Out with the old...these are the good ole days!

So very much change in 2009. So much of it for the better. Yet still there are whispers of nostalgia floating around the edges. But more than that, more than in quite some time there is a spirit of expectation, anticipation and excitement for what each day may hold. And a reverence for its value.

The most impact on me were the changes that started in myself last year. Feeling out of touch with who I was as a person, as a woman. I unexpectedly discovered that I was buried beneath layers of life and time. As the layers of rubble were lay aside I begin to recognize and remember the me hidden beneath. I took her out, dusted her off, and integrated her into my current life.

Pete was astounded, startled, enthralled, exasperated and confused as he began at the same time to see both the girl he had married, and a woman he had never knew, emerge from within me. Delighted and sometimes disgusted. But never one to be outdone, he has overall rose to the occasion with some particularly spectacular changes in himself and how he relates to me. I find him to be the boy I married and the man I always dreamed of rolled into one.

Then the holidays came marching around. Over the past 10 years those have been changing for us, as well. As our elders aged and then passed on leaving less glue to bind the family together for calendar events we had begun a new tradition of Thanksgiving dinner in the deer camp. But not belonging to a lease this year, that tradition was soundly driven to the scrap heap. Fortunately for us, a dear couple who have been friends of ours for years invited us to join in their Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful way to spend the holiday without the reminders of what was lost and gone because it was so new and different for us.
We were invited to make it our new tradition, and God willing, it's one we look forward to establishing.

Next, Christmas time was upon us. And it seemed destined that things change there as well. We had always done an evening meal with my sister and her grown daughters and their families, usually on Christmas Eve. But this year a trip to Arkansas to visit with the other side of the family for one and a trip to Colorado for the other brought that tradition to a halt. While a part of me missed actually chatting and hugging and seeing faces I see all too seldom, I also embraced the chance for a slow, easy Christmas Eve with my little family together at home. We wrapped presents, had pizza for supper, watched the tree and TV together and each helped ourselves to one present.

So as this year draws to a close, I remind you all that change can be a good thing. It is mostly in how you choose to look at it. What you are willing to do with it.

Bubba always rips every CD he gets his hands on to the computer. One day, while Pete was perusing the recently added songs he stumbled upon the song below. He played it for me when I got home. It sums up this past year perfectly. And it is my motto I am carrying into the new year.

These Are The Good Ole Days

(James Otto / Shannon Lawson)



I’m wastin’ half of my life just lookin’ back

Thinkin’ all of my good times were in the past

Ain’t no joy to be found livin’ life like that

I couldn’t feel the sunshine on my face

Everywhere that I’d go I’d feel out of place

Finally figured out I’d never win that race

Now I’m amazed to find



Chorus:

These are the good ole days that we’ve been livin’

No more lookin’ back all is forgivin’

Ain’t gonna live my life through no picture frame

These are the good ole days



Seems like people get lost talkin’ ’bout some day

Something better will come and take them away

Never realize ’til it’s too late

It’s the simple things that make life worthwhile

Like a warm summer day or a laughin’ child

Or how it makes me feel just to see you smile

Baby you know it’s true



Chorus

Don't know the author, but this was forwarded to me by a friend named Shelby. I thought it worth sharing.     T'was the Month before Christmas     T'was the month before Christmas   When all through our land,   Not a Christian was praying   Nor taking a stand.   See the PC Police had taken away   The reason for Christmas - no one could say.   The children were told by their schools not to sing   About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.   It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say    December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.   Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit   Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!   CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod   Something was changing, something quite odd!    Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa   In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.   As Targets were hanging their trees upside down   At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.   At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears   You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.   Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty   Are words that were used to intimidate me.   Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen   On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!   At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter   To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.   And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith    Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace   The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded   The reason for the season, stopped before it started.   So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'   Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.   Choose your words carefully, choose what you say   Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,   Not Happy Holiday!   Please, all Christians join together and   Wish everyone you meet   MERRY CHRISTMAS   Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!     Barbara

Saturday Six on Sunday & Other Things

I cannot believe I have not posted since September! What's been happening? A lot and yet nothing really. I've been on the computer less, part of my new priorities. And when I've been here I've been making an attempt to spend more time reading YOUR blogs than writing in mine. I had my six month check-up with my doctor who said all is well. Tell that to my body! Things have been busier at work it seems. Hubby has been working with his brother on a porch and garage for his sister. It's been very demanding and hard on him physically, but he is loving it in every other way. I tried to participate in a 30 year class reunion only to find out there wasn't really one.....but one party I was unable to make. Took the Bug to town and saw King Krunch the monster truck perform. He did a good show. Have enjoyed a lot of cooler weather and some nice fires out under the stars. And just last night my hairdresser, Pete, gave me another awesome color job. Bye-bye grey and hello Barbie's natural shade. So, all in all, life is good and I am blessed.




I saw where Donna had played along with Patrick's Saturday Six and decided I wanted to as well. Here are the rules if you feel so inclined as to play along, too.


Here are this week’s “Saturday Six” questions. Either answer the questions in a comment here, or put the answers in an entry on your journal…but either way, leave a link to your journal so that everyone else can visit! Permission is not granted to copy the questions to message boards for the purpose of having members answer and play along there. Enjoy!

1. What is the last thing you purchased for yourself, other than basics like groceries?

That would be a pair of socks and a bottle of Amarige by Givenchy. But then the perfume was as much or more for Pete than for me. As it is his favorite scent. ;o)

2. What is the last thing you purchased for someone else?

A package of socks for Pete so he isn't always looking the dryer for socks.

3. If you were to win a lottery, what is the first charity you’d donate to?

Definately the first would be a tithe of it to my church.

4. If you won that lottery, what is the first “luxury” you’d buy for yourself?

Would have to be a new comfortable yet fuel effecient car. My Taurus needs replacing.

5. Take the quiz: Do You Put Yourself First or Last?

"You Put Yourself First
By putting yourself first, you're actually not being selfish. You're just being realistic.
You like to help others as much as the next person... maybe even more. But you know you need to be at the top of your game in order to really give back.

You take good care of yourself, and you have learned the art of tactfully saying "no." It's all about balance.
You try to stay away from people and activities that drain you. You prefer to save your energy for those who really matter to you."

I think I've just got back to putting me first or near the first after way too long of trying to do it the other way around. I've found people don't appreciate martyrs and at some point you just run out of anything worth while to give if you don't care for yourself and fill yourself up.

6. When is the last time you spent an entire weekend putting yourself first?

An entire weekend? I don't think I really need that much at one wack. A morning or afternoon or chunk of an evening is just about right. But that would probably be the last time my whole bunch went to the deer camp together.

It's been fun to play. And good to be back. Hopefully I'll not be so neglectful of my little spot of cyberspace in the weeks ahead. But then, who knows what the days will hold.

The Out Back Chili House

Last night Pete and I discovered a most unusual restaurant tucked up here in the woods by our house: The Out Back Chili House. Reservations are a must! There is only one table. And your server is dedicated to you and only you the whole evening. And surprisingly affordable! Let me tell you all about our night.

Pete and I cleaned up and each put on our very best nightwear. He, plaid lounging pants and a grey muscle shirt. The combination really set off his golden hair and piercing blue eyes. I chose my flower print clingy a-line spaghetti strap gown that comes about mid-thigh and accented it with my mothers double strand pearls and one of Donna's lovely anklets. Then we went out and walked around to the back porch. There we were met by our lovely server. Cute, young and sassy, I do believe she was flirting with my Pete. Her name for the evening was Clara.

Clara wore a hot pink scooter skirt with a turquoise top and a striped vest. She had long, flowing, strawberry-blond hair. Her eyes danced with merriment and her face would often turn cherry red with the blush of embarrassment as she interacted with us throughout the night.

We met Clara at the porch and she walked us past an overloaded pear tree to reveal a roaring fire in a fire hole in the ground. Just beyond it, under an opening in the pecan tree tops, was a carpet with a small wooden dining table and two chairs. Beside the table was a lantern and upon it's top was a Navajo tablecloth with fresh gardenias in a vase and a candle. After seating us, Clara took our drink order. I choose the Coke and 7, Pete opted for an ice cold Miller Lite. Clara left our silverware with us and turned on some soft music. A delightful and romantic mix that included Otis Redding, Johnny Rivers, Billy Joe Royal and Delbert McClinton.

We lit our candle and relaxed. We could look directly into each other's eyes and touch our fingertips across the table. We found that when we slipped our shoes off we could also rub the other's foot underneath. Quite titillating!

"Clara" returned with our drinks and gave us menus that revealed that homemade chili was THE dish of the night. Could be order in variety of ways with extras and options. We both chose the Frito pie with onions and grated cheese. I asked for a refill and Pete joined me in ordering Coke & 7 this time around. Our server left us in solitude to contemplate the music, the fire, the stars and each other.

The music was just loud enough to hear every word, but low enough to hear the chorus that was coming from the woods of chirping crickets and tree frogs. Occasionally the fire would snap and pop. I don't think I've ever been in a restaurant with a more pleasant atmosphere.

Our dinner arrived carried expertly by Clara on a large tray held erect on the fingertips of one hand. She served our food and I have to say I have never seen such a simple dish garnished and presented in such a pleasing way. Pete and I both dove right in. It was delicious and just the right temperature. I ate until I thought I'd pop and then Pete polished off what was left of mine after finishing his own. Time for a smoke and more conversation as we sipped our drinks.

At just the right moment Clara was back, ready to take away our dirty dishes. There were peppermints to combat the onions. And she went away to tally our "bill". She soon returned. It seemed a little pricey at first, $45.00. But once I understood that my imaginary Visa was accepted there, it became a great deal. Pete dug out a little cash for a tip for Clara. As she was so young and precious, we invited her to sit and visit with us while we finished our drinks. We all did some star gazing and she and Pete searched out the big dipper but couldn't locate it last night. When we were done we helped her close down the restaurant by turning off the lantern, putting the CD player in the Bronco and sitting the table under the shed.

"Clara" came inside and put on her bed clothes, snuggled up in the blue lazy boy with her teddy and the TV. Pete and I disappeared into our room to play a little "dice".

Another wonderful, unforgettable evening in Caneyhead.

(This all started with an email from my Pete at work yesterday challenging me to "e-mail me naughty things you are going to do to ME this WEEKEND...
or if not Me , tell me anyway.
If , When , Where , How and How Long...-" I answered him throughout the day, one email at a time for each of the five conditions. When I got home last evening, I cooked up the chili and left everything necessary out and accessible in the kitchen. When I invited Hannah to participate by being our server, she was overjoyed! Happy for us to have a special evening, and to get to play pretend with two adults. We all worked together to have the fire, table, lantern and music ready to go. Once we were all dressed and ready, we went into "character" and remained there until we came in the house afterward. And I have to say Bug threw herself into her role and went the extra mile to make it all "real" with a menu and order pad and all those little touches. I share this in hopes it inspires YOU to do something a little unusual, creative and inexpensive with your own mate.)

Rainy Day Musings

Rainy, rainy weekend here in Caneyhead. But that's okay. Makes for a more restful and relaxing weekend. Wanted to touch base with you all. Especially my usual readers and regular friends. I've been cleaning up my favorites list, getting rid of email subscriptions to things I never read anymore. Trying to get streamlined and organized so that when I do occasionally get on the PC at home I can spend more time reading your entries, visiting, commenting...like I used to. This is still my favorite medium on the Internet. And my goal is to begin to post weekly again.

Been over at Sitemeter....entertaining myself with a look at where do these people come from and how do they get here. Had a recent visit from Italy. Thrilled to see more visits from other places in Texas. But most amusing to me was a look at the referring URL's. In other words, the places people were in order to get to here. How they found their way to Caneyhead. Most of my visitors use AOL for their service provider, like I do. AOL returns an unknown result. But most other providers leave a trail.

Out of the ones I can really see it simply tells me they came from their blogger home or google reader list. Some others show up after clicking on a link to Caneyhead on someone's blogger profile or another blogger blog. But what I find most interesting are the ones that land here by way of a search. These folks have found me by searching "Caneyhead". That's simple enough. A more unusual one was a search for "river bottom people", on Google. Someone on Yahoo was searching for "preserving purple hull peas". Another Googler came after searching a screen name that commented here. Some sweet person used a Yahoo search for a "Baby stud horse". One person got here because they were searching for a certain person and both their first name and last name showed up in one of my entries, though not as a single name. Someone else was looking for a "space cowboy" and because I did an entry by the title of the Steve Miller song....voila they got here!

I find all of this fascinating. And it can be a lot of fun. But perhaps it reminds us all that we leave footprints everywhere we go on the web. So be careful little feet where you go.

Now if you are searching for jewelry, looking for the perfect gift for a loved one or a friend, doing a little early online Christmas shopping, I want to direct your attention to my good IRL friend, Donna and her Timeless Treasures. She carries a full line of everything under the sun in handcrafted sterling silver jewelry. I have not done this before, directly endorsed a friend's business on my blog. But I wanted to this time for several reasons.

One, I do know Donna in real life. Ten years ago, while her business was still a baby, she made a sterling silver baby bracelet for little baby Hannah. So I know she has the experience of ten plus years to do this right. More recently, she's adapted and modified a piece for Bubba. And Bug and I both have beautiful ankle bracelets she created. Also, she and her husband, Roy, are good people.

You'll find a permanent link to her website in my sidebar, right under my About Me section. So if you are a jewelry lover or are looking to make a purchase for a gift, please drop by and check out her selections first.

I'll be seeing y'all around. Until the next time, take care and God bless.

Barbara

I've Been Honored: Honest Scrap Award

I didn't expect to be posting here today. But Lynne, at Time And Thoughts II, has bestowed upon me an award! The Honest Scrap Award:

I love it! Makes me think of honest labor, hard work, scrappy intuitive survival. Testing your mettle. Things made to last. The logo and artwork hearkens back to the era of Rosie the Riveter and the greatest generation. And the bullet holes! If that doesn't say Caneyhead, what does? LOL

It comes with a set of rules.

#1 Thank the person who gave it to you. Thank you dear Lynne. It means a lot, especially coming from you!

#2 Copy the logo to your blog. Which I have done.

#3 Link to the person who gave it. I have at the top of the page.

#4 Name ten things about yourself that people might find interesting.

• When I write, I just sit down and start typing. No outline, nothing they taught you in English IV.
• When I graduated from High School I could sit down and read in French. Couldn't say much more than Bonjour, but I could read it.
• I've shot at three things in my life to kill; a snake, an armadillo and a deer. Each one I hit and killed first shot.
• I have changed oil and spark plugs in my own car before.
• I like long, slender fingers on a man, like my Pete. They remind me of my Daddy's.
• I gotta have coffee before you talk to me, or I do anything in the morning.
• Cuddle me all you want before time to fall asleep, and you may once I'm asleep...but leave me alone when I'm going to sleep.
• My brain is overflowing with trivial information on many and various subjects.
• I've been late to work for things like being stuck in a mud hole and a loose hog.
• I have danced at Gilley's, circa 1983.

#5 & 6 Nominate and post links to 10 other blogs for the Honest Scrap Award. My nominees are folks I find to be honest and down to earth in their posts. People with mettle. (If you have previously received this award, please simply acknowledge this nomination. You don't have to do it all over again, unless you just want to.)

1. Sandra at A Pennies Worth.

2. Guido, from various blogs, including Atlantic Lines.

3. Donna at Just Me.

4. Sam at Say It Baldy.

5. Helen at My Everyday Life.

6. Lisa at The World Inside My Mind.

7. Rebecca at Provocation of Mine(d).

8. Paula at Paulines Country Tales.

9. Mik at Diary of Rock-n-Roll Men.

10. Celeste at My Day and Thoughts.

#7 Post a comment in their blogs letting them know they have been nominated. (I cheated. To save time on dial-up I emailed my nominees.)

God bless you all my friends, followers and visitors. I'm leaving MySpace and Facebook and plan to be much more a part of this community.

A Totally New Experience

Surprised to see me? Well, I can't stay away forever. This place is like my home away from home. What brings me here today is a little different, at least for me. I had an unique experience last night. But before I tell you about that....let me catch you up on life here my friends.


The past couple of months have been an emotional rollercoaster with incredible highs and soul wrenching lows. I choose not to dwell on the lows, so I want to share some of the highs. Pete and I are doing things I never thought a year ago, no six months ago, we'd be doing. We've been really living and truly loving. He and I have gone 4-wheeling several evenings. We've slept out under the stars all night long. We've gone skinny dipping in a friends pool at 2:00 in the morning. We took the kids and went bowling as a family one night. Pete has cooked me some delicious meals. And we created a marvelous pasta dish together in the kitchen one night. For Father's Day I cooked him up some fried perch another friend had given us. For Mother's Day he gave me Stanley, just because he arrived that day.

That was the first day. Here's one more recent:

Bug thinks her summer is going terribly. :o( She has to help daddy with the animals, in the garden and with the dishes and laundry. But it's really not as bad as she thinks. She's been spoilt.

Bubba has bought himself a one-ton Cummins and is adapting the flatbed on it and rigging it out for a welding truck. I'm proud for him and of him.

That brings us back around to why I came here today. Pete and I went to a birthday party for a dear friend last night. Someone Pete had worked in the oilfield with. A relaxing, wonderful evening. Lots of folks. Various and different folk of all different ages, stages, and stations. There Pete introduced me to a woman who he has known most all of his life. I don't believe I have ever known her. Hard to believe in a small town, but we don't truly know everyone....just feels like it sometimes. And as we are talking she tells me she had come across Life & Faith by a Google search on Caneyhead. (Nice to know those meta-tags work.) She tells me she has read some here and enjoyed her visit. I'm pleasantly surprised and flattered. This was a first for me. Lots of folks from other places, including Vietnam and Romania lately, find their way here. And I've told people IRL (in real life) about my blog and some have come by. But it is the first time I've simply stumbled upon a person IRL who came across my blog totally on their own and then who I happened to meet and speak to. Reminds me of just how small this huge world can be. And impresses upon me just how powerful this medium can/could be.

To friends old and new, God bless you and keep you. And if I don't get another chance to tell you, have a safe and happy 4th of July.

For My Friends

Just wanted to share with my friends. A general update on me and mine.

Bug is doing outstandingly well in school. She's had her art displayed at the local museum. Been accepted to the Duke University TIP program for her writing. All A's Honor Roll and perfect attendance. Looking forward to getting to start training Prissy, her horse, this summer.

Bubba has just started a new job where he's actually hired out as a welder. He's loving the money.

Pete's awaiting the sssssllllloooowwww arrival of our new colt. Has a beautiful garden going. Been cooking up some great meals. He's gotten into trying things with pasta. Watch out Olive Garden!

And me. Well, I'm really me again. I've taken Bug to the carnival and rode all the rides with her. I always loved the rides. I love the wind. Love the wind in storms as well. It always makes me feel invigorated, alive. Even the winds in Rita, though I dare not step out in them, thrilled me more than scared me.

Bubba, Bug and I rode down to Galveston one day not long ago. My first time there since Ike dealt all it's destruction. Unbelievable view once we turned on Hwy 87. All the tall grass is gone. Clean up beach side is almost total. You could see the Gulf all the way down to the ferry. Really more beautiful than before. Yet, still when you thought of all that was simply washed away....it was painful.

It was Bug's first trip to the ocean. She loved it! We rode the ferry over. I was amazed at the emerald green of the water. I am used to the Gulf being a muddy, mucky looking brown. Perhaps all the dredging to clean out the water way for the ships is responsible. I don't know if Bug's little camera pic does it justice.

We rented a four seater bike/buggy and rode up and down the seawall once on the Island. Then the kids souvenir shopped. I hung out front and talked to old beach bums. ;o) Bug and I wadded in the surf and sea shell hunted. Bubba sat back and took in the view. The only person on the beach with Wrangler jeans, Wrangler denim shirt and Redwing boots.

On the way home we detoured through Pt. Arthur and refinery row. Finished up at Tony' s in Beaumont for Bar BQ. A great day!

I'm taking time to stop and visit with whomever comes through our little spot on the hill. I'm not taking any crap off of anyone. I do what I feel, when I want to. Hang out with the girls, sip a drink, talk and giggle. Taking better care of myself.

I really don't know how to explain it. All I can really say is I'm me again....and I haven't been for quite some time. Those who have known me for a long time say, "Watch out, Barbie's back." Those who haven't known me that long look at me like "What's up with her?" And I love it.

Hugs to all my friends. I'll try not to be such a stranger....but there's a lot of living to do!

Testing

Just testing how an email post works.

 

 

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Would You Sail With Me?

I seem to be on a hiatus from this journaling enterprise. For any out there that are my friends, that are women, who would care to join me on a voyage of rediscovery of Barbara leave a comment or email me with a request to be added to my private Barefoot & Bra-less Blog. New entries will be forth coming there.

Warning: This journey is not for the faint of heart.

And I still love you all and expect to return here when my trip is complete.

Barbara

What We Did Saturday

Yesterday I teased you all with this picture, and asked you to guess what we were doing with that barrel. Several of you thought about the fact that we are country folks and made some really good guesses, including smoking meat or boiling fat.



In actuality, we were boiling water. Needed lots of hot boiling water to scrape the hog Pete killed. More pictures and commentary follow. This may not be something for the extremely tenderhearted or squeamish although I didn't post any of the extremely graphic shots.

Hannah documented the whole thing with her digital camera as this is becoming a lost art.



This is the sow we killed. She's never took when we tried to breed her, so her days were numbered.



Robert McGallion and Pete cutting out a hole in the hog pen so they can remove the hog.



They placed her on a sheet of plywood and pulled her over near the fire hole with the tractor.



Pete pours a couple of pots of boiling water over the snout and Robert begins scrapping the hair off.



Robert is the teacher. Here Pete and Bubba begin practicing what they were shown and told.



Pete's nephew, Dusty, is here now and helping Bubba. He plans to be butchering a hog of his own soon and wanted to learn. Two young men save the old codgers a lot of bending and squatting. ;o)



One side is almost complete. Grab the ears and the feet, flip it over and do the other side.



Nothing is wasted. Here Duck even scrapes and cleans the tail.



Another nephew, Benny's son David, rides up on the four wheeler and he gets in on the action as well. Special care is given to cleaning the feet. Toe nails are popped off.



Don't forget her belly!



Make a handy-dandy holder out of the tendon on the back of the hind feet.



The hog is dragged on the board to under the A-frame. The hind feet are put on the hook and it is lifted by come-a-longs.



The head is cut off. The front feet. And then it is gutted and cleaned inside.



Here, Bubba and Bug are observing from the back of the truck.



A shot of them actually working on it.



The finished project. The carcass is off to be processed. Smoked hocks and bacon. Pork chops. And lots of sausage.

The head, the heart and the feet will be boiled down one day soon and Pete and Robert will make hogs head cheese out of it. They eat it. I don't.

When it is processed, the excess skin and fat will be saved for us. One day Pete will take it out and cut it in small pieces. He'll then boil it to render out the fat for frying and this will also make some tasty cracklings for snacking and cornbread.

Hope you enjoyed your Saturday in Caneyhead.

Barbara

What's Going On?

Okay, folks. Here's a picture that was made this morning. Take a good look and tell me, if you can, what this drum is doing over the fire. What is it's purpose? What did we do this morning?


I'll be back later to tell you the whole story with plenty more pictures.

Love, Barbara

Thirteen makes a baker's dozen

Hello, all! We've recently gone into a rather bizarre boarding and tour enterprise. Pete's chicken coop sits on the top of the hill not far from where he buried our bunker in the ground. Below that is a semi-cleared sloping woody spot heading down into the baygall. From time to time, coons bother the chickens or their eggs.

Not too long ago, Pete and Bug noticed dear tracks near the wood line. So when they'd go to feed the chickens, they'd throw a handful of corn or two out in hopes of getting a "pet" deer that would come by regularly to eat and they could enjoy watching it. But Pete soon found by the tracks that varmints were eating his gift to the deer, not the deer.

So he started setting a live trap out, baited with corn. And each day he finds a coon in it. Different sizes and ages. Latest count is at twelve! That arises a whole new question of what to do with the scared, angry things. Contrary to opinion, all country rednecks do not eat coon. Pete could kill them, skin them and sell them. But that's just more work that would have to be done even on a bad day when you didn't feel up to it. And since he's not catching them in the act of disturbing eggs in the chicken coop, he can't bring himself to just blow them away and discard them.

That leaves him but one option, relocate them. Each day he brings the trap up the hill. The coon is given a bite of corn and a drink of water in their cozy accommodations. Then Pete or Bubba would load the trap in the back of the first truck headed away from here and release the perturbed creature in a new locale. Problems arose in that Pete rarely leaves the farm. And Bubba encountered his own problems. He'd take coons for rides to the feed store and back. Out on dates. And even into town to eat at Casa Ole. Then bring them straight back home.

Pete couldn't see tying up the trap long enough for these excursions. So, he began a new regime of he and Bug loading them up every evening after chores and driving them down the bottom of the hill and releasing them there. Bug's little pet, Blackie, rode along for the adventure and Pete soon found Blackie loved "escorting" the coons into their new tree-top accommodation. Sometimes they'd object to the first one she selected for them and come down. After some discussion, she'd direct them to another and stand watch until she felt sure they were settled.

Number twelve enjoyed a fire with us last night. He's basked in the sun today. Probably get his trip down the hill this evening. Good thing, too, as I am sure number thirteen wonders when he'll get to step into that box cage and begin his all expense paid tour.

On a more personal note;

• I've filed and my refund is in my hand!
• Bug's 100 score on Reading & Writing TAKS qualifies her for Duke TIP!
• I've been test driving the Beta AOL 9.5 with tabbed browsing and love it!
• Betty turned me on to a great site/way to support our troops: Soldiers' Angels.

God bless and keep you,

Barbara

Yes, That's My Purse :oP

A while back I saw somewhere out there, where a person was going through their purse and listing what they found inside. (Sorry, I can't remember where!) I thought at first what a cute meme! Planned to do it. Then life caught me off-sides and I didn't get it done.

Part of that was coming home from work one evening and finding that Pete was waiting for me to take him to the hospital in Woodville per doctor's orders. He had gone to see her with a really bad chest cold that day. She wanted him to go and have a chest x-ray for two reasons: to confirm whether it was bronchitis and because the electrocardiogram they did in the office that day looked a little different from his last one. So, me, him and the Bug load up and take off. They saw no problems other than he did have bronchitis. As we started to leave it was after 11:00 pm in a small Texas town. I asked the nurse at the nurse's station where a person could still get something to eat. She said Jack-in-the-Box on the corner.

We pull into a vacant looking Jack only to be told by a boy as we were about to disembark that only the drive through was open. Oh, yuck. I had so wanted to sit down comfortably and eat. But we proceeded to the drive through order sign. The young man on the speaker was having a very hard time understanding what we were wanting. We thought he finally had it straight, but then proceeded to tell us our order was over $20. That was our first clue something was wrong.

They had supersized everything! Pete passed me my huge soft drink. Which I stuck between my legs in the seat, up close to me. Then I was passed my giant fries, that I placed in front of the drink toward my knees. Last, he passed my entree. As I was opening it, I felt my fries starting to slip out of my legs. Of course I didn't want them to nose dive into a filthy floorboard, so I instinctively clamped my legs together tighter.....OH, NO!!! My lap was instantly flooded with over 64 ounces of icy cold beverage!!!! WOW! There was one little hand towel in the car somewhere that I put in the seat after I threw the door open, wiped out all the ice I could. Then I had to make the 45 minute ride home wet and cold like that.

Well, the next day, at work, I realized that my purse which had been under my legs in the floor board at the time of my accident, was wet all down inside. Everything was soaked! Lovely. Needless to say, I had to do a full overhaul on my purse and it's contents. Blow dried the insides. Now, I'm sporting a lighter loaded purse than I have in years!

So, here's my newer lighter content inventory:

Pocket full of bankcards, gifts cards, business cards.

Wallet with drivers license, video club cards, calendar, list of EOM dates for work.

Change purse with a few bills and change.

A couple of pens and a tire gauge.

Feminine products.

Hair brush.

Check stub.

Letter from school counselor saying Hannah qualifies for Duke's TIP program!

Two koozies from work for canned drinks.

The electronic gate pass for work and the keys I sometimes need there.

So all's well that ends well. Now I have a neater, lighter purse. Who knows how long I would have put off cleaning it out if the soda hadn't forced me to.

Borrowing a phrase from a dear departed Sister in Christ of mine, "Be blessed and be a blessing."

Barbara

A Lot Have Been Going On

There has really been a lot going on since the first of the year. I've had a round with a virus, Pete has fought bronchitis, Bubba had a fender bender and Bug has found Horseland, so we can't get her off the PC once her homework and chores are done. I hope all has been well with you!

So many things I want to write about, so little time to do them. Just popping in today to share a little news. First, our beloved Sam from Colorado is home again and doing well. Praise God! And you can see I finally figured out how to "cute up" my blog. Pay special attention to the beautiful Bible verse box on my sidebar. Without all the flashy ads. You can design one for your blog over at The Sacred Mint.

What's for supper? I don't have a clue. Gotta get up and go shopping. And treat Bug to a late lunch at one of the places she won a certificate to for her excellent grades and perfect attendance. Will be back with a bonafide post as soon as I can.

Until then, God bless and keep you!

Barbara

Black Eyed Peas and Cabbage

Can you read between the lines?! LOL (for the puter, and play on puter, on the puter!) Actually, I just don't make New Year's resolutions. I suppose I think you should initiate change in your life any time you realize it's necessary or would be beneficial. And then there's always some habits and traits I'm just gonna hang on to no matter what. Suppose I'm stubborn that way.

I never have been a big one for partying on New Year's Eve. I can't see all the to-do about the calendar changing, for one. Secondly, it's about the most dangerous night of the year you could be on the road. Even when I was young, sexy like in the picture and still in my wild days it didn't much appeal to me. I can count the times I partied in the New Year in my life on one hand. With a digit or two left over.

Never have been one to see any benefit or reasoning to superstitions either. Suppose my attitude is much the same as the song by Stevie Wonder. "When you believe in things that you don't understand and you suffer....superstition ain't the way."

Tradition, though, is something I can sink my teeth into. Doing things just because we always have or Mama and Daddy did. I like the connection to the past and the feeling of continuance it brings.

So for that reason, today I have black-eyed peas with bacon and onion simmering on the stove. There's two head of cabbage to be diced and boiled down with polska kielbasa sausage as well. Probably some fresh rice and a pone of cornbread coming, too. That's just what we do in the South. In Texas. In Caneyhead.

Never have seen the good fortune the superstitious say the peas should bring or the money the cabbage ought to proffer. But to quote Daddy, "I've never felt better or had less in my poor life." Praying you and yours are blessed as well!

Barbara