Saturday Stuff

I have been tagged by my blogging buddy Susie over at Susie's Space for this meme.

Here are the rules:

1) Write your own six-word memoir about yourself.
2) Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you'd like.
3) Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible, so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.
4) Tag five more blogs with links.
5) And don't forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

I have been thinking about this and came up with what I thought personified me the best way:

Christian, wife, mom, grammie, sister, daughter, friend. Now I know that's 7 but I couldn't leave any of those out as they all are important to me.

Now for a funkier version:

Laughs a lot over foolish things!

From reading my blog you all know my sense of humor can be a bit crazy. (note recent redneck tank top and snorkeling in Maine blog content) For me laughter is a way of life and I find humor in so many things. There are too many things to feel sad about so I grab the funny things and have a good belly laugh. (the laughs are getting bigger all the time.....ahem.......oh wait, we aren't talking waist size here are we?)

So let's see who can I tag on this one.......hummmmm.......How about:

Jen over at Copenhagen Kisses

Tina at Palm Tree Fanatic

Tammy at Family Doins'

Callie at Midwest Horse

Dawn at Grandma Dawn's

Now it's time to head out to the airport to meet Son and DIL's plane. Must make sure my camera is ready as I can see some bloggy fodder in this occasion.

It was beautiful riding this (Saturday) morning. Funsize, Ann and I met at the stable and groomed the guys once more, trying to get all the old winter hair out as much as possible. Buddy is looking pretty good, I took the clippers to him again and buzzed off a lot of the old belly hair. We saddled up and headed out trying to stay as far off the road as possible as it's a very busy road with big trucks zipping by.

We went down a side dirt road and there is one person who lives there and he came out and said that we had left some horse poop on his road (which we don't do) and would we please not do that. I felt like telling him to get a life but that wouldn't have been very nice so we said we were sorry and turned around and went back to the busy road. We have lost almost all of our places off road to ride. People are building houses back on these dirt roads and putting no trespassing signs up. So we take our life in our hands and have to go on the road for the most part when we ride at the stable.

We have one very nice man that has a farm and enjoys us riding out back of his house on a dirt road. He always speaks to us and tells us to ride there anytime and don't worry about cleaning up any horse poop. He would rather we are safe then have to ride on a busy road. We appreciate his kindness and would clean up anything that need be even though he says not to bother. There are all kinds of people in this world and I and thankful for the kind and considerate ones.

I would like to thank all of you for the nice birthday greetings via e-mail, snail mail and bloggy mail. Several of you gave me nice shout outs for my birthday and sent people I had never met before over to say hi and that was fun meeting new folks! Funsize gave me a wonderful gift, the Willow Tree horse and owner called Quiet Strength. I had never seen that one before so it was even more of a nice surprise.

I am so blessed to have Funsize in my life. We have been close buddies since she was 10 years old and Hubby got Buddy for me for Christmas. We've always had that horse connection that all you horse people can relate to. We didn't tell her what we were going to see that day and drove to the farm where he was still with his former owners until I could get into the stable where I am now. In those days we didn't have our own barn.

The people that had owned Buddy told us we could come down on Christmas Day and see him and I thought that was very nice of them. We walked into the barn and there was Buddy and Funsize had the biggest eyes you've ever seen, she just couldn't believe that he was ours! Now she is an itty bitty little thing now and 15 years ago she was even smaller and we were commenting today on how big he is and how small she was and she was riding him. We didn't have Lil' Bud at that point.

We would load him up and take him to her lessons and they did just fine even though the instructor thought he was way too big for her. He was fit and only 12 or 13 years old at that time and would try to pull things on her but she was most always in charge. He never did anything bad, just was feeling good. Hence we have always called him our Gentle Giant.

It's hard seeing him age and have aches and pains that go along with the aging process. When we ride now we don't canter around the ring doing circles and figure eights. We pretty much just walk and trot as he stumbles quite a bit, has always been kind of a klutz, I don't know how they ever used him for cross country jumping and dressage but that's the life he led until he came to us and we turned him into a western pleasure horse.

Funsize has the horse gene right in her and although she wasn't around much when she was away at college I knew she would come back to it and she did. We sure have a great time whether it be riding or talking or eating or going to church or whatever. I'm just glad she is a big part of my life!

Friday Night Ramblings

It sure is quiet around the 'ole farm tonight. T and D went home with Mimi and Bampie, their other grandparents, for the weekend. I packed up their little suitcases with all their 'stuff' and had them ready. It was sad seeing them there on the kitchen table. Mimi picked them up at school so I didn't get to see them off but that was probably for the best as I would have been sniffling I'm sure. I guess you can tell I'm missing them. Son and DIL will be home this weekend and Mimi and Bampie will take T and D to the airport to meet the plane.

Mimi and Bampie live on a small quiet lake and it is a beautiful spot with everything a youngster could want. Bampie pulls them behind the boat on the knee board and has several different tube things to ride on. Of course there is still some ice in the lake so they won't be doing that this time around. T is getting quite adept at knee boarding and cousin K can even do spins on it! What fun! Wish I was still agile enough to do that kind of thing but I do well to stay on my horse so guess I won't try it! :o)

I was recently awarded this beautiful award by my dear friend Needled Mom. I guess I have mentioned before that we met by chance at a convention that our husbands attend every year. Not that I believe things happen 'by chance' mind you. Out of a group of probably 75 wives we were sitting at the same table at breakfast one morning while the hubs were in a class and someone asked us all what we like to do. She and I both piped up and said quilting and immediately made a connection and friendship that has gone on for the past 4 or 5 years and will continue as long as we are both around.

Now I am from the backwoods of Maine and she is from outside of Los Angeles, couldn't be much further away but we have so many common interests and enjoy each others company so much! Some day I want to take a trip to California and I want her to come to Maine and spend some time on the lake at our cottage and hopefully it will happen. If you want to see some of her beautiful flowers stop by her latest post. NeedledMom.blogspot.com

Anyhow this award is from her and I thank you NM so much!!

Now these are the rules for this award which I find hard because all of my blogging friends truly make me smile and make my days more beautiful so I hate just giving three but know that you all are deserving even though I can only pick three this time.

So... I pass this award onto Pea at Pea's Corner who has become a dear friend and cohort, Susie at Susies Space who I feel like I have known forever and some day will sit down with and chat up a storm and Barn Goddess at Ramblings From the Reservation who tickles my funny bone with the antics on the 'ole Res with her beautiful family and of course Freddie and Scooter!

Now you guys have the hard task of just picking three!! :O(

1. Give to 3 BEAUTIFUL Bloggettes.
2. Smile because you are making their day BEAUTIFUL.
3. On the day that you send out your 3 Awards commit one (or more) random acts of BEAUTY.

Someone, who shall remain nameless, sent me this picture when we were in the midst of all of our snow........I did take the liberty to add a bit to the picture so as to keep my G rating! It is titled Snorkeling In Maine! I figured if you all didn't drop me because of the Red Neck Tank Top you could handle this!

BTW, speaking of the Red Neck Tank Top I have been getting orders left and right for them!!! I think I have found my new niche!! (Not really but it made a good story......) heehee!


Dad and I have been walking twice every day since he got home from Florida. Today was beautiful out and we shed our jackets before halfway home. We are walking on the streets now until all the snow is gone in the woods, then we will walk the carriage trails. It's prettier in the woods plus Noodles likes to go with us and I don't want him in the street.

Hubby has had good news on his knee. It doesn't look like he will have to have a knee replacement right now. They are trying another procedure which includes big needles (YUCK)! He seems to be doing better, is off the crutches and cane, and hopeful that this will work.

Grandchildren Alert!

This house is pretty quiet when it's just Hubby and me kicking around. The Snowbirds are out in their apartment on the end of the house so we don't hear much out of them either. Now add two lively grand kids into the mix and it's a whole different story! What fun we are having!

Son and DIL are attending a business convention in Florida so T an D are staying with us. I had forgotten how much 'stuff' it takes to have little ones around! They came well packed with all of their clothes for school, playtime and of course plenty of soft jammies to sleep in. They love the fleece kind that Mimi and I make for them.

We hit the park yesterday after school along with K their cousin. It was really the first warm sunny day so the park was mobbed with little ankle biters running every which way. Before we got out of the car I said to them to stay where I could see them....yeah right.....they ran towards the playground with nary a thought of poor ole Grammie who was lugging all of her camera equipment in hopes of getting some good shots!

Hey! Wait a minute! Is that Patrick Dempsey on the swings???!! He IS from Maine you know so it could be...

Naw, guess it isn't. But it could be!

After dinner, baths, homework and story reading off to bed they went. T grinds her teeth and D talks in his sleep so it was an interesting night. They won't sleep in the guest rooms, they want to be in our room which is fine, I wouldn't want them to wake up scared. T hopped on the bus this morning after we did some swinging on the porch swing and then I took D to his preschool. They are going to the University Of Maine agricultural division today to see the newborn lambs! I should have sent my camera with them!!!

I get a lot of foolishness in forwards as you all probably do but this one cracked me up. It was NOT taken around here, although it wouldn't surprise me to see one at the state fair in the summertime. It's called a Redneck Tank Top and look closely and you can see what it is made out of.

My friend Ann and I went trail riding yesterday after giving the guys a good grooming. It was a glorious day with the sun shining and the temps in the 60's. That may not sound particularly warm to some of you but to us it is a heat wave! It seemed so nice to be out on Buddy and just walking along the river watching for bald eagles that frequent that area looking for fish to dive for. Just pure tranquility. We go again Saturday and Funsize will be able to go too as she won't be at work.

Speaking of work, I need to get going on a project I am working on. It's for two precious little girls and I am having fun doing girly stuff. I'm about 5 hours into it with probably 10 more to go so I guess I'd better call it quits for today on this computer and get to work! :o)

Weekend Thoughts

I must be getting spring fever. This graphic is making me crave roasting marshmallows out in the fire pit like we do in the summertime. I don't like them like a burnt offering, just browned all the way around nicely and warm inside. Of course D likes to burn them to a crisp and then have one of us eat them as he won't. It's all the fun of cooking them for him! :0)

Oh how I love the convenience of ordering things online. Even under-grundies, like my nephews call them. Now you all know about my Span*x debacle, we won't even go there again, once was quite enough, thankyouverymuch! That item will go back to the store next time Hubby has to go to Portland. Can't you see the poor guy walking into Chico's, the estrogen-less store in the Mall with this item in a little bag? Everyone in there is having a hot flash! Really! I feel so at home there, it must be why I like to shop there so much.

Speaking of Hubby. He hasn't had a very good weekend. He got out of bed Saturday morning and his knee had pain shoot through it like a needle jabbed into it. He had to go to the ER to see what was going on and the bottom line is that he will be needing a knee replacement some time soon. It's just worn out. He came home on crutches with several prescriptions and has been housebound all weekend. This ought to be interesting.............

Funsize and I went to the barn on Saturday and really gave all the guys a good going over. All but Nick, who had to have a blanket on all winter, is shedding like mad and looks horrible. I guess that's one reason I had to post those last summer pictures as I just needed to see what they really look like without all that winter hair!

Funzise rode Lil' Bud in the inside arena while I did some clipping and Buddy followed them around like a puppy. It was rainy and cold so they couldn't go outside but Buddy gets swollen ankles so needs to move around a bit each morning to get the edema down. I think he turned 28 this spring so he has a lot of the old age things going on. The oldest horse that is up there is a 33 year old Morgan gelding and he is still going strong. His owner still rides him a couple times a week bareback in the arena for 15 or 20 minutes each time.

I almost hate to post this picture but I want you to know just how serious the snow has been here this winter. This is in northern Maine where one of my nieces lives right on the Canadian border and these deer are trying to move around to get something to eat. Our deer population has taken a huge hit this winter to the point where there won't be as many hunting licenses given out next fall. I am so glad I was able to keep my 10-12 fat and happy with their grain each night. They still come here and will until the buds start coming out on the trees and the grass starts to grow. We're getting a bit of grass on the south side of the house that they can nibble on.


We are going to have our grandchildren this week as Son and DIL are going to a convention where it's nice and warm! We are looking forward to it and have some special things planned. It's not school vacation so we won't be able to stay up late watching movies and eating popcorn and they are going to Mimi and Bampy's for the weekend but maybe by then we will be ready for a rest! lol! They keep us hopping but we love it.

Have you seen the movie Enchanted? It's the Disney flick with Patrick Dempsey in it, WHO BTW COMES FROM MAINE, I may have told you that before.....drool..........ahem.......I digress...... It is an adorable movie and the kids love it. T has the Giselle gown that we jumped through hoops for at Christmas time along with SIL and dcrmom who tried to find it for me. I finally found one on EBay in a size 12 but then found an 8 in the Dis*ney Store after they assured me they wouldn't be getting any more but I've hashed this over already so why am I doing it again? So anywho if your kids or grandkids haven't seen this one it's a real pleasure to watch. BTW did I tell you that Patrick Dempsey comes from Maine?????

I have my St. Nick wall hanging about 95% finished. Just a couple of things that I want to redo, like take 5 buttons off and place them a bit differently. OCD much? A couple people asked me if it was for sale and yes it is at $50.00 plus shipping. Oh, I need to put Santa's blush on too but don't do that till it's ready to go. Santa has to have rosy red cheeks you know!

I finished the tractor wall hanging ordered by my blogging buddy Donna and sent it off to Missouri last week. Her Hubby Cliff is a real tractor buff so she wanted one with tractors and a barn on it. It arrived intact thankfully and they are happy with it which always makes me feel real good! I am so honored that it is going to be put in their new home which should arrive soon.

The next one I am doing is like the one I posted last week of the snowmen pulling a sled, trees, cottage etc.... I FINALLY found the book with the pattern in it. Does anyone else out there in Bloggsville hunt for things regularly? It seems like I am always hunting for at least two things all of the time. Now I am hunting for my regular horse clippers as I had to use my body clippers to trim around their legs yesterday and it's not easy with those big honking clippers!

A big congratulations to Tonya over at There is a Season on the birth of her new baby girl last week!!! She is a beauty with dark hair like her Mom! If you get a chance hop on over and take a peek and congratulate this lovely family!!!!

An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

I am glad so many of you got such a kick out of the Spa*nx story! If you had been here you would have been laughing your socks off! I wish I had the courage to post a picture of me in it but even I can't go that far! Did you read where Kathi Lee Gifford is going to be on tv again and said she is going to be wearing one of those things???? She probably is only a size 2 so why would she need to wear anything like that???? Obsessive or what? Beware though, you never know when I might just put that sucker on and take a picture...........nah........maybe.........NAH!



I've been going through my gynormous stack of pictures that I have saved on my Maxtor drive and came across these of some of my guys. I may have posted them before but I like them so humor me. I'm so looking forward to that green grass and being able to get out in the pasture and take some more pictures. I just can never have enough pictures of my guys! :o)

Funsize stopped by tonight with a nice surprise! A new car! She has been wanting to trade as her car had quite a few miles on it so found something that she really liked and bought it!! It's adorable and just the perfect size for her!!

I went in for my check up this afternoon. My eye was twitching all the way over there as I was thinking about the scales that they make you get on the very first thing.

Do you realize how hard it is to see to drive with your eye twitching? Why did I eat lunch? I shouldn't have even eaten breakfast.... Actually I hadn't gained as much as I had dreaded. (doing happy dance!) I asked the gal if everyone hated the dreaded scales and she said yes, even the little thin ones. I have to get off this weight obsession, right after I make another two loaves of that apple bread........if you haven't tried it yet, do it, trust me you won't be disappointed!

Mom and Dad flew in on Wednesday and had good flights and came in to a nice sunny day with fairly mild temps. Even Buffy their cat seemed glad to be home until she stepped a paw out side!

She wasn't impressed with the temperature can you tell? I think I will fix her up with Marv, okay Barngoddess?

Noodles doesn't allow Munchkin to sit on the top of the new cat condo if he is in the house. Right now he is outside pestering the birds so Munchie is enjoying a few minutes on it.

I think she is saying "get out of my face with that camera!!!!"

Well duty calls. I am working on a Christmas wall hanging and I picked up the red buttons and bells on my way home today. I still have a lot to do but I think it's going to be really cute. You shouldn't show a project till it's all finished but here I go anyway.

Doesn't it look like the lights are on in the little windows?

I still have to do the antlers on these two goofy guys.

This is old St. Nick with his bag of toys and he is almost finished. Now I need to put everything together and do the sashings, backing, binding and a little finish work.

I have been trying to contact The Cracker Jack Site for days and it won't let me leave any comments or anything. If you are reading this leave me a comment to let me know what's up.

To the sewing room I go not to be seen for several hours. I wonder if Pizza Hut would deliver?