Thursday, April 30, 2009

One of THOSE Days

It's been one of those days.

Woke up with a headache. 

Leaving for work, realized my office keys were NOT in my purse where they belong.

Hoping to goodness I left my keys at work.

Arrive at work and see that three of the staff are already there, whew!.....call Terry's cell phone...no answer.  Call the office phone...no answer.  Will somebody PLEASE let me in!!!!

Terry lets me in and I have to confess I've lost my keys. :-(

Check the desk lock to see if I left them there.  No such luck.

Call the other secretary, Sherri.  I'm sure she found them and put them in a safe place, because unlike moi, she's a responsible person.

Have to confess to Sherri that I lost my keys, leaving no doubt in her mind that I am incompetent.   She hasn't seen them. :-(  

Terry leaves at lunch and later calls to talk to Jason.  Jason's not in, but I can transfer you to his cell phone.  "Oh, can you do that?"  "Sure I can do that"--right???  Wrong--I hear it going to voicemail and for the life of me can't retrieve the call, expelling the myth that I actually know what I'm doing.

After work, go to the chiropractor who has the results of my x-rays, and to my relief, my head really isn't on straight!  I knew there had to be a good explanation.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Husker

Remember this?

The puppy that Jeff "borrowed" for the day, but then named him "Husker?" As you may recall, the naming part worried me.  I've known this guy for 29 years.

So it was no surprise to me when I learned that he was, indeed, going to adopt Husker, but "not to worry, Mom, Carrie is going to keep him and housebreak him so that when I return to the south, I will take both him and Gracie to MY new home."

Well, since Jeff has now returned to MY home, it seems that this is now HUSKER'S new home as well.

But as you can see, Husker's "home" is not in the house.  And he's adjusting just fine.

Gracie is still somewhat aloof, and tries to pretend she hasn't noticed him.  



Which is no small feat when he's chewing on her ear.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Home Sweet Home

City folks pay big bucks for "Bluebird Houses."  Apparently these houses are constructed with just the right size and shape holes to entice this finicky bird to make it's nest inside.  They also have to be a certain distance from the ground--about 4', I'm told.

This is our third Spring to live in our country estate--aka "farm house."  And for the third year in a row, a pair of bluebirds have taken up residence in the pipe that sits outside our kitchen window, beside the cellar door.  I don't have a clue what the purpose or function of this pipe is, but it meets all the criteria for a perfect bluebird house.  Four feet off the ground, with a regulation sized and shaped hole conveniently rusted out of its side.

Last year George and Gracie were in the yard and they tormented these poor creatures relentlessly.  The hole wasn't quite big enough for their noses, but plenty big enough to echo their howls across the countryside.


But that didn't stop the birds from coming back to their favorite nesting site this Spring.

Welcome home, little bluebirds.


Monday, April 13, 2009

Fun with the Grandkids

Jacob's soccer game on Saturday was a big improvement over the scrimmage a few weeks ago. Their playing field is about a tenth the size of regulation, which I think is the cause of the pandemonium.  If one of these 4-year olds lands a good, solid kick, the ball just rolls until it's out of bounds, where someone gets to throw or kick it back in, only to start the mayhem again. Jacob--among others--has a delayed reaction to the ball being put in play.  He's too busy trying to get the attention of his friends on the sidelines, or playing a fake fist-fight scene with a teammate, or flirting with the girl on the opposing team from his class at school.  But true to his promise to PaPa after the last game, there was NO WHINING OR CRYING.  Yay, Jacob!!!

I came home from the soccer game and worked for about 3 hours to finish painting the pipe fence that Neal had finally finished welding.  Two rails to go when my paint roller broke.  I resorted to a paint brush to complete the job, which was no small task.  This particular paint is very thick and sticky and I ran out just as I was finishing the last joint.  (Weld joint--not to be confused...well, if you look closely at the quality of the paint job, you may be inclined to think other "joints" were utilized.)

Last week I had bought all the fixin's for Easter cookie baking and time was running out, so despite my exhaustion and aching back from the fence painting, I drove over to pick up my grandkids, 'cause that's just the kind of super woman I am.

I divided the dough and had two rolling pins, which made everything go pretty smoothly. At one point when I was gathering up the scraps of dough and re-shaping it to roll out, I mentioned something about the "cookie dough."  Jacob's eyes got big and he piped up, "Cookie dough????, you mean like Cookie Dough Ice Cream?"  I can see the little connectors in his brain working.

After the first batch had cooled I smeared frosting on them and let the kids add sprinkles. Usually I make my own frosting, but this time I cheated and bought some in a can.  I may never make homemade frosting again.  That stuff is incredible!!!  If you know me well, you know that I'm a frosting person. Apparently Lauren inherited that trait as well, because she spent all her time on ONE cookie.  I frost the cookie, she licks the frosting and sprinkles off and hands it back to me, REPEAT....about 17 times.  I really couldn't blame her.  I wanted to get a spoon and just eat the frosting out of the can, but I didn't want to set a bad example.  I'll do it later.

Before all the cookies were finished, we couldn't stand to be inside on such a beautiful day any longer.  So, although the kitchen looked like a bomb of flour exploded, we dropped everything and went out to play.  'Cause that's just the way we roll.  Jacob found 2 dead baby frogs in the sand box, so he was pumped. They are now properly buried in my patio flower pot.

Later, while I was sweeping up flour and tiny sprinkles, Neal and Jacob played GI Joe's and Lauren, of course, wanted in on the action.  They reluctantly agreed to let her play, but it wasn't long before she entered her own little imaginary world, with Joe's ammo belt becoming the bracelet on her wrist and the GI cards her important office papers.


Off to the races.

Bare feet on a motorcycle--do not attempt this at home.



On the porch swing.  Yes, that's bird poop just 12" from her head.


But she doesn't care.


It's a carefree "no-shoes" kind of day.

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Full House

Jeff is home for the weekend.  About a month ago, he requested a family barbecue since he knew he wouldn't have time to make the rounds.  Last Sunday, I finally got around to emailing everyone--kinda short notice.  This time of year is really busy with soccer, softball, baseball, Easter Egg hunts, birthday parties, etc., etc.  I wasn't sure how many would be able to come.  Thirty-four.  That's right--34 people at my little house.  We have more on July 4th, but most are in the pool or sitting outside.  Today was nice and warm, but VERY windy, even by Oklahoma standards.  Some braced themselves against the wind, but many took shelter inside.  I really need a bigger house!  It wasn't all "family."  I guess I should say it wasn't all "Blevins."  Several of Jeff's best friends were also here and they've been friends so long that they're like family.



In addition to all the humanoids, we had some extra canines.  Jeff brought home a basset hound puppy, still un-weaned, for the afternoon--to be returned to his momma at the end of the day (although he named it Husker, so I hope he's not getting too attached)...


...Carrie brought her basset hound puppy, Max, and Morgan brought her bullmastiff puppy, Cookie.  They got along fine other than the one scuffle over a dead rabbit.  

Gracie is still pouting over Jeff removing the rabbit.  

Yes, it was a full house, and full dog yard.  But it was great being together.  We are so lucky to have such a loving family and good friends.  God is good!