Nothing to fuss about...

Last night I was feeling a little sorry for myself because I've been shunned yet again (long story), I was dwelling on how hurt my feelings were and why I let the same old same old keep bothering me.  This morning, however, something happened that put everything all in perspective and I don't feel like I have the right to a pity party anymore.   Today should have been an over-the-top joyous day for my friends Kellie & Flint, instead it has turned into a day of unspeakable heartache for them and their families.  One day after her due date, Kellie went into labor; I don't know what happened exactly, but just a few minutes after their sweet baby boy entered this world, he went back to his home in heaven.  My heart just breaks for this couple and their families.  I can't imagine losing a child you have waited so long to hold in your arms.  I can't imagine going home to see a nursery you had ready only to know that your sweet baby boy would never sleep there.  I can't imagine why this couple, who will be such wonderful parents, had give up their child when so many women who don't want their babies keep having more and more. 
Why does it take some tragedy to make us realize what is important and what shouldn't really bother us?  I just hope I don't forget the lesson too quickly.

God's country.

Sometimes we forget what a beautiful part of the country in which we live. Sunday (9-5-2010) we went to Mtn. View; the original plan was to meet some family for and early supper, but on our way home from church Chris and I decided we would leave a little early and take the boys to Blanchard Spring just to get outside and enjoy a beautiful afternoon. We didn't get to stay long exploring around the spring, but we plan on going back very soon. Yesterday Lance (my brother) said he would love to go back over and even go through Blanchard Spring Cavern. Chris and Logan want nothing to do with a giant cave, but I love the cave!

I did manage to get a few good shots of my boys at Blanchard, even let Austin take one of Chris and me which will probably be deleted as I am NOT photogenic!

 .They even matched, totally unplanned, I promise

My 3 favorite men... and Chris managed a slight smile...score one for photography history!

Blanchard Spring runs directly out of the cavern, but you can't get into the cave from here because approximately a mile (if I remember correctly) is completely underwater...like a giant tube...and you have to have scuba gear to get to it from here. There are 2 other natural openings, but I much prefer the elevators from the visitors center.

This is just downstream from the spring.  I've always wondered where the old rock steps once led.  I wonder about things like that quite often.  I wish there was a way to go back into history and really know and understand what life was like in rural Arkansas a century ago.  This creek leads to what is now called Mirror Lake.  It's a manmade stone dam that used to house a grist mill.  The mill is long gone, but lake is still beautiful...and deep...very deep...and surrounded by no swimming signs.

A close up of the spring; it's been here thousands of years, oh if it could only share its story with us, what marvelous things it must have seen.

I'm looking forward to fall and cooler weather along with the chance to get out and do a little hiking.  I love tromping through the woods, and the snakes aren't as active in the fall!  While we were walking through the hills of Arkansas, I couldn't help but think of a song I hear all the time on KLOVE (LOVE that station!)  If you haven't heart the song my "My Help Comes From the LORD" by "The Museum" you need to listen to it.  It ranks right up there with "Praise You in This Storm" for me, and that's very high on my list!

My Help Comes From the LORD  (The Museum)

When sorrows come and hope seems gone
You're the rock I rest upon

When waters rise and I can't breathe

You're the love that rescues me

Out of the darkness I lift up my eyes

Unto the hills I feel my faith rise

Maker of heaven, giver of life

You are my strength my song in the night

My refuge my shelter Now and forevermore

 My help comes from the Lord

When I'm broken scarred by sin

Death gives way to life again

When I suffer when I doubt

In you I'm free in you I'm found

Out of the darkness I lift up my eyes

Unto the hills I feel my faith rise

Maker of heaven, giver of life
You are my strength my song in the night

My refuge my shelter Now and forevermore

My help comes from the Lord

Maker of heaven, giver of life

You are my strength

You're my refuge

Now and forevermore...

My help comes from the LORD

The lost tooth.

Logan has been wiggling his first loose tooth for a couple of weeks now.  Saturday night he finally lost it.  He was biting into an ear of corn and yelled "My tooth! My tooth!".  When he laid his corn down there was some blood around the loose tooth the he could push it almost flat with his tongue.  We decided it was time for the tooth to come out, so Chris took him to the bathroom, had him rinse his mouth, the proceeded to pull the tooth.  There wasn't much pulling to it because the tooth was barely attached.  Logan was very worried about it hurting until Daddy showed him the tooth, then he grinned and said, "Dad's a good tooth puller, that wasn't bad at all!" 

Sunday morning he grinned at everyone in church, he wanted to make sure they saw the gap in his teeth, not to mention he was a dollar richer thanks to a visit from the Tooth Fairy.  He did leave the Tooth Fairy a note that he wrote himself, "Dear Tooth Fairy, can I please keep my tooth?  Love, Logan"  (he had a little help with spelling from me) A request to which the TF graciously consented.

Just one more sign that my baby is growing up!

 Checking out the loose tooth in the mirror.

 Notice the grimmace on his face, afriad the tooth pulling will hurt.

 Checking out the first lost tooth and telling Dad he's a good tooth puller.

Proud of his new smile!

VBS update

Breaking news from Saddle Ridge Ranch.  The horse thievin' bandit, Steely-Eyed Stan, was eavesdropping outside the classroom doors and heard the Bible stories being taught.  His conscience got the best of him, and he brought back all the things he had taken from the classrooms....he even listened when someone shared the story of Jesus with him....and guess what...Yep, he learned his ABC's (A: Admit to God you are a sinner, B: Believe that Jesus is God's son, and C: confess your faith in Jesus as your Savior and Lord)  Saddle Ridge Ranch has one less outlaw, and God has a new son in His kingdom!

We have some pretty amazing and creative people in our church.  From a simple idea of a wanted poster, to the repentence and salvation of a ficticious character, our youth pastor (Bro. Jeff) and several other helpers (Jason, you may have a career in Hollywood) really showed the kids that salvation can change even hardened criminals.  God's ways are truly amazing!

I didn't get photos loaded tonight, but I'll work on that tomorrow.  Tomorrow night is our parent's night and program.  It has been a fun week, I had to miss Tuesday night, but we are still having a blast.  I almost hate to see it end....almost....I need an unbusy week before school starts.

VBS

It's Vacation Bible School week at Salem First Baptist Church and we're having a ball!  I have the privilege of helping with the music this year, and the songs are so much fun!  I went to sleep last night with "don't be a tu-uh-uh-umble weed blowin' anywhere the wi-i-i-ind may lead..." going through my head.  Oh, to have the gift to write these songs, but I can't, so I'll just help sing them!

Can you tell this VBS theme is right up Logan's alley?  His normal attire is Wranglers, boots, belt (with giant buckle), and hat.  He also enjoyed the fun game time...barrel racing on stick horses while wearing oversized boots.  LOVE it!

How cute are these twins?  Karen & Derek, you're in trouble in about 14 years!

One more thing....be on the lookout for this guy!  He's nothing but trouble!  Last night he stole Bro. Jeff's favorite stick horse, Luke.  He also took a picture from the Kindergarten room and another stick horse and stuffed cow from another classroom!  He's a sneaky varmint, but never fear, by Thursday night there will be a whole passel of new deputies who will be out spreading the Good News and old Steely-Eyed Stan will be out of business....who knows, he may even change his ways....

(Thanks, Jason, for playing along and letting us turn you...uh, I mean your evil twin...into an outlaw)  I made some wanted posters and they're posted all around the church. 

Thanks, Casey, for taking all the pictures for me.  She's got tons that we are going to weed through and turn into a video to show at Sunday morning so all the adults who didn't get to visit Saddle Ridge Ranch will know what fun we had. 

Up to our Ears in Corn....

We have some great friends, great friends who have corn...lots of corn...and they like to share!  I wish I had taken a shot of the unshucked corn in the back of the truck, but imagine the bed of a Dodge 2500 filled with corn and you get the idea.  After sharing with lots of family and several friends, Mom and I set out to get our 300+ ears ready to freeze.  That's my Mamma, she said she wanted to be in the picture so everyone would know she worked in the corn.  Honestly, I don't know if I could have done it without her...that was Wednesday, today is Friday, if I'd have had to do it by myself I'd probably still be in the kitchen.

We don't blanch our corn, the ears we just wash really good and let them dry.  When they are dry we just bag them up and into the freezer they go.  The non "cob worthy" ears (ie: the ugly ears) we cut off and make creamed corn.  Once again, there is no heat involved, and we use Aunt Ruthy's recipe:
15 cups of corn (cut off the ears)
5 cups ice water
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. salt
Mix together, let set for 20 minutes, put in freezer boxes and freeze.

Here's a side note:  If you get Paula Deen's newsletter, the last one had her son Jamie's trick for cutting corn off the cob.  Just rest the ear of corn on the hole of a Bundt pan, and cut the kernels off with a sharp knife.  I tried this little trick and it works GREAT!  The pan catches the kernels and it's really easy.  Good idea, Jamie!

Here's the finished product.  Over 150 ears of corn on the cob ready for the freezer, and lots of creamed corn, too. (I forgot to count the number of quarts and pints, but there were several).  Now to get our 1/2 a beef in the freezer and we will a freezer full of good stuff.  Austin is picking blackberries, and some of those are going in the freezer, too....if he doesn't eat them all.

I really enjoyed working up the corn.  I have so many plans for more good stuff to go into the freezer.  I get such a good feeling to open the freezer, see the good stuff stacked in there, and think, "I did that."

Scenes from Media Day

Just a few of the people who came out yesterday.  Leah (foreground) is with NAEC and works with Casey, so everyone was very comfortable with her.  3 of the others were with the local newspaper, and one was with the radio station.  Several reps from the county conservation office came out, too.

The kids had to show the newspaper guy the horses.  Hooter decided, since they didn't have anything to eat, he would just go back to grazing.  Boon (Casey's horse) was very curious, he wanted to be part of the action.

 Taking shots of the kids on the tractor.  Shortly after they left Chris went to the hayfield, hence the baler attached to the tractor.

 One of my favorite shots from the day, Chris was answering a few more questions and Logan was chillin' on Dad's knee....okay, he was really wanting to make the bucket go up and down, but Dad wouldn't let him...he wouldn't even start the tractor!

I had to be a few of the shots, but I don't have those, I really don't like to see photos of myself...maybe if I looked like Cindy Crawford or some other supermodel, but I don't, so I'll just enjoy pictures of my family.  

One amusing happening of the day, Austin was showing the newspaper man his show steer (notice I said STEER).  The man asked him if he was going to raise him and breed him with our other cows.  Austin had a befuddled look on his face like he was trying to decide if he was kidding or serious, and he said, "No, he's a steer not a bull."  At this point the newspaper man asked, "What's the difference between a steer and a bull?" (yes, he was serious)  I choked...maybe even snorted a little.  Austin just cut his eyes at the man and said, "A steer has been castrated, a bull hasn't."  Good answer, son, I was so proud...I'm just glad they didn't ask Logan that question because he would have gone into detail about exactly how Daddy used the bander and the impending results of said bander on certain parts of a calf's anatomy.  It was an interesting day.  I'm glad it's behind us, but I was definitely honored and more than a little surprised to be chosen as the Fulton County Farm Family 2010. 

Farm Family media day

Wow! What a day.  Today was our "media day" with the press (local radio & newspaper), and NAEC (sorry, Leah, they should have told you so you would have known not to wear heels to work today), and NRCS (otherwise known as the Conservation office).  10:00 am was the start time, but I was ready by 9:30...good thing, we had some early guests.  We answered questions, took photos (yes, I had to be in the pictures....yuck!), and had snacks.  The kids showed off their animals (Austin had to explain to one reporter the difference between a steer and bull, he handled it with much tact and decorum....I'm glad he didn't ask Logan).  I did manage to snap a few photos myself, and I'll share those tomorrow; I'm just too tired tonight!

Logan also had his last regular season t-ball game tonight, which they won, so it's been a really busy day.  I'm pooped; I just hope I don't fall asleep in the bathtub (hey, it's happened).  I only have a couple of errands to run tomorrow, then we will finally have a day to relax.  I'm looking forward to it.

I also forgot to mention what my sweet Logan said yesterday morning when he woke up and wandered into the living room.  He looked at me, grinned, and said, "Well, Mom, you don't have a 5 year old anymore."  No, now we have a very grown up 6 year old.  June 23 is also my brother and sister-in-law's anniversary.  Happy Birthday, Logan, and Happy Anniversary Gary & Alanna!

The finished project....almost

Here's the latest from the farm.  Our squash and cucumbers are producing.  I only wish I had sound so you could hear Logan saying, "Hurry, these are stickery!"  He was a little surprised that squash and cucumbers had "whiskers"; and yes, he is in his pajamas.

Here is the deck, nice and stained...many hours of sweat equity went into it.  I am going to pick up an umbrella to cover the table...I'm thinking green to balance out all the redwood.  You can see my little model, still in his jammies, peeking over the rail.

Here's the front.  This one was taken this morning with the jammie clad boy posing on the rock steps for me. (He loves to have his picture taken when it's on his terms).  Mom made the cushions for the chairs pulling in lots of red and yellow.  I have red and yellow flowers and the front porch needed color!  (I just realized Logan matches in red & yellow Transformer pajamas.)

A shot taken this evening, excuse the lens flare, but the sun was shining right toward me.

This is just a small vignette of some of my treasures.  The plow belonged to my Papa Tom, and the big, white, sparkly rocks are quartz that he took out of the zinc mines at Rush, AR in the early 1940's.   More info on Rush

We have worked really hard every weekend for the last 2 1/2 - 3 months to get to this point, but I think our hard work has finally paid off.  We haven't had time to do much of anything else, but it's been worth it.  With that said, I guess I can tell you the reason for all our hard work....we have been selected as the Fulton County Farm Family of the year.  I'm still surprised, but honored.  We don't have a large cattle herd, and we don't have lots of farmland (a few hayfields, but nothing like the row crop farmers in central & south AR), but Chris's business is geared toward helping farmer and ranchers, and he has participated in the grasslands conservation and watershed projects, and is always looking for ways to improve our land.  I'm proud of him.

So that's it, that's the big secret.  One day this week is media day when all the press will be here taking pictures and doing interviews.  I wonder how they will react when I follow them around with a camera?  This could be interesting!

Changes

These aren't in the order I had planned, but I don't guess it really matters.  These are a few of the changes that have gone on around here. 

The black barrell is just another form of recycling.  It was once held minerals for the cattle, but I couldn't let it go to waste.  I washed it out, drilled some drainage holes in the bottom, and used it for a container for tomatoes and cucumbers.  There is another one with more tomatoes, too. 

On the left is one of my baby cucumbers.  I get so excited when I see another blossom.  If all the blooms turn into cucumbers I'll be making pickles!  The plants are very happy!  On the right is Logan's little gourd patch.  He thought birdhouse gourds would be so much fun, but he was afraid someone would try to get them, so he stuck toothpicks into the ground to "protect" his seeds...the seashells (picked out of the pea gravel) are supposed to be some kind of protection, too.  They've started coming up, and when they get bigger they will trail over the retaining wall so the gourds should be easy to pick.

Here is the brand new, rocked out front porch.  Before it was a mixture of concrete blocks, concrete basement slab, and it was NOT very pretty.  Now it's beautiful!  I love the rock.  I have several other ideas of what I want rocked next. (one end of the garage and the retaining wall are at the top of the list)  Once I get the plants, border rocks, and pea gravel in it will look lots better.  If you look really closely you can see Darrell (our blue heeler) lounging by the front door.  He doesn't have a weird pink spot on his face, he was just licking his nose.

And here's the deck.  It's clean but still unstained.  I plan on working on that little task this afternoon because it looks like the rain isn't going to happen.  I should have taken a before shot when there was nothing but an ugly weed patch under the deck.  We rolled out landscape fabric and topped it with pea gravel.  It looks so much cleaner and cooler than it did before, plus, it will be much less inviting for creepy, crawly critters.

My next project for the back is a flagstone patio just off the deck with a fire pit.  I'm trying to talk Chris into some kind of water feature,  like a pool, but he won't go for it.  Maybe I can talk him into a little waterfall...but that's a project for next summer.  I'm about landscaped out for this summer!

Blog makeover

Time for another change. The whole Red Dress project was just stressing me out, so it's time to move on to something more fun. I'm still trying to get into the red dress, I'll keep you posted if it ever happens, in the meantime, I have a new project. Lots of big things going on on the Jennings farm, exciting things are happening around here, so keep checking back to see what's going on. (I promise, it's going to be good, but it's still a secret!) Intrigued?


Let's start the new direction with some cool cloud photos. This was yesterday (I think it was yesterday...maybe the day before). I'd never seen clouds like this, apparently it was a pretty big storm and people several miles (an hour away) even saw them.

Where do you rest after you've been running through the sprinkler?  Why, in the wheel of a John Deere tractor, of course.

Why do boys think if they poke a piece of dried grass at the face of a red-eared slider turtle it will somehow make a transformation into a snapping turtle?  And the bigger question, why would you want it to be a snapping turtle?  Boys!

So that's just a peek of the direction this blog will be going for a little while.  You may see lots of photos of my baby squash and cucumbers (tomorrow), and the heirloom tomatoes I have growing; there are also lots of landscaping projects going on, too, and then the big thing....I can't wait!

Oops!

I guess it's time to change the blog header, if you notice today was to be the last day of the red dress project.  I have no idea what the scale says, but I'm sure it doesn't say I'm down 25lbs.  The big Oops of the day, I was supposed to go back to see the doctor...darn, I forgot....I hate it when that happens.  Instead of going to see the man who was going to scold me for not losing more weight, I opted to work outside in the yard.  The front is cleaned up and ready for plants, and I started staining the deck but am not totally thrilled with the color.  I'll have to give it a day or 2 to grow on me.    I honestly did forget about the doctor's appointment, but I had our school nurse check my bp just before school was out and it was back to normal, so I'm not going to worry about it.  I don't need him to tell me I need to lose some weight, but I personally think he needs to eat a cheeseburger, he looks a little too thin!
Stay tuned, a blog makeover is in the works, and I have another fun idea....and it's NOT about losing weight.

I want this!

Normally I never even try to win giveaways because I rarely, and I do mean RARELY, win anything like that...but when I saw this my heart fluttered ever so much. I LOVE the graphicness (new word of the week) of black & white. In fact, I've decorated my classroom in black and white with punches of turquoise (I chose turquoise because I found some really neat feathers at Hobby Lobby, and I was ready to break out of the lime green/ hot pink rut). Now you see why I really want to win this giveaway? If you happen to win it instead of me will you share? : )

So there you go, the gorgeousness of black and white....Ooooh, honey hush!

  Giveaway of gorgeousness

The Rise of Red Writer

I have had a story in my head for quite some time now, and finally put pen to paper...or rather fingers to keyboard...and started writing.  I may not be the best writer in the world, but I do enjoy it.  It is very therapeutic for me.  With a little help from my mom (the best English teacher ever...now retired), I am ready to present the story to you.  I am working on a drawing of my "hero" and will share that as soon as I finish.  Now, without further ado, the story of Red Writer...

I have often heard the phrase “the pen is mightier than the sword”, but nowhere is that more accurate than a school…especially if that pen happens to be red. Oh, the immense power of a red pen, with a stroke it can bring relief or despair. Those little checkmarks, or lack thereof, can build you up or bring you down.

With the power of the red pen comes responsibility, and a solemn vow not to misuse the power, or use it for self gain. No, the ones entrusted with said power are on a mission to stamp out ignorance across the country, and the red pen is the all powerful tool. Who are these chosen ones? How do we identify them? Simply, they answer to the name Teacher.

Never have I felt the power of the red pen more than I did a few days ago, when I discovered an exchange that was less-than flattering about me. As expected, my initial reaction was one of justified anger, but as I re-read the exchange, anger was replaced by a much different feeling. My anger dissipated as I took pen in hand and swiftly made spelling, punctuation, and grammatical corrections on the note. Oh, such power! The page soon became filled with red marks that gave me such a sense of freedom. Ignorance was being vanquished by an object mightier than a sword!

I have often wondered what feelings give rise to those who become super heroes, and I have come to the realization that it must be power, and the confidence that they have the capability to make a difference. The dawning of this new knowledge led to an idea; and idea that began to take shape on paper; and idea for a brand new, true-to-life superhero….Red Writer! Never before has there been one so dedicated to stamping out ignorance as Red Writer. She comes swiftly, wielding the power of the red pen as her weapon. She draws knowledge from teachers across the country, and with them, she is determined to improve grammar and vocabulary. She is fighting many unseen foes, the evil Abbv Txt Man who forces victims to change complete words to a mishmash of letters and numbers with his evil counterpart L8r, who is bent on ending the use of vowels. Fonetik, who has children world-wide convinced that it’s okay to spell it like it sounds, and IDK, the worst of the bunch, who is on a mission to completely change the English language as we know it, bringing entire sentence structure down to nothing but simple letters. Should these evil villains succeed; gone forever will be good vocabulary skills, correct spelling, and all punctuation marks. But, with the mighty power of the red pen, and the knowledge that she is not alone, Red Writer will succeed. Through her vast internet resources and the support of English teachers everywhere, ignorance will be vanquished and grammatical superiority will reign!

Accountability

This morning Bro. John preached on breaking addictions. One of the many addictions he mentioned was the addiction to food. I started thinking (amazing, huh?) about my little project again and why I can’t seem to take the weight off as quickly as I want to. I think one of the big issues is somewhat of a food addiction. I don’t deliberately gorge myself to the point of pain or oblivion, but I do just nibble here and there without even realizing I’m doing it! You know that old “that tasted so good I think I’ll have another bite” kind of thing. He made several points about overcoming addiction, the first one being ACCOUNTABILITY. Hmmm, the light bulb just came on. That’s what I’ve been missing. I haven’t been accountable to anyone but myself, and it’s obviously not working. One of this morning’s scripture references was John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest.” God doesn’t want us to fail, He wants us to succeed and have a good life. Another verse from the sermon was 2 Corinthians 10: 3-4 “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” Did you read that? DIVINE power, power to DEMOLISH strongholds! If we are walking in the will of God, and I believe He wants us to be healthy, we can’t lose! The inability to stick with a healthy eating plan is weakness, and possibly a lack of faith. I’m shooting myself in the foot with the weight thing by saying, “I don’t know why I even bother”. Now, don’t think that I want to be a size 2, because that won’t ever happen. I don’t think I was a size 2 when I was 2! I barely remember wearing a size in the single digits (I do remember 6x for some reason?), and that is not my goal. My goal is a 12. I’m 5’9” and that is a reasonable, HEALTHY, size for someone as tall as me. If you are 5’9” and are a size 2, I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but you need some help…and some cheesecake.

So it is with renewed commitment that I, once again, move toward my goal of the red dress. Not only do I want to wear the dress comfortably, but I want to wear it comfortably without Spanx. (some of you ladies know what I’m talking about). This time it’s going to be different, though, because I have God in my corner and I’m going to let Him handle what satan throws my way. No more self doubt. (Chris will be happy to hear this since last night was a major night of self doubt. He tries to be encouraging, but he just doesn’t quite get it. Which brings me to my next point; I need an accountability partner, any takers? Prayer warriors on my behalf would also be greatly appreciated.

Oh, one more thing. As promised, pictures of our little landscaping projects from yesterday.

And one really great surprise I got this morning.  Our youth pastor and his wife gave those of us helping with VBS music these really cute t-shirts.  I LOVE t-shirts, especially lime green ones, and I just love Jeff & Missy & their family, too.

Just when I thought I'd said all I had to say, I thought of one more thing.  I've told you about him before, David, the man who comes to church on the church van from an assisted living facility.  He is probably in his 40's, and has Down's Syndrome.  He sits on the front pew, and is a wonderful reminder of God's love for us all.  He raises his hands in praise and sings at the top of his lungs. Even though he is hard to understand, you can tell by the look on his face that he knows God hears and understands. It is such a blessing and always leaves me with tears in my eyes.  This morning he was just overcome with joy.  People were on their feet with hands outstretched (I can see this from the choir)...well, most people, Bro. John wasn't on his feet.  He was sitting on the front pew with his eyes closed, smiling, enjoying the worship.  David noticed.  The next moment, David slipped across the aisle, took Bro. John's elbow, and motioned for him to stand.  It was precious!  David wanted to make sure everyone was on their feet to worship God, even the preacher.  After John stood, David raised his hands and began to sing again, a song that only God knew the meaning, and I'm sure it brought Him great joy. 

Two down, many to go...

...landscape projects, that is.  After the torrential rains passed, Chris and I got outside and attempted a little more landscaping, okay, it was actually redoing some that we had done last year that really didn't look so great.   I also used the seeder to spread some fescue seeds on the recently dozed area.  I felt a little like Johnny Appleseed, only a little more high tech, and sowing fescue rather than apples, but for me it was a time to sow.  I hope the grass grows, I'm thinking I should have gotten some shady area grass seed and mixed with it, but I do have a tendancy to overdo seed planting, but I digress.  We moved the ugly brick things from around my little dogwood tree and replaced them with some really pretty, big rocks.  Two of the rocks I spotted behind a barn where Chris was working (Donna & Trooper, you'd love what I did with them, espceially since I got them out of your pasture)  They are curved and fit around my tree really well.  We only had one minor accident when Chris dropped a big rock on my finger, but though it's a little sore, it isn't broken...and it was an accident because he felt really bad about it.  Our little project did involve another trip to Lowe's, which isn't a quick thing for us, it's 30 miles to the nearest Lowe's, but we also made a little side trip by Chili's for a burger to go since it was supper time. (Logan was hungry ( ;    Anyway, we picked up more river rock and pea gravel (we've ditched the mulch and are going with pea gravel now), came home and fixed up the 2 little projects (pictures later).   Thankfully the rain we had settled the pollen, and I managed to get through the project without sneezing! 

On our way to Lowe's, the sun was just breaking through the rain clouds and God put the most beautiful rainbow in the sky for us.  It was very short lived, but it was one of the most brilliant rainbows I've ever seen, and wouldn't you know it, I didn't have my camera!  It's usually my American Express...I don't leave home without it! 

The next project will be the big one; I'm anxious to get started, but it's going to be lots of work.  Oh, do I have grand plans!  Anyone want to come help me...and bring nice, flat rocks?  Chris said he knows where we can get all we want, but we have to wait for cold weather because of the rattlesnakes.  Rattlesnakes?  I'll just buy the rocks if it means fighting snakes!

Just in case you're wondering about the Dress progress, don't ask.  We had supper with friends last night and she's a fantastic cook.  She also made a key-lime cheesecake...did I mention cheesecake is one of my favorites? 

This is going nowhere...

I now have the swelling under control, and my ankles and hands aren't swollen any more, so I can't blame things on fluid retention, so I think it's time to go to plan B.  I need some help, I'm not losing anything!  Maybe it's time to go back to Weight Watchers, but we don't have a meeting locally.  I may check it out online and just hope I have the willpower to stick to it.  I'll keep you posted.

Day...whatever.

Well, the Red Dress Project continues, but more behind the scenes than before. I am making progress, as evident by the loose fitting capris that were snug enough last summer if I'd have had a quarter in my back pocket you probably could have seen the imprint of the date. With a little more determination...and some good Spanx...I may be in the dress quicker than I thought!

It's been a wild week around VHS, prom is Friday night, and we've been Benchmark testing this week. Just for the record, I HATE Benchmark testing! I can only imagine how much the kids hate it. When we used to do standardized testing in school we could at least take a book to read if perchance we finished early, not so anymore! In fact, the whole signing in and signing out of test booklets is something akin to the to protocols of moving nuclear warheads...or so it seems. Some of the "rules" are ridiculous and insulting to our intelligence...but I'll climb off the soapbox now.

I was saddened to hear of the death of "Designing Women" Dixie Carter. I wish the producers and actors could know just how much laughter they brought to two struggling single-mom, college students. Shelley and I could really relate to those girls. Yeah, we watched Melrose Place, but it was from a outside-looking-in sort of things. They were a little to surreal, Julia, Suzanne, Mary Jo, and Charlene, on the other hand were like sisters. We understood their southern humor, we even got the subtle humor of the line, "she has no breeding, she wore while shoes after Labor Day and before Easter!"  Yep, we knew those southern fashion rules...I even sported the big hair and occasional shoulder pads. You left us on the floor crumbled with laughter, red faced and gasping for air when you were asked to re-decorate a nudist colony...the "well, we don't want wicker" and "I thought he was wearing a vest!" comments were just enough to give us a mental picture, and beauty queen Suzanne knew how to spot falsies.   I still channel Julia Sugarbaker when I'm a little angry and need to "tell someone off" in a civilized manor with dignity and decorum. My, but didn't she have a way with words. What has happened to TV? What happened to the clean humor? They were hilarious but not vulgar, and even though they were always fully clothed (and quite fashionably I might add) that show had top ratings. Oh, TV, what have you become? Give us more to which we can relate.

Goodbye, Dixie, may you rest in peace.


Hmmm, maybe Delta Burke and I could pass for sisters?

Happy things

Back to the happy posts. I decided to take a few shots of pictures of things that make me happy, and I got some good ones!  Let's spread the cheer, feel free to post a link to things that make you happy.  I'd do the McLinky thing, but I really don't know how and I don't think I have that many people who read my ramblings from a scattered mind...but I'd love to, so spread the word and let's be happy together!

This kid makes me happy.  He always has something funny to say and is usually the most pleasant kid to be around.  I love him dearly. (okay, this isn't the best picture, but I was driving...on our dirt road about 10 yards from the driveway with NO oncoming traffic...no animals or people were harmed in the taking of this picture...or Dodge trucks, either)

These 2 kids make me happy.  I love listening to their conversations when they think no one can hear them.  Casey had intended to walk to the barn and out through the field by herself, but Logan turned on the tears and looked at her with those big blue eyes, so she said, "Come on, you can walk with me."  They ended up spending an hour together and having some good conversation.

Unexpected surprises make me happy.  I found this cute little gray & black tree frog perched on one of my lawn chairs.

Getting a fun new T-shirt makes me happy.  These are the VHS 2010 prom shirts.  I designed them and was really happy with the way they turned out.  (If you need a t-shirt design just give me a call or drop me a line..shameless plug, just in case you didn't catch that.)

This one is questionable.  It makes me happy to see Logan playing and having so much fun on his swing.  I wasn't too happy to see that he was standing on the TOP of the swing hanging onto a rope.  He's been watching way too many Indiana Jones movies, you can't really see the thick string around him, that's his "whip".  I never know what this child will come up with next!

One more thing that made me laugh out loud tonight I didn't even get a picture of (those will follow when our little project is finished).  Tonight Logan and I were working on a little project in the front yard.  I'm hiding the ugly blue drain pipes from the downspout drains with some big, flat rocks.  Logan and I had gotten most of them in place and realized we were still missing one big one.  Chris volunteered to carry it across the yard (we have a really big yard...I used the 4 wheeler to tote them from point A to point B) for us.  He brought us a really big one, lots bigger than Logan and I had used, and when he laid it down Logan looked up, grinned, and said, "Dad, you're the man!".  It was hilarious, but sure made Chris feel good.  He is the man!

Oh, one more thing that makes me happy...are you ready for this?...putting on a pair of pants that were a little snug and finding out they are quite loose.  Yay me!  (another shameless pat on the back for me)

 

Handling stress

 

 

Have you ever started writing something, then changed your mind, deleted it, thought about it, re-wrote it, deleted, re-wrote, etc….?  That is how this post has been.  I've wondered, should I write it?  What if someone reads it and gets hurt feelings?  Is it worth it?  I guess it has all come down to the fact that is it my blog; my online journal; something I started as an outlet for my feelings.   I try to keep it really light and occasionally humorous, but the last few hours have found me in anything but a humorous mood.  I've run the gamut of emotions from extreme anger to very, very hurt.  I try to remember the source of my hurt is just a kid, not mine…mine would never do anything to hurt their mother (and I have some ocean front property in Northern Arkansas for sale if you believe that).   So here's the rub, as you have probably noticed, I really had my feelings hurt last night.  Why do I let it get to me so much? 

After some soul searching and self-evaluating (you know how qualified I am in the ways of psychology…not), I think it all boils down to my childhood.  Isn't that the typical diagnosis?  Maybe I can blame everything on my childhood.  However, I had a great childhood.  I have a great family, but there were a few times when I felt like I was the big misfit, literally the BIG misfit.  When Daddy remarried I gained 2 stepsisters, both of whom were skinny blondes, and along comes the awkward kid with dark hair who towered over the other 2.  I've said before I was the tallest in my class until around the 5^th grade and my cousin finally passed me in height…HE is now well over 6 feet tall.  I always felt ugly, like some kind of freakish human anomaly, maybe that's when I started medicating my hurts with food.(of course, it didn't help that Mom and my grandmothers are all great cooks) 

Fast forward to last night, after it was pointed out that I am NOT part of the "family" (not the above mentioned, those hurts have all been worked out and things are cool there), I just happen to be the woman who married into the family and have changed my husband "and not in a good way" (yes, that is a direct quote, oh, and you can substitute the word "woman" with another word that begins with a B..Yes, it was capitalized so I guess that means I'm really, really bad).   I can't help but be hurt.  I've always felt like somewhat of an outcast in the clan, but I thought it was just me.  Now I realize they really don't like me.  Bummer, I think the world of some of them and I hate that they think that I have changed Chris.  I married him for who he was, not who I wanted him to become.  He may not spend as much time there as he did before, but it's because he works very, very hard and when he gets home he wants to stay there.  We like being home.

So, there it is my vent for the day.  I promise not to post anything so negative in the future, but I can say that even though I've been stressed out about the whole ordeal, I DID NOT turn to food as my comfort.  Maybe I'm breaking the bad habit of reaching for a snack when I'm down.  I did take a nice, brisk walk last night to walk off the anger.  It helped immensely; maybe I'll take another walk tonight.  Maybe the hurt feelings will help me get back into that dress quicker than I'd hoped.  See there is always a positive to every negative, and I am choosing to focus my energy on that rather than the hurt.

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