Thank you, Mom

The twins celebrated a birthday.  Mom (other wise known as Oh-my) thought air powered rockets were a fantastic idea.  One for each.  Can't leave one unarmed.   At first, it was going just great.  The boys would run around outside, stomp their hardest on the rocket launcher, and with a mighty POP it would jet for the sky.
Then it got cold.  Boys were unwilling to spend much time outside.  Which means inside became a war zone.  Cereal and popcorn were found in places they were never meant to travel.  Shoes, socks (did I mention it was cold?) were strewn about with careless abandon.
Then I hear it.  POP.  Seriously?  In the house?
Wasn't it going to crash into the ceiling?

No, not if you are targeting a brother.  With one brother aiming the device, and another applying the pressure to launch the foam target, they were busting through the house, waging war on all they encountered.
This included dogs, brothers, furniture and moms.  As I write this, there is a mighty POP and I feel the rocket hit me in the tush.  Gales of laughter.  A fight over launching rights. POP. That one hit me in the back at close range.  That'll leave a mark.  I turn and grab my camera to capture evidence.

That is my camera getting hit.  Nice.  I decided to switch to video.

As you can see, the toy is being used in a manner wholly inappropriate with the instructions and designs.  You can also see that the dogs are totally un-phased by the activity, or being in the line of fire.  When I later called for help, I was put on hold:

Nap time being so very, very important.  Every since the kids took over feeding them, and they now sleep in the girl's room, they no longer feel the need to defend me against the children.  They know where their bread's buttered.
So feeling much abused, ignored and battered, I called a cease fire in the only way I know how:  WHO WANTS LUNCH?


And how was your day?

Snow Day Part Duex

A winter storm slammed into Eastern New Mexico.  Like all the weather we get, this weather came with a lovely dose of wind that lowered our temperatures, froze roads and canceled school.  Since house bound is never a good thing for us, we bundled up and took to the great outdoors.  And then froze and came back in.  Games were played, popcorn was consumed, cookies were backed, cookies were eaten, ornaments made and rooms were cleaned (had to sneak that one in there!).

I ended up circling this wild storm that was my children.  A little snow, never stopped them.  So we sledded, we horse sledded, we had snow balls and snow angels.  Then inside to warm up for the next adventure.
And how was your day?

Clear Skies and calm winds

Yesterday, in her home in Ireland, famous Sci-fi author, Anne McCaffery died.  She was 85. She began writting partly because she hated the way women were represented in sci-fi literature.

I discovered her novels as a junior in high school.  I have remained a loyal and steadfast fan of her works. 

Her Dragonriders of Pern series are by far my favorite, but I also found much enjoyment in her many other series, including her brain ship series, which stressed the importance of brains over beauty.  She pinoeered not just the wonderful art of taking readers to new worlds, but investing her novels with as much science as was applicable.  Education and the pursuit of knowledge were always stressed for both her male and female characters.
Someday, when we discover new worlds that are alike to our own, I hope that, for Anne, we name one Pern.
Good flying, Anne, find clear skies and fair winds.

For All Veterans

Veteran's Day 11-11-11

A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life,wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life. Regardless of personal religious or political views, that is an honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember that fact.

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American Soldier; one died for your soul, the other for your freedom... Thanks for serving!

Thank you to the brave men and women who are serving and who have served. I truly enjoy my freedoms thanks to your sacrifices. May God Bless! Have a wonderful day.

My Papa was a veteran of World War II and I was always proud of him even as a boy. Today I am thankful for all the men and women who serve our country. We cover you with our prayers! And for my brother-in-law Josh serving on the other side of the world - I love you and am praying for your safety!

Thank you to all the veterans who fought/fight for my freedom, but especially to one whom is close to my heart, ------! I love you brother and am very proud of you!

Remember, if it weren't for the deeds of the veterans, we would not be where we are today. We owe them the respect they have earned.

‎11/11/11...Happy Veterans Day! Thank you all active and retired military for your service! God bless you and your families for the sacrifices made!

Happy 11-11-11! We are saluting all you wonderful and dedicated Veterans out there who defend this great country and our way of life. "Thank You" hardly seems good enough, but...THANK YOU

Thank you to all who have served, are currently serving, or have made the ultimate sacrifice for my freedom!!

Thank you Veterans. Words can't express.

America's veterans embody the ideals upon which America was founded more than 229 years ago.
Steve Buyer

America's Veterans have served their country with the belief that democracy and freedom are ideals to be upheld around the world.
John Doolittle

"When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep?" -George Canning

"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers." -Jose Narosky

"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." -Cynthia Ozick

The first set of quotes were ones I gleaned from Facebook, of friends expressing their grateful hearts.  The rest are some I found on the internet.

From this indebted citizen, a profound thank you to the men and women in uniform.

And how was your day?



It's a Dirty Job

The second most feared words in my world, (the first being, Where's the plunger?) are: I think we left the water on.  This means that the water was left running into the horse water tank.  Which is in the barn.  Which is only a seventy-five gallon tank.  In November.  When it get cold.
I went out to survey the damage.  The barn was six inches deep in water.  This is the second time in about a month that the kids have flooded the barn.  The first time, I dug a hole next to the concrete footer.  I dug a matching hole on the outside of the barn.  We managed to connect the two and made something of a poor man's sump, but even with the water (mostly) drained out, the resulting sludge was not healthy for horses.

I decreed that after church, we would come straight home and work on bringing dirt into the barn.  Earlier this year the wind moved a great deal of dirt from most of New Mexico and deposited it along my fence line.  I decided that the easiest (insert cheapest) way to provide the horses with a proper barn floor would be to move said dirt into the barn and spread it out.  In order for this to work, we borrowed a handy piece of equipment from my parents.  We borrowed the trailer that is hitched to the lawn tractor.  It has a removable gate and a tilt mechanism to dump the dirt.
In theory, it was going to be great!  Sadly, we should all know by now that nothing I do goes as planned!!
We started with a cranky lawn tractor.  It gasped, blew smoke and reluctantly chugged forward to the fence line.  The children started with basic picking up of loose baling twine.  Steve and I started shoveling the dirt in.  It was working, and easily!  This is great!  Steve starts up the tractor, backs it into the barn and we learned you really need to unhook the tailgate prior to tipping the dump.

Okay, we can shovel.
Then we discovered that due to the blade guard, we couldn't pull the tractor forward through the narrow gate back into the pasture.
Bad words were said.  Adults got grumpy.  We discovered that it could pull through the side gate (after I learned about the all important slow gear on the tractor and I was no longer in danger of killing everyone) so we drove through the side gate (had to have a kid lock it), drove around the front of the barn, have a kid lower the ropes for the pasture truck gate, pull into the pasture to the fence line for dirt.
Okay!  Back in action.  We can make this work.
Steve feels confident enough that he goes out to the station to help the engineer on a project (something quasi important, just the EBS system).  I feel puffed up with the success of one dirt load and bounce through the pasture to the fence.  I stop and start loading the dirt in.  Slower with just me doing the shoveling, it is still done in quick order.
I then discover why Dad sent along his bike pump.  Both of the tires on the trailer were now flat.
Son of a biscuit.
Due to extreme stickers, we have tire issues on all of our equipment.  Bike tires are slimed more often then my van gets an oil change.  These stickers are also referred to as sand spurs and goat heads and they are all evil.
I pump up the tires, now encrusted with stickers because that seems to be all I have grown this season.  I feel good, fire up the tractor and trundle back to the barn.
Our barn entrance is five feet wide.  The gate to the corral that fronts the barn is only about 42 inches.  Well, Steve got it through.
I pulled forward, lined up the trailer and put it in reverse.  I started backing up.  The trailer zigged to the right, so I corrected.  The trailer positively swung to the right, so I corrected the other way.  Nope.  Not gonna do it.
I pulled forward.  I started to back up.  Trailer zagged left.  I corrected.  Trailer swung fully left.  WHAT!!  THE!! BLEEP!!!
Kids are watching me, trying to motion with little hand signals which direction I should go.  This is often helpful in a car or a truck, but on the tractor, I am seeing everything and what I can see is that I cannot back up a lawn trailer to save my life!
What gives?!?!  I can successfully grab a round bale with either a truck or large tractor with the round bale carrier.  I can successfully back up a 16 foot stock trailer around a curve and up a hill (I don't care how hard it is to put back, I am terribly grateful to my friend, Carol, for letting me borrow her trailer!).  I have mastered horses fighting in a trailer, horses falling in a trailer.  I backed up the stock trailer into a chute when Belles wouldn't load to come home from the vet and I am being defeated by a Craftsman lawn tractor and John Deere trailer.  Shoot me now.
FINE!
I use a shovel and smash a wee bitty piece of concrete and prepare to turn the tractor around to pull it forward into the corral and dump the dirt at the barn entrance.  I sigh, make a face and turn the key on the tractor.
Whirrrr, whirrr, cough, whirrr, whirrr.
Huh?
I slap it.  I stomp my foot.
Whrrrr, whrrrr.
Now what?
Determined that my horses will have fresh dirt, I send the children to fetch the two plastic toboggans.  I figured we could "sled" the dirt to the barn.
I texted Steve the latest drama.
Does it need gas?
Gas?  OH!  I run back to the shed and fetch the gas can.  The tractor gulps it up, soaks it up, slurps it up and burps for me.
I turn the key.  Whirrrrr, cough, pop,growl!!!!
Back in business!  I turn it around and squeeze through the gate and turned sharply to have the back of the dump near the barn door.
This time we remembered to unlatch the gate and then tilt the dump.  Whoosh!  Dirt in the doorway!
The other two kids have trundled back with the sleds, and gathered rakes and shovels.
I pulled through the side gate, around the front of the barn, through the truck gate and over to the pasture fence.
I loaded up another load of dirt, inflated the tires and bounced back to the barn.  I pulled through the gate, turned and discovered that the kids were working really hard at moving the dirt from the pile to the barn.
LIGHT BULB!
I pull up, position a sled under the dump and unlatched the gate!  SCORE!  The dirt piled into the sled, was dragged into the barn and dumped in the exact place needed.  Yes!  We have learned!
We repeated the process several times.  It was made easier when Steve came home and proceeded to help with the shoveling parts.

Shovel, inflate, bounce, squeeze, dump, pull, tip and spread!  BOO YEAH!!
This whole process was helped along with horses that were very curious.  They were in the barn, next to the tractor, behind the dump. in the dirt pile and trying to escape the through the gates.

In the end, the barn is now filled with soft, dry dirt.  The lawn trailer was tucked into the shed, and the dump trailer was returned with with inflated tires and a collection of stickers.
What have learned?
TURN THE WATER OFF!

And how was your day?

The People In the Community

A community isn't just a collection of people that all happen to live in close proximity to one another.  A community is also more than just a collection of people working toward a common good.  Community is that rare feeling of kindred spirit you feel when you are working with a diverse group of people.  Community is grabbing a hand that reaches out for help, offering to open a door, chopping apples and offering a smile. 
Wait....chopping apples?  Yes, and celery.  And being elbow deep in a salad mix (relax, severe handwashing in progress, I have proof).  Where have I been and what have I been doing?
Every year the First United Methodist Church in Portales has a Turkey Dinner.  This dinner has been served in our community for fifty-eight years!  This means over an entire human generation.  Babies have been born, come into adulthood and had children of their own.  The church has fed them through it.

Some Amazing Facts:

46 turkeys

84 Gallons of Green Beans

450 apples

250 Pumpkin Pies

26 large roasters of dressing

156 dozen rolls

150 bunches of celery

18 gallons of Cranberry sauce

Last year, 1855 dinners were served!  In a town of only 17,000.  I find that number astounding. 

But, may I say, let us part the curtain and go behind the counter and into the kitchen.  I have participated in the consumption of this dinner for many years, but this is the first year I have had the honor of helping to prepare it.

Every year, volunteers are called for.  Baking pies, corn bred, cooking turkeys and chopping apples.  Many years I have wanted to, but the pulls of motherhood has kept me from participating.  For all of those who have the time, but decided not to help....boy, have you missed out on something good.

None of the work is arduous,  and you are greeted with a warm welcome and a smile.

There are no orders issued, just the wonderfuly turned phrase of, "I'm going to let you...." and insert chore of choice.  When you accidentally spill, everyone laughs and you are told, "You still won't get fired. Nice try."

The men and women are all of a generation that learned to give and to do.  They are from a group of people that don't take breaks according to clocks, but push on because, "I am also done!"  Apples by the score were washed and we cut and quartered them.  They were chopped further. Celery met the same fate. 

When I asked to keep the cores for my horses, it was greeted with warm enthusiasm.  My horses made out today, apple bits that made them nicker from a bag so heavy it almost ripped.

I was new to the system, but quickly intergrated.  I worked smoothly along side men and women who have participated in this even since their own young adulthoods.  The youngest person was the son of the chairperson and he called his mother mama, and her parents, Grandmother and Grandfather.  He was a very young adult and sported a newly broken hand, no less.  He did more one handed than so many other whole body people do.  I was proud to see him, and a few others of my generation.  But, quite frankly, it is the generation prior to mine that is so generous of their time and efforts.  Their sincere efforts motivated me to step up my own, to be more but not for myself, to be more of myself for others.

We made jokes, we laughed, we helped, we washed and we were a communtiy.  We were men and women united not just in purpose, but on purpose.  We were a fellowship of Christians, making dinner that would be served to all who come.  There is no discrimination.  Everyone will be invited in, welcomed with a smile.

Just as I was, this morning.

And how was your day?

And now a word about costumes

Halloween.  One of my absolute favorite holidays.  Goblins and candy, life doesn't get any better.
But what, oh what to be?  The joy of this holiday is not foound in dumping a load of cash to a store or website so you can look "out of the box" like everyone else.  The best costumes involve creativity on a budget.
Take this Halloween at our place.  Conner was Harry Potter...again.  But this time he opted for the red quidditch robes.  We added some hair spray, a fake scar, and an orange sweater.  He was thrilled.  William wanted to be a Dino Hunter.  I have no idea where that came from.  I went to Goodwill, bought camo pants, a fisherman's vest and he wore a floppy hat.  We printed a dino hunter's license and he was good to go.
James initally wanted to be a dog trainer, but then opted for pirate.  Arg!  My favorite!  Baseball pants with an old loose blouse of mine, too much cheap jewelry, some scarves and his sister's black boots.
I was not orginally going to dress up.  But then my inner child threw a tantrum and I raided my closet.  Last December the twins had a Spy Academy birthday party and I had gone to Goodwill and purchased what I believe are black paramedic pants.  God Bless them.  Not only do these rocking pants look good as a spy master, I paired them with my Star Trek red shirt and went as Dead-Nameless-Red-Shirt guy.  Those pants have some awesome pocket; phone, keys, flashlight!  Check!
But the real winner this year, was Caitlyn.  She was set on being.....The Headless Horseman.  How on earth could I deny that?! 
Back to Goodwill.  I swear I keep that place solvent.  We purchased an oversized white shirt and black heavy blazer.  We added a cheap cape from the dollar store.  I built up fake shoulders and a neck stump.  Add some riding boots and even the dogs were scared! 

So, when you are plotting ahead for next year....think reuse, not purchase.  Think outside the box....all the fun costumes are waiting for you!


And how was your day?

Corn Maze

We did this a couple of weeks ago.  I figured I had better post some pictures or I might be hauled a way by CYFD for depriving my children of a childhood!  See!  We do way more than clean!

Yeah, it was hot and nobody wanted to line up!

These were super!  Rubber duck races!

with hand pumps!!

Cow train!

At the start of the maze!

A giant bounce PILLOW!

Go Steve, Go!

Goats ahoy!

I  so want this for my yard!

Caitlyn and I rocked the big maze!

Our "Map"  notice the Mix logo!

So yes, we do more than clean! We have adventures and the kids are happy, despite what they want to tell you about all of the cleaning we make them do!

And how was your day?

News from the Front....

Sunday
Portales, New Mexico
USA

This just in: Meanest Mom in the world conspires with Meanest Dad in the world to force children to help clean up house on a Sunday.


We have just learned that mother of four, Momster, called upon the support of her spouse, Dadster, and have, by use of force, made their four young children work in the house.
Witnesses say that there was yelling, protests from the innocent children, in regards to the mess under beds and behind dressers.
"It wasn't mine!  I didn't do that," said one victim, whose identity has been hidden for security purposes.
"It isn't right that I have to clean up a bedroom I share with someone!  The mess isn't mine!"
More protests were heard from the garage where resistance was even stronger!
"This isn't our stuff, why do we have to clean it!"
"Even God rested on Sunday! Why do we have to do all the work."
The stuff in question seemed to be everything from soccer gear to a multitude of shoes, confirming the rumor that there was no way these four innocent children could possibly be responsible for the wide range of debris.  Two dogs were also implicated, but their fate isn't certain.  They were found hiding in crates and were not available for comment.
The two adults in this altercation had this to say:
"I am tired of playing, "dear-heaven-what-is-that-smell".  These kids live in this house and they need to start making an effort in keeping it up.  I can't do it all on mine own."  This is obviously an attempt to get out of work on her part.  She refused more comments, claiming that she needed to finish scrubbing the floor and ridding the laundry room of, "some strange funk."
The male in the equation had this to say, "This isn't a punishment.  No one is being punished.  This is simply everyone working together to do what needs to be done."
Last seen was a seven year old boy sitting, crying on the floor.  He was being forced to sweep crumbs and dirt into a dust pan.  There is no word of his fate.
Another lingering sight, is of an eight year old boy, cruelly given a separate chore from his twin.  He was too overcome to give a comment.
These photos were reveal the emotions behind this story.  There were taken by an infiltrator with a hidden camera.

Representatives for KAWC, Kids Against Work Coalition were reportedly on their way.  The feeling is strong that these two parents need brought to justice for their crimes against childhood.

We will bring you more from this story as it develops.

"Motherhood: 24/7 on the frontlines of humanity. Are you man enough?" - Maria Shriver


And how was your day?

A little bit f rain

Anyone who follows me knows that I am fussy about weather.  I hate being cold, I hate the wind, I love the rain and I love the fall.  We, on the High Plains, have had a heck of a spring and summer.  Spring brought horrific winds, but no rain.  We have had hay shortages and crispy pastures.  But in the past couple of weeks, we did have some rain. 
One night, as I sat in the cozy comfort of the Shabby Sheep Yarn Shoppe, it started to rain.  We laughed, this couldn't be, we had forgotten what rain was like!  It would sprinkle and then stop.  Honestly, water falling from the sky?  Santa Claus, yes.  Rain, no.
So, when we left the shop, after cookies and crafting, imagine my surprise when I encountered a full fledged High Plains thunderstorm.  Serious rain pelting down, a temperature differential that had to be at least 20 degrees, lightening flashing across the sky and thunder shaking my very bones.  I crawled home, my out of use wipers not even making a clean sweep in the rush of water on the glass.  Lightening, more than headlights, lit my way home.

The sweetest surprise was the next morning.  All of the rain had run off to our northeastern corner of our pasture.  I had, long ago, promised the children that we would play in the mud after the first rain.  We made good on that.

and how was your day?

A Little Bit of Hero in Us All

Not to long ago, in the far off land of New Mexico, we celebrated heroes.  It was the end of a month long drive to find the heroes among us.  It started innocently enough, and easily enough, at least for me.  I sit with Grandpa! Mr. Terry at the church might not think so.  All of my kids act as acolytes.  They love to be the ones to light the candles, to walk proudly in front of the church in the beginning and end of service.  Through service, they sit with Mr. Terry, a very kind and patient gentleman with the silver hair of knowledge.  He is a saint.  Between girl giggles and twins poking each other, he keeps the acolytes calm and focused on their part in worship services.  A steady supply of teddy grahams helps.  On this particular day, since we were wrapping up a summer and a month of heroes, all the acolytes were there, to show their part in the community.  There were fourteen.  Mr. Terry kept calm rein on them, no one burned the church or alter cloth, no one dropped the offer and no one killed any one. 

After service we were treated to a display of hands on learning from the sheriff's department, the police department, the fire department and some fun activities from the church.  There was a cake walk, which is a William favorite, there was face painting and a wonderful game called Holy Hosing.  The children tried to throw a football through a hoop.  If they make it, they get to hose the pastor down with a fire hose.  James and Conner managed to give the pastor a good shower!  Caitlyn did sidewalk chalk drawings and Conner learned the finer points of hand bells.  Grandpa Tom was able to go through the group and I even snapped a great photo of him with the other two former Navy Sea Bees we have in our congregation.  Many, many thanks to the volunteers and servicemen and women who make this day so much fun!

And how was your day?