Snapshot of a bloggers absence

Yep. I've been MIA.

No, I haven't been trapped under anything heavy... except my life.

My life isn't "heavy" like a burden, there's just a LOT in it.

Like your favorite purse... it can be a lot to lug around, but you wouldn't DREAM of being without it or anything it contains!

So, since my last post of actual significance which was... hmmmm... let's see... August 16th! Agh! Shameful! Since then, a lot has transpired and I just haven't had the organization of thought to make it all presentable in a palatable manner. As a result... I am resorting to a list.

Disclaimer:
Due to the fact of linear thinking and a chaotic mind being mutually exclusive, this list is most certainly NOT in chronological order:

• On August 21st, Princess gave birth to our newest heifer: Rosalina. She's ADORABLE and is a constant source of smiles and general amusement. (No. I don't have a picture yet. BAD cow mom! I'll post one when I can get her to hold still long enough to snap a shot.) This brings our herd back up to four ladies. If Sparky doesn't throw a bull calf in February when she's due, we may have to resort to buying our beef. Yes, I know it's possible to "freeze" females... I just can't do it. I'm weird. I know. No shock there.

• We are now down to four cats. On October 24, we had to put down our oldest kitty, Houdini, aka: "Old Pet." It was difficult, but better for everyone in the long run. He was 15.

No, I won't be changing the name of the blog to Fabulous Four Cat Ranch. Lucky Seven it will remain because... well... I'm confused enough and it rolls off the tongue so nicely.

• I'm now buying our coffee beans green and (thanks to the tutelage of Lisa B.!) roasting them myself. It's fun, economical and STUPIDLY easy! I may have to do a tutorial post. If you only knew... You'd kick yourself. James has even gotten into helping out with the roasting from time to time. Purely due to his innate brilliance and good judgment he has become quite the roast master himself with virtually no help from me.

• Also, thanks to Lisa B., I am learning to make my own soap! It's so cool. She has these brilliant formulas she has devised herself and has kindly taught me how to prepare them. Chemistry is so cool! Don't be expecting a tutorial on soap making though as this is top secret, proprietary stuff and if I tell you how to do it, she'll have to kill me. If you would like to experience the loveliness and quality of Lisa's hand made soaps you can purchase them at her Etsy shop. Go there now! Christmas is coming, people!!

• Other ongoing projects: making my own pot cheese and Kombuch Tea. Both YUMMY and fun... though the whole Kombucha culture/mushroom/SCOBY thing vexes James. Yea, it's a little creepy looking while it's brewing, but it's SO GOOD and cheap to make as opposed to buying it. Example: At Whole Foods you can buy what I think is about a 12 oz bottle for around $2. I can make two gallons of the stuff for HALF THAT! Uh huh. That's what I'm sayin'.

• Since October 6th we have been making dinner for twelve every Monday and will continue to until at least the end of the year. Due to completely unfathomable and overwhelming circumstances, our Pastors' family has blossomed from four to eight... six of whom are teenagers. That's a pretty expensive endeavor on ministers' incomes, ya gotta admit. So, when the opportunity presented itself for us to contribute in the form of a dinner once a week, we jumped on it. Really, it's fun for us and such a blessing to get to do something so helpful for people who do so much for us. They are SO appreciative it makes us want to do even more. If only we could.

• We had yet another epic battle with the Tar Weed this year. Yuck! There is no magic bullet for this menace of Biblical proportions. It feels SO GOOD when we can finally mow it down in the Fall.

If anyone has advice for how to safely wipe this stuff out for good, please SPEAK UP!








• Anna got her Red Belt in Tae Kwon Do! So, yes, that does mean I travel with my own personal body guard. Don't let the sweet smile and angelic demeanor fool you...

If you're a board, she's lethal.

Lumber trembles at the sound of her name.

She has never missed a board break.

Her kihaps are a thing of fierce beauty. The stuff of legend around the dojo.

I'm glad she's on MY side!

Go, A-Bomb!!


• James had fun painting my hair for Halloween. We even thought briefly about doing something similar the next time I got my hair colored for real but wisely reasoned that much more than a week past October 31st it would cease to look cool and fun. Rather, I would take on the appearance of a soccer mom trying to pass as a rock star. Not pretty.

I stuck with the tried and true color combo and will keep my rock star fantasy safely confined to the shower.


• Under the heading of "Sometimes 'too good to be true' Really ISN'T" or: "God is totally mind-blowingly generous!" we found ourselves the fortunate recipients of a FREE SPA!!

Yes, you read correctly.

F-R-E-E

S-P-A

To make a VERY long story short... Our church owns a house that had a spa behind it that had to be removed or the insurance company wouldn't cover them.

In the weekly email mail bulletin, buried in the middle was a message that basically said, "if you want it, come get it and it's gotta be gone before the first week of November is up."

Well, as you can well imagine, we were all over that one like syrup on a pancake. We were the first to respond, thanks to the fact that I'm in front of my computer most of the day, and gave the spa a happy new home.

After investing in professional moving services (can you say 700 lbs!) and a small fortune in electrical wiring, breaker and a replaced power relay, it's up and running! Of course we had to shell out some cash to get it set up and working, but we would've had to do that even if we bought a brand new one so we're ecstatic... as are all of our parents' aching backs... :)

Gratitude? We're SOAKING IN IT!!


Well, folks, you are now officially up-to-speed on the dizzying swirl of excitement that is my blissful little life. :) Hope you're all well and happy out there in the blogosphere!

Cheers, Y'all!

So much to say, so little time.

I have tons to write about, even one post half completed and abandoned due to too many things to bake and clean and harvest and can and step on and off of and roast and photograph and eat and now the girls are about to walk through the door in need of a snack and some face time and there goes another day of blogging because I try really hard to ignore this infernal machine once those sweet souls get home but there's just so much to report and I hope it's soon or my head just might explode from all the words building up inside my cranium in that other form of information overload!

{{gasp!!}}

Help me.

Happy Wednesday, Y'all!

I'm craving doing laundry...???

Photo courtesy of Flickr... though this could be a scene at my house right now.

That is what happens when one is without a reliable water source for three+ days.

We lost water on Sunday morning and have yet to get it back in earnest. We got a new water pump installed and had a day of about half normal pressure. The water pump was not the source of the problem. Thankfully while we had at least a dribble, my brilliant husband thought to fill one of our bath tubs to ensure water for toilet flushing(!) and minimal hand washing. However, as the issue required more investigation and repair we currently have no running water at all.

It is very interesting the things one is forced to consider upon deprivation of precious H20.

For example:

• What am I touching? I can't just wash my hands "willy nilly."

• What do I feed people? The fewer utensils, plates and clean-up the better.

• How much clean underwear do we all have... or lack?

• How does one fill two 60 gallon water troughs with no running water?

• Ever contemplated watering a 40 x 20 garden full of tender, tiny sprouts with a watering can and swimming pool water?

• How does one get ready for work in a dignified office setting when you can't shower? This I can tell you involves a bucket, an empty bathtub and very cold and speedy hygienic practices... Poor James!


These are just a few of the thoughts that have rattled across my brain pan in the past 36 hours.

How do I feel right now?

Thirsty. We have plenty of bottled water, but somehow knowing there's not water in the faucet makes me feel parched.

Dirty. I am very deliberately not exerting enough energy to get all "dewy" as I already feel like every molecule of dust floating maliciously in the air is preternaturally attracted to my skin and fully aware of my inability to bathe conveniently.

But mostly it's a lot like I'm camping in a *really* nice motor home in one of those spaces without the water and sewer hookups... and the bathroom/shower hut is a half mile hike away on the other side of the camp ground.

I hear there is a plumber working up the hill at my in-laws' house connecting by-passing pipes as we speak. The broken pipe, it seems, lurks beneath a concrete slab so re-routing the flow of the life-sustaining liquid is far more practical, and preferable, to ripping up a ton of driveway to fix the leak directly.

God bless the family members willing to dig for hours to expose the pipes and a plumber/friend willing to massage his schedule to make our problem a priority. We would be in dire straights... and stinky for much, MUCH longer... without their generous help!

Whenever we lose water or power I am always forced to think of those living in countries where utilities are intermittent at best or even non-existent. I don't think I take the luxury and privilege of reliable infrastructure for granted until I spend even an afternoon without... and then I feel very guilty for not appreciating them much more than I actually do.

In this particular shortage, I have noticed myself very aware and possessive of half-consumed glasses and bottles of water I spot laying around the house. Suddenly, I see them as opportunities to wash my hands or rinse off a spoon. Maybe give a plant a drink. I am afraid free water has made us more wasteful in its abundance.

I have never really thought, *really* thought about what a luxury it is just to have the opportunity to have a clean body and clothes. Right now, after a shower, all I want is to run my dishwasher and do about six loads of laundry. I can't imagine living permanently in conditions where you can't even count on a safe glass of water to drink, let alone access to enough to wash anything.

It makes it difficult to feel too sorry for myself when I think of our dilemma on a global scale. I mean, if I got desperate for some form cleanliness I could go for a swim in my inlaws' pool. Not so for all those dust-encrusted African kids we see on the big screen TV broadcast in high-def digital cable...

Somehow, when I think about it in those terms I don't feel nearly so inconvenienced and a whole lot more grateful that my "plight" will last a total of a few days and gave me an opportunity to begin to really appreciate how fortunate we are to live where and when we do.

It's the *little things* Y'all... Seriously.

Stay Tuned!

There is a very important, highly-informative post brewing.

All I need is more folded laundry, more visible floor space and less visible dust and it's all yours!

Come back soon!

Confessions of a Scatterbrain

Have you ever seen toes in more dire need of a pedicure?

This is the same polish I painstakingly applied on a luscious, leisurely afternoon... Christmas Day...

It would take me literally about five minutes to drag out the nail polish remover and at least have clean toes in place of scruffy remnants of "I'm Really Not A Waitress" red, which would be an improvement, right? But I feel almost naked without polish on my toes and I can't seem to bring myself to part with the red until I have time to properly apply a fresh coat... and that would take, what, probably fifteen or even TWENTY minutes! That's an eternity! Right?

It seems like the smallest tasks go undone because I "just don't have time for that right now." Or "I'll get to it later because it will only take a minute" then whatever it is never happens because it was such a minuscule job I never made it a priority. In the worst cases, I may end up paying late fees or rushing around to make a deadline (not with my work, mind you) and spending more time or money than I would have if I had taken those five minutes right off the bat.

I am the world's worst at keeping baby books up to date... especially since Grace arrived... FIVE and a half years ago! At this point I'll be lucky to remember anything pertinent to record in it and get it done prior to giving it to her as a wedding present.

I have piles and stacks of pictures to go into albums all stuffed into the credenza in our entry hall just waiting for my attention.

When it comes to kid birthday parties, I am a total flop. My sister-in-law, Dawn, is the world's most intimidating party planner. She makes kid parties so fun and exciting adults crash 'em. I, on the other hand, am doing well if I remember the occasion far enough in advance to actually MAIL invitations rather than calling everyone a day or two before and make up a totally bogus theme on the spot. "Yes, this year she's having a take-and-bake pizza themed party! Come dressed as your favorite topping!"

I'm so lame.

I have 32 pounds of honey in a bucket in my kitchen waiting to go into smaller, more manageable containers. It's been there since early January.

Sometimes it's just because I forget.

Other times, I start to do something and get distracted by something else that needs doing or "Oooooooo, look! Something shiny!"

I have to write a shopping list even if all I'm picking up is apples, cheese and Valium. Once I get inside the store, my memory is toast.

I'm trying to improve, though. Trying to turn over a new TREE.

I'm just trying.

Ask my husband.

My big accomplishment this week was getting Anna and Grace's school pictures in their frames on the mantle. The pictures I've had since, oh, I don't know... NOVEMBER...

Yea, me.

Ya gotta celebrate the little victories, Y'all.

Signs of life

This should not be construed as an actual blog entry. This is me sending up a flare.

I want to let the four of you know, well, judging by Sitemeter I think there are about 17 intrepid souls who visit here regularly, that I'm okay... again... and that I will actually write something of substance in the near future.

Honest!

Right now I am catching my breath and catching up on neglected and new work, not to mention new commitments I have made to my family... like...

Turning OFF the damned computer after 5:00! "Please, step AWAY from the MAC!" ...and Oh, now that I'm not online or working, maybe I could have dinner ready sometime before 9:00!

Um, yea. Mom's got kind of "problem" with the internet and distraction in general. Specific boundaries can be helpful when dealing with the Obsessive Compulsive. :)

I will resume writing about the things I think are important to share with you like how to take care of your body, tools for avoiding foods and chemicals that contribute to ill mental and physical health, foods that heal... not to mention expounding on things like my favorite cat litter, adventures in bovine artificial insemination and the importance of 600+ thread count sheets... I just have to get my work done first, 'cause, you know... I won't be doing any blogging in the evening.

I love reading your comments and even though I haven't been good at commenting, I have been keeping up on your blogs, too... Hi Elora and Wendy and Lisa and Angelina and Cheryle! I look forward to getting back into the bloggie loop again.

Thanks everyone for caring enough to wonder where I've been and actually letting me know you miss the random craziness that spills fourth from my brain into this space.

Keep looking. I'm not ever REALLY gone... just quite busy keeping up with my very important jobs. :)

Peace, Ya'll

Proof I am not, in fact, dead

Obligatory Christmas Tree Shot from Progressive Dinner

Contrary to popular speculation, I have NOT shrugged off my mortal coil to leave you all desperately scrambling for a new source of comparative analyses of cat litter and rambling missives on cow culture.

I'll just say this. Thank you to all who have been concerned for my well-being and I'll let you know as soon as this monumental bout of latent-onset ADD has subsided.

In the mean time, here is a little movie of Anna being awarded her Blue Belt in Tae Kwon Do from last night. YOU ROCK, ANNA!!!




That's all I have for now. So, in case I don't have another lucid moment until the New Year is upon us... Merry Christmas, Yall!

A Quick Gulp of Air

Anna's Madarin Monkey sculpture.

Doesn't have anything to do with this post, I just like it.

No, I haven't died or fallen off the planet.

Life is just big, here on the Ranch. Really big.

Thus, the neglected blog.

I have stories to tell, but they will have to wait until I find a worthy vessel, or the tide turns benevolent and gently deposits me on the warm, sandy shore of "the usual chaos."

Until then, I've donned my snorkel and am vigilantly scanning the horizon for any encouraging sign of terra firma.

Since it is ME we're talking about, however, a "dingy" would be probably be the most appropriate form of rescue.

Peace, Ya'll.