The Slammer...

I am sure that the apparatus below has a formal name such as stake driver or well, something like that anyway. I'm sure that most every farmer has one and knows the name for it. We, however, are fake farmers. Or at least that is what Adam says because the only farm animals that we have are chickens. Long story short, we don't know the proper name for it, but we felt like we should call it SOMETHING. It has really come in more handy than just about anything around the place. We call it The Slammer. Not real creative, I know, but that is what it does so that is what we named it. (Please disregard burn pile in the thorn trees from hell. It has been too rainy to burn and looks not so great. Let us just focus on The Slammer.) I used it *for the first time* myself the other day while Adam was teaching. Not knowing that it MAKES YOU GO DEAF FOR TEN MINUTES after you use it. Only then does the Lovin' Husband tell me that he usually plugs his ears before he uses it. I guess he figured I wasn't ever going to use it as long as I had him around to do my dirty work. So here is my Baby with his ears all plugged up with paper towels. (whispering - he doesn't know that cotton balls really work much better. Isn't that cute??) And there is my most awesome wheel barrow that my parents got me for my birthday. Thanks, padres!!!!

We finally planted bunches of tomatoes and they need caging and staking. (weeds are not there anymore...)

Now our lovely Cherokee Purples are all snug as a bug in their new home.

And we will both be able to hear for years yet to come.

Happy Birthday to Me

My wonderful parents got me a wheel barrow for my birthday. They are truly wonderful. I will think of them when I (or... ahem... Adam) is hauling chicken poop across the yard!! Ha! But really, I NEEDED a wheel barrow and my lovin' Daddy and Ma got me one. One of the *many* reasons they are truly awesome parents. Fuzz really appreciates it too... or appreciated it. There has been chicken poop since then, so he has now reverted to the far reaches of the property again unless he knows we're outside.

I turned thirty today. I'm okay with thirty. I figure my life is better than it's ever been so I'm happy and life is good. On the other hand, I'm having trouble letting go of my twenties. They were good to me. I learned how to be ME. I won't ever think of BEING in my twenties again and that is life changing to me for some reason and I don't even really know why.

I do know that God has a plan for me, though, and that I'm looking forward to my *gulp* FORTH decade.

Adam has truly spoiled me today. He even agreed to go see the symphony with me Friday (thanks to Mark and Jenny for the tickets!!) and also bought me pizza tonight just because that is what I really wanted. He built me a fire and we sat and talked for a long time. I'm so thankful to have such a truly loving husband and best friend all in the same human being. Thanks, baby, for making my pretty "blah" day extra - extra special just by loving and caring for me!!

So today, remember. Think about a time in your life when it was hard for you to let go of one way and embrace another. Then smile and thank God that it is OVER!!!!

I truly love you all!!

Malinda