The Adventures of a Farmer's Wife

Yes!!!! I'm Back!!!!!!

2009-09-16T07:07:00.002-10:00

Hey folks~

I know...where have you been????????? I've been busy....take a peek at the Summer Kitty and I had!!!!

This is a cool program I learned about at my teaching job that I'm using with my kids...so I thought I'd share with y'all!!

http://www.slide.com/r/TlDBbTOh3z-jHuXgqJHS-tQnYyRGOuOf?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

arm, arm, leg, leg...ok, I'm good.

2009-07-30T04:41:00.004-10:00

Have you ever seen on the Discovery Channel or PBS those documentaries about the desert or the "law of the jungle", and have seen those buzzards tearing at carrion with their teeth, nudging each other for that succluent piece of rotting flesh?

I believe I just witnessed that at Festival Foods.

Today is their quad-annual One Day Meat Sale. Yes, caps required. It's a big event. I wasn't even going for the meat sale, since there wasn't anything on sale that I needed, but we did need milk, eggs, fruit, and a large vat of salsa (for the family reunion this weekend). So, because fresh fruit is on sale at the Fest this week, I headed there.

Because I was there, I just made a pass through the meat department, just to see what's up.

I'm lucky I made it out with all my limbs.

There were people pushing, shoving, moving others carts, crowding around the meat bunkers, hunched over the Big Packs of Octoberfest Brats and Chuck Roasts like the aforementioned buzzards. I actually saw one grandmotherly figure (not the small, fragile grandma, I'm talking the big hipped, big busted steel grey permed hair type grandma) rip one pack of chuck roasts out of another woman's hands, saying..." I had my eye on that pack first!!!". I saw another couple with 5 packs of chuck roasts in their cart, debating if they should get 5 more. I should mention that each pack had 2 roasts in them, and I'd say that each roast goes about 3 lbs. That's ALOT of Hot Beef Sandwiches and pot roasts.

I grabbed my one lone pack of cheddy-brats and scurried away. The Farmer Family likes their cheese mixed in with their meat. :)

When I was checking out I mentioned to the check out lady that the meat sale was already in very full swing...she said that people show up at 7:00, an hour before it starts, waiting for the butchers to say..."Ok, Go Ahead". Now, I love my meat sale as much as the next carnivore, but that's just rediculous. It's just meat. It will go on sale again, and todays' sale goes until 8 pm. I think you'll get your whole trimmed tenderloin. They wouldn't be on mega sale if they only had 10 tenderloins in the back cooler.

Good times at the Fest.

A bloggy hiatus

2009-07-29T08:11:00.003-10:00

I just haven't been feeling like writing lately....the summer has gotten super busy lately and amongst all other things, blogging hasn't been high priority. here's a few updates:

*the fair went well. I was happy with my results, and i"m hoping next year I'll be able to enter more items of the craft variety.

*My cheesecake is published....check out this link to get there....and good luck making the recipe if you try it out!

*I'm going to be on German TV! A German production company is sending over their version of Emeril and he's going to tour the USA, going to mom and pop restaurants and visiting cooking competitions. The company contacted the Cheesefest office and asked if they could contribute to the show....the office sent them my name and info, and we've been in "negotiations" for Jumbo (that's his name...he stands 6'10'' and weighs in at 340 lbs....BIG guy.) to come to my home and bake with me. I'm so excited. This will be occuring in the spring sometime. Wahoo! I'm now one step closer to being that witty History Channel documentarian. Just gotta get that doctorate and fancy title from a prestigious university.........

*The garden is growing leaps and bounds. I had my first sauteed zuchinni for lunch...tasted like summer. Yum.

*The new carpet has been ordered and I'm working on emptying the room so we can tear up the old stuff.

That's about it. I will probably keep on hiatus for a while, so for my dedicated readers, dont' expect much for a few days or so. Just so you know.,...I didn't get swallowed into the new silo, just being busy....

Catch ya later!

Thumbs Up and Down

2009-07-22T02:07:00.004-10:00

Thumbs Up: To today being Judging day at the county fair! I wait all year, Caroline Ingalls style, for the fair to come around. I've got my muffins in the oven and my bread rising. I also am working the fair this year in the Open Class pavillion, so I get to suck in the fair all day today! Joyous.

Thumbs Down: To me being lazy and not feeling like running all the way to Green Bay last night to pick up a jar of The Godfather's corn relish to enter in the fair. I said I would bring it, but miscommunication, and more realistic, laziness and forgetfulness on my part kept me from remembering to pick up a jar every other time I was in GB this past month. Oh well, his pickle relish is also being entered, so it's somewhat ok. But in my defense, I had a bad headache last night and Kitty was somewhat crabby, so the ride looked less appealing every minute that passed.

Thumbs Up: to looking forward to Grammy's birthday party this weekend at Bay Beach! Kitty will be so excited to be back there for more fun and hijinks! And a Picnic! Kitty loves to eat outside...what an adventure!

Thumbs Down: To only 1 more month of summer vacation. boo hiss.

Thumbs Up: To my dr. being super proactive and ordering a bizillion tests to figure out why Kitty is still an only child. He's leaping on this infertility train and said he will figure out why I keep miscarrying. 3 in 10 months is not OK in either of our books.

Thumbs Down: To have to have 7 vials of blood taken tomorrow for these bizillion tests. My veins seem to know when to inconviently shut down, so I'm sure tomorrow will be lots o fun.

Thumbs Up: To the ring bologna I made on the grill last night. My dishwasher is broken, so i've become pretty inventive when it comes to makeing meals outside. Less dishes. So, if you like ring bologna (Navy girl? I'm sure you do..it's like a giant hot dog!!!) try it on the grill!

Thumbs Down: To the lack of rain....Kitty doesn't like to play outside on the grass because it's so dry. That limits our things to do outside. But her playhouse has been brought onto the patio, so she's happy going in and out of that door.

Kitty's Thumbs Up: To having toaster waffles back in the house. We did a much needed Sam's Run on Monday and we now have more toaster waffles in our house. I know I could have purchased them at the grocery, but when you pay over $2 for one box when I could pay $7.50 for 8 boxes, I figure she can wait until I Get to Sam's. But she's now happily eating breakfast...all is good in our worlds.

The Big 100! Let's throw a party!

2009-07-13T08:30:00.003-10:00

Can you believe it? I made it to 1oo posts!!!

I know I'm not the most consistent blogger in the blogsophere, but it's a good time!

Since i've put in that feed of who reads my blog, I've been shocked to see that I have readers from all over the nation, and the world!!! I didn't think I had near that many readers, especially since I don't have anything real world shaking or madly exciting to write about!!!

So, In honor of this 100th post, I'd like people to just make a comment in my comment form and tell me where you are from and how you found my little blog. You don't have to continually comment on every post---goodness knows I'm one of the worst lurkers out there---but just pop in once and say Hey! We'll throw a little party via comments!

*********
My information for the fair came in the mail on Saturday. We're getting all ready for the big week next week! Woohoo!

********
Kitty has a new word...Elmo. And she's also learning how to beg. She says "Elmo???" in the most sad voice when she wants to watch her Sesame Street video, and she blinks her eyes and pouts. She quickly escalates to very MAD when Elmo doesn't appear on the screen. Other big advancements: She learned what the elephant says and what the monkey does. She's a one woman zoo.

*******
They finished the new silo. It looks very sharp, all 90 feet of it. it's now currently 50% full of haylage...Farmer's almost done with the 2nd crop of hay.

******
Yesterday we took a family trip to Bay Beach. I didn't know if Kitty would like the little kid rides, but she LOVED them. She rode the ladybugs, the train, the cars, the jeeps, and the planes. It was a surprise trip from Daddy, so I didn't bring my camera with us, so I guess we'll have to go back soon. We then went to culvers, where we discovered that Kitty LOVES chocolate custard. She's definitely my girl, and Navygirl's good friend.

*******
We picked the first of the green beans from the garden. We'll be swimming in crops soon.

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Don't forget to join the Big 100 Comment Party in the comment box....it's lots of fun!

The 4th of July update and tidbits

2009-07-06T16:55:00.005-10:00

Kitty's 4th of July Extravangaza went quite well. Grammy, Poppy, Auntie Mousie and hubby, and the BabyBear came, along with one of my cousin's and her family. We had a BBQ, croquet game, bonfire, and fireworks show. It was a very nice party. The weather was great and all babies were well behaved. Kitty even got a tan line on her tootsies from her cupcake sandals, which is so cute. I was woken up at 6:15 am on the 4th by my folks, calling with questions about the Declaration of Independence and the Founding Fathers. Nothing like giving an impromptu history lesson when you haven't even opened your eyes yet.

My question for them: Why the buzzard are you even thinking deep thoughts about the founding of our nation at 6:15 am??? I know it was Independence Day, but at 6:15 am, you should be watching the early news and groping for your coffee. Maybe reading the paper.

*****

Yesterday we went to a parade in Maribel, a small farming community where my Mum grew up. it was basically a tractor parade, but we enjoyed ourselves. Kitty loved it. She likes to go anywhere where she can wave to people. So, parades are about as great as the grocery store. Good times.

*****
Today Kitty went to her first pool party (man, she's busy! party, parade, pool party....what a social butterfly!) with her boyfriends, G and E, the babies of my two best friends. She had another great time floating around in her ladybug floatie. I enjoyed hanging out with my buddies.

*****
I'm so angry. There's a bar in Crivitz, WI (small northwoods town) who was denied a liquor license, and so he's flying the American flag upside down in protest. How stupid. What respect do you have for our country to brazenly show such disrespect? I know, freedom of speech, but still. On the 4th of July? Maybe it's my history background, knowing what it took throughout the last 250 years to be able to fly that flag freely, but that is just so terrible. Shame on you. SHAME. It make me seethe.

*****
The Godfather made 24 pints of Strawberry Jam with his berries. He's going to be eating jam until the end of time.

*****
NavyGirl and Maverick are in the process of buying a new house in the northwest. It's beautiful. You must head over to her blog to check out the pictures. I'm so jealous...mainly of her kitchen. :) But it's a good jealous. I'm happy for her.

****
I had a dream last night that President Obama picked our house to have dinner with "the common folk". It was SO REALISTIC....I'm still somewhat pondering if it actually happened or not. PS: I made steaks, baked potatoes, and mushrooms. He walked around our property with Farmer and checked out Farmer's convertable and my garden. He was in just his dress shirt and kahki's, very casual. Kitty was very shy. I didn't have my hair done. SO REAL.

*****
That's about it. No news yet about the cheesecake publishing, but I'm checking the website every so often. I'll be sure to let people know ASAP.

today I....

2009-07-01T16:00:00.002-10:00

....Picked over 20 lbs of strawberries in order to teach The Godfather how to make his own jam. Not freezer jam, mind you, but actual processed shelf stable jam. It will be an adventure.

....cleaned my whole house in order for the exterminator to come tomorrow.

....did what feels like 1000 loads of laundry that I now need to fold.

....what a day.

BUT THE BIG UPDATE IS....

2009-06-30T08:30:00.002-10:00

....and I had to keep this one for it's own post.....

My newest cheesecake recipe is going to be published on msn.com's food and entertaining website, www.delish.com. I got contacted by the food editor to get my permission and to ask for more information about my cooking and other recipes. Very exciting. This is the 2nd recipe that I've had published. My first recipe was in Midwest Living magazine.

I'll be sure to post the link to the page when I get notification that it's online!

Look out Rachael Ray....I'm hot on your heels, ready to take your spot as Queen of TV Cooking!

done with festing

2009-06-30T08:16:00.004-10:00

Yesterday Farmer and I went back to summerfest for his birthday present...George Strait tickets. Another excellent show. We had alot of fun. It rained a bit at the beginning of the show, but it wasn't that bad.

Kitty went to Grammy and Poppy's while we were in Brew City. She went to day care in the AM, and then Poppy picked her up. She was so excited to have Poppy in her classroom!

But now we are done festing and are gearing up for the rest of the summer.

*****

Other updates:

Kitty's hosting her 2nd Annual 4th of July Extravaganza on Saturday. So I'm starting to get the house together and plan my menu. Kitty's way of helping is to hang out in her pack n play and not make a mess. :)

We are getting a new silo built on the farm. Yesterday they put the roof on and now they are starting with the rest. Yep, they build it from the top down....they keep jacking it up until the get the entire length. It's pretty cool to watch.

The exterminator is finally coming on Thursday. We have an ant and silverfish problem. I know. Gross. I keep my cupboards clean, the floors swept, the dust to a minimum, but still, ants and silverfish. I just can't keep them out! 7:30 AM on Thursday can't come soon enough.

The afterglow.....

2009-06-28T05:36:00.003-10:00

Of my concert outing.

I bet some of my dedicated readers were wondering if I actually did sneak my way into Bon Jovi's suitcase....alas, he did not call my name out of the 22,000 ish people at the Marcus Ampetheater at Summerfest on Thursday. So, I'm NOT in London with him and Richie Sambora mixing his new CD. I'm back at home, being the housewife and Mumma I normally am.

But it was an amazing night.

He just puts on such a good show! The energy and fun is awesome. The band's not on tour right now, so they didn't have an exact set of music....they seemed to kind of play from the cuff. It was very fun. A great mix of old and new music. We danced and sang through a 2 hour show. And then fought for an hour to get out of the parking lot. :)

So, I got home, lighter in the wallet, but the proud new owner of a vintage looking Bon Jovi t-shirt and a calendar that i'm going to cut the calendar part off and put all the different pictures around my classroom. my other concert posters are in there as well (only because I don't think Farmer would appreciate a Bon Jovi poster hanging over our marriage bed. :)

If he came to the area again tomorrow, I'd go again.

Because his music is just that good.

And he's just that hot. :)

Sing with me now!

2009-06-24T16:41:00.002-10:00

(to the tune of that conga line song....just follow the beat...we all know the tune)

Tomorrow is Bon Jovi!
Tomorrow is Bon Jovi!
Tomorrow Is Bon Jovi!
TOMORROW IS BON JOVI!!!

I have a cute outfit!
I have a cute outfit!
Thank you God for Kohls!
I have a cute outfit!

Tomorrow in Milwaukee!
Tomorrow is Bon Jovi!
Tomorrow in Milwaukee!
Tomorrow is Bon Jovi!

****I'll be sure to post a play by play review on Friday---Stay tuned!*****

Historygirlie's Top Ten: Father's Day Style

2009-06-21T16:29:00.003-10:00

And now, it's time for HistoryGirlie's Top Ten: Why I Love My Dad.....

10. He genuinely loves our mother. We can see his respect for his wife in everything he does. That is the most important thing he taught us...to love your spouse and show your love. He's a quiet man...doesn't say much...but his actions spoke louder than words. My aunts always say..."Marry a man like Poppy, and you'll live like a queen". They weren't kidding. He's an amazing husband.

9. He has a polo shirt that has charcoal grills, hamburgers, and hot dogs on it. He only wears it on the 4th of July...it's charming.

8. He took us on 3 big trips in the Van-O-Ram when we were kids. Florida, Nashville, and Washington DC. He was more excited than we were. We loved those trips, even though we were in the Van. He and I plan on taking a trip to follow Lewis and Clark some day. They are our favorite explorers. We'd also love to follow Laura Ingalls Wilder's paths. He just loves to travel and see new things. If he could, he'd spend every summer weekend in Minaqua in the Northwoods. He also loves the northwoods. I guess he basically loves any place that has lots of water and lots of trees.

7. He loves going to the landfill, Sam's Club, and getting his oil changed. All three are big events in his life. He calls us to tell us about his big day if he's going to any of these three places.

6. He takes excellent care of his father, who's recently been diagnosed with Alzeheimer's or Dementia. He goes out to their house 2-3 times a week to make sure all is ok.

5. He would take off work to go to our big events at school. Even if we weren't guaranteed to play in the big crosstown rival game, he would be in the stands cheering us on. I figure he spent 16 years sitting in the bleachers from when I started to when my sister ended.

4. He took us camping to Jellystone and up north when we were little. He only got one weekend off a month from the mill, and in the summer he spent it with us at the campground. I can almost guarantee that my brother and sister can agree~camping are some of the best memories we have from growing up.

3. He taught us to love the water. We would go to Sand Bay Beach in Door County in the summer, and he'd spend hours just staring out at the water looking for "Ocean Going Vessels". sometimes he'd bring a flashlight at night to see if they were out at night. Now we all keep an eye out for big ships when we're near Lake Michigan or the Bay of Green Bay.

2. He felt bad that he had to work the Southern Swing shift at the paper mill when we were little. He wasn't home at normal times, but when he was, he was 100% DAD. we would have waffles for breakfast when others were having cereal when he worked 3-11; there would be snacks on the counter when we'd get home from school when he worked days, and when he worked nights...amazing suppers and homework help before he went to sleep before work. And, when he wasn't home? Then....our stuffed animals would be set up in funny scenarios when we'd get home or he'd had started on amazing paper-mache projects that he liked to help us make. One time, dad and I made a dinosaur out of a bleach bottle and hanger, and he was sitting in a cardboard pool, complete with trees. It was amazing. But the best thing he did was create a flash card tape. One day he came home and Dad was at work. During the day he had set up the video camera and taped himself going through the all four sets of flashcards so Mom didnt' have to when she was home alone with us. Just thinking of all that love makes my heart smile.

AND....although I could go on forever about my awesome Pappy....

#1: He is the best Grandpa there is. He doesn't flinch when I ask him if he can watch Kitty. When I was struggling with severe post partum depression, he'd just randomly show up to watch Kitty so I could relax or do some laundry or sit in a sitz bath. He loves to take Kitty to Bay Beach or run errands. He's been known to buy little treats because Kitty might like some Animal crackers some day. Kitty likes to march around his dining room table, so he found a John Phillip Sousa CD to march to. Recently, he asks to take Kitty on sleepovers, because he likes to see her all sleepy in the morning. The love he feels for Kitty is so apparent in everything he does.

So, readers, if you love your dad, let him know it. Although I can bet that my dad is better than your dad. :) My dad's the best. The best, Jerry, the Best!!! (He also loves to watch Seinfeld, and he quotes it all the time....it's not annoying, but rather endearing.)

The muggies are here! The muggies are here!

2009-06-20T03:08:00.002-10:00

So, when I was a kid, there was a local weatherman who would say during his forecast that the Muggy family was outside playing, taking a walk, having a BBQ, etc, when the weather would turn thick and hot. For some unknown reason, this theory has stuck with my family. If it's super thick out, I can bet hard cash on Poppy calling and saying..."Gee, I bet the Muggies are out having a picnic right about now." I can seriously imagine my next door neighbors being the Muggies.

And man, are they back in town.

WI weather is back. with a summery vengeance.

Now, I like muggy weather. I would rather be sticky than cold. I hate the Wisconsin winters. But Whew! That first really muggy day is a doozy!

It's like the first sunburn....just have to get it, deal with it, and then the rest of the summer is easier.

Yesterday was that first muggy day. We spent it at the cottage, but of course, the Muggy family also brought overcast weather and sprinkles. Awesome day to spend at the cottage. And today? Muggy again, but sunny and beautiful. Of course.

So, I broke out my shorts (I never wear shorts outside my yard...capris for me) and Kitty's wearing her smallest, least covering romper and we're planning on going father's day shopping in air conditioned stores this AM.

Wisconsin summer is finally here. Hooray!

The Screaming Eagle

2009-06-17T14:31:00.002-10:00

Well, I don't know if I can call Kitty "Kitty" anymore. Lately, whenever she's excited, upset, running in the backyard, riding in the cart at the supermarket, she feels the need to let out a scream, that sounds like a baby eagle.

ok, so maybe I don't know what an eagle sounds like, but I'm guessing it sounds like Kitty.

It's cute the first 1000 times we hear it. But on Monday, when we were at the market, Kitty felt like squalling EVERY 3 FEET THOUGHTOUT THE ENTIRE STORE. People smiled and giggled, but I'm pretty sure I was red faced the entire shopping experience.

I think her new motto is one of my favorites...

"I sound my barbaric YAWP over the rooftops of the world."

you can ask Green Girl....she's heard it, and I'm sure she can hear it in her house, when Kitty's in the yard OR the house. Right, GG?

Otherwise, she spent last night at Grammy and Poppy's house, because I had training all day at school on Autism. Fascinating subject. I have another training day tomorrow, so she's at her schoool. So, today with Grammy she went and got her picture taken with her cousin BabyBear. Grammy wanted a Summer picture of them for her fridge. They turned out SO VERY CUTE. I wish I was there to see them get taken. She also went to Bay Beach with Poppy to ride the train. She had an awesome time. She loved it. I can't wait to take her back to ride the rest of the kiddy rides.

In other news, last weekend was Breakast on the Farm. I serve on the county Dairy Promotion Board (what a great farmer's wife I am!) and so I help run the breakfast. We served about 5000 people on Sunday. It was a perfect day on a perfect farm. Everyone had a wonderful time. I'm pretty proud of our efforts.

Other exciting news? My wonderful friend NavyGirl became an Auntie-cousin today to a brand new Baby Girl. Her cousin and best friend AND Matron of Honor (whew! she's busy! How did she have time to be preggo??? Just kidding MOH!) had her baby this morning. I'm so excited for her, and I can't wait to see pictures.

But most exciting....????? Tomorrow is only ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL BON JOVI AT SUMMERFEST!!!!! Can you tell I'm pumped? Wahoo!!!!

An Oprah Observation

2009-06-11T11:01:00.002-10:00

So, anyone who knows me at all well knows that I adore Oprah. I really think that my personal Motto could be "What would Oprah do?". I've been to see Oprah live (one of my Best Days Ever) and I watch whenever I can.

So, because it's 4:00 pm, Kitty and I turned on Oprah. Today's show is about waste. She opened the show by talking to the audience about how she hates waste and how America makes so much waste. And then they panned the audience. Everyone in the audience was staring at Ms. Oprah with big admiring eyes and nodding enthustically to everything she said.

I realized just then that Oprah could tell the masses to all go jump off the nearest bridge, and I'm pretty sure alot of people would do just that. It's amazing.

I do admit that I am mesmerized by Oprah. I may be one of them that would think...."hmmmm...maybe that bridge doesn't sound that bad...I could go for a swim....." I follow her advice, especially about fashion. NO MOM JEANS! NO TAPERED LEG! (another Historygirlie Motto)

Oprah is my Queen. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to stop listening to her advice....I just found it amusing to see what I look like when I'm thinking, listening, or looking at Oprah. Very funny.

Hitched or Ditched and Sam's Club

2009-06-09T16:17:00.004-10:00

So, I just finished watching quite possibly the worst show ever. It's on the CW and it was called "Hitched or Ditched"....basically, the premise is that a long time dating non-engaged couple gets nominated for this show, and then they have 4 days to plan their wedding and decide if they actually want to be married. Most of the time the couple has commitment phobia, and so the 4 days are a rollercoaster of emotions. In this episode, the bride decided ON THE ALTAR if she wanted to marry her boyfriend of 3.5 years.

I thought it was terrible. Yeah, I'm a firm believer of the "Just decide already!" theory, (or as Grammy calls it "Poop or get off the pot") but marriage isn't something that one should just be shoved into. I mean, if these people want to live in "do I want to marry you limbo", then go nuts. But why even agree to go on this show? Why let the cameras in? I know it's all sensationalism, but still. It's (hopefully) the rest of your life!

Aaargh.

But in happier notes, Kitty and I went on our periodic pilgrimage to Sam's Club today. Our Mecca of bulk items. We love it there...Kitty for the hugmongous shopping carts, myself for the fact that you can buy a 1/2 gallon of 3 bean salad and 40 granola bars at one time. Awesome. We also hit up the local JoAnn's Fabrics for all things crafty, and Festival Foods. It was an expensive day. Gulp. Kitty also hung out for a little while with 2 of her boyfriends...AKA 2 of the neighbor boys. They have a mutually exciting relationship. The boys love showing off for her (which includes the ever-flirty "hit yourself on the head and fall over" trick...she loves it every time) and she loves having anyone chase her. The gathering basically consisted of Kitty running around the backyard squalling like a baby eagle, while the boys gallantly rolled over themselves and made sure she didnt' climb up the ladder that Farmer had left in the middle of the yard---he's currently fixing my clothesline poles.

But, to revert back to Sam's Club (I have a migraine and took 3 excedrine migraine pills....things are a bit scattered, and since blogs give readers a small picture into everyday life....well folks, this is how my life works.....) why do people like to buy things in bulk? My whole immediate family adores Sam's....I firmly believe that Poppy (my dad) goes there just to look around at all the stuff. I bet he goes at least every other week, if not once a week. Mainly to buy Feta cheese....I bet we talk about Feta cheese at least 2 times a week. And everytime he goes to Sam's it's a BIG DEAL. Like going to see Santa. I feel the same way. I walk up and down almost every aisle every time I go. Why? I don't really know. Sometimes I wonder to myself....who needs to buy 2 gallons of ranch dressing at one time? Yes, I know...businesses and restaurants and day cares shop at Sam's, so they need to buy in bulk, but really!!??!! the sheer size of some things just amuses me greatly. 10 lbs of bacon! 5 gallon pail of margarine! 3 gallon box of olive oil!!!! 1000 file folders! 10 boxes of pens! It's wonderfully absurd. And I love it. LUV.

So, as I'm sure you're all wondering, what does tomorrow hold for the adventurous Historygirlie and her loyal mini sidekick, KittyCat? Well......I'm going to work more in my craft room----it's known around here as the 6th circle of Hell, because it's always a royal mess, and I want to scrap lots this summer when Kitty's napping---so if I can get another 1/2 hour down there while Kitty's happy, I can get more done. And depending on the weather, I'd like to take Kitty for a walk, and perhaps get some garden weeded. It's terrible, but it's rained so much that everything is mud. not cool. Otherwise, the normal. Load of laundry, empty the dishwasher, read Dr. Suess's ABC's 7000 times.

Life is good.

A post for Maverick....

2009-06-09T08:45:00.002-10:00

NavyGuy, or Rearden, whatever you prefer....

I prefer Maverick.....

but anyway......

Yes, I agree with NavyGirlie...you have very little to no control over whether or not NavyGirlie buys Cricut Cartridges, Mr. I-Spent-The-Entire-Weekend-Boring-Mugs-While-building-A-Computer. She needs a creative outlet too!!!!! You build computers, she cuts with Cricuts. :)

And, I definitely will teach Mugs how to create award winning cheesecakes once you find a way to have the US Navy post an aircraft carrier on Lake Michigan. It's hard to teach the art of cooking over the phone.

Well, unless we got Skype, but still. I'm dumb at computers, Mugs has a hard time cooking and talking at the same time. A recipe for disaster. (Ha! I'm punny!)

Plus, we (The Queen Mum and I) are angling for any way to get Mugs back in CowState, so I think the Navy could post you at Lake Michigan...don't you agree?

You work on that this afternoon. Go talk to your CO or something. :)

Besides, someone needs to buy Cricut's when they are 1/2 price...I spent too much already, so I had to just admire longingly this AM at JoAnn's and not purchase.

So, there's my thoughts. Let me know what you think.

Missing all of you out there~

HistoryGirlie (And Kitty and Farmer too)

Ed. Note: For all my other readers....sorry about the personalized post....I just needed to respond to Maverick in the debate we are currently having....I chose this method. :) Check back later or tomorrow for a regular type post!!! Thanks!

The cheesecake recipe and other events

2009-06-08T13:15:00.002-10:00

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/cakecheesesweR/white-chocolate-hazelnut-cc.html

click on the link above....you'll find the gold medal recipe. Enjoy! Just an FYI: I substituted pecans for hazelnuts, because I couldn't find hazelnuts in the store. Contact me if you have any questions while making it!!!!!

So, in the afterglow of the big win, today I straightened all my kitchen cupboards, wiped them out with antiseptic stuff, and put them all back together. Whoopie Fizz. What an amazing time. Kitty and I also cleaned up some laundry, put away her clothes, and read the same 3 books 5 times. Right now we love The Animal's Christmas Eve, Elmo's Big Day, and Where are Baby's Easter Egg? At least we are taking a small break from Baby Farm Animals. For now.

I guess we're back to reality after the cheering masses and brass band parade of yesterday's win. Ok, so there was no parade, but I was definitely singing marching band music in my head as I walked back to the car. :) But tonight I do get my hair dyed by my friend M, so I'll have very few roots left. Wahoo!!!!!

A cheesecake championship

2009-06-07T15:59:00.003-10:00

So, today was the day.

The big day.

The Cheesefest Cheesecake competiton. The day I seriously train for, like athletes do for their sports.

I start really thinking about what kind of cake I want to make at Christmas time. I make at least one to three cakes a month, trying to figure out what to do. Farmer and his family enjoy training season.

So, this competition, I decided on a White Chocolate Lemon cheesecake with a raspberry ripple, and a white chocolate cream cheese frosting. This decision did not come about by chance. I have two theories....here they are.....

#1: It's June. people like fruit flavors in summertime. The light taste tastes good. Its' refreshing for summer. People don't like heavy flavors like pumpkin, carrot, or chocolate peanut butter in summer. those are fall/winter flavors. So, I automatically dismiss those flavors from my idea list.

#2: A cheesecake with layers is more impressive than a one layer cake. Think about it. A layer cake always gets more Oooohs and Ahhhs than a sheet cake, right? The same is for cheesecakes. So I like to find an intricate recipe that has at least one layer....people are impressed to cut into the cake and wow! there's a ripple in there! unexpected and tasty!

So, I made the cheesecake yesterday, because c-cakes have to cure overnight in the fridge for best flavor. It takes multiple steps to get the cake done, so it was a joint effort between Farmer and I. Farmer was in charge of keeping Kitty out of the kitchen. A very important step.

Today Grammy and I decorated the cake togehter---I can bake, but I can't use a frosting gun. Mom's also in charge of the decorations for the area of the cake. Again, I have great ideas for the decor, but mom's just better at the execution of the decor. She can tie a mean bow out of tuille and twistyties.

We get to the wet, dripping, soggy festival grounds and get the cake set up. (did I mention it was 50 degrees out todoay and rained all day yesterday and this morning??? yeah...it was pleasant....Kitty was so bundled up all we could see was her little face in the stroller) There are 14 cakes present.....big competition. A few I was able to write off right away...not pretty or appetizing, messy, and just icky looking. The judging started with judging of the look of the cake...not the taste. I knew i was good there....it was one hot looking cake.

Then they started cutting a piece out for the taste testers. There were 4 judges, one radio guy and 3 actual bakers. Yikes. It's like watching TV....they take tiny bites, make concerned faces and lick their lips slowly. They made their way around the cakes, making notes as they went. At one point I was trying to help Auntie Mousie see what the judges were writing on the sheets....she stands almost 6 feet tall, but even with me boosting her up (not noticably, as if she was standing on my back or anything) but she couldn't make out what they were writing about my cake. My cake was 2nd to last in the judge order. One judge was a double dipper...several tastes with teh same spoon. Ick. Another judge really liked my cake. he took several tastes. but with different spoons. :)

The tension was palpable. Grammy, Auntie Mousie, and myself were holding hands, partially out of excitement, partially because we were fricking freezing standing outside in the 50 degree rain. Then they tabulated the results. The radio guy made a couple quick announcements, and then got down to business.

3rd place: a Kaluha and bits cheesecake (don't know what the bits were...toffee???)
2nd place: Tuxedo cheesecake (a multi-layer chocolate and white cheesecake, with a brownie layer! I'm gonna try making that one soon!)

And.....

1st place:::::

SummerTime Delight Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake by HistoryGirlie!!!!

WAHOOO!!!!

I'm so pumped. I haven't won 1st place before....it's a great day. My prize? $100 and a personalize cheese cutter with engraving on it. It was great. They sell the pieces after the contest and mine sold out immediately. One judge stopped me and told me it was an amazing cake....and she was a baker!!!!!

So, my summer got off to a great start. Next up: Farmer County Fair.......Look out! Historygirlie is coming out with guns blazing!

WOOHOO! 1st place!!!!!!

Because I'm not one of them....those that keep recipes to themselves....I'll post my recipe for the cake tomorrow. It takes over 3 hours to make, so you can imagine the intricate recipe. I'm worn out....from the competition, and because Kitty was wired tight all night tonight....If every day were like tonight, TLC would be making a TV show out of the Farmer family instead of the Gosselins. It would be humerous to anyone other than her parent, who was trying to put her jammies on for 25 minutes. Obviously, running around in your diapie and giggling is SO MUCH FUN. We'd get one leg in, and then she'd take off again, kicking off the jammies as we went.

So, this champion is off to watch Family Guy in bed. Not only did I win, but I also have clean sheets on the bed. Bliss. :)

"We are the champions, my friend...."

A Graduation Reflection

2009-06-06T15:32:00.002-10:00

So, Thursday night was Papertown's High School Graduation. And, as high school staff, it was required that I attend.

Now, most of my colleagues grumble and moan about having to attend....it's not paid extra, it's not during contract time, we aren't given the same amount of comp time to make up for it, yadda yadda, union-contract-lingo. And, really, I do understand what they mean. I get it.

However, I think differently.

I enjoy attending high school graduation. I've been there long enough now that I've seen these kids grow from gawky freshmen, afraid of shadows and the gym hallway (the football team can be intimidating) to being Seniors, who rule the school. I had the opportunity to teach them in many different subjects. I've seen them celebrate at State Football, dance the night away at Prom, and help them deal with their "HUGE LIFE MOMENTS", which to an adult are not that big. I love watching them walk across the stage, shake the Principal's hand, and get their corny picture taken with diploma cover in front of the American Flag. I tear up when I see some of my favorite kids make the big walk, and I celebrate that some of them will NEVER enter my classroom again. I cheer when that kid who had all bets against them for graduating smiles at the crowd when his classmates cheer his achievement.

I think that this year I'm so schmaltzy about graduation because I truly loved this graduating class. They were a wonderful group that showed what is good about KHS. They were the athletes, musicians, actors, academics, and just all around good kids. Yeah, I know they were also huge drinkers and had more sex partners than I can imagine, but when they were in my classroom, they were just fun. They also knew what was fair. For lack of better words, I was "picked on" via an online format last year by some students who were not being fair to me....a bunch of the then-juniors found out about it, and took care of the whole situation before it could get blown fully out of porportion. They weren't being bullies, but rather just righted a wrong. Then they came to me, informed me of what happened, and promised to help me deal with it again if it reoccured. THat's only one of the reasons why I love this graduating class.

So, yeah. Graduation can be a pain. I'd rather be in my sweats at 8:00 pm, but it was worth wearing my heels and girdle to help them transition to the next big moment in their lives. The handshakes, hugs, and congratulatory words meant so much to them that night. I'll miss them next year, not having them pop in and say "Hey Mrs V!" and give a big wave before they move on to their class. But I know that I did my job getting them ready for the next big step. I'll be excited to see them in a few years and see what they have done with their lives.

Godspeed, Graduates. I wish you all the best.

Don't worry.......

2009-06-02T16:36:00.002-10:00

I do exist.......

May was an incredibly busy month at the Farmer Ranch. We had three weddings in three weeks, meetings, farming, teaching, teething, more ear infections, Mother's Day, etc etc etc.

Therefore, I took a month off of anything that required massive thought once Kitty went to bed. Which included blogging.

And by the looks of my household, that also included cleaning my house and doing any resemblence of ironing, except for a few pair of pants in the morning when I needed to wear them and NOT look like a ragamuffin.

Because it was a super busy month, I'm not going to go into specifics about each event, so here's a quick synopsis of the major events....

MOTHER"S DAY:
Brunch with Grammy at the Casino---excellent breakfast...about 7 different breakfast meats. I was in (literally) Hog Heaven. I got a Cosy Coupe for Kitty to play with....you know. the little red car with the yellow top. She adores riding in it. It will be a fun summer for both of us.

GARDEN:
Mother's day weekend we planted the garden and my flowers. Everything is up, and we only lost one cuke plant due to frost. Because my post-partum depression is so much better, I think I'll enjoy the summer and my garden much more this summer than last.

THE GODFATHER'S WEDDING
the week after Mom's day, my brother got married. It was a perfect day, and everyone had a good time. Kitty was flower girl, and she marched down the aisle like an actress at the Oscars. I was so proud. The dinner was EXELLENT, as were the Malibu and Diet Cokes. Yikes. A bit tipsy....but they are happily man and wife and home from their Hawaiian honeymoon.

NAVYGIRLIE"S WEDDING
I officially became a member of NavyGirl's family after serving as her "Aide to the Queen" for her wedding. Her wedding was wonderful, classy, and a boat load of fun, just like her. I had so much fun....for details and other stuff, peruse her blog.

MEMORIAL DAY
Memorial day was a huge day for Kitty....Farmer and I went to fleet farm and bought her a swing set!!!!!!!!!! Later that day we went for a car ride in the convertable and then to the park to play with our friends. Kitty had a royal blast going down the slide. I can't wait to have our own swingset built to play on!!!

KKII and A's WEDDING:
This past weekend we were back in Madison for KKII's wedding. The whole friend group was able to attend, making for a very fun weekend, sans kids. Bucky Badger showed up for the wedding dance and did the Chicken Dance with the bride and groom. Super fun, and a great start to the summer.

KITTY:
Remember Kitty's ear troubles? The tubes? The Infections? well, even though the tubes are in and supposedly functioning well, she's still gettng massive double ear infections. ICK. We had her in to the dr last week for an ear check, and they were infected, and (brace yourselves) draining OUTSIDE of her ears. The infection goop was running down her face and filling up her outer ear. I'd have to clean them out several times a day, and it was seriously the ickiest stuff ever. Think honey, but thicker and stinkier. Gross. So, Farmer took her back to the ear specialist yesterday and they put her on drops. He said this is not good, but it's not necessarily bad or strange either. It's just something. and it's icky.

On another Kitty front, she's moving up to the next size room at school. In 3 weeks, she'll be a Koala instead of a Bunny. I'm unsure of this....I just don't want her growing up so fast!

FARMER:
Farmer and family started haying yesterday....which means cutting hay down at teh base, letting it dry, then chopping it up and shooting it into the silo. Farmer loves his tractors, so he likes this time of year. I'm ambivilant, but we make do. It's the true start of summer at our house.

HISTORYGIRLIE:
This is the last week of school. Huzzah! HUZZAH! I'm so excited to be off for the summer. I have big plans for the summertime.
Also, this weekend is the big local Festival o'Cheese, which means the big cheesecake competition. There are 17 entries in the contest, and I'm pumped. My flavor for this year is.......white chocolate lemon cheesecake with a raspberry ripple. It's helluva good. Honest. I'll be sure to post my results on Sunday evening.

So, that's that. For all my royal readers, there will be more random posts this summer. Be ready to read about all my adventures being a toddler's mom, while trying to weed the garden, fold the laundry, avoid working in the barn at all costs, feed the Farmer, all while trying to just enjoy the back porch with a good book and a Diet Coke on Ice.

Let the summer fun begin!!!!!

Reading is Sexy

2009-04-22T14:10:00.002-10:00

1) What author do you own the most books by?JK Rowling's Harry Potter books. all 7.

2) What book do you own the most copies of?I don't own multiple copies of books...at least I haven't found a multiple.....

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?Most wisconsinites end sentences with prepositions, so it doesn't bother me

5) What book have you read the most times in your life?Gone with the Wind, Baby Farm Animals

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?Charlotte's Web

7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?Peter Gay's The Enlightenment.....it was rough going.

8) What is the best book you've read in the past year?Oh goodness, I can't pick just one. That'd be like eating just ONE m and m.

9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be? I dunno. So many are so great. Probably To Kill A Mockingbird. I would force NavyGirl to read Gone with the Wind.

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?Pope Joan

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie? Walden. SNOOZE.

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?All the smut I have read. Lots of romance novels while laying out in the sun

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?Dictionary of the Kahazars. As I Lay Dying. (My mother is a fish!) I loved both, but they were hard....lots of hours with the professor in office hours trying to figure out what they are saying.

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?French...they make better bread. .

18) Roth or Updike?Haven't read either..

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?Nope, not them either. .

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?Chaucer.

21) Austen or Eliot?These ladies aren't familiar.....I mean, I know them, just haven't read them.

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?The classics and the canon. Lots haven't been read.

23) What is your favorite novel?Gone with the Wind

26) Essay?I like Doris Kearns Goodwin...not too many essays, but the ones I have read are good.

28) Work of nonfiction?America's Women; 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroins.

29) Who is your favorite writer?JK Rowling...I love the imagery...also Phillipa Gregory (I Henry VIII!)

31) What is your desert island book?Phillipa Gregory's series.

32) And finally... what are you reading right now?The Pleasure Palace (I promise, it's not smut)

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with? Rhett Butler....someone so rakishly handsome can carry me up the stairs and ravish me sometime!!!

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature? I don't think I'm that well read to determine that.

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character. I once dreamt that books were illegeal....woke up in a cold sweat.

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen? haven't seen anything obscure.

24) Favorite Play? Steel Magnolias, To Kill a Mockingbird

25) Favorite Poem? To my Dear and Loving Husband by Anne Bradstreet....I read it to Farmer at our wedding

27) Favorite Short story? Not really a short story fan.

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today? Toni Morrison. Just don't like her.

Now....I tag two people.......

Green Girl in Wisconsin......I think that her personal library is going to be my lending library this summer....

AND.....

I'd like to hear what Navy Girl's SISTER has to say...I'm guessing she's a reader too!!!!!! Perhaps you could e-mail your answers to Navy Girl and she could let you do a "guest post".....OR, I guess you could just e-mail me the responses!!!! You pick!

observations, quick thoughts, and ruminations

2009-04-21T15:06:00.003-10:00

*Spring is back in CowTown....it rained yesterday and today, and the worms are out on the sidewalks. ICK. I hate it when the worms come out.

*It snowed today, but it's supposed be 70 degrees on Friday. Freaking odd weather.

*Kitty has started massively pulling hair. she pulled her teacher's hair today, and removed a clump of my locks this evening. It earned her a time out and a frown from Mumma. If this continues, you can just call me Supernanny, for the amazingness of my timeout skillz.

*Farmer's birthday is Friday....which means...Perch Plate for Historygirlie!!!

*Navygirlie comes home on Thursday! Huzzah!

*How does one get into ballroom dancing as a kid? That's one skill I would love to have. Not that the polka dances that I attend really need the ability to samba or rumba, but still...how fun.

*I think I'm being snubbed by my cousin....I haven't recieved neither a save the date or an invite to the shower...when everyone else has...hmm....

*Jillian Michaels is a butt-busting sloot. Ok, maybe not a sloot, but still! her workouts are intense. However, I turn 30 in 3.5 months, (30!!??!! sniff...sniff...not adjusting well)and I want to look hawt at 30. So, Jillian is going to kick my keister every day between now and then. I'm not joking....every day. look out folks...this slightly nerdy, documentary loving history nerd is going to be looking good!!!!

*I think I'm the only person in america that doesn't love Adam Lambert from American Idol. I don't like his severly dyed hair and eyebrows...yes, I think the eyebrows are dyed too. He looks werewolf creepy. not a fan.

And....my last odd life tidbit....and I'm saving the best for last....

*one of my administrators today told me (in front of two other teachers AND two students) that he thinks he needs to go on one of those medications that help men's urinary incontinence. YES. you read that right. he came back from a bathroom break and announced that to the group, and also that he's been having hair growing out of odd spots. I've worked with this administrator on several projects, so I get him better than others, so it didn't shock me as much, but STILL!!!! Ahhh....love the surprises in life.

And on that disturbing thought for all of you.....Good night!

Huzzah times Two!

2009-04-18T04:01:00.002-10:00

First Huzzah....To my dear girliefriend NavyGirl on her 27th birthday!!! I can't wait to celebrate with you when you come home next week!!!! Perhaps we can get together some night, You, Me, and Farmer and go out for dinner to celebrate!

Second Huzzah....To a wonderful parishoner at St. CowTown Catholic Church....

WHO PAID $410 FOR MY CHEESECAKE A MONTH FOR A YEAR DONATION AT LAST NIGHT'S AUCTION!!!!!

(The auction was a fundraiser for the local small Catholic school...it's a fun night and alot of younger parishoners come out for the night)

Seriously....$410 for 12 cheesecakes. I was so nervous that they would make something like $20 for them, but suddenly the bidding was going fast and furious, and going higher and higher. I had Farmer's pants leg in a vice grip, and getting more and more excited.

I must admit...it was a bit hard to fall asleep last night after that....

Now, I just hope that they turn out each month!!!!!! NO CRACKS ALLOWED!!!!!

(Now, if only I can come up with a way to make myself some money with my mad baking skillz. Any ideas???)

E.T....E.T....E.T....

2009-04-13T05:58:00.002-10:00

You know, in the movie E.T., when E.T. breaks into the fridge and drinks a bunch of beer and gets a bit tipsy? And then he runs around the house yelling his name over and over again? E.T....E.T.....E.T.....

Well, that's turned into my daughter.

Two days of being with grandparents and aunties and uncles and cousins and marshmellow peeps and being the total center of attention made my kitty a bit crazy yesterday afternoon. My parents house is very open and circular, and so Kitty was waddling in her twirly skirted Easter dress (she's got big diapers and she walks without bending her knees....hence...waddling) all excited, waving her arms, and repeating her name over and over again. Seriously, if she were all brown and wrinkly, she would have been a picture of E.T. My brother just followed her around, waddling, and saying his name over and over again. (I think the copious amounts of Peeps and chocolate got to him too) She was also all excited because she figured out how to say her name, so we hear it all the time. (GreenGirl....the "cubbie" you were hearing at your house was actually her attempt at her name....it took awhile, but I figured it out)

Seriously. Adorable. Grammy and Poppy were totally charmed. Add in her amazingly huge Easter Bonnet---I had to find the bonnet with the most "frills upon it"at the local dime store, so the brim was HUGE, come on, everyone, sing along..."In your Easter Bonnet...."---and her green and pink madras plaid easter dress and sandals with cupcakes on them, she was a perfect Easter Girl. Don't worry, I'll post a picture when I get time.

*******
In other happenings, my washing machine blew up this morning. It's leaking water from the bottom. I turned off the hoses leading to it, after a frantic call to Poppy (Farmer's busy this AM with vet check and just general farm chores) but the water still comes. This totally puts a crimp in my plans to get all my laundry done today on my day off. Shuzbut. I guess I'll have to attack Mt. Wrinkle instead. or scrub my kitchen floor. Or bathroom floors. Or a number of other chores.

I found my cheesecake recipe for the annual cheesecake contest. I must say...It's fricking amazing. I'm not revealing the flavor yet (I don't want anyone stealing my recipe!!!!) but everyone loved it at Grammy's house yesterday. It's a hit.

However, GreenGirl, if you'd like me to bring one to book club this week, I'd be more than happy to. Just let me know.....

Check ya later!!!!

They've got the right stuff!

2009-04-08T11:40:00.002-10:00

So, last night a 15 year dream came true.

I waited so long. I wished for this, when I was a "tween".

Last night, I saw New Kids On the Block (NKOTB) in concert in GB.

Yes, they are back. And better than ever.

I was a fan when I was in 4th grade. I LOVED THEM. I had posters, pajamas, big pins on my stonewashed jean jacket, shoelaces, fan magazines (TIGER BEAT!!!), but no concert ticket. My mom and dad wouldn't take me to Alpine Valley to see them in all their neon glory.

But Farmer, who enjoys granting my odd wishes, gave me tickets to NKOTB for Valentine's day. However, he didn't want to go, so I got to take my good friend M with me, who was also denied that glorious concert ticket 15 yrs ago.

I was so excited. and The Kids didn't disappoint.

They had the dance moves. they had the harmonies. They had Jordan Knight singing an incredibly high falsetto, Danny's great street dance moves, Jon's quiet handsomeness, Joey belting out "Please don't go Girl" (I'm not going anywhere, Joey, just call me) and, of course, Donnie's Boston Hat and smoking hot abs.

Yes, all 5 guys got even HOTTER in the last 15 years. and now I'm an age that can appreciate the MAN-ness of them. mmmmmm. Yummy.

Don't worry, I didn't hide in their bus and let them take me on the road with them. I'm back in CowTown, feeding Kitty, and listening to my Greatest Hits CD.

But it was an amazing night, full of nostalga and love for a band that I had started to forget.

Thanks, Farmer, for giving me back a piece of my childhood. I'll be Hangin' Tough for a long time.

ed. Note: Don't worry, Jon Bon Jovi....I may love the Boys from Beantown, but the Jersey Boys will always come first in my heart. I'm still Livin' On A Prayer that you'll call me up and take me away. at least for one night. :)

A post for NavyGirl

2009-03-26T14:36:00.003-10:00

NavyGirlie (and Maverick, by default)~

Be forewarned. When your first born child is popping his/her eyeteeth, I am going to send to whatever middle of nowhere military base you will be on a brand new copy of "Baby Farm Animals" so you, too, can read it 6 times in an hour because she won't play with anything else, and she also won't eat anything and throws her food off her tray.

Seriously. If you were in CowState, I'd drive to whereever you are and let YOU read "Baby Farm Animals" to the crabby Cat.

I've tried reading other books, I've tried the tried and true favorite toys, I've tried a Sesame Street video....NOPE. Just Baby Farm Animals.

I think Baby Farm Animals is going to be hidden on a high shelf for the weekend, or I may run screaming into the forest. OR, she'll have to go hang out with the Cows with Daddy. He can sing Row Row Row and Itsy Bitsy, while reading Baby Farm Animals....because we did that once tonight....mid book, we had to break into a verse of Row Row Row. once we came to the end of the ditty, we went back to the book.

So, I blame you for all this....after all, you did give her this book, the good friend that you are. :)

But we need to chat on the phone soon:

*my student teacher

*All things Wedding

*All things Kitty and FG

*Your time of day shower

*Our TV shows

*Random other stuff

But: don't call tonight 8:00 pm CowState Time. Grey's is on, and I need to see what happens during Izzie's surgery. Farmer knows to come in very quietly if he gets home after 8:00 pm.

I can't wait to chat with you....miss you and lots of hugs~

Historygirlie

Next Stop: Migraine City

2009-03-25T14:48:00.002-10:00

Hello Readers~

I'm back to my precious blog. Once again, it's been one heck of a week or so. Last week we had a lovely funeral for my much loved uncle...my mom's brother. He passed away after quadruple bypass surgery...not the surgeon's fault...his body just couldn't handle that surgery. Uncle D was an excellent man and father, and he will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

But that, combined with the fact that I am barely over (emotionally) my misscarriage, caused my enemy Mr. Migraine come to visit. I've been dealing with a come-and-go migraine for about 10 days now. Grrrr. I've been making faithful visits to the Chiropractor (thank goodness for insurance) and it helps short term, but it hasn't solved it yet. I've taken so much excedrine migraine that I think my body will be permanantly buzzing. I haven't blinked since Monday. Joy.

*******

In other news, Kitty is being Kitty. She's fallen in love with singing songs. Her specialities? Row Row Row and The Itsy Bitsy Spider....both complete with little hand motions! It's just adorable...the first 50 times you sing them in a night. I'm pretty sure Farmer's going to hear me muttering "row row row your boat" while rocking forwards and backwards in my sleep sometime soon. In fact, her first question ever asked was "row row??" She just suddenly one day began saying it after I finished another verse of Itsy Bitsy. You can't say no to a girlie who looks at you with pleading in her eyes, saying "row row???" So adorable.

*******

Farmer has been busy getting all the tractors tuned up for the spring planting season. He's excited. He loves being on his tractors, so the faster things dry up in the fields, the better.

************

Last night was the annual CowTown FFA Alumni Fundraising Dinner and Auction. Farmer and I are faithful attendants each year. Farmer was Mr. FFA in high school, and has served on the FFA Alumni board in the past. Our FFA chapter is very active in the community, and I'd bet it's one of the best FFA programs in high schools across the state. The auction is classic....It's actually a fun night. A traditional chicken dinner, and then there's an auction where anything from tractor grease to alfalfa seeds to strawberry jam to 10 lbs of asparagus to framed embroidery pictures are sold. Farmers are willing to spend big bucks on the most random stuff. Two jars of Strawberry jam sold last night for $15. I know, it's a fundraiser for an excellent group, but STILL! the canner in me had a bird. You could make a bazillion batches of jam for $15!!!!! I laugh every year. I donated a homemade cheesecake a month for a year. It's worth about $200, but it only brought in $85. But overall, most things brought in less money than normal. You could definitely tell that farmers have been hit hard lately by the god-awful milk prices. But the rumors last night were that we'll start getting paid more for our milk. Thank goodness. Higher prices can't come soon enough.

*******

My bridesmaid's dress came in...My sister picked hers up yesterday, and she said that they run small. Oh boy. That's not good. She ordered hers super big because she didn't know what her figure would be after having the baby, and hers fit pretty well. YIKES. I have the distinct possibility of looking like a stuffed sausage. My mum is running to pick mine up tomorrow, so I'll know what I'm up against in the next two months diet wise.

******

Michael Sarver just RUINED "Ain't too proud to beg" on American Idol. It's my favorite Motown song, and he turned it into a Gospel-Give-me-an-AMEN!!! type of song. GRRRR.

**********

I'm excited. My wonderful girliefriend NavyGirl is having her bachelorette party in her hometown, and she'll be having dinner that night in CowTown! I get to go! I'm pumped. It was supposed to be in Madison, and I wasn't able to make it down there. I forsee good times ahead!!!!

*********

Ok......Historygirlie OUT!

Hello!!!!! Can you see me through the fog????

2009-03-10T14:12:00.002-10:00

I am starting to hate the weather in CowTown. It's March. I HATE March. Sunday it snowed like crazy, yesterday was rainy, tonight they are bellering about fog and freezing fog and freezing rain. But tonight's fog comes and goes, which is even more frustrating. Straight up fog, fine...we don't leave the house. But come and go fog? Can I go to the store? Am I going to come out with my milk and lunchmeat and not find the car? Sometimes I can see my neighbor's house, sometimes not.

I'm so ready for capri's, peep toe heels, and summer skirts. Time to put the sweaters away.

Ok, enough on the weather. My regular weekly update:

*I'm finally starting to feel better, physically and emotionally. For the last month I've been dealing with some gynelogical problems....I had another blighted pregnancy, but this time it didn't want to miscarriage....my body thought there was a pregnancy but it was fooling itself. Then the dr thought it was an ectopic pregnancy, but then decided it wasn't. So last week I had a procedure to finally end this misery. It didn't hurt, per se, but it's just the resolve and healing of everything. So, I'm back on my feet. Finally. Huzzah.

*Kitty is a wandering walking girlie. She's so on the move. But, I think walking is easier. She was faster and sneakier when crawling. Now, she's more unsteady. But she's SO PROUD of herself. She's moving like a big kid now, and she's the main attention of the whole day care center. Everyone has been waiting for Kitty to walk. Today they went on a stroller ride around the inside of the center (too rainy to go outside) and at every new room, Kitty had to get out of the stroller and show off her skillz. She's such a ham. when she'd enter the room walking, she'd stop, applaud for herself, and then keep walking, while clapping. Show off!

*Kitty's also started to enjoy hiding from Mumma. THis weekend, she climbed two flights of stairs, closed the baby gate behind her, and hid in our bedroom with the door closed. She then was facing the door, waiting for me to open it. She's also done this in the laundry room and under the computer desk. Little Fart. :)

*Farmer's getting the equipment on the farm ready for field work, even though they are covered under a bizillion inches (ok not really) of snow, slush, and yuk. I think he's getting ready for spring to come too. He likes hanging out on his tractor.

*This weekend is a big one. It's Brother's fiancee's first two (of three) bridal showers and also the big bachelorette party. SHe's so excited...her mum's coming home from California for two weeks for the big events. The events should be very fun. I'm looking forward to a night out with the girls.

*It's Grandpa Farmer's birthday party on Sunday. His actual birthday is on St. Patrick's day, but we celebrate on the closest sunday. I hope I'm not too hungover...it's hard to celebrate with your inlaws when your head is as big as a watermelon, and dry as the sahara.

*Corned Beef and Cabbage One Week From Tonight! This Irish Lass is very excited. I only get this meal once a year.....yum yum YUM.

Ok, time to exersize. I just watched the first 1/2 hour of the Biggest Loser, and if those people can shed that kind of pounds (Yes, I KNOW they have chefs and trainers and aren't juggling work and babies and overworked husbands, and a lot more jiggly motivation than I do, but still) I can lose a few before the big wedding. At least enough so that my back fat doesn't flap over the top of the dress. Yes, Ugly Picture. I agree. Hence, the unappetizing workout in my very near future.

Historygirlie......OUT!

It's a Beautiful Day!!!!

2009-03-03T16:49:00.002-10:00

Big news out of the Farmer Household today!!!!!!!

Are you ready????????

KITTY TOOK HER FIRST STEPS TODAY!!!!

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

Sound the trumpets and bang the drums!!!!!

SHe has learned to stand up, but she never took steps, but today....

we were practicing standing up, and i was a few paces away from her sitting on the floor, and I told her to walk to me, and lo and behold, she did!!!!!!!!!

She's 17 months tomorrow, so it's about time. I swear, that surgery answered prayers. Angels were in the operating room.

My kitty's growing into a full blown Cat. My heart sings with joy, but is also sad. She's getting to be a big girl now. My baby is growing up.

So, in your own individual houses, do a jig, have a treat, give hugs all around, and have a grand old time! Kitty is walking!!!!

(and yes, I do think that this post deserves the bazillion exclamation points!!!!! Here's a few more!!!!!!!!)

The promised Update

2009-02-26T16:31:00.002-10:00

So, the surgery went well. Kitty was a pure trooper. I was amazed that it only took about 15 minutes from the time we handed her over to the nurse until when Dr. came out to the waiting room (which was SO SURREAL.....I've been a dedicated medical drama watcher since ER started in 1994....so having a Dr. come out to the waiting room in scrubs and that head scarf and say "Mr. and Mrs. Farmer??? The surgery went well".....I felt like I was the guest star on Grey's Anatomy.).

She was a bit crabby when she came out of the sleeping gas, but that's normal. As soon as we quieted her down (A big sippie of Juice was involved) and got her out to the car, she was herself. A bit groggy, but she was herself. A big breakfast when we got home (juice, biscuit, fruit, cheese slice) and she was totally back.

We practiced standing up tonight and maybe it's because I'm wanting it so, but I swear I saw a difference in her balance. She was doing so well. No steps (even I didn't expect that) but she was more solid on her feet.

She got crabby again this evening, and at one point (just after getting her drops in her ears) she reared her head back and smacked me right in the nose. I felt like TWP, a friend of NavyGirl's (see the connecting story here). However, I don't think my nose is fractured.

But the combination of faceache, corresponding headache, and tension backache (it was a long morning) I didn't do my exersize tonight.....I guess I'll be exersizing on Sunday instead. I think God understands.

So, we are back to daycare tomorrow, and Mumma's back to work. These days spoil me. I desperately want to be a stay at home mom, and so it's hard to go back to work when I'm home for a random day during the week. It just felt so nice, having lunch with Farmer, getting stuff done during the day, seeing a full episode of Dr. Phil.......domestic bliss. I even got laundry put away.

I'll be sure to update you dedicated readers on Kitty's progress thoughout the weekend, if I can. It's a busy weekend for the Farmer family. Kitty has a sleepover, I have Craft-o-rama, Farmer will be farming......lots of stuff. Check ya later!

KittyCat Update

2009-02-25T16:37:00.002-10:00

So, Farmer took Kitty to her Ear Nose Throat doctor today, and the good doctor said that she needs to have tubes inserted IMMEDIATELY. He took a peek in her tiny little ears (which are so cute!) and said that there was a considerable amount of fluid in there (STILL) and that the outside of the eardrum is starting to turn red again, in both ears, which means infection is on its way.

Yikes.

So, he said he wanted to get tubes in her tomorrow. There's no time to waste. So, now Kitty is scheduled for surgery at 8:30 am tomorrow. So, tomorrow I'm off from work, and so is Farmer (at least after 6:30 AM...he'll go to work in the begininng of the morning). She'll have a slightly rough day tomorrow, from the anestesia, but the doctor said she'll be able to go back to day care on Friday! The amazing amuont of pressure in her ears will be gone tomorrow. She'll be able to hear us clearer tomorrow. She'll start to find her balance tomorrow. Her speech will start to become clearer tomorrow.

It will be an amazing day tomorrow.

I've been afraid that she's been delayed, but our primary doctor said that it's her ears that's been keeping her behind. However, when I see much younger kids in her room walking and talking clear, and Kitty just can't....well, it makes my heart hurt. I don't want her to be "that kid".

DISCLAIMER: I'm a teacher, people. I know that there's NOTHING WRONG with being "that kid". They are as accomplished as everyone else. But you can't tell me that every parent doesn't wish for their kid to be the smartest kid ever. With no problems or issues or troubles.

But anyway.

So, tomorrow's the day. I'll be sure to update y'all tomorrow evening.

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I'm still giggling at the thought of Justice Clarence Thomas waving a rally towel at the State of the Union address. It just tickles me.

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Big snow coming to CowTown tomorrow night. What do you think the chances are for a snow day on Friday. I know we can't handle another snow day, but a girl can wish, right????

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Day one of Exersize during Lent is accomplished. I hulahooped for 25 minutes. I know, what????Hoola Hooping? Yes, folks. I have a hula hoop that weighs about 2.5 lbs, and it's made to help sculpt and thin down the abdomen. My Mumma picked it up for me at the farmer's market last summer....so I did exersize for day one. Huzzah!!!

Tidbits from the Farm

2009-02-24T16:45:00.002-10:00

*Wicked was wickedly awesome. NavyGuy has become my third favorite man on earth (behind Farmer and my Dad) for allowing me to accompany NavyGirlie to see the awesome show. I LOVE IT. I must go again so I can watch the details instead of learning the story line. However, the next time I see it it will probably be performed by a high school troupe....in other words, I don't get to the THEATRE (yes, -re....and said with a snobby British accent....it's fancier) very often.

I do believe that it has become my 2nd favorite musical ever....I doubt anything, ever, will replace Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat ( I Heart Joseph) but It may have just replaced the Sound of Music as second. Somewhere, the hills are crying.

*Kitty goes to the ENT specialist to see about tubes. Farmer gets to take her, since her appointment is in the morning. I hope he doesn't just blow her off and will help us with her never ending earache. Send a happy thought her way.....I think she's getting sick of people looking in her ears.

*I think that Hillary Clinton should always wear Bright Pink. She looks awesome and glowing tonight on the State of the Economy Address. However, Nancy Pelosi looks TERRIBLE in that mossy green...she'd fit in with my brother in law and his hunting clothes. It also has this odd little crocheted section up the front, but it doesn't go all the way to the neckline, which is almost worse than the crocheted part. Plug-ugly.

*At my school, we have a 10th grader who is severely pregnant. I saw her waddling down the hall today, wearing her pre-maternity jeans, boots with the fur, (with the Fur! sing along time!!!) and a non maternity top.....so sad. My heart hurted for her.

*Hurted? what kind of grammar is that? and I teach the youth of America........

*Is it sad??? I really like the Boots with the Fur song. I don't know what it's really called, but it makes me dance in the car when I hear it. I also like that Panic! at the Disco song "I don't feel like dancing..." I just cant stop wiggling when that comes on either. And also "All the Single Ladies". I'm so so SO not any of these songs....I'm more Willie Nelson or Joseph Soundtrack than those songs.

*Lent starts tomorrow. Good Catholic School Girl that I am (and because I'm married to an even better Good Catholic Boy) I've decided to give up fast food (I'm an MSG and grease junkie....the fattier burger and fries, the better!!!) (and I'm really good at driving past McD's and sneaking in for a diet coke from time to time....I love me some fountain sodas too!) and I'm going to exersize every day but Sunday. I figure, even the Lord took a rest....so can I, because I HATE to exersize. But I will do it!

*If I were a senator/representative, I'd get really tired of clapping and standing up all the time during this speech. What if your leg hurt, or you had a migraine or backache? That standing would be brutal. Could you just hoot and hollar from your sitting position? maybe wave the Steelers Terrible Towel? Slap those noise-maker tubes together that you sometimes get at Packer Games? That's really funny to me. Picturing crabby old Justice Clarence Thomas frantically waving a Bright Yellow Terrible Towel over his head, while John Mc Cain is beating frantically on a cowbell. It would be like a high school football game....only with better surroundings.

*Haha!!! Obama just mentioned Orrin Hatch, and the camera went to him, and he wasn't paying any attention!!!! He was reading the program! When people started clapping, he looked up in surprise and stood up and clapped with everyone else. Hey Buddy! You need to pay attention!!!

*OK, I must really get down to work and research for my grad paper. Which isn't nearly as exciting as blogging random thoughts.

A New Great Word

2009-02-18T15:53:00.002-10:00

So, today while discussing the ever important Current Events (some of my kids seem to live in a concrete bunker 15 feet below ground, and after school hours the only outside contact is through My Space...so I feel it's my responsibility to expose them to what's up in the world) a student brought up the Chimpanzee that mauled a woman and had to be shot by police, after being stabbed by it's owner.

NOTE: I was trying to have them discuss the stimulus package....they wanted to talk about mauling chimpanzees.

But anyway....

I realized that the word "Chimp" is a great word.

Say it aloud, friends.

Chimp.

Chimp.

It has great potential. Such as..."You big Chimp!" "You are such a Chimp." and so on.

It ranks right up there with my other favorites...Weiner. Weasel. Dork. Futz. Mixmox (that's a Steffek Family Special...it means things are all mixed up.) and now....Chimp.

There's my deep thought of the day.

Maybe discussing CHIMPS is better than the stimulus package.

Yes, I do Exist

2009-02-17T16:12:00.002-10:00

Hello, friendly readers.

I have not:
A. jumped off the bridge
B. abandoned modern life for living in a tree house, wearing animal skins
C. been "unfound" in a VERY long game of Hide 'n' Seek.
D. been taken hostage by crazy sophomores, and forced to teach science or math

I just haven't felt like I've had much to post about, really. I go to sign in to blog, and then I sit there with a big case of writer's block.

There just hasn't been much going on around the ranch lately.

Well, I take that back. Here's an update for the past month for you all, and an especial shout out to Navy Girl's Mumma. NGM....ONLY ONE WEEK TO WICKED AND TWO WEEKS TO CRAFT-O-RAMA!!!

TWP: ONLY TWO WEEKS UNTIL WE FINALLY MEET! I'm very excited!!!!!!

Anyway....

*Kitty has been sick since Christmas with earaches. Yesterday was the last day of her fourth consecutive antibiotic. Farmer took her to the dr. today to get her ears checked again.....and the infection still isn't gone. GRRRRR. So we are now going to an ear specialist to get it figured out. But we can't get in for two weeks. another GRRRRRR. but Dr. says that this could be the reason that her vocabulary is delayed----you can't learn to mimic and repeat if you can't hear what the original speaker is saying---and also for delaying her walking. She can't find her balance.

Talk about mommy guilt. I thought she was just being lazy. whoops.

So, we'll have an answer in two weeks. Thank God. M y poor kitty. my heart hurts when she doesn't feel well.

*The Farm has been quiet. just gearing up for spring and planting season. Farmer hurt his ankle this morning climbing the silo, so now he's in an air cast. Huzzah. i'm just glad this didn't happen in the summer time.

*Teaching has been going great. The kids are good, but sadly, and this is my fault, they aren't as great as last semester. Last semester was a version of Camelot (well, before the whole Guenevere and Lancelot fiasco) so it's hard to top them.

*grad school has been a bit light lately, huzzah, so it's giving me time to do some personal reading. I demolished the Nanny Diaries last week, which was a good read. I got so mad at the parents that I had to "put it in the freezer" (ok, not really, but I did have to put it down for awhile), but now I'm on to Choke Creek, which is also an excellent read. I'm almost done with it, and it's super recommendable.

OK. that's all I have. I promise to post more often. Honest, NGM. I will provide Farmer's Wife updates on a more regular basis.

Proud to Be an American

2009-01-20T16:54:00.002-10:00

So, I've been in a presidential state of mind lately. I've been watching the mini-series "John Adams" on DVD for the past two weeks, and have learned quite a bit about the founding fathers and the Revolution, and the one thing that I've really taken away from the viewing experience is bravery.

John Adams and his cohorts Washington, Jefferson, Rush, and even the nasty Pickeney from South Carolina were the most brave men that I've ever experienced. In writing the Declaration of Independence, they were separating themselves from everything they've ever known. England had supported (and royally pissed them off, pun intended) for so long, and in the scene where they read the Declaration on the steps in Philadelphia, you can see both bravery and true fear in the men's eyes. They were basically signing their own death certificate, if they were caught by the British. They were committing treason against the crown, but they knew that if they were to be truly happy as a nation, they needed to break from England. They were travelling into the unknown, and they were taking their family and countrymen with them. They didn't know how they were going to run themselves, but they did it anyway. That, my friends, is true bravery.

Then, later in the episodes, Adams goes to France, where he is completely taken for granted and ignored in the presence of the mighty Benjamin Franklin. Instead of sulking or going home without doing his job, he instead went to Holland to strike a deal. Bravery. Going against the plan. Getting the job done, no matter what. He was terribly sick, missing his beloved friend Abigail, and all alone on his venture. But he went. He was a success. Bravery.

Then he serves as an unpopular president. He believed he wouldn't be remembered in a good light, and that history would hate him. But he made the decisions regarding the Alien and Sedition acts and other actions during his presidency. He moved into the unfinished White House in a rough territory, and basically lived in one room with his wife. Bravery.

(I have to leave it here, because I don't know how far Navy Girl is in the series....but Bravery abounds in the last few episodes)

And now, today, I watch Barack Obama be elected to the 44th presidency. The first man of color to be elected to the office. He inherits two wars, an economy in the gutter, following a president with the lowest popularity rate ever, and is going to raise two beautiful young daughters and care for his lovely wife in the glaring media spotlight of the White House. But yet, he's encouraging the entire United States that we can change our situation. Change Is Here. And he accepted this position freely.

I think Barack Obama is one of the bravest men on our planet tonight.

He has a challenge ahead of him, but his head is high and he's ready to go.

So, after watching the John Adams series and observing the newest presidential election, I'm indeed proud to be an American. We are a country that was forged out of nothing but the guts and determination of our Founding Fathers, and is has survived an attempt at takeover by the British, an internal War that could have torn us apart, two World Wars, and the threat of Nuclear War for over 45 years. We've come out a bit bruised at times, a bit embarassed some moments, but truly stronger for the experience. I'm proud of Us, the United States of America. Throughout our history, we truly have been brave.

I pray that Mr. Obama is able to shoulder his oncoming burderns with the bravery he will need. Like he said, things are going to get worse before they get better, but I hope that America also has the bravery to work it out with our President and allow him to do the things he thinks is best. He'll need all of our good thoughts and prayers.

Godspeed, Mr. Obama. The United States is ready to help you on your brave mission.

Product Review: The Magic Bullet

2009-01-15T16:04:00.002-10:00

So, a dirty secret: I LOVE INFOMERCIALS. Anything from music collections to cooking tools to yard tools....I'll watch them all and want to buy just about each and every one.

So, for Christmas, I asked for the Magic Bullet, one of my top 5 favorite informercials. I saw that you can buy it in stores now, so I thought what the heck. And, hooray, Santa brought me the Bullet! I was very excited.

So, I've tried a few things now in the bullet. Farmer and I have made fruit smoothies, made of frozen fruit, ice, and a splash of juice. They were thick, but tasty, but my complaint was that it really only blended the things nearest the blade. There wasn't a thorough mixing of components, which left big icy chunks in the bottom of the Drink Mug (with color coded lip rings!)

Next: I whipped up some frozen chocolate Chai one morning, but I didn't blend in the ice, I just poured the Chai over ice. VERY TASTY....it mixed up much more thoroughly than regular stirring, or even using a shaker. However, one thing I learned really REALLY quickly is that when you want to do more than just "pulse" the ingredients, and want it to blend, you had better have the blade screwed in SUPER TIGHT, because otherwise the twisting it into lock mode, and just the blades spinning around, will loosen up the blade from the mug, making your chai go all over. Not fun.

Tonight was the big test.....the main meal. I made alfredo sauce in the shaker, according to their recipe book. Now, this was tricky, because I make, if I may brag, amazing homemade alfredo sauce. Farmer loves it. It whipped up very quickly and easily, and once whipped again after microwaving until hot (only 1.5 minutes on high!!! so fast!!!) it was super thick and creamy....and so tasty too! (so, i just referenced a classic TV show....whoever guesses it correctly gets bonus points)Farmer said it was very good alfredo, especially the combo of sauce and the steak that I fried up to put on top (because it's not a meal without meat)

So, the overall grade, so far, of the Magic Bullet, is an A/B. So far, I'm liking it alot, and looking forward to using it more.

Now, if only I could get my hot little hands on a Snuggie, a Ron Popeil Rotisserie (Just Set It And....FORGET IT!), the Jack LaLaine Power Juicer, and the Malibu Pilates chair....life would be perfect.

The weather is frightful

2009-01-15T07:10:00.002-10:00

So, my un-wished-for cold day is here. I would desperately like to be at work today....not because I don't like being home, but because the end of the semester is next Friday and I'm only budgeted 3 days to teach the entire vietnam war, and now one of those days has been taken away. My Honors kids NEEDED to be at school today. We NEEDED to learn. Even they recognized the NEED for a normal day of school.

But alas. It's -42 with the windchill right now, so Kitty and I are homebound. Which is really ok, because I think Kitty's throat is sore from her cough, so she needs a little extra TLC.

The only kicker is is that Farmer is fairly certain that we won't have school tomorrow either, because the cold is here to stay. So now I'm trying to figure out what we are going to do next week if we aren't in school tomorrow either. They have their unit exam on Tuesday and their cumulative all semester final on Thursday. Thankfully I've made them very aware of this schedule coming up so they can't pull the "I didn't have enough warning!" excuse.

So, now today is being dedicated to laundry and ironing, and watching more John Adams while Kitty is sleeping. Maybe Mt. Wrinkle will be diminished to a small hill by the end of the day!

Oh! My Ear! and other tidbits

2009-01-12T17:19:00.004-10:00

Well, it's been another week in Farmerville. Alot happening, but not much to blog about on a daily basis.

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Kitty has another ear ache, along with a chest cold. The dr. put her on Zithromax, but it's not nearly as tasty as Amoxicillian, so tonight I had to pin her down on the floor and squirt the meds on the back of her tongue. Thank god we only have two more doses of it to give.

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I got great news yesterday...Navygirl is coming home to Cowtown in February, and.....we're going to see Wicked at the PAC!!! She got her birthday gift early from Maverick and she's taking me! We are so excited to be going to the theatre (you must say theatre with a slight british accent....so much more exciting)....the PAC is about the classiest place she and I get to at this stage of our lives. Maybe someday we'll be going to military balls, or classy HistoryChannel soirees, once we're documentary commentators.

What do you think, Navygirl? do you think HistoryChannel has classy soirees?

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I got John Adams documentary DVD for Christmas, and I'm through 3/4's of it, and I want so much to blog my thoughts about it, but Navygirl hasn't watched it yet, (she got it for christmas too!!) so I'm refraining. But she better get going....I have so much to say.

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Ribfest, Winter Edition, is on Saturday at Grammy's house. Grammy wants to have one last hurrah, to quote her, before Auntie Mousie's baby comes. I asked her if we weren't allowed to party (because look out....an evening of eating ribs with your family is a Rafter-Raising event) after Grandbaby #2 shows up....she didn't find me funny.

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I'm in a creative funk lately. I have all these craft projects going, but I have zero ambition to do any of them. grrrrrr. And some of them have due dates. yikes.

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As I was lurking on another blog (I'm a TERRIBLE LURKER) I noticed that today is national DeLurking day, but I wonder, how does one know that someone is lurking? is there a function on Blogger that I haven't discovered??? hmmm....this interests me.

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Farmer has gone snowmobiling tonight, and all I'm listening to is the sound of my typing. the silence is the best sound I've heard all day.

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Bitter frigid weather coming. Joy. :(

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Ok, that's about all the tidbits I have. HistoryGirlie.......OUT!!!!

An updated post regarding 2008

2009-01-03T06:30:00.002-10:00

Dear Readers:

As I was rereading my last post, I thought that I sounded like I moped my way through 2008. My year wasn't all medications and fieldwork and mopeyness. Here are some of the awesome highlights of 2008.....

*the continuation of Bumble Book Club....looked-foward-to evenings full of good reads, good conversation, and good companionship

*my 7 foot tomato plants....Seriously....7 feet tall! Thankfully I had time to can this summer...they were awesome and kind of a neighborhood sensation.

*4th of July party with my family....we had some wicked games of croquet and best of all...Kitty and Grammy got to go swimming in her little pool! Great times for all.

*The County Fair....my favorite weekend of the year. My Caroline Ingalls comes out in Mid-July, and I love watching my baked goods and embroidery win ribbons, or in the case of my chocolate chip cookies....be RIPPED OFF!!! Grrr, still, to the judge.

*Kitty's art projects. we've filled 2 scrapbooks already!

*Teaching my Brother to make pickled garden products. We had such a great time making pickled mushrooms, brussel sprouts, and relish. Hopefully that will become a yearly thing.

*Auntie Mousie's wedding....it was surreal to watch my baby seester get married, and then quickly get preggo. We had fun with the final planning, showers, various girdles (for myself, Auntie Mousie is a stick) and bonding moments.

*Having some time to do my crafts...namely, my weekend away in Door County with other Scrapbooking friends was a needed relaxation, and thanks to Farmer and Grammy for helping me be able to go.

*my awesome Honors American Studies students....while they may be trying at times, there is at least one moment of laughter each day, and I love watching them learning.

*All my wonderful friends, at work, at home, and all over the nation (wow, I have friends from sea to shining sea! Manifest destiny at work)

So, there.....there's some great things that have occured throughout 2008....there are many more, but I'm out of time. Time to go to the last holiday party of the year!

The Year In Review---2008 style

2009-01-02T03:54:00.002-10:00

So, I promised a year in review of the Farmer's wife life, but yesterday I just didn't get around to it, so here we go!
(ed. note: I stole this idea from pretty shiny....I'm not that creative to come up with this all by myself)

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
*I managed to get through taking my daughter to daycare for the first time, and didn't need to be committed afterward. It took about 2 months, but I did it!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
*No, I didn't keep my last resolution...it was to lose weight, and I actually gained weight in 2008. grrrr. This year's resolution is to find happiness everywhere, and in that happiness is to be a bit thinner, at least by my Brother's wedding.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes! Lots of friends had babies this year. And Auntie Mousie is due any week now!!!!

4. Did anyone close to you die? Thank Heavens, no.

5. What countries did you visit? That sounds like a vacation, which we don't do. :) I don't even remember leaving the state this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? A new couch, new carpet in the family room, and a second pregnancy

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? With Kitty growing and learning every day, I have so many days to remember. thank goodness I scrapbook.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? learning to be a successful mom

9. What was your biggest failure? I have yet to fully embrace my life as a Farmer's Wife. Maybe some year, I'll learn to fully love the fieldwork and cows and the amount of time they take up.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I worked my way through Post Partum Depression, and regular depression after that. But I"m fully off my meds and being successful every day!

11. What was the best thing you bought? so many cute outfits for kitty! She's so cute, she needs cute outfits (just ask Grammy)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Farmer's. he dealt with me and lack of feelings and energy this summer with banner behavior. Even though he doesn't "get" depression.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Mine. Sometimes I threw fits.

14. Where did most of your money go? Kitty, Festival Foods, Target. Darn You Target.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? all of Kitty's advancements, the success I felt in my classroom and my awesome kids, when I created an awesome scrapbook page.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? "What's New PussyCat?" "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" (Auntie Mousie's wedding....whooooo. Yikes)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder?b) thinner or fatter?c) richer or poorer? all of the above

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? took more time for myself. It would have helped alot.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Sitting on my heinder.....get moving Historygirlie!

20. How did you spend Christmas? with my wonderful family, both small and large.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? I fell in love a little more every day with my family.

22. What was your favorite TV program? Brothers and Sisters. As dysfunctional as they are, I want to be part of that family.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No, I have very few things that I hate...most of them are things like meatloaf. I HATE meatloaf.

24. What was the best book you read? Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts. Excellent look at the strong women behind the Founding Fathers.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? The morning show on WIXX, a local radio station. Murphy, Maino, and Katie in the morning make me laugh all the way to work.

26. What did you want and get? Oh, I don't know. I had so many blesings this year.

27. What did you want and not get? A second successful pregnancy. We, the doctor, Farmer, and I, tried so hard to be successful.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Mama Mia....I went to see it with some cousin/girlfriends, and our Moms! It was a wonderful evening out.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 29, and a bit freaked out by being 29....it's so close to 30. yikes. But my wonderful Friend NavyGirl came over for a sleepover the night before, (even though we had an ant infestation in my cupboards) and we had a true blue sleepover with lots of chatting and munching. Then, on my birthday, Farmer took me out for fish, and gave me my precious laptop! It was a wonderful birthday.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? To have found my happiness a little earlier (like last January) but I'm now content. All is good.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Teacher, who tries to be hip, but just misses the mark. All worn with big high heels.

32. What kept you sane? Medication, Deep Breaths, Good Cries, Kitty.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? by fancy, I picture crush...so, my normal list....Bon Jovi, Will Smith, Oprah (a girl crush....I want to be Gayle King, her best friend)

34. What political issue stirred you the most? Anything with education. This new administration had better fix up NCLB ASAP. .

35. Who did you miss? NavyGirl.....KHS and room 0007 just doesn't feel the same.

36. Who was the best new person you met? Well, I knew her, but I finally got to KNOW her this year...Mrs. Z, my teaching partner.....she's a great lady and someone I can relate to....An ok but not great replacement at KHS for NavyGirl.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. To roll with the punches, and take things as they come. No need to fret about what's not even here yet.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Oh! What a Beautiful Morning! Oh! What a Beautiful Day! I've got a beautiful Feeling!!! Everything's going my way!!"
*I sang this to Kitty every morning while I changed her overnight diaper, and so it kind of became my personal mantra to help get the day started off well.....sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. But Kitty now sings along on the Oh! part. :)

A Christmas Recap

2008-12-29T04:06:00.002-10:00

*Kitty raked in the goods this Christmas. She loves her new zebra jumparoo, which she immediately fell off of on Christmas morning, right into the tree. Daddy didn't hold on tight enough....i think the video may be worth $10,000.

*Kitty also got a wagon from Santa Claus, which we've been giving her rides around in in the kitchen. She thinks she's top dog in that wagon....I"m so excited for Summer.

*For the week before Christmas, Kitty had been very stuffed up. Christmas Night she was unconsolable, and she didn't sleep overnight. So, Dec. 26 I took her to the Dr, where she was diagnosed with a double ear infection and a sinus infection, which had been around for a few days. I felt like mother of the year...I thought she was just crabby. Oops.

*After Christmas, Farmer and I also came down with terrible head and chest colds. We all sounded like death. Thankfully, we are all feeling a bit better.

*Kitty learned how to open gifts, which was fun to watch. However, if she got a piece of tape on her finger, look out. She was amused for several minutes.

*I got two new Cricut cartridges, the John Adams DVD set, and other wonderful gifts. Santa was wonderfully generous.

*Kitty has been sleeping in, and CELEBRATE! she slept all night in her own crib last night. She only needed to be comforted for a bit, because.....in the midst of all the snot, she's also popping out two teeth. It's been a banner week for poor KittyCat. But before that, she's been having a camp out in mumma's bed....Daddy's been less than enthused.

*Last night The Sound of Music was on, and Kitty enjoyed watching it. I know she did....she loves music and dancing. She's just like her Mumma....right down to the crush we both have on the handsome Captain Von Trapp. I think he's another secret boyfriend.

*Tonight Grammy and Poppy are coming down for some Christmas Cheer. Kitty really knows them now, and she squeals like a piggy when she sees them. It's quite fun.

*Watch out....a Historygirlie Year in Review is on it's way!!!

A christmassy weekend and other random thoughts

2008-12-20T04:58:00.003-10:00

So, here we are, the weekend before Christmas. We are booked solid this weekend. Today is Farmer's maternal family christmas party, and tomorrow we head up to my Brother's house for a seeing trees gathering. I've got the garlic bread made, the jumbo blanket finished, and all I have left to do is put ribbon around some gifts and bathe Kitty. Not too shabby.

Last night Kitty was up 4 times, but Farmer and I held strong.....she DID NOT camp out in the middle of our bed. She yelled and whined and moped around, but she stayed in the Crib. Go us.

Only two more days of school before our almost Two week vacation. Huzzah. We didn't have a snow day yesterday, but it was close to needing one. The roads were just not happy yesterday morning. But since I teach in Metropolis, the city never sleeps, or shuts down for snow. That includes the schools. But I live in CowTown, so the roads In to work were rotten. But even Cowtown Disrict only had a 2 hour delay. Hmmmmmm.

Navy Girl comes home tomorrow!!! I'm so pumped. I foresee some great conversations, and perhaps a Margarita stop? ahead of us. What do you think, NavyGirl? We need to see what your frantic family visiting schedule is and fit in some time for drinks and convo. The New Years gathering is at M and K H's house, and kids are invited, so since we don't have a sitter, that's most likely where we'll be....for at least part of the time. Farmer would like to get together with his friends, but he needs to organize that.....so I'm seeing us at the H's house.

Huzzah! I woke up in the total Christmas Spirit this morning......just in time!!!!!!

Ok, time to go stick the Cat in the Tubby.....Have a great weekend all!

Bloggy update

2008-12-17T17:43:00.002-10:00

So, an update from last night:

#1: I finished the paper and submitted it immediately. I've never been, unfortunately, one of those people who go back 16 times and revise and rewrite. I tend to write papers from the gut...and once I'm done, I almost mentally shut my mind off to them. I figure I wrote over 150 papers in undergrad and 1st masters, and did fairly well GPA wise in both of them, so this paper is good to go. Huzzah!

#2: The 9 foot blanket is 3/4 way done. Kitty went down relatively early tonight (8pm) and I got right to work cutting and knotting. Now, even if we don't have a snow day on Friday (possible, but not likely. we'll know more tomorrow) I'll be able to get it done.

#3: It's my night for Kitty.....pray to God she sleeps.

#4: Today was George F. Kennan day in Honors American. Kennan's my secret history boyfriend (props to Green Girl for creation of "secret boyfriends") because his containment policy of 1947 blows my mind. It's so simple, but also somewhat effective. He was this young guy who was the Department of State's head guy on Soviet Russia, and he came up with the way the USA fought against the evil Communist spider throughout the entire Cold War. In fact, some of his strategies are still in effect today against what the USA now considers "Evil". But anyway, I make my kids read the paper Kennan wrote outlining Containment, and normally, they HATE it. It's dry and political, but his hottie genius shows through. (Is it wrong to be crushing on a 1940's political advisor??? hmmmm....) However, this group of sophomore smarties were able to get past the dryness and get to the meat of his argument, and they also now admire Kennan for his genius and skill.

(Yes, That's Kennan. Yes, the amazing political power of his brain made his hair go away. It's ok, I still adore him.)

Ahhhhh, yes. Time to go put clean sheets on the bed and crawl in for a night of sugarplums dancing in my head.

Hey....that kinda rhymed. :)

Thumbs Up and Down: Historygirlie version

2008-12-16T16:56:00.002-10:00

Thumbs Up: To my Honors American Studies classes, for willingly donating to the Adopt a Family program at school. We decided, as a herd, to adopt a family for the holidays through the Key Club. My co-teacher and I were nervous that they wouldn't bring in money and we'd have to get everyone in the family Pez dispensers, but wow....did they come through. 58 kids donated a total of over $240.00, and we were able to get great gifts for a mom, dad, and 3 kids. I'm so proud of them all. What a great show of Christmas spirit from a group of kids who can be somewhat materialistic at times.

Thumbs Up: to my mother in law, who called me last night to tell me that I don't need to make a pan of lasagna for the christmas party this weekend....all I have to bring is garlic bread. Huzzah!

Thumbs Down: To the stupid Wisconsin weather. It's been below zero the past two days (freeze your nose hairs cold, to quote my dad) and now, it's snowing. We're to get 2-5 inches overnight, but KHS already had their snow day, so I will be going to work anyway.

Thumbs Down: To me. I have to make a 9 foot long tie blanket by saturday, and have been postponing it FOREVER, and now I'm down to the wire, and my historiography paper is due on Sunday, and takes presidence over the blanket. I foresee some late nights in my future.

Thumbs Down: To Kitty, for needing to play in the middle of the night the last two nights. She ended up sleeping in the middle, where she crashed, but us parents were up, afraid of rolling over her. But she's still wonderfully adorable, so it's not a full thumbs down, just a thumbs sideways and a slight frown.

Thumbs Up: To me (yeah, I get double credit) for rocking the socks off this paper I'm writing for historiography. Yeah, I've had 2 months to write it and now i'm craming it in the week before it's due, but for me, that's nothing new. I've always been late at stuff like this. But I think i'm really hitting it out of the park tonight. I only have 3 pages left before I've hit the minimum requirement. It's about the little life changes that every day people went through because of the Protestant Reformation, and so I'm mentioning the change in art and patronage, the changes in christmas carols (when I get this flushed out, I'll post about it...tis the season) the changes in the practice of the Rosary, and the differences in the deathbed.

Thumbs Up: To George's Steakhouse, where we had the farm christmas party this past weekend. Awesome steak, Great Cosmopolitans, good time had by all. I want to go back this weekend. I think my favorite thing to do is go out to eat. I'd do it quite often if Farmer and the bankbook allowed.

What do you celebrate/boo-hiss at lately?

Book Club and Cookies

2008-12-11T17:27:00.002-10:00

Well, the flu has now passed by our house. We all three seem to be healthy. Farmer had the achy bone flu, but no ickiness, and Kitty is back to her perky haired self.

Tonight I had book club with the Bumble Book Club at a local establishment, where we discussed an awesome book: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society", which is a series of letters written between a London author and residents of the German Occupied island of Guernsey, located in the English channel. Even for a history girl, I've never read a book set in post war England. Most war books take place during WWII, but this one was refreshingly different. I'd recommend it to everyone. Excellent read. And excellent discussion amongst women who've accepted me as one of them without question....for which I give thanks.

Tonight we met at an establishment where their specialities are called Dirty Snowballs, which is a blended ice cream drink.....which tastes like my favorite Chocolate Martini. Joy in a Glass. Joy! seriously.....JOY!

But enough excitement about an alcoholic drink....it makes me sound iffy.

Now, we look forward to the weekend. Saturday morning Kitty and I head up to GBC for the Christmas Cookie Extravaganza, where Auntie Mousie, Auntie-to-Be and Grammy will help me make bazillions of christmas cookie and candy. Grammy will also be taking Kitty to Breakfast with Santa, which Grammy's wildly excited for. Then, Kitty will stay for a sleepover, because Farmer and I have the rollicking night out of the annual farm christmas party, which basically involves us two, the other Farmers (bro and sis in law) and Former Farmers (my parents-in-laws) go out for dinner. When we bought the farm, and Farmer left the 5 day a week working world, I was bummed out because I was always invited to all the Christmas parties associated with Farmer's old job. He was in landscaping, so the area landscaping associations and other groups would have their parties at restaurants-->which meant that I didn't have to cook for the entire month of December, or so it felt. I really missed those parties. So I insisted that the new business have a party. My in-laws, being as they are, thought I was, once again, off my rocker (just about everything I do is slightly left of center to them....grad school twice, stilletos, different hair color every month) but they went along with my idea. So on a Saturday in December we go out to a supper club and eat steak and drink old fashioneds (or chocolate martini's in my case....another so thought oddity about me) and celebrate the Cows and Milk and the end of field work (thank GOD!) for a few months.

SO, long story short, we have a fun weekend ahead. Thrown in with these big items, we are also going shopping for christmas for Kitty tomorrow night, along with our godchild's 5th birthday luncheon on Sunday.

THe christmas spirit is in the air!!!! Huzzah!

I've got a fever.....Fever! (NOT FOR THE SQEAMISH)

2008-12-06T05:18:00.003-10:00

We've had a first last night in our parenting life. But first, a preface.

Kitty was sent home from school on Thursday afternoon with a 102.2 fever. We treated with tylenol, and throughout thursday night and all day friday it went up and down.

Last night around 9 I took her temp again, and it was up to 104.6. Yikes. I called our dr. and he said that since she's just feverish and sluggish, there's nothign they can really pinpoint. It may be teething or a virus, most likely, and they can't do anything for either of them. So we dosed her up again and sent her to bed.

Fast forward.

2:00 AM

She was not sleeping, so I brought her in by me to cuddle until she fell asleep. That normally works. well, she tossed around, and around 2:30, she let out a scream, and then proceeded to get sick all over the side of my face, neck,and shoulder. Twice.

The first nighttime sickness. What a moment.

Farmer sprung into action, still asleep. He delivered about 10 different towels for me to mop up with, and then ran some bathwater for Kitty while I cleaned her up with towels. I then bathed her, then bathed her again since she got sick in the tub, and got her smelling fresh again. While this was occuring, Farmer changed the sheets. He then cuddled kitty and tried to get her to drink something while I finally showered. We then slept pretty well, three in the bed. Kitty was fine once the poison was out of her. She started snoring almost immediately. Farmer and I were running on pure adrenaline (esp. Farmer, because I don't think one of his eyes made it open during this whole process) so we laid there, waiting to hear another scream.

This morning, she's still kinda sluggish, but no full ickiness....jsut a few stomach lurches. But this means that my pedicure appointment for today with my good friend MH is going to be cancelled. Farmer does NOT change diapers, and she's had some loose ones this morning, and I'm not going to saddle him with those, even though last night in the fiasco he said I could still go. He'd take care of it. I'm sure his feelings will change once he hears about the 'ree.

NOTE: this post was mainly for NavyGirl, since I seem to like to keep her up to date on the random, meaningless things that occur back in Cow Town while she's out west with Lewis and Clark. IF anyone has read this post and could no longer look at their St. Nick candy, I apologize. :)

I've found a new workout

2008-12-02T15:06:00.006-10:00

Ok, so it's not really a workout, but last night it sure made me sweat.

Ok, you pigs, heads back out of the gutter.

I'm talking about trying to get Kitty to take the Christmas Card Picture. In my mind, I had this awesome Norman Rockwell scene all set up, where Kitty is sitting in her adorable Christmas jammies in her red chair in front of a christmas tree, hugging her kitty. She's smiling and almost winking at the camera. Christmas card perfection.

Instead, here are some of the examples of what I got.....

The first two she was running away from the Christmas tree, which she suddenly got afraid of. Between shots, she was best friends with the tree, but when the flash went on, look out....panic. The third shot she was just done smiling. Finished. Nothing I would do would make her even give me a tiny grin.

45 minutes after we started, I had 9 pictures. I was sweating from wrestling Kitty back into a respectable position. She was irritated with the world. We took some alone time for awhile.....she sat in her crib for 5 minutes alone while I took 5 mintues to wash my face and calm down. I have a lot of patience with my daughter, but last night she wore it all out in one shot. I even told Farmer that I didn't know I was really sure I wanted another baby, as I'll never get a good Christmas picture wrestling both children.....it was either not having another baby or he had to quit farming so he could help me take this darn picture. He thought I was being melodramatic....quit his job for 1 picture???

He obviously doesn't know how important this picture is to me.

Grammy said she'd come down this weekend to help me, but only if Kitty wore one of her Christmas dresses, and not her jammies. That deal hasn't been signed yet....I love babies in Jammies, so we'll have to see.

Maybe when she's 17 she'll sit nice for this yearly issue....but knowing her attitude, I doubt it.

Indoor picnic

2008-11-30T13:33:00.004-10:00

So, Kitty and I are, as I type, hanging out in the family room, watching some Antiques Roadshow, and i decided to have a picnic supper with kitty. I found a toddler's version of a Lunchables (one of my college favorites) so I strapped her into her portable tray chair, and here she is, having a picnic of ham and cheese with Ritz. What a funny girl.

Otherwise, we had a great Thanksgiving....lots of turkey and family time. Now, Kitty and I are getting all geared up for Christmas!!! I'm looking forward to the big holiday.....she'll be much more exciting this year! Hooray!

So, I fell into a pit filled with wild pigeons.....

2008-11-25T16:42:00.002-10:00

just kidding. but that story is probably a bit more exciting than what we Farm Folk have been up to.

I wish I was one of those bloggers who can just write about random stuff and make it sound interesting.....I don't have that talent. Hence --> little bits of blogging.

We've been busy around here getting the ranch ready for winter, getting our christmas shopping DONE (yes, you read right....I"M DONE!!!!!) teaching Kitty to creep around the furniture, winning State Football in Mad-town (GO PAPERMAKERS!!!), weaning myself off my happy pills, getting my heinder kicked regularly by Jillian thanks to NavyGirl, attending a weekend long scrapbooking event in Door Co, throwing Auntie Mousie a baby shower, and going to Chili's to try their new chicken crisper tacos (everyone must go and eat them. Awesome in a taco shell)

There you go. that's the update. :)

Today Kitty had a Thanksgiving feast at school, and parents were invited to come eat lunch with their kiddos. Farmer and I went and had a wonderful hour with Kitty and her friends. I give her teachers so much credit at their jobs....they artfully fed 6 1 yr olds a full thanksgiving dinner, cleaned them, the tables, chairs, and floors up, and got cots and kids settled down for naps, all within 45 minutes and trying to work around a bunch of bumbling parents who were trying to get their kids to eat and also take pictures, all while trying to not get their kid's gravy covered hands all over their work clothes. It was awesome. I'm glad I was able to get away from my big kids to see my kitty.

We are gearing up now for thanksgiving. Kitty's all ready to go. Grammy and Poppy's all ready to have Kitty come for lunch. I'm pretty sure that they wouldn't notice if Historygirlie and Farmer even showed up.

But, during my absence I've been keeping up with everyone's blogs, and in my lunch time check in, I saw that my good friend and neighbor Green Girl tagged me for a One Word reveal. So, here's my answers:

Where is your cell phone? purse
Where is your significant other?garage
Your hair color? streaky
Your mother? crafty
Your father? kind
Your favorite thing? family
Your dream last night? didn't
Your dream/goal? professor
The room you’re in? family
Your hobby? crafts
Your fear? dark
Where do you want to be in 6 years? farmhouse
Where were you last night? home
What you’re not? awake
One of your wish-list items? cable
Where you grew up? Greenbay
Last thing you did? rocked
What are you wearing? sweatshirt
Your TV? on
Your pet? Mooooo!
Your computer? laptop
Your mood? tired
Missing someone? Jen
Your car? black
Something you’re not wearing? socks
Favorite store? JoAnn's
Your summer? long
Love someone? Yes!
Your favorite color? blue
When is the last time you laughed? Lunch
Last time you cried? Saturday

Now, I tag Navygirl. However, she's hosting the West Coast Thanksgiving Extravaganza starting tomorrow, so who knows when she'll get to this.

But, I hope all will enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving surrounded by those you are thankful for. I am lucky enough to to have everyone I'm thankful for surrounding me every day, either near or far away.....I am so blessed.

What a Weekend

2008-11-10T17:20:00.002-10:00

We had quite the time this weekend. Friday night was fun.....I went to the school musical with a teacher friend....they put on Peter Pan, and one of Kitty's babysitters was Peter, and the rest of her sitters were involved in some way. They did a great job on the show, of course, and I really enjoyed it. Peter Pan was the first ever stage musical I saw, at St. Norbert's summer theater about 25 years ago, and I still remember the magic I felt when Peter, Wendy, and the boys sailed into the air to fly to Neverland. I felt that same stomach tingling magic on Friday night, and I almost sang along with 'I Gotta Crow"....my favorite when I was a kid.

I do a great rooster imitation when singing it.

However, Friday night Kitty didn't sleep well, so we were up quite a bit. Saturday we realized mid afternoon that Kitty had a low grade fever...however a few hours later it spiked up to 103.7 degrees, and she was quite listless. We dosed her up on baby tylenol and hoped for the best. Her fever went down a few degrees and overnight it broke, but she was still up quite a bit throughout the night.

The kicker was that we were supposed to go to a wedding on Saturday night, but we stayed home and.....you guessed it.....watched FOUR episodes of Smallville. FOUR.

Sunday we went shopping. Just the three of us. We got some christmas shopping and groceries. It was quite a nice day. We haven't spent a Farmer Family day together in a long time.

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So, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. At my parental unit house, Thanksgiving is a big day because it's my dad's favorite holiday. We always play some type of board game on Holidays, and in the past few years Dad insisted that we have to pick a name for ourselves that corresponds with the holiday.

For example, Last Easter, we needed to pick "Easter names".... My sister picked Mary Magdaline, Kitty was Pink Chick Peep, My brother was Barabbas (the guy that got picked to live over Jesus) Farmer picked Easter Ham, I was Peter Cottontail, and then Dad sat down at the game table. We figured he'd pick Chocolate Rabbit or something equally corny. But he didn't pick.....he instead picked God, since noone can beat God in a game. He took the name prize for the holiday.

Mom normally doesn't pick a name, as she never can think of one and doesnt' like the ones we normally pick for her. She's a party pooper of the highest order.

So, for thanksgiving we need to come up with names. Kitty is Sweet Potato, (but if she gets crabby she turns into Sour Cream or Sourkraut) I'm Candied Yam (but I'm looking for a female pilgrim for a name...suggestions?) My brother is Miles Standish, and I think Dad is going to be Tom Turkey. But we're not sure. My sister is Dinner Roll, since she has a "bun in the oven"....I came up with that one, and got a resounding hooray from everyone.

***************************

So, I'm almost done christmas shopping. Almost. I'm pretty proud of myself for that.....getting ahead of the game. Now, if I can only figure out what I should get Farmer.

********************************

That's about it. We have a busy week ahead since I"m going out of town this weekend to go scrapbooking. woohoo!!!! I need to get Kitty ready to go to Grammy's as well. Updates througout the week!!!

Today's the Big Day!

2008-11-04T14:21:00.002-10:00

So, I've been pumped since I woke up today. It's election day! The citizens of America are using their constutition-given rights! and.....the ads will be over today! it's great all around.

Being a history teacher, this day gets me psyched. I gave my kids extra credit (which i NEVER do), so if they watch the election results and keep track of winners, they get the points. woohoo! I even made a election themed supper tonight.......mccaineroni and cheese with pork barrel sausage (emeril's AWESOME recipe...check it out here) with a side dish of barack-oli and cauliflower salad. It was a very tasty meal. Farmer thought I was off my rocker, but hey, it was good mccaineroni!!!!

We also hosted a mock election at school...my room was the polling place for all sophomores. I was surprised at how many kids took this very seriously! Hopefully they'll be as serious in 2012 when they are actually eligible to vote.

So, I hope all you readers used your voting muscles and rocked the vote!

*******************

In other news, I got some kinda sad news yesterday. I had an appointment with a podiatrist to have him look at some toe issues. He ended up taking off (and then burning the base of the nail with acid so it doesn't grow back) about 1/4 inch from each side of one of my big toes because they were SO ingrown. PAINFUL. once the local anestetic wore off. It's wrapped up in a huge bandage and I've bled through the bandage.....it's just not pleasant. but that's not the sad part.

He said that I can't wear my stilletos until it's fully healed.....at least 3 weeks.

3 weeks!!! I'm going to turn more dowdy in three weeks without my stilletos! Ok, maybe not dowdy....but I love my heels. I feel thinner in heels.

***************************

Kitty update: Kitty's doing great in her new room. She's adjusting well, but she's not doing so well at only 1 nap. She's fallen asleep at the lunch table the last two days. Oh boy. but she wakes up, gets some lunch eaten, and then takes a 2 hr. snooze. but she loves going outside and playing with big kids. She's getting to be such a big girl!!!

Enjoy watching the election results....I know I will!

A post for NavyGirl

2008-11-02T15:11:00.002-10:00

http://www.target.com/Meron-Lady-like-wool-Jacket-Red/dp/B001DXGHLO/qid=1225674642/ref=br_1_15/180-2765745-5249808?ie=UTF8&node=14277541&frombrowse=1&rh=&page=1

Hey NavyGirl (and anyone else interested)

Let me know what you think of this coat....I got it for this winter, and also bought a black cloche hat to wear with it.......good or not??? It still has tags on and I can take it back. Let me know.

HistoryGirlie

(I can't seem to post pictures from target on the post......so I'm going super oldschool.)

And now, the time has come....

2008-11-02T14:15:00.003-10:00

Yes, readers, the time has come.

It is time for the Farmer Family to get A DOG.

Tonight, while feeding Kitty, I caught her picking up a piece of food, so delicately in her thumb and forefinger, looking at it, and then, casually, throwing it onto the floor. I said "Kitty!" in a mommy tone, and she looked me square in the eye, shook her head "no no", and, while looking at me still, threw another piece of food on the floor. "I don't WANT this, mumma!"

I almost died laughing. she KNEW she was doing wrong, but just continued.

So, I want to get a dog. someone to eat the goldfish crackers and macaroni noodles off the floor so i don't step on them or have to pick sticky noodles off of my socks.

In other notes, I've been feeling uninspired lately....which is why there have been few posts.

There just haven't been much to report. Our days are becoming quite similar.....work, supper, play with Kitty, bathtime, bedtime, sit down to watch Smallville with Farmer. I'm getting a bit sick of Smallville. it's Farmer's favorite show, and so we watch it on DVD every night. every.single.night. Thankfully, NavyGirl is sending me two seasons of Bones, so we'll be switching Clark Kent with Yummy Seeley Booth.

And, Kitty learned how to stand up against a table this weekend......Big adventures around here. She's quite proud of herself. She's now standing up against my leg trying to type. Huzzah!

Where have I been?

2008-10-27T16:12:00.003-10:00

Well, life on our ranch has been a bit quiet lately, hence the lack of posts in the past week. There just hasn't been anything much to talk about to my friendly readers. But here's a quick update:

*Kitty went trick-o-treating to Grammy and Poppy's house yesterday. She was a hit in her pink poodle costume. Pictures will be coming soon.

*I came up with a few ideas for my christmas cards. Now I just have to find time to make them. :)

*It started snowing in Cow Town today. Nothing stuck, but it was snow nonetheless.

*Kitty started up in her big kid room today. She's transitioning this week, and was in her new room for 1.5 hours. Her teachers said that when she came back to the baby room, she immediately fell asleep. It's hard being the new girl!!!

*WKCE testing starts tomorrow. Our administration told us at our staff development on friday that we aren't allowed to use our computers during the test, as our fingers typing may distract students. I am actually caught up on my grading (amazing!!!) so I don't have much to do for the 3 hours of silence tomorrow. So, I'm going to start working on my christmas cards!!!!

*I made applesauce yesterday, but wasn't able to can it because i never checked before I started if i had enough supplies, and I had no canning rings, so now my fridge is full of applesauce. We better get eating!

*We only have a three day week this week. Huzzzah Huzzah HUZZAH!!!

*We got a new front bay window installed this weekend. Farmer and his brother put it in. Hopefully that will help bring down our heating bill.

*I finally got the motivation to start losing weight in earnest. Not looking so hot yesterday, after looking at pictures of me and Kitty at Grammy's. YIKES. and I thought I was wearing a slimming outfit. Perhaps not.

And, I'll leave you with a funny Kitty/Workout story.

So, tonight I was working out and at a certain point I had to lay on the floor for some leg lifts. Abby had been playing near me and bopping to the cheezy workout music (she's the only person that thinks that music isn't annoying) and when she turned around and saw me laying on my side, she came over to visit. I was chatting with her while lifting my leg, and suddenly she leaned in and grabbed me around my neck for a hug.....that lasted a long time. Her hugs normally last only a few seconds. This one lasted for the entire left leg lifts, right leg lifts, and my ab workouts. She just held on while I switched sides and did my crunches. She seemed to enjoy helping me out.

Ok, so maybe I did have enough stuff going on, but nothing worth a long post. Adios!

Oh Boy

2008-10-18T12:43:00.002-10:00

Kitty is a marvelous dancer. She can be-bop with the best of them....especially when I turn on her Sesame Street DVD's.

However, tonight, she's been rocking out to.......The Lawrence Welk Show. A show from the 1960's-70's that's on every Saturday night on PBS. We watched it every week growing up, so when I need a touch of nostalga (or the only other thing on is College Football) I tune in.

She seems to enjoy it.

Today I helped my sister, Auntie Mousie, register for her baby shower. She's doing her nursery in a jungle theme (she adores monkeys) and Graco has a line out now that is jungle themed. So, everything she picked out was matching her nursery! The three Martha Stewarts (Mom, Mousie, and Historygirlie) were so excited. The other grandma came along too, and while she liked the idea of matching stuff, she didn't see the full joy. Kitty helped too....but she really just got super crabby until we stuffed her full of Ritz crackers. What did mothers do before crackers??? Poor Ma Ingalls. Living in a 1 room shack with Pa and 3 girls, and no Ritz Crackers.

Who cares about cloth diapers, early childhood mortality, and watching out for your kids from falling into abandoned wells (remember that episode? Stupid Carrie fell into a well...Carrie = not my favorite character....she never had decent things to say and was always running to the outhouse).....but to live without crackers and have picky eating toddlers....that's enough for me to be glad to be living in 2008 and not in Ma Ingalls time.

Ma Ingalls for Mother of The Year!

Teacher Rants

2008-10-16T14:38:00.002-10:00

I don't know what it is, but something today led me to see all the annoying things that teenagers are or do....here's a snapshot:

*sweatpants. really. must we wear our sweats to school every day? Now, I love my sweats as much as the next person, but the farthest my sweats go is to the mailbox or maybe to my neighbors. But these girls are wearing super-sized sweats to school every day! others are wearing them and then tucking them up to just under their knees. what do they think is going on, a flashback to early '90's rap music??? Then, the worst of the worst, the "heavyset" girlies who wear sweats with printing across the heinder. Really? Do you really think that having "pink U" across your heinder is attractive? does no one look in the mirror anymore? No one would ever have worn ginormous sweats when I was in high school....but of course that was 10 years ago.

*hugging in the hallway. I have several couples that are dating in my classes. Probably because I teach two honors classes and birds of a feather flock together....the nerds are dating each other. but I have a few that insist on hugging before class or during bathroom breaks. Then, I see them in the hallways before and after class loving it up...hugging or just standing with the guys arms around his girlie. Or, the best, as I saw today, walkig with each others hands in their back pockets. REALLY???? good lord.

*globs of kids. I was running all over the school today,and every time I had to try to bypass ginormous globs of kids just standing around in the hall, or sitting in the hall with their legs sprawled all over. I had to resort to yelling "BEEP BEEP!!!" to get through a clump this afternoon.

and on a teacher note:

*we now have two teachers who wear extremely short pants. They are truely noah floods....total sock visions. Don't they look down and say "Hey! My socks sticking out and they don't match my outfit at all!!!" Now, I'm no fashionista, but I know enough to make sure my socks are not seen constantly. And if they do, they better match.

Yes, NavyGirl....there are now TWO short pants wearers. You know the first one, oui, but the second now lives in room 7.

But other than this, my day was great. my kids did great work on their history day project and really found some great resources. It was neat to watch the discovery happen. I think this crabby streak is coming from my returning sinus infection. But Grey's Anatomy starts in 10 minutes and I'll cheer up then.

So, readers, Do any of you have any rants from your day you want to share???? Spill them here!

Quick Kitty Update

2008-10-14T14:04:00.002-10:00

It's been relatively quiet around here....which means very little to blog about. Sorry, readers.

A few life glimpses:

*Kitty is starting to like to toddle around holding on to my fingers. Major progress. She normally doesn't like her feet on the ground....she'd rather sit.

*Farmer combined the soybeans yesterday....Kitty and I got to go to the feedmill to bring him his supper. He was 20 minutes later than he told me he would, so there were Kitty and I, hanging out in the car at the feedmill....I had a bunch of farmers come up to the window and ask why I was just sitting in there.....It's kind of awkward explaining to a strange man that I was bringing supper for my husband....I felt like they were looking at me like a hussy who feeds men. Ok, maybe not a hussy, but I was getting some realloy strange looks.

*Farmer and I have hired a babysitter for every tuesday night for two hours so I can go upstairs to the spare room to do some grad homework and not totally freak out from stress. So, right now I'm SUPPOSED TO BE researching how everyday life changed in Europe due to the protestant reformation, but I'm totally NOT feeling it right now. Hence, the blogging and listening to Kitty watch her sesame street video with her babysitter and playing with her screaming monkey.

*THis morning was slightly funny.....I call my mom every morning on my way to work to have a chat....it's been a tradition of sorts for several years. THis morning I call at 6:45 am....no answer. Odd, especially since she didn't have to work today. I called my sister to see if she knew where Mom was, and she said that she couldn't reach her either and was kinda worried....it was a bit early for her to be missing or shopping. So, then we were both worried. I mean, who, if they don't have to be, would be out and about that early?????? We ended up calling our brother, who lives 1 mile from mom, and made him go check out the house on his way to work. We called at 7, and he wasn't even awake yet....big time lawyer can sleep in while his sisters are already slaving away by 7. Long story short: Mom was at a Chub Club meeting and thought that our minor panic was funny, especially when Brother comes storming in hoping to NOT find his mother dead in bed. There was mom, watching Good Morning America and eating a pastry (hey! she weighed in already!!!) at the kitche counter.

*ok, that's about it. nothing else interesting going on in our home. Hope your lives are more exciting!

God Bless Cough Syrup

2008-10-08T04:25:00.002-10:00

I'm at home today from work, with a miserable chest cold. I sound like I've been smoking 2 packs of unfiltered a day for the past 20 years. I get to go the Dr. this afternoon, so I'm just waiting until Dr. utters the magic words...."here's a prescription". I'm hoping for a codiene-laced cough syrup. Is it wrong to wish for drugs?????

Kitty went to DayCare today.....Farmer came home to take her since I didn't want to get anywhere close to the other kids. She was going to stay home with me but it was too much work. so I called Farmer home and told him to take her to school. I think she'd rather be there than with me, hacking on the couch.

But that's about it. I missed the debate last night because I went to bed instead. I wish I would have watched....everyone is saying it was interesting because the guys couldn't talk as long as they could have, and something about McCain meeting another Navy guy in the audience......can anyone fill me in about what happened????

The Big Birthday

2008-10-05T13:11:00.004-10:00

Baby A with her Mumma and Godparents (my sibs)

Baby A is officially ONE. It was a momentus day. A day full of lunch, relatives, presents, and CAKE! A did a great job as center of attention. She had a minor meltdown at the beginning, but that's because I woke her up from her nap and quickly threw her clothes on her because, of course, people were early. But after that, she was all charm and grace. Everyone said it was a really nice party, even though I served strange food (Hot ham sandwiches! Cheesy Broccoli Soup! You would have thought I'd served liver'n'onions) and didn't make the cake myself. Farmer's family makes their own cakes, either a basic sheet cake or a fancy Wilton-cake-pan shaped one. I just don't have time to do one the way I would have wanted one, so I bought the cake. I think they only do it because it's cheaper. I KNOW some of them do it for that.

But I digress.

Baby A got some nice gifts, and some that she's afraid of. Her Godfather (man in Badger jersey in pic) got her a little elmo easy chair, with a GIANT elmo face on it, which promptly freaked her out. She's also afraid of a big pink ball....I don't get that one. Big elmo eyes....yes. Freaky. But a ball??? Whatever. But her favorite gift was a stuffed kitty from Grammy. Grammy went to build a bear and made the kitty, and put in it a sound byte thingie that says "Hi Baby A! It's Grammy! How's my kitty today? I love you!" A is amazed that Grammy's voice is coming from her kitty. We call A kitty as a nickname, so now we have two kitties!!!!

Because she's ONE, the cake was the biggest hit of the party.

This is just the beginning....it got worse

We've found out that Baby A LOVES frosting. LUV's it. She couldnt' get enough. I'm sensing a girdle in her future.

Today, Farmer and I had a date for our anniversary. Our Anniversary is actually in August, but I got Farmer Packer Tickets for the big day, and today was the game. We had a good time. Good weather, good hot dogs, poor defense by the packers.....how much better can it get???

Houston, We Have Success!

2008-09-30T13:20:00.002-10:00

So, I teach two blocks of an honors American History class. It's a prep class for AP US History. The majority of my 58 kids are extremely bright and wanting to learn, which makes it fun to teach them. However, today took the cake.

We are starting our WWI unit tomorrow, and to get them thinking war, without guns and poison gas, I found a simulation that made them become different major countries of the early 1900's.Their job was to make their country an empire, using different stats that I gave them.....and if they got big enough or powerful enough, they could declare WAR on someone else, in order to take them over. It's a long drawn out way they get power, so I'll leave my explanation of the game at that.

(however, if you are a high school history teacher, or know someone who is and want to learn more about this simulation, just contact me. Because it's awesome)

This was the first time I did this simulation, and so I was nervous. Would the kids get it? Would they play correctly, or just go to war all the time? Would they find it fun or boring???? Well, it was a smash hit. They got it so right!!!!! It even turned out just like WWI.....even, in one class, Russia pulled out of war in the middle of it, and in another class, France melted under pressure. I was so excited, tears came. the kids were proud of themselves too....they want to keep playing!!!!

Then, in my western history class, we held an election for Best Roman Emperor. A class, which is normally very minimal at doing anything or participating, did AWESOME at their election process. Only 1 kid (NavyGirl: initials D.G. You know......) didn't do his work, but everyone else did! Complete success.

It was a day that reaffirmed my faith in teaching.

In other news....Baby A is going to be transitioning this month to a bigger kid room at daycare. No more cribs! They sleep on cots! Only one nap a day! No more babyfood if she doesn't like the meal served! No highchairs....they are in little chairs with seatbelts! They get to play outside ont eh grass, not just go on walks! I know she needs to move up, but I"m so nervous....what if she doesn't adapt well??? I was asking all sorts of questions this morning to her teacher, and suddenly I started crying......I don't adjust to change well, and I can't believe my little baby kitty is turning 1 soon! Where did this year go???? Sunrise.....sunset......

The teacher was not alarmed by my tears....she said lots of 1st time moms have a hard time with transition....more trouble than their kids do.

But I'm sad....my girlie is turning from a baby to a big girl.....and I'm not ready for it.

Can you imagine how I'll do when she goes to college, or gets married??????

Baby A Eats Italian

2008-09-29T12:37:00.004-10:00

So, Baby A turns ONE on Saturday. BIG DAY!!!!! In preparation for her being a big girl, we are transitioning her over to all big girl food. She's slightly picky, but she's starting to consider options other than cheerios.

Tonight we tried Beef Ravioli ala Chef Boyardee. I figured it was nice and soft, and kids like it, so why not? well, as you can see, she obviously loved it. There's tomato sauce all over. The scream on her face is because it was gone. She also mowed through some corn and of course, peaches. She's also drinking some whole milk with dinner, and tonight, she's getting a bottle of 1/2 formula, 1/2 milk.

I promise, I will post a prettier picture of Baby A soon, but this was just so funny that I had to share. Can you imagine what she's going to do with her own birthday cake on Saturday???? I predict frosting EVERYWHERE.

Good Monday, everyone!

I'm raising a hussy!

2008-09-24T11:26:00.003-10:00

So, Baby A is getting to be well known at her day care. When she was an infant, everyone knew that she was a spitter. Lots of spitty all over every time she ate. Next, it became known very fast that A doesn't like green veggies. She'll blow raspberries all over you if you try to feed her them. Then, she became known as a nuk-theif. Noone's nuks were safe from Baby A's quick sticky fingers.

However, today took the cake.

I picked her up this evening and her teacher Miss D. said that Baby A was giving kisses all day long....to her friend Baby V! Now, V is a BOY. Baby A is a GIRL. What's up with this???? She's making out at school! All day I try to avoid seeing teenagers involved in PDA, and I leave the halls of highschool lovin' to hear that my precious baby is kissing boys!

But in reality, the teachers said it was quite cute. She would crawl up to V. and give him a big baby opened mouth kiss on the forehead....when the teachers would ask her what she was doing, she would give a big grin and kiss him again. Then she would crawl away and do her own thing until she felt that Baby V needed more affection.

So very cute. I wish her teachers would have caught it on camera. It would be priceless!!!

Halloween Flashback

2008-09-22T12:53:00.002-10:00

So, a few years ago, when I was thinner, less cellulite prone, and had perkier "ladies", I went as "Hot Donna" for Halloween. "Hot Donna" is a character from Farmer's then favorite show...That 70's Show. Donna was sent to Catholic school for a year, and so she appeared in the show wearing the necessary uniform: plaid skirt, white shirt, knee socks. So, for Halloween, I went as a more "loose moraled" Donna...shorter skirt, etc. Needless to say, I was a hit with Farmer's drunken friends at our annual Drunken Halloween Garage Party. In some circles, I'm still refered to as Hot Donna, even though I'm now dimpled and saggy. :)

Fast Forward to Saturday night. After reading some fashion and gossip magazines, I learned that an in style is a longer black skirt with a white fitted blouse tucked into the skirt, high heels, and big bulky jewelry. I thought....WOW! I actually have an outfit that would be considered In! I ran with the outfit.

So, there I was, feeling confident in my outfit, and Farmer's brother comes to the dinner table and bellers out "Hey! Hot Donna came to the party!" I looked around, looking for some inappropriately dressed female, and then realized, when everyone started giggling at me, that I was Hot Donna. I felt like an idiot. I mean....cripes! my skirt fell past my knees! My "ladies" weren't hanging out! I was completely different!

NOthing like looking like you're wearing a halloween costume when trying to look in style and fancy. :)

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On a different note, Baby A will lately only now eat cheerios and peaches. At least we are getting some fruit in there. She's also starting to drink whole milk, which she seems to like. Baby A also got a big girl car seat this weekend. She's excited to soon be facing forward.

Baby A also made it thorugh a whole day at Day Care without stealing someone else's nuk. It's progress.

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Hey, GreenGirl....that chicken cordon bleu casserole turned out awesome. Farmer really liked it....would you like the recipe to see if the Gentlemen of the Estate would like to try it?

Also, NavyGirl....this would be a good one for you to make up in Whidbey when you are feedinghalf of the Pacific Fleet at your soon to be found home. It's a crockpot meal, so it's un-screwup-able. :)

Oh Boy.....This could get dangerous

2008-09-20T03:05:00.002-10:00

So, last night Baby A and I went to our shopping happy place......Target. This time, Target did not disappoint. We found stuff for Baby A's birthday party gift bags, a bunch of cleaning supplies, and....here's the danger point.....TWO pairs of shoes for baby A. Now, Baby A's mom has a dangerous dangerous addiction to Target's shoe department. I was trying to save Baby A from a life of lusting after yet another pair of adorable Issac Mizrahi peep toe pumps, but last night I capitulated. (But hey, I made it almost a year, so that's awesome in my book)

They had a very cute pair of white sneakers that would look very cute with Baby A's Badger and Packer cheerleader dresses. Her pink tennies just didn't match all that red and white and green and gold. Daddy didn't think that it mattered matching shoes to outfit.....but this coming from a man who has one pair of tennies, one black dress, one brown dress, and a pair of sandals. His shoe selection is woefully low.

Then, in the same display, I found a pair of black mary janes....what little girl doesn't need a pair of black dress shoes for her adorable dress outfits??????? Every woman knows that one of the best things in a wardrobe is having the perfect pair of go-anywhere black shoes. Mumma's happen to be a mary jane style too, but they are a crocodile print with very pointy toes and 3 inch stilletos (ALSO FROM TARGET!!!!)....but since they didn't have any like that in Baby A's size, we went with a sensible pair of flats.

So, Baby A should be set for now in the shoe department. Mumma does think that she needs a pair of brown loafers, so we are keeping an eagle eye out for them. However, if you run into Farmer in the next few days, don't mention to him about that. He's threatening to ban me from Target....what a sad day that would be.

Attn: heads of major TV stations

2008-09-18T16:21:00.002-10:00

Please, bigwigs, bring back the fall lineup earlier than the last week of September next year. I seriously cannot stand another week of reruns or corny reality shows (except wipeout...laugh out loud funny).

There are TV junkies in our nation that need new TV shows so they have something to discuss with others. Not everyone likes to discuss minute points of historical events, or have a discussion as to what explorer is the best. People would rather talk about Meredith and Derek, or if House is going to make up with his old team and bring them back, or if Betty is going to marry Henry or go to Rome with Gio. Or....can Seeley Booth get any hotter? (I doubt it)

I can't wait until October to have my friends come back into my life. Please, consider bringing back my shows earlier next year. The wait is too long.

Thank you~

Historygirlie, TV Junkie

Making Mustard

2008-09-15T11:50:00.002-10:00

Yes, my bloggy friends, a person can make their own mustard. My recipe is now, with me, 4th generation, and it seriously is the best super spicy mustard EVER. But warning: It's SPICY. Here's the super easy recipe:

1 c. white sugar
1 c. malt ale vinegar
3 beaten eggs
4 oz. COLMANS mustard (can only use this,it's in a yellow can)

combine in a double boiler, beat with hand mixer until thick. Store in fridge.

I just made some of this in under 10 minutes because we are having pork roast for supper and i was needing some mustard. It makes about 2 halfpint jars, with a bit left over. Now my home smells like spicy mustard goodness. Farmer won't like this smell....he's NOT a mustard man. But me? It will be so tasty tonight with my pork, baked potato, and green bean casserole.

(No, I wasn't off work tonight....everything was cooked yesterday)

If you make this yummy old world concoction, let me know! How do you like Great Great Grandma Maurer's spicy brown mustard??????

Enjoy!

Things I've been Pondering

2008-09-14T14:00:00.003-10:00

So, for my grad class I have to write a paper on the trends of historiography in either Ancient Greece or Rome. Only a history geek could pull something off like this. So, I've been thinking about writing my paper on Ancient Greek trends in recording history, from Homer's oral traditions through the "Wars Only" history to "Greece is Great!" history, up to the fall of the empire. It's due at the end of the month. Does this topic sound do-able?

Doesn't it sound dull?

Wow.....

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how many cheerios can Baby A eat in one day? Lately, she will only eat cheerios.

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Why, when there are only 3 people living in a house, and one of them is only 1.5 feet high, can a kitchen counter and kitchen table always be full of junk????? ALWAYS???????

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What should Baby A be for Halloween? I must get us to Target to check out the costumes before they are all picked over and she'll have to be a pirate or Bob the Builder or something else boyish.

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What do I wear to a family wedding this weekend? I don't want to go out and spend money on a new outfit, but since I was preggo or post preggo last late summer/early fall, I have no dressy clothes that aren't work clothes. I don't want to look teacher-y, but I"m too cheap to get something new.

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What should I make for my sister's baby shower gift? I want to make something, but she's uber crafty too, so whatever I make could pale in comparison to something she would.

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Do I change my sheets tonight, or do it tomorrow night? I"m not really in the mood to do it tonight, but do it after a long day at work? I don't think so.

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As you can tell, many random thoughts are taking presidence (bad spelling there) over important things that are occuring in life in general, but sometimes you have to give attention to the mundane.

Also, to my few but loyal readers, I plan on starting to post more often now that the back to work exhaustion is getting better. I won't post nearly as often as NavyGirl, (she has a more interesting nomad-like life at the moment, which gives more material anyway) but I will try to be more on the ball. I know your life stalls completely when I don't post regularily.

(That last bit was just a self morale booster. I was just kidding)

(kinda)

Whew

2008-09-09T15:56:00.002-10:00

So, we are exactly 5 days in with students in my classroom. Things are going well. My students are mostly excited and wanting to learn. We have great discussions, and for the most part, when I am done with the day, I feel satisfied in my job.

AND......I feel exhausted.

Bone numbing tired.

This makes me realize that I really didn't do too much this summer. I thought I kept busy, but not nearly enough. Last night I fell dead asleep at 9:00 pm. Tonight I could have hit the sheets at....well.....about 5:30 pm.

I hope this exhaustion phase passes quickly. I'm not a very good playmate for Baby A. I spend most of my time sitting next to her passing her toys to suck on and then throw behind her.

But she seems to be super tired from school too. Tonight she was playing, and then crawled in my lap, put her head down on my shoulder. I went to give her a bubba, and she fell mouth wide open asleep half way through. This was at 7:30 pm. She normally doesn't hit the sheets until 8:30. I just hope she'll sleep through the night so I can sleep through the night.

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In other matters, I came up with a great idea this summer to make my evenings a bit more easy. I came up with a meal schedule, and planned out my meals for the entire month....main dishes, sides, salads, etc. Farmer thought I was funny for doing this, but it makes everything so much better!!!!! I never have to rush around finding something to eat, we aren't eating everything on a bun (last school year we ate alot of things on buns) and we are eating more veggies than french fries. I think this trend will continue.

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I get to go bridesmaid dress shopping this weekend. My brother is getting married, and so we are going to go dress shopping on saturday. Well, brother isn't going, we are going with his lovey. But there is a whole van full of ladies on this excursion. My sister in law to be is a PLANNER.....we have appointments at 5 different bridal shops, an hour for lunch, and are all to be at the house by 9:15 AM. God help you if you are late. She wants fun black dresses with pink trim, so those won't be so bad...at least, not as bad as Ugly Pink Dress from this summer.

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Ok, I think I made my limit for staying awake today. Yes, it's only 9:12 pm here right now, but I'm throwing in the towel. Have a great night!!!!

What was I thinking?

2008-09-08T14:39:00.003-10:00

Since Baby A is now on the move (and getting faster every minute) I've found myself pulling her out of the most random places. Under end tables. Under the lazyboy. Out of clothesbaskets. Under her jumparroo. Out of corners. stuck in the kitchen blinds.

I've also taken away a garden variety of things from her that she finds. Remotes. Phones. Cords. Tomatoes. Cucumbers. My office chair. Not to mention every crumb on my floor.

I've already forgotten what it was like to have a phone conversation without having to pause to save her or take something away. My mother and sister now automatically stop talking when I start talking over them.

I worried and prayed that Baby A would catch up with the rest of her age bracket when it came to self movement. My overactive mind was picturing the need for rehab or leg braces or something else.

Now that she's moving? I'm praying for 5 minutes without having to play search and rescue.

Remind me why movement is so great????

Back to school update

2008-09-03T14:16:00.002-10:00

Yesterday our school year officially began. A few highlights:

*As I walk in to my room, I notice a few ants on the floor. No biggie. I get to my desk, and there are ants all over. EVEN INSIDE MY DESK DRAWERS. Attack of the Ants. Disgusting. I immediately call Joe the janitor and tell him to RUN, not walk, to my room with something to kill the ants infesting my room. He came quite quickly and sprayed them with something. All day I felt like something was crawling all over me.

*My school has A/C, which was exciting, as it was 95 degrees outside yesterday. However, in the basement, where I teach, the A/C wasn't working. My room got up to 85 degrees and I couldn't open my windows. Because I was dressed up, first day and all, I was a roaming sweatball by the end of the day. NOTE: don't wear massive girdle on hot days when the A/C might not work.

*My 3rd block class has only 13 kids in it. 13 kids as silent as tombs. for the whole hour and a half NO ONE TALKED. Well, they did complain mightily when I assigned homework for the first night. I think it might be a long semester with them.

Today was a good day too. I introduced my classes to the Sophomore Class history project. It's modeled after the National History Day project, and it's worth 20% of their grade-----big stuff. They looked a bit shell shocked when I was done going through the 13 page explanation packet. Bwahahaha......I love being that kind of teacher some days.

Also, I'm really staying on my game with planning ahead and being organized. I know it's only the 2nd day, but really.....2 days in a row organized is quite special. I came up with some AWESOME stuff for my world war I unit, and I'm super excited. NavyGirl.....I have to tell you about this unit. I found the History Alive binders in your old office and there was AWESOME stuff.

But overall, things seem great at KHS. I really think it will be a good year. I turned a corner in my thoughts about being the only non-coach, and I'm realizing that they do feel I have worth. None of them are prepared for day to day stuff, and noone was ready for the History Project stuff, so when I came in this morning to our morning meeting and announced that I'm planned two units out and was ready to introduce project, they were quite impressed with me. I also used to excuse my usefullness for the department, and this year I'm changing that. I'm a good teacher, and I'm letting them know that.

Ok, thanks for listening to my self-affirming rant. :)

In Baby A news, she's fully on the move with crawling. She's into everthing and anything. SHe's also loving her big girl food at day care. She LOVES twice baked potatoes and ravioli. Good to know. :)

Oh, I wish I had a camera to share with you right now....Baby A is stuck inside a clothes basket!!! She crawled in and can't back out! I love the joy she brings me......awesome.

The Big Day!

2008-08-26T12:43:00.002-10:00

Well, kiddos, today was it. The first day back at school.

Baby A must have known something was up, because she was up super early. like 4:50 am early. My alarm didn't go off until 5!!! She was just so excited to go back to school! :)

But she had a great day. She loved all the new toys (and tastes of the new toys....loves to put everything in her mouth) and had fun trying to crawl on soft surfaces. She didn't even realize that I left! But she didn't nap much, and when I put her in her high chair while I made supper, she promptly fell asleep! Soooo tired.

My first day was fine too. The normal "Hooray! WE ARE A GREAT DISTRICT!!!" brouhaha, and then some time in our rooms to work. AND, a 1.5 hour school staff meeting, which was brutal. Tomorrow will be better....more time to get stuff dine. But I have so much to do that I got overwhelmed and just started wandering around my room doing stupid stuff. Tomorrow I"ll get back to business.

Otherwise, not much else going on....Baby A is having a royal fit in her chair, so it's time to get out.

NavyGirl~if you get a chance, because I know you are up to your eyeballs in Clorox and Magic Erasers, give me a call. I have to fill you in on our new department member....let's just say that alot of the guys really REALLY missed you by the end of the day :)

A Letter of Sadness

2008-08-24T13:18:00.002-10:00

Dear Target~

What happened? For the first time in our fruitful relationship, you disappointed me. During a day of boredom and laziness, I turn to you to provide entertainment, and a pair of knee high brown boots.

I am drawn to the shoe section....up and down the aisle I stroll, becoming more anxious the farther I go....Merona brown boots, where are you? Alas, they are nowhere to be found. I sigh and tell Baby A...maybe next week.

Because you already had me enthralled, I then turn to the women's clothing section, to see the new fall line. Nothing, yes nothing, caught my eye. Nothing to buy for school or weekend wear. As a tear comes to my eye and nothing goes into my cart, I turn to the infant and child selection department.

Because this area has never disappointed before, my excitement to be in Target returns. But Alak! Nothing for Baby A! Nothing cute, fall appropriate, or something on sale is attractive enough to me to consider buying.

In desperation, I turn to the entertainment section. Farmer would like another season of Smallville, and if it's there, I will be sure to purchase the next season we need. I scan the rack, my eyes jumping from box set to box set. My eye lands on Smallville. Season one.....Season 5.....Season 6.........but no Season 3!!!!! And the kicker: it is on sale for $18.99!!!! And there's nothing for me to buy!

Near tears, I turn my cart to the exit, astonished that I am not spending a dime in the hallowed halls of shopping.

How could you do this to me, Target?

But even with this massive Sunday disappointment, I can't seem to quit you. I know I"ll be back in a few weeks, my eyes open once again for something, be it little or big, to buy.

Fondly~

HistoryGirlie

Hoop it Up!

2008-08-23T13:52:00.002-10:00

So, Grammy called me the other day (from work....she and her friends dont' get much work done somedays) and told me that her good friend told her that the latest fitness and weight loss craze is hula hooping. It's supposed to be a great core workout. I was, in my prime, an amazing hula hooper. Mouser and I used to time ourselves hulaing in the driveway and I logged in at 75 minutes at my best, not to mention winning the hula contest three church picnics in a row....Go HistoryGirlie!

Anyway, Grammy thought I'd be interested in knowing this fitness tidbit, because I'm a chronic failure at losing weight. I just agreed with her that it sounded interesting, and assured her (while blankly staring at the TV and not really paying attention to her....Baby A was napping and I had a migraine) that I would look into hula hooping as workout.

Fast Forward to this morning.

I, with Baby A, drove up to GBC to go to the weekly Farmer's Market with Grammy, Poppy, and Brother. Lo and Behold, a lady was there selling weighted hula hoops for fitness purposes! Grammy and I were amazed. I tried one out, and I could tell by the 30 seconds I did it that it truly would be a great workout.

While we were climbing in the car to head home, the trunk full of cabbages, onions, and Green peppers (Poppy was making homemade coleslaw today) Mom ran back into the wilds of the market. We thought she was grabbing a last refill of the coffee (she has a crush on the guy that sells her her coffee each Saturday morning), but instead, she came back with a hula hoop for me! Oh boy. Now I have to hula hoop, I thought.

So, just now, Baby A was playing in her jumparoo, and so I thought I'd try out my new exersize equipment. I hooped for 30 minutes, and I feel as if I had been whipped with steel around my midsection. It sure is a great workout! I was amazed. and it was easy! and I coudl watch TV without having to turn up the volume to make it over the noise of the equipment! I didn't have to watch a stupid video of alreadly thin people wearing leotards and high tops doing the exersizes! Awesome.

Lookout.....next summer, I'll have abs of steel, all thanks to the hula hoop! :)

Break out the Banners, Beat the Drums!

2008-08-22T05:19:00.002-10:00

....and don't forget the 76 trombones, and the monkey on a unicycle!

Baby A started to crawl this week, and she popped her first tooth!

Needless to say, we've been busy here on the ranch. The garden is also giving us tons of crops, and Farmer is in the middle of the haying season #3. AND....I go back to work on Tuesday! But most importantly....Baby A.

It happened seriously in the blink of an eye. We were playing in the family room, tossing toys out of her basket (favorite activity EVAH) and suddenly I turn around to see her rocking back and forth on all fours! THEN....she took two "steps", reached the toy she wanted, and sat back down, looking extremely proud of herself. That's about all she can move at the moment...she tends to get stuck on all fours and then slides down onto her belly, but sometimes she gets some forward movement. It's a start, especially I thought she'd never move and be the girl going to prom on her boyfriend's hip, because that's how she likes to move. This activity prompted a boatload of phone calls and pictures taken.

Then, on Tuesday, Farmer was eating lunch, and Baby A was sitting next to him in the high chair. He was chatting with her, and suddenly he told me to come check something out....he stuck his finger in her mouth and felt the little jagged edges of a toothie! Again, phone calls and e-mails galore. Grammy and Poppy were very excited. It's not fully out yet, but you can see it when she laughs. This also causes a copius amount of drooling....Farmer and I are fully soaked through after a cuddle and wrestling session.

But all this movement has promped Grammy to break into action. She's now all about babyproofing her house, and ours. Yesterday consisted of Grammy, Poppy, and I hiding cords and plugging up empty sockets with protectors. Poppy's doing the same thing today at their house. Everyone in the family has been strongly prompted to buy baby gates, including my sister and brother. She's been to each of their homes exactly twice, so i'm not sure they are directly necessary, but Grammy doesn't seem to get that. However, we are all determined that Baby A will be winning the gold medal in 50 meter dash at 2024 olympics...look out world, she's on the move!

Will this be Baby A someday, winning it all???

Back To School Jitters

2008-08-14T13:10:00.003-10:00

Last night we attended a Social Studies Department grill out at a coworkers home. My department is made up of 6 men and 3 women, and everyone besides me is a coach of some kind. While they are great teachers, they are COACHES in every sense of the word. Meetings have been spent replaying games, group outings revolve around sporting events, etc. They all love their sports.

Last night was fun. We chatted, had a drink, ate....and then we moved out back to play swing ball and beanbags. And then they started talking about the fall sports. And I realized....I don't fit in here anymore. My one non-coaching comrade moved away, so I have nothing to contribute. True, I did coach cheerleading (and turned the squad around in very short time) but they saw that as a joke....not a TRUE sport. Some still tease me about that, and i haven't coached in 3 years. And so I realized that I'm all by myself. I have aquaintances at work, but no real FRIENDS. That made me feel very lonely, and also made me realize that I am going to have to work to be seen as an equal. My teaching credentials aren't going to cut it anymore within my department. I may eat by myself. I might be lonely at work. I could be the old Sesame Street snippet, "One of these things are not like the other". It's kind of a scary feeling to have to go out and make friends at 29 years old.

So, I feel like 1st graders do....Will I make friends back at school? Will the other kids like me? Will I fit in with the in-crowd? It's an unsettling feeling, but one I'll have to get over.

*****************

But I'm not all doom and gloom. I received the Brillante Weblog Primo 2008 award from my real life and bloggy friend Green Girl, which I was quite pleased to see, especially since I'm new to the bloggy community and I know she reads many other blogs each day taht are better and funnier and more thought provoking than mine. :) Thanks for the honor Green Girl!

Also, tomorrow night is Dinner and a Movie night with my cousins. On tap: the Ground Round restaurant, and then the early show of Mamma Mia! I'm looking forward to the evening, because my cousins are great fun to be around....lots of belly laughs in my future!

AND......tonight is the Women's Gymnastics All Around competition in the olympics! I've been sucked in big time to the Olympics this time around. It's just so exciting to watch!!!! I wanted to be a gymnast when I was a kid (no chance, since my thighs and hips have been big since 3rd grade) so watching these young girls flip around amazes me.

So, tonight will be spent cuddling my Baby A, drinking a Diet Mt. Dew, and enjoying some quality TV! I don't have too many cuddle nights left with Baby A since work begins in 1.5 weeks. Better enjoy them while I can!!!!

Sleepover Time!

2008-08-11T17:13:00.002-10:00

My bro-in-law and wife won chachi Box Seats to tonight's Packer game at the church picnic, and so I volunteered to babysit their three kids. THe kids are always awesome, and they have been wanting to do this for a long time, so it was a date.

THey make me hope that Baby A and any other kids we have are that great. They are just so much fun! We went out for ice cream, played games in the front yard, watered the flowers and the new grass, and checked out the garden. R, the boy who's 5 and loves the farm, kept commenting on how my "crops" were doing. He loves my garden. The girls do awesome with Baby A, and she just loves them. They helped with dishes, helped with Baby A's bath, and were just all around great. Now, I know they were on best behavior, but still! awesome.

I also introduced them to the olympics tonight. Their reactions were awesome. While watching the swimming events, the girls (8 and 9) were commenting that the female swimmers, with their bodysuits, goggles, and amazing muscles, looked alot like the male swimmers. I had to giggle. R, the boy, loved the gymnastics. He had to show me his summersault because the Chinese gymnasts were ending their tumbling passes with summersaults. He believes he's ready for 2016. Watch for him.....he'll be the kid with the Wisconsin Farmer's Tan. :)

But even though the kids were great and helpful and only here since 4:30 pm, I'm beat. I thought that just Baby A was difficult....props to all multi-children moms!!!!!

Five Years of Bliss!

2008-08-10T05:18:00.005-10:00

So, yesterday was our Anniversary. I had a wonderful day telling Farmer what we were doing exactly 5 years ago that moment. By 10:00 pm (Grand March Started!) he said he was going to bed. We spent our day at a local zoo, because Baby A likes animals. She loved the badger and the prairie dogs. Lots of laughing.

But our wedding day was marvelous. Because of the cows, we had the longest wedding imaginable. Our nuptial mass was at 12 Noon, and dinner wasn't until 6:30 pm. That's a LONG time during the day.

Grammy and I had been planning my wedding day forever...we joked that all we needed to fill the picture was a Groom. :) When our day finally showed up, it was amazing.

The weather was beautiful. 85 degrees and not a cloud to be seen. The church was filled with people and everything in the mass was perfect. My brother played the piano at communion, and he played Somewhere in Time, the theme music from an 80's Christopher Reeve movie set at Mackinac Island. This was important, because we were going to Mackinac Island for our honeymoon. This is just an example of the minute details I incorporated into our wedding. I was THE BRIDE, and it would only be that way. However, everyone involved said I DID NOT become a Bridezilla, and are still assuring me of this today.

But the best part of the day was the middle reception. My maternal family side always has a little informal party between mass and reception to fill the dead time. It always involves Sweedish Meatballs, ham roll ups, and a polka band. But our party was the best. Grammy and Poppy spent the entire summer relandscaping their flower beds to match the wedding flowers. (details!!!!!!) This was of their own accord, I didn't care about the landscaping. We had 3 huge tents in the front yard (Think Kennedy/Kennebunkport wedding) and the polka band was under one, with a dance floor, the beer was under another, and one just for relaxing under. the Garage was full of food. People danced the afternoon away. My mom sang Tiny Bubbles with the band (another wedding tradition), and the neighbors from teh back showed up, because they were having a party and could hear our party....so why not join up!

We then went to our reception hall and socialized and ate chicken. My cake was custom made by my aunt, a baker, and our card box was a country western themed wedding cake that Mom and I made....Farmer and I met at a huge Country music festival, so we incorporated that stuff in there as well. The dance was awesome....the floor was filled all night long. My dress was perfect....a strapless number with at least 20 layers of floof for a skirt. It was so big I had to wiggle through normal sized doorways. I looked like I was floating all night. Awesome.

It was the best day. People still talk about my wedding. I'm not joking. :) I loved being The Bride so much that when it was time for Farmer and I to be whisked away to the hotel for the wedding night, I started to SOB. I did not want to leave, and kept wailing that I still wanted to be the bride. I obviously didn't realize that someday I would no longer be the most important person ever. :) I cried all the way to the hotel, and for at least a 1/2 hour after we arrived. Farmer thought he might have just made the biggest mistake ever. :) My two best friends (bridesmaids) finally just gave Farmer my shoes and purse, gave me a hug, and pushed us out the door.

But Five Years have passed, and I still would not change a THING about my day. (notice, MY. Farmer was just along for the ride). But it's been a great five years. New Farm, New Baby, New Job.....we have an awesome thing going! :)

A few pictures...

The Men (yes, a huge wedding party) The three kneeling are Farmer's brothers, and my brother is standing with the curly hair. Farmer's in white tie.

THE DRESS!!! (and Poppy)

My Favorite Picture. Note the white sunglasses on bride.....Another super important detail!!! :) This is Farmer's car...1966 Impala. He bought it the weekend we started dating and finished fixing it up the month before we married. It's his other wife. He got it as a junk heap, and made it very pretty!!! :) We had to have red bridesmaids dresses so they wouldn't clash with the car. :)

Busy Days and Random Thoughts

2008-08-06T05:15:00.003-10:00

Whew, it's been busy around here! This weekend was the extended family reunion...Sports theme. My immediate family wore Badger clothes, and looked like we were waiting for the 5th quarter to start any minute. My brother and fiancee are both Badger Graduates, so they were decked out from sunglasses to flipflops. I didn't know U of Wisconsin made that much stuff. Who knew? But it was a great party. We played alot of fun games and had TONS of food. Baby A and I also slept over at Grammy's on Saturday night so that we didn't have to drive 45 minutes at the butt crack of dawn to church.

Farmer wins the Best Gift Ever award. For my big birthday, he got me a new laptop for grad school. I've been wanting a laptop for a long time, and they were on sale, so he went for it. I'm in love with it, and adore the fact that Farmer can be watching TV and I can be sitting next to him on the couch doing my homework. Whoever invented these things should get a reward. I don't know if I'll ever use our desktop again. :)

Last week, we had an ant infestation in my kitchen cupboards. Farmer and I scrubbed out cupboards and threw out all open food, and then bug bombed the attic where they were coming from. They still kept coming. This made everyone slightly grossed out, but none more so than Grammy, the lady who's perfume is Lemon Pledge. Grammy decided that we needed to CLEAN my house. She came down yesterday and Monday and CLEANED. I hate to clean. But I went along with it and so my kitchen has been debugged and disinfected, and Grammy Approved. I seriously need a non-Pledge day.

Today, my cousin is bringing her two boys down to visit the farm. We are going to hang out with the calves and kitties, and hopefully get a ride on the tractors. This weekend we are going to be going to the NEW Zoo for our anniversary. Baby A loves animals, so we thought that could be a fun day. We are also going up north on Friday. Great days coming up!

Birthday Princess

2008-08-01T06:17:00.002-10:00

Yes, today is my big day. It's my birthday. So, in honor of my birthday, I thought I"d throw out 10 random things about me (thanks for the idea, Green Girl!)

*If given the choice, I'd rather watch a NASCAR race instead of any other sport. I could honestly care less about the Packers, unless we are at a party where there's munchies to eat. This could be considered a sin, since I grew up in Green Bay and could see Lambeau field (aka: Heaven) at a distance from my parent's back window.

*I'm terribly afraid of the dark. I imagine all kinds of scary creatures in the dark, even if I'm just running up the stairs to our room after turning out the living room lights before bed. I seriously RUN.

*I knew I had to marry Farmer when I noticed that he always carries a cloth handkerchief. My dad always has one too, so when I saw that, my heart belonged to Farmer.

*If I could do any profession in the world, I'd be a caterer or chef. Someone who people book years in advance to make their fancy foods for parties, and I'd have a show on the Food Network. Look out Rachel Ray!

*A goal in life: Dance with John Travolta. Yes, he has weird hair, but I have a massive crush on him.

*I'm in LOVE with Will Smith. I mean LUV. He ranks right up there with Bon Jovi.

*I hate eating nuts. HATE THEM. the only thing I like is peanut butter. I even opt out of them on top of a sundae. I'll even stop eating Chex Mix if there are nuts in them. That's big.

*My favorite animal is a Pig. I want one and I'll name it Wilbur and we won't butcher him ever. We'll just let him get old and die naturally. I also want a pug dog named Gomez and a goat. I don't have a name for the goat yet. Farmer says that I can get a pig when we move to the farm. But he'll have to be butchered in the Fall. The discussion is still going on about that.

*I named my daughter after the persona I took on while working at Heritage Hill State Park during college. Farmer doesn't know this....I think he'd be creeped out. My character, who lived at Ft. Howard in the 1830's for real and was married to a Lt. there, was also named A. She's buried in Ft. Howard cemetary in Green Bay. I visited her grave when I was working there. I find it neat that I took on the persona of a real person who walked in the buildings that I worked in. Super cool. If anyone knows Farmer, don't tell him this. It's too late to change it anyway! :)

*When I was little, I wanted to be a doctor in the Army. I got the idea from watching M*A*S*H* when I was a kid. I thought their job looked cool. Go figure......

So, that's that. I know there are a few people out there lurking around my blog (Welcome, NavyGirl's family! :) ) so I thought I'd throw a few oddball facts about me. Who doesn't like to know random stuff????

*****

In other birthday news, the DQ cake was AWESOME. super tasty. I'd recommend it to anyone. NavyGirl slept over last night and we stayed up until 1:30 am. That's super late for us...we fell just short of doing each other's hair and playing Truth or Dare. My family also came over last night for cake and presents. I got some wonderful gifts from everyone. It was a nice party. Today my nieces and nephew are coming over this afternoon for more cake. AND.....perch plate tonight for supper! it will be a great day all around.

It's a great day

2008-07-29T13:02:00.002-10:00

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!!!!!!!

2008-07-28T15:33:00.002-10:00

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....

2008-07-28T02:35:00.002-10:00

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!!

2008-07-25T06:06:00.002-10:00

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!!!!!

2008-07-24T04:43:00.003-10:00

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

2008-07-21T06:25:00.004-10:00

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

2008-07-17T13:36:00.003-10:00

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

2008-07-16T12:33:00.002-10:00

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!!!

2008-07-13T14:04:00.000-10:00

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...

2008-07-11T06:52:00.000-10:00

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

2008-07-09T11:08:00.000-10:00

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!

2008-07-08T08:27:00.000-10:00

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....

2008-07-05T12:19:00.000-10:00

....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!!!

Oh Happy Day!

2008-06-30T10:10:00.001-10:00

When I was a kid, I got excited with the Big Brown UPS truck drove down our road. It never stopped at our house, (mom didn't believe in catalog shopping then) but I got excited nonetheless. My version of the Ice Cream Truck. That excitement never left.

Today, while I was playing with Baby A and changing my sheets at the same time (peekaboo with pillowcases amuses everyone!), I heard a knock at the door and someone yell, "Package!" I run to the front door (leaving Baby A under the pillowcase laughing with excitement) and see the Big Brown Truck rumble away. On my front stoop was a little brown box with the happy smile/arrow on it from.....AMAZON! that only meant one thing. The books I ordered online last week finally arrived!

It felt like Christmas in July. (well, almost July)

In it were the three books I ordered for my book club gatherings for the next three months, and one book I bought for my mom to read because when I read it, I snorted with laughter. When Farmer got home for lunch, I ran to the door with my four new babies in hand and made him smell the books. I love the smell of a new book. I also made him admire the pretty covers and the unbent corners. He said I needed a bigger hobby or a summer job, if books got me so excited.

So, now I'm off to get my work done so when Baby A goes down for the night, I can curl up in my lazi-boy and dive into a great new read.

*****

On the Baby A front, she slept through the night last night! Huzzah! Throw confetti and blow horns! Mumma slept through the night! It was awesome. AND, during her morning nap, she somehow rolled over and I found her sleeping on her belly. The stinker is like Bigfoot or the elusive Hodag....you know he exists, you just never see it!!!

It's such a smiley day......Smiles for everyone!

Picnics and Potlucks and Sex......In the City

2008-06-28T06:30:00.000-10:00

So, today starts the fourth of July holiday in our house. Farmer's family always has a 4th of July party at his parent's house, and it's been going on for at least 30 years....probably longer. So, today will be filled with random chatter with the aunts, being Grill Queen (none of the men cook at all, not even grill, so I volunteer for my MIL so she can relax....Farmer will take care of Baby A), eating the SAME MEAL we eat every year (everyone always brings the SAME THINGS every year, they are totally not food adventurous, like I am, so I know already we'll have party potatoes [yes, in the summer, because they don't eat potato salad], seven layer salad, oreo salad, cheese, cookies, and baked chips) and trying to avoid the kids squirting me with squirt guns....I hate that damp-just-got-squirted-with-water feeling. I'm not a huge fan of this gathering, because their family gets together for every single holiday, AND we just had the annual family reunion last weekend, so I'm out of inane chatter. Nothing exciting happened in the last week. I'd rather be up north on the lake for the day, or hanging out with my family, but nope. We'll go to the party and I'll smile, and know that season 4 of Sex and the City will be waiting for me when we get home.

By the way, I'm assigned to bring cheese curds this year. I'm too adventurous to bring anything else. Last year I brought a mandarin orange and striped cookie salad (yes, VERY yummy) and noone ate it. The year before, homemade baked beans. I took them all back home with me. So, the cook of the family is bringing boughten cheese curds. No, my feelings aren't hurt. I'm ok.

In other news, I went to see Sex and the City movie last night with my two sisters and a cousin who could be my sister. I haven't had that much fun in a long time, and realized that I need to do more things with these girls. There was no pretention, putting on airs, or shyness. We hashed everything out, from my sister being preggo and when she actually got preggo, to the whisker that keeps coming back on my cousin's chin. Come to think of it, we are kind of like the SATC girls, only not quite so.....sexual. I've also decided that I want to wear more hats. FarmTown isn't exactly a "wear your sunhat to the store" type place, people would think you're odd, but they just looked so FUN!

Baby A also had a sleepover last night at my parents house, so that I could go to the movie, and get a full night's sleep. Grammy and Poppy love to have Baby A sleep over, so we all enjoyed our evening. But the kicker of all this is that Baby A....slept through the night for Grammy! What's up with that? Oh well, maybe Grammy fixed her so that she'll sleep for me too! We can hope.....

Anyone for a quick nap in the La-Z-Boy?

2008-06-24T05:45:00.000-10:00

Baby A has started to NOT sleep through the night, (teething? Growing Pains? A party we are missing? I dunno) so the both of us has been up since 3 AM. I finally got her down for a nap, so I'm busting rear to get my housework done this AM because.....tonight.....there is a TWO HOUR Hell's Kitchen on! This is totally exciting to me. I plan on being home from Baby Swim lessons and in the chair by 7:00 pm. I have a slight crush on Chef Ramsay. yes, he's mean, rude, and makes fun of poor JP, the maitre-d, but I just adore him. I love a man who can cook well.

Hmmm....I seem to have alot of TV crushes. Perhaps this says something about my slight TV addiction???

In other areas, we have begun Hay Baling season #1 on the farm, and Farmer asked last night if I'd be interested in helping out with that. Yikes. That means I'll be on a hay wagon again soon. My family and friends who knew me pre-farm think this is totally odd. REALLY weird. I'm not a fan of dirt and dust (unless it's on my endtables, then I seem to care less), and I have NO upper body strength, AND I'm more comfortable in a pair of 3 inch stilletos than sneakers, so helping out with baling is odd. But help I do.

My two best friends also called today, so besides being up for 8 hours already, It's a really great day. We went to grade school and High school together, but they both live 2 hours away, so I rarely see them. One just had a baby this spring, and the other is 1/2 way along in her first pregnancy, so we don't get much time to chat.

Other than praying for Baby A to take a long nappy, I also have to make a cheesecake today, pick up the unflattering bridesmaid's dress for Cousin's wedding in a few weeks at the alterer's, and take A to Baby Swim. And pick the neighbor's strawberries since she is out of town this week.

I guess that nap in the chair will have to wait until AFTER Chef Ramsay. :)

Things that Make Me Happy Lately

2008-06-22T13:56:00.000-10:00

So, I've been quite cheerful lately, which of course is always a great feeling....Here's what makes me glow lately!

*Baby A started to give more kisses lately. Today, we were at a family reunion for Farmer's extended family, and she was giving Farmer kisses on his nose. SO FUNNY.

*The weather guy said that it's going to be hot this week. not warm, not capris-and-long-sleeve-tshirt weather, but HOT. I want hot. Baby A has a little pool and I want to let her go in it.

*Tom Brokaw is taking over Meet the Press. While I miss the late Tim Russert, I have a slight crush on Tom Brokaw. Not as big as my crush was on Peter Jennings, but it's a a crush. Now, I can watch my two news crushes back to back.....Tom Brokaw and George Stephanopolis. Before you laugh, remember, I teach history. Government and Washington DC get me excited. :) I think George Stephanopolis is a cutie. Great Sunday morning viewing.

*The county fair is coming up....one month to go. I love the fair. It think it's just a great place to be and I'm looking forward to taking Baby A. Farmer and I also have tickets to one of the concerts, and that is always a fun night out for us. I get a corn dog, Farmer gets pizza, we both drink.....seriously! It's great! And there's a barn full of pigs! Pigs are my favorite animals, and we don't have any on our farm, so the fair is where I get my fix.

*I'm falling in super love with Sex and the City. I'm totally cable deprived, and so I've never watched the show. But my friend, Florida M, lent me all the seasons on DVD and I'm hooked. I'm in the middle of Season 3, and Carrie just gave up smoking for Aiden, and Miranda just found out she has Chalmydia (sp?), and there are parts where I laugh so hard I snort. It's just great.

*I'm in two book clubs, and late last week I placed an order on Amazon for my new books to come. So, in a few days, I'll get all new reading right on my doorstep! I don't have to go "to town" for them!!! AND.....Free shipping! Life is great.

*My mom and I have been having gut busting funny conversations on the phone lately. My mom and I chat on the phone no less than 3 times a day (I know, we should just live next door), and sometimes we don't have much to say, but lately it's been super funny. I love to belly laugh, so it's felt great.

*I had a huge cry on Thursday, which always clears the air. You know how sometimes you just need to cry? Well, I finally had my day on Thursday, and since then, the world has just been sunnier.

*I got new sheets for my bed. I know, small, but my old ones, the bottom sheet's elastic was worn out and the corners kept popping off in the middle of the night, so Farmer and I would wake up enmeshed in our sheets, and not because we were doing anything fun. It's frustrating. So I creaked open my rusty wallet hinges and sprung for new good sheets. Its' awesome.

SO, that's life right now. Baby A has gotten bored with her Jumparoo, so we must go amuse the Princess. :)

Busy Busy Busy!!!!

2008-06-19T05:26:00.000-10:00

Where have I Been? I'm not even sure. Some things that have kept me busy in the last week:

*keeping up with Laundry

*house cleaning Baby A's room with Grammy

~Grammy is a master cleaner, so if she shows up with her dusting powder, look out.

*trying to get Baby A to roll over (No success)

*making lunches for Farmer, who is in the midst of haying season #1

*Making suppers for Farmer (it's an all day process)

*trying not to gain wait while home alone all day (I'm fearing weigh in at Chub Club)

*learning that my baby sister Mouse is having a baby! WOOHOO!!!

*celebrating father's day with Grandpa, Poppy, and Farmer

*trying to keep my house clean

*saying goodbye to M, as she starts her new life in Sunny Florida

*watering flowers

*weeding gardens (today's task)

*checking out the neighbor's new pool

*starting swimming lessons with Baby A

*getting bridesmaid's dress fitted for Cousin's wedding next month (hence: Chub Club)

*exersizing with my friend in the evenings

*attending Breakfast on the Farm

*reading a great book about a girl who left Warren Jeff's polygamist compound for a new life

*reading a terrible book for book club last night

*making eclairs for book club last night (turned out AWESOME)

*Other random household tasks too boring to mention here

So, yeah. Who knew that a summer vacation with no real plans could be so busy!!!

Storms, Showers, and Cheesecake

2008-06-13T09:48:00.000-10:00

So, yesterday my area of Wisconsin got hit with some MAJOR lightning, thunder, and tornado storms. One thing about me.....I HATE NASTY WEATHER. It totally freaks me out. So much so, that in our first year of marriage, I made Farmer move about 25 precious things (think homemade afghans, wedding pictures, blessed cross from deceased grandma, etc) from the upstairs to the basement during a tornadic storm when I wasn't home. He was in the middle of a home improvement project (replacing the patio door, so half our house was off) at the time, so he was trying to calm his frantic wife, move the goods, and seal up the house before the tornado came. He had quite the afternoon.

But yesterday they were screaming storms and terrible things. I got super nervous, but I let Farmer go back to work and milk cows and I'd be fine staying home alone. I could have gone to the In-Laws, but I wasn't feeling it. Instead, I called a great friend, M, who lives in an apartment in town and doesn't have a basement, and told her she was more than welcome to come over and hide out in our basement. I should tell you, M is a very brave, logical girl. We work together at school, and she is definitely the more down to earth one of us. However, I think that she could hear the fear in my voice and said she'd check the radar and if she felt she needed a basement, she'd come over. She was here in almost less than 15 minutes. She must have known that Baby A and I needed a babysitter.

So we hung out and watched the entire area get pounded by storms. So much so, that M's mom got her basement totally flooded and the sump pump went out. Ouch. Not good for Mom of M. Thankfully, my area was the only area in our Valley to not get hit. Yeah, we got rain and green clouds and lightning, but nothing scary. Whew! Crisis Averted! So, M went home and I stayed relatively calm until Farmer got home.

Yesterday was also a big day because MY mom (we call her Grammy) and I threw M a going away shower. M's fiancee is a Navy Pilot in Training ( I call him Maverick, from Top Gun. His call sign, sadly, is not Maverick, however. But that doesn't seem to stop me.....) and he's based in Florida, so she's moving down there to be with him. We've been great friends for 3 years, so M's leaving will leave a minor hole in my life. But in order to say goodbye properly, Baby A, (who is also a close friend of M's) Grammy and I took M out for lunch and gave her a few things she'll need in her new Florida Home. She was totally surprised and we had a great time. After lunch, Grammy and I went to TJ Maxx, and I did DAMAGE on my credit card. They just have such cute stuff for kid's rooms and alot of it coordinated with Baby A's room!!! I could NOT pass it up!

Today has been filled with making Farmer a cheesecake for Father's day. He claims that I never make him a cheesecake, even though I bake them all the time, so I let him pick one out for Father's Day. He picked a Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake.....WOW. The batter is AWESOME! Think chocolate ice cream. This should be a great tasting cheesecake.

The rest of today is going to involve taking Baby A for a walk and cleaning up my family room after our Storm Watch 2008 camp out. It's covered in baby toys and clothes that Baby A pulled out of the clothes basket. I"m also going to try grilling fish for supper. I have weigh in at Weight Watchers tomorrow (AKA Chub Club) so I don't want to eat too heavy. Hence, the walk tonight with Baby A!

What did you DO all day???

2008-06-11T13:13:00.000-10:00

Those six words are some of my least favorite....at least when they are strung together.

Because Farmer is so busy at work all day, he doesn't quite realize all that it takes to keep a home together, raise a baby, and put meals on the table that are more than just cheese and crackers. (Which happens to be one of my favorite suppers)

Often, then, when Farmer comes home for supper, he'll look around and ask me "What did you DO all day?", with a bit of wonder mixed with irritation in his voice. For example, today is a good one. I spent all morning running errands with Baby A, which included a HUGE run to Target (a little piece of heaven on earth) and a return of a large item from a shop. Therefore, I had to take Farmer's precious truck on errands. I should note, Farmer LOVES his truck. He fixed it up (it was a rollover) with the help of a dear friend that has since sadly passed away. It has a custom paint job and he LOVES it. I don't get to drive it too often.

When Farmer came home for lunch, he asked me to finish emptying my share of Target (I shoudl really own stock) out of Truck and then put it away in the garage. I said Sure! No problem. It truly was on my list of stuff to do.

However, Baby A is teething (and it's taking forever) and so she's a mite crabby. I also had my "Task of the Day", which was to dust and vaccuum the house. I also wanted to make this chicken enchalada (sp?) casserole for supper. Needless to say....I was busy. So, I made the casserole, fed Baby A a bottle and convinced her to take a nap, dusted like mad for the 1/2 hour she was asleep, then vaccuumed when she woke up, put all folded laundry away, made the rest of dinner, emptied the dishwasher, and did all afternoon dishes before I had supper on the table at 5:00 pm. I kept busy.

But the first words from Farmer were "What did you DO all day???" since the Truck and Target were not done. I therefore looked at him with a wild eye and just closed my mouth. No need for arguing. When prompted to relay all I did (He sometimes believes that I just sit around, read, and watch TV, which I readily admit I did for the majority of my maternity leave) he just said, "But you didn't get what I asked you done finished first?"

Grrr. Husbands.

But it's ok. He liked the casserole, which is good. Farmer grew up eating BLAND food, so anything with a little kick makes both of us nervous. Another good thing about today? Well, there were lots. Baby A sang to my dad (who we call Poppy) on the phone today, which made Poppy very excited, and Baby A has started giving big wet kisses today, which I love. We're off to excersize soon, and then I've set aside tonight to make some greeting cards for birthday and father's day, so crafting is in my near future! AND.....a rerun of America's Next Top Model is on in exactly 30 minutes!!!

Ok, so I guess I do plan on sitting around watching TV tonight. but at least the Truck is in the garage before I do so!!! :)