Flowers in a Bowl ~ and Ohh So Fragrant Are They

We like picking flowers. And in the front corner of our property, we have some Empress trees planted. Every spring, they bloom pretty soft lavender trumpet-like flowers. Not long after blooming, the flowers drop on the ground and it looks something like is has snowed (the trees have changed so much since this pic was taken 2 weeks ago).

So we picked a bunch up to put in a small bowl since they are so fragrant.

We decided to pick one bloom from our Saucer Magnolia tree and put it in the center of the bowl.

See the pretty flowers!

Bierocks? ...More Like Manwich Discs

I was reading a blog where it talked about "Bierocks" ...once I saw these food discs looking things, I had to know more. So, I looked them up on one of my favorite recipe sites (AllRecipes.com) and found that they are a German recipe using hamburger and cabbage, etc..

Well, I was so intrigued by these little (well, not so little) discs, I had to make some. They mostly came out sort of, kind of round (nothing pretty like the ones on the site I mentioned, but they used a sandwich press, I didn't)... And, mine, well... uhh, ... well... mine were of a different sort.

They still looked like discs -hey, again, for the most part ...and they were edible. But, they were filled with cooked ground meat and Manwich sauce. THIS way, eating Manwiches wouldn't be so messy. And they weren't!


My husband and I both liked them... even if they weren't the prettiest things!

Saturday's Saying/Poem: To my Dear and Loving Husband

Last year, my salaried-half traveled to Norway. As a rule, he doesn't travel. But, this was an unusual circumstance... anyway, I tucked a few ancillary ditties in his suitcase. This poem was one of them.

To my Dear and Loving Husband

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompetence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay.
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persever
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

~Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672)

Fridays' Pop Quiz: What Gender is Your Brain?

What Gender is Your Brain?

Your Brain is 47% Female, 53% Male
Your brain is a healthy mix of male and female. You are both sensitive and savvy, rational and reasonable. You tend to keep level headed, but you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve.

Well, I'm not a "girly-girl", so maybe this picked that up. I have often made the joke that I'd rather have a new tractor implement than a diamond ring... but that just may be my practical side... or that I like to squeeze a penny until Lincoln cries (and it would take a whole lot screaming by Lincoln for a diamond). I prefer to think of myself as 'frugal'. Anyhow, when I went back and answered one of the bulk-answer questions that I (in part) preferred to talk politics (but I don't like sports), it came out more 'male'... well, since it was a bulk answer and I had to choose, I left it as such.

So, What Gender is Your Brain? To find out, click HERE and let me know!

Thankful Thursday: Candy Thermometers

...which aid in the making of yummy delightful things!

(Italian Penuche Fudge in process below)

Riding in Style ... to the Mailbox

Took this pic during the last cold snap. It was taken in the shop where we park our lawnmower and wagon (amongst other stuff). Daddy & 'Someone' rode in the wagon while Momma drove... and, up until the gate, dogs followed.

It's a Major Award! I Won!

"I have mind power, you see, Mind Power."

Update: the video is no longer available.
For that reason and for book purposes, the below picture was put in place of the video.

It was taken from same time period.

Well, actually, I don't know how much 'mind power' I have, but I did win something (!) and since I don't win things as a rule, I have to get excited. Oh and just for the record, I'm not plagiarizing the title of this post from Robynn's Ravings. It's from that movie called 'A Christmas Story'. It seems that she and I think alike in a few different ways and after commenting over at the place where I won and starting this post... I realized, "Heyyyy, did someone post something like this?!?". I even went to RR's and searched her blog archive (I honestly could not remember) and found that yes, she and I do think alike (what a compliment to me).

ANYway... I won! Neas Nuttiness was having a Giveaway to celebrate her one year Blogaversary... Congrats Libby! Hmmm... maybe I'll have to celebrate somehow when my One Year rolls around in August. Thank you again Libby. Y'all, she has a fun blog... go and check her out. My goodness, the woman has her hubby and TEN kids... just saying THAT right there nominates her for a Major Award!

Speaking of major award... can you imagine the ?!? angst the poor wife/mom feels in this video when he wants to put that lamp up... much less in the front window?!? Yes, it's a movie, but I so felt for her. And then Ralphy stroking the lamp?!? Ayy-yi-yii. Cracks me up.

Spring Pics Around the Place ('09)

I've told myself not to spend a plethora of time on this post since the pics below came out ... less than great. We are getting a new camera next month since that is when the new models come out. And since our digital camera is ...ohh..??... 5-7 years old, we can wait another month. I have high hopes for a new camera for better close ups and shorter shutter lag time... BUT, that is not what this post is about...

In no particular order, here are some shots of the trees right around the house. I took these pics last week and, boy, since then they have changed a lot.

Buds on a Sycamore...

Below, is a big Water Oak we had put in last November. A big tree-spade truck brought the tree.
Water Oak leaf...

Red Oak leaves coming out...

A Saucer Magnolia we put in 2 weeks ago...

Close up of Saucer Magnolia blooms...

New Sweet Gum leaves...

Baby apples on our 5 in 1 Apple tree...

Another pic of the Saucer Magnolia...

Spring is my favorite time of year. All the blooms and everything so green with great temps make it spectacular here in SE Texas.

So Smooth and Gone Too Soon

{song can be heard on Playlist down on the right-song #47}

Close to You by Karen Carpenter

Why do birds suddenly appear

Every time you are near?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you.

Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you.

*On the day that you were born
The angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold
And starlight in your eyes of blue.
That is why all the girls in town
Follow you all around.
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you.

*(repeat)

Wahhhhhhhhhhh, close to you.
Wahhhhhhhhhhh, close to you.
Hahhhhhhhhhhh, close to you.
Lahhhhhhhhhhh, close to you.

Friday's Pop Quiz: Are You a Dumb American?

Are You a Dumb American?

You Are a Smart American
You know a lot about US history, and you're opinions are probably well informed. Congratulations on bucking stereotypes. Now go show some foreigners how smart Americans can be.

Yeah? ... well four comments/?'s about this quiz:

1. Wheww! I'm glad I passed this one.
2. Would I have posted this if it said I was a "Dumb American"?
3. If I'm so well informed, why doesn't anyone listen?!?
4. Just make sure the foreigners are legal.

So, Are You a Dumb American? To take this short, 10 question quiz, click HERE and, well... uhhh... let me know if you feel like it.

Thankful Thursday: Music

I do love music... of all sorts... well, most sorts. I don't care for that loud angry metal stuff or cRap (sorry, but that's what it is to me). Since I love sunsets and nature too, I thought this pic was fitting for this "Thankful Thursday: Music" post since the birds remind me of notes on a music staff.

I did have to look up what those lines are called though (a music staff), as I took one semester with the flute when I was in middle school and I don't remember much... well, then there's that college music course I took... I didn't absorb much of that class either.... nevertheless, I do love music.

If it's not obvious already, I don't play an instrument, but I love the piano. It has been my favorite instrument for as long as I can remember (actually, we have a piano- was my grandmothers when she was alive). To me, a piano, more than any other instrument, can play a wider array of music with more dimension and depth. It just conveys more to me. I have added a couple of my favorite piano pieces to my Playlist down on the right. They are at the end of the list (Jessica's Theme & Fur Elise).

There's another piece there by Doug Smith. We have two of his CDs. He is from West Texas -from a farming family.... OMGosh can he play. I was only able to find a snippet of this one song that is on the Playlist. I say "can he play" -I don't believe he still can... we learned that in 2007, he was in a bad car accident... last I saw on his website was a note at the end of 07 saying that he couldn't come home even after 5 months and was confined to a wheelchair and unable to move his arms much. I know I sidetracked, but if you like Piano, he has some fabulous moving music you can get. [p.s. Just found this article written a year ago about his condition.]

So, Music... that's what I'm thankful for... it takes me places. Plus, I have this weird knack of being able to remember the words to a song very quickly (funny enough, I remember numbers well too... but, can I remember what I had for dinner last night?!?). You give me a Neil Diamond, Simon & Garfunkel, Ann Murray, Waylon, Willie, Merle, Bee Gees... I'll stop ...but if I could get on that music lyric game show, I might be able to bring some bacon home ... great, now that ?? Osh-sha-lee ?? commercial song is in my head. I'm such a dork.

But I'm a music loving dork.

Congrats to Neas Nuttiness!

Libby over at Neas Nuttiness is having a giveaway to celebrate her one year "blogaversary". She is a funny read and a sweet lady, so stop by her place and have a gander!

It's Not Graffiti ~ It's Washable Barn Chalk Art

...and our daughter knows the difference. We can take a hose to the walls and have brand new looking stall fronts in a matter of how long it takes to dry.

And I cannot tell you how many times I have been able to quickly feed the horses or do this or that while she or she and daddy draws away (or Someone and I draw away, while daddy feeds).

Done Typing & Still Don't Know What to Call This Post About the Lost Filly

Well, I am struggling what to call this post. I suppose by the time you read this, it will have a name.

I've posted a couple of times now, just in the last week about one of our mares that is pregnant... well, was pregnant. She had her foal this (Monday) AM. It was very foggy here, so even with the binoculars, it was hard to make out that the heap was a foal. It wasn't moving, but was so hard to tell with the fog. And momma wasn't super close... she wasn't far, but further that what I would expect. Called to the horses and I saw an ear flicker. Got our daughter dressed and headed out to the pasture with camera and cell phone.

LONGGG story short.................................................... too long to type and I'm too tired and don't want to cry............. the foal was.... it was a filly... euthanized. All in a matter of 8 hours, we had a birth, a death and a burial.

She was gorgeous. She was huge. First thing, when I saw that she couldn't get up, was to try to get her up. I'm 5'2" and this filly was big. I called a friend that is 1/2 mile away as a crow flies. She and I tried to get this filly up (my 2 1/2 year old was being so good standing where I told her to in the pasture). We couldn't get the filly up. I could only get her on her sternum and had to hold her there to keep her there, otherwise she flopped back down. THAT had me concerned.... if she had such long legs that she had contracted tendons, then we'll deal with that... but she wasn't even able to get herself on her sternum.

My husband came home from work and got there a bit before the vet. He's a big guy- 6'4" and with this foal struggling, it took quite a bit from him to hold her in a standing position. But, like he said, he was completely holding her. Her back legs were useless. Also, her tongue was recessed back more in her mouth than it should have been. Using a trick I learned in a breeding course we took years ago, I got milk from momma in a 60 ml (huge) syringe tube. Momma's milk was/is beautiful. The foal wanted it... couldn't swallow great, but she was trying. She tried all she could... she fought to stand, but her legs would remain prostrate.

When I first saw her, I thought there was something up with that.... and her head would loll back to the side- even with help. She was what is known in the horse world as a "Dummy Foal". Lack of oxygen to the brain during birth... basically makes them... retarded in a sense. A horse that doesn't have the neuro capability to stand... it's not like humans. Horses HAVE to stand- their gut/life depends on it. This filly lost brain function to help her know which way was up and how to stand. Her legs were prostrate stiff because the brain says do that while standing... but she was flat on her side. Could never get on her sternum even.

*****sighhhhhhhh*******

Not a fun decision. But...................

You know, you wait almost a year (a horse's gestation is over 11 months long)........ well, what is, is.

I had taken a picture of her when she was alive........ and stopped after one........ thought........ maybe I shouldn't have....... she was pretty ..............she was just so darn big. I can only guess it took a lot of work on momma's part. Incidentally, momma is fine. Like the vet said (when momma-mare was distant from us while we were assessing the foal) she knew something wasn't right. Normally, she would have been right up there causing a bit of a stink... none of that was going on. She was grazing some sixty feet from us... and this is a good momma mare. She has had four foals before.

I see I'm typing/spending too much time on this... I've got to get to bed so I can be good tomorrow for my daughter. She was so good today. Had the county come out to bury the foal. My husband and I tried to explain it as best we could... about death. She saw the foal before and after. It wasn't an all emotion-laden thing... she's too young for that. Kind of matter of fact. She didn't obsess on it before bed-time... just asked, "The baby horse couldn't stand?" (she saw her trying).... okay enough. Got to get to bed.

I had a poem to post when the foal arrived... a poem I wrote when I was in high school. But... I will have to post it another time... it is no longer fitting for this post.

She was beautiful. But it wasn't meant to be.

(that last line was for me)

Equus Caballus

I have run on middle fingernail through Eolithic morning
And I’ve thundered down the coach road with Revolution’s warning
I have carried countless errant knights who never found the grail
I have strained before the caissons, I’ve moved the nation’s mail
I’ve made knights of lowly tribesmen, kings from ranks of peons
I’ve given pride and arrogance to riding men for eons
I’ve grazed among the lodges, teepees and the yurts
Felt the sting of driving whips, lashes, spurs and quirts

I am roguish- I am flighty, inbred and lowly
I’m a nightmare gone wild- I am
Gallant and exalted, stately and noble
I’m awesome- I am grand- I am
The Horse

I have suffered gross indignities from users and from winners
I’ve felt the touch of kindness from losers and from sinners
I have given for the cruel hand and given for the kind
Heaved a sigh at Appomattox when surrender had been signed
I can be as tough as hardened steel or fragile as a flower
I know not my endurance, I know not my own power
I have died with heart exploded beneath the cheering stands
Calmly stood below the hanging noose of vigilante bands

I am roguish- I am flighty, inbred and lowly
I’m a nightmare gone wild- I am
Gallant and exalted, stately and noble
I’m awesome- I am grand- I am
The Horse

So I’ll run on middle fingernail until the curtain closes
I’ll win for you your Triple Crown, I’ll wear for you your roses
Toward you, who took my freedom, I’ve no malice or remorse
I’ll endure, I’ll last forever, I am The Horse

~Author Unknown

Conventional Commodity: Refrigerator

Con-ven-tion-al: adjective, (kuhn-ven-shuh-nl): ordinary rather than different or original.
Com-mod-i-ty: noun, (kuh-mod-i-tee): something of use, advantage, or value.

Well, I had mentioned before (as a comment on another blog) something about doing a pic of something somewhere around the house/property... you know, something of an everyday item that all or most folks have. I said that maybe I'll post a pic of our "refrigerator" because just about EVERYONE has one and they ALL look different.

Lo and behold ...I was not the first to come up with this idea. Who knew?!? ... stands to reason as I've never been known as an out-of-the-box-thinker (I can't help it, I'm a Red Pen). I will call these semi-who-knows-how-frequent-posts, "Conventional Commodity" followed by whatever it is.

So, here it is, our refrigerator. Remember as you view this (large, if you click on it) that we are the parents of a toddler. Hence, the cool velcro calendar to help teach about the day, month, year, season, weather, activities for the day, as well as 'how we feel'. I have made a few extra "activity" velcro patches since it didn't come with ones for; grocery shopping, playing outside, playing inside, going to the 'horse feed-store', etc.

It's neat to see the connections grow. As a routine, my daughter and I always let the dogs out first thing in the AM and, upon doing so, we look to "see what kind of day it is" (weather-wise). Well, this particular day, it was cloudy and overcast, so we put up the cloudy patch. Later that day, we were doing whatever inside and our Little Someone looked out the window and noted that the "sun is out, we have to change the calendar!"... sure enough, the sun was peeking out. We had to go change the cloudy patch to the sunny one. Very cute.

Mondo Mare

I posted the other day how "Foal Patrol" has begun... that is, we are waiting for one to hit the ground any time. Thought I'd catch a 'before' shot- thought of it on the spur, while out feeding. Hence, the graininess of the pics as I used better half's cell phone.

Here's "Tatonka"- not her real name, but nickname from Dances with Wolves... because when she is big pregnant, soon to drop pregnant, miserably Mondo pregnant, she's as big as a buffalo.

Poor thing's got to be miserable.

Friday's Pop Quiz: What Office Supply Are You?

What Office Supply Are You?

I Am a Red Pen
"You have an eagle eye for detail, and this often means you end up finding mistakes in people's work. You may seem quick to criticize or correct, but you think accuracy and truth is important. You like to be involved in every project. You feel like you put the polishing touch on things. You would make a good editor, detective, or accountant. When facts matter, you're the person to call on."

Am not so sure I want to post this result- it stayed the same even when I changed an iffy answer. My guess is my husband will agree. Hey, he's got to give me some credit though~ while in school, I proofread many of his papers... with a red pen. I can say, it drives me nuts if I find a grammar or spelling error in something I've written. With that said, please feel free to let me know if you ever find an error on this blog... I will be glad that you let me no. :-)

So, what Office Supply are you? To take this short, 5 question quiz, click HERE and let me know!

Thankful Thursday: Beautiful Sunsets

Here was the view out our west dining room windows a couple of nights ago while eating dinner. If you can, try to look past the stuff on the table, which can partially be seen -course then you have all the reflections going on in the pic... but you (hopefully) get the idea... the SUNSET.

It was gorgeous.

Now, this below was not our sunset, as my my sister-in-law took this pic a few days ago. This was her view looking out from the front of her house.

I do like tractors... and sunsets.

Network Outages

The fourth largest city in the US is having some major network outages... and we are about an hour to an hour and a half away from H-town. But little ole us, out in the country, is affected too (I hear several sates are: TX, OK, AR, MO).

We are talking MAJORLY s -- l -- o -- w connectivity... like anywhere from 3 kbps to (whoo-hoo) 17.23 kbps. Our normal is say... 800 kbps.

I can only say I'm SO glad I had my Thankful Thursday post already done this morning.

Gees, web pages load so slowly... mine doesn't even come up in total... I hope I don't have withdrawal from not being able to 'follow' anyone. Who knows just HOW long this will take to post.

Foal Patrol has Started

...actually, it's been going on for the better part of a week now.

Got a broodmare due and sheeee's allusive. Couldn't even catch her foaling when we kept her in a foaling stall every night with a wireless video camera feeding back to the computer in our house.

OMGoooosh, the sleep I lost watching that camera all minutes of the night~ only to have her foal out when I went in the house the next day for 30 minutes or so. Late morning, I had put her out in a smaller pasture while I cleaned her stall. Checked on her before I went to the house to get something to eat/drink, bathroom, check messages... she was calm, cool, no sign of anything when I left... and was just grazing along the whole time I cleaned the stall (I could see her from the barn). Came back out and Whallah(!)... we had a long-legged wobbly one.

Sooo, what will be, will be ...or should I say, WHEN will be, will be. For that matter, "What" (it) will be, will be -too.

Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy

I saw this video and it spoke such truth. This comedian (Louis CK) is hilarious and so spot on.

I sure hope most of the generation(s) coming up today don't continue the Entitlement Mentality that seems to be so prevalent these days. Though, as I watch things evolve with the 'world out there', I can get gloomy about it all. Okay, enough on that... I do like his rant.

Oh~ Don't forget to first scroll down and 'pause' the Playlist on the right so you can hear the video.

(video was posted here ~  transcript is below)

(both are speaking of earlier times...)

Louis CK: Those were simpler times I think. I just feel like we may be going back to that by the way, but, ah, in a way good because when I read things like the 'foundations of capitalism are shattering', I'm, like, maybe we need that.  Maybe we need some time where we're walking around with a donkey with pots clanking on the sides, ya know.

Conan O'Brien: You think that that would just bring us back to reality?

Louis: Yeah, because everything is amazing right now and nobody's happy.  In my lifetime the changes in the world have been incredible.  When I was a kid, we had a rotary phone.  We had a phone you had to stand next to and you had to dial it, you know?!?  You know, you ever realize how primitive that is, you're making sparks in a phone and you actually would hate people with zeros in their numbers 'cause it was more ... "oh, this guy's got two zeros, scrub that guy, why do I wanna dial him"- ugh.  And then if, if they called and you weren't home, the phone would just ring lonely by itself.  And then when, if you wanted money, you had to go in the bank when it was open, for like three hours.  You had to stand in line, write yourself a check like an idiot, and then when you ran outta money you just go, "Well I can't do any more things now".  'I can't do any more things' - that was it.  And.. and even if you had a credit card they, the guy'd go, ugh.. and he'd bring out this whole clunky card machine, 'shunk, shunk', and he'd write and he'd have to call the president to see if you had any money.....

Conan: It's all true kids. It was ridiculous.  Do you feel that we now, in the 21st century, we take technology for granted?

Louis: Well, yeah, 'cause now we live in, in an amazing, amazing world and it's wasted on the, on the crappiest generation of just spoiled idiots that don't care because, this is what people are like now. They got their phone and they're like "eeaagh, it won't.." ... well, give it a second! It's going to space!  Would ya give it a second to get back from space, it's the speed of light, it's true, it's true.

I was on a... I was on an airplane and there was internet, high speed internet on the airplane that's the newest thing that I know exists.  And I'm sitting on the plane and they go, "Open up your laptop and you can go on the internet."  And it's fast and I'm watching YouTube clips, it's amazing & I'm in an airplane!  And then it breaks down and they apologize that the internet is not working and the guy next to me goes, "Uhh, this is bull".  Like how quickly the world owes him something he knew existed only 10 seconds ago and on planes.

Flying is the worst one because people come back from flights and they tell you their story and it's like a horror story. It's... they act like their flight was like a cattle car in the 40's in Germany.  That's how bad they make it sound.  They're like "It was the worst day of my life. First of all we didn't board for 20 minutes and then we get on the plane and they made us sit there on the runway for 40 minutes. We had to sit there."  ....Oh really, what happened next?  Did you fly through the air incredibly like a bird? Did you partake in the miracle of human flight!?!... you non-contributing zero! Wow, you're flying!  It's amazing!  Everybody on every plane should just constantly be going, Oh my God, wow!  -I mean, you're flying!  You're.. you're sitting in a chair in the sky! .... They're like, "The chair, but it doesn't go back a lot. And it smells really..." ... You know, here's the thing. People -they say there's delays on flights -- delays! Really!?!  New York to California in 5 hours. That used to take 30 years to do that and a bunch of you would die on the way there and some have a baby. You'd be with a whole different group of people by the time you got there!  Now you watch a movie you take a dump and you're home!

I'm Such a Widget Freak

Well, maybe "freak" isn't the right word, perhaps a little harsh. Nevertheless, I was perusing a blog the other day ... have I mentioned before that I only follow about five. Well, I do... I positively cannot and will not engulf myself in more. Even though I have always found people interesting (have I mentioned I'm a licensed psychotherapist), there is a point at which you say, "Nope, no more." After all, you know, moderation is the key.

Okay, so ANYway, I happened over to one that I don't follow (I was just peeking in) -got there by clicking from the comment's page on one I do follow and I saw this 'bookshelf' ...with 'books' on it. It was neat. Well, I love bookshelves~ especially built in wooden ones. Since we have some in our home, I thought I'd like a bloggy bookshelf (it's down on the right).

I even put a few books in it that sit on our shelf here at home. You can scroll over the books and most will give you a descriptor of the book and if you hit the 'next' button below the shelf, it'll flip to a whole new set of books! Now that kind of James-Bondy (or would it be Harry Potter?) stuff isn't something we have here at home.

Amazing... the things that are out there... pretty neat widget, it is.

Aaacckk! ...the Time Changed!

I swear (I know, I shouldn't)... but, the government goes and changes the time on us. Can't they just LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE?!? I guess I should already know the answer to that... thank you very much paternalistic government.

You know, when you go changing my schedule, it messes everything up. Can't we (here in Texas) just do like Arizona and Hawaii and leave the time as is?!? PLENTY of research already has shown that doing this daylight and standard time change thing does NOT save electricity/fuel (interesting info here: http://www.standardtime.com/).

Perhaps I feel particularly 'ranti-ous' on this subject because we have a toddler and a toddler likes a schedule like I like the toddler to stay on it... otherwise my sleep gets all whackerooed.

**deeeep breathing**

Okay, I'm done. I feel better now.... I think.

Little Someone Update ~ 2 1/2 years old

I started this site as a way to keep family and friends updated... mostly with regards to our Little Someone... as a way to 'keep in touch' -since everyone is busy living their lives. It has evolved though and has leaned this way and that and now is more for our Little Someone. Who knows, maybe one day she will read her momma's words and... perhaps... someday they may serve her.
It is is also a way to share/post video without glutting unsuspecting family or friend's email boxes.

ANYway, here's our Little Someone. I don't think I'm being biased when I say she is one Cutie of a Sweetie.

We've just started using barrettes to keep her hair out of her face. She's never really cared for pony tails.

In the evening, before bedtime, she likes to get a pony ride from her daddy. But before the ride, she climbs on with a book in hand as daddy's back poses a good place on which to read.
The hat is compliments of her own doing.

Her 'horse' here is apply named "Stickers".
Hey, you do what you can whenever your on a business phone call and have a toddler in your care... and doling out stickers, one by one, has made many a call easier.

In this pic below, she just doesn't look 2 1/2 yrs old to me. She's so tall. I'm only 5' 2"+ [I have tall(er) genes, they just don't show], but daddy is 6' 4".

Two things:

1. Did you know that yogurt can be eaten through a straw?
2. Yogurt is, evidently, fun to smear on your face and hands.

I walked around from putting some dishes in the sink to find this lovely application of yogurt in progress. This is why bath-time is after dinner.

And so proud of her work!

Yes, food stuck to her face and all, we still think she's cute (but, of course, it's our job!).

You can't say, "That dog won't hunt." Smudge puppy knows exactly where the vittles are.

Long and lean like her daddy.

She loves picking flowers. We bring them in and put them in this little small, dainty wine looking glass -using it as a tiny vase of sorts.

Caught dancing below. She loves music and starts be-bopping at the first sound of it.

This video below was taken on Christmas day. Our Little Someone got Play-Dough and this is her first time to play with it.

A few necessary video notes;

• Oh, how Someone's language skills have grown by leaps and bounds just in the last 2 months -something I noticed when I went back and watched this.
• It was Christmas Day (08) when this video was taken. Hence the grungy, no make-up look.
• I do not have nice manicured long nails. I love the outdoors (and getting in dirt) and I work with horses. Plus, I inseminate mares (that means up to the elbow in a mare)... and I don't think they would appreciate long nails when I'm hunting for their cervix to make a deposit.
• At about 1:10 into the video, I wave my hand... it's because our pup, Smudge, burped in my face.
• Lastly, I'm not your typical big dangly earring type of person. Those are Santa earrings I have on for Christmas.

Okay... I feel a little better now.

Oh(!).. don't forget to first go to the right side and turn off/pause the Playlist music so you can hear the video.

Pooper-Duper Blogger

Well pooper-duper(!)... just spent the last ?? 45 minutes writing quips and quotes for a post with lots of pics and the dad-gum blogger didn't save when I went to preview it ...and I hit the save button.
Arrghhh.... can I say it all as well the second time?!? ... nooo, seeing as I can't remember what I said.

Donations of brain cells welcome.

How Quickly They Grow

Our Little Someone is grrrooowwing (this is said in a forlorn tone).

You see, a few days ago, I combed through our daughter's clothes to separate all that she has outgrown. I have done this a few times now... and it always leaves me with a bittersweet aftertaste~ a "right in front of my very eyes, this shirt fit her not long ago" realization that she is growing, which is another symbol of Time Flying.

Just one of the shirts that our Little Someone has outgrown.

Before you say, 'well duh!'. First, I would ask if you have kids. If not and you're one of the, 'Well duh-ers' ...you don't count (sorry, it's just that your perception is inherently different). If you do have kids and you still say that... hmmm-I just don't know what to say... maybe you never had the total task of being your own child's caretaker.

You see, I'm a "stay-at-home-mom"- so, with the exception of when she sleeps and I take an errant shower (just kidding, it's not 'errant', but half of the time, my daughter and I take baths together-it's quicker!)... ANYway, with the exception of those times, she is in my presence. That's darn near her every waking moment. So, I see her all the time. Thus, I don't notice her growth. And I don't always stop and take note of time passing. So, when something waves at me with banners and flags yelling, "Hey, you! Just LOOK at this!" ...and it's symbolic of Time Flying, I get a little ... ? somber.

You know, it's Time that we cannot buy, beg for, grow, borrow or steal. It is absolutely out of our control (insert curse word). My husband and I had our daughter later in life. My husband and I were together 19 years before she came along. I'm not saying that we would change our timing decision, but... (sighhh)... I just hope we are around a long time for her... we both do.

**sighhh**

I've Been Tagged for a Game of Name Meme

I have been tagged by Libby at Neas Nuttiness in a game of Name Meme. I am supposed to use the first letter of my *screen* name to answer the following, so here I go...

...for "Bz".

1. What is your name?: Bz
2. A four-letter word: bunt
3. A boy's name: Brian
4. A girl's name: Bernice
5. An occupation: Bacteriologist
6. A color: burnt orange
7. Something you wear: bra
8. A Food: Baklava
9. Something found in the bathroom: brush
10. A place: Bellville, TX
11. A reason for being late: Because..." " (fill in however)
12. Something you shout: Be quiet! (to our dogs)
13. A movie title: Black Beauty
14. Something you drink: Bailey's (only on rare occasion and I sip)
15. An animal: bobcat
16. A song title: Behind Closed Doors - Charlie Rich
17. A verb: bounce

There you have it... my B-rated answers.

The person I'm going to tag is: Jennifer at Lucas*Jennifer*Noah
The directions are:
1. Copy the questions from my post and paste them in a new post on your blog. Then type over my answers with yours.
2. Use the first letter of your first name to answer ALL of the following questions.
3. If the first letter of your name is the same as mine, use your middle or last name.
4. You CANNOT use any word twice, and you CANNOT use your own name for the boy/girl questions.
5. After you are done, tag 1-5 people.

(girly) Pad Use # 4

As one that doesn't inherently think out of the box, I have only come up with four uses for this particular (girly) item:

1. what they're intended for


2. what they're intended for -but for dogs (yes, I have used this item for our pups before- stuck them in dog "panties" when we've had any one of our females in heat. That's no longer a problem, as both of our pups have both been fixed.. err... I mean, more appropriately, 'broken').


3. for bandaging a horse wound


4. getting ink off Little Someone's arms, hands and fingers (as seen below).

Do you see the little wry smile on Someone's face in the above pic?

Boy, with a little alcohol, these babies did the trick and didn't fall apart with a little scrubbing.