My dad traded in his car for a truck. It was a big blue GMC pickup. Oh no, not that.
If I wanted to drive to school, it was in that big truck. I am short. It was a big step to get up into that truck. Once I was in it I discovered that I could actually see better and judge distances better because of the height of the seat.
Best of all, I found out really quickly that no one messed with a little girl driving a big truck. Aah the power of it was wonderful.
There was a lot of wealthy kids who drove to school where I went to High School. They could be snooty to the average person. I must admit, I got a certain amount of pleasure when the school bell rang and everyone headed to the parking lot and they seemed to think because of their status that they were to be the first off the lot.
Well, guess what? They got out of the way of a little girl driving a big blue truck. It was great!!!!
You see trucks weren't cool then. They were for farmers or the working class. I loved to see those little sporty type cars, scatter in the wake of that low class pickup truck.
Thanks Daddy. I loved that big old truck.
Later in life when I was married and was blessed with a bunch of kids, we had a big 12 passenger blue van. One of those vans that said, go ahead hit me, make my day.
Life was good. Again, I was so empowered. People just don't mess with a little woman in a big van.
I miss those days.
People just don't show respect for a little old woman in a cute little mini SUV.
Oh well, it's OK, at least it's red.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
"the car"
Things that trigger memories part 2.
In the previous post I talked about my mother’s sewing machine. This post is about my Daddy’s car.
Daddy grew up poor and worked hard all of his life. As an adult his car represented volumes to him. He took great pride in owning and taking care of a car. He put a lot into the upkeep and maintenance on his car. He never missed an oil change, tire rotation or let the gas tank get below half a tank.
He would drive all the way across town to the same service station for his gas and to have the car serviced. His cars lasted years beyond what most cars last. Anyone knowing my Dad and finding out he was going to get a newer car would let him know that they wanted first dibs on the old one because it would have been taken such good care of.
Many men like my Dad who put such store by a car would never have done what my Daddy did for two teenage girls.
My sister and I learned how to drive in my Daddy’s car. No automatic transmissions back then. We had to learn to use a clutch. Can you imagine how hard it must have been to have his car treated the way a new just learning teenagerer treated it?
We were allowed to take his car to school and on errands. In order for us to drive to school, meant that he was without a car for work. We would take him to work, drive to and from school and go pick him up from work.
One time I took that car for a spin, downtown on the drag one night without permission and rear-ended another car. I thought I was doomed. I thought I had done the unforgivable, I had damaged “the car”.
I had to call my Daddy and tell him where I was and what had happened. He didn’t yell, he just came and got me and my friends and took us home. He had the car fixed and I was still allowed to drive it.
He never brought it up again. Listen up parents of teenagers, I would have rather he had beat me with a whip, I knew how much he loved that car and I had damaged it and he did more by not saying anything than if he had ranted and raved at me. I never wanted to cause him hurt over that car again. (and didn’t until I was grown, and married with a baby but that is another story)
Again, knowing how much his car meant to him, two teenaged girls were made to feel that they were of equal and/or greater value to their father than even his beloved car.
He could be a cantankerous old fart, but there was never a doubt in the mind of two little girls and later as teenagers where we stood with our Daddy.
Even in his declining years on earth and with dementia, not always knowing who we were, there were the times when he was mentally alert and would tell us how much he appreciated and loved his girls.
Even to this day, and both of us Grandmothers, we miss him and where ever he may be, we are still Daddy's girls.
In the previous post I talked about my mother’s sewing machine. This post is about my Daddy’s car.
Daddy grew up poor and worked hard all of his life. As an adult his car represented volumes to him. He took great pride in owning and taking care of a car. He put a lot into the upkeep and maintenance on his car. He never missed an oil change, tire rotation or let the gas tank get below half a tank.
He would drive all the way across town to the same service station for his gas and to have the car serviced. His cars lasted years beyond what most cars last. Anyone knowing my Dad and finding out he was going to get a newer car would let him know that they wanted first dibs on the old one because it would have been taken such good care of.
Many men like my Dad who put such store by a car would never have done what my Daddy did for two teenage girls.
My sister and I learned how to drive in my Daddy’s car. No automatic transmissions back then. We had to learn to use a clutch. Can you imagine how hard it must have been to have his car treated the way a new just learning teenagerer treated it?
We were allowed to take his car to school and on errands. In order for us to drive to school, meant that he was without a car for work. We would take him to work, drive to and from school and go pick him up from work.
One time I took that car for a spin, downtown on the drag one night without permission and rear-ended another car. I thought I was doomed. I thought I had done the unforgivable, I had damaged “the car”.
I had to call my Daddy and tell him where I was and what had happened. He didn’t yell, he just came and got me and my friends and took us home. He had the car fixed and I was still allowed to drive it.
He never brought it up again. Listen up parents of teenagers, I would have rather he had beat me with a whip, I knew how much he loved that car and I had damaged it and he did more by not saying anything than if he had ranted and raved at me. I never wanted to cause him hurt over that car again. (and didn’t until I was grown, and married with a baby but that is another story)
Again, knowing how much his car meant to him, two teenaged girls were made to feel that they were of equal and/or greater value to their father than even his beloved car.
He could be a cantankerous old fart, but there was never a doubt in the mind of two little girls and later as teenagers where we stood with our Daddy.
Even in his declining years on earth and with dementia, not always knowing who we were, there were the times when he was mentally alert and would tell us how much he appreciated and loved his girls.
Even to this day, and both of us Grandmothers, we miss him and where ever he may be, we are still Daddy's girls.
Things that trigger memories part 1.
I took an old sewing machine into be oiled, cleaned and checked out. As I was getting ready to leave the shop, special memories came flooding back. To most people it is just a heavy piece of metal. To me it is a classic Singer 401. In its day and still today it is one of the best sewing machines Singer made.
When I was growing up, my parents worked hard for everything they had. They tried to buy the best that they could afford of whatever they bought and they took good care of them to see that they lasted.
My mother had a Singer 401. She loved and took great pride in that sewing machine and took special care of it. She sewed lots of pretty dresses for two little girls.
The thing that makes it really special is that for all of the love and care she gave that sewing machine, she allowed two little girls to sit for hours and sew doll clothes and blankets on it. I have wonderful memories of making all kinds of things on that machine.
I was in a thrift store a few years ago and came across an immaculate Singer 401 in a wooden cabinet. I scarfed it up. I couldn’t wait to call my Mother and tell her about my wonderful find. She still has hers that she used for years and that I sewed on as a child.
Then I moved and my sewing things were put on hold for awhile until recently when I was able to set up a sewing room. I am so excited to get that sewing machine up and running again and to be able to sew wonderful things again. I can’t wait to get it back from the shop and renew those wonderful memories of sewing.
Even though that sewing machine was my Mothers pride and joy. Two little girls were made to feel that they were equally important and were given cherished memories that even to this day come flooding back whenever they see and sew on a Singer 401.
When I was growing up, my parents worked hard for everything they had. They tried to buy the best that they could afford of whatever they bought and they took good care of them to see that they lasted.
My mother had a Singer 401. She loved and took great pride in that sewing machine and took special care of it. She sewed lots of pretty dresses for two little girls.
The thing that makes it really special is that for all of the love and care she gave that sewing machine, she allowed two little girls to sit for hours and sew doll clothes and blankets on it. I have wonderful memories of making all kinds of things on that machine.
I was in a thrift store a few years ago and came across an immaculate Singer 401 in a wooden cabinet. I scarfed it up. I couldn’t wait to call my Mother and tell her about my wonderful find. She still has hers that she used for years and that I sewed on as a child.
Then I moved and my sewing things were put on hold for awhile until recently when I was able to set up a sewing room. I am so excited to get that sewing machine up and running again and to be able to sew wonderful things again. I can’t wait to get it back from the shop and renew those wonderful memories of sewing.
Even though that sewing machine was my Mothers pride and joy. Two little girls were made to feel that they were equally important and were given cherished memories that even to this day come flooding back whenever they see and sew on a Singer 401.
Monday, November 15, 2010
thankful for helping hands
As one gets older and less able to do the things that used to come easy, you learn to appreciate the helping hands of others.
Last weekend we were on the receiving end of many pairs of helping hands.
We have many trees around our home and earlier had two fall in a storm, one on the house one day and another through a section of fence the following day. The one that fell on the house did minor damage but blocked the driveway. Within a short period of time with the helping hands of friends and family the tree on the driveway was cut and removed.
The other tree was cut and removed by the helping hands of a group of leaders and young men from church. What a wonderful blessing.
Needless to say, we were a little nervous of other old trees possibly doing the same thing so we decided to try to do some preventive measures. So last weekend we rented a lift or cherry picker to get up in the trees to cut overhanging limbs and top trees that could hit the house if they were to fall in a storm.
So family members young and old were enlisted in the project. Again, younger, stronger, and frankly braver helping hands came to our aid.
Before the day was out, the job was done. How very grateful we are for those willing helping hands who did so much in our behalf.
Last weekend we were on the receiving end of many pairs of helping hands.
We have many trees around our home and earlier had two fall in a storm, one on the house one day and another through a section of fence the following day. The one that fell on the house did minor damage but blocked the driveway. Within a short period of time with the helping hands of friends and family the tree on the driveway was cut and removed.
The other tree was cut and removed by the helping hands of a group of leaders and young men from church. What a wonderful blessing.
Needless to say, we were a little nervous of other old trees possibly doing the same thing so we decided to try to do some preventive measures. So last weekend we rented a lift or cherry picker to get up in the trees to cut overhanging limbs and top trees that could hit the house if they were to fall in a storm.
So family members young and old were enlisted in the project. Again, younger, stronger, and frankly braver helping hands came to our aid.
Before the day was out, the job was done. How very grateful we are for those willing helping hands who did so much in our behalf.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
all because two people fell in love
So what does happen because 2 people fell in love?
In my case, it went this way.
2 people fell in love.
from that love came 8 wonderful kids who grew up to be some pretty great people.
one of those 8 was a nanny to 3 families giving me 8 special kids who call me Granni.
7 of those 8 wonderful people fell in love, married and gave me 2 sons-in-law and 5 daughters-in-law.
those 14 people gave me 18 grandchildren.
so, all because these two people fell in love, there are now 43 people in our family.
Life is good.
In my case, it went this way.
2 people fell in love.
from that love came 8 wonderful kids who grew up to be some pretty great people.
one of those 8 was a nanny to 3 families giving me 8 special kids who call me Granni.
7 of those 8 wonderful people fell in love, married and gave me 2 sons-in-law and 5 daughters-in-law.
those 14 people gave me 18 grandchildren.
so, all because these two people fell in love, there are now 43 people in our family.
Life is good.
thanks thanks thanks
My blog consultant and helper came to my rescue and gave me a new look to my blog. It is me. Plain and simple. Thanks so much daughter.
Also I now have a digital camera and hopefully will learn to use it soon and can actually document some of my country adventures.
Also I now have a digital camera and hopefully will learn to use it soon and can actually document some of my country adventures.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
still another tail to tell
Soooo, obviously possums travel with company. One medium possum has been evicted from the premises.
Next night, water dispenser again scattered here and yon. How rude.
Hmmm could it be. Yes, it seems we have more than one culprit.
So out goes the trusty trap and walla, we now have a rather biiiig possum on the front porch.
Have you ever seen one of these things up close other than bumps or smears on the road? They are really uggggllllyyyy. At least it wasn't a skunk.
By the way, who says animals don't have a sense of humor or a vengeful streak. Fluffy the cat comes prancing up on the porch this morning and walks around the cage as if to flaunt the fact that she is free and said possum who has been bullying and making messes on her turf is now in a small cage awaiting his fate. I kept waiting for her to stick her tongue out at him but i guess she is too much of a lady.
Now where is my very brave and helpful dispencer of the critters?
Yep, gone fishing and said possum is left to wait out his sentence of expulsion.
Still no sympathy on my part.
Living in the country can be entertaining.
Next night, water dispenser again scattered here and yon. How rude.
Hmmm could it be. Yes, it seems we have more than one culprit.
So out goes the trusty trap and walla, we now have a rather biiiig possum on the front porch.
Have you ever seen one of these things up close other than bumps or smears on the road? They are really uggggllllyyyy. At least it wasn't a skunk.
By the way, who says animals don't have a sense of humor or a vengeful streak. Fluffy the cat comes prancing up on the porch this morning and walks around the cage as if to flaunt the fact that she is free and said possum who has been bullying and making messes on her turf is now in a small cage awaiting his fate. I kept waiting for her to stick her tongue out at him but i guess she is too much of a lady.
Now where is my very brave and helpful dispencer of the critters?
Yep, gone fishing and said possum is left to wait out his sentence of expulsion.
Still no sympathy on my part.
Living in the country can be entertaining.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Hummm
from the looks of things, I guess I need to get my blog decorator to come and redo my blog. I love talented family. If you don't have talent, mooch off of those who do. Works for me.
newest critter episode
Ok, first it was horses running down my driveway, then it was raccoons on the back porch, then it was skunks under the house, what next?
So you think possums are really stupid timid little creatures that go around becoming road kill right?
Well the ones we get are nasty little buggers that come out after dark and eat the cats food if you make the mistake of leaving it out. They turn over the water dispenser and scatter the parts here and yon. They dig holes all over the yard and flower beds.
To top it off, one had the nerve to climb up on the porch and when I went to see what was scaring my cats it beared its teeth and hissed at me.
That did it. I went for my gun. Yeah my great big powerful b b gun. By the time I found the gun and got it cocked and ready to give that hissy little bugger a good what for, it took off. Good thing too, I might have acctually hit it.
Sooo I called in the reenforcements. I borrowed a trap from my very sweet and accommidating son-in-law and my very helpful husband set it out.
Of course the first thing we caught was one of my cats. Sigh. I figure since they are supposed to be smarter than possums it would only happen once and then they would learn to leave it alone.
So sure enough the next morning we have one very unhappy possum. Like I really cared it was unhappy. Did it care that it made me unhappy digging all over the place and moving in on my cats turf?
Sooo, sweet hubby hauls it off to the wild woods far far away. His reward, a Hardee's biscuit for his hard work and heroic efforts.
Peace is restored until the next critter comes along. So until next time.....
So you think possums are really stupid timid little creatures that go around becoming road kill right?
Well the ones we get are nasty little buggers that come out after dark and eat the cats food if you make the mistake of leaving it out. They turn over the water dispenser and scatter the parts here and yon. They dig holes all over the yard and flower beds.
To top it off, one had the nerve to climb up on the porch and when I went to see what was scaring my cats it beared its teeth and hissed at me.
That did it. I went for my gun. Yeah my great big powerful b b gun. By the time I found the gun and got it cocked and ready to give that hissy little bugger a good what for, it took off. Good thing too, I might have acctually hit it.
Sooo I called in the reenforcements. I borrowed a trap from my very sweet and accommidating son-in-law and my very helpful husband set it out.
Of course the first thing we caught was one of my cats. Sigh. I figure since they are supposed to be smarter than possums it would only happen once and then they would learn to leave it alone.
So sure enough the next morning we have one very unhappy possum. Like I really cared it was unhappy. Did it care that it made me unhappy digging all over the place and moving in on my cats turf?
Sooo, sweet hubby hauls it off to the wild woods far far away. His reward, a Hardee's biscuit for his hard work and heroic efforts.
Peace is restored until the next critter comes along. So until next time.....
Saturday, June 26, 2010
ten things
1. I have been blessed with a wonderful heritage and have done a pretty good job of living up to the examples set my grandmother and mother.
2. I love my husband unconditionally and am so blessed that he loves me.
3. I love gardening and working in the yard and have done some good things around my yard that I am proud of.
4. I hate housework. When I was growing up things were made to feel more important than people at times. I let my kids sit on the furniture, our house was lived in, I tried to spend more time with my kids than cleaning house.
5. I love to read and have learned about some cool books from my kids and grandkids. I have been blessed by good books and enjoy sharing with my grandkids.
6. I am a good person. Not a perfect one but a good one. I like myself. I try not to take myself too seriously and can enjoy life.
7. I like to quilt and will actually make one now and then just to prove that I can and am not just collecting fabric.
8. I am a good mother-in-law. I had a great example in my husband's mother. She has always been good to me. Of course it helps when you have great daughters-in-law and sons-in-law. Not sure why I have been blessed with such great people in my life but am so glad that I am.
9. I am a good Granny. Again, not perfect but good. I have every size, age, personality and temperment of grandchild there is and they are all great.
10. I am a good mother. I (with the help of a good man) raised some great individuals. I made lots of mistakes but I also did alot of good things. I am proud of how they have all turned out. They are making good choices, doing their share of dumb things but nothing worse than what I did growing up, raising some darn good kids, are hard workers, and still associate with me so I must have done more good than bad. I love each of them and wouldn't have wanted to be anything else than just their Mom.
2. I love my husband unconditionally and am so blessed that he loves me.
3. I love gardening and working in the yard and have done some good things around my yard that I am proud of.
4. I hate housework. When I was growing up things were made to feel more important than people at times. I let my kids sit on the furniture, our house was lived in, I tried to spend more time with my kids than cleaning house.
5. I love to read and have learned about some cool books from my kids and grandkids. I have been blessed by good books and enjoy sharing with my grandkids.
6. I am a good person. Not a perfect one but a good one. I like myself. I try not to take myself too seriously and can enjoy life.
7. I like to quilt and will actually make one now and then just to prove that I can and am not just collecting fabric.
8. I am a good mother-in-law. I had a great example in my husband's mother. She has always been good to me. Of course it helps when you have great daughters-in-law and sons-in-law. Not sure why I have been blessed with such great people in my life but am so glad that I am.
9. I am a good Granny. Again, not perfect but good. I have every size, age, personality and temperment of grandchild there is and they are all great.
10. I am a good mother. I (with the help of a good man) raised some great individuals. I made lots of mistakes but I also did alot of good things. I am proud of how they have all turned out. They are making good choices, doing their share of dumb things but nothing worse than what I did growing up, raising some darn good kids, are hard workers, and still associate with me so I must have done more good than bad. I love each of them and wouldn't have wanted to be anything else than just their Mom.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Wonderful mothers
The purpose of the previous post was not to knock moms. It was to point out that mothers in nature raise some great offspring.
We human moms do the same and yet tend to beat themselves up over everything.
A great mom is one who does the best she can under whatever circumstances are hers.
A great kid is one who does likewise.
No mom is perfect and no child is perfect. They each come with faults and talents and struggle to do the best with what they each have.
It must make Heavenly Father a little sad when His wonderful daughters are working so hard and doing such a great job at what He gave them to do and yet they seem to only see what is perceived and perpetuated by the world as their or their offspring's supposed failures or mistakes.
We should celebrate. We need to find the joy in ourselves and our offspring. Look at all of the great people walking the earth becasue of truly great mothers. You moms are doing wonderful things.
I would love to see truly great moms toot their own horns once in awhile and relish their successes and those of their offspring.
You turned out great and so will your offspring.
Motherhood is great!!!!!!! Here's to all of you wonderful, truly great moms and your equally wonderful offspring.
I challenge any mom out there to post at least ten of their successes and those of their offspring.
We human moms do the same and yet tend to beat themselves up over everything.
A great mom is one who does the best she can under whatever circumstances are hers.
A great kid is one who does likewise.
No mom is perfect and no child is perfect. They each come with faults and talents and struggle to do the best with what they each have.
It must make Heavenly Father a little sad when His wonderful daughters are working so hard and doing such a great job at what He gave them to do and yet they seem to only see what is perceived and perpetuated by the world as their or their offspring's supposed failures or mistakes.
We should celebrate. We need to find the joy in ourselves and our offspring. Look at all of the great people walking the earth becasue of truly great mothers. You moms are doing wonderful things.
I would love to see truly great moms toot their own horns once in awhile and relish their successes and those of their offspring.
You turned out great and so will your offspring.
Motherhood is great!!!!!!! Here's to all of you wonderful, truly great moms and your equally wonderful offspring.
I challenge any mom out there to post at least ten of their successes and those of their offspring.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
mothers in nature
There is alot to be learned from nature. Mothers in nature don't worry and lose sleep over whether their offspring are going to make it or if they are being a good enough mother.
They protect their young when they are very small and gradually let them explore the world, letting them get hurt and learn and even cuff them when they step over the line of authority. Are these bad mothers? I don't think so. These mothers know by instinct that young have to experience the tough things to become strong to survive. Young of all species want things easy but it isn't what is best for them.
More and more as their young grow, mothers in nature back off and even push their young from the nest or den to make them see that in fact they can make it.
Then those mothers get on with life and low and behold, their young survive and go on to succeed.
Those moms succeed because they don't over protect, over think and do for their young what they can do for themselves. These mothers do what God intended for them to do.
Heavenly Father doesn't hang on to his children. He lets them go. He wouldn't allow Lucifer to control and micro manage the lives of His children.
God trusts in His children, He believes in the abilities that He has given them. He allows them to get hurt, to make mistakes, but shows love and confidence in their abilities thereby building THEIR confidence in THEMSELVES.
We can learn alot from mothers in nature and in the instincts that God gave them in raising their young.
They protect their young when they are very small and gradually let them explore the world, letting them get hurt and learn and even cuff them when they step over the line of authority. Are these bad mothers? I don't think so. These mothers know by instinct that young have to experience the tough things to become strong to survive. Young of all species want things easy but it isn't what is best for them.
More and more as their young grow, mothers in nature back off and even push their young from the nest or den to make them see that in fact they can make it.
Then those mothers get on with life and low and behold, their young survive and go on to succeed.
Those moms succeed because they don't over protect, over think and do for their young what they can do for themselves. These mothers do what God intended for them to do.
Heavenly Father doesn't hang on to his children. He lets them go. He wouldn't allow Lucifer to control and micro manage the lives of His children.
God trusts in His children, He believes in the abilities that He has given them. He allows them to get hurt, to make mistakes, but shows love and confidence in their abilities thereby building THEIR confidence in THEMSELVES.
We can learn alot from mothers in nature and in the instincts that God gave them in raising their young.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a great thing. Like Christmas it has a tendency to be a little commercialized but it is a good day to think about and recognize some of the special women in our lives.
I was blessed with a good Mom. I never doubted her love for me even when it wasn't always deserved. She was strong, hard working and a good example of how to make the most of what ever life throws at you, much like her mother before her. I was blessed to come from that heritage. Those traits along with many others have been a great help in the things that would occur in my life. I am still learning from and being blessed by my Mother who is 86.
I have a great Mother-in-law who loves me and has blessed my life through the son that she raised. She too has taught me many things through the years that have blessed my life. I learned much of what it means to be a mother-in-law from her. I have much to be grateful for in her example.
I was blessed with three daughters who have grown to become great women and wonderful mothers. They are each unique in looks, talents and abilities and yet the same in courage, strength, and love of their familys.
We are each pretty independant and don't call each other daily but there is never any doubt of the love and support that is just a phone call away at any given time. They teach me so much and I am thankful for each of them in my life.
I have five women in my life who are also wonderful mothers. They came into this family by marriage and each has added so much. They are each talented and special in numerous ways. They have given of themselves in countless ways and have blessed the lives of each family member. They are great mothers and are raising wonderful children. How blessed I am for each one. They love my sons and that is such a blessing to me.
Two out of these ten women are not mothers in the sense that the world recognizes mothers but they are mothers in every sence of the word. They each have loved, nurtured, sacrificed for and touched the lives of children in countless ways and with equal love and support given by those who have given birth.
For me the greatest gift I receive as a Mother is the love of my family expressed and given in little ways throughout the year. Thanks one and all for such a wonderful gift.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all Mothers and especially those who have touched my life in so many ways.
I was blessed with a good Mom. I never doubted her love for me even when it wasn't always deserved. She was strong, hard working and a good example of how to make the most of what ever life throws at you, much like her mother before her. I was blessed to come from that heritage. Those traits along with many others have been a great help in the things that would occur in my life. I am still learning from and being blessed by my Mother who is 86.
I have a great Mother-in-law who loves me and has blessed my life through the son that she raised. She too has taught me many things through the years that have blessed my life. I learned much of what it means to be a mother-in-law from her. I have much to be grateful for in her example.
I was blessed with three daughters who have grown to become great women and wonderful mothers. They are each unique in looks, talents and abilities and yet the same in courage, strength, and love of their familys.
We are each pretty independant and don't call each other daily but there is never any doubt of the love and support that is just a phone call away at any given time. They teach me so much and I am thankful for each of them in my life.
I have five women in my life who are also wonderful mothers. They came into this family by marriage and each has added so much. They are each talented and special in numerous ways. They have given of themselves in countless ways and have blessed the lives of each family member. They are great mothers and are raising wonderful children. How blessed I am for each one. They love my sons and that is such a blessing to me.
Two out of these ten women are not mothers in the sense that the world recognizes mothers but they are mothers in every sence of the word. They each have loved, nurtured, sacrificed for and touched the lives of children in countless ways and with equal love and support given by those who have given birth.
For me the greatest gift I receive as a Mother is the love of my family expressed and given in little ways throughout the year. Thanks one and all for such a wonderful gift.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all Mothers and especially those who have touched my life in so many ways.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Change in perspective
You wonder about why certain things turn out the way they do. When you really need your sleep the most is when you start to have problems and aren't able to sleep like you used to. It can really be the pits. And then again, for me anyway, sometimes there is a light bulb moment and you see things differently.
As I have gotten older, I sleep less and wake up really early. At first I hated it and lay there frustrated and mad because I couldn't just go back to sleep.
Then I began to just relax and in the quiet of the late night and early morning I let my mind ponder on things, mostly my family and the great blessings I have in each member.
I think on each one and pray for and about them individually.
I started to pray about what to pray about and have been blessed with thoughts and ideas on things to do.
I feel closer to my Heavenly Father and have a greater love for my family.
Life can be really interesting at times. What started out as a negative experience has turned out to be something that I have begun to look forward to and am even disappointed now if I sleep through the night.
As I have gotten older, I sleep less and wake up really early. At first I hated it and lay there frustrated and mad because I couldn't just go back to sleep.
Then I began to just relax and in the quiet of the late night and early morning I let my mind ponder on things, mostly my family and the great blessings I have in each member.
I think on each one and pray for and about them individually.
I started to pray about what to pray about and have been blessed with thoughts and ideas on things to do.
I feel closer to my Heavenly Father and have a greater love for my family.
Life can be really interesting at times. What started out as a negative experience has turned out to be something that I have begun to look forward to and am even disappointed now if I sleep through the night.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
cont. critter stories( beware long version)
Ok so we made it through the horses, stray dogs, stray cats, raccoons, skunk and possum.
then came the mice. the first one visited in Mistys room and she and her dad had fun catching and removing it. After another visit from a little visiter we set to work. So we got expert advice from a variety of sources and tried everything. We put out bait which nothing touched. So we find out we also had two sizes of mice. One size too little to set off the spring loaded traps and one size two big for the sticky strips and just drug them around and left them stuck elsewhere. we also tried the enclosed kind of trap where you don't see the departed little creature. So we got rid of one of the tiny ones in that one. Didn't even know it was in there until I went to move it and noticed a bad smell. Yuk. The rest biffed it on the spring loaded traps. We tossed the sticky strips, they were a total waste. We managed to eliminate a total of 6 over two weeks. The good news is it made me clean out the pantry and throw out alot of stuff that needed getting rid of anyway and I now have a totally rearranged pantry with containers for everything. Found a hole in the floor in the laundry room where they seem to be coming in and plugged that and haven't had a death to the mice population recently. Except for the ones our outside cats honor us with from time to time. They are like kids, they play with their food and then leave it uneaten for us to have to throw away.
Sooo, we thought that the worse was over at last. then we wake up in the weee hours of the morning, gaging from the smell of ..... you guessed it
SKUNK. Pee youuuuuu. !!!!!!!! We had one hit on the road in front of our place a few weeks ago which really stunk up everything and were hoping that is what it was this time.
Having blocked the place where one got under the house last time, we are thinking it just camped out under the porch in the back or was passing through, we aired out the house and felt confident the worst is over. Next day, the smell is still really bad. ??????
Sooo we finally take a good look under the porch and find out that the determined creature has ripped open the heavy sheet of plexiglass like stuff cover we put over the opening and has left his or her scent under the house which is seeping up into the whole house. Have I mentioned how very much I dislike skunks?
So, we get busy. Trip to Lowes for a piece of wood to put over the opening. Gather tools, put on coveralls and old clothers, squeeze under the only way to get under the porch and crawl through mud and old spider webs to get to the opening (hoping the said skunk has left for the day) Just as we get the wood cover ready to screw on, one of our cats darts into the opening and under the house. At this point I say leave the stupid creature for a couple of days and then let it out latter. The special screws that we bought to go into the fake brick wont work. We are under
the porch, muddy, cold, cramped for working room, mad at the dumb cat and now the screws wont work. We haven't divorced yet but are coming close. Sooo, I crawl back from under the porch, got into the house leaving mud covered shoes at the door and trying not to touch anything in the house with the mud caked coveralls and find some screw that we hope will work. Put the muddy shoes back on, crawl back under the porch, hand over the screws and hold my breath. Whew they are the right ones, we screw the wooden cover securely over the hole and crawl back out from under the porch. I repent of the urge to leave the cat under there and go to the other opening, take the cover off and call the dumb cat. The other cat comes tearing across the yard and luckily my husband catches her before she too goes under the house. I call, and call and call again. Finally she shows her face and acts like she has all of the time in the world. I am seriously thinking of my original plan to leave her under there when she finally exits from under the house. I quickly put the metal cover back up and head to the house to get out of my very muddy coveralls.
right now, I am sitting at the computer with my warmest coat on, with all of the windows in the house open and all of the ceiling fans and bathroom exhause fans running to air out the smell.
So, I am sure the saga will continue. But for now, we are hopefully critter less for the time being and my cats are safe and sound. It is a good thing I love even stupid cats.
the bright side is, the skunk didn't greet us at the opening under the house and can't get back under there again.
Oh did I tell you about the lady bug invasion???? Maybe next time.
then came the mice. the first one visited in Mistys room and she and her dad had fun catching and removing it. After another visit from a little visiter we set to work. So we got expert advice from a variety of sources and tried everything. We put out bait which nothing touched. So we find out we also had two sizes of mice. One size too little to set off the spring loaded traps and one size two big for the sticky strips and just drug them around and left them stuck elsewhere. we also tried the enclosed kind of trap where you don't see the departed little creature. So we got rid of one of the tiny ones in that one. Didn't even know it was in there until I went to move it and noticed a bad smell. Yuk. The rest biffed it on the spring loaded traps. We tossed the sticky strips, they were a total waste. We managed to eliminate a total of 6 over two weeks. The good news is it made me clean out the pantry and throw out alot of stuff that needed getting rid of anyway and I now have a totally rearranged pantry with containers for everything. Found a hole in the floor in the laundry room where they seem to be coming in and plugged that and haven't had a death to the mice population recently. Except for the ones our outside cats honor us with from time to time. They are like kids, they play with their food and then leave it uneaten for us to have to throw away.
Sooo, we thought that the worse was over at last. then we wake up in the weee hours of the morning, gaging from the smell of ..... you guessed it
SKUNK. Pee youuuuuu. !!!!!!!! We had one hit on the road in front of our place a few weeks ago which really stunk up everything and were hoping that is what it was this time.
Having blocked the place where one got under the house last time, we are thinking it just camped out under the porch in the back or was passing through, we aired out the house and felt confident the worst is over. Next day, the smell is still really bad. ??????
Sooo we finally take a good look under the porch and find out that the determined creature has ripped open the heavy sheet of plexiglass like stuff cover we put over the opening and has left his or her scent under the house which is seeping up into the whole house. Have I mentioned how very much I dislike skunks?
So, we get busy. Trip to Lowes for a piece of wood to put over the opening. Gather tools, put on coveralls and old clothers, squeeze under the only way to get under the porch and crawl through mud and old spider webs to get to the opening (hoping the said skunk has left for the day) Just as we get the wood cover ready to screw on, one of our cats darts into the opening and under the house. At this point I say leave the stupid creature for a couple of days and then let it out latter. The special screws that we bought to go into the fake brick wont work. We are under
the porch, muddy, cold, cramped for working room, mad at the dumb cat and now the screws wont work. We haven't divorced yet but are coming close. Sooo, I crawl back from under the porch, got into the house leaving mud covered shoes at the door and trying not to touch anything in the house with the mud caked coveralls and find some screw that we hope will work. Put the muddy shoes back on, crawl back under the porch, hand over the screws and hold my breath. Whew they are the right ones, we screw the wooden cover securely over the hole and crawl back out from under the porch. I repent of the urge to leave the cat under there and go to the other opening, take the cover off and call the dumb cat. The other cat comes tearing across the yard and luckily my husband catches her before she too goes under the house. I call, and call and call again. Finally she shows her face and acts like she has all of the time in the world. I am seriously thinking of my original plan to leave her under there when she finally exits from under the house. I quickly put the metal cover back up and head to the house to get out of my very muddy coveralls.
right now, I am sitting at the computer with my warmest coat on, with all of the windows in the house open and all of the ceiling fans and bathroom exhause fans running to air out the smell.
So, I am sure the saga will continue. But for now, we are hopefully critter less for the time being and my cats are safe and sound. It is a good thing I love even stupid cats.
the bright side is, the skunk didn't greet us at the opening under the house and can't get back under there again.
Oh did I tell you about the lady bug invasion???? Maybe next time.
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