Blast From The Past

The most incredible thing happened last night. I am still in shock. Last year I posted about how when I was a young girl, I was so "naive and green" that the first time a boy asked me to go steady, I told him I couldn't because I just wasn't ready to get married! That was 30 some odd years ago. I never saw that boy again as shortly after that, his family moved to Oregon . Last night the phone rang and on the line was that little boy! Only he's not so little anymore. He's 45 and a big boy now! We talked and laughed for over 2 hours! The time just flew by. I almost didn't answer the phone because my caller I.D. said "wireless call" and I didn't recognize the area code. That always makes me think "telephone solicitor." (I really dislike those calls!) But, for some reason that I'll never know, I answered that call anyway. I am so glad I did. What a fantastic trip down memory lane! For the record, I did ask him if he remembered asking me to go steady. He did not. I'm guessing my reply of "marriage" made him block that memory out for good. Little boys tend to freak out so easily.

Don't Laugh At Me

Most of my childhood memories are good ones. Some of my school memories however, not so much. I went to a "church school" for the first six years of my life.Those church kids were brutal. I do have to say though, it was mostly a couple of boys who made my life hell. I am hard of hearing. I inherited it from my dad, who inherited it from his mom and so on. As a child, I wore two huge behind the ear, hearing aids. I was easy prey for the bullies. It was so bad, I refused to cut my hair or wear a ponytail that showed my ears. When the kids would say to me, "What? Are ya deaf?" Instead of coming back with a snappy answer, (I had zero self confidence back then, but look at me now!) I would simply nod and try to escape before they could see me crying. Sometimes they would deliberately speak in a low voice knowing I would not be able to hear them. If I asked them to repeat themselves, they would repeat it in a SCREAMING voice. I caught on to that one quickly and learned to just keep walking. At the end of 6th grade, I had started to turn into a pretty cute girl. Those boys stopped tormenting me and started liking me. They would smile at me and want to sit by me during lunch. I couldn't stand the sight of them. Every year I begged my parents to let me attend public school. Every year they said no. When I told my dad that the boys that had tormented me all those years were now flirting with me, that's all he needed to hear. I was out of there! Sweet relief. I can't say that was the end of it though. Through the years I still endure ignorant comments from people. Now though, I know how to handle it. Usually with humor. Hopefully when they walk away, they will have learned something. I know I've learned a lot over the years. When Landon was born, I didn't ask if he had ten toes and fingers. I asked if he could hear. When they told me yes, it was one of the sweetest things I had ever heard in my life. I didn't want him to have to go through what I had gone through. I thought for sure that he would have a better chance of escaping the bullies of the world. I was wrong. Yesterday he was suppose to play flag football after school. He came home in tears. He said he was never playing football again. When I tried to pry what happened out of him, he made a weak excuse that he was quiting because he didn't get to play first. I knew that wasn't true. He played baseball all summer. There were several teams and they took turns playing first. It was never a problem for him. I also recognized the "weak excuse" ploy. I used to do that when I was little. I would rather my parents think my weak excuse was the cause of my tears, than have my mom call the bully's mom. That would be a nightmare! So yesterday, my heart was breaking for Landon. I don't know what happened. I don't know what was said. When I asked if I could make a few calls, he begged me not to and stood firmly by his weak excuse. He is hurting and I feel helpless. I want to call the other kids. I want to call the moms. I want to call a meeting. I want to do something. But, I won't. Not this time. I will let Landon work it out himself. Like he asked me to do. The fantasy mom in me wants to fly to the school in my pink cape, swoop up all the bullies and hang them up by their underwear on the gym walls. Then I would fly through the classrooms and gather all the bullied kids in my arms and take them to the gym. There I would let the bullied kids torment the bullies as long as their hearts desired. Not nice. Not the answer. I know. But, hey it's just a fantasy. Hmmm...anybody have a pink cape I can borrow?

I Have The Sweetest Friends

Our little town has a cool new thrift store now.

If you haven't been there, you should check it out.

They not only have really neat stuff, the prices are incredible!

My friend Amber stopped there with her son today.

The weather is so gorgeous today, they decided to walk up there.

(They live one block over from me.)

While there, she spotted these cool glasses.

So, what did she do?

She bought them for me!!

(For $1.50!!! Can you believe it!?!?!)

Then she carried them all the way to my house!

Now is that a sweet friend or what?

Those little unexpected acts of kindness just blow me away.

I love it!!

Thank you, Amber.

I will be sure and pay it forward.

Goodbye Gym

Last July I joined the gym. I've been there twice. Once to check out the place and once to check out the tanning beds. I don't really like tanning beds. I think they are a great way to age 10 years in 10 minutes, but I wanted to see them in case I needed a quick tan before I went to Florida again. So, I went back and checked out the place again. When I looked at all the equipment, I didn't get excited at all. I didn't feel like I could hardly wait to try everything out. I didn't feel like a kid in a toy store. Nothing. No thrills. At all. My therory was, I thought if I joined the gym and had the money coming out of my account every month, I would be sure to get my bottom up there. Turns out, I just don't wanna. Money loss or not. I. Don't. Wanna. So, today I canceled my membership. On one hand I feel kind of dissapointed in myself. I always follow through. If I start something, I finish it. But, this time it just didn't work out. On the other hand, there is a relief that the nagging little voice that keeps saying, "Go to the gym!" will be leaving. Oh, I am sure there will be another nagging little voice that will come along and replace it. After all, I still have those 3 pound weights that feel like 3,009 pounds and that pilates DVD that's never been opened, in my closet. Might have to donate them to the boys ranch. I hate a nag.

Last Toad Standing

Landon informed me yesterday,

that it was getting harder and harder to find frogs and toad.

 He said this little guy just might be the last one of the year.

Please, oh please, let that be so!

And The Winner Is...

Donna Peickert won Little Miss Market!

Oh, My Aching Sweet Tooth!

Every September the stores put out the Halloween candy. Now, everyone knows Halloween isn't until the end of October. So, why do they need to put it out two months early? I'll tell you why. Because people like me are weak and will buy 1,233 bags before Halloween. Not only will we buy them, we will eat them all and have to buy more for the trick or treaters!! Every year. Today I made a Walmart run. As I walked into the store, I could smell the chocolate ten minutes before I found it. I have an extraordinary sense of smell. I smell a skunk a mile before everyone else in the car. Today, I smelled the chocolate. My mouth was watering as I tired to buy the things on my list and avoid the seasonal section. But, I am weak and followed my nose. Couldn't be helped. Now, the best part about holidays is, that all the candy that is put out is fresh. It hasn't been sitting on the shelves for months. When you pick up a bag of peanut butter cups and stick your thumb into one of them, (You HAVE to do this before buying a peanut butter cup!) it instantly gives away and you can just feel the softness and smell the freshness of that peanut butter cup. The little fun size snickers don't rip the skin off the top of your mouth either. They are so soft and chewy, you have to have two or three. One will just not do. I am pretty proud of myself. I only bought two bags today. I bought a jumbo family size bag of peanut butter cups. For me. Then I picked up a jumbo family size bag for me and my family. My bag will secretly be tucked away and eaten lovingly, one at a time. I will savor them and make them last. I will give it a good try anyway. The other bag might last a day. Maybe. I might be nice and share my secret stash too. Maybe. But, there's always the chance that Landon, who has inherited my super smelling powers, might follow his nose and discover my little stash of heavenly bites. But, it's o.k. if he does. We still have a month and a half to go before Halloween, and the Christmas candy will be out the day after!

Little Miss Market

Guess whose scarecrow won the contest at the Farmer's Market?

That's right...my very own Little Miss Market!

We weren't allowed to tell anyone which one was ours,

or decorate it in a manner that would reveal ourselves.

Let me tell you, it about killed me not to give her a little purse!

There will be a drawing next week 

from all the nice people's names who voted.

The lucky winner gets to take Little Miss Market home,

 along with a hay bale and cute fall decorations!

For winning the contest, I get a free booth

 next year at the Farmer's Market!

Sounds like a win/win deal to me!

Big Mouths

Landon caught two big mouthed bass,

(Or is it large mouth bass???)

when he and his dad went fishing last week.

He was pretty excited since they weren't

"just sunfish."

All Tucked In, Way Up High

We took a road trip to Walker last weekend.

On the way we spotted this Eagle sitting in his nest

way up high on top of a utility post.

It looked like it was about 2,334 miles up!

(Click on the picture for a closer view.)

I love little peeks at the unexpected.

Words Of Wisdom

I really miss my grandparents, Paul and Elaine. They both passed on a few years ago, but all the wonderful memories I have of them will be with me forever. Every now and then something they said or did will just pop into my head at just the right moment. I feel like they are sending down a little "hug" whenever that happens. It happened tonight. When I was pregnant with Landon, I was complaining a little bit to my grandparents because I didn't feel the "joys of being pregnant" that everyone was always talking about. I was tired, crabby and I felt like a small, fat cow. I kept telling them how "hard it was."  Years later, I now realize I had it pretty easy. I didn't gain a lot of weight, (Landon was 6 weeks early!) I didn't have any morning sickness, and I didn't get a single stretch mark! They listened to me patiently and always said just the right thing. Landon is the greatest  joy in my life, and there isn't anyone in this big ol' world that I could ever love the way I love him. But, my... oh... my.., oh what a challenge he is! (He is way too much like me!) I've never worked so hard in all my life. It's always, always, something. No breaks. Tonight, I was at the farmer's market setting up my booth for tomorrow, when I turned around and there was Landon sitting on his bike. About scared the stuffing out of me! (I was the only one in the building and it was a little dark in there! The building is only a couple of blocks from our house.) Anyway, it was about 8:00 and he was "suppose" to be getting in bed. I said to him, "What are you doing here? Does your dad know you're here???" He immediately started to complain about his bedtime and wanted me to call Tim and change his bedtime and on and on...So, I told Landon to go home and I would be there in a few minutes. I shoved the rest of my stuff in my booth and left. When I finally got Landon settled down and in bed and the "rules" re-established, (Oh yes, he is grounded!) my head was just pounding. I sunk down on the couch in the dark and just let the tears flow. As I was sitting there feeling sorry for myself and thinking how cotton pickin'  "hard this was," I heard my grandpa's words of wisdom from all those years ago, when I was complaining "how hard is was."
He simply said to me, "Most things worth having, usually are."
Thank you, grandpa. I so needed to hear that again.
Give grandma a hug for me.

1st Day Of 4th Grade!

Landon's 1st day of 4th grade.

My baby is growing up!

Sniffle...

Just A Swingin'

A few of my dc kids enjoying the cool breeze...



Good Bye Our Furry Friends, Until Next Year!

This morning Tim, Landon and I were standing in the kitchen talking about how summer was over and school was starting tomorrow. (Whoo hoo!) We had spent the whole day before, patching up holes (From the dc kids thinking every toy in the house is a hammer! UGH!) in the walls in several rooms, and touching up paint, redecorating and reorganizing the dc room. What a job! I forgot how much I dislike painting. So this morning I announced, "We need to do something FUN today." We decided a final trip to the zoo before the snow flies, was in order. Tim had to run one errand and then we were ready to get in the car. Landon's friend, Kaddan came by while we were waiting for Tim. Landon said, "We're going to the zoo, wanna come?" After checking with his parents, he hopped in the car too and we were off! I love spur of the moment adventures. And I love the Wahpeton zoo. A good time was had by all.

We love Taco Johns!

It tastes even better when eaten in the park!

You can't go to the zoo without

 feeding the ducks and geese first!

I love the monkeys!

I could watch them for hours.

This guy was too cool for school!

They both said,

"Aren't we getting a little old for this?"

NOPE!

I still have nightmares about these guys!

Those dreams make me scream out loud

and sit straight up in bed.

Hope tonight's dreams don't get the best of me...

Poor Tim.

They got to stand on a wall for this shot,

so it was cool.

Sittin' on the fence.

Feeding Nanny.

Somehow putting the old fashioned water pump

next to the PVC pipe, just doesn't seem right.

Ol' Eagle Eye...

Come on. It's funny!

I got to stand on the wall too!

This is my favorite guy in the whole zoo.

We always save him for the end.

Good bye my furry friend, until next year!