Friday Five:

Amy's Friday Five: This is where I share with you five things I learned this week because there is always something to be learned. In the process you might just learn a little something about me.

Happy Happy Friday to you!

What I learned this week:

1. That turkey's can fly. I didn't know and I neither did The Hubs who ended up rounding up 95 turkey's by himself after letting them out into there new open pen. I so wish I could have been there. Mind you - The Hubs hates the turkeys already but this surely sealed the deal.

2. If I am ever to move to Montana - I WILL do the opposite of most of the people here and put an air conditioner in my house because although it only gets hot for one month out of the year, It is HOT for one month out of the year! *on that note it is 5:00am and I just watched my Dad, who I just learned surely must be crazy, put on a SWEATSHIRT! What? I am burning up and have as little clothes on as possible without being embarrassed or offensive.

3. Thanks to google, I learned that:

If you ever need the recipe go here. It really really works. Don't use Tomato Juice! Your dog will only smell like tomato and skunk - two of my least favorite things.

4. That puppies' night time routines are very similar to the nighttime routine of a newborn. I'm tired!

5. That some small town ER rooms leave A LOT to be desired. I was about to do the OP's vitals myself. So so irritating!

There you have it - my Friday Five. Have you learned something this week? Please share! Have a wonderful weekend. I think I might just go back to bed.

Close Encounter of a Stinky Kind

At home I battle snakes but here in Montana I battle a different creature. The Skunk. This time I was not wearing a skirt and apron but was sporting a french manicure on my pretty little toes and this time there was a victim.

Let me back up a little:

My first encounter with above skunk was the second night I was here. At night we open all the windows, one of my favorite things. I so enjoy the fresh cool air. Except this particular night was not so fresh. I was just settling down and smelled THE SMELL. I thought I can get through this. It was a little warm this night and I didn't want to shut the window. But the skunk conquered. I swear he had his butt up to my window spreading his not-so-lovely perfume. My eyes were burning - it was THAT bad. I closed the windows.

{few days go by - no stinky skunk}

Then yesterday: I get home from a crazy day that started with a trip to the ER (The OP has an infection in her lungs). I start helping my mama with dinner and we realize that we have forgotten about Graycee (our new puppy) who had been outside. We end up searching inside and out and there is no sign of Graycee. Lovely.

I go searching with my Mom's two dogs a Jack Russell, Ally, and an Australian Shepherd. We walk, I call - no Graycee. I think {great I have lost our dog and we have only had her for 3 days.}

I start to walk back towards the house and I hear something. A yelp perhaps? I start looking around and realize that I am on top of a culvert. Ally has gone inside. Oh my gosh - Graycee! I call out to Ally and she comes out and then goes back in. I go to the other side of the culvert and convince myself to look in. I see something, an animal, but I can't tell what it is. I am concerned that it is our puppy. I start calling to her trying to co hearse her out. Up to this point Ally has not growled so I think it must be Graycee. I look again.

I hear my Dad's truck coming down the hill and right about that time I hear a growl, a bark, a screech and then it comes - THE SMELL. I yell, "HOLY CRAP! SKUNK!" Ally appears and starts rubbing her face on the ground.

I now start running up the hill towards the truck because it occurs to me that the skunk may have jumped out and is after me! My Dad stops. I yell as I run to the other side - "Ally got skunked. There is a skunk in the culvert." I start worrying now that I have been skunked and that the skunk has dog napped my puppy. I start smelling myself to make sure. I thankfully was spared. Ally not so much.

Dad then informs me that Graycee was in the house the whole time, stuck under a cabinet. Nice! Poor Ally took one for the team!

So I am unsure whether the skunk lived and I will not be checking any time soon. Thank heavens he didn't come at me when I stupidly put my face in the end of the culvert. Which looking back was not the brightest idea I have ever had. I blame it on the lack of sleep. I am pretty sure that I will be having bad dreams about a crazy rabid skunk chasing me through the woods.

If he did live - I have a feeling that I will be seeing him soon.............................

True Love of a Different Kind...Wordful Wednesday

So this is love...

My JD Boy sitting inside the cab of a John Deere tractor (his favorite) at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, Ca. February 2009


















What's this?? The JD Boy is climbing into a Case International?? Hey, his favorite color is green, but when it comes to tractors, love sees no color.

Did I mention, he is in love with tractors? Just in case you couldn't tell.


For more Wordful Wednesday visit Angie at SevenClownCircus

Tuesday Tribute- True Love

Today is mine and The Hubs' 8th Anniversary. I have already done a tribute to him on Daddy's Day here . But since I am away and he is not with me I just wanted to give a little shout out about how much I love this man. I.LOVE. THIS. MAN!

I am exceptionally lucky and blessed to have found my ONE. TRUE. LOVE. and my best friend. It doesn't feel like 8 years. It feels like yesterday that I said "I do" and promised my heart forever. I hope everyone gets to experience this kind of love. It is truly an amazing thing.

Here's to true love and growing old and wrinkly together.

*P.S. I love you and miss you tremendously Hubs! When were old I will still rock your world. hee hee. I just couldn't resist!

For more tributes visit Angie:

Pokerface,Hillbilly Laundry, and Radar Ears- Monday's Mama Drama

You know you have Mama Drama when....

1. you are playing a friendly game of poker at a neighbors house, your 3 yr. old girl is sitting on Daddy's lap when he gets his cards and she says, "Oh! 7 and 4." Thanks poker face, Daddy was folding that hand anyway, but your "lap time" just got cut short.

2. you have to use the HOSE. OUTSIDE. ala Hillbilly... to get the mud that is caked not only onto but inside (I don't even want to know how that happens) not one, but three pairs of your son's pants before they can even be put in the washer.

3. you find yourself (yet again, remember last weeks B.S. statement?) making up more "Mommy Lingo". Let me explain (clears throat): I was on the phone with my hubby and made the comment, "No, they are Effed Upped." My son "Radar Ears" hears me and says, "What's Effed Upped mean?" I say, "Uh....Fantastically Unoperational, you know a fancy way of saying something is broken. In fact it is too fancy for a little boy like you to say, only mommies can say it." Son: "But my chisel (one of his tractor toys) is unoperational right now." Me: "Yes, but is it Fantastically unoperational???" Son: has thoughtful, contemplative look. Me: "See, it's too fancy."

4. your son then spends the rest of the day trying to find something in the house that is worthy of being deemed Fantastically unoperational.

And Finally...

5. a tree falls on you while inside your parked vehicle and somehow that got translated in the 3 yr. old's mind that YOU did something wrong and now she has anxiety every time she gets in the car with you and has become the world's youngest back seat driver. All I hear now is "watch out for the car mom", "mom, you are driving too fast", "that was a close one", and the best one was after we got to our final destination after an hour drive she said, " Phew, we made it!" Thanks kid.

Doggone Cute

I might just be crazy but I just can't resist! Guess what I am doing today? I am going to pick up this little cutie.......................................

Isn't she just so so adorable? I have had my heart set on getting another dog for the last couple of months. We lost our Winston in February and we all miss him so.

For some reason I wanted an English Springer Spaniel - so I have been searching. My search is over because this is her
the newest member of our family. I just new it when I saw these pictures that I had to have her. The princesses are so so excited. Now I just have to think of a name. Any suggestions? I like Graycie but am open to mostly anything. However there are a few rules: these are the rules for naming our children as well. They can't sound the same and they have to have a Y in it. Since you don't know my kids names you will be safe if it does not end in an A, N, or IE. I am however breaking the rule with Graycie but there my rules so I can break them.

** Hi hubs - I hope you like her. Hubs is learning about our newest addition via blog at the same time as every one else. Thank goodness he is so wonderful, fantastic, loving, forgiving, understanding. Just an awesome guy, husband, Daddy!

I am brave and did I mention a bit crazy. Yes I think I did.

Things that Annoy Lady Di

Okie Dokie this post is inspired by Design It Chic. She participates in Aloha Fridays over at An Island Life. Design It Chic's question was: What are the three things about you that people find annoying?

So Lady Di and I are IMing on Facebook and I asked her about what I should post and she rattles on about all these things that annoy her about me. What is that all about? I think she is holding a grudge. WHATEVER!

Here it goes:

1. Lady Di has a huge fear of knives and her wrists being cut. Sooooooooooo I like to run a butter knife over my wrists and sometimes my neck in front of her. I am not sure why she finds that annoying?

2. She also has a fear of her exposed achilles tendons under a bed. In college she would position her bed close enough to her light switch so she could climb in bed and shut off the light. You would never find her sitting on her bed with her feet on the floor. She was also the first to show me the leprechaun door, which is the door to the attic or crawl space usually in a closet. This would never be in her room because she was afraid of the leprechaun and it getting her achilles tendons. Sooooooooooooo I can do a leprechaun voice and I would call her name from my bedroom once we went to bed and all the lights were off. Again, not sure why this would annoy her?

3. Lady Di's favorite part of taquitos and burritos are the ends. Sooooooooooo every time we would find ourselves eating one or both of those I would come on over to her plate and bite off the ends. What? I like them too. Learn to share Lady Di. Even now i am cracking myself up writing these. I can so remember doing these things.

I am going to add another one.

4. This one I really don't understand. I mean what does she have against my pillow? She hates it. It annoys her. I think she said something to the tune of "that rag you carry around that is a sorry excuse for pillow." Seriously not a rag! It is a Scandinavian Down pillow. It was expensive and it is comfy. Yes I could probably shove it into a green bean can but it is MY pillow and I LOVE it so LEAVE it alone, Lady Di! My pillow is off limits!

I think there might be more. I am sure she will leave them in the comments. Looking back I was pretty onry (and I wonder where the MP gets it from - oops!) I would say I am sorry but really it cracks me up and if I was on the phone with her I might have to dust off the Leprechaun voice and say, "Love you, Di. " Hee hee.

Oy Vay! It's Late. I am supposed to be on Vay Kay! Have a great day. (Look at that! Ha! It's late, actually early! I'm tired.)

Sorry Amy but this post just begs to be crashed...

Oh, I'm am SOOOO feeding your kids Coco Puffs and soda for breakfast next time we visit, and don't worry...you "claim" they don't like it. One week with Auntie Di and they'll be begging you for donuts every Friday morning, and what are you going do about THAT??, chick that lives in the middle of nowhere without a donut shop in sight!!

Oh yeah, and I've had some time to think about it, that pillow...you're right I am mistaken it's not a rag...that would be attributing it too much. I believe I used to call it a tissue. One of those dirty tissues you keep in your pocket so long they practically become a little "poof" of lint when you pull them out. But again, you're right I shouldn't knock the pillow, I'm sure it was expensive, when your mom bought it for you...back in the 70's!!!

I just couldn't resist, I WAS going to make my rebuttal in comments, however crashing the post meant I would have a guaranteed audience :) LadyDi

Friday Five: Traveling

Amy's Friday Five: This is where I share with you five things I learned this week because there is always something to be learned. In the process you might just learn a little something about me.

*sorry this is late - I am having some technical difficulties. I just learned my mama needs a new computer!
We made it. Woooohooooo! The princesses and I FINALLY made it to our destination. It was extraordinarily longer than the usual trip to the beautiful state of Montana due to vehicular problems I seriously think that next time we will be flying and that is saying a whole lot because I.AM.SCARED.TO.FLY! Seriously scared!

Anyhow, this is what I learned this week (well some of what I learned - otherwise this would be an incredibly long post!)

1. When I am already overdue for a much needed break from the kiddos (some serious mommy time was already needed) it is not a good idea to jump in the car with them for 8 hours a day for 4 days. Not- a -good idea.

2. Never travel on Sundays. Because if something were to happen like let's say a flat tire- NOTHING is open.

3. Just when you think nothing more can happen - it does. Along with this I learned that the Law of Attraction is viable. I was negative at the beginning of this trip, not real excited, and day after day it got worse. When I finally gave in and thought - I have to do this , I am here, just deal, at least we are all together and the girls are spending time with there Grammy- it got better. Change your outlook and everything gets better!

4. This is a beautiful sight/feeling! LOVE IT!

5. Watching billboards is quite entertaining. Utah has some interesting ones. I particularly loved, GOT SNOT? As a matter of fact, yes I do! I hope to snap some pictures on the way home to show you all. There was some funny ones.

Well there you have it - some of the things I learned this week. If you learned something please be sure to let us know. Leave us a comment. Have a fantastic fun filled weekend.

AMY - no cute sig today. I can't seem to get it to work.

Writer's Workshop- 3 Things You Would Just LOVE To Know About Me

For today's Writer's Workshop I chose prompt #5- What are three things we would love to know about you? Well, I don't know if you would LOVE to know any of this about me, but I'm going to tell you anyway. Don't worry there are no real big revelations or major confessions. Just three simple facts about Lady Di.

#1: I hide chocolate and other delicatable snacks in random, obscure places around the house from my kids....and husband. Although, I think my husband may be on to me because once he wanted to know why a bag of Reese's Pieces were in my apron and oven mitt drawer. Now, why he was in my apron and oven mitt drawer I do not know, but luckily it was unopened and I said I was saving it for "us". He bought it...I think. I have since abandoned that hiding place. No worries, there are others that have yet to be discovered.






#2: I LOVE baking and decorating cakes. I am a self-taught cake maker. I have a whimsical fantasy of owning a cool pastry shop and being a cool pastry chef like the ones on T.V. However, a little thing called "real life" gets in the way of that. No worries, I get my cake fix by making cakes for my kid's birthday's and there are plenty of nieces and nephews around to keep me busy. I even made a wedding cake once. Maybe when the kids are all grown up I will open that shop. Instead of being the Cake Boss, I can be the Cake Granny. The first picture is the Tea Pot cake I made for daughter's 2nd b-day.






My nephew LOVED Superman!














The Princess Cake for my daughter's 3rd b-day











It has black icin'! You can't even begin to imagine how hard it is to make black icin'! (it always just wants to stay a yucky gray color). It was great though, all the kids had black teeth and mouths. This was also for a nephew whose Daddy (my bro-in-law) is a 2nd Lt. in the Army.




#3: I believe in Guardian Angels. I recently had an experience that affirmed this belief. Some of you might already know this. A rather large tree fell on my parked Suburban while I was still INSIDE it. I won't go into too much detail, if you want the whole story and see more pictures (they are pretty amazing) you can go HERE. However, I will say that there was a series of events that saved me from harm. So, I am a believer in Guardian Angels. I am so grateful that I came out of the whole thing relatively untraumitized. Unless of course you consider the fact that I give every tree I drive by the "stinkeye".



There you have it. 3 things about Lady Di. Oh yeah, #1 is our little secret okay (pinky swear?)

For more Writer's Worshop click on the link Mama's Losin' It

Wordful Wednesday- Supermodels...we are not!!

Many of you already know that we had a little belated B-day BBQ for my JD Boy on Sunday. After the party I asked the hubby if he could take some pictures of the birthday boy and me. I am never in the pictures because I am always the one TAKING them. Anyway, getting this kid to smile nicely (key word) is like trying to get him to relinquish his claim on my living room as "his field"...not gonna happen. Between JD Boy's inability to smile like a "normal boy", Hubby's dee-dee-dee handling of the camera, and my quitting attitude we turned out some LOVELY shots. I'm talking front cover of Vanity Fair, BAY-BEE!!!!

We begin with the open mouth pose (at least there wasn't food in his mouth)

Ok, let's change background and try the "sit in lap" pose, Uh No...looking a little "strained" there
buddy.

Maybe if I move in closer and give him the "squishy, wishy mommy hug" pose...apparently, he is sour on that idea as evident by the pucker on his face.

Time to change pose..let's try the stand by and look at each other adoringly...no, no son, you look at me, and what's with that "strained" look again...you need more fish oil dear???

I give up...Honey, just take the flippin' pictures and I'll just pose "JD Boy style" too, what the heck if you can't beat 'em...right??

And Finally....I think a semi-decent picture (at least of me anyway)

Amy Update: She may be cured of her fear of flying after this little road trip. Let's just say flat tires, over heated engines, and over 100 degree weather don't mix well with a mom, a grammy, and three little girls.

**Ok, I don't know how this happened. It's late and I'm a dork. However, the link to Angie's SevenClownCircus got messed up and now if you click on any of the text below my signature, it will link you through to her site. So, no pretty button, just my lame explanation of how un-techy I am that I can't even set up a link right.