Chickens in the Basement

The Great Confessor

2010-09-21T19:57:00.003-04:00

Since I was little, people have always told me things without me questioning them. My children say it's because I look people in the face and smile which opens the door for everyone to come on in to my space and begin talking. I love hearing what folks have to say!

Today, a man who can completely block all light from entering my office doorway just by planting himself in the entry stopped in to tell me about his morning. He grabbed my hand and said, "See the size of your diamond? Well, I passed a kidney stone the same size this morning. And, the second one was a third of an inch long and thinner."

An octogenarian friend of mine told me she sleeps naked and never gets cold because she has a down comforter. Plus, her husband loves it!

Tonight, I was chatting with Neighbor Terry after our walk. Riley Dog was waiting patiently on his leash as we flapped jaws. As we turned to head home, Neighbor Terry said, "I think Riley just peed on my foot." Droplets did adorn the sidewalk where her foot had just been standing. Riley Dog, it is NOT nice to pee on your friends!

Now, I'm off to see what my friends at GLEE have to say!

Freedom Ride

2010-09-13T21:37:00.003-04:00

What would it take to get Riley dog to do this?

Enough puppy treats to put him into a coma!

The USO of North Carolina hosted the Freedom Ride on Saturday. Chewey, the dog in the photo, rode along with his Daddy on the 80 mile ride. Chewey was rescued from the pound. He was the Belle of the Ball in a canine/biker babe sort!

Perks of the Job...

2010-09-08T21:32:00.003-04:00

Look who came to the USO of North Carolina RDU Center today!

He is my favorite politico! Wonder what it would take to convince Colin Powell to run for President?

He took time to pose with a couple of star-struck Marines...

before heading off to the RBC Center for a motivational speech.

I love my job!

Duh moment...I forgot to have someone take a picture of me with Colin Powell!

Contribution from Rick

2010-09-06T19:47:00.004-04:00

I'm the mother of two boys. Whenever I ask leading questions to get their opinion on a subject, I usually get "Uhmuhmuhm" (the equivalent to "hell if I know") from them. Finally, Rick has a teacher who asks questions that require an opinion or description from him. Since my computer is the only one hooked up to the printer, I get to read his assignments. This one made me laugh!

~~~

My Family and My Hair

Everybody in our family has different hair. My brother has long, straight hair, but he thinks it looks best short. His hair is brown, sort of like mine. My dads hair is short and obedient. He doesn't even have to comb it. My mom has somewhat curly hair, and she always spends too long getting it just right. She has to use a curler a lot, but I think it looks fine how it is. Her hair used to be a sort of blonde but it has been a hundred different colors since. It seems to change with the seasons. At the moment, it wants to stay a sort of reddish brown. My hair, well, everyone in my family seems to want to have the same hair as me. It is long, but unlike my brothers hair, it is more curled at the end. My hair, like my brothers hair, is brown, but I think his is darker than mine. Even though we are all different, we are still a family.

~~~~~

I had no idea he ever noticed what color my hair is. After all, I walked around for three months with green hair before a friend's little girl said, "Miss Anna, did you know your hair was green?"

~~~

Well, no, I did not!

~~~

Her mother was mortified. I wanted to know how long it had been green. My husband informed me it had been green for about 3 months. And, he never told me! Nobody else told me either! What the heck?

~~~

It seems when Loreal ash blonde hair color meets Wake Forest well water, it doesn't remain ash blonde! Electric green is the result!

How Come...

2010-09-01T19:51:00.004-04:00

How come Riley Dog turns tail and runs whenever he walks in on me when I'm about to get in the shower? Does he think I have removed my fur? Does he want to leave the room before he gags? Is he laughing?

~~~~~

How come the baggage claim area in RDU Airport smells like somebody peed in every potted plant in the room? Wouldn't it show up on one of the video cameras if someone relieved himself that often in the potted plants? Am I the only person who smells it?

~~~~~

How come I always thought Riley Dog was a yellow dog until I forced him to suffer through a long soapy bath (I let him keep his fur on) and he dried off red?

~~~~~

Just wondering...

Reindeer Summer Camp

2010-08-22T15:05:00.005-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, I looked out my bedroom window and discovered several of Santa's flight crew were grazing in the back yard.

Initially, I thought there were two. Vixen hovered near the woods while the brazen Blitzen was near the house and chowing on my weedy lawn!

We opened the back door quietly and went onto the deck.

He heard us, but wasn't bothered by our presence!

Then, out of my flower bed came this big guy!

Dasher had eaten all of the hydrangeas he could reach and was on to the weeds!

If only the stupid pole to the birdhouse wasn't there, this would have been a fabulous shot!

I know a few hunters who would have loved to see these guys!

When Santa whistled for the crew to return to the sleigh, Vixen beat the boys into the woods.

With a challenge issued by Vixen, Dasher was off!

Blitzen brought up the rear! I'm sure Vixen won this particular reindeer game!

Santa, you owe me a couple of hydrangea bushes!

NOTE: Riley Dog slept peacefully on the porch in the garage while Reindeer Summer Camp was going on in the back yard!

Stink Bug Orgy

2010-07-25T20:06:00.006-04:00

Last week, we were headed off to the beach for a couple of days. Before going, I had to make sure The Girls were taken care of. The water tank was nearly empty and had more mosquito larvae floating in it than I cared to have chewing on my naked legs in the weeks to come!

I hauled the tank up to the faucet and filled it to the top. Since I had already dressed for the trip, I didn't want the tank bumping up against my legs on the way back to the chicken house. Not wanting to play the "female card", I got creative and grabbed the grasshopper (my seat on wheels I use when pulling weeds), propped the water tank on top and headed down the hill.

When I stopped to readjust the tank, I saw a group of bugs crawling around on the handle.

On closer look, I realized all the bugs were paired up. Not only were they paired up, they were end to end. I immediately had flashbacks to dogs who somehow got twisted around during the sex act and couldn't get apart. (The boy dog always looks like he's in pain and the girl just looks humiliated!)

Do you think I scared the stink bugs so much when I snatched up the grasshopper and tossed the water tank on top that they spun around and got stuck? I have to wonder!

Admit it! You read the title and couldn't resist reading it! Right?

My Clucking Reputation

2010-07-18T20:19:00.008-04:00

Boy! I have been remiss! Ya'll wouldn't believe the beautiful things that have been showing up in my mailbox! I'm beginning to realize that I have a bit of a reputation...

a "chicken" reputation!

My buddy Stacey sent this beautiful hanky to me! I was thrilled when I opened an envelope and found this cutey! She has an antique store in Maryland near DC. I can't wait to visit!

Isn't this apron adorable? And check out the close-up of the chicken!

One day, I'm going to figure out how to turn my collection of chicen aprons into a vallance in the laundry room. Won't that be cute?

This cute little hot pad is right up my alley!

And, look at this finger tip towel. Anyone attempting to dry their tips on this cutey might get a smack to the back of the head!

Check this out! My friend, Kelly, made this. She makes all sorts of mosaics with all kinds of fun stuff. Check out her blog to see what she is up to. Look at the butter dish at the top of her page.

Thanks so much for thinking of me Kelly!

I can't wait to play with this jello mold! I didn't have one of these! Can you believe it? If only I could get blogger to upload photos the way I saved them!

These cute ornaments and a few of the chickens came from my buddy Gin. She was my swap partner for the Year of Enchantment swap for the month of June. I'm sad to say, Gin is still waiting for her ornaments from me! Don't give up on my Gin, they are coming!

The theme this month is Gnomes! Isn't his little face adorable?

Gin had an extra pattern for this, too. I think I have seen these before. Once you sew it together, you add a brick to the bottom to make the chicken stand up straight. I can't wait for time to play with this!

A note came with the goodies from Gin...Do chickens and gnomes get along?

Answer: I hope so because this box is filled with both!

Thanks Gin!

Last month, I won this treasure from Pixie! I have spent hours perusing the pages of this work of art.

Isn't the cover beautiful!

It's filled with crochet patterns. I wish I knew how to follow these patterns and create beautiful clothes!

Like this adorable apron that should never be worn while making biscuits...unless "making biscuits" is your code word for "meet me in the bedroom!"

Vintage adds were included in the book.

And my favorite part is this handwritten ditty:

Cant write shall be drunk

With my little wigger wagger in my hand

Wrigh dodwn the curains I shall

be drunk a Mondgy night,

Something had been erased after the coma. I wish I could make it out! Don't you wonder who wrote this, how drunk they were at the time, and whether Mama beat the crap out of them when she found this poetry in her pretty book?

Thanks so much for spoiling me! I miss you all!

Ignorance is Bliss Until...

2010-07-04T22:44:00.003-04:00

Tonight, we headed off to a Durham Bull's baseball game to see one of my old-man-friends sing the Star Spangled Banner. Who knew the seated tickets would be sold out and standing room only was even an option? Twenty eight dollars later, we were walking around the stadium looking for a fence to lean against.

We saw an empty picnic table and headed in that direction. We would be able to see Hy, a WW II veteran and USO volunteer, stand on home plate and sing. We had about 15 minutes before the game started, so we grabbed a plate and headed through the line for some food. Once we got close to the end of the line, I realized there was no cash register to pay. The lady behind me said, "That's the beauty of these tickets!"

DING! DING! DING! Somehow we had wondered into a private box, loaded plates...Tony even had a beer in one hand, and no one had stopped us! Do we throw everything away and leave or do we shovel down the food and leave quickly and hope no one confronts us? Before I could make the decision, the boys were happily chowing down and wondering why all I had on my plate was baked beans. I just couldn't add a burger once I knew we were gate crashers!

Sotta voce', I whispered, "Eat quickly!" Not knowing who had invited all of the folks in the box, I didn't know if they were watching us. Hiding guilt is not my specialty! Just one look and he would know we didn't belong.

Thank heavens everyone wolfed down their food. As we were leaving, I think the owner spotted us and started our way. We avoided eye contact, fled up the stairs past the security person who had returned to her post, and blended into the crowd before we could be confronted!

Hy sang beautifully! I was so proud of him and so ashamed of us! Happy Fourth of July!

HHHEEEELLLLLOOOOO!

2010-07-03T19:50:00.005-04:00

Hey Guys!

Thanks for the e-mails of concern! I have been trying to find time to sit down and write, but by the time I do all of the things I have to do every day, it's bed time! I've had to instate a self-imposed rule that I'm not allowed to play on the computer until all of my chores are done. Sad to say, the list of chores is kicking my ass!

Since I've been out of touch so long, I'm going to write this like I write my Christmas letter every year. You'll get a little bit about a lot of stuff going on in our neck of the woods!

I guess the biggest thing...I've accepted a full time position with the USO of NC. I love the work, the people, the soldiers, everything about the job except the pay. However, when I consider the lack of opportunities knocking on my door, the pay is pretty damn good!

While getting myself established at work, the boys are now out of school and as of the second day at home, bored to tears! I've been leaving them a list of chores everyday. Instead of ending the "I'm bored" comments, they've improved their vocabulary with comments like "I don't want to" and "Didn't that used to be your job?" and "Why do I have to vacuum more than Will/Rick?"

I think the boredom issue may not be as bad after this coming week when Will gets his driver's license. They can visit the pool, go to the grocery store for me, drive to band practice, or go visit friends. I will be a permanent truck driver and Will will drive the station wagon. How cool is he? Now, if I just control my anxiety once he pulls out of the driveway!

The boys and I did get away for a couple of days at the beach. And for the first time since we had children, we are at home for the week of the 4th of July. I miss being in the mountains where the temperature is at least 10 degrees cooler!

My flock of chickens has shrunk. Last week, I was carrying Cora from the garage to the hen house. Skippy was in the yard with the other girls. He walked towards me and started flaring up to fight. He jumped at me with his spurs aimed at my legs. I kicked him. He jumped 5 more times and he received 5 more kicks before leaving. There were no problems the next day at bed time. But a couple of days later, I once again was holding Cora and Skippy jumped again. I figured he was jealous of me holding Cora. Skippy and I went to war again. The feather's flew! Okay, jealousy we can deal with. Cora can walk by herself. Alas, the final straw was the next morning. I opened the door to the hen house and started to walk in to check food supply. Skippy jumped again. I made the decision then and there to let Skippy go. We have too many boys hanging out at our house for him to be unreliable. If he'll jump at me, he'll jump at anybody. Thankfully, Tony did the deed for me.

While Will and I were watching TV, he discreetly went into the back yard. A few minutes later, I heard the door to the basement slam. I told Will I thought Dad had just taken care of Skippy. He looked at me horrified and said, "You mean he slammed him in the door?"

No time for yard sales, thrift stores or auctions! I'm missing my junk fixes badly! No time for blogging, but I have managed to snap a few shots of funny things I've seen. This swamp turtle was in my front yard! The close up looks more like a pile of poop!

Several years ago, I came across an enormous swamp turtle crossing a highway. I was afraid it would get hit by a car, so I got out to help it across the road. When I got near it, it started coming toward me hissing. I backed my ass up, got in my car and left him, secretly hoping an 18 wheeler would finish his hissing ass off!

I find entertainment everywhere I go. Lately, I have found several license plates funny enough to make me laugh. I couldn't get a photo of the first one, but wrote it down:

PBE4UGO

This really applies to me! I need a pit-stop every 30 minutes or so! The next one I get behind every day on the way to work. The first time I saw it, there was a FOR SALE sign in the window. The car could be yours for $175. The personalized plates cost half that amount every year!

So, my plan is to get through the summer. I'll write when I can squeeze it in. Once everybody gets back in school, things should mellow a little and I'll be back. In the meantime, have a good summer and know I'm wondering what ya'll are up to. I'll drop in to read when I finish my chores!

Be Careful What You Release Into the Universe...

2010-06-16T20:06:00.002-04:00

Last week, I told ya'll I love storms. The sound of rain on the roof...the breeze that blows the storm in...the power of thunder and lightning...even the limbs and pine cones that fall during the storm.

~~~

I TAKE IT ALL BACK! I DON'T LIKE STORMS ANY MORE!

~~~

I got a call at work this afternoon that Riley Dog was cowering under the table and it was thundering like crazy. Thank heavens I had the forethought to get Rick to unplug my laptop, just in case.

~~~

I didn't tell him to unplug the kettle, the stereo, the DVD player, the phones, the chargers, the answering machine, and possibly a few more things I haven't yet discovered! Of course, the house was smacked by a huge bolt of lightning! These appliances and entertainment devices no longer work! I don't know why the TV didn't blow up, but I won't challenge that one.

~~~

I still love the feel of a storm, but that lightning needs to stay the heck out of my yard!

Father's Day!

2010-06-13T22:26:00.004-04:00

So, what do you get a dad who already has everything? The kids don't have any ideas (that we can afford). I'm at a loss. What's a motha to do? Go to e-bay and type in Father's Day gift ideas. You won't believe what pops up (n0 pun intended)!

I swear! Click on the photo and it will take you to the link!

"So, what did your daughter give you for Father's Day?"

"Aw, she's the best! She gave me this really cool Playboy DVD!"

That's just wrong! And really, REALLY creepy!

Sleepovers, Flowers and Storms

2010-06-12T21:31:00.004-04:00

For the first time in years, Neighbor Mary spent the night away from home. Actually, it's the second time. The first time she left home, she went to Russia and came home with two fabulous kids! But, I digress! Last night, she and her human crew flew to Baltimore to see an Oriole's baseball game. With so many babes to care for, I wound up with a couple of cages in my garage!

The peacock is on the perch and two guineas are snuggled in the corner. Even with temperatures in the upper 90's, we had to keep the heat lamps on the babies. They like temperatures of 100 degrees.

Also along for the sleepover were two baby ducks. One had been grabbed by a hawk and has stitches in her hind end. The other one has a hurt foot. They are good company for each other while they recuperate! I love filling up their water bowl and watching them gulp and splash in it!

Riley Dog wasn't thrilled with sharing his space with lowly birds. He fell out in the liriope and pouted for a while.

It was dusk when I headed out with my camera and got some pretty shots of blooms in the yard. This is a butterfly bush that volunteered. All of the ones I dug holes for, fertilized and watered have died! I'll take volunteers!

Bee balm keeps Neighbor Dave's bees happy! I guess they had all gone to bed by the time I got out for a photo shoot!

Doesn't everyone love yellow daisies? Are there any flowers that look happier than these?

Look at the close up and tell me it doesn't chase away a bad mood!

The red is getting ready to bust out of this flower. I'll take another photo in a few days. For the life of me, I can't remember what this one is called. If anyone knows, please leave me a comment. A full-bloom photo might be more helpful in identifying!

We have had some beautiful storms lately. The photo above shows the storm rolling in this afternoon. We got a nice rain that cooled the temperatures off quite a bit. I love the light rays shining through the clouds.

This one is from a storm last week. The sky was the prettiest shade of purple in the midst of it all.

Do you like storms?

101 Things that Make Me Happy!

2010-06-11T16:10:00.003-04:00

I was tagged by my buddy Stacey at Flotsam and Jetsam for this one! Good timing, too, since I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and need to remember the many things that make me so happy! Here they are...

1. My Boys

2. My Husband

3. Riley Dog

4 through 8. Skippy and the Girls (Cora, Ruby, Shakira and Chrissy)

9. The Basement

10. The best neighbors in the world!

11. SuzAnna's Antiques

12. Working at the USO

13. A movie that makes me laugh until I cry!

14. Sudoku...especially when I can finish the puzzle.

15. Walking with my boys.

16. Finding treasures while hiking in the woods.

17. Getting a handwritten letter in the mail.

18. Driving with no destination and no time restraints.

19. Watching my kids when they don't know I'm looking.

20. Sewing quilts

21. Needle point

22. Trips to the mountains.

23. Janet Evanovich books.

24 thru 28. A bottle of glue, a pile of paints and brushes, old buttons and jewelry.

29. Taking off in an airplane.

30. Painting furniture.

31. Selling something I made.

32 thru 34. A clean house...done by somebody else...without me asking.

35. A cold diet coke.

36. Dark chocolate candy.

37. Reading blogs.

38 Writing.

39. Packages in the mail.

40. Being by myself.

41. Looking at the flowers blooming in my yard.

42. Cutting the grass.

43. Pulling weeds.

44 thru 47. Picking cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, tomatoes in my garden

48. Watching my chicklets.

49. Walking with Terri.

50. Playing with Mary's new babies.

51. Date nights with Tony.

52. Going to BoJangles in the convertible with the top down.

53. A good old country Auction!

54. Lucking up on a yard sale with good crap!

55. Dress pants in my size on sale!

56. Clark's shoes.

57. Visiting Mom and checking chores off her list.

58. Hanging out with my niece.

59. Mexican food.

60. Specifically, chili rellenos! YUM!

61. Christmas with extended family!

62. Watching my Dad talk to my boys.

63. Cooking with my Mom.

64. Watching a good marching band perform.

65. The last day of school.

66. The first day of school.

67. The noises Riley Dog makes when I rub his belly.

68. Sleeping late.

69. My laptop!

70. The first fire of the season.

71. Lightning bugs!

72. Feeding Japanese Beetles to Cora Bell.

73. Pretty old dishes.

74. Yoga.

75. Newly laid, still warm eggs.

76. Time to sew.

77. Stumbling upon wild animals.

78. The smell of gardenias...only when they are outside.

79. Using my power tools.

80. Old photos.

81. Marking a bill PAID!

82. Eating dinner on the back deck.

83 thru 87. Purple, red, yellow, orange and green.

84. Rocking on the front porch.

85. Watching the birds and squirrels snack on corn.

86. A vase of fresh flowers from my yard.

87. No laundry in the basket.

88. The boys spending time together without bickering!

89. Reading a good book.

90. Bonfires.

91. Vintage rhinestone jewelry!

92. Books on CD.

93. Magnolia trees.

94. Learning something new.

95. Angels.

96. Granny's Christmas ornaments.

97. Red doors.

98. To Kill a Mockingbird

99. Getting home early.

100. Curly hair.

101. Did I mention my boys?

Okay guys! Here's the challenge...see how many things you can come up with that makes you happy. I could easily add 100 more things to this list! Let me know if you create a list so I can see what I'm missing!

I'm Still Here...

2010-06-09T21:06:00.002-04:00

Hey guys! I'm working hard during the day, job hunting at night, maintaining kids who have been out of school for just two days and already bored out of their minds, dieting and exercising, and keeping track of my chickens! I'll be peacock sitting for Neighbor Farmer Mary this weekend. Stay tuned for photos and stories!

Bits and Pieces...

2010-06-06T20:18:00.007-04:00

In just a few more days, our friend Linda will be turning 60. As a twist on birthday celebration, she gave presents away! And, BONUS, I'm a winner! I won Linda's Christmas in June (actually, it was May at the time) gift box. And what a box it is!

She included everything!

Not just place mats, napkins and cute little dessert dishes, she also sent two place settings of silverware!

And this cookie cookbook has me planning some goodies for my near future! See the pretty little cross stitch ornament?

Snowman napkins, paper plates, a little statue, a tea towel, and the stacked salt, pepper and toothpicks snowman on the right are going to be wonderful additions to my Christmas supplies! Is that all?

NO WAY! You know she had to include this fabulous chicken mug! I love it all!

Thank you so much Linda! Make sure you visit her blog...

ALA CARTE!

Tell her I sent you!

Last night, I went over to Mary's to get photos of that ugly little peacock I showed you earlier this week. Turns out, nobody was home. But I was not alone! These guys were my escort!

Actually, the black goat grabbed me on my way out...literally! My shirt looked like it would taste really good! The other guys walked me to the chicken coop and showed off their feathered friends.

Mary has a little bit of everything in her yard!

That cute baby bunny posed a little for me. See the ears of his brothers and sisters behind him?

As I was headed out, Mary came home. A quick trip in the house, and I had the shot I was looking for!

Remember that pitiful looking peacock I showed you last week? He had just hatched.

This is the same guy three days later! He's still not looking much like a peacock!

And, this is my favorite bloom at the moment. This hydrangea is as big as my head!

They're Growing!

2010-06-02T20:15:00.003-04:00

Across the street...

When they aren't sleeping, their eyes are open!
Did you ever wonder what a baby peacock looks like?

And, the ducks are getting duckier!

(We need to schedule a manicure for Neighbor Mary!)

A Happy Memorial Day!

2010-05-31T19:29:00.004-04:00

Today is Memorial Day. It's a time to reflect on the folks who protect our country, fight for our rights, and ask for very little in return. Way too many lose their life in pursuit of our freedom!

For the last couple of weeks, I have been working as a temp for the USO at our local airport. I have had the pleasure of seeing boys fresh out of boot-camp and on their way to their first assignment. I have talked with the guys on our Honor Guard team who respectfully stay with the body of a fallen soldier as he awaits his final ride home.

We need them.

They need us.

We need you.

It's that simple.

This morning, I went to my office (about the size of a small half-bath) to catch up on paperwork and to make sure there was plenty of food for soldiers returning to base after a long weekend break. There was a young woman in the center who was on the phone every time I passed her. She was dressed in her camouflage uniform with her pants stove-piped into her boots. I figured she was killing time until her next flight.

Then, I heard a commotion outside. Happy exclamations, then a Daddy saying, "I'm so proud of you!" I looked out the door and saw this young soldier scooped up between her Mama and Daddy. I had to close my office door and get myself composed. When I was finally able to walk out, they were gathered just outside my office. I welcomed her home and told the parents how thrilling and emotional it was to witness their reunion. The soldier asked me to take a photo, but her camera was out of batteries. Since I have made a habit of carrying my camera with me everywhere I go, I was able to snap a couple of shots to e-mail to them.

Can you see the joy on the faces of this family? She has a break for a couple of weeks, then back to Afghanistan. I'm so proud of her, too! I will think of this happy moment every Memorial Day!

Who have you been thinking about today?

Vintage Christine's Give-Away

2010-05-26T20:35:00.005-04:00

If I were you, I would NOT go to Vintage Christine's blog, I'm Not Old, I'm Vintage, and I would NOT sign up to follow her blog either, no matter how funny she is! You wouldn't want to win one of these Shawnee kitty planters either.

YUCK! CATS!

Is my reverse psychology working?

(I want that planter all to myself!)

Springtime Brings...

2010-05-24T18:00:00.007-04:00

BABIES!

Just because my house is lacking little ones doesn't mean my neighbors don't have any!

Neighbor Terri has 12 new baby chicks. They came in the mail last Thursday. Since there was so much extra space in the box, the chicken company worries that the babies will get cold. So what's a chicken company to do? Toss in a bunch of basic boys to keep the others warm!

The gray ones were paid for and the yellow ones are body heat!

The breed I have are cochins. These cuties are silkies.

When they grow up, they'll look like this!

Here's a close up of a freebie! Anybody want a pile of damn-cute roosters?

Yesterday, Neighbor Mary called for help getting a duck and her babies out of the well house. She had nested in a pile of insulation with a butt-load of eggs. All but two hatched!

Looking down on the crew, it doesn't look like too many.

But get Mama out of the picture and you see 19 babies! Are they not the cutest things!

They were relocated to the chicken tractor. Mama had to be coaxed off the roof of Mary's house....twice!

But once she was caught and back with the babies, they all seemed to be happy! I wonder how much trouble I would be in if I brought home a few baby ducks?

I know the answer...A WHOLE DAMN LOT!!

Daisy the Goat has her own house. She can't decide if this is better than her spot in the garage and only goes in her house when put there by Farmer Mary!

These baby bunnies are just 6 days old. Their eyes aren't open yet, but those babies can hop! I had to hold on so tight, I thought I might squish them!

Yep, I miss Melvin, but with all the babies in the 'hood, I will get my snuggle fix!

UPDATE!

2010-05-24T08:18:00.004-04:00

Barbara from if i didn't have a sense of humor says she expects Christine, I'm not Old, I'm Vintage, to launch a murder investigation in the death of Melvin!

Reward offered for information in the death of Melvin...fresh eggs for a month!

Suspects...Squirrels? Bad corn? Skippy's evil alter-ego? Hmmm!

She'll have her work cut out for her!

8 hours later...You have to go to Chris's blog. She has not disappointed us. Her investigation has been extensive and swift! Thanks for solving this mystery!

Sad Day in the Neighborhood

2010-05-23T19:04:00.003-04:00

This afternoon, I went out before the rain started again to make sure all the chickens were in. Melvin wasn't trailing behind Shaikira. I checked in the hen house and even looked under Cora Bell in case he was snuggling with his favorite, indulgent aunt. No Melvin. I climbed into the chicken run and looked under the ramp and in the bucket on it's side and behind the bail of hay. No Melvin. The squirrels had knocked the lid off of the trash can filled with crushed corn. When I picked the lid up off the ground, I leaned over the top of the bucket and saw the small black body of Melvin inside the can of corn. There were no injuries that I could see. The can was easy enough for him to hop in and out of, so I know he wasn't trapped inside.

You'll be missed by your Mom and our little corner of the blogosphere!

I'm sure he would thank everybody who followed his story, especially Christine who started his very own fan club! I can't believe it was such a short story!

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

2010-05-21T23:11:00.005-04:00

Have you met my buddy Liz over at Ninny's Notes? She has a great sense of humor and a really cute little dog! She has bestowed upon me this fabulous award!

1. If you had a different talent, what would it be?

I would be able to paint chickens that look like chickens!

2. What is "numero uno" on your bucket list?

Getting in my car and going wherever it takes me...by myself!

3. What was the best present you ever received?

A ticket to Australia to visit a man I had only known for 10 days... I married him!

4. What are you most afraid of?

Violence towards my children.

5. Why did you start blogging?

I like to write. I secretly hoped I would be discovered by a magazine and they would want me to write for them for money!

6. How many days old are you?

7. What is your favorite dessert?

Chocolate anything

8. Are you a carnivore, a vegetarian, or vegan?

CARNIVORE! I love bacon and hamburgers. I like them even better when they are on the same bun!

9. If you could give something of yours away, what would it be?

My big ass! You can have my hips and stomach, too! I'll deliver!

10. What is the one habit you'd like to break?

When I was talking to my dad on the phone today, he said, "Can I tell you something and I don't mean to hurt your feelings..." I braced for the "you're a bad daughter" talk I thought was coming. Instead, he said, "You have used the word 'so' 13 times since we have been on the phone." He suggested I replace it with another word. I told him I say "so" so I won't say "shit"! I think I'm going to change back to shit!

Okay, I'm choosing a few of my favorite bloggers to tag here. It's hard to choose only 5 when I follow what seems to be hundreds of blogs regularly. If you haven't visited these folks, check them out!

Mick at Everyone Goes to Mick's

Elaina at Ted and Bunny

Deb at Zootsuit Mama

Barbara at if i didn't have a sense of humor

Kelly at eccentricities

Liz came up with these 10 questions, so I'm going to come up with 10 things I like to know about folks...

1. What was the worst job you ever had?

2. In high school, what clique were you in? (I hung out in the smoking area!)

3. Housework or yardwork?

4. What was the last book you read?

5. Do you volunteer anywhere? Where and why?

6. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

7. Are you a happy person?

8. Do you have a veggie garden this year? What are you growing?

9. What's your favorite cuss word?

10. Who would you like to see in concert? (you can dream!)

Thanks a bunch Liz! You could answer these questions, too!

Look Who's Modeling!

2010-05-20T17:44:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, there was a fabulous goody box in my mail. It's from Deb at Zootsuit Mama. If you haven't visited her blog, make sure you pop over. She is a funny, thrifty girl!

Since there were some fabric items, I thought I would bring out some of my furry and feathered friends to model!

Check out Skippy on the cat walk! He is modeling a wonderful blue and white checked child's apron. It's a little big on him, but he doesn't mind!

And, Riley Dog says it's oh so versatile. It looks cute on a dog and on a chicken!

And Melvin is standing in for Vanna to show off this oh so cute kitchen glove. Who can resist that vintage fabric?

And, in case you wanted to see what Melvin's belly and parts looked like, here you go! Chicken Porn! So, based on what you see, will he crow or cluck?

Oh, but that's not all! Check out these cute vintage Chicken Oil and Vinegar cruets! Aren't they just perfect for me! No fur or feathers to show off these pretties. Best to keep them all in one piece!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Deb! I love it all!

Who Knew?

2010-05-19T19:46:00.006-04:00

Does that beak look like it's going to have lots of dangly bits?

Melvin is only two weeks old and the little fellow has his own fan club! And, the first President has already been overthrown for bad behavior. Melvin is destined for a thrilling life. If only we knew if he would grow up to cock-a-doodle-doo or lay eggs!

My best blogger buddy, Chris, from I'm Not Old, I'm Vintage helped her cat, Boo, start the fan club (I think he was picturing chicken nuggets, not Chicken Little), but Boo got fired for getting to friendly with an atomic ash tray on the kitchen table.

Melvin and Shakira in the chicken run.

While all of this was happening in blogger world, I was off at Will's high school for the world's LONGEST high school wind ensemble performance. Since I had to work today, I had to have a shower when I got home. While doing that, I might as well paint my chipped up toe nails. You know it had to be red and you know I had to spill it on white carpet! If you scrub long enough and hard enough to put holes in your wash cloth, it starts to come up. Until it's gone, I'll leave a pile of dirty clothes over top of it. Apparently, since it is MY job to pick up all dirty items, no one else will even consider picking them up, thus no one will ever know I spilled nail polish on the floor. But, I digress...

As long as Mom is nearby, he can hold his own with the big chickens!

Last night after the concert, I went to the hen house to make sure everyone got in safe. No Melvin. I grabbed my flashlight and started searching. He wasn't under the hen house, not in the run, not on the porch. I went back to the hen house and spotted his little face peering out from under Shakira. How he managed to do this while standing on the perch is beyond me. Once again, Melvin is safe.

Melvin can even reach the food in the BIG CHICKEN feeder!

However, now that he has a fan club and I am accountable to ya'll for reporting his growth and progress, I am terrified something will happen to him. When I went out tonight to tuck all the clucks in, he was present and accounted for. He even agreed to come out for a quick photo shoot!

And when the other mother throws in stale bread, I'm in heaven!

He says to tell everybody HEY and thanks for reading my other mother's blog!

Feathers are starting to grow!

Feast or Famine

2010-05-17T19:44:00.004-04:00

North Carolina's motto should be changed to:

North Carolina

The state of feast or famine!

Let me explain. This past winter, we had snow, rain, cold! As soon as spring kicked in, no liquid at all. The temperatures were up and down, but DRY!

After weeks of promises of rain from the weathermen, they finally got it right. That must be the only profession that getting one out of ten predictions right won't get you fired! Today was the day they finally got it right. But, it didn't just rain. It poured so hard, I saw cars go careening off the highway.

Even the ditches between my veggie rows overflowed!

The ditches on the side of the road flowed faster than the traffic. My windshield wipers were useless! When I was about three miles from home, I had the most horrible thought...

Drains were blocked!

What if Melvin went out with Shakira and couldn't figure out how to get back in! He would be washed down the hill, never to be seen again.

It was raining so hard, even the space under the hen house was wet!

Once in the house, I kicked of my chunky heels and dress pants and pulled on my sweat pants and a pair of ragged clogs. I grabbed my umbrella and headed to the hen house.

Skippy and Chrissy want to know where the blow dryer is!

When I opened the door, I saw four very wet, scrawny looking chickens sitting on the perch. Shakira was huddled in the hay on the floor.

Trust me! Melvin's under there somewhere!

I listened through the rain for Melvin's sweet peeps. I heard them and saw his head peak through Shakira's feathers at the same time. I have to remind myself that Shakira is a good mother and really doesn't need my help. But, I still have to get my daily "Melvin snuggle" fix!

I'm such a chicken geek!

Melvin's New Trick

2010-05-15T21:24:00.003-04:00

Never let it be said that I don't try hard to give you what you ask for! Vintage Chris' cat wanted to see what Melvin was looking like these days. If I were him, I would set my sights on Shakira! She is more than a mouth full! Of course, he would have to catch her first...and she pecks...HARD!

No more snuggling under Mom in a warm pile of hay. Melvin perches with the big chickens all in a row. How dang cute is he!

It's a Girl!

2010-05-14T22:19:00.004-04:00

My niece is visiting! Erica Jane is 15, right in between my two boys. Ever since they were little teeny, Erica has had the ability of reducing my boys into giggling, squealing idiots. Within 5 minutes of picking her up, Will was in full silly mode!

She might accompany me to a few yard sales in the morning...depending on how late we stay up tonight. Then, we'll work on some ornaments I need to get in the mail for a swap. We might check out an auction in the afternoon.

Sunday, 7 or 8 folks are coming from Nashville to pick Erica up. Since they'll all be here, we might as well have a picnic...and go to Beaver Dam...and take the canoes out of the garage...and go for a walk in the woods...

Hopefully, Erica won't be too bored with her aunt's passions and obsessions or too annoyed by her silly, loud, goofy boy cousins!

Have a great weekend!

What's This?

2010-05-13T20:43:00.004-04:00

Last Saturday, I found this cute little vase at a yard sale. Whenever I look at it, I have to lean my head a little to the right. Of course, I had to cut flowers to make it beautifuler!

On the bank out front, I found this. I didn't plant it and have no idea what it is. At first glance, I thought it was Lamb's Ears because of the top of the flower.

Here's a closer look at the flower...

Does anyone have an idea what this is? Does it multiply? Do I want it to grow on my front bank or not?

~~~~

UPDATE: Today was my first day back in the working world. I really enjoyed it. I think I can be helpful to this non profit group. Everyone I met was so nice and friendly. I'm old enough to be my boss' mother!

Progress...

2010-05-12T19:52:00.002-04:00

Last week, I told ya'll about the job offer I had gotten but turned it down. What I didn't tell you was that I offered to fill in for them temporarily until I find a full time, high paying job with benefits or they find someone to fill their administrative assistant position permanently.

During the interview, I was told how unorganized the office had gotten since the previous assistant had left. I figured, I could help get things organized and updated for the next person.

Since I didn't hear anything back from them last week, I figured they had found a full time person...until yesterday. I got an e-mail saying they would like to take me up on my offer. I'll go in tomorrow to fill out paperwork and maybe start weeding through and learning whats expected.

I'm hoping this will be a helpful addition on my resume that is seriously lacking employment in the new millennium! Send good vibes my way!

It Runs in the Family!

2010-05-10T19:49:00.004-04:00

When my cousin, Trey, was about 10 years old, she was cutting the grass and accidentally ran over a frog. Seeing frog guts spray from the mower upset her, so she went to tell her dad what had happened. Larry, having a tremendous sense of humor, listened to Trey's story then yelled, "Frog murderer!" She immediately burst into tears. This is another one of those family stories that get told over and over. Trey is now 45 years old and still the frog murderer.

Well, as of today, she is not alone!

The temperature in North Carolina was downright cold this morning. I had to wait until lunch time for it to be warm enough for me to head out. Since our fire pit was full of clippings, weeds and fallen limbs, I thought I would light it to make room for more limbs I would be cutting today. Everything in the pit was dry, so once the match was lit, flames filled the air.

I went about my chores of moving dirt, pulling grape vines off of fences, trimming low hanging branches and cutting the grass. When I returned to pile more on the fire pit, I found this...

I, too, am a frog murderer. I'm so sorry little frog! I didn't mean to kill you...and your little friend, too!

Okay, now that I have freaked you out with a cremated frog photo, have a look at my froggy birdbath. If these frogs were alive, they would be so happy!

Mothers and Others

2010-05-09T20:11:00.006-04:00

Happy Mother's Day everybody! If you aren't a mother, you have one. Hope you celebrated in style!

~~~

My guys decided what we would have for lunch! This is one of my least favorite chores. No matter what I fix, it seems somebody doesn't like it. They chose crab cakes, shrimp and a salad (actually, I chose the salad)! It was yummy.

~~~

After lunch, the whole family walked the trails from our house to Creedmoor Road. It was so much fun! Even Riley Dog got his exercise!

You know a walk in the woods is not complete until Will climbs at least one tree!

Altogether, it's been a fun weekend. I found this fabulous birdhouse at a yard sale on Friday morning. It used to have a frame around it, but it rotted and fell off. That's why she was selling it. The artwork is in fabulous condition. I plan to make a barn wood frame to go around it!

Yesterday, I was heading home from a yard sale when I spotted this buzzard on top of a light pole. I couldn't get my camera out fast enough to get his original pose. He had his wings spread out absorbing the sun! He wasn't in any hurry to get down.

What's that in the bushes?

Here's a closer shot. It's Chrissy. She and Ruby have been laying their eggs under an azalea in the back yard. Since I know where they are laying, I go by at the end of the day and collect eggs.

Shakira got off of her pile of eggs today. I thought she was only going out for a snack, but she wound up staying out with Melvin all day. I snuck in while they were playing and removed the chilling eggs. She never even noticed!

Instead, she spent the day showing Melvin how to take a dust bath, dig up bugs, soak up the sun, and steer clear of Ruby and her bad attitude!

Here's Melvin, Shakira and Skippy...also known as baby, mom and dad!

~~~

Help me out here...I remember somebody posting about their collection of vintage pink appliances for their kitchen. Does anybody know who that is? Is it you? Let me know, please!

~~~

Hope your weekend was as fun as mine!

Ode to Mom, My Aunts, and Granny

2010-05-07T21:01:00.004-04:00

A couple of months ago, I found a box of hats at an auction. Under the pile of hats were several whimsies...those net-like things girls wore back in the 40's and 50's.

~~~

My mom and aunts have told this story so many times, I should know it by heart, but had to call mom before writing...

~~~

It was 1950 something. They were at a funeral for one of their grandparents. Of course, it was raining. Mom and her two sisters were standing under one umbrella. Mom was holding it, Katie was on one side and Mollie was on the other. Granny was sitting in the funeral car.

~~~

As the girls advanced towards the graveside, mom lifted the umbrella a little. Katies whimsy went up with it. Mom noticed and lowered the umbrella so the whimsy sat back on Katie's head. She had to keep the umbrella steady through the entire funeral. All of them had to control the giggles that were raging to come out.

~~~

Unbeknownst to the girls, Granny saw all of this happening from the car and became hysterical. I'm sure all of the attendees thought the whole family was overcome with grief.

Pat (Mom), Mollie and Katie

Fast forward to 2010, here are the girls at the Tea Room in Wake Forest. Once again, they are wearing their whimsies. No umbrellas in sight.

~~~

Six years ago, Granny died on Mother's Day weekend. She would have loved these trips to the Tea Room. And, she would NOT have put one of those whimsies on her head! I can hear her now! "You don't know who had that thing on before you!"

Scavenging!

2010-05-06T21:18:00.004-04:00

I must be part buzzard! I spent an hour this afternoon roaming the trails behind my house...

and scavenging various mosses and lichen. The beer bottle was tossed on the trail by a passing car. Nice, huh? The Diet Coke can was mine!

I even found two of the four wings of a tobacco moth. You know I couldn't leave them!

I'm hoping to use this lichen to color a terra cota planter. I'll let you know if it works. I think you mix the lichen and buttermilk in a blender and paint it on the planter.

I use this moss in various crafty things. It's perfect hair for a fairy!

Don't you know...everything looks better when you store it in a vintage McCoy planter!

Aren't ya'll glad you won't have to clean up my house when I eventually go to the old folks home!

The Job Hunt Update

2010-05-05T20:07:00.004-04:00

My ego is in much better condition, but while I'm telling you the story, I'll be making you smile with photos of Melvin reading blogs!

Just Breath

As of today, I have submitted 43 job applications and resumes. Ya'll have already heard my rant about the bad manners employers have towards potential employees. No confirmation of application receipt, no "we'll be in touch" e-mail, NOTHING!

Red's Artist Cottage

Last week, I had my first interview with a non-profit agency. Not having been interviewed in over 20 years, I thought I answered the questions okay, but worried that I had to pause and think before answering questions.

The Red Bulletin Board

I have a wonderful friend who has refreshed my resume and, I suspect, pulled a few strings to get me this interview. She suggested I send a thank you e-mail after the interview. Since I hadn't already thought of this myself, I jumped on-line and sent that e-mail!

if i didn't have a sense of humor

I didn't hear anything for a few days, then got an e-mail letting me know they were down to two finalists and they would be in touch on Monday. The e-mail did not say that I was one of the finalists.

I'm Not Old, I'm Vintage

When the phone never rang on Monday, I figured I didn't get the job...there's always the other 42 jobs I've applied for.

Ninny's Notes

Yesterday afternoon, I was caught completely off guard when my cell phone sang from my pocket. The woman I had interviewed with was on the other end. I braced for the "thanks but no thanks" speech I new was coming. Then she said, "I'm calling to offer you the job."

WHAT?

I was thrilled. We talked salary (non-profit would apply to my salary), benefits (none), part time with no guarantee for full time in the future. I would be perfect for the job, but need to monetarily justify my being away from home.

1950's Atomic Ranch House

So, today, I called my only employment option and turned down the job. Morally, I can't accept a job knowing I'll still be looking for full time with money and benefits. I thanked her for the job offer and for the huge boost to my ego.

So, does anybody out there have any connections? I'll travel if the pay is good enough!

Happy Mailbox!

2010-05-04T20:30:00.010-04:00

My mailbox has been a happy place! Between my blogging buddies, a year-long swap and e-bay, my mailbox is busting at the seams!

Amber from I Heart Everything sent me a goody bag filled with really cool things she made, recycled or re-purposed.

Everything was wrapped up in this BINGO sheet. I hope she won something!

She made her own greeting card...the record is made from an old computer disc. Amber actually drives an old rambler. Color me jealous!

She created these stickers (Rick zoomed in on the robot ones within seconds of coming home from school!)

She made the magnets out of left-over supplies at the sign shop she works at. Everything would have been thrown away if she hadn't used it! Way to keep our landfills less crowded!

She threw in a couple of cute little chicks, too!

Speaking of chicks...I couldn't leave out this cute photo of Melvin!

The swap I'm doing is Year of Enchantment. Each month, we have a different theme and partner. We create an ornament and send it, along with some goodies, to our partner.

When I opened the box, these were on top...

Knowing the boys would be home from school any minute, I quickly photographed the chocolate and hid them on top of the fridge....ssssshhhhh!

Sandy (The Faerie Whisperer), my partner for this month, sent me some fun owl goodies. Her friend did the two small drawings. The silver owl will soon be dangling from my necklace! I caught Rick eye-balling the small pin. And the little owl perched on a twig is just adorable!

These two sets of rubber stamps will get lots of use! You can't beat flowers...

and birds!

But this cutey was the pièce de résistance. Do ya'll sense a theme here? Vintage buttons, wire feet and a feather tail make up this cute little chick! (How do you like that? French and Southern Belle in the same paragraph!)

Cora Bell keeps an eye on Shakira and Melvin from her perch in the hen house!

Donna, a blogger buddy from a neighboring town, sent me this CUTE bag she made. She said she found the fabric in her stash and thought of me! It is the cutest little bag. I love it! Make sure you check out Donna's blog, Dobco. She also makes the prettiest quilts!

Look at that cute yellow belly on Melvin! I didn't have my camera with me this morning when I opened the door for the other chickens to head out. Melvin jumped up on Shakira's back like he was the king of the mountain!

This is a vintage cherry pitter. I was on e-bay looking for one because the one I bought a few years ago fell apart. I was going to buy a new one, but when I saw this one, I bid one dollar and forgot about it. A few days later, I realized a 1 was beside the WON column. I was thrilled to see this cute cherry pitter was coming to live at my house!

Thanks to all of my buddies. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning when I open my mailbox and discover piles of boxes and envelopes! Hope your mailboxes are as happy as mine!

Watcha Got in There?

2010-05-02T16:55:00.004-04:00

The other day, I took the back roads to Creedmoor. I had to pick up some chicken feed for Little Melvin. The food for the Girls and Skippy is too big for him!

I think this area used to be huge for chicken farmers. All of these buildings are old chicken houses.

Can you imagine having to name all of the chickens living in one of these houses? They are no longer in use.

I would love to have permission to go into these buildings and see what kind of treasures I could stir up! Old chicken feeders...nesting boxes...tobacco sticks...

Then, I wondered why this house is no longer lived in. Who owns it? What's in it? Why doesn't anyone care for it? If the trees were cut down, I think it would be a cute little house.

And this one is on a main road. I have watched it for years. No one has lived in it. But hay bales, stacks of wood and now a pile of dirt have been stored in and around it. The windows have been removed. But the bones of this old house are so intriguing. Who used to live here? Did they ditch this beautiful place for a double wide? Where are the old furnishings that used to decorate this home?

And this old pack house (the roughest building of all that I photographed), seems to be loved by someone. I imagine a Carolina Wren nesting in the dried old wreath...forget the cheesy birdhouse hanging from the rafters. The weathered wood is beautiful to me. Inside, I'm sure we would find a great grandmother's treasures. Old dry sinks...a warped, well-used rocking chair...Hoosier cabinets...a pie safe...a cradle...

I wish I had the nerve to knock on the door to a nearby house to see if the owner lived there and ask for permission to rummage through the chicken houses, old barns, and dilapidated homes. I would love the be the girly version of American Pickers. All I need is a camera crew and a truckload of nerve!

Up Close and Personal

2010-05-01T19:56:00.005-04:00

Since Shakira decided to sit on more eggs, she isn't a very exciting mother. Melvin stays close to her all day. This evening, I took him out for a little exercise and a snack.

He had some bread crumbs and a bug or two. He tried to eat a dot on the table and a freckle on my chest. No luck!

My flash makes this a little hard to look at. Can you see one of the eggs behind Melvin? It helps put his size in perspective.

Here's his little foot. The fuzz will turn into feathers as he gets older.

I know Melvin is a boy. Just before this shot was taken, he was snuggled up in my cleavage and looking a little too comfortable!

If you want to hear what Melvin sounds like, click on the video. It's short!

Tony and I celebrated our 21st anniversary on Thursday. I was slightly spoiled with two dozen roses and the necklace I'm wearing in the photo.

NOTE: I had a first this morning. I went to several yard sales and came home with bupkus...nothing...not a damn thing! Every sale I went to had loads of plastic and no charm!

Melvin PeepPeep Speck Spike

2010-04-30T21:29:00.004-04:00

My new baby...Ooops! Shakira's new baby is such a cutey! He stays right beside Shakira. They spent hours kicking up hay and pecking bugs! Yum! While they were snacking, I took the opportunity to remove the other 6 eggs that didn't hatch. She didn't seem bothered by this.

Later in the day, I stumbled across a pile of eggs in the bushes. I think Chrissy and Ruby had been stockpiling their eggs together. I moved the pile of eggs to the henhouse...19 in all.

Cora Bell has no desire to be a mother.

Tonight, when I went back to the henhouse to make sure everyone was tucked in and safe, I found Miss Shakira perched on top of that pile of 19 eggs. Melvin PeepPeep Speck Spike was snuggled beside her peeping happily.

Ruby is the smallest but the toughest!

Several of you asked how Shakira got her name. When I first got chickens, I waited until they were older to name them. That way, I knew if they were boys or girls and knew a little about their personalities. Cora Bell was a dingy chick from the get-go. She was named after a girl I knew in high school. Ruby got her name because of her red feathers. Plus, she's a spitfire! If she could have a sex change, she'd be completely happy as a rooster! The song by Shakira was out at the time. We were singing it all the time. I imagined Shakira as being somewhat aloof and unflappable. Hence, Shakira got her name.

Shakira is a gorgeous black with green highlights!

I Posted Too Soon

2010-04-29T20:41:00.004-04:00

After I posted yesterday, I walked out to the henhouse to check on the girls. When I opened the door, this is what I saw. Cora is such a good buddy to Shakira, but if she were required to sit on a pile of eggs, she wouldn't make it more than 12 hours! Not a mothering bone in her body!

On the floor in the corner sat Shakira. She has been in this dang blue box for 26 days!

And, what did I see peeping at me from under Shakira's wing?

This cute little fellow! He's so little!

Can you tell how small he is?

I introduced him to water and he had his first snack. Shakira feasted on my hand!

These are the remaining six eggs still in the nest. They have until Saturday...

On the way to the dump this morning, I didn't even make it out of my driveway before I had to stop and take a photo. This cardinal jumped from one chicken head to another.

And this guy was on the windshield of my truck. I guess I need to clean my window since you can't see the garage door through all the scuzz! He hung on for nearly a half a mile!

NOTE: Did you notice I'm already calling this cute little chick HIM? I didn't realize I was doing that until I re-read the post! Does anybody have a good name for this cutey?

Natural Bird Houses

2010-04-28T16:25:00.004-04:00

The chickens have been loving this wonderful weather...all but Cora Bell and Shakira! Shakira is still sitting on eggs that should have started to hatch last Saturday. Cora Bell is keeping her company. Skippy is out feasting on bugs, grubs and grass! I suspect the girls are glad to have him out of the house! I'm giving Shakira until Saturday. If no eggs hatch by then, I'll take the eggs from under her. Poor girl! A month of hope and faith!

My Siberian Irises are blooming! Valerie, these are the seeds I sent you. The photo has made them bluer than they really are. Regardless, they are beautiful!

I've been cleaning out gourds this week and preparing them to turn into birdhouses. These are bushel basket gourds. The can get much bigger than this. My friend, Beverly, makes the coolest bowls out of these! She grew the large one and gave it to me. I think the smaller one came from the Farmer's Market.

I think these are my favorite. They are Apple Gourds. Although, if these were apples, they would feed me for a week! These came from the Farmer's Market, too.

These are Amish Birdhouse Gourds. I grew these in the cemetery last summer. They have been piled in bowls and baskets on my front porch waiting to dry out. Once they were dry, I spent a morning scrubbing off the mold. And, viola! A birdhouse ready for a nest!

Now, I have so many seeds, I don't know what to do with them all! I plan to plant some more in the cemetery this summer, but if I plant all of them, I'm afraid it will look like Kudzu is taking over! So, if anyone would like some of the seeds, let me know which kind you want and I'll send them to you.

Happy Spring!

What Do You Think?

2010-04-25T17:05:00.006-04:00

A couple of months ago, I bought a truck load of old barn wood. Tony has all of the equipment to make picture frames. My plan was to get him to teach me how to make frames. I would pick up vintage prints and make very rustic frames for them.

The sun worked against me and the print on this photo, but the frame looks really good. I like the nail holes, knots and age of the wood.

Here's a better photo of the print.

This hummingbird bee is a page from an old book. I love the graphics. I think this frame and print is my favorite so far.

This is a square frame with a crusty old mirror in it. It's hard to get a photo of a mirror to show the details.

So, what do you think?

Beauty...Even in Death

2010-04-21T16:32:00.006-04:00

My favorite moth is the Luna Moth. I had never seen one of these beauties until the boys and I were out for a walk one day and I found one clutching the side of a curb. Thinking that it would get stepped on, I picked it up with plans of taking it to a bush where it would be safer. Instead, my presence frightened the creature and he took to the air. Within seconds, a huge crow came from nowhere, clamped its beak over the body of the green moth and sent its glow-in-the-dark wings fluttering to the ground. I was mortified! I had assisted in the murder of this beautiful creature.

Luna Moth (pre-murder)

By Sharon Morris Kincheloe,

One of my favorite artists!

As it turns out, I now live in a house that is where Luna Moths come to die. They are attracted to the security lights behind our house. Every morning, I find at least 4 wing parts. I don't know if it's bats or some other night creature that finds these moths so tasty.

Here's my dilemma. I find these beautiful wings in the back yard. They are so pretty, I can't just leave them to rot. I have been saving them in a ziploc baggie. I have no idea what to do with them! Does anybody use these wings as a craft? Rachel at Two Dog Pond, could you use them between two pieces of glass as a pendant? Anybody? I'll send them to anyone who thinks they can use them.

Pile of Post Murder Wings

Upper Wings

Lower Wings...Love their tails!

If you can use these, leave a comment and I'll get in touch with you about mailing!

Chinese, Cheesecake and Cats, Woohoo!

2010-04-19T20:29:00.003-04:00

Tonight, we got together with my mom and niece to celebrate April birthdays...

Will, Rick and Mom. We meet in the middle between Wake Forest and Nashville in Bunn. The choice is pizza or Chinese. Both are take-out restaurants with a couple of tables in them. We had Chinese tonight. Yum!

We had a great view of the Family Dollar from the restaurant!

My cute niece, Erica, brought cheesecake for dessert. My dorky boy goofed up this photo!

Mom is a cat lady. Her cat, Samson, hates me! Take a cat to the vet just one time and he never forgets! If I walk behind him, he lets out one of those low, guttural growls. If I scratch him on his head, he swings one of his de-clawed (thank God) paws at me and hits hard enough to leave a bruise. Actually, I think the only person Samson likes is Mom.

For her birthday, Mom got three well behaved, non-growling, no shedding, vintage McCoy kitty planters!

With sedums and cactuses in place as tales, I think they are awfully cute!

Although, this one is slightly obscene.

And, instead of a tail, this one seems to be spraying green leaves towards the coffee pot.

Good thing Mom's brain doesn't reside in the gutter like her daughter's...until she reads my blog!

My Favorite Rock

2010-04-18T20:06:00.003-04:00

We have trails down the hill in our back yard. In one of the darkest sections of the woods is this huge rock. Seeing the striations in the rock makes me think this rock has been in my backyard since the dinosaurs roamed there, too.

Even with a trickle of light through the trees, flowers still manage to grow.

No dirt, just cracks and crevices.

Yet something small and delicate and pretty still grows!

This is why I was walking in the woods! Somebody had to hold the camera!

Atomic Reminders!

2010-04-17T20:24:00.008-04:00

This morning, when I got home from yard saling (nothing to brag about), I found a huge box on the front porch that had been left by the FedEx guy! Since Riley Dog had gone yard saling with me, the FedEx guy must have been comfortable leaving the box on my porch instead of throwing out of his moving truck! Don't know what I'm talking about? Click on FedEx guy!

But, I digress! Inside that huge box was this smaller box.

Inside this box was a fabulous atomic style vase! I won it in a giveaway from Leah at Storybook Ranch! I immediately ran to the yard and cut a pile of my orange azaleas. Their stems are long, so they really look good in this vase.

It is much taller than I thought it would be. Since most of my vases are on the short side, this one will be perfect for a big, center-of-the-table arrangement!

And the clear glass of the vase works so well with my menagerie of clear glass containers. A girl can never have too many jars, refrigerator dishes or vases! Thanks so much Leah. If you haven't been to her blog, stop what you're doing and go NOW! No, wait! Finish reading mine and then go see Leah!

While I was cutting and arranging flowers on my front porch, I looked over the railing and saw Miss Crissy pecking around under the holly bushes. On the chicken front, Shakira has one more week until her eggs start to hatch. I can't wait to see those cute little chicks! Cora Bell has been keeping Shakira company every day. They have been buddies from the beginning (3 years!)
Leah, thanks so much for the vase. I love it!

Pain in the Butt

2010-04-16T17:06:00.004-04:00

Terri and I did our usual two mile walk today.

Riley Dog was a little slow, so I didn't over-do it.

However, a little later, I walked out to the mailbox and realized my right butt cheek was killing me.

The only way I could get any relief while walking was to lift that butt cheek from where it met my thigh.

I didn't see what I looked like, but know it was NOT attractive. I will not be venturing out in public until I get used to the pain or it no longer hurts.

I have no intention of winding up on America's Funniest Videos and earning somebody else $10,000 because they videoed me hauling my right ass cheek around the mall.

You know, my butt cheek is big enough to put a sling around it, hence, no photos with this post.

But, I think the other end might have to tie around my neck. Ben Gay on the hind parts sounds a little too close for comfort. Maybe I'll just stick to Aleve and stay out of sight for a day or two.

April...The Month of Birthday Cakes!

2010-04-15T20:21:00.003-04:00

Today, my youngest baby turned 14. I still think of him as the baby and he gladly fills the role. His birth was much easier than Will's. However, both of my boys were born the size of toddlers! Rick showed up at 10 pounds 2 ounces.

Rick is amazing when it comes to computers. He has created video games, knows how to design websites, and has won some awards for the things he has designed. He is so far over my head that a fall back on my pre-hearing aid days and just nod and smile for fear of looking stupid!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

White grape juice and brownies, YUM!

How Rude!

2010-04-14T19:13:00.006-04:00

I'm a southern girl, born and bred! The rule for southern girls is simple.

Never be rude!

Don't get me wrong, it does not mean you can't be a smart ass. There is a difference. A smart ass is funny, sarcastic, states the obvious. Rude is just mean.

HUGE azaleas in my Mom's yard.

Well, today, I crossed the line. I didn't mean to say it and didn't even know I was going to be rude until the words were out of my mouth. I immediately slapped my hand over my mouth and tried to take them back.

More of that pretty lavender!

I was on my way to Nashville to visit my Mom. With less than a quarter of a tank of gas, I figured I better hit the last station before driving into the country. I pulled up to the pump, whipped out my credit card and studied the scanner. No pictures of how to swipe the card. I flipped the card in every direction, but couldn't get the stupid computer to accept it.

The man at the pump next to me offered to help, but couldn't remember how he had run his card through. I had no choice but to go to the lady in the box and ask her to run my card. I asked if she could hold my card until after I pumped and then run it so I could fill my tank.

An arrangement for the porch!

She said,"I can't do that. You have to give me a specific amount." Hmmmm! Not the answer I wanted to hear.

"Okay," I said, feeling rather frustrated, "then how much is the middle grade of gas?"

"I don't know," she said, looking at me rather impatiently.

That's when it happened. My mouth opened and some rude stranger inside of me said, "Well, you aren't very helpful, are you?"

Ladyslipper orchids multiply like crazy in her yard!

How I managed to tell her to put $50 on the card and sign it, I'll never know. The heat of embarrassment coming off of my face was hot enough to blow the place sky high!

Am I the only one that thinks this looks like a scrotum?

To the lady in the glass box in the Lowe's Grocery Gas Station on the Highway 98 By-Pass in Wake Forest, I am soooo sorry! I promise I will never come back!

NOTE: I tried to soften my bad behavior with pretty photos from my Mom's house!

Flowers, Cleaning and Gatlin Cannons...What Do They Have in Common?

2010-04-12T21:12:00.003-04:00

My yard!

Last month, Rick had to make something from the Civil War. My devotees to the history channel were all over that assignment. Rick and Tony built a life-size Gatlin Cannon. But, once the grades were in, we had this huge cannon and nowhere to put it. What's a Mom to do? Flip the barrels into the air, drill a hole in the front and turn it into a bird house! Bet nobody else in the world has one of these!

Next week, these will be wide open ferns!

May Apple and Little Brown Jugs

Bleeding hearts!

My Lady Banks rose is in full bloom on the front fence.

Close up!

I'm not sure what these are called. The blooms remind me of hydrangeas.

My uncle, Larry, rooted these and most of the other azaleas in my yard. I think they are called spider bloom azaleas.

My favorite orange azalea in front of my kitchen window. They smell so sweet.

Wanna look closer?

I found this little fellow in a puddle of water under the porch. He was looking a little stressed. I scooped him up and let him catch his breath. Look at the pollen on his back leg.

Then I helped him over to a flower. Happy bee!

Wasn't the word CLEANING in the title? This is the side of our garage...

Before Tony came along with the cherry picker and the power washer!

He took the day off to get this WWWAAAAYYY overdue chore done!

Doesn't this look so much better? He managed to get the whole house done today. The poor guy was in the bed before 9:00 and even took an Aleve without being told to.

Broody, Moody Girl!

2010-04-09T21:04:00.004-04:00

Last Saturday, I noticed Shakira was sitting on a nest all day long. Not really wanting any babies at the moment (almost all that are hatched in my yard have turned out to be roosters), I figured I would wait until she got up for a snack and remove the eggs.

***

On Sunday, I reached out to rub Shakira's back with the hope she would get up and let me see what was under her. Instead, she pecked the crap out of me. I decided I would give her another day to get over it.

She was still sitting there on Monday. I mustered up my courage and scooped Shakira off the nest. She tried to peck me again, but I tucked her under my arm before she reached skin! Below her were 7 eggs. I didn't have the heart to take them away from her. Last year, I took her eggs and she sat on an empty nest for two weeks.

***

Tonight, I decided to check her progress. She wasn't distressed when I lifted her off her nest. Two more eggs had been added to the pile. In two more weeks, we should be welcoming a whole new crew of roosters to the neighborhood.

***

Can I interest anyone in a pet rooster? Please?

Big Ears!

2010-04-08T15:34:00.002-04:00

How is it that I can scream and yell to call my kids to come down for dinner and get no acknowledgement. No "Good, I'm starving!" or "I'll be there in a minute." or "I'm not hungry. Give mine to the dog."

~~~~

Last night after dinner (they finally showed up after 3 yells), the kids headed off to their preferred location in front of a computer. Tony and I settled down in the den to gossip about friends. As I am prone to do when talking ugly about folks, I spoke quietly...nearly whispering.

~~~~

When I finished with all of the juicy details, I heard Will pipe in from upstairs with comments about what I had been saying.

~~~~

I'm guessing it has something to do with the tone of my voice. If I'm yelling, I'm interrupting what you're doing with requests of your presence or instructions for a chore. But if I'm whispering, their ears perk up and are able to tune out the TV, I-pod, computer hum and dishwasher to hear exactly what I'm saying.

~~~~

From now on when we gossip, I'll do it by e-mail! Oh, but then there is an electronic cookie with my gossip encoded on it. I know! We'll go sit on the swing by the chicken house to gossip. The girls won't tell and the boys would rather be beaten than go near the chickens. Hopefully, the person I'm gossiping about won't suddenly appear from around the side of the house.

~~~~

NOTE: Refraining from gossiping would be the correct solution, but is not an option!

Flowers, Goats, and Pollen, Oh My!

2010-04-07T09:35:00.007-04:00

Here in North Carolina, we always know spring is here when our loblolly pines release their pollen. The world takes on a yellow haze. It usually takes a good rain to wash it away. Then, we have to hose or blow off the porches, garages, cars, etc. to officially remove it all.

This hand print is on the hood of my car. Who needs finger print powder when the pollen is out. I suggest all bad guys stay away from my house!

I need to schedule a trip to the car wash!

I accidentally uploaded this photo, so thought I would show you what I posted on craigslist today. It is a beautiful entry table. Unfortunately, the base has water damage and it needs some repairs. It's been on my list of things to do for a while and I'm trying to slim that list WAAAAY down!

My May Apples have really popped out this week. They grow wild in the woods behind my house. They are one of my favorites. They are dusted in pollen. It was 90 degrees yesterday, so I wonder if that will lengthen or shorten their season. Cough, cough, sniff!

This is my small leaf periwinkle. It is slowly covering the ground in the island out front. More pollen! AAACHHHHOOO!

I hadn't even noticed my cherry tree was blooming until I was out walking around with my camera. The color is a little off, but I like it. The actually blooms are a pale pink.

Look who came to visit. Neighbor Mary has a new goat. Her name is Daisy. She is adorable. She walks on a leash and every now and then throws in a jump and leap. Very cute!

Daisy waited with us for the big yellow bus! No school for baby goats. She did go to church for Easter and passed for a baby lamb. City kids are easily fooled!

16 Years Ago Tonight...

2010-04-05T21:27:00.005-04:00

Tomorrow, my oldest baby will be 16. He was quite comfortable in the womb and had to be forced out! I knew I was in labor because my body made a sound like a huge water balloon bursting. I made it from the bed to the potty in about 3 steps before the tidal wave hit.

We had done all of the Lamaze classes and I knew I didn't want to have natural labor. I am not into pain when there is an easier way to do it. Just in case, I learned how to sign the word epidural in case I was struck dumb by labor!

Once in the hospital, I wasn't dilated, so they gave me Petosin. That brought on the contractions...STRONG! Where's my damn epidural? I did not want to hear that I had to dilate a few more centimeters before that happened.

A few more hours, lots of whining and moaning on my part, and the man with the big needle finally came in the room! Through all of the pain, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, bent over and suggested he hurry the hell up!

The epidural helped with the pain, but it did not produce a baby. I pushed and pushed and pushed, cried a little bit, and pushed and pushed. No baby. Since the doctor could see the head up in the tunnel, he decided to pull out his special Electrolux and suck that baby out of me. No baby. By this time, we'd been up all night.

But, the doctor wasn't out of tricks. He pulled out some forceps. This finally worked! My Will was born weighing in at 9 pounds 12 ounces with a cone head from the vacuum and a forceps mark in the center of his forehead!

I thought I would just be exhausted and ready to sleep. But one look at that boy and I was in love for life...cone head and all!

Happy 16th Birthday Will!

Another One Bites the Dust...

2010-04-04T20:04:00.004-04:00

This Easter, several of us have written stories about dead rabbits on our blogs. Chris' great grandmother killed two rabbits to cook. She was photographed holding them while a small child looked on. I wrote about finding a dead rabbit in the field during an Easter egg hunt when I was 3ish. Another blogger wrote about a dead rabbit, too, but for the life of me, I can't find it again!

~~~~

Well, today, I think my Riley dog scared a future Easter Bunny to death!

~~~~

I was planting a curly willow tree by the cemetery and had left the gate to the cemetery open because Riley Dog likes to go in there to chase lizards. He zoned right in on something in the grass. I was digging up a tree and watching Riley out of the corner of my eye. All of a sudden, something furry darted across the cemetery with Riley Dog hot on it's trail. I tried to rush in to intervene when more furry things came pouring out of the ground. I counted 6 in all. Riley Dog just kept running and chasing.

~~~~

One little fellow fell out in the grass. I picked him up quickly so Riley Dog wouldn't grab him. He was completely still. I held him up to my ear trying to hear a heartbeat. Nothing. I felt something warm on my arm and realized his bowels had released and was running down my elbow. Poor baby!

This is what I could see from outside the fence.

This is what Riley Dog saw. The cemetery is now blocked off to Riley Dog. I watched for a long time, but never saw any rabbits return. I hope he didn't scare all of them to death!

It's not all doom and gloom in my yard. This periwinkle is blooming near the hen house.

I have variegated periwinkle, too.

My first azalea popped open!

And the red bud trees are in full bloom!

I can't remember what this shrub is called, but it is completely covered in pink spiky blooms. I'm surprised all this pink shows through all of the pine pollen. My white truck is currently yellow. With no rain in sight, we'll be leaving footprints in the pollen.

Happy Easter...and hopefully, one of the five remaining babies will grow up to be the Easter Bunny!

Bloggers are Generous People!

2010-04-03T14:19:00.004-04:00

I have met some of the nicest people since I started writing my blog. We have lots in common, too...gardening, junking, crafting, thrifting, and of course, writing! As I have read blogs, I've discovered that Abby in England is collecting salvages from fabric to make VERY CUTE TEDDY BEARS. I had some of those. Missy in Utah is making a bug jar quilt and I have lots of bug fabric. Mick in Texas likes my vintage paper plates. I have no plans for these things, so in the mail they go! (Mick wrote the nicest thank you note, I had to e-mail him and have him tell his mom what a good job she did raising such a nice kid!)Valerie is hosting the best year round ornament swap ever and I get to play along!

My point in telling you this? I don't dread going to the mailbox anymore. About every other week, I get a package or a note in the mail. Chris is the best at sending cards. She makes some and she buys some. Even though we've never met, she knows me better than some of my friends I see every week.

Don't you love the PEEP SHOW card Chris sent. Hazel is the rooster doing the peeping! Missy sent the hen note card.

Look what Messy Missy sent me this week...

This fun rooster is headed to the laundry room to hang out with the other chickens!

Missy made this beautiful necklace for me. It is so pretty! And it was in this cute little bag!

These cute primitive patches are destined for a quilt or a pillow. I'll have to let you know.

My blogging buddies are truly the neatest, most generous, creative, supportive and fun people I've never met!

ADENDUM!

After I posted this blog, I skipped to the mailbox, only to find these treasures inside!

Liz, from Ninny's Notes, sent these cute little chicks my way.

Thanks a bunch Liz! I love them!

Funny Story!

2010-04-02T21:33:00.003-04:00

Very rarely do I splurge for a pedicure. But, for myself, I keep polish on my toes year round. The bright color makes me happy. Depending on my mood or the season or the new shade I got from WalMart, I change the color.

About 10 years ago, I stripped the polish off my nails. I didn't repaint them immediately. I walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water and encountered Will along the way. He pointed at my feet, screamed "EEEEWWWWWW!" and started doing his wigged-out dance. He wanted to know what had happened.

~~~

Since he had always seen my toe nails polished, he must have assumed they were permanently painted. Even though he'll be 16 soon, I keep my nails polished so he won't be grossed out by my naked nail beds.

~~~

Wonder what kind of conditioning I'm creating for future daughters-in-law?

Easter Wishes!

2010-04-01T16:04:00.005-04:00

Hey! Ya'll may have already gotten this in an e-mail, but it is so perfect for my blog, I have to share it with you. Just click on the link to see a quick chicken cartoon!

http://terrisfp1.com/holidays/chick.swf

~~~

Thanks to Stacey at Flotsam and Jetsam who sent me this link. Make sure you visit her blog to enter into a vintage, French, sewing thingie she's giving away in honor of her real live store she's opening near Washington, DC!

Easter Past

2010-03-30T19:21:00.004-04:00

When I was little, we spent all holidays at Granny's big house in Scotland Neck, NC. My cousin, Trey, would always be there, too. Easter was one of the best!

Brother Dave, Trey, and me

On Easter morning, we would get up early and wake up all the grown-ups. They would torture us by moving slowly and making us stay upstairs until everybody was ready to run down the stairs to see what the Easter bunny had brought us.

No dead rabbits here!

The Saturday before Easter was spent at Sister's house with all of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cousins for an Easter Egg Hunt. When I was about 2, I didn't find a huge pile of eggs, but I did find a dead rabbit. I wigged out all the women when I drug the poor dead thing from the field.

My basket is looking awfully empty!

Somewhere, there is a video of Cousin Trey watching one of the grown-ups pointing out an egg to one of the little kids. She swooped in and snatched it out from under his slow-poking nose! When it came to egg hunts, we were ready to wrestle...especially if chocolate was involved!

Bohemian Rhapsody

2010-03-29T18:54:00.007-04:00

I don't think I have ever made this confession on my blog. Here goes...

I'm a QUEEN junkie!

I was in high school when We Are the Champions and We Will Rock You was popular. All of the cheer leading squads had a dance routine to these songs. No, I wasn't a cheerleader, but I was in the stands contributing to the STOMP, STOMP, CLAP that the whole auditorium did along with the music.

Since Freddie Mercury, the flamboyant lead singer for the group, died in 1991 from AIDS, I figured I would never get to see my favorite songs performed live.

YAY! I was wrong!

Way back in September, I saw a Ticketmaster ad for "One Night with Queen." Knowing that my kids and husband were fans, too, I bought 4 tickets. Then, I promptly forgot about it!

Fortunately, another ad for the tickets showed up in my mailbox 6 months later reminding me that the date was near...like three days away! If I hadn't gotten the e-mail, I would have missed one of the best concerts I've ever seen!

Now, here's the best part...

WE HAD FRONT ROW TICKETS!!!!

We had the best time!

Gary Mullen had Freddie Mercury's stretchy dance routine down perfect. He even sported the porn 'stache! He engaged the audience, suggested we start our boys young and buy them beer for the event. He sang all of my favorites! Every time I looked at one of my three boys, they were singing, smiling and clapping, too.

They even did a version of Jailhouse Rock. Tony and Rick got to sing "Dancing to the jailhouse rock" into the microphone for the whole audience to hear. If these Brits are headed anywhere near your hometown, I highly recommend you get tickets and go! You are guaranteed a good time...and, they don't care if you take photos!

You just need to have a faster trigger finger than I have! When he was standing right in front of us or holding the microphone in front of Tony and Rick, I stood there with a grin on my face and the camera hanging at my side!

The Things We Do for Our Children

2010-03-28T15:47:00.004-04:00

Will is in his high school's marching band. In order to pay for all of the trips they take during the season, it costs almost $800 per year. Since the recession has hit us so hard, I have been volunteering at one of the food booths at the RBC Center during Carolina Hurricane Hockey games. We earn anywhere between 30 and 60 dollars a night for our efforts. The money goes into Will's account. Hopefully, there will be enough money in his account by the time it is due that we won't have to write a check for any of it. (Keep your fingers crossed for us!)

Last night, we arrived at the booth an hour before the doors opened for $1 hot dog night. They are usually $3.50 each, so $1 is a big deal! Once all of our routine work was done, the volunteers helped the kitchen folks wrap hot dogs.

Usually, we have bursts of busy-ness between periods, but with Dollar Dog Night, we never got a break! Between orders for 5 to 10 hot dogs, we also passed out nachos and cheese, popcorn, M&M's and cotton candy. Of course, $8 cups of beer and $4 bottles of Pepsi get tossed into most orders, too.

After the third period started and our doors closed down, I looked at my co-worker/volunteers and saw the exhaustion and thrill in their eyes. We hadn't slowed down enough all night to look at each other. Instead, we bumped butts, yelled orders, and slung hot dogs throughout the night! We won't know how much we earned for another week or so, but it felt like a good night!

The only other fundraiser that earns money for Will's account is the selling of oranges in October and November. Come Fall, if you live nearby, be expecting a call from my boy! It's time for him to do a little huffing and puffing to earn himself some money! It's a good thing I love that boy!

Unfortunately, the Hurricanes didn't win! Looks like the play-offs are not in our future!

More White Stuff!

2010-03-26T20:10:00.004-04:00

Thank heavens I'm not talking about snow!

Spring has busted out all over my yard. The white shows up so pretty.

With a faint touch of pink on the quince blooms, these are beautiful and sweet.

And these little teeny blooms will soon look like snow on the ground. I can never remember if this is spirea or bridal wreath.

Star magnolia looks like ribbons blowing in the breeze.

This is the first time in 11 years that these white camellias bloomed. They are such a pure white.

Next week, these buds will be opened and my front fence will be covered in a pale yellow Lady Banks rose.

However, this afternoon, we could watch the temperature fall on our digital thermometer. This morning, we were at a balmy 65. By 5:00, we were at 47 degrees.

I'm wondering which animal will hunker down in this knot hole for this cold spring evening.

Hopefully, all of these pretty blooms won't freeze tonight as the temperature continues to drop! My electric blanket is on high!

Happy weekend!

I Forgot!

2010-03-25T09:30:00.002-04:00

I forgot to add this to the last post!

What's the 10th photo on your camera disc? What's the story behind it?

Make sure you see my 10th...

10th Photo

2010-03-24T19:20:00.002-04:00

Okay, I'm a little slow lately!

It's been at least a week since my buddy, Randy at Chicken Boys, tagged me to find the 10th photograph on my camera. Since the disc was empty, I went to my chicken photo file and pulled the tenth one out of there.

There really isn't a big story behind this photo. These are two of my oldest hens and certainly my two favorites, snuggling in the hen house. Cora Bell has the bars and Shakira is black. Cora is a dingy girl. She is a loner these days. She comes to the garage to look for me because she knows I'll give her snacks. When I pick her up, she snuggles in and closes her eyes.

Shakira is much more reserved. She doesn't like to be held. She is beautiful and big. She reminds me of the dignified older ladies in church.

Country Roads

2010-03-23T19:59:00.003-04:00

On a recent trip to Blounts Creek, North Carolina, I passed this unique mailbox.

I was so intrigued, I had to stop and take photographs!

I guess I'll have to start saving my extra large Ball jars.

We get so much junk mail, I would need a couple of gallon size jugs strapped to our post!

Don't you wonder what happened to their previous mailbox?

Happy Trails!

2010-03-22T17:42:00.004-04:00

Neighbor Mary left a message for me over the weekend. She had found a home for Hazel the Rooster! He has gone to live with 6 hens. I'm not sure what happened to the previous rooster, but the hens were in the market for a new dude and didn't care that he had a feminine name.

The driver who would be taking Hazel to his new harem had a photo of his predecessor on his cell phone. I would say this is a good sign for Hazel.

No longer do we need to worry that Hazel will cross the road!

Thanks a bunch Mary! Tony majorly appreciates the silence at 4:00 am!

Aw, Hell No!

2010-03-19T21:19:00.003-04:00

My buddies at SuzAnna's Antiques needed some help today...Jenny, The Red Bulletin Board, was supposed to be off to spend time with her son but wound up in the bed with a bug and Susie is still recovering from back pain! So, I got to go in and spend the day with some of my favorite people! Susie sat and wrote tags for goodies she purchased first thing this morning. I was proud of her! She priced and pointed. The rest of us tagged and displayed. With her work done, she went home to rest.

A customer came in with a baby carrier and the cutest little girl napped while mom shopped. When she came into the office to check out, Pretty Sam looked at the baby and, I swear if it was possible, the man would have lactated! He said, "I want another one!" He swooned over the baby and made faces. I rang up charges and did nothing to prepare for his next comment...

"Anna, why don't you have one for me? I'll go buy a turkey baster."

Being pregnant at 44 1/2 would send me right over the edge! Job hunting and pregnant? I'd say they don't go hand in hand! I can just hear my explanation to a future employer...

No, it's okay. I'll just spit this baby out, hand him/her over to her two daddy's and I'll be back at work within 48 hours. If it's born on a weekend, you won't even miss me!

You never know what kind of proposal you'll get when you enter SuzAnna's Antiques!

Aw, hell no!

GRRR! Bad Manners Suck!

2010-03-16T20:46:00.003-04:00

I have spent much of the last two weeks cruising help wanted web-sites. I spruced up my resume, wrote a good cover letter (even if I do say so myself), and sent them to the e-mail address they listed.

~~~

Turn everything down, close your eyes, turn up your hearing aides and listen carefully, and you'll hear the responses I've gotten.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you hear it? Yep! NOTHING!

~~~

I don't like this age of technology! There is a quick fix to everything. Need to find a McDonald's? There's an APP for that. Want to ditch a girl? Just change your status on facebook. In church and can't answer your phone? Shoot out a quick text.

~~~

Come on potential employers! We're feeling a little desperate, unloved, inadequate. You just don't know how happy an e-mail saying, "Thanks for submitting your resume. We wanted you to know that we got it and will be in touch soon," would make me! I'm feeling invisible! Hello? Is anyone out there? Can you see me?

~~~

If I don't meet your needs or requirements, would it kill you to say, "Thanks but you're not what we're looking for."

~~~

Come on future employers! Throw a girl a bone!

Drawing Conclusions...

2010-03-15T21:47:00.007-04:00

Today, I learned two things I didn't already know. I found them funny and a little disturbing!

The chickens were grazing in the backyard. Off in the distance, I could hear helicopters heading our way. The chickens froze. As the helicopters got closer, the chickens were doing the "oh shit! oh shit!" run for cover. By the time the whirlybirds were overhead, the chickens were safely tucked under some dense shrubs. The best I can figure...they thought those helicopters were gigantic hawks (maybe they were black hawks. I don't know my choppers) preparing to swoop in for the kill.

Conclusion...Chickens are scared of helicopters!

Later, just before dark, I heard sirens coming down our road. Upstairs, my smart-ass son hollered, "Are they coming here?" Knowing dinner had been cooked, eaten and cleaned up, I knew I hadn't overlooked anything flammable. I stepped outside to see where the firetruck was headed. To my horror, Neighbor Terri had come outside, too, and was looking over the fence to make sure flames weren't shooting from our roof. I assured her we were safe and walked to the end of the driveway to make sure I hadn't left the stove on at a neighbor's house!

Conclusion...I am responsible for all sirens that come through our neighborhood.

Go ahead! Laugh! I can take it!

Spring Fever, Literally!

2010-03-14T21:03:00.009-04:00

You know you have a bad cold when you laugh, and instead of giggles, a bark erupts from your gut followed by spasms of wheezing and a shower of really gross stuff that sprays anyone in a three foot radius! Two pack a day smoker? Nope! Spring fever with a mix of viral infection! Saturday, I spent the entire afternoon and evening on the couch. I did get out Saturday morning long enough to see the Dr. and pick up prescriptions. I managed to get some things done today, but had to rest between chores!

Thanks for the photo Netflix!

Should this cold come knocking on your door, I suggest you don't watch The Big Lebowski. Even though it has gotten poor reviews, I watched it anyway because I could download and watch on my computer (thanks again Netflix!) This is how I found out how gross and painful laughing was. Jeff Bridges plays goofy, lovable, unemployed bowler named The Dude who gets tangled up in somebody else's drama. In an effort to keep the bad guys out of his house, he nails a two by four to the floor with about 50 nails (many of them bent from a crappy hammer job). He wedges a chair behind the two by four and under the door knob, only to have the bad guys open the door and have the chair fall out. Later, The Dude returns home to discover his house has been trashed. Of course, he trips over the two by four he nailed to the floor!

I laughed so hard, I thought I would cry (from the pain and the comedy!) I gave this movie four out of five stars! I wonder if I would have liked it if I saw it in a healthy state... Hmmmm. Have you seen it?

Springtime!

2010-03-14T19:25:00.000-04:00

Did you know I have an obsession with yellow birds?

Pecking Order

2010-03-11T08:33:00.003-05:00

Okay, I need to have my camera surgically implanted. Last night, I headed out to see if the chickens were in the hen house. I was carrying Cora Bell because I found her sitting in the sink in the garage (the first thing I needed my camera for). As we rounded the side of the house, I saw Riley Dog doing the butt clenched, "oh shit! oh shit! oh shit!" run across the back yard. He had his head turned to the side in an effort to watch behind him and in front of him. Running a couple of paces behind Riley Dog was Skippy. He was on a mission to peck some Riley Dog ass! (For this, I needed the video feature on my camera!)

~~~

When I busted out laughing, both snapped out of it. Riley Dog hid behind me and returned to his cool, nonchalant self, and Skippy wandered back to the group of girls.

~~~

When I got closer to the hen house, I discovered what the chase was all about. Riley Dog had found an egg and chowed down. The shells were left, but he wasn't through licking. The chickens wanted to eat the shells (I don't know why, but they do this after an egg hatches or if one cracks.) Riley Dog thought about bullying his way back into the crowd of chickens for the egg shells, but Shakira popped him on the nose, grabbed the egg shells and ran into the woods. (Number three missed photo op!)

~~~

I just stood in the back yard and laughed while tears ran down my cheeks. I do love my feathered and furry friends!

Chicken Funnies

2010-03-09T13:27:00.004-05:00

This morning, I went to the hen house to let Skippy and the girls out. Cora always holds back. I usually take her some special treats from the kitchen. This morning, it was stale Cherrio's...Honey Nut to be exact.

I grabbed a handfull from the bag and held it out to her. She immediately started gobbling them up. A few hit the ground in her haste to eat them all before the others realized she had treats. All of a sudden, she looked up at me with her eyes crossed! A Cherrio had gone over the top of her beak and stuck there...sort of like a ring on a finger. She couldn't swallow it and couldn't push it off. I should have run for my camera, but didn't have the heart to leave the poor girl crossed and confused. I plucked the Cherrio from her beak. To teach it a lesson it won't soon forget, she ate it!

I do love my Cora Bell!

FYI...No signs of Hazel, so far. We hear him calling, but he hasn't been enticed to cross the road!

When I Grow Up

2010-03-09T06:59:00.006-05:00

Today, I'm working on my resume. Yes, my boys are old enough for me to go back to work and make a contribution to the family instead of being the plughole that sends our income spiraling out to various credit card companies every month! The theory is...if I am at work all day, how can I spend money. I'm sure I'll figure a way around this one! Even more important, with two kids headed to college in two and four years, we are going to need more income!

So here's my quandary. How do I make my life as a Mom sound like a real job? I know you other mother's out there know what I mean. My husband and I made the choice for me to stay home with our guys and I have loved almost every minute of it. But something tells me a future employer might not find my list of duties as applicable to their job...

* getting the kids to school on time, (time management)
* made sure they brushed their teeth and combed there hair every weekday (no guarantee on weekends), (maintenance supervisor)
* fixed breakfast and dinner and sometimes lunch for the family, (short order cook)
* tackled a mountain of laundry twice a week, (laundromat operator)
* supervised room clean-up at least once a month, (janitorial supervisor)
* walked the dog, (dog walker)
* fed the chickens, (avian specialist)
* paid the bills, (finance agent)
* planted the garden, (master gardener)
* regularly visited the pediatrician and dentist, (taxi driver)
* volunteered in classrooms, (teacher's aide)
* walked in the woods to collect sticks, leaves, feathers, dead stuff, etc., (nature observer)
* been the homework enforcer, (whip cracker)

So, keep your fingers crossed for me. Jobs are few and far between. Finding a job that pays more than minimum wage are almost non-existent. Let's not even think about all those cute, young college grads ready to snatch any professional job right out from under my old lady ass!

You see what I'm doing instead of working on my resume! But I like doing this. Okay, I'm off to get this done! Send good, creative, big-word karma in my direction! Lord knows I need it!

NOTE: No photos accompany this post because my resume exists only in my head!

As of 1:30 pm, I've been to Southern States, purchased plants for my garden, filled up bird feeders, organized some medical reports for a new insurance company, eaten lunch, sat in the sun, and played with the chickens. Resume still unwritten! Where is that whip-cracker when you need her?

Heavenly Sunday

2010-03-07T19:47:00.007-05:00

Today was a sign that spring is coming! With the temperatures in the 60's today, I could not make myself come inside. We even ate a bowl of chili on the front porch.

I had piles of outdoor chores on my list of things to do and couldn't wait to start checking them off!

First job, prune all butterfly bushes to the height of my waist. They were about 10 feet tall before I started cutting.

Number 2...Remove all of the dead-heads from my snowball hydrangea bush.

BEFORE

Once I was done, there were loads of hydrangea flower tumble weeds blowing around the yard.

AFTER

Number 3...Take this pile of dead leaves and slime and pull as much away as possible so next years blooms won't have to weave through this yucky pile.

BEFORE

Look at these green shoots ready to spring forth. This reminds me of Amaryllis with its large white blooms with 4 to 5 on each stem. The blooms smell like gardenias. They bloom all summer and multiply like crazy. Ten years ago, this was one bulb. There are probably 50 now!

AFTER

Number 4...Liriope is supposed to be cut back in February. But since we had snow and rain nearly the entire month, this chore did not get done.

BEFORE

Riley Dog moved from his sunny spot. Will cranked the lawn mower and raised the blades as high as they would go, and I whacked the tops off of what felt like miles of liriope.

AFTER

If you prune the tops off in February, the new growth isn't tall enough to get chopped off. And, the stuff you cut off would turn brown by the middle of summer if it wasn't removed.

BEFORE

Number 5...Last spring, I found these Lenten Roses on craigslist. They were teeny tiny. I left them under the sprinkler all summer and just let them grow. Today, they finally made it into the ground!

AFTER

Now, if the chickens will just leave them alone and let them spread out their roots and bloom!

And finally, number 6...I started some seeds in peat pots.

I collected seeds from a red spiky flower that I love. (I don't remember the proper name.) Plopped about 5 into each little pot, watered it good, and put them under some glass for that greenhouse effect (and to keep the chickens out!)

Two windows hinged together works great!

And these fun glass globes are especially good chicken repellents? Do you know what they are?

Chickens, Veggies and Messy Missy

2010-03-06T19:35:00.006-05:00

Hazel, my hen that turned out to be a rooster, has been sleeping in a cat cage at the end of the garage for the last week. For months, he has been waking up at 4:00 am and, without stopping for a breath, cock-a-doodle-dooing for an hour or more. I can't hear him, but Tony can. It took me forever to figure out I could just relocate him somewhere further from our bedroom.

Today, Hazel the Rooster was adopted by my neighbor Mary. She lives across the street. He has a very distinct yodel to his noise, so we could hear him calling to the other roosters in the neighborhood. Tony and I have been trying to figure out if he is smart enough to come back home. It gives a new twist to "why did the chicken cross the road?" Will he be running to the familiar or from the unfamiliar? Will he cross the road at all? Stay tuned for updates on Hazel's travels!

A couple of months ago, my mom gave me a box with photos from my childhood. This one cracked me up. I can't remember if this was the fifth grade or the sixth. It would be around 1977. We were chosen to hold up traffic while the one or two kids from our streets crossed the road. LOADS of responsibility. I got to leave school five minutes before everybody else. And if I have to be honest, I usually went home instead of waiting for Randy, Rachel and Dave to help them cross the road! So when I saw this photo, I had to laugh, and not just because I was wearing those super-hip jeans with the vegetables on them!

Hey, Messy Missy, if you're reading this, I am having trouble leaving a comment on your blog and am wondering if others are having the same problem. If you've never been to Missy's blog, add her to your list. She's very funny! Today's post is a give away for a beautiful herb book.

Funny Story

2010-03-05T20:36:00.009-05:00

This morning, I was talking to my Dad about jobs, me going back to work, what I want to be when I grow up, etc. He knows I love to write. I told him about an idea I had to put an ad on craigslist. The ad would go something like this...

~~~
Got a funny story, a sad tale, a miracle to share?
Mom was a madam. Dad was a bootlegger.
I was an ace pilot in World War II.
Need to confess or apologize?
Got photos to support your story?
~~~
Tell me your story and let me write it down.
Pass it on to your family. Submit it to your local newspaper.
Send it to your college alma mater.
Keep it for posterity.

Me and Dad at the beach in 1968.

So, after we talked about this, my Dad said, "I have a funny story to tell you." Que the swirly music that indicates a flashback!
~~~
In the '70s, it seems all the men in Nashville, North Carolina were Washington Redskins fans. Every season, a bus would be chartered from Nashville to Washington, DC so all these guys could attend a football game. This was the premise of the escape. In actuality, they spent a weekend away from home, and the drinking began the moment they stepped foot on the bus.
~~~
I suppose most of the guys really went to the game. I'm not sure how many first-hand details they could share upon returning home. But with a hotel in Georgetown, they had easy access to all of the bars in the area.
~~~
On one of these weekends, the game was over, small groups of men spread out to various drinking establishments and the goal of drunkenness was on. Dad had taken in all he could and was ready for bed. He bid his fellow-drinkers farewell and began his walk back to the hotel.
~~~
Being the polite southerner that he is, he smiled and said hello to a man he passed on the street. Then, he heard footsteps behind him. The man he had passed had turned around and was catching up with him. Why this didn't scare the hell out of Dad, I don't know! Turns out, the man was a little on the effeminate side. He walked Dad back to his hotel, chatting amiably, and possibly affectionately, along the way. When Dad got back to his hotel, the guy followed him inside. Being a straight man, Dad didn't particularly want a gay man following him to his room.
~~~

Mom and Dad...before the divorce!

So, what's an intoxicated, hetero, southern man to do? Southern manners won't allow him to tell the guy to "get lost." Drunk, yes, but not so much that he forgot about his wife back home and no desire for a man to man tryst. Yes! Introduce him to the only other man you know in the lobby and make a quick escape to your room, alone! Poor Mike had the bad luck to be tagged by my Dad as Effeminate Man's new best friend. I wonder if Dad and Mike are still friends?

NOTE: The divorce had nothing to do with effeminate men!

Look What I Heard

2010-03-02T19:07:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, I got my hearing aides! It's funny the things I didn't know I wasn't hearing! The first thing I had to do when I left the doctor's office was TURN DOWN THE RADIO IN MY CAR! Oh my gosh, it was loud! The second thing I noticed was the engine of my car. I could tell my car was running. There have been times that I have tried to turn my car on, only to discover it was already on! Not a good noise without hearing aides...hopefully I won't hear it any more.

So, what other sounds was I missing?

Water running in a pot...

Water boiling...

Snack paper rattling...

Cora Bell pecking dog food out of my hand...

Leaves crunching under my feet...

Riley Dog's charms clanking...

The train went by SuzAnna's Antiques today while I was chatting with Pretty Sam. The conductor doesn't believe he is doing his job unless the horn on the train drowns out all other sounds for at least 45 seconds! If you're on the phone, you just have to tell folks to hold on until the Horny Conductor eases on down the road! I thought I was going to have to remove the hearing aides from my ears! YIKES!!

The funniest think I heard was Riley Dog being a Bad Dog! I heard rustling. I went through my mental list of what was on the counter. I had put the breakfast dishes in the washer. I went in the kitchen to check. With the pantry door open, he had found his box of treats, opened it up, and helped himself!

Renee, was it you who asked about the pink thing behind one of the hat photos last week? Here he is in all of his glory. The Pink Pig of SuzAnna's Antiques. Rumor has it that Piggy could be sporting a new paint job soon. Will he become a lady bug? A turtle? A yellow submarine? A cow? Stay tuned!

Bits and Pieces from the Week

2010-02-26T14:08:00.012-05:00

Today when I was leaving a comment on Pixie's blog, the verification word that came after I pressed send was this...

Now, I know what I want to be when I grow up! I want to create word verifications!

Neighbor Mary called last week to tell me her family had a new edition. After wrestling babies from mama goats a few years ago, we were glad to know that the mama's could deliver all by themselves!

Did you see my Etsy sidebar on the right? While I was getting things organized to list on Etsy, I came across this vintage goody just in time for Mother's Day. Mother Mottos are so pretty! I'm not sure I would give this to my mother with that photograph in it, but I would have to leave it behind a picture of me and my mom! You can tell a boy picked this photo...For future references guys, choose a FLATTERING photo of your mom. Not one that shows off her fat rolls and wrinkled skirt (or are they skorts?)!

This morning, the sun hadn't risen yet. I could see the silhouettes of my leafless trees. By the time I grabbed my camera, the sun had come up more and the contrast wasn't as stark, but it was still pretty. The blob in the center of the photo is a squirrel nest. I can see it from my living room window but haven't caught a squirrel coming or going yet. Spring is coming, so babies will be coming, too.

What a great way to end a week! I have been submitting suggestions to Rachel's weekly contest to win a necklace pendant made by her. She gives you a picture that will be on one side and you provide the quote that will go on the other side. No surprise mine are usually smart-ass! I won! I won! I think I'll just sit by my mailbox and wait for it to arrive! I'm so lucky! Visit Rachel at Two Dog Pond to order your own!

Paper Play

2010-02-26T07:00:00.002-05:00

I promise this is the last post about the auction. These are the paper goods I got in a box. The plates are a little dirty. I definitely would not eat off of them. But they are too cute to chunk! What would you do with them?

This Santa is just sweet!

Valentine's Day is represented, too!

And let's not forget Halloween! Don't you love the square ones?

Moving on to party time...

Party hats with visors? Keeps the glare of candles out of your eyes!

I wish I was Speedy Gonzales! I'm a plodder. If I try to be Speedy, I usually make a mess or break something!

Should I toss these in the trash? Send them to somebody who can use them? Make cake? Hmmmmm!

This Stuff, Too!

2010-02-25T07:00:00.002-05:00

So, I emptied out my memory card and spent the morning in the basement getting some more auction goody photos!

I don't know what it is about a tin of water color paints that makes me smile!

Chunky restaurant dishes remind me of my high school days waiting tables at Town and Country!
Ironstone creamers are my favorite!
But I like this glass one, too!

This berry bowl with a log cabin scene might have to go on my wall!

This chip and dip dish was in one of the boxes with the Santa Claus. It was a convenient bowl to grab when we found the stash of eggs beside the heating unit. Cora told on Shakira when she went over to add an egg to the pile! Thanks Cora!

A stack of 5 fluted pie pans was in another box!

Painted glasses are just plain fun!

These vintage bottles were in another box. The one on the right still has medicine in it. Anybody need some Mercurochrome?

Another cute Santa! LOVE HIM!

The label is glued down to this old coffee pot. It's a good thing it's "HEAT PROOF!"

This strawberry pot is marked Williamsburg on the bottom. I imagine they were mass produced, but I love the shape and color. The planter is only about 6 inches tall.

This piece of metal rests against the ceiling with a chandelier hanging from it. Any kind of funky shaped metal goes into my pile for my future whirligig. I have to learn how to weld first! My pile is getting really big.

Vintage Christine, are you paying attention? I didn't want you to feel alone with your horse themed posts this week.

I have been trying to figure out who made these. The auctioneer thought they were Shawnee. On e-bay, someone posted they are Morton. No markings are on these cute kitties!

Deco and metal...sigh!

Don't you love the colors?

Vintage hankies...currently soaking in Oxy Clean and water. I love including a hanky on top of birthday presents.

This is the cute chest that was hiding the boxes and boxes of hats that I showed you yesterday! Even though the lid is missing, I couldn't leave it behind. I had no intention of bidding on it, but my hand had other ideas!

A pressed tin tray piled with some seriously tarnished teaspoons...these are soaking in warm water and waiting for me to return to the kitchen for some buffing action.

Four coffee cups with bright colored flowers...e-bay? Etsy?

And, if anybody can tell me what the heck this is, I'll send you some of my goodies. All of the birds game with it, some wired to the wood-like ceramic piece. What do you think? Aunt Edna's foray into ceramics? A bird watcher's ode to his obsession? Or, does this have a real use? Somebody educate me!

Fabulous Auction Fix!

2010-02-24T08:54:00.007-05:00

Saturday night was spent at a country auction! I'm thrilled with the goodies I got. Keep in mind that I'm only showing you a fraction of the hats I got. I'm going to keep my mouth shut and just let you look!

Okay, you know I can't keep my mouth shut!

All of these photos were taken at SuzAnna's Antiques!

I had to borrow the beautiful Hathead Tina for my model.

Hathead Tina belongs to Debra who has a fabulous booth at the shop!

Of course, live models are always best. Thanks Jenny!

But, the shop was rocking so Jenny had to give up her modeling career and wait on customers!

Thanks guys for letting me use your props and background!

I'll shut up again and let you continue to look!

Milk glass was abundant, too.

Somebody's hard work will be passed on!

Santa was too dang cute to pass up!

Pretty dishes make me happy!

I'm not sure what this is, but I liked it!

This is my favorite purchase of the night. It's a vintage yardlong. The photo doesn't do it justice!

There are loads of other goodies in the basement, but my memory card was full!

I do love me a good old country auction!

I Won! I Won!

2010-02-23T09:07:00.004-05:00

Last week, I opened my mailbox to find a box of goodies from Jill at file under misc. I won her "Get Organized" contest! (Actually, I was second runner up...the first place winner never sent her snail-mail address. You snooze you lose!) Jill makes the prettiest little gift items. Small notebooks, dolls, ornaments. She is an inspiration when I'm feeling craftily stifled!

That girl can pack a lot of goodies in a small plastic bag!

When I opened the package, I knew my days of being stifled were over for a while. Jill sent me loads of her favorite supplies for crafting!

I love these paper flowers!

Squares of fabric went straight to my quilting stash!

The bottom paper clip has a magnet on the back. It is hanging on the door to my garage. I put reminder notes there. We grab the notes as we're headed to the car! No excuse to forget anything!

Stickers, ribbons, Bingo card! The ideas are just spinning around in my head!

I LOVE glitter! I channel my inner 9 year old when glitter and glue are brought out of the closet!

Words, frames, scrapbooking and card making supplies out the ying-yang!

Aren't ya'll jealous? Thanks Jill! Beth (first winner), glad you weren't paying attention!

YUCK!

2010-02-22T09:15:00.004-05:00

Saturday, I made the best pot of broccoli cheese soup that I have ever tasted! Nothing low cal about it! Tons of cheese, ham broth, whipping cream, broccoli. It was so good! We ate it for lunch and dinner. Saturday night, I went to an auction (a photo post coming soon!) and left the pot of soup on the back burner of the stove (Don't be a smartass! The stove was off!) When I got home, it was late. I unloaded the car and went to bed.

The next morning, the pot was still on the stove. We were rushing off to church and I didn't stop to put it in the fridge. Last night, the pot was still there. I knew we weren't going to eat it now, but wasn't sure what to do with it. So, I left the pot on the back burner.

This morning, a decision had to be made! The smell gave me the boost I needed. The odor was so bad, I'm surprised the air wasn't green! Cabbage, collards, old farts all mixed together. There has to be a solid form of this odor somewhere in the house.

I poured the sludge into the trash can, tied the bag, put it in the outdoor trash can, tied that bag, put it in the truck and took it to the dump. The smell lingers.

I've sprayed pumpkin Febreeze. It just enhanced the cabbage smell. I've left doors open. I'm burning candles. Nothing is working! I think I'm going to have to call the fire department and get them to bring the giant fan that blows all the smoke out of your house after you burn a pot of hummingbird food!

I'm accepting advice on chasing away a truly unpleasant odor!

Here's to Feeling Better!

2010-02-21T18:48:00.007-05:00

My buddy, Susie, went to the hospital in the early part of last week because of back pain. All it took was a funny twist while putting a piece of firewood in the fireplace, and POP, she was off her feet! She has beaten the hell out of breast cancer, but the cure has left some bones a little brittle. So, while she waited for the doctors to figure out how to treat her, they pumped her full of pain killers....so much so that she stopped breathing. Her daughter, Jenny was with her and experienced the scariest day of her life. But, because she was there, Susie is still here!

Susie and I opened SuzAnna's Antiques almost 4 years ago. Last year, I left to drag a child through the 7th grade and Jenny bought out my share. Fortunately, Susie was more than understanding of my home situation.

She has a knack for creating beauty out of everything she touches. She can see the most unusual item, say, an old tractor seat, and place it amongst flowers and birdbaths in the garden and turn it into a focal point. She uses fabric, prisms, buttons, cards, wood and metal all mixed together to create a gorgeous display. I can't believe Country Living hasn't hunted Susie down and forced her to let them do a photo shoot. I know it is just a matter of time!

The hardest part about her back injury is going to be waiting for someone else to move things for her. There have been times when she has drug an armoire across the shop all by herself. She thinks nothing of swinging from the rafters while hanging a chandelier. She is such a neat person and I'm so glad she is feeling better and finally out of the hospital!

Susie, relax, read blogs, do paperwork, pore over Flea Market Style for the 8th time, watch the videos on your must watch list, and just feel better! Let me know when you're ready for company. You can sit on your couch and point to the things that need to be done and I'll get it done! (I don't make this offer very often!)

As for me, I went to the ENT last week and found out that tubes would not work for me. They tested my hearing again and the results were the same...My hearing sucks! So, I spent some time with Dr. Catalano looking at hearing aides and trying them on. I was glad to find one that doesn't look like a wad of gum shoved in my ear! I have always found these a little "orthopedic" looking. This one hooks behind my ear and a small wire with a mushroom cap on the end fits into my ear. It looks like this...

Dr. C can program the hearing aides to correct the frequencies I'm not hearing. While I was wearing them, I could hear s and t. I didn't realize I wasn't hearing those sounds. Literally, folks could be talking "shit" about me and all I would hear is "i"! I tend to be a hand talker. When I was telling Dr. C something, I smacked my hand on her desk and heard my ring hit the wood. I hadn't heard that sound in a very long time. I hadn't even realized the sounds I was missing! I'll have new improved ears in another week. I can't wait!

Sex Therapy!

2010-02-16T17:35:00.000-05:00

That title got your attention, didn't it!

Let me introduce you to my friend, Laurie Watson. She is a sex therapist. I love introducing her to folks and telling them what she does. It either inspires curiosity or discomfort. Her sense of humor, understanding of her subject matter and her girl-next-door personality make her so easy to talk to and trust. Plus, she throws out words like penis, vagina, orgasmic (and many more I can't print here) without flinching, blushing or whispering!

Laurie Watson, LMFT, LPC

This coming weekend, she is hosting a couples clinic called Love Shack in Blowing Rock, NC. I figure this is like sex camp! I bet it's sold out!

She has written a book that I can't wait to read. It's called I Never Want to have Sex Again. She has two blogs. The first is for her clinic, Awakenings. I rummaged through the sight last night and read a fascinating article on pornography and how it affects relationships. I wish I had this article last year when another friend was struggling with the issues discussed in this article! She also writes for Psychology Today's website (the name of her blog here is Married and Still Doing It!) Her latest article is He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. This one came out just in time for Valentine's Day!

A publisher is interested in her book, but wants her to have a larger national presence. I can't think of a better way to get NATIONAL attention than sharing her with my blog buddies across the country and internationally! (Come on UK girls, start a movement to bring Laurie over for a Love Shack weekend! I'll be her luggage handler!) Let's get Laurie's information out there and help her get her book published! Who knows...maybe she'll be on Oprah before she goes off the air!

Please, check out her blogs. Know folks having marriage troubles? Send them the links. Or, just share the links with everybody you know. Or, if your like me, curiosity will make you click on those links above! I would bet we all know somebody who could benefit from this information, but you don't normally discuss your lack of orgasms over coffee at Starbucks!

I love to surround myself with interesting, smart, funny women. Laurie fits the bill!