and on that farm he had some ...

pygmy goats, e-i-e-i-ohhhhh

Last week this would've been garbage,
 and, frankly, that's just a shame.

This week, though, it promises to be a special treat

for our newest little neighbors.

One of Dad's cousins has been downsizing in preparation for an upcoming move. To Son's delight an excellent offer was made for the purchase of his last ten goats, nine does and one buck ... AND kids on the way. What an awesome bonus! Yep, he's in love. They almost all have names: Elvis, Maple, Cranberry, Cinnamon ... hmmm, I see a theme building here. Anyhoo, I must agree that they are pretty darn cute, especially when prancing about and buttin' each other. The little stinkers.

As I expected. "Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way."

"This hat doesn't make me Mary Poppins. I'll still bop you."

The part that made me (and the sister who received said warning) laugh ... bop. Aside from being a funny word to say (bop, bop, bop, bop), it may just be the most tender warning she's ever given. Me thinks her clothing choices are having more of an effect on her then she'd like to believe, AND we shall find her more hats.  

time to snuggle with a book

Ice covers the land, the house, the cars, the garbage littering our yard, everything. Church was canceled and Daughter1 called into work (though a suspected case of influenza has had her down and out for the last four days anyway.) The electricity was on and off throughout the morning, so I curled up in the recliner with a window behind me and finished The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928). Being a library loan, it's only two days overdue. That's an improvement on my part I'm happy to report. Now, what to read next? ...

strike a pose

We are the champions, my friends... (come on, sing along with me)

In full disclosure the boys team won the first game, but as you can see I was pretty happy about winning the second. Ohhhh yeah !!!!

a happy birthday

For two weeks out of every year, my husband and his older sister are the same age. Because of this (and a loving mother whom no one can seem to say no to) we also have several photos like the one above spanning their lifetimes.

My mother-in-law was told she'd never have children, but four years into their marriage the birth of their miracle child came to be followed by another, and another, and so it continued. There were struggles, but there was love. My father-in-law passed away four years ago surrounded by his entire family. Everyone. His wife, his children, their spouses, his grandchildren ... even his brother and sister witnessed his last breath. Money has always been scarce, but riches .... riches have been always abounding.

zip-a-dee-doo-dah

Lunch was cooking, the special lunch I've been thinking about for days. I was going to recreate Arby's French Dip & Swiss sandwiches at home for my whole family. There were tater tots baking, au jus simmering, swiss cheese melting. It was almost noon. Not only was I preparing a meal I myself planned, BUT I was going to feed everyone at a most proper hour. Yay me. Then it happened. The house became silent. Everyone stood in their places and looked to me with the question in their eyes before it crossed their lips. What happened?!

I headed to the basement and checked the breakers. All was good. I grab the phone and called our electric company while inwardly a panic began to rise within me as I noted the time ... 11:57. Thankfully they answered. Whew. Our power outage was reported. Not three minutes later, the phone rings. Apparently their thinga-ma-jiggies at the office show power at our meter meaning the problem is not on their end. And ... so? "Um, let me put you through to the shop," she stammers. Wherein a lineman, I presume, answers the phone with absolutely no idea who I am or why I'm calling. So I repeat my story. We have no electricity. Our breakers (both in house and outbuilding) are not tripped. Company do-dads say we have electricity. Office woman sent me to him to explain the situation? I don't know. I just wanted power. (Wow, there's a discussion for another day, ey?)

I shan't complain much, though. The fellow was friendly and over the next 20 minutes which involved traipsing through the snow and several phone calls between he and I the lights came on, the oven cooked, and I had the great satisfaction of not only an awesome meal but personal accomplishment on several fronts which included new knowledge of a hidden breaker box under the meter several yards from the house that even my own husband had no knowledge of. Sweet.

on these d*#! cold nights

... it warms a mother's heart to come upon such a scene.

So much so that she must sneak about for one last shot.