Happy Birthday Beth

Happy Birthday Beth! I love you.
Three little words-I love you. How easily they roll off my tongue. I can't remember a conversation that didn't end with me saying those words to you or you to me. You learned way too early that tomorrow isn't a given. Because of you, there is no doubt in my mind the very last words my mother heard me say. So often, you have been my teacher, my inspiration, and my friend.
I love you means-I know all about your faults-those faults don't make you less than perfect-only human. I hope you know that any mistake isn't really a mistake if you learn from it-it's a lesson. I think at your age, I wracked up a lot more lessons than you have.
If I give you a hard time about giving me a granddaughter (or son)-it's only because I want you to enjoy the same joy I have in knowing that you have given the world an incredible gift. A gift that keeps on giving. There is no doubt in my mind that you, Paul, and Lauren will leave the world a much better than the one in which you were born.
When I look in your eyes, I see a bright and wonderful future. Full of promise.
I hope your birthday is as wonderful as you are.
I love you.

Thought for the day

The Art of Burrowing

When Dwight and I baby sat Loki, we thought it was so cute that he would "burrow"-he'd go under the covers to the bottom of the bed and sleep. I'm sure there's not a lot of air down there, but apparently there's enough and he'd get there and not move until it was time to get going in the morning. Dixie does it too. If I'm curled up on the couch with a blanket, she's right beside me or under the blanket. Today she went burrowing in the blankets by herself. She's too short to jump on the bed just yet-I was washing sheets and the blanket was on the floor. I heard some yelping.It sounded like she was in dire straits so I came running to the bedroom only to find this little lump under the blanket running in circles on the floor. She got in and couldn't find her way out. I rescued her from the oppresive blanket and was rewarded with tons of puppy kisses.

Dixie's Story

A couple of days ago, I went to look at some dacshund puppies. There were two in the litter- a black female and a little red male. I've wanted a red male ever since I baby sat for Loki (Beth and Jody's dog). They sent pictures and the female was just so beautiful I decided I had to meet in person to make a choice. She was as beautiful as her pictures, but he had the personality I was looking for but what a tough decision. I drove away crying thinking about separating the two. It was just one of those days, but I dried my tears by the time I got to work and since the hubster was going by after work-he would make the final decision and I would pick one up Saturday night. I called home at break time to see what he decided. He didn't care-they were both great pups. The lady offered a deal on the two of them, but Dwight has grown up with dogs outside. It wasn't fair to ask him to take on two. So I asked which one was his favorite-again he didn't really have one. Then he asked me-and if I really had to make a choice, the red male was what I always wanted. He told me that was good because he and "Oscar" were already getting settled in. WTH-I had no bed set up, no food, no toys-all taken care of he assured me-and they were. I dodged a bullet, because there was no way I could look at Dixie and drive away with her brother.When I got home, there was no dog in the dog bed but he was curled up in the crook of Dwight's arm. Dogs are serious business in our house. They are a huge commitment. The take a lot of time, patience, understanding, and love. We don't just want a healthy dog-we want the dog to be happy too. If you can't tell if your dog is happy, you shouldn't own one. Oscar has been incredible-he does his business outside. He knows the word "no". Loves the cats(the feeling is not mutual). He's extremely loving, but there's just something missing and he knows it. Dwight looked at me today and says he misses his sister. I told him she's still available. He said no she's not-we're getting her. I called the lady and I really couldn't tell if she was crying or not-it sounded like it. Her last two nights have been hell. Dixie has howled all night long. She hasn't really eaten the way she needs to. So now instead of one puppy-we have two. Two very happy puppies. Probably a very messy house, but a happy house.

Conversation with the Vet's office

Me: I need to make an appointment to spay a cat.
Vet's office: What's the cat's name?
Me: Hitler
Vet's office: Are you sure it's female?
Me: Hitler keeps having kittens

Introducing Oscar

Four cats, 2 beagles, 2 ducks, 2 horses, 2 aquariums, twelve chickens and one rooster aren't enough at our house. Allow me to introduce our newest family member: Oscar

A walk in the woods

The hubster had trouble finding a deer he had shot so I spent a lot of time walking in the woods this weekend. A lot. I did a little dance jig when I made it back to the four wheeler without encountering any dangerous animals (sorry the box turtle didn't rank as dangerous) but for the most part I enjoyed walking in the woods by myself. It's been a long time. The woods were I grew up were much smaller. You could blind fold me, drop me off, and I could find my way out before dinner time.I know where the plums, pears, and muscadines grew. I had favorite trees everywhere. The pines grew so big and thick in one spot, that the undergrowth was almost nonexistent. The bed of needles must have been 4 inches thick. We'd play house under the trees using the needles-making an outline of a house complete with bedrooms, doors, and walk ways. Sometimes we'd climb to see who would go the highest up (I don't remember Juliet ever winning but she'd always climb). Then, sometimes we'd climb a tree with vines. We'd grab a thick one, swing, and hope for the best. Sometimes, our journey to the ground was swift, but I don't remember any broken bones. Got my butt whooped for some torn pants, but no broken bones. The were dirt mounds great for riding bikes. With wonderful orange dirt. I'm sure that was a lot of fun when it came laundry time. I loved the woods and I love them now. The smell of the leaves is the same. Instead of someone calling me home, I hear eagles screaming-maybe it's the same thing.

City girl mistake with a history lesson

I know there are a lot of things a city girl needs to learn about counrty life i.e. you can't pet a rooster and I thought I caught on pretty well until the other day.
I put a whole Chinkapin into my mouth-shell and all. I know you're supposed to shell nuts but since the pricky part was gone I figured the brown pea shaped nut was the part to eat. Wrong. You still have to take the shell off. What's a Chinkapin you ask?

This is what it looks like out in the wild. See the prickly part? Don't be surprised if you've never seen one before. Sometime back in the 1940's and 1950's the Ozarks (and the entire South east) were struck by a tree disease called "Chestnut Blight". It killed most of these trees and for a long,long time people and animals had to do without these delicious treats. Slowly, they are coming back and they taste better than chestnuts and they are about the size of a chestnut too.
Here's what I popped into my mouth:

not a whole hand full-just one.
So crack your nuts and don't eat the shells.

October 1st

To many people, today is just an ordinary day-a Wednesday-and really a day of no importance. There are ten more days until Casey's Birthday and thirty days until Beth's Birthday. Seventeen until Beth and Jody celebrate their very first anniversary. To me, October first starts fall. I know the calendar says it starts sometime in September-but that's for the fools that have Christmas decorations out with their pumpkins. So it's finally October, and now my fall decorations can come out. There's the pumpkin, spider web, and the little ghosts. Candy corn in the candy dishes and time for caramel apples. If you look real hard-you might find the Halloween candy I've hidden from Dwight and Lauren. I don't have little ones to dress up or plan a costume for-so I sit waiting for my sister to post pictures of her adorable little ones. I don't think she can top her costume from last year-a friggin' jellyfish that glowed-but she's full of surprises.
There's fall festivals and Harrison has their "Homecoming" on the square this weekend. I might get to go if I'm not helping Dwight with deer meat.
Meanwhile, I hear caramel apples calling my name.