7 Random Things

1. I made this tote-bag from an old pair of jeans I wore 11 years ago, pre- child bearing.  It was time I came to the sobering realization that my body has been sacrificially ruined for the sake of my children slightly changed and that I don't need to hold on to old jeans anymore with a death grip in my closet.  Besides, it has really just freed up some space for a pair of stylish new jeans with more bling on them.

This Friday, I will be teaching the girls how to make the bags in their 4-H sewing class. One of the sewing categories at the county fair is for "Recycled" materials.  I think this will fit it well. (They don't have to put the pockets and flowers on them. They'll embellish them however they'd like!)

2.  My baby came in crying this week, claiming she was maliciously pecked on the nose by a chicken while checking the nesting boxes for eggs.

She was furious and wanted swift and immediate justice!

She's calmed down a bit, but she's still sporting a nice little scab on her nose to remind her of the atrocities that occurred on that fateful day...a day that will live in infamy.

Here's the culprit.  The Turken...a.k.a. the naked necked chicken.  The kids immediately wanted to make chicken soup out of her, and I've had to intervene on her behalf. She may be a cannibal toward her fellow hens, and a real nose pecker, but she lays a nice big egg every morning for us. Therefore, I've given her an official presidential pardon from the death penalty.

3.  The farrier came this week, which means the dogs hit the jackpot! My deaf, half blind, old fart of a dog found the hoof trimmings and spent an entire afternoon gnawing on them in the soft grass.  Retirement is treating him well.  Wouldn't life be grand if we could all be content with such simple pleasures?

4. The kids have been taking turns riding Jake to check the cows.  They've been putting weight and muscle on  him in preparation for summer horse events.  He's starting to slick off and fill out, and he's looking better every week since he came to live with us.

Have I mentioned how much I love old horses? Only a hundred times? Let me make it 101....I heart this old guy.  I don't care what he looks like. He'll always be loved by me.  

5. I just discovered that Jake doesn't like apples! He loves apple flavored treats, but not the real deal.  He snubs his nose at them.  I thought all horses liked apples. Who knew?!? I don't allow my children to be picky like this, but with Jake...I'll let it slide.

 6. We're just about finished planting the garden.  We've got...Early Girl, Husky, and beef stake tomatoes, Anaheim, jalapeno, and yellow bell peppers, sweet and yellow onions, chives, basil, thyme, oregano, cucumbers, zucchini and yellow squash, green beans, sugar snap peas, carrots, corn, mammoth sunflowers, blue pumpkins, giant pumpkins... I think that's all so far. We still have to plant the flowers, but I'm waiting until after Mother's Day to do that. We all look like lobsters after the weekend in the garden, but that's the price you must pay for superior produce.

7. I just discovered Breyers Oreo Birthday Blast Ice cream, and it's taking my taste-buds to a place they've never been before.  It's cake batter flavored ice cream with sprinkles and hunks of Oreos all mixed into one amazing concoction of deliciousness.  When I put it into a waffle cone, it tastes like my all-time favorite ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery...Birthday Cake Re-mix.  Since the nearest Cold Stone Creamery is 3 1/2 hours away, I consider this discovery to be earth- shattering.  Plus, for the cost of one ice cream at Cold Stone, I can have half a gallon of Breyers and a whole box of waffle cones. It's a winning combination if you like these flavors.  If not, then don't try it. There will be more for me.

Thank you for listening to my endless prattle about nothing. I love you, dear readers. 

Nell