When our marriage was young and we had one very young child, deer hunting meant a good house cleaning. It was amazing how much I could accomplish around the house without it being undone right behind me. Counters were not only cleaned off, but scrubbed with a toothbrush and bleach in every crack and crevice, around all faucets, and polished til everything shone.
Today, I still have the anticipation and want to get it all clean like that. But the children out number me x4. I have a huge list of things to get accomplished, but doubt shadows my mind of when I will have time to get it done.
For example, today is nearly shot and it's not 9am. A run to Wal-mart to get the latest and last Harry Potter movie that goes on sale today, use a credit at same store for a brand new set of dishes (since Thanksgiving is here this year, I want all my dishes to match and be in one piece in my new home). The girls both have eye appointments at 10am, followed by 3 hours of cheer practice from noon to 3. Chance has invited a friend to spend the night. They THINK they are going to sneak up at 3am and watch a rated R movie (Zombieland). They have another thing coming. But the evening will be spent making pizza, caramel popcorn, and other goodies and watching our movies; things that come from it being deer hunting and no daddy.
I hope to accomplish something tomorrow. I have pansies to plant and horses that are neglected after sitting unridden for many months. But of course, the wind is supposed to blow all weekend. Not to mention yet another trip to town, this time for Chance's football team's end of the season pizza party. Sunday is back to town for church, Monday and Tuesday work. The latter two, however, won't have the usual 6am basketball practice for Ch'ree. Instead, it has basketball games for their first tourney in Melrose.
But hopefully by Tuesday night, I will have accomplished SOMETHING. Maybe the house will be cleaner than usual. Maybe not. But in the meantime, I hope to make some special memories with the kiddos, as we are all widowed and orphaned for a few days.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Stupid cat
We have a mama cat that's always having kittens. We don't spay or neuter because farm cats are hard to keep around with the coyote population. She has had 6 litters in the last 14 months; of those this last litter is the only ones to make it 6 weeks.
She's really a horrible mother. Most of the litters we never saw, we would just notice she was fat one day and skinny the next. But never saw any kittens. Two litters we did see when we lived in the rental, but she would hide them in the dumbest places. Like in the hitch of the camper. Or the bed of a pickup.
This spring I noticed a blob laying on the back patio. Upon further inspection I discovered it was a newly born kitten. She was in the dog kennel cleaning herself up, so I scooped it up and put it in there with her. I walked around the house and found another one on the other side of the patio, another by the garage. I put them all in their with her along with some food and water and locked it up. The next time I came to check on them, there was a mama and NO kittens. So, I drew the conclusion that she has been EATING her kittens all this time! EWWWW!!
The end of June I noticed she was fat once again. The next day she started having the kittens in the back of my old Bronco. It literally took her all day long. But I kept checking and the litter didn't appear to decrease in size, just increase to finally four kittens. For the next couple weeks I kept an eye out. She moved them from the back to the front of the vehicle, I kept bringing her food out there hoping she would stay. But soon she decided to move them to the burned out shell of an old pickup. After a couple weeks, she would move them to an unknown location, then again to the old work pickup that Jeff unknowlingly left the windows rolled down on.
But by now they are mobile. Jeff needed the truck and caught them all and moved them, but the dog got a hold of one. She didn't mean to hurt it, I think Scarlett just loved it to death, literally. Down to three. One went back into the work truck, I caught and put it back in the Bronco.
Yesterday, mama put one on the spare tire of my good pickup. And I can't reach it. This morning we heard another one crying by the side of the barn. Turns out one was stuck in an old muffler from a semi truck laying out there. Jeff put the fire rescue skills to use and cut it open to extracate the poor kitty. So two are accounted for.
But, we've come to the conclusion that this mama cat must be the stupidest cat to walk the face of the earth. If she doesn't eat the darn things, then she doesn't know a good safe spot to put them, though we show her plenty of good places. I used to think cats were natural mamas, but not so much anymore.
She's really a horrible mother. Most of the litters we never saw, we would just notice she was fat one day and skinny the next. But never saw any kittens. Two litters we did see when we lived in the rental, but she would hide them in the dumbest places. Like in the hitch of the camper. Or the bed of a pickup.
This spring I noticed a blob laying on the back patio. Upon further inspection I discovered it was a newly born kitten. She was in the dog kennel cleaning herself up, so I scooped it up and put it in there with her. I walked around the house and found another one on the other side of the patio, another by the garage. I put them all in their with her along with some food and water and locked it up. The next time I came to check on them, there was a mama and NO kittens. So, I drew the conclusion that she has been EATING her kittens all this time! EWWWW!!
The end of June I noticed she was fat once again. The next day she started having the kittens in the back of my old Bronco. It literally took her all day long. But I kept checking and the litter didn't appear to decrease in size, just increase to finally four kittens. For the next couple weeks I kept an eye out. She moved them from the back to the front of the vehicle, I kept bringing her food out there hoping she would stay. But soon she decided to move them to the burned out shell of an old pickup. After a couple weeks, she would move them to an unknown location, then again to the old work pickup that Jeff unknowlingly left the windows rolled down on.
But by now they are mobile. Jeff needed the truck and caught them all and moved them, but the dog got a hold of one. She didn't mean to hurt it, I think Scarlett just loved it to death, literally. Down to three. One went back into the work truck, I caught and put it back in the Bronco.
Yesterday, mama put one on the spare tire of my good pickup. And I can't reach it. This morning we heard another one crying by the side of the barn. Turns out one was stuck in an old muffler from a semi truck laying out there. Jeff put the fire rescue skills to use and cut it open to extracate the poor kitty. So two are accounted for.
But, we've come to the conclusion that this mama cat must be the stupidest cat to walk the face of the earth. If she doesn't eat the darn things, then she doesn't know a good safe spot to put them, though we show her plenty of good places. I used to think cats were natural mamas, but not so much anymore.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Where did summer go?
It's August, and back to school is just about here. Teachers start back on Monday and the kids officially start classes the following week.
Summer flew by. It was a busy, but fairly uneventful, season. We spent a weekend in Lubbock with Jeff's sister, we managed one lake trip in Logan, NM at Ute Lake. We did lots of work around the house as we found long lost treasures that were packed away in storage last year, planted trees (some apple trees, a wind break, and a few in the yard), planted grass (seed in the front, then the back breaking work of desodding Jeff's parents yard to replant the sod in our back yard). The girls, Shelby especially, was busy all the month of June with basketball practices and camps. Then in July with volleyball practice/camp. And both girls busy all summer long with cheer practice and camp.
We've watched the sky for rain, and the horizon for fires. We have received a total of three inches of rain since October last year. Unfortunately, that isn't enough to plant a crop and the field lays brown and empty. However, Jeff has found a solution to the problem of not planting a crop, by harvesting CRP grass and baling it. None of it was renewed for the CRP program, and dairies are actually wanting it, not having much choice in the way of feed.
Not only has it been an exceptionally dry year, but exceptionally hot as well. And of course, our brand new air conditioner in this brand new house has already gone out in the hottest weeks of the year. Temps are in the 100s, but we are waiting on a part to arrive so it can be fixed.
But its with excitement and anticipation that we are starting this school year. Shelby is now a freshman and moves on up to JV, Ch'ree is in 7th grade and starts her first year playing junior high sports. Chance can't wait to start tackle football now that he's in 3rd grade, and Drew starts kindergarten.
As for me, it's a new school year as well. I will only be taking one class at ENMU, because I won't have time for anymore due to my new FULL TIME JOB!!! That's right, after 14 years of being a stay-at-home mom, I have been hired on at the kids' school to do a variety of jobs. I'll be an aide in the preschool most of the morning. Then I will do some office work for part of the afternoon. Finally I'm also the new yearbook sponsor and will teach one class dedicated to this. I'm also still the asst cheer coach. I'm really looking forward to my new duties at the school, and sure that the children are thrilled as well at the thought of seeing their mother every. single. day at school. bwahahaha!!!!
Summer flew by. It was a busy, but fairly uneventful, season. We spent a weekend in Lubbock with Jeff's sister, we managed one lake trip in Logan, NM at Ute Lake. We did lots of work around the house as we found long lost treasures that were packed away in storage last year, planted trees (some apple trees, a wind break, and a few in the yard), planted grass (seed in the front, then the back breaking work of desodding Jeff's parents yard to replant the sod in our back yard). The girls, Shelby especially, was busy all the month of June with basketball practices and camps. Then in July with volleyball practice/camp. And both girls busy all summer long with cheer practice and camp.
We've watched the sky for rain, and the horizon for fires. We have received a total of three inches of rain since October last year. Unfortunately, that isn't enough to plant a crop and the field lays brown and empty. However, Jeff has found a solution to the problem of not planting a crop, by harvesting CRP grass and baling it. None of it was renewed for the CRP program, and dairies are actually wanting it, not having much choice in the way of feed.
Not only has it been an exceptionally dry year, but exceptionally hot as well. And of course, our brand new air conditioner in this brand new house has already gone out in the hottest weeks of the year. Temps are in the 100s, but we are waiting on a part to arrive so it can be fixed.
But its with excitement and anticipation that we are starting this school year. Shelby is now a freshman and moves on up to JV, Ch'ree is in 7th grade and starts her first year playing junior high sports. Chance can't wait to start tackle football now that he's in 3rd grade, and Drew starts kindergarten.
As for me, it's a new school year as well. I will only be taking one class at ENMU, because I won't have time for anymore due to my new FULL TIME JOB!!! That's right, after 14 years of being a stay-at-home mom, I have been hired on at the kids' school to do a variety of jobs. I'll be an aide in the preschool most of the morning. Then I will do some office work for part of the afternoon. Finally I'm also the new yearbook sponsor and will teach one class dedicated to this. I'm also still the asst cheer coach. I'm really looking forward to my new duties at the school, and sure that the children are thrilled as well at the thought of seeing their mother every. single. day at school. bwahahaha!!!!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
State Cheer videos
Videos of Shelby on the Varsity cheer squad at the NMAA State Spirit Comp. We placed 4th in the 1A division! One day they had to do a crowd incorperated cheer that included specific elements (such as two jumps performed by all girls at the same time, no running tumbles but a standing tumble). The other day was a cheer and dance. It was alot of fun, and as my first year as a real coach along with Coach Lee, the girls did a great job! We had many challenges along the way this year with girls having to quit due to circumstances beyond their control and the fact that the entire cheerleading program changed when cheer was made an official sport in this state. But these four girls rose to the challenge and did an awesome job!!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Some house pictures
Ok, so I don't have many pictures of the house yet. I've been busy! LOL! But I did take a few rooms. Maybe I'll take more when we have things up on walls. All our decorative stuff is in storage still and will be a few more weeks til we can get to it. In the meantime, here are a few:
Ch'ree's room
Shelby's room 
Living room fire place
part of the kitchen
more kitchen, and Jeff cooking breakfast Catching up, Part 1 and The Boat
I know, I know. I promised pictures about a month ago of the new house. Then we were busy with state cheer competition, and unpacking, and company, and school, and spring break, then state FFA, and more unpacking and schoolwork. Not to mention real working. Oh, and a quick overnight trip to the lake to see if the boat Jeff bought floats (and it does). So now I have TONS of pictures to organize and upload for you, my couple of readers. Maybe I'll get them all done today, maybe I won't. Maybe I'll use the post date and time feature, or maybe I'll just give them to you all at once. Up first: How about some lake pictures? (disclaimer: having technical difficulties with Blogger. Won't let me move photos around, so nothing is in order. Anyone know an easier way to do this?)
Jeff, the captain of this ship
And a silly boy, Drew
The boat put Drew to sleep.
All the kids on the "beach"
Girls on their first boat ride 
I'm the navigator. LOL!
Launching the new boat
Hard to believe that we do have lakes in New Mexico. In fact, Ft. Sumner State Park is just about an hour from here. So we loaded up the camper and boat and took a quick overnight trip over there. The water was too cold for me, but the kids waded in from the shore. We tried fishing but no luck. That's ok, we have all summer!
Jeff, the captain of this ship
Some silly girls
And a silly boy, Drew
The boat put Drew to sleep.
Shelby's Jaws imitation
All the kids on the "beach" 
Girls on their first boat ride 
I'm the navigator. LOL! 
Launching the new boatThursday, March 10, 2011
House update: we moved!!
Just a quick post to let y'all know that we have finally moved into our new house!! Sunday we moved in, and yesterday I finally got the computer hooked up.
I'll post pictures as soon as I take some. But for now, way too busy unpacking, schoolwork, and hanging out with my mom and aunt and stepfather who came out to help us.
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