Ring-a-ling-a-ding-ling ...

You know how we all choose that “just” right ring tone to play on our phones when a certain special person in our lives calls us.

I have Darius Rucker’s “It Won’t Be Like This For Long” on mine for when my kids call me, because I realize it won’t be like this for long. So, I better answer them every time they call me. Then, when my Rooster-lovey calls me, well, “our” song plays - George Straits, “I Cross My Heart”. Or when Tatia calls, “Chicken Fry” by Zach Brown plays cause well … that’s my kid’s favorite song.

Of course the kid’s chose Alan Jackson’s “Small Town Southern Man” for their Poppa. And for their mother – they chose “Redneck Woman” by Gretchen Wilson … okay so I don’t like champagne or beer … but I know what they are saying – Momma keeps it real! That’s what happens when you raise your kids barefoot … hahahaha

And then there are those songs that come on and remind you of what you wished someone felt about you …

And then there are those songs that come on and reminds you of what you know someone truly feels about you each and every time you look into his eyes. So, my sweet Rooster-lovey, here is the song I hear, every time I look into your gorgeous hazel bedroom eyes…

Just One Woman … by Tracy Byrd

When Roy was a young man his friends used to tell all about
The girls they ran with and he’d just shake his head
And they’d get to laughing and asking
Well, Roy just how many girls you loving on these days
And he’d turn three shakes of red
But if you ask him now he’ll tell you
Boy, this old man’s been around
And I ain’t one to brag but you’d be hard pressed
To find too many other men around this here town
That’s loved the way I have

Just one woman
One amazing, worth the waiting
Angel from above
Just one woman is all I’ve ever loved

Well, I asked him once, Roy, don’t you think by now
She’d have wanted you to move on
He said, no, not yet
Cause once a man’s stared into the eyes
Of the most beautiful woman God ever made
Well, that’s something an old man don’t forget
But boy, don’t you worry about me none
My time here’s nearly done and I know when I’m gone
These old bones are gonna fly and I’ll be reaching for the sky
And I’ll be holding on

Just one woman
One amazing, worth the waiting
Angel from above
Just one woman
Is all I’ve ever loved

Just one woman
One amazing, worth the waiting
Angel from above
Just one woman
It’s all I’ve ever loved
She’s all I’ll ever love.

Yep, … that’s what you make my heart feel like … and while I KNOW your time isn’t anywhere near come, I understand … I really and truly understand what you told me this weekend … and I love you … just one man … you’re all I’ve ever loved … you’re all I ever will love!

Catching up ..

Okay ... last week the farm girl, put on her city duds and stayed the week at the Hilton working a training class ... way cool.

However by day three of said training class the farm girl was quite ready to ditch the city duds and run around barefoot in her Aggie shirt and shorts. Can I just say I'm glad last week is now over.

Now, this week the farm girl is home, and the Rooster has flown the coop. WYOMING ... I'm hearing that Wyoming is an awfully pretty place to be right now. LOL, hubby has fallen in love with another state.

This week the farm girl is trying to catch up laundry, cook for her kids, and just enjoy life at home. However since the Rooster is gone, his little Princess Peach is NOT doing well. She has run a low grade temperature all day ... been a lousy conversationalist ... can I say GROUCHY PANTS ... slept nearly all afternoon ... and well, has been VERY clingy!

Oh, and I am desperately trying to catch up on my grading/grade book ... sad state of affairs!!

The America I Remember ...

Telephones ...

Rooster remembers crank handle telephones. Where you called the operator and she connected you to the party you were trying to call.

Rooster remembers party lines. His family's phone ring was two longs and a short. Of course the phone numbers were also something along the lines of SHerwood - 54499. You had to search out the "S", the "H" and then the numbers.


We both remember rotary dial phones.
We both remember push button phones.

We both remember our first "hand held" phone.

We remember "mobile" phones that were wired into your vehicle and would honk like crazy when the phone rang.

We remember "affordable" mobile phones that came in a bag.

We now, no longer have a land line. We only have our cellular phones.

Do you remember any of these things ....

Of course these were simpler times, times where you were polite and did not listen in on the party line. If you had to break in you only did it in an emergency, and you apologized for interrupting your neighbors phone call.

Neighbor, now that in itself is a word that is lost on todays society. Do you know your neighbors? Neighbors were those people you used to sit on the front porch with in the evening while the kids played hide-n-seek, kick the can, or even tag football if you were from my neighborhood. We girls practiced the latest "cheer" on the sidewalks while the boys played ball in the street. Our dad's didn't have to referee, because the older brothers made sure that the game was fair, even for the littlest of players.

I miss this America ... the land of the free, the home of the brave ... the one that still trusts in God.

Finally ...

you get to see that handsome Rooster guy ... as he walked across the stage. I am so far behind it is pitiful. I know I should do this blog thing more often ... as a dear family member told me over Thanksgiving ... I'm VERY inconsistent. LOL, maybe I'll get on a roll here before long. I heard a really good piece of advice this weekend ... I need to quit letting life get in the way of the things I WANT to do!

So, without any further ramblings or ado from me ... I present to you ... Rooster!! In his graduate cap and gown glory ...

Birthday Wishes ...

Today ... is the 12th year that we have been blessed with ...

The Big Bubba ... he is the one that started our story ... and he is usually the one that instigates moments like these .... where all of my children are strangling a poor komodo dragon statue in the Fort Worth Zoo ...

or ....

all of my children perched on the ledge in the water park ribbiting like frogs ... because well they were near the water ...

Then, there are the moments when God's tiniest and very beautiful creatures catch his attention, and just don't let go. He was simply entranced by these beautiful little birds in the zoo. They bought little sticks with bird seed stuck to them to feed to the birds. He ended up with birds all over him ... trying to not only eat the food he had for them, but also nibble at his ears. Funny how their touch never concerned him in the least bit.

Of course of late, you will find him pestering his father with relentless questions about how this works, why this is the way it is, or what does this do, where is this or that, when does this occur, and on and on and on the questions roll ... And his questions are never annoying, they are thoughtful and though provoking. Of course those questions that come at 11:00 at night when we are trying to fall asleep are a bit frustrating. And no matter how many times we show him how to Google an answer to his more technical questions, he still comes to both Rooster and I first. Don't get me wrong, I love it! I love the fact that he thinks we are a fount of knowledge~~~

These boys have seen their share of rattlers since we live in the country, but alas they never seem to tire of any display of one especially one that is this long!!

Happiest of birthday wishes to my dear Big Bubba ... you are my tenderheart ... and I love you tenderly with all my Momma heart!

Edit ... sorry ... I have referred to the above mentioned child in this post as Big Bubba, and have been informed that he prefers the online moniker of Ranger ... ah, I love my children soooo much!

See what a bachelor's degree will do to you!!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

You have WHAT, living WHERE?????

Today, I think … we have finally come to a complete understanding.

The cat is in control.
















I never in all my life thought I would say these things.

I now have conversations with cat. (Yes, I still talk to Harley-he is still #1 dog in the world!)
I allow cat to sleep on my pillow. (No, Harley never slept on my pillow – he sleeps on Roo’s.)
I actually have come to realize … I like cat. And yes this beautiful green/grey eyed Tabby does have a name.
















Her name is Tigger – no not original, but I have a chocolate eyed girl that thinks Tigger is tops, whether it is Tigger and Pooh or Tigger and Smiley! I call her Tiggity-Tig Cat … and she comes to me … she follows me … she seeks me out. I have a theory on this … it is because I am allergic to cats. LOL, oh, yeah did I mention I have purchased stock in OTC Zyrtec®. My little green capped bottle and I are BEST friends.


















Of course the most hilarious part about Tiggity-Tig is her 5:30 am playtime with Rooster. While my precious one is in the bathroom doing his morning routine, he has Tig either playing with her toys under his feet, pouncing off laundry baskets at him as he moves back and forth, jumping out from behind the door, watching him shower and shave, and last but not least jumping off of the cabinet shelves at him!! Well, I don’t know … her jumping out from under the bed as he walks by is pretty funny too!!

It Was Me ...

The second song on King George's new CD "Troubadour" is definitely our love story ...

It Was Me

The first time I met her

She walked right up to me

And said, "You're who I wanted to find."

There was a man she had seen in her dreams

And it was me

She said, "I can't believe it."

'Cause I've never been in here.

And I've passed this place so many times."

It was her night to find destiny

And it was me.

And we danced every song that they played

And talked until closing time

The closer I held her

The more I knew her destiny

Wasn't that far from mine.

Then I saw a reflection of someone unfamiliar

Looking back when I looked in her eyes

The happiest man I'd ever seen

And it was me.

And we danced every song that they played
And talked until closing time
The closer I held her
The more I knew her destiny
Wasn't that far from mine.

She wasn't looking

And I wasn't looking

Ain't it funny?

That's when love was found

She still calls it her lucky night

Yeah, someone was lucky

She's right

But it was me.

Written by: Buddy Cannon and Randy Hardison

Ah, but my Rooster-love it was truly me that was lucky that night. I danced right into your arms and knew immediately that was the place for me. There in your safe strong arms is where I wanted to be for the rest of my life. We went through it all getting there ... but have made it for nearly 16 years. Loving ... laughing ... finishing each other's sentences ... making each other coffee ... and taking the time to take care of even the little things. I love you so much ... you have given me so much.

Love to my favorite Troubadour

I purchased the new George Strait CD today. I brought it home and took it for a test drive (after kicking small children out of the house) … funny but this CD is just nearly written for me and my love. The first song on the CD, Troubadour, sounds so much like Roo. Well, except for the part about the honky-tonks and pretty women … the only pretty women he runs with now days are our beautiful little girls. And that honky-tonk time is long over … we spend our evenings at home with the school books!! Ah, but he definitely is a troubadour – he is a writer and singer of love songs, and while he doesn’t stroll around – he dances me all over the kitchen, living room and front yard singing to me!!

“Troubadour”

I still feel twenty-five
Most of the time
I still raise a little cane
With the boys
Honky-tonks and pretty women
Lord, I’m still right there with ‘em
Singin’ above the crowd and the noise

Sometimes I feel like Jesse James
Still trying to make a name
Knowing nothing’s gonna change
What I am

I was a young troubadour
When I rode in on a song
And I’ll be an old troubadour
When I’m gone
Well the truth about a mirror
Is that a damned old mirror
Don’t really tell the whole truth
It don’t show what’s deep inside
Or read between the lines
And it’s really no reflection of my youth

Sometimes I feel like Jesse James
Still trying to make a name
Knowing nothing’s gonna change
What I am

I was a young troubadour
When I rode in on a song
And I’ll be an old troubadour
When I’m gone
I’ll be an old troubadour
When I’m gone

Written by Monty Holmes and Leslie Satcher

Thursday Rants of a Selfish Wife

Call to order! or whatever we need to do to get this meeting started!!

My precious Roo has to go back to work today! I hate that ... almost as much as I hated him having to go back after his vacation last week. Selfish ... you better believe it!! I am extremely selfish when it comes to my love. I don't want to share him with ANYONE!!

Now that I have that little rant and rave off my chest ... I have another for you!!

Last week, we were at the office. One of the ladies that works in the office popped off a comment about my lovie being a PITA. Oh that flew all over me!! I think one of the kids could have thrown a five gallon bucket of liquid pig poo all over me, and it wouldn't have upset me near as much as that did.

Call me old fashioned, but that female doesn't know my hubby nearly well enough to tell me he is a PITA!! IF anyone in this world gets to refer to his uhm, let's say demeanor - IT'S ME!! And I don't refer to him in that type of verbage. In my world, my hubbiness is about a breath away from being able to walk on water. This is the man that works somewhere between 94.5 to 108.5 hours in his seven day stretch - so I can stay at home, raise our children, homeschool, and sit here on my laptop blogging to my friends. Now, do I get a sharp pain in my seat ... every once in a while he surely puts a burr under my saddle, but that is for me to know ... I don't fight and tell. Besides I would be a liar if I said we NEVER get cross. We are two completely different individuals. So, of course we are going to NOT see eye to eye ... but I can tell you this, it isn't very often that we aren't tuned into one another. There may be 15 years difference in us, but there is usually only about 15 seconds difference in our thought process! I can't explain in words, even though I try, how much I love my husband. He is so precious to me.

And I, sure as the sun rises, do not tell anyone who will listen that my hubby is a pain!! That is just rude!!

Well, little boy is better, he is still rather puney though. That is hard for me to watch. I know how my G. Wolfie is - vibrant, active, and full speed ahead life!! I have been so tickled at him today. He and Roo have played musical chairs all day. He knows that it is time for his Poppie to go back to work. He is SO much like his mother in that respect. He abhors his Poppie leaving for work. They are watching tv together right now, "Growing Up Elephant" on Animal Planet. They would own a zoo if they could figure out how to get it done. G. Wolfie told his Poppie that he wants a barn where they can have an elephant ... I'm thinking barn for goats, cows, dogs, cats, chickens, and a horse or two ... he is thinking barn for a safari collection!!! Geesh!!

Okay, I am outta here for the day ... I need to go fix some hamburger meat and potatoes ... we are having tacos for dinner before love leaves!! Until the next time, much love and huggles!!

A Tale of Three Little Piggies ...

Yes, family ... and friends that are interested ...

It has come time again to make the trip to the butcher shop!! I didn't think about it before we loaded the pigs up tonight - IN THE DARK BY THE WAY!!! but I should have taken pictures. One of the hogs that we loaded - I SWEAR to you I am NOT LYING - weighed about 500 lbs. I will post when they call me as to the weight. When, that hog stepped up into Mr. Joe's trailer, I just knew the back end of our pick-up was going to sink into the ground. That hog was longer than I am tall I bet!!

So, we finally got them loaded ... it took FOREVER!! Obviously no one had been loaded before and having had rain, the trailer was slippery, Roo was buried up to his gorgeous he-man calves in muck, mud, and goo. You know the kind of stuff that you step off in and it literally SUCKS your leg down into the murky, deep, dark! Then, he took a step and you could hear that sucking noise ... UGH!! I hate that feeling!!! Roo finally had to take the big gate and section off the feeder pen, where they would quit trying to go back to the back to lay down. Of course it was pitch dark by this time. So, we rounded them up in a chute type situation with the big gate to the back, a tall panel to one side, and a short panel to the other side leading into the gate of the trailer. BIG PIG tried to come over short fence once, but Mr. Joe had him under control pretty quick. Roo was still stuck in the mud, holding the big gate panel. And me ... I got to be the fearless, hide behind the trailer gate, gate closer!!

Okay, my Rooster is looking sweepy ... I'm off to beddy bye!!!

Tiny T-rex Arms ...

Each morning I gather my little chicks together ... we sit together at the table or at various points in our living area ... me cuddling my coffee mug, my girls - Smiley and Baby Girl Peach sitting in the swivel chair ... the boys - the near twins - G. Wolfie and Sir Hiss-a-lot sitting on the recliner and Big Lanky Bubba leaning up against the wall or door (looking like he is waiting to BOLT!!) So, today Rooster-love came in just as we started our morning "staff" meeting. As I started down the list of chores that we needed to accomplish, I hear a growl. Trying to keep my composure, I continue talking to Big Lanky Bubba about the particular extras that need to be done because he uhm, well, glossed over them yesterday. **SIGH** Then, I move on to Smiley ... 'and when you are vacuuming the bedroom, Peach will be your pick-up buddy' **GROWL** -- I turn to see my precious little Peach slashing the air and growling, not at me mind you ... at Rooster, because he has his little t-rex arms up slashing and growling at her. Needless to say it took me forever to get through the morning staff meeting - between bouts of growls, and tiny t-rex arms -- which by the way is HILARIOUS on a 6 foot plus Texas sized cowboy!

So, now here it is 9:30 most of our chores are either done, or well under way. I have little happy faces sitting around me at the table as I blog ... eating their oatmeal and toast. Lanky Bubba has lost his bolt look - hehhehe ... the best thing for him ever morning is his first morning run out to the pens ... he doesn't get that look because he wants to run from me, it is pure - he loves his animals. G. Wolfie is swaying to the soft music playing on the radio, happily eating his second or third bowl of oatmeal ... you know you lose count after a bit. Peach has jelly smeared from ear to ear, and is laughing and eating with her brothers. Hisser is quietly eating his oatmeal, stirring, taking a bite, stirring, swirling ... bless his heart it takes him forever to eat a bowl of cereal. I have to keep after him though, there can be no skimping on his part. And Miss Smiley ... little momma, she makes sure that all her brothers and her sister has enough to eat. She is such a blessing to me ... she has oatmeal down cold. I think she is going to be a great cook. Her cream gravy isn't too shabby, either.

Well, enough from me today ... I need to get along with my work. I am working on a co-op lapbook Blackbeard and Pirates - units from Hands of a Child. We are reading American History about the colonies from "A First Book in American History", "Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans"and "American History Stories Volumes I & II". And I think I am going to have Lanky Bubba start working on the Multiplication Pizza Party Lapbook from Hands of a Child today too. He is doing so well changing over from addition/subtraction to multiplication/division. I love that boys mathematical mind ... it amazes me. Heheheh obviously this is from a woman that has to have a calculator, and software to balance her checkbook.