Day of the dogs

Actually yesterday was the day of the dogs. Dixie and Oscar celebrated their sixth birthday.  Dogs. Six years. Merely words that don't do them justice.  Dixie and Oscar are physically dogs but they are so much more than that... the memories,  the smiles, the laughter, the love they've given is so much more than from a dog. It's  from a friend. A loved one.
And six years? I can't imagine my life without them. Chances are I will probably out live them, but I don't want to. I  try not to think about it and we just make the most of every day.

Front porchin

I imagine with all the amount of quaranrintines going on there is a lot of front porchin. You know you sit on your front porch and take it all in. Early when covid 19 was just getting started, there were articles on how to raise your spirits. One of those articles recommended hanging Christmas lights and I did. I've always loved Christmas lights so I didn't really need a reason but it makes me appear a little more sane. Anyway, early Monday morning you can find me front porchin. I have the lights on and a good cup of coffee in my hands. The dogs and I take in the morning listening to whipporwills, an occasional owl, and sometimes coyotes howling in the distance.  The dogs play and I pray.
I thank God for the amazing life he's given me. I pray for the continued good health of our family especially our nurses. Goodness we have a lot of essential heroes.  I pray for people I don't even know. I pray that this virus ends and our country begins to heal.
Before I know it, the sun is breaking over the mountains and the lights aren't needed. My coffee is getting a little cool and it's time to start chores.

Hitting my knees

After knee surgery, you kinda take it easy on your knees. Mine was six months ago and to this day I put a pillow on the floor before I kneel. Then life happens and you feel something so strongly, so quickly that you don't have time to think and you just hit your knees to talk to God. Today is one of those days. Dwight is getting checked for cancer again. It's a follow up. It was planned but then delayed by Covid 19.  He's done everything the doctors have told him to do. I'm praying the tests come back clear. I'm not allowed in the hospital so all I can do is wait and pray. I wish I was closer to him. If I'm this scared, I can't imagine what Dwight must be feeling. Who am I kidding? He's probably just pissed that he couldn't have biscuits and gravy this morning.  That man. That crazy red neck hillbilly. He's the love of my life. I don't want him sick or in any pain.  Please God take the cancer away.

Enough already

• I understand  Black lives matter. I think all lives matter.  I understand that you have a right to protest. I really do. But, I have a right to live my life. I have the right to go to work and support my family. I don't think a community should be targeted for the beliefs of a few. I believe I have the right to defend myself if threatened.  I won't hesitate and I damn sure won't be making a fucking video.
  

Hey Mom

You know the head doctors initially broke grief into five stages: Shock, Anger, Denial, Bargaining and Acceptance.  Those same fools said that grief generally lasts four years. Not really true.It's been six years and yet I know when I draw my last breath, I'll still be grieving.
And those stages? I've been through all of them and have started over. I'm back to being angry.
You should be here. I  need you. There's this whole shitty pandemic going on. No one is really sure what to do. The safest thing seems to be isolation,  but at what cost? How many milestones are gonna be missed? How long will we be separated from loved ones? I know you weren't a scientist,  but you'd have answers or at least know how to make things better. You always did. It was like your thing.
Damn, I miss you. We all do.
You should be here. You'd be so proud of all of your grandkids.  They're fantastic adults. And Hopper and Rowan? The coolest kids EVER.
You're missing it all.
Or are you? Are you the reason none of us has caught this stupid virus? Are you keeping close watch over our little army of nurses? Are you smiling to see Robyn run? Do you laugh when Patrick and Lee rescue another litter of puppies? You always were a sucker for puppies.
I've found the pennies. Every day since the beginning of May. I've seen the cardinals too. Every time I turn around,  there's a sign, but it's not the same.
I still miss you.

This is the way we do it. Better butter.

For several months now, the hubby and I make a trip once a week to a local farm to pick up fresh milk. It tastes so good. It look like this:

I don't know if you can see it, but there's a line close to the top. The white stuff above the line is cream and it needs to be skimmed off. You can use the cream in your coffee or to make alfredo sauce. Most of the time our cream is made into butter. You whip it in a food processor for twenty minutes or so. Time depends on temperature of the cream. Room temperature will process faster. If you're really bored, you could churn it or put in a jar and shake it. You may notice it's turning a nice light yellow color. It should look like this:

Now you can drain off the watery substance.  Don't throw it away, it's buttermilk.  Then, you can put it in a bowl and continue to mush out extra water. If you want, you can add a little salt. It will go from grainy looking to smooth with all thus mashing.

There you have it. Homemade wonderful butter.

Adventures on the pontoon boat

I finally, finally got to go out on the pontoon boat. First we went to Bull Shoals on a cooll, foggy morning.  Eventually the fog lifted. The picnic tables were under water. I caught one very small fish which we released . Then we saw a bald eagle. Unfortunately my phone didn't have enough zoom to get a good picture,  but he was magnificent.
Then we went to Russellville and fished by the Dover waterworks.  I caught three nice fish and a sunburn, but I drove the boat without anything bad happening.  Also, manned the trolling motor without incident.  So we're all good. Also learned about jugging.