It's a great day

Today is a big day on two fronts. First, I had a hair appointment this morning to get it colored. I've been coloring my hair since 7th grade, and I have no clue what color is the real color anymore. For all I know, I could be totally gray.

For the last few years I've been going more towards red....I love red hair, and not being blessed with it naturally, I let my stylist make me into a red head. But I decided this morning to change things up a bit. I went blond. Not Dolly Parton blond, but close to surfer girl streaky blond. I like it, but it is a change. I've caught glimpses in the mirror a few times, and was like, Whoa. But it's growing on me. I'm adventurous when it comes to hair, much to the astonishment of my sister in law. I figure it will either grow back or can be recolored. It's easily changed....so just go with it.

In other news, I ordered my birthday cake today. I turn 29 on Friday, and my folks are coming for cake on Thursday night. I found out that the local DQ makes blizzard cakes, so I got a custom ordered Snickers with Chocolate Ice Cream BlizzardCake with Happy Birthday written on it, with Pink and Blue flowers. I'm pumped about it.

The only bad thing about today is that the Muggies are definitely in town on vacation. We had a weather man on a local station that used to say that the Muggy family was around when the weather got sticky. My family kept up the story. So Baby A and I have been hanging out in the basement.

Maybe Farmer will take us out for Root Beer Floats tonight if we look hot and sweaty enough.......It's a hope! :)

OOOOOOOHHHH!!!!! CUTIE!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness, this quiz is so funny...

http://www.blogthings.com/whosyour80shunkquiz/

My 80's hunk is Kirk Cameron.

This is a big deal, because when I was young girl, I had this huge poster of Kirk Cameron hanging above my bed. It was even bigger than my poster of New kids on the Block. I believe I got it out of a special issue of Tiger Beat that was all about Kirk.

Scarily, I still find him cute. 20years later.

Finding out that Kirk is my true 80's hunk is the best thing that happened to me today. I can go to sleep happy.

Who's your 80's hunk?????

You may be right....

I may be crazy.

Last night I enrolled in another Graduate School program. This time, it's to obtain my Masters in History. It's a totally online program through a university in Virginia, and I'm doing the European History strand. Farmer and I discussed it, and it just comes down to the fact that I just love to go to school and learn. And, I want to teach at the college level, and I need a masters in my field in order to even get my nose in teh door, to be a lecturer.

But seriously.....I don't have time for this! I know this in the back of my mind, but I just can't wait any longer to study history. I'm not doing any extracurriculars at my high school, and I don't work on the farm during the school year (and barely during the summer), so I will just make time. Thankfully Baby A goes to bed nice and early, so I'll have my evenings to work. Grammy also said she'd help me out with the house and Baby A (she's always looking for a sleepover opportunity) if I get in a pinch and assignments are due.

But besides my time panic, I'm SO EXCITED. Baby A and I did the Excited Polka last night when I was done with the enrollment process. I LOVED college life at UWO, and if I had the choice, I would have just kept going and getting degree after degree. I guess I'm already doing that, just without the dorm life, which I also loved.

So, another new adventure in life. My first class starts on September 1, so I have time to get my virtual backpack packed and sharpen my new #2 pencils. School starts in just over a month!

Woohoo!!!!!

Fair Update!!

Yesterday the dish towels were judged. Surprisingly, I placed 2nd. Not too shabby, considering the competition. But you should have seen the 1st place winners. My towels curled up in shame compared to the amazing stitching on them. I'll get a picture of them tonight (yes, 3rd night in a row at the fair....just call me a carnie) and post it up here.

Farmer and I also went to the concert last night. He was able to go in the end, due to a whole bunch of stuff working in my favor and not in his. :) Neal McCoy was great, as always, but we were disappointed in Joe Nichols. He did ALOT of talking. So much so that people were leaving before the show was over. He did sing my favorite (and theme) song, Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off, but in the line "Those pantyhose won't last too long, when the DJ puts Bon Jovi on," which is why it is my theme song (combination Tequila {shot of choice} and Bon Jovi), he didn't use Bon Jovi, he used Bocephus (Hank Jr) instead! Again, I was robbed. There I was, dancing like a fool to the song, singing along, and then BOCEPHUS is said! I stopped mid hip shimmy and threw my arms up in the air. I think Farmer wanted to crawl under the seat. :)

That lovely show was provided by 3 potent Jack Daniels coolers, in Berry flavor. It's stronger than a wine cooler and beer, and very tasty. They normally cause spontaneous dancing when they meet me. Darn you, Jack Daniels.

I should also tell you I was wearing my ten gallon white cowboy hat, with stiletto sandals. What a vision of cowgirl/citygirl loveliness.

But since Baby A is still at her sleep over, it's time to clean the house. Grrrr. Mowing the lawn and cleaning the house in one day is too much maintenance work for me. :)

I was Robbed!!!!!

So, last night was the judging at the Cow County Fair. Baby A and I got there plenty early to drop off my goods and chew our nails in nervous excitement. Just kidding. Baby A and I went for a walk around the grounds and I introduced her to sheep, goats, and pigs. She loved the sheep, because I think she thought they were talking back to her (there was baaa-ing and squealing all over) but she sadly wasn't a fan of the pigs. She kept looking at me with a "What the H*ll???" look on her face. We also went through the cow barn, but she was thinking "Yawn. I see these at home."

But then, after an hour of random wandering of the fair grounds (and a hot dog -no bun - later), we got seats for the judging. Here are the results:

Bran Muffins: 1st
Sugar Cookies: 1st
Rye Bread: 2nd (judge said it was too dry and not dark enough....whatever. A matter of taste)
Zuchinni: 2nd place (too big....too big????? WTF!)
Green Beans: 2nd place (too many big seeds in the pod. He didn't know green beans)

AND........

Chocolate Chip Cookies: NO PLACE.

WHAAAAAAT?

I'm known for my cookies. They are awesome. I have special secrets that make them turn out every time. People LOVE my cookies. Last year I took first place. And this year I didn't even place. AND IT WAS THE SAME JUDGE!!!!! I could hardly believe it.

The judge was super skinny....I bet she never eats cookies so she doesn't know a good one when she meets it. I, on the other hand.........

As you can tell, I don't lose well. :) I'm a sore loser. When I go out to do something, (besides dieting) I WANT TO WIN!!!!! Judge, you can shove it up your chocolate chip cookie!

Ok, enough angry rambling. I'm better. :) Today my dish towels are judged, but after seeing the competition, I'm pretty sure I didn't do well. One lady entered dishtowels for every day, and every MONTH in the same batch! Holy stitching. That's 19 towels!!!!! I entered 4 in my batch, and thought I was an overachiever. Oh well.

But overall, I enjoyed myself last night. Tonight is the concert, but I don't think Farmer will be able to go with me afterall. Between his brother's back going out, the hay being ready to pick up, and the normal milking to get done, he doesn't think he can go. This happens sometimes, so I'm not overly surprised....but I am a bit disappointed. Oh well.

I'm already planning for next year's fair.....molasses cookies? Learn to make white bread? Pie?
The possibilities are endless............

Big Weekend for Baby A

I have to start today with a trumpet blast:

Bum-bum-bum-BUMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a big day for Baby A yesterday, and it's a big week for her mumma too. But first: Baby A.

It's Grammy's birthday on Thursday, so yesterday we had her birthday party. Now, in the last few years, it hasn't been exactly a PARTY, just basically we all get together and have a weenie roast--Grammy's favorite meal in the summer. We play some bocce and drink some drinkies, and eat cake. Which sounds like a party, but it's not really. It's basically just another Sunday afternoon hanging out with the 'rents, (which we do alot in the summer) but minus cake. But now since Grammy's a GRAMMY, she needed an honest to goodness party with Baby A. Or Kitty, as Grammy calls her.

So, yesterday, Grammy, Poppy, Mumma, Farmer, Uncle, Auntie, Uncle, Auntie, and BabyKitty all went to.....BAY BEACH. An amusement park 30 minutes from CowTown. Now, let's count this out....8 adults over the age of 25, and 1 9 month old who has no clue where she is. But Grammy wanted a PARTY. So off we went in the muggy heat to Bay Beach.

Baby A and Grammy went on many rides....the helocopters, the train, and the carosel (all the rides taht Baby A could go on...she's too little for the kiddy rides) Because all the adults (minus Farmer...he still doesnt' get my family) like to get in on the fun, we of course went on all the rides too, plus the scrambler and the tilt a whirl (Farmer, Baby A, and Auntie Mousie {because of being preggo} sat out these rides). We ate some cotton candy, drank some Pop, (not soda when you are at Bay Beach) and all sweated like crazy. Then we went back to Grammy's for the requisite Weenie Roast and Bocce Bananza. Baby A had her first taste of Watermelon (yum yum!) and ice cream cake at Grammy's, and got to play with Lassie the dog. She also spent the entire time at Grammy's in just her diaper....it was too hot for clothes!

Baby A eating watermelon in her panties!

Also this weekend, Baby A went in the neighbor's pool for the first time, went to a bridal shower and birthday party, and got to ride in a backhoe. What a great time!

Baby A's new trick: SO BIG....Naked style!!!!!!

Another big event this week....it's Fair Week! I love the county fair. I always have. This year I have seven entries in the fair, and they get entered on Wednesday. I'm super pumped. Be sure to stay tuned to this fine blog to get results live from the fair!!! :)

The heart of Summer

There are a few things in life that bring me simple joy. Baby A with sleep in her eyes. The mountain of ironing all done. But one of my most simple joys?

Seeing my countertop filled with home-canned food.

Yes, my friends, canning season has begun. My favorite season in the year.

I bet I'm the only mid-20's woman who LOVES to can her own food. I'm such an odd throwback.

ANYWAY..........

On the farm we have bazillions of raspberry bushes. (it seems to me that farms around here either have raspberries or rhubarb) We need to pick every other day, and we keep track of how much we get. Last year I believe it was over 200 lbs of raspberries.

I personally hate picking raspberries, due to a traumatic event in childhood. My maternal grandpa, who was also a farmer, had, of course, bazillions of raspberries. (he also had two man eating ginormous rhubarb plants....go figure) It would be his 34 grandchildren's job (yes, 34....we are a fertile bunch) to pick said berries each summer. He was a lovable gruff man, and he would take no whining or complaining. He would just tie an ice cream bucket around our waist with an old belt or robe sash, pick us up, and drop us feet first (literally) in the middle of the patch. There were no paths cut in, so we were on our own in patches, depending on how old you were, were just as tall as you. Because it wasn't cleaned out, there were a garden variety (haha....bad pun) of little critters living in the raspberries....mainly toads. I spent many an afternoon sobbing and picking berries, while Grandpa kept barking at us from the porch to keep picking! Therefore, I hate picking raspberries.

But today I had 1/2 an ice cream bucket full of berries, so I decided to start the jam process. I love making jam. It's so easy, but it's so impressive looking! With only an hour of work, I got 7 jars full of bright red raspberry freezer jam. Farmer loves jam on his cereal (I don't get it either) so he goes through alot of jam. last year I made 27 jars of strawberry jam, but I didn't get time to get strawberries this year, so he's getting only raspberry.

I also picked the garden of green beans, and I have enough to can of those as well. So tomorrow morning while Baby A takes her nappy, that's what I"ll be up to. Unless the garden is dry enough to weed. Then I'll be working outside.

But as for tonight....all feels right in the world. I feel productive and content, with 7 beautiful jars of jam sitting on my counter waiting to be put in the freezer tomorrow.

Ahhhh......life is good. :)

Busy Days

We have been busy in CowTown lately. Sunday was spent in a tired haze, not hung over, as one would expect after downing a copious amount of tequila, but just emotionally drained that the big wedding was over. I also spent the day by Grammy's, so Grammy, Poppy, and Baby A could have some bonding time. I laid in the lazy-boy.

Monday? I don't remember Monday, except that I made an excellent roast in the oven, and picked the first of the green beans from the garden. My crops are now in full swing!

Yesterday the whole family went to Farm Technology Days. It was incredible. Over 100 acres of different farm implements (talk: BIG TRACTORS!!!! my 5 year old nephew was in Tractor Heaven) and booths related to farming. I wanted to see it, because it had been over 25 years since it has been in this area, so everyone connected to our farm went. We had a good time. Baby A rode in her stroller and looked around, and was the best baby ever. If and when we have another baby, and it is not an angel on earth, we are going to be a hurting unit. No baby should have been content to ride in their stroller in 85 muggy heat, and remain smiling and happy all day. Amazing. Everyone who stopped us to admire her said they would never bring a baby to such an event.

Today we had a "ladies who lunch" day. My book club met today to discuss "The Nine", which is a study of the current sitting Supreme Court Justices. It was a really good, thoughtful read, and anyone interested in modern history, politics, or Washington DC would enjoy it. We met at a local coffeehouse and I had a great sandwich and glass of iced chai tea. Baby A was a trooper, and went along, of course; she was dressed in her cute ladybug sundress. Dressing up my Cabbage Patch was not as fun as dressing Baby A. We had great conversation and I enjoyed myself. Then, we went to get our hair cut. Well, I got my hair cut. Baby A doesn't have much yet. My head feels much lighter, but no, MarryingtheNavy, I didn't cut it all off. Just a trim. :) I backed off from the full cut.

But I think our busy days are catching up with Baby A. She's been a bear since we got to the hairdressers. Nothing makes her happy. Not even apple juice. I think we may take a walk to amuse her. Or put her to sleep early. She missed a full afternoon nap, so she's just cranky!

Hopefully tomorrow, for her sake, we'll have a quiet day at home.

The Big Day......Is Over!!!

Well, the Ugly Dress wedding is now over. The bride and groom are wonderfully married, and the day as a whole was a raging success. I also enjoyed the day, but am now glad that it is over. Here are a few snapshots so you can see this "ugly dress".

Here is a shot with me and my sister (in the middle) and a cousin. As you can see from this lovely shot, the dress has lots of pleating on the top, and a lovely sash. Yum. There is also ruching around the middle. You can also see the ruffle, my upper chest thickness, and my lovely tank top lines, which I thought I had tanned out. I guess not. But on a good note, you can see my "Texas Beauty Queen" hairdo. I thought if I made my hair super big, noone would notice the dress. I thought wrong.

You should take note of my drink in hand. There were TOO MANY of them throughout the day. I remember the whole thing, but some aspects are a bit shady. :) Good times. MORE SHOTS!!

Here are my mom, sister, and me. Great view of my brat arm. and protruding boobies. Those dresses did NOTHING for busty women. But check out that hair!!!!! :)

You should be jealous, too, because my sister is about 2.5 months preggo, and super slim. That's what morning sickness can do for you!

The lovely bride and groom! I wish I had a full length shot of Bride....she was truly stunning. The most beautiful bride ever (after Sister and I, of course! :)

But the day was very fun. Makeup in the morning, dancing in the driveway in the afternoon, lots of tequila in the evening. :) I really enjoyed myself, but again, am glad it's over.

Now, I leave you with a few shots of Baby A. These were taken last weekend at the Maribel Picnic, and the second one truly shows why Poppy calls her a Bird. What a cutie! Who wouldn't love her!

Baby A and Auntie Mousie. Having So much FUN at the Picnic!!!

MY BABY A BIRDIE!!!!

T-Minus 1 and counting...

Well, the ugly-pink-dress wedding is almost here. Last night was the rehearsal dinner. Woohoo! It was fine, the Family of Groom had a BBQ at a local park, so it was nice and casual. I enjoyed it, as did Grammy, who is Godmother of Bride and also a Reader tomorrow. But there is another bridesmaid who is a High School Friend of Bride, and she has driven me NUTS since we were in high school. I would hang out occasionally with Bride (we went to different schools and she's older than me by 2 grades) and O.B. (other bridesmaid) would often be there as well. She's a real uppity, snobby girl who knows it all, and thinks she's super thin and small breasted when she IS NOT. (this coming from a girl who also believes those thoughts sometimes, and so I'm as delusional as the rest) But, as was my mantra throughout the whole wedding process, I just smiled and stayed sweet last night, even when OB and I were getting in polite conversational fights. I know she dislikes me as much as I her, so it almost makes these little infractions fun.

But Grammy just kept smiling at me when I threw her dying-calf eyes, and later whispered to me that she's going to buy me a few shots tomorrow night, which will make things SO MUCH BETTER.

Only one more day to smile and stay sweet.

On the Baby A front, she hung out with her Godfather (my brother) and Fiancee last night while I was practicing. Godfather LOVES Baby A. They are Best Friends (just ask him), but Baby A doesn't seem to enjoy his clothing. She urps on every shirt he wears around her. Last night was no different. He was hugging her 2 hours after she ate (which should be safe time) but there she went! Urp all over. I laughed out loud when I heard.

See? it's the small things in life that are enjoyable. None more so than seeing your brother inwardly gagging as his puke-covered niece grins up at him, wanting to give him puke flavored kisses.

Royal Damage Done

I'm normally quite frugal. I don't spend much on myself outside of a cute pair of stilletos from Target, or a cooking gizmo. But that happens quite rarely.

Today....on the other hand???

Farmer's Mom invited Baby A and I to go bumming today because she needed to buy a group bridal shower gift and some other stuff. We had nothing better to do (laundry? eh. Clean? Heck no) so we went along. I also needed a few things, so why not? Well, I don't know if it was because Grandma was along, or I was in the mood, or I was high on life or shrooms, but I WENT SHOPPING!!!! And it was totally unintentional.

First stop: Kohls.
I have the Nasty Dress Wedding Rehersal tomorrow night, and wanted a cute pink top to wear to it. Well, all summer stuff was on 60% clearance, and I found an adorable circle skirt in brown, tan, and pink, which fit awesome. $49 down to $8.80. It would have been a sin if i didn't buy it. THen, I needed a brown tank top to wear with it. Found it on sale (of course, because it was Kohls).

2nd stop: Fleet Farm
This was mainly just supplies needed....scrub brushes for my rust covered showers, little debbie snacks and orange slices for Farmer, air freshner for Baby A's room, but then I found this adorable t-shirt that's pink and has a high heel on it, but the heel is an ear of corn! Under it it says "Farm Girl: Growing Great Corn".....how could I pass that up, since I"m famous for waring heels in the barn????? I thought I needed it for the fair.

3rd stop: TARGET (enter doom music now)
I did SO WELL. only baby food, wipes, and nail polish. WHEW! I was saved! Nothing
extravagant! NO books, NO SHOES!!!

4th stop: Lunch: Chinese in the mall food court. AWESOME!

5th stop: (yes, the 5th) Payless shoes
the PERFECT brown strappies for my Nasty Pink WEdding Rehersal. I heart them. BIG HEART them. :)

And then I made Grandma insist that we go home. The damage had been done. I could do no more. So a stop at the bank and we were home. Baby A did a great job all day in and out of the car. Now we are home and I have yet to unpack the car. (I HATE unpacking the car after things. I don't know why, but I just do)

Otherwise, nothing much on tap for this evening. I must run to the neighbors and perhaps make some cookies.

What a Great day!

It's not the heat, but the HUMIDITY!

Whew, it's been warm here lately. A "sweat-through-your-shorts" kind of weather. Now, I'm not complaining, but I just don't care much for feeling like I'm wringing wet all the time. But I'll live....Baby A, on the other hand....

Baby A went to her 9 month check up this morning (no shots! Hallalujia!) and the Dr. said that she isn't rolling over because, basically, she's lazy. I laugh at that, because I know where she gets that from (I too, am not big on moving all the time). But the reason A is on my black list is because she has been getting up too many times at night. Farmer and I realize that is because she likes to sleep in our bed, and if she keeps mumma up long enough, that's where she ends up. She's no fool. She has us trained like sheepdogs. Or those big mastiffs that have the barrel under their necks (my mastiff would have a barrel of daquari's, instead of brandy).

But Farmer and I decided on Sunday that her gig is up. We were going to break her of this habit. So, instead of rocking and walking and letting her camp out in the big bed, we have been letting her cry it out. For two nights now.

She's a stubborn coot.

She SCREAMS. not cries, no yelling, SCREAMS. for at least a 1/2 hour. Which doesn't seem long, but at 2:30 am and there's no way to keep the noise out, we are all up. Farmer is stubborn and refuses to let me take care of her. She can last. WE WILL WIN!!! So, it's now become his job to get up and put the nuk back in and make sure she hasn't become covered in fire ants or accidentially pulled off her diaper...if she's ok, he just puts the nuk in, and leaves. I don't have that willpower. He then comes back to bed and comforts me.

So this adventure will continue until Either Farmer or Baby A wins. I'm pretty sure that Farmer will win by sheer stubbornness. (That's where Baby A gets her streak from)

In other news, not much happening around here. We experienced a small miracle today. There is a Little House on the Prairie on that I've never seen before. I'm a LHOTP fan, and I thought I saw every episode, until today. Amazing!

Ok, off to sweat some more doing some laundry. Hooray!

You're a Grand Old Flag....

....but who cares? Pass me the Malibu and Diet.

As a social studies teacher, I can appreciate the true meaning of the 4th of July. In fact, one of my best buddies one time had a "historical document" showdown in her AP History class, and I ended up with the Declaration of Independence as winning my bracket. I seem to have deep feeling for our nation's creation.

Plus, I took my history seminar in Undergrad on the Revolution with a super cute British professor. Never hurts.

But as I was getting wholloped by my family in croquet and sucking down the drinkies yesterday, I wondered aloud why we celebrate the 4th with beer and grill outs, when I'm pretty sure they weren't sucking down beer and having a brat at Valley Forge with Geo. Washington. I promptly got booed out of the game for a round by bringing up anything that required thought. My family doesn't always appreciate my musings. However, later, around the campfire (and with drinkie in hand), my Dad and I had this same conversation. (Note: he too is a history afficianado, so he can put up with me. And my brother got his undergrad degree in History, so he too chimed in). We decided, after many smores, that since we can't relive the Revolution (unless on film in The Patriot), so instead, we are "toasting" to our former soldiers and declaration signers, and since Samuel Adams, an early Patriot, was a brewer of suds, we must drink beer.

Deep, thoughtful conversation. You should hear us discuss Thanksgiving! We could all be doctors in History.

But all in all, we enjoyed the 4th around here. Baby A went in her pool with Grammy (great photo op), Farmer lit off firecrackers, I ate a metric TON of guacamole, and my brother and fiancee were wearing matching outfits, which made us all laugh.

Tomorrow is another big day....the Maribel Parade and Picnic! Maribel is a small farm town (read: bank, 2 bars, feed mill, and church) and every year on the 4th weekend, the local Lion's Club has a parade and picnic. We went every year when I was a kid (mom grew up outside of Maribel) but I bet I haven't gone in 10-15 years. This year, we are taking Baby A since she likes parades. It will be a nice day out for the three of us. We are meeting up with my sister and some cousins, so good times ahead!

I hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July as much as we did!!!