It Was Close!

The ice made the snow geese visit the harvested fields again in a feeding frenzy.

The ice make everything look magical but two more hours of freezing rain would have probably put out the electricity and a degree or two colder might have made our roads as big a mess as they were along I40 to the north of us. My willow tree did a lot of creaking and moaning but she held on to her limbs.

James was nice enough to take me for a drive to the horse pasture down the road a bit where I took this picture and the one below.


Only my HughesNet satellite was out for a couple of days; not pleasant but not a disaster. Click on the photos to see the bigger picture.

Photo Challenge - The Best of 2009

I found it so difficult to choose favorites/bests for 2009 but I decided that these would do. Dirty little hands and a resigned little "hoppy", what wonderful memories!

A splashy pink bloom opening up as a sign of Spring.

A once familiar summer sight. Krysten, MeriKate, and Abby cooling off in the neighbor's pool.

I've had to go round the back way to post for this challenge because we're in the midst of an ice storm; we have electricity but the HughesNet satellite is down which is par for their course. Odd how it hasn't affected our Direct TV satellite, hmmmm?

Anyway, got this trusty dial-up going here so I'm going to try to post my BEST of 2009 for the Photo Challenge. Don't forget to go over to the Photo Challenge Blog created by Miz Donna down there in the great state of Texas and click on the other participants in the comments to see all their great photos.

What I Want In A Man

What I Want In A Man!
Original List:

1. Handsome
2. Charming
3. Financially successful
4. A caring listener
5. Witty
6. In good shape
7. Dresses with style
8. Appreciates finer things
9. Full of thoughtful surprises

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 32)

1. Nice looking
2. Opens car doors, holds chairs
3. Has enough money for a nice dinner
4. Listens more than talks
5. Laughs at my jokes
6. Carries bags of groceries with ease
7. Owns at least one tie
8. Appreciates a good home-cooked meal
9. Remembers birthdays and anniversaries

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 42)

1. Not too ugly
2. Doesn't drive off until I'm in the car
3. Works steady - splurges on dinner out occasionally
4. Nods head when I'm talking
5. Usually remembers punch lines of jokes
6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange the furniture
7. Wears a shirt that covers his stomach
8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids
9. Remembers to put the toilet seat down
10. Shaves most weekends

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 52)

1. Keeps hair in nose and ears trimmed
2. Doesn't belch or scratch in public
3. Doesn't borrow money too often
4. Doesn't nod off to sleep when I'm venting
5. Doesn't re-tell the same joke too many times
6. Is in good enough shape to get off the couch on weekends
7. Usually wears matching socks and fresh underwear
8. Appreciates a good TV dinner
9. Remembers your name on occasion
10. Shaves some weekends

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 62)

1. Doesn't scare small children
2. Remembers where bathroom is
3. Doesn't require much money for upkeep
4. Only snores lightly when asleep
5. Remembers why he's laughing
6. Is in good enough shape to stand up by himself
7. Usually wears some clothes
8. Likes soft foods
9. Remembers where he left his teeth
10. Remembers that it's the weekend

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 72)

1. Breathing.
2. Doesn't miss the toilet.

Thanks Miz Donna!

A new Teenager in the House!

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate covered cherries on top.

Jessie came by, Zach's oldest friend.

For a few days now we've had a bunch of snow geese settling in at the corn field across and down the road from our house. You can see our house across the field here (it's the one on the right).

This is all the snow we've had. The temperatures have been gruesome; colder than an Alaskan well diggers arse for sure. I think it's supposed to climb up to 30 degrees tomorrow so that might feel like a heat wave! Tuesday it's supposed to be up to 55, almost warm enough for swimming. :-)

I'm keeping up with the 365 project, barely.

Chance of Snow and the Undead

The weather forecasters around here are using that S word again for tonight and tomorrow and to add insult to,,,,well,,,insult, they're also predicting an Arctic blast worse than the present Arctic blast we're having.

People in east central Arkansas are spoiled. We may recall that we had freezing temperatures in the teens and single digits that lasted more than a day or two way back a few Winters ago, but we really do tend to put all those nasty doings out of mind during the mostly moderate, mostly bearable, mostly temperate Winters that are par for our courses. We are wimps who don't drive well when frozen precipitation is landing on our roadways and we just plain don't cotton to having cold hands and feet for months at a time.

However, it IS cold and it MIGHT snow or do something icy. I'll take pictures and tell you all about it if it does.

On to another subject,,,

I'm lovin' this Kindle! It's so easy to find and download books and there are loads of reading material to be had too. I downloaded my first book on Christmas day but only started reading it this evening cause I've been trying to finish the latest Cornwell book, The Scarpetta Factor.

Anyway, I've downloaded a book that I think will probably give me more than a few nightmares. I'm reading "Day by Day Armageddon" by JL Bourne. I should have known better cause every Zombie book I've ever read and Zombie movie I've ever seen has given me some wicked weird night terrors. It does no good to be reminded that none of "it" is actually REAL,,, you know how your mind works when it's sleeping and collecting all those random thoughts from your day? Mine normally doesn't do that cause it's mostly thoughtlessly empty, but just let me read or watch a movie about the Undead and it's off to the firing neuron races and I end up awake at 3 a.m. convincing myself that those dogs aren't barking at anything resembling the,,,,undead.

Did I mention that this ebook has a sequel? You know what that means.

Ok, done with the brain twitches.

For day 6 of project 365 you can click here but you don't have to leave a comment. I'll try to put a link to that photoblog on facebook too.

I hope everyone is staying warm!!

Project 365-5

I couldn't get this to upload on my photoblog, not sure if it's due to my crappy HughesNet connection or a problem over at photoblog, so I'm posting it here.

Not much else happening around here today except that I wimped/wigged/freaked out whilst they tried to complete an MRI today and no amount of prodding or pleading will ever get me back in one of those things unless I'm totally unconscious! Guess they'll have to go some other route,,,they tell me they have open MRI machines somewhere.

I hope.

Mother Nature is Messing Around

See? Even my big, ol, fake, fat, frog has goosebumps. And a slight dusting of snow between his little froggy eyes. I was all prepared for a leisurely day at home,,,alone,,,and that tiny bit of snow shut down our wimpy school for the day, dammit.

Anyway, the sun broke through off and on, and then mostly on, and I got a pic for the 365 project when I got out of the bed or out from under my blanket for more than a second or two.

The weatherman speaks of more snow to come about mid-week and the frigid temps continue.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

These freezing temps are not doing one thing for my temperament. My feet are cold so I'm now sure that it's officially Winter time in eastern Arkansas.

Now I'll have to try to patiently wait for Spring, but patience is not one of my virtues.
Actually I'm not sure what/which, if any, virtues I have.

"A virtue is a character trait or quality valued as being good."

Well, maybe loyalty, or love. Those can be considered virtues can't they?

Anyway, enough rambling.

School starts back tomorrow ( creaky geriatric cartwheels, and squeals of delight) and the same old routine begins again.

And hey, I remembered day 3 of project 365! I'm on a roll here folks!

Day Two, over and out!

It's the evening of January 2nd already, before you know it, another January will be sliding on by.

Second picture of project 365 is of a delta sunrise.

We had leftovers and snacks today so the fridge is gradually emptying out of holiday fare. I'm thinking a good pot of soup would taste mighty fine for tomorrow. Maybe some chicken soup, yeah,,,,or some roasted rosemary chicken and veggies,,,,I guess I'll have to sleep on it.

Happy First Day of 2010!

I'm going to try to do the 365 photos, If

I don't forget,

And the creek don't rise and take my paddle,,,or something like that.

Jan. 1, 2010 photo.

I'm Ready for Anything.

Got Beer
Got Arbor Mist
Got Tia Maria for the coffee
Got snacks
Got movies
I'm ready to say adios to 2009 and welcome in a new decade!

You Know What?

I find it odd that reality TV has taken such a toe-hold in America.

,,,,I don't care if Tiger Woods had numerous girlfriends, he's still a great golfer. His girlfriends are nobodies business except his and his wife's.

,,,,I don't care if Jon and Kate are divorced. I don't think either of them are capable of thinking of anyone right now except themselves. The losers in all the drama are their children. How did their lives become so important that it had to be played out on TV anyway?

,,,,And don't get me started on OctoMom!

The best entertainment on TV lately has been the commercials. Have y'all seen the Beef Jerky commercials with the Sasquatch?

Christmas 09

Two of these are nieces, can you guess which ones (a hint, they're twins)? The other little divas are 5 of our granddaughters. This was the quietest they managed to be all evening; they were watching a movie on TV. I think it was a horror movie called Jack Frost or something very nonChristmasy.

Whew, I'm Beat!

I wanted to buy James a new shotgun for Christmas this year so today we went to Mack's Prairie Wing in Stuttgart, AR; quite a large sporting goods store. See the empty parking lot up there in the advertising photo? Well, today it was smack dab full, and as soon as I walked through the door and was bombarded with wall-to-wall human males clothed in cameo, I realized I had found Hell.

There wasn't room to walk so you sort of traversed with weaving motions through maze of bodies. Some were weaving themselves, some were merely standing in groups of 3 or more discussing their afternoon hunting plans, I believe some were even having family reunions. There were camouflaged persons who pushed and shoved their way through the aisles, and women with shopping carts prodding you from behind. Worst of all, it was impossible to tell which bodies were working there and which were shoppers, so after standing at one counter for about 30 minutes for a hunting knife purchase I'd had enough and started staggering my way through to the front doors and some much needed fresh air.

We did come home with a shotgun but we didn't buy it there cause I'm pretty sure we'd still be standing in line at one of those counters hoping that one of those folks we kept asking for help actually worked there.

I'm Trying here.

Tae Kwon Do is done till around mid-January.

I'm not through Christmas shopping and not sure when I will be.

Lacking the Christmas spirit and not sure it'll be happening.

Just all blah.

Come December

On or about December 1st I'm going to get back into the swing of things and do some serious blogging.

No more excuses.

Later dudes and dudettes. :-)

Photo Challenge - Ageless

It's time for a new challenge and the prompt this time is Ageless. I can't wait to see how everyone interprets this. Be sure to go over to our Photo Challenge Blog and click on the names of all the participants in the comments.


Ageless is "Old Man River". Can you imagine how long it took to carve its way from the far north state of Minnesota all the way down to the gulf? If he could only talk, the tales he could tell....

"Well, I built me a raft and she's ready for floatin'
Ol Mississippi she's callin' my name
Catfish are jumpin', that paddle wheel thumpin'
Black water keeps rolling on past just the same
Old black water, keep on rollin'
Mississippi moon won't you keep on shinin' on me?"

Ageless is our ancient moon. How many turns of the Earth has it witnessed since it's birth?

"Don't go around tonight, Well, it's bound to take your life, There's a bad moon on the rise."

Ageless is our ever eternal sunsets (and sunrises).

Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea.
Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me.

Don't Forget the Photo Challenge Tomorrow!

The photo prompt is Ageless. Go sign up at our Photo Challenge Blog and show us what you've got. It's FUN!!

Learning to Drive

Every time I hear that song it reminds me of learning to drive when I was a kid. It was much different for me than it is for lots of kids these days because there aren't as many rural roads now as there were back then. By rural I mean unpaved roads that only had a few cars or trucks traveling them every day. The one we lived on when I drove for the first time was just under a mile long and it was a dirt lane shade lined with every kind of tree.

I think I was in about the 3rd grade when PaPaw decided that he could get busy farmin' earlier in the day if he taught me to drive my sister and I to school. It didn't deter him that although I could see enough of the road through the steering wheel to keep the car between the ditches, I couldn't see the road a'tall when I had to scoot down to push in the clutch to change gears. This didn't create too big a problem the times I scooted, pushed, and shifted all quick like, but when I didn't push in quite far enough and it wouldn't shift right off, I'd be weaving from one side of that little dirt lane to the other. That time right before we reached the end of the lane where I'd have to scoot way down in order to push in both brake and clutch, it finally happened. I wove too far one way or the other during my scootin' time and ran us off into the ditch. He took off walking and fussin' about how if I was gonna run into the ditch I could have done it back closer to the house so he wouldn't have to walk so far to get the tractor.

That was the end of my driving that day but by the time I was about 10 I could drive most things with wheels on it, if it would crank.