48 Things About Me

I was not "tagged", per se, for this. But, since it has made its rounds on 3 of the 4 blogs I visit, I thought, 'what the heck'. So 48 things things... some of which may change before this is hits the blogosphere.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30 AM

2. How do you like your steak? Medium

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Heck, I can't remember. I know my husband and I saw Pirates of the Caribbean II the weekend before our daughter was born-remember thinking 'My Gawd, this movie is dragging on.' (I had to go to the bathroom).

4. What is your favorite TV show? Don't have one, but like science and history stuff.

5. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Where I am.

6. What did you have for breakfast? Blueberry cereal.


7. What is your favorite food? Boiled shrimp.

8. What foods do you dislike? Oysters.


9. Favorite place to eat? (recent choice) Chili's -they're kid-friendly

10. Favorite dressing? Ranch

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Ford Expedition

12. What are your favorite clothes? Men's boxers and a sleeves-cut-out t-shirt

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Scotland

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Like to think I'm pragmatic and can ascertain the difference in different situations (I know, you're saying OMG)... I am an upbeat person with enough sleep, so... 'Half Full'.

15. Where would you want to retire? Where I am

16. Favorite time of day? Evening, right before dusk being outside.

17. Where were you born? SE Texas

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Horse jumping

19. Who do you think will not tag you back? Not looking for tags.

20. Person you expect to tag you back first? Not looking for tags.

21. Who are you most curious about their responses back to this? No one in particular

22. Bird watcher? Yup.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? Tend towards the PM

24. Do you have any pets? Yup.

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? ...ummm... no new news... although, I have been poked a few times lately, in the bladder, in the middle of the night.

26. What did you want to be when you were little? Horse Trainer


27. What is your best childhood memory? ..best?? ...I don't know about 'best', but I'll pick ... all the horses memories, others filled with dogs and Colorado

28. Are you a cat or dog person? Am not one of those that thinks you HAVE to pick (we have both), but there is more relating with dogs... at least here, there is.

29. Are you married? Yes.

30. Do you always wear your seat belt? Yes.

31. Have you been in a car accident? Yes.

32. Any pet peeves? Yes. Just to name 3... people in my space, political correctness, and Pink Elephants (I have great difficulty sitting there and acting like it's not there w/o saying something).


33. Favorite pizza toppings? Hamburger

34. Favorite flower? ...lately... my New Zealand Rose (have always answered "mauve lilies" to this before).


35. Favorite ice cream? Double Fudge Brownie

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Taco Bell

37. How many times did you fail your driver's license test? None

38. From whom did you get your last email? my husband

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? 1st. wouldn't. 2nd. store that goes on card a lot: Home Depot

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? 'spontaneous' is relative... does buying 14 small trees count?

41. Like your job? Despite never feeling caught up ...heck, never BEING caught up [except when 'Grandma' visits-she's the laundry Queen.... I leave for an appt./shopping, come back & holy smokes(!), didn't know the washer worked that fast (& we're talking masses that have bred like India rats)... if the clothes didn't smell so clean, I wouldn't believe it... like my masthead say, I am blessed.. but, I digress..] ... and feeling tired much of the time... Momma-hood is good.


42. Do you like broccoli? It's alright... better with cheese.

43. What was your favorite vacation? Can't pick a "favorite" -like 'em for different reasons. Would like to go to Disney World someday when child(ren) are older.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? Husband and daughter.

45. What are you listening to right now? The hum of daughter's room monitor

46. What is your favorite color? Mauve

47. How many tattoos do you have? None.

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? None.

My "Blogoversary"

So, what's a "Blogoversary" anyway? It's an "anniversary" of a blog.

Well, it's been one year ago today since I started this 'blog thing'. Wow, does Father Time become a lead foot more and more (you know, stepping on the gas... going faster... anyway..). Time flies.

Quite sometime back, I thought I'd do a celebration of sorts, on this day, with a giveaway ...welllll, it ain't happening.... and yes, I know, on anniversaries- the one having the 'anniversary' is supposed to get, not give... nevertheless, that is not the reason for my lack of giveaway. I just have ENTIRELY too much on my plate right now (anyhow, with maybe 3 readers... woooo... wouldn't be much of a contest!).

So, suffice to say... I plan to forge ahead with this blog thing and hope to make it more of a place to 'record' the special, funny, interesting, telling, memorable, and/or everyday things that happen in our/my blessed life. And, indeed, it is.

Happy Trails for now ~ better get. Y'all take care.

Hokey Pokey

Daddy, Little Someone, and I did the Hokey Pokey tonight.
We have read the book, shown here, before bedtime for the last three nights in a row.

The Wrench in my Gears...

... or maybe I should say the "stench" in my gears. Had a lot planned for today, but the best laid plans have been rerouted by a d**n skunk ...or should I blame the 164 pound Dane that ran into the dark when she was supposed to be doing her last potty of the evening?

Suffice to say... that pooch didn't get to come in for the night. AND, by virtue of me just standing 100' downwind, I smelled this beast all night (probably had seeped through the pores of my nose). Off to do skunk out chores....

Eeewwwhh!

Hello London,Canada! [Home of at least One Dim-Witted and/or Brainwashed Socialist '...' (you fill in the blank)]

Okay, this really does beg the question... "Does she (meaning me, the one writing this) have too much time on her hands?" ...No, I really don't and part of me is really annoyed that I even feel compelled to respond to a Dim-Wit... alas, I am. However, rest assured, I won't spend much more time (if any) on such ...??.. "idiocrity".

So, here's the deal, I had a post a bit back, a VERY short post, that went:

"So Many Stupid Idiotic Politicians PLAYING with Your Life and Livelihood...

Health Care is NOT a 'right'!"

Wellll, I recently received a comment to that post. The commenter, "Mike" (which I don't believe is his name- I will get to that), said:

"heel,youall sound likewell off people.if you were poor,would you think any differently? .HEALTH CARE IS A RIGHT.NOT JUST FOR THE WELL OFF,AND IDOTS LIKE YOU,I HOPE YOU GET SEIOUSLY ILL "

(for what it's worth, I didn't do any corrections/changes to the above, just cut/pasted as is)

Now, my first two thoughts when I read this were:

1. I was taught from a VERY young age to never wish 'bad' on others.

and

2. We have a Bill of Rights here in the US, and last I checked ...umm... nope... "Health Care" was not listed.

Fact of the matter is, ANYone can (and does) receive health care here in the US ~ NO ONE gets turned away- EVEN if you are illegal.

The crux of everything is, I *and so many others* have a problem with someone taking what we have so earnestly worked for (and, by the way, I don't consider having to worry about my child's college fund or worrying about my husband's and my retirement being "well off", so guess we're not in that crowd).

Our gov't already takes enough to give to others- in a form called PROGRESSIVE TAXATION... in other words, our gov't ALREADY punishes those who earn more. Hey, a flat tax would be great and still those that earn more would pay more, just not progressively more (perhaps this concept is beyond some).

Universal Health Care will be/would be a fiasco like every other gov't run program. Laissez-faire capitalism is the only way to go if one wants to

1. Lower costs

&

2. increase quality

So London, Canada (or is your real name "Lavinia"?), I'm sorry you're so conditioned to think down on a system that surpasses your own (and every other one in the world, that's why other country's leaders come here when sick).

Even with such a hateful comment being left, London Canada, I do not wish you ill. There are two reasons why I don't:

1. To wish another ill is a component of being evil and I believe it does no good.

2. Being ill in a country, like your own, with socialized health care really decreases your chances of being taken care of properly and in a timely fashion, so it'd kind be like two 'bad' wishes against you.

Do take care.

[Oh, I said I'd explain why I'm not so sure "Mike" is the commenter's real name... well, about a week ago, on a semi-political blog I read, a liberal idea-gog left a comment attacking the blogger and his post. Well, I left a comment disagreeing with the leftist, liberal, socialist sap. ANYway, the person is from Canada and, lo and behold, my nefarious commenter is from Canada (FEEDJIT let me know). Anyhoo... I haven't had Canada visit before ... sooo... I could be wrong, but it sure smells. And cowards, they just grate on me.]

I'm Humane!

Well, at least someone thinks so ... Libby over at Neas Nuttiness was so kind to choose me as one of her ten for this award. The "Humane Award" is given for the following reason(s):

“The Humane Award is in order to honor certain bloggers that I feel are kindhearted individuals. They regularly take part in my blog and always leave the sweetest comments. If it wasn’t for them, my site would just be an ordinary blog. Their blogs are also amazing and are tastefully done on a daily basis. I thank them and look forward to our growing friendships through the blog world.”

I have to say, Libby was quite ..??.. gracious in choosing me because this here blog you're reading is not "tastefully done on a daily basis"... Albeit, I do like to think it is "tastefully done" ... it's just not on a daily basis. Just ain't happening.

Thank you Ms. Libby for thinking of me.

Now, I'm supposed to pass this on to TEN other blogs that I feel the same about... wellll, that ain't happening either. I only "follow" about 3-4 blogs ... sooo, I have chosen one very special "blogging buddy" because... well, the award is titled the "Humane Award" and this person is very Humane in so many senses of the word (I'd give it to my dad because he is about the most humane person I know, but he's not a blogger). Annnyway...

* * drum roll * *

I choose a Fruitcake.. err... I mean, the Fruitcake... umm... "Fruitcake Sandy" over at It's Never too Late for a Happy Childhood as the Humane Award recipient. She is one of the most caring individuals I have been graced to know. She certainly deserves it. Hop on over and have a look-see here if you get a chance and let her know you stopped by. She's a bit fruity... and if you ever think I am ...uhhh... well, perhaps the fruit, I mean 'apple', doesn't fall far from the tree.

Conventional Commodity: Wagon Wheel Clock

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.

We live "out in the country" to a certain extent. And, in terms of pictures, paintings and the like, we tend towards the ?? rustic, look -without being 'hickish'.

For example, we like Charles Russel and Windburg paintings. And we have a fair amount of finished wood in our home. So, this clock fits right in. It hangs in our living room above a large window that is one of three. The clock is large enough to see from a good distance too... and, with my eyes, that's a plus.

Here's a pic -below- to show you where it hangs... this pic was taken years ago in B.C. times (before children)... back when single pup, Smidgen, used to come into the sunken living room to watch TV (and that dog really watches TV).
The clock hangs where the blue * is in the photo.

First Watercolor and Finger Painting

These were both done quite some time ago. I am just now getting them posted. But, such Fine Art deserves a commendation, even if it is late.

Our Little Someone loved using purple. In fact, purple has the least amount of color left in the watercolor tray.


These weren't the finger paints that I remember growing up. These were a clear gel with the color labeled on the lid and they only work on the special paper... and then, at that, it takes a few seconds for the color to show up... not much on the quick reinforcement. Will have to find some of the old tried and true finger paints that can mess your walls up.

So Many Stupid Idiotic Politicians PLAYING with Your Life and Livelihood...

Health Care is

NOT

a 'right'!

Daddy and Little Someone Dancing

This picture was taken right before bedtime. Daddy and our Little One were 'slow-dancing' to music (yes, the TV screen was on, but music was playing).

This pic was taken when this child was not even 3 y/o, yet and look at how LONG she is. To get an idea, Daddy is 6' 4" tall. Our "Little" Someone is 40.5" tall. She has remained "off the charts" on height since she was about 1-2 months old.

I'm 5' 2 & 3/4" tall (hey, every bit matters).... but I have tall genes... you'd just never know it by looking at me. So, at least I can say that I didn't detract from her height. :-)

Turning ... F...F-F.. FFFFFF... For ... F-F ..FORTY... Alright, I said it!

... First, let's see what the dictionary says:
for⋅ty 
/ˈfɔrti/[fawr-tee], noun, plural -ties, adjective
–noun
1. a cardinal number (a cardinal sin??), ten times four.
2. a symbol for this number, as 40 or XL (lovely) or XXXX.
3. a set of this many persons or things.
4. forties, the numbers, years, degrees, or the like, from 40 through 49, as in referring to numbered streets, indicating the years of a lifetime or of a century, or degrees of temperature: His office is in the West Forties. Her parents are in their forties. The temperature will be in the forties.
–adjective
5. amounting to 40 in number.
Origin: bef. 950; ME fourti, OE fēowertig (c. OFris fiuwertich, OHG fiorzug, G vierzig).


...and then I found this while looking for a poem that grabbed my sentiments:

How to Celebrate a Fortieth Birthday

A fortieth birthday is the official commencement of middle age (again, lovely), even though most Americans don't make it all the way to 80 (can I bury my head in the sand now?). The reality hits that half a life is over, and although it's tempting to lament the loss of one's youth, and mourn the fortieth birthday, it's also true that there is a lot of life left, and depending on circumstances, it is often the perfect time to try something new. The following suggestions will help to celebrate rather than lament this momentous occasion.

1. Attempt an extreme sport. Examples include scuba, bungee, or sky diving. I thought the idea is to KEEP living.
   
2. Build a nest egg. -working on it
   
3. Clean out all the closets. Include the garage and the attic. There are probably lots of mementos awaiting rediscovery and removal. -am trying to downsize for other reasons (see # 13 ).
   
4. Drive on Route 66. If you're in the USA, this is a great and leisurely way to celebrate. Alternatively, drive across your country or do it on a motorcycle. -I'd like to see the CA Redwoods someday.
   
5. Eat the worm. -uhh, ummm ...I have (teenage years -WHAT was I thinking!)
   
6. Expose the wizard. Visit a talk show or movie set. no desire
   
7. Forgive your mother and call your father. Take them out to dinner. It's about time you finally understood they are only human too. Am gaining understanding/thankfulness more and more everyday.
   
8. Get back in shape. At the very least, join a gym. ha
   
9. Give a really great toast. Recall the great things life has given you. -not one to make myself the center of attention.
   
10. Give up on your extra marital affairs. Okay, so you don't have any but if you do, quit immediately and rediscover the love at home. pretty sad this one is listed... obviously doesn't apply here.
    
11. Give up road rage. In fact, give up all rage. I only have wee moments few and far between.
    
12. Go fishing. Get out into nature and discover why it is relaxing, rejuvenating and calming. Love nature and get out in it as much as possible.
    
13. Have a baby. There's still time provided you are healthy and energetic. It's a great reason to remain that way for the next 20 years too. ha.. I sure hope so, because I am pregnant.
    
14. Host a dinner party. Or throw an Oscar party or a Super Bowl party. No. I'm too busy and, like I said, I'm pregnant.
    
15. Indulge a little. Do this by buying a $50 bottle of wine, a piece of real art, a car that costs more than $50,000, or a jewelry box full of jewelry. You've GOT to be kidding... a car that costs more than ?!? ..I'll indulge and pay more toward the mortgage or, maybe even, get a massage.
    
16. Investigate the key tenets of a few major faiths. Pick one. We all need something to believe in. Hmmm.
    
17. Learn something new. Try out new activities like a foreign language or the tango. No, they need to learn English.
    
18. Learn to work your own VCR, DVD player or master a mass-transit system. Enough time spent relying on others to assist you. This is the manual reader in the house.
    
19. Meet a new friend. Choose a friend of a different race and a different religion than you or reacquaint yourself with an old friend. Have.
    
20. Move into the house of your dreams. Do this even if it's the house you're living in now, the house your children grew up in. If so, renovate or shift the furniture around. Spend more time there. Am in the house of my/our dreams- love it too.
    
21. Pay off all your debts. Or, at least, pay off your credit cards or your student loans. -see #15.
    
22. Pierce something other than your ear. Consider getting a piercing elsewhere, or get a tattoo. Geezus... some Hollyweird liberal must have written this one.
    
23. Play a new computer software program. Borrow it from your kids and forget to return it. Too busy doing this darn thing.
    
24. Play poker. Keep that straight face as long as you can. I'm good when I have... well, so I thought- my other half says no.
    
25. Quit your dead-end job. Want to do it another 20 years? No? So, apply for a promotion, or take a sabbatical or go somewhere new to work. The time is now! Oh I did this 5 years ago.
    
26. Learn new lyrics. Read the lyrics of one classic rap song, one popular country ode, and one rock anthem. Am pretty good at remembering lyrics, but coughed when I read "classic rap song".
    
27. Rent the classics. There aren't any more excuses for missing them. Other than time being spent doing other stuff.
    
28. Ride a roller coaster (again). Yeah, this sounds like a good one to do someday.
    
29. Ride in a limo. Get the entire works - the champagne, the music and all. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. I would just have a hard time enjoying it... just not my thing to enjoy or spend money on.
    
30. Serve on a jury. If you're asked, of course. I have never tried to get out of jury duty... maybe they smell my opinion coming, cause I've never been picked.
    
31. Show gratitude. You can do this many ways but a great way is by sponsoring a poor child. Call me a skeptic with those types of programs. I'd rather go straight to the child/family... and have.
    
32. Sleep under the stars. Choose a balmy night, a good sleeping bag and a friend or two to join you. This IS a fun thing to do.
    
33. Stop smoking, finally, at long last. Stop other bad habits too. Enact a two-drink maximum or kick the all-day caffeine habit. Eehh... don't do any of those things... my habit is chocolate. It's a toughy to kick, but I did the whole 14 months I nursed our daughter.
    
34. Stop speeding. You're getting too old for that and your eyesight isn't as good as it used to be. What's your hurry now? Driving faster to the end? Not a great idea and you want to see 50 don't you? Don't you? I completely agree and am getting better.
    
35. Take a cruise. If you've been putting it off for "one day", today is that day. I am NOT getting on one of those disease incubators of a sardine can.
    
36. Take center stage. Try out for a movie, a play or a choir or sign up to teach a class. Perhaps in time.
    
37. Take up a new sport. Squash anyone? Squash sounds so good right now.. little butter, tad of salt... yum!
    
38. Try your least favorite foods. Taste buds change and you might be pleasantly surprised. Now would be the time as I am hungry.
    
39. Visit a new place. Visit a new country, a new state, a new city or go somewhere that makes people scratch their heads, wondering why you went there! Would like to visit NY just for a day or so, then I can appreciate the simple outdoor life even more.
    
40. Write. Write a book, an article, Part One of your autobiography, a website or a blog. Or write a wikiHow. Here we are.

...then I found this. While it doesn't express my sentiments exactly, it was still worth posting:

Turning Forty
by Kevin Griffith

At times it's like there is a small planet
inside me. And on this planet,
there are many small wars, yet none
big enough to make a real difference.
The major countries—mind and heart—have
called a truce for now. If this planet had a ruler,
no one remembers him well. All
decisions are made by committee.
Yet there are a few pictures of the old dictator—
how youthful he looked on his big horse,
how bright his eyes.
He was ready to conquer the world.

What?? ..."he WAS ready to conquer the world"... I'm still ready... let me just take a nap first. Then, maybe if/when the 2nd child gets to, say, around 2 or three, I'll start feeling like my old self again and will resume "conquering".

While You Were Sleeping

Last night, 1:04 AM and I hear a low muffled whining on the monitor. I don't jump up as, often, Little Someone puts herself back to sleep. I just listen. Then I listen and watch (the monitor) because it continues. Well, once it turns into low crying & talking, I get up as I know it will only escalate.

The problem?...the stuffed lamb was in her room, not the living room (ugghhh). Okaaayyy, so I move it out. Once all the good-night routines are taken care of and we are just about ready to let go holding hands and say our final Night-Night...

Little Someone toots and asks, "Do you smell that?"
Me: No, but I heard it.
LS: You heard it?"
Me: Yes, I heard you toot, but I don't smell it.
LS: I smell it.
Me: What's it smell like?
LS: A skunk.

Oh the Beautiful Stench

Well, for someone that doesn't like to get flowers for occasions (they're expensive and they die), I do like to put flowers, that I find around our place, in a bowl or vase.

These flowers, however, are not from our property. I found the pink ones along a roadside swell while on our way home, after leaving the back way out of a small town's library (we're talking rural).

I got the little purple ones while turning onto our private gravel road on the same trip- thought they'd accent well.

Got to say, these puppies stayed on the counter just long enough for "Daddy" to see them. These puppies stunk! Both kinds... but they were pretty.

Beyond the Sea @ Bathtime

This is another favorite that is watched before bath time. It's occurrence has waned a bit since the Mahnamahna one. But, let me tell you, it was watched for about 2 weeks every night... so much so, that Little Someone knows the words to the first two stanzas of the song (and can sing it too). But, don't try to get her to take her bath before this ends... she HAS to watch the last part where the "little fish eats the Angler fish".
I love the music.

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.



On Again ~ Off Again

Arrghh... computers! Alas, I do have a love affair with them-what tools for learning at your fingertips.

BUT, ours is having problems. Long story short, it looks like our 'C' drive will have to be reformatted -wiped out. Much 'house-work' to do before then to save ?!?

Sooo, maybe when all's finished, I'll go faster & do more in a shorter amount of time.

*
p.s. Still pg., tired and tired again.
p.p.s. Am already feeling guilty about the loss of time with Little Someone (assuming all continues).

A Mother's Prayer

Found this poem sometime back. Even though I do not have two on the ground, I still identified with it. When I became a parent, I realized that there is this whole club of 'parents' out there.

In B.C. times (before children), I could imagine what it was like or going to be like to have children and be a parent. But one really doesn't know until they are... I don't care HOW much you baby-sat or take care of your nieces, nephews and the like... it's a 'whole-nuther ballgame' having your own children.

Which brings me to a quote by Sophia Loren... it is so true:

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.

Enjoy the knowing smile this may bring....

A Mother's Prayer:

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray my sanity to keep.

For if some peace I do not find,

I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.

I pray I find a little quiet

Far from the daily family riot.

May I lie back--not have to think

about what they're stuffing down the sink,

or who they're with, or where they're at

and what they're doing to the cat.

I pray for time all to myself

(did something just fall off a shelf?)

To cuddle in my nice, soft bed

(Oh no, another goldfish--dead!)

Some silent moments for goodness sake

(Did I just hear a window break?)

And that I need not cook or clean--

(well heck, I've got the right to dream).

Yes, now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray my wits about me keep,

But as I look around I know--

I must have lost them long ago!

~Author Unknown

Just For the Record

1. Well, my 'I could be doing something better' work paid off... though "paid off" is not the term I'd use since we're not getting paid -just getting reamed less. Was able to get what the CAD says our 'Market Price' per acre is down -from $31,600 per acre to $21,700 per acre.

2. Am still pregnant. Wasn't sure. Had some bleeding. Wasn't liking the roller-coaster ride of wondering, so I went in to know one way or another and all is still going. Still very early, so I defer to 'what will be, will be'.

3. I'm tired....... oh..... yeah...... you're probably getting tired of hearing that. I can assure not as tired as I am.

I Have Better Things to Do...

....but NOOO(!), I have to spend my time researching in order to protest our property taxes before the Appraisal Board next week. Oh, yes, it is a choice... I don't HAVE to do it. But, holy mother of and entity that forces one to unmercifully defend what they have properly bought and paid for... Lease Rape by the government is one thing to call it or Legal Extortion by the government.
POINT BEING... I am spending time that I could be SLEEPING looking up an ungawdly amount of "comparables" and I have not been having fun.

Sorry if I sound negative... I'm tired.

Hmmm... I think I've said that lately.

Nuff Said?

I'm one month away from Forty. I'm pregnant. I handle the WHOLE household (bills and ALL else)... plus five horses, two dogs and one cat. Oh, and my husband and I have a coming on three yr. old toddler.
I'm tired.

Excuse this House

The following poem was sent to me by a friend after I had made a joke about our house being messy. I used to be somewhat of a "neat freak" in B.C. times (before children)... though my mom might disagree (however, this comes form a woman whose floors you can eat off of). Now, our living room boast a look that resembles what it might look like if a Toy Bomb went off in the room... oh well, you do what you can.

Excuse this House
Author: Unknown

Some houses try to hide the fact that children shelter there,
ours boasts it quite openly, the signs are EVERYWHERE.

For smears are on the windows, little smudges are on the doors,
I should apologize, I guess, for toys strewn on the floor.

But I sat down with the children and we played and laughed and read
and if the doorbell doesn't shine, their eyes will shine instead.

For when at times I'm forced to choose the one job or the other;
I'd like to cook and clean and scrub, but first I'll be a mother.

Been Offline... AND,

Indeed(!) what I've been able to get done has been nice (our server was down while we had some upgrades done). So, if you haven't 'heard' from me this is why... ha(!)... I inflate myself so... like ANYone even missed... uhh hellllo?? ... (hollow echoing sound)... hellloo?
Well, you get the message.

My Head in the Clouds

So, I'm vacuuming the other day and have ....oh, about ?? seven other irons in the fire. Who knows what they were because I cannot remember. And I'm not even old ... I mean, I used to think that my age was old ... when I was young ...ger.

Hmmm... I was saying SOMEthing... oh... that's right... vacuuming.... ANYway, so I was vacuuming the other day. And I'm in the living room and I'm trying to hurry because our Little Someone isn't keen on the noise. She is okay with it, but not keen on it.

Well, at one point, after leaving the room to tend to some other iron in the fire, I came back into the room to resume vacuuming. I turned the vacuum on and noticed that it seemed louder than usual.... I'm pushing the vacuum ...wondering why does it sound like that?? After more seconds than it should have taken me, I realize...

This is not what my vacuum cleaner is supposed to look like:

It should look like this:

Yeah.... uh... ummm... I forgot to put the bag-less canister back on after I emptied it (and tended to that other iron in the fire)... duhhh. Hey, it did only take me about ...??... (counting to see)... about 4-5 seconds to realize.

That's not too bad... is it?!?

Mah-na-mah-na ... do-doo-d-do-do!

Before bath time, our Little Someone gets to watch a short video/song on the computer (all have been pre-screened, of course).

Well, after watching a song OVER AND OVER AND OVER... one cannot HELP but get that song stuck in their head. So here's what's been going on in my head the last three nights while laying down, trying to go to sleep:

Mahnamahna ... do-doo-d-do-do
Mahnamahna ... d-doo-d-do
Mahnamahna ... do-doo-d-do-do-d-do-do-d-do-do-do-do-do

Nowwww... I'm not so sure on the last one there -if I have the right number of "do"s ... but, regardless, it might help you get the picture.

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.

It's funny, yesterday evening, we were getting our Little Someone ready for bath. I had the bath ready and was waiting for her in the tub. Daddy was helping with getting her undressed and having her use the little potty we have in the Master bath... all the while, Daddy is singing, "Mahnamahna" ...then I would follow and sing "do-doo-d-do-do". We just kept going back and forth... him singing "Mahnamahna" and me singing"do-doo-d-do-do". Needless to say, now our daughter does it too.

Friday's Quiz Answer: 1966 Shelby Cobra Replica

These are the pics you were given:

This is the whole picture...

My husband built this car from a kit. And it is faster than I care to think about. Our Little Someone likes to ride in it up and down our gravel road, all the while the dogs chasing on the other side of the fence.

Friday's Pop Quiz: What is it?

So, here's the 'quiz'... I give you part of a pic and you make a guess as to what it is? Try to be as specific as possible.

I will post the answer (bigger picture) tomorrow. All pics are taken here at the ol' Homestead.

Happy guessing!

I know, the little pics don't have great clarity- this was a pre-new camera pic.

Oh, if you are family or you answer to the name of Mr. D.... no fair, you have insider knowledge. :-)

SOMEthing's Up

Blogger has been adding spaces (like herein) AGAIN to my posts so that I, then, have to go and delete them repeatedly (very annoying).





I'm having weird dreams... like my shorts are too small and my diapers are showing in gym class





OR





dreams that I have a thick magnolia leaf in my mouth and it's unpalatable so I need to get a new, thin, fresh, soft leaf and put butter on it and it would be fine.





A few times, Blogger or ?? has not let me open up certain website unless I log out and come back and try again (arrghh!).





My *$#@ legs have been driving me nuts in the middle of the night making sleep quality stink.
{I have RLS (restless leg syndrome)- your legs can wake you up with this horrible tickling feeling (or like you have ants crawling under your skin) -you can only stand it so long before you jerk your leg to get the tickling feeling to go away. I counted... once I move my leg, the feeling comes back after 3 seconds and builds until at 10-12 seconds, I HAVE to move my legs. Taking Iron helps... guess I'll have to up my Iron more... and then there's lovely side effects with that. Sorry, I digress.}.




When lay down to go to sleep, my heart beats so loudly, it keeps me awake for awhile.




AND





I've been questioning -am I hungry or not hungry? ...should I be hungry?





*





What is up?!?





*





Hmmm...





*





Maybe this............







*








If all continues, E.T.A. is Jan. 19.

?'s & Comments that I Remember from the Last Few Days...

Our daughter, whom I refer to as Little Someone (LS) is 2 years, 9 months old. These are just some of the things that she has said very recently.

Do spiders poop?

Thank you for taking care of my itch.

Do spiders have families?

Does Smidgen (one of our dogs) get the hiccups?

I'm going to go tee tee in the grass (followed by, "Oh, no you're not. Let's go to the potty"-which, we did).

Do snakes have hair?

Is that poo-poo dust? (this was said while pointing into the 'big potty' -okay people, perhaps I shouldn't admit, my toilet needed cleaning- you know where the water level sits in a toilet, how it can mildew a bit... it wasn't that bad, but our little one notices everything).

Do cars walk?

Do bugs have mommies and daddies?

Thank you for giving me a strawberry mommy.

That's a concrete truck (noted on the way to Home Depot).

How does the concrete come out of the truck?

I love you (while grabbing my arm to hug at the table).

Do horses cry?

Do elephants cry?

Do dogs cry?

Your breath stinks.

Do dogs talk?

I want to do it(!) -(said on SO many occasions, it cannot be counted).

I need to go potty (while we were at Home Depot.. and on the way to the potty..) "I'm holding my tee tee. I'm holding my tee tee in my uterus." (don't worry, I explained it).

Dogs don't talk (while watching 'Clifford').

LS: Are you thinking what I am thinking about?
me: I don't know, what are you thinking about?
LS: That the horse trailer is too big.
me: It's not too big.
LS: It is big?
me: Yes, it is big, but not too big.

Do wasps have baby eggs?

Can I help you bake?

Can I help you do laundry?

I'm such a good girl.

I like playing in the mud.

Mommy, will you carry me?

I'll keep on trying (while trying to put the horse halter on the dog).

I'm a good helper.

Mommy, I don't want to go to sleep (at bedtime).

Mommy, I don't want you to leave (at bedtime).

Mommy, don't leave. Stay and talk to me (while holding my arm at bedtime-very difficult).

They Gave...

We're Free

Be Thankful

Friday's Quiz Answer: A Bottlebrush Tree!

{My goodness, that Robynn @'Robynn's Ravings'... she's goooood! She guessed it!}

Here's the pic you were given...

It was taken from the right top quadrant of this pic...
Here's what the tree looks like...

They're a beautiful tree that the Hummers love. We have three of them, all young like this one. Got them from a nursery that had two planted on site and were good size, maybe 20 feet tall. They stay spectacular like this 3 seasons out of the year since we are in a warmer climate. Also, are non-deciduous, which is nice since we get some green color during the wintertime.

Hope you had fun with this type of "quiz". Got a real doozy lined up for next week!

Friday's Pop Quiz: What Is It?

So, here's the 'quiz'... I give you part of a pic and you make a guess as to what it is? Try to be as specific as possible.

(You can leave a guess by clicking on the comment link underneath. You can do so anonymously if you choose)

I will post the answer... that is, the whole picture tomorrow. All pics are taken here at the ol' Homestead. Happy guessing!

Thankful Thursday: The Navy

If you remember the man (who was a husband & father too) that was captured by Somali pirates -he was captain of a large cargo ship. Well, if you remember how it went down and he was saved, you may appreciate this:

I'm thankful for our Navy.

The Letter of the Day While Taking "Tour" Pics

It was suggested by a reader to take some pics and give a"tour" of our place. I am *slowly, but surely* working on it. In doing so, our Little Someone and I took a walk to three of the four corners of our property and I snapped up pics with our new camera.

We walked back down our (and a few neighbor's) private gravel road. As we neared the front corner, I walked rather quickly to get to it and snap the pic, then head back to the gate before our daughter had to backtrack too. You can see her here better if you click on the pic.

Before I started walking faster, we were perusing along the grass and gravel road with me just, maybe, 20 steps ahead of her. I was snapping some flower pics in the grass and she started carrying on about something in the road... while I was trying to figure out just how close I could get to a particular flower. I could tell it wasn't something dire and could wait a few (literal) seconds... or so I thought.

Her beckoning became louder, so I asked what was the matter. It was at that point she upped the ante, Come see! Come see! LOOK! Well, she had my attention... now, I'm wondering if it's some strange bug I've got to worry about her touching or it biting. So I quickly head over and she drops her flowers that she had picked and pointed to this...

...and said, Look! It's the letter "I".

I was so proud of her.

Baring My Laundry (along with a real cute LS)

Okay, I've decided to post a video taken back in January. Our Little Someone has not repeated this incident, but it lives on in video.

But first, some very important disclaimers [acckk, I'm actually posting this video?!? (saying to self)]:

*This was a heavy laundry day... there were LOTS of clothes to be done.

*When I do laundry, I separate it into piles.

*The piles are many. I am obsessive, thus I have ...ooohhh, say six different piles at a time (hey, at least we have clean uncontaminated clothes. You got to know, we get grimy and when we get grimy and I don't want grimy socks washed with my bath towels):

• dirty whites
• clean whites
• light colored, 'middle of the roaders'
• dirty darks
• clean darks
• darker colored 'middle of the roaders'

POINT BEING, OMGracious, the clothes on the floor **sighhh** (gees, I feel like I'm exposing myself here).

Okay, so here we go... Oh, and don't forget to turn your speakers on.

For book purposes, the below picture was put in place of the video.

It was taken from same time period.





Grocery Store Trip ? of the Day

I was at the grocery store yesterday, Thursday. We (my toddler and I) were in one of those HUGE Wal-marts... which is SO difficult to shop because it is SO big. ANYway, we were on the downhill slide when we noticed a noisy, busy, boy (probably 4 or 5) standing next to his little sister which was sitting in the grocery cart seat while the mom was pushing it. They were a ways down an isle that I was passing by. I said, "That boy is hyper." My daughter (2 years 8 months old) says, "What's hyper?" I tell her it's when you have a lot of energy and you move around a lot.

Wellll, we stopped to pick out some lunch meat and are passed by the aforementioned group. My daughter, sitting in the cart seat, looks down at the boy walking by and says, "Are you hyper?"

Today's To Do List:

• Change a diaper
• Fix breakfast
• Start some laundry
• Ready ourselves
• Encourage potty use/Change a diaper
• Grocery shopping
• Unload groceries
• Encourage potty use/Change a diaper
• Fix lunch
• Dishes
• Clean kitchen
• More LAUNDRY
• Encourage potty use/Change a diaper
• Read to daughter before nap
• Nap time
• A bunch of other stuff

The productive part of my day is in the AM... once nap time ends, it's all just tying up loose ends from the first part of the day.

Looking back at this list above... ha! If I tried to write down all the ancillary irons in the fire, I'd be sitting here for awhile and I've GOT to get my priorities straight... namely, SLEEP for me (I type these often the night before). Sooo, a short incomplete list it is.

p.s. Our Little Someone is getting better about telling me when she needs to use the potty and holding it when we're not around one. I haven't been one to push the issue. I hear when they're ready, they're ready.

Got a New Camera ~ Whoo-Hoo!

...and wow, is it NEAT! Sheesh, I shouldn't have waited so long to get one.

Am not going to be long on words today... but I would recommend clicking on some of these pics so you can see the DETAIL ...the wasp on the hummer feeder is quite amazing with that oblong back end on a stick. And I left it gargantuan so when you click, you'll see the spikes and hairs on his legs.

All the pics were taken at our place... sadly, the last one too (in our house!). Does anyone know WHAT kind of spider that is?? If you do, please send a comment. I would love to know what you think. My husband and I know it's not a brown recluse, wolf spider, black widow (they have a dot)... but we don't know what this is??

Needless to say, this was pic was taken right before his timely death.

Our Annual Protest

I'm whooped. And having to protest one's property taxes... stinks. I do it every year and that's what I did yesterday (Monday). My husband and I have gone together a few times. But, it seems I have better luck going by myself. So, at it alone, I go.

I WON'T GET ON MY BANDWAGON... because I may not get off of it before I need to go to bed... suffice to say that we CATEGORICALLY believe property taxes are extortion - one can never OWN their home/property. They have to 'lease' it from the government -a gov't that, incidentally, constantly increases your lease amount without your consent.

Sales tax... ALL for it. A person has a choice with a Sales Tax and the state still gets change in their pocket (plus, research shows that states get more from a Sales Tax).

ANYway, went to protest after doing my research up until 2AM the night before. Did get some 'relief' on our 'improvements' (ha... what a joke). But, my husband and I will both go before the Appraisal Board to contest our land value (we have 8 acres). Since we bought our property 11 1/2 years ago, the county has gone up in our "appraised value" a WHOPPING 449% ...how's that for 'legal' thievery!?!

OMGracious ...I cannot get started, it's too late and I need sleep too much to go and get my heart rate up.

**deeeep breathhh**

Happy Mom's Day to You... yeah, YOU!

My mom had it rough growing up.

This is my mom when I was not quite 3 y/o.

I'm sure there are those out there that had it rougher. But, let me tell you, there are SO many that can't imagine how she had it. And be glad for that if you, like me, are in that large group.

The early days- my mom is 27 y/o here (my older brother and I were 6 & 4 at the time).

I've heard tidbits over time... gees, for that matter, the bare facts are enough to make me shrivel up and want to go hide: one brother five years older, then she (my mom) arrived into the world, then another brother 3 years younger arrived. Just three months after the younger brother was born, the already absent father left and her parents divorced. Mix this with her mother being an alcoholic and emotionally/mentally unstable. A year or two later, add a remarriage of the alcoholic unstable mother to 'God Knows What' that abused my mom (and her mother). Around the time my mom was 5, she began to live with her blind grandmother (since the step dad was abusive and an alcoholic). BUT, they lived right next to each other in like a duplex that sat on top of one another... so only a stair-way separated them. Subsequently, at my mom's age of 7 or 8, this 'step dad' hung himself. Shortly afterwards, my mom went back to live with her mother.

Just about every summer, as I was growing up, we went to Colorado. We camped and often rode motorcycles.

So, from the time my mom was 5 years old, she *living with her blind grandmother* had to do household chores that I just can't see a 5 year old doing; fixing meals, dishes, ironing, etc... at five years old. Yes, it was by far the better choice than living with her mother and the abusive husband. But... gees... being so responsible at five... for that matter 8 years old... hard to fathom.

My mom on the Durango/Silverton Train in Colorado.

It's no wonder my mom became a nurse. You know, research shows that 80+ % of nurses come from alcoholic/abusive families ...interesting, they couldn't "fix it" when they were young, so they go into a field that tries to "fix" and becomes the bearer of the brunt of things... cause that's what nurses do.

POINT IS... my mom had it rough ...and, I assure you, this is only a sweet summary. My mom forgave her mother before she passed- told in my mom's words HERE. What a forgiving woman my mom is... she saw her mother for the wounded child she was.

Another thing, she (my mom) didn't repeat the cycle by getting with an abusive man. My dad has never laid a hand on my mom, nor has he ever been verbally abusive (talk about beating the odds ... kudos to my dad on this as well!). They've been married now for almost 44 years.

You know, I asked my mom what she was okay with me 'sharing'... her response was just to do what I thought was okay. I then asked myself what my aim was after all. After much consternation, the two thoughts that came to mind were:

• First, when one sees things about themselves in writing, somehow it's more real... it's like it holds more credence... if this makes sense. In that regard, it is my hope that maybe my mom can appreciate herself more and be more forgiving of herself in how she raised her children. She, after all, did a remarkable job.
• Second, who knows if her (my mom's) children's children (and theirs?) will someday read this. With technology and all (these blogs can be saved), it's like a history of sorts. I know I appreciate stories of my family's hardships. Makes one appreciate their own lot better.

Those are my reasons for 'sharing'.

Before I started typing the above, I had saved a post with a few short poems and sayings to post on Mom's Day. The text is still below. Though this post is lengthy, I'll go ahead and leave it... because the poets say it better than I can and I want my mom to hear it. Plus, the home video is kind of ? ... ? neat.

******************previously typed below*******************

I found so much good stuff searching for the *ultimate* Mom's Day poem. Alas, no one poem can summarize what a Mom is, does, gives, transmits, translates ....etc, etc... So many of them connotate so many different things. I figure a sundry of things just might touch the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

I use the term, "Mom", because that is what I call my dear one. For me, the term 'Mother' was not the name/word of choice. We all have symbolic meanings attached to things and, for me, that term isn't warm and fuzzy (perhaps it's because I remember my mom calling her alcoholic mom, "Mothhher"). Regardless, for me, it doesn't convey my feeling... so "Mom" it is. Consequently, since I was young, I have always put a line through the word 'Mother' on cards and whatnot and rewritten "Mom" over it.

On the poems below, I have included the authors names whenever I knew them. Please send a comment if you happen to know the author of any poem whose author is listed as unknown. And don't forget to turn you speakers on for the video.

************************************************

Untitled

There are times when only a Mother's love
Can share the joy we feel.
When something we've dreamed about
Quite suddenly is real.

There are times when only a Mother's faith
Can help us on life's way
And inspire in us the confidence
We need from day to day.

For a Mother's heart and a Mother's faith
And a Mother's steadfast love
Were fashioned by the Angels
And sent from God above.

~Author Unknown

Mother o' Mine

If I were hanged on the highest hill,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!
I know whose love would follow me still,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!

If I were drowned in the deepest sea,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!
I know whose tears would come down to me,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!

If I were damned of body and soul,
I know whose prayers would make me whole,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!

~Rudyard Kipling

Wonderful Mother

God made a wonderful mother,
A mother who never grows old;
He made her smile of the sunshine,
And He moulded her heart of pure gold;
In her eyes He placed bright shining stars,
In her cheeks fair roses you see;
God made a wonderful mother,
And He gave that dear mother to me.

~Pat O'Reilly


To My Mother

You too, my mother, read my rhymes
For love of unforgotten times,
And you may chance to hear once more
The little feet along the floor.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

This heart, my own dear mother, bends,
With love's true instinct, back to thee!

~Thomas Moore

And a couple of "Tru'isms"...
When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.
~Sophia Loren

We never know the love of the parent until we become parents ourselves.
~Henry Ward Beecher

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So, we (my family) have our three generations pics; my mom, my daughter, and I. My maternal grandmother passed before our daughter was born. However, in a small way, she still can hear her...

(For book purposes: the video that was posted is one of Emma sitting in, what is now, Clayton's closet that was full of stuff... including a talking picture frame that had Grandma's mom recorded on it saying 'I love you'.)

I am more blessed than words can say.

My cup runneth over.

HAPPY MOM'S DAY TO YOU!

LYM