Way Back on Tuesday

Way back on Tuesday of this week I made an entry in Word Pad and saved it. I was having a horrible time staying connected on Monday, and the rest of the week was better, but you know dial up is not really very reliable anyway...so my expectations were not very high.

Here is the entry...and I will put pictures of our visit on a seperate entry.

Its Tuesday and today is the first day of school for Shelby...I won't have as much time on the internet now that we are starting. I homeschool her, and it can really make for a busy day getting her schooling and my chores, animals, cooking, cleaning, laundry, and so on done. Her school comes first though. It is very important to me as the whole reason for doing school at home is to learn more and have a broader spectrum of what she learns.

Now, let get to Saturdays visit.

I don't know if I have changed, or if they have changed. Maybe some of both. Doesn't really matter, we all had a good time.

I picked Ian up from work and we headed straight down. He did change when we got there. Work clothes aren't really that becoming...lol...so I had brought him a change of clothes along with some Tag spray and his deoderant. He always says he smells bad after work, but it is funny to me that I don't smell anything, and I have a sensitive nose. I swear I think when you have been with someone for as long as we have been together you don't smell their bad smell anymore...I still think I stink after sweating and working outside though...;)

We got there and there was much hugging and many smiles. I took along some goodies for them. Eggs, of course. I also brought them kosher, dill sliced, and dill speared pickles I had canned. I included a jar of my salsa I canned too. Too bad the squash and cucumbers are done, we had plenty to give away for so long. I did put some fresh tomatoes in the box with everything else. I mean, you can't very well leave home from your "farm" and not bring stuff right? ;)

I absolutely did not push my little picture album off on anyone. Believe it or not it was in the top of my purse and was retrieved by Billie herself, amazed and showing everyone all the pictures. She was like, OH I am sorry! I am just digging through your purse! LOL...I told her it was not a problem, that it was alright.

Poor Kenny, by the time Ian was done with him about our eggs, Idon't know if he will eat any or not. He told Kenny to enjoy the rooster sperm in the eggs...you should have seen the look on Kennys face...it was a combination of puzzlement and horror!!! He he...I told Ian good grief dont tell him that. Kenny asked if he was serious...and I said well, some of them may be fertilized...then he asked if he was supposed to put them under a light or something, asked if he shouldnt eat those...I just laughed. I told him just to eat the eggs and not to think about it. He would have never known any different. He has never had fresh eggs. So, well, I kind of told him about the fact that he may come up on a meat spot. Another horrified look. I explained that it was simply a broken blood vessel that happened when the hen was developing the egg in her. She may have run too hard, or been startled, it happens. OH well, I hope he will at least try them.

Now that we were settled in...Shelby had gone to hang out with Sydney. That is Kenny and Billies daughter. She is one year older than Shelby. It is so amazing to see how much Sydney had grown up. Everyone was startled at how much Shelby had grown up too. I see her day to day and I know she is growing up, but I am her mother and still see her as my baby. Sam, Billies oldest daughter asked Shelby how old she was...thought she was fifteen! OH my gosh no! You had to put your sunglasses on when Shelby shot that smile out. In a preteens world that is a BIG compliment. You remember don't you? When someone thought you were older than you were...you just loved it. Now, not so much...lol.

There were lots of folks there. Lots. I didnt know many of them. I knew Kennys ex wife, she was there. Her and Kenny had two kids before they divorced and met Billie. Eddie is their son, the one going off to Iraq.

Lots of parents, grandparents, that kind of thing.

Now you want to know why I felt so bad. I reckon it is because after we got there...Kenny and Ian went off and visited. Shelby and Sydney went off together, and Billie and I hung out...all of us out back...while everyone else was inside. They were hanging out with us while a party was going on...lol. It was nice to have them all to ourselves kinda.

I got Billie to give us a tour of their new home. It was very pretty. They had three and a half acres too. Even though it is really in a neighborhood, they have a really nice set up. It feels secluded. They have woods in the back that go way back. An empty lot grown up on one side of the house...and on the other side they have made a trail, really cute, up into the woods and up to their....POND! Yes, they have a little pond and it so wonderful. They go fishing in it too. They have a table and chairs set up there with little candles and what not on the table. The path up to the pond is lit up by white little Christmas type lights. They even have an awning that is just so cute that you come to as you start up the trail.

Shelby and Sydney jumped on the trampoline a little, Shelby couldnt keep her balance because of her foot problem, I was sad about that. Shelby went swimming in their pool...but Sydney could not, it was that time in a ladies month, you know. Sydney is a Georgia Tech fanatic. Just like her Dad. So she was inside watching that game. Billie, Kenny, Ian and I hung out with Shelby while she swam for a while.

After we left we went out to Shanes Rib Shack not far from thier house. We had mentioned to Kenny that we had seen OBs BBQ had opened back up and was trying again...but he said it wasnt any good anymore not to bother, recommending Shanes. It was really really good BBQ! We sat out on the screened in dining area where a nice breeze was coming through as it got dark.

There is talk of them coming out to visit with us now. Sydney thought it was really neat that Shelby has a horse...I had told Shelby not many girls get a horse, and every girl wants a horse, and that Sydney would be impressed, and she was.

Kenny did not know what a guinea was...I tried to explain the bird to him, but it was lost in translation...I dont have any pictures of them grown, so I couldnt show him. He thought I meant guinea pigs til I told him it was a bird originating from Africa.

It should be a good time when they do come. We are planning for them to come some time in October. Shelby suggested them coming for her birthday but I said Nooo...everyone will be here and I want to be able to visit with them. When everyone is here, I dont get to visit with anyone...you know what I mean? You have to spread yourself thin, and I am getting to where I dont like to have to do that.

Alright, that is enough babbling for today...here are some pictures from our visit on my next post.

 

Ashamed

You may have noticed that I deleted the entry below. Well, it is because I am ashamed of myself. I shouldn't judge people so harshly, it may (and did sorta) come back to bite me in the posterior. Cause now I feel bad, and I should. Will explain later of course

I am having a heck of a time staying connected today. Can't stay on for more than a minute at a time, but I wanted to put this entry in...

When my connection is better I will make an entry on our wonderful visit. :) With pictures of course.

 

Out and About This Morning

Ahhhh yes..I got out this morning after posting.

First I did decide to go over to the new Walmart...had them try one picture in particular that was especially messed up...and their system did the same thing. So that didn't work. They have a do it yourself machine. So I tried that picture, but when it says you can crop it, that just means you can move the stupid little square barrier up or down on the picture...so you will still either cut off some of the bottom or some of the top, your choice. So that was a bust.

Hopped back in the truck and headed for Rome. First stop was Barnes and Noble. Have to get Shelbys Curriculum book for schooling. I have always gone to the B and N down south near my Mama and Daddys house, guess I will be going there Saturday night after we visit with Kenny and his family. They had this little bitty corner of lame booklets for home education...I asked an employee "Where are all the homeschool workbooks?" and she replied..."This is what we have." I just looked at the pathetic little short rows and sighed. Okay...so that was a bust too.

Next I was off to Sallys Beauty Supply for hair color. Well you can't very well expect me to go to this shindig on Saturday looking like I came straight from the trailer park with half my head a dark brown and the latter half blonde can you??? LOL! Shelbys hair needs frosting too...so I got what was needed to make us look presentable.

Then it was off to Home Depot. The pigs house looks like the big bad wolf has come a callin and tried to blow in their roof, or at least stomped on it a lot. The middle is sagging and that makes all the rainwater run right off to the entrance of their little house. Ian suggested currogated tin roofing...with braces underneath running across the dwelling. Okay, that makes good sense. So I got me a couple of sheets at eight and a half dollars a piece, very reasonable. I will use the old boards that Ian took off when he redid the stairs on the front of the house for bracing. Also had to get a couple of bales of wheat straw...poor piggies are swimming in mud after all the rain we have had. They may like it in a nice muddy puddle, but not the whole pen! So they get to get out today and roam around while I fix their house and pen up nice and comfy for them. All animals here have to be comfortable or it preys on my mind.

So, I am off to do some muddy outdoor slopping around. Got to get my slop boots on for this job!

 

This is how quickly Phoenix took to us. Thought I would share an old picture of Shelby and him fast asleep. We had only had him a couple of days and I found them both fast asleep up in her playroom on the floor. Ain't they sweet?

Warning! This is a RANT post!

Alright, every now and again...everyone needs to vent...well today is my day. Lets go ahead and get it out of the way so I can have a stress free weekend.

As you know, I had company last weekend. Karen tries to help out around the house while here. I really do appreciate the effort, I think, well, if its making beds and folding up covers from the night before...thats fine by me. But I really really rather her NOT help in the kitchen. Sure, load the dishes in the dishwasher, well, maybe not. I have some spoons that have to be turned down or the handles will go through the basket, and then when the little handles spin around underneath as it attempts to wash, I imagine they get stuck on those. But wait, I have spent all week trying to find my favorite coffee cup!

Now I have never seen her cabinets, but I just find it hard to believe that she just puts stuff anywhere. I thought most people had some sort of plan when putting up dishes into the cabinets...say cups with cups, glasses of the same pattern with each other, bowls with bowls, knives in the knife drawer,  utensils used for scooping food out of pots in another? Evidently not. Maybe I am just a neat freak, but I like to actually be able to FIND things in my kitchen. I even mentioned I had just cleaned out and organized all my drawers and cabinets...but that didn't seem to stick between her ears.

Now I am a short gal, I am five foot four inches. I don't put anything on top shelves of my cabinets that I use on a daily, even weekly basis. On my top shelves I have my CHRISTMAS DISHES...that is it. Do you know that is where I found my coffee cup this morning??? I can't even see the top shelf very well. I have found my big dipping spoons in the knife drawer, I finally found my cheese grater...in with all the mixing bowls in a cabinet by the stove. All my good silverware was mixed in with old silverware...so I resorted all that out. I don't even remember using some bowls that were stacked under the dessert plates??? Was she trying to torture me??? I have no idea...I don't think so...but I wondered after my favorite coffee cup disappeared. I had mason jars (I use them for big sweet tea glasses) in with my nice drinking glasses. My little juice glasses were all mixed in with those here and there. I mean COME ON! Am I the only one that organizes her cabinets so I can just reach in and find things????

Okay, now...enough about that...lets talk aboutlast night at Walmart.

I decided to load up some pictures onto my camera memory chip and take them in and have them developed at the one hour photo while we shopped for groceries. No big deal, done it before. I drop off the chip and go on about my business. Now I have had my digital pictures developed at this very same place before. They came out just like the picture I took, as it should have. I had over a hundred pictures developed this time. When I get my pictures I always open them up right there and take a look at them.

Something was not right. All my pictures looked closer or something. I started thumbing through...getting madder and madder, starting to break a sweat. I had pictures of chickens, and I take good centered pictures. These were not centered! The combs were cut off, the feet were cut off! WHAT WAS THIS? What was going on???? I am chunking down picture after picture of crap crap crap. Thats all it was...crap. I was not happy. I kept trying to call the photo employee over, she was doing everything BUT coming to see what I was so flustered about, and that was making me really sweat, I was mad as hell and I was not going to be denied my rant. I told her to please come here. I told her these pictures were all cut off at the top and the bottom. The whole picture was NOT THERE. She said to load the pictures into the machine standing next to me and look at my pictures...well I dont need to LOOK at my PICTURES! I know what my pictures LOOK like, but I did it anyway...to show HER that the pictures were cut off.

She shows me this picture of mine in a format for printing...and it has lines around the edges, and that is what is cut off in my picture. She explains to me that new programs are being installed in this machine all the time. I told her I didnt care..that I didnt take a piece of a picture, I took a whole picture and I want the whole picture.

I told her that these pictures are not even THAT important. I asked her what she thought someone would have to say about some family pictures taken at a reunion of something and everyones heads were cut off in the picture????? I told her she needed to tell someone...get the thing fixed, that it was not right.

I went through and took out all the cut off looking pictures. I didnt want any of them..but I wanted to have some pictures in my purse this weekend. I might get an opportunity to show off my flock. Not that I would push my pictures off on anyone that might be boredwith them. I am not like that, well, I try not to be like that. I realize I get pretty excited sometimes about my hobby.

So now I have a bunch of crappy pictures. That cost me twenty dollars. The ones I refused were the worst. I probably should have just refused them all. Maybe gone to get them developed somewhere else. I wonder if I went to the new Walmart in town if their machine would produce my pictures correctly. You know what. I might just go and see. Then, if they come back RIGHT...I will take those others back. Yeah....maybe that is what I will do. Cause right now I just dont feel satisfied.

Okay, I am all done ranting. Thankyou for listening, or reading rather. Now that I have gotten it all off my chest, I do feel better.

I told Ian last night that I knew I was spoiled and being a brat. I don't deny it. I guess I just have high expectations in people and products. My shortcoming indeed.

A side note about the dishes...this happens everytime she comes...and I am just oh so tired of playing hide and seek with my dishes after she leaves. :(

Morning Glories

 

My Little Serama Family

Okay, so Everetts name comes from George Clooneys character in O' Brother Where Art Thou? If you haven't seen this movie you should. Did you know it was paralleled to The Odyssey? The sirens are in there, the Cyclops, all of that. Pretty neat. Anyway, Mosie says her Dads name was Everett too...and I just like the name...the way it sound when you say it...with a southern accent...Ev-rett. LOL

I was browsing through Browneggblueegg.com..looking to see if any new Poultry shows had been listed for Georgia. I saw listed for October 20th a show in what I found out was HAMILTON, and was not the Chattahoochee Valley Poultry Association hosting, but a similar club. The printing in the Poultry Press was quite a mess from what the man told me that I contacted inquiring about it. They had put Hamlington, and when I looked it up not knowing where Hamlington was...there was no such place, well no wonder, it was Hamilton, GA. I can get there straight shot down Hwy 27 in a couple of hours. The date is very close to Shelbys birthday though...so I am not sure I will go. I still called the contact number to find out details and have them send me a brochure and an entry form, just in case I decide to show. He told me that some guys were trying to revive the club as many older members had passed away and the club kind of fell apart. I thought that was wonderful. We don't have a lot of Poultry shows here in Georgia for some reason. You can look in some other states and they have a whole list of shows all through the year just about. So anyway, the original show that I go to held by the CVPA in Newnan is still on...this one is a whole seperate entity. They will also have a sale barn section...and that always makes me want to go...always like to come home with something special. Like that is what I need, another chicken! ;)

I have put away my incubator for the year. I told everyone that. I had two Serama hens bent on sitting on some of their eggs. Well fine. I have given all but one of my Serama chicks from this years hatch away anyway. So what the hay. Do you know that in the four years I have had birds, I have never let anyone sit and hatch their own. There is something magical about this process. Now, I did let Dorothy, my silkie hen sit on a few Serama eggs to hatch for me, but I took the babies away soon as they hatched and sent her back out with the masses out in the yard, so that doesnt really count.

Well, those two Mamahens did good. They hatched out two babies...which is good because apparently the mortality rate is high with this breed when attempting to hatch. Whether it be from an incubator or a hen sitting. I found one baby dead, didn't make it. I found one egg partially hatched with a baby still alive in it. Something was wrong with its eye...I saw that right away...mother nature knows...but I tried to save it anyway. I took it in the house and got it out of the shell, put it under a heat lamp and hoped for the best. It didnt make it...but I had to try.

So, we are left with two very healthy little ones and I just left them in the pen with the Mamas and the Proud Daddy. It was so neat to see the Mamas coaxing the babies to eat and drink. The babies took right to the water and food with no hesitation. I do have to empty out the waterer a couple of times a day as the parents still scratch up lots of dirt and cake up the water. I can't raise the feeder and waterer off the ground like I do for the adults...the babies won't be able to reach. I sat and watched all the action for a long time. It was so neat to watch them all doing their thing.

Here are some pictures of them all...

See the two babies above?

 

Proud Daddy with a watchful eye.

 

Watchful attentive mamas.

 

Mama showing baby food to eat...scratched out of the feeder.

You cant help but smile when you see it all. :)

The Queen of Clutzville

I don't know what it is about me and balance. I am just a clumsy person to boot. Last winter I pitched myself off the top of the porch steps and damaged my thumb and had all kinds of aches and pains in places I didnt know could have aches and pains, along with lovely gashes in my leg from coming down on the corner of the wooden step.

This morning balance eluded me again. The alarm went off...and I reached over to turn it off...but for some reason decided I needed to raise myself onto my hands and knees on the bed before reaching over to the alarm clock on the table next to the bed to turn it off. In reaching for the clock radio I lost my balance, but grabbing a hold of the alarm clock was no help as it toppled and started to fall off the table...well instinctively I tried to keep it from falling, fumbling even more...

"IAN I AM FALLING OFF THE BED!" I yelled...as he is half asleep himself. I grabbed for the covers, hoping to make purchase and pull myself back out of the falling position...instead grabbing a pillow and flinging it off across the room as I tumbled towards the floor. CRACK. That was the sound of the back of my head hitting the table as I seemingly flew off the bed. Of course being on my hands and knees made the fall even further to the floor. KAWHUMP as my butt and back took the abuse of crashing to the floor.

Ian was like OH MY GOD are you alright??? Rubbing just the right spot (could he find it on my head because it was already a knot?) to ease the pain on my cracked noggin. I sat there, waiting for the pain to subside...trying not to cry. But I cried...cause it scared the heck out of me, not because of the pain. Because pitching yourself out of the bed while half asleep is scary when you get older. It seems to take an eternity to hit the dang floor, and once you are there you just want to stay there for a while.

I am fine now, suprisingly I have no headache..my back is a little stiff...but I will be alright.

Getting old aint for sissies is it...dang, what a way to start the morning. So, I went back to bed...I deserved it, I wanted to start over anyway. So here I am late in the day...don't much matter, I feel better for it. I slept until 10:30 and I am not sorry for it. Not going to feel guilty about it or anything like that. Having my coffee and enjoying my day so far...now. :)