Thursday, April 22, 2010

For Real????

So I'm YouTube happy today. My dad sent me an e-mail about this deer earlier today. I decided to go out on the Interweb over my lunch break to see if I could find any other details. Well, I found all kinds of Web sites and photos and videos--this doe's a star!

It's fascinating and also downright insane if you wanna know my take on it. Ice cream with a splash of coffee and sweetener? Linguine in bed? A deer that uses a human toilet? For real???

Meet Dillie ...


I don't know what's more bizarre ... a deer living in a house or the creepy news reporter who locks himself in with her for "nap time." Watch out, Dillie!

The House that Built Me

About once or twice a year, I hear a song that grabs me from the very first listen ... in comparison to the many others that I need to hear several times before they hook me. Miranda Lambert--a country singer--recently released this one. Kelly Clarkson covered it. I don't care who sings it. I just think it's a really well written song and one that I can relate to on so many different levels.

What are you all listening to these days? Anything hooking you? Care to share? :-)

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

I Survived

And so did the farrier, thank God. Beau and Scout did their best--even in a heavily drugged state--to kill us all. Richmond tried to sneak in a few "love nips." The horses that I expected to be on their best behavior turned out to be the worst. But in the end, we were able to wrestle them into submission and get the job done.

Today, I feel like I've been beaten by a two-by-four. During the whole ordeal, I didn't realize I was using every muscle in my body to hold huge horse heads and dodge flying hooves. I think I was tense from my head to my toes for the entire three hours of the vet/farrier visit. Remington was the last horse on the schedule. He seemed to know that we thought we were home free, and he decided it was his mission to try to break our collective wills. In my desperation and exhaustion, I actually started doing some kind of weird horse-human meditation. I closed my eyes, leaned in really close to Remi's temple, and just started breathing slowly and deeply. I think he actually picked up on the calmness I was trying to project because he went from being a red-eyed, fire snorting demon horse to one that was just slightly bratty.

All I know is that I need a massage and several glasses of wine thank you very much!

But there is some good news to report--it truly wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Two of the six equines were perfect gentlemen. And the farrier didn't seem nearly as uspet over my boys' bad behavior as I was. He agreed to come back in seven weeks to do it all again, and that's pretty darned fantastic.

Thank you all for your positive thoughts, prayers, and crossed fingers. I really do think they helped!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Trouble is Looming ...

... and it's coming in the form of 16 legs, 16 hooves, and two sets of long ears.

Tomorrow is a day I've been dreading for several weeks--hoof trimming time coupled with the annual visit by the horse vet. Never mind that these two visits are going to put a massive dent in the old pocketbook. I've resigned myself to that and if it was the only thing I had to deal with, life would be grand. No. I'm concerned about the attitudes of certain members of the equine contingent here on the little farm. Gravely concerned.

The two donkeys hate/loathe/detest both the farrier and the vet. Even though they aren't much bigger than the German Shepherds, the jackazzes weigh a heckuva lot more and are much more violent when asked to do something that they don't want to do. And trust me--they don't want to do much of anything unless food, hugs, or back massages are involved.

Then there's two of the horses--Stretch and Richmond. Stretch decided several months back that after 24 years of putting up with hoof trims and shoes, he just ain't having it anymore. He is now a total terror for the farrier. And Richmond--our huge tank of a Paint horse--decided somewhere along the way that it would be fun to sneak in a few bites on the farrier's butt whenever possible. And if that's not bratty enough, he decided that maybe he could just fall right over for good measure. Did I mention that he's built like a freakin' tank?

Farriers are hard to come by around these parts, and we've already lost several due to these miscreants' bad behavior. One actually broke down and CRIED during her final visit because my guys were so bad. I've had a few others since then and for some reason, they never return my calls after their first visit. Hmmm. Tomorrow, we're trying another new guy and I am praying with all of my might that everyone will behave. The vet is helping with the donks in the form of two needles filled with "Sleepy Time." But the farrier is on his own when it comes to Stretch Man and Richmond. God help him!

So send positive thoughts and prayers my way tomorrow between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. central time. I may be the one needing the horse tranquilizers after all is said and done.

Friday, April 9, 2010

If Wishes Were Kitchen Appliances

If wishes were appliances, the little house kitchen would have one of these ...


and a couple of these ...


Just daydreaming away a gorgeous Friday afternoon. Have a great weekend, ya'll!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Not-So-Good Aspect of Little Farm Living #1

First, let me say that the benefits of living in a little town, on a little farm, in a little house far outweigh the negatives--at least for this chick.

But there are some things about city and suburban life that appeal to me. Right now, Chipotle is at the top of that list.

I am craving a Veggie Burrito Bol like you wouldn't believe. To get one, I'd have to jump in my car, drive across the little town, and then get on the highway and head south for another 20 miles or so. Total trip
time: 35 minutes one way when I factor in traffic--tractors and otherwise. I've been known to make this trip before, just for this cardboard bowl filled with heavenly delight. But I can't justify the journey this evening when I have a ton of other things I should be doing. Drats! So I sit here at my computer--drooling and daydreaming about the fluffy rice, juicy black beans, perfect pico, and divine guac ...  

Yes, I Get Paid to Write

I obviously haven't found the spell checker function here on Blogger. I apologize to anyone who has been assaulted by my hideous typos and misspellings. The editor in me always finds the mistakes. It just takes me a few readings and sometimes a few days before they jump out at me. Mea culpa!

Team Toyota

I'm an uncompensated, non-actor nobody from middle America, and I LOVE TOYOTA. They need me in those new ads they have out now. Call me, Toyota execs! I work cheap!

Okay ... I know they've gotten some really nasty press lately. And they deserve the bad PR and much more if they knowingly put dangerous vehicles out on the roadways. But I owned Toyota 4Runners for eight years before gas prices went berzerko, and I LOVED them. I have nothing negative to say about my personal experience.

But when I saw this on SNL a few weeks ago, I had to laugh. It's been a crazy, stressful week for me and I think my blog needs a little humor. I'm at a loss for creating anything remotely funny on my own so I'll steal shamelessly from the comedic genius of others.

In case you missed it, I give you the latest Ford Hybrid commercial ... Enjoy!

Friday, April 2, 2010

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Jesus replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 17:20

On this holiest of holiday weekends, I've been thinking about one of my favorite Bible verses. Sometimes "keeping the faith" seems like a daunting task. How can I have faith that there is a plan for me, that there is always hope behind disappointment, when life throws one curve ball after another? It's so easy to get sucked into the negative when it seems like you just can't catch a break.

That's why I love this verse so much. As a Christian, it's so comforting to know that Jesus doesn't expect us all to have the ultimate faith at all times. He knows that we will be challenged and bogged down by life. He knows that we will have doubts along the way. All He asks is that we keep the tiniest speck of faith within us and the confidence to know that we can do anything through Him.

My mom recently gave me a pendant that has a mustard seed encased in a glass heart. I'm wearing it today and thanking God for his grace and blessings.

I hope you all have a beautiful Easter weekend!