Catching Up

seems to be something I'm not doing very well lately.  I did, finally in the month of June, change the top bed cover to something lighter.

I've almost finished with painting the outside of the house.  The paper wasps have delayed me.  I painted one as it emerged from a crack between wood and rock at the top of the chimney.  It fell but another followed it. I decided to stop painting until I get wasp spray. I'm allergic or I would just try and work around them.  

Between the rains and up and down the ladder, I've weeded and picked up limbs and moved rocks from the water garden so I could fit the ladder next to the house.  I've become braver and more trusting of my ladder placement judgement.  I have very few spots left to paint, just the trim.  Almost done!!!  The high spots will be done from the tractor bucket.  All with a two inch brush, too.  I'm kinda proud of my work.

It is hot and dry now.  A couple of afternoons were triple digits. Some that weren't felt that way with the humidity.  My painting follows the shade and in between I've picked cucumbers and onions, sprayed the hungry bugs with hot pepper/mint/Dawn tea, and moved things from my sister's house she sold.  Along with my regular "chores" I've stayed busy.

The old doe with a fawn thinks the garden is hers.  She likes the bean tops and the lettuce best.  The dogs were keeping her out but she convinced them to stay away the day they sniffed out her fawn.  The deer gave them a good stomping.  No one was harmed but the dogs let her graze in the garden now.

I've mentioned Pit Vipers or poisonous snakes have a smell.  Well, let me tell you something (the way Mom always started a wild story) I've been smelling something strange in our tool closet.  Told Hubby we either had a Copperhead or a skunk under the floor.  He said, Naw, the dogs would have gotten either.  They did one day...tore up jack shit as some would say.  I couldn't tell what was going on.  Had to take a piece of siding off to see under the floor.  There it was...a monster of a Cottonmouth snake.  The dogs did good.  Sad part is I think it got one of my Koi....and to think I've been moving those rocks, digging around, standing barefooted, never having my mind on a poisonous WATER snake.  Well, I'm thinking and watching now!

At night when I sit with ice packs on aching muscles and joints I try to read.  My latest book was A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House. I would like to share a line that struck a chord with me "That's all anybody can ask for, if you think about it-to have somebody love you and depend on you and take care of you when you're sick, and mourn over your casket when you die."

So, just like a letter from home, I've caught up through the times I've failed to post.

Happy Father's Day and may the rest of June be wonderful to you.

This N That

We are the Red Cross

the soup kitchen

and transport

One can't walk

one's heating aching joints

the other shuts down

Those still standing

try to make it better

hoping "Normal"

is closer than it was

We've had freezing rain and cold temps but nothing we couldn't deal with (and I'm frantically searching my mind how to NOT end this sentence with a preposition. Some lessons never leave.  I guess it's okay now.  I hear people saying "Want to go with?"  With what???  Don't leave me hanging.) 

The after care and day care station is still open.  A visit later today to see how the skin grafts are taking.  I'm glad we can help but we are tired. It is straining on the pocket book and every one's patience.  No one can help the situation.  We must muddle through with as much good grace as we can muster. Eight days from our second month with at least four months to go...and eight days.

Poor Bonnie had to return to the vet after her surgery. In a few short days she dropped from 83.5 pounds to a terrible sixty pounds.  She has come back strong and nearing her original weight.  That "free" puppy now has an invested value of $489.17.

Marcy was transported to the hospital one day but I brought her home with me.

I am crocheting in all my FREE time and trying to read The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. Apparently I am at fault and "attract" this chaos.  I must find out the "secret" to ending that attraction. This was a book I chose at Salvation Army just because the cover was pretty.  Won't do that again unless I need the cover for a project.

So here I am being non creative, dull and boring.

May your best dreams come true this week.

Heaven Is For Real

Seldom do I take the time to watch a movie and seldom do I cry...I did both today.  Not tears of sadness, nor disappointment nor pain but tears of joy.  I cried because "Heaven Is For Real".

I thought this day, this place and this time was appropriate to share the joy I received from the movie.

In a season when we speak of love, gifts and family some of us need to know Heaven is for real. This movie, based on a true story, clarified for me the gift that we all are given.

Merry Christmas!

Random 5 Friday with A Rural Journal...

 A Rural Journal, has many Random 5's.  

Join the fun and read a few.

1.  The snow has finally left and the cattle are enjoying warmer air. We are enjoying new babies and warmer weather.  Today a chill is in the air with a little rain mixed with sun.  We are dry despite the snow.

2.  I neglect visiting all my bloggers every day between working at our shop, playing at farming, crocheting and being hopelessly lazy.

  

3.  I am slowly working on my book.  Some think I may have enough talent to be published.  Many days I don't agree.

4.  I love canines.  None of you knew that, did you???

5.  The Siberian Iris is blooming.

Pieces...

are

sometimes

more

interesting

than

the whole.

Perception by D. Jean Quarles

Perception is a book I won from D Jean Quarles' blog.  I was thrilled about winning but after reading her book, I am beyond thrilled...excited and validated!

Ms Quarles weaves a tale of life with no coincidences, that life is guided by a force other than ourselves.  I enjoyed her style and quickly finished the book.  It is mainly a tale of two people (with many other interesting characters) who have experienced personal losses in their lives.  How, not by coincidence, they are placed in each other's path, again and again, for a reason.  Guided by what?  You must read the book!!!

Growing up with a mother who had the "gift", this book simply reenforced what I have grown to believe.  Love is eternal and what we experience in life depends on our perception.

Thank you, D. Jean Quarles.

Monday....and Another Halter Leaves

 Monday is never my favorite day of the week, unless it's a holiday, then Tuesday is my least favorite day. I knew today was going well when I stretched in the hall, fell backwards and hit my head on the heat register...man, that hurt. It was still hurting when I decided I needed to potty, reached to wipe and my entire side of my body went into muscle spasms. Maybe I tried to do too much this weekend. I knew it was gonna be a great day! 

The sky told me it would get better,

and except for the lady

 who HAD to have something during lunch,

 it wasn't too bad.

A few people had wanted to see my hillbilly halter rack, took a picture this evening.  Now, not only is my blue halter missing but my red one and its lead.  Where it was supposed to be, hung a crooked whopper-jawed bridle!  Oh, and my dining room smells like leather, one of my favorite smells!

Since the farrier came today, I tracked down Hubby and inquired about my red halter...he knew how the loss of the blue one drove me crazy.  He quickly located the red and returned it...lucky for him!

I also assisted the grand mechanic which consisted of standing, listening to him fuss, and being directed to find parts.  Okay, on a Monday, that didn't last long either.

So I am on strike tonight not because of anything other than I want to be on strike.  It will be an eat what you can find night.  The Closer is on and one of the few shows I watch.  I do love a sassy Southern lady who is in charge of a whole county.

The remainder of tonight will be spent

reading a book from my sister,

hiding quietly in my room.

Thank God, tomorrow is Tuesday.

And You Laugh!

I got my book!  Now I will know all I need to know.  I basically know this is the head and this is the tail and that the art of riding is keeping the horse between you and the ground.  Well, I know a little more than that but I really only know how much I don't know.

The top of the book says, "For riders of all disciplines, boost your self-confidence and...." this was all I needed to read.  I do need a boost into the saddle and I definantly need a boost in self-confidence so this must be the book for me.

I am learning the proper way to dress, which this is not.  Shorts, t-shirts, no bra(that's way I don't trot) but I did have boots on.

Unlike this photo where I look like I am falling with my flip flops on.  (Gosh, how many pounds can a rider put on in a few short years?)  I was trying to get him to turn but I guess I thought I was riding a bike and leaning for the turn, who knows! Honestly, I do not know what I am doing in this picture.  That is why I got the book.

I do have a story to tell of Charme's and my first ride.  Andrew and I were all excited to ride.  Saddled up and Andrew said you go first Nana.  So I did, proudly. 

Took off at a fast walk toward the spring, got about half way there and Charme decided to go back to the barn...at a faster walk, maybe a trot, maybe more, but I am hanging on.  As she jumps the dry creek and I see all the big rocks I carefully placed down there, I prayed not to fall.  I said, Lord, I do not have enough sick leave.

Okay, old girl, I am the boss and we are getting this right this time!  I get her headed out and past the spring again.  Much better this time, then she decides to go, I do not know what a one rein stop is and do not even remember if I had the reins at that point.  Now you are talking to someone who falls off the WalMart horse.  Charme is not bucking or doing anything wrong except not listening to me.  She wants to be at the barn with her minis...and she is moving there fast!

This time she does not jump the dry ditch but heads right for a persimmon tree, straight on and I am praying, don't let me fall, don't let me fall.  Then it was, don't let me hit that tree!  So Charme makes a ninty degree turn and the saddle slides to the right side but I am still gripped to that saddle for dear life.

As the saddle slides toward her belly with me on it, she stops.  Thank God, she knew she was losing her rider.  I just kinda hang there with my feet in the stirrups, reins in a death grip and the saddle horn welded to my hand.  By this time, one foot is on top of the horse and one is under it, but by golly, I am still in the saddle.

Hubby sticks his head out the door and says where's Nana and Andrew says, riding.  Hubby hollers and says where are you, I said I am on the horse and he says I do see your feet, you alright?  Yes, I am alright.  He goes back in the house.

When I get completely on the ground, while good Charme is standing so quietly, nuzzling the other d--- horses through the fence, I realize maybe she is a little buddy spoiled.

Andrew yells, Do that again, Nana, that was fun!

I said it is your turn and he declined but he did want to know what I was thinking as we ran.  I said I was praying, Andrew said, no, you weren't!  How do you know?  I heard you yelling, no, Andrew I was praying.  He said can I tell you what you said and not get into trouble?  Go ahead, Andrew. 

I was yelling. "Whoa, damnit, whoa!"

Now you know WHY I need this book!

Friday Evening Catch Up

The water garden is surviving without me sitting there. The "pot" plant is growing like crazy.

Seymour got a hair cut since he had burrs all in his hair, I just cut them out with scissors.

Gypsy is having a ball and loving the farm and is doing well in her training.

And Beverly keeps on working. As you can see, we even have rebuilt the barn from the tornado damage...NOT! We can't even keep up with the grass, let alone, repair the barn.

I am sitting in my underwear, soaking up the AC. It feels so nice after taking Gypsy Galoot for her run. Gypsy played in the water but I got wet from sweat. She brought me a ball!!! She has not messed in the house. She is not scratching cause the fleas are gone. For Gypsy, life is good.

~

For me, life is a little more complicated now I have an untrained dog to work with! We tolerate cats but the chicken thing is going take a few more corrections.

~

I am so damn excited it is Friday! I have many things I want to do but will I get them done? Probably not but I have to have a plan before I can start so I am half way through since I do have a plan.

~

I have always wanted to write and I think a book is pouring out of me into Word. I have several pages and it is flowing with few corrections. Don't know where I am going with it, since I have never done this before but it seems to be something I am compelled to do. We will hope it turns into a best seller!