One of Those Days

Today is one of those days!  I strongly dislike the heat....I'm HOT (in the sweaty sense).  I had an early morning call from a dear friend that made me sad beyond comprehension....I'm devastated!  I went to spend some time with Mom this morning.....I'm depressed.  My knees are killing me.....I'm old!


But, I'm going to turn this day into a good one!  I've been chatting with my goose and ducks this morning while giving them their morning shower. Baby gave me a little HISStory on his life and the ducks were trying to wash away all the carnage from their relative's recent slaughter.  They have begun eating again which is a good sign.  Christmas and birthday orders are arriving daily..You're welcome Amazon.  Birthday planning for Lee, (Friday,) Lacie (Sept,) Jeff and Bailee (Nov) is progressing nicely.  A week-end getaway with family, especially Bailee, is coming up soon. Family will be arriving next week from California and last but so very far away from least is Walter's ( every embryo gets a nickname in this family) arrival and all the planning to welcome him/her in style. 


Thank God for supportive friends and family and things to look forward to.... those things make one of those :-( days.....one of these :-)

Sitting Ducks

Our first duck casualties last week. In the night, I heard a commotion and awoke to find a raccoon helping himself to my ducks.  I had asked Lee to put them in their house but he was "tired."  He said they'd be fine. He was wrong!  We finally scared the nasty little bastard off but not before he had ravaged my sweet Bruce and one of the K's. Thankfully, just a couple of days before, Bruce had taken advantage of one of the girls in the pool so he went out "on top!"  We set a couple of traps last night and hit the jackpot on one big sucker... Lee had baited the trap with a piece of Bruce and it did the trick.  This morning I awoke to a couple of "pops" and Rocky was history...DRT! Karma's a bitch at EIEIO. RIP (rest in pieces) Bruce:-(


We got the pond all set and filled yesterday. We just need to get it back-filled with sand and do a little landscaping with the rocks.  They need a good foothold to get in and out of the water.. Webbed feet aren't very conducive to climbing. We have to lengthen the ramp into the "soon to be" duck house as they can't walk up anything greater than a 45 degree incline and they need sides on their ramp.....just like me;-)  Hopefully we will soon transition all the animals to their new quarters and hope that they're all happy...I'm still trying to figure out how to get grass to the ducks... I may have to have some raised beds for them as they're taking over the chicken run which is pure dirt... I wonder if they realize how good they have it?  The barn is nearly ready...The girls are even getting curtains for their nesting boxes..... I mean who really wants to "lay" right in public....





Today is a hot one so they'll all get some nice, cool watermelon.  You could live in a worse place than EIEIO....just ask the raccoon!!!

I Believe

Remember the song, I Believe?  Many recorded it but I think I remember Elvis and the Lettermen's renditions the best.  It was the song that the Senior class of 1962 sang at Moravia's graduation that year.....my brother's class.  Every time I hear it played, I get a little emotional. Today, a dear friend is really struggling with a nasty disease.  She's young, beautiful, compassionate, smart and never hurt a single person.................ever.  So, why?  Folks tritely say, "Everything happens for a reason!"  Really, I find that hard to believe. 

I Believe

I believe for every drop of rain that falls
A flower grows
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night
A candle glows
I believe for everyone who goes astray, someone will come
To show the way
I believe, I believe

I believe above a storm the smallest prayer
Can still be heard
I believe that someone in the great somewhere
Hears every word

Every time I hear a new born baby cry,
Or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why, I believe

Every time I hear a new born baby cry,
Or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why, I believe

I believe it all up until that "Someone in the great somewhere hears every word."  Who and where? and How do we know... And why does he/she pick and choose who he hears and who he helps and why not help everybody?  If you love someone, you're supposed to help them and love them unconditionally.  If he loves us all...........................................What's up with that?  .... But, we're taught to believe.  I believe it'll get dark every night and the sun will come up every morning (whether or not I see it.)  I believe that no matter how much money I make, the government will want much of it and use it unwisely.  I believe that chocolate undeniably makes me happier.....and wider. (not a typo) I believe that if we can walk on the moon (and return,) there are cures for horrible diseases and others don't want them known. I believe that there is someone for everyone!  I believe that all good things take time and good things happen to good people.  I still struggle with everything happens for a reason and all you need to do is believe......

I pray ( to someone) every single night. I guess I'm a hypocritical Christian. I hope, if he/she's out there, that they cut me a break and take my wavering beliefs with a grain of salt and not judge me if it's added to my Bloody Mary!

I'm trying my best! 

Fowl Power

Today, the girls and boys are getting power to their condo (aka barn.)  Bright and early the equipment and manpower arrived. By 8:30, the ditch was dug, the conduit was laid, the bees had stung and the Bud Lite was popped. Who says country life isn't grand! (yes Bailee, that's a rhetorical question..how does an 8 year old know that?)



Jeff and Greg built my screen partition in the barn, curtains for the nesting boxes are in production, the pond is on site and the drainage ditch is in place. Jeff's in-laws made us the most beautiful barn quilt and my new windmill is in place.  I must admit, the walnut grove is looking rustically and beautifully country. It will be so nice to have all the critters in one place.....and down wind....sort of.
Mr. P (who Jon believes is most likely Penny) and her pen pal, Bic, are heading to the smoke house on the next leg of their journey at EIEIO.  One escape artist was enough but the two together, in the house, are a real Penn and Teller act..... get it? Penn :-/  I will miss their incessant peeping....not!



Baby is settling in pretty well.  I believe he likes me......and only me.  He tends to stand dead center in the big pool and forces Bruce and the gang to share in the feeding bowl water.  Whatever works...his long tongue and loud hisses give him carte blanche in Web World.

Things are coming together nicely.  The big move is right around the corner...I'll soon have my yard and my garage back and the Grove will be buzzing with fowl language.  I love it!

FOUR decades.

Well, 40 years ago today I was "doing" my hair and nails and preparing for an outside wedding (that we hade NEVER rehearsed inside in case of rain.)  Mother Nature cooperated and it was a beautiful, fun day.  It was a bit breezy and my veil resembled the flying nun but pictures were fun,  Onlookers from the water had a fisheye view as their pontoon boat stalled and they joined the ceremony nearly on shore.  Wendy sang Annie's Song, Dave (our minister) performed his very first wedding using his thesis for seminary as the service then both Lee and I were kidnapped from the reception by dear friends who shall remain nameless....NOT .....Donnie Nye and Gary Mulvaney.... The girls snatched Lee and we ended up at Glenview.  My Mother was so pleased.  We stopped at my Grandpa's (as he was under the weather) in 2 cars confirming his outspoken greeting, "I knew it wouldn't last!  Well, the joke's on you Gramp... 40 years later, here we are....  semi-retired, 2 great kids, 1 and 2/9 grandkids, 1 step granddaughter, a beautiful DIL (hopefully) and an amazing home by the falls.  And the part you'd like best..... Lee no longer has "that god-damned hair"...in fact, he has none!
We returned safely to the reception and as the Moravia paper always says, "A good time was had by all!"

Happy Birthday

Happy 71st Birthday Steve.  Hope you're partying in heaven....I'm pretty sure you went there ;-)  I still miss you like crazy and wonder what you might think of how our lives progressed.  I'm pretty sure you'd be disappointed in some and proud of others.  You'd have loved my kids and grandkid(s.)  We have one more on the way.  You would never believe that our beautiful new home is surrounded by feathered family.  I'm thinking if you were still here things would be different with our dysfunctional family, but maybe not....we'll never know.  I have an amazing Hatfield family and friends who are more family than family:-/ Life is good! Miss you always!  You don't look a day over 25♥


                                                                                  Love,


                                                                                       Peanut






                      

FINALLY................♥♥♥♥

I have been such a good girl.  I only squealed to a few close pals but today I can shout to the world.  I'm gonna be a Grandma again!!!   I pretty much was positive that Bailee was going to be the reigning champ in my grandkid ring...now she'll have to share!  We were given the awesome news on...what else....Father's Day.  The kids did a great job making the announcement.  Julia gave both grandparents boxes saying she'd been working on them for awhile and had finally finished them. She wanted us to open them on the count of 3.... We did....Pam and I got it at the same time, Greg followed and Lee caught up about 3 days later ;-)  The boxes held several pictures (like the ones below) and under a layer of tissue paper was a onesie... ours had a # 2 and Pam and Greg's had a # 4. each for the number of grandkids we would have. All had our appropriate names, Papa, Grandma, Mima and Pops.  Lee still......was oblivious!  The video is pretty entertaining to say the least...maybe even youtube worthy! 



Jeff and Lace asked that we keep it off Face Book and only tell our closest pals until they had their first OB appointment...yesterday.  Yesterday was also Julia's 13th birthday so we didn't want to overshadow her day... So...today was the day and what fun.  I got to post pictures and videos and got so many awesome well wishes from all of our amazing friends and family..  This will be an awesome fall and winter.





I can't wait until February....Who doesn't love February in upstate New York? Jeffrey arrived February 14th, Mima's birthday is February 13th and President's Day is the 15th.....their due date... I'm pretty sure this means my newest grandbaby will grow up to be President!!!!