cas crew comedies

Cornhole

2008-07-31T12:19:00.004-04:00

OK... so I promised in a prior post to upload a pix of the Corn Hole game.... or Cornhole.... however it's written. There are 2 of these boards and 2 sets of 4 bean bags... object is to toss the bean bag into the corn hole.... cornhole.... kornhole..... kornwhole... I guess points are assigned... and the fun of it is to design a fun, colorful board and some whacky bean bags.

More Pig Roast Pix

2008-07-30T18:07:00.006-04:00

1st Annual Pig Roast a la Cas Crew

2008-07-30T17:18:00.009-04:00

We'll after much excitement and chatter... and perhaps squealing of the pig, we had our 1st Annual Pig Roast. Don was declared a master griller! and is now recovering from smoke inhalation! We call it the "Kirsty Ally voice" w/ that deep husky bravado that she's got going on... well, that's Don for the time being.

We had 82 ppl show up for the event - 1/2 from church and 1/2 from the community! The pond shore line was filled w/ anglers hoping to catch the "Pig of the Pond" as we fondly call our huge porker of a bass! He and his bros have been caught and released many a times!

There was canoeing and eating and fishing and eating and corn hole (ok all you non-southerners... I hope I got a pix to put up, so you can get a visual on it... nope... so, I'll have to google one and put it up), and eating and basketball and eating and socializing and eating and still having 2 huge pans full of pork... and that was only 1/2 a pig.

Anyway - thx to all who made it a blast... and hopefully more of you can make it next year... we plan to do it in June... when it's cooler!

Blogger won't allow me to put up the last few photos... there's 30 below... so, the newest post will have the rest of the Roast!

Charlie's Garden

2008-07-24T15:28:00.004-04:00

Not to be outdone by his dad, Charlie also sports a pretty decent sized garden that he gets a bumper crop from! He has tomatos, pole beans, snap peas, new potatos, cukes, squash and a volunteer pumpkin!

He's quite the green thumb too, as evidenced by the photos!

Here he's caught a toad to put in his garden to eat the bad bugs!

tomatos

pumpkin - volunteer!

the pumpkin has overrun the garden and is taking over the walk area!

And what every great farmer does at the end of the long day: fish!

Gardens

2008-07-16T11:28:00.010-04:00

For most of you that receive our yearly Christmas letter (minus the one that never got sent last year), you would know that I always ended it by stating "Don needs to be on a farm!" Well, never dreaming it would come true, we now live the farmlife!

He digs in the dirt and does the tilling and planting.... and I'll help w/ the weeding and harvesting and canning. It truly is a family affair!

Don went from 6 raised garden beds in AZ to now a full-fledged 1/2 acre. He's always had a green thumb for growing any seed that he plants. He planted strawberries last year and this year they took off w/ a bang. In just 2 short weeks, I picked enough strawberries to jam/can 5 batches of jam! And froze 5 quarts. And gave away about 5 quarts. And had 3 more gallons that ended up going to the compost pile (they were forgotten in the basement fridge when I was in AZ....) I still have enough pureed and frozen waiting for Tammi to come over to teach her to can jam! exciting!!!

Watch out Philip Morris! Don has his own spread of tobacco plants, courtesy of my great uncle who is a 'bacco farmer! We'll be calling in all favors to harvest the tobacco. We'll need help cutting, sticking, and hanging in the barn. And then when dried, we'll need help w/ the stripping, pressing and packaging off to PM or the local coops... yes, folks, all 11 plants worth! No, really, we're going to do this! dad - grab your ticket now = we'll need the help! LOL

The kids run thru the corn... it's amazing how quickly they disappear and how you can't find them! No wonder ppl hid in cornfields! It's also the cats' fave hang out!

Jode chasing white butterflies in the corn!

Chachie & Don hauling wood for our some-day-to-own Taylor Made Wood Stove.

Kellar exploring 'what lies beneath!'

Kids Say the Darndest Things: Part VIII

2008-07-15T10:28:00.004-04:00

So, I'm just uploading the last post that was actually put up today, despite it being started a few weeks ago... so, while skimming thru pix... Charlie comes up and is singing his heart out...

The song should be "Up from the Grave He Arose"... we all know the lyrics... well, we all do, except for CharlieBoy.... his version goes like this:

"up from the gravey stone.... with an awesome God in Rome!"

We're all trying hard not to snort with laughter -but it's just so precious! Now I've heard of the version of "up from the gravy he rose..."

New one to me!

Where Has Time Gone?

2008-07-03T20:02:00.005-04:00

Wow, it's been 3 weeks since I've blogged. Here's time in a nutshell:

I ended up going back to AZ to help mom out. She developed some clots and will need continued prayers for this! She's on thinners. She has a great mental outlook. Pray that healing continues and she will fully recover!

Between trips to AZ and back to AZ I got to see the girls at their soccer camp. They had a great time and learned a whole bunch. Hannah was on the winning team! Go Hannah!!!!

The last return trip landed me back home on the 4th of July. Fireworks is a must... and it's so great because you can do them in your own backyard! (which is easy when you've got lots of land available!) NO worries about who's driving on the roads... since you're already home!

Hannah and Grace went to camp for the fish and wildlife conservation camp. This is THE most awesome camp ever! They stay on a lake for a week and are constantly going from one activity to the next. They learn certain skills and if they pass the tests, they earn patches for the skills attained. They have the opportunity for swimming, boating safety, archery, hunting (rifle safety), outdoor survival, nature, and I think there is one more.

Last year neither girl got the archery. This year Hannah got it, and she also got the OutdoorsWoman patch. She received a letter stating her name would go in a drawing for the January camp, all expenses paid. This will be for waterfowl sporting. (she's not too keen at all to do that... but it would look great on the resume for college!)

The letter stated only 16% of all campers get this invitation.... 950 out of 6000 statewide! So, we're very proud of her! Pray she gets picked. They must take one adult on the trip... and let's see.... it will be January.... in the water.... it will be cold..... ummm yep - that means dear ol' dad will go!

Also, we learned that Grace is the poster child for their promotions! Last year she caught a trophy sized small mouth bass that measured in at 21.5 inches! anything over 20" is trophy size! So they snapped her photo... and now she's on the postcards, the posters that travel the schools, the lifesize posters that are at FW facilities! We had no idea! So, I called our contact and left a message requesting a 100 or so postcards so we can mail them out to everyone! She is so photogenic!

We had to canx our Pig Roast. That's been rescheduled for the future. I'll put up pix after the fact! We're looking fwd to that!

Oh... we've had a few mishaps... we have yet another mega snapping turtle in our pond. We know it devoured one baby duck... and believe me,the ducks are about full grown sized! And the other day when we were leaving, momma duck was screaming. Charlie ran up to the pond to see the snapper take hold of a ducklings leg... he wopped the snapper w/ a rake. Needless to say, the duckling didn't survive but a few more days. And then Sunday night our saddest of all, momma duck must have got in a tuffle with a baby racoon. We have the trap set once again.

(I forgot to mention that while I was gone to AZ, Don did catch a coon in our trap.... and a few days later, Shadow finished off a juvenile coon.... Shadow....the KoonKiller! whoddathunkit?)

So - to end this one on an upbeat note! The sky is brilliant blue ~ the pond is clear ~ the fish are biting ~ God is faithful...

Blind as a Bat

2008-06-20T19:22:00.002-04:00

It's been a week... we'll just leave it at that. This one will be short and sweet.

A few nights ago, as we were getting mom home from the hospital and situated, we were going through some of her meds. Dad hands them to me to read. I'm staring intently with no focus whatsoever. Fortunately, my sister (who's 12y younger than me... with young eyes!) was there, and she read us the bottle!

I'm quickly approaching 40... and will then be blind as a bat! LOL

Farm Antics

2008-06-19T19:10:00.004-04:00

Charlie, Kellar, Bo - last summer

Hannah on BoomErRang

The cousins with their Gparents! (last summer)

The cousins together in March.*

Life on the farm. What could be better? My crew tells me how much they miss me each time we talk on the phone. I've asked if they've missed me as their maid or their mama! They assure me it's as their mama.

Last night our neighbors came down on horseback. J, B, & J each on their own horse. They're helping us 'finish' training Star. Grace saddled up Star and away they went in our paddocks. As they went to the front of the property, the cows followed behind curiously. When the horses turned around, the cows tho't they were being chased, so they took off running. At one point, Steve the Steer, got his head caught in a "V" of a tree. Grace said that he eventually broke free and had bark all over it.

Dory, our cow that jumps over the moon, decided to be precocious and boldly approach MoonMan, J's horse. She's trained him to take a few steps backwards and then he rears up. So, MoonMan did this to Dory. Grace said Dory came out of her hide! She was so freaked out, that she ran off to hide. Put her in her place, I'd say!

I miss my kiddos, I miss my hubby, I miss my home/farm/way of life. It's wonderful to be with my family here in Hot Country, but after a week of 110*+, I'm fried!

Mom thinks she may have a broken rib. This would be a huge set back post-op. So, we'll see what will happen as far as me coming home. Continue to hold her in prayer.

*When you look at the tree pix... look on the upper right portion of the trunk. Tell me, does that not look like Baloo, the Bear, from The Jungle Book!!!!

Long Day

2008-06-19T00:53:00.004-04:00

Today we got to bring my mom home from the hospital. It's a huge relief and prayer answered to getting her back on the road to recovery! Please continue to hold her in prayer for full recovery... and that once she's feeling better, that she'll limit her activities to 'doctor-approved' activities... ie - not lifting or holding the g-babies!

I learned that in my absence today - back on the farm my mil took the kids swimming again, while my fil cleaned the fridge! While I'm so grateful for that act of kindness, it is completely and utterly humbling! However, I will say, with 7 sets of hands going in and out of the big box... it doesn't take long for spills and thrills to happen... and get lost in the crowd in the shuffle of milk and catsup and 20 different types of mustard and breads from around the world, not to mention the countless opened cubes of real butter. Thanks Boboo!

No news on the rooster, but Don did come up with one more farm cliche': "he's a tough ol' bird." I hadn't tho't of that one until this 'coop raider' fought the rooster, and hopefully lost!

I'm bone tired. I'm crawling into bed next to mom to play Nurse Hatchett all evening. I've got their cat begging to be pet... and I've no energy.

Silent Night folks.

ps... if any words are mispelled, it's spell-checker's fault, it's not functioning either!

Coop Raider

2008-06-17T19:05:00.005-04:00

Some of you know that I'm not home right now... I'm in AZ helping care for my mom who has just had a major surgery. My in laws were so kind to come and care for the kids in my absence. While the kids might be crazy at times, I don't think they could hold a match compared to the stunts the animals have pulled since I've been away.

Farm life has many exciting moments: exciting in the way of terror of nature being nature as well as the opposite end of the spectrum of being absolutely rip roaring hilarious! These past few days have been no exception!

Don came home from church Sunday to find a flock of Turkey Vultures in our poultry pen. Well, if you're around us long enough, you'd know that when we see a T.Vulture we scream out, "I'm alive... I'm alive..." as they only feast upon dead things. Evidently the dead thing they found was one of our hens. Turns out we have a creature raiding our coop at night.

Don started the next day by being awakened at 530a by Jode, our newest cat, bringing a gift of fresh, screaming bunny! Jode thought my in laws should dine on such a tasty morsel for breakfast. But, instead, Jode was shocked to have Don chasing him down the basement, as the baby bunny is screaming his head off! (if you didn't know bunnies made noise... have no doubt they can be LOUD!) Don retrieved thus said bunny and cat, banned them from the house and started his day a bit behind schedule.

He headed off to the barn to learn the coop raider came back that night for his 2d course to dine upon, Hen Head... ummm... quite a delicacy (NOT). This creature also took on our Rooster with head to tail combat. Don ended up doctoring the rooster w/ hydrogen peroxide and bag balm, not believing the rooster would survive. Needless to say this cocky rooster has been taken down several pegs and has one tail feather remaining and very little beard about his neck! But was found crowing the next morning...

That evening, not to be outdone by Jode, Baby, our precious kitty, thought so highly of my in laws as to bring them a headless mouse for dinner! He was stopped on the deck with the cat door being blocked off! I'm certain he got quite huffy on everyone refusing his gift!

By the time I come home, who knows which animals will be left on the farm... guess when momma's gone, nobody is safe!

DUX

2008-06-12T11:46:00.005-04:00

Our Momma Runner Duck successfully hatched all 9 eggs that were viable. These babies are now about 4 weeks old and are starting to lose their duckling down. They're so sweet and soft and utterly terrified of us.... I'm sure it has nothing to do with the kids going into their pen to catch them.... by means of conquer and divide!
Duck Cliches:
Like a duck takes to water (not always true... it's definitely learned behavior, IMO)
Sitting duck.... (just as the fox who went out on a chilly night, he prayed that the Lord would give him light. He had many a mile to go that night before he reached the Town-O, Town-O, he had many a mile to go that night before he reached the Town-O..... this 'catchy' tune is on the Nickel Creek - our kids LOVE it.... )
Duck soup... well, that would be the best garden fertilizer left behind in their waters... and you tho't it had to do w/ a soup found at an Asian restaurant, eh? Let's hope they're not one and the same!
Duck Muck... see above

As a kid I learned this little ditty.... let's see if you can read it correctly. Leave me a not if you can! or cannot!

C D E D B D DUCKS?
M R NOT DUCKS.
O S A R.

C D E D B D FEET?
O, I B, M R DUCKS!

Put Me in Coach!

2008-06-10T12:01:00.004-04:00

I promised a few weeks back I'd have Charlie's baseball pix uploaded! So, here are some shots from a recent game. Again, he's the youngest and smallest player out there. However, everytime he gets up to hit, mission accomplished! Probably 9 out of 10 times, he hits the first ball out of the pitching machine! It doesn't matter if the ball is high, low, inside, or outside... he just smacks it! His coach wonders if he has a ball magnet inside his bat... I just inform them that he plays ball with me in the back... and that this is by far my worst sport. So, when I pitch, he gets them hi, low, in and outside! He just swings at them all! It's real cute to watch him out there. Some of the parents refer to him as the "Field General" as he's calling out plays and where each of the guys needs to be located - depending upon the hitter! This guy is typically very quiet and content and laid back... however when it comes to sports - he must take after his momma.... the fire of competition ignites and there's no putting it out! There's no option but to win! : )

Still even more photos of RFL

2008-06-09T12:29:00.004-04:00

Grace hula hooping and winning her division!

Hannah hula hooping & winning her division!

Hannah in red shirt, Grace in green shirt... it ended up being a 3-way tie w/ girl in pink. They would have hooped all night long!

Yours truly, hooping!

Jeff trying to get away with hooping around his arm, while the other men are hooping around their waist! That was such a scream!

This is in remembrance of my cousin, Jodi, who was my sissy's best friend. We will always love you and think of you with delight! We'll see you in heaven again, Sweetie!

More kids! with a sweet baby bump!

Hannah & I during the Moment of Remembrance. We're in front of my cousin's luminaria.

Need I say more about the photo above.

This was our Silent Auction basket. It was a garden theme. I think it brought in $150 for the American Cancer Society.

Even more photos for RFL

2008-06-09T12:21:00.004-04:00

Ms. Sweetie Pie next to her luminaria of choice.

Our theme this year was "Race for the Cure" so we have 'Jeff Gordon' and his lovely bride sitting side by side!

Don & Charlie

Don and one of the kids from church wearing the racing helmets!

Don with another kid from church...

Kellar with a buddy wearing the Gordon racing helmets!

More Relay for Life Photos

2008-06-09T12:12:00.004-04:00

This is the Color Guard leading the procession of survivors.

Here is Jeff giving the opening speech for the year.

My mom's name... in honor of her.

Here's Kellar going down this massive slide... he's such a goofball!

Can you see how black his feet are?

My camera snapped funny... and caught Charlie running off the slide.

Relay for Life Walk

2008-06-09T11:42:00.005-04:00

This past Friday night was our Relay for Life Walk. This was the first time that Don and I and the kids went. Just typing this brings out tearful emotions. Survivors of cancer sported purple T-Shirts and were honored with a 'Survivor's Lap' around the track. The 2d lap was dedicated to all the family and caregivers. We all participated by walking with friends from church who have survived colon cancer and prostate cancer, a neighbor who's survived breast cancer, and I met up with a survivor who was walking alone. We hugged around the entire lap and shared tears of sorrow and tears of hope. When the sun finally went down and all became dark the luminaries were lit up. By then the volunteers had input all the names of those who have passed on and these names scrolled across a big screen. That really grabs at your heart, as does the Walk of Remembrance.

Our church sponsored a booth this year, as they've done in years past. And when we flip thru the pages of the pictorial directory, there isn't one family that isn't left untouched by cancer in some form or other. Our Leader, Jeff, got to present the speech this year and one fact really shook me. He said that this year alone 12 million ppl will be diagnosed (Dx) w/ cancer and that 360,000 will no longer be amongst us next year for the walk. These will be the names in the luminaries burning bright into the dark night.

This year during the moment of silence, the space station flew overhead and it was just so appropriate for us (our group) to be looking up. Many other groups started taking pix of us, it must have been a Kodak moment having 50 ppl looking up into the heavens during this time. But, it was just so perfect. Many groups quietly let their balloons go.

Even though the occasion was very heavy, there was still so much hope and joy to fill the atmosphere. There were jumpies for the kids. (Kellar was barefoot and did this jumpy obstacle course that the National Guard set up... he was constant for 4 hours running thru this and sliding down the slide and flying across the asphalt. Poor kid, by the end of the night he had blisters covering the bottoms of his feet, crying the whole way home.) Don and walked for a while and we'd jump in with friends here and there. I tell ya, living in small town communities has many advantages. Everyone is a friend - everyone will stop their life just to talk to you. There were hula hoop contests, and both my girls were winners! They did an over 30 group, that I participated in... needless to say it came down to 2 of us... yours truly, and some other lady. So, they asked us to do the Mac-a-ran-ah (sp???) Well, I did, and the other lady didn't. I lost... but really - I was the better hoooper! ; )

I'm going to put a boat load of pix... I hope the ambiance of the evening shows through.

DeJaVu - It's a Ford

2008-06-06T16:47:00.003-04:00

We're heading off to meet up w/ friends from church who have out-of-town guests and heading to the KY Horse Park when all of a sudden they brake in front of me - and my Excursion refuses to brake! Instead the RPMs fly past 3000 and I'm fighting against the accelerator still flying over 30, standing on top of the brakes. NO GO! so, my body flies into learned behavior from my early 90s of owning a Mustang that did something quite similar. I swerve to the shoulder, throw it up into Neutral and shut off the engine and quickly coast into a gas station parking lot! Call the dealership - and by the end of the day, NOTHING comes up on the diagnostics - no errors - no worries (according to them) - no problem (still, according to them.) No theories as to what went haywire with my loaded gun.

Can I just say that when I was in my late teens, early 20s and this sort of thing occurred with my Mustangs (yes - it happened w/ more than 1) - I was still invinsible then. I was single. I had no kids. I had no responsibilities. I had no worries. This time, this was WAY different! Not only did I have my 4 precious kiddos, I had another friend's son. Plus, I'm in the biggest family vehicle known to mankind... the Excursion. What a huge missile.

So - I told the kids... so be it! We spent $89 for this diagnostic thingy to be done... but the way I normally look at getting stopped at red lights, or stuck behind a tractor out on our country roads or having to yield for a train (we don't mess w/ those!).... I just chalk it up to God protecting us from some serious harm!

If I had to live thru my yute w/ those Mustangs in order to not plow over our friends in front of us... so be it... God provides... He protects.... I pray Psalm 91 many a time each week... Lord protect our household and those we love.. send your angels around us to lift our heels, so we don't strike it upon a rock.... (or in our case... our loved ones).

Charlie under the sign of a horse w/ the same name.

Here's a Shetland Pony with her baby who is about 2mos old!

These pix above & below are so funny. This horse kept sticking his tongue out!

Grace was able to get this horse to open his lips... too funny!

We did end up making it to the Horse Park, after the many morning obstacles were overcome. Here are just a few of the photos. I'll throw up another post with more pix later.

Talkin' About a Heat Wave

2008-06-05T11:43:00.005-04:00

We turned our AC unit on yesterday... only to figure out by the end of the afternoon that the house wasn't cooling sufficiently. So bright and early this morning I got on the horn and called up some local companies. The first co. couldn't come out until the end of next week... ugh... I think to myself that this is not looking good. The 2d company I call up can make it out today! Whoo-hooo! We're in bizniz!

At least we were in bizniz until the man showed up and walked in the basement maintentance room and said, "Uh-oh." Not good news... the motor that is barely 8yo is fried up! So, he estimates about a couple M notes to replace - once the part is ordered and gets in here locally and then makes it out to our place. So... no telling when that will happen - we'll get the call later this afternoon!

So - thankfully we own a basement home and that's where we are all hangin out and doing school work (school ends for us on 6-13), and playin' and sleepin' and livin'! We are officially sub-terrainian dwellers!

The cartoon caption might be hard to read. Here's what it says: Witch, "I'm melting." Dorothy and gang reply, "Shut up, we're all hot!"

Everyone cross your fingers that this unit was on a 10y warranty!

Catch of the Day: Part II

2008-06-03T14:38:00.003-04:00

Life is busy these days, so I'm just going to throw on some more fish fotos with a couple of turtle shots, too! Hope you enjoy!

And remember, fishing on private ponds is a privilege... always ask the homeowner before wetting your line! (ha - just had to say that because the kids watch the Game & Fish Program every Saturday night, and that's how the program ends!)

Charlie with a box turtle that he found and released in our woods.

Don with a snapping turtle that he caught with his home-made trap! Our friend's mother cooked her up and ate her - said she was mighty tasty! (not too sure about that!)

My dad and his crappie! It was a keeper that night!
It was a fish fry when the family came out! Don, Charlie, Papa, Grace, & TanTan

Here's more pix of the fish that made it to the fryer! Zach, Kellar, Charlie & Tan!

Take Action Now!

2008-05-30T15:07:00.006-04:00

So, I'm an unashamed "Ditto-Head" and I just bust a gut with Rush's humor! But, that's beside the point! While briefly listening to him today (because I only listen to him while I'm driving -- and while owning a diesel, I won't be able to afford to drive much longer!) he spoke about a website Newt Gingrich, another of my political heros!, has come up with. He has fashioned a means with which to take all our signatures to congress to show that we want to drill here and drill NOW! So, please join me in signing such petition by clicking here (or any other colored text on this post!)

And while on our farm, we don't own sheep to trim the grass, we do our green part in owning a small herd of bovine and one equine! wink!

Kids Say The Darndest Things: Part VII

2008-05-27T16:28:00.006-04:00

This one is too cute! It comes from Charlie - boy!

While we were homeschooling the other day, Charlie was learning measurements of time and length, etc.

Here's a sample of the fill-in-the-blank:

24 hours = 1 Day
2 cups = 1 pint
7 days = 1 week
365 days = 1 year
12 mos = 1 year
12 inches = 1 ________

Nope! It does not equal "1 foot"! According to Charlie, 12 inches = 1 ruler!

I think that's pretty clever and is truly a sign of genius!

Charlie's crop of cucumbers from last year!

Me and my kiddos!

Mommy & Daddy w/ Charlie for his 8th B-day!

Toothless - Charlie!

Kids Say The Darndest Things: Part VI

2008-05-25T17:39:00.003-04:00

Today's Word: Driveway!

What is a driveway, you might ask? Well, at our house it is two things...

1. A place where you park your car. (and why do we drive on the parkway, but park on the driveway?)

2. And if you might be an "Ein - hi - mer" then a "DRIVEWAY" is where you drive thru to get your food from the fast food joints!

I honestly can't remember which of my kids started this saying, but it's always been a part of our family, so I'm thinking it must have been one of the girls. Nevertheless, when we go to a Wendy's or Mickey Ds, the kids always ask, "Are we eating inside or going thru the driveway?"

Catch of the Day: Part I

2008-05-24T17:51:00.005-04:00

Just wanting to put up the "Catch of the Day!" I've gone thru the bin of photos and here's some great fishin' pix with the ones that didn't get away! I'll continue to add more as the days allow!

Charlie - with dinner!

Kellar - with dinner! Of course, we had to eat his

first big catch!

When my folks were here, Papa pulled a huge joke

on Charlie, acting as if he'd pulled in a big one! Charlie ran

out to the pond, faster than the wind, and learned the truth

that it was a 'stuffed pillow fish!'

Cousin Zach with his first catch out of the pond!

Cousin TanTan - with a winner!

User Error!

2008-05-24T17:12:00.004-04:00

OK... so, for the last couple of weeks I've been pulling photos from my old files... because my computer wouldn't let me download my latest bunch of pix! Well, that's what I tho't was the problem.... but after asking Don nicely to try it for me... he gets them downloaded with no probs! Definitely user error!

Here's a collection of some photos that I wanted to share! Hope you enjoy them, too! I'll be working some posts around some of the great photos too!

Don't you just love 'blog-booking!' I can get more done this way than I could ever dream about getting scrapbooks done!

Hannah! what a beaut!

The boys out snowboarding on sleds!

Kellar's first BIG CATCH!!

Yes - there is an Easter Bunny!

It's My Birthday!

2008-05-23T14:26:00.006-04:00

This is my Gma, me, sissy, mom, cousin, & sil!

This is Jen, E, Sissy, & Me!

Me & my bro! the 2 peas in a pod!

just a decade apart!

How can I say it so modestly? It's my birthday and my youngest son claims that I'm 28! Yep. I'm sticking with that one! My sister claims I'm an 'old fart.' And my bestest friend from grade school wrote on my card to have a 'great 37th birthday!' So - I must be so old that no one can remember my exact age! That's why I'm going with this next picture! cuz 'girls, we just wanna have fun!'

So, how did I get to start my day, you may ask? Well, you know I've blogged about our run-away cow, Dory! Well, she decided to start in on bellowing outside our window at 2am! Yup - it's her 'special' day of the month! Lucky me, she cycles every 2 weeks! We try to ignore it, until we hear our horse, Star, tearing up the turf running to and fro - freakin us out! So, Don & I get up and dress, haul our tired ol' butts out to the barn and arm ourselves with bushels of sweet feed for all - cuz when Dory's not happy - ain't nobody happy! So - yes - happy bday to me! I'm ready for a long winter's nap! (is she 15mos yet so we can get her knocked up already?)

Our Dogs! Head of Ranch Security!

2008-05-21T16:21:00.006-04:00

Shadow with our neighbor's dog, Hope. Good buddies.

Shadow and PugPug in the snow!

Shadow with the boys!

Charlie with his dog, PugPug!

So - I've promised a post about our dogs... and today seems like as good as any to post about them. Now, I am NOT a dog person - strictly a cat person! However, I'm wise enough to realize the value of cohabiting with as large of a dog as we can come by! Our first large dog was named Ta-Tonka, Big Ta-Tonka, as in "Dances With Wolves." We shortened his name to Tonka. He was my gentle giant. We got him from the Lab Rescue and only had him for 22 mos. He was geriatric to begin with and died of lung cancer. Broke my heart. He taught me that dogs can be great animals and that they all don't have to smell, jump, lick, and drool! OK - so none of the other dogs we have can live up to his moral ethics!

So, I went back to the Lab Rescue to a Meet n Greet Park Day. Needless to say, a huge yellow lab can bundling out of an SUV. I knew right away he was going to be mine! I rushed over to him and walked him and told them I'd take him! He has a lame name... it's not highly original, but it has a different meaning... his name is Shadow. Basically, it's due to the fact, that wherever I go, even on days when there is no sun, I cast a 'Shadow'. And if I ever stop short, I get a cold nose up the rear... that's not endearing! But he loves me. (not as much as Tonka did... but he still worships the ground I walk on!) Shadow is about 125# of pure shedding material! He's got to have some Akita mix to him, as well. His latest obsession is also not endearing! He seems to get pure delight of chasing skunks... and then wearing their scent for the following month! No - tomato juice does not nix the smell - especially when we're talking a 125# mass of fur with several layers of thus said fur! When we got him, he was 2 - he didn't know how to fetch or catch food mid-air or eat 'gently' from his master's hand! But, he's perfected all of it now! He also loves to swim in our pond and then walk out looking like the swamp monster with mud and gunk clung to his fur... again, not endearing! And where would we be without the gas! Oh my... one of the names we immediately tho't of was "Gas-imus." His are stealth! (ie... silent, but deadly!) Anyway - he does his thing. He scares off the would-be sales ppl by his shear size! gotta love that!

And then there's Pug! We moved to our new state and Charlie wanted a pug. We told our realtor, who also wore the hat of the head of the local humane society. Low and behold, the following week she called us with a Pug in the kennels! So, we go pick up this creature and he's smelly and graying around the face and just so ugly that he's cute. We're told that he has kennel cough... but really - it's a collapsible trachea! go figure! Evidently with short nose breeds with smushed in faces this type of occurrence is not uncommon... and we just got lucky to get the guy who has this! Now, he's smelly, he farts, he moans, he snores and shakes the windows, he whines, he cries, he can't get off the couch by himself in the mornings, and he hacks! If he exercises (ie... walks to the pond with us and back), this will ignite his tracheal problems! He sounds like a cat coughing up a hairball. It's pathetic. These attacks last at least 2 weeks. not endearing! Oh... and he does this 'licking the air' thingy! At random points thru-out the day he'll be laying there licking the air - reminds me of a snake smelling the air... who knows. Originally his name was Smoosh... but now it's just PugPug! He's a big hit with our guests... as he thinks he should be a lapdog! (I don't think anything that stinks that bad should be near any one's lap!)

That gives the summation of our 2 dogs! I'll have to post about Baby, our cat... he thinks he's one of the dogs!

Kids Say The Darndest Things: Part V

2008-05-20T12:00:00.004-04:00

Ok.. So, you notice a trend here with Kid Sayings! That's because if I don't get them all written down, I'll forget... You might also notice another trend - they're all sayings from Charlie and Kellar.... so - if any of my sibs and sils can recall the girls' sayings - please remind me so I can 'scrapbook' them, too. My mind is shot!

So, you wonder why the pix of a smoke stack, eh?

Well, on our way to my inlaws, which happens to be quite a long drive, we pass a huge facility that has hundreds of these thingy-ma-bobs. And Kellar shouts out (because whispering is not part of his vernacular, let alone in his repertoire)... "Look guys - a CLOUD FACTORY!"

He believed that these smoke stacks were how clouds were made. Now, mind you , this was about 3 years ago... when he was 3.5ish... So, now whenever we drive by a smoke stack w/ plumes of smoke/steam bursting forth, we all state, "there's the cloud factory!" To which Kell indignantly tells us - "No! It's not!"

Kids Say the Darndest Things Part IV

2008-05-16T10:42:00.012-04:00

What's the difference between a "Concession Stand" and a "Concussion Stand"???

Not much, if you're an "ein - - hi - - mer"!

Our weekends are filled with sporting events in which there is invariably a concession stand in the near vicinity. Our boys are often heard yelling out, "Can we go to the *Concussion Stand*?"

No - they're not going there to get their heads knocked around, nor are they headed there for any butt-kickin'. What they are looking for is a yummy ring pop or Starburst or hot chocolate these spring days. Oh - and of course, one can't forget to mention Krispie Kreme donuts while limited supplies are available! {If they weren't such natural athletes, I'd begin to wonder if they didn't play sports, just so they could dig up some change and run off to the Concussion Stands!}

So, can anyone tell me why it's warm all week long, but as soon as Friday night rolls around, it's so cold and windy and rainy? Guess we're not in Arizona anymore!*

*Disclaimer... I'm the only one who thinks it's cold... 37y of desert dwelling has made my blood so thin that I just cannot warm up! So, while I'm dressed up in many thick layers, others are running about in shorts & Ts!

So, if you can't find us on the fields - check out the Concussion Stands!

Another Win!

2008-05-13T21:41:00.005-04:00

Just for Charlie's scrapbook, aka this blog, we will record that his baseball team is now 4-1! Tonight, bottom of the 6th and final inning, he's the lead off batter. He hits a single... and eventually after subsequent hits by teammates he makes it to 3d by sliding in! (yah - more laundry for mom!) Needless to say it was a close call and the ump called him SAFE! So - game ended when they were still rallying - but we were up by 2 at that point! 10-8!

Sorry - will attach a baseball pix later!

Chachie - you're so cute out there... the smallest and youngest player on the team! But the one with the biggest grin... and the biggest heart!

Love ya kiddo - mom

Osprey!

2008-05-11T17:00:00.007-04:00

A few weeks back my hubby and Charlie boy and I were driving down our country road. Don spotted what appeared to be a Bald Eagle, but really turned out to be an Osprey traveling on its migratory path back north for the summer. (We looked it up in several of our Birding Books! - we're avid Birders!!!!) It was so awesome to see this magnificent creature hover in place and then fold his wings and dive head first into the pond. We just stopped the car and watched for about 5 minutes until his mission was successful and he flew off at a quick clip. Here are photos of what this looked like! And for those of you who have never seen an Osprey, they're found in the Mogollian Rim and the mountain lakes... we got to see them there, too - years and years ago.

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T16:51:00.003-04:00

Today of all days - may you have a blessed day! Happy Mother's Day to all the women in my life! And thank you to all the daddies out there that made it possible! ;) wink... and all the chillin's who make motherhood so divine!

I'm Fighting Back!

2008-05-09T00:13:00.004-04:00

I'm fighting back! On our goofy low-budget 10p news there is a segment called: 5 Things You Need To Know Before You Go To Bed. Tonight I learned that researchers have found that the dyes found in Blue 2 and Red 40 in M&Ms candies have the potential to bind to cancerous cells and ward off this disease.

(OK - so don't quote me on the exact science - in case you haven't noticed it's 12:30a and I'm waiting for my Dr. Pepper from dinner to wear off and my sleeping pill to kick in!)

So - rest assured. I eat my colors almost on a daily basis! Now I'll pay better attention to up my intake of the Blues & Reds!

BATHING SUIT CHALLENGE

2008-05-08T12:09:00.005-04:00

One of my blogger buds, Shellie, has thrown down a challenge for all her online workout buddies!

So - here's the jest of it all:

We have 6 weeks to bust tail and firm up... we are to take a before and after photo to be posted on our own individual blogs on June 7th. So, make sure to *not* visit my blog at that time! LOL Unless you truly want to be scared of a beached whale! ha

So - for anyone else who is wanting in on this super challenge - join in! It's time for the swimsuit competition to begin!

(now, if I could only look like that!)

Aimee's Birthday!

2008-05-06T12:05:00.005-04:00

Today is my friend, Aimee's, birthday!

Pop on over to her blog and leave her a special birthday wish!

Aimee and I have been friends since the 5th grade! This is an amazing feat for her, because sometimes I'm quite difficult to get along with! So - thanks Aimo, for being such a wonderful friend. Hope you have a great day!

Love ya much - cheri

I Won!

2008-05-05T16:09:00.006-04:00

I won a blog naming contest at The Sweet Spot ! This is only the 2d contest I've ever one!

X-Citing!

My dearest friend, Aimee, has a friend Brandi that is getting a blog make-over. And part of the blog make-over entails a new name! So, I threw in my $0.02 worth and came up with "A Splash of Brandi". My sweetie pie, Don, not to be outdone, came up with: "Brandi's Whine" and got placed as an honorable mention! woo - hoo! I guess you can say that with a life filled with 4 chillin's we-be-funny! Yes - my family - and - my friends - Ms. Anal Annie aka Cheri - does have a sense of humor! Proven by winning a major naming right of Brandi's blog! : )

OK - for reals. If you're searching for that all encompassing blog name - look no further! ha

And when you're looking for that awesome blog make-over - look no further than:

Shauna!

(So, I tried to upload her blog button pix - and it didn't work - this time - but I'm out of time to play with it... can you say - soccer practice for 4 kids AND a baseball game for 1 of them AND toting our sweet little baby that we watch AND making it to Pizza Hut to share a common bday with my friend's girl, Hannah & Charlie!!! Of course, all of this done without my loving hubby who is working late tonight in the Ville.)

and ps..

I must say that I got a blog make-over by Shauna. She did my header pix with the wording and font! Isn't it great!?!

So - go visit her because she's really expanded her business and has so many cute options one can include to spruce up that boring looking blog!

RELAY FOR LIFE

2008-05-03T09:36:00.006-04:00

We are involved in the Relay For Life Walk-A-Thon for the American Cancer Society. This disease has most likely affected someone in your family and/or people you know in the community. Not one of us is unscathed by it.

Please consider donating to our group's Relay For Life. Our church has many members who are affected by this disease, and it is a group effort to raise the monies to meet our goal of $2000.

The Walk-A-Thon starts out as a party in the evening and goes all night long. Candles are lit and placed in bags named with those we know and love who are affected by these disease.

This year our family will be walking in concert for the following people: my mother, Sue, and several children who have been affected: my cousin ~ Jodi; and others: Ryan, Jack, Andrew and Brianna; and my new blogger friend, Shellie! Some are survivor stories, others have taught us courage and bravery and the love of angels sitting around bedsides welcoming the little ones into heaven.

Kids Say the Darndest Things Part III

2008-05-02T20:27:00.006-04:00

OK - So, this one deserves its own separate post. Kellar & I were sitting at the table doing his Spelling Workout book. Each lesson has a word list that they learn to spell and to use the vocab appropriately. There are various types of drills with each lesson and this particular one was a fill-in-the-blank for a 'short story!' Here's a small section of the Word List and following, a portion of the story to be filled in!

bath
white
when
mother

___________ I go to bed at night, I brush my __________ teeth. I also make sure to take a ______________.

So, we work thru this and the first blank is "when".... then "white". So, what might Kellar think goes in the last blank? Sleeping Pill! Not 'bath' - but 'sleeping pill!' I about lost it!

"When I go to bed at night, I brush my white teeth. I also make sure to take a sleeping pill!"

Yes - I suffer from insomnia! And yes, I've finally resorted to taking Sleeping Pills, OTC. I had no idea that my kids were so in tuned with my inability to sleep without these favorite blue pills of mine! I guess I must admit I get a bit freakish if I can't find the bottle... I'm not addicted to them... but I am addicted to SLEEP!

So - once again, Kellar proves that kids can say the darndest things! Speaking of which, it's about time for me to throw back one of those blue pills!

Week in a Nutshell!

2008-05-02T20:00:00.005-04:00

What can I say? Another week has come and gone and I've yet to post anything! Can you tell how far behind I'd be *IF* I did scrapbooks for my kids? Again, I'll try to nutshell the week! FWIW - my computer is not wanting to accept any downloads from my digital camera - so the photos posted won't be current.

OK - Skelly & Uncle Don arrived at 6a on Sat. morning. They slept till noon-30 and got up and shot ball with the kids. Don and I talked Soccer Talk for most of the time, trying to catch me up to speed with what we could be looking at with Grace and her soccer talents! ohmigosh.... mind boggling! We had a great time with them and can't wait to see Skelly at one (or more of his games!)

Baseball season started with Charlie. Mind you, he's still 7 - and playing on a machine-pitched 9-11yo team! He's still the best one on the team - and the smallest! Such a natural athlete. First game canx due to rain - freezing rain! He had another game on Thurs & they won 21-19! He went 4 for 5 and crushed the ball each time! The crowd loves him cuz he's so dang cute and he grins ALL THE TIME!

Charlie also lost a tooth (can we say that Grace did a repeat from her younger years of busting out Hannah's teeth!) G & C love to bang the soccer ball around in the basement and she threw an elbow that landed square in his mouth! Needless to say, the tooth went black in 2 days and I got to pull another tooth!

Charlie also turned 8 this week! Big excitement!!! Since he was 4 he has wanted a skateboard. Each year he'd remind me "4y until I turn 8 and get a skateboard! 3y til I turn 8.... 2y til... 1y... and now I'm 8 and I should get my skateboard!" So - Don asks what we're getting him for his bday - and I say - a skateboard! Can you believe, Don absolutely freaks out! He does NOT want this child owning a skateboard because he'll bust his head wide open! (I'm thinkin' if anything happens, he'll break an arm instead!) So, he drills me about getting him a helmet and pads and the whole works. Now, let me explain - we are NOT Anal Annie parents! If the kids want to climb a 50' tree - they climb it. If they want to swim to the middle of the pond, they swim. If they want to ride the dirtbike, horse, whatever.... they do it! (ok... they do wear helmets for the dirtbike & the horse) - but they DON'T wear them for their bikes or scooters or anything else! Needless to say - he does not have any skateboard gear!

Yes - Dory really almost ended up in the freezer! The meat wagon was on our street and kept driving by... thank you honey for calling them off! The poll was a joke - but after the umpteenth time of her getting out - I had it! and I think Don had it with me calling him at work and me threatening to get out my .45 to blow her away!

We're waiting for the momma duck to hatch her first clutch of ducklings! Pix when this occurs!

And to round off the week... I'll make a second post because it needs its own title!

Thx for being patient with me... I'm even farther behind in posting on my other blog... but once soccer and baseball season are over - I'll be better... ps... we do year-round school, so I won't be *that* current, but hopefully better!

Enjoy your life folks! It's the only one you get in the physical sense!

My Cousin is Coming!!!! (and Uncle Too!)

2008-04-24T15:31:00.006-04:00

Woo hoo! My cousin, Skelly, is coming thru and stopping off tonight, as he heads up to OH! I'm so excited! And yes, I'm excited that my Uncle Don will be here, as well! RISK, anyone? ;) So, we're going thru the house putting it all in order!

So - let's see - in the last hour my emotions have gone from high to low to high!

High: because I was out helping a new mommy breastfeed and getting to hold the precious baby! Ummmm... that newborn baby smell! It's wonderful!

Low: because on my way home from thus said appt, my dh phones me to say the meat wagon is coming w/n the hour and will be doing part of the processing right on site! (ugh... I'm not a puker, but I about lost all the food I didn't eat today... ) And remember - we all voted she should end up in my freezer!

me... whining saying - let's really just sell her instead - because I think you'll all agree with me - having 2 cows in your freezer is just 1 too many! And she can be sold to make the mortgage payment coming up! IMNSHO!

High: because my uncle just called me saying they'll be here some time tonight!

Let's just say - I can't pull the kids down from the ceiling! They are all so excited!

Old-Fashioned Rag Tie Curls!

2008-04-24T09:47:00.004-04:00

OK - so I've had many requests on how Gracie's hair gets so curly! Yes, she did come by some of it naturally... but we also have some help. Here's how:

1. Get an old, clean T-shirt.

2. Cut it in strips of 10" x 3"

3. Grab a small section of hair and place the strip at end of hair. (sometimes it may need to be dampened on the ends, just to keep it in place as you start to roll!)

4. Start rolling up the hair in the strip (roll towards head)

5. Tie in knot.

6. Sleep on it.

7. Wake up and unknot and unroll

8. Shake out curls! and voila`!

Disclaimer!

Some hair will refuse to curl no matter what.

Some hair curls better if it's damp before rolling.

Good luck!

A Man's Usage for a Post-It Note!

2008-04-23T16:45:00.002-04:00

I tho't this was funny! My hubby sent it to me! In case you can't read the Post-It... it says "Jane"! That's why I love *MY* hubby so much! not only did he know my maiden name, he knew how to spell it too! and very early on in our relationship, too! Love at first spelling!

Grace! Gracie! Grace C!

2008-04-20T17:27:00.010-04:00

What a weekend of soccer! It is in full swing for us - a family of 4 soccer stars. Today's brag bit will be about Grace, because she deserves this! When we moved here, we knew nobody! God blessed us richly, and I mean RICHLY, when he plopped us down next to Angie & Brad and gang! They got us involved in soccer and nobody would believe us that our kids had never played this sport before.

After Grace's first season she was heavily recruited to try out for the girl's select team - which she made the cut. She is one of the smallest peanuts out on the field - but I would never want to tangle against her. She is so tough and fierce and aggressive, never backing down to the competition that may be a whole foot taller than her, let alone outweigh her by 50lbs, too! We get many comments from the other parents on her boldness! I just grin as Don says he knows where she got it from! LOL

Today was her greatest day yet! She scored not only one goal - but two goals - and to top it off her team won! They were machines dominating the whole field!

We're now being 'recruited' to have her a manager and get her going on the Olympic Youth Team, being touted as the next Mia Hamm cuz she's got the look, marketability, skill, speed and that grin she's always been known for: Grinnin' Grace. Whatever... it's up to her! She loves the sport. The refs love her, the crowd loves her and we all love her! We'll see what the future holds in store for her!

The above pix is of Grace and my cousin, Skelly - who *IS* a soccer star!

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things: Part I

2008-04-18T09:14:00.003-04:00

Where did the week go? Last posting was Monday and now it's Friday... I guess I was all consumed during what might be considered 'free time' by soccer practice for 4 kiddos plus one of them also playing baseball. Anywho... on to my post!

One of my fave things is when Charlie Boy whispers in my ear before bedtime to say, "Mom, I'm gunna try to come down and sleep with you tonight!" It warms my heart. Charlie has always been the best co-sleeper. He's such a sensitive, loving guy. Well sure enough last night he had a nightmare - we think he was too hot - so at 345a this morning I got to be snugged between my boys. I love it.

What Is Your 80s Theme Song?

2008-04-14T16:03:00.004-04:00

Your 80s Theme Song Is:

Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen

What's" Your 80s Theme Song?

Well - I'm kinda shocked by this answer to the blogthings.com quiz. I'm not really a Bruce fan - never have been - despite the fact that my dh use to set up his tents for his concerts in Jersey! At least it wasn't a DuranDuran tune! ugh! That was one part of the 80s that *I* didn't partake in! But really, I'm surprised it wasn't a Prince tune, or the Artist formerly known as Prince - but back in the 80s - he was Prince.

Let me know what you came up with! (even for those of you who are too young to remember much of the 80s!)

SHOTGUN!

2008-04-12T17:15:00.004-04:00

Hannah & Mel @ H's bday ice skating par-tay!

Well, after 13 years of feeling like a chauffeur by driving solo and having my posse hangin in the back seats... my life of front row loneliness is now over. Hannah has taken upon herself to force the issue of riding upfront - calling 'SHOTGUN' - when we are out and about. Can I just say how bizarre this is? Think about it - all those trips to the store, to church services, to outings, to therapies, to wherever in the world we had to go - for the past 13 years I have been solo up front. But not no mo' tho'!

What truly scares me is that next year Grace will by vying for 'SHOTGUN' ~ and let the fighting begin once again! ugh... Thankfully I have one year reprieve!

And just the rest of you wait... once they're sitting upfront with you, blink again, and they'll be the ones doing the driving. AAAAACCCCCCCCKKKKKKKK!

Menopause The Musical - a must see

2008-04-11T16:44:00.006-04:00

A few years back I went with Aimee, her mom, and her g-ma to go see this hilarious musical. We had such a great time! I enjoyed it so much that I went last night with a group of 20 women from church! Such a hoot! I'd love to plug in their silly logo for the musical - but once again, my computer illiteracy is showing thru... so anyone out there want to take some time to give me tutorial?? please... anyone... someone...

Anyway - here are the details for the musical in case any of you have opportunity to go: Menopause The Musical was launched on March 28, 2001 in Orlando, Florida. The location was a 76-seat theatre that used to be a perfume shop. The musical features four women busy shopping for lingerie at a Bloomingdale's sale. They sing 25 songs about loss of memory, nocturnal sweats, chocolate cravings, hot flashes, and sexual predicaments. This is all quite in sync with the title, and the lyrics parody popular music that era, which was the baby boomer era. Several local references are made in the show, and they are tailored to the location of the musical. One example of this is the 'Dubbo Housewife' in Australia, which is a 'Waikato housewife' in New Zealand. Also, America's Bloomingdale's becomes Smith & Caugheys in New Zealand.

A Political Road Sign Funny

2008-04-09T17:48:00.006-04:00

This is a real NC highway road marker, about 40 miles from Fayetteville, NC. (at least from what I was told via an email funny)

Well - what more is there to say? Hope you have a good laugh at this one... and truly - where are the true social conservatives? Anyone??? Can we quote Reagan and say, "Gov't is not the solutions to our problems! Gov't *IS* the problem!" and yes, our President Reagan really said this...

You can catch it on the Nearly Famous Barry Young Program of AZ's KFYI 550 AM (ok.. so you can tell I don't know how to do a hyperlink w/ just the name... Aimee - someone - anyone - help me out here!) http://www.kfyi.com/pages/Barry_Young.html

SHARE LIFE: DONATE BLOOD

2008-04-09T17:05:00.007-04:00

One of the things my G-pa left behind as a legacy is the notion of giving of one's self! He did this in many ways, one of which was by donating blood. I remember as a kid seeing one of his bumper stickers, and it said, "Don't be a chicken. Donate blood." Every other month on the second Tuesday a mobile blood unit comes to our community and I do my best to get there (all 4 kids in tow, as well as the baby that we watch from time to time). The kids are amazed to see it all work! Seeing their faces when the techs give them more info on how "mommy's blood will save 3 lives!" is just priceless. So - I encourage all of you to do what you can - when you can! And just as an fyi... for those who are too close to the minimum weight requirement or those who take too long to recover, they will allow a "minimum blood donation."

Less Than Five Percent Of The American Population Donates Blood, Yet 95% Of All Americans Will Need Blood At Least Once In Their Lifetime! Besides 8 Million mosquitos can't be wrong!

13 Years!!!

2008-04-08T19:42:00.008-04:00

Today marks 13 years of wedded bliss for Don and me! How we celebrated? Well, he got to fly to TX for a couple of days... leaving me to shuffle kids to soccer practice and baseball practice and piano practice. Lucky me! But he did leave me with 4 different types of chocolate bars! He must know I need the extra stamina. I'm working on the Dove right now! So, while he's in TX, I'll be kickin it with the kids watching American Idol and flippin to Biggest Looser! The W-Day... still seems like yesterday! I love him dearly!

Kid's Say the Darndest Things Part II

2008-04-05T10:49:00.003-04:00

Ok.. Slow morning and I've been doing a lot of catching up and long posts the past 3 days. So, I'll make this one short. Kellar, our youngest, is the family comedian, and since we homeschool (have I mentioned that before?) also doubles as the class clown! Every class has one, right? Anyway, a year ago we were in a courtroom for an adoption hearing, and as we left Kellar had a very downcast face. When asked what was wrong, he commented, "I thought the guy was going to hit his hammer on the table and yell out 'Quarter in the Quart... Quarter in the Quart!' " Such disappointment!

The next time you're around a judge and courtroom or watching some law series on the tube, think of Kellar and his wanting "Quarter in the Quart"!!!

A Horse is a Horse... Unless it's Star!

2008-04-04T14:08:00.004-04:00

We received Star from Joy and Brian! Some of the best neighbors one could ever dream of having!

I've been meaning to post about the most awesome Christmas gift we received! We have some precious neighbors who have become like family to us! And they gave of their hearts this year! We received Star from them! She is a pony, as she is only so-high. And she's absolutely sweet! She's great with the kids and me! I never in my life tho't we'd own a horse for the kids and through their generosity, we're now 'horse-people'! Hannah and Grace had taken classes for a year when we first moved here on horse care and riding and tack and triage and on and on. Because of their knowledge, and the fact that our neighbor up the road is an equine vet - we're on our way to perfecting our skills! Before Christmas, I went over to their barn and video'd Joy wishing the kids a "Merry Christmas from KY and oh by the way, we're giving you a gift... Star." We played the video on Christmas day for the kids and their faces were priceless! Joy, awe, dumbstruck! Grace was crying - Hannah couldn't move a muscle - Charlie was jumping for joy - and Kellar - well - he was pretty excited too! Thx a million! Paying it forward!

OpryLand!

2008-04-04T11:37:00.004-04:00

I'm still trying to catch up on life's events for the blog! The 4th weekend of March, which happens to be Easter weekend, hundreds of congregations East of the Mississippi gather at 4 different locations for the annual Lads to Leaders (ettes) competition: Orlando, Indi, Memphis and Nashville. This year we took a group of kids from church and they performed very well! Our middle school team placed in the top 5 for team Bible Bowl (Hannah & Grace were both on it). Hannah got 85 out of 100 questions correct for individual Bible Bowl testing, and believe it or not, she didn't score in the top 10! We were for certain she'd place with that! However, the group got 2d place for their group banner! They got awards for knowing the books of the Bible and being able to quote one major highlight of each book! Quite impressive! And Hannah got awarded for reading the entire Bible in a year's time! The photo above is Hannah's entry for the color photo contest. I love it! Many other awards/trophies were given out - but that sums up my kids! If you haven't stayed at Gaylord's Grand Ol' OpryLand Hotel - it's quite impressive! I think we must have walked over 15 miles in the 3 days. And the Hotel is pretty much sold out for our group, which is about 10,000 ppl! The other cool thing for the weekend was Nashville Star tryouts were going on! So, we had great entertainment as the hopefuls would bust out in song to keep their voices warmed up!

Catching Up!

2008-04-03T17:21:00.004-04:00

Well, we bit the bullet and re-upped our dial up. It bites. 'Nuf said. At least I'm back on line!

We've had the most wonderful week! Too busy to stop and record it all while it was happening - so here is our week in a big nutshell!

Our eldest child, Hannah, was baptized on Sunday, March 30! We are so thrilled to know that her salvation is secure as she has been born a child of God into His family, by her own choice! We had been studying over the past 2 mos and were able to have some of my family come out to bear witness to this and to celebrate with us! My parents: Charlie and Sue; my sister and her baby: Casey and Ellie; and my nephews: Tanner and Zachary all came out! So, we had quite a full house!

Aimee - you'll appreciate this one... I got a speeding ticket coming home from picking them up from the L-ville airport! Not just speeding... but flying! 22m over the limit - in - a - construction - zone! Needless to say, my tags were overdue... and now I get to go to court far far away! I haven't had a ticket since before I got married (coming up on 13y next Tuesday, BTW!) and I think this is only my 3d ticket ever! I was so nice - and he still nailed me... oh well - such is life.

I got to bond w/ my neice! She's such a cutie pie! Love her and miss not being w/ my fam! She loved the animals, so that was the opportunity to take for bonding! The chickens were her fave - but the rooster... she did not care for him! Neither do the hens, FWIW!

While here, the kids fished in our pond, canoed in our pond, built rope swings over the pond, dirt biked, cared for the farm animals, collected chicken eggs, ate at the local Family Affair restaurant, went antiquing ('Teeking' as we call it), played kickball, basketball, capture the flag, trampolined, played Shang-Hie Rummy, Rummy 500, RISK (no, I didn't play... I'm not allowed), Bluff (aka... BS... like on "How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days), had a cook out, met more relatives, drank tons of soda, drank tons of bottled water (as evident by my growing pile of recyclable bags in the garage!), shot off fireworks consisting of Roman candles and M1000s... and they also had opportunity to do some cow wrangling as a result of the fireworks!

Our cow, Dory, yet again defied gravity. On Monday morn Don went out to feed the beasts of burden and it was my sissy who said - "You're missing one." So - we all gear up and start the search. Three hours later my dad, sister and I were far far from home, and out of nowhere we see cow tracks that lasted about 50 feet and then mysteriously disappeared. We were getting close to some scary looking homes and I suggested we best turn around and head back. By the time we made it to the RR tracks we heard 6 shots fired off from a 22 pistol. We got home and told Don that the 3 of us needed to go back to investigate the shots. So, low and behold, we drive to these scary looking properties and an old farmer is coming down the dirt lane in his pick up. Don gets out to ask him if he's seen a roaming cow. And the ol' man said, "Yep - Bear Tree Farm - Dory? Well, we got her locked up in our barn up yonder. She sure is a pretty thang!" So, we head back to get the trailer and load up all the kids. The farmer's wife was waiting for us in her jeans and muckin' boots, make up and hair net! She swore up and down that Dory was so gentle and easy to lead into the shoot! (yeah, right...)

Anyway,she's home now - pinned up in one of our horse stalls until Don gets back from Chicago. She's angry as can be! As best as we can surmise, she jumped over a total of four 4' barbed-wire fences, climbed up the RR embankment, across the tracks, down the embankment, over more fences and came within 300 feet of stepping out on the major highway that runs by our place.... she went at minimum a mile from home. How we found her - only the good Lord knows. I guess there's something to the nursery rhyme "The cow jumped over the moon..." If she goes again, I'm not going after her!

So - all in all we had a great time, lots of laughs, many memories made, many videos shot, and pix taken. Sorry - not able to download right now... but I'll get some pix up asap! Tanner is excited to come back this summer - we told him he could live w/ us and go to college here... the wheels are turning... just preparing you, Jennifer! And let Zach know that the animals are all depressed now that he's not here. PugPug hasn't left the couch! Hurry back!

Life is good... real good - as Nacho Libre says!

And the Cow Jumped Over the Moon???

2008-03-25T14:41:00.003-04:00

OK.. So, you've noticed it's been a week since I've posted. Sigh... I'm researching providers... cross your fingers! So much has happened this past week, but I think I'll start by updating what happened this morning!

When you homeschool - you can't always be prepared for a dulldrum type of day, especially while living on a "Gentleman's Farm!" Ha! I say that TIC (tongue in cheek, so you won't have to google that one, Aimo!) So, this morning we're sitting at the dining room table (which also serves as our 'desks', our animal surgical table, our breakfast and lunch table... it's actually a beautiful piece of furniture - despite the many 'hats' it wears!) Anyway, we notice that the cows and horses are looking really, really odd out in the pens. At one point Hannah notices a 'person' walking behind our barn. And an hour later, Kellar is up in his room, 2d floor, and yells out, "The cow is out of the fence and in our neighbor's back pasture!!!"

This sends us moving! We throw on our outdoor gear and grab a bucket of sweet feed. Sure enough, Dory - Moo's daughter (will be significant in another story) is out there eating the tall, green grass on the other side of the fence. After 45m of coaxing her, she decides to follow Grace back to the pen for some hay!

Meanwhile, we searched the whole fence line and NOTHING is down. There are no broken fence posts, wires, or E-wire. We can only surmise that she literally jumped over the common fence - which is about 5 feet in height! Something that would be genetic, handed down from her mother! She's not even a year old! Sigh... it's time for this gene pool to be eliminated! Honery - honery critter!!! We'll have to go look again to see if we can find black cow fur hanging off the barbed wire!!!

So, in case you look out tonight and see a black cow - stunningly beautiful (yes, she truly is!!!) jumping over the moon - most likely, it will be our Dory!

Semi-Off Line

2008-03-18T14:35:00.003-04:00

Hello to my devoted readers.... as you may have noticed, I haven't kept current on posting or commenting with you. Reason is... we're on dial up... with ATT... & my dh HATES ATT with a passion. So, we've been searching to find another internet provider - but we've found that we're considered 'out in the country.' And despite all those so-called 'out in the country' provider's commercials - they lie!!!! We're 6 miles from town... 15 miles from the state capitol and we can't get anything but ATT hi speed.... I hope you hear the frustration in my voice.

So, here I sit at the local library typing to you all. If anyone has any tho'ts or suggestions (that are affordable) - LMK!!!

All in the Day of a HS'er!

2008-03-12T17:21:00.004-04:00

So.... as you all know, we've added Jode, another furry friend, to our family. He came to us as an intact male, and as of Monday, has been made an 'it'! Yes y'all, right there on our kitchen table with a throw-away table cloth! I happen to have a friend who has a license to perform these types of operations. So, all other academic courses were postponed for the day, while we all helped out! It was quite cool. Charlie and Kellar were so amazed by it. They each got to hold a leg tied off with horse hay rope, as did Hannah and I. Grace was right in there too! Nothing bothers her in the least! Jode's no worse for the wear and can be found in his usual spots curled up napping... in the chair next to where I sit at the 'puter, inside the barn amongst the hay, or found on my lap purring contentedly. So, I guess all is forgiven (at least until he finds out this spring that he doesn't work that way anymore!) Somehow in high school I missed out on the frog dissection! But hey... we're more hi-tech nowadays!

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS part I

2008-03-10T16:20:00.005-04:00

Kellar, our son, is our resident comedian and expert comic relief! He can come up with the craziest, most unbelievable stories and weave them so intricately that they really sound plausible! (I'll add his prior stories on slow days!) The ones that occurred yesterday goes like this:

We're at pot luck after church. It's Emily's b-day - her actual b-day! So, her mom asks Kellar how old he is, to which he replies, "I'm six AND A HALF and my b-day is July 30." So, Tammy states, "Wow, that means you were born the same year as Emily, 2001! Right?" And Kellar looks at her and states, "No, Silly! I just told you my birthday is July 30." So, she saves composure and suggests he come and ask me what year he was born, because he just wasn't buying that his birth date was "2001"! Imagine my relief that he didn't call her anything else!

So fast fwd to her telling me the above story and then adding the following:
Kellar also told Tammy that he was so sad because he's lost three things: his tooth, his cat, and his go-cart. Tammy asked him how he "lost" each item and gets to the go-cart, wondering how in the world he could loose something so large. So he states, "Well, I didn't actually loose it. I just don't have one yet. Nobody will buy it for me!" (thanks for showing him them, mom and dad!) Let's get him riding the dirt bike and learning safety on that before we unleash him with a go-cart!

BIRTH OF SNOWBOARDING!

2008-03-08T20:34:00.004-05:00

OK Folks! The weatherman predicted accurately. We did get about 8" of snow! Light - fluffy - white snow! The most snow our kids have seen to date (at one setting!) First thing this morning, they rushed down - packed on their snow gear - grabbed the saucer and plastic sled and headed for our slopes! OK - so, it's probably the equivalent of a bunny slope, but still. They decide to snowboard down the slope on the sled, instead of laying or sitting on it! How in the world did they think of this??? I'm telling you, Don and I were bustin' a gut watching and filming them. For those of you who don't know me ---- I DON'T DO COLD AND I DON'T DO SNOW! So, I'm staying in and filming, so there were no still shots taken today. Someday when I'm courageous I'll attempt to upload the video. Anyway - Kellar was awesome. You'd think he was the one who invented Snowboarding! He hunched right down and moved w/ Mother Earth! Charlie and Grace were pretty good too! And Hannah was definitely getting it!

Some neighbors walked over (cuz the snow was too thick down our 1/3 mile drive) and the dh snowboarded, as did my dh, Don! Too funny watching these 40-somethings strut their stuff! What great laughter we had! The wife was a hoot taking the saucer down and grabbing air over the 'jumps' the kids made down the saucer slopes! Good times... great memories!

Whoddathunk that not only can we roll out of bed and end up at the pond fishing - but that we could hit the slopes too! I see seasonal ski passes in our future!

Name Game

2008-03-07T16:02:00.007-05:00

OK - So, I'm a copy-cat! But this was just too fun to not copy! And since we're about to be snowed-in - why not have some fun! This has obviously been going around cyberspace in many forms - so I tho't I'd post mine. I'm hoping to be able to figure out another blogger component! Stay tuned for that! So - for those of you who have noticed and mentioned... yes, I've FINALLY figured out how to include photos inside my post! Keep warm... Total Maple! (see #12)

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car):

Trinka Excursion

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe):

Gold Medal Ribbon Birkenstock

3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal):

Green Cat

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born):

Lynn Mesa

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name):

Casch

6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink):

Purple Dr. Pepper

7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers):

Camden Arthur

8. STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent,favorite candy):

None Dove

9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter):

Brown Boston

10. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower):

Spring Lilly

11. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing rightnow):

Blackberry Sweats

12. HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree):

Total Maple

Ol' Man Winter Meet Young Girl Sunshine

2008-03-07T08:54:00.005-05:00

Well - soccer season has officially started, but it appears that we're still seeing Mr. Winter! So much for Grace's soccer game this weekend! They're predicting up to a foot of snow! woo hoo!!!! That'll be awesome for a family of former desert dwellers! So, while PS kids get 'snow days'.... mine still have to crack the books! (I know, Mean Mom! I win!) However, my kiddos still get plenty of time for 'recess' as seen above, and they don't have to make up for loss of school for snow days! You'll find me observing them from the warmth of my living room, sipping homemade hot chocolate with a spritz of peppermint! ummmm yummmm!

(ps... to my fellow work-out buddies.... I'm staying the course! keep on, keeping on!)

"Socialization" Part I

2008-03-05T12:09:00.009-05:00

As homeschoolers we often get the question regarding "what about socialization?" Hello - we're a family of 6... we live with each other day in and day out! We are around people of all walks of life, from all demographics... from piano, to therapies, from church services, to soccer practices & games, from helping out with neighbors, to caring for the elderly, from weekly library visits, to eating out, from shopping, to --- you get the point! We have 5 cats and 2 dogs - all indoor/outdoor (obviously)! So - we're not lacking for opportunity! Thankfully we're not 'forced' to stay within the confines of people in our own age bracket! So - what's the concern?

I can honestly say that most of my dear friends are older than myself! These seasoned friends have lived life; they have much to impart to the rest of us! They've BTDT - they generally have no pretenses! I also have friends who are around my age or at least in the same place in life (ie: got kids!?!) This group reminds me that I'm not alone in my quest of raising up the next generation of leaders. And lastly, I have friends that are younger than me: in age, maturity (some may beg to differ), and place in life. This would be the group that keeps me young and current - or should I say "hip"! This is what makes real society - this is what represents true social life - this is where we all get true socialization.

Besides that... if not for homeshooling, where else could you attempt to do academics with a cat trying to be the center of attention! If learning came thru osmosis of sleeping on books, then Baby would have to be the smartest cat who ever lived! His sister, Lucy, would be next!

Work Out!

2008-03-04T19:11:00.003-05:00

Don & I decide to do something for our hearts this past Valentine's Day, so we got a Treadmill. We've been bustin' tail on it for the past few weeks and I can say that I've built up some stamina and done some toning. As I sit down to type this up, Kellar decided to hop on and proceed to run 1.33 miles - yes - miles in less than 10 minutes - without really breaking a sweat. Can I just say that I can't walk 1.33 miles in 15 minutes! As he shuts it off, he walks away saying, "Wow, Mom, I feel like a brand new man!" (snort... and now I feel really really old and decrepit)!

One of my blog buddies from Get Stronger Stay Stronger threw down a challenge to the cheering section to maintain our goal for the week and reward ourselves for a job well-done (read: no cheating on the goal!) So - for purposes of being held accountable for my end of the bargain, I'm laying it on the line: 4x of 30min Treadin' w/ minimum 6 min of running included, and 2x of Yoga with my dh! My reward: not getting out of bed til 9a on Saturday! (may sound lame to some of you... but to me.... sleep is wonderful for the insomniac!)

For once in my life I can say that the # on the scale isn't my big concern. Instead, it's how rapidly I'm approaching 40 and can feel the years aching away on my body! I need to be in the best of health - for myself, for my hubby, for my kids, and for the Lord! I come from a long line of women who die at an old age... I don't want to die "old".... so, it's up to me to make the change!

Here's to YOGA tonight!

How Easter is Determined

2008-03-03T13:16:00.007-05:00

I thought some of you might be interested in this trivia. I got this on one of my homeschooling (hs'g) loops. The date of this coming Easter is quite early this year, and I tho't most of you would find it interesting to learn how it is determined.

Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar. Usually Easter falls after Passover, however, this year Passover is April 20. Therefore, Easter can't come after Passover, as an additional full moon comes full cycle.

Here's the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier!

Here's the facts: 1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!). 2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it anyearlier than this year!

Spring is in the Air

2008-03-01T13:26:00.003-05:00

Can I just say that today is the first day we have seen the sun in days and days... who knows, perhaps over a week even! Not that I'm too keen on the sun, as it just gets in your eyes anyways! (I have light sensitivity... thus the black background on my blog!) But it's great - more so, because we have warmer temps - around our seasonal norm! FINALLY!!! Don's been out planting the beginnings of our orchard: 3 different apple varieties, 2 peaches, a plum and the pecan! So, in a few years we should be harvesting and canning some yummy, healthy, organic! treats! The boys have been out helping him - along with taking the dirtbike out for a drag! Charlie is so cute flying up and down the long drive. Kellar is still timid about it - but I'm thinking this will be his year! So, I'm outta the basement - off the 'puter - and into the wild blue yonder! Happy Springing! (ps... the meteorologist stated that we may be in for the worst snow storm ever this weekend, anticipating 20" of snow... well... I've got my books lined up and my chocolate in reserves! and the kids are ready to sled)

Farm Cliches: Part I

2008-02-29T14:21:00.001-05:00

If you stop and think about it, many of our cliches are things we just have no clue to how they originated. For so many 100s of years we have lived as a farming society and it's just been of late that we've become so far removed from it. So, here is a brief synopsis of farm cliches... I now know how they originated, because we live them first hand!

Don't put all your eggs in one basket: as evidenced by Kellar bringing in the eggs and tripping over a rock, crushing all but one of the eggs therein.

Ruffled Feathers: Well, let's just say, after you see a rooster get a 'back ride' (thx Deb for the terminology to use!) from a hen, she will fluff up her feathers and shake them out, as if shaking off the indecent exposure she just endured!

P**P rolls downhill: our chickens all have clipped flying wings on one side, in order to keep them from being able to fly out of the barn yard and into the mouths of foxes... so, that being said, they have great difficulty flying up into the safe tiers of the coop. So, Don put a plank on an angle so they can reach the upper regions of the coop.... fast forward to morning... 15 chickens = a lot of droppings thru-out the night.... and amazingly enough, it's all rolled down the plank! So, yes, P**P does roll downhill!

Sitting Duck: So sad... it takes much effort for a duck to get lift off, especially off the ground. In times of urgency with a dog or a fox on their tail, some are lucky - others are just 'sitting ducks! Down 8, 5 more surviving!'

Cocky: Well, if you were the sole man of a harem of 14 chicks.... you'd be cocky, too!

Got your Goat: When goats are around horses, the horses remain calm. When a goat is removed, the horse becomes a nervous wreck. Maybe we need a goat (not!) See the Great Escape entry.

Mind your P's & Q's: This one is really not a farm cliche, per se. However, the story goes, when the Irishman went to the local pub and wanted to run a tab on his intake, he was to mind the chalkboard that showed how many "Pints & Quarts" he had been drinking in order to settle up at the end of the evening. However, if he wasn't minding his own "P's & Q's" the barmaid might add extra tally marks, causing his tab to run amuck!

Hen-Pecked: Like all mammals, we seem to establish a pecking order. However, with hens it's quite vicious to witness. A hen will peck at any imperfection another hen may have (real or perceived!), causing the rest of the flock to join in. Sound like anyone in your life you might know???

So - with each happening in life, it all becomes a teachable moment for the homeschooling family! Farm living is full of surprises and really teaches one to take each moment in stride! The best made plans are best not set in stone! Hummmm, now there's a cliche' to figure out!

No Longer A Baby - Hannah Turns 12

2008-02-28T15:31:00.004-05:00

Today is the big day! My firstborn turned 12 at exactly 11:38am, twelve years ago today! The joke then was "Cheri, hold off 12.5h and you can have a LeapYear Baby!" Bad joke then, but would have been cool had it worked out that way! So, earlier this week Hannah came down at like 1130p to ask me if I wanted to pull her last baby tooth! Such a bittersweet Kodak moment. You know me - grab the paper towel and away I tug! $10 later (the price of the last tooth!) she's back up to bed! At least the Tooth Fairy didn't have a chance to forget this all-important event!

Anyway. Hannah! What can I say! I'm so amazed by her. She's a brilliant child... er... tween, and is growing to become such an incredible young lady. She is so kind and thoughtful. She has the ability to truly hear what is being said to her and will file the information away for future reference! This is a good thing, as so many kids today think they know it all! (didn't we know it all back then, too?)

At the time of writing, her interests and hobbies include: collecting musical snow globes, reading, singing, reading, playing piano, reading, writing poetry, reading, playing with babies (the real, live ones), reading, plowing over opponents on the soccer field, reading, using precise language, reading, giving "The Look", reading, training her cat (ha), reading. And did I mention that her nose is always in a book? One last thing. Hannah loves the ocean! She is an awesome swimmer. I'm sure she'll be on a swim team here soon! She takes to the waves like a fish in water. Don thinks it's because she was born in water (on purpose!). She's been preparing me for the day she leaves home, because she claims she's moving to the beach. I believe it, too.

Thank you Lord, for my first little girl! I love you, Sweet Pea!

Go girl, seek happy nights to happy days. William Shakespeare

I never knew a girl who was ruined by a good book! James Walker

Grace the Horse Whisperer

2008-02-27T09:10:00.003-05:00

After getting to meet many of the neighbors in last week's Great Escape, we received an early morning phone call stating our white horses are out - again! Nervously, I look in the back and see them both grazing - so I shake the cobwebs out of my brain and really listen to the phone caller giving me directions as to where his wife spotted the horse. This other 'escapee' happens to belong to our dear friends. So, I throw on my Carhartt bibs, as do the kids, and we load up a bucket of sweet feed, a halter, and a lead rope. Sure enough, MoonMan has escaped and is happily grazing in his backyard! Grace grabs the equipment from the truck. Bold as brass walks up to him and throws the gear on him, snaps the lead in place and leads him to his stall in the barn. She's such a little peanut - with no fear! Obviously the horses know this, as they melt like butter when she's around!

Date Night Part I

2008-02-26T20:09:00.001-05:00

So - what can I say? Our life has been hectic and chaotic, and I guess that will be the norm and not the exception. Don and I have finally arrived at a point in our children's lives that we can go out - ALONE! (We can probably count on 2 hands how many times we've been out since our oldest was born 12y ago!) So - what did we do for fun our first night out? We drove to the far end of the BigTown to eat at Chipotle and then went looking for a fitness dealer. However, we were 'forced' to take a detour at Half-Price Books! Need I say more. $22 later we were walking out the door with a hugantis bag of some awesome reads and new friends to enjoy life with! How did Don get so lucky to find me???? LOL

“You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.” Paul Sweeney

(And let me just interject here - someone PLEASE send me some REAL Mexican food!)

Inspiration from Books

2008-02-25T16:34:00.004-05:00

Lately our family has lived thru many heartaches and trials. At the time of posting, I'm not at liberty to say much, other than what we've lived through, most people would never believe unless they lived it with us. During this time I have first turned to Yahweh for the cleft in the rock he provides, through prayer and fasting. Next, I turn to my hubby, my best friend. Of course other family members and close friends are beside us each step of the way. And I'm so grateful for them all! I am so blessed.

I have also found inspiration thru books. I love books. I've always loved books. I married a book lover too! My oldest got the gene, as well! It's a joke amongst us homeschoolers that in order to homeschool, you probably own 100 times more books than you own shoes and outfits combined.

I have taken refuge in reading of other's tragedies and learning how they have coped and survived and later thrived once again! These people have faced greater adversities compared to my own, IMO. So, if you find yourself in need of a getting your nose inside an inspiring book, here's what I recommend: Psalms, And the Violins Stopped Playing: the Gypsy Holocaust, The Hiding Place, Uncle Tom's Cabin, and Unveiled.

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. ~James Bryce

Ice-Capades!

2008-02-23T11:48:00.004-05:00

Last night was Hannah's bday party! She chose to go ice skating with her girlfriends - and daddy! (He's a former hockey player, back in the day... and I don't think you'll ever see me on blades of gory!) Grace had an indoor soccer game that caused us to show up late for the skating venture! I had 2 sobbing boys who were desperately wanting to cut some ice. Of course, being the 'mean mom' that I am - I had to firmly remind them it was NOT THEIR PARTY! Meanwhile, Don was busting out his hockey manuevers and Hannah was doing pretty awesome herself! She is apparently a natural at it, being that this is only her second time on ice. I'm wondering how much rollerblading plays into her abilities! Grace - well, if you remember Grace - always grinnin' and always bouncin' around (off the ice - off other skaters - off the walls) and constantly laughing! NO FEAR!

I'm so frustrated that I'm such a computer flunkie and can't figure out how to upload the pix to all these stories on the blog... some day (hopefully soon) we'll get hi-speed and I'll be able to do so!

Poem by Hannah

2008-02-20T21:18:00.005-05:00

Sunsets
Big Bold
All different shades and hues.
Sunsets filling the sky with the amazing fire of God.
So vibrant and colorful, big and beautiful.
So many different kinds.
I cannot wait until the Time when the sun goes down,
And the colors arise.

by Hannah 2/19/08

My sweet girl is such an awesome poet! More from her in the future! I love you baby!

The Great Escape

2008-02-20T09:31:00.004-05:00

As we were turning down our long drive coming home from piano practice, imagine my surprise to find 2 of our neighbors handling 2 white horses, and there are 2 sheriff patrols all the way down at my home. Something about this pix was not adding up! So - what turned out to be a 7 hour escapade will now be condensed into a RD version, hopefully:

~ something(or someone's dogs - see a few entries below) spooked our 3 cows & 2 horses
~ they all tore thru the electric fence mangling it - disastrous!
~ the horses ran up the drive & fortunately stopped to eat pristinely manicured green grass at another neighbor's lawn (unfortunately for the neighbor- sorry)
~ she phoned the sheriff's office
~ another neighbor, who is older and arthritic, captured & haltered our horses
~ the 2 young, burly sheriff deputies watched from their vehicles (jerks!)
~ another neighbor came to help out with the horse rescue (thank you!)
~ Sheriffs go to leave & introduce themselves w/ a handshake - whew - was waiting for "Beast on the Loose" citation! (not complete jerks then!)
~ cows are no where to be seen - like they vanished into thin air
~ horses brought home & stalled in the barn
~ cow rescue next - following hoofprints - EVERYWHERE
~ we trudged thru about 15 acres of OPP (other ppl's property) shaking a bucket of sweet feed - NOTHING - no bellowing, no lowing, no nothing!
~ cross barbed-wire fences to stand on RR Tracks to see if cows are filet mignon'd
~ ripped clothing and faces from brambles & wild roses
~ realized that adrenaline is wearing off & that it's about 18* with the windchill & I'm not in my Carhartt's or knit cap! (my bad!)
~ Meanwhile, phoning Don, who works an hour from home, telling him to "GET HOME NOW!" instead of being at this really profitable meeting
~ oh - did I mention we noticed our recluse of a neighbor has brought in all 4 of his dogs! Two of these dogs normally roam the countryside terrorizing horses, cows & cats! Ha - at least HIS pristine lawn was shelled with hoofprints! (This guy NEVER brings in his dogs - you'd think they worked for the postal service - "thru rain, snow, sleet or heat!" those dogs are outdoors - even tho they don't own winter coats!)
~ Don gets home - gets in the farm truck - takes off - no words spoken
~ Don gets to meet ALL the neighbors in search of missing bovines!
~ Don is told at one home: "OH, so you own Annie & Dory!" (they have ear tags)
~ Annie, Dory & Steve (our cows) are in the barn of the local middle school principle
~ An hour later Don comes home & tells us all to load up
~ Dory contunies to slam Don and I (but mainly Don) up against the pen as Don attempts to harness her! boy is she honery!
~ Don sustains being stepped on by 1/2 ton Dory about 20 times...
~ Dory is Alpha Heifer, where she leads the others follow - we pray
~ Dory is secured to the back end of the truck (or so we think)
~ I'm pulling Dory behind truck as she's bracing herself against it! - lasso around her neck - too tight
~ find razor blade for Don to cut it loose
~ other neighbors join in the rescue, wife in truck, her dh on horseback (this is turning out to be a regular rodeo!)
~ we make it 700' down principle's drive & halter lead rope breaks from truck
~ oh, did I mention the sun is down & we're at the last stages of dusk before dark settles
~ we make it up to the main road, I'm in the lead w/ hi-brites & hazzards flashing, running a truck off the road so we don't end up w/ hamburger meat, prematurely
~ cows thinking this is great fun - throwing up heels & frolicing about
~ horse mount continuing to reign in unruly cows - along with Don on foot
~ cows cut thru pristine lawn of neighbor's house - AGAIN - boy do we owe her!
~ get the cows home - e-fence repaired - plan to take everyone out to dinner
~ Don realizes cell is missing - returns to scene of crime
~ phone found in hay pile!
~ show up at local family run restaurant - they close at 7p - it's 740p
~ drive to other end of town - they close at 8! but were gracious to stay open for us all!
~ Don and I now speaking to each other... PRICELESS!
~ following morning - bag academics for the morning - making cookies as peace offerings!

So - we thank God - no animals or humans were truly hurt during the making of this memory! We're thankful it happened on 2/19/08 and not a day later, due to horrible weather coming in! We're thankful it was a full moon to light the way home! We're thankful we have some great neighbors who willingly and unselfishly gave of their time & energy to help with the rescue! A huge thanks to J, J, B, J, A, B and all the neighbors who gave us clues to follow to find the cows who disappeared without a trace! Thanks for reading the RD version. Many details & bruises left out in the telling of thus said "GREAT ESCAPE"!

Strike One for the Tooth Fairy

2008-02-18T15:14:00.000-05:00

Charlie asks me last night during church to wiggle his tooth. It barely moved. I swear! Then a few moments later he says, "Mom, something just snapped." "Good," I'm thinking to myself. That's a start. So afterwards he comes to me with a PT and asks me to pull it - right there in the aisle with everyone milling about. So, I sort of brush it aside, still thinking there's no way this tooth is ready - we've got a week minimum to work on it. But, I dutifully go thru the motions of wiggling this tooth back and forth and on the second back and forth, it snaps out of there like a rubberband! So - fast forward to later that night. We say prayers, sing lullabyes and exchange kisses and lights go out. Don and I head downstairs to watch the weather and head off to bed - early for once! neither of us giving a second thought to the fact that our ecstatic son is anxiously awaiting the tooth fairy's visit!

Now - putting this in perspective, this is the 3d tooth he's lost. However, the first two were pulled by the dentist because the permanent ones were coming in behind, like a shark, and he'd have wound up having two rows of teeth. So, we're talking - he's REALLY excited - for - his - first - pulled by mom - tooth! So, now we FF to morning as he crawls in bed beside me. I cautiously open one eye and see the "Tooth Fairy Pillow" - knowing it's empty! - and see the most puzzled, yet hurt face on my sweet baby boy! What a schmuck I am. I mean, really! Let's face it - my oldest is about to lose her last of baby teeth, my next in line is almost done, too! I know the drill - I've been down this Fairy business road before. My pixie dust has taken flight. And yet - I deliver the crushing blow to my son. He wants to know "Why????" So, I think fast... oh yes - here's a good one, "Charlie, you know the strong winds we had last night? Well, the Tooth Fairy is so light & tiny that she would have been blown right past our house. But I'm certain she'll come tonight!" (as I tie a string around my finger to remind myself... ok... it's modern day - I set the alarm on my cell phone to go off at 11p in order for me to don my Tooth Fairy costume and fly up the stairs with money and treats galore!)

Seriously - let's be honest here. I've forgotten with Hannah and Grace, too - but NEVER during the time they still believed in me, I mean believed in the Tooth Fairy. Flog me with a wet noodle. Wish me luck that Verizon has good connection tonight so my alarm will go off!

Down 2 Lives & None to Spare

2008-02-16T15:05:00.004-05:00

This past Monday, we inherited a new cat. As most of you know, "Strays R Us!" Our neighbor, Len, realized after 20m that Bubba, the local bully dog, was racing around her pool. She discovered a cat bobbing for life in the frozen iced waters. Fortunately for her, he was too weak to put up a fight during rescue, and fortunately for him, he had more lives to live, as he was down 2 in a matter of minutes: escaping the jowls of Bubba and not sinking like the Titanic. Now Jode, as he's been named, is doing what cats do best ~ catnapping! Our God is good. He knew how sad we've been over the disappearance 2 wks hence of one of our other cats, Ba-Juliet. In recognition of both of these furry family members, I am reminded of my favorite poem in book form... as Ba-Juliet was the best and most creative of cat-nappers!

An Ode to Ba-Juliet and Jode:

CATS SLEEP ANYWHERE by Eleanor Farjeon
~Cats sleep anywhere ~ any table ~ any chair ~ top of piano ~ window ledge ~ in the middle ~ on the edge ~ open drawer ~ empty shoe ~ anybody's lap will do ~ fitted in a cardboard box ~ in the cupboard with your frocks ~ anywhere ~ they don't care ~ cats sleep anywhere! ~