An electrifying expeireince

Gosh, I am becoming worthless as teets on a boar hog. I havent posted in so long I am not even sure what I missed.

I guess I have just been busy. And tired. BR's truck is still at the shop. I dont even think its been moved. It wouldnt be a big deal, but the problems its having have been going on since the day we got it back from being rebuilt. If anyone knows why a newly rebuilt engine would have a miss in it, run hot as a pistol in just a few minutes of sitting idle, not start in cold weather, and get 1/2 the gas milage that it used to, please let me know.

Speaking of trucks. Yesterday I had to run about a dozen erronds.. BUT first I had to wait on BR to get ready to go to work. He didnt go till around 3. I had to be in town at a PTA meeting at 5 and so that left me a very short time to run around town and make my trip into walgreens. I had to go. I have some coupons that were going to expire.

Well, I started my erronds and one of them was the post office. When I pulled up I realized that I didnt have my key chain with the clicker thingy that locks my doors. Usually I leave my key in the ignition and just tote around the key that has the fob thingy. That way if I do place my key in an undisclosed location (its the Dick Cheney model of key rings) I can always drive off. Well, since my keys were in an undisclosed location (wonder if CNN could find them?) I was having to rely on the key in the ignition. I went to turn it off.

Have you ever grabbed an electric fence? If you havent I highly recommend it. Everyone should do it at least once in their life. One time we were putting in an electric fence and BR finaly got done. Then he tried to test it. He couldnt get a spark. So he fiddled a little more. It was one of those 'weed cutters'. meaning that it has a surge that runs through it and if a weed gets next to it, it will eventually cut it off.
anyway, He was convinved it wasnt working. So he hollered at me. I went out and reached down and touched it.
Yep, it worked.
He asked if I was sure.
Belive me, there is no mistaking having the crap shocked out of you. I grew up with electric fences. And we used to dare each other to touch them. I dont really like being shocked, but as a rancher sometimes you have to take one for the team. So testing an electric fence is not something I relish, but I can handle it.
So he tried to arc off it again with the screwdriver.
It was a no go.
So I reached down and touched it again.
Still working.
He again expressed his disbelief. and he touched it. He said it was NOT working.
So for a third time I reached down. This time I laid my hand on it. I swear it threw me back 2 feet.
So he reached down and touched it. then he laid his hand on it. Then he told me that I was loosing my mind.
Now there are a few things in this world that BR hates more than anything. Being shocked and snakes are two of them.

So I reached down and latched on. I grabbed hold an once I stopped glowing, I told him that INDEED it was working. Just fine.
He then reached down and grabbed it. and held it for a few minutes.
He cant fake this.
I refused to grab it again. So we racked our brains on what was wrong.
About 10 minutes later BR relized something.
He was wearing boots. and I was barefoot, standing on concrete. I was grounding and he wasnt.

ANYWAY, back to the PO. I reached up and turned the key off, remembering to pull it out. and it shocked the living daylights outa me. Shocked me so bad that I couldnt close my thumb. or hold anyting.
It hurt the entire time I was going into the Post office, standing in line, and paying for my stuff.

I went back out and was trying to phyce myself back up to turning on the truck, I was going to take it to the guy who is fixing BR's truck. or not fixing it, depending on how you look at it.

I finally convinced myself I could turn the key.
and right as I reachd for it, my cell phone started to vibrate on my hip. I am not sure how I managed to not pee all over myself. I think I was too shocked for it to happen. Honestly.

But I did turn the key. and it didnt shock me. BUT my hand still hurt and I didnt want this to happen again.
So I made a beeline for the mechanics.

I jumped out and told him what happened. He was leaving, but checked on it anyway. He was on the phone with someone asking if they knew what was wrong. Turns out it was a Ford Tech.
Come to find out, my truck is known to do this. There is nothing metal on the inside, I had schootched across the seat and have on rubber shoes. Plus, the key was half pulled out and I must have touched that. And it was raining out. Nasty and wet.

ALl I can say is its a good thing I didnt have a pacemaker.

Oh and I did try to get back at BR for that awful day where he kept making me shock myself.

He and his brother were working on an electric fence at his house. They had both been kneeling in the wet grass and working on it. Then I heard Luke ask BR how they would know it was working. BR said "we will get michelle to check it. She doesnt mind the shock and will do it for us."

SO I decided to play a little trick on them. They called me and told me to touch it and make sure it was working. I reached out and touched it.
I told them NOPE.
they tried to arc it again. It arc'd. They couldnt imagine why it didnt shock me. I asked them if it would arc, why were they calling me out there. come to find out they just wanted to watch me shock myself.

Anyway, I told them no, they arc'd it again. So I touched it again. They were confused. It was still arcing. SO this time I grabbed hold. TOld them I swore it wasnt working.
I said "y'all try it, Its not working"
so one of them touched it. It shocked the crap outa him.
This made them mad, but I said, "well I cant feel it" and grabbed hold again. And I'll be damned if I didnt lean against a fence post. It shocked the living crap otu o me.

School starts on Monday, But for me its been going strong for a few weeks. I have had about 5 PTA meetings in the last week or so. And I typed the first newletter tonight. I am actually supposed to be getting it online right now. But you see I am a little busy.
I still have to make a few signs. and then I have to work all day Thursday, its open house.
I also had a slight misunderstanding with a member on one of the boards today. That took up most of the day.

Tomorrow the boys need their heads peeled, And I have to get the last of my stuff together for Thursday.

Of course I am having to stay up. Its already 2:30, but I know the minute I go to sleep BR will call for me to cme and get him. yesterday it was about 3am that he finished up.

I have also been doing this couponing thing real serious.
In 2 trips to walmart and 2 trips to Walgreens this week alone I spent 335.
and I saved 398.24 This was for things I needed. And use. And was saved with coupons and price matching. I still spent quite a bit, way more than I wanted to. But, I got well over 50% for free. I didnt realize how well I did until I did the math right then. I knew I had some pretty decent trips. BUT not that good.

So the next time you are in line behind someone with coupons,and start to get upset. Just imagine. They are possibly saving over 1/2 their grocery bill. And if tat idiot can do it. You can too.

I think I am going to go to bed. I am tired, and still have alot ot get done before shcool starts. including making that peach jelly that I was supposed to make 5 days ago. I already boiled down the peaches, but I put them in the freezer. With all the rain I cant make jelly. It wont set.

everyones growing up

SOmething weird happens here every night around 10pm. I have a sneezing fit. Not just a single solitary sneeze. BUT an absolute, no holds barred, run to the bathroom cause you know its coming, sneezing fit. Then its over, and I dont sneeze again till the next night. at 10. actually tonight it was at 10:10. I wish I knew why it happens..

I have been cooking down my muscadines all day. Well I started yesterday afternoon. I cook them really slowly because I dont add any water to the pot. I cook and I smush, I drain, and I smush. I work the hulls, I dump it all back in and start over. It takes me hours and hours of cooking them. Well 2 days in this case. I didnt get much the last time we went. I was just not into it. The kids didnt help any and I was not up for an all day "redneck rollercoaster". Thats what I call it when I am in the bucket and he just moves me from spot to spot. and sometimes lets her down a little just to keep me on my toes.. I dont really get more than 18-20 foot up in the air. But I reckon thats high enough that it would smart pretty bad if I was to take a tumble out.

Me and the kids have been trying to get ready for school. I am going through their closet and getting together what I know they will need. They are about to outgrow all their nice shirts. I will have to get some more pretty soon.
In cleaning out their drawrs I found:
4 of my T shirts
2 pair of Rayleys pants
6 of her shirts
13 of Bows outfits or shirts or pants
2 of BR's T shirts
2 pair of his shorts
1 pair of my sleep pants
1 pair of BR's sleep pants
14 pair of panties that were mine or Rayleys
an untold number of socks that were NOT theirs
even more socks that WERE theirs
and a few things I cant remember
and ALL kinds of toys..

Now there is not a good reason for this stuff to be in there. But I do know EXACTLY how it all got there. I would ask them to help me put up some laundry and then go to doing something else. They would just take it all and shove it in a drawer. NO matter who it belonged to.

Today was a WORK day. I had to keep them busy or they would fall asleep. It all started on Friday. I asked them to pick up their rooms and keep them clean. Cause they couldnt leave the house with anyone if their rooms were not clean. Well on Sunday I was napping (had JUST went to sleep, maybe 10 minutes before, and it was cause I was holding a sleeping Bow and couldnt resist.) Well, my Mother in law showed up. NO phone call, no warning, just showed up. ANd said "I'm gona take them for a little while now, I should have been here earlier." well I was running on little sleep, had just been woken up, and it of course had woken up Bow. I said "Fine, but not till my living room is clean" so they set about cleaining it. I asked them if their rooms were clean. They said yes. Well I was nursing Bow, trying to get him back to sleep. (I was SOOO tired). I didnt look at their rooms till they left. VERY MESSY.

So I called them, told them what I had found, and that they could bet their sweet rears that they would be UP all night till they had clean rooms and then I would be getting them up bright and early Monday morning. Just for the hell of it.

Aparently they didnt belive me. I told them when they got home at 5. They ignored me, or gave me an excuse.
6. Same thing.
6:15 same thing.
at 6:45 Brett told me that he had plenty of time and wouldnt have any problems.

at 7:35 they realized they had to be done quickly, so they pretended to clean, they played and ran around and tried to call my bluff. I wasnt budgin, so they opted to clean a little. 8:30 came and went, as did 9, 9:30 and 10.
Then they started getting cranky. And tired, and swearing they would do it tomorrow. Rayley decided that I was the antichrist, and was put on this earth to torture her and was the worst mom ever.
I just smiled and reminded them. Rayley cleaned her room by herself. she did pretty good. And fell asleep around 11 the boys were up till well after midnight and NOT happy. They were done around 11:15. Then I opened their closet to put in some clean clothes. and found all kinds of clothes on the floor. it only took 10 minutes to clean it, but the whine fest took 45.

I was exhausted too. I have been having to get up and go and get BR around 6-7 every morning. His truck is at the shop still. I'd love to take a little nap, but Bow never really complies. But I also have been staying up to my normal times of midnight or later. Talking to BR on the phone, cleaning and playing on the computer. MY time.

But I kept my promise. BR called at 5:42 for me to come and get him. SO I woke them ALL up. Usually I just take Bow, I am gone 10 minutes and they never even know it. But this morning he was leaving his truck at the shop so I had to drive the 8 miles down there and wait on him. PLUS I had promised the kids they would be getting up early to go with me. And that was one torture device I wasnt going to let pass.

Talk about crying and whining and complaining. and they were even worse than me.

Once we got back I let them lay around for about an hour and it was time to get to work. They did good all day. Helping me sort their clothes, and cleaning out drawers and closets.

They really didnt even fight. And speaking of fighting. Matt has always been the one who really doesnt care, he will argue, then he will hit Brett if he has to, then he will be fine with it and walk off. at which time Brett will attack. Matt really doesnt take up for himself.

But Matt suprised me. Yesterday at one point they were fighting about something and Brett was standing in my doorway. He was jabbin at Matt and as Matt walked by he whirled around and hit him. He didnt aim, he didnt just tap him, he knocked the kid on his rear. Then tried not to laugh. He really doesnt hold a grudge. Even then he was done and happy. But Brett was stunned. He just laid there. I actually went over to check on him. Then about 5 minutes later Matt and I were in the laundry room and Brett had recovered and came to the door. I was between them. They started in again. It was a serious fight. BUT they were still laughing. I was trying to stay between them, and they were kicking and hitting and trying to get to each other. It went all around the kitchen table, and then into the living room. Rayley was screaming to quit hitting each other, and Bow was following them around and hollering encouragement. he just thought it was fun. I was getting worn out.

Once we got into the living room they kept at it. I was still between them trying to stop them, but not doing well. Then Brett got a real lick in on Matt and knocked him down. It hurt. so I thought we had reverted to Matt laying there crying and Brett getting the upper hand again. SO I backed off. I still had ahold of Brett kinda and was telling them to stop. Then Matt kicked at Brett and got him upside the head. Down BRett went and although he was a little hurt he was more stunned. That was TWICE that Matt had gotten him. I took the lull in the action to put them in seperate rooms. Thinking I needed to make them cool off. They were actually having a blast. But I did get them seperated. For my fishtanks safety if nothing else.

Rayley hated them being locked away. SHe kept trying to mediate. I told her to just leave them alone.

When they came out the conversation turned to how shocked Brett was that Matt had actually not only faught back, but done pretty good. BR has told me for a long time that eventually Matt would stop being the punching bag and start taking up for himself. And I am glad he is. For years if Brett and he had an altercation that I thought was wrong, or Brett hurt him I would tell Matt that I would hold Brett or that he could hit him back. He would barely tap him and then be fine with it. No ill feelings. ANd he still didnt have any, but he got the upper hand this time and I think he was proud of himself.

And the funny thing is, at least once a day they tie up. It ends with Matt getting the short end of the stick and Brett getting to stay the boss. Well today there was none of that. The one time that Brett started strutting like a rooster and trying to intimidate Matt, Matt just balled up his fist and Brett backed down. And he didnt just let Brett tell him what to do all day. He made up some of the rules in the games they played.

Now neither one can really get the best of Rayley. She is just not smart enough to quit. and she is smaller so she can wriggle out of alot of things. Plus she packs a mean punch.


And alot of times you think Matt is serious and he is just picking. He has a huge onery streak. Not mean, or cruel, but just like when I was pointing through the door way and teling him to go in there, he walked by and hit my hand. I growled at him, fixing to jerk a knot in his head, when he turned around he was laughing so hard and trying not to, that he was crying. Like I said, neither boy was upset with all the fighting, they were just playing. But seriously. And with Matt you always think he is serious when he isnt. Matter of fact, that kid is NEVER serious. He is the one that will walk by you and jab you in the ribs, just cause he can run fast. Both boys just went into the rooms, got books and sat and read. Then came back in here and went right to playing.

Now growing up as a single, I never really faught like that with a sibling. But BR had Luke, who is 3 years younger than him, and he assures me that its the same as they did. And they aint violent now. Might be cause BR is so big and few folks will test whether he is or not.... But they are the best of friends.

Oh and during cops on TV on Saturday I overheard this conversation:
Brett "you know, that idiot shouldnt have hit that woman. YOu NEVER hit a woman"
Matt "I know. I think someone needs to hit him"
Brett "Mama always says what goes around comes around"
Matt " yep, maybe it will be a fist next time it comes around"
Rayley " well they underarrested him, so its gona be okay"
Brett in a whisper to Matt "Boy am I glad that rule doesnt apply to sisters"
Matt "Me too. Can you imagine how mean she would be if we couldnt ever hit her back?"

Ahhhh sibling love..

But most of the conversations I hear lately start with:
"just wait till you are in 3rd grade......"
or
"Oh Matt, I just remembered something else that happens in 3rd grade....."

There was never really that much excitement about passing the torch, except in kindergarten. But I guess 3rd grade is a big step. Its a new school. Not the same one as kindergarten and Pre K are in, and you get a trapper keeper. Its hard to belive my boys are actually this old. Heck, Brett is 9. Thats half his 'at home' life gone. 9 more years and he is gone. Its sad. and scary.

I cant wait till Bow is big enough to reap what they have sowed... He is already giving them a run for their money. Oh and he is really starting to stand on his own. He still 'cruises' around the furniture, But if you are putting him down and leave him standing up he will stand for a minute or so. Or he will let go of what ever he is holding on to and stand. And he started clapping today. Actually hitting his hands together and not just flopping them around.

I am trying to get him on a sippy cup. I give him one during meal time and such. He is doing pretty good at it. When you hold it. He cant hold a cup, bottle or anything except food. Well, let me rephrase that. HE COULD. but HE WONT. He will lay it on the highchair and lay his head down sideways and drink out of it that way. Or if you give it to him on the floor you have to lay him down and prop it up. He is hilarious. But I guess thats what happens when you have never really had alot of bottles.

The one thing he has mastered is an ice cream cone. He LOVES them. And its gotten to where I have to make myself 2. Just so I can get my half. I hold it and he takes a bite. Then I take a bite and he screams at me. Between peas and ice cream this kid will never loose a pound.

mama always said "life is like a box of chocolates"

And thats true, alot of times, you never know what you will get. Other times, I know EXACTLY what I am in for.

BR and I decided to introduce the kids to some classic cinema yesterday. Forrest Gump was on the day before and BR had recorded it. Well Rayley was not really into it. But had to be right in the middle of everything, so she was playing on the floor. Then we hear a 'bang' or a thump or what ever on the wall. I looked down. She finally looked up and said:

"well it was already cracked"

"what was already cracked?" She showed me the small dust pan. It has a small dust broom that goes in it. I dont know WHY it was in here. And I dont know why she was playing iwth it. BUT she was, and had broken it. I rely on this dust pan. It cleans up messes, its easy to use and less bulky than the big one. Plus it has a flippin broom that fits in it. So I tell her:
"Go get me your favorite toy and let me break that."
Well, Leave it to Brett:
"A dustpan in your favorite toy?"
I was waiting for this. I knew the second the words were out of my mouth that one of my dear loved ones would be rude enough to point this out. Then BR threw in (once he quit laughing):
"GO get something you dont ever use unless you absolutely have to and then bitch the whole time your using it"
SO it pops into my mind and BR and I say at the same time:
"Like your toothbrush"
SHe went instead and got me a cat that is supposed to purr and talk when you watch a certain barbie movie. Swearing it was her favorite. She could care less about this cat. BUT she does have a few favorite stuffed animals. So next time I sweep I plan on getting one and using it to wipe up the dirt.

Finally it gets quiet again and we are back to watching the movie. Then out of Bretts mouth:
"why does he always say Gump after his first name?"
Well there is ONLY one answer to this. Seriously. And luckily Matt was sitting there and gave it to him
"cause thats his last name stupid"

The kids enjoyed the movie, although they didnt get quite a few of the pop culture refrences. They were lost as to who everyone except Elvis was. At least they did know that.
and they are now walking around quoting the lines from there. THANK GOD. I was SOOOO tired of Brett pretending to be Ace Ventura. I couldnt imagine spending another day hearing "aaaaaaaallllllrightyyyyyyyy THEN" and he would even walk and talk like him. Throw his head like him. and get on my nerves just a little MORE than Ace ever did.

If we can just keep it between Forrest, Carl, John Wayne, and a few others, I can handle it.

TOday we went and picked more muscidines. Or I picked more. BR sat on his tractor and at first the boys were in the bucket with me, after about 40 minutes I told them the next time the bucket got with in 3 feet of the ground they had better vacate. One asked me why. I told him that I was on the verge of throwing him out of the bucket. They were NOT picking, they were just playing grabass 20 feet up in the air, giggiling, talking about inane crap, and trying their hardest to annoy me. or make me want to throw myself out of the bucket.
Then the other one had the nerve to ask me what I would do if they didnt get out. very few times have I left them speachless. and even fewer with a look. This was not one of those times. They bailed out the next time we got close to the ground. And then they proceeded to show their daddy just how worthless they were. He got a cane pole and started beating the grapes out of the tree. And you could just see them hitting the ground with in a foot of the sheet we had laid out. They coulnt even get those. And if they did, they would eat them.

BR and I tried to tell them the story of the Hen that begged for help planting her wheat, reaping her wheat, making flour, bread and then everyone wanting to eat it. BR told them that they sure loved the muscidine jelly I had made when we ate breakfast this morning. One of them said "well, if we dont get any more muscidine jelly, I'll just eat syrup instead"

Finally I told them that if they thought this was hard, wait till I make them help me make sugar cane syrup. Well that sounded like fun to them. Then one of them was smart enough to ask how you got syrup from sugar. I told them again, CANE syrup. as in Sugar Cane. and See'ins how I aint got no mule, I would need lots of work out of two asses. BR explained what "bow'd up like a sugar mill mule" meant. They decided they better go play somewhere before I make them start cuttin cane. Off they went into the woods. Uncle Gerald has kept trails big enough for a tractor cut through them for years. I told them to stay away from the pond, not to bite a snake and not leave each other. Then I went back to pickin. I got almost a bucket and a half. Then it was time for BR to go to work. So we decided to go and fetch the kids. They had checked in a few times, but not lately. We hadnt been on the trail but about 2 minutes before I saw a snake in front of us. It was a pretty long one, but it went to fast for me to identify. We drove around for about 20 minutes, then headed back to the truck. I set off the alarm. Then we set off again. We decided to check the oil well and then the aunts houses. Ice cream is a huge draw for kids. They were at neither. So we headed back to the truck, and I went into my moms to tell her what we were doing incase they came to where my truck was. Low and behold there they were. They knew better than to run off with out telling us. They are allowed all in the woods there. They can go to anyones houses. But they have to TELL someone. BR and I wernt worried. We were just hot, tired and ready to go home. and were close to leaving them. Just as a lesson. They would have went to someones house. Its like a 100 acre farm with 4 houses on it. they all own their own property, but are kinda close. The only way to get to our house is either get on the highway and drive 2/10th of a mile and come up our drive way, or through the woods, down a creek and across the national forrest. They can find their way home since they hunt those woods.

I had to drive BR to work, and will be having to go and get him in the middle of the night now. WE had to take his truck that we had rebuilt back to the mechanic yesterday. He is bringing his semi truck home, well to the old place, (where all the family lives) and parking it on the oilwell road. (dont think this is a Jed Clampet oil well, this is a 'got 82 cents royalties last year' oil well) And I take him to it and pick him up when he is done. Which is between 3 am and 7 am. Not a big deal.

Oh and he got him a new toy yesterday. A harmonica. Just like the one he lost in the housefire. Even the case is the same. He got a horner or what ever. So now I am blessed to hear that AND the stupid turkey calls. If I get them a banjo I will be living in deliverance.

I just about have the T shirts for the primary school ordered. I just have to wait on the final okay from the principals. I will be glad to get this done. I think we decided this year to pick a T shirt and go with it for the future. Not change it every year. Which is something I have wanted to do for years. But in the past it was thrown out when ever I made that motion cause it was such a good fundraiser. Well, kids do grow, moms will still have to buy the shirt. and its not like they stay in 2nd grade their whole lives. But its so much easier than having to come up with something cute every year. Once that is done and the school supplies for the Elementary school are all put together I think I will be done till I have to meet with the yearbook company.

I am actually looking forward to school. And not just cause I get to get rid of 2 kids for a few hours. But I really enjoy the PTA. I love being a part of something that makes some sort of a differnce. That accomplishes something.

Speaking of which. I finally remembered to call the NRA about the gun I won back in April that has an issue with loading the shell. they called me RIGHT back and got something set up to get it fixed. I also managed to volunteer for that. I volunteered to help with the banquet next year. Its for a branch of the NRA. The friends of the NRA. They are not the political part, they are the 'fun' part. The money they raise goes back into the shooting sports, 4H, woman in the outdoors, and other things. I have wanted to get involoved with this for a long time, but never knew who to ask. So I am REALLY excited about that.

BR even suggested I do it. I never expected that. He gripes enough about my deisel consumption as it is. And I am only on 3 boards. I almost voluneteered the other night at the Turkey Banquet forthe National wild Turkey Association, but refrained. Maybe when I get Bow a little older and Rayley in school.

Oh and I am still trying to make taffy. A friend told me to just add powdered sugar to some hot jelly and pull. Well she didnt say how much hot jelly. and it was starting to resemble the blob in my kitchen when I finally threw the whole thing away.

I am going to try to get a small plot of corn and okra going next week. It will have to be watered so I cant go too big. But some nice sweet corn would be SOOO good. and everyone loves fried okrie. I dont care for it boiled. at all. But fried... I could eat my weight in it. and speaking of eating... I have had to increase my cooking lately. More meat, more veggies, more everything. This morning I had to make 3 rolls of sausage and 2 pans of biscuts, over a dozen eggs and It took a half a jar of jelly and 3/4 of a gallon of milk. And Bow aint even really eating yet.

Summertime sweets

Well, I let another week get by with out whining to you about my day. Not that I was whine free, I just didnt have the time to sit down and waller in self pity..

BR and I went earlier in the week with the kids and picked muscidines before he went to work. They were EVERYWHERE. We took the tractor and sat in the bucket and picked them as high as we could reach. I will be honest. At one point, when I had the 4 of them up in the bucket and was in control I concidered leaving them 20 feet up in the air and jumping in my truck and leaving. Just to run to the store to get a Dr Pepper, (it was over 100*s after all), and show them just how much they DO need me. :) But I refrained. Rayley didnt save many. She picked a BUNCH, but she ate all of them, and would eat the ones you were picking too if you didnt watch her. Once we were done there we went on down to Aunt Jeans, They of course were given ice cream. After our visit. where Aunt Jean has declared that there is something wrong with Bow. Something DEAD wrong. She said that she has never seen a baby who will NEVER sit still. He wore out both my great aunts, and my grandfather and his wife pretty quick. He just is constantly doing something, going somewhere, pulling on something, or trying to eat something. And insists that he does it while sitting/standing in your lap. Or climbing on you. he is like a squirrel. He has to be at the highest point at all times and refuses to get still.

The only time he quits moving is when he finally passes out. He will be nursing and is steady kicking his leg. or throwing his arm. Its literly constant. Everyone is flabbergasted at the fact that he does this all day, everyday. And that I am still sane.

As we were leaving Aunt Jeans I had to run down to Aunt Etta's. She left before I did and the kids rode with her. I was less than 3 minutes behind them. By the time I got down there they were all in HER kitchen eating ice cream cones. I guess I cant fault them, it is hot outside, and Blue Bell is the next best thing to Heaven.

As we were leaving there I happened to look in the bed of my truck (you do that when you back up) and guess what I saw? yep. That hay that BR told me the day before that he would bring to work. He said there was no sense in me wasting my time or deisel to drive over to the yard and bring it. Of course there wasnt. I wasnt hot, tired or ready to sit down. By the time I spotted it I had already been in the pasture for hours. I just wanted to sit in the house and let the AC lull me into a deep careless sleep. Not that I would be able to do it, but it would be nice.

we finally made it home and I was just too lazy to do anything about the muscidines. I laid them out and started preparing for grocery day. I got my lists, my coupons and my sales papers and got to work. Kmart was selling wranglers for 9.00 a pair. I was praying that walmart would honor the ad.
I have to have 10 pair to start the school year with.

I managed to go to walgreens and save over 30.00 with coupons and sales. and then at walmart I had quite a few price matches, and ended up saving over 80.00 between them and coupons. I even got fruity pebbles cereal for 49 cents a box. The kids and BR are thrilled now that I am doing this coupon thing. They get cereal again.

I also had a PTA meeting this week. It was for Matts old school. He moves up to the Elementary this year, but Rayley will be in the primary next year so I am going to help out there this year and at the boys school.

I didnt get home till 10 that night. And Martha my Mother in law had kept the kids. even Bow. by the time I got home she was so glad to see me. She said Bow liked to have killed her with all his climbin and going and coming. She ran out of here like a scalded dog when I got here.

The next day of course was another pea day. Then it came time to do SOMETHIN with them muscidines. The kids had been beggin to help me make the jelly so I relented. I got everyone in there with a bucket and told them to pop the skin and pop the insides into a bowl. If you have never seen a muscidine its a very hard skinned wild grape. Dark in color. they taste like a grape, except more musky and sorta with a bite. Not the sugar sweet you find in grapes. Did I mention they are THICK skinned? when you eat one you bite it, get the middle out, work out the 4 seeds and eat the middle. Then you chew on the skin. till you get tired. You dont chew it up. Its like chewing on a piece of leather with good juice in it.

And I reckon its the acid in them, but the juices make your hands burn. I had to juice the pulp, which is NOT easy, and then the skins. Matt quit popping them after about 20 minutes. Brett lasted about 45. Then he wanted to use the pestel and strainer. that lasted less than 5 minutes. Once they went to bed I decided that this was enough of this, so I threw them in a pot on the stove and boiled them down. This is not the best way to do it. Not quite as much flavor, but not enough to really notice.

I got them all done sometime in the middle of the night and put the juice in the fridge. The next day I was able to get 7 jars of jelly made. Not bad. It set up just perfect.

BR didnt work much on Friday, so we went and got my new gun. Its pretty. I am real proud of it. and the older kids also went and saw a movie with the day care my mother in law works at. BR and I went and ate mexican food. Bow was with us and I swear at one point he climbed OUT of the high chair and onto the table. He was strapped in. THis child is a hudini. We also had to get feed and drop it off for the horses.

Saturday BR was going in for a full day of work, but decided to get up early enough to spend some time with the kids. We opted to go and pick more muscidines. BR made breakfast of pancakes and right after I got out of the shower my sister in law called. She wanted the kids. Her and BR's brother were bored and decided to take the kids to the zoo in lufkin. BR said to ask the kids to decide what they wanted to do. I did. They picked the zoo. then wanted to know if we would wait to go and get the grapes till they got home. uhhh NO.

Once they left BR decided that we still needed to go and get them muscidines. It was nigh on noon. So off we went. Tractor and can pole and sheet in hand. We were going to go up in the bucket and put a sheet on the ground and hit them with the cane pole.

4 hours later I had 2 full buckets and was thinking it was at least 110* outside. about 30 minutes before I got all I could reach my grandfather drove down and took Bow. He had decided about then that he was through with the heat and sitting in that stupid stroller. He took him up to Aunt Jeans to get some ice cream.

BR and I went ahead and went out to the garden to get some watermelons. I wanted to make some watermelon Jelly. We got 4 good ones. They are just rotting out there. they made pretty good this year and eventually you just cant eat any more.

We went by and got Bow. He had worn the old folks out again. and boy was he tired. He rode back to my truck with us on the tractor, then I put him in his seat and turned on the truck. I went to the bucket with BR to get out the half of a bucket of muscidines that we had stopped and got at another vine. before we got that little bit out of the tractor bucket and into the truck, he was out like a light.

The peas had just been hanging on the vine when I went through the garden so I called my mother in law and asked her if she wanted to go and pick. She said yes,and I told her that we would go about 6:30. She had my kids and so I got started on the watermelons. I had to cut up the pink part for jelly, then I had to cut up and take the skin off the rinds for preserves. I decided to make some sweet preserves and then some that taste kinda like bread and butter pickles.

She called me back at 6 and told me it was 106 outside so it would be a little later before she showed up. hmmm.. I was only off by 4 degrees earlier.
I wasnt able to get enough rind cut up to get it started in the brine before she got here and then we had to pick and I had to shell the peas, so it was about 10 before I really got started back on the watermelon. I was only able to get 2 jars of jelly made and only got one batch of rinds cut up and soaking. Then I was wore smooth out.

I went this morning and got my newspapers and have spent the day today finishing up what I could. I was able to get the 2nd batch of rinds soaking, and now have them in their syrup sitting overnight. The first batch is done and canned already, as is the 7 pints of jelly I got made.

Today alone I have done 3 dishwasher fulls of dishes and untold sinkfuls that I did by hand (breakfast, last nights watermelon mess, todays watermelon mess, the canning mess, cleaning 3 dozen more jars and lunch dishes. Supper dishes are currently in the sink. I am pretending they have stuck on food and need to soak.

Tomorrow I have to pick peas and get those new muscidines cooked down. Then can the jelly from that and the perseves from the last batch of rinds. Or at least thats my goal.

Matt did get mad at me this week. He came in from outside with enough sand and dirt on him to plant a potatoe garden, and when I told him to go on the porch and strip he instead went into the kitchen that I had JUST cleaned and swept, striped and left his jeans on the floor. surrounded by a halo of dirt. I made him go in there and sweep it up. He had a melt down. Something about them never getting a day off from having to pick up something, or clean something or do something instead of playing. I told him that when they gave ME a day off, I'd give them one. Well he stomped off to his room. After he swept. BRett came out a little while later
and told me that Matt was going to run away. And he had to go to keep him company. I told them that was fine. They could each have a bottle of water, a breakfast bar and they had to take the walkie talkies. Matt was walking out and I told him to go ahead and take his dirty laundry with him. No sense in me having to do it.

Out they went. They were chattering back and forth, nothing important. Matt came on once and said "wonder if she thinks I am still here?" Brett said he didnt know. Then Matt told him "well, I am going to go down to Daddy's deer feeder and sit under it. come down around dark and get me if she hasnt missed me by then."

Brett said "okay"

Matt came back on and told him again "dont you leave me down there, you better come and sit with me"

Brett promised he would. I was laughing so hard I couldnt help it. I said "while your down there, check your Daddy's corn level, it will save me the trip"

it was about 45 minutes till dark and the boys had decided they were going to sleep outside. SInce I had already confenscated the blankets they were trying to take it promised to be an awful evening. Not that hey would get cold. it was in the high 90's.

Rayley had came back inside a little while before and she decided she was tired of the boys 'runnign away', so she went out on the porch and started hollering at them to come on home. I had said to tell them that. I had said NO such thing.

Brett came on the walkie talkie and told Matt. "didi you hear that? SHe is gona make us come in. "

"well it took her long enough, I am about to starve to death, and them dogs barkin are gettin to me"

Do you know neither one of them has quit whinin cause I wouldnt let them stay out all night? and no matter how many times I tell them I didnt make them come n they wont belive me.

Heck, I wasnt wanting them to come in till they were begging me to come and find them. I cant even get these kids to walk to my bathroom on the otherside of my bedrom ( and our house is only 42 foot long) after dark. Going outside for ANYTHING is out of the question and God FOrbid the lights go out. or I turn them out!

Finally, a day of NOTHING planned!!

Waking up this morning I had a clear list of my chores for today.
1. Drive and get my newspapers, for my coupons
2. pick up my house, make it presentable for the week
3. clip my coupons, look through my sales papers and write up my list with prices and such
4. do a load or two of laundry
5. Relax


So I got up, asked the kids if they wanted to go with me to Zavalla, they said no. since BR was here and had went to bed fairly early I decided I could leave Bow. There was NO sense in getting him dressed, buckiling him in, driving there, waking him up, taking him out, getting change, walking back out, get a few papers, take them to the truck, go back and get a few more, take them back to the truck, walk back to the paper machine, get a few more, take them to the truck, then buckle him in, drive back home, wake him up again and then get him out.

So I asked the kids to please watch him, Not a problem. Well, I went and brushed my teeth, found some shoes, had them leave the room with him so he wouldnt cry and walked to the door. Rayley right behind me. She wanted to go. Well, I basicly would have the same scenario with her, except I hopefully wouldnt have to tote her. So I told them to all load up. This took a good 8 minutes of wrangeling and then we had to buckle and all that.

I had started the truck and was about to back out, when I realized Matt wasnt in there, I came back in the house, he was in the room playing. I told him that I was buying soda's if he wanted to go. He jumped up and ran. So we drove and got my Beaumont ENterprise, it is a mile down the road, but to get the Lufkin Daily News I have to drive pert near 20 miles. one way.

When we got home I wanted to come in and go through my coupons, get them cut, looked through and all that. I was lucky enough that all the kids wanted a comics paper. Luckily I had 6 papers. Then I started going through and getting out what I wanted. The rest went in the floor. And Bow decided these were his play toys. He kept wanting up in my lap. Brett decided to help me out by playing with him. THey played in those papers for a while. I looked down once and Bow was on his back, in the middle of 9,000 sheets of newsprint flaling his arms and legs back and forth like he was making snow angels.

BR got up and came in here to sit for a while. I had saved one paper, so he could read it. He sat down and started looking through it. "Did you read this" he asks.... uhhhh NOPE. So, he reads me a few stories. I was sitting here cutting out my coupons and thinking, "wow, this is nice, he can read me the paper and I can do this. Since I LOVE reading the paper." But alas, his idea of interesting stories ran out pretty quick. He is the only person I know that can go through a sunday paper in less than 20 minutes. I had visions of a cuban cigar factory where they paid someone to read the laborors the news..

Oh well, I only had 3 more inserts to go and Bow wanted up here really bad, so I put them up. Brett had helped me so much. Just by playing with Bow. And then when Rayley came through, saw me busy and decided she had to eat something. RIGHT THEN. he jumped up, offered to find her something and asked if I wanted something too.

My sweet child is back. He used to always be like this, always wanting to help, worrying about others, being sweet and helpful and cheerful. But lately, more times than not he is just a butthead.

Next thing I know BR disapears, I didnt think anything of it, then he came out half dressed for work. It was only 1. I asked him if he was going to work early. He looked at the time and said "actually, I meant to go in earlier than this". Well, I had planned to make him some chicken patties for lunch to take with him, since we were out of sandwich ham. (I found out when I went to get a peice the other day, noone tells me these things....) I got up and got the oven started. I just have to throw them in, but they take 20 minutes to cook.

Of course since I was not having a Miss CLeo day I didnt know he wanted to leave an hour and a half early.

Right after he left I settled in to start some picking up, cleaning and thought about organizing my room. Its a disaster, I never can get in there to clean it. I prefer to do my cleaning during midday. But BR is in there asleep then. By the time he wakes up and leaves I am either involved in something else, or have used my energy up doing something already. Of course I also have to deal with Bow, constantly holding him or keeping him entertained is not as easy as it sounds. And my bathroom is 3 times as bad as my room. Not nasty, it just needs a good cleaning out. Just general junk. and it needs reorginized. Me bringing in a stockpile of differnt things I need to get alot of organizing done. But honestly, when he sleeps during the day it just makes it impossible.

Then I remembered that he had promised a friend at work to pick him up some hay the other day. And had forgotten. Actually, a friend called him, asked if he knew where to get some hay. BR said, "sure, I'll call my old lady and see if she can find some"
Well, I dont buy square bales. I buy and feed my horses round bales. So I had to really think about it. I dont know many folks who use square bales anymore. Then I remembered someone, called their daughter in law, and she wasnt home, so I told BR one more person, told him to call my cousin ( actually, his dad is my cousin, his mom is BR's cousin, so he is our cousin..... ) He had some and told BR to come by and get a few bales that day or yesterday. BR said he would. Then forgot. and forgot again. Sad thing is, he drives 8 miles to work, and passes this guys house (about 1/4 miles from our house) on the way. So when I remembered I text'd him. Knowing he didnt have enough signal to awnser the phone. Well, once I did that I started getting ready to vacumm.

Then my granfather called. wanting to know when BR's next days off were. Saturday, they have been Saturday for the most part for QUITE a while. Well come to find out they were raking the hay today. I asked him if they thought they would get it all bailed up today. He was wanting BR to load the lay with the tractor onto my trailer and us get it to the big barn at my uncles about 9 miles down the road. I told him I would make sure that BR came in early enough one day this week to do it. He is just soooo worried about it sitting out in that field for 3 days. Cause you know, there is nothing that will ruin dead grass faster than to sit in a feild for 3 days.

After I got off the phone with him I wrote a note to remember to ask BR about the tractor.

And promptly forgot about the hay that BR was supposed to have picked up. 20 minutes later BR called me in a panic. "I forgot the hay!, I swore I would go by and get it yesterday or the day before and forgot it."
"I know, thats why I text'd you, to find out if you had remembered today"
"well, when you get there, tell Chris I am REALLY sorry, I promised him that I would be there. Tell him I just let it slip my mind!"

ahhhhh.... So, I gathered up the kids, told them to load up and we drove down the road to the hay. While I was out I decided to go ahead and drop off the paper I had bought in Zavalla for a friend of mine. I had offered to take the bails to BR's yard, but he said to just keep them at home, he would bring them in tomorrow. I bet he forgets.
While I was out I picked up a loaf of bread, cause my MIL had only remembered to get me one on Thursday. I am not sure why. We can go through a loaf in half a day.

It dawned on me that I ought to go ahead and take the lowboy trailer over to the hayfield, maybe they would load the first bails on it, and then after I went to town and bought groceries tomorrow I could come home, take those bails to Uncle Busters, and then by then BR would be up, could load the remaining bails and everything would work out just fine. Uncle Buster was supposed to come and get the hay with his big trailer, but its got a flat. So it was up to me and my little lowboy.
Plus his truck has been messing up lately.

I decided to go on home, came in, started on the kitchen. It was a disaster. The kids settled in and Bow was playing so nice. Especially concidering that he had fallen asleep on our last excursion. I got it about half way done. Making my grocery list a little at a time, remembering things I saw on sale in the few minutes I could look at the circulars, and coupons. I had to get my grocery list done today. If I dont have a comprehensive one I wont save any money.

The phone rang. IT was my grandfather. Could I bring my lowboy over there, maybe they would load it for me tonight. All I had to do was drop it. I told him I would be there in 10 minutes.

I said yes, so I went out to hook up to it. It was parked by the house. The kids had drug the old steps that were in peices infront of it. Nails sticking up everywhere. they had thrown 3 bags of yard trash in front of it, and there was a 60 gallon trashcan full in front of it.

I moved all that and was about to back up to it and saw the trailer itsself. Apparently when BR had them pick up the yard to bushhog and weedeat the other day, they had put everything on the trailer. EVERYTHING. There was an extension cord, 5 tubes of grease, 2 haydite blocks, various tools, a hard had, welding rods, welding helmet, and of course the kids had also been using it as a track for their 37 matchbox cars that they had snuck outside. I had to pick up ALL of that. Plus more crap that I cant remember.

I finally got it all cleared up and went to back the truck up to the trailer. Then I remembered having took my ball off my hitch. So I found it in the back of my truck, got it out and tested the nut to see if I could screw it back on. Nope, it wouldnt go more than 8 threads in. The nut was DIRTY. BR had called me by now, I was outside, hot sweaty, pissed and now couldnt find a pipewrench, cresent wrench, nothing. ANd I knew the WD40 was no where to be found. Cause about a week ago, I got tired of the door waking Bow up everytime one of the idiots opened it. So BR was outside and I sent BRett out to ask him to send me in some WD40. BR sent him back in here to tell me to use one of those WD40 pens I had bought and stuck in a drawer. I had already thought about that, belive me, it would be MUCH easier if I could use my own instead of having to ask him. The pen was dried up, cause some courious dear had opened the package, tore off the plastic that held on the cap, and removed the cap.

When BRett came in and told me that I could use one of those pens I just gave up. BR came in a little while later and said "it still squeaks" I told him I didnt have any WD40, which is why I sent Brett out to get some, and he proceeded to go over and find the pens to show me, that I indeed did. Luckily, when I found those pens I had been so mad that I just threw them back in the junk drawer and moved on. He swore he didnt know where in the world any would be. I know there are at least 10 cans floating around here. But where I dont know.

Anyhow, when he called me and I was outside banging the nut and bolt and trying to clean them out, cussing the fact that I have bought enough WD40 over the years to grease all the palms in washington DC and didnt have a single can anywhere on this hill, he suggested I go into the storage building, to my right, about 2 foot to the side, up against the wall sitting on a box was 3 cans of WD40, just to make it easy on myself. And acted like I was an idiot for not thinking of it sooner.

I sprayed them and came in to deal with the kids. I had left them alone for about 45 minutes. They had destroyed the small parts of cleaned house I had managed to accomplish.

Again.

I had told them on my newpaper trip this morning that the house was going to be clean come hell or high water by the end of today. All they had to clean was their rooms. ANd since they had been cleaned on Friday, it shouldntn be a problem.

Once I got off the phone with BR, nursed Bow and headed back out I was semi calm again. ANd the WD40 had worked wonders. I was able to screw the nut on with NO problems. I backed up to the trailer, got it hooked up and we headed out.

I showed up at the hayfield adn the boys saw my grandfather at the other side. I stopped, put her in park and the boys bailed out and ran into Aunt Etta's. But I kept looking at Honey. It looked like he waved at me. Then he waved again. So I drove all the way across it. I got to him and he said "why didnt you stay over there? I was coming to you."
"Cause it looked like you were waving me over here. you had both arms outstretched and were flopping them around like a bird"
"I was telling you to stay."

AAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH.

So I decided to sit it out down there. They were about done anyway. And heck, if I could get them to load me up, I could get this done right now, there was only 10 bales, half were ours, I knew I could get 5 bales on my truck at least if I tried real hard. Plus, Uncle Gerald was in his pepper garden and came over on his golf cart. He told me he was going to check on the peas tonight and would let me know if I needed to come in the morning.

Then I look up and in pulls Uncle Buster. WHAT THE HELL?
I walked across the feild and he said that I could go on home, he was going to take the 5 for me. I said okay, and I fiqured that a 70 year old man would put 4 bales on the trailer (3 end to end will fit just fine, real nice and tight, but if you put them half up on the rails, you can put 2 side by side and shove the last one on the back and push them real tight, OR put the last one in the back of the truck). But he decided to load 3, and put the other 2 on top. Now this WILL work, but you have to have good tight rolls, they have to be spaced just right and the right size. Its a very percarious load. And not many people will do it. I would have done it with a double bottom layer (I had already thought about it, since there was supposed to be 10 bales. I was going to put 4 on bottom, half on the trailer and half on the rails, dipping in the middle, 3 on top of that in the middle sitting in the grooves and one in the bed of my truck. ) But no matter how many times I said "look, I'm here, I'm hooked up, and I dont mind bringing a few bails" He said NO this will work.

So they put the first 3 on. We got them tied down. Then they put the first one on top. I didnt like the way it looked when they picked it up. You could tell it was loose. And this was some of the smallest bales I had seen. they were very narrow. They got it semi stable and went and got the other one. I was standing at the doull looking at the backside from where they were putting it on, and I was kissing at my little mini terrier. He came running and jumped up in my arms. About that time those 2 bales came tumbiling down. I again suggested we just get it over with and get it on my truck. But no, this was GONA work. Heck by now even Honey was agreeing with me. And he NEVER agrees with me, unless I convince him that he came up with the idea. which is getting easier now that he is getting senile. I mean older. ....

They put one back up there, and I just watched. I made sure the other dogs were no where around and started back to my truck. If they didnt need me I wasnt gona sit here getting zero miles to the gallon. Plus I had promised Honey I would go home and load up the tractor, so I could come and pick the hay up off the side of the road when they lost it. If they made it out of the field.

They decided pretty quick that those bales just wernt gona sit. So they started over to my truck. Now I have had MANY a bale of hay on my truck. I started using round bales YEARS ago to feed my horses. And it only took me about 6 years to convince my grandfather that horses WONT sit and eat the hay till they die. If my hungry gutted nags didnt do it, then NO horse would. I still havent convinced my father in law. Anyway, of all the bales of hay I have had, I have NEVER had them this small. I was afraid they would fall out through the hole between the ramps. I was glad I had a chain between them.

We finally started off. It didnt take long and both Bow and Rayley were out like a light. They needed a nap anyway. Once we got there I had to back completely into a barn, that was made JUST big enough for a doulley to go through the doors and opened up bigger at the back. BUT to make it more fun there was buckets of crap stacked up INSIDE the opening, just inches away from both tires. and I had to get in and hook it to the right to get it where we wanted the hay. Cause putting it where it was easy to get to would be.... I dont know... sensible...???
I really dont know why I deal with people that are retired. They have WAY too much time on their hands and dont mind doing double the work. And why in the HELL would a person who has built more than one barn, NOT make it a drive through?? or not put the gate facing a VERY small opening between trees where you literly have to grease your truck to get it to squeeze in there.

We got in there and pushed the bales off. Once we got both trucks unloaded we were on our way again. The kids were still asleep and I was going to get home before 5. Still time to get my grocery list done, the living room and kitchen recleaned and my laundry folded. But first I had to check on the muscidines. I needed to know if I should buy more jars for jelly tomorrow. They are about 1/2 ripe. So yep, its about time. The kids are so excited. They want to pick them in the morning. I dont. I want to wait and let BR take them to pick.. Mostly cause I am lazy, but I also know how much work will go into making the jelly and I want to put it off as long as possible. cause once you pick them you have to cook them and deal with them.

Once we got home I told the kids to please get their stuff picked up. They wanted to help me instead. I told them they could do all of that, BUT, they were still going to clean their rooms. Of course as usual I was able to work about 20 minutes, then I have to sit down and reassure Bow that I am still here, he can still nurse and I havent abandoned him. This usually takes about 15 minutes. ITs not quite 2 steps forwards and one step back, but its close.

The kids wanted fried spam for supper, so we did that, and Rayley was worthless cleaning her room. I had promised them that they wouldnt go to bed till their rooms were clean. Around 11 they decided the only way they would get a movie tonight was to help Rayley pick up the last of her toys. Whats funny is, by the time the 'play' screen came up, they were all asleep.

Of course the last 3 hours of the evening was spent trying to explain to BR what I was talking about on the room addition. ANd him telling me I was an idiot and not listening to him. I KNOW what he is saying. But I promise, he hasnt got a clue what I am saying. And since he waits till he is at work, drawin a picture in his truck that I will never see, and hasnt looked at the picture I drew up, I dont think he will ever grasp what I am talking about.

We HAVE to build a room on. We planned on a living room, and in the bargin I am getting a laudry room. SInce the launtry room/panty is going to only be 1/2 the length of the living room I had decided to fill that void in with a porch. so the foot print is the same size, and its all under one roof. Then there will be a door leading into the living room from the outside, and one into the pantry/laundry from outside. off that porch. This makes perfect sense to me, I can see it in my head, and cant understand why in the hell he cant. BUT tonight he came up with the idea of just building a box, and putting a wall in the middle (building it out of logs, since we are eventually going to put a new outside on the trailer and wanted it to be logs). I said no problem. same foot print, same roof, just a foyer. This is where I loose him. Well, the first time I lost him was saying "all under one roof"

I got "of course its all under one roof you dumbass, why would you put two roofs on what is just two rooms? thats stupid." Uhhhhh I meant, there is going to be a 30X24 roof, a 30X24 floor, and there is going to be a 20X24 living room, a 10X12 laundry/pantry and a 10X12 covered porch.

Now the foyer had him really baffled. He keeps saying "part of the lving room" well yea. technically it is. BUT its not going to have a couch sitting in it and I could still put a door there to go into the pantry. My goal is not have to traipse all the way through the living room from the car into the kitchen with groceries. AND for the kids to be able to take their muddy and nasty selves STRAIT into the pantry/laundry room, and not through a somewhat clean house. I plan on putting a sink in there. AND during hunting season, when something is killed, you just go strait in there, and not through the living room.

He keeps telling me its kinda like a hallway, that is just open into the living room. Yes, thats pretty much what I see if we just do the box thing. Then he starts talking about french doors. Where?? in the living room. well does he want to wall off the foyer/hallway/walled in porch? This started off another round of questioning my intellegence. I dont know what he wants. But everytime I mention a door into the pantry he says "I dont care how many doors you have leading outside, I guess if it looks retarted thats just gona have to be lived with. " and then I realize he is talking about putting a porch on all of this too. That will double the price. The roof and floor are the expensive parts!

A simple project and it isnt even past the planning stages and I could kill him. PLUS every idea he has had as far as walls go, is making it VERY clear that he is not going to give me a chance to paint it. I guess he is scared I will put camoflauge polka dots on the walls or something. But thats okay, If he does that, and insists on wood walls, I will just have to get my bright colors in there some other way.. Plus I will then have the current living room / future dining room to paint. and the kitchen.. I have always wanted a red dining room.

ANd I think our bedroom needs a coat of paint. Since I have a Texas theme going in there I am concidering painting red, and blue stars on the wall where border should be, and then coming down to where wainscoating would be and painting it red. then putting up an oak chair rail to seperate it.

I have always wanted a seafoam something though... I lvoe that color... Maybe for the laundry room.... It will calm me while I am scrubbing stains...

Oh well. This might not ever get done, or it might. It depends on if I can explain to him and make him understand my ideas. We need it. badly. We are about 5 people too many in this house.

Now I have to go to bed, with out a grocery list, with coupons that still need clipping, circulars that need going over and prices checked, with 2 loads of laundry still not done, and the dishwasher full. They are clean, but I havent emptied it. Of course it doesnt matter, I cant go to the store in the morning. I have to go and pick peas.

Maybe I should take up Turkey Hunting.

Its really never interested me. I go more for big game. If I am going to waste my time getting up before dawn and traipsing out through the cold, to sit in a COLD stand, and freeze my toes off, while I am denied my cigerettes and Dr Pepper, plus my computer, I am going to kill something that feeds me for more than one meal. Plus its a teeny target. And I HATE those calls. They are like nails on a chalk board. They turn my stomache, and make my hands dry. I dont know why I always want to put on lotion after I hear one, but it makes my skin crawl, my stomache turn and stimulates a need to mosturize. Not my idea of fun. I have been known to hide any calls that BR manages to bring into this house.

But today was the National Wild Turkey Federation Banguet and we always go. And they usually have some good stuff there. We enjoy two of these things a year, the NRA banquet and the NWTF banquet. We have been doing them for years and always save up the money to go and support our local chapters. One day the boys will be enjoying the bounties of what we donate. And it gives me a reason to put on makeup, dig out my fat babies, and BR and I get to enjoy an evening out. Kid free.

Of course it started out in the pea patch. All my days do here lately. I put up 11 more meals worth last night. That makes 66. I honestly cant put anything else in my freezer. I had to put this stuff in the fridge freezer. I had to take all the flour and cornmeal and such out of that freezer to fit it in there.

I woke the boys up to help me pick. They were NOT happy about that.. We got out there and I told them that to make any money they would have to get busy. They just kinda sat down at the front of the row and started staring at the peas. I started picking. Matt got to working a little, but was still running way behind me. And Brett was still staring at the fist plant.

I told Matt that since he was doing so well and Brett was just sitting there that when he got done, if he did his row RIGHT, and didnt leave alot he would get to go where ever he wanted while I sat out there all day and waited on Brett to finish. He wanted to go to my MIL's. So I told him I would call her and ask.

He got busy. Brett was STILL sitting there. I did my row, Matt was half way done with his and so I jumped over onto his. He was at least showing some get up and go. I met him about 1/4 of the way down. I told him to turn around and lets go back, you really would be suprised at how many you miss just cause of the angle. He did miss quite a few, but was catching most of them on the way back. I only pointed out about 35. Thats a far cry from the 112 that I picked after him the other day.

Brett had started moving by now and I jumped over onto his row. Starting at the front. I had emptied my two and half gallon bucket before I started. I found 18 peas on the first 2 plants. He had stared at these plants for over an hour.

I have offered them money. About 200 peas fit in a small bucket, I offered them 3 cents a pea OR 3.50 a bucket. They are thrilled with the 3.50 a bucket. I will explain it to them when the season is over.

Money didnt light a fire under them, more money didnt light a fire under them, and even a promise of going where ever they wanted today didnt. THey could go to Aunt Jeans, THEY LOVE to go there, my grandfathers, I was trying to get ahold of my MIL. Just where ever. But no. Its not that I want to force them to work in the garden. Its that I want to spend some time with just me and them, we never get to. AND I want them to appriciate the food, where they get it and possibly learn a little about the best way to live. Self relience is an amazing thing when you work hard for everything. Its great to know that you can survive. By growing and hunting your own food. Plus it tastes sooo much better.

Finally, after I had 3/4 of a bucket. and he barely had 1/2, I told him, if you make enough money you can buy you a cell phone. He got BUSY. I really didnt know he wanted a cell phone THAT bad. He is 9. But DAILY he and his brother ask me if I will buy them a cell phone. At least once a day. ANd its not like I am on mine 24/7. They dont even work here at home. And he never goes anywhere where you can use it.

I really dont want to buy them a cell phone. Really I dont. I dont think they need one. I dont think any 9 year old needs one. Heck, I was in 8th grade before I got my own phone in my room. And I paid for it with my birthday money.

I wonder if you can get a track phone that will allow you to only text message? They could text each other. I dont want them to be able to call other people. And they are NOT allowed to have them at school. Its a HUGE nono.

When we got done pickin we got to the old place and started shellin. Uncle Gerald and Aunt Etta had to leave before we were done so I finished them up with the help of abbot and costello. They were bound and determined to loose a finger. OR see just how many peas you could shove through at once with out clogging the whole machine up.

I had made plans with my mother to keep the kids this evening. Since she is the only one that will keep Bow. At all.
When we got home I went strait for the shower. By the time I got out of the shower my house was again wrecked. BR was off today, and got up shortly after we got home at around 11. We had until 5:00 to leave, but I still wanted to go ahead and get my make up on and hair done. I know the kind of catasprophes that can happen around here if I wait till a normal time to do it.

Of course while I was flatironing my hair, which resulted in me having it all piled on top of my head held up with barrets and clipie things to make sure I did a good job on it. I looked like a sheepdog. Of course, at this point BR decided he needed help with his head. He shaves most of it, just leaving a small amount on top and it still has to be cut real short. I call it a high and tight on steriods. I was showered, had just finished puttin on lotion, gotten my makeup on and was half way done with my hair and had to stop, help him and ended up using the clippers, which shot hair ALL over me. and it stuck to the lotion.

All this time the kids keep bringing Bow in the bathroom to tell me something. Mostly just so each time they came in there I would be seen by Bow and he would start screaming wanting me to hold him. I really dont take long to get ready. usually about 15 minutes. TOnight I was trying to look nice, so 30.

After I cut BR's hair, and got him happy he jumped back in the shower to wash all the hair off and Brett came through with a very upset Bow. So I went to take care of that. Once I got him happy I started back. I had like 4 minutes left on my hair, then the phone rang. I had to take it. When I got off the phone ANd got Bow happy again, I headed back into the bathroom. My hot iron had timed out by now and I had to turn it back on. BR and BRett were standing at the closet door saying things like "Boy is she gona be mad." and "we gotta tell her anyway"
So BR says "come look at this." and both of them are just a snickerin.

I fiqured that there was cat issues somewhere. I had movedher litter box in there. I was bracing myself for the envitable griping when I walked to the door. BRett was still giggiling and BR was saying "YOU HAVE GOT to see this."

I looked. Fire ants ALL over his hanging up clothes. he said he couldnt imagine where they came from, there was no line of ants. So I got to looking. we moved the clothes back and low and behold there was a hole in the sheetrock. NOt a large hole, just a small pin hole where the staple they held the wall in place with had went plumb through. Ants were TEAMING out of it.

I just walked away. Of course it was the section of BR's clothes that were his nice clothes. The shirt he was going to wear tonight.

I told him to throw them in the tub and I would deal with them later. See this is why I started at one oclock trying to get ready. Here it was 3:30 and there was a catstprohpe.

I just ignored it and finished my hair. What about a shirt? well there were 3 in the floor, but since I had asked earlier which shirt he wanted washed and he said nothing I hadnt washed them. I tried for years to have a laundry basket in our room. Nothing ever made it in there. You just are supposed to pick the stuff up off the floor and KNOW what is dirty and what aint.
I aint Miss Cleo.

Finally I was able to get dressed. I put on my shirt, with out messing up my hair, my jeans, with just a little bit of pushing, pulling and holding my breath, and then steped into my boots. I have lime green and periwinkle fat babies, luckily. Cause its okay to show the tops of them. Noone thinks anything about you not untucking your jeans when you wear fat babies. This works out great for me. Since I cant bend over once I get my jeans on to make sure they are pulled down it is perfect. I look like I did it on purpose.

Since we were taking the kids to my moms I didnt have to dress them. IF I had needed to dress them I would have started trying to get ready around 11. I made them get all rounded up, got them in the truck and we started off.

We had decided to go to subway and eat before our banquet. I aint real fond of the food they serve at them things. So we went and got our gas (had to fill up of course), and headed into town. It was quite weird to go to town with out any kids. I kept thinking I was forgetting something.

We arrived at the event center a little early, and sat out in the truck playing with our phones. HE showed me how easy it is to get on the internet with his, and how quickly it brings up pages. He had a damn one dollar phone that loads pages and pictures 100 times faster than my 500 computer. Is sickining. Of course the site he chose to show me the fast loading pictures was the Thong of the Day site at the bob and tom website. Not my idea of quality web surfing.

We were meeting both his brothers and their wives for the banquet and were supposed to be saving their seats.

They had a few nice things. One item on the silent auction caught my eye. It was a glass bowl that sat in a deer horn base. It would match the silver ice server that sits in a deer horn base and has 4 tumblers that I got a few years ago. BR bid on it and we checked out the raffle table. They had about 6 or 7 guns they were giving away, and then had like 15 differnt raffle buckets. Each bucket had anywhere from 7-15 items that you could win. Then there was the bonus table, and of course the 2 gun tables. One for the smaller raffle package, and one for the larger package (you get a try at the smaller package too). for years we have bought the larger package. Its quite expensive. 200.00. but BR worked overtime just for that money. We know it goes to a good cause, and usually win a little something.

There was only one thing on the regular auction that really struck us. The one deer print. Its a limited edition print on canvas and really beautiful. We got one last year and its hard to tell its not a real painting.

I signed the boys up for the JAKES thing, they will really enjoy that. I am going to put them in the shooting sports this year so this will mesh right in with that. Plus I found out today that there is no longer a limit on draw weight when bow hunting. Since they will be doing archary in 4-H they will really enjoy that. I am able to pull back over the previous requirement of 40 pounds, but they arent yet.

Luke and Amanda were the only ones to show up. They said that Toby and Suzie had decided to drive an hour to Beaumont instead. Toby needed a clip for his phone or something. I called her and told her that I would think about her when I won that gun. She said she would think about me when she saved the money she would have spent on raffle tickets to NOT win the gun.

We had a good time, and this time it was fried catfish. Not bad either. So I managed to eat a little. Luckily I had only gotten a 6 inch sub at subway. We had a little bit of a problem with our silent auction thing. My old vets wife was trying for it too. She kept running up there when he would threaten to pick up the papers. The last time she ran up there he had already called pencils down, so she wasnt able to write her name down. Amanda picked out a miniature wooden bench that would be perfect for Rayley. it was so cute and in the back was a metal frame work cut out of a turkeys legs, with baby chicks behind her. She only got a 100.00 package of raffle tickets. It took me forever to put in all those dang tickets, but she put most of hers in the bucket with the camoflauge crock pot.

BEfore we got started depositing them, I tore all of mine apart and twisted them up. Not leaving them flat. Everyone at the table was picking at me about it. Telling me that I was goofy ( okay, so I cleaned that up for a PG rating... I think the direct quote had something to do with the fact that carrying all those tickets up there I would have them scattered like a mentaly challenged womans droppings) BR finally took them away and told me to just drop them in there. Since I didnt want them ALL dropped in the buckets with just turkey calls I didnt want him to go and do it.

Noone really bid alot. Most of the pictures were going for VERY cheap. 125-160 dollars. Heck, BR had bid 285 or so on both of the ones we have gotten previously. I was having high hopes for getting out of here cheap!

The one we wanted was number 6. It was the first deer picture and the prettiest by far. And since things were going so low I belive some of the members decided to jump the price up a little. Just my luck. BR ended up getting it for 200.00. Not a great price, but not as bad as it could have been.
The rest of the stuff up there wasnt of interested to us. There was one bear picture that was quite nice, but since it was the LAST picture on the table, and its an open bar, we always know that the LAST thing is the most expensive and is way out of our price range.


Luke decided he wanted an elk picture that they had. ANd started bidding. Well someone else wanted it to. Before it was over he got the highest priced thing of the night. 600.00. I was shocked. Usually Luke is so tight he can make a buffalo nickle fart. But if there is one thing you will learn about Byerly's is that they dont back down from a challenge, and telling them they cant buy something is a challenge.

He also decided he liked the bear picture and low and behold so did the same woman that he had been in a dead heat against on the elk picture. That one only went up to 300.00. Amanda was quite thrilled with that.

Then it came time for the raffles. I had gotten 500.00 worth of tickets for my 200.00 so I laid out all the cards. BR again got agervated with me. Telling me they went in order and it wouldnt be hard to find them.

They did the jakes sign ups first, and Matts name was called out! I picked him out a cooler. one of those little soft sided ones.

I tried to call Matt at my moms and tell him that he had won something, but like the other 3 times I had called to check on the kids and Bow, there was no answer. I really HATE it when someone wont awnser the phone. Especially when they have my kids. Maybe that cell phone would come in handy after all. I know nothing was wrong. My grandfather lives next door, and he would call if they needed me.

Then it was the adult ones.
They called out the first numbers and it was ME! I went up and got a gun case, turkey calls and various other sundries. I hate a turkey call. its like someone grating their nails on a chalk board. There was not only a slate call, but 2 or 3 mouth calls. YUCK.

Then they went down the buckets.
Amanada was checking hers, I was checking mine and a friend that was sitting beside us was checking hers. Noone won anything. The last bucket came along and they called out the numbers. Amanda hadnt won yet, and I was watching our friends tickets. She was like 3 numbers off. Aint that about right. THen I realized it was MY numbers. I had that ticket too!! :) so I got the first and last bucket! The Emcee said it was cause of my lucky green boots. Of course there were more calls. This time a box call, more mouth calls, another striker call, a deer/doe call, a crow call, an umbrella and binoculars.

Then they were on the bonus tickets. you got 40 in the larger raffle packet. THey had a few guns, a hunting blind, 2 really nice lawn chairs, a big nice grill, a turkey fryer, and something else. They started calling out the numbers on that one. The guns always go first. then someone got the blind, our friends got the chairs, and low and behold I got my number called. I picked the grill!! Usually you take your booty back to your seat, but I asked if it was okay if I left it there. He said yes, and told everyone "that grill is hers, and if anyone touches it she is gona stomp you with them green lizard boots!"

They were onto the red ticket guns, I got to put 2 tickets in that one, and had my fingers crossed. There were 3 guns and a print. Just my luck my number would be called 4th.. Of course when we were looking at all the prizes, we always discuss "what if" and BR tells me which guns to pick in what order. When we got to that table he told me if I picked that print over a gun he would kill me with the gun we won last time. Heck, I aint that stupid.

They called out the first number, not me, not Amanda and not our friends. Amanada and Luke only had this one ticket in a gun bucket.
The second time he drew out he started to read out the numbers and then said "Amanda Byerly!" that goofball had written her name on the tickets. I saw her over there doing something before we went and dropped the tickets, but didnt pay her no mind.

I was SOO thrilled that they had won one. I dont think they have won from the raffle before. Not even sure they bought much before. but I think now they have the bug.

They called out the next numbers for the last gun and the print. Nope. NEITHER of my tickets matched it. :(

They had asked us to fill out a form for Chevrolet, just a little questionaire, and there was going to be a drawing on it too. I handed mine to our friend, but tried to scrunch it up some. BR told me to just hand it over, and picking at me, she grabbed it and Lukes and hers and ran them over the side of the table, to straiten them up. Well they decided to draw for it next, heck I had forgotten about it. Guess who's name they drew? Our friends. Kid you not. I think when she took ours up there she threw mine away..... :)

They won a sponsered membership for next year. or this year, or something. Either way, it wasnt a bad deal.

Then they went to the gun drawins. the last of the night. There were 3 guns up there. They drew all 3 tickets. The first was not me. The second wasnt even close.

and this guy LOVES to draw it out. He will call out the numbers, then hold off on the last one.
This was the LAST gun of the night. and he was taking his sweet time. 62797 with a pause for effect and then 4. I heard what sounded like cheers of delight up towards the front, so I barely glanced at my ticket. then BR jerked it out of my hand, he stood up. There were groans and everyone was loud. I was trying to make sure he had said 4. BR was lookin like he was fixing to strangle someone, cause that WAS our number. Then the guy at our table grabbed the ticket and pretended to run. We all started laughing, and the guy called out the number again. BR was still standing and heading up there. well, if he goes up and gets the gun, he has to put it in his name. which means that he has to go to town and pick it up. His work schedule doesnt allow it with out him missing a days work. So I told him he couldnt go and get it. He was handing me the ticket and the emcee started saying something. Now I have seen him throw a ticket to the floor, cause someone didnt holler out quick enough. I started hollering, "I'm comin!" He was laughing and said he was waiting on me. Whew! The last gun of the night. I have GOT to quit doing this. my heart wont take much more..

I got a H & R 20 Guage Youth Model. I get to pick it up on Monday. I am SOOO excited!! When I got up there he told me it would fit me perfect! and he's right, I do better with a youth model. But even if I didnt, I got 4 kids at home that will fight over it! :)

When we got home BR started counting the prizes, there are at least a dozen calls of various agervating sounds, binoculours, a cooler, a nice grill with NWTF and turkey tracks cut out of the side, with a poker that has a turkey foot made of the metal, a huge umbrella, a gun case, the antler bowl and the picture. Not bad.

The kids played with that crap for hours. between them and BR I thought they would never stop with the scratching and gobbiling and grunting.

I never did get to point out that my scrunching of them tickets might just be a good thing.. and maybe I wont.

I did one last thing before I went to bed, aside from a full body drenching in the greasiest lotion I could find.

I sent my sister in law a text that said "Did you feel the love while I was thinking about you tonight? Hope you had fun, wish you had came!"

Rain, Rain, Go away... OH wait, no stay, stay.. go away... stay.... go... st.. go..

Sorry about the other night. Sometimes I will be sitting here typing and all of a sudden I wake up a few hours later. I dont lay down to go to sleep, I just pass out. I guess there are times when my lack of sleep catches up with me.

The last few days have actually been pretty quiet around here. The kids spent last night at my grandfathers and this morning I had to go and get them. I let them sleep till 8:30, and then it took another 30 minutes for them to eat and get dressed. Then we had to go and pick peas.

Huricanne Dolly was WELL south of us, but she had some bands that came up here too. ( I am on the Texas, La border. Northeast of Houston and North of Beaumont) The forcasters said we would get rain today and I wanted to get the pea picking over with. We were out there about an hour. I had to stay on the kids the ENTIRE time to DO something. I would be just a pickin and turn around and they would be squated down like they were picking peas and be staring off into space, just like they were in a whole other world.

I ended up having to go down both their rows after they swore they got everything. which left 3 rows that I didnt get to before a dark cloud moved in and the bottom dropped out. ANd drop out it did! Everyone ran for the truck and Uncle Gerald took off in his golf cart. I was soaked to the skin. Then we had to go to and shell the peas. Have I told y'all what a great invention an automatic pea sheller is?? OMG. it takes HOURS worth of work and turns it into minutes.

Well it was still comin a storm and I couldnt even see to drive out of the feild. But we got up to the house and got to shellin. Of course Rain turns somewhat helpful children into worthless screaming, running morons. I kid you not. Worthless as teets on a boar hog.
They were jumping off the porch into mud puddles, holding their baseball caps under the eaves, taking off their soaking shirts and hitting each other. Running through the yard at full speed till they found a puddle of water and sliding.

By the time we got almost done it stoped raining. Uncle Gerald was going to go back out and pick what we didnt get, but by then it was nigh on time to start lunch, so I had to head home. And I made them boys strip to their drawers to get into my truck. Of course I had to find them first. They were off climbing trees, catching frogs, lizards and all other wierd creatures. I was waiting patiently (okay, so I never wait patiently) in the truck while they stripped on the back porch, I got out adn went to find them. The reason it was taking so long is they were trying to each hold a lizard while they stripped and keep a frog in Matts boot. I told them to LET the damn reptiles go. They KNOW they are not allowed to bring critters in my truck. They always end up loosing them and if they dont end up on my shoulder while I am driving 75, I find them weeks later dead.

I finally got them all loaded up, and we went and got the other two ungrateful heathens I am raising. Then it was home for lunch and I had to wash BR's uniform cause he forgot his at work this morning. As I opened the door I heard a muffled "oh crap" and about that time I saw a bright green streak of lightning rush past me and out the door. I dont know if it was an intentional leap or a fearful fall of 3 feet, but it survived and hit the ground running. Noone would claim the 'no coldblooded, 4 legged, scurrying things in my truck' infraction, but both boys offered to do a specific chore when we got inside and got both Rayley and Bow out of the truck before I could even blink an eye. Usually they fight over who is gona get who, or what they are gona carry.

I was cold and wet and nasty. So I made chili. Its an old family recipe and I usually only make it in winter, but I just love it so much, and since winter was so warm this year I never really made it alot. I didnt want to cook, But BR was tired of eating the chicken and dumplins and peas I made 3 days ago. So I froze the rest and put the peas in the freezer for Bow. He LOVES them.

The only problem with me wanting Chili was I hadnt thawed out the meat and didnt have much time, so I got to work. I was steady trying to defrost 5 pounds of meat and realized I couldnt hear anything. Not a fight, not a whine, no giggiling, no jumping, nothing. So I went searching. They each had a basket of clothes and were putting them up... Very weird, but who am I to complain. ??

the helpfulness didnt last long. they almost finished the baskets, Then something looked like more fun and they started playing. Now they did play with Bow, so that helped me ALOT. I didnt think I was going to last the afternoon though. I hate when they are all stuck in the house cause of rain. I mean the gardens need it. So does the hay. I have been hoping we get a good bit. BUT anything that sticks them inside, under my feet for the entire day is miserable. I hate it. i need SOME quiet time. Just a little. I cant wait till they can take Bow out with them :)

Once the rain stopped I had to go back and finish my pickin. Uncle Gerald cant do the middles of the rows so I had to get it done. We went back and the boys set to helping me. Then they disapeared. It was gradual. We all started out at the same time, me in the middle and them on either side. But eventually they started to fall behind. THen they were gone. I looked up and started searching a little while later and found them. Matt was in the horse pasture next to the pea patch. I have my horses down there. The mustang we have had for years and the miniature. I just had to sit and watch for a little while. Matt was walking behind the mustang holding onto the tail. Like he had good sense. Now this horse wouldnt hurt him, but it was just stupid. There was no point to it. He wasnt riding, he wanst petting, he was just holding the tail and following. LIke some wierd follow the leader game. But what made it so funny was the miniature was following Matt. now these are the same horses that can sense a leadrope at 2 miles and wont come ANYwhere near you. for days. Even to eat. But you walk out there to actaully work on fence or something and they will have their heads on your shoulders or try to steal your hammer.

I made them come back. I had told them when we got there that I would pay them a penny each for each Pea Pod they picked. But when I went back down their rows and they had left peas I would take away a nickle. I was doing Matts row and counted 112 peas he missed. He had 13 in his bucket. SO I decided on another tactic.

I counted how many would fit in the small 2 gallon buckets we use. its roughly 200. I told them I would pay them 3 cents for each pea or 3.50 per bucket. They took the 3.50 per bucket. I fiqured they would.

But they got all excited about the prospect of KNOWING how much they would make. Till now its just been me deciding how much they earned by how hard they worked.

Lets just say that I am shooting for them to get a good job in a state enity. Its a long shot I know, but I really hope they can apply themselves and manage.

They went to get buckets off Uncle Geralds cart, since I had filled the two they had previously abandoned.

20 minute went by and I didnt see them again. Uncle Gerald was weeding and retieing is 'mater plants. They were helping. somewhat.

They got done before I did and headed back to the house. After I picked all my peas I headed out. And about 1/2 way through the hayfield I saw a black object in the way. SO I stopped and got it. It was Bretts shoe. I aint sure how he throwed a shoe, but he did.

I got there and they were helping to shell peas. Luckily the fact that they have an attention span of a gnat and grew bored soon enough, I was able to jump in and rush the job.
When we went to leave Brett jumped out and ran behind the house. He came back to the truck with something hidden behind his back. It was one shoe. I asked him a few times where his other shoe was. He never would answer me. He just kept saying "Matt and I walked the trail over and over" I dont know when I will tell him I have his shoe. But I am going to get a few days out of it at least. I think I will hide his hunting boots too. (camoflauge laceup mud boots, that look pretty normal and you can wear them anywhere). I'll make him wear his cowboys boots that he just HAD to have, and wouldnt hand down to Matt, but hates with a passion and refuses to wear.

We got home at dark thirty and I had to clean the kitchen, and do some laundry. They had to have baths. And yes, they did pull the age old ploy to get out of the bath.
'but mom! we took a God Shower today'

it didnt work.

I dont have to pick peas till Saturday. BR says I have enough in the freezer. 63 meals worth. Not much. but I am PLUMB out of room. Matter of fact, I have been givin away squash to make room. I aint overly fond of squash, but could live on peas and cornbread for the rest of my life.
Specially if you throw'd in some deer meat or squirrel on occasion.