Lookee what I found today...

Friends and Neighbors

The good buddy, David, came over to jam and visit tonight. Many an evening have we all spent together playing music and talking about life. Just existing together and makin' it... Neighbor Stan was out next door and Adam heard him strummin' on his patio while walking Mondo. I conned him into playing me a tune. He writes when the notion takes him.

These two. Friends doesn't even begin to cover it. They love each other. I can't count the days we've all spent together. Tonight is a good night.

Let Us Define Normal, Shall We??

They Work for Worms

When planning the doing of things around the house and yard, Adam and I always try to plan as best we can. I always forget about 15-20 additions, though. First lets add 10 chickens to the actual landscaping work (explanation about 1 paragraph down). Then lets add a few cats and just for the fun of it tag on a St. Bernard, a Bulldog, and a few mutts. Why not, right? Makes things more interesting. As if the actual landscaping isn't challenge enough.

If you look at the picture below, you'll see a black chicken toward the right of the flock with wings akimbo. (Note to Adam: when throwing clods of dirt and weeds into the yard, WATCH OUT FOR THE CHICKENS, HONEY. They take offense at such disturbance.)
Now here we see the lovely ladies actually WORKING for their keep for a change... They love worms. More than my flowers, more than my (organic and NOT CHEAP) garlic fertilizer, more than the food we BUY for them, more than anything they LOVE worms. Did you know a chicken can destroy a garden bed that took hours to prepare and plant in about 10 minutes? I took this knowledge and applied it to the preparation of the front bed. They actually helped here by doing what chickens do best... looking for ....WORMS!!! (And even out the ground so that we don't have to rake it.)

They aren't shy in their search. They know that we're turning up fresh dirt and come running as fast as their little scaley feet can carry them. Then it's on...

Notice our lovely Barred Rock wants to see what's under that rock WAY MORE than Adam does. A feast of roly poly bugs await. She got pretty ticked when he flopped the rock back down. A ruffling of feathers and a grand show of irritation followed.


It really IS all about them....

or so they think...

A Question For You, Dear Reader...

I was searching randomly for a picture that I liked and settled on this one because it made me feel good. The sight of a dirt path and trees with almost tangible sunshine all around is enough to overwhelm me with contentment. And a bubbly kind of joy that I cannot quite describe...yet.

So, then I wondered how it would make someone else feel. Maybe the sight of a dirt path doesn't make everyone feel just like it makes ME feel. I then decided of course it wouldn't and I really want to hear how this particular moment frozen in time makes someone other than Malinda feel.

If you feel so inclined, please share. ....Also, if anyone can tell me where this is, I'll give you some snail mail love...

One Day I Will Be a Flutterby...

I wonder what kind of butterfly this lovely little pataciller will become. This picture makes me miss spring. Everything is so new and beautiful with the onset of the new cycle of life and the wind promises that one day it will be warm. Right now spring feels far away...

I Miss Summer...

Make a wish!! (Please don't try to blow the seed thingies off of the dandelion. They won't blow away and you'll get your computer screen all dirty...)

I like how this is a perpetual wish. Kind of a wish in the making...

I know it isn't Tuesday, but....

I'm proud of myself... I walked/ran four miles in an hour today (which was my goal!!). Maybe, just maybe, I'll actually be able to do the 1/2 marathon in April and not embarrass myself... I have 4 and 1/2 hours to do 13.1 miles. I really think I can do it. I think I can, I think I can...

Dad's Blog

For the next few days, I'm going to be posting on my dad's blog. He and my mom are still in Ohio helping my Granny sort things out and Dear Ole Dad can't get to Mickey D's every morning to hop online.

So.... please visit if you feel so inclined (www.jimfields.wordpress.com) cause you'll be gettin' nada hear until Tuesday and I promise it'll actually be a happy post, k?

Love all of ya!

Letting Go

The earth seems to give up many people in peace. With acceptance. Warm sunny days kiss coffins goodbye and gentle winds urge on the passing of our loved ones. Sometimes accompanied by a gentle shower - I (in my flowery prose) imagine maybe angel tears.

Not so last Saturday. The cemetary covered in snow shivered in expectance and the wind howled and blew and fought. Bone chilling cold seeped into my veins and I imagined for one moment that my blood was ice and that I was a monument.

I stood still in the angry wind watched my cousins carry my Grandpa's coffin through the pouring snow. I watched my Father read from his Bible and heard his words. I held my Grandma's hand and my Mother touched my shoulder. The wind tried to push over the tent. The angry wind. A changing wind. My family stood and we all cried. And then we left the coffin there.

I felt that day that the world didn't want my Grandpa to go and that there were angels swirling all around us disguised by the snow. I felt that my Grandpa wasn't in that coffin, but in our hearts and watching us from behind the nearest tree. Urging us back to the warmth of our cars and the comfort of our family and friends.

I said goodbye once more and left.

Dulce suenos, my sweet Gramps. I'll see you again...

Goin' to Ohio to See Gramps and Granny

I am going to take a journey to Ohio with my sweet Mama and Lil' Sis to see my Gramps and Granny next week and will not be posting until I get home next Saturday. My Gramps isn't feeling so hot right now and we're hoping to cheer him and my Granny up a little.

In my absence, I leave you some bloggy fun...

http://www.pennynroscoe.blogspot.com/ - the "tails" (thanks Abby) of Penny and Roscoe

http://www.abbykey.blogspot.com/ - my sweet, lovin', awesome Abby (and sister extaordinaire)

http://www.betsyhaley.blogspot.com/ - my wonderful, crazy, beautiful Betsy (and sister extraodinaire)

http://www.jimfields.wordpress.com/ - my Dad - his blog ALWAYS makes my day better

http://www.alice-doors.blogspot.com/ - Just found her today, after she found me, but way cool site

She Wants to be Me

This is what I found about 30 minutes after Iwoke up the other day. She loves him. a LOT. He loves her back. She thinks that my side of the bed SHOULD be HER side of the bed...

She's giving me that "don't ruin this" look. I guess that makes me the third wheel. (And no, my husband does not have a problem with his bedroom being girly. So there.)

Have a good day everybody!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

Sometimes I think that they are messing with my head.