I can't watch any more

This photo above is exactly how I feel these days about the political insanity going on around me. I can't watch it any more.

Last weekend I decided it was time to bust out and get away from the constant media assault. I've made up my mind, I don't need to watch any more debates, hear any more of those dreadful TV or radio ads...I'm done....it's become all too creepy on both sides.

So I hopped in the rig and went over the river.


Through the woods.

My directions said to go past the rocks, ah...there they are.

If you see the cute little shack you're on the right track.

All you need to do is walk along the fence-line until

you come to an opening.

Keep hiking in the direction of those flags you see

off in the distance.

And you're guaranteed to find a gathering of joyful people.

The best part of the whole adventure was that I was able to hear these two songbirds.

Amazing.

I love it when I find new music, something different.

Several years ago I heard her and she stopped me in my tracks - now her career is really taking off, it's been great to watch her rise.

Now I've found someone new that I think has real potential.

The Shook Twins have a wonderful gift,

check out their amazing harmonies.

My New Friends

Meet Spike, he's kinda shy.
This is Bucky, he's not shy at all.
They were looking in my kitchen window a couple of days ago. Actually they were taking a nap in the sun right outside my kitchen window and sorry to say...I woke them up.
Hey guys, stick around...you're totally safe here. The gate is locked, the signs are posted...and hunting season is OVER tomorrow. Yayyyy!
Stay low and close to the house...you should be okay.
Mi casa su casa.

Happy Birthday Honey!

Today is The Husbands birthday.
Birthdays aren't a big deal to this guy, he lives pretty simply, one of the most content people I've ever met in my life. He's never really wanted to do anything except farm. Back in the days when we were struggling young dairy farmers, we were at a dairy related conference - at the evening dinner banquet I asked the question "If any of you guys won 10 million dollars in a lottery, what would you do with the money?" All of the guys said "I'd build a really cool farm".
I was stunned, nobody said they'd travel, buy a yacht, build a mansion (unless that mansion was for cows)...that's when I knew how much he really loved dairy farming.
He's never had any interest in doing anything else....

When we go to the marina he's never ever looked longingly at one of these.

He has absolutely no interested in being one of those guys who cruises around on one of these.

But a while back when we were at the recycled building materials store, he saw this! I looked at it and said "hey...that would be cool, we could put bolts and plumbing parts and all kinds of odds and ends in all of those little cubbies!"

It had been $29.00...marked down to $19.00...but it was in the half price section - a whopping $9.50!

I wandered away, but he kept looking at the thing - something he rarely does. Then he said it, that thing I've hardly ever hear him say - I could hardly believe my ears...he said

"I've always wanted one of those"....I almost laughed out loud. The guy who never really wants anything was actually looking longingly at an object.

We loaded it up in the truck and took it home of course.

I've spent the last couple of days pressure washing the back section of one of the barns that we're not using...it's going to be a shop.

A place for everything....and everything in it's place.

Ya right.

Oh well...we'll give it a try.

I asked him several times if there was anything special he wanted for his birthday today...of course the answer was "nope". I'll go back out to the barn and work on getting the shop organized.

I'll make a really nice dinner...and then take him out there and show him his new groovy organized organizer.

Autumn Joy

I'm late again for Ruby Tuesday....but I have an excuse! Yesterday it was dismal and rainy so photo ops were pretty grim. Today the sun is shining so I ran out back and got a shot of the Sedum 'Autumn Joy'.

Mary the teach over at Work of the Poet suggested fall foliage for Ruby Tuesday...this is pretty close to ruby, it's definitely fall around here and - the name of the plant is perfect!

To see more great photos check out the other participants at Mary's place.

Wishing you a happy and joyful autumn ;)

I Miss My Hairdresser

The beautiful highlights on this dahlia remind me of how much I miss my hairdresser.
I haven't seen him on over a year, I've spent seven dollars on "hair" since July '07....and I look like it. I bought one of those color touch-up kits at the grocery store about six months ago when I couldn't take the mousy gray/brown any more.
This whole no-visits-to-the-hairdresser thing is intentional...a part of budget cuts around here. We've been cutting back on non-essential expenses...to really make an effort to live more simply. There are other areas of our life where we've made changes but this is the one thing that I really miss. I like my hairdresser, he's smart, funny, hip, cool, a snappy dresser and just plain fun to be around...when I'm in that chair we talk about everything under the sun....I guess you could say I get a little bit of therapy with my cut & color.
The money that we save by giving up these non-essentials has been going to the local shelter for the homeless. The best thing about looking in the mirror at my stringy mousy gray/brown hair is that it's a constant reminder of how incredibly fortunate we are here at this old farm.
It's amazing how many meals you can buy at a shelter for the cost of a really great cut and color.

I think I can last a few more months, I'd like to buy Christmas dinner for a whole lot of folks.

I read about this challenge somewhere, I can't even remember where...but it's a pretty good one.
I saw Nancy Pelosi on the news tonight...she's talking about sending out another round of stimulus checks, I think it's ridiculous. I don't want to talk politics on this blog but what if....what if all of the people that weren't in desperate need of the next stimulus check...what if they all gave them to their local homeless shelter.
Imagine how many people we could all help.

Pumpkin Carving Party

Last night was the last hurrah for the season in the party barn. It was our annual pumkin carving party, we've been hosting it for years...same crowd, same food, same big laughs.
When we started this tradition these guys were just kids, now they're teenagers....how do we get teenagers to show up for a pumpkin carving party on a Saturday night you ask?
We feed 'em! We make all of their favorties...and more! It's a chance to try out new recipes, these guys are foodies in the making so they're great taste-testers.

Dig in guys!

Tami did the happy dance when she found out that mom brought chicken kiev.

Total concentration, artist at work.

This guy has a plan...even printed out his design before the party.

Power tools are a part of the game with this crowd, in fact it makes it a whole lot more fun.

Ta Daaaaa. Nice work gentlemen!

This is one of my favorite evenings of the year. It makes my little heart go pitty-pat when the whole gang shows up. I know they'll grow up and go off to college, but I hope that we can keep the tradition alive. Hey, my dream is that someday they'll come back with their own kids to carve pumpkins with "Auntie Shelly" in the party barn...

A girl can dream can't she?

Next party?

A girly wreath-making party on the day after Thanksgiving.

Hmmm...what am I going to make for the girls to snack on?

Guess it's time to start reading my cookbooks for some good ideas!

The Queen of Mean

This is Bergie. This is Bergie posing with the couch cushion she ate. The look says "yeah...I attacked the couch cuz it needed to be showed who's boss around here". I've given her permission to take down Mr. Owl.
Mr Owl has been sitting on a wire in the front yard watching us, we're a little freaked out. Bergie barks a lot at Mr. Owl.

Excuse me Mr. Owl.

Are you the same owl that swooped down on my husband, smacked him in the back of the head and knocked him to the ground? If you're hanging out in the front yard waiting for him to come home from work so you can whack him again...we're watchin' you. Bergie is watchin' you.

Mr. Owl...did you see what Bergie did to the couch?

Have you seen her "mean" look?

She has permission to do to you what she did to the couch...don't go hurtin' again...okay?

Cuz Bergie means business.