Friday, December 21, 2012

Here comes the Sun.

I know I already posted this picture, but it is fitting for the day.
Happy winter solstice.


And for how I have been feeling.

Here comes the sun 
Here comes the sun, and I say  
It's all right
Little darling 

It's been a long, cold lonely winter 
Little darling 
It feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun  

Here comes the sun, and I say 
It's all right
Little darling  
The smiles returning to the faces 
Little darling 
It seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun 

Here comes the sun, and I say 
It's all right
Little darling I feel that ice is slowly melting  

Little darling  
It seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun  

Here comes the sun, and I say  
It's all right
Here comes the sun  

Here comes the sun  
It's all right  
It's all right

This Holiday season has not been so bad.  I don't know if I was expecting the worst and so anything above that feels fantastic or if it really has been better...but I do know it has a whole lot to do with me. 

Something somewhere, sometime changed.  The change was me.  I changed me.  And changing me changed everything. A bit of a domino effect, I guess.  
And before I knew it--well, 
Little darling Here comes the sun and I say, It's alright.  
And by saying "before I knew it" what I mean is "several years later".
And by saying "I changed me" what I mean is "with a lot of help and support I was able to get a few things through my thick skull".

Life is still not exactly what I would hope for it to be.  Mike and I are still both working part time and filling in the gaps where ever we can.  The punks still drive me crazy.  Every so often I'm pretty sure if the gypsies came through town I would be tempted to sell a child or two.

But, you know what?  We're okay.  
We are happy and healthy and all here together. 
(which is so much more than some families will get to have this Christmas)  

So, I will take it.  I will take the chaos.   
And the scrimping and scrambling.  I will take the fits and the fighting.
I will take the craziness and the complaining.  
I will take the smiles and the tears.

I don't really know why I've been given this particular row to hoe
I don't know why you've been given yours.
And I don't know why our parallel rows are so different
the ground seems so much harder for some. 
I do know that I'm a hoe to the end of the row kinda gal. 
And so are my peeps. 
I know that hard work and determination make me happy.  
And so does chocolate.
I know that It's alright...or that it will be. 
And I know that if I'm not where I'm at, I'm no where. 
So here I am...and there you are. 

And, look....Here comes the Sun. 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Nicely done.


This is how we do sunrise on a cold winter morning in Idaho.
Beautiful.
And Brrrr, I might add.
I ventured out in my jammies to snag this pic.
Your welcome.

p.s.
chocolates 2013 coming soon.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

My running buddy.

I've only had one.  I've had walking buddies and I've had run/walking buddies, but I've only had one running buddy.  She was the running buddy instigator.  I had never run with a buddy (other than Mike, and he doesn't count because he's obligated to go my pace and not complain)  and I was nervous that she would dust me, honestly--I'm sure she could of.  But she didn't, she was happy to have someone to run with and I was happy to have someone who wanted to run with me.  It was a great match...right up until I moved.  But even since then when we went back down to visit she and I covered some great miles.

Living in St. George running was pretty much a year round activity- so every Monday, Wednesday and Friday early morning we would meet to pound the pavement and cover the miles.  I've always said exercise with a friend is just as beneficial for my mental well being as it is for my physical health, if not more.  It's like a therapy session three times a week.  The best part is the visiting--minus interruption.  No phones, no kids, no worries.  Just time to visit.  That's what we did.  Lots of miles, lots of great conversation--mostly about our kids and families.  Cuz you know, we're just your regular Mormon moms...family is our life.

I love this lady.  We are kindred spirits.  We are about the same age, same number of kids that roughly line up in age and we are both just kind of low maintenance, simple gals.  In fact, she kind of took over my job of being the 'grounder' for Robyn when I left the St. G.  Her son Dallin filled the playmate spot for Robyn's son Gil that Grant left vacant.  I just really like her, she's good people.

But, you know what?  Bad things happen to good people.  And it truly sucks.  My running buddy Karin lost her sweet 15 year old daughter Whitney 5 days ago in a tragic accident.

I am in Idaho, but my heart is in Santa Clara.
It doesn't seem right or real or fair.  And I am just so heart broken for her.
My running buddy has to bury a child.  We aren't suppose to do that.  We are regular moms, remember?
Whitney's a regular girl.  A great girl, but a regular great girl.  She should be here.
It's maddening.
It doesn't seem okay, but it will be.
I know it will be.

Other than a constant prayer in my heart for Karin and her family the only thing I can think to do is love my own little punks just a little bit better.  Hug them all just a little bit longer.  Take time to see them, really see them.  Make time to listen, laugh and love just a little bit more.

The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

One really good, productive day.

This is what I mumbled to myself as I drifted off to slumber land last night, all I need is one really good productive day.

One really good productive day and I could get my windows cleaned.
One really good productive day and I could deep clean the bathrooms.
One really good productive day and I could whip this house into shape.
One really good productive day and I could get my yard ready for fall.
(who has two thumbs and said a silent prayer of thanks for the frost that finally
 killed latest and greatest source of guilt--the garden?  THIS GIRL!!)
One really good productive day and I could change my decor to match the season.
One really good productive day and I could organsize many a space.
One really good productive day could change my world...
or so it would seem.

Hmmm, now to find the time and more importantly the motivation to make it all happen.

Step one:
Don't blog while waiting for the brownies you promised the YW you'd bring to volleyball tonight to bake.
Clean instead.  Duh.  That's a no brainer.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Farmboy

Mr. Grant D goes to school two days a week, all day.  On his days off he likes to spend as much time as possible in a tractor/farm implement of any description.
This morning shortly after the kids left for school he was ready to jump on his bike and head down to Grandma's to see what farm work needed to be done today.
I stopped him and asked him if he thought I should just keep him here with me so I wouldn't miss him too much while he was gone.

He said, "How about I give you a hug and then why don't you just take a picture of me and you can look at it if you get lonely."
Smart kid, so that's what we did.



With my mad baking skills I have won over many a child's heart,
but dang-it-all I cannot compete with Grandpa's farm!
Not in this kid's eyes at any rate.

Friday, September 14, 2012

New shoes?

Are there really women out there who go to work for a new pair of shoes??
....for themselves none the less???
Someone said this to me a few weeks before I started my job.
She said, and I quote, "Ohhh...a lunch lady, won't that be nice?  Extra money's always nice...you can get stuff for yourself, you could buy your self a new pair of shoes."
To be fair I should say that this lady probably didn't know what else to say to me, nor was she the first person to say this sort of thing to me.

Bare in mind this is not the first time I've brought in another source of income for our family.  My jobs have not been glamorous: cleaning houses, babysitting, web writing (okay so that doesn't have the same negative connotation) and lunch lady.
Not exactly fancy shmancy.
Never have I done it for a new pair of shoes.  That's ridiculous.

I've lived in the trenches, People.  I was in baby/toddler world for a long time.  I remember the days of multiple diaper changing, peed in pants, poopy undies, babies needing to be fed, burped, cuddled and snuggled.  I remember the snack fixing the crying, whining, fighting, and fussing.  I remember the bedtime 'thank the Heavens above I made it through another day' nightly sigh of relief.

I dare you to find me a mother that hasn't thought to herself in the midst of all this fantastic mothering,
"One day they will all be in school. One day all of these fabulous little people I have birthed from my body and by the sweat of my brow have loved and cared for every day will all be in school and I will no longer need to sneak a cookie, lock myself in the closet, gobble it down and then take 10 deep breathes before facing the natives."

Now, I suppose I can't speak for everyone--but as for me--I did not finish up that thought with "...and then I will leave my house and get a job."  Hello?  I'm like the poster child for the Suzie Homemaker Club. 
No.
The grand idea was to actually be alone.
At home.

Don't get me wrong, I still love my job.  I actually haven't hated any of the jobs I have done.  Okay, okay I kind of had a while when I pretty much hated doing day care, but for the most part I try to enjoy what ever I am doing.
You know, capre diem and all that crap.

I'm just saying, let's all try not to say stupid things.
I know, it happens to the best of us....

And here I am still doing everything I do for the little punks I raised from pups...I remember reading something about "Mother ducks pick feathers from their chests to line their nest".  Did you catch that?  "Mother ducks pick feathers from their chest to line their nest".  Did you know that?  Those mother ducks don't go picking up the strings and scraps where ever they can find them, they give their babies the very best they can.  I'm sure it hurts a little sometimes plucking out the best, softest feathers they have...but they do it any way. 
And so do I.
Here's to my punk duckies, I offer you the very best of me.


p.s.
i'm fully aware my posts
are seeming somewhat random,
even for me.
and that's saying something.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

I am strong. I am courageous.

I am strong.  I am courageous.
Say it with me now:  I am strong. I am courageous.
I am full of strength and courage.
Strength is my weapon, courage my shield.

I know this is a weird post, but just trust me on this one.
And FYI in case you were wondering...
I can indeed do hard things.

That's all.
Peace out.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Working Girl.

It's official.  I have a "real job".  Please use dramatic air quotes when you say that...mmmkay?
Because heaven knows I have plenty of other (non-monetary paying) jobs to go around.  Plenty.
So, I am a lunch lady.  Not a glamorous sounding title, but I quite like it so far.

I love the ladies I work with, it's only a few hours a day, the kitchen is warm
(which is fantastic for a cold blooded creature like myself)--I've even been a bit too warm a couple of times--dare I say--I might even go so far as to say--sweaty, the kids are super cute, I get to wear comfy scrubs to work (hello? most new clothes i've had in years. courtesy of the school district) and since we all match I don't ever need to wonder what to wear--just throw it on and zip I'm ret-to-go.
  

This is Monday's outfit.  It's the perkiest one we have.  I mean, c'mon, who doesn't want lunch served to them by lovely ladies with frogs and flowers on their shirts?  Hmmm?  Nobody, that's who.

I work in a different school district then my own kiddos.  Which is good and bad.  Some of our vacations don't line up and I work on Fridays when my punks are out of school (remember? four day school week in P-town).
I'm just gonna go ahead and shoot straight with you here...I was more than happy to walk out the door Friday.  For the record, I think it's just kind of a cruel joke to start school in the middle of the week- go to school for two days- then have a three day weekend.  Seemed like a tease to me....but, what do I know?
I suppose what I am so delicately trying to say is this---I think I won't cry myself to sleep at night thinking about the days my punks will be home and I'll be gone for a few hours or the days that they will be in school and I get to stay home by my lonesome and not go to work.  I know, I'm just sort of a rude mother like that.

After a 17 year hiatus from a "real job" (remember, dramatic air quotes) where I clock in and clock out it does seem kind of strange to be back at it.
Strange, but good.
I think I really needed something like this in my life, plus it makes me miss my little buddy Grant Delish a wee little bit less.
And since I was such a picky eater as I child I never would eat school lunch
--even though I was supposed to and my dear old mother paid for it and I threw pretty much all of it away every day until I was ratted out by one of the lunch ladies and got a talking to about being wasteful from me mum and even after that I only ate a tiny bit more and yes when I think about that I kinda want to go back in time and slap myself upside the head (I hate waste now)--
so I get to redeem myself.

School lunch.
It's a good thing.
Peace out.
:o)

Thursday, August 23, 2012

First Day.

Well, would you look what showed up at my door step this morning??? 
(Actually for the past two days...let's pretend I finished this yesterday, 
which was the official first day of school.
kthanks)
That's right--the Big Yellow Ticket to Solitude returns.

And when it left....
 ...it took all of these lovely people with it.  


 Adam.
A junior this year.  A JUNIOR.
That means we there's only one more first day of school for this guy.
I'm not sure how I feel about that.  Hello??  His birthday is Friday...and he'll be 17.
Did you catch that???  I said he'll be 17!!
Two years and he's off on his mission.
Holy Crap.

Audrey.
This lovely young lady started high school today.
I think she's been ready since 2nd grade.
I don't worry about her not being able to handle high school,
Frankly, I wonder if the high school is ready for her.


Lucy.
Goose is in the 7th grade this year.
She is such a funny girl...not really a fan of posing for the camera.
This was the closest thing to a "normal" picture we got.
She was pulling some pretty weird poses.

Elsie.
Elsie is in 4th grade.  
This girl is a lover of school.
I think mostly because it means she gets to socialize with more people.
What a cutie.

 
Grant.
My little buddy is in kindergarten.
It's kind of a killer, I quite enjoy this little man's company.
When I asked him if he missed me he replied,
"Well, no mom.  I kind of forgot you were even alive."
Ummm, okay. I'll try not to take that too personally.
 I'm just glad he had a fabulous day. 

Now, boys and girls, are we working on our counting?
Did everyone count up how many children got on the 
Big Yellow Ticket to Solitude??
That's right, Five.
And how many children does farmgirl have??
Yup, Five.
.......
It's SO weird.
SO WEIRD.

The 'How was your first day?' reports are in.
To sum it up...
A good time was had by all.
:o)

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Abundant Harvest

So, did you ever hear the one about the lady who was buried alive by zucchini?
No?
Well, it's me.
No joke, I currently have 45 zucchini sitting on my counter.  And we have already shredded and frozen enough zucchini to make multiple batches of zucchini bread and brownies.  Plus there's more in the garden ready to be picked in few days.

I know a picture is worth a thousand words, and believe me when I tell you I would LOVE to photo document this craziness.  Unfortunately, my camera is lost.  These are the pitfalls of letting the children find ways to entertain themselves during the summer.  They take the camera, make crazy movies and take crazy pictures and before you know it...Look Ma, No Camera.  Eh, well.  I'm assuming it will turn up when the dust settles.

Of course I would like to have pictures to show you, but more importantly I'm going to need documentation to present to my dearly beloved husband next year when garden planting time rolls around.  He's a good man, but has a short memory for these things.  I need for him to remember that our plants are massive and produce more than all of Franklin County could consume.  I need for him to remember that the plant sizes range from a mere 6 foot diameter to a staggering 15 foot diameter...and that's plenty big.  I need for him to remember that NO ONE needs 12 varieties of zucchini and squash planted in their garden.

Please remember People, I'm no gardener.  I'm terrible at it in fact.  Sure, I try to fake it. But, who am I kidding?  I've spent so very little time out there this summer, I'm plant neglectful and a weeding fiasco. Imagine how this garden would do with someone who really knew what they were doing and put their heart into it.  Kind of frightening if you ask me.

Peace out.
If you need me I'll be shredding, blending, grilling, breading, frying or steaming zucchini.  And in my spare time I'll be pickling beets, like 14 quarts of them.

Love,
farmgirl

that's farmgirl. not gardengirl
could someone please tell mike that.

Hackee addresses Hacker

So, I really did get on here to post today.  For reals, it's all legit.
And then I discovered I was Hacked.
That's a really weird feeling.
It's like being spot lighted in Primary or something.

Good, and weird.  But good more than weird.
Thank you.
Everyone should get a shout out now and again, so thanks for giving me mine.

Now....who did it!?
There's brownies in it for anyone leading me to information about the culprit.
:o)

Monday, August 13, 2012

Hacked ;)

Attention everybody!
This Blog has now been hacked!
This Hacker would just like to say that this lady....

 
This lady right here...





This awesome, amazing, fun, incredible person....


 Is one of the most...


Is by far one of the greatest...


Most inspiring...


Most caring...


and above all...


Most loved person...


That this hacker has ever encountered.


So lets give it up, ladies and gentlemen, 
for this fantastic blessing that the Lord has given us all.



This is a tribute...
 


To one who has done a many great and wonderful thing.




People of the World...




I give you...


 The ever Loved...


Farmgirl.



Thursday, July 12, 2012

Idaho's Stonehenge























Second crop hay- cut, raked, bailed, stacked and ready to be loaded and taken to the hay shed.
I love the way it looks in the field like this, it doesn't last long (like a day)--but I love it.

Just in case anyone is wondering...
You should know that summer is kinda kickin' my trash.

Sometimes I self medicate with lots of projects and hard work and other times I self medicate with warm brownies and cold milk.
It's about 60/40 right now.

Seriously, what's my deal?  Am I too busy?  Am I not busy enough?  Are my kids not busy enough?  Are we all just wound a little too tight?

Summer chores are killing me.  And it's a slow and incredibly painful death.
You know my summer philosophy, "Summer is a continual lowering of my cleanliness standards" and I have added "...until I drown in my own houseful of disgustingness, or they go back to school--which ever comes first."
It's not SO horrible, they do try (well some do...sometimes) but -let's face it folks- I'm a control freak when it comes to my house.  I just like it done my way.  Is that so terrible?  It should speak volumes of the love I have for my children that I am willing to give them the opportunity to learn to clean and to work, even though it makes me want to pull my hair out.
I love them just that much.  So much that I am willing to make them redo a job, more than once.  So much that I am willing to listen to them whine about doing their chores.  So much that I am willing to put up with weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.  So much that I am willing to nag them until they do it.  So much that I am willing to not kick them all out of the house and do it all myself.  That's a lot of love, my friends.  A Lot.

And here's another question...Where exactly in the sand is the line drawn Bad Parenting wise?  Is it when you are just thinking that you should smack your teenager upside the head or is it when you actually do it?  I haven't done that, but there are moments when I think it seems like a fairly sound decision.
Please, someone tell me it's a phase!  That they are both phases--me wanting to smck them upside the head and them acting like a total dork deserving of a head smacking.  Where is the sweet person I carried for nine months and birthed from my body?  When did this alien negative being come into my life?  And more importantly, when are they leaving and my kid is coming back?

Okay, enough venting for now.

On a happier note:

I finally found a walking/running partner, which means I finally found a friend.  Two actually...sure, one of them is an oldie moldie friend living with her folks this summer whilst she's in the middle of a move across the country but beggars can't be choosers.  And I'm just happy to have some peeps to talk to that don't live an entire state (or two) away.

Vehicular drama is over.  We found and purchased a suburban.  We looked and looked and looked and found a great deal and had enough money left over to fix all the troubles with the truck.  And 'The Monica' has a smaller engine so it gets better gas mileage than the Beast did.  Win/Win


Hope summer is treating you well.
Peace out.
:0)

*post script *
*afternoon 7-13*
the teenage crabby-pants
is redeeming their
little teenage self.
and it's nice.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Knee Deep and Lovin' it.

Holy Shnikies, Peeps!  Summer is in FULL swing.  I didn't even change my calendar until June 15th.  Please.  Is that not ridiculous?  It's been busy.  Real busy.  Let's just hit the highlights, shall we?

I give you...
The Latest and Greatest.

  • I got a wild hair and painted my front door blue with a free pint of paint.  It may or may not look a little like an Easter egg, but I kinda like it.



  • For Mothers Day Mike made a screen door for me, cuz he's handy like that.  I LOVE it. I love enjoying that crisp morning and evening air.

  •  We planted a massively huge garden.  No, really, it's big.  No pics, but I'll get some and you'll be impressed.
  • Memorial Day weekend Mike built a porch, cuz he's handy like that.  I LOVE it.  It really adds to the house.
 
  • I've already been to Girl's Camp.  It was an adventure.  I came home totally pooped, but I sure do like those little punks.  They are fun.


  •  I assisted in the week long transformation of my SIL's kitchen and laundry room.  It is amazing.  Hopefully, I'll be able to steal some pics from her.  All you need to know is it rocks, and so do we. (FYI, that's the second kitchen I've helped do-over in recent months. Check out my little sister, Amanda's.)
  • For the second time in a mere 16 months our family mode of transportation has been totaled.  That's right, the Beast is no more (well, I guess it's not official yet--but I'd be mighty surprised if it's not).  Some guy ran a stop sign and pulled out in front of Mike and, well...ya Mike hit him.  Luckily, every one was fine in both vehicles.  The other guy was able to change a tire and drive away...us, not so much.
Well, there's the highlights.  Or at least what I can remember at the moment (honestly, by the end of the day I am generally fried and so is my brain --and I've had a headache all day)....But,
Things are good.  Really good.
I am....Knee Deep and Lovin' it.
Peace Out.
:o)

Holy Cramolio! POST SCRIPT!!
  • I got a job.  That's right, I'm a part time lunch lady starting in the fall....can't believe I forgot to put that down.  Told ya I was tired and had a fried brain.  Anyhoo, Woo Hoo for me!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

One Year Later.

Holy Smokes.  I can't believe it has been a year since we left St. George.  Some times I still can't believe we really left.  It seems like forever and it seems like yesterday.  No regrets, we knew it was time to leave and we knew this is where we were to go.  I've often thought during this last year that it is a really good thing we were so certain this is what we needed to do, because it's been hard at times.  Good.  Always good, but hard.

I think we thought that once we moved we would quickly know why we came...writing in the sky or something like that.  I mean, really, is that so much to ask?

We have a lot; healthy kids, a house to live in that we adore in a place we love, a small part time job, little jobs here and there . We have stayed fairly busy, busy does not mean that the money is rolling in.
Busy means it's enough to survive, barely...and your standards for survival need to be fairly low. 

There have been days during these past 3+ years that I thought I would lose my mind.  I've been in the dumps more times than I really care to admit.  I have wondered if I have something like clinical depression or if life has just beat me up a bit.  A few weeks ago I read a blog (my bestie's sister's) where she openly described her clinical depression, but she wasn't describing me--that's not where I'm at.  That's not what's going on with me.  I can pull myself out of it.  It takes time and I have to work at it, but it can be done.  So, I'm not clinically depressed- which, in a weird way, kind of made me feel worse...and better.  Worse because I then think 'Well, for crying out loud! You shouldn't be this way, snap out of it!'.  Better because it's up to me...and that's kind of a bit of pressure.

So, I guess life has just beat me up a bit.  That's okay, build's character- right?  It's been tough, but I'm no quitter.  I'm a hoe to the end of the row kind of farmgirl.

I think I am the queen of epiphany's (I like to think that because the other alternative is that I'm a really slow learner so I have to have all these epiphany's to remind me of things I should already know).
Here's the great epiphany's of late:

-This one came a while back in answer to a question from one of my kiddos.  This kiddo was a little frustrated with life at the time.   
Why did we move here?
...I seriously don't know why we needed to move here.  I don't know.  BUT, I do know that we are not here to be miserable.  We are not here to fail. There is a plan, and it's not a plan of misery and woe.  It  is not a plan of loneliness and heartache.  It is a plan of happiness and joy.  Some times I lose sight of it, but it is the truth.

This next one is the big one,  it's taken me a long time to get this.  I think I've got it, and then I don't, and then I think I've got it again, and then I don't.  But right now...I GET IT.

-There are a lot of things in my life that I CAN'T CHANGE OR FIX.  A lot, the list is long.  And I know this, I have known this for a long time hence the 'good attitude farmgirl'.
The serenity prayer comes to mind:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference. 
I do know the difference-- I was accepting it, but I wasn't letting it go.  I knew there were all sorts of things that I couldn't change but I was still stewing over it all.  

Here's my epiphany:  
My way is stupid.  My way is kicking and fighting against the dumbest things, my way is doing my best and still worrying myself sick, my way is wondering why my life isn't changing the way I want it to even though I'm really trying.  I do things my way and I'm frustrated and discouraged.  My way is stupid.
I can't change or fix everything.  I can't.
  
So...I will do all that I can do and I mean ALL that I can do, then I will wash my hands of it and send it off to heaven.  And He will take care of the rest.  I really am setting it free.  Either my circumstances will change or I will be strong enough to continue on.
I'm good with what ever comes, every time I start to freak out I just tell myself
'Do your best.  Wash your hands of it, and send it to Heaven'.
I think this is the most freeing epiphany I've ever had.  It lifted a huge weight off my shoulders, I could take a deep breathe.
I don't have to fix it all, more importantly I don't have to worry about fixing it all.

'When you come to the edge of all the light you have known, 
and are about to step out into darkness, 
Faith is knowing one of two things will happen; 
there will be something to stand on, or you will be taught to fly.'

I can walk or I can fly, but either way I'll make it.
:o)

Monday, May 7, 2012

Even MacGyver would be proud.

Has your Monday been like mine?  Pretty much super inefficient, I'm feeling like I've been spinning my wheels all day around here.  So, I given up on accomplishing much and decided to share with you a project we finished last week that was all sorts of efficient.   
(It's either this or make a pan of brownies 
and we all know I'm trying to avoid that these days.)

Are you ready for something amazing?  Something so fantastic you can hardly stand it?  This is re-purposing at it's finest. I'm talking about the Queen Mother of Fabulous Projects.

Project:          Firepit & Patio
Supplies:      Old tractor tire rim, Old concrete, Tractor, Shovel,
                             Sledgehammer & People who really love you &
                             your wild ideas
Cost:               Blood, Sweat & Tears



bring in piles of concrete with the tractor, 
 take a sledgehammer to it,
break it into big pieces

bring in old tractor tire rim (also with tractor),
dig a hole for the tire rim 
(NOT with the tractor)
 dig out the grass and start placing the concrete

work in progress
(actually a lot of work)

almost done
bring in more dirt to fill in the cracks

TAH-DAH!
victory is ours!
the first fire


followed quickly with a cookout

Our new patio & fire pit.
Isn't she a beauty?
Who's coming over for smores & a little star gazing?


I am seriously in love with this project.
I admire it a minimum of 800 times a day.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

frenemies.

It's time I face the music, admit to something I have known for quite some time.
Me and freshly warm baked chocolatey treats, we are not besties.
We are frenemies.
I want to be besties, really I do.  I've spent years- a whole life time- working on our relationship.

I thought we were besties, a match made in heaven.  It's been a good run.....but,
the old metabolism, she aint what she used to be.
I think that's a big part of it, and also I'm an emotional eater.
A big time emotional eater.

Now, listen, I know I'm not morbidly obese.  I don't weigh 700 pounds (yet).
Lucky for me--REALLY lucky for me--I was blessed with great genetics and I fairly high metabolism, because as my mother used to tell me as a kid when I was shoveling in the sweets,
"If life were fair, you'd be as big as a barn."
And she was right.  Life isn't fair.  And in that particular case it really worked to my advantage.
Well, life is catching up to me now.

Something must be done.
I came up with a little plan several weeks ago.
I called it 'TreatsTimes2', which means I can have two treats twice a week.  Maybe to some people that still sounds like a lot, but trust me when I tell you it's much less than I have been known to have.
And, I just don't think I want to give it up all together.
The plan hasn't panned out as I had hoped.

So, my new plan is to:
 -admit to my frenemy relationship
-write it here
-get the support of my peeps
-and stick to it, at least for the month of May.  That's also part of the new plan...to have an a-MAY-zing month.  One month.  Just one.  And see where I'm at.

Wish me luck.
My name is farmgirl and treats are my frenemy.

Friday, April 27, 2012

The Red-Neck Deck.

So.  What's a girl to do when she is occasionally wanting to grill a little something up for the fam and her husband is a die hard charcoal kinda guy and she is not interested in always waiting for said charcoal?
She ho hums about it for years and years and then one day a few years ago she just goes ahead and purchases one of those itty bitty grills.  You know, the kind that are 20 buck-a-roos at Walmart.  And then she turns a deaf ear to her husbands remarks about the Mickey Mouseness of the thing, but embraces the name he selects for her new item.  The Barbie BBQ(really, I should paint the thing pink)

Fast forward to yesterday when she says to her husband, "Hey, I had this idea...do you think some super handy handsome guy wants to build a little shelf-esk thingyoff the deck/stoop so we could put the Barbie BBQ on it?  It would make it waaaay more user friendly, then we wouldn't need to go all the way up and down the steps."

*side note*  When I say deck/stoop I'm not actually kidding.  It's pretty tiny.  Some day we want to make it bigger.  But that day is not today.  Or tomorrow.  And so I asked myself, WWMD?
*side note #2*  While I am an avid believer of the 'Ole Pioneer Spirit' my beloved husband has been a little slow to see the light and embrace the genius behind it all.  Therefore, he generally gives me a polite nod and smile when I suggest a way to make something 'just work'.

He gave her his usual polite nod and a smile. (which she knows means he's probably thinking "oh, your cute.  but, umm, that'll never work")  Imagine her surprise when that very afternoon that very handy handsome of hers took 45 minutes out of his life and did just that.  I love it when he gets all Macgyver like.

Behold, I give you the Red-Neck Deck.  (so named by my brother David.  thanks David)


 TA-DAH!!!
Fabulous, innit?
And, yup, that really is the view right from my very kitchen.

 From the north. 
Yes, it still needs to be stained.
That's a job for tomorrow.  It's too durn cold out there now.
Can we say snow flurries and bitter cold wind today, Class?
Brrrr.

From the south.

Do you see the genius? 
Are you embracing the Ole Pioneer Spirit?
Good.  I knew there was a reason we were friends.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Spring has Sprung

...well, it's springing any way.  But not today.  Today it is raining.
What happens when Spring is springing???
Spring Fever.
What's the cure?
Ohhh....lots of projects.
Projects in the house and in the yard, just all kinds of fantasticness.

So, I had this problem.  The problem was called
"What to do with stinky chore clothes and milking boots?"
This was a big problem.  I don't have a mud room or anything like unto it.
The kids come in and out the back door down stairs, the back door that is part of the family room.  It was an unorgansized  mess.  And we all know how I feel about those.
I just KNEW I could come up with something.
Some way to solve this little problem the WWMD (what would macgyver do) way.

The solution?  These: 





Beautiful, right?  They'd been tucked away in the barn by our house for who knows how long.  Word on the street is they'd been here since my folks bought the place years and years ago.  I got the okey dokey from the folks and away we went.
With a bit of elbow grease and paint they turned into these:


TA-DAH!! 
Do you love them?  Well, I do.  And they're in my house so that's what matters.


 And look at that...Adam made a shelf to further organsize the boots.

Yay!!  Love a good project.
And I love that the project was just sitting around waiting to be discovered.
And I love that Adam got so involved.  He's a mighty handy guy.

More to come on all the projects going on around here.
Try to stay calm and keep your excitement at a minimum.

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