Gonna Ride a Cow!

As always, yesterday evening we ran by the farm to visit the cows and their babies.  We have a special few that my boys ride every chance they get, and yesterday was no exception. 

It's pretty awesome to watch your little bitty four year babies ride a bucking calf.  It kinda makes your heart stick in your throat, and kind of makes you a little bit sick at your stomach.  Of course, they love it.  There is nothing like a bucking heifer in a small pen that doesn't want you on its back.

When I was growing up, I had never heard of riding a cow.  I thought you only rode horses ... but then again, I'd never lived on a cow farm, and I'd never even seen a cow up close.  I led a sheltered life I guess.  Then I moved here and found out what all I had missed in my life.

There is nothing in the world like walking through a muddy barn lot after a fresh rain.  Nothing like slopping through the run off of cow manure in your new boots!  Nope nothing like it ... just ask my boys!

I think I'll just vest my money in Rural King until these little guys grow up and pay their own way.  Four pairs of boots = $175.00.  Two happy little boys = Priceless!

The Milk Man and Me

Early this morning Marlboro Man, aka The Milk Man, called me and ask if he could use my new washer and dryer. Like it's not his too! I just had to ask a million questions as to "why, why, why, why, why, why."

It appeared that the storm last night downed a big Rain Tree by the milk house and pulled the electric line right out of the house where his washer and dryer is. You see, he hand washes his ladies teats, all four of them, with soft white wash cloths twice a day. What a Man!

SO ..... he brings the buckets of wash cloths home, and puts them in my new washing machine. The one that whirs and vibrates remember???? The one that scares me. I had the cycle all figured out for him and he told me to put the bleach in the rinse cycle. "NO can do" I say. Bleach goes in the wash cycle! I earned a few rolled eyeballs which caused me to ask, "why, why, why?"

The man proceeds to tell ME ... a woman who has lactated FIVE times in her life, with the last time being for triplets ... all about milking!

The smirk on my face didn't phase him at all. He just kept talking. I heard about how he wets the washcloth and cleans their teats, then their udder ... how he sanitizes each one, and THEN how he expresses each teat to to evaluate the milk. So I had to interrupt him and ask, "why, why, why?"

That man looked at me as if I was dumbest thing breathing air .... "WWHHYYY?" he says. "To see if it's good" he said.

"Oh yeah, right! .... you mean you can tell by looking at what you squirt on a concrete floor, to see if the milk is good?!!" "What are you looking for .... Cottage Cheese?" I ask. By now, I'm getting a tad bit interested in his theory, being that I too have lactated in my lifetime, and he has not.

Then he goes on to tell me that the milk in the canal (yes, he called it a canal) is stagnant and the end of the teat is a portal of entry for bacteria.

I cut him off before he could speak another word ... and said, "well yeah, they don't do that to us women."

Then he crossed his eyes, stuck out his tongue and said, "well yeah, you didn't lay covered in cow S#*T all day now did cha?"

Boy, did he just blow it! For a moment there I was thinking he was like a Scientist or Cow Genius, or something, until he stuck his tongue out at me and crossed his eyes!

Even though he's been milking cows for forty years, I still think I know more about breasteses, teats and lactating than he does, no matter how many cows he milks a day!

What do you think?????

Be Blessed Everyone.

Home Sweet Home

Ah! Home Sweet Home. Well ... not yet anyway, and not if I have anything to do with it. I can't even begin to see this as a fixer-upper. Nope, not even . Marlboro Man's eyes lit up like diamonds in the night sky, and he looked like he'd struck gold when we drove past this beauty.
See, we're in a dilemma. A big one. We live on the edge of our county and we want the Little's to go to school in a different county. The county we live in, they'd have to be bussed a long way on a very busy highway and hundreds of semi's and coal trucks speed up and down it.

Instead we want them to go to the quiet little school a couple of miles from our house. It has a wider variety of activities and a better curriculum. But we don't reside in that county, so we'd be ousted. The Principal has already questioned my morals when I called to ask the rules. I was trying to be honest and do it the right way.

Granted, we own farmland in that county and pay taxes in in, but since we don't live in it, we can't utilize their schools. Have you figured out where I'm going with this? The man has gone half-nuts I do believe.

Marlboro Man thought this could possibly be our part-time home. On the lake and in the right county. Mrs. Dairy Wife and her children think he's done gone and lost his marbles and any bit of brain cells he has left.

Maybe MM can live there ... all by himself. Just think, he'd have a wonderful view of the lake looking out the end of the trailer. Literally.

Don't worry. It's not going to happen. Not even in his wildest dreams!

Be Blessed Everyone.

Picnic with Daddy

Yesterday evening after work I picked the kids up and we made a plan. It involved a surprise picnic and their Daddy. So off to "Bernies" we went to buy a Slushie and a Lunchable.

We talked all the way over to the farm about our "picnic at Grandma's house", and how we were going to sit on the big rocks and watch the cows while they were eating. They were so excited and chattered like this was the biggest thing in the world to them.

Even though their Grandparents both passed away shortly before they were born, they know them. They talk about them and talk to their pictures, and they make up the most vivid stories these days.

It's so important to me that they know the Grandparents they never met. I show them the sign on the milk house that has their Grandfather's name, and we say the letters that spell out his name. Irvan Siekman. I tell them how he used to milk the cows there a long time ago, and he taught their Daddy how to milk a cow. .... and they love to climb on the tractors that he used to drive. We talk about the flowers he planted as we walk through the yard, and we peek in the many birdhouses that he put up. They love the stories, and they ask many questions as we walk around the house their Daddy grew up in.

We peek in the windows and they ask if their Grandma is in there ... and I tell them that her presence is everywhere, but she lives in Heaven now. We talk about how she would love to hold their little hands and walk with them, and how much she would have loved them ... if only she could be here. They don't fully understand Heaven yet ... but for now, their Grandparents are still with them, and for now ... that is what they need to know.

Our picnic didn't happen at Grandma's house yesterday because their Daddy was already on his way home, so we did the next best thing ... they shared their snackie with him in our front yard, at their little picnic table, and we talked about Grandma and Grandpa, and all the fun things they would do ... if only they were still here.

Be Blessed Everyone.

Lilac's

This morning, about 7:00am, Marlboro Man came walking in from milking the cows like he does every morning. ... but this morning he had his hand behind his back, and a awesome smile on his face ... and these beautiful Lilac's in his hand. He'd picked them from a bush he'd grown from a start, many years ago.

Long ago the coal mine came through the old home place where his Grandma and Grandpa had lived. .... and right before they bulldozed it, his Dad and him went over and dug up the Lilac bush for his Mother. He planted one too, and now we have this beautiful bush that belonged to his Grandma from a long time ago.

Just as he held them out for me, Meggie said, "Daddy, are they for me?" Being the wonderful Daddy that he is, he gave them to her, picked her up and swung her around and off they went to get a vase of water!

It made her day! Lucky little girl isn't she, to have a Daddy who brings her flowers!

It made my day too!

Be Blessed Everyone.

Boots

First of all ... I am completely re-composed after a screaming tantrum and complete meltdown this morning involving these boots. I am just now able to show you the pictures, and tell you the story without having gall bladder attacks and heart palpitations. .... about the story: it ain't purty and it ain't mud! (click the pictures for a real good view)

My Mississippi kids came home for a quick 24-hour visit to see everyone, and we were going to get together for pizza around noon. Well .... we were late!

Reason: Marlboro Man was watching the kids, outside, while I was getting ready. Twenty minutes. Twenty minutes was all he had to do it. Just watch them for twenty minutes. Well, he did. He watched them.

He watched them run out to the barn. He watched them climb over the gate, and he watched them roll around and stomp through the "highly fertilized mud" that we have mounds of, in that barn. He watched them chase the cows out of the barn, and he watched them run across the field.

Then, when he saw me, and the look of horror on my face ... he took out running after them like he just noticed what they were doing. Then he brought the little poop covered yard-apes back in the house. I'm not talking to him at the moment! I might again in 2011, but for the moment ... he's getting the silent treatment!

All I can say is that next week I'm starting a new blog and changing my name. I'm going to be called "The City Wife."

After you all stop laughing, I do need some advice about this from ALL of you ... because your opinion does counts!

What would you do?

Be Blessed Everyone.

Christmas Spirit

Being that Spring is now here, and tomorrow is April 1st, and yesterday was a fairly decent day, outside of the wind chill .... and a little bit of rain. I ask Marlboro Man to "pa-leeze" take down the Christmas lights on the front porch. (No, I can not post a picture ... he might do me bodily harm with certain hands on a certain throat, or dismantle my beloved computer) Ah, hem! But, rest assured that I did take pictures! Against his will! ... plus I timed him! It took eight minutes, and that was with his three helpers out there with him. I'd love to show you a picture of how cute they looked in their coats, shorts and cow boots. But I can't. I value my life ... and the life of my camera and computer even more. What's a woman to do! **sigh**

Marlboro Man thinks I am way to picky. "Just relax and go with the flow ... it ain't nothing!" he says. But, I just can't. I just can't live with the neighbors driving by and thinking that we live like the Chevy Chase movies! I just can not do it. It's not that I'm uppity or anything, or even anal, it's just that Spring is here ... and normal people don't have their Christmas lights still hanging on the porch in April. Granted, we're a tad bit far from normal, but I know when I drive by a house in the Summer time and see Christmas lights hanging from the rafters, I kinda think to myself, "Ahhhhhh! ... those kind of people!" Well, I don't want to be one of those kind of people. Even if I live way out here on Green Acres, and only the neighbors and cows see us.

Marlboro Man, on the other hand is a little (lot) more laid back than me. He thinks, "Why, by-cracky-heck-fire, just leave 'em there!" After all, the year is half gone ... what's another few months. Maybe we can add a few little red and blue streamers and start gittin' ready for Independence Day .... or hang a few little Punkin's for Halloween, and before you know it ... it's Christmas time again! Then he reminds me that, "they're clear lights ... not even red. You can't hardly even see them." Boy, that man always has his thinkin' cap on! I think that's why I love him so much!

I really didn't think I was asking for too much ... after all, all the snow has melted and all the ice storms are certainly over for this year. Though, I do have to admit, they did look pretty good with two foot icicles hanging from them a few weeks ago. Then, we have the fact that we haven't plugged them in for ninety-six nights now. Not that I've been keeping count or anything! But, Christmas is over!

I can tell you one thing ... in a few more months when he asks if we should put up Christmas lights, I think I'll decline! .... and God forbid we invest in a blow up Santa! (I saw one in a yard last week ... and he was waving to me!)

Be Blessed Everyone.

Driving School?

My kids told me yesterday evening that I need to go to driving school. They heard that from the man that pulled me out of a ditch twice in three days. That man just might could have been their Father ....

This evening we took the scenic route home from daycare. The one that takes us up and down the winding roads around our farm. The one that we sight-see on all the time. The one that houses the barns and cows that we talk to every evening ... and the road that had seventeen deer standing by it this evening. The road that I happen to live on. Did I mention that I was within sight of my house? Oh, so close ... and yet so far when you're stuck in a mud filled ditch.

We had gone up and down the road twice, then decided to drive over to the milk house (the place where Marlboro Man hangs out with all his women cows). Of course, once there, the kids ditched (no pun intended) me to ride home in the pick up truck with their Daddy.

I was just a bit in front of them, just inching along, watching the deer in the field, and watching the cows run up to the fence as we drove by ... and I was talking to Meg on the phone who was right behind me in the truck. Talking to cows is a very big thing when you live on a Dairy farm and you have three year old triplets. It makes for fabulous meal conversation when trying to get them to eat!

Suddenly .... I couldn't go anymore. I think I might have been stuck. Surely not me! In the mud and sucked down tight. On the narrow country road that is only a few inches wider than a car. My first hint was that I was tilted and leaning, and the cows seemed a little bit too close. I looked in my rear view mirror and Marlboro Man was close enough behind me that I could see the look on his face. You just wouldn't believe it ... so I won't go there! I can tell you that I heard him mutter and cuss through the phone that Meg was still holding .... shame on him! Then I laughed ... and he didn't! So I stuck my tongue out at him. ... and he didn't. Sometimes I feel real sorry for him for having to put up with me, but most of the time ... I think he loves me.

Out he gets with all three kids and hooks a chain onto my van and his truck. Gotta love those farmers and their pick-up trucks. Of course, the kids were so intrigued and asking a million questions, and were just loving it. Marlboro Man tends to clam up tight when he's mad. I think I made him clam up real tight. I'm not sure when, but I figured out real quick that he wasn't talking to me. Not even when I ask if I could run home and get my camera first.

So he proceeded to attempt .... did you get that? Attempt. It wasn't working ... so I put the brakes on and called him on the cell phone and ask the question of the day, "Hey Von!, I said. Am I supposed to put it in neutral or reverse? ... and should I give it some gas?" All I heard was, "You gotta be kidding .... are you serious?" You betcha buster! I wouldn't have ask if I knew what to do! This country girl don't do ditches often!

I could have just walked on home and left the van there ... instead I sucked it up and took it like a man. After a few spins and lots of mud slinging ... I was free! I'm asking for 4-wheel drive next Christmas.

Oh, .... about the cows. They were on his side! The uppity Heifers!

Be Blessed Everyone.



I think what got his goat ... was three days ago I was driving home after dark and backed off in a eight foot deep ditch. My rear end (not my butt) was suspended in the air, and only one back tire was barely on dirt, and my headlights were slightly pointing towards the sky. It could have slid at any moment and I could have rolled end over end. Of course the kids were terrified, and the policeman helped me get the kids out. Marlboro Man and his brother came to my rescue. Would you believe that they placed boards from underneath my van and when Don pulled the front end down ... MM drove it right out. ... and to think the police said I needed two tow trucks to lift it out! Two days prior, that same ditch was flooded and running over!

Sam had gotten out of his car seat and was standing up in it. I was coming up on a stop sign going forty and knew I couldn't stop ... so I whizzed right on through the stop sign and slowly came to a stop. I had to back out on the main road and Wham-Bam .... down I went. This country living is getting the best of me I tell you!

Free Milk

First of all, I have the flu. A really bad case of it. My head is so stopped up, water is running from my eyes and dripping from my nose like a faucet. My temperature about an hour ago was 101.8. I feel miserable, nauseated and chilling .... and I have this nasty cough that makes me bark like an empty Seal. I'm not even going to tell you what happens to my bladder during the coughing fits. Put it this way, after having seven kids, and and the last three of them at the same time, it isn't pretty during the flu. So what does this have to do with "free milk" you ask?

Tonight Marlboro Man took care of the kids and got them to bed while I was bundled up in our bed under the covers freezing to death, sucking on a cough drop with a snot rag under my nose. After a bit, he came in there and laid down in the bed beside me. Well, he wasn't exactly beside me, he was clinging onto the edge of the pillow top by his toe nails and was turned away from me. I hate to burst his bubble .... but he's already been exposed.

He said to me, "I've been downstairs looking at pasteurizers on the internet. I think I'm going to buy one." You all know we're dairy farmers and have a bunch of lactating cows don't you? I had to uncover my head and ask him to repeat that statement. I couldn't have possibly heard that right. He just has to be kidding.

All I could muster out was, "I don't like real milk. It's too rich and creamy. I can't drink that." Then he proceeded to tell me that all I had to do was dip off the cream and it would be just like the 2% milk from the store. And guess what he suggested I do with the cream? (see the above picture)

I might be "The Dairy Wife", a domesticated goddess, who was transplanted to farm life, .... but not even "I" love that man that much. No Way. Did he not think it was enough that I birthed three children at one time and made him a Father when I was already a Grandmother?

Then he laid the guilt trip on me .... for the betterment and health of our children. Like that would work with me. I know where milk comes from. I don't care what Marlboro Man says. Milk comes from Sam's Club .... I know. I bought six gallons of it recently. It does not come from the Cows on our farm ... and not out of that huge stainless steel tank that holds a few thousand pounds of white stuff that is housed in a building somewhere down the road.

Then I had a coughing spasm, and accidently aimed it at him .... and he fell out of bed!

The butter churn in the picture was Marlboro Man's Grandmother's. I think. Or even further back. I wasn't here then, and I really don't know. I just know that Mom gave it to MM before she passed away, and I really love it. But, I don't love it enough to use it. Does he think I'm nuts .... it doesn't even have a plug-in!

Be Blessed Everyone.

Dinner Buddies

Clean Up! Clean Up! That's what this table needs .... right after dinner. You should see the floor! Jay and Sam always want to sit by their Daddy! Sit by their Daddy .... as on top of him and touching.

Every night this is exactly how they eat dinner. Guess who has a hard time eating? I doubt that he'd trade it for the world though. They're his Dinner Buddies!

Meg, on the other hand, is at the other end of the table sitting right on top of me, and touching of course. Those boys aren't going to get one up on her! We're girls .... she says!

Be Blessed Everyone.

We have Trouble ...

Toilet Trouble! and ...guess who did it? It would be those three little kiddo's watching their Daddy dig up the septic tank!
Since we're in the throes of potty training and being almost three years old .... we like to "do it myself." When we "did it myself", we flushed lots and lots and I mean a whole container of wet wipes down the toilet. So Daddy had to unplug it. .... and guess who said it was, "Nasty". Jay did! His nose was so curled up and he was telling Meg and Sam that is was Stinky.Sam decided to do a little digging while the others went off to get a pipe to pry the lid off.

Oops .... Sam fell in the hole. But Sam loved the dirt .... all over his new shoes!
He's almost got it ... Whew! That shovel is heavy .... and BIG!

"Hey Mom! Come help me!"
After all this hard work, Sam had to sit down and take a break. We really shouldn't be working our kids this hard. Don't tell okay?

Heck with the work .... Sam found another "Willy Worm" to be his friend. (We're hiding this one from Jay's shoe!)

Be Blessed Everyone!

Marlboro Man Fan Club!

Marlboro Man is getting quite the little fan club going on here lately. I have been getting lots of emails with questions about him. I have decided that I will honestly answer any question you have about him. Well, most anyway. Here's the most recent I've been asked by several readers.

Does Marlboro Man change diapers? Yes, he does. From day one he's been there with me. Every step of the way. There are times though that he tries to trick me, but I'm always a step ahead of him. I'm quick like that. I'm not letting him know that either!

Is his tractor sexy? Hmmm, I'm not sure you're talking about a 'real' tractor here, but yeah, his tractor's sexy. Even when it smells like cow poop and has dried flakes on it!

Does he really have an identical twin brother? He does, but he's the best looking.

Does he really get mad when you post his picture and post about him? Not really. I do think he'd rather I not, but he reads my blog and all the comments. So if he really insisted that I didn't .... I'd have to think about it. Like maybe, make a new blog and show him the fake one ... ha~ He's a rather quiet reserved man .... he'd rather live quietly (without the internet, cable TV, cell phones, and possibly in a small cabin in the middle of nowhere. With just me and the kids of course)!

Does he hate the attention he gets by having triplets? Basically YES. It's hard to get through a crowd sometimes. I, on the other hand can part the "Red Sea" and keep on going. He's a real attention getter these days when he pulls the triplets around in their 'choo-choo' wagons. I'm the one that has never met a stranger and could talk your leg off for three hours straight (If I like you ... just kidding).

How old was he when they were born, and does he have other children? He was 50 when they were born and no, he doesn't have other kids. These three are enough. He's still in shock and probably won't get over it any time soon. At least not in this century!

If you have more questions about, umm him, that I haven't covered, please feel free to ask away! I'm really kind of bummed ... no one ever ask questions about me! *sigh*

By the way, if you're wondering if he knows that I'm posting this .... NO WAY! You think I'm nuts or something? He'd kick my butt for sure! So don't tell ....

Love Worth Finding

Yesterday evening I was playing with the kiddo's out in our yard .... just snapping one picture after another. Sam ran over to a stump by the road and was standing on it trying to grab a tree limb.

Then I spotted this. A baggie twirling from a string. For a brief second, fear ran through me. Someone had been here and put this in our tree. It was tied to a branch just above my head and was dangling like a pretty Christmas ornament. As it blew in the breeze I could read the paper inside of it. One side was a different language and the other side said, Love Worth Finding.

At that moment when I read the word Love ... I knew that Marlboro Man had put it there just waiting for me to find it! He often gets in hot water for not scoring a '10' in the romance and courting me department. He's even been caught giving me flowers that his sister picked for me, and pretended they were from him.

Anyway, I was feeling all mushy and cozy inside and decided to leave it hanging there until he came home. After the kiddo's were in bed last night, I nonchalantly said to him, "can you come outside? I want to show you something." I was feeling all warm and cuddly and in love. He'd done something special!

I got a little flashlight and we walked out to the tree. He didn't say a word to me as we walked to the side of the road. I was just waiting for him to say, "you finally found it." I was so excited and so happy, and was feeling downright giddy.

I shined the light up in the tree for him to see that I'd found his card to me! I told him how much I loved him and thanked him for it. In my mind I was thinking ... WOW! He's really trying to be romantic! Silently, he grinned ear to ear, and reached up and untied the string for me. Then as he handed it to me, he said, "I love you too, but this came from a balloon and landed here in the tree. I see them all the time out in the fields."

Just like the piece of balloon tied to that string .... I was instantly deflated. We stood there laughing because I'm a BIG romantic ... and he's NOT, and I should have known that he wouldn't have done that! Oh well, a girl can wish can't she?

... and as always, be blessed.



p.s. The balloon had traveled almost 20 miles to get to me! It was from a Church and had wonderful scriptures in it about ..... Love.

Just Blogging Away ...

I am fairly new to the blog world. In fact, up until three minutes ago I didn't know what Blog stood for. So I googled it.

definition of a blog: Blog is short for weblog. A weblog is a journal (or newsletter) that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption. Blogs generally represent the personality of the author or the Web site.

All I really know is that blogging is addicting. It's so addicting that it now has me in trouble. But I am smart enough to recognize the warning signs of impending danger or erotic, no, I mean eratic behavior. I will know when to back off.

I am finding myself spending most of my free time standing in the corner in the dining room. I found out if I'm fast enough and I have a good connection, I can check my email for notification of a comment on my blog while Marlboro Man takes one of the kids to the potty. At times I can even read the comments and reply quickly to one or two of them before he comes out.

I am finding that I am being deceptive. As MM comes out of the bathroom, and it's usually with Sam, I trot over to the opposite corner and I ask him nonchalantly in my very caring Mother voice, "did you wipe his butt good with a wet wipe? You have to use a wet wipe so his butt doesn't get sore. Not just toilet paper." (you would think he would catch on to the wet wipe thing, but he doesn't ... he's a guy.) This buys me a few more minutes because he has to undress Sam to wash his butt, and Sam likes to do everything himself. When you're two years old, it takes a little longer. B-I-N-G-O! Back to my computer corner I run. I now have five minutes on my Blog!~ Deceptive, but it works!

I am finding that I am being sneaky. After Marlboro Man is out of the bathroom with Sam for a few minutes and is settled on the couch (out of sight) or reading a book to our sweet sweet triplets, I peek at my inbox. If I have a new notification, I have to come up with a plan to distract him. I make a loud noise and of course someone comes running. I pray that it's Sam instead of Jay or Meg, because they don't entirely buy the potty thingy yet .... But Sam, on the other hand, loves the potty. I take the opportunity to barely whisper in his ear, "you have to potty Sammy? Want a M&M?" Sam instantly starts in, "Me Potty Daddy" and starts running for Marlboro Man. This trick works 99.9 percent of the time. Marlboro Man thinks he's getting the best end of the deal by having to sit on the side of the bathtub and wait for Sam to poop. It beats doing the dishes! Sam knows if he can squeeze a little turd out ... he gets two M&M's. So you have to wait for the poop, and wait, and wait, and wait. More. Time. for. Blogging! Sam, you're my Man!

I am finding that my senses are super sensitive these days. I am so tuned in to the 'click' of my email from anywhere in the house. So. Tuned. In. It sounds like music to my ears! I just have to see who emailed me or who left me a comment. Plan 'C'. I don't even wait for Sam to come whizzing by this time. "Oh, Marlboro Man ... can you take Sammy to the potty? Hurry ... he has to pee! Hurry. I'd take him but I'm getting Jay a drink, and he wants you. I love you honey, you're terrific! Don't forget to ask him if he has to poop again! Okay?" Only once did Marlboro make a comment, and it was, "are you kidding me, he has to pee again?" I just shrug my shoulders, raise my eyebrows and give him the pity look, and, of course, pretend to be busy.

Then I have to check my stat-counter. The darn thing reminds me of the electric meter on the house. I have to see how fast the hits are coming in. I'm totally obsessed with my stat-counter. I'm looking for a better one, one that will just announce "visitor 42,845" with a big Ding. When I figure out where to get one ... I'll let you know! You can get one too!

Last, but not least, I am also very obsessed with changing my header at least four times a week. This has dramatically improved my photoshop skills. But the most fun part is playing with all the color combinations. Marlboro Man told me if he ever sees his face on my blog, I'm in big trouble! I think I'm in big big trouble. He is somewhere in here a lot! When I figure out how to put a password on here, I won't have any worries now will I?

I'm also improving my relationship with God, and finding that the power of prayer is pretty awesome. I pray that Marlboro Man won't catch on to what I'm doing ... and while I'm praying, I make sure that I ask God to make me famous and send some hits my way! I am praying way more than I ever used to, which is a good thing.

Please God, just let someone that has a big blog with lots of readers add me to the favorite list on their sidebar. Please just sky rocket my numbers because it's so exciting to know that someone is out there just waiting for my next post. I have to ask that you please help keep me humble, and please forgive me for using Sam and the potty so that I can check my blog. But mainly God, I am begging you, please don't let Marlboro Man know that I have this addiction, he'll put me in rehab and I'll miss my blog something terribly!

I'm also begging every reader to please hit your refresh button at least 23 times before you leave this blog and please leave a comment letting me know how many times you refreshed the page. I am keeping track! It's important you know! And, if you have a blog yourself .... please let me know if you want me to keep refreshing your blog so you can watch your numbers go up and your meter spin! All requests will be kept confidential! I promise!

... and as always, be blessed!

Modern Day Woman ... Old Time Man (part three of a true love story)

The Beginning: Click here for Part One of this story.

Fall was here. In full swing. The farm was beautiful, and harvest was over. The cows dotted the pasture in the cool sunshine on the other side of the barn. The leaves on the trees had changed colors and the wind gently blew them to the ground. The yard was knee deep in a colorful rainbow of leaves. They swirled gently around her head, and fell like rain. They were endless. She watched the sun glint off of the ring he had given her as she raked the leaves. She was happy.

He loved Fall. It was his favorite time of year. The wind gusted and blew the leaves that he was raking towards an open field. He looked towards her. He couldn't believe that he had her in his life. This was everything he had ever wanted, and more. He continued to rake the leaves that were pouring down on him, wanting this chore to end, and wanting her.

She looked towards him. He smiled. She threw down the rake and left it lie on the pile as she watched him gather up an arm full of leaves. Then she ran, until he caught her and pulled her down into the leaves. In the quiet of the country, with only the sound of the leaves beneath them, they laid there and planned their future.

Then, like an early November day, a sudden burst of wind, with a chill, that cut like a knife blew in. The piles of leaves that they had raked suddenly blew away. All the leaves in the yard skirted through the trees, past the barn, and out into the fields. Like kids, they ran towards the house holding hands.

(November 8, 2001)

Dear Tan,

Today was a very happy day for me, as is every day with you, I only like pictures of me when my best friend is in them with me. It seems that we talk to each other all the time and can communicate with each other even when we're not. For everything you thank me for ... I thank you for the same things, especially for being here with me.

I love you,
Von

The air got colder and Thanksgiving was getting closer. This would be their first together, and this would be the first of many more to come.


(November 15, 2001)

Dear Von,

I am still in shock. Even though I know we just found out that we're pregnant, I already love this baby. Even though I really can't feel it yet, just knowing it's our baby feels so good. I want so much for everything to be okay .... just like us, maybe it's meant to be.

I love you so much, and having a part of you growing inside of me, is so wonderful.

Love,
Tan

She couldn't believe that this was happening. She was really going to have another baby. She was forty-four years old, divorced with four grown kids, and was going to have a baby.

He was happy. It didn't matter their age. This was what he wanted. He'd waited all his life, and it had never happened. He wanted to become a Father now. He wanted to raise a child on this farm, with her. The seed of hope was now planted. Planted inside of her and growing, and he loved this child, and her.


(November 20, 2001)

Dear Tan,

I was wondering if maybe you might could marry me today. Let me know as soon as possible.

I love you,
Von


He came in from milking the cows early that morning. He knew that she would still be asleep. He quietly walked into the bedroom, then stopped. She sat there, in the middle of the bed, holding that old hard-backed journal, that meant the world to her.

She heard him walk into the room. She watched his face, because she knew, that he knew she had read the letter he'd written that morning before he left. Without saying a word, she handed the book to him, and watched his hands as he unsnapped it, and opened it to the page where had asked her to marry him.

(November 20, 2001)

Dear Von,

Today I would love to marry my best friend!

Love,
Tan

They had told no one about the baby, and they told no one that they were getting married. Six months had gone by since they had met, and they knew that this was love, and they were meant to be together. Today they would get married, then they would come home and call their families.

Mid morning they drove into the city, to a jewelry shop and bought his ring. Then they drove on to Kentucky to get married.

In the early afternoon, in a small room in the courthouse, they were married. The judge that married them loved weddings. He was creative ... and he was funny. He wrote his own vows and chose the ones he would use carefully, as if they had special meaning, just for them. Little did he know, they did.


(November 23, 2001)

Dear Tan,

I know this is a hard time for you. It is for me as well. Our little one wasn't meant to be. But we are, and we'll try again. I pray that God will bless our friendship, our love and keep us in his care.

I'll always love you,
Von


In the short time that she had known him, he was always a strong person. Quiet and reserved, except with her. That day she saw him cry. His heart was just as broken as hers. They lost the baby that they so badly wanted. But the seed of desire had been planted, and they would try again.

... as always, be blessed,



A new story is Here. 'His Country Dream' ... a continuation of this love story! After three more devastating losses, he becomes a Father .... and he finds out that 'all good things come in three's!'

The short story, 'Shattered Dreams' tells of heartbreak and the loss they endured.

Foto Friday!

Modern Day Woman ... Old Time Man (part two of a true love story)

Want to read the beginning first? Click here

.... they both knew that destiny had intervened, and their lives would forever change. She couldn't help but look back, and so did he. Their eyes met once again, as they turned opposite ways.

A mere two days had gone by, and he was on her mind. She closed her eyes and could see the man in her thoughts, and see the raw feelings in his eyes. She could still feel the light brush of his hand on her arm, as he had handed her his phone number. She held the small piece of paper in her hand and wondered how bold would it be to call him.

It had only been two days, and she was constantly on his mind. He could not concentrate. He could not sleep. He thought about her every moment. He needed to know her. He had already made changes in his life waiting until he knew her better. He would call her tonight. Yes, he would call her tonight. He had peace knowing that he would know this woman.

She could wait no longer. As she dialed the number that he had given her, she suddenly hung up the phone. She took a deep breath and punched in the numbers again. No air passed through her as the phone rang. As he said Hello, she breathed again.

He heard the phone ringing and he knew. He knew that she was calling. This was the beginning ....

Two weeks later their love letters of life began. In an old hardback journal that snapped, he wrote to her first.

She wrote back. Her first letter to him:

(May 3, 2001)

Dear Von,

Plan 'B' huh? I beat you on that one. My plan 'A' worked! As you know, I didn't see you until I was finished putting gas in my car. When I turned around and saw you standing there, the sight of you almost took my breath away. I couldn't talk. I simply closed my phone. All I saw was your eyes. They smiled with kindness.

My mind was telling me to talk. To just keep talking so you wouldn't leave. I talked and talked. All about my car. I answered your every question. When you ask if I was married, I told you that I was almost divorced. You ask why, and I started to cry. I told you that he had memory problems. I then told you that he couldn't remember that he couldn't date when he was married. I could see the relief on your face as you laughed. Then you ask for my phone number. ... and at that moment I knew that I had found you.

Now as I have gotten to know you and grown to love you, everyday is a blessed day, because it's another day that is ours to share. Another day that we may laugh, love and be together. I hope you know how lucky we are to have each other in our lives, how blessed we are to share this life together. I thank God daily for you, for us, for our time together, for your hugs, your kisses, and the feel of my hand in yours as we sometimes fall asleep together.

These words are from my heart and I'll always love you. I cherish our time together. Each day we have to share is a very good day.

Love,
Tan

Spring turned to Summer, then Summer to Fall, and the love they found grew deeper. They continued to write. Their deepest emotions and all the secrets they had for each other poured out onto the paper, in that old journal that became the core of their love for one another.

(September 6, 2001)

Dear Tan,

I want you to know that you are the most beautiful woman, and I love to hear your voice. It's just as beautiful. I am very thankful to have you in my life for now and forever.

I want to tell you how good the food was that you cooked tonight. Before I met you, I had a list in my mind of what I wanted in a wife. I forgot to add that I wanted a good cook, but I got one anyway.

You are all that I dreamed of, and more. To simply say 'I love you' is a understatement. I do not know how to tell you how very much I am in love with you.

Love,
Von

They wrote of their life together, and they wrote of their future.

(October 17, 2001)

Dear Von,

Happy six months (since I met you) anniversary! Every day gets better as we build more memories and our love for one another grows deeper. What more could any two people ask for? We are so full, and our life is so rich.

Six months is so little time, yet so much happiness has come to both of us. You are fulfilling my every dream, and I am so blessed.

Sometimes it is hard to really believe this is real, then I look at you next to me, and again I'm reminded of how loved I am.

Love always,
Tan

He had a habit of leaving the journal out on the bedside table when he had something he wanted her to read. When she awoke, she smiled as she reached for their book. She cried when she read the letter he wrote to her.

(November 20, 2001)

Dear Tan,

I was wondering if maybe you might could marry me today? Let me know as soon as possible.

I love you,
Von

... and that very day, she married him.

Be Blessed,



Click here to read Part Three of this story!

One Man's Trash ....

Usually I am in total control of my emotions. Most of the time anyway. Although there are times, that I completely over react and reduce myself to a blubbering heap of tears. Not often do I do that. Only when I act like a overwhelmed little girl. (toddler age)

I can't blame it on PMS since I don't have ovaries. No hormone replacement therapy here either. No hormones feeding this body. I should not act like my two year old's and have a temper tantrum because Marlboro Man looks at me funny.

Yesterday afternoon, the man comes waltzing downstairs from watching the US Nationals - Drag Racing, after I've cleaned up the dining room and kitchen from lunch with the trio of terror, sorted 4 loads of laundry, pottied everyone, picked up all the toys and helped him get them down for a nap. He nonchalantly says, "I think I'm going to go over to the farm and do blah blah blah." (nothing wrong with that, they're asleep, it's quiet ... go on, get out of here ... I feel computer time coming on.)

I nicely say, "hey, I'll help you load up all that trash you're saving on the back porch into your truck since you're going that way, okay? The dumpster is empty, so there is lots of room in it. Okay?"

I swear you would have thought I was killing the man. You could have heard the exasperated sigh all the way to Kentucky. The ~ sigh ~ itself didn't say a word, but the meaning behind it was loud and clear. And, I had offered to help. I think the key word where I went wrong was Saving.

He proceeded to look totally disgusted, then bent down and picked up a empty milk jug and a cardboard box. Do you think I could just leave at that? No, not me. I had to go and act like a girl. This was my chance.

I say to him, "Just leave it!" (I'm sure my eyes were glowing neon orange by then and steam was curling out of my ears)

He says, "Oh, I just looovvvve picking stuff up (notice the o's and v's in love? can't you just hear it?), you just throw it all out here and expect me to pick it up!"

My reply, "Well, yeah, I do. Mister, that could be because the trash thing-ey is over at the farm, a mile away, and I have your two year old triplets. But I can fix that. I'll call the trash people in the morning and order a big ole dumpster for here. A big one. Right outside the backdoor. A real big one. The biggest they make. ... and you can pay for it. BIG!"

At this point, all he would have had to do was smile ... and I'm sure I would have gotten over it. No way! He did what he does best. He left me alone to stew and be mad all by myself. With all his trash.

Marlboro Man is into recycling. I'm not. It's not that I don't want too, or don't care. I do. But I have my hands full. I'm too busy. I don't have time to rinse the 40 million jugs of milk that we use, or fold up all the cardboard boxes into tiny pieces and arrange them nicely into another box. It's all I can do to open the door to the back porch (enclosed) and toss the stuff out there before the herd stampede's an open door. It's his job to take it over to the dumpster. I made that rule by the way. I like it too.

Okay .... you know where I'm going with this? But he walked out on me. I had no other choice but to reduce myself to a heap of tears and act like a girl.

So what did I do? I had a total meltdown. I opened the back door and slung everything out on the sidewalk. Not just a small fling either. It was a huge SLING, lots of them, in all directions. Afterwards, I felt so good. Totally spent. Better than ....

Here's the list of what was laying out in my backyard: (I wish I had of taken a picture)

• 6 Tide bottles (extra large size)
• 8 Snuggle bottles (large)
• 26 milk jugs (4 week supply)
• 4 Chlorox bottles
• 9 Diaper boxes (cases from Sam's ... big)
• 3 Huggies wet-ones boxes (lg. from Sam's Club)
• 7 Dawn dish detergent bottles
• 12 little milk bottles from McDonald's
• 17 other cardboard boxes; food item boxes

Yes, I counted it. Not during my hysteria, but after. Afterwards, when I was feeling guilty for acting childish, and for acting like a girl. I counted it. But I didn't pick it up.

I actually forgot about it. THEN, I heard Marlboro Man's truck pull up. OUCH! I instantly felt a rush of emotions flow through me. I was embarrassed, sorry and humiliated.

In total silence, we picked up the trash together. Our eyes never met once. In total silence, we walked in the house together.

He reached out and held my hand. I knew that it was okay that I acted like a girl. He forgave me and he still loves me. His hand told me so.

Moral to the story: "one man's trash is another man's treasure"

... and as always, be blessed,

Marlboro Man and his Kids

This man loves his kids! No matter how busy he is, when we come over to the farm, he stops and takes time to love them .... greasy hands and all! It's funny because all three of them ask him, "grease daddy?" He always says the same thing, "yeah, grease." Then Jay always says, "farming daddy? milking cows? tractor daddy? ewwww, grease." Then they all have to look at his hands and fingernails, and we start the "ewww's" again.

I've come a long way in life. I know now that a little grease won't hurt you .... but lots of love gets you where you're going!

Be Blessed,
Tan

When Daddy Is In Charge

When Daddy is in charge .... we sit on the table for dinner. He gives us bites of Raisin Bran cereal with milk and Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches. ... and they sat there and they ate every stinking last bite. They never do that for me! Maybe Daddy can be in charge every night for dinner! Go Daddy! You Rock!

Be Blessed,
Tan