with county roads. Matter of a fact I live on the county line and just down the road is another county line. The area is referred to as tri-county. Living on the county line is not that good, cause when it comes to road maintenance (that we need really bad) there is lots of confusion as to who is responsible. Quibble-Quabble..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I live on a T, I can see the stop sign from my kitchen window(at an angle). My view is not great. I have a trailer on both sides of me, they are the bread and I am the peanut butter. The tail end of my trailer faces the road. If only I could turn this sucker around and have it facing the beautiful field behind us or even having it face the road and the field on the other side, but nooo my view are my neighbors. If only I could get my genie powers to work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am surrounded by three small towns that are full of undiscovered history, one 4 miles to the east, one 5 miles south and one 7 miles north. Big bad ass San Antonio is 25 miles just to the outer loop. Thankfully the small towns have most all the stores I need to go to. Dollar this and dollar that, grocery store, hardware store (good for a few things), thrift store, flea market and finally a brand new auto parts store.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I live in the country. Drive down the road for a mile in any direction and it opens up to fields of corn, cotton, maize, hay or just gobs of wildflowers. Pastures that have peacocks, goats, mules, horses or cows. There are also the many many groves of pecan (pe-caun or pe-can, say it as you will.) trees. I am truly falling for this area, it has been taking a while for me to get used to, but it's getting better the more I venture out and explore.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I live in Texas! The big country. Big skies, big land and big longhorns!

And lets not forget the cotton and oil.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For more great writing or to join in..go see Mama Kat.

Train Tracks Of My Youth

2010-10-05T22:20:00.002-05:00

Last night/this morning while sitting here and finishing my visitation to everyone, I could hear the train whistle blowing and the rhythm of it going down the tracks and I was instantly transported back in time.

I was eight years old and sleeping in my grandmothers house, "the camp" is what we call it. The train was about three car lengths away, up a little embankment just on the other side of the dirt road that ran right in front of the little house on the lake. At times the noise was so loud you couldn't hear each other talk, but I guess with everything you eventually get used to it. How I slept through it, I will never know.

I used to love to go up the embankment and walk the tracks. They would take me to the lily pond and I would sit on the tracks that bridged the water. It was such a beautiful place with all the lily pads and flowers floating on the surface and sometimes I would get to see the beavers at work. I'm guessing I knew the train schedule cause I never had to run for my life.

I had a toy milk jug that had a lid attached to the neck of it, part of my toys that grammie always kept at the camp. I would put pennies on the tracks and wait for them to get flattened, the I would force them into my toy milk jug. Who knew I was saving money so young. LOL!

Somewhere along those tracks grampie took me to go see the raccoons. He had such a way with the wildlife, they all felt very comfortable around him. We drove to what was the dump (in today's terms it would be called a compost pile). I never saw stuff like you would see in a dump now. Folks back then weren't super wasteful like now. The raccoons were all over this pile and they all looked up as soon as we drove up, the lights of the car glowing in their eyes. A few ran for cover, but there were also the ones that would scratch your eyes out if you should dare to think to take their pile from them. They will defend what they believe to be theirs! I was scared, but grampie got out and calmly started talking to them and was coaxing me out of the car at the same time. I stood behind him and peeked out at the wild creatures. They had calmed down and were going about there business. The young ones that had fled were now starting to come back out for their nightly feast. We had become nothing more than a shadow in the dark that was to be ignored. We stood there and watched in silence for what seemed to be forever and then the train came. I remember that it scared me, I was so into watching the raccoons that I hadn't even heard it coming.

Just sitting here reminiscing of my youth at the camp with my grandparents.

The Hubs

2010-10-03T00:00:00.002-05:00

Lets talk about the hubby.
I think I have created a monster. As you all know Angelia gave me a camera, well in turn I gave the hubby the camera I was having issues with. He was much appreciative even though it really isn't worth the 60 bucks I paid for it, but it will do in a pinch.

Now...he comes home and says look at the pics I got today. Mind you they aren't that great cause the color was always bad on that camera, but I thought it was interesting that I was seeing a pattern in his pics.

Ya think he has a liking for bridges? LOL!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I bought a cheesecake when I did the grocery shopping. I cut it into 8 slices. I presented it to hubby after supper Friday evening. He looked up at me and said I should have given that to him first. I laughed and walked away to get my own slice. I come back and he says "There is something wrong with it" I say "what" He says "My slice is too small, it's almost all gone!" Hahaha!

I again present him with dessert last night. He again tells me that it should have been first. I told him that is why it is called dessert, you know after a meal. He says "Da-sert should be Da-first, not Da-last!" LMAO!!!

My Week

2010-10-02T00:20:00.001-05:00

Where is she? The girl don't write or visit anymore. Your thoughts, perhaps?
Yeah mine too. LOL!

I have been here hiding in the shadows. I've been in a funk. Ever since my back went nuts and decided to make me walk hunchback, I've had good days and rotten days. Having a good day seems to cause a rotten one and so one and so on. Round after round we go, I sure wish this merry-go-round would let me off. Not just the physical aspect of it, but the emotional one too. I don't feel depressed or have any reason to be, but yet I sit here day after day not wanting to do anything or wanting to do everything. My happy medium has gone haywire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well enough about that crap. Lets move on to the two good days I did have this week.

Monday:
The pictures that I sent off to be blown up and walletted, arrived! Hubby walked through the door with them and we briefly played "Catch me if you can". He was soo excited and in turn got me all excited. We spent a blissful evening going through them and sorting and cutting.

The next day I went shopping for picture frames. Since I was out and my back was feeling okay, I went to the hardware store for gardening supplies. Big mistake, but I didn't feel it at the time. I came home and got all the pitures ready to get mailed off or hand delivered. I was so happy with the end result, I went about repotting some of my newer plants. They look great and are reponding well to the transfers, but I really over did it.

Thursday:
I had an appointment with my parents. It is rare that all things fall into place to get to see them. They live just over an hour away, to some that might not be far, but for my pocket book and truck it is. Vise-versa for my parents too. So I was pretty staoked at getting to see them and spend time with them. We did our trade offs (all the things we save for each other) and then went to see my sister on her break at the bus barn. She was super happy to see me, she screamed and come a running. All I saw was this bright yellow mass blurring it's way right into my chest! I just thought for sure she was going to bounce right into me and we would both go crashing to the floor! Thankfully I was having a fairly good balance day.

We (Mom and I)went back and got the old man, then we went shopping. We had a blast even though we mostly were browsing! Dad can be pretty funny at times. He was going around and picking up things that were the most rediculous, like a pair of super-duper high heels (ankle twisters) or a garden statue of singing frogs. He kept me and mom laughing (even when he didn't know it). We ate out, my first time eating outside the house in a super long time.

We then headed back to the house to do some computer work. I have tried all I know to get my mom on her computer to no avail. I hound her, I beg her and still she never gets online. Sometimes I think the only butts that have sat in front of her computer is us kids. Her excuse this time was the fact that her anti-virus had expired. So naturally I fixed that for her, so fingers crossed that mom will actually sit down and push the "on" button! LOL!

It was a long day but a really good one. The longest I have spent with my parents on a day that wasn't a holiday or birthday. Sad..I know.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I promise (hand held to chest) I will be around to everyone's blogs this weekend! I swear! All 62 of ya! Yikes, that's 20 hours! Wait for me, I'll get there!

Writer's Workshop: 10 Reasons

2010-09-28T01:00:00.001-05:00

Writing prompt #5...10 reasons you like fall.

1) The colors!
Oh the pretty colors. Yeah I like green but the colors of the decaying leaves on some trees are just amazing. Sometimes living in the near desert of Texas, it's hard to tell when fall is actually here cause in some places even green is a rare color. The extreme Texas heat usually leaves everything a plain shade of brown, but I think everyone got a taste of that this year.

Back when we was traveling across America, I always looked forward to our return trip to the eastern states. Going through the Appalachian mountains was always my favorite, especially in fall. Getting up real high and looking at the beautiful landscape was breathe taking.

2) The cooler temps.
Like Sunday, was our first real taste of some livable days with out a/c. Yesterday morning was real nice and this mornings low was in the fifties. What I'm really looking forward to is a little reprieve to our electric bill. Getting that bill down to under a hundred for a couple of months will be well worth the wait. The weather will be so nice the chance of catching heat exhaustion on my walks or bike rides will be eliminated.

3) Clothing.
Not hot enough to have to run around with sweat stains and the minimal of clothing acceptable. Not cold enough to be bundled up in layers of clothes that you can't hardly move your arms. Just right for jeans and a t-shirt with maybe a light sweater in the evenings.

4) Pets.
Having the cooler temps will make having the dogs on my lap a more enjoyable experience. Just two weeks ago I was pushing them off of me in the effort to cool off my legs. There will be less aggravation towards them wanting to be on me and a whole lot more love and snuggling. I'm sure they are sick to death of hearing me say "It's too hot" and forcing them to go lay on the couch far away from me. They also sleep with me and two of the three sleep under the covers. I know for a fact that Stitch will be plenty glad for me to stop throwing off the covers in a fit of exasperation of being too hot.

5) Shopping.
The fall season is the time that I have to begin the winter stocking of our supplies. It is a hard and tasking job and yes I complain a bit, but really I do like it. It gets me out of the house and I enjoy the satisfaction I get when all is said and done. I know it sounds like: we live in the north or maybe that we are chipmunks, having to stock up for winter. Hubby's job is dependent on the weather and when the weather turns too cold; asphalt can't be laid, work is scarce and the pay checks get really small. So there will be no extra money for household, auto, pet or personal supplies. Now that I am thinking of it..I need to get started on that list.

6) Vacation.
I was looking forward to a fabulous vacation this year, but it looks like we will be staying at home. I was bothered by this for awhile but I have been researching places to visit here locally that we can enjoy. I have lived here for nearly 20 years and there is still so much about the area I have yet to discover. Two whole weeks of sleeping when I want, instead of being dictated to by an alarm clock. Oh the bliss!

7) The Cooking.
Even just last night hubby got all excited and rubbed his hands together in the anticipation of Chili. The summer heat tends to lead us towards quick meals like salads and sandwiches or just about anything that wont heat up the kitchen too much. When the fall comes with the promise of winter I tend to get out the soups, stews, chili and roasts. Can't wait to dig into the chili and cornbread. YUM!

8) The Holidays.
Not particularly the holidays themselves but the feel and spirit of them.

Halloween: gives me thoughts of children and their clever costumes, not the store bought ones but the creative ones that they dream up themselves. Then of course there is the CANDY and the house decorations (not mine but others). There is also the hayride to look forward to.

Thanksgiving: The family gathering of good food and good company. The preparation of thanksgiving can be gruel some but the reward of having family and friends to share with is awesome. Even if it is just me and the hubby and two small hens, the spirit of being thankful is always there. I also love the decorations of hay and pumpkins.

9) Photography.
I am really looking forward to the future photos that are just waiting to be taken or discovered. The anticipation has been gnawing at me for some time already. The trees will be thinning out and more of the landscape will be visible, things that were hidden behind the brush will now be reveled. I can hardly wait!

10) Crafts.
My craft of choice is crocheting. In the spring and summer it is nearly impossible for me to work on any projects cause the yarn doesn't flow to well when your fingers are sweating. Just in the week of slightly cooler temps I have managed to start a project and already have two other projects running through my head. AND that is just the first week of fall! I can do my crocheting up till about the beginning of march, then it starts to get a little too steamy outside. So when fall comes I tend to get into a creative mood and I love it!

Soo there ya have it folks...I love Fall!

For more great writing head on over to Mama Kat's place.

Oh, to have a good back again.

2010-09-27T00:00:00.001-05:00

I can remember back about 20 years ago I could do anything, lift anything, move anything. I was strong, still am too a point. I think I reached that point, again, for the umpteenth time. The beginning of last week was spent moving slowly, carefully or not at all, apparently I slept wrong and had to roll out of bed. I spent a good deal of time just sitting in my chair watching tv, cause moving wasn't an option. The pain was extreme at times but was tolerable for the most part. I even started to get better by Wednesday night and was beginning to feel decent. I could do my chores and even walk at a normal pace, heck I even went grocery shopping Friday.

Talking to the bf (B) Friday evening about crochet stitches and our new projects, we realized that it was about time to get together and show our work. It is really difficult to try to describe stitches and patterns over the phone. We are both "Show me" kinda gals. So we made plans for Sunday.

Hubby came home early Saturday and asked if I wanted to go over to see her right then. I would have said yes but I was still feeling the slight twinge and thought it best to wait one more day. Besides, come to find out her hubby was planning a BBQ for Sunday. Wouldn't want to miss that, since he is like the best BBQ'er I have ever known. Hubby is good, but even he will admit his bf's (M) is better. (Yes, his bf and my bf are married, it's a little confusing)

Sunday morning all was well and we finally got ready to go. I have to do a mental check list to make sure I don't forget anything, cause I almost always do. I always manage to remember something I forgot about halfway there. I was good this time and didn't forget anything, amazing, I know!

Camera..yup
Smokes..yup
Nail clippers..yup
Patterns..yup
Yarn and project..yup
Family Reunion memory card..yup

(We will get to the nail clippers, I know yall are puzzled over them being on the list)

So we are on our way, I have just a tiny twinge but I'm tough I can handle it.

Let me just say the sky was gorgeous Sunday and with the promise of a cool front pushing though sometime today. There was a breeze and oh it was so lovely, even hubby said so and it takes temps down to the 60's for him to like it.

We are greeted by B's three little yappers(kin folk to my yappers). Thankfully her yappers love us like family and were very excited to see us. There was lots of spins, jumps, running, dancing and happy panting. B..well not so much! LOL! Even the "I'm gonna getcha" didn't bring as much as a reaction I got from her "Old Lady P" yapper, who ran through the house like I was hot on her tail. We love that game, okay she really loves that game.

We sat around and showed stitches, patterns, projects and clucked like old hens. M..started up the fire and oh the smell had my mouth watering, I was ready to sink my gums into whatever he had in the pit. It didn't matter what it was, I was ready for it. *Knife and fork in hand, banging on the table* kinda hungry!

While waiting I thought, now would be a good time to get my chore done. I got out those nail clippers. Why? You ask. Cause they are doggie nail clippers! LOL! Yeah I'm cracking myself up!

As soon as the dogs realized what I had in my hand, *flash* they were gooonnne!

G.. got up on the couch and faced the wall. That is his way of saying "I'm invisable". Sorry fella, not going to work this time, even if you are being funny. I clipped his nails right there on the couch. After bending over and wrestling every foot, I went to straighten myself upright. Ouch, that kinda hurt.

P.. I always have trouble with this old lady. We are the best of friends except for these moments, she will try to bite but hasn't gotten that lucky so far. Lord help her if she ever does! I found her back outside and as soon as I tried to bend down to get her, she bolted. I on the other hand did not bolt right back upright, it took some doing. I finally managed to get her back in the house, picked her up and put her on the table. Again did a wrestling match for each foot, while trying to keep her from making the great escape. By time I finished with her I was having some really bad pains in my back, but had to move on to the last and craftiest of them all.

A..I looked in her spot under the end table next to B's chair. Nope not there. I call her and why I though she would come running was stupid of me. I go outside and ask if she was out there. Yup, there she was hiding under B's chair. I reached down to get her and she flops over on her back. I take hold of her legs and literally dragged her out from under the chair on her back and she let me. Everybody was laughing! I picked her up and carried her inside to the table and proceeded to do her nails. This girl shakes like there is a thunderstorm directly over the house! Very hard to hold onto. I think it is her ploy, her sympathy card or something and it works everytime. Yes she nearly got away, with only two feet done! I had to catch her in mid-jump! I finally finished her up, but really all of them together finished me up!

I was stuck but good. I slowly made it to the front door and hubby saw instantly I was done in for. He helped me down the steps and asked if I was ready to go home. Unfortunately there wasn't the option to sit there in pain all day. I had to say.. Yes, my pain pills were at the house and I would have hated to sit there in pain and be a downer on the whole get together.

Soo we came home, hungry. I felt so badly for ruining his day. To my surprise and relief, he said..

"I'm not glad that you are hurting, but I am glad to be able to see the rest of the race!"

Yeah but what about supper? We were both pretty hungry and totally missed out on the BBQ. Well folks I will have you know that hubby cooked supper. Okay so what if it was:

Gordon's fish fillets
Pork and beans
Uncle Bens whole grain rice
with hot dog buns

I got fed by the hubs!!!

Soo, I sit here with an ice pack and a pillow, soon to be in bed. Wonder how I'm going to get out of bed...maybe Stitch will help me! LOL!

Spin Cycle: Religion

2010-09-24T00:00:00.001-05:00

Soooo..the Spin Cycle's assignment this week is religion. Yeah I know...really? Do you really want to go there? Wellllll..no actually, but I thought I might try my hand at it. PLEASE for the love of...don't leave me or think me a nut case (even if it might be true).

My faith. sigh.
Well lets try to start at the beginning. My earliest memory of church was in my own front yard. When I was little, I lived with a babysitter through the week and spent the weekends with my dad. The baby sitter's house was directly behind a small baptist church. We didn't go but her youngest daughter and I would sit on the porch and listen to the singing. That was our favorite part. When I spent the weekends with dad we would go to church on Sunday morning. I was all dressed up in my best dress, pearls and gloves. The hardest part was that I had to sit there with my knees and feet together, my hands lain in my lap and eyes forward. It was torture! BUT I always loved the singing part.

When dad remarried and I was yanked from the babysitter, suddenly we were going to church alot more often during the week. We was going every time the doors were open. I immersed myself in the choir and for a while that was good. I got baptized at the tender age of 7. As if I really knew what I was doing.

I watched my grandmothers go to church every Sunday. I believe they were both Methodist, but that doesn't really matter. Labels aren't necessary, they both believed in Christ and had faith. With all the adults in my life going to church, I knew it had to be something I MUST do.

We moved and changed churches, no make that denominations. It was the scariest thing I had ever seen, experienced and heard. These people were having seizures all in the name of the lord! I wanted NO part of that! So, instead I found another muse to keep me busy during church services. Friends or more accurately..boys. I really did try to not pay attention to the goings on. People throwing their arms all over the place, dancing in the isles and falling to the floor. I saw people being injured by the folks so enraptured in the throws of rejoice. I always wrapped my feet around the legs of the chair, just to keep them from getting stepped on. I would come home from church frustrated and at times angry. The somewhat fun time I had in Sunday school with my friends was long forgotten by time I got home. I remember even begging to just go to Sunday school and skipping the service. That never happened.

I was baptized once more, but didn't find it to be a glorious moment. So I soon forgot about it.

THEN we moved to Texas so my parents could attend the Christian collage. Our lives were all about the collage and learning the bible and of course church. I was now a pre-teen and starting to learn more than maybe I should, so some would say. I started analyzing the history of the bible and other faiths. Dad was going to be a missionary, so it was important to learn about other cultures. I don't think that my parents had any clue what was going through my brain and how it was affecting me.

Of course living in Texas and of course growing up, I was exposed to all types of religions and was learning the differences and the commonalities. It was all very confusing, so I was what some would consider a problem child.

There was another side to the church process that had me in near tears all the time. We were a poor family and as a teenager I struggled with this. The church that we were currently going to (our third so far in Texas), were mostly configured of middle class folks. The laughing joke of the church is what we became, the charity case. The other teenagers were cruel and never let me forget that we was poor. They would show up in the most beautiful dresses I had ever seen. Well after some time of being exposed to their cruelty, I begun to lose faith in the church going process.
I was baptized yet again and again it had no profound affect on me like I saw it do in others. That was the final straw! I knew it wasn't that I was bad, crazy or hopeless. It was the folks around me that made me feel that way.

I have been to church maybe a dozen times since I left home at 17. Not because I have anything against going to church, I have just known for along time that it is something that wasn't for me. The fashion contest, the damnation of other religions and the hypocrisy is too rampant and I don't want or feel the need to subject myself to that stuff. I'm a live and let live kinda girl. I would never try to tell someone what they must believe or do and I hope to get the same respect for my decisions. I don't take my decision lightly, I have spent nearly half my life in church and learning the bible or I should say forced to learn the bible. I know most religious folks wouldn't agree with my decision, they would say "If you don't get right with god then you are going to go to hell". Well, my response is always the same...We are good! We know where we stand with each other and we are good.

I have always disliked the separate denominations or even the label of Christianity. To me putting a label on oneself like that is like allowing folks to peek into your bedroom. It's my heart, soul, spirit or what have you. As long as I am at peace with myself and try to live a good life with no harm to others, then we are good! IF I was to put a label on myself..then it would have to be...ha! Thought I was going to tell, didn't ya!!
I had best stop here, before I alienate all my friends and have them running for the hills just to get away from the heathen. Go ahead and laugh mom, I know you want to!

This post is in NO way a mean spirited post. Just the ramblings of a woman who dug too deep for answers and didn't like what she found.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Luke 6:31
Yes, I dug my bible out for that one!

For more great spins, go visit Sprite's Keeper.

Family Reunion - Part Two

2010-09-22T17:00:00.012-05:00

Just thought I would share some pics of our weekend.

Family Reunion - Day One

2010-09-20T23:24:00.004-05:00

Friday evening I was a ball of anxiety and excitement. I felt like I wasn’t getting anything done or prepared right. Thankfully hubby went through the check list and we confirmed everything was A. Okay. BUT of course I still had that nagging little voice in my head that I was forgetting something. I had to walk away and turn it down to a whisper just so I could try to get to sleep. I slept four hours and walked out to the living room to find hubby still up. I asked him what was the matter and his reply was “I’m too excited to sleep!”

For my hubby this day was a lifelong dream that was finally coming true. All of his kids and grandkids together at last. It’s a miracle he slept at all! I had to remind him that if he didn’t get SOME sleep then he wouldn’t be able to make it through the day. That got him to sleep! BUT I had to wake him at 5 am to get the brisket fire going. Then I went back to sleep.

Hubby woke me with “They’re on their way!!” Son called to let him know and get directions. Hubby told me the directions he gave and I briefly said “They’re going to get lost”

The rain had been threatening to pour down all morning, but I don’t think anything could have dampened our moods. It did drizzle and then sprinkle, each passing wave of moisture seemed to be harder than the one before.

We got everything ready and waited. Hubby was outside sitting on the patio and I was pacing all over the place. I looked down at hubby and asked are you still so excited and all I got was a shake of his head and a grin, but his eyes never wavered from the gate. It was like he was using all his will power to force a car, any car to come on in. I was getting worried, yeah I can’t help myself. I called to see how far they are. AH, they stopped at the store. I told her she didn’t have to bring anything but I sure am glad she didn’t listen to me.

The girls and their families arrived and yes we were all having a wonderful time seeing each other and learning about the grandkids and life at home, but you could tell we were all waiting anxiously for the main event. The son and family that none of us have met. Well that is, except for hubby. Hubby was there when son was a baby and toddler, but had only seen him once since and that was nearly 10 years ago. The girls and I have talked to them on the phone and corresponded through Facebook, but it’s just not the same as getting to hug someone and experiencing them in real life.

It had been another hour since I talked to them and they still hadn’t arrived. Yup I knew it…they were lost! Not badly though, they were here before the kids and I could get to the stop sign. I quickly ushered all the kids back, I couldn’t wait to get son and family in my arms!

The day was wonderful with lots of food, hugs, catching up and playing around. Hubby smiled from ear to ear all day long!! He was having a glorious day; rain had no affect on his moment!

The kids and I went for a short walk, but if you ask Bryan he will tell you it was a long walk! We played, climbed, walked and talked. We did some Baby Shower Bingo, lots of fun there! Then the computer got turned on and let the games begin! Lots of fun playing with the umbrellas in the rain. The umbrellas didn’t survive, but I’m glad nobody got hurt while playing with them. Yes, I was a little worried of that.

There were tiffs and there were tantrums and even an ant attack, but all in all it went really well for eight kids in my small trailer and yard. Funny how what I perceived to be a large trailer and yard doesn’t appear to be with nearly 20 people in and around it.

Granny and Aunt D arrived and I have to say watching the reunion from that perspective was very touching. Seeing granny play Free Cell with her great granddaughter was awesome. Four generations in one house, I honestly never thought it was going to happen. We are so grateful that the kids pulled this off, they are the ones that planned it.
AND from my understanding there is already one in the works for next year. Fingers crossed!!!! I’m going to start saving NOW!

The day started too wined down and granny had already left. The younger grandkids were starting to look kinda tired and so was I! I rushed everyone outside while the rain had given us a break and tried to get some family group shots. I did get some good spousal shots, but I do wish I had managed to get some individual family group shots. You should have seen how difficult it was to get a pic with all eight kids in it. That was a riot! Hubby wanted a whole clan pic, but that didn’t happen either. Maybe next year!

I was under the assumption that this was it, we weren’t going to get to see them again till next year, thankfully somebody told me that the plans had changed and we were all meeting up at granny’s house tomorrow. So letting everyone leave wasn't nearly as painful as I was prepared for it to be.

One last thing… A huge thanks to daughter K! That girl cleaned up my whole kitchen, even though I was continually protesting that it wasn’t necessary. Oh and for not listening to me about bringing anything, she made the most delicious cheesecake dessert I have ever had! Can’t wait to get the recipe!

Thanks to everybody for coming and making history happen! I loved every minute we got to spend together!

A Momentous Moment In Our Family History Is Happening TODAY!!

2010-09-18T03:40:00.000-05:00

Well today is the day I have been waiting for since I meet the hubby.

Hubby has 3 children all by different mothers and we have had somewhat of a relationship with the oldest daughter and just in the last few years a great relationship with the youngest daughter. BUT we have never been able to have any relationship with his son.

Hubby got to meet him once a while back, but I will be meeting him for the first time ever TODAY! Noonish to be precise! Not only will I get to meet him, but also our daughter in law and our grandson. Oh I should mention that we will also be meeting another grandson from the oldest daughter.

The last time we saw her, she had just given birth to her 3rd child, now there are 4.

We have missed so much in all of their growing up, I hate that but you can't change the past only the future.

This is going to be a momentous moment in the history of our family. All three kids in the same place! The girls will be meeting their brother and his little family for the first time also!

All the grandkids will be meeting each other too!

Can ya tell I am excited, well I am!!

Nervous too. I don't know why but I am.

This is history in the making folks and I am blessed to have it happen, finally!

Will have all the details for you next week.

Gotta go wake the grumpy old man to get the fire started for the brisket. Yumm..BBQ!

Working on my room

2010-09-17T00:00:00.004-05:00

If you have been following me on facebook then you know I have been working like a sled dog, trying to get my bedroom finished. The post that I put up about my first blog post, kinda kicked me in the gut and embarrassed the heck out of me. I am on a mission and yes I have been moving out all the junk in preparation, but seriously who knows how long it would have took me to get it done if I hadn't reviewed that post.

I started painting two days ago, kinda taking my time. I was hoping the hubs would pitch in and help get the ball rolling. The more I complained of not getting the floor done, the more I realised I was on my own. It's not that he wouldn't want to, it's just that by time he gets home from work he is exhausted and so that leaves no energy to help me.

I woke up yesterday morning with the mission nagging me, so naturally I started moving the bed and dresser and yanked up the carpet. I knew the floor was bad, but I never imagined it was that bad. A patchwork of fixings is what I found. I lost count after 13 pieces! There was even some of the original floor pieces, yeah those were the ones that felt like you were going to fall through the floor. If it hadn't been for the carpet covering it all, I would have never put one foot in there! Nor would I have put my bed in there, which (come to find out) did have one leg stuck in the floor.

When I say we bought a fixer upper, I am soooo not exaggerating!!

Too late to turn back now, so trudged on.

All the wood is at the other end of the trailer, so I had to move everything out of my way so I could have a clear shot. Why is wood so friggin heavy?? I pulled, tugged, lifted and repeated several times till I finally got ONE piece back there. Only 3 more to go!! Phew!

I started this project at 10 am, by 2pm I was at the point of having to pull out the Skil saw to cut pieces to fit. I called hubby (thank goodness) and he said just get the wood marked and ready and he would cut it as soon as he got home. I would have done a happy dance, but I was too sore!

I took a break and while talking to SIL I realised I was going to need a carpet for my room and some shelf units would be helpful too. So off I went to charge up the card at Big Lots. A little shopping after a hard days work is always a nice bonus, if my feet would work right. I was actually in a hurry to get out of the store just so I could get back in my truck and off of my feet.

I finally get back home and back to work.
Set up the wood for hubby and do the measurements. I hate measurements, if they don't fall on one of the four marks in a inch then I get lost.
Then there was the moving everything back in its place so that the house doesn't look like a tornado moved through.
Then the cooking of supper. I was so happy to sit down and eat supper, well actually just the sitting down part, I was too tired to eat. (that never happens!)

After a hour break, I headed back to the dreaded dungeon.
Drilling down the wood and the cordless drill decides it has had enough. So I had to go old school...electric drill. Why I didn't go that route to begin with is beyond me. The power, oh the power!! I will know better next time, that's for sure!

(Where is my nice comfy bed?)

(Mom, you better put back the carpet, I need traction!)

Now if I can just get back to work, I might get the tiles down before morning. Can't wait to get my bed set back up, cause you can bet your botton dollar I am going to crash!!!!!

Writers Workshop: Cancer and the strongest women in my life.

2010-09-15T01:30:00.001-05:00

2.) Over at SITS we’re hosting a week long Back2Blogging event that will end with someone taking home a brand new washer and dryer from Electrolux. Since September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Electrolux is working to promote awareness and early detection, I’ll be writing about a survivor or supporter that inspires me at SITS on Thursday. That was a long way of saying, Describe a woman who inspired YOU.

That was Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop prompt #2.

I find this so interesting cause I have had so many super good friends that have gone through or is going through some type of cancer right now.

Becky...she has been/is my bff for the last 15 or so years. Nearly five years ago she threw her back out and the pain was so severe she was begging to go to the hospital. She is the type of woman that has to be practically in death mode to WANT to go to the hospital. We all knew it had to be real bad. She had the back surgery and was doing just fine till they ordered her to get her female tests done. You know the pap and the mammo. The results floored us. Breast cancer.

Becky has always been strong, says whats on her mind and will get in your face if need be. I guess the best words to describe her is scrappy with a heart of gold as long as you don't cross her. We were not instant best friends, actually when I first meet her I was scared of her. BUT as time passed and with our hubby's being best buds, we found ourselves in the most fabulous friendship.

The wounds of losing a good friend to breast cancer just a few years prior, resurfaced to a whole new level when the results came in. Needless to say we were both pretty scared. I felt so helpless.

Becky's hubby has had his own ongoing medical issues with Burgess disease; he has had to have both legs amputated. Just a few months before this she lost her mother, whom she had been caring for for years in her home.

She was the one who took care of people, to conceive that she was sick herself was shocking. Of course the news of her cancer broke her down, but then out of no where she adopted this attitude (like someone had crossed her) and the fight was on!

So we (Her and I)went to dr's appointments and radiation and through the Cemo process. It was a new experience for both of us and it was hard for me to watch this fighting woman get hit in the gut every week, with no end in sight. I couldn't even jump in the ring to help her fight off her offenders. As hard as it was, I knew it wasn't even a smidgen of what she was going through.

I went to her house nearly everyday to play Yatzee, if she was too sick then I would just sit in the arm chair while she stayed laying on the couch. We would watch the soaps together and I sometimes I would bring her things from the store. There were the few times that I was told not to come over cause she was super sick. It was a dignity thing. I had seen her through just about everything, but she would never be able to get over it, if I ever saw her that weak. I know this about her and complied with her wishes.

One thing that she says now in retrospect that just resounds in my ears...I am not grateful that my mother died, but yet I am grateful I didn't get the diagnoses till after she had passed. For surely I would never had been able to care for her in my state.

There is just something so humbling in that statement that shows her true character, no matter what kind of front she puts on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dianne.. Hubby and I used to truck with her and her hubby. Her hubby had a heart attack while we were headed back to Texas and shortly after, we drove their truck for them. We've been friends with them for at least as long as Becky and I have been friends. Her and Becky are two of a kind, the same definition of character could be said about Dianne also..Scrappy with heart.

This past year has been super hard on her. Her hubby has been in the hospital since Christmas of last year and suffered many strokes and has had a heart pump put in. He also contacted the Mrsa virus while in the hospital. He is currently in a facility cause his care is too tecnical for just anyone to deal with. That heart pump is apperently pretty complicated.

Unfortunatly, I haven't been involved in her ordeal except through phone conversations. She went to the emergency room for a cold that had gotten worse and worse, her daughter insisted. After all the tests, it was determined that she had lung cancer. She is currently going through the treatments, but not all is going well. She has since had Pneumonia, Pluralise and all other lung related issues.

Due to her hubby's diagnoses of the Mrsa virus, she is not allowed to see him becuase of he comprimised immune system. That is extremely tough on her! These two lovebirds in their golden years, apart... is almost unthinkable.

BUT even through all off this.. she is still the fighting, scrappy, I'm going to kick this cancer's ass, kind of woman!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I love these women and the are my inspiration! If and when my day comes, I can only hope to be half as strong as these two are. They are forces to be reckoned with and I am proud to call them my friends! Cancer picked the wrong ladies this time!

Now go visit Mama Kat and SITS

My first blog post... OMG!!

2010-09-13T10:50:00.000-05:00

This weeks SITS project is to get back to blogging.
Re-post your first blog post.

Here it is:
Dated: Saturday, September 26, 2009
Titled: Small progress in the house.

I have had the hubby home all week due to the rainy weather.

I have only managed to get one project done this week.

I tore out one side of my closet, then put in a new floor and 3 bookshelves.

I spent the rest of the evening filling up all those bookshelves.

That was 2 days ago and I still have some muscles hurting.

I have been trying to get my bedroom cleaned out of storage boxes and junk, so I can lay down new floor and fix the ceiling.

I am still hoping to get more of the house done before Thanksgiving.

Most of my family is coming to my house this year.

I volunteered us for it last year, thinking I would be done with the renovations.

Money, man power and the weather have held back a lot of the progress.

If I am lucky I will not lose my gusto.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let me just say... OMG! I have to be the laziest person EVER!!!

Nearly one year later and guess what I have been going for the last month...go ahead guess...MOVING OUT THOSE BOXES!!! Looks like I wasn't so lucky and lost, walked away from and ignored my gusto! When I did have the gusto, I used it on other projects and put my room on the back burner. Funny how things have changed in the past year and yet stayed the same too.

Well you will be glad to know that all boxes and junk has been moved out of the room and put into storage (that happened just this last Saturday) and the ceiling has been Kilz'ed but not fixed though. The floor and painting is next, I did start the wall cleaning yesterday. Gawd I hope it doesn't take me another year to finish, that would just be too embarrassing!!

I must go and crawl in a corner and hang my head in shame and give myself a good lashing...GET YOUR LAZY BIG FAT BUTT OUT OF THE CHAIR AND GET BACK TO WORK!!!

Come on folks, yell at me! I need it!

Tropical Storm Hermine - Part Two

2010-09-10T00:00:00.001-05:00

The rain was downpoaring within minutes of getting back home and the thunder could be heard in the distance. I could tell it was going to be a whopper and boy was it ever!
The sky turned dark with heavy clouds.

The rain fell like a waterfall.

Finally it started to let up a bit.

We ventured out to check out the aftermath. (Some had to be forced out the door. That would be hubby and Chaquita! LOL!)
This what I found, a lake in my yard!

As we were taking a potty break and taking pics, hubby decided to move the trucks. We were only out there about five minutes and out of now where, lightning stuck in the field and thunder sounded at the same instant. Have ya ever seen a fat woman run without touching the ground???? I'm sure hubby did, he was still moving the trucks! I'm positive them feet never flew so fast!! I even left the umbrella out there to fend for itself! The camera was just lucky it was attached to my wrist!

After another good thirty minutes of chaos, I ventured out again. The water covered 90% of the yard.

The sun was starting to go down and the glow was spectacular, but for some reason I couldn't capture its awesomeness in the pics. They really don't do it justice.

No we didn't float away, but it surely was scary at times.
The water has no receaded in parts but the water that does remain, smells horrible!

Hubby's favorite saying:
How high's the water, mama?
Five feet high and risin'
A bit from Johnny Cash's Song

Tropical Storm Hermine - Part One

2010-09-09T01:00:00.001-05:00

Wow, was she an angry one!
She dumped well over 10 inches in my yard, in the last two days. My rain gauge only goes to 5 inches and by time I remembered to empty it, it was already overflowing, twice! The rain beat the land, the thunder shook the house and lightning was way too close. The dogs panted and coward and I was jumping out of my skin at every boom. Hubby slept through the whole thing Tuesday night. How? I don't know!!

Yesterday morning hubby said the whole yard was under at least 3 inches of water when he got up. By time I got up the standing water was only in one corner. I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood with my camera while the weather was still good. I was hoping to find the area that the lightning hit the previous night, the one that had me going through the house and shutting everything off. I didn't find it but I did find some other interesting things.

Never seen this flower before. It grows on a bush and is very delicate and at closer inspection it has a feathery quality to it.

Haven't seen this flower since early summer.

Found this fungus in my tree, never seen that before either but it sure is pretty.

Found these mushrooms in my mums!

I was walking along the road and in the distance I saw something in the road. As I got closer I realised it was a turtle. There was a truck coming and he wasn't moving fast enough. I put up my hands for them to stop or slow down as I ran out in the street and scooped it up. The older couple just smiled and waved. I stood there looking down at it in the grass, trying to figure out if it was lost or where it might be going. I surmised that it must have been swept away from the canal during the storm. So I walked him back to the canal and put him on the edge. I debated whether or not to leave him in the center of two canals and just when I made up my mind to do so, I reached down to pick it back up and in a flash he was down the embankment and gone in the water.

As I was heading back home, I spotted this unusual pile of twigs that was formed by the run-off on the road.

The water puddles were large and in charge of putting off some spectacular reflections.

Shortly after getting back home the storm raged again!
Part Two..tomorrow.

Spin Cycle: Great Outdoors

2010-09-08T00:15:00.000-05:00

I love the great outdoors!
From the sun drenched blooms

To the rain soaked petals.

From the dried up creek beds

To the flowing canals.

From the plowed fields

To the one horse pasture.

From the sunset making the clouds look silky

To watching it set.

From the cotton ball clouds over a green field

To the sun peeking through and making beautiful rays.

From the new spring leaves

To the autumn decay.

From the creatures big

To the creatures small.

Nothing better than getting out in the great outdoors and admiring it all!

For more great spins, head on over and visit Sprite's Keeper!

What Luxury!

2010-09-07T01:40:00.000-05:00

A little something I forgot to put in yesterdays post.

As you know I have been trying to clean out my room and get it ready for new flooring. Well I rented a storage unit and have made a few trips to unload already. At the entrance to the facility a pile of junk has been forming, you can't help but look at it. Okay I can't help from looking at it. Yes it does seem like hubby's syndrome has wearing off power.

Anyhow, I saw this two tier cat tower sitting there. I craned my neck to get a better look, surprisingly enough it was in pretty good shape. Yup, you guessed it, I brought it home. I did take the time to clean it with carpet cleaner and sprayed it down with a smell good spray.

Any one who knows cats know that they can at times be unpredictable, so I was crossing my fingers that they would like it. Within ten minutes their noses were all over it in wonder of this monstrous thing. Five minutes later Whiskers is sharpening his claws on the post. Yeah success!

They were in need of a newer tower, the one I got at the thrift store four years ago currently looks like this:

Oh Yeah! Even cats can step up in this world. Were styling now!

Whiskers now uses this spot as a sleeping area and a tactical advantage in his never ending war with Peaches.

Life is good!

Randomness

2010-09-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

My tooth hole hasn't been healing right and was really hurting pretty bad for two weeks. I kept trying to keep it clean and finally figured out the part that I though was food stuck, turned out to be a really good size sliver of tooth. I yanked that sucker out with tweezers and finally most of the pain is gone and the hole is healing. Lucky for the dentist I found the problem on my own!! I was really getting tired of hurting and it was worrying me.

I'm finally getting some progress in my room. The goal was to get it cleaned out and all the boxes transfer to the storage unit. Yeah well...for some reason the progress and ump hasn't been going well. I wanted to get the new floor laid by time the kids come on the 17th. Hubby managed to hurt himself, so there went my major helper for the big stuff. Sooo, yeah, that ain't gonna happen. Sigh...

How hubby hurt himself?

The "I must get everything that sits in the road" syndrome that my hubby has, lead to him rescuing this fire hydrant that had been damaged by a car accident. YES, he got permission, but still...those things are heavy! Mr. Macho man just couldn't help himself and now is suffering back trouble.

We ended up busting into the little savings that we had for the vacation that got cancelled. I soo didn't want to do it, but funny enough things started breaking down all of a sudden. Hubby's work boots blew out on the side, my tennie's blew out the heel, a pipe under the side sprung a leak and my microwave made the fatal error of not heating up my coffee.

Soo, I guess it was a good thing that we had that extra money to deal with the unexpected. Just really sad to see the damage to the savings.

I got to go visit with bf and this what she made for my little namesake with the yarn I gave her.

A hat, poncho and some little booties! They are soo cute!

Shocked, Mad and Baffled

2010-09-05T00:20:00.001-05:00

How to make a mends with an evil dog...become the soul provider of food and water!

Yes another rant about my neighbors! They have thoroughly made me mad!

As you know from last post the neighbors received their eviction notice last Sunday. My office window faces their trailer and I have become the neighborhood watch person. The landlord asked me to keep an eye on the place, cause he had a confrontation with the woman and is fearing retaliation in the form of property damage. I'm also to report to him of when they show up to move out all their stuff.

Should be a super easy job, right? NOT! They left on the first, came back on the second, so I called. 10 minutes later I look out the window and their gone. Two hours later they are back..so I call. This time I watch like a peeping Tom, they unload empty boxes and leave again. They don't come back for two days!

In those two days I have been feeding and watering their dogs. These stupid heartless people, left their two dogs out in the heat with no provisions. The evil dog Nikki can handle the outside, but the little red long haired, house pampered chihuahua, has been crying and scratching at the door to be let in, the whole two days!

The landlord put a notice on the gate that on the fifth he will be putting a lock on the gate and that they needed to be totally gone by then. I keep expecting them to show up and get the dogs and load up all their stuff. Oddly enough this hasn't happened. They did show up yesterday morning for 5 minutes but didn't do anything, not even feed the dogs. They again showed up and unloaded the little pull trailer by dumping its contents on the ground and taking the EMPTY trailer away.

It is midnight Sunday morning the day of locking the gate and they haven't even tried to move out their stuff. They aren't living there, just their dogs are.

My heart is in turmoil for these dogs. Yes Nikki and I don't get along, but gezz I ache at the heartlessness of what these people are doing to them. AND on top of all that the landlord says that if the dogs are still there when he locks the place up, he is going to call the pound, the killing pound!

I must say that there are still people out there that still manage to shock me. I mean leaving the dogs behind, that doesn't shock me as much as the fact that they aren't even trying to retrieve their stuff! They are a large family with many children and yet not one has grabbed a bag of clothes or filled a box, that is shocking to me.

Looks like they will be leaving everything behind, dogs too! A big giant mess for the landlord to deal with. Maybe I will get off this subject eventually, please excuse my rantings.

I'm just so shocked, mad and baffled by this behavior.

Landlords

2010-09-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

When hubby and I lived on the other side of town for 17 yrs, we was blessed with a wonderful landlord who was also our friend. He had a heart of gold and would do anything he could for ya. He was very lineate with his tenants and at times to a fault. He had some that were just users and fast talkers, they would somehow manage to go months sweet talking their way out of paying rent month after month. Eventually it forced him to get legal on there ass's but he always hated doing it.

He would say..I know what it is like to have hard times and everyone needs a break sometimes. US (us and other friends) would tell him..That is great and all but you can't let these people walk all over you, destroy your property in the process and leave you to deal with unpaid bills.

He was a small time landlord that owned a few trailers, he was retired and thought that this would be a good way to make a small living. He used that rent money to pay his own way and pay on the land, taxes, insurance, ect ect.. He always seemed to find the worst of the worst in fly by night tenants and always suffered for it in the end. If it hadn't been for the few good long term tenants that he had, he would have folded way back when.

Hubby and I once debated the idea of having a tenant in our trailer while we was over the road for them 3 years. Our landlord quickly discouraged it! He said "The hassle of it is overwhelming and the results iffy. You never know how someone is going to treat you, no matter how good you treat them." I was so grateful for his advice. Our trailer may have not been much, but the idea that someone could trash your place out and leave ya hanging was what killed the idea for me.

When we moved over here and with a new landlord, I was worried as to what kind of guy he was. You know, hardcore or nice. Well thankfully he turned out to be super nice and I do consider us to be friends. He brings us fruit and vegetables from his garden and he always compliments me on how well I keep the yard. (thank you brother!) It is nothing more than what I would expect from a tenant, to care about the place you live and to have reverence for the landlord that allows you to live there. I try all I can to not make him regret that decision, even if it means paying brother to come and do the yard for me.

Well the poor man has been going over to the bad neighbors trailer every weekend and yes the busy body in me wondered why. Were they paying by the week or was he struggling to get the rent? I got my answer this morning.

He sat on my porch (as he does every month and talks) and said..you wont have to worry about that dog anymore! Apparently they have been taking advantage of his kindness and are three months behind on their rent, with the ever standing promise that he will get it the next week and so on and so on. Plus an ever growing water and trash bill, that has now exceeded four hundred dollars!

The poor guy is just miffed at how people can treat people like that and not care what it is doing to him and his lovely wife? Not just financially but emotionally too. It's just so sad.

The next step is to see how much damage they did to the trailer. I'm just sure it is trashed out and awful. If their outside is trashy then most likely the inside will be worse. I feel sorry for the man, as to how much money has been lost and how much he is going to have to dish out for repairs before he can rent it out again.

Just the thought of all them starving roaches over there looking for a new home, has me digging in my piggy bank for the money to bomb!! Ants...I can sorta deal with, roaches...NO FRIGGING WAY!!!!!!

Connected to Loved Ones

2010-09-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

Teusday afternoon and into Wednesday morning.
A huge phone day! I feel like I have been on the phone all day! Well actually I have, but I have enjoyed every minute of it.

First I talked with bff for hours and then to her mom for nearly another hour. I guess you could say I am still in shock at the turning events of having them in my life again. We have been talking nearly everyday getting to know each other again and the reminicing just goes on and on. The girl has a fabulous memory, which is good cause mine is shot! Getting to talk with mom was so emotional for me, I missed her so much and just hearing her talk takes me to a whole realm of happiness I forgot existed.

I later called and talked to another mom (i currently have five) who I haven't talked to in a few months. There was plenty to get caught up on, so that was another hour of my day.

Then I talked to bff again for about an hour, while we were both trying to get some chores done.

Hubby comes home and we sit down for supper and some tv, but then dad calls and just wants to chat. I couldn't turn him down, cause it is a rare occassion for him to want to do that. Another good 40 minutes pass.

I did manage to watch a few hours of tv with the hubby. Warehouse 13, Covert Affairs, and I started to watch Psych but hubby went to bed and I grabbed the phone again. I had a phone appointment with daughter-in-law for 11pm, but I called just after 10pm. It was on my mind and I didn't want to forget like I did the night before.

It was the first time we had ever spoken, other than through the computer. Sad, I know! IT WAS AWESOME!! Why it took us this long to do it, I don't know. She reminds me soo much of myself and we got along wonderfully. It was just so nice to finally get to hear her voice, get to know each other and make each other laugh.

We talked, laughed and shared stories for two hours!!

Even though they are all so far away, one phone call brings them right into your ear. Sometimes all you have to do is pick up the phone and dial. Don't put it off, take the time, it could be wonderful.

My first Cat

2010-09-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

I was seven years old. My father had been injured and his fiance (know as SHE or HER) was helping to care for him. I was on summer break and spent most of my time next door playing with the neighbors children. Their cat had had kittens weeks ago and they were ready to go to different homes. Us kids were the only ones there playing with the kittens, their mother was in the back of the house. I was told by the older girl that if I just took it home, there was no way my dad could say no. I snuck one of them under my sweater and rushed out the front door. Their mother didn't know.

I took him home to beg and plead for us to keep him.

Things had been changing at home and I was no longer sure about the things I was sure about before. SHE was fixing to be my new mother and it was looming in the air like a storm waiting to happen and even dad wasn't the same reliable person I had known him to be. I just couldn't tell what the answer was going to be. Before SHE came, I knew my dad would say yes but now...I didn't know. He always had to talk things over with HER first and SHE was a complete mystery too me.

I crept up the stairs with this little orange fur ball tucked under my sweater. I could hear them in dad's room and I ever so gently knocked on the door. Dad gave me the okay to come in. SHE was standing there by the window, dad was sitting on the edge of the bed eating a sandwich for lunch.

I stood there like a Cheshire cat, grinning that mischievous grin. I didn't get to say anything, the cat did it for me. A big meow came from my body, dad's eyes got big and a frown crossed his forehead. My big grin melted away and disappeared, I was suddenly a nervous "you've been caught" deer in the headlights, pale faced, scared like "you've done something bad" little kid. Dad asked in a booming voice "What have you got?" I was looking at the floor cause I could feel the tears were fixing to come, I gently pulled the little kitten out from my under my sweater and handed it to my dad. Dad held him for less than a minute and while holding him, he let his other hand holding his sandwich drift too close. The little kitten took a bite out of his peanut butter sandwich! Dad softened and laughed. SHE told me to go down stairs and wait for the decision.

It felt like an eternity! I was already having problems with HER and my little head was filling up with all of the ways SHE wasn't going to let me have it. She was making my dad a mean person and I just knew it! Dad was a fun dad, but lately when he and I were having fun, it would suddenly stop when SHE came in the room. Soo, I just knew SHE was going to say no.

I don't know what was said between them or how long it actually took, but I was finally called up to dads room for the big decision.

They said YES! I couldn't believe it! BUT I had to get my friends mom's permission first.

I left my new kitten there and rushed over to my friends to tell the news and for their mother to give permission. I was scared to go up to her, even though all three of her kids were right there behind me. I had to interrupt her working in the garden, yes I was scared. (Back in those days or I should say my world, children didn't interrupt the adults without large amounts of caution. You waited for them to acknowledge your presence, only then did you talk.) She did bellow for a moment, till she saw it was me who had come to talk to her.

Of course she said yes!

Jeremiah was his name and we had that cat for five years till we moved to Texas. He was supposed to have come down later after we got established in a place, but he ran away from the folks looking after him.

He was a great comfort to me in my times of adjusting to life with a new mother. If it hadn't been for him, I would have really been a basket case!! LOL!

Writing Prompts Trouble

2010-08-31T03:15:00.000-05:00

Soo...I'm sure you all have heard of writing prompts such as Writer's Workshop (hosted by Mama's Losin It) and The Spin Cycle (hosted by Sprite's Keeper). I know I haven't participated in awhile. Well actually that really isn't true, I have participated but nothing seems good enough or coherent enough to publish.

This last week for example. The prompt I chose from the Writer's Workshop was #3.

3.) "It was as if an invisible thread hooked her to her boy. The thread could go taut or slack but it could never come undone, it could never reach the end of its spool because there was no end; it bound them forever." What does unconditional love mean to you?(inspired when a mother is forced to give her baby up in The Seamstress by Frances De Pontas Peebles)

What does unconditional love mean to you?

I received this on Monday and it took me all day to figure out which prompt i was going to try. It was due to be turned in by Thursday! I wrote and rewrote it, struggled with it, called my mother about it. Discussed it with friends and hubby and got nowhere. Thought about changing the direction of the content and even maybe from a different viewpoint, nothing, it was a mess.

My mother and bf said I need to scrap the idea of writing it cause I am too hardcore and haven't experienced it, to know anything about it. I tried to disagree but two against one is never good.

Final consensus on Unconditional Love is that it is something that only exists with a parent to their child and even sometimes that isn't true. I never received that kind of love from my birth mother and longed for it for way too long. I also never had any children therefore I know nothing about that side of it. Soo, long story short I have no business trying my hand at something I am clueless about, so I missed the deadline.

Then there is this weeks Spin Cycle. Prompt is Respect.

Aye, aye, aye. Once again I turned to all the usual folks to give me their take on the subject, anything that might trigger a memory or create something in this (what seems like) dead brain. The only thing I was left with is just how different folks perceive respect to be.

I find it a little funny that this word came up cause it has to be one of the most difficult words for me. What is respect? How do you even define it? The word itself as been used many many times throughout my life and every time I question it, I get all different types of answers. My mom throws it around as a warning to straighten up or back down. Aretha uses it as a "no appreciation".

When I was young I thought I pretty much knew what was expected of me as far as showing respect, but after one particular boyfriend I suddenly was in a whole new world of what respect meant and felt clueless.

Heck I'm not really sure I have ever been shown "respect" cause I probably wouldn't recognize it if I had. I know there is the whole Ma'am and Sir thing, which I totally hate by the way! (when it is thrown MY way)

So, my friends I will bore you no further on my inability to comprehend either of these subjects, other than to say...my take on it all...

Unconditional love comes from the respect you have built through a substantial bond and/or relationship.

AND yeah that probably doesn't make any sense to most, but for some reason it does to me.

I am a contradictory person. LOL!