The House is Painted!

Several friends and family arrived yesterday morning to help paint all of the "Ruby Rembrandt" walls that we had painted dark red a few years back. They are now a very warm cream/white. The bedrooms downstairs are a berry/brown with an orchid/plum accent. The master bedroom awaits a new soaking tub with a warm cream and tuscan orange accent wall there. (The carpet comes today for the bedrooms.) The kitchen will have to be demolished due to extensive water damage. However, the good news is that I get my new concrete/stainless steel kitchen this summer!

A new guest bath/shower and laundry are being built by Construction man and his brother as we speak. We have all worked very diligently to get this place ready to move into by Monday... oh my, that's tomorrow!

I do have to work at "Chopped" tomorrow, but I will be done by mid afternoon and then head back to our rental in Cody to finish cleaning and turning it back to the owners.

I have made a plan to ride this week with my girlie from Red Lodge. I am really pushing for this "mini vacation" on Thursday. I bet Addy won't mind the attention. She has had quite a vacation herself.

Moving ahead with an ordinary life! I just can't wait to get those seeds in the garden and watch them grow.

St Olaf's church in the countryside of Montana.

"Oh God, You are my God, and I will ever praise You!"

Work, work, work...

My hat is off to people who get up everyday, shower and leave for work by five or six o'clock. They proceed to work all day and head for home each evening just to get up and do it all again the next day!

I am just flat tuckered out with these 14 hour days!! (Whine, whine, sniff, sniff!)

My dad, my husband, my little brother, my brothers in law, my father in law, my sister in law, and my sister did it for twenty years... I'm not saying staying home and raising kids and taking good care of a home isn't work, it's just that I could sit down in the afternoons if need be, while the kids were napping.

Thanks for loving me by working everyday so we could/can have food, shelter, shoes, clothes and some of the luxuries of this life, Dad and Construction Man. You guys rock!! I love you both very much.

Back to work again tomorrow. We have several folks coming over to the old house to paint and get ready for carpet. Should be a great day. Hope they all show up!

Tell your family you love them. :) :) :0 For I know I certainly love mine... I'm glad they're mine.

Checking in...

Sorry this is late today. We are frantic running back and forth from house to house. Not sure which one to work on! It's coming down to the wire and we need a miracle.

I can't type much, my hands are raw and sore from scrubbing, painting, pulling out staples from an old carpet pad in the master bedroom, packing, scrubbing the house we are leaving etc.

All is well. God is faithful and there is a lesson in this somewhere! We are having a painting party on Saturday if anyone would like to attend. We will feed you and put you to work as the carpet layer will be there Sunday morning.

Hank loves his huge yard and Addy is enjoying her own large pen and stall! I need to get some more hay for her. Her legs are not swollen anymore and she is ready to ride once again!! Now, I just need some time...

Good night, Moon.

Dear Cheri,

Today is your birthday. I bet the celebration in Heaven is tremendous. Here on earth we are tinged with sadness but trying to carry on, knowing that's the right thing to do, for now. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you.

It's springtime and all the flowers are beginning to bloom. It's time to plant seeds and pray for no more frost! You loved your flower gardens. We loved your flower gardens.
I can no longer look at a sunflower without seeing your face.

I went home to Road 8. Our cat was still there waiting after three years. I bought her a bag of cat food and took it up in the barn loft to feed her... just like I've done a thousand times before. She was grateful for the attention. I was honored to love on her again. I really do like cats, now!

And guess what, SheShe? I took to drinking beer. I can hear you giggle. It isn't light beer. Actually, the darker the better. I love Guinness. That's the Irish coming out in me.

Speaking of drinking beer, sitting on your patio, and reading a good book, I wonder if your toenails are still pink? You always had the greatest fingernails and toenails! From the time we were young girls you could always grow your nails out. You filed and filed them, keeping them looking great.

Been listening to Rod Stewart lately. I remember listening to him through the bedroom wall on Shrigley Road as you jammed out on your stereo.

Yep. Today is my big sister's birthday. Though you have gone on ahead of us, I thank God for the memories. In a way, no matter where I look or what I do, you are still here in our hearts and minds. I like that. On thing I would ask is that I could hug you one more time, talk about our kids, complain about our husbands and make a plan for Tuscany. I guess there will be plenty of time for all that!

I love you, Cheri. Happy Birthday.

Extra Effort

In my coffee time with Construction Man and prayer time with the Lord this morning, I have come to the realization that it is going to take extra effort on my part this week to aid in the smoothness of transitions from this place to the next.

Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control are where my eyes are firmly and resolutely set. In my awareness and willingness, God will meet me more than halfway. That's just how He is. Thank you, Lord.

I love you family. Stay the course. Remember how much you are loved. Can't wait to see you when you come to Wyoming. What a great day that will be!

"I know my mama is over there somewhere. Can you see her?"

Construction Man II

Construction Man has a little brother. He has a ranchette in Powell too. He has a small herd of cattle and we went to the branding yesterday. My job was secretarial in nature. I had to record all the numbers on the tags etc. The baby calves are so sweet. In the following pict is Construction Man II's youngest. He is a handsome boy. Lots of spirit!!

We then proceeded to our ranchette to put up a gate on the main entrance and rototill the garden spots. I bought seeds today to get ready for planting. It's almost time, but the weather can be deceiving in Wyoming springtimes.

Sam, the cow wrestler!

Construction Man with the needle guns.

Injured Addy...

Two nights ago the little filly kicked at a mule in the stall next to her and skinned up both her hind legs on the front of her hocks. She is very swollen and stiff. I guess training will be suspended for a few days or so.

We spent all day building fence and getting ready to take Hank and Addy home to Road 8. I will be glad to have her there to be able to keep a better eye on her. Now if we can just keep the kids that live across the street from coming over and shooting up the windows and lights in the barn, putting holes in the buildings and laming up the horses that are being boarded there now. Sad! I know boys will be boys, however, there will be some teachable moments ahead for these youngsters.

It is time to put everything that I have unpacked back into boxes. I only work two days next week so I know exactly what I will be doing for the next few weeks. Can we say painting, moving stuff, sorting and throwing away stuff and basically cussing my stuff!! If you have been reading my blog you know how I feel about stuff. (I relish the idea of throwing away more stuff.) :)

Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday!

Today is my parent's anniversary. They have been a constant, positive example of two people working together to keep their marriage strong and our family as one cohesive unit!

May times over the course of my marriage I have considered their resolve to work things out when the going got tough. And believe you, me, the going has gotten tough!

I am proud of my dad and mom and so very thankful to be their daughter.

We have an amazing family. We are one. We are in this together. Thanks guys for the strength and fine example of two separate people becoming one, in love. Enjoy your day.

It is also my nephew's birthday today. He is my little brother's oldest boy. One of the sweetest, most handsome, young men I have ever met!! I am proud of you Derek. You are strong and smart and will do great things in this world. Stay the course. You are so loved by so many. Especially me!!

Three days on...four days off!!

I am so sorry I have not been keeping up with my 365 days of blogging. An unrealistic goal perhaps.

This work thing has been kicking my butt, in trying to get ready to move, keeping the filly going, taking care of hubby and kids, (even though almost all grown, it is true, they still need their mom!) Not to mention cleaning, laundry, bills, taxes, cooking... Oh, I am whining... sorry!

I do thank God for dirty dishes, that means we are eating. And for dirty clothes, that means we have clothes and have a washer and dryer to clean them in! There is always something to be thankful for. :)

I thank Him for my job and the great people I work with. And since all we have is time, I am thankful for my health to make the most of this time we've been given. Even as I sit here trying to type, Hank the Cow Dog is pestering me to pay attention to him. Seems as though there is a lot vying for my time. With the Theologian gone, and having taken her little dog with her, Hank has been very lost and lonely.

The folks living in our house are suppose to be out by Sunday. This will mean that the race is on to get home and get it all gutted, cleaned, redone and moved into before Construction Man leaves for North Dakota.

I did mention this morning, during coffee, that I am overwhelmed. I promptly got a stiff scolding for such nonsense.

I am trying to take each moment as it comes and not live too far into the future in my mind. This is hard for me.

It'll all be alright. Four days to accomplish a great many things.
Guess I'll go take a nap!

Sunday Stills~~~"TALL"

Saturday, I love Saturdays!

Today is Saturday. We started out with coffee and then a trip to the barnyard with my new/old trailer in tow. We needed to see if Addy would even go in it. It is very small, but sound.

I began by grooming and saddling and just jumping right on today without round pen work. She rode right off with my intent to just let her have some free time outside the arena or the round pen. She did very well walking among the farm implements, big round hay bales, cars flying by on the nearby road, and other horses lining up at the fence to greet her!

Construction Man had the trailer all ready to put her in when I got back. We unsaddled and made the loading attempt. She hesitated, but with a little grain and tapping her on the rump with the whip, she made her way up the ramp into the Circle J! We drove her around the countryside with Hank the Cow Dog tied to the flat bed of the truck. Just one small, happy family. (I'm still brooding/pouting about all the girls being out of the house for the moment!)

A 1980 Circle J. Mine is a 1974 with a red stripe down the side. Cute little thing!

We headed to our hometown and washed the trailer up to see how much work we needed to do on it. It is in pretty good shape with a little rust on the ramp. Construction Man can weld. He can measure and rebuild. He has the technology!

Then, as if my day just couldn't get any better, we headed to my favorite tack shop in a nearby Wyoming town. I found a black headstall and reins, and a black saddle pad to complement my black saddle and bay horse with black points. See an underlying theme here? I realize black leather is out of style right at the moment. I am on a crusade to bring it back into fashion in the horse world!

Funny ending to this daily report: I came home and was doing some research on Addy's bloodlines. Addy's daddy is a black stallion!

Blue Bayou Boon

Addy's daddy!!

So, hope your Saturday was a good one. I'm off to the shower to wash off some of the black dirt I've been playing in all day.
Love you family, miss you so much. :) :) :0

Baby Shower... I Love Baby Showers!

Just got back from my friend's son's baby's shower. It was in a small Montana town at the only restaurant in town: "The Garage." So many folks showed up for the occasion. Who doesn't like to hold a beautiful little baby and ponder the wonders of God?!

I know I love to hold them, smooch them and just look at 'em. Everything is all there and oh so small, yet perfect.

What a great family and such awesome friends. We have all been blessed.


Welcome to the world, Olivia Kelly. You are so loved. :)

Big sis and mama

See You Soon...

The Theologian left today with the Soldier. They are heading for their new home in the deep south. I am not sure who'll will be more sad, Hank the Cow Dog, to see May go, or me, to have the oldest girl out again, in the world at large.

I walked around Road 8 the other day and could still hear three little girls running, playing and jumping on the trampoline. :( Bitter... :) sweet.

Had an old horse shoer who used to say this about the huge buckskin gelding I once owned. He would not stand still to be shod, but was absolutely gentle and seemed born broke. "You gotta take the bitter with the sweet!" Carl would purport.

Much of life, perhaps all of life, is like that. Bitter then sweet. Sweet then bitter. I am fifty and have found this to be true in my short lifetime.

We will turn our attentions now to getting packed up and heading home. We have boxes to fill, carpets to clean, tubs to scrub, walls to paint, cupboards to repair... the list is endless.

But I like lists, remember? Lists are bitter sweet. Too much to do. Not enough to cross off. Oh well.

I love you, kids. Be safe and call soon.

Going Home

We will be moving home to Road 8 at the end of the month. Of course, this is something I never thought would happen (I hoped it might!) when we packed our things and moved away three years ago. We have come full circle. Much water has passed under the bridge and over the dam...

But our old house is not in good order. Too many children and dogs have lived there and not enough cleaning in between. We will have to re-carpet, paint and do some deep cleaning in the bathrooms and kitchen. Oh well.

I do have my garden spot picked out and Russ is ordering fencing to keep Hank the Cow Dog safely in the yard. Addy will have her own stall and I will have a very large yard to water and bring back to life. Not to mention all the dead pine trees that will need to be taken out etc... The barn yard was rented too and the horse poop has stacked up as well.

Lots of work to do. I will be busy this spring and summer.

I am looking forward to it. Making my house my own again. I will get some laying hens as soon as the other animals are settled. The Nurse Child will be home for the summer with the Beautician coming and going. It should be an awesome season of living.

God is faithful. :)

The Beautician painted this for me a few years back. She is a talented artist too!

Spring has Sprung!

"Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams

Out where I keep my filly, the baby mules are being born!! This is an example of the one there now, and one more is on the way. So very, very sweet. I just want to pick him up and squeeze him and smooch him!!

I rode Addy in the arena again today. She is learning to bend into the corners. We did lope in the big arena today. She is very stiff and unbalanced going to the right. I used great forward motion, lots of leg and chirping to get her to go. She stopped very well. Did we improve one percent today? I submit to you that we did. In one hundred days, she will have improved 100%!

I will try to get Construction Man to take some picts of us riding around. I'll get 'em up here soon.

Thanks for reading and tuning in to a fifty year old woman's rantings and observations.

Resurrection Sunday

I know it's late and most of you have gone to bed. Pretty much everyone around here has done the same, and then I remembered I had not posted today.

Today was Resurrection Sunday. Easter. My favorite holiday. But it is definitely more than that to me. When I look at the empty cross, the empty grave and the fullness of my heart I am again amazed. Amazed at what God has done for a no name sinner such as myself. Jesus called me by name, He lifted my head, He hung on that cross for me, He paid the penalty for my sin, for the sins of us all and went to hell and back so we don't have to. WOW! Now that's a great story.

My kids keep hammering me for my opinion on Hunger Games. "Mom" they retort, "You don't understand. The world is evil, life is hard!" "You need to keep reading. It gets better." I think to myself, it sure couldn't get any worse! I wonder who they think their talking to. Do I look like I just fell off the turnip truck?!!

Oh well. I can tell better stories, hopeful stories, to young teens and help them to walk through the rough places of their lives (trust me I know how rough it can get,) than take them to depths of hopelessness and evil, and fill their minds with junk like this Collins lady.

The Bible is full of human drama--good, bad and ugly. It is also filled with absolute truth and an eternal solution. The world is evil. Life is hard. However, death is beaten, sin is beaten. Christ won today, forever. PERIOD. The ending is glorious. Can't wait to get there.

Thank you for the cross, Lord.

Sunday's a Comin'

"Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years." ~Simone Signoret


Tomorrow we pick up the happy couple from the airport. Tomorrow is also Easter Sunday. I did not buy ham this year. I made meatloaf!

I did not buy candy this year. I did not buy Easter baskets either. Dud.

I need grandchildren quick!!

Happy Easter. It is for freedom's sake that Christ has set us free.

Enjoy.
I miss you, family, and hope to see you soon. Love you!

The candle burns dimly...Sunday's a comin'.

Hunger Games, Schmunger Games!

Yep. You guessed it. Went to the movies last night. Saw The Hunger Games.
Don't go if you haven't already. Stupid, stupid, stupid.... did I mention how stupid it is. Where do these so called authors come up with such crap? And who would take their children to see children killing, in cold blood, other children? I don't care what the story line or plot is. There is no reason in this world for such evil, violent nonsense. We pay money for this? We read the books, we go see the movie and then we tell each other how good it was?

Not me. I will not tell anyone how good it was. I am ashamed for spending my money on the book and the theatre. There is no reason for this. I am so sad. My niece saw it and said it was good. My thirteen year old, precious, innocent, pure niece. Our middle school even made a field trip of it and took all the kids that wanted to attend to see it.

I would like to visit with the author of such evil. Is she related to Hitler? Is she a few bricks short of a load? Screws loose? Half a bubble off? WHAT WAS SHE THINKING????

Money, money, money...

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Call me up Suzanne Collins. We need to talk.

Do you have children? Do you know that it is people like you who encourage young people to get a gun and go blow away classmates? Can we say desensitization? You need help.

Give me a call. I can help!

Ten Rides...

I've got ten rides in on Addy. She is doing amazingly well. Even when she sneezes and spooks her own self, jumping sideways and making me laugh so hard I almost fall off--

We are bending, flexing, seeing new sights, and hoping for a trailer so I can take her to my friend's house in Red Lodge to ride this summer. She's a cutting horse, so I need to take her to my brother-in-law's house and let her see/smell the cow/calves. This is so much fun. I am very happy to be back into horses and riding almost everyday.

I started a book called "The Horses We Love, The Lessons We Learn." A simple read with some great stories. Lessons like joy, love, trust, death and dying.

I haven't picked it up in quite sometime as the chopped job and breaking this filly has had me tied up. Maybe this evening.

Still more...

My Papa's Waltz By: Theodore Roethke

The whiskey on your breath
Could make a small boy dizzy;
But I hung on like death:
Such waltzing was not easy.
We romped until the pans

slid from the kitchen shelf

My mother's countenance 

could not unfrown itself.
The hand that held my wrist 

was battered on one knuckle;

at every step you missed 

my right ear scraped a buckle.
You beat time on my head 

with a palm caked hard by dirt,

then waltzed me off to bed
still clinging to your shirt.



Such imagery in so few words. Genius!!

Sunday Stills of a Sweet Wedding