Sometimes you just have to laugh. 

I asked Blake to take this picture of us as we headed off to church. I am actually rather bitter my car is having to be parked at the bottom of our hill. During the dry months it has a hard time making the steep rocky climb. The rocks just roll and it beats my car to death. I broke the connector from the battery to the car a few weeks ago during the jostling climb. So I decided to save the car and park at the bottom. The four-wheeler is our transport back and forth. Fun (funny) for now, but it's getting old very quickly. 

My All-Time Favorite

In my past life I was a hairstylist. 

I decided recently to "open shop" right here on my porch one Saturday every month or so for my neighbors and anyone else who wanted to make the trek to our home. 

My first day was a success. Not because I raked in the big bucks, but because I had my all-time favorite customer. 

I've been asking Hyde to let me cut his hair for years. 

It was just as much fun as I thought it would be. 

My 34th

Today is my birthday and my family did a marvelous job making it a special day. The weather could not have been better. The sun smiled on me all day.

My mother and step dad are here for the week. They brought ribeye steaks and Rex grilled them. Mom spent most of the day in the kitchen so that I didn’t have to. Bless her heart. That in itself would have been enough.

After ribeyes, potatoes, salad, and Auntie A’s homemade bread we retired to the porch where we entertained the valley with live music. Larry and my brother are fine musicians. Mom and I like to sing a song or two and are learning the fiddle. Uncle Randy is getting the hang of the harmonica and Rex banged the bodhran when the mood hit him. We laughed much and I am pooped.

My mom made me a beautiful quilt for my bed. It was a great surprise. I eyed the fabric a year or so ago while she and I were shopping. I can't believe she kept it a secret.

The note says that we have 6 Aracauna chicks coming in the mail on April 26th. 

Stress and Relief

Today was one of the most intense days I can remember. I took a test. Not just any test. This one was administered at a testing facility, cost 130 dollars, and affects my future teaching certificate. The Praxis is well known among future educators. Initially I didn’t have any concerns, a basic test of reading, mathematics, and writing, I’m an A student. No problem. To be on the safe side, I ordered a study book from Amazon. Whoa. Humility is good for everyone every once in a while. Obviously I’m not as competent as I thought. I squeezed studying for the Praxis in amongst studying for my other college courses.

I arrived at the testing center at 7:50 this morning.  My rights were read (well pretty close to it), ID carefully scanned, and signature tested for comparison to the signature on my ID. Luckily I didn’t have to be fingerprinted like some test takers. I was issued a locker for my purse and other belongings. No jewelry, paper, tissue, etc., were allowed beyond the “door.” After exposing the inside of my pockets, I was ready to begin.

One 5 minute break and 4.5 hours later I was finished. My brain was mush. My scores revealed I had passed 2 out of the 3 sections. The 3rd section, writing, will be graded and posted in a few weeks. 

Groceries were next on the list.  I drove to Wal-Mart in a daze. The nail salon located in the front area of the store caused me to pause, “Spa Pedicure-$25.00.” I took a few minutes to battle the idea: yes, no, yes, no, YES! The second pedicure I have had in my lifetime, yet the more enjoyable. I sat in the pulsating chair a glorious hour and dulled my brain with Hollywood gossip magazines while Kay massaged  my feet.  

  

Snap back to reality. Groceries. No way was I going to ruin my new nude, yet shimmering polish. "Yes, I will gladly wear the foam, disposable flip flops through the food aisles."

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle.

Sunday Service

At church this morning, the attendance was 1. Me. Living remotely, I have learned to make the most of what I have, to be creative, and to enjoy solitude.

The radar showed rain coming and fast. Perfect, I love the rain. I grabbed my umbrella and camera and walked down to church. 

I sang a special in service, a cappella. The applause of rain hitting the water made me smile.

I smelled the perfume of the attendants, Witch Hazel Blossom.

The sermon was directed strictly for me.

I walked home in the rain.

Stepping Out

Today I prescribed myself a walk outside. We've had the coldest and snowiest (is that a word?) winter since we moved here 5 1/2 years ago. I have loved it, until a week ago. So, although the temperature was hovering at 32 and the wind was biting out of the north, the skies were blue and I needed a reminder of the reasons why I love living in the Ozarks.

Because we can have free range chickens, that eat bugs, provide entertainment, and most importantly provide eggs.

Because there are four distinct seasons. Just when the current season has out lived it's charm the promises for change are found if you look carefully. 

Wheelerpool

During these hard economic times it's important to wheelerpool whenever possible.

My Office

I am taking 7 college hours online this summer. The session is over next week. It has been hard at times, juggling school work and other summer time activities but overall good. A great way to scratch off a few more hours from the comforts of home. I find it hard to concentrate on assignments and papers from inside the house. Too many distractions. There have been a few days when I pack up and head to the creek to study, but most often I go to the porch. Kunta Kinte (Toby) seems to be enjoying summer too. I think he stays up all night (hunting, roaming, whatever cats do) because he sleeps most of the day. And often in precarious positions. I had to stop my studying to take this picture.

Pedaling

Rex bought this bike for my birthday 3 years ago. I had a good run for several months, riding daily through our hills. Now that's a workout. But the newness wore off, as usual, and my bike has sat (hung) unused for well over a year. There were times when I wanted to ride it to a neighbor's or to the garden but I had no way of carrying anything. Yesterday I decided to splurge and buy a basket. I could hardly wait to get it mounted and full of garden veggies. Rex and I had it on by late afternoon and I was off to the garden. Going was great. I also bought an odometer and I marveled at my quick speed, 16, 17, 20 mph. Down to the garden I sped. I picked the few cucumbers, squash, and carrots that were ready. Even though the garden was shaded I still worked up a good sweat in the heat. I decided I needed to cool off at the creek before heading home. Not wanting to soak my clothes I just splashed water on my face and neck. Regret. Riding home was very different. 12, 6, 4 mph. Up I climbed back to the house. By the time I reached our drive I was exhausted and had a throbbing headache. I wasn't sure if I would be able to make it up the hill, but stopping to rest didn't seem to offer any respite from the heat. There wasn't any breeze. I needed water, to drink and to run over my head. So I put one foot in front of the other and slowly walked up our hill, our Mountain, our MT. EVEREST! I made it, went straight for the water hose and drenched myself. I think I learned my lesson.

Spring Break

Momma's Spring Break.

The Freshman

Yep, that's me...a freshman. I am officially in my second week of school. It is so much more fun this time. I love being the oldest in my class. I love watching the young kids walk around in their stylish clothes and matching hair styles. I love being mistaken for a professor (when I wear my pearls). And I love that the class work isn't as challenging as I remember it. My most difficult class is Algebra, and so far I am able to keep up.

I am working very hard at impersonating my professors and teachers for my family and friends. What interesting characters they are. This also makes me wonder how my future students will impersonate me. I think I can take it.

I am not working very hard at homework. Up to now my only class that gives regular homework is Algebra. Which brings me to the muffins, or as we call them, fuffins (Savannah's word for them when she was little).

I am bored! This staying at home by myself is not for me. With the kids in school the house is so quiet. What was I to do? Homework was done, taxes were done, my to do list was all scratched out. I decided it was time to start going through all the frozen fruit from last year. It won't be long before it's time to start picking again, and I can't wait. I missed gardening last year because we spent the growing season in Ireland. We were able to get spring produce. The blueberries for the muffins were picked by Savannah and I at a local farm and the fuffins are yummy!

Sick Day

Blake woke early this morning with a 102 temperature. After rearranging my planned schedule for the day I looked forward to spending the day close to home and crossing off numerous items on my to-do list. I think I changed out of my pajamas around noon, finally went outside an hour after that and took a 45 minute nap. I did get one item crossed off my list, cleaning out the deep freeze for all the deer meat Rex was bringing home from town. After tucking in the kids this evening I finally realized what a blessing this day was. The to-do list remains, but the did list includes: snuggling, taking pictures, giggling, loosing a tooth, reading together, practicing flips, napping, etc.