Road Less Traveled

We had a wonderful four wheeling experience in Arkansas this year. We stayed three days at Wolf Pen Gap in the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. That is one of my favorite National parks in the States. It is so natural and wild, while at the same time, it has everything you could desire. It makes me so proud just to be an American in this beautiful place, and I can't imagine anyone else feeling any different. We rode our Polaris Ranger over rugged and rocky hills, and enjoyed the most breath taking scenery possible. We took paths specially marked and set up for adventurous four wheelers. Some paths were fairly easy to drive and others were hazardous at best, but all took us to wonderful places. We did get off the marked paths, on a road that must have been there for logging. The woods were new and close packed, but this road lacked the quick turns and vertical hills we were on. We realized this was not part of the trails, but wondered what we would see ahead. We were not prepared for the sight of random dump sites, with trailer siding, cabinets, and even a toilet. I felt sick to think Americans could think so little of such a gorgeous place in our country. They should be deported..maybe to the panhandle.

I will be computerless

This next Wednesday, we leave for some serious four wheeling in Arkansas. We will be staying in a remote cabin for four days, without computer accessibility, I am sure. I know it will be fun riding and exploring, but I may suffer from computer withdrawal. I will probably take my computer and just look at the pictures I have stored if we get rained in. I am not a big fan of TV. Cheri and Dawayne went there, and brought back some pretty pictures, but mountains don't change very often, so it will be a challenge finding something different to capture. I will bring back rocks.

Hello Cheri

I don't have anything witty to say. Any stray brain sparks will probably land in Myspace blogs for a while. I just thought I'd pop in to greet you on your prowl, and say I love you. Have a great day. Mom.

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Too Many Homes

There is Blogspot, Wordpress, Myspace, and Facebook to play with. I will mainly post pictures and blogs on Myspace, and stop in on Facebook. Some of my people have quit blogging. I have just about quit looking for blogs. If there is something I should see, post it in Facebook or my email. I'll check it out. I trust , now that Lori has her computer, we will see stories on wordpress. The rest of us are not so reliable. I love my people, but looking for a blog that won't be there is like looking into an empty cookie jar.

Redneck Party, Plan " B "

My kids and their friends decided to have a Craw-fish Boil for our Birthdays, and in honor of Memorial Day. Everything was set up in and around our garage, cookers and pots, pools to clean the craw-fish in, stacks of foil boxes to serve them in, the corn and new potatoes to boil with them. Guests were here waiting for the craw-fish to show up. We got the call, no craw-fish. The place they were ordered from refused the shipment that came to them because they were too small. Plan " B "...Everyone got a fishing pole and headed for the pond...fresh fish, and something to keep them busy until hush-puppies and fries could be bought. They got catfish strips and meat to put on the pit. Games of horseshoes and washers began. Some played pool, while others cooked. There was plenty of food and drinks, and the antics of friends. Gary brought a pair of drinker's glasses. one end went in the drink, and the other in his mouth. The cold drink circulated across his temples, and around his eyes. Cool. Cheri baked us a cake, and who knew you can eat cake with beer? We had Karaoke and dancing. Guests came with harmonicas and guitar. The pool came in handy for the little grand daughter of a friend to splash in. It pays to be flexible. A good time was had by all.

Mothers Day

My daughter and her hubby, our "Son", came with a card and gifts. Cheri is always so thoughtful with the choosing of gifts. This year it was Roses; A yellow rose bush in a yellow gift bag. Another gift bag held a yellow rose scented candle, rose air spray, rose lotion and bath gel, a rose note pad for my purse, and yellow rose heads scattered in with them. We had a nice visit, and when the guys started on a project, Cheri and I went to a flea market..Woo hoo. I found a flea for me, and a couple for other people. When we got back we all took cards and gifts to Nana. You know hers were some new slippers. Wish me luck on that. Cheri found her a card with "Nana" on the front. I got a sweet email from my God Daughter/ Niece. It was a good day.

" You might Be A Redneck"

If your mother duck tapes her bedroom slippers...You might be a Redneck. Y'all know I am married to a Redneck. No joke, my Mother In Law had duck tape wrapped around one bedroom slipper. She said it was coming apart. I told her she should wear her black slippers. They were still like new. She said she couldn't keep them on. I said, duck tape them. Like most old people, she doesn't like change. The black slippers are not the kind she likes. She likes the old style that are made like a moccasin. Mothers Day is looking at us, so I drove all over town, shopping in every shoe store and women's clothing store, trying to find her a pair. Slippers now either look like big furry animals, or are scuffs, with no backs. She couldn't keep them on her feet for sure. I ended up in Walmart. I found a soft pair of Men's slippers made rather like what she wants. I took off the Men's tag, and am hoping for the best. Keep you fingers crossed. I really should take a picture.

A Good Day

Last Monday I spent the whole day with my daughter, as that is her day off. We ran around shopping for the party she will have for her hubby's birthday. We noticed that something was going on in town, as the roads were blocked off, so we checked it out. It was an "International Festival". There were booths with food and merchandise from several ethnic groups. She bought me a hand made whistle made from ancient weathered wood, because I had looked at it, and cheeped out. LOL. It looks like it belongs in my living room with it's antique weathered wood trim. We had a good time. When you are with someone you love, it is a good time, no matter what you are doing.

Nightmares

When you have bad dreams in the morning, are they still Nightmares? I don't have many bad dreams, but lately I have had three of them, one about my sister in law, and two about my little Arabian pony. The sister in law was in a trouble with the law, but my Sprite was injured in both dreams. The first, he had a board with a nail stuck to his stomach. When I pulled the board away, his intestine started poking through. I was trying to get hold of a vet to find out what to do. The second, he had broken his rope, and run up to my jeep. I grabbed the rope to lead him home, and he laid down. I saw that his front leg was broken. I don't know why I am dreaming about Sprite, but it scares me, as he is about twenty eight years old, and horses don't live forever. These dreams come about six in the morning, and there is no going back to sleep.

We Provide For The Wildlife

We have always left piles of brush throughout our land for wildlife to nest under. We have seen bobcats and rabbits raise young in them. My husband has watched fox families in the woods as he hunts. When I brush our long haired dogs and my horse, I leave the hair, and watch birds and squirrels gather it for their nests. We hung bird feeders, and watch the squirrels try to get their share. We hung bird houses, and welcome the occasional flying squirrel, who builds her nest in one. We feed the deer, and the fish. Why, we even brought over a dozen Mallard ducks, and put them on our pond to feed the hawks and bobcats. Last week we had an animal feast. I smelled fish, and followed my nose to our freezer. It was only about twenty years old, but it was Kaput. We took about twenty pounds of fish and twice that much meat up to the big brush pile on the hill and unwrapped it. Two of the three wild turkeys were in there. I am sure there was a lot of feasting that we didn't see when the sun went down, but before that, the sky and field was alive with buzzards, fat, lazy buzzards. Hey, they are God's creatures too.

CRS Is Epidemic

Yeah, you've heard of it. If you don't have it, you know people who do. That's Can't Remember Sh__. You would expect this to come with advanced age, but kids have it. What kid hasn't forgotten their homework, library book, money, or chores? It is so common, that studies are made on it. Scientists have blamed aluminum cookware, diet, chemicals, and medications. My husband and I watch each other, because two half wits are closer to a wit. He asks if the doors are locked, the dogs fed, horse put out to graze, etc. One night I was so proud because I brought the horse in, fed the dogs and locked the doors before he asked. The next morning he looked out the window, and saw Sprite grazing free. I forgot to shut his gate. Another time I used the Razor, our off road vehicle, put it up and remembered to chain and padlock it before we went bowling. I left the keys in the Razor. I think I mentioned the time he came to bale me out at Walmart when they wouldn't take a check, and forgot his billfold. I hope my sharing this with you makes you feel better about yourself and love ones who seem to be losing it. If they say they forgot they were supposed to do something, give them the benefit of the doubt. They probably did forgot. Except it, and have a good day.

Bird Houses

A couple days ago, my husband helped me take down bird houses, and get them ready for the new prospective families. I noticed red wasps around the door of one on a tree. I got some spray cleaner and sprayed them to chase them away so I could make sure they were not building in the house, then I tapped the house with a golf club to see if any more were laying in ambush for me. A flying squirrel flew out of it and ran up the tree a couple of feet and looked questioningly at me. I felt so bad for her. I decided if she could room with wasps, who was I to interfere? I went away and she returned to her little home.

Dreams

Everyone dreams, but some are forgotten before you even get up. There is one dream I have experienced with variations since I graduated in sixty five. I go to school and don't remember my locker number or combination. I can't remember my schedule. I go to the office and they can't help me for some reason. Bells ring and I don't know where to go. Last night I had that dream again. This time the office had been moved because of reconstruction. I went to the new office, which was small and disorganized. The lady inside was putting her pants on. Did she live in there. I shut the door until she could get herself together. She couldn't tell me what my schedule was. No computers of course. Her files weren't even there. Now, you talk about post traumatic syndrome, school must have severely traumatized me if I am having that kind of dream at my age.

When I was a baby, my mom said I did nothing the first year of my life, but sit. I didn't jabber and coo. I didn't crawl. I sat with whatever my older brother gave me. When I was one year old, my aunt, who was a year older than me, took my doll away from me, I stood up, walked over to her, and said, "My doll!" I guess up until then, everything was okay with me. I didn't have anything to "Sound Off" about. That is why my blogging is so sporadic. Sometimes I limit my comments to MySpace.

Family Fun

I recently went to Austin with my sister, to visit her Tonigirl and family. I always have a blast there with a family that plays together. My sister, being the fun Grandma that she is brought them musical instruments, a little Rocker guitar and keyboard. Little Mikey loved them, and became a Rock Star for us. He really threw himself into it, then ran around bringing out every other instrument he could find. It turns out his Aunt Lori had sent them each real guitars just their size, so we got to see him perform with his. Today I got a video from Lori of her two girls on their little piano, with merry, rambunctious tunes, and the voices of their parents in the background singing as they played. I remembered my sister surrounded by her singing, performing babies, and it was good to see an old fashioned fun tradition passed on. I love to see families really enjoy each other.Television, computers, and video games can't replace this.

Warning

It used to be such an inconvenience having to pull out identification every time you wrote a check. Some places even wanted to see your licence and a credit card. It held up the line. Now we don't have that bother. I am rarely asked for identification. I even told a couple of clerks I appreciated them not asking because it was a stolen check. They didn't even bat an eye, because they use check cashing companies, and their money is guaranteed. Now, your check can be cashed for any amount by any race or gender. Kind of reassuring, isn't it. Watch those check books, my friends.

That Sky

Wednesday evening, as we went out the door to go bowling, I grabbed my camera, just in case the sky wanted to wow me. At the last minute I put it down, thinking how I would feel if I lost it. By the time we reached the lake road I was sorry. The whole sky lit up from the west, across the sky on the south..bright pink, purple, and blue. Who looks south for sunset colors? The show continued for seven miles, until we turned onto the loop. This morning I got up, thinking the sunrise might rival it. I kept glancing out the window where I last caught a great sunrise. Finally, at seven, I gave up as I could see objects, instead of silhouettes. I was putting up my camera and passed a different window, and saw the sun had come up in a new location. I know it shifts through the year. I just hadn't thought of it. Now the picture had to be taken from the dam of our pond instead of from the house side. I took four shots there before it got too light. I wonder, now, what I missed by going out so late. Sometimes blessings come unexpectedly, and sometimes you just have to seek them.

It's That Bright

We ended up the old year trading our old Ford in on a new Ford truck, and visiting my sister and her husband. That night we bowled on our league, and ate at Asian City, not at the hibachi bar. We got home early, and watched TV until twelve, when the woods around us exploded with gun fire and fireworks, and the dogs took refuge under the house. After I tried to convince them it was not Armageddon, I lay thinking of the past year. Gray skies turned blue, and looking back, the year was pretty good, in spite of the doom and gloom reports on the news. Some near and dear to us went through some financial woes, but are surrounded by caring people, and are keeping a positive attitude. Gas prices dropped from near five dollars a gallon to a dollar and a half. It seemed like everyone got snow except us and Austin. Some, up north may have gotten more than they liked, but made the best of it. We still don't know the real Obama, but whatever he is or isn't, God is bigger. This morning started the first day of the new year with the brightest bluest sky. It almost hurt my eyes. I took my pony to be staked out where the grass was best, and with his new cool shades, he seemed to agree the future looks bright, so Happy New Year, everyone.