And the race is on....

What race?

Well not the Kentucky Derby, it isn't until May 5, 2012 and I'm hoping Creative Cause wins because I like his name and I just love grey horses.

Not the Daytona race... it is being run right now and I'm not a fan... so I happy with anybody winning.

No, it's the race to get these darn leaves raked to the ditch and burned before it rains again. Oh my aching back, arms, and yes blisters. I know what you're thinking... wear gloves you big dummy ... but I really can't tell a difference in blisters with or without gloves and it's much cooler without.

It's also a pain to have your dog follow you around the yard punching you in the legs with a ball that is in her mouth. When you look at her she drops the ball and rolls it toward you with her nose. I miss those bribes I used on the kids to get them to help me in the yard. Help mommy and she will have time to play ball.... it doesn't work on Lexie... her idea of help is to dig a hole to China to put the leaves into.

Another beautiful day tomorrow but it will seem a little less bright since I have more yard work. I tried the "Bewitched" method but it didn't work. I twitched my nose for an hour and not one leaf moved... sigh... back to the mortal way.

Ahhh Friends... they keep us sane and love us not matter what

My middle granddaughter spent the weekend with her bestest friend... her word not mine..and Alicia's mother must have got a new camera, because she took like 150 pictures of them. I'm only sharing a few.

Friends never think you're silly because they're right there with you doing the same silly stuff.



Why did Alicia's mother have them in the middle of the road???? They would have been very cute road kill if a car had come by.

I love love love the picture where their hands make a heart.

Friends make our life better, no matter our age. Wishing one of my dear friends a Happy Birthday today... you know who you are :)

I hate ironing... and tax season

Ironing first...

My daughter says she doesn't iron...
"Mama, just spray it with this Shape Magic or No Wrinkles.. put it in dry and presto no wrinkles."

Well, I think I need a new dryer that does that presto stuff. Besides, my man likes a crisp crease in his jeans and he looks so good in them. I know you ladies that know him is saying, "Amen sister." :)

I really don't mind the jeans but he also wears denim and Wrangler western shirts and even though I hate to iron I have to admit they look better ironed, darn it.

It took me three hours today because I got a little behind (mainly because I hate to do it and there are other things like pounding my head against a post or just about anything's more fun)

Okay, I think you've got the point.... I hate ironing.

Now to the taxes.

Why is it that when you get a little bitty retirement check the federal government wants their part even if you're in the lowest bracket. If they keep this up I might be one of those old people that eat cat food because they ran out of grocery money before their next check.

Don't worry, it isn't that bad yet but come on people... it isn't my fault that I was born during the baby boomer years... and I've worked all these years for that tiny little check and on top of that you up Medicare to the point that when I get old enough to get SS it will all go for Medicare. I'll be living forever on just what I'm getting now. Real bright future for the elderly.

And I would just like to say that the country didn't get like it is because of me... I worked hard while these politicians schemed getting rich on the back breaking work people like me did and now we're old and they have four homes, private jets and money to bribe votes to make laws where they don't have to pay taxes on the money they make. This isn't a political talk... Democrat of Republican ... doesn't matter.. they're all killing us slowly with their greed.

Y'all have a good day now.

I'm shedding those old winter blues

I'm feeling much better now and love these beautiful days. Why am I inside blogging on such a wonderful day.... oh yea came in to check on supper. Pork roast with carrots, potatoes and whole onions... old fashion slaw... fresh turnips.. cornbread..white beans.. yum yum

Anyway, back to the great day... today is the perfect example that everything has a price. Great weather all day and bad storms tonight. But you know I willing to endure the bad to enjoy the good. Life is steps toward a full life or backward steps to where you have been. Give me the new unexpected life... no boring same thing every day stuff. I want to leap tall grass in a single bound... that is as high as I can jump these days.. tame the wild roosters in life or not... I glad to report that I will not be flogged by that rooster any more but he was delicious.

I saw baby calves this morning in a pasture near my house. I love baby calves... they are in a glance what is great about life. We start our life or day all cute, clean and new but before long the trials of life make our skin tough as leather and we are dirty and have crap on us. I'm in the leather stage but I feel like that new calf... I want to kick up my heels and enjoy life.

Come run barefoot through the still dead grass and enjoy the almost spring day with me. We won't get naked because I don't want to make the neighbors sick. hehehheheahha snort. Man I'm in a good mood.

I love my Ereader

I'm a little torn that I love it so much as a reader but as a writer I know that the bottom line on sales in ebooks favor the publishing house and not the author.

I can also see changes in the library membership... think about it... in the future you might never need the library building or books!! Just a library card and ereader and WiFi What a sad and lonely world we are creating. Give me people and books that I can crack open... pages I can feel instead of a screen that upsets me to no end when it won't turn the page.

Just like email put the finally stake in the heart of correspondence ... ereaders are killing books.

Why do I love mine so much. Help I'm sinking into the pit of easier, wanting more, lazy age. It's just so easy. I feel like I need to go delete all the books on my ereader... but I won't. I'm going to go read it. Sorry books, I must be a fair weather friend.. I really do love you but I have room in my heart for two reading loves. I will always come back to you for books I know I will love, but for those I'm not sure about ... ereader makes it cheap and easy to put you down if you don't live up to expectation..delete.

I can not wait for the next installment of the Gone series

This book goes on sale April 5 and I can't wait. Who would have guessed that I would love these books... but I am a sucker for a great beginning and this one has one of the best I've ever read.

I've started three books this week and I've dropped all of them. I'm what my friends call a mean reader but hey, I only have so much time to read and I'm not going to send it on a bad book.

Off subject here... what do y'all think about Smash?? I love the first two shows but I don't know I losing interest here... I sure hope Grimm gets renewed next year I love that show

Mentally deranged writer plotting and character building

Might not blog as much next week... working on new novel... nope not telling anything.

If you're a writer and want the best how-to book on plotting, Save the Cat is the best. I know it says for screen plays but basic writing how-to applies to all writing.

I got the best advise from Dr. Hardy (she is the lady that does a free writing course at the local library) when I was talking to her about my little problem of making my main character age appropriate. Spend time with kids the age you want your character. Not just the average kids but all levels of social personalities and pull what you think will round out your character. Thanks, Dr. Hardy... I knew this but sometimes we... writers... get so wrapped in the coils of plot, setting, theme that we forget the basic rules and that is look around.

One mean rooster

I have a confession... my rooster is meaner than I am...

I know!!! that is not believable but it's true. If anything moves at the barn he is on it like sugar on strawberries, cream in coffee, syrup on pancakes...I guess y'all can tell I'm hungry.

It is the end of the line for mister rooster. He jumped on me three days ago and spurred me on the side of my knee. Not only did it put a puncture wound on my knee but he hit it so hard he popped my knee and it is now swollen. It is either me or the rooster.... and since I do more around the farm everyone chose ME.

I know Amy and Marilyn will be reading this.. so I will not say what we're doing with the rooster but if anyone wants to come to supper this weekend, chicken and dumplings are on the menu.

Don't worry about my hens... I have them a new boyfriend lined up.

These pictures are not my rooster but he looks like them. Tried to take a picture of him but it is really hard to snap a shot when you're running.

Rain, rain go away....

I've been hearing this everywhere... facebook, grocery store, breakfast with family... I would just like to say that without the rain we would not have flowers to enjoy, rivers to fish, swimming or boat in... so maybe we need to suck it up and look for fun things to do like my granddaughter Lakelynn and her dog Lilly.

I mean really how many of us are made of sugar and need to worry about melting...:)

Y'all have a great rainy day.

If you get this poem

I guess I should be worried about you... this is a deep part of me and it scares me a little to know I wrote this... hummmm is there a market for really bad heart felt poems.

No Wings

Looking up for wings
Blind to a stranger’s help
And deaf to words of hope
No wings

When the head is bowed in prayer
Look for the blessed light
Listen for the gentle rustle of grace
No wings

Don’t search for wings
Because eyes need proof
The soul knows the truth
No wings

Patricia J. Weaver

Instead of a rock... more like shifting sands

I've always been rock steady in times of grief or sorrow...get her done type. I wasn't this weekend. I was more like shifting sands moving away whenever the situation got too emotional. I reflected on this last night and here are my thoughts...I'm older and less able to cope... Kevin was so young and had a bight future...and finally I realized that the human race has a morbid streak in them and no matter how much I want to I can not protect everyone.

I'm doing better this morning. Thanks to all the wonderful people helped the family and the young people from across the county that made Kevin's funeral a masterpiece of support, honor, and love.

Time ... and the lack of it

Yesterday was another terrible day for me (since this is the third nephew I've lost in a car accident)... but it was nothing like the life changing day it was for my sister-in-law Eunice and my niece Debbie who lost a son and brother three years ago and now a grandson and son.

My great nephew, Kevin... who has lived across the road all of his life... who was born one month after my oldest granddaughter ... was killed in a car accident yesterday morning.

When you hear the number 17 you think of graduation from high school, or maybe that being a lucky number but I will think of beginnings cut short.

Yes, he was 17 and just a wonderful young man. The words that rush into my mind is loyal... a friend, gentle, generous with his time, money and material belongings, kind to everyone but with a special place for children, animal lover yet a hunter... I would tease him about that... joyful, loving and respectful.

He played football for the Wilson Warriors, number 64, and the word warrior paints his heart. If he loved you ... well you had a warrior to stand with you against anything.

For me ... I have to live without this person who thought I knew everything... told his friends... my Aunt Pat can fix this or my Aunt Pat will know... a perfect example that love is blind.

Our worlds will always be a little dimmer without your devilish grin.

As my granddaughter Jaselynn said today... He never forgot to say I love you or to hug you when he left.... he lived his life in the moment making sure everyone knew his heart... can you say you have.... I know I have not

The pictures have Kevin doing what he loved the most... football and with his dog Buster but I had to put the one of him and Collin riding Pride at my house. Kevin was the sweet baby in front. And of course the prom picture.

Help I've fallen and I can't get up

Well I'm sure the title got your attention ... evil grin... I've fallen into a rut and I can't seem to be able to roll, crawl, pull or get anyone to help me out. I had a really harsh conversation with myself today and here is the results

1. I will not say "I'm old." anymore... age is a state of mind and if you say it ... well you will be it

2. I've become cynical and sharp spoken... okay I've always been this but I'm worst... I'm going to start living by my Granny's motto "If you can find something good to say, don't say anything."

3. I've stopped making to-do lists.... I will start doing that again

4. I will make goals and move toward them.... it's so easy to glide instead of paddle

The art of making biscuits

The first biscuits I made were awful... no really... Ronnie tried to eat them and almost broke a tooth (too much shorting) so we pitched them out to the puppy and kitten and they sat there and sat there.... Ronnie had to pick them up to mow the grass. Neither rain, or humidity or playful puppy could handle those biscuits.

Now I'm not placing blame, but my mother's idea of biscuits were from a package of Martha White... my Granny always had too many cooks in the kitchen to show any of us how to cook.... she did teach me about gardening, fruit trees, animal care, quilting, sewing in general and much more

Mother taught me to stand up for yourself, be true to your family even if they're wrong... you stand by them... and don't be afraid to fight for what you believe... my Daddy and Granddaddy taught me how to be full of bullsh** which I'm very good at if I choose to be...:)

Back to the biscuits... I've showed the older granddaughters how to make biscuits but Ella is my little want-to-be cook. I've let her help make biscuits several times and last night she made biscuits by herself. They turned out great.

She said, "Granny, they taste just like your biscuits." Now I need to teach her how to make chocolate gravy.

I have hawks... again

My poor chickens were terrorized by hawks yesterday... one of my bantam hens disappeared... the other one has no tail feathers... I so hate to kill them. I'm leaving my chickens up in the coop for a few days to see if they'll go back to their regular territory...

I also saw a Great Horned Owl in my yard Friday evening. Now the owls don't bother my chickens because I put them up at night.

I let one of the local hunters run their coon dogs and they got four the first night... all just 500 yards from my chicken pen.

I'm surprise my chickens made it with so many predator around. One thing for sure, if the economy gets any worst... I won't go hungry!!! Squirrel stew anyone? HEHEHEHE

Restless energy.... plotting out my garden

I've been piecing guilt's... short sessions.. studying web trying to decide which chicks I want in March and walking around my garden spot trying to decide if I want to plant everything in the same spots... I just have this restless feeling that says... plan, work, get ready

Here is a couple of updates on books.

All Shook Up by Shelley Pearsall was enjoyable and gets three stars.

A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas... I would say 50% of woman would find this book unforgettable but I'm not sure a man would get it

Angel of Death by Alane Ferguson... jury is still out but I've read over half... one minute I like it then something happens that almost makes me put the book down...

Next book is going to be "After" by Kristin Hamel will let you know.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop

My Granny always said that if thing s were too good to be true... mostly likely they weren't. The first two days of February reached 70 degrees... the trees and grass thinks it's spring. I'm afraid to walk the woods... there might be snakes out. My hens are laying every day and they just don't lay like that during cold weather.

I'm just waiting for winter to get here and I hope it's not mad when it sees everyone in shorts.