"Are we there yet?"

The age old comment from kids throughout the years, "Are we there yet?"  Sometimes those words have been uttered as early as minutes out of the driveway.  As time goes by and lifestyles change, even for a child, it seems that kids are still anxious to get where they're going.  I remember packing little surprises for the kids to keep them anticipating something fun and to allay their dread (and mine) of driving long distances.  It's no longer matchbook cars and a coloring book and crayons.  Today we make sure we're armed with batteries, charging cords and headphones.  Last night Bailee, Jess and I rode all the way to Groton for supper (15 minutes). We enjoyed a nice supper at Farrells, "the place where they have high walls where nobody can see what you're doing and everybody has their own TV." Upon leaving, we decided to take a little tour to see a friend's new mini barn. About 5 minutes down the road, Bailee spouted those familiar words.......but this time with a little sign of the times twist.  It wasn't "Are we almost there" or "Are we almost to Grandma's"....... Our little child of the 2000's asked, "Are we almost to Internet, Grandma?"  Gotta love technology and WiFi and , of course, Bailee!

This Many

Wal-Mart provides us with so much.  There is little that we need in this world, tangible things I mean, that we can't obtain at Wal-Mart.  Everything from potting soil and peanuts to poise pads (just guessing) and pancake mix.  But, I think the thing I like most are the posts and emails that circulate from those who have people watched and photographed a few of those upstanding shoppers who obviously have no mirrors in their homes or marbles in their heads.  Sometimes I just glance at the photos to make myself feel good!  The other day I received the photo above.  If it weren't so sad, it would be funny... Ok it's pretty funny anyway.  And they say the United States is lax in math and science...It's obvious we're fine as long as we have both hands and all our fingers.  I think Wal-Mart really does have everything we need in life...I'm a strong proponent in laughter and they sure provide that!   I'm off to slip on my thong, stretch pants and halter top and do a little shopping for the holiday week-end!!

Man's best friend?

If man's best friend is the dog, what's a woman's..or even a child's???  Well at EIEIO, a little girl's is a chicken!  We've had 18 of them since they were about a week old.  They were all pretty skittish from day one but they're getting little chicken personalities now..I know, I'm probably giving this way more thought than it deserves but chickens can be great pets too.. I've read about it and if it's printed, it must be so! Last night Bailee decided to get in the pen for awhile and bond....Brownie, the only fuzzy, brown chick was her favorite in the beginning... Now it's the fugliest...(try explaining to an inquisitive 5 year old what fugly means)  I said it's "fine" but it's ugly... That worked!  Anyway, Brownie's lost her favor and the only true, all white chick has taken to B... literally... It followed her everywhere last night and even allowed her to pick her up and snuggle.  She loves to have her head and neck rubbed...(the chicken not Bailee.)  I wish I could figure out how to get a video here...she kept remarking how much she loved chickens and wished she could sleep with her :-o  The "girls" have learned to take flight and are regularly trying to head north..literally. Luckily there's a covering on top which was installed to keep varmints out.....and now keeps the girls in. We still have a few months before they'll begin to lay. We're all hoping they live that long.  We're planning on constructing a new residence for them and maybe moving them across them across the creek.  Not that I don't like chicken shit in my yard and it is a wonderful fertilizer but we need to make room for the PHEASANTS...  I vetoed the peacocks after hearing their squawking, annoying yell.. After all, everything grows up and loses it's cuteness..... Everything except of course, my cute little chick, Bailee.

Life's a Beach!

What a busy 7 days.  We drove to Charlotte last Mon/Tues. (takes the old folks a bit longer), picked up Jeff, drove to Myrtle Beach on Wed., enjoyed Carrabba's, Dirty Dicks (we got crabs from Dirty Dicks:) and Outback, had a wonderful time seeing old friends, celebrating with the Dyers and basking in the sunshine and the ocean. 7 days does make one week (weak):-)  We had fairly good traveling conditions and even made the return trip to EIEIO in ONE day... that's really good for me!  I like about a 6 hour travel day.
The wedding was perfect♥  A tad overcast which was really a blessing as sun on the beach can be a bit much.  The beach house was the perfect setting for a relaxing reception and some much welcomed "catching up!"   It was great to meet Cori's hubby Tyler, who Jeff immediately bonded with and who entertained us... a lot!  Our accommodations were great and only a few short blocks from the beach house.  We even connected with some more of our breakfast club pals and enjoyed supper, ice cream and people watching. Bike Week makes for some interesting sights.
It was great to spend a few days with Jeff although a week without Miss B is like a day without chocolate....it just shouldn't happen!

I'm happiest right here at EIEIO with my high grass, happy chickens, and hungry birds.  All of which need my attention ASAP.
P.S.  What would a trip to Myrtle Beach be without bringing home the crabs..... Thankfully it's for Miss B.

Make each day count

This morning I write with a heavy heart. This week-end the man upstairs saw fit to relocate a pretty special guy.  I know he probably wanted his wit and compassion and good nature up there but Joanne and his family and friends still desperately needed it down here.   True love is seldom found once, how lucky to have found it twice... I'm sure there's a reason but I guess my faith needs a little tweaking because I just don't get it. What I do get is that nobody is promised anything... not another dollar, not another smile, not another day:-(   We had planned to head to Myrtle Beach tomorrow to spend a few days and celebrate our wonderful friends' son's wedding. Jeffrey was meeting us there...change of plans...we're heading out today, stopping in Charlotte and picking him up.. Guess I need that Jeffrey "fix" a little sooner.... I'll miss saying goodbye to B after school but we can "FaceTime" later and we did spend some quality B/Gram time yesterday. In fact all of us did the family thing..3 meals, visit to Gram, chicken chores, lawn work, puzzles, "outdoor personal water fountain time (and time and time....)" and ice cream. Needless to say, we all slept well.

I may not be as vigilant a blogger for the next few days. I will have my laptop, kindles and iPhone though so I'll be available.  Please God don't let me far from cell service, WiFi and power... I may not survive!

Mothers

I'm surrounded by Mothers.  There's a mother robin sitting on her nest above the front door. there's a "Mother Goose"..(not that Mother Goose) across the road with her goslings and there's a mother turkey in the backyard. I'm sure many of the less colorful birds feasting from my feeders are new Mothers too.  Jess visits every day and she's a Mother.  I was even balancing checkbooks this morning and I found a MOTHER of a mistake. I caught it and corrected it... that's becausee I'm the Mother of fixing things ..I have been for nearly 34 years and I'm pretty darned good at it. I can make boo boos less painful, I can make spinach taste good, I can make schoolwork fun, I can make singing sound good and dancing look graceful..I can even make money  miraculously appear in bank accounts.. I'm that good! In fact I'm so good, I'm thinking about buying myself a Mother's day present.  I know, a few days ago I said I didn't need gifts.  I was wrong.... write it down, tell the world...it happens...not often, but it happens!  I haven't quite decided what I'll get, but it'll be good.  I really don't care if I need it, if it's too much money or if it's extravagant... I'm a fixer and I've earned it!  Happy Mother's Day to me♥ ( and to all of you, my faithful readers and fellow fixers)

I Owe My Mother

> 1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .

 "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside... I just finished cleaning."

 2. My mother taught me RELIGION.

 "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.

 "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

> 4. My mother taught me LOGIC.

 "Because I said so, that's why."

 5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .

 "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.

 "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

 7. My mother taught me IRONY.

> "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

 8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .

> "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

 9. My mother taught me about CONTORTION-ISM.

> "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

 10. My mother taught me about STAMINA ..

> "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone." In my case, cold codfish gravy on rice

 11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.

> "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

 12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.

> "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.

> "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION .

> "Stop acting like your father!"

 15. My mother taught me about ENVY.

> "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.

> "Just wait until we get home."

 17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .

> "You are going to get it when you get home!"

 18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.

> "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

 19. My mother taught me ESP.

> "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

 20. My mother taught me HUMOR.

> "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

 21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .

> "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.

> "You're just like your father."

 23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.

> "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

 24. My mother taught me WISDOM.

> "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

 And my favorite:

> 25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE.

"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you !"

 Only you folks my age understand these profound statements!!!

 But, there is one missing from this list~~My personal all time favorite!!

 My mother taught me about CHOICE.

"Do you want me to stop this car?"