Driveway

When we moved to the woods and built our house I had visions of making lots of flowerbeds. Well that idea got nixed after I made one. Way to much work. weeding and weeding and more weeding. So to this day I still only have one flower bed. But...In the spring as you drive up my long driveway your mouth will drop and your eyes will get wide as its absolutely beautiful. I have planted hundreds of daffodils of all colors. Then there is the tulips that follow. It started when my dad started giving my sister and I a pot full of hyacinths just because he wanted to. (my dad has given me very few things over the years) So as he was still teaching I would get these flowers. I really didn't know where to put them so I replanted them in the woods. That started it all. Now there is a path way of flowers to my house. I hope everyone that drives up my driveway through the woods takes notice of the spectacular view I have taken years to create. Enjoy!

Allowed

I am not allowed to drive any of our equipment (except the car/Yukon)If you heard my history with equipment you would understand why. My father and my husband never let me drive anything. I may ride on the back or walk alongside. I have been given many chances but something always happens (not good) and I get banned. I'm OK with it, as I have learned my place. But...every once in awhile it can't be helped as I am the only one along and I have to drive something. I can see my husband look down at the ground then look up at me as he says, "I guess you will have to drive." Tonight was one of those nights. I get all excited when he says that. I smile as I set in the drivers seat. Then I can't remember where the gas is or the brake. I push the wrong levers and buttons. Finally I sort of get it going very slowly. He is cutting down an old gnarly mulberry tree next to a fence line. He hooks up the chain, then starts the chain saw up. I am to pull on the limb when it starts to fall and drag it into the field. I go backwards by mistake, then I get it going the right way. I pull and pull and yank it down. Victory! My husband does this five more times. I tell him I'm pretty good at this when we are in a wide open field. Seriously what could go wrong out here? Thank goodness nothing did tonight. Maybe soon I will be allowed to drive something again.

Eggs

Well spring is here. I look in my chicken coop at my girls + rooster. When I get home I go to the coop and open the gate to let the girls out. They all come running on their two feet, wings out running as fast as they can. Out they go right out into the woods. Scratching and pecking they cluck that sound that I know as pure joy. I think they wait for me all day. Just like you know the different sounds of your children. If they are hurt, excited , sad or happy. I know the sounds of my chickens voices. If they are bored in the winter. When they are sick and when spring is here their happy elated clucking. They look at me with smiles on their beaks strutting around in the woods happy to be looking for worms and bugs. Then I go into the coop and look in each of the nests. Then I smile and I'm almost clucking as out of 11 hens I have been given 9 eggs from the girls. Some are still warm to the touch. I always tell the girls thank-you for the eggs and I'll see them tomorrow. I absolutely love my feathered friends. I know I make them just as happy as they make me. I look forward each night to see how many treasures I find in those nests. I have had chickens since I was little. It was always my job at home. I think I will always have chickens. They are some of my best friends!

Fishing

Today I wanted to do something for me. I told everyone in my family I wanted to go fishing sometime in the afternoon. So I did all the stuff we do on the week-end, dishes, laundry, vaccum etc. Took the guys in the field working lunch then went fishing. I enjoyed the quiet. I enjoyed the tugs on my pole. I enjoyed the splashing in the bucket. I enjoyed fishing. Then it was back to being the mom. I took the guys supper at the field then put the animals away. I spent over an hour cleaning the fish that we all will enjoy for supper tomorrow. I must say I felt a bit like the little red hen doing all the work and everyone will enjoy the meal. It is always fun to catch and eat the fish, not so fun to clean them. Since my grandpa showed me how to clean fish when I was little I have always been fast and good at it. So everyone says i get to clean them because I'm so good. This is something that is not fun after hours upon hours. So when I fish I am very picky about what goes into the bucket as I know I'll be the one cleaning them. The fish are biting and tomorrow I'll be going to the lake right after school to catch and clean some more. I do enjoy fishing.

Parks

Today I drove to Toledo with my eldest daughter,her husband and my grandson. We went to see my sister who drove down five hours to visit her mother in law. For us it was only an hour and a half drive.I do not get to see my sister often with our busy lives. Today she met my grandson. He was all smiles and warmed her heart. We went to a nearby park. Every parking spot was full. In fact we drove around looking for a spot and I saw people out standing in parking spots until their car full could come around and get it. There were people everywhere. The play equipment was swinging with children. Dogs were on leashes enjoying the warmth of the day. People were walking, running, biking, and talking. There was even a wedding in the garden. I thought it looked like Central Park in NYC. It was fun to watch all these people in Toledo enjoying the park. However I said to my sister, I like my own acres the best. There are just so many people here. I have all this at home, lots of trails and not all these strangers walking on them. She agreed as she has property and our parents place (Named- Peaceful Woods) we both enjoy walking and talking together. We enjoyed our time spent together and we were glad that someone had donated the land we went to today as a park so all those people today could enjoy the outdoors. We are blessed as we have what people in the city do not get to just walk out their back doors and enjoy. Enjoy your yards!

Cards

Last night I didn't get to post on time and here is the reason. We have a group of 8 of us that play cards together every month. We go to different houses and all bring yummy food.(except me...I buy mine at Wal-mart) We have a good time! Last night it was at our house. When I got home I frantically cleaned just the 3 rooms I knew they would be in and see. I was red in the face and sweating, rushing all over , hiding this and that pile of junk I collect.Light a candle, ready. Then they arrived, everyone happy to see one another. We ate, played cards and laughed and laughed until we all were crying. I love card party night. We have trophies for the winner and loser and candy bars for loners. ( Husband tries for trophies I try for candy) We are done at nine, one couple leaving right away to get to bed. (we are getting older and sleep is important if you have a busy day ahead) The other two couples wanted to drive over to the cottage to see our progress. We ended up showing our little cottage off then standing outside in the gorgeous evening and chatting until 12:30. On the way home I thought uh oh...I forgot to blog! Then I remembered RA saying it was OK, just do your best. So today I will post twice so I don't miss a day. I sure had fun last night so it was all worth it! Nothing beats getting together with wonderful people who you can share and have fun with and enjoy each others hopes and dreams and sorrows and advice... and just being YOU!

Ladybugs

They are not real ladybugs. When I was little on the farm we would find nests of ladybugs hiding around the base of trees. They were bright red with distinct black dots. My grandma would say if we found a nest they would bring us good luck. She also said they were good for your garden as they ate little aphids. That was the last I saw a real ladybug. Now they are orange with not so black dots and they smell bad when you squish them. They bite, and it hurts. I do not like them. It seems I have had a cough for a few weeks. I went to bed with a coughdrop in my mouth. When it was half gone I took it out and put it on my nightstand. In the morning I woke up looked over at it and there it was with ten of those ugly ladybugs on my cough drop! UUGG How did they get in my bedroom? Well tonight I'm going to get the vacuum and suck them up and throw them back outside. Everyone says they have these orange invaders in their homes. What happened to the real red ladybugs? They would stay outside and not eat coughdrops.