The House Worm

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Here's Herman. He is Pryce’s new house worm. She adores him. On Saturday she was helping her dad prepare the garden and she “rescued” him from the tiller. We have a girl that cries at the thought of worms being destroyed yet doesn’t flinch or bawl when her brothers tackle her.

It certainly puzzles me that somehow Chad and I have produced a worm-loving child. Chad will handle them but he’s not a fan. I avoid touching like them; they give me the creeps and they to closely resemble snakes. Pass. In fact, I purposely make sure that I have someone to bait my hook when I go fishing. The boys aren’t especially fond of worms either. Parker announced to his Uncle Carl on a fishing trip one day that he couldn’t touch any worms because he was “allergic” (which totally makes sense to me!) Pake screamed “snake” when he was three. Alas it was just a giant night crawler but that set him back from any love for the little things. Pryce is a different story. She is totally devoted for her worm friend.

Saturday: She came in with what used to be a box that held microwave popcorn. She’d filled the box with dirt and asked if I’d like to meet Herman. I responded with a kind no. She was undeterred and continued to pester. I agreed to have a look. I also announced that Herman would sleep outside on the chair.

Sunday: It was announced that Herman’s new name would be Hazel, but he was still a boy. She asked for a sucker stick so that she could dig up her worm friend. That is when I took this picture. There was worry that Herman had crawled out or that he dried up. We added water to the soil and a lettuce leaf. Worms don’t eat much, I’m told. Happy to find Herman, I mean Hazel she watched him for the better part of an hour. This child clearly does not have ADD, she focused better than some adults I know. Since Hazel had remained in his home. He got to stay in the house, on the metal organizer. I was told not to “broom” him if he crawled out. “Call for me Mom, I’ll come get him and put him back.”

Monday: Hazel’s name was changed back to Herman. His official name is Herman Hazel Johnston, every person should have at least three names, this includes worms. Pryce wanted Herman to join her for pre-school for show and tell. I told her she’d better ask her teachers. At noon she comes in with her daily arrival announcement, “Home, home home!” and “Good news Mama, Miss Colleen said Herman can come to school. We’re going to have an educated worm on our hands. Joy.

Pryce goes to visit and “cuddle” Herman and flips out because she can’t find him. I notice the soil is exceedingly damp. Maybe he drowned. Sad. After some poking and prodding, her tiny hands held up the worm triumphantly, “He’s alive! I think he looks much healther.” Do worms ever look sick? Apparently she picked up that if worms loose their slime they will die. She’s on guard to make sure that doesn’t happen.

I suppose this is one of the cheaper pets around. It is quiet, doesn’t require a lot of maintenance and keeps her well entertained. It makes me wonder what is coming down the road. As a friend pointed out, “her ‘pets’ are sure to get bigger, you may want to be cleaning a shot gone when they come to visit!” When that day comes, I’ll bet I’ll prefer having the worm won’t I?

So while I won’t be inviting Herman into my office to keep me company while I work, I’m loosening up a bit having him in the house. The delight and joy emanating from her is contagious! It’s fun to see her so interested and excited. I too get excited about a lot of things, but worms are not on that list. It will be fun to see if these interests in worms, lizards, snakes and bugs stick with her as she gets older.

What were you interested in as a child? Is that interest still present? Please share in the comment section below. I’m curious to know if the things that we love as children turn out to be career paths that we follow as adults. If this is the case, we may have a “worm herder” on our hands!

My Kid

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Most kids I know play with toys, real toys. For some reason my daughter is not like other kids; her current favorite toys are the lures in an old tackle box.

She started asking pestering her dad about digging the old, seldom used tackle box out of the tack room. As usual BS was relentless. Her efforts paid off and after a day of picking up corn from the field, Chad caved and got the dirty old thing out for her.

What a thrill, what treasures! She's in love with the yellow (sticky,smelly) worms and is at the height of her joy at finding several different frogs and small fish. She's removed the nasty hooks so she can play with all her friends. They've each been given lovely names, like "Fishy" and "Wormy" and "Froggy".

I'm not complaining, it's keeping her busy while I tend to some long overdue computer tasks. I just find it incredibly humorous that her most favorite play things aren't really considered "toys".

I can't imagine where she gets her quirky cre8tivity from. I should record the conversation, it's quite enlightening to say the least!

My $13 Shopping Spree

I love Goodwill. I always seem to luck out and find what I am looking for, sometimes that which I am not looking for. Thr other day was a perfect example. I had about 20 minutes to spare in between appointmets so I whipped in and began my search.

A few months back I passed up the dome of a cheese dish. I have two dishes and no dome. They were broken by an adorable curly haired little boy who had an obsession with mommie's cupboards. (Mommie should've moved them higher, she hadn't expected her precocious child to explore so soon. That's only been about 9 years ago. You can tell how much I use a cheese dish/dome. I want to now though. I'll begin making goat cheese soon and would like to have a little display plate. I searched and searched. Last time I was in the store, I found two. This was before I remembered I needed them. I then forgot about it until my cleaning exercises this week, at which point I vowed I'd find a dome.

About to give up, my little eye spied a brown bottle. Perfect. I could already see sunflowers in the top. Score! I also looked for short skirts (not too short, we'll get to that in a minute.) I've come to LOVE wearing skirts and not just for going to town either. Like knitting, I don't know how this happened. I just woke up one morning and POOF, I wanted to start wearing skirts. I'm kidding, it wasn't that dramatic! Perhaps it is the path I've taken to embrace and honor my femininity or my love of previous eras? Whatever the case, I enjoy wearing skirts, I'm not questioning it any more, I'm going with it. I happened to come across two skirt that matched my cre8tive cowgirl style. Little did I know the green one would come in handy (keep reading).

As I walked out, giddy with my finds, I noticed out of the corner of my eye and adorable pink table. It's the perfect size for sitting a flower arrangement beside the back door or for BS to use with her kitchen set. The price though is what made me jump.......$1.25. The old garage sale, junk finding adrenaline kicked in. YEE HAW. I ran back in, slapped the cash on the table, put the back seat down in the subaru and head to my appointment.

I didn't not, at this point notice that the wind had come up. An hour later, on my way to Shopko, I was shocked to experince the gust of wind. Not nearly has shocked however as the man behind me that may be now scarred for life. Right there in the parking lot, the wind did a perfect "Marilyn Monroe" on me. I am blaming it on the wind. I was utterly embarrassed, trying to collect the bottom of my dress and get it to where it should be, just above my knees. I didn't realize that it was so poofy. I also didn't realize that anyone would ever see my underwear! Gasp. I'm sure I turned a billion shades of red and scrambled as best as I could to the safety of the indoors. Dear God! I would never have worn this dress had I paid attention to the weather forcast.

I looked hard to see if he was gone before I ran back out to my car, this time with my skirt stashed between my legs, and gathered up as much as I could with my hands. I still had three more stops, one lifting a laundry basket out of the back of the car. Sitting in front of the dry cleaners I decided to try out the green skirt. The plan was to shimmy it on and wear it under the red plaid dress. I wasn't any place where I could buy leggins and really didn't want another pair. I have two right now, that's plenty. So I hiked up the skirt. Sure I was sitting in the front seat of my car but I checked the size and thought it was fine. Why was it tight? I couldn't even zip the damn thing. To my surprise, it had been altered, stitched on the size by someone who also loved the color but had about a two inch smaller inch than I. Drat. I tried to rip out the seam and realized it wasn't going to happen without the appropriate tool. It was tight enough I was sure it wasn't going to fall off. It didn't and since it was under my short shirt dress no one had any idea that it was halfway UNZIPPED! It made me giggle then when I went into Menards, the last stop before my 30 mile trek home, when a girl said to me, "I like your outfit, it's really cute." Yeah, that's how I roll. I always plan my outfits.............!

I went home and promptly changed into a much longer skirt. In fact, I am wearing a similar one today. There's no wind, so I think I'm safe! We are headed to a football game shortly. Our boys qualified for the Punt, Pass, and Kick competition. After that we'll load up and head north. I'll be attending a writing workshop in the morning. I am really excited about it. The kids are excited too, they are going to go hang out with Uncle Carl and Melissa. The boys are really wanting someone to take them fishing. Poor things, neither of their parents are into such sport. I told them when they were little that I wouldn't touch a fish........or a worm. They've stopped asking. They know if they are ever to learn, its not going to be from me. Nope, not my gift. I'll eat 'em, but do not ask me to bait a hook, catch one or clean one. I admire people who can. I knit. I hike. I read. I garden. I clean. I cook. I can ride a horse and rope a steer if I had enough time. I do a lot of things but I don't bait any hooks! At this point in my life, I do know where my strengths lie!

So here's to enjoying a beautiful autumn weekend with your family and friends! May you find an abundance of treasures and good deals!

This is what I'm up against.....

As much as I can, I have been avoiding this pit of a room. I have walked by, closed my eyes and just given a toss to whatever item was in my hand. I have to admit, that part has been pretty fun. I see something and I just toss it to the right as I walk by. Sooner or later, I knew this reckless behavior would catch up with me. It has.

I have put it off as long and I can and now I have to roll up my sleeves and dive in. I’ve managed to stay in my office, and attend to other tasks and I now realize my procrastination must end. We are approaching an insanely busy line-up for the remainder of August. I will be home Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I have three days to pull off a cleaning and organizing feat, the likes of which I haven’t mastered in my adult life.

Pryce’s room, the downstairs and my beloved craft room need attention ASAP. I want this all cleared, clean, organized and beautified before we hit the road. It is official now that we’ve booked a room, we are headed on a quick vacation/hiking adventure very soon. I didn’t expect this. I was planning on being right here at the ‘ol ponderosa, but I’m sure not complaining at all! I actually think it could be invigorating to see new country and be on the road for a bit.

I have a lot to do between now and then. I will be processing dilly beans for my favorite brother, I have a newsletter to sew together, wonderful client sessions to facilitate, beans and cukes to pickle, corn to freeze, tomatoes to pick, goats to walk and an entire house to clean and organize. Let’s not forget packing, always packing.
Next week my spouse is home for an entire 24 hours. Two of my helpers are going to hang out with their Grandma J. I have a road trip east planned for Wednesday, full day in town on Thursday and home Friday to pack. We could leave as early as Saturday. We’ll fly home in time for the Old Settler’s Reunion on the 28th. Chad will be at a rodeo on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The kids start school on Wednesday. We leave Friday to celebrate Z and L’s marriage! Yay! Yay! Yay! We are sooo excited for this event!
So that’s my life. Fast forward, roller coaster speed, buckle the belts, hang on, yippie………..
I’m focusing now. I have an hour before we leave to celebrate my nephew’s birthday. I’ve successfully managed to procrastinate one more day of not entering the “disaster zone”!

It MUST BE DONE. If you see no further posts beyond this one, please come find me. It will mean that I’ve fallen under a landslide of stuffed animals and useless trinkets and that I can’t get out! I’ll repay you with garden produce and the tastiest GML (goat’s milk latte) that you’ve ever had. I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life. (Aren’t I so good with drama?!?!)

The Hell with Housework!

Today, despite my best efforts to focus, I am throwing in the towel. I've had it! (I'm actualy not mad, sad, upset or depressed, so keep reading!)

We've been on the go for 10 days. Though I try to keep order and neatness, it is a nearly impossible with the schedule and hours we've been keeping. We've had a 9th birthday, a holiday, baseball tournament, and junior rodeos. My goal was to reclaim our space, excavate the kitchen and unbury the laundry room. Instead, I went golfing this morning. I usually put off any fun/recreation until my work is done. One look around this pit reminds me the work might not be over for a very long time.............

I realized today, somewhere around hole #4, that I just as well take my vacation this week. What the heck! I'm not going anywhere but there's no reason not to take a time out, kick back and declare a strike against clutter, strewn laundry, full counters and a fridge that should be covered in yellow "caution" tape. (Its bad in there, man!) I'm pretty sure no one is going to drive to my house and say, "YOU HAVE TO TAKE A TIME OUT". On the same token I probably won't get hauled to jail for not getting the place picked up either. Its only my ego that I'm wrestling with here. The kids sure don't care! My spouse does. He's just being polite and not saying too much. He's not home enough to contribute to the mess so none of this gets blamed on him. I'm amazed that even after all the work and decluttering I did this spring, we still have a very messy abode. Its hard on me but this week, its not hard enough to make me do something about it!

Try as I might, I am literally at the end of my "go reserves". They've gone. I've felt it for a while, I just haven't admitted it. I am ready to sit by the pool and let an adorable young man bring me drinks with umbrellas in them. It's past pina colada time. Its summer. The garden is growing, the goats are fed. Who cares if my children don't have cleans socks or jeans?!

When I came this afternoon, I saw my red vintage apron with the saying, "To Hell with Housework! Let's go to Cheyenne Wyoming." What a plan. Amen sister. It won't take much for me to up and go, I think I may already be there! Traditionally, we are gettting ready for Cheyenne right about now. Chad did not enter this year, which makes me a tad sad. It is one of the rodeos I do look forward to going to. Not because of the cowboys either, there is usually a "rockin" trade show and great vendors. My pocketbook will thank me. In fact, this "staycation" may be a really, really good thing. If I just stick around here and actually do the things I WANT to do, not the things I HAVE to do, I may enjoy myself more. It seems I work when I am here. I haven't yet learned the art of letting go and hanging out when it comes to my personal space; but I am willing to try.

I'll keep you posted on how it goes. Soon enough the temptation to clean, clear and organize will probably kick in, it usually does. For right now though, I'm saying to hell with it. I am going to go outside and drink a raspberry tea on the glider. Then I am going to come in and shower. I may take a nap. I may just sit and stare at the clouds. I'll sit here until inspiration catches up with me. It appears I have plenty of time. Its going to be hard to top Disney World, but I'll give it my best shot.

Why I don't hang out fancy lingerie.............if I had any!

If I’ve lured you to this blog with the title, let me just assure you that there is nothing X-rated here. This is a down-to-earth, real issue that comes with having only a cowgirl clothes line. In short, the reason I don’t hang out fancy lingerie (if I had any) is because they would get a blow job. That’s right, they’d be blown so far into the canyon that there would be little hope of recovery. Perhaps a lucky coyote or two would end up with a new chew toy?

One of the thrills of living on the Great Plains is feeling the wind blow up your skirt. Ms. Monroe would have loved it on my deck! Our screen door, recycling bins and various other objects have fallen victim to the dastardly winds that rage across this prairie. We now have a block NAILED to the deck as a door stopper. It works fairly well, though once each summer a gale force shoots the door over the block. Chad has to unscrew the block and put the door back in place. The block of wood has been the object of more than a few swear words when I forget it is there or when someone, new to the place, inadvertently tries to kick it out of the road.

Around 8 years ago, I had visions of having a beautifully landscaped yard. I went so far as to purchase a fountain, an auspicious symbol of feng shui. The cherub decorated piece sat in my front year for a bit, though the heavy calcium deposits and wind, made it look less than auspicious. It will be used this summer to decorate the garden landscape. The theme out there is “comfy-rustic” so it will fit right in with the shingle torn shed.


Since I am not a quitter, I also purchased a cute little garden flag and pole that greeted those who entered from our side door. Quaint as it was, it lasted two whole days. The wind came up blew the flag away, along with my dreams of every having anything “light” stick around. Yes, fancy lingerie was totally out of the question.

For now it is important to state that I’ve pined for a clothes line for years, though for some reason it just keeps getting put off. We always seem to find some other project that holds more weight. Being the resourceful type of cowgirl, I use what I have on hand. For me, this is the deck railing. This system has worked though, I have lost things along the way, such as jeans. The wind come up and blew a pair off the deck and into the backyard wilderness. Apparently I was too tired and/or busy to notice. We found the 2T jeans when the kid was in a 5T. He was quite shocked and wondered where the baby was that fell out of its pants. I told him he was the baby. The puzzled look on his face indicated I had deeply confused him.

The next year produced a rare find. Remember that flag that disappeared during my first “I’m going to make this place look cheery phase?” Chad waltzed in in one winter’s night with a brightly colored something, that had been wrapped up in a soap weed in the canyon. Upon further investigation he brought it home because he thought his wife could use it as a decoration. He didn’t remember that I was the one who bought it.

Though clothing/article loss is traumatic, I should also mention that some articles of do not disappear they just fall to the ground. If we lived on pavement, it would be fine but under the deck is dirt, and when it rains dirt becomes mud. Many times a wind has come up and blown jeans off the deck only to have them land in a puddle, which requires washing them all over again. That is, unless they are steer wrestling jeans. I just hang them back up on the rail, put a rock on top and walk away. When dry, I fold them and take them to the nearest horse trailer. Those pants have no idea what is it like to be stain free and clean.

At one time, sweet nostalgia reminds me that I did have a clothes line. I haven’t always been without one. Prior to setting up the homestead here on the Rafter Lazy H, I had a sturdy clothes line in my back yard in Maywood. I used to hang everything on the line. Oh yes, I was THAT kind of girl……….. In between rodeos I hung out a week’s worth of socks and underwear. I got brave and hung out a few umbrellas (my daughter’s words for bras!) Keep in mind this is a small mid-western town. A tiny town, in a fenced in yard where I thought I was safe to "hang it all out"!

In a quick decision to travel with my husband, who would not return home for a week or two from rodeos, I hopped in the truck and forgot all about my precious essentials on the line. I was focused on getting to Cheyenne.

In addition to the wind, do you know what else really blows? It’s when you forget all about what you’ve left hanging out and then it gets handed back to you……….by an elderly, smirking neighbor. My “unmentionables” were strewn all over the neighborhood in my absence. This kind (and apparently amused) man returned them. The result, I don’t hang out like I used to! Having someone besides my husband see my “umbrellas” was too much to bear. It shut me down. I’m much more……...private than I used to be, even in this present location.

I attempted to release this haunting image last summer. After all, the only neighbors we have are the cows, horses and coyotes. I hung out a pair of trouser socks. It was successful because they did not blow away; instead they were snagged and ripped from being caught on the splinters. I found them right where they stuck. Perhaps my “cowgirl clothes line” is the reason I have an alternate method of air drying my unmentionables?  I also don’t think I couldn’t face another old man holding my socks, underwear and "umbrellas" and handing them back to me! For the past 9 years the deck rail has been a good place for drying jeans and Kool-Aid stained table clothes.

I am secretly envious of gals that have clotheslines that stand up in the ground. I wouldn’t mind having one myself someday. It might be a real thrill. I suppose if any fancy lingerie dealers happen by this blog and want to test their goods to see if they are “cowgirl worthy” they could send some pieces my way. Yes, those delicate pieces look just fine on a size 2 model in a controlled environment but can they withstand the elements? How tough are those tiny pieces? I’d be willing to test them; I’ll hang them off my deck overnight. If they are snag free and still intact 24 hours later, if they haven’t disappeared into the great abyss of my backyard canyon and don’t show up in a coyotes mouth, I’ll add a product button on my blog. I won’t wear fancy lingerie mind you, but I could at least say that I have hung some out to dry.