Spring Break in Alabama... kids are the same everywhere

And it really doesn't matter how old you are... the young boys stayed in the ranger and tore up the pasture and the girls stayed on the horses and tore up the pasture and the older boy... my son... stayed with his girl... his mama didn't raise no fool.. hehehehe

It looked like they all had a great time.

See y'all in the funnies.... corny I know

Here are the comic strips I promised. Hope they make you smile.

My office smells like an old person's house

Wait I am an old person... no really, I know now why my aunts and grandmothers houses smelled musky and old... old paper! They saved everything.

I found some old newspapers from 1935 some from my home town of Florence but some from Memphis... so cool!!! Look at these prices....

I'm going to post the comic strip ones tomorrow

Only read this if you're NOT going to tell me Christmas is over

I know the canisters on the refrigerator is Christmas... I see the snow and stuff but I love them so much.. and I still have the bowl that match them out too. :p

What I want you to notice is the platter with the rooster and the other platter that matches it. Yard sale items.... 2.00 each

I love them and I know they don't go with the hummingbirds in my kitchen but neither does all the pottery.

Missy, my daughter, said, "Good Lord Mama, please tell me you're not going to start a rooster collection."

My answer... I might!

I love rocks... and other things

One of my passions is collecting rocks... not just any rock but ones that have meaning or history. Look at these beauties.

Also, the piece on the desk that says U-Savit, is the bottom of an old jar that has been worn smooth by the creek. Love it!

The last picture has the "See no evil. hear no evil, speak no evil" monkeys.. the old bowl belonged to my husband's grandmother who died in 1998 at the age of 90 and she got the bowl from her grandmother... very old..

The book marker and the needles wasn't suppose to be in the picture... I had the on the desk to put away... but I think it adds a nice touch, don't you.

I put a picture of the bowl so you can see the bottom.

I rather have one rock that has fossils or means something to someone than any other gift. I'm easy to make happy... simple things mean the world to me.

All most forgot... the green bowl the rocks are in... my niece Amy made that for me many years ago when she was a little girl... it's one of my special treasures and sits on my desk holding my special rocks... Love you for making it for me Amy.

A grooming tip from a groomer

I know dogs hate to have their nails clipped but those sharp talons no only shreds you legs to pieces but they're bad for your dog. If a dog doesn't walk, run and play on a surface that will file their nails, those nails will grow until they touch the ground and become painful. Sort of like you wearing shoes that are too tight and they make the end of you toe sore. Keep those nails clipped. Another tidbit, the quick will move back as you shorten the nails. so if you cut just a little each week you can undo a year of neglect. Do misunderstand my statement... don't cut the nail so the quick bleeds... just close and the quick will retract.

Now to the long coated dogs. I've had people tell me all my grooming years... that hair keeps him cool and bugs off and you'll mess off his coat if you cut it.

1. yes the dogs coat keeps them cooler by acting like a blind to keep direct sunlight off their skin... but if the undercoat isn't stripped out it acts like a blanket and will cause serious health issues. If the top coat gets matted it will become havens for ticks, fleas, fungus that will grow because the mats stay wet all the time, and yes even mosquitoes. Brush your dog or clip their coats in warm weather.

2. Customers would say... he doesn't like to be brushed... well if you let my hair get tangled and matted, I wouldn't want my hair brushed either. Start when they're puppies...if you've already let them show displeasure at brushing... get them clipped then brush everyday ... this way it won't hurt.

3. Finally, don't ask a groomer to leave a Husky two inches long... or any dog that are tripled coated. It can not be done and you will not like the results. Don't ask the groomer to leave three inches of hair if your dog can't move without a mat pulling some part of his body. You want your dog beautiful but it takes a little work from you. Any groomer should be happy to show you how to brush... how to split a mat... never never cut mats because you could cut the skin... dogs and cats have very loose skin and sometimes the skin is pulled up into a mat.

4. If you have problems grooming your dog... spend the money to go to dog training... a dog is your companion for 12 to 18 years and those years should be enjoyable not terrifying. Dogs like to relax and let you be alpha dog but you have to be the boss for them to follow your lead.

Finally, a hair cut can make your dog look entirely different... just remember like your hair ... it will grow. One difference with dogs, they have undercoats and it will grow first and make them ugly before the top coat catches up ... If you brush the undercoat as it is growing in the ugly part will be shorter and less like "a wild dog that attacked a weed eater" look.

The pictures are before and after of Lexie. Yes she is prettier longer... yes I keep her brushed.. but no I'm not going to deal with all the shedding on the carport or in the van.

Too big for my britches

That is what my Granny would have said about what I did yesterday. The pretty weather has brought out the yard sale signs and I love me a good yard sale.

I bought two of the prettiest platters which I really needed... NOT... but they're so pretty and only two dollars each.... will post tomorrow.

Got other great bargains but the thing I bought for my dog training use was this kids crawly thingy... I thought: I can use this to train Lexie to go though... so I paid the man fifty cents, folded it up, put it in the back of the van with Lexie and brought it home.

I was so excited ... had to try it out as soon as I got home. Lexie sat and watched me set it up. when I got it stretched out, I said in... Lexie cocked her head to one side, looked at me and then she went through it... all the way through it... First time. That thing is longer than it looks... about eight feet long... straight though like she knew what to do... what am I saying, she did know what to do.

I thought I was going to teach her something new... but she taught me that I wasn't as smart as I thought I was and she is one smart dog.

I wonder ... if she could go to a yard sale and buy something... what would she get to teach me something new???

Okay Game on!!!

What game, you may ask... well the planting game of course. But I need to tell you I'm a plant rescuer... my husband says cheap but what does he know?

I love mini rosebushes because you can plant them in your flowers and they don't just take over. Went to Food World today and they had three 10 dollar each bushes marked down to 1.50 .... so my yard is now sporting three new light pink rose bushes. Now do you see anything wrong with those roses?

I'm so ready to get the garden tilled but Mr. Think of all the Reasons To Not, says it's too early. My gosh Pat, we have blackberry winter and dogwood winter yet. I calmly pointed out that the dogwoods are blooming now and how could we have dogwood winter (which happens when dogwoods bloom) if they've already bloomed. Sounds right to me! But oh no,he says... it happens when they're suppose to bloom not when they bloom.

Me: What???

Him: Dogwood winter is mid-April when the dogwoods bloom

Me: But they're blooming now??

Him: I give up, when do you want the ground broke?

Me: :) I'm so bad.

Happy Planting everyone.

Humans, we think life is tough... you should be a wren

We fuss about high gas prices and no cell service and slow Internet but do these sustain life?? Oh I know some of you will argue that high gas prices make food high but come on, are we going to starve???

I was sitting on the porch swing this morning drinking my coffee when a wren came and perched on the chair next to me. She was very upset with me... I say she because of her tone and it was almost like she was trying to reason with me... I had put a plastic cup in the thingy that you roll hoses up on... that is where a wren builds a nest every year and every year the babies are hatched and a snake gets them before they get big enough to fly. I decided that this year I would make it where the wren would have to build elsewhere. I felt terrible and Ronnie didn't help when he said, "So you're playing God. You've made that bird unhappy and you know snakes have to eat too."

Do you think that our government only sees the babies getting eaten and don't really see the whole picture like Ronnie??

Then to really make my morning sad... a hawk swooped down and got a dove from under the bird feeder. Again, Ronnie said that was my fault because I feed the birds. They are not here for your enjoyment... they have a purpose and you play on their need to find food to lure them to one spot and make them easy picking for predators.

I'm a terrible person...

No I'm not... I turned the table on him. I sweetly said, "The hawk has to eat too."

But it did get me to thinking, would the human race survive if we had to hunt for our food while our enemies stalk us, hoping to make a meal out of us? Would we be able to adjust to events that change our entire life? I know some would but could you?

What if tomorrow your home was destroyed and you didn't have insurance to rebuild? You had to start from nothing and begin again.
What if you next meal depended on how fast you are and how quick witted?
What if your children depended on you and you alone to protect them, educate them, feed them.

In my opinion, we really don't have it too bad.

Dogs are so good for our egos

There is nothing like coming home and being greeted by your dog. Lexie always meets me but if I've been gone longer than a few hours it's a "there you are... I've waited and waited... what took you so long... and why didn't I get to go" session.

I know she can't talk, but she sure does get her point across. My husband greets me with a Hey... where's supper? My dog jumps up and down wanting me to hurry and get out of the car... whining the whole time and then she tries to climb into my lap... she is 75 pounds... and when that doesn't happen, she runs to get her ball.

A dog makes you feel like you're the most important person in the whole and you know they mean it because you are the most important person in their world.

A dog loves you for who and what you are... they even love your faults.

A great weekend with friends and book talk

Jana and I went to visit Irene this weekend.... I had a basket full of quilting pieces, a trunk full of homemade goodies and longing in my heart to see my friend. Jana got the trip started with talk about her new book and the two hour drive just flew by... then we got to Irene's and the real story brain storming began.

I got to see Irene's wonderful boys.. I really love those boys and their great smiles and Paul is so sweet to move his usual routine into another part of the house and give the family room to three crazy authors.

The pictures are of the thoughtful gifts from Irene for Saint Patty Day... y'all do know I was raised Catholic and Saint Patrick is my patron saint. The coffee mug and pottery bowl I found at a thrift shop. And finally the two jackets I bought at this wonderful consignment shop where everything in the shop is $7.98... everything!

The two purchases resulted in the hard work of Jana and Irene keeping the "total awful wrong color don't make me rip that shirt out of your hand" things I found to purchase. The green jacket was a combine attack on my normal desire to wear "bag lady reject" apparel or that is what other friend Sheila always calls my outfits. They were very pleased that they convinced me to buy these two items and secretly I agree with them but don't tell them I said so.

I'm fixing to take a bubble bath and snuggle down in my bed... crack open the book I'm reading and finish a perfect day. Thanks to Jana and Irene for making today so special. Hey Sheila, miss you and wish you was here.

Sping... the time of year you blind your neighbor

Yep, put those shorts on this morning and went to my Daddy's and to the local grocery store. I can't repeat what Daddy said about my all winter encased legs that saw the light of day for the first time in 2012 just minutes before I drove into his driveway.... it wasn't nice what he said but it was true.

I walked around the yard with my stepmother... who gave me four rose bushes she rooted for me... hoping the bright sunshine would work miracles and take away the shimmering glow of my legs... it didn't

Walked into the grocery store and all the guys started laughing and rolling up their pants legs to see who had the whitest legs... I won.

Sooooo, I'm sitting on the deck with skimpy tank top on and shorts that are rolled up enjoying the sunshine. Nobody is laughing at me here... Lexie doesn't care what color my legs are as long as I throw the ball for her to chase and fill that food bowl every morning.

The Battle of Shiloh 150 years later

How many of you have ever been to the Shiloh battle site?? How much do you know about the battle itself??
I've been to several reinactments but I won't be there this year. It's going to be a wonderful event but way too many people for me.

When you do research on this event you find conflicting accounts. Here is a blub from the article adapted from a chapter in Timothy B. Smith's forthcoming book The Untold Story of Shiloh: The Battle and the Battlefield. The article is titled: Battle of Shiloh: Shattering Myths

The standard account of Shiloh, however, is more myth than fact. Misunderstandings and oft-repeated campfire stories have over the years become for many the truth about Shiloh, distorting the actual facts and painting an altered picture of the momentous events of those April days. One has to look no further than the legend of Johnny Clem, the supposed Drummer Boy of Shiloh, to realize that tall tales surround the battle. Clem's 22nd Michigan Infantry was not even organized until after Shiloh took place. Similarly, the notorious Bloody Pond, today a battlefield landmark, could be myth. There is no contemporary evidence that indicates the pond became bloodstained. In fact, there is no contemporary evidence that there was even a pond on the spot. The sole account came from a local citizen who years later

Is a picture worth a thousand words??

In the first picture what do you see and are the words in this picture true?

The boots are real, I wear them any time I go to ride or work at the barn

The hat is not, I never wear hats except when I'm being a cowgirl for reading day at a local school. Same goes for the bandanna... never never

The work gloves are real... I use them regularly these are just new ones

The duster, I really wear on trail rides when it is raining.

The denim shirt and jeans... real

The spurs... nope, never wear them

Second picture what do you see

Does the kid like baseball??

This picture is my grandson Kane when he was six and no I don't think he does like baseball but he played for three years because all his friends did, now at nearly twelve he stills goes to the ball field but you will find him sitting on the picnic tables talking to girls...

I love this picture... we figured out why he couldn't hit the ball

Daylight Saving Time

It was designed to give us more daylight to do more fun things in the warmer months. I'm afraid this mandatory help doesn't help me... well it does sort of but since I get up between 4 and 5 every day, it only makes it darker longer in the mornings. The only thing DST does for me is make me sleepy earlier in the evening when it's still light outside. I guess I'll be going to bed with the chickens.

My granny always said that the cow would dry up and the chickens would stop laying when the time changed. I don't believe that since the sun is still moving through the sky at the same rate ... it's just the clocks that change.

Here are a couple of facts I found about DST

Officials say the extra hour gives people a chance to go out and do something recreational, like walking or taking up a new sport such as golf or tennis. Working out releases serotonin, a chemical in your brain that boosts your energy, which makes you happier and helps you adjust to new schedules. These things will become crucial in the first few weeks of Daylight Savings Time.

Drive carefully: According to health department officials, there also tends to be an increase in vehicle accident the Monday afte Daylight Savings Time begins. Drivers who lose the extra hour of sleep are more prone to accidents, so drivers are urged to drive more cautiously

Do you know when DST first started...

In 1966, the Uniform Time Act outlined that clocks should be set forward on the last Sunday in April and set back the last Sunday in October.

That law was amended in 1986 to start daylight saving time on the first Sunday in April, though the new system wasn't implemented until 1987. The end date was not changed, however, and remained the last Sunday in October until 2006

Today, Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. The time change will precede the first day of spring and the vernal equinox, which is set to take place at 1:14 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 20.


Oh I forgot to tell y'all... went riding Wed and Sandy did great. I came home so chilled and mellowed out. If you ever what something from me... make sure I get a good long trail ride before you ask.

Are you smarter than a fifth grader??

I write a article every month for the local Kidsville News, a newspaper that goes to every elementary school in Lauderdale and Colbert county. Lets see how smart y'all are. The answers are at the end. Don't look until you've answered all the questions. Just a reminder... the Battle of Shiloh happened 150 years ago next month.







Seven Civil War Events that Happened in April and One that Didn’t

April was a historical month for the Civil War. All the Generals named in this Knowledge Power are real. A quick web search will help you learn about them. There is one question that didn’t happen in April, can you pick which one?

1. What event on April 12, 1861 started the Civil War?

A.Lincoln’s Inauguration
B.Richmond was named Confederate capitol
C.Shots fired at Fort Sumter
D.Jefferson Davis was named President of the Confederacy

2.At the Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862, the Confederacy lost a general. Who was it?

A.General Albert Sidney Johnston
B.General S. R. Gist
C.General Thomas Green
D.General James Deshler

3.The Battle of Shiloh was named for the small whitewashed church located in the area. What does the word Shiloh mean?

A.Lost and alone
B.Victory
C.Warrior
D.Place of peace

4.William S. Hays wrote a song about John Lincoln Clem. What was the title of that song?

A.The Drummer Boy of Shiloh
B.Brave Boys are they!
C.The Bonnie Blue Flag
D.Marching Through Georgia

5.Union Colonel Abel Streight departed Tuscumbia, Alabama on April 26, 1863. What Confederate general was in hot pursuit?

A.General Edward “Allegheny” Johnson
B.General Nathan Bedford Forrest
C.General Alexander P. Stewart
D.General John Bell Hood

6.An event on April 14, 1865 changed the lives of every American. What was that event?

A.Slavery abolished in District of Columbia
B.President Abraham Lincoln was shot
C.Sherman's march through Georgia begins
D.Remaining Confederate forces surrender

7.On April 09, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate Army to General Ulysses S. Grant. Where did this happen?

A.Appomattox Court House in Virginia
B.Durham Court House in North Carolina
C.Richmond Court House in Virginia
D.Atlanta Court House in Georgia

8.On April 22, 1864 the U.S. Congress passed the Coinage Act. What did this Act command?

A.That the words “One nation under God” be placed on all currency
B.That President Lincoln picture be placed on the five dollar bill
C.That the words, "In God We Trust" be placed on all coins minted as United States currency
D.That the words United States of America be placed on all currency



Answers

1. C
2. A
3. D
4. A
5. B
6. B
7. A
8. C

Question four did not happen in April.

If you live to be a hundred... what would be your dream

If I live to be hundred it would be Aug of 2051

1. I would dream that I would live to 101

2. That my new book released in 2050 will become a best seller. The title is "How I Survived Inflated Gas Prices In 2012."

3. Of hitting the lottery and moving to the high class nursing home.

4. I would dream of the days I didn't have to eat prunes everyday

5. I would dream up new stories to write about

I got the picture from this blog address... I love it check it out

http://therusticchick.blogspot.com

I'm back.... and as mean as ever

I've been taking a break from critiquing. It has been over six months since I critiqued something for anyone. Sheila was the first contender... I had to call her this morning to see if she was still talking to me... she was as sweet as ever, she thought it was a good critique.
That made Jana get the guts to send me her new baby and bam! I critiqued it and saved and went to send it to her and it wasn't there. Dang it to Mars and back.
So I had to call her and orally give her my opinion..it was good... really good.

So now I've done my friends work in process, I guess I need to send out my new baby for them to critique. Maybe tomorrow.

No hints to blog friends about new book... as Jana told me, "Stop talking about it and start writing it. Are you afraid?" The gauntlet has been thrown. I'm cracking my knuckles and preparing for typing that is ahead.

Challenge Accepted.

It was a dark and stormy night.... hehehehehe

I will give you a taste of the new book

"I don't care what you do with them. Leave them. pack them. burn them. It doesn't matter to me."

Don't you wish you knew what I'm talking about!

No perfect writing days...

There are no perfect writing days... you can't plan an entire day for writing, you can't schedule a perfect writing day. I understand you can plan a day for writing but if creativity doesn't show up well you might write but it most likely be far from perfect. Perfect writing is spontaneous... ideas coming like beats of a bumblebee wing... fast and furious.

I've never been a great list follower or stick to the plan type. Oh, I make list to keep me grounded but if everything doesn't get done I'm not OCD staying up until all is done. I just pick up that pencil and erase the items I got done... renumber the ones I didn't and PRESTO I've got tomorrow's list.

The old saying "Stop to smell the roses." isn't really something I live by... nope I like to dig in the dirt around those rose bushes, prune the stems and take a moment to think about how they will look when they bloom.

Let's go for a ride or take the dogs and go explore the woods or maybe go for a swim... maybe we'll leave the swimming until the end of next month.

I guess what I'm trying to say is ... you can't plan a perfect day to do anything, you have to live that day and make it perfect.