Woohoo, I'm back for "Not Me! Monday"

I have really missed doing the Not Me! Monday's... so let's get going!


* Being the avid news follower that I am, I was not the least bit confused when I read the top story last week, "New First Dog headed to the Waffle House". Whoops! Not Waffle House, it's the White House. Nope, not me... I can read... but Waffle House does sound yummy right now! :)

* I did not tell the kids that I was throwing away all their Easter candy because their teeth are surely going to rot out of their head and I'm tired of the begging for eating "just one more piece". Every day, more candy arrives -- no kidding! But I would never crash their sugar highs, nope not me! {Yep, it's all disappearing today while they're at school... ah ha ha ha!}

* After a trip to a local state park yesterday full of neat Native American history, I overheard DH talking with a park ranger about an old submarine in SC used in the Civil War. I did not later ask DH if the Indians actually built that submarine -- and ponder how exactly they would do that... I mean, using bones; sticks; arrowheads?? c'mon -- I just couldn't comprehend. Nope, I am not a clueless dork... I am quite the history buff... so definitely not me!

* I did not curse the 10 cute fluffy (and loud!) chicks in my living room at 3:30 this morning when they woke me up from my perfect sleep, all because they thought it was wake up time. I did not mutter under my breath that I'd make them into chicken casserole if they didn't stop chirping so loudly. They are our adorable pets after all, and I'd never eat them -- so I wouldn't dare try to scare them with such a comment! And even if I did, it probably wouldn't work anyway! Nope, not me!

* I did not look at my to-do list today and wonder if I could crawl back in bed and tackle all these "to-do's" another day. I'm way more goal driven than that... so I'd never think of such a lazy thing! Nope, not me... ever, ever! ;)

* And last but not least... While looking thru some recent pics on my computer -- I did not see this one that my DD took of my Clinique Mascara in my bathroom with her brothers kid camera... too funny! And no, her frugal momma does not have a slight Clinique addiction!



Hope everyone has a great day! Leave me a comment and I look forward to reading everyone elses funny Not Me! Monday posts! :)

A day to randomly reflect...

I love all things old; people, furniture, books, places... I could go on & on. I especially dig old houses. I don't know why, maybe it's the charm in the ones that have been preserved, or extra cozy homes that have raised generations of families; or the fun search for the diamond in the rough that just needs a little tlc... I just love them all! Little ones, small ones, big ones, tall ones... I just love them all. So when I saw this 110 year old house below that is for sale, my jaw dropped -- it's beautiful (and so crazy expensive)!

Today me, DH and the kiddos took a drive after breakfast about 20 minutes up the road to "Old Stone Fort State Park". Honestly, I never knew it was there -- whoops! I've never been a history buff but the older I get, the more interesting it all becomes. It's not a very big place but it's so full of neat history, we just spent time soaking it all up. The kids even commented how much fun it is to learn there versus sitting in a desk reading about it in a book! Over 2,000 years ago the park was (what is believed to have been) a Native American ceremonial site. It has this really cool large mound that has a river flowing on both sides. The museum had so many neat things that have been found there on the grounds, made me realize how clueless I am about history I guess.

What was really sad was that this same area was almost developed in the 1960's to be a lake-front subdivision! Whew, glad that fell through and the state was able to purchase the land. It's just beautiful -- large tall trees, wildlife, a neat old rehabbed bridge, rippling waters, and a peaceful feeling that was so nice (and so much needed!). We are hoping to go back next time and camp -- and use those hiking trails too {versus eating all the roasted marshmallows!}.

Today on the way to the park we spotted a cow that had gotten out of the fence and was almost on the main (way too busy for a cow) highway. The old house nearest the pasture was obviously vacant so we stopped and told a neighbor, then we tried to herd the cow back away from the main road as we could and into the yard until the owner could come open the gate. Yep, cow herding in a minivan! ha! I bet that cow was laughing at us! :)

But the house intrigued me though, it looked lonely. Weird huh? That I think a house is lonely? I mean that you could tell that it once had a family who lived there and loved it and now it was just there... all alone... paint chipping, gutters falling off, bushes/grass/trees/steps overgrown. So I came home and done some research on the house. It was built in 1936 and sits on 135 acres, the farmer who once farmed those fields and tended to that house has since died, even his children are almost all gone.

Maybe it just reminds me of my great-grandmothers house... the house that my grand-daddy built her with his own hands, the house that raised 8 children in only 2 bedrooms plus all the extra grandchildren and great-grandchildren that never seemed to leave... the house that we had every single holiday at and even though we were all a very tight fit you always felt at home... the house that I've owned now since grandma passed away in 2005 and I can't seem to even fix up because I can't imagine it not being "their house", so it's "lonely" too just like this one I saw today. Ahhhh, bitter sweet I suppose. One day, one day.

Anyways, it got me to thinking -- I remember being a young child and wanting the biggest, fanciest house I could ever dream of... like, hmmm, maybe the Barbie Mansion (lol) -- but now as I get older (and hopefully a little wiser for my 32 years of age!), I find that the simple joys in life are what really matters. Kinda like history; or your personal life legacy... what do you want your legacy to be? That you were a good person; were compassionate to those in need; would give the shirt off your back to someone who needed it more; caring; thoughful; loyal; trustworthy; happy; loving... these are just some that I hope can be said about me one day even if I live in a shack or a mansion or a tent or a camper. Even this little house below that is behind that big house above that's for sale looks good!

So I don't look forward to having that fancy barbie mansion anymore -- but I do look forward to having farm animals on our perfect comfy cozy house that my husband is building for our family; happy children playing in our creek; learning how to plant vegetable gardens; flowers in bloom; sounds of our tractor; pretty trees and colored bushes; freshly cut haybales; butterflies; hummingbirds; and a fancy chicken coop -- yep, that's my new fancy. :)

So today for me has been quite nice, peaceful and thought provoking. I like those kind of days I guess... sure beats just sitting around cleaning house (again!) and watching Dr. Phil. :)

What is this?

While down at the new house yesterday we found this __?__ {thing} that I believe is more than likely an alien brain. :) Then we found a few more just like it in odd places spread out; on the ground, in the grass, and in a dirt pile too.

Have you ever seen anything like it? If so, what in the world is it?? It has a soft plyable egg shell, with a thick gooey inside slime layer, then a brain looking thing in the middle that is firm. Weird, very weird. And I sure hope this doesn't mean that a random alien invasion is going to happen once we move in -- that'd stink! lol

Any ideas???

Saddened & Sick...

Yesterday my sons science teacher was arrested for federal charges of making child pornography. From what I've read so far, he has also been (grooming and...) bringing kids to his house for 30+ years and giving them drugs, alcohol, and videotaping them among other really gross & disgusting things.

Luckily for us, my son was never alone with this man, but I still feel sick just knowing that he even looked at my son and was in the same room with all these innocent children! I've seen this creep in the school parking lot and smiled at him -- never thinking for a second that he was a child predator. What's even more scary is that he would have also had access to the SAME bathroom that the school children use... and that just really makes me sick! :(

Luckily, he's off the streets now... but sadly, it took over 30 years for the real monster to be known. He has worked many many years for the big science musuem in Nashville; done youth camps; science homeschool classes; he's worked as both a substitute & regular teacher in both public & private schools; among many, many other places where as parents, I think we let our guard down a bit more. This is a blunt reminder that there are sick people everywhere; our children are safe no-where.

My prayers today are with the children who he took advantage of; for the families who are just learning that their child had associated with this sick-o; for the children who have had their pictures shared with other pedophiles; and especially for his own young daughter, who now faces the public eye in finding out that her father is a sick predator.

If you care to read the details about this monster... here is a link...
http://www.murfreesboropost.com/news.php?viewStory=16364

I am an avid news watcher and I hear these kinds of stories far too often... I just never thought it'd be in my childrens school. Call me naive. I just feel sick...

Talk about a learning curve!

We've had such a busy, crazy, fun weekend. Whew!

If you read my post below, then you saw that we became rather quick (very unplanned) chicken owners. I've had so much to learn ~ and even though I've been reading all about chickens/random farm stuff --> all that "knowledge" that I thought I had went straight out the window once we walked in with the chicks! lol

They've been lots of fun to have around; even if they are in my living room (lol). It's so neat to watch them ~ I love how they just fall asleep so fast (sometimes while still standing up! sometimes all stretched out! sometimes they look not so alive either so I have to check for breathing!) and we love how they stretch their little legs out when they've been sitting down too long. Just when they've all fallen asleep... it never fails that one will jump up chirping loudly and wake them ALL up again -- then they run around for a few minutes, settle back down, fall asleep, and do it all over again! They've officially been named by Katelyn as the "chick gang". Here is a picture from this morning of a few of them standing in the food dish... yeah, I know it's a Christmas mini-loaf pan --> I'm all about repurposing (my Michaels 10 cent after Christmas special from 2 years ago!) ... and it's the best I could find for now until they grow more! :)

Below is todays chick pic! :)


And Cole didn't end up with a bunny after all. I knew that would be a no-go once he started talking about he'd play with the bunny... and feed/water it... but I'd have to clean the poopy cage up everyday. Ummm, no. So we went yesterday and he picked out a cute dwarf hamster and all the fixings to go with it using his birthday money. He is very excited to have his 1st animal that even lives in his room! ;) And the bonus is... it's smaller... it makes less poop... and he gets to clean the cage himself! Yay, win for me! ha ha Here are a few pics of "Peanut" the hamster, who is a girl and lives in a Bolt cage with her very own plastic couch & TV. She stays up all night exercising loudly in her wheel and she even has a look-out tower on the top of her cage. She's one lucky girl, huh? :)

Cole is so excited!
sleeping in her TV? :)

Have a wonderful day everyone! Oh, and I posted on my housebuilding blog but I'll mention it here too --> we're getting our electrical inspection today, which means we may finally get lights on IN our house which doesn't involve using a big, long electrical cord. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we pass our inspection!

Done went and done it...

Me & the kiddos went to the Tractor Supply today... nope, not to get chicks - just to get dog & cat food for my mom. Yep, they had chicks ~ bunches of chicks and even rabbits too! And nope, we bought only dog & cat food. Aren't you surprised? I was. Those chicks were so cute & fluffy... and I just couldn't help but think of what wonderful addition they'd be to our new house and land. Katelyn & Cole both were just scooping them up and loving them. I mean, we need farm animals, right?? How can we be called a farm without farm animals? It just doesn't sound right. And I've read that it's harder to get chicks from the hatchery's this year because demand is so high... yep, you know where this is headed, I'm weak I tell ya! And of course, I totally had it all rationized out. :)

So, me & Katelyn decided we'd better go back and just a few little chickies to get us started... but then the girl who was helping us said we had to get 6 (a law?)... then for some crazy reason, I told Katelyn to pick out 8 chickies instead. Then that number went up to 10, just straight outta my mouth! What has possessed me?? :) We loaded up our buggy full of chickie things and quickly jumped into the van for the 20 ride home -- Katelyn held the little cardboard box full of chicks in her lap all the way home. She was even talking to them, yep, wayyyy cute! They all have survived so far (4+ hours) and are just "talking" away in their little make-shift brooder.

I'll take more pics later (of course!) but here are a few for now! Oh and PS: Cole wants to go back tomorrow and buy a bunny/bunny cage/supplies with his birthday money! I think it may be a good responsibility for him. And I think my husband is going to faint! lol ;)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!

Tea Party Anyone?

Since the weather here has been so rainy & windy... we've had to be more creative with what we do indoors to keep the kids occupied while on spring break. It's hard work keeping them occupied. I'm not kidding, if I could bottle up their energy and sell it --> we'd be overnight millionaires! ;)

So we've played with toys & games; danced; watched some cartoons; did an impromptu circus act {Katelyn as the ring master/ballerina act & Cole as the juggling act} in the living room floor; and me & Katelyn even did some basic sewing. But I'm starting to run out of "fun" things... which is not good when it's looking like rain for the next 4 days! Yuck!

Luckily for me, Little Miss Katelyn always comes up with the cutest ideas of things to do or crafts to make. So while playing restaurant with her Dora kitchen, she decided to invite me & Cole to a Tea Party {fancy plastic dishes and all! yes, I super duper washed them first... complete germ-o-phobe here}. It was cute and we all enjoyed it. She even had Sierra Mist ready for Cole, the picky one who doesn't like sweet tea. Ahhh, relaxing! :)



Now I'm thinking that a tea party birthday in August might be right up her alley. I decorate cakes as a hobby, so I could totally make her a cute little teacup cake! :)