babystepscottage

Back to School

2011-08-17T12:28:00.002-04:00

It was a long hot summer and I think Duncan was happy to go back. He has a new teacher and they are remodeling his school. Alot of change for a group of kids who don't handle change so well. He seems to be on it though!

Missing in Action?

2011-08-06T09:46:00.003-04:00

Part of me feels the need to apologize for my LOOONG absence and part just wants to shrugh it off!

So where the heck have I been?

Short story: Not painting furniture or redecorating! LONG VERSION

Taking care of horses: In this case a foster horse who was literally on the verge of starvation when I got him in February!

Then, New York City, Rolex in Kentucky, The Grand Canyon all with my dear friend from Australia who was here for three weeks.

Spoiling Duncan AND my six neices and nephews who moved next door to my work!
Finding a new show horse since my old girl is ready to retire! Also I have been at the gym 4 to 6 days a week since November! I have made huge changes to my strength and endurance and have learned to ignore that stupid number on the scale! (mostly)

And.... way more! I'm not sure exactly why I haven't been blogging. It isn't just busy, but I got out of the habit of carrying my camera and got out of the habit of doing it. I am not promising anything grand, but I do have some stories to tell, so Duncan starts school Wednesday and I might have a few more minutes in my day!

Forgetfulness

2011-01-25T11:43:00.004-05:00

Things, in my life, trickle down. In this case, my never remembering to take my camera to Walgreen's (or elsewhere) to put the pictures on disk or print them. (yes after last years stolen computer I insist on doing so) means my camera is basically full and I can't take pictures. When I don't take pictures I don't blog. So today, on my way to the gym, I am making the trip to the store to do so. I hope this will bring me back to blogging.

In the meantime, I found a photo I didn't post last year, that I should have.This little guy knocked himself out on my door and had to have a think about it for a moment. I babysat him until he got up and went, because my cat doesn't appreciate his beauty as much as his flavor.

I hope to see his family back soon....I need some spring in my world!

Resolving without Perfection

2011-01-06T09:44:00.003-05:00

This whole "New Year's Resolution" thing has failed me year after year, until LAST year. I decided I would stop saying things like "I will NEVER..." and other such perfection-requiring, things. So, last year I made my ONE resolution that I would show my horse...that single thing required I do lots of little things to get there. I didn't say I will ride my horse four days a week, because then the first week I rode three I would have already failed...I didn't say I will lose 35lbs, because then when I only lost 33 I had failed.
Many of you have made and broken your perfection driven resolutions. I have a few "resolutions" this year, but they don't require never eating a single donut again...or I would have already failed that one too! :D
So I will lose at least one more jeans size, run/jog/walk a 5K, knock a few more big projects out at the house and show in at least one more show this year.
Now don't think I just wait for those to happen, but right now I am working out at the gym 3 days a week, hired a fitness trainer, am attending Weight Watchers meetings and keeping my horse happy, healthy and riding when the weather permits.... Had I said something like "I will go to the gym five days a week I would have failed last week when Duncan was home trashing my schedule!

So, let go of the perfection and just give yourself a reasonable goal and stop setting yourself up to Fail!

Happy New Year Dear friends!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-17T13:02:00.002-05:00

Each year I send out a Christmas letter to my family and friends. I select pictures from the year that I think capture the year. These were my selections for this year. Since, as my readers, you are my friends I will share them with you...even though you may have seen them all before!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Another Farewell!

2010-12-01T10:31:00.008-05:00

It has taken me a few weeks to even begin writing this blog entry. I lost another friend this year and I haven't quite accepted the reality yet. Somehow, it seems, not writing the words or posting the memorial makes it less real in some way. However, Scott deserves a farewell and thus I will do my best.

I attend Weight Watchers weekly, sometimes I am very successful and my meetings are celebratory, other times I fail the program and I go so that the scale and my friends will remind me that going UP is not the goal. Last January a "new guy" plopped down at our table. We are a large meeting and many of us sit in smaller 'groups' and our group has been together for what seems a long time. We have people come sit with us and as we did with Scott we welcome them, chat with them and try to behave ourselves through the meeting without talking amongst ourselves. Many times, new members will migrate to a less 'set' group, a group of other newbies, a group that doesn't have such a hard time behaving, but Scott was instant part of our group. He made it even harder for me not to crack jokes, because he laughed easily and seemed to just fit in with us.

Somewhere along the way he became "one of us" and for me when I knew I could call him FRIEND (a word I value highly) was when I posted on Facebook about a previous loss and he instantly sent me a message that I could call him if I needed to talk. I did call and I told him I couldn't stop crying and he assured me it was okay and he listened as I blubbered and talked nonsense, somehow absorbing my pain despite our being relative strangers. He was an empathetic sort with a great heart.

We would chat at meetings about family and life and we shared different but similiar stories about children and their doctors appointments, faith and more. During his time at Weight Watchers he lost about 50lbs (if I remember correctly) and began joining us for our monthly dinner celebrations when he could. The few times I had to bring Duncan to meetings he was super-kind to Duncan allowing him to hang on for big hugs that Duncan likes. When he would talk about his daughters he was very proud and was always telling me how his oldest was and animal lover like myself. In August he had to leave Weight Watchers for a time and we made a point to invite him to our September dinner (it was my birthday and I wanted all my buddies there).

I have regrets now, hindsight is like that, that I didn't make more time. I didn't 'bother' him for the October dinner, because there was always the November one, right? I didn't think to invite his family for dinner because I could do it after I finished painting the hutch, right? I never dreamed I would meet his daughters and wife at his memorial. No matter how many times I am reminded that life is short and we should take the time WHILE we have the time...I can find failings. However, I am glad he chose to sit with us. I am glad he was so easily amused as to have found my jokes worthy of laughter. I am even glad the last message I sent to him on facebook was "come and visit you snob" or something similiar, because I meant it, I just wish he had.

I think there is never enough time to not wish for "one more". One more laugh, one more meal, one more 'attaboy'...however, I hope this December and beyond we will all enjoy the ones we have with the ones that are left....

Farewell, Scott Reed, you are missed!

Don't be the Martyr

2010-11-23T14:01:00.003-05:00

Okay, so this is as much a reminder to me as anyone else. I am a "Flybaby". http://www.flylady.net/

Thus, I remind myself often just how much of our stress is 'self-made'. The "Oh no I have to make a TURKEY" thing. The Holidays tend to be when we throw ourselves right onto our martyr swords...so let's pinky swear we will stop each other when this is the road we start down!

So, ladies (and gents), let's consider ourselves blessed to have loved ones to feed, purchase for and take care of. Let's enjoy making dinner and stop making sure it's "perfect" while we snipe and complain to anyone within earshot. The best turkey tastes "foul" when served with guilt as a side-dish.

Let's light up our Holidays with our good attitudes and Thankfulness.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

It's about time..painting the hutch

2010-11-16T11:18:00.005-05:00

Well, this gal has been with me for over two years. I finally got her up on the table and started her paint job. I have one coat of primer on most and two coats on the lower and upper parts so that I can stand her up and do the rest. I figure a few more days and I can get her back together and put stuff on the shelves and have her pretty for the holidays. It's about dang time! Amazing what I can procrastinate!
Update: It's Wednesday and I managed to get a few coats of regular paint on the 'hard to reach' areas so that I could stand her up and work some more. Here is her current condition

The top shelves will be open and thus I will be priming and painting them as well, but I can do that with her off my dining room table! I am excited I can get this done and ready for Thanksgiving, even if I am not having people over!

Reglazed a window

2010-11-03T14:54:00.003-04:00

At some point one of the windows in my old casements got broken. I had to fix it. I took some pictures in case you ever want to try it at home.
Aside from measuring the opening and buying the glass the following are the steps:

Step one: remove the old glazing, broken glass and glazing points. (this is not fun, easy or necessarily without potential for injury) Step two: Put new glass in. This involves Glazing points (aka Push points) and

a putty knife or othe such flat tool. My window was 10x12 and I used four on the long sides and three on the top and bottom....It was a random decision, it seemed like "enough". :D

Then I used Latex Glazing, that required using a caulking gun. In retrospect I wish I had searched for the hand kneaded kind, I think I could have gotten a prettier finish, but with practice this would probably have been a finer job.

Now it needs painted and some tidying up. It's an older window and the new glazing points with 'tips' (which are easier) to use are sort of visible under the glazing compound from inside, which isn't ideal, but I learned how to do it and when the time comes to do another window, and in my old house it will, I will be better and no less proud of doing it myself.

New Year's Resolution-Check

2010-11-01T11:53:00.004-04:00

I had one resolution this year: To show my horse. It seems like an easy one, but with her hoof problems, my business, my child and family duties and the fact that I hadn't shown since 4H days it was more than just setting a date and going.
I made myself commit to doing a few clinics with my trainer, Mary and riding a certain amount each week before a show. All of it added up to alot of work. I had moments when I didn't think it would happen. Losing my farrier over the summer, a blown engine in my husband's car and other such incidents conspired to make it a difficulty, but I prevailed.Chai and I prepping at home

Phase one of a Combined Test-Dressage

Phase 2- Stadium Jumping

Chai was a superstar and we scored lower middle of the pack in MY first ever dressage test. Next year I know what to do different to get a better score. She went completely clear in stadium and after a summer of basically being off she just soared. I love that mare!

Overall, we are proud girls and ready to do it again next year.

So, have to get a new resolution, I guess.

New foster horse-OTTB

2010-10-07T08:16:00.006-04:00

We have a new foster horse. For those that don't know, I foster for an awesome organization in Indiana. http://www.friendsofferdinand.org/ FFI takes retired race horses and retrains them for second careers.

The acronym OTTB stands for Off Track Thoroughbred. Those of us that ride, love and own OTTBs think it's a great thing to give our horses second careers and homes.

This Sunday our new foster arrived.

his name is Woodman's Star, his barn name is Woody and he is awesome. He stood like a champ for the farrier yesterday, has ridden like a dream for me that last few days and is going trail riding Friday.

For those of you who are horse people and have watched any of the World Equestrian Games this year in Lexington, there were several OTTBs in the eventing section. Upper level horses who may or may not have been great at racing but are awesome at their second careers.

I'm still here!

2010-10-02T11:03:00.004-04:00

enjoying the end of summer

Summer pretty much came and went, Duncan turned 12 and went back to school. I had my 36th Birthday this week and lots of 'blogworthy' stuff happened, but I just got out of the habit and haven't been here. I post today in hopes that it will be a restart for it. I went on my birthday and bought some dollar store vinyl signs for my house and put them up yesterday...I will take pics and share.
I am hoping to show my horse in a few weeks at the Octoberfest charity show.

A not so great gift

2010-07-19T10:13:00.002-04:00

Since the little bear turns 12 this week, I have been planning to take him to the zoo with friends and then his b'day party at his fave restaurant with family and friends. That is all a good birthday plan...also his ceremonial b'day pancakes, of course!
However, he has decided to test my resolve this week. I was on my way home from a long day at work Saturday and DH calls to say "Duncan cut his foot, bring home some bandage stuff". I stop at the little local store and pay dearly for some gauze and tape. I pop in the door at the house and into the bathroom where they are sequestered and lo and behold Duncan has a moon shaped lacerating that is almost 4cm. So I say Well we can cover it up with this, but we are going to the ER.
So we spent three or four hours at the ER, luckily had a very nice doc, a nurse that was okay with my neurosis about nosocomial infection and cleansing of the wound and Duncan was as good as could be expected.
I resisted the urge to laugh at the doctor when he said take the bandage off and let it get air after two days. While I agree with the method, I don't see Duncan leaving those sutures alone or keeping it clean so I will have to make a covering that gets some air while protecting sutures from his little hands and from dirt.
So...let's hope he is well enough to go to the zoo and party for his birthday!

Sorry no gorey injury picture!

Three heads are better than one?

2010-07-15T07:07:00.002-04:00

Okay so my arms weren't long enough to get a good picture...but the fact that Duncan was giggling when I took this makes me smile. I think this might have been Easter Sunday.

Heck of a morning.

2010-07-14T10:25:00.003-04:00

I got up this morning determined that Duncan's fever, my overtired self, my farrier search and more that I will have a good day. I leave thirty minutes early to take a friend to work and my car stalls. I have to go back to the house (3 miles took 20 minutes) get my gas guzzling truck and head back out, while fever-riddled boy cried.
I am still determined this will be a good day. I will it to be so...then I find I might have to take my new foster horse before the horse I am babysitting leaves and thus have FIVE where four works better.

It is STILL gonna be a better day?

A great man

2010-07-12T14:56:00.004-04:00

Well, it has been ages since I last posted. With Duncan off from school for the summer I have been busy with the business, him, the horses and life. I have still made a point to be Thankful on Thrusday, but haven't managed to post about it here. I am sorry I have been missing.

I am more sorry today that I am posting for this reason.

Saturday morning I was informed that Friday July 9th, my farrier (horseshoer) passed away. To many, this would seem like an unlikely reason to be overly sad, but he was a fantastic man. His name was Wayland Arney and he was also my friend.
I will share my memories of him here:
Wayland was so respectful of clients that most are shocked when I tell them he smoked, because he didn't in front of them. He loved my son, not in spite of his disability, but as if there was none. He told me a mere 10 days before he died "Life is short, do what you want". He smiled often, and the smile lines around his eyes, said it wasn't a new thing. He couldn't say enough good things about his daughters and family. He was loyal to those he loved, to the point of being willing to fight for them. He helped me to get a truck and trailer and in a way, made it so that now that he is gone I can find a new farrier even if I have to haul to them. He was loyal to a fault, even when my horse was a difficult case, there was drama or whatever, he came when he was needed. I believe that there are just people with whom we click, and because of who Wayland was, he was that person to alot of people. He didn't talk constantly and wasn't verbose, but when he spoke he was truthful and what he said mattered, well unless it was a joke and he was harrassing you!
I will find someone to shoe my horse, I hope they will do a good job, but my horse will never be as good without him and I will never forget him. Like all the too short relationships in our lives, he changed me forever. In his case for the good!

Goodbye Wayland...you were truly awesome!

Thankful Thursday

2010-05-27T17:27:00.003-04:00

As usual, it is late when I am posting my TT post. I was out living my Thursday so that i could be thankful. Today was the last day of school for my little bear. So I went today and managed to shop most of the day without buying a thing. How weird is that? I had a very low key day and that is the thing for which I am grateful. Low key will not be an option this summer. Duncan never stops going. He keeps me on the balls of my feet at all times. I am trying to remember how hard we worked to teach him to take those first steps when he runs across the field, trying to remember the speech therapists we cycled through to find one who believed we could teach him to speak, when he won't stop talking and remember where we came from to appreciate the where we are now. I am Thankful I never listened to the cynics, no matter what their title and I am Thankful there is school some of the year so I can rest up for the summer.

Thankful Thursday

2010-05-20T14:33:00.004-04:00

Woo I was almost done with the day before I realized it was Thursday.

It has been a tumultuous week filled with dying vehicles, human drama, computer cord death and miscellanious annoyances, as well as some hope-inducing moments and fresh doses of laughter.
A few nights ago as I complained about having no decent internet at home. I caught myself saying-
"I never regret living where the stars are bright"....but I would like stars AND internet! So...the STARS...I am thankful for them. My farm happens to have this section of open sky that is like my personal window to heaven. It is the time of year I lay on the sunporch and look at the sky, lay by the fire and look at the sky....so...Thank God for stars and Thank God I live someplace I can see those stars. Let tonight be a starry one so that I may be thankful more!

By the way...I think the cottage may have just gotten it's motto. "May we never regret living where the stars are bright". I have been toying with Bright Star Farm anyway....hmmm?

once in awhile

2010-05-14T09:53:00.002-04:00

I become the creative person I feel I was actually meant to be. I always wanted to draw when I was a kid, become a writer and be passionate. Between teachers who taped my hands to pencils so I would hold them 'right'. Adults who told me to put my tongue back in my mouth when I drew or colored, people who said mickey mouse isn't purple and college professors who said "be concise" my inner artist died a little. She atrophied from lack of use, she became jaded from life experience.

Once in a great while....the perfect mixture of weather, barometric pressure, moon alignment and my emotional balance I find a moment where I remember my inner-artist...she writes a poem, she draws a little....yesterday she was here....I hope she'll visit more often.

Thankful Thursday

2010-05-13T09:38:00.002-04:00

We are having April weather for May, but I will take it. At the shop purple Iris bloom and at home yellow. School is almost out and I am grateful we have made it through another school year, if not a little worried about how I will get ANY down time this summer, but I am thankful that another summer is sneaking up. I got to feed horses a few nights ago with lightning bugs darting about. I contemplated the need to borrow some little girls so I have an excuse to chase them with jars...or maybe I will do it without borrowing someone's daughters! :D
Today I am thankful that I have a job/career/schedule that allows me to juggle. Duncan's school is taking him on a little lunch field trip and I like to go because he does better and a good experience builds on for the next such experience.
I am also thankful this week that Duncan was such a trooper for his 11YO shots. He got three, didn't cry and didn't melt down...he earned himself a shake from Rally's....mom got one too, because she had to drive in construction traffic, deal with stupid forms at the doctors office and didn't cry either! :D
What are you thankful for?

Dumpster diving

2010-05-12T10:45:00.002-04:00

It was a finial sticking out of a pile that drew me in...I thought it was a headboard, it wasn't...I have that item to, I will show you later. Then I found this. It is the sheet music holder from a piano. I thought I would pull off the applique for my mantel, but I kind of like it as a picture holder. I am trying to decide what color or if to paint it...but for now...I like it. Whaddya think?

Thankful Thursday

2010-05-06T16:05:00.001-04:00

My dear friend Helen is taking my young horse, Jake on an adventure. This adventure includes a few months with a very top notch trainer and a hopeful NEW home for Jake. I am thankful that I have an 18 YO friend who herself will be a famous person soon enough...and that Jake will have this opportunity to go become a big time show horse, with someone shorter than me!

Thankful Thursday

2010-04-29T09:17:00.004-04:00

Today I am thankful for much. Yesterday would have been my mothers 58th birthday. She has been gone nearly 20 years from my life and yesterday I was halfway through the morning before I remembered what day it was. I am grateful that no matter how greivious a wound it heals and in a way that makes memories grand and not painful. I do so wish I had known her as an adult but I don't burst into tears or lose my composure on these days anymore and for that I am grateful.

Today I intend to go for a big ride in the woods with some friends. Green leaves, chirping birds and more await me...so I can't help but be grateful. Maybe I will have some great story to tell when I return or maybe I shall keep it for myself! Either way, I hope your day goes well.

the most horrible excuse

2010-04-28T09:11:00.002-04:00

for not blogging. My camera got chucked in my grooming kit when I went riding the other day and hasn't moved from there. Today I saw a deer, a fox and two blue herons and where was my camera?
I have also found a couple of good dumpster treasures and haven't photo'd them either. So....tonight I will grab my camera from the barn and put it back in my car where it belongs and then you might not miss me so much!

A hard one to call

2010-04-22T12:11:00.005-04:00

Sometimes, it's just pretty ard to be thankful. I hate to admit it, but today I am feeling like this one is hard. Our son, Duncan, who has special needs has begun getting suspended from school for behavior. Now, let me say he goes to a SCHOOL for kids with behavioral issues, so the idea of suspending him, throws me off a bit. Also learning that getting OUT of school for being bad isn't necessarily good!

However, I am trying not to think about the idea that they are going to kick him out, they are going to cause me to lose my business and more...it makes it hard to keep hope alive when you keep falling over trip lines.

So I guess today I am thankful for my ability to stand back up when knocked down, although I would like to stop falling.

I am thankful for my friends, you know who you are, the ones i can call angry or sad or whatever about this and you always head my call! You guys rock!

I am also focusing on being thankful for THESE moments! THat face, his snuggles, his smiles....I work to keep those alive and keep the school from forcing us to drug him away.

So with all the hardship...>DUNCAN....that's what I'm thankful for!

The dogwoods are blooming!

2010-04-20T15:29:00.002-04:00

There isn't a better sight for my eyes than this:

The dogwood tree was my mother's favorite. I love it for that and it's own beauty. Each year as they bloom I miss her a bit, but feel she is here in spirit.

Thankful Thursday

2010-04-15T14:21:00.001-04:00

Okay, today is a tough one!

Since it is tax day I owe a fair amount of money. So, in general, am feeling grumpy. However!
I am thankful that I have a job on which I earned money for them to tax..... HOw is that?

Spring Sprang Sprung

2010-04-13T14:51:00.002-04:00

Well, we got warm and more quickly than usual. We have Trilium blooming in the woods, Trout Lilies, may apples and now the Lilacs and the Crab Apples are at it.

Today I took a moment to take a few inside.

Now back to my regularly scheduled TAX preparing!

Thankful Thursday

2010-04-08T15:30:00.002-04:00

Just arrived back from a quick overnight trip to Louisville, KY. Went for a birthday party with my dear friend, Billy! Travelling, seeing the world turning green right in front of our eyes, laughing together and sharing some away from work time. Those are all things worth being Thankful for!

You forgot?

2010-04-06T08:51:00.002-04:00

So this morning...Duncan and I ran to get a drink before the bus arrived. It took us a hair longer than expected so we were jumping out of the car just as the bus rolled up. I ran him to the bus and popped him in his seat, greeted the driver and started to run off. Duncan's classmate and friend Sadie, yells! "You forgot to kiss him" I turned and blew Duncan a kiss and hopped off the bus.

I had a moment where I felt kind of bad...then I realized. If NOT kissing him today was noteworthy I must kiss him EVERY single day without even thinking about it. I put him on the bus and kiss my boy, routine and RIGHT. I know we have had rough mornings where I didn't feel good, he didn't feel good or both...but ...I kiss that little face. I realize with all his delays and doctors and special schools all the hard work there is that....those hundred kisses each day. So without even being thankful Thursday I thank God for that!

You know your a horse person...

2010-04-05T15:30:00.002-04:00

WHEN....all this talk of Spring cleaning makes me want to clean stalls, not my house!

Thankful Thursday

2010-04-01T09:51:00.004-04:00

I thought about being sarcastic, since it is April Fool's Day, but a rule is a rule, yes? It is Thankful Thursday...so how to tie it in?

I am Thankful for living in a world where we have a DAY devoted to HUMOR! A day devoted to 'punking' people!

I am mostly Thankful for the feeling that Spring is actually here and here to stay.
Go out today and enjoy your day of Fools!

A big weekend

2010-03-30T11:25:00.003-04:00

Even with a nagging back injury I had a banner weekend. My friend Billy came to visit. I qualified my horse to do Search and Rescue. I used my horse trailer on it's maiden voyage! All in all it was very good.
This is Spring Break week with Duncan so my blog-time may be limited.

Thankful Thursday

2010-03-25T15:30:00.003-04:00

You see that older model Explorer behind the found windows? Today in spite of itself I am thankful for it. I have managed to have two flats (Same tire) and a starter go on it. I am tempted to be angry at said car...BUT...she has 250K miles on her. She drags us through snow and rain and all sorts of silliness..and generally has been a good car for us.
I have pulled my back, learned that some people don't come when you call for help and learned that even new tires find nails and corode away their valve stems. However, in all this I had my Dad come to my rescue, a friend from church stop to see if we were okay, my good and true friends calling to check on my back and my hubby picking up teh slack at home.
The silver lining is there, when I look.

Such a bad blogger...

2010-03-23T10:28:00.002-04:00

I have been so busy with horses, horse trailers, trucks, BMV stuff that I have foresaken my blog-pals. I give you a Daffodil to say "I am sorry" I will carry my camera about today...and get some new pictures so that I can get pics of things about which to blog!

Thankful Thursday

2010-03-17T20:41:00.002-04:00

It's Wednesday night and my Thankful Thursday is I won't be here to blog for it tomorrow. My friend Martha and I are taking our ponies to some trails, splashing through creeks, raising our faces to the Spring sun and seizing the day.
So it is SPRING, Friends, Horses, trails and just general WOO HOO!

The best compliments!

2010-03-15T15:22:00.002-04:00

I apologize for being a slacker in the way of posting to the blog. With purchasing the truck and trailer, riding my horse, getting farrier work done and the like I have been a crazy-busy gal.

I have had TWO very wonderful compliments by visitors to my home. My neighbor's young(18YO) daughter said "I love your house, it feels so welcoming" and yetserday my farrier said "You have a very nice house".

Having taken our house from "Not ours and okay" to notable makes me happy. I can see all the thigns that need work, the trim needing replaced, those hollow core doors...but it is HOME...and the fact that outsiders notice immediately that it is 'home'...makes me happy. After all, isn't that was Cottage Style is....? It isn't a paint color or a theme...it is a FEELING! I have acheived it and I am proud!

Thankful Thursday

2010-03-11T11:28:00.004-05:00

This blog post was a no-brainer. This week my dear Farrier (guy who trims horse hooves) worked me an awesome deal with some other clients and I got:

and a horse trailer...pictures later.

It means no more "asking friends" to go on to a lesson or clinic. YAY!

So I am thankful for my wonderful farrier (see friends post last week :D) and for patience paying off with a good deal. I am blessed!~

The Chalkboard Wagon!

2010-03-09T12:37:00.002-05:00

I was SO jealous of everyone's little chalkboards I made one. I showed you guys! LOL

So I bought this:

Did this:

and ta da....
and if that isn't happy enough I found THESE beside my shop today!

Thankful Thursday

2010-03-04T12:56:00.004-05:00

Thursday already?

It is easier to be grateful on a SUNNY Thursday!

Today I am thankful for my dear friends. The other day my dear friend Daryl called to tell me she thought I rocked...or something like that. Then I asked her if she was dying or something. After she explained she was reading a book that said if you have friends that you trust, can tell your life to, laugh with, cry with and trust you need to tell them.

I guess the deal is if you have ONE of these friends you are doing well....I seem to be pretty blessed I have a couple of them.

So today, I am Thankful for all my friends, be they "A list" friends, acquaintances, family and even my bloggy-pals. They make my life better...even their quirks make my life more fun.

Love you guys!

Look even chickens know things are more fun together! :D

Warmer and peeking plants

2010-03-02T09:59:00.001-05:00

This is last years picture, but I am seeing this again. This sign that it might be SOON. Winter may actually be taking a hint.
Bring on the fence mending and workshop finishing chores.

DH Birthday

2010-03-01T09:52:00.002-05:00

This weekend was Jay's Birthday!
Well, technically he is a LEAP BABY so he doesn't get one this year, but I let him 'party' anyway. Duncan and I left the house early, letting Jay sleep in about two hours. Now THAT is a gift. Then we brought home donuts for him. For lunch we went to our fave Mexican restaurant and Jay enjoyed and Duncan thought it was HIS party! :D

We got someone to hang out at our house while Duncan slept and went to see WOLFMAN, the movie and ate popcorn. Overall it was a carb-heavy, restful day for Jay...I hope he liked it.

Happy Birthday Honey!

Thankful Thursday

2010-02-25T08:31:00.004-05:00

While I a obviously Thankful for the little guy perched upon said mare, today's grateful is for
my horse. She turns 18 this year. She has problem hooves, she is a red-head and she isn't a 'snuggler'. Those are things I would NOT change for the world....b/c look at her. She and I had ridden five miles and I come home and she happily excepts pony ride time for Duncan. She is a very sensitive girl. If you were to womp her in the sides she would likely gallop off, but for Duncan....she lets him do it all day and ONLY breaks into a trot when I say so. Even if he is yelling 'trot trot' at the top of his lungs, as he is likely to do often. :D

She is a great mare and I am blessed to have her.

Working on the workshop

2010-02-24T09:45:00.004-05:00

As I mentioned Monday I went home to work in the old Barn. It was very cold and I have decided that a summer chore will be to frame off a portion to be 'heatable'. Sadly the old windows of the barn are/were dead when we moved, so I have to reframe boxes and windows....wanting to find OLD windows to do it.

Anyway, on to the PROGRESS....

I literally walked into the shop...snapped this picture and tried to not be too ashamed. :D I the got to work, sweeping and picking up. Here is one of those 'dead' windows...note...the cardboard held in by scrap wood...what workmanship I have! :D I took this picture, because tonight I have getting four new table tops from a guy who does table advertising. I will be building my potting bench here and intend to have the sun shining on me when I do....picture it....

Notice though...my floor is now swept and ready for said table...

Now...here is the closest I have to 'after'. After is going to require money I don't have in my 'blow money' envelope....and it will wait. I do have things sorted and off the worktable. Notice...piles of like items. When I go to dollar tree today (with said blow money envelope) I will get a small container for 'electrical stuff', plumbing stuff, miscellaneous screws, miscellanious nails etc... Then they can go under my worktable. Notice all my power tools are put away...except the Circular saw, as I was using it to build....

little shelves and hanging rail for my painting supplies. Wow, I have alot of painting supplies!That coffee can farely gasped at the thought.

A few things I love about my workshop:

It is mine!

That SUNOCO blue workbench was made with the time-worn hands of my Grandfather over 30 years ago...and he happened to WORK for Sunoco! He also WIRED it...which means it is plugged in and has a plug in for my tools...GO PAPA! :D

My windows overlook my horse pasture

The barn is OLD

and behind that old blue workbench, I have my free trelis pieces that are pretty..and a great place to hang my hammers etc... Sadly I didn't get the hammer in the picture.

I am making it mine with my own sweat and blood.

It is a workshop in progress, to be sure, but I made a dent...and feel more like getting out there and working...if only it would get WARM!

Oh yes...vote for my makeover here! :D I forgot I wast joining a linky!

A biggish job

2010-02-22T09:32:00.002-05:00

The old barn at our farm is where we have 'dumped' things as we moved. It is where I dream of having my workshop space and have succeeded to a degree. I got things in and mostly put away when we first moved. Some stuff was still at my shop. Then Dad brought me the workbench my Grandfather made and I moved more stuff. Then my Grandmother cleaned out her shed and more stuff came in. Then I got the rest of the stuff from the shop/old house storage...and now it s a cluttered mess.

The following collage is of the barn when we got it. I haven't taken many pics since we moved, it isn't exactly a 'pretty' place to look upon. So you get the idea....it looks like this only the previous owner had more junk..and more cool tools/storage than I do. I promise to take a before when I get there today.

I am off to kick it into submission...wish me luck!

Thankful Thursday

2010-02-18T14:02:00.003-05:00

Well, Thursday is back and I am finding things to be thankful for! How about you! Today's imperfect thing for which I am thankful.

My arms....well my whole working body...but let's focus on arms. Every day we see ads saying "want firmer tighter arms" Well heck yes I do...but I don't have them...and I may or may not EVER have them. What I do have are arms with which to hug my boy, pet my dog, clean my stalls, ride my horse and even type this blog.

Last night while I was mucking wet hay out of my horses stalls and my biceps burned and I felt like whining I decided then and there to be thankful I had those injured muscle fibers!

So today my imperfectly functional and yes, even STRONG arms....shall hug that boy...groom a few dogs...steer my car and maybe even get some rest....

What are you thankful for...it is THURSDAY!

I am serious this time....

2010-02-17T10:26:00.002-05:00

Dear winter,

Last week I asked, no TOLD you it was over between us. You seem to have ignored the discussion. Not only did you stay....you brought more of your 'things' to my house. We have officially had enough snow. Our COUNTY has even broken up with you...running out of salt to get rid of your mess. I hate to insist, but you need to leave. You are messing up my plans!

PFFFFFFFFFFFt

Chez

Now that I have had my winter rant...I have to consider tomorrow's Thankful Thursday....and what shall we post...and you?

Home found for Valentine table!

2010-02-16T12:30:00.004-05:00

Well, I didn't get her painted or anything, but I found a lamp (also Goodwill), and a chair I found (GW!) a few weeks ago....and put them in place.

Then I added a picture (GW!) and an extra frame (FREE at yardsale)....to complete the set.

I have found something weird. I feel very PROUD to say "I got a deal on this...EVERYTHING in this room was thrifted, hand made, handed down etc...." and I say it with PRIDE, yet people always say "well that is okay" Like I told them I have foot rot and they are consoling me. Harumph! So I come to blogland, because I know you too LOVE deals!

Sorry I didn't get a picture of it "all together" when I get the lamp shade I want...and paint the table I will try to remember. Now...to paint the inner frame...or not? Hmmmmm

To see other pretty furniture in blogland go to:

Holiday crazy?

2010-02-16T12:18:00.005-05:00

I maybe go a bit overboard.
Saturday night I made my family heart shapped pizza.

and Sunday we had heart shaped Pancakes. (I wasn't the oNLY one)

Actually, I love doing this for my family. That is Duncan's little plate before I put his syrup on...and covered his eggs/cheese with Salsa. He LOVES Holidays!

My new Valentine table

2010-02-13T09:22:00.004-05:00

I needed a Goodwill fix, I have been finding things I like or could fix up but they were to pricey for their quality. Then I found this:

According to an article online Mersman tables aren't worth "ALOT" because they were mass produced, but they are good and attractive.

Since I will paint her, I am glad she isn't valuable.

What do you think?

Funny thing....the chair behind her...and the bookshelf are both also Goodwill finds. This is my floor that needs done when we have warm weather...I can't wait to find the honey tones of oak under that remaining dark stain!

It's all relative

2010-02-11T10:40:00.003-05:00

Sometimes when reading blogs I become MORE dissatisfied with my house. My perfectly happy home becomes NOT good enough. I need something TALLER for this shelf or I need to get MORE frames, more furniture, less clutter, more money......just get overtaken.

I think I am going to claim Thursday as THANKFUL THURSDAY....where I ask that you look at it from a "Thank God I have this" standpoint. When a blogger you love says "no dishwasher" like that is sacrilige, I give you the right to snicker at them.....

So share something today that isn't perfect, may never be, but you are just grateful to have a place to lay your head each night!

So sadly, I have been SO ashamed of our bedroom (that and there are always dogs about) that the only pic I have of it was with inspectors in the closet! LOL But here it is. Ugly panelling...needing trim...no closet door...foam/something ceiling tiles and all.

I do want it fixed up eventually, but I am grateful it. My hubby and I find rest there every night, it stays warm in winter and cool in summer and it is MINE. I do have big dreams for it, and they may or may not come true. What matters is that I stop focusing on the negative...and what I can't acheive.

I don't ask that you accept less than you deserve or live in unsafe or dirty or...environments, but let's not nitpick our lives to unhappiness!

Go enjoy your house today....and YES it's okay if you ENJOY remodeling or whatever....but don't nag yourself to death today!

Dear John letter to Winter

2010-02-10T13:12:00.003-05:00

Dearest Winter,

I have enjoyed your beautiful display of snow covered trees. I have even enjoyed a sleddig moment or two. However, I need to see other seasons! I can't abide the snow blobs on my floor anymore. I need to see green things pop up from the ground. I need to take the blankets off my horse. It's ME, not you. You are a great season, I just don't love you anymore! Please visit again next year, but I think we should call this off.

Yours

Cheryl

Okay....so in reality it isn't that horrible. We have had a few days of missed school, lots of shovelling and whatnot, but I am ready for different. I wonder each year why my family settled in Indiana. I think the answer is reasonable Cost of Living and a decent job market. 10 months a year I love it here. Late January through early March I start to think of this as a 'trap'.

I did enjoy a horse ride for a few hours on Sunday where the winter had done a nice job of dressing the world in a hushed white. However, it doesn't change anything...I need to break up with Winter and start anew with Spring.

My mundane task

2010-02-05T10:00:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I challenged you to find the mundane to do to keep/make your house nicer!

So I share a picture that shows some of my 'issues'. This is from the previous house, but it is the only one I could find. I know how to delete bad pictures and crop, so I have cropped out 'yuck' from most of my pics.

First, I have a little sigh seeing Reckless in the background in her bed, I still miss her. Anyway,
You can see the top of my coffee table, which isn't always the case, but you can see there is something UNDER Reckless' bed. Under the tug o' war toy are Jay's shoes, there are his jeans laying on a a bench across the table.

and one of Duncan's shirts is also under the table. Clutter falls EVERYWHERE in my house. With Jay, Duncan, the dogs and myself stuff just multiplies. By the time I work, take care of animals, make dinner, clean up dinner, get the kiddo in bed and fall over...things get put aside. So my MUNDANE task that I avoid is cleaning. Years ago when I found FLYLADY I would clean one day a week. My house would be spotless Friday night and by Tuesday a train wreck. It isn't like that any more...I do more daily routines, 27 FLINGs and such, but it just isn't second nature for me. After refinishing floors last week and not being able to do my daily stuff, it got out of control. I did some cleaning last night, prepped dinner for tonight and so forth.

I want badly to paint a cherub I bought, I want to pull down panelling in our bedroom, I want to build a tack room in my barn and paint the cabinet in the bathroom. Those things would be great for blogging.

Cleaning my living room, scrubbing the toilet, shining my sink...those things...they just don't seem FUN or blogworthy or noteable...but they are THE most important. I have been in some impressive houses, with architecture for days, expensive furniture, great floors and if they were messy that was all you noticed. I have also been in tiny, scantilly furnished cabins/cottages and been truly impressed with how LOVED those homes were.

So my MUNDANE task for myself this day/week/month....is to be more diligent about picking up those shoes, shirts and papers so that I can enjoy things like my floor, my mantel and just my house.

and honestly, I still can't tell you what that is under Reckless' bed!

The boring stuff!

2010-02-04T13:36:00.002-05:00

Somehow we all love a makeover...redo...declutter...makeover! The more extreme the better! We like to watch shows with dumpsters full of people's overpurchasing, pack-ratting ways.

What we don't want to see is the day to day that we do to prevent ourselves from getting that need. The fixing a door hinge before it falls off, the new gravel in the driveway, daily chores and more.

TV and blogland has brought us face to face with "You can fix it" but it also reinforces our need for instant gratification!

So today I challenge all my blog friends to do something mundane for the sake of NOT having a big thing to do later!

What can you do today?

A few more photos of the floor

2010-01-28T15:40:00.005-05:00

I am planning on doing ONE more floor this year (maybe May), so I will hopefully do a 'tutorial' style pictures!

Here is the Living Room before and after! We still have to reinstall trim and whatnot, but what a difference....also excuse all the rubbish in the first picture...when I vacated the office stuff I made a train wreck and didnt' bother to sweep before snapping this! :D Here are pics of D's room before and after!

The following are the Master Bedroom
First the amount of old stain/varnish and yucky oldness.More of where previous contractors decided to clean out their paint machien on the floor, which was going under carpet at the time.
the after room! There are some darker areas and spots from where carpet padding had gotten damp and sat there. I despise carpet for this reason. How anyone pulls up old carpet sees what LIVES under there and puts it back down is beyond me! :D

I couldn't be much prouder of myself, I have to say!

Before and After....

2010-01-27T15:57:00.003-05:00

I have more to post, but for now this was one of the worst areas. When the previous owners had planned to put carpet down they carpeted over the return air vents and their painters had a party painting the floor in the hall and front closet. Here is when we pulled the carpet and put plywood in the opening. I love a WELL PAINTED wood floor...this is NOT that!

Here we are looking from the kitchen to that exact spot AFTER!

I am acutely aware that fifty year old hardwood that has been 'unloved' in it's life wont' be PERFECT, but isn't that better. If you look right inside the opening to the left...you will see our patch of new hardwood.

Blame me.

2010-01-25T10:45:00.001-05:00

If there is MORE dust in your house than usual this week, blame me. I have been sanding hardwood floors I have increased the national dust volume, I apologize. I hope to have some pictures for you soon.

In awe!

2010-01-19T09:33:00.003-05:00

I have lived most of my life in and around Central Indiana.

I had never seen THIS before!

How majestic..how wonderful! I saw him (or her) twice in one day less than 2 miles from my house!

Earthquake in Haiti

2010-01-14T14:03:00.003-05:00

What can you give up today (or this week) to help? I am donating $35 in place of a riding lesson to the Salvation army.
January is financially hard on our family, but NOTHING like that. I challenge you to give just a little this week.

You don't say?

2010-01-12T15:03:00.002-05:00

It was last week, I wanted Chinese food, I got Chinese food. I also go this! Really? You think? LOL I hope the rewarding part is as true as the difficult part...

For those that have missed that memo....my child is disabled...everything takes longer, requires more effort and wears me out. The rewards include: Smiles, laughter and more.

Homemade Egg Noodles--tutorial

2010-01-11T10:28:00.005-05:00

Since I mentioned making homemade noodles this week, I had two friends ask how. These are both women who can and do cook well and often from scratch. So, I took some photos as I made them.

The recipe I used yesterday was 2c. Flour, 1 t. salt and three eggs.

There are other recipes, many asking for one whole egg two yolks, x amount of water, I like the simple way.

Start with a clean counter, yes I said ON YOUR counter. (you are excused and may use a bowl or cutting board if you have grout lines on your counter). Dump your flour onto counter. (yes right on your counter, isn't this fun?). Add your salt (see my measuring spoon?)

Mix your salt in thoroughly. Make a well in your flour. Drop in eggs.

Begin mixing eggs and as they beat up nicely bring the flour into them. Do not knock down your walls this is the only way I can imagine messing this up. As the flour joins the eggs and becomes a dough you can get your hands in their and pull it together with your hands. (bottom left below) Knead a little, roll out thinly.(top right below)

Dough rolled thin (your choice I like rustic thick type egg noodles in chicken soup). Fold in fourths (above bottom right)

Cut folded dough with knife or pizza cutter into strips. Lay on towelling to dry (about an hour or two depending on humidity). Bring your water, stock or CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP to boil

add noodles, cooke until al dente (varies on thickness).

ENJOY!

Oh adn for those of you having kittens about the mess...here is how you fix it. Scrape up counter before trying to wash. It is like playing with play-doh, but not as time consuming as bread or other doughs.

Snow yes, Cold no!

2010-01-08T16:02:00.002-05:00

That's my vote. While the snow makes driving hard, school delays and other inconveniences, it is beautiful. It covers the sleeping trees in light catching beauty and allows us to have more light in our short days. I like it....it makes for some winter fun. HOWEVER, when those snows are accompanied by teens and LOWER highs each day it makes me wish to hibernate.

How is winter where you are?

2010

2010-01-01T11:44:00.002-05:00

Each year I write things i want to get done/do in the year. Last years list consisted of some simple items and some attainable goals. Many of them related to my horse. She got injured, I didn't do many of them. Also I tend to put things like "lose X lbs" Read my bible EVERY day.

Then completely unrelated to the YEAR it was, I thought about how I rarely talk to my Dad, thinking...if he just called me TEN minutes a week. So, since I cannot change that or him I can call him...and I can do OTHER ten minute things.

I can ignore that cookie for ten minutes, walk for ten minutes, read for ten minutes. In reality those minutes may spread....and I am not giving myself a bunch ultimatums.

SO....So far today I have called my grandmother for Ten, spent Ten putting on mascara, wiping down my counters, drinking my water and putting some moisturizer on my face.

So you want to do TEN for 2010 with me? If you can commit 10 a day...10 per waking hour.......whatever...join me!

A new decade?

2009-12-30T11:58:00.005-05:00

Wow, the sun is setting on the first decade of our new Millineum.

How was your 2009? How was your decade? If you are like me...you barely remember Y2K and the hysteria about it. I am glad my lack of panic was right on and I didn't buy a generator or 200 gallons of water.

Are you going to be sad to see the sun go down on it or glad to see the rise of TWENTY-Ten. How awesome does that sound?

So, fellow blogettes, friends and all....Happy New Year from our Corner of the world to yours. May 2010 be prosperous, kind and a growing year for us all.

Winter FUN!

2009-12-28T11:41:00.002-05:00

I will openly admit to preferring WARM weather. I abhor frozen water troughs, impassible roads, cold hand and the like. HOWEVER, I love....

Beautiful snow

Sledding boys

Sled boy pulling husbands. GOOD DADDY!

Cute cold mugs ready for mugs of warm cocoa.

And airborne snow dogs!

Under the piles of wrapping paper?

2009-12-26T13:53:00.002-05:00

I hope you all had a great celebration with your loved ones!

I am finding myself already desiring to get the tree down and get up some snowflakes and decorate my new mantel for something else. Silly me!

Once upon a Mantle

2009-12-22T08:50:00.004-05:00

When we toured the house the fireplace looked like this....

Last Christmas it looked like this..... Saturday early evening it looked like this..... Saturday by late evening I was covered in paint and it looked like this.....

Then by evening....it looked like.............TA DA!!!!!!!!!!!! After a year and a bit I got my mantle. I bought the parts, took the measurements and was the idea guy...my lovely neighbor Randy did the cutting and some of the assembly. I did the painting...the finish assembling and Jay helped me screw it in place. I could not be MORE in love with it. I actually pause to look at it every time I walk by.

I had given up looking for mantles at the stores, b/c a much more boring one than mine was 155 dollars and that was a 'cheap' one. I bought the parts for 36 dollars, and we used some of Randy's scrap (see above link) for the face board....and the actual shelf....and I owe him a few hundred snickerdoodles, but still a good deal!

Broken, my heart

2009-12-18T15:08:00.004-05:00

I knew it was coming and I am still in shock.

Wednesday night, my beloved and loyal dog of 16 years, Reckless was failing in a way that begged me for mercy. I did the hard thing, swallowed my breaking heart back down and made the call for her. She was euthanized in my arms, on my sofa by my friend and Vet.

To strangers she was mostly aloof, to squirrels she had been a menace, to me she was ever loyal, with Duncan she was every patient. She was a thread tying my teens (19) to my adulthood. She knew me WHEN...for more things than I can say.

May the rainbow bridge resound with the sounds of her running fast today!

A new addition

2009-12-12T17:46:00.002-05:00

It has been a few weeks but I figure I should introduce you:
Here enjoying some chair time is BEAKER. She was found in Indianapolis and taken in by Animal Control. She found me at the Great Indy Pet Expo. They were calling her Katie. Since I have an aversion to people names for dogs, we call her Beaker, or beaky or...I hate to admit....when she is in trouble, she is KATIE SUE BEAKMAN! :D

Simply perfect

2009-12-10T12:14:00.002-05:00

At least in my opinion.
A few years ago I bought this tiered tray (I am sure they have a name) and spray painted all it's chippy ugly plasticy silver parts white. I have used it for other things like this.
It has held soap in the bathroom, candles, you name it.
I put dollar tree silver pine cones, some berry doo-dads from an old arrangement (Goodwill) and some beeds I got YEARS ago from Walmart.

I don't know why, but it makes me smile. I hope it makes my guests, both blog and real, smile too.

Special Ornaments Volume 1

2009-12-09T10:54:00.006-05:00

Each of my trees has a few very special ornaments. Most of the special ones go on my family tree which has a 'non-theme' theme.

The woodland tree on my sunporch, seen here last post, has just a few 'special' ones.

First is an ornament Duncan "made" in school when he was in 1st grade in art class. They pressed real pine tree parts into clay. I think it is genius, I think he probably actually was able to help with most of this project and I love it.

The one below is a beautiful REAL leaf that was gold-plated. It was a gift from my dear friend Daryl several years ago. It is from main and each year as I take it out of it's box I see the gift tag she put on it (taped inside the box) and am reminded that these friends MAKE Christmas for us.

If you have some special ormanents share them with the rest of us. I think unpacking those memories is one of the best parts of the season.

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like....

2009-12-07T10:28:00.005-05:00

Christmas at our home!

I guess I can do a cyber tour.

WELCOME!

Our 'woodland' themed tree ended on the sunporch this year. I have dreams of a white tree with all pinks for next year.
I decorated Grandma's drum table with some poinsettias and Garland. I have to say I love the picture of Duncan, I paid $5 for an artist to make it when we were on vacation in Florida.

Here is prooof that our tastes change. When I was given the reindeer above I was 20 years old and it went with NOTHING I owned and I didn't know what to do with him. I put him up those years anyway. This year I adore him and put out Grandma's old oranaments with him. I am looking for a few new gold items to put with him as I am out shopping today.

Here is where you can have a snack on the sunporch, enjoying my gold reindeer and the view of the snow on the lawn.

And last but not least I hung my dear friend Billy's stocking on the head of the guest bed, he is the friend most likely to sleep here over the Holiday season. If he comes to visit I will be sure to fill that tin with goodies and love.

At the foot of the guest bed, I put some pink ornaments in a dish as a reminder of how pretty my little white tree will be with them on it.

I will share more of my home later this week, I hope you come visit again.

Time to decorate for Christmas

2009-11-27T09:55:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.I can't believe it is time to drag out the Christmas decorations. Our little family got the flu two weeks ago and are just now dragging ourselves back to normal. I managed to get a box of items out and all my holiday dishtowels and such are in the was and getting ready for their seasonal run.
I have this intense desire to have the house decorated for Christmas, but am feeling daunted by the task of getting it all up. My goal is to spiff up the living room, vacuum and dust and then put up the living room tree.
I will update as the house becomes more festive.
Happy Shopping this Black Friday.

Fantastic in Fall Colors

2009-11-12T09:35:00.002-05:00

Our farm is beautiful in all the seasons. However, her finest apparal seems to me to be her oranges, yellows and reds. Maybe since we first owned her a year ago in Fall it is more noticable to me.
I snapped these photos a few days 'post-peak' here in Indiana, but my Maple tree had started throwing gorgeous yellow-orange leaves in huge quantities.
Covering our cottage in a crown of jewels just for the season.
While I was snapping those photos, Duncan was trying to move around his pumpkins

and enjoying the best part of Autumn. The leaves!

The trees are now, two weeks after this photo shoot, nearly bare and the leaves in questions merely brown mulch-to-be.

Peak color, Fall beauty and all it entails is SO brief that I think we almost MISS it every year.

Did you enjoy it this year? Are you?

The crows weren't even scared!

2009-11-02T10:31:00.001-05:00

Of my little man Saturday! Are you?

A fall visit

2009-10-27T15:15:00.003-04:00

Fall break was last week. My cousin and her five (5) kiddos came to the house to play. There are basically NO photos of the older boys, because my husband has a playstation 2. BOYS!

Here are Duncan, Venyua and Pupstar enjoying the hay.

Here is Duncan showing Kadeza HIS log.Venyua and Bing enjoying some 'log time'

Niyah, Kadeza and Duncan skipping down the driveway....and my cousin, Sabrina has her head in my viewfinder! :D

For city kids they took to our place like it was home. I was happy they came! I hope they come again soon!

This weeks THEME?

2009-10-22T09:28:00.004-04:00

So this week I have been trying to be a good FLYbaby. I also managed to listen to a little blurb of Dave Ramsey and go to my weight watchers meeting.

Seems the theme for this week was "Every day" Dave was saying every month you give up cable, and every month you put money in savings and every month you.... Then Flylady reminded me that every day I need to shine my sink, 27 fling boogie and let go of perfectionism. Then every week when I weigh in and say "next week I'll do better" I am reminded. I have to do it day to day to day. It is tedious, it isn't the answer we want.

We might not be able to buy that cool new item or buy a vase to fill up the space on that shelf, EVEN IF IT IS CHEAP. We may not be able to have our PERFECT.

So...today we get up and do our best and stop comparing ourselves to others on all planes. No comparing your house to your neighbors (whether better or worse), no comparing your butt to some super-model's butt, and no comparing your budget to your friends.

Live it one blessing at a time...

So flybabies and non...go do something to make YOUR home, yourself and your budget happier. In the end WE are happier when those things aren't stressing us out!

Run on the treadmill or eat a cookie?

2009-10-13T09:20:00.003-04:00

After saying to my friend, Daryl, "I feel like running on a treadmill OR...Eating a cookie!" last night she said I should blog about it.

Our friend Rick passed away a few weeks ago from a heart attack and yesterday I found that a classmate had died.

Rick was a wonderful and kind friend and tremendous husband to his wife. I don't think he had made 60 years yet. Pam was a wife and mother and was my age (35). They had ONE thing in common....OBESITY! I would feel comfortable writing this blog if it weren't for my personal fight with my weight (My WHOLE life). If I were one of the 'naturally thin' people I would likely just shake my head and wonder how on earth a person got there...but this I know. Furthermore, when it comes down to reality though a car accident was the precipitating event that lead to my mother's death...her heart failed in the surgery to repair her injuries and worse yet, she wore her seatbelt wrong b/c she didn't like it on her stomach, mom was 38.

I know they all had tried and had success with weight loss. I know Rick had tried MANY. Pam I only know from Weight Watchers and school. I do not pretend to know their whole stories.

I know MINE. I CAN lose weight and I often do. I get myself motivated I work hard, I count calories (or points) and I make better choices. THEN....stress comes around and all I want is to do whatever I want. My inner two year old says "you can have oreos if you want them" and I listen to her. She is a bad two year old. Yesterday at the moment I realized there has to be a lesson in this, my friend and my classmate can't have died for Oreos (or pizza or) I have to not be them. Pam left behind a daughter....it is my terrible fear to leave Duncan behind.

So last night when telling Daryl and I said "i feel like I need to get on the treadmill" Then I paused and said "or eat a cookie" It was real it was what I felt and it is the root of the problem. Our battle isn't with 10 or 100lbs it is with those single decisions. Get on the treadmill and if you have to have a cookie...ONE cookie.

What she said!

2009-10-08T15:21:00.002-04:00

Okay so I have nothing more to add!

Today Nester's post is so thought provoking I figured it was worth revisiting!

http://nestingplacenc.blogspot.com/2009/10/31-days-to-better-dressed-nest-day-8.html

Maybe tomorrow I will blog about my list and my shortcomings...and maybe it will help me focus on my home again.

I have been so focused on NAMING our farm....I have forsaken...giving it a reason to be named.

a little something burlap

2009-10-06T12:20:00.003-04:00

Had my birthday cookout and 35 wonderful members of my friends and family came and roasted hot dogs together....that is world peace, in my book! :D

I made a little cute for my table and thought I would share.

So I primed an 49cent tin, bought a clearance mum. Add almost negligable amount of burlap...and

I did add a ribbon and didn't take a picture, but I like it.

Starting 36th

2009-09-30T08:06:00.000-04:00

Year, that is.... Today I turned 35, which has been bothering me but somehow today it is fine. Somehow it isn't scary when I am here! LOL

Anyway, I get to go to Billy's book launch party today. I will be getting Dogwood's book signed for her.
More when Blogger isn't more when my cmoputer likes me later.

Happy Fall

2009-09-23T14:51:00.002-04:00

Yesterday it was officially Autumn. I am in denial...having a lame horse all summer made it feel like I didn't have a summer.
Now is time to mend fences (literally) and get the house ready. So much to do before the cold gets here.
Hope you are all getting out your pumpkins and Fall gear and bringing the season to life.

They MADE me do it!

2009-09-16T14:49:00.003-04:00

Okay so Joy has been using burlap alot and I like it. I have been resisting. Honestly I shouldn't be doing crafty stuff because,my spare bedroom still isn't completely unpacked...or even CLOSE....and I have a few more cabinet doors to paint in the kitchen. I was being good, I was resisting....BUT....then NESTER blogged about a Tutorial the other day.

So, I could NOT resist any longer.

I purchased my burlap, did NOT measure, did not use stencils and made my own (much smaller banner).

This is also my "new" bookshelf/dresser combo. (Goodwill 25 bucks) I am probably going to paint it, but as for now it works. I have crammed a few Fall decos on there, including the Flowers above which need some work (they were given to me when Grandma moved this summer).

Anyway, I like my little Fall banner and it was easy. If you are anal follow the tutorial above, if you are like me....cut them approximately the same, paint them free hand, sew together roughly with twine/hemp and pucker a little and TA DA...not perfect but LOVED!

I am also working on a little project with the remnant burlap...stay tuned. :D

Sweet Sixteen

2009-09-14T15:57:00.003-04:00

My old gal, Reckless, turns 16 today. This is old for any medium sized dog, but since Reck got into Ibuprofen as a four year old and has had decreased kidney function since then...it is a bit of a miracle.
I got my old gal in November of 1993 as I was starting my Sophomore year of college. She went everywhere with me, even to some classes. She earned me some bonus points when I taught her some Spanish. Her last few years have been rough. She has lost her hearing and most of her eyesight. She was the smartest dog ever, and loved doing tricks, fetching and generally being a handful. Losing her senses has made her a little jumpy and I wonder sometimes if she thinks we are all mad all the time, since we 'don't talk to her anymore'.

When we moved to the farm a year ago I hoped she would make it ONE more spring so she could romp. Well, she did...and romp she has. She walks like an old dog, no longer trots (more paces) and has some failure in her spine...she no longer holds Chiropractic adjustments so we have halted them. However, she still RUNS to the barn....she still follows me down, and watches (our shadows?) as we work. She also give the other dogs 'what for'.

This is a hard time watching my old girl decline. I feel I am on a constant 'death watch'. She has been through thick and thin with me. I have had her longer than my husband, in a month (if she is around) I will have HER longer than I had a living mother....she is such a part of my life. However, I will not let her suffer a painful existence and when the light goes out in her eyes, I will make the hard phone call, rub her perfect ears and let her go....

Happy Birthday Heart Dog!

Always check it YOURSELF

2009-09-10T15:17:00.002-04:00

Well, my SUV has an alignment issue and I let it go longer than I should. So I need to replace my front tires. In the meantime, I let the BIG place in town put my spare on and make the bald tire my spare..... Seems with power tools that should be easy peasy and I should be safe.

A few days later I was sure (from the racket) that I had a flat. I got out...walked around...stared...got back in and drove to work. At work I removed the cap over my hub...and found THIS...

yes that is as loose as it looks. I was able to tigthen ALL of them some and some of them ALOT. Honestly, this could have killed me.

It's Hot in my garden

2009-09-08T11:16:00.003-04:00

and I don't mean 90 degrees and humid! :D

Aren't they pretty? I have already used several jalapeños in my recipes and will dry those red guys for use in this winter's chili! So it can be HOT in my kitchen!

Giveaway

2009-09-02T13:57:00.005-04:00

Today, I have a very special giveaway.

My dear friend (BFF) Billy

just released his book "Happy Dog"

Enter here today to get an autographed copy. I will make sure he personally iscribes to YOU!

Cross post this to your blog and get an extra entry.

I am going now to get my copy.

If you don't win, please buy as many copies as you can ....I want a good birthday present this year, from Billy! LOL

comment between now and September 10th...for your chance(s) to win.

Why didn't we have a party?

2009-09-01T14:21:00.001-04:00

Well, I realized today that I have been OVER a year blogging. I didn't realize I had started in August, I guess I thought it was later. Just goes to show.

Happy Anniversary to me!

I have enjoyed the year, and have been hit or miss at times, but hope I will continue to find and make new blogging friends.

A little help from an Angel?

2009-08-29T13:29:00.002-04:00

My friend, Billy picked this gal up for me as a housewarming gift when we moved to our house last Fall. I plunked her down here next to the front door. I have given her no attention, I spent more time with the horses, chasing Duncan and whatnot and never got around to planting ANY flowers near her.

She took it upon herself. That little wild Petunia popped up under her legs and bloomed yesterday without me even noticing. The pink perfectly matches the other things on the other side in my recently raised bed.

Seven lives left for Bing-dot-com

2009-08-25T10:08:00.003-04:00

Well, you all met Bing (or Bingeeee, or Bingle...whatever Duncan calls him today) a few weeks ago.

Our story starts early Sunday morning. My brother in law Mark arrived to cut firewood. We chatted in the driveway in our church clothes.....Bing wound himself around my ankles until I relented and pick up his sorry little (read FAT, gangly teenage cat) self. He snuggled Duncan and I put him down on the porch.

We got in our Explorer and headed to church. About a mile down the road, Jay looks at his phone and realizes that we will NEVER make it on time and since we only sit in service for the singing part and take Duncan out to the lobby for the service, where we watch on the TV set....we decided not to make the 40 minute trip for Duncan to be very angry about missing the singing. :D We turn around in a driveway and head the other way towards the closer town. We drive about nine more miles. We drive down our road, aptly named Little HURRICANE , because of the hills and turns. Then onto BIG Hurricane and a few more miles. Then into town. We stop at Hardees for a bite to eat. WE spend a few minutes in line mulling over our coupon using options and finally arrive at the window to receive our food.
We pull into a parking space to tear up biscuits and whatnot for Duncan. We are there a few minutes, sipping drinks and waiting for Duncan to eat without worrying he will stab himself in the eye with a spork. I just happen to look down and see a kitten walk out from under the front of my truck....hmmmm...odd? Wait a MINUTE.....that looks like MY kitten.

I say "Bing?" and Jay looks at me like I am a lunatic (as does a guy beside us in the parking lot). I jump out...and follow the kitten (bing lookalike?) and say "Bing-y" as sing-song as a person who fears iminent death for her son's cat can. He looks back...Oh MY it IS him. He goes through the railings to their outside eating area...and isn't running but not coming either. I reach through and grab him by his tail. It was less than pretty, the rescue, but I grabbed him. Luckily, he is quite tractable, and didn't bite my wrist or anything.

I look him over and besided a smudge of grease on his left paw...he is without a mark. I put him in the back and drive to the Rural King. He manages to climb through the dog gate and is sitting on Duncan's seat back and Duncan is not happy. I remove him to Jay's lap and he rides there to Rural King, goes in Rural King and gets all sorts of complements on his cuteness. I remind him constantly he is NOT a cute and GOOD kitty, he is, in fact, a VERY VERY BAD kitty.

We get home put him back at the barn and give him food....another BAD KITTY reminder...and I move on.

How, does a little kitty ride in the hood area of a vehicle 9 PLUS curvy miles. (also I do NOT drive like any grandma you know). How does he then not jump out while I am tearing biscuits, or while I am ordering or while I was sipping my drink, but just when I looked?

So...Bing lost a life on Sunday....hopefully he will be careful with the remaining seven.

Oh...and lest you think I cannot count. Bing also carries a broken right front paw from getting stepped on by a 1200lb HORSE. His carpals were broken, but Dr. Martha assures us he will be fine (as a bad kitty can be). I have caught him SINCE the stepping incident playing with the same horses tail as if it never happened. The horse doesn't care, but once in awhile he does stomp a fly and apparantly Bing is the sweetest kitty, the cutest kitty, a lucky kitty but VERY VERY bad and not VERY VERY bright.

Feeling Leftout!

2009-08-22T09:06:00.002-04:00

I have a decorating conundrum. I see all of your Monograms and I love them.

(like this simple on on Joy's blog)
http://joysofhome.blogspot.com/2009/02/served-on-siver-platter.html

I want them in my home....but..... there are two different last names at our house. My son and I are hyphenated and my husband is not.
DH would need a big "M" and D and I need our "R". What does a girl do?

My thoughts are...TWO of us are Rs so I could do that, but would my hubby care? If I do "M" people become even more confused as I explain ALL THE TIME that my hyphen makes my name one long word alphabetized in Rs not Ms.

I have ignored rude people about my hyphen and am proud to have married both our names as well as our selves...however, THIS one silly thing irks me.

Any advice fellow bloggers?

Finding Beauty

2009-08-20T15:56:00.002-04:00

It is simple, I think to find beauty in a rose. I however, find that beauty is everywhere I look. That is when I take the time....

To look a little closer! As wonderfully made and pretty (in it's way) as any flower. I actually stopped in my mowing to look at this little guy. (sadly right before I mowed him over).

What have you seen today....more importantly what have you missed seeing today.

Get on your belly in the proverbial grass today and look at the pretty side of things.

Surprise!

2009-08-19T10:08:00.002-04:00

Lilies that is. These are one of my fave flowers...now faded and dying. About two weeks ago they popped up and said 'hi'. Each Spring I see their green leaves and think how beautiful these pink gals will be. Then I forget about them about mid-Summer and am happily suprised by the seemingly instantanious growth of stem and flower. I wish they lasted longer, but I am not sure I would love them as much if I had them all summer.

In our area they are often called "N A K E D Ladies" (sorry again don't want that to be a search engine hit here LOL).

a little goodwill find

2009-08-14T09:12:00.000-04:00

From a few weeks ago.

I saw it...it was $6, I decided I didn't want it that badly....went home...thought about it endlessly and went back two days later....saying "if it is still there it is mine".

Under the harsh lights of GW it was too bright and I felt needed 'painting', but at home in my less nutty light...I like it as is. I might do a white wash on it later to make it look old, or some dark wax....we shall see. For now it sits on my GW Entertainment center that wonders when I am ever going to paint her.

Beauty even after a storm?

2009-08-13T11:07:00.006-04:00

A week ago we had a pretty bad storm. I don't know if they ever decided if there was a Tornado touchdown in our nearby town, but if there was the path it took ran about 1/2 mile south of my farm and lost power for a few days. We were lucky, as was our whole area, no humans were killed or even hurt.

We pulled several limbs off of our fence, had a friend come and tack down some barn roofing that blew up and generally cleaned up alot of branches here and there.(here my ancient girl, Reckless, surveys the damage)

Somehow I find beauty in the work of nature, though, dead trees tumbled so that new ones can get light in the canopy, so termites and other wood-eaters can have a meal and so little animals will find shelter.

I wonder if the grasshopper thinks a tulip poplar branch in his backyard is good or bad?

We found this feather, we think Hawk laying among the downed branches. Without the storm, would I have ever found it?

Another unsung beauty of crisis...PEOPLE....everyone had SOMEONE out helping them, people were stopping each other to ask how they fared, and people were just generally NEIGHBORS on our road, more so than usual.

When was the last time you admired a green acorn? SO high in the trees, hidden by leaves? NEVER? SO I took this photo just for YOU!
However, feet, mere feet from that downed tree that Reckless was sniffing is my bluebird box safe and sound. This is the second set of eggs (that I have noted). The first set fledged about a month ago. I will go back in a few days and see if she had MORE or if they have yet to hatch.

Also this nest in a tulip poplar came down. It was likely uninhabited. It is some unknown species. everyone keeps saying hummingbird, but those are HUGE tulip poplar leaves and the nest is bigger than them...so something else builds cup nests covered in Lichen? Anyone know?

Back to School

2009-08-12T10:27:00.002-04:00

It is very quiet around here today. I took the day off from grooming and Duncan has been dropped off at school. I can literally hear crickets.... I think it is lovely!

Here he is ready for his close-up.

A turtle summer

2009-08-11T18:41:00.003-04:00

I don't know if turtles are making a come-back, if we just had alot of rain, turtles are suicidal or what, but I have moved A LOT of turtles across roads this summer.
I did not photograph them all. I have moved MOSTLY Eastern Box Turtles. All male but two...and all pretty typical sized. Actually the one above trucking across I didn't touch, b/c he/she was nearly across the road I just parked near her and made sure she didn't get hit.

The one in this above picture I photographed b/c my friend Rachel is a fellow turtle rescuer and it was her birthday...so this was her gift! :D

I found one very small one....smaller than the cupped part of my palm. I don't know why they are about, my guess, since most are male is the typical male preoccupation with ES EE EX (not spelling that on my blog so I get all sorts of searches).

This one I found YESTERDAY. SHE (female) was near alot of construction on one of our main roads I took her into the place I buy feed so the casheir could take her to their pond. She is a painted turtle and I had never seen one so large, hence the water bottle for comparison sake.

I did not count turtles this summer, my estimate is 20....just me. There were two already killed I got off the road, one I hit myself on a highway and one that died of an upper respiratory infection in my care. (waiting to get the the wildlife rehabber).

There is also the dove I found hit on the interstate, now living in an undisclosed location with some quail in an aviary....she had a broken wing.

What kind of summer was/is yours?

Found!

2009-08-08T08:45:00.003-04:00

These guys (plus a few with no panes) were in my barn loft. I had begun hosing them down before I took the picture, but wanted to leave some cobwebs for your viewing pleasure!

I don't know what/where they are going, but I am IN LOVE. I wish I were talented I would build a cool cabinet for the tall skinny one!

Bing

2009-08-05T10:22:00.002-04:00

This was Duncan's other B'day present. His name is Bing.com We have Google.com and now Bing. I figured right now people say "what?" but in a few months those ads will get crazier and Microsoft will have people typing Bing.com more than anything so what the heck, I went with it.

Isn't he KYOOT? He is very sweet and kind of 'stupid'. He has managed to get his leg injured because he thinks our horse, Jake's tail is a toy. We think he got stepped on accidentally. Dr. Martha says he will be fine, but may have a little crooked leg if it included his growth plates. Alas....should have named him "lucky".

Gifting myself

2009-08-03T12:41:00.001-04:00

Usually I resist buying cut flowers, it seems so wasteful. I like to grow flowers, but never remember to plant really good "cutters" before it is too late.

I went to Kroger and bought a few bouquets. I spent a little less than 11 dollars. (wow aren't I ridiculous?) LOL

They definately make me smile.

Duncan goes back to school in two weeks. I have tons of new pictures and stuff to blog about. With him in school I can also finish some projects...I hope I will have more time to blog. :D