Brighid

Tears...

2012-02-04T22:04:00.000-08:00

Gus, my best buddy, traveling companion, adventurer, and bunny chaser was hit and killed early this morning. It's going to be mighty lonely around here without the little dog with the big attitude. His spirit is I hope where there are lots of bunnies to chase across the pastures. I'm surrounded by reminders....and it's going to take a while to get past the tears.

hot out of the oven...

2012-01-28T14:17:00.000-08:00

Allrighty then...I know it's been a while, but I'm trying to get a life here. Will try to fit this in before the oven timer goes off for the artichoke quiche...

Gus and I made it home to the bunkhouse before the snow started flying on the mountain passes. The grand with the hot pink casts has had them removed, surgery scars healed nicely, and is walking with just her ankle braces...Yea! I'm not buffed though...possibly takes more than a couple of weeks to perform that miracle. We've heard from the grand corpsman in Af'stan, finally, after being incognito for weeks, he's good and got a promotion.

Got my hair trimmed..."just let me check to see when we had you in here last...ahhh...in May. So, being a regular is not your thing..." Sortta looks that way don't it. While we were swapping lies, the beauty shop phone rang. One of the gals answered and got a horrified look on her face. She turned to the rest of us and said, "Ethel's locked in the restroom and can't get the door open." After a bit of discussion concerning how long Ethel had been in there, and the need for a replacement locking door nob, it was decided that they should help her get out. She agreed to "hold harmless" them and was released on her own recog soon after. Bet that's the last time Ethel uses the restroom on her Blue Rinse hair day, naugh... she's really old and will have forgotten by the next appointment.
Ding...

On the way to...

2011-12-20T12:13:00.000-08:00

Gus and I drove up that nine hour long ribbon of highway to spend the holidays with Sean and his girls in the great Pacific Northwest.
Sean is busy working to provide for his girls. I'm here to take care of the homefront, as the youngest recovers from surgeries on both her hips and legs. This means full leg casts, this means granny is doing a bit of lifting. An eight year old can test your mettle any day, add in full leg casts and you know what I'm up against. Last night as I was lifting the girl with the hot pink casts into bed...her sister said, with awe in her voice..."Granny you are going to be sooo buff when this is all over"...

Time and again

2011-12-09T23:18:00.000-08:00

What a year...
fraught with sadness over the passing of Himself, worry at the deployment of my Navy medic grandson to Afghanistan, and concern for the youngest granddaughter, during her recent surgeries to help with her mobility.
And Gus has been black listed by the groomer for unbecoming behavior. What? he's a Scottie, he has attitude bred into him...
There have been many good times as well: The grand kids sports games, I try to go often, and not cheer overly loud...sometimes I succeed. I've been up to see my mom & dad more often this year. Dad at 88, is still taking their money on the golf course...
Visits with my dear brother, here at the bunkhouse and on the Oregon coast. Gus and I driving up to Vancouver as often as possible to spend time with Sean and his girls. Always a good thing. Marymine and the kids just across the way from the bunkhouse, to hug on & enjoy.
There is a long To Do, To Learn list...so if you see a Scottie driving an ol SUV with a white haired, wild eyed granny, best get outta the way...

Cowgirl on the Road

2011-11-22T20:14:00.000-08:00

When advertising was interesting:

photo from the arizonaracinghistory.com

I wouldn't mind having a Playboy....car that is...what fun!

Update

2011-11-17T23:07:00.000-08:00

**NEWS ON STOLEN HORSES** Four of the five horses were found late last night deep in the woods outside of Idabell, OK. All received immediate veterinarian attention. They were found tied to trees with no food or water and had been there for an unknown # of days. The 5th horse, sorrel gelding, calf roping horse w/ JK brand on right hip is still missing. Please keep spreading the word to look out for the last horse. This 5th horse could have been sold, or let loose somewhere. Thank you to everyone who helped spread the word and find these horses!

Stolen Alert

2011-11-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

Having had this happen to me in the past, I want as many eyes on the lookout as possible. Please call the number at the bottom if you see anything. The more people aware & looking the better, Thanks!

ALERT: This morning (11/3) between 12:00am and 7:00am someone stole five roping horses, a featherlite gooseneck stock/combo trailer, many saddles, and many bits from the college rodeo barn in Magnolia, Arkansas. The trailer has Georgia plates. The five horses include, Ashley Mills good black horse with a rockin M brand... on left hip. A sorrel blaze face horse with a rockin V on his left shoulder, right hip has a backward L with a K. There was also a grey mare with no markings, a buckskin mare with a star on her head, and a black mare with a circle M brand on left hip. Please help us find these horses. If you have any information please call 870.904.3067

what we need

2011-10-25T23:39:00.000-07:00

The Wild Geese
by Wendell Berry

Horseback on Sunday morning,
harvest over, we taste persimmon
and wild grape, sharp sweet
of summer's end. In time's maze
over the fall fields, we name names
that went West from here, names
that rest on graves. We open
a persimmon seed to find the tree
that stands in promise,
pale, in the seed's marrow.
Geese appear high over us,
pass, and the sky closes. Abandon,
as in love or sleep, holds
them to their way, clear,
in the ancient faith: what we need
is here. And we pray, not
for new earth or heaven, but to be
quiet in heart, and in eye
clear. What we need is here.

Sparkle Plenty

2011-10-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I will go down in the family annuals as Sparkle Plenty's mom. Marymine has always, always been the glitter queen. She can burn thru a couple hundred jars of that Martha's glitter like nobodies business.
So, it's that time of year....Homecoming. Marymine, has two in high school, so it's a pretty big deal around here. Yesterday I pruned (hacked) down the shrubs (jungle) around her house...so you could see all the tactfully gaudy decorations she has put up. As I was hacking...err...pruning my way across the wilderness...a glimmer came over me. I thought this might be due to my extreme bravery in even attempting to make the decorations visible from the freeway a mile away... Nope, it was Sparkle Plenty at work...dusting the shrubs (and me) with glitter... See, she is set on winning the best decorated homecoming home contest. There will be a perpetual trophy!

THOSE RODEO COWGIRLS

2011-10-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

Alrighty then...since two of you have asked who the cowgirls in the header picture are...

From left to right they are: Reine Hafley, Fox Hastings, Rose Smith, Ruth Roach, Mabel Strickland, Prairie Rose Henderson and Dorothy Morrell.
(side note: I don't think the date on the photo is correct, more likely in the late 1920's)
~*~

An outstanding trick rider and bronc rider and daughter of California Frank Hafley, Reine Hafley Shelton (1902-1979) born Elba Reine Skepper at Janesville, Wisconsin, was called the World’s Greatest Lady Trick Rider. For a time she performed a highly successful act with an Arabian horse named Lurline in which they would jump 50 feet into a tank of water. With California Frank’s show, Shelton performed trick and bronc riding, as an elephant rider and an oriental and flamenco dancer. In 1918 she began her competitive career placing second in the trick riding at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Shelton earned over $125 by winning the bronc riding event at Madison Square Garden in 1924. In 1925 she eloped with Dick Shelton while he was performing with Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show. Shelton was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1983 and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame’s Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1991.
~*~
Eloise Fox Hastings (1882-1948), born Eloise Fox, ran away from a convent school at the age of 16 to marry rodeo cowboy Mike Hastings. Bulldogging was her favorite event. She dropped the name Eloise and remained Fox Hastings her entire career. Fox Hastings performed trick and bronc riding in her early years with the Irwin Brothers’ Wild West Show. Fox first exhibited her bulldogging skills in 1924 at the Fort Worth, Texas Rodeo and established a record time of 17 seconds. She continued to bulldog at more than a dozen rodeos, including the revived 101 Ranch Wild West, in that year. She excelled in this exhibition event and became the foremost cowgirl contract performer in this field. In the 1940s she developed tuberculosis. Shortly after her second husband died in 1948, she died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Hastings was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1987.
~*~
Rose Smith, wife of legendary cowboy Oklahoma Curley Roberts. Hailed as one of the famous cowgirl bronc riders of the 1920s, Rose Smith was also an accomplished trick rider. In 1923 at Ringling’s Madison Square Garden contest, she won $960, including the $600 first prize in bronc riding, $185 day money (daily prizes), and $175 in the costume event.
~*~
Ruth Roach (1896-1986) born Ruth Scantlin, grew up in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Running away from her Missouri home in 1912, Ruth Roach joined the 101 Ranch Wild West Show and later performed with the show in London, England. Her competitive debut came in 1917 at the Fort Worth Roundup, the first indoor rodeo. There she rode the bronc, Memphis Blue, and claimed the $100 first-place prize. In 1919 she captured first-place finishes in the Fort Worth and Cheyenne bronc riding contests and in 1920 was named champion lady bronc rider of Chicago’s 1920 Roundup. She performed before President Warren Harding in 1923 at Washington, DC. The following year she performed in Tex Austin’s rodeo in London, where at Wembley Stadium as many as 92,000 fans attended the first performance. In 1932 she was the cowgirl champion in the bronc riding at Madison Square Garden winning $526. While she continued to rodeo through 1938, this was her last major title. Roach was inducted into both the Rodeo Hall of Fame and National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1989.
~*~

Mabel De Long Strickland (1897-1976) was born in Washington State. She began her rodeo career in 1912. A winning relay racer, Mabel, won the 1913 through 1915 trick riding competitions at Walla Walla, Washington riding with the Drumhellers, horsemen and rodeo producers. Married to Hugh Strickland, Mabel won her first steer roping contest at the Dewey Roundup with a record time of 21.2 seconds. Winner of the McAlpin trophy for all-around cowgirl at the Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1922, Strickland won the trick riding competition at Madison Square Garden in 1922, 1923, and 1924. In 1927 she set a steer roping record at the Pendleton Roundup and was named the Roundup Queen. Perhaps the most photographed cowgirl of her era, Strickland played a bit part in a Bing Crosby movie entitled “Rhythm on the Range” in 1936. Later she did “replacement riding” (stunt riding) for actresses in the movies. Strickland was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame’s Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1981 and the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1992
~*~
Prairie Rose Henderson, was declared one of the all-time great winners excelling as a bronc rider. For the details of this twisted tale see:
http://thecowgirlmovie.com/who_was_prairie_rose
~*~
Dorothy Morrell (1888-?), born Dolla Eichorn in Canada, was judged World’s Champion Cowgirl Bronc Rider in 1914 at the Pendelton Roundup. She was married to “Skeeter” Bill Robbins. For more information see:
http://dorothymorrell.blogspot.com/

Unbroken

2011-08-01T16:07:00.000-07:00

The rancher and his dog's view...
Their ashes were scattered on this hillside over looking the river and the valley. He so loved this valley. Most of the family was able to come for this special day. Words of hope and goodbye were spoken, tags of remembrance and a picture of he & Max were tied to the pine tree, and wildflower seedballs were scattered on the hillside. And there this story comes full circle. Looking back I realized that for the most part it was he I wrote about. His stories told thru me. There are still stories to tell, and they are being passed on to his children and grandchildren. The family circle remains unbroken.

Climb on

2011-07-09T06:04:00.000-07:00

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." -- John Muir

THE 64TH YEAR

2011-06-10T23:47:00.000-07:00

In the beginning there was a young rancher. He married a country girl. They raised two great children, a lot of cattle, a bunch of dogs, a cat or two, a little hell, and assorted other things. Life was an adventure with much to learn along the way. Years passed, the kids had kids, the rancher and the country girl grew older. Life was still an adventure but not in ways the country girl could understand. After a time she left the rancher. It was difficult, they had grown up together the rancher and the country girl, over forty three years of marriage. They parted as friends she wanted to think, but who really knows.
The rancher passed away last Sunday. He left a brief note about the disposition of his ashes, and chaos behind him. There remains a daughter shaking with sorrow, a son taking charge of a thousand things, bewildered grandkids, and a country girl caught between madness and sadness.

Classification

2011-06-01T00:04:00.000-07:00

I keep calling myself an old lady, but I just figured out that I am not old. I am experienced beyond belief.

Real life

2011-05-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

A fellow blogger (AR Patti) posted a link to Doris's post of Dr Kikta's first hand account of the tornado's impact on St John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin MO. Tornado damage, but more importantly human grace is in this story:
http://doris-socialworker.blogspot.com/
Please give as much help, in what ever form you can to those in need.

New eyes

2011-05-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

Went to an antiques market show last weekend. What beautiful things, I drooled a lot. Way beyond my limited budget, but the looking was free. It was held in the garden and barn of a couple who live in my old home town.

In one outdoor stall, the one with the vintage clothing, a little gopher popped his head up. He continued to eat from the edges of the grass as if there wasn't a multitude of ol ladies wandering about. Out came the camera phones, big cameras, little cameras, for a gopher.

Interesting to see things that would have been tossed in days gone bye displayed in such clever ways. The boneyard here on the farm is full of these rusty, dusty, bent, and twisted pieces of art. It's a treasure trove out there. I go scouting often to redo my displays. I'm not above putting a small roll of barbwire up as a wreath, using disk blades as planters, bird feeders, or table centerpieces. A seed bag pillow case. Bed spring candle holders, vases, and plant hangers. Spindles and cogs, horseshoes & deer horns are displayed around the ol bunkhouse. Years ago my dad cut and slag welded three disk blades together as a vase for my mom, it is the one thing I hope to inherit. I've been doing this type of decorating for years, simply because I like the repurposing, the seeing things with new eyes.

Traveling Light

2011-05-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

Since The divorce I've been winnowing thru my stuff. Files that I've no idea why I kept. Pictures have been sorted, and the twelve million duplicates and the picture of a rock are now residing in a landfill. I brought with me a few pieces of furniture that have a long and sorted past. The press back chairs are from a ranch wife in the wilds of Nevada via my mother and father's hunting trips. The round oak table wandered into my care from a neighbor's barn sale, as did the pie safe. The old white chippy cabinet with the blue interior was left on the curb when a store closed, down the street from where I worked. Stuffed that sucker in the back of the ol SUV and away I went. And yes I did find a free sign on it. A painting or two, a pot, a fry pan and a box of rocks, pretty much covers it.

In days gone by himself would back the gooseneck up to the house, and tell me to have it packed and ready to go by the time the cattle where finished being loaded. I got pretty good at packing and traveling light. We moved so much that I guess it stuck.
I like this lightness of being.

Blogger Down

2011-05-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

The world as we know it ended for a few days. What a wake up call that was as Blogger's maintenance fix flamed out and crashed into the Internet ocean. It seemed to revive for a moment then down again, up-down, up-down, up which made me a little crazy. I have to have my lurking time with the many and varied blogs I enjoy reading. I seldom comment, because I want to make that truly original intelligent comment that someone else has already made. But tell me the system is down, and boy do I have a lot to say. Now it's been down too long and I've misplaced all those gloriously intellectual comments in my post menopausal mind.
There was lots to share, like the show steers got out, everyone gone but me. It was going well til they decided to see what was with all those pickups whizzing by. There I am trying to run threw knee deep pasture, to cut them off, when to my utter amazement I learned that I can levitate. Not able to stay up there very long yet but I'm working on it. No bunnies where hurt in this process.
Gus has decided that he's a big dog now, and part of his early doghood shall be to lift his leg in the house. This is not going over well with me, he's a tad jumpy from my corrections. He'd be even jumpier if he knew what lay in store for him if he does it again.
The baby owls are getting big. I can't upload my pictures, (we won't go there at this time) so you will need to go to Cindee's Garden and look at her pictures. Ours look just like hers. Aren't they just cute?
In closing, if you see a white haired, wild eyed granny, driving an ancient SUV, loaded with grand kids, steer feed, baseball equipment, and a live Scottie hood ornament, my advise would be to get the heck out of her way.

Fine Feathered Friends

2011-04-21T22:19:00.000-07:00

There is a large lawn area with old trees between Marymine's house and the bunkhouse where I live.
In the crouch of a huge elm is a stick nest with three of these little cuties... Yesterday we watched they're antics for the longest time. Mom must have been off getting dinner from the take out in the alfalfa.

aaah Spring

2011-04-18T12:10:00.000-07:00

All is in Spring hyper drive around the farmstead. Sunday before last, Marymine sent me across the valley to get "some color" for her yard. I hate shopping, really, except for plants. Came home with the ol SUV loaded to the roof with Lots of Color. The youngest granddaughter and I planted 25 pots and three borders full to the brim... aaah Spring!
The son-in-law has his many & varied crops in, and just finished baling the first cutting of alfalfa. Grand kids are busy with ballgames, 4-H, FFA, and projects.
Marymine and her oldest girl were off to another state for a game last weekend. Which left the youngest girl & boy in my care, watch out world. Ran the boy to the dentist (30 miles away) Thursday morning. Then away to the feed mill, to swap out a whole pallet of feed...which the girls had picked up the day before. The loader had put Alpaca feed on, instead of the show steer mix. I have a feeling that the young man driving the forklift might have been paying more attention to my granddaughter than which pallet he was loading.
Thursday night Lizzy had a ballgame and Friday night they all had a dinner to go to. Saturday was full of 4-H for Lizzy, and grandson plowing.

Sunday, Lizzy and I took great grandpa to the Big rodeo. We got to see a lot of family & friends, gossip, swap tales, oh and watch the rodeo.
Now why does it all come at once? This granny needs a bit of a break once in a while so she can catch her breath and enjoy... aaah Spring

All's well that ends well...

2011-03-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

When we sold our house last fall, I did a final clean and walk-thru. In a way, saying goodbye to the only house we ever owned. All the other 29 moves had been to rentals or ranch housing.
I had moved out months before, and himself had stayed on til a buyer was found. He did a good job of keeping it up, but didn't see that it wasn't as clean as it could be. So I spent a last day with the house, cleaning, and polishing. I made sure the bathrooms had full rolls of TP, new bars of soap, a few fresh towels, new batteries in the alarms, a basket of trash bags, new lightbulbs, cleansers, and watered the garden. Locking the door behind me the last time, I wasn't sad, there was no need. When I went by the realtor's to leave my keys, I also left a binder for the new owners. The binder had a note wishing them nothing but happiness in their new home, all the warranties and manuals for the heating/ac unit, appliances, and fixtures. The names and info of all the utilities, and services that we had used. Also included were the color codes and brands of paint & stain used. At the end I listed the close neighbors and slipped in a few pictures of the landscape in full bloom.
I never met the buyers, but my ex said they were nice, all's well.

Yeah Right Bucko...

2011-03-26T23:20:00.000-07:00

A girlfriend called to say she was driving up to Washington state to spend a week with her sons, and would I like to ride along so I could spend some time with my Sean. Took me about a minute to throw some clothes in my bag, make arrangements for Gus to stay with Marymine, and away I went.

Spent a great week with my Sean and his girls. The girls and I did Fort Vancouver twice, and made hand puppets for their impromptu puppet show for Sean. Those girls are inventive, we laughed and had a great time.

Sean needed to find a home for his Queensland heeler, Jack. After a call to Marymine to see if she was interested in adding to her pack, and an OK from my girlfriend, it was a go for Jack to ride home with us.

Jack looks a lot like the Queensland heeler pictured above. He is a dear sweet dog with very good manners, So I figured it would be smooth sailing getting him to Marymine's.
Sean said he's a good traveler, except here I am driving a friend's car on a very busy 205 when he farts. Now her car is nothing like my ol SUV, so I'm trying to drive, and roll down the window at the same time. After we had nearly passed out from the fumes, I found the right button to push and aired us out. We laughed, and said "Oh Jack you must have eaten something you shouldn't have". On we went with me driving the Vancouver to Roseburg leg. The next time he let one go we were in a driving rain storm and could only crack the windows, still able to laugh somewhat.
Told my girlfriend of the time my cousins had sent a book to Sean's girls entitled "Walter the Farting Dog". We had all gotten a kick out of that book, I must have read it to the girls a dozen times.
Now it was starting to look like we had another five hours of driving with "Jack the Farting Dog". We ran into snow on my next leg of driving, with no chains or 4 wheel drive it got a bit dicey. Jack the Farting Dog continued apace. Just about the time we would think he wasn't going to gas us again, he would let loose. Truckers would signal to us that our windows were down and it was snowing out, we pointed to Jack The Farting Dog, and kept on. We were starting to think it might be wise to stop at a WallyWorld and get gas masks. Tears were coming to our eyes, but it wasn't from laughter. We finally reached her place, switched my bags and Jack to my ol SUV for the last hour and a half to my bunkhouse. Pulled in, let Jack stretch his legs, retrieved Gus from Marymine's, and made Jack promise that he would Not fart in the bunkhouse. He didn't, and now is happily living with the crew at Marymine's.
When I called Sean to ask about Jack's fumigating specialty,  Sean said he probably was just plain scared to death riding with two ol ladies in that little car going thru rain and snow storms. Yeah right Bucko...

Standing Tall

2011-02-24T12:08:00.000-08:00

Jingleworms the ol cowboys called them. We had plenty of them on one of the ranches. I killed 35+ in my yard, the last summer we lived there. They were nasty, would stand up in the grass and hunt your dog, who promptly jumped in the back of the pickup, only to have the jingleworm strike the tires.
Moving cows one day my horse stopped and wouldn't go forward. I was paying attention to the cows and not my horse. When I looked down, we were in a shallow wash, we were surrounded by rattlesnakes. Being very calm, I gently told my horse to just quietly tip toe between them and carry on with the job at hand. He did a great job of getting us out of harms way. I learned that you can wear a cowboy hat, plaid shirt, wranglers, chinks, boots, and spurs and still stand on top of a saddle horn.

Dinner at the drive thru

2011-01-24T20:47:00.000-08:00

This happened to me today on the way home from the city.
I pulled into the drive up and asked the girl in the speaker box for a hamburger wrap. "Sorry, we don't have a hamburger wrap." "Ok, do you have a steak wrap?" "No, we only have a chicken wrap or an Angus wrap." "aaaah, ok, I'll have an Angus wrap."

I loved camping and still do

2011-01-17T21:38:00.000-08:00

I was always the kid that loved to go camping at the lake. Water skiing til our arms were ready to fall off. Swimming, skipping rocks, packing fire wood, finding treasures. Eating fresh peaches from home, trout from the lake. The smell of the forest, the smell of wood smoke from the fire. The sounds of the loons calling in the evening. Up early to watch the sun come up, the lake was like glass. I loved camping and still do.
Mom and dad had an ol army tent to sleep in. My brother, the three boys that came with us, and I slept out under a blanket of stars. We had ancient camp cots to put our bedrolls on. The only flat ground was taken up by the tent, camp table, and fire pit, so we dug holes for our cot legs. If you moved around too much on your cot you would find yourself rolling down hill into the lake. Not real great, as you would invariably bounce off a few boulders on the way down and as you were usually snugged into an old mummy bag, the air hole having become fixed at the back of your head, you couldn't see, and you sure couldn't stop. You just knew you better hope that one of those thick headed boys would wake up and keep you from turning into the girl of the lake.
One night after more smores than any kid should eat, we slipped off to dreamland. Then the screaming began, up popped five heads, again the scream. Now there are five heads up,and five flashlight beams whipping around amid a chorus of frightened voices. Dad called from the tent to "pipe down out there and go to sleep". "But, but, what was that, who had screamed, and it seems to be getting closer?" Dad said, "it's just a mountain lion, across the lake, go to sleep, now." "OK, if you say so, but, it sounded like a woman screaming." "It's not, it's just a big mountain lion, they sound like that." We finally settled down, and went back to sleep.
I was woken by the sound of something moving around in camp, oh God, it's a bear or the mountain lion come to get us. Having scrunched down to the bottom of my bag, I could only see a small area in front of my cot, but I could hear what ever it was getting into stuff in camp. I could hear it eating what sounded like Fritos, and getting closer to my cot. Then an ol doe stuck her nose in the end of my bag, and that's how come I screamed, rolled off the cot, rolled down the hill, bounced off a bunch of boulders, and nearly drowned in the lake. I loved camping and still do.

IT'S THE LITTLE MOMENTS

2011-01-02T19:08:00.000-08:00

She's bright, funny, pretty, athletic, smart, involved in her community and school and blonde. She struggled with her high school Spanish classes last year, more due to the lack of skill by her teacher than anything. An honor roll student, she wants to go to vet school.
As she is working toward getting a college athletic scholarship, she's on several traveling ball teams.Her mom, her best friend, and her are coming home from a practice in the city. She's setting in the front seat, kick'n back, as her mom pulls up to a stop sign. She looks off to the side of the road, see's a sign among the multitude of political signs, and says "HeSus SuaVes". Her mom who is watching traffic, said, "what did you say?". She repeats it. Her mom looks around her, and starts to laugh, the friend is rolling on the seat, Her mom tells her: the sign says Jesus Saves.
It's one of those tales that you just know is going to be passed around the family forever.
Don't worry A we've all had our blonde moments.

Christmas Wish

2010-12-24T22:06:00.000-08:00

Wishing You and Yours a Christmas of Wonder, Peace, and Love.

http://worriersanonymous.org/Share/Christmas/Holynite.htm

Not a fine moment...

2010-12-22T16:21:00.000-08:00

I have a place inside me that is not at peace. Yesterday I was approached by a woman setting in a car, with out of state plates. She had been there when I smilingly went by her to go in a store. She stepped out of her car as I was going back to my ol suv. Seems she was on her way to a distant town and needed money for gas. I said "I'm sorry but I live on a small fixed income". After getting directions to the nearest church that might be willing to help, she went on her way. As I started out of town, I couldn't stand it and went in search of her. It's a small town, but she was no where to be found. You see, I had remembered that I had the Christmas money that my parents had given me tucked in my wallet. It would have bought enough gas to get her where she was going. If I had just passed it forward there would not be this unhappy place inside me.

Prime Time

2010-12-01T21:18:00.000-08:00

An American Cowgirl

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=175755719104209&oid=111688202182115&comments

A Thanksgiving

2010-11-21T23:37:00.000-08:00

I have so much to be Thankful for this Thanksgiving. All the parents, kids, and grands have roofs over their heads, food in their pantries, and good health. Love and laughter abound. I wish the same for you and yours.

It's all in how you look at it...

2010-11-11T00:34:00.000-08:00

One of the ranch houses we lived in had a sewage problem a-rise. Himself was friends with one of the local boys who had a honeypot truck. There were stories that he had cut a hole in his dinning room floor so that the table scraps could be fed to the hogs that lived under his house. His life was pretty much the shits, what with running sheep and hogs and driving a honeypot truck for a living.
Anyway, here he comes with his truck to pump out the septic tank. After getting the front yard dug up, and the tank pumped, he jumps down in the tank. The happiest look comes over his face, and he tells me that we really need a new tank, as the old one is falling apart. Falling apart? Yep, the old one is made of redwood, oh, and can he have the ol boards. "Uh, yeah, you can have the ol redwood boards." He carefully dismantles the tank, and lovingly places the boards on the side of his truck. I can't stand it anymore, and ask what he is going to do with the boards. "Well, I'm thinking of making a bar out of them for my family room. You just don't find redwood like this anymore." No, I guess you don't.
A while later the guys mentioned that he had built a redwood bar in his family room. I never said anything to the guys, his life is his own.

Update from the Awesome One

2010-11-08T20:43:00.000-08:00

Brighid has gone on vacation in her mind. She has accomplished diddly squat in the past few months, other than to put on 10 lbs. Her friends are telling her that this is normal after all the D trauma. Oh, and they are also saying that this rite of passage can easily take a year. Well isn't that just special!

Brighid's friend sent her a chain recipe e-mail. First off, she assumed a lot by thinking she has a recipe in her head, then she thinks she has 20 friends! Neither of these assumptions are true.

Gus the Awesome

No harm intended, yet

2010-10-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

I finally got all the corrected correct paper work done, signed, and notarized for both of us in the D. What a hassle. Then to the courthouse to file the last of the papers. I'm not fond of going to the courthouse, though they are very nice in the family law division, as I set off the metal detectors every time. Time before last it was because of the hemostats in my purse and the staples in my Dansko's. This time it was my Swiss Army knife and the Dansko's again. Just ask'n, don't other grannys pack hemostats and Swiss Army knives, along with butterfly bandages, etc in their purses?

Hallelujah...

2010-10-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Mom is blessed

2010-09-30T23:44:00.000-07:00

Gus and I had a whirlwind trip and we loved it. It's about 9 hours driving, which would have been somewhat shorter without all the gas, water, walk Gus stops. But not nearly as interesting.
We stopped at Del Rio Winery on the way North to stock up on the fruit of the vine. Blessed be.
It had been a while since I had driven thru Portland, timing was great, we were going in when the rest of the world was coming out. Another blessing.
Met up with my son in Vancouver and then went house hunting. He found one not far from his work that evening. Another blessing.
Spent as much time as possible with my two youngest grand girls over the weekend. What smart little whippersnappers they are. Sean is a great dad, and they are well loved. A great blessing.
Spent Monday at Ikea in Portland, picking out furniture for the house. He gave me a set amount and I got most all he needed way under budget. Another blessing.
We spent the evening moving stuff, and building the furniture. Not so much of a blessing, but we all got thru it, thanks be no one forgot the blessed wine.
I love the green of Washington state, and the beautiful weather. Hey, it was 83 three of the four days I was there! Another blessing.
Gus and I hit the road for home on Tuesday. This time we were going out as everyone else was going in. Another blessing.
We made the usual stops, plus a quick stop at my parents to check on them, another hour and we were home to our little bunkhouse. Another blessing.
Next time, soon hopefully, I will take my books on tape, Gus is a good traveler but he isn't much of a talker...

Mom Likes

2010-09-21T21:26:00.000-07:00

Like this mom wants to be on the road to Vancouver WA to see her son and his girls. Like this weekend. Like with Gus, as co-pilot. Like she has washed, waxed, changed the oil, and rotated the tires on the ol SUV in readiness, like she can have her new Cabela's bag (thanks my brother) packed in a flash, like she really wants to be on her way.
Oh, is "Barn House"
http://www.barnhousebh.com/2010/09/barn-house-tarte-presents.html in Battle Ground, WA (a short hop from Vancouver) having their big Fall todo this very weekend?
Like how auspicious is that!

House Sitting

2010-08-23T22:58:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law P asked me to house sit her and her hubby's place. Being temporarily unencumbered (unemployed) I'm more than willing to spend some time looking after things for them. They left early Saturday morning, pulling their travel trailer, for a long week's vacation at the coast. The cell phone reception is spotty at best from the winery, err campground they are at, so she left me a short message this morning on the recorder, hoping all was well here... My response...

Hi P, Everything is fine, no worries. I don't think my mother is going to sue because she tripped over the curb and fell in your driveway. Went by and checked on her this evening and she is really doing well with the walker.
Don't have to worry about feeding the donkey or hens anymore. A goat from down the road seems to have turned loose your chickens, trying to get at their grain. Chickens can be so flighty. The rooster landed on the donkey and spooked him into the goat, last I saw them they were headed toward the Yolla Bolly wilderness area.
We had a little wind storm this morning and it blew a ton of oak leaves into your nice clean garage. After sweeping it out twice I decided enough already and pushed the button on the automatic garage door. How was I to know that your new car was not pulled all the way in. I'm sure D can pound out that little crease.
The garden is doing well, except for the bear who has decided that your strawberry bed is a fine place to feast. His growling has upset Annie, who's barking is upsetting the honkers that have chosen to over winter in your swimming pool. They sure are messy. Not knowing how much more the pool filter could take, I put all the chlorine tabs I could find in there.
Your rose garden that I was to prune doesn't need it anymore. A couple of does' came thru last night and now you won't have to worry about pruning anything for quite a while.
Hope your just kicking back with a glass of wine and having a relaxing time at the beach. No Worries.
Love, B

Here and Now

2010-07-31T10:14:00.000-07:00

Having totally nothing of value to say is very frustrating and so I have been avoiding posting. As I see it now my blogging is about "as useful as tits on a boar".
I started blogging as a way to put down the odd moments of my life for my family, until I realized that they were all busy living their own lives. So having lost that audience, I thought to just entertain myself and the few who stopped by.
My pleasure has been getting reacquainted with several friends from the old days, and making a few new ones around this whirling ball. One can never have too many friends, but one shouldn't neglect the people that are right here, right now. It's kind've like people that text while you are right in front of them.
I have been paring down the blogs that I read, and trying to only go online, for a limited amount of time, once a day. Having no TV, and limiting my computer time, has encouraged me to get back out and Live my life here and now.

The Yard Sale

2010-07-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

The home ranch at one time was leased to a couple of yea whos from the Lone Star state. They were unbelievable wheeler-dealers from the get go. One of them moved into the main house with part of his family; the part that was a wife, a (still nursing) 3 year old son, and a couple of older kids from one or the other's other marriages.
We were raised to be good stewards of the land and the animals in our care. Not these guys, they were just look'n for the next buck. They were running bred dairy heifers some sorry sucker had bought for them to calve out. I have a feeling that several sorry suckers had bought the same cattle, but that's only hearsay. Keeping one's mouth shut about the way they ran their outfit was difficult at the best of times. But, we were leased to them with the ranch, so lip biting about the cattle became the norm.
We always seemed to get shipments of cattle late at night, something we tried hard to never do with our own cattle. If they come in late at night they don't have a chance to walk the fence to see where the boundaries are, or locate water and food. Himself and I spent many nights riding thru the new cattle to show them where the feed bunks and water troughs were, and doctoring sick ones.
How did I get so far afield of what I started out to say? I was laughing when I started as I had been over at K8's reading about her bra buying experience and remembered The yard sale. So now that I've got the ugly out of my system I'll get to it.
The Texas boys decided that the wheelly deally wasn't working out too well in this part of the country, so they started pack'n up to move to greener pastures. The wife said she wasn't moving some things again and would have a yard sale. Hello, we lived 15 miles from a small town, the last three miles of which was rough gravel road. I just couldn't see people beating a path to her door, but what did I know. Not much it seems. The day of her yard sale arrived. I had to go into town to get a part for Himself that morning, so missed the setting up for the event. As I headed back to the ranch there did seem to be a lot of traffic, but it couldn't be for a yard sale, could it? When I crossed the last cattle guard the whole area was full of trucks, cars, and people. She had set up the big BBQ, a bar, and had country music blaring from a stereo. The front lawn was full of tables of yard sale wares, a junker's paradise. The piece d' resistance was a large tree in front with bras hanging from every branch, not just any ol bras either, they were Huge bras. (She'd had a home business in Texas selling bras for really large women and this was the overstock.) We were all laughing so hard, you just had to buy one. Her yard sale was a Huge success and she made a killing on that bra tree.

Maxwell The Wonder Cowdog

2010-06-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

The best cowdog around passed away recently, after being our sidekick for many years. Maxwell The Wonder Cowdog was a Border collie, McNab cross that came to us as a yearling. Cute as could be with his black and white coat, one blue eye and one blue/brown eye. He was given to me with no training on working cattle, but was well schooled on basic commands.
Everyone he met loved him, as he was ever the gentleman. When he got the hang of working cattle he was fun to watch. He could handle just about anything. One time moving cattle from one large pasture to another, with the gate on top of a knoll, Himself sent Max to gather the pasture, push the cattle up the hill, thru the gate, and turn them in the right direction. Not an easy task for anyone, let alone one dog. As himself was watching Max, and giving hand commands, it was too far for whistle commands, up drives a fellow.
"I've been watching your dog work for a while, would you be interested in selling him?"
Himself had been down this road before with people, "Well I couldn't take less than $5,000 for him" thinking this would end it. The guy never batted an eye, and asked what form, cash or check, Himself wanted the payment in.
Himself replied, "You know by watching him that dog is worth any three cowboys, so I don't think I will be interested in ever selling him."
The guy said, "Here's my name and number, if you ever change your mind give me a call, he's a Great dog."
He was a Great dog, he greeted you with gentleness and a wagging tail, he loved to work cattle in the pastures or the corrals, he could fetch and roll in the grass with the gran babies, he was a constant companion, he could make you laugh with his cow skiing trick, and a thousand other things.
Gentle kind Max, I miss you dearly.

Roll On

2010-04-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

Spring, the wild flowers blooming, thunder boomers coming by to visit. A breeze off the water flows over you and if you close your eyes feels like water skiing at Tahoe. Fresh cut clover and timothy hay smells drift across the meadow. Saddle leather creaks and groans, or maybe that's me. Horses and dogs are sweaty from working cattle. Warm days, cool nights. One spring I tied notes to tumbleweeds rolling by, never heard back.

The Best Part

2010-04-19T02:44:00.000-07:00

The annual Roundup rodeo has come and gone for another year. Thanks to one of my brother in laws, my Dad and I had great seats in the family box.
As I hadn't been in many years it was great fun, and a bit of a trip getting to see friends from long ago.
The younger generation is continuing this annual family tradition, which is a good thing. What a great bunch of kids and grandkids.
I have some terrific memories of the old Roundups. It has changed a lot over the years, Dad and I both liked the old version better, possibly because we were more involved. Spending time with family and friends was and is the best part.

Not Go'n Anywhere

2010-04-02T03:43:00.000-07:00

This wet spring brings to mind the year we decide Himself would go back to college to finish his degree. We saved for a year, sold some cows, bought a new pickup, packed up our meager belongings, one horse, and the baby and headed out to the university. Surely we looked like a slightly modern version of folks from the Grapes of Wrath. What with the borrowed wood slates on the back of the pickup, everything we owned piled in, a mattress tied on top, and a ratty old horse trailer behind. Geez, Himself loved that horse of his, there was no way he was leaving him behind.
A new pickup was a necessary purchase, as we did need dependable transportation for the long journey south. Besides we got a heck of a deal on it as it was two shades brighter than school bus yellow and the dealer realized that no one else in three counties was going to be interested.
We lived in an apartment in town for a short time, but it was too pricey, so we moved over the hill from campus to a small ranch. The ranch was owned by an elderly couple who needed someone to caretake the place. In exchange we got pasture for Himself's horse and a small house. Actually a very small house, only three rooms, the main room with kitchen on one end and living area, with the only source of heat a tiny franklin stove, on the other. Oh how I hated that tiny franklin stove, it smoked, and was a bear to cook on when the electricity went out, which seemed to happen frequently. Have you ever tried to heat a baby bottle in the middle of the night with a candle?
The little house sat with the front door facing a small river and the back door smackdab against a steep hillside. You had to travel about a mile on an old road beside the river to get to the "main" road.
Things were going along ok until it started to rain, and rain, and rain. It was one of the wettest winters on record there that year. The river was running high and fast, just like the little creek running in the back door and across the not so great room and out the front door. There was no stopping it so I just put sand bags on either side of it. It's funny now to remember stepping over the little creek to put wood in the stove, not so much at the time.
Himself decided it was getting a little too dangerous to stay, so he loaded up his horse and moved him to a horse ranch on higher ground. After more rain he thought it might even be too dicey for us to stay, but by this time the old road was under water. A friend got concerned, and walked in to check on us. We packed up what we could carry, put the baby on my back, and started the long walk out to the main road. We hadn't gotten far when Himself called a halt, he had to go back for something. After he got back to us we finished that long walk on the steep hillsides, in the rain, to the main road.
It was wonderful to be taken in by another college couple. Oh, it was heaven especially since they had central heat and electricity.
After hot showers, a hot meal, and a few glasses of wine. I asked Himself what he had gone back for at the house. "After all our hard work to buy that pickup, I'll be damned if I'll let the river take it. So I got the biggest chain I could find, wrapped it around the biggest oak tree, then around the axile on the pickup and paddlocked them all together. That pickup's not go'n anywhere."

I'm supposed to be...

2010-03-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

I'm supposed to be weed eating the back 40, too wet. I'm supposed to be painting the inside of the kitchen cupboards, too damp. I'm supposed to be changing the oil in the ol SUV, too nasty. I'm supposed to be putting up the drapery rods, too boring. I'm supposed to be studying, too busy. I'm supposed to be finding an electrician, too costly. I'm supposed to be mowing the lawn, too rainy. I'm supposed to be doing taxes, too confusing. I'm supposed to be looking for work, too old. I'm supposed to be gathering eggs, too many. I'm supposed to be cleaning out the garage, too tired. I'm supposed to be planting in the garden, too cold. I'm supposed to be planning dinner, too unorganized. I'm supposed to be sewing, too uninspired. I'm supposed to be ironing, too hot. I'm supposed to be a lot of things. I want to be hugging and loving my kids and grandkids, that I DO.

A Horse called Elvis

2010-03-15T04:43:00.000-07:00

We had a cranky ol gelding on the home ranch named Elvis.  How he came by his name I have no idea. He certainly didn't remind me of The Elvis, as he was not the handsomest piece of horseflesh around. His claim to fame on the ranch was that he could open any gate, and I do mean any. It was not entirely uncommon to get that feeling that something is watching you and look out the window, to see him standing in the flower bed staring back at you. He had a well honed method to his gate antics, he must have spent hours figuring out how different gates closures worked. Being sneaky about his talent was also part of his way. He never did it while you were in his sight. The way we confirmed it was observation from a distant knoll, and the fact that he had kind of overthought the process by closing the gate behind himself.
His favorite was to wait until we had gathered the horses into the barn corral, closed the gate, fed in the big horsebarn, and then driven off to other chores.   Before the dust had settled he would saunter over open the gate, go back in the barn and tell the rest of the horse herd about the open gate. After they had made a mad dash out the gate, he would saunter over, shut the gate, mosey back into the barn and proceeded to eat all the feed.
I thought for sure he would be sent down the road, after he did the same with the gate into the grandmother's beautifully tended yard.  That time he let the other horses IN, closed the gate, and galloped off to a good vantage point to watch the fireworks.  Grandfather stuckup for him in the battle that followed, and he stayed with us until an ol' fellow that needed a gentle horse bought him. He was going to a good home and it really never came up about his special ways. We did hear from the ol fellow that Elvis was doing well, was well loved, and the most talented horse he'd ever had.

ROUNDUP READY

2010-02-21T13:22:00.000-08:00

We used to go to the big local roundup every year, we were a lot younger, and knew pretty much everyone there. Himself & the other local ranch kids worked in the background, clearing the arena, pushing up calves for the roping & dogging events. Moving bulls, horses, calves, and equipment to keep the show going under the watchful eye of their dads, or uncles. It took a special group of men to put on such a big event, even in the early years.
At the end of each day's rodeo the boys would be up themselves in the wild horse race. Each three man team lead their horse onto the track, a shot gun was fired to start the race. More often than not the cowboys came away bloodied from the horse that had just kicked, bit, and stomped them as they tried to get a saddle on him.  If they got him saddled, one cowboy was thrown up on him and handed the halter rope, and expected to hang on for one trip around the large oval track. All amind the other horses and cowboys running a muck. It was great fun, and a fair amount of money changed hands as we all bet on our home ranch teams.
Seems it was often raining during roundup in those days. So the arena was more mud bog than anything. I sat on the hood of the ol scout and watched the events, right beside all the action.  It was the best seat in the house as far as I was concerned.
Work schedules have kept us from going for quite a few years, but this year I'm going! Some new memories are sure to be there.

Scotties Rock

2010-01-29T10:29:00.000-08:00

Fergus, my scottie pup, has found his idol: Go Flash!

Goat Roper Recipe

2010-01-20T12:37:00.000-08:00

Mix together: one small girl, one large horse, one rope, one pig'n string, and one nanny goat, gently blend, fold in a tree for the goat to hide in, careful with the horse, twirl the rope and bring to a simmer. When finished you have a small girl with a broken wrist, a gloating goat, and a spooked horse all wrapped in string.

FUR FLYING

2010-01-02T13:17:00.000-08:00

While in the process of cleaning out closets in the big house at my MIL's many years ago we happened on the fur coats. She hadn't worn them in years, and she was putting them in the thrift store box. Oh, I fell in love with one, it was a beautiful three quarter length mink, and fit me perfectly. "Take that ol thing if you want it," says she. Trying to act like it was no big deal, I quickly put it back in it's special bag and hussled it out to my pickup.
Now I lived on the family cattle ranch in the middle of nowhere. Most of my time was spent with kids, cowboys, cows, horses, dogs, and barbwire. What would I be doing with a fur coat?
A call to a friend was the hatching of my Plan. I so wanted a reason to wear that coat. You see the friend had an ol fur coat she loved, lived in the middle of nowhere, & had small children. Her kids and mine went to the same private Catholic school in town (bless us Father for we didn't know any better).
Getting kids to school entailed a lot of mad dashes to town in what ever vehicle was available at o-dark-thirty in the morning. Me wearing ratty jammies, old leather slippers and trying to keep from spilling my mug of coffee. I often pulled into the parking lot with screeching tires, dogs barking, balingwire, curlers, and hay flying. My friend arrived a bit nicer but not by much. There we were met by the Other Mothers. The Other Mothers lived in town, drove polished cars, had their makeup on, and were dressed fit for a brunch at the Cliff House. They weren't very friendly to us, even though we never turned the kids or dogs loose on them.
After another morning of the Treatment by the Other Mothers, I decided that the school parking lot was to be the place I would implement the Plan. My friend was game. We would wear our fur coats to take our kids to school. We still screeched into the parking lot, with cowdogs barking, hay flying, messy hair, and ratty jammies, but also wearing our glorious fur coats. We kept it up til the weather got too warm to wear our furs. The Other Mothers never did take a liking to us, but we had a great time, and our kids thought we were the classiest moms ever.

Good bye 2009

2009-12-31T11:45:00.000-08:00

It's been a heck of a year!

I resolve to be irresolute

2009-12-28T11:50:00.000-08:00

New Year's resolutions are not very interesting, except to the person who is making them. So if you don't want to read any further I'll understand.
After about a second's thought mine are going to be: Try to be a better friend. Try to be more understanding of others. Realize that there are some things (people) that are not going to change. Implement my plan for me. Spend more time with my kids & grandkids. Learn something new each day. Move on. Enjoy at least one small thing each day. Some of these are feasable, some not so much, but trying is the important thing, right?
If you've read this far I want to wish you a New Year full of wonder & joy!

2009-12-21T12:16:00.000-08:00

Happy Solstice

These boots are made for stomping!

2009-12-17T10:38:00.000-08:00

My theory is: If your going to be a muck shoveling puddle stomper you should do it with a pair of boots your Gran painted for you, and Laughter. Hope your enjoying them Miss J. As soon as I get my pair finished we are going on a puddle stomping holiday...

a forever flannel Granny

2009-12-13T21:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas time is here and I'm not ready, again. The tree is up with lights, no ornaments yet. Wreath has been hung on the front door, without bells. Gus is wearing his Christmas kerchief, oh, there it goes, guess he wasn't into it after all. Chicken castle is finished, but they won't roost in it, preferring the branches of their tree. If it gets any colder we'll have chick on a stick for Christmas.
I did manage to re-grout the entire firebox of the fireplace today, so maybe a warming fire as soon as it cures. The emergency, err, Christmas candles are lit.
The spirit has not come over me, yet. I'm trying to make all the presents, but only have them half finished. Have you ever tried to knit and sew at the same time?
Things are so very expensive, and all the commercialism is depressing. Then Himself says that they are going to be laid off work the last two weeks of the year, possibly longer. Come on spirit I need you now. What are the words to that song, aah yes, "sounds like life to me"!
What I really wanted to tell you about was my flannel Granny. I have such great memories of my Granny. She introduced me to Shakespearean theatre, the train, the mountain cabin, books, milk cows, books, mules, and the opera in SF.
Every Christmas she got each of us grand kids a pair of flannel jammies. They were homemade when we were little, and always of the best flannel to be had. As we got older they were often store bought but still of that wonderfully thick material. We weren't always appreciative of our flannel jammies, mostly because we knew what was in our boxes on Christmas day. No surprises there. But the thing is, out of all the presents we have gotten over the years, Granny's flannel jammie presents, are the ones that we all remember. Even after all this time, get the cousins together and the flannel jammies from Granny stories are sure to come up, with laughter to follow. Thanks Granny, miss you, love you, flannel forever.

Basement Bingo

2009-11-12T08:17:00.000-08:00

Bingo was the vice of choice for Himself's grandmother. She was a lovely elder, who had the "sight" and could drink you under the table any day of the week. When she moved closer to family so we could keep a caring eye on her, the vice came with her.

Volunteering to be the one to take her to the church basement weekly bingo seemed at the time a kind thing to do. How much would it take for me to drive in from the ranch, pick her up, and take her for a few hours of bingo? In my inexperience I hadn't realized how deadly serious the whole thing was to her.

She always met me at her apartment door, nicely dressed, and carrying a cane and a huge handbag. The huge handbag contained several sweet little ol lady hankies, her bingo money, a dozen or more brightly colored marker dabbers, her special cushion, a wallet for identification, her smokes, a propane fire stick lighter, her mace, her palm pistol, and her flask. Most of the items were not allowed in the church basement, but she said that was between her and her God.

She would hustle into the basement while I was parking the car, and was usually settling in by the time I got down there. There was a whole lot of prep before the bingo games started. A certain place to sit, a certain order to the placement of all her paraphernalia and a few comments to the other elders (usually of a derogatory nature).

One particular evening she commented to me that she had just about had it with the ol crone setting next to her. Thinking to divert her attention I asked if she had spoken to an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair that she had previously seemed to be fond of. "No, and don't be trying to change the subject." Having put me in my place, she continued her game.

Things got a bit worse when the ol crone won the next game, Gran thinking she won first. The elder gentleman wheeled over to congratulate the ol crone. He no sooner got the words out of his wizened mouth than Gran was on him like a bad rash. She took to him with her cane, at the same time trying to keep up with the dobbing of her multiple bingo cards, and giving the ol crone what for. After I pulled her off the elder gentleman, righted his wheelchair, picked up all her paraphernalia, apologized all around, and hustled her towards the door, the sirens sounded. She had set off the fire alarms with her smokes.

I got a call from the Priest a few days later, Himself's gran was banned from bingo, and would be expected at confession and mass frequently. Good luck on that one, Father!

wall chicks

2009-11-10T12:42:00.000-08:00

Chicken Wrangling

a stacked chicken

batty barred rock

Just a few of the chicks I made from a basic pattern in a Country Threads quilt book. Altered the design a little and put them in homemade barnwood frames.

No Bull

2009-10-30T23:33:00.000-07:00

One fine day for working cattle Himself loaded up the horses and me to move some bulls on the other ranch. He was riding his favorite bay, and I was on the aptly named Whitey. Whitey was an excellent gate horse, but was a really rough ride in the field. Who every got him for the long days afield referred to him as the kidney killer.
The boss had been on a fishing trip to Texas and ended up buying a load of Brahma bulls. They arrived in due time, and went to it, but were a bugger to work. If you got them the tinest bit hot they blew up on you, and anything else handy. Or they just blew up for no reason at all.

Himself sent Whitey and I way around to bring in the bulls from the far corner. I gathered a bunch and pushed them into the corrals, then circled back to pickup the one that had slipped away from me. He had decided that he liked it were he was and didn't plan on moving anytime soon. Thinking to trick him into seeing it my way, I picked up a few cows on the way back to him. The cows were showing him a little interest so he went with the flow for a while. About a half mile from the corrals he decided not a step further was he going.

Off in the distance I see Himself waving at me to get it in gear, we had a lot more cattle to gather. The bull wasn't seeing it that way. I tried the cow trick again, but no. As I sat atop Whitey eyeing that son-of-a it occurred to me that he was red eyeing us back. He decided that he didn't want us there. He charged Whitey, who spun at the last minute, and the bull went whizzing by. He was a big bull and fast, he kept trying. The more he missed the madder he got. Once he came so close to nailing Whitey and busting my leg in the process that he blew snot all over us. Enough already.

Himself finally seeing that I was making no headway rode over with fire in His eyes. Now the bull was trying to take him. Big mistake, after the third time he tried to dump Himself off his favorite bay, Himself pulled out his shotgun took aim and waited. Sure enough the next time that crazy bull tried to take Himself he got a face full of bird shot. Stepping back the Brahma shook his head, looked around with his now one good eye, and took off for the corrals at a fair clip. Whitey and I could have told him, don't mess with a cowman, but some just learn the hard way.

gopher stomp'n

2009-10-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

Tis the season for the Cali gopher stomp'n scarecrow women.

My Compadre

2009-10-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

This is my Fergus, just call him "Gus". Actually it doesn't much matter what you call him, he won't come unless he wants too. He is 3.5 months old and a holy terror.

Mall on the Mountain

2009-10-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

I've returned home from a quick trip to my brother's in Ideeho. It had been a long time since I had gotten to see my nephews, their wives, and little ones, so off I flew.
Flying is one of my favorite things, preferably via Heli, but a fixed wing will do in a pinch. Airports, lines, strange seatmates, not so much.
After getting to spend an afternoon and dinner with the kids, we drove up the mountains to my brother's home. Getting in after dark is always kind of disorienting, and this time was no different.
I was given the run of the house & town the next day, as both brother & wife had to go down the mountain to their jobs. I took a few pictures, walked all around town, and chatted up the locals that I happened onto. When my brother got home he asked what the plan was for the next day. "Haven't made any," I said. He said he was going to the Mall on the Mountain, and I could go along if I wanted. Well I'm not big on shopping or malls but I said I would go just to spend the time in his company. He said he usually finds a little something to his liking when he goes, so the plan was made.
Early the next morning after a huge breakfast, my sister-in-law is one of those fantastic cooks, we jumped in the ol suburban and headed off. He drove up the mountain, past the high school, past the large forest service complex, and onto a nice road. There were a fair number of others going up the mountain as well. When we got to the Mall on the Mountain parking was an adventure. We finally found a good parking place and started our shopping. After scouting the goods for a bargain, I found a gem of a heavy duty fire pit complete with footrest and spark screen. The price was right, so we loaded it up and away we went.
On the way home we scouted for elk, checked out the progress on the reforestation of a recent burn, and told each other how much we wished we lived closer, and other things.
When we got back to the house, we proudly showed my bargain to my sis-in-law. Who promptly said that she would have the guys at work crate it up and she would ship it to my home. She didn't really seem overly impressed with my shopping skills. My brother said it was a gem and every time he built a fire in it he would be reminded of me. How sweet is that!

Mudd Pie

2009-09-22T21:53:00.000-07:00

It is too hot, 100+ today. In another time, on another day, when I was expecting the second baby and living on the home ranch, it was a very hot day. After packing a lunch for Himself and I, we headed to one of the ranch's large reservoirs. Bumping along in the old ranch pickup, over hill and draw, did nothing to make me feel better. Getting to the water seemed to take longer than usual. My feet where swollen, my back ached, and my mood was just plain cranky.
Himself decided to right the little boat and paddle out to the middle of the spring fed reservoir. After dispatching the little rattler that had thought to shade up under the boat, he pushed off and away he went. More to escape my crankiness than anything, I think.
As I was spreading the old blanket and sorting out the lunch, I noticed that a dozen or so cows had come down to drink. They took no notice of me, as I must have looked just like another member of the cow herd with that huge belly. They proceeded to wade out into the water and slowly drink. Then they seemed to just stand there and sigh. As I listened to their soft sighs, they seemed so at peace with their world. Getting up, removing my boots, and walking down to where they were was an effort. That first step into the cool water was heaven, the next couple steps brought me even with the rest of the girls. Cool water and mudd on my swollen feet, heaven. I stood there and sighed...

I'm waiting...

2009-08-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

My mother-in-love was a wonderful lady. She had so many interesting adventures. Like raising seven children, being a rancher's wife, a nurse, a talented crafter, a mother-in-love and much more.
There was the time she went on a rigorous mountain hiking trip with three of her best friends. As they went along the ridge top they admired the view, and listened to the gurgle of the stream far below. Chatting and gossiping like a happy flock of crows on they trekked. After some distance they decide to take a break and sat down to have a cool drink from their canteens. Each in turn took a big swig, and gasping, swallowed. It was then they discovered, not a one of them had brought water. Each and everyone of them had filled her canteen with vodka.
Then there was the time she was concerned about a friend drinking and driving so she chained the friend's car to one of the trees beside her house. As time went by that evening we kind of forgot about the chained car. When the friend left we heard this terrible thunk, screech! Upon rushing to the windows we viewed the friend making a great effort to leave, repeatedly she took a run at leaving with her car hitting the end of that chain, thunk, tires spinning, screech, thunk, screech.
There was the time I had a bad chest cold. Being the nurse she was she took charge. Slathered stuff on my chest, threw a towel over it, and told me to get some rest. She would take care of everything. When the burning sensation started I screamed, she rushed in and said it would be fine, then lifted the towel. "Oh My God" she said, "I've burned your chest." I healed but never again did I get her famous mustard plaster.
There was the time on the houseboat at the lake, there was the time at the cattleman's dinner, there was the time at the home ranch BBQ, there were a lot of times.
So when her final mass had been said, and we had all gathered out front to await her final journey, it was fitting that my slip would fall to the ground at my feet in front of half the town and all the family. Stepping out of the slip, and stuffing it in my purse, I started to laugh. She could always do me one better, I'm waiting.

Altered Mantra

2009-08-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

I have been trying of late to think in a very positive manner. This so that I can get through my classes and on to a new job. A much needed new job. "I can do this" has been my mantra. It has served me well until: late last night after a three hour class, I went and filled the ol' suv with gas, deposited a check in the bank's drive up window and decided to stop by the drugstore to pickup a few necessaries. Parking right at the front door, I went inside, cruised the store for a while, got a few things, and checked out. Returning to the ol'suv, I noticed that the door was locked. Now the windows were down, as it was a warm night, so the door lock being down was odd. That's when I noticed that my briefcase was missing from the front seat. Damn and Blast, some lowlife scumbag stole my briefcase. I'm sure they probably thought there was a computer inside, which thank goodness there wasn't. But still it did contain two VERY expensive textbooks, CD's for texts, a flash drive, a binder with class notes, tests, flash cards, new highlighters, and my very favorite new mechanical pencil. Damn and Blast. My new mantra may have to be altered.

"Your Not Stella"

2009-08-03T00:57:00.000-07:00

Living with Himself these many years has been an adventure.
You see Himself is a type A diabetic. He's lived with it since he was 10, against the odds. Occasionally he has a low blood sugar reaction, and that usually at night.
One night, kids tucked in, ranch chores done, he went to bed, and proceeded to have a reaction. Now we lived in a small town, everyone pretty much knew everyone else. So, when I called 911, three of the four volunteer firemen that came, worked with me at the school district. The two EMT's that came knew Himself from past encounters. The two county mounties that showed up were just having a slow night when they heard the call on the radio. Now you've got eight guys, our kids, myself and Himself all in our bedroom. I'm in the middle of the bed trying to get glucose gel down Himself, while our audience debates the best course of action. When suddenly Himself opens his eyes, gives me a startled look and loudly says "Your Not Stella". I look around in the total silence that follows his proclamation, to find ten faces staring back at me. Because you see they all know I'm Not Stella, too.

Not So Bright

2009-07-22T11:28:00.000-07:00

Sixty+ can't be too old to start down a new career path, do you think. Being given unrequested early "retirement" from my job, and finding it not living friendly to be unemployed, I'm back at college. Scary that. The following is a sign of how things are going, and classes haven't even started yet. I was in the registrar's office enrolling, and told the registrar I needed to put on my goggles to read the forms. As I was digging thru my purse, she looked at me rather funny, and said "but their on top of your head." "Oh no, I said, those are my sunglasses." She said "I think they are your reading goggles." and darned if they weren't.

Call me Lonesome

2009-07-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

It is too hot to even think around here. There is a long list of chores that need doing, too hot. Guess I will drag out the little purple wading pool, filler up, and then the dogs, chickens, myself, and who ever else is interested can have a pool party. No diving. Snorkle at your own risk. It's strictly BYOB.

Does your vehicle have a name? Seems I've always named our pickups & cars and given them a gender. There was the time I had Rice Rocket, for his oriental origins. Then I had Whitey,(a white pickup). He was ranch raised and did not like to go to town. The Bomber, (a big ol yellow station wagon). Do they make station wagons anymore? Cow Hauler,(the only New pickup we ever had), I hauled sooo many cows with that thing. Cow Hauler, always knew his way home. Butt Burner, had black leather with metal buckles on the seats, not a good choice for somewhere that gets 110 in the summer. Granny, was given to me by my mother-in-love and was a dear. She just sort of lost her will to live after the second engine transplant. And now Bessie, who came to me used, but still has served me well these many years. My ex-Brit neighbor has a pickup named, Henry, he's a dependable ol fellow. What say you.

Missing in Action

2009-07-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

I cannot find it, I have looked everywhere I can think of, in the frig, in the hall closet, under the desk. I've even looked in the hen house. Called my brother, e-mailed my crazy Brit neighbor, texted my friend, they haven't seen it either. Searched in the emergency kit in the ol' suv. Not there, where in heck is it? Maybe it's in the box of pictures, the craft box, the box of rocks, nope not there either. This is driving me round the bend, I miss it, I need it. If you find my sense of humor please, please send it back to me.

least we forget

2009-07-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Homeland Security

2009-07-01T22:59:00.000-07:00

There we were, all six of us, Little B's wheel chair, and twelve suit cases stuffed into the rental mini van. Heading out from El Paso across the badlands of New Mexico on our way to Tuscon. "Isn't this fun?" No" came an answer from somewhere in the far back. "I have Issues" said the little voice. I must admit after you have seen one coyote, and thousands of cacti, you've pretty much seen them all.

My Sean had been driving the groaning mini van for sometime, when we spotted the border patrol. I waved at them as we started thru the check point. Just as we got even with them, Sean unintentional pressed a button and the windshield wipers came on, water squirting everywhere, and the wipers going like mad. He couldn't find the off button. I'm pretty sure the border patrol officers were laughing at us. As was I. (Because the same thing had happened to Marymine on our Chicago trip. Everytime she stopped the washers came on, and drenched anyone near us. If I remember correctly, we are now banned from the rental return area at o'hare.) We seem to have our own form of homeland security.

Home Again, Home Again

2009-06-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

Having flown home on broomstick airways, I've been busy trying to catch up on the garden, the hens, the laundry, cleaning house, working on the deck, etc.
It was great to spend time with Sean & his Girls. Two weeks of non stop travel. Flying and driving hither and yon: five states, museums, cave, critters, old towns, mountains, trees, drag (car) races, cake deco class, swimming pools, hiking, seafood, wine, pedicure, & a twinkie wax. Take a slow calming breath.
We all have issues as the little grand girls like to say. I'm a real stickler for wearing seat belts. So the girls were quick to tell anyone who might care to know: "our granny has seat belt issues". "Darn right she does, we're not moving til your all buckled in." Sean's youngest, Little B, has CP and was in the hotel pool being dragged thru the water by another child. Just as I was about to put a stop to it, she hollers out to the offender, "stop that, I Have Breathing Issues."

Away with you

2009-05-31T21:42:00.000-07:00

I'm so ready to be away. It has been a very long time since I've gotten to see My Sean & his girls. They have sent me the ticket to fly up and spend two weeks with them.
Getting everything ready to leave in the care of Himself has been a stretch. I have had to make a great many lists for him, and I abhor making lists for others.
My Sean and the girls have sent an itinerary that would make a weaker granny shudder. Two whole weeks on the move every minute, with lots of travel, luggage, people I haven't yet met, places I've never been before. YeeHaa, bring it on.

Grazing rights

2009-05-20T05:02:00.000-07:00

Having escaped the house corral, she snuck into the garden. Ah, the smell of grass and pine and dirt. I'll just check on the ol hens, thought she. Navigating thru the veggies, she spied a lovely bit of lettuce, munch, munch. Humm, on to the spring onions, just a few. Swooning thru the Italian parsley on she went. These little carrots are mighty tasty. A few nasturtium leaves will add the pepper. Onward with a pinch of thyme. A handful of sugar snow peas, well maybe just a few more. Munch, munch, those Swiss chards are fine. A glint of red, the strawberries oh my, berry delicious. Having gathered the eggs, she returned to the house corral to tell Himself that she didn't really want much dinner, and those darn ol hens are eating us out of home and hearth.

Death & Taxes

2009-05-04T13:17:00.000-07:00

It is with a great deal of sadness that I post this missive. There have been three, yes I said 3, deaths in our family during the past week. Now it may not be of concern to others but to us it is heart breaking. First to go was the guy that we depend on to provide air movement in the house, Cecil ceeling fan. After a thorough autopsy, we still don't know what was the cause of his demise. He was so young. While we were still reeling from his passing, the heart of Fred the freezer flat lined. He was elderly, and had a good long life, but still it was hard to see him go. Having shed all our thawed tears, we sat down in the backyard to make all the arrangements. Just then with a small burp, a low rumble, and a big belch of smoke Walter water heater told us that we had to shut off his gas supply and extinguish his flame. He was history. We have combined the services for those who have to travel to attend. Those wishing to contribute to the memorial fund set up in their honor can send them to cowcamp c/o brighid. Donations are not tax deductible as cowcamp is not considered a non-profit. We will be appealing our status, sure looks non-profit from here.

2009-05-01T19:11:00.000-07:00

My doc says I'm way past due, and I have now been scheduled for a pap test and mammogram. You can see by my picture from the last time I had these tests, how I feel about it.

photo courtesy PW

Sunshine Wash & Dry

2009-04-24T02:57:00.000-07:00

Early on we lived in the old bunkhouse at the home ranch. I had small children, a very old washing machine, and a defunct hot walker for a clothes line. Himself announced that he was going to sell some of our dry cows and would be getting us a new washer & dryer. (The fact that he had tried to wash a load of horse blankets in my washer instead of taking them to town and plugging up the Laundromat's machines might have influenced his decision.) Upon his return I hear him flying over the last cattle guard, goose neck trailer swaying, & dogs barking. Yes, my hero has returned home with a new washer & dryer. He steps out of the pickup, walks to the back of the stock trailer, and, Wait a minute, that is not a washer & dryer in the back. It is one of the ugliest, tallest, nastiest looking horses I've ever seen. "Now honey, I know I was going to buy the washer & dryer, but, I can really cover some ground on this guy."
There are rules we live by, One, never under any circumstances buy a horse from a sale barn. Two, if you do suddenly become the owner of such a horse, do not bring it to the headquarters, tuck it away at the other end of the ranch. Three, if your smart return it to the sale barn and sell it to some other smuck asap. My hero?, having forgotten the rules, did none of them.
All he did was say "a 10 year old girl has been riding this horse, so he must be gentle, look how tall & long he is, he will be able to cover the ground, and he even has a little cow sense." After the dust settled on the discussion that followed "Sunshine Wash & Dry" was given a bath, grooming and installed in the horse barn. Where he was promptly nipped to the bottom of the pecking order in the horse herd. They weren't any fonder of him than I was.
A week later Himself decides it's time to move some yearlings to another pasture on Sunshine Wash & Dry. Around lunchtime I'm starting to get a bit worried as he should have been back hours ago. Just then Himself walks in the back door, a little worse for wear: scratches, cuts, bruises, mashed hat, torn chinks, & shirt. He proceeds to walk thru to the gun case, unlocks it, pulls out the 348, and starts hunting shells. "That damn horse just bucked me off into the barbwire and railroad tie cross braces at the second cattle guard, and I'm going to put him out of his misery." "Wow, he must be really crippled up for you to have to put him down?" "No, he's fine, down at the horse barn, he ran off and left me to walk the two miles home." ol Sunshine Wash & Dry was forgiven for his lack of cowboy etiquette and allowed to stay on. But the end was in sight. Himself was down at the horse barn putting that horse thru his paces for the viewing pleasure of a friend. Here comes the friend trotting up to the bunkhouse, "You better come quick, when Himself comes to if nothing of his is broken, he's going to be damn lucky." As we are hot footing it down to the horse barn Himself's friend relays the turn of events. All was going good, nice figure eight patterns, nice straight runs, fair sliding stop, fair quarter turn, then Himself had ol Sunshine Wash & Dry do another pattern and all hell broke loose. "I've never seen a horse buck so high, said the friend, and I've never ever seen a cowboy go so high, straight up, and come straight back down head first with his arms tucked neatly at his sides. It was something to see."
A day later "Sunshine Wash & Dry" was gone, and not spoken of again. That spring we saw him at the big rodeo in the saddle bronc string, he seemed happy.

Eggs Away

2009-04-10T01:38:00.000-07:00

One Easter we decided to forego the usual Easter egg hunt. My son-in-law had completed his pilot's training not long before the big day. The idea was to drop the eggs from his small plane into the alfalfa field beside their house. Everyone gathered in the field to await the grand arrival. All that is except my Da, who having been a fighter pilot as a young man, stayed under cover of the porch. Not the rest of us, as we watched the little plane made a dry run. YeeHaa, this is going to be fun. He starts at the end of the long field and comes right at us, wags his wings, and starts dropping eggs. Even Elders can sure run thru the alfalfa when walloped by a brightly colored Easter egg from on high. The next pass it was only the grandkids, myself, and the dogs out there laughing our heads off as we dodged egg bombs. Oh, did I tell you he was flying that little puddle jumper in a Easter Bunny outfit. C, your the best flying Easter Bunny ever.

Survival Bookmobile

2009-04-03T08:24:00.000-07:00

I have been on the road a lot of late what with all of Himself's various doc & therapy appts. That said, it's a darn good thing that I have a small library of books in my ol SUV. Just drop Himself at the entrance, pull into a nice out of the way space, roll down the windows, and read.
At the moment it's: The Best New British Mysteries, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Stormy Weather, Opera 101, Letters of a Woman Homesteader, & the Lilac Bus. Oh, and one on chicken wrangling, and one on ornamental and useful plants from around the world. There is an emergency kit box in there as well, with a book or two in it. I had to toss the tire chains to fit them in. I wouldn't think of trying to survive without books.

Close to the Heart of the Matter

2009-04-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

What fun to see the grands, if only part of them, and only for a few hours. That tall handsome young corpsman will be returning to duty in a few days. He has continued being a kind caring adult. He was the first of many grandbabies, as was his mother before him, so there is a very special place in his granny's heart for him. I was there at his birth, and a thousand other events over the years. I've Loved watching his life story unfold. Be proud Marymine, be very proud!

Cluckling Notes

2009-03-27T06:52:00.000-07:00

Spring is here, the girls (hens) are going around snipping grass here, catching a bug there, and laying eggs. Eggs, eggs, eggs everywhere, my refrig is full to over flowing. I've cooked as many egg dishes as I can think of, and resorted to sneaking over to the neighbors to leave eggs on their doorstep. Run home and reload. I love range eggs, they have such beautiful bright yellow yolks, and just taste better than battery eggs. With the garden starting to produce, there are a lot of radish, lettuce, and chard trimmings to feed the girls. They see me coming and setup a frenzy of cackling. Happy chatter while I work in the garden. Strawberries are blooming, and have netted them to keep them safe from the girls & other birds. Jays have been busy planting oak seeds, which are sprouting everywhere. The bluebird couple are back, and building a new nest in the box I put up at the edge of the garden. Frogs are singing like tenors on testosterone down at the little creek. The wild turkeys are strutting their stuff as they pass thru the back yard. Counted 35 head in the last flock to come by. Two big doe's were here last evening, checking out the fence that I had to put around the garden. When there was no fence they just ate everything, usually just before it was ready for harvest.
Cowcamp Fast Breakfast Smoothie: 3 heaping tablespoons frozen orange juice, 3 raw eggs, 1 1/2 cups milk. Put all ingredients in big glass, whip with handheld blender. Drink up.

water is music recipe

2009-02-25T03:26:00.000-08:00

add rain, until the ponds & lakes are full

a pinch of lightning to see the way

a dash of thunder booming off the mountains

a bit more rain

a big dollop of sunshine

several fat worms a wriggling for the wild hen farm chiks

a small frog a croaking

blue jays a plenty

pine cones a thunking

garden sprouts

essence of green grass

soft sound of mamma cow calling her baby home

art heart salad

2009-02-08T23:30:00.000-08:00

1 pkg chicken rice-a-roni, cooked per directions
2 cups cooked rice, cold
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped
2 jars artichoke hearts, chopped up, add oil from 1 jar to rice
8 pimento stuffed olives, chopped
1 can mushrooms, chopped
1/4 tsp curry powder
1 can shrimp
1 cup mayonnaise
salt & pepper to taste

fold all ingredients together and chill. serve on bed of lettuce.

manners

2009-02-07T11:36:00.000-08:00

manners are a big deal to me. when my children were young they learned manners and respect, sometimes it was an easy lesson,other times not. they have taught the same to their children. often today respect is not around much. example: i recently went to a grand's school awards assembly. not near enough seating (poor planning on the admins part & could have been easily solved). there were a fair number of men and boys setting and not one offered his seat up. now i may not look like the granny of seven, or need to be setting, but there were others that did. come on grannys, speak up. i did to the gang tat hispanic guy playing with his cell phone who was seated right beside where i stood.

DEATH CHICKEN*

2009-01-12T21:28:00.000-08:00

Line a 9 x 13 pan with 6 or more slices of uncooked bacon,
pour 1 cup uncooked rice over the bacon. On top of the rice put uncooked chicken pieces, skin on. Salt & pepper the chicken, and sprinkle a little paprika over it.
Whisk together 1 can cream of chicken soup and 1 cup water, adding a little bit of garlic salt, a pinch of nutmeg, 1 teaspoon oregano, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of parsley flakes. Pour over the chicken pieces and cover with heavy foil.
Cook at 300 degrees for two hours, with no peeking. Serve

* Recipe from "Sweet Potato Queens' Big-Ass Cookbook" by Jill Conner Browne

Not what I had in Mind

2009-01-05T15:13:00.000-08:00

Have come down with the chest cold from hell. Read somewhere that if you slathered Vick's on your feet, put on the fluffy cotton socks, you would breathe easier. So far, all that's happened is I smell like one of the guys in the ol folks home, and that stuff doesn't wash off, sheee-it*... (*borrowed from Nellie)

Called Marymine today and backed out of helping there this week. Darn, I know she can use the help.

Trying to get the Christmas stuff put away. Covering the big tree so I can stow it in the garage has been a challenge, it had me down on the floor a few times, but I managed to fight my way out. And, who thought up the torture of wrapping 6,000 strings of lights on those wrapping paper card board center things. I say throw them in the container, and let them sort themselves out, or not.

Geez, I just read this post and there appears to be a very high probability that I need to get out a bit more.

Cough, cough, cough, sorry, don't know if its this cold, or the fumes from my poor feet..

The problem with Angels

2008-10-23T01:03:00.000-07:00

You will not believe it... well you might. I pulled the Arc Angel out of the closet, the noise was getting a bit deafening. Then carefully lifted it out of the Made in China box. There he stands in all his chipped & scratched plastic splendor. Actually it may be a girl angel, (with bird in hand), but the long haired Arc dude is more suited to my fancy. Flipped him on his head to read the Made in China sign, and what do I find: The Price Tag from G's department store. Dear mother always leaves the price tag on things, incase we are not appreciative enough.!
I have gotten items from a garage sale of her's, that didn't sell, passed on to me (with Much ado, mind). Always, with price tag still attached. (50 cents, no sale! gift it to Brighid) I seem to be the only one in the family that is afforded this dubious honor. Oh not true, Marymine is also, or at least she was before mother got miffed at her for not going up to see her.
The Angel is out of the Box.

Angel in hiding

2008-10-06T22:14:00.000-07:00

My mother, my mother, I told her a long time ago that Marymine collects unusual angels, in a small way. And on occasion has given me a special one. What does mother get me for my birthday, but, a rather LARGE Arc Angel. Beautifully done in dented & scratched plastic. Now mother is calling every few days to hear where I have placed this, ah, Angel in my garden. I have so far, a few weeks mind you, stalled with the (lie) story of "these things must speak to us of where they should be placed". Little does she know, that Angel is having a heck of a time speaking to anyone from inside that box in the back of the workroom closet. I tried to get Marymine to take him for a while, sort of a perpetual Angel thing. She in all kindness said, "Mom, yeah, NO!" I just need to have someone send up a flare if they see mother headed this way...