Stitchen in the Willows

Flat tires happen.... but......

2009-11-12T12:16:00.002-05:00

why do they have to happen to me? OK, well I have been dealing with these dang, stupid, CHEAP tires since well, January 2009.... I was never in charge of tires, that was the EX's department.... I know how to change diapers NOT tires..... Sorry, that was the deal....

Then I found myself in charge of tires BY default..... Where is that damn referee in the game of life... he skipped out of the game too, rat fink....

So I have had one problem front tire, that keeps loosing air, due to a cheap set of rims that really are dinged up and don't hold the bead very well.....(yes, I do know that much, thanks to my POP, who keeps telling me how CHEAP someone was, yes I know Pop's, and I am sorry I made the diaper deal, should have been the other way around, but then your grand kids butts would have been a MESS)

So on Monday, I dropped Nate off at school and the tire sensor came on.... So I stopped at the gas station and tried to put in air, but after giving the machine my 75 cents, it didn't work, it only let more air out of the tire and the pressure gauge on the thing was not working... So, before letting out too much more air, I decided to turn around and go home where I knew my air compressor worked and pulled in and Evan came to the rescue.... and on a whim cked the back rear tire which was at only 10 pounds of pressure....YIKES! We discovered yesterday that the other back tire has a big ole nail in it.... YIKES again....

So this morning I walked out to go to work and the back tire was basically flat...and I was late.... So I took my truck instead and decided to just get the right tires on the correct rims for my Van...
See tires for the original rims 16 inch are expensive so SOMEONE decided that they would get 15 inch rims to get cheaper tires and its been a disaster that I have had to deal with SO tonight I am going to take my NICE 16 inch rims to the Amish tire place and have them put new tires on and this will be over and my Pop's can stop worrying (I love you Pops).....and NO Pop's I don't need any money (thank you, though). No, you dont have to come over, Evan will help me put the new tires on but if you want to supervise, that's OK....

Maybe just maybe, I will get better gas mileage....

Veterans Day....

2009-11-11T06:48:00.003-05:00

Veterans Day 2009....

Let me introduce you to one of my ancestors: William W. Chesley, born in 1845. His grandfather- Jonathan Chesley was a Veteran of the War of 1812, his great-grandfather- George Chesley was a Veteran of the Revolutionary War...

William enlisted in the F Co. 120th Inf Reg. NY on August 22, 1862. He died in Washington, DC on February 16th 1865 at Harewood Hospital of wounds he received at the battle of Hatcher's Run, Va. He came home to be buried in the family plot, Union Cemetery, Hector NY, with his parents, George and Elvira, his sister Helen and his maternal grandparents the Goulds.

For some people Veterans Day is not personal, it's just another day the "dang government employees, bank employees and postal employee's have off", but for some of us, like me, every year its personal and I think of all of my family that has served, their parents, their wives and their children that had to wait, pray, rejoice when they came home or cry when they buried their babies.

This year I add a new set of parents to my thoughts, thankful that their story had a happy ending...Thankful that Evan came home from war and frankly the thought that he was there and ever in such danger, brings tears to my eyes and makes my guts churn. So today its even more personal than its ever been.

And this year we are all spending the day together.... I had requested this day off months ago to make it special for Nate (who is very proud of his ancestral military history) by taking him to a few area museums that have some military history, and now we have Evan to join us so that makes it even more special.

Shopping....with Men.....

2009-11-10T08:54:00.002-05:00

So....in this new world of mine there are all these learning curves....Shopping is one of them.....So on our own we do just fine, we have fun....add a catalyst named "Nathan" to the mix and I am in trouble...

On the drive back to New York from Colorado, we were in a shop and we found something so cool for all the kids, Evan and I stood there like we were 5, trying on each pair and seeing what they did, exclaiming how "cool" they were... the sales people were laughing at us. We just looked at each other and started counting kids on both sides of our families to see how many we would need for the holidays....

Evan is in love with one of our big grocery stores here - Wegmans - we are a college town with people from all over the world living here, so this store has foods from everywhere, huge selections of fresh seafood, meats, vegetables as well as unusual prepared foods. So every time we go in there its fun to see him discover new things.

So back to the issue.... I have to buy supplies for our office, so this weekend I had a huge list and it took most of Saturday running around to accomplish buying supplies as well as taking Nate to the Mall to satisfy is teenage urges to blow every dime in his pocket and we also took him out to lunch to reward him for a fantastic report card (that frankly blew my mind) a 92 in chemistry (he was very worried about this grade).

Working for a medical office sometimes the supplies you have to get, well can be questionable, as was this one item.... Depends.... no, its not the word... its the supply.... Depends in size large.... We have older patients that sometimes need them in our office... So, Evan and Nathan see these hit the shopping cart and the rest of the shopping excursion in this store was about how can we use this to embarrass me.... and as a tag team the two of these guys are pros what one didn't think of the other did.... At check out.... Evan pipes up and says "But, honey don't for get your Depends", as loud as he can... I gave him the best stink eye I could muster, but had to bust out laughing at the look on the check out ladies face....

At one point I threaten them with both having to go into Toys R Us if they didn't knock it off, and then instead of groans I heard, "Ya, lets go!" "Wahoo, Nerf guns!", totally backfired......

Just remember boys, revenge is sweet....

A Muddy Duck : Named Chuck......

2009-11-05T12:07:00.002-05:00

Last time you saw Chuck, he was a sweet little baby duck, now he thinks he is a pig..... The ducks have a little mud pit that they run thru... They don't like the pond (Evan is working to change this)...
Evan took the watering pan out of the pen and said if they want water they have to go to the pond, but he keeps taking water over in the 5 gallon pails to water the chickens and when he turns his back the ducks high tail it from the pond and jump in his 5 gallon pails....and muddy his chicken water....sorry I have to laugh....when I hear "Gawd darn it, stupid ducks!"

I have to say it is so much nicer to have someone to share the everyday small farm antic's with.

Chuck the Duck was named after my best friend and schoolmate Chuck who lives out in Montana... Who would prefer to see Chuck the Duck in a Chinese Restaurant covered with sweet and sour sauce.... So Chuckles this photo is for you, your muddy, smelly, cranky, ornery namesake... Wait....sounds like I described you, huh....

Teetering on my Soapbox.....

2009-11-04T09:51:00.002-05:00

I had a situation at work happen that I just have to share... As I am in administration a lot of budgetary issues fall on my shoulders... One is what publications we subscribe to keep employees informed and educated on issues that effect their jobs. Well like everywhere that budget has been reduced so I have to be selective...

I receive a call from a gentlemen with a very heavy foreign accent wanting to know why I have not renewed this particular publication... So this is how it went.....

PIA Salesman: This is Peter from BLANK, BLANK....

Willow: What can I do for you today?

PIA Salesman: I am calling to see why you have not renewed your BLANK BLANK...

Willow: Well, I have not decided if I want to renew your publication, my budget is limited.

PIA Salesman: So this is a budget issue... What can you afford?

Willow: I can afford, fifty bucks, can you give it to me for fifty bucks....

PIA Salesman: NO, I am sorry, we could not possibly give it to you for that, would you....

Willow: (I cut him off here) That is what I can afford, I don't have time to dicker with you today, have a nice day... (and I hang up)

My intercom rings, it is the receptionist, she is laughing.... "Did you intentionally hang up on Peter? because he is back on line 3, do you want me to get rid of him?

Willow: NOPE.....

PICKS up line 3.......

Willow: Peter, let me ask you a question... What country are you calling me from?????

PIA Salesman: I am calling from India.....

Willow: Well, Peter let me tell you something, if you were calling from some where inside America and an American was doing your job I could afford to buy your publication.... But since you are calling me from India and you are doing an Americans job, I cant afford your publication, Good Day, click...............

So, this message is for Corporate America...... You want me to spend my hard earned money, I will, but you have to quit giving American jobs to the people of India and Mexico....Cut your big ass bonuses and give them to the employees who earned you those big ass bonuses, NO ONE can tell me you earned them all on your own... It was the little people, pushing the buttons, putting the parts together, moving the merchandise, spending their time at WORK, not on the GOLF course, that earned the big ass bonuses..... Stick that in your corporate pipe and smoke it.......

The name of this company is : The Coding Institute, P.O. Box 933729, Atlanta, GA 31193-3729
email: service@medville.com

I will be forwarding this message on to the big guys at this publication.... Enough is Enough... You want America back... well then fight for it... the CEO's in this country only respond to one thing a PISSED OFF BOARD OF DIRECTORS, that see their stocks falling.... I've got my ax ready... who's next on the chopping block....

Hi, We are Home....

2009-11-02T10:42:00.002-05:00

Sorry, no pictures, yet.... I know, I know....me and my 35mm camera...geeze...

I spent a few wonderful day's with Evan's family, getting to know his mom and dad, his sisters, their families and pooches.... His family made me feel welcome and right at home, his nieces and nephew are cute as buttons and stole my heart... His parents took the time to show me their beautiful part of the country and it is.... all the mountains, canyons, just took my breath away...

Everywhere I looked I saw something wonderful... They kept picking on me about my tree's here in the North East and how you cant see anything on the horizon including the sunset and sunrises... and they were right... out west you could see forever, very vast and lovely country. Back home seems much smaller, today...

Lucky, our trip home was uneventful, except for 2009 miles of driving, we left in the nick of time and missed the snow that blanketed Colorado and arrived home Friday. The hardest part of the trip was leaving, I really like Evan's family and I wish we were not so far away...

Everything has kind of fallen in place, my ducks, like Evan's ducks, my dogs, like Evan's tiny pooch Zooker, for that matter everyone likes Zooker....

Nate was glad to be able to get life back to normal at home, Samantha came home for the weekend with two friends from College for Halloween. We had a record number of trick-o-treaters this year a whole 9 of them, I was excited ... the cutest one was in a chicken outfit....

So its back to work for me today...

This is how it is going....

2009-10-21T12:24:00.002-04:00

On the way to my parents the other night I hit a speed bump. I guess its that time of year racing to get their nuts off the road. I did feel bad... I always do, but the stupid squirrel was still booking after I nailed him, dragging his behind but he never dropped the nut.

Last night I headed up on the mountain again to my parents to get horse hay. My mom had already informed me I was staying for dinner... So I walk in the kitchen and there are frosted sugar cookies, one of my favorite meal's in the oven and cherry cobbler on the other counter... I look at my mom and say..."Are you afraid I'm not coming back or are you trying to make sure I don't fit in the plane seat?" She just smacked me.... who does she think she is Coffee Man? Yes, you... You smacked me just this morning over at your blog.... BULLY.....Blog abuse, I tell ya... Ok in his defense, I did sass him and he IS OLDER....so.....

So, back to my story... I ate dinner... luckily Pops and I had loaded the hay before dinner, I could barley move.... UGGGG...then I had to go home and unload the hay....*smacks, myself in the forehead*...

But the best part was Mom telling me that my favorite dinner might taste like plastic, huh????? I guess my mom had left my Pops a note to preheat the oven and put the meatloaf and scalloped potato's in the oven at 5:00pm... So he did, but he didn't remove the plastic wrap first! His reply..."It didn't say that on the note!" Geeze....Pops... So I told him we were even... he had to stop picking on me forgetting to remove the gizzards from the turkey before I cooked it (a million years ago, now) and I wouldn't pick on him about this....He said "Deal!" It all tasted yummy to me, all the same.....

My brother Chip was being a turd, yes a TURD...to his lovely wife the other day... She is in her sisters wedding this weekend and its a high end affair and Chip well, he doesn't handle these occasions with grace, he is out of his element... So I told him he needed to give her some support during this and KNOCK it OFF... His reply "What more support does she need? I bought her a new Bra?" TURD, I tell ya.... but dang it, I still had to laugh.... I can't believe Michelle puts up with him...

Well, this will be it for a week or so....as I head out west....but I will be back...with a hunk, a tiny pooch and two ducks? Ducks? More Ducks.....did he just say ducks????? and they run???? from what????? Good Grief.......

There are not...

2009-10-19T10:12:00.002-04:00

very many moments in life that you await so excitedly that you can't sleep, can't eat and at moments can't even see straight and I am in the middle of one. I am busily preparing for my trip out west, finally...In the beginning it seemed like it would take forever to get here, now its only days away...

Sometimes it seems impossible to be so happy...

But then I look at Payton (Boo Boo). He is such a happy guy all the time. He is happy to eat, to get his butt thrown outside, to come inside, to get a treat and his new trick is to steal the cup I use to feed the chickens and ducks. When I set it down he steals it and runs... "Come on', momma chase me"... Even when I yell at him, he has this sloppy happy grin on his face... He is a 100#'s of happy..... he knows he is loved...
and I have finally learned to take my own words to heart, I am always telling the kids, just be happy we are here together, on this earth at the same time in each others lives that's what its all about, not what you have, what you don't have, its about who your with....about people simply loving you for who you are.... that is true happiness... my wish...is for everyone I know to find it, where ever you are, with what ever you have or don't, with who ever your with...and if at the moment your alone, never stop believing....its just around the corner...pick up the pace....

Do you have ice cubes in your underwear?

2009-10-16T09:16:00.003-04:00

You do if you live in central New York this morning and you left your laundry on the line last night! As a matter a fact you got a block of ice not just a cube..... So this was the view out of the bedroom window this morning... I did a double take and turned around and got on the long underwear to go do chores this morning... GRRRRRRR.... to early for this stuff..... Then I cut up a zucchini to take to the chickens this morning. Put on my rubber boots and its still twilight as I head out the door, and in the back yard, I see this large animal and think, "Wow, that is one big ass deer..." But, then I realize it's one of the horses! "CRAP", turn around and yell in the house for Nate to get his boots on and butt out the door, the horses are out...

Pretty boy Pete is already across the field and headed for the road, and I really did not want to have to run so I took a shot in the dark and just yelled... "Hey, Petey...want your breakfast?" Next, thing I know I have this Draft horse barrelling down the field headed right for me.. I mean I could hear the thundering of his hooves and the tremors in the ground...I just stood there and said if he runs me down that's that, I'm toast.... But he swerved and couldn't wait to get in the gate for his sweet feed....Thank you, lord....(really) It could have been a mess... The fence is down, but I can fix that easy enough. So the horses are locked in the barn till Saturday, when I can work on the fence.

And this was in the front yard to greet me..... One huge branch in one of my willow's broke under the weight of the snow....

So I get to work, I am already tired, thinking about what I now have to do at home...my phone rings, its Evan, "Hi, darlin' are you make'n snow angels?" I had to laugh..."No, honey... I wish I had thought of that!" I'm still smiling.....

Dear Mom and Dad,

2009-10-13T14:29:00.004-04:00

You ever get those never ending email questioners that ask you all sorts of crazy questions in an effort to "get" to know you better? Well I got one that I thought was blog worthy... Here are five statements that you answer and pass on so I am passing it on to you, they make you think and made me think hard.... OUCH.....

Dear Mom and Dad,

I am glad.....

I wish growing up I had known.....

I wouldn't have...

If I could change...

I really appreciate....

So here goes....

I am glad that you spanked me... Really, I am serious... I knew when I had done something wrong that warranted getting spanked... I always started crying before hand so you would take it easy on my behind (secretly I think you did, though you never let on). Sometimes I think because of it I have a better sense of right and wrong, consequences of my actions, repercussions to my spoken word, than some of my peers.

I wish growing up I had known how hurt you were by your own childhood, mom. You never let on... and like a jerk, I didn't catch on till I had my own kids. This is the one time I would want to go back and maybe do some of those mother/daughter moments that you never got to do with your own mom.

I wouldn't have... (this one is really hard) Sorry, mom and dad there isn't anything that I did that I would not do again,(even the bad stuff) I mean... it all made me the woman, mother, daughter, sister and auntie that I am today...

If I could change it would be that I kept singing publicly, I know you both feel I let my god given gift go... But that is not entirely true, there are two babies that listened to lullabies day and night and have grown up in a house so full of music that they both play several instruments and sing at the drop of a hat. So I never stopped singing, my audience changed that's all...still I wonder...

I really appreciate the grandparents you have become. Mom you said just the other day that you wish you could have given the kids more or financially help me put them through college. I wouldn't change one thing, you gave them the gift of your time. You have been the best hands on grandparents I could have ever hoped for. You taught them how to ride a horse, work with you at the farmers market, work on the farm, they have learned more from the two of you and have more wonderful memories that any amount of money could NEVER buy.... every child should be as lucky as my two...

I love you both,

Your daughter (only daughter) remember me?????? Your first born, the cute one.... The one that made you bald, dad.... ya, it's me... the one that just made your zucchini relish.... The one that gave you your "first" grandchild...(knew that one would get ya!)

To get a Moose or not get a Moose

2009-10-12T10:41:00.005-04:00

Samantha is home from college for a short break... She brought home with her a guest from Maine, a nice country gal, that has a great sense of humor and finds us entertaining. Nathan had two friends over for the weekend so the house was full of boisterous laughter,obnoxious behavior, new bodily functions and hungry young adults.

At one point I walked in the living room in the middle of a movie fest and mentioned that there were chocolate/peanut butter cookies in the kitchen, the room emptied in 3 seconds flat...after I picked myself up off the floor, dusted the flip flop prints off my body, I realized next time I better get a cookie before I make an announcement like that(not a crumb, left).

Lil' Miss Maine's parents spoke with me and they were so thankful and appreciative that she had a place to go on break... for them they would have gotten here to get her and gotten home and had to turn around and drive back. I told Samantha to bring kids home that needed a place to stay, just because I enjoy having the house full of people, never thinking about the poor parents that are far away wondering how their kids would fare on break having to leave campus.

Lil' Miss Maine's parents wanted to know what they could do to repay me for my kindness, I of course told them nothing, but since they were from Maine and I love moose how about a baby moose.... I know they are so cute... I just love moose.... So, her mom is an animal control officer and she said she would see what she could do.... HUH...GULP....I can see it now...

I already have a parade every evening as I do chores of chickens, ducks, 3 dogs behind them a stray cat or two, the horse's would join too if not for the electric fence, adding a baby moose to the mayhem, well I can hear dogs barking in protest and chickens and ducks, squawking as baby moose steps on them to get to the head of the line.... Some how I just see Evan, not going for this.... or laughing his butt off and whipping out his phone to video tape it as baby moose flattens me....

But the thought of a baby moose, awwwwwwwwww.... I want one.......I know, I know back to reality...

Bears? Oh my...

2009-10-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

This is a rock on the edge of the woods on my parents place, that my mom years ago turned into a mama black bear and her cubs... She is starting to show some wear but its always been a car stopper... Lots of little kids over the years have gotten a kick out of going to see the bear rock. Yep, that's my Nate behind the wheel...

My Pop's and my brothers, gave this truck to my kids to drive... My dad was concerned with them driving my van, that if they got in a fender bender it would leave me without a vehicle so this ruff looking but sound running truck, has become their ride, and they could care less what it looks like...it moves and gets them where they need to go... Its a true hand me down, first it was owned by Chip and his wife, they gave it to my parents, who drove it for years, then my parents gave it to Todd...so now on to Nate and Sam...never say Dodge doesn't build it Ram tough to have lasted through one brother is amazing, but the whole dang family, well that's commercial worthy...

Nate has nicknamed it the "Turd box"... the only thing Sam says is" Nate, its NOT your truck!"
Gives me a chuckle...

Change of Farmings Landscape

2009-10-08T06:00:00.001-04:00

Here is corn at 55mph.... Then there is how farmers are expanding their land... They can't afford to purchase new land for expansion...So they utilize what they already have, pieces of wet land, hedgerows and woodlots.
This photo is now a common sight around here. It makes me sad to see them knocking out hedgerows, Ive walked many over the years on a lot of different farms and you may say whats the big deal, its a hedgerow....

But they are so much more... they are like walking thru a history of that farm...some are full of rocks, rock walls that were original fences for the farm, some are full of old dumping sites that give host to some amazing finds, bits of china, old bottles and old machinery that was once pulled by horses. They provided shade on the long days in the field and when its time for lunch. I hate to see them disappearing from the landscape... I understand, but I hate it....

Home Sweet Home

2009-10-07T06:00:00.001-04:00

Fall is always the best time to go back home... This picturesque view down the dirt road leads to my childhood home, where my parents still live... That is our barn down the lane, to the left is my Pop's corn and to the right is the woods where my brothers and I played. This is the road going the other way. My feet have covered every inch of these roads, kicking stones, riding my bike, running with my dog...every trouble I had as a kid, I took out on my sneakers, I've always walked it off, talked the issues out and sent them out into the wild blue yonder. Sometimes on really bad days, I long to go home and just walk the roads like I did as a kid, to find that peace...

Living on top of this hill over Smith Valley, I always felt we were just a little bit closer to heaven. Storms, wind, lightning and rainbows always seem more intense and glorious here.

You can see how the hills just seem to overlap each other and go on....

This is the view of the barn and my Pop's grain truck from my brother's place across the hayfield.

I am glad my kids have had the opportunity to roam the fields and the woods making memories of their own. I wish more people had the chance to grow up as I did, because maybe their views would be different about preserving our farm lands and ways of life that we can never get back once a development goes in. My brothers and I have had the talk and agreed, no matter where we are in our lives when the time comes or where we live in the country... we will work together to keep this piece of heaven in the family for our children and grandchildren...everyone should be able to go back to their Home Sweet Home...

OK, OK....

2009-10-06T08:33:00.002-04:00

Inquiring minds want updates.....

Let's see....ummmmm..... Noodle Ninja Warrior is out of work....The pool has been closed for the season and there has not been a horse fly in sight... She has been busy being a kick butt football rooting tooting mama... Inspector Underpants is their son's football coach... and a great coach he is... he gives the boy's direction, firm instruction with a caring for their welfare. Its is a pleasure to see him coach, really... he is one of those men that makes a difference in the lives of the boy's he teaches... they will always remember him as the coach that shaped their love for the game...
Then there is Paige, up in the stands, bouncing around screaming...never do the boy's have to wonder which section their fans are in....NEVER.

Oh ya, a note to that kid that knocked my lil Trev's in the bread basket last weekend (twice)....I know where you live... I know its a game, but games are meant to be played fair....tisk, tisk to that coach.. YOUR lucky my lil Trev's tough....

And Evan....is fine, good, great... sticky fingers but... he has been on a mission shelling Pinion nuts. I know nothing about Pinion nuts, except they come from a Pinion tree and that its sticky work. Evan and Zooker (his very cute pup) are getting ready for a road trip at the end of the month... Ummmm yes, it is suspiciously after I make a flight to Colorado to meet his family... and its not a coincidence that I have been making room in the garage for someone to put their stuff... Now, I know you people are smart and I don't have to spell it out...

Ya, I can hear the ping, ping in my mailbox...now... but I am so excited I can't wait...

Yes, I am still going to be doing relish, my counter is piled high with zucchini, peppers and onions, I will try to do a post on it...

We are planning on doing the traditional Ginger Bread houses this year and I will try to do it step by step for you all. That will be right after Thanksgiving...

I know there was more but it escapes me at the moment... OH ya, I have been taking some fall photo's of beautiful Central New York in all its color... Here in the Finger Lakes we are one of the top destinations for Fall Foliage Seekers... They come here to see our rolling hills full of color along the lakes take advantage of our countless wineries from all over the country... We really are lucky to live in such a place... I just paid my tax bill and it reminds me every year, how lucky I am .... I hope the rest of the country enjoys it, really I do....cross my heart and my eyes....

U two crack me up....

2009-10-05T11:14:00.002-04:00

There is always a Butt at the end of everything with these two...... Hey, where do you think you geniuses are going? You better paddle faster.........do I hear......

Got your pig tails, little bro..... sissy.....

" Mom, please tell me you didn't get that shot", sorry Nate not only did I get it, I am posting it for the world to see.....

Yep, Sammie you always want to keep the "peace". You both make my world a better place.
Thanks guys, for always making our fall Photo shoot, such a blast...

Love,

Mom

Some Spooky fun....

2009-10-01T09:36:00.002-04:00

I had Sweetpea, last night and in an effort to keep her busy decided it would be a good night to crawl up in the attic and get down the Halloween decorations and get ready for the hobgoblins and critters of the night....

Sweetpea wanted to climb the ladder and help. So she gets up there takes one look around and gives me the look..."Aunt Witch, you have got a lot of junk...." JUNK.... I don't have junk, its treasures... "Looks like junk.." So I decided to prove it was not junk, now I don't think she will ever want to play any where accept the attic... The box of old costumes, from my childhood, my kids, and various other plays and such... proved to be entertaining... We got to be frogs, gorillas, a Pilgrim, clown, devil, dancing pigs (my favorite!)... We got down the decorations, at first the huge spiders proved to be a bit of a problem, I couldn't get her to come in the room, then she found the double axe (plastic) and felt that she could deal with the spiders now she was armed... She proceeded to run through the house whacking everything but at least she stopped screeching at the sight of the spiders... So this is what we accomplished. I love making a back ground to take photo's of my trick or treaters...
All 4 of them... yep, I live in the boonies.. but I keep hoping that someone will find us and rescue us from the 20 pounds of candy I buy every year, JUST IN CASE... hey, the word has to get out some day...I know this will be the year when a van of 50 kids shows up... Ok that would be a bus...but I can dream...

Lets take a walk...

2009-09-28T11:21:00.002-04:00

Down my lane full of the falling leaves of today and precious moments of yesterdays....

Things have been way too...

2009-09-24T10:27:00.003-04:00

Serious in the Willows.... So let's lighten things up. Besides I pulled an all nighter last night...(not what you think..) My sister in law needed to take my baby brother to the ER last night. So I got home at 4am something... Passed out in my clothes only to have Nate shaking me awake at 6am to inform me that the laundry room is swarming with bees this morning....and it was... I shut the laundry room doors and will deal with it later.... I know its going to involve crawling into the space where the old house meets the new house and I just don't want to deal with it... SO....

Man, I wish I had his bladder... never have to worry about leaving the campfire burning with this guy... I don't think I would want to make him mad either... talk about blow hole.... Maybe he should be Ole Faithful for Halloween.... Do you think his Mama named him - Moby???? These are Captain Underpants, stinky feet during our camping trip, needless to say no one wanted to toast marshmallows after smelling these things heated up. And its a self portrait to boot, he stole my camera... Love the tan lines...

Is this a new version of potty training? Do you give them a cookie or a biscuit after they are done. If they have an accident to you smack them on the nose with a newspaper? hmmm...times are changing...

Well, duh.... what did they think was going to happen...

Hate to say it folks but it is almost that time of year again... Lets hope we have no more incidents in the parking lot again this year, my butt still isn't recovered from last year(and you all haven't stopped ribbing me about it!)... Told you I am a klutz...

Memories...Love my Mama...

2009-09-23T09:07:00.003-04:00

Well first you will notice the header change... Samantha didn't like the photo, she thought there were too many shadows and it looked spooky. So I changed it with a photo from this article.

So what is this all about...19 years of stitching and thoughtful contemplation on behalf of my mother, a gift to me, a catalog of all the love she has for me, a legacy that I will be able to pass down to generations to come. This quilt is entirely hand pieced, each block was pieced by my mom and the 4 hearts in the corners were appliqued by my Aunt, then my mother hand quilted the top and edges.

The fabric in the blocks is from my clothes that my mom made me as a child and pieces of fabric from the dresses that she made my grandmother, so each block is me and my grandmother together, it's funny that my mom found away to make it so we could be together forever, she knows how much I still deeply miss grandma and its been 22 years since she passed away.

I drove in my parents driveway on Sunday morning and the quilt was hanging on the line, washed and dried. I walked in the house and said "Really, its all done, I can take it home?" My poor mom has been the brunt of many jokes about her finally getting it done over the years... It takes my breath away every time I walk in my bedroom. I slept really well that night, how could you not under all that love.

Mom, there arn't really words to express how I truly feel about this gift, you put your heart and soul into these stitches...You have always let me know I was/am loved and I am one lucky kid to have been raised by a wonderful, gentle, talented woman such as yourself.

Grilling.....

2009-09-21T20:58:00.002-04:00

I have been getting grilled.... and I am not talking Chicken or Steak.... (now I am hungry...Ok I'll focus).

Why is it that everyone tells you in times of strife that the answer is out there or the right person is out there (there being where? You did not give me an exact location) and you will know when you meet them, you will know that it is right... (actually when you ALL said that I thought you were full of crap!)

OK, so you do....then everyone is like are you sure you know what your doing? How do you know? What if...?

Everyone wants guarantee's.... Sorry people you want a guarantee head on over to Sears, I am sure they will be happy to print you up one... I don't do guarantees, I don't need too...

I do know this, I love you guys, we have been through thick and thin since grade school... Have you ever seen me unable to stand on my own two feet and not be able to take care of myself? (yep, thats right!) I also know that this life is for living... not sitting in a box, afraid to take a chance... Because some how I know that this is the one chance that is worth taking, this is the chance I would regret for my entire life not taking... and you have never heard me say that before and I have never meant anything more...

So, I am off the box (I need a taller box)...so in 25 years this conversation never happened and I wont tell you I told you so, K..... we will just have cake....

Next...

2009-09-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

Sam is coming home for the weekend... She doesn't like the new blog header so I have challenged her to come up with a better one... Rival football game this weekend... Nate is excited big sis is coming home, hoping she will get him into a rated "R" movie he wants to see... Time to start thinking Christmas card photo and what crazy stunt we can come up with this year...
Lots of firsts this year for me... I need to clean the gutters on the house... Never done that before... but it has to be done the fall rains will start soon and I know the gutters are full of pine needles..
I have two large cherry trees that need to come down, this should be fun, they are a little close to the house for comfort, but Pop's said "no problem" I love the way he and my brothers always say that...drives me crazy, then...never mind I don't even want to think about it.....

Need to get another coat of paint on the horse barn ( I think I have enough left to do that)... Good project for Nate...
Then its time to fill up the other side of the wood house for next years fire wood... I have a double bay wood house, current years wood (dried for a year) and then the side filled for the next year to dry... I have a very large forced air wood furnace that keeps the heating cost down and the house nice and toasty during the winter with a propane furnace back-up.
I am lucky my Pop's has a ton of down wood in his wood's that we can cut, split, haul and stack, so it ends up costing us nothing but our time... and I think its fun hauling wood or at least we make it fun.
Although I do need to get a new maul, Samantha kind of did ours in last February when she was splitting some big chunks up for me, I still cant figure out how she broke, twisted the head right off of the fiberglass handle, other than she doesn't know her own strength....

I still have zucchini relish to do, I promised Pop's a batch... He loves to put it on his hot dogs and burgers... Makes me feel good that he loves it so much.

I would like to get some grape juice done too... that way I have it to make jelly later... So I guess I will have to get some helpers and head off to the vineyards, grapes should be ready soon...

It will also be time to make homemade applesauce... I made ton's last fall and my family cleaned me out...especially the Cinnamon applesauce... I thought my Pop's and my niece would make themselves sick eating it at every meal... but they want more, so....

I am tired just making my list....

I am cracking...

2009-09-16T15:19:00.002-04:00

Under the pressure.... Work is insane...I walk away from my desk on a mission, on the way I am stop, sidetracked and harassed to the point I cant remember why I walked out of my office in the first place... So far today, I thought I wanted to get a drink only to remember when I started to drink my water, I really left my office to pee.... dashing in heels is never advisable.... but I made it in the nick of time...

My staff loves it when I start to act loopy, they take advantage and do their best to make me crazier (if that is even possible)

Yesterday, the girls in the billing department were after me about something and I told them to "watch it, I am wearing my push up bra today, and if one of these puppy's blows, someone is going down" they couldn't stop laughing and a get away opportunity presented itself and I took it. I actually considered hiding under my desk, unfortunately the dress I was wearing wouldn't accommodate me sitting Indian style....

Today, the front desk just cant get enough of my opinion, and they know it.... So finally, I was asked one question tooo many, number 1001... I started to laugh, I couldn't stop, they started to laugh.... then and obnoxious salesman calls... Will not take "no" for an answer, so I ask him if he wants a consultation for "hemorrhoid surgery", he said "no", and I said well I don't need what your selling either.... CLICK....there was dead silence in the office, then all hell broke loose....Now, I cant get them to stop laughing... I think they are broken.... OPPS

OK, Ive gone around the bend.....

I have random thoughts running amuck through my head....

Why are smurfs blue?

Why is the break on the left and gas pedal on the right?

How does a left handed person feel about that?

I am still trying to find out what it means if your fortune cookie, doesn't have a fortune in it?

Help...Help....Can anyone out there hear me???????

Questions Answered.....

2009-09-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

I have had several email's with questions so I thought I would take a moment and give you the low down and dirty and answer questions from my friends in: New Hampshire, Maine, New Mexico and Arkansas....

Have not seen any sewing projects lately what are you working on?

Well, lil miss Maine, this is my on going project that I have been stitching (you can click on it to get more detail)... My crazy quilt project, I just started working on the medallion in the middle this weekend, using some antique tatting that I had, ribbon, beads, floss, ribbon roses, I put 4 fan blocks together to create the circle and I have found some old black velveteen that I will be using as a boarder for the whole piece... I did make a trip to my favorite quilt shop this weekend and found a new cross stitch pattern I can't wait to start, some little bits of fabric that I couldn't live without, one a red humming bird pattern, so sweet....

Is there anything you can't do?

Yep, there sure is lil miss New Hampshire... I can't make a pancake to save my life they always come out gooey in the middle then I burn them trying to make sure they are cooked all the way. I can't knit or crochet, I have tryed, my mother has gone cross eyed trying to teach me, just can't do it. I can't shoot a deer, yep, my pop's plopped me out in the corner of a field with a loaded shot gun and the biggest buck of the season ran acrossed the field in front of me... I unloaded the shot gun and even reloaded and missed... My poor pops heard the racket from the woods and came bookin... he was out of breath and said " You missed? you should have had a whole herd for all that shootin!" Nope, all I had was a pile of shell casings, and a story for my brothers to use against me for the rest of my life... that's OK I didn't want to gut the thing anyway! I have to say my dad couldn't believed I missed because in target practice with a .22 I am a crack shot, and clay bird shooting with the .12 gauge I do pretty good. I really just didn't want to kill a deer. Shhhhh, that would make my pop's second guess that I was his kid....

Next...

Do you think you will ever get back in the Dairy business and what are some funny things about your farming experiences?

Wow, Mr. New Mexico this one really made me think... I don't see dairy farming in my future, but I have learned to never say "NEVER".... Funny things... gosh... Well, I tend to make as much of my life funny as I can even if its not really.... But I am a klutz, so I was always doing something stupid that came out funny. Like one day I was asked to back up a wagon ( I hate backing up stuff, I would always get yelled at) so I reluctantly agreed... as usual I did it wrong and when they un hooked the wagon, I stomped on the gas went flying....then I stomped on the brake, it spun the truck around facing the guy's, and I sat there looking at them like, you wanna mess with me some more.... they looked at me like "holy shit I didn't know you could drive like that!" Truth is, I was crapping my pants, I didn't intend for the truck to spin. I expected the truck to stop when I jumped on the brake, so I could fly out of the cab, and start bitchen.... when I went to drive away my legs were jello, I was so scared that I had managed this Joey Chipwood trick...

So... a few day's later...at the local diner... a couple of the local farmers come up to the table and say " so here is our very own local stunt driver" one of the kids pipes up and say's " ya, my daddy says she can park that truck like she mean's it!" that was funny....

You said awhile back you had lot's of family traditions, what other ones can you share?

Yes, there are many more, my friend from Arkansas.... Let see, there are the wedding shoes... My grandmother had brought a pair of shoes from England that are made with (real) gold thread... My mother and her sisters wore them to all their prom's and my mother wore them the day she married my father and I wore them when I married with a six pence in my shoe... I had to stuff the toes, I have tiny feet and my family all have these huge clompers... they are saved for my daughter and nieces to wear if they choose when they marry as well as the six pence piece.

I have a family diamond ring that was given to me by my Aunt upon the birth of Nathan...that will get passed on...
I was passed on a set of bridle decorations that belonged to my gggrandfather, then to my grandfather then my dad, I will pass them on to the next horse crazy kid. I also was given my gggrandfathers, horse weather vain...
I have quilts that were done by my gggrandmother, that my grandmother gave to my dad and he passed to me, some of them have civil war era fabric that is just lovely...

We did start a new tradition last year that was just so awesome that I cant help but share... It is called Elf on a Shelf... It is this little elf doll that comes with a book. The Elf appears after Thanksgiving and is sent from Santa's workshop to "watch the children" and goes back to the north pole each night to report to Santa if you have been naughty or nice.. then appears each morning in a new spot... he leaves on christmas eve to return again next year.... Well, Sweet pea, named her elf "jingle bells" and my sister-in-law would catch her talking to "Jingle Bells", one day she did something bad that got her in timeout and she was asking Jingles not to tell on her to Santa, because she really didn't mean it and she promised to be good from then on... Just to cute... She cryed when Jingles left on Christmas eve, he had become her friend.... I cant wait to see what she says when Jingles comes back this year....

There are a ton of questions about my new beau... and you guys are just going to have to wait....sorry....Not that I am not busting at the seam's or that Evan would even care...you will just have to be patient... believe me I know how hard that is....Thank you for all the congradulations and I defently agree, he is a hunk, cutie pie, I think my favorite was, "my oh, my".... Yep....

Surprise Visit....

2009-09-11T14:24:00.003-04:00

My cousins are in town from Georgia and I got a surprise visit and here I am with their sweet, adorable daughter... She looks just like her papa, my favorite "BOY" cousin...
Yes, I do work, and now you can quit grumbling about me cutting myself out of the camping photos... geeze....