FOWL AND FELINE ACCOUNTABILITY

This has been the hardest year on my chickens by far. We’re not sure if the Golden Comets purchased around Easter were less intelligent than our other black and red sex-links or if the predators were simply smarter. We are ending 2009 with only three of the 30 Golden Comets.

Daryl is our only remaining rooster. We lost Caesar, Other-Brother-Daryl, and Rocky aka Fred. Caesar and Rocky were the final roosters from the lineage of Boss Hog. Caesar did not go easy. He won the first round with the coyote or dog and came home minus all tail feathers. He had grown them back and was looking very buff when he lost round two.

Our efforts to develop a flock of guinea fowl have finally done well, (knock on wood) after a huge expense and many losses. We have a sturdy flock of 12 and hopefully they will make it until spring when we can add to them or perhaps they will multiply on their own. As we can best determine there are six male and six female which should work well since guinea fowl supposedly mate for life.

Our little cat family has also dwindled and the most tragic loss was the recent loss of Soccer Ball. She has been missing since November 18^th so I must concede that she was killed. She lived here when we moved in and was our only barn cat over the first few months. She was also our only bobtail cat. Gradually our cat family grew to around 16. Soccer Ball was always in charge and maintained order among the other cats. She was like a mother to our dog Slim. At last count our cat population is 7. Yes that does include the last three kittens, David, Goliath and Lil Bear.

We will have a new plan as spring approaches in 2010. That plan and crossed fingers will result in hopefully winning the competition of man against predator or at least increasing the score in our favor.

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I wish everyone a Rockin’ New Year and while you’re out celebrating, I’ll be here rocking what is left of my livestock to sleep. Be safe!

OUR 10TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

"Can't help lovin' that man of mine"

We will see everyone after the holidays. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Let the celebrations begin!

WHY I WOULD BE JEWISH?

Born and raised a Christian, I was the child of a Methodist minister and I was the child of a devoted Christian mother. I had strong Christian Presbyterian as well as Methodist grandparents. All of these strong people taught me from example. I do not remember one of them preaching to me. Not even my preacher father. If I did something wrong I was corrected because I was wrong and not because Jesus wouldn't like it.

I would ask Dad a question and instead of giving me an answer that he thought was right, he would give me a list of references and I could read them and perhaps find my answer there. That was the same way he preached his sermons basically. He gave some clues and you had to solve the puzzle yourself.

My paternal grandmother would sing in her kitchen about Jesus. Her voice was a precious sound I loved. She was always busy and she was almost always doing something for someone else. And, of course, she and grandpa were always taking us to church.

Working in Tulsa,OK in my adult years lead me to a community in The Bible Belt that is a place like I have never seen. Surrounded by evangelical universities and, at the same time, harboring a very large Jewish community, I saw and met interesting people of both faiths on a daily basis.

As a Christian, it was hard for me to deal with the Christians of that area. Strangers would ask me if I was "saved" or if I was "born again". You could not disagree with them on anything because they were doing God's will. One person wanted us to cash a personal out-of-state check and I explained we would have to place a 10 day hold on the check until it cleared the bank it was drawn on. This person raged and announced it was money from God. I responded that it would have to go further and probably should even have a longer hold on it then. He did not think that was as funny as I did.

Oh but my customers and dear friends among the Jewish community. They came into the bank to deal as customers of the bank and not in search of converts to Judaism. I knew of people from this community who anonymously gave to causes throughout our part of the state and city and did not brandish their gifts as badges of greatness. I made friends in this group of people and we never discussed our religious differences but we tried to live examples of our faith.

We are all odd ducks and every religious community has its kooks but lump me with the ones who want to search their faith and not have it crammed down their throats. Let me set an example by being a good person and not believing I'm a perfect person.

I see so much more of Jesus' Jewish heritage in his teaching as he walks humbly living his faith by example. Thankfully many of us Christians have learned to follow the path without storming the gates but we can easily be lost in the crowd. My one greatest hope is that I am leaving my grandchildren a good example.

I must add this tidbit I just heard at Olive's: Maya Angelou says when people say to her, "I'm a Christian." She responds, "Already? How have you managed that?"

A BLANK SLATE

How are you inspired by a blank page? Every time I start a new writing project or an art project, I must have a blank page. If there is already a word or a single mark on the paper, that paper must be rejected. How can I influence a single page that is already tainted with some incomplete inspiration?

I am attempting to do my Christmas decorating for company that will be here on Saturday. Before I put up the decorations, my efforts are being geared toward a clean slate. I am putting away the normal room decorations and dusting and cleaning before I bring in the tinsel and lights.

This process has yielded some trash piles and some keep piles. The "keep" pile consists primarily of old pads of paper, both legal pads and sketch pads. These pads have been well used but each still contains numerous blank sheets and I cannot discard them for fear they await some masterpiece. These blank sheets seem to be taking me over and I wonder if I will run out of storage room someday.

Am I alone in my OCD over blank pages?

CONTROVERSIAL BUT FAITHFUL

We met in person a couple of times. He was nice to me and definitely had an aura of charisma as did his wife Evelyn.

It was also my joy to know a couple of his children, many of his grandchildren, two of his siblings, several of his nieces and nephews as well as grand nieces and nephews and tons of those who worked for him, for his ministry and for the University.

Today I see those faces and I know that suddenly this controversial, larger-than-life television evangelist and world-wide minister is simply dad, grandpa, uncle, friend. He was loved and will be missed. My thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathy go out to them.

T.Os. MEMORIES

I guess you could say that my friend Riot Kitty inspired this post. It turns out we are both P.K.s (Preacher's Kids) or as I prefer, T.O.s (Theological Offspring). Learning that fact has helped me understand her frequent use of the "F" word:)

Anyway, here is a story too good not to share.

People learn where the preacher lives and you experience many unexpected knocks on the door. Strangers show up at all hours of the day or night for services, help or handouts.

This particular warm summer evening the knock at the door yielded a young couple wanting a preacher to marry them. Dad had a bit of counseling he would do before agreeing to unite the couple and, once satisfied they knew what they were doing, he would get mother to be his witness and the show would go on.

Mother must have been watching a John Wayne movie because she refused to leave the den to participate and suggested he pick one of the girls to be his witness this time.

My sister and I were teenagers. Elenore was a Senior in high school and I a freshman. Of course he picked the oldest, my sister. Of course I had my usual hissy fit of "Why does she always get picked?" so he said he would have two witnesses this time.

We were doomed from the moment we entered our formal living room. The couple looked like twins. The could have been the human versions of cartoon characters Porky and Petunia Pig! Elenore and I began to softly emit muffled giggle sounds. Dad began to sense his error in bringing us both into the room but it was too late.

We had a picture in our living room that had to always remain on the mantle there because it was some church member's donation and you never moved donations. (We had some very odd furnishings in most of our parsonages.) Dad stood in front of this ugly antique portrait, the couple facing him and Elenore and I on the sofa behind them looking straight at Dad.

I swear to this day that it was Elenore's fault for whispering all the pig noises and adding little comments to the couple's vows that pertained to swine. I tried not to laugh but more than that, I watched to see if Dad was going to maintain his dignity. Suddenly I realized Dad could not hear Elenore's remarks but he could see his devilish daughters up to no good and for some reason it tickled him. He was guarding against a smirk that was forming in the corner of his mouth.

As the ceremony was coming to a close and it appeared we might all escape this without offending the loving couple, I heard "Hey Ann, you wanna go bowling?" and my friend Doug was standing on our front porch at the open door (remember I said it was a warm night) not realizing we had a solemn ceremony taking place.

I burst out laughing.
My sister burst out laughing.
My DAD burst out laughing!

Mother looked up from her movie later and ask how the wedding went. My dad only said, "It's best if we don't let the girls witness together again."

GRANNY ANNIE SHRUGGED

It has taken almost an entire year for me to listen to the compete, unabridged audio book of ATLAS SHRUGGED. There are 50 CDs for this exceptionally long book and finishing it became a challenge. The only reason I continued was to say that I did finish it.

The persons depicted as Liberals in this book by Ayn Rand, are the most despicable of the despicable. The persons portrayed as Conservatives are the most despicable of the despicable. The ordinary humans simply wanting to get by in the world are barely mentioned at all in the huge fray of demented politics and varying beliefs of who should triumph and why.

Supposedly Hollywood is going to make a movie of ATLAS SHRUGGED. My first inclination is how could they but then I realized something. Hollywood does have plenty of villains.

Ayn Rand's writing is like turning on the commentators on FOX, CNN or MSNBC. If we're not careful we're going to find ourselves in the dark while all the greedy of both political parties run off and leave us. Hum, maybe that would not be such a bad idea. Wow, I got something out of the book after all.

By the way this book was written in 1957 and the arguments are the same arguments we're having today.

DO NOT FORGET THE LITTLE ONES

One of our blog friends is dealing with a painful Christmas. Her daughter and son-in-law are considering divorce. Their one child is the light of our blogger's life and she feels the pain she knows that grandchild will endure if the marriage comes to an end.

I wrote the following poem in 1975 when my first marriage ended in divorce. My children were three and four at the time.

VISITATION

They run out the door
suitcases in hand.
Silent, I watch
from where I stand.
How can we pull
our children so?
They cannot decide
which way to go.
Such little children
having to face
a life's remnants
of which no trace
is left except
their existence.
Given no choice,
driven by our insistence.
I am here, he is there,
they are between
A life that won't
again be seen.

©1975

BLOGS VS FACEBOOK

It is a time that many of us are torn between posting on our blogs or on Facebook.

Facebook requires and invitation and once you have mutually accepted, you can push open the screen door and walk in without knocking.

Blogs are like giant billboards. As you drive life’s highway one catches your eye and you check further into the subject only to become a fan. (Or not).

Facebook is perfect for keeping up with family because you catch a glimpse and know that all is well with them for that day.

A problem arises when you begin to find yourself thinking of blog readers as friends and/or family. If and when they disappear you can only imagine where they went but if you never knew their real name you simply will not hear from them again. Ouch!

This year in March, I lost a blog friend to death. I knew she died but her family first blocked who could view her past posts then deleted the blog later. So with the click of someone’s mouse the face of Beverly Finely of BEVERLY BITES was yanked away. No one close to her knew I had followed her blog and corresponded with her and that I felt the loss. I could not go back and view her posts that made me laugh or made me cry and I will never know how her sister Dolly is doing, how her sons and grandchildren are getting along, how her dear friend Bruce is and what about her big dog Cletus, the Red Hats and what is going on at the Tavern?. Well, she really wasn’t my friend or family……..was she?

The next to go this year was Linda G who also signed in as she-of-little-brain. Her posts on ONE ACRE WOOD were right up my alley and we had a grand time reading each other’s posts. On the day in May, 2009, she left blog world after she commented very nicely about me and my blogging and then, poof, she was gone. Her blogs are still there SPEAKING OUT ON FREEDOM and PRESCOTT PAST so maybe there is a chance she will return. At least when the blog is deleted we know not to keep watching for them.

Sammy of I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN… is a huge shocker to lose. She told us in September how busy she was and she told us she was having a difficult time juggling work and family. She said she would probably slow down posting. Instead she disappeared, blog and all. We wonder to ourselves if something happened to her or her spouse or their beautiful son and we can only offer a prayer of concern.

Then there is the paranoia that comes with the possible fact I am the only person they have excluded and perhaps that is intentional. Maybe Beverly’s family did know who I was and deleted my access because... Maybe Linda G and Sammy told everyone but me where they were going next?

Maybe these are the very reasons that Facebook is less painful. You know that the people you follow are real. You know where you can find them if they stop posting. But you never get the benefit of their profound essays on life like you do on the blogs.

P.S. If you are planning to stop blogging, email me first would you or post a final entry that says “I’m outta here but I’m okay.”

DO NOT DECORATE ME

Addendum for my Living Will:

I do not want a crown on my head or flowers pinned to my robe. Do not sprinkle me with glitter to cover up the food I spilled on myself. Do not string lights on my wheelchair. If I cannot pick up something pretty and choose to attach it to myself, then don't assume I want that crap stuck all over me. My life has been spent as a fairly dignified person, so don't take that away when I cannot speak for myself. I know my sister will not be able to resist the urge to put lipstick on me, so that gets a pass because she can't help herself where cosmetics are involved.

JUST SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS

My title "Just Say Merry Christmas" was directed at those who may feel PC'd to death on what is proper and acceptable. I am NOT saying everyone should say "Merry Christmas". I am only saying if you feel like a big ole exuberant MERRY CHRISTMAS then go for it and don't worry about political correctness. I love the sights and sounds and beautiful tradition of Christmas and hope it is merry for all who celebrate. I hope you view and appreciate my personal adaptation of the heading above for the season. Of course the clip art is borrowed but the photo shopping of my own artistic rendering of Christ is original.

VENGEANCE IS MINE SAYETH JOHN WAYNE

This is the most spectacular and moving picture of all time. I watched it yesterday in celebration and remembrance of my Mom. Her 94th birthday would have been on Thanksgiving Day this year, November 26th. Watching this movie puts my mother right there in the room with me.

John Wayne was her hero and thus our hero. THE COWBOYS was the single greatest movie of all John Wayne ever made.

Children have to be forced to watch this old movie but they do not regret being forced once they see it. The granddaughters have loved it but our grandsons have all loved it especially.

If you have seen it, watch it again. If you have never seen it, you must do so immediately.

SOMETHING WISHBONEY THIS WAY COMES

(See added bulletin at the end of this post.*)

The competitive event on Thanksgiving! What is your family tradition surrounding the pulling of the turkey wishbone and making a wish? Who gets to pull it? Do you wait a week for it to dry or pull it on Thanksgiving day? It is always the one with the larger portion of the wishbone that wins. How should you grasp the wishbone? Some only use their pinkies to hold it, while others grasp it in a fist (cheaters!) or some will simply hold the ends tightly with two fingers. Are you as rude as my (39 year old) son when you win by laughing hysterically and dancing around with the big half of the wishbone chanting "I won! I won!".

Our California daughter Terri refuses to pull a wishbone because she fears losing and says she can't afford to waste her wishes.

I thought the following scientific explanation was interesting.

Why does the wishbone break in one spot rather than two spots?


That happens because the wishbone is not uniform in strength and size. Once the strength of the wishbone is exceeded in one spot, it will break there. Any stresses due to bending will be relieved throughout the rest of the bone once it is in two pieces (it is no longer being bent once it breaks).

If you are asking how you get an advantage to get the big piece of the wishbone, I suppose the most reliable way is to examine the wishbone before trying to break it. Stick with whichever side appears to be thickest/strongest.

*BULLETIN: I may have lost the wishbone pull but look at my sidebar to see the prize I won in Katherine Plummer's art giveaway. I was thrilled!

This is my blog post until after the holidays. This turkey coloring page would be nice for you to print and put in front of the guests to color. Adults would probably enjoy coloring it as much as the children.

A few of you will drop by my blog before your festivities begin and some will be here Thanksgiving Day or after. Regardless of when you arrive, take a minute to tell us what you plan to do or what you have already done. It would be nice for you to share your Thanksgiving Day menu as well as tell us what you usually do with leftover turkey.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

A COUPLE OF CONTESTS

Nona's Christmas Giveaway -- Hurry you need to be in my November 29th.

another art giveaway -- Enter by November 28th offered from They Call Me The Chicken Lady

HONESTY, DIGNITY, INTEGRITY AND SELF WORTH

Politics should never divide friends and family. Sometimes we confuse political choices as either good or bad while political choices are only means to the same ends desired by good people and exploited by bad people. I have always heard that 90% of us are honest. That means we are allowing 10% of the world's population to drive us to ruin.

THE JOCKS ARE LOOSE

You can tell around here when high school football has ended. They turn the poor football stars out without any direction and you can count on them following the annual tradition of driving country roads and busting mailboxes with ball bats. Isn't that cute?

Instead of this being treated as the Federal offense it is, all the natives just say, "boys will be boys" and they build big concrete and/or brick padding around their mailboxes. Those of us who cannot afford that kind of security have to settle for replacing the expensive box periodically. Our lovely receptacle took a hit last night. At least it wasn't totally demolished like the last one was.

THIS SUCKER REALLY SUCKS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME! Yesterday I received my Hoover WindTunnel Turbo Anniversary Edition vacuum cleaner. This little jewel that I have named R2-D2 has changed my life. It was recommended by Consumer Reports and don't confuse it with the regular Hoover WindTunnel vacuum. You want the bag less "Anniversary Edition".

I have searched and searched and tried other models and had about decided I must have a Dyson that starts over $450. Whew, thank God for Consumer Reports. This month they recommended a couple of vacuums but the ultimate winner of best overall was my R2-D2.

Consumer Reports showed the bag less Anniversary Edition Hoover starting at $160.00. I began looking and found it everywhere starting at $169.00. Today most of the places have it at $188. But I kept looking and the found the bargain of a lifetime at Frys.com which is a California appliance company that sold me this baby for $119. Even with shipping and handling, it was less than the recommended price of $160.

If you need a vacuum and are about ready to get one, I would suggest you act quickly because this one is already going up in price. Mine is a dream as it glides over bare floors and all levels of carpeting and does a magnificent job. Did I mention that I am delighted?


This is my second post for today. I could not wait to tell how well my vacuum works. Meanwhile don't just read this and miss my other post for today: BEWARE THE ANSWER MAN.

BEWARE THE ANSWER MAN

THE ANSWER MAN is my most recently viewed Netflix movie. It stars Jeff Daniels and is a very good story. I especially enjoyed it because it turned out "the answer man" didn't have all the answers.

Ron and I once found an Answer Book that went with a very old Bible Study put together by James and Tammy Faye Baker. The question portions of the set were missing but who would need those? Here were the answers in clear and fine print. We presented this book of answers to my brother the minister and told him he could quit all the difficult research he put into his sermons because now he had this easy book of answers.

My faith is not grounded in achieving all the answers in this lifetime but in always searching and in being cautious of anyone who claims to have ALL the answers. My parents taught me to constantly search for answers in new theory and new discoveries as well as inspirations from the past.

The character in the movie played by Daniels is named Arlen Faber. He had written a bestselling book GOD AND ME then had gone into seclusion. People greatly admired Faber's book and wanted to meet this man who seemed to have face-to-face meetings with God. This man was a genius at having right answers for every concern people might encounter so why was Arlen Faber's own life such a wreck?

In the end he has to acknowledge that he never had these question and answer sessions with the Creator. Then people wanted to know how he wrote such a good book and how he had such great insight. He did not know.

Have you met people who seem to have all the answers in life, only to later learn their lives are tainted in some way. If they have all the answers how can their own lives be such a mess? Does that change the good answers and make them bad or simply give you caution whether to believe it all or not? Have you ever gone back to read things you wrote years ago and suddenly wonder where it came from? It is like it was channeled through you by someone else -- someone smarter than you could possible be?

Too many answers and sometimes even fleeting profound thought can lead us astray. Beware the answer man even when it is you.

WINTER WALK AROUND

IT'S TOO LATE FOR THIS PROJECT. THE CHAIR WILL HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR FOR SANDING AND NEW PAINT.

A TURKEY VULTURE CIRCLES LOOKING FOR HIS NEXT MEAL. HE TOOK A SUDDEN DIVE THAT MADE ME THINK IT MIGHT BE ME!

THE CATS SHOW THE MEANING OF GETTING BUNDLED UP FOR THE WINTER. RIDER, DAVID, GOLIATH AND LIL' BEAR SNUGGLE TOGETHER. (It is funny how David is now twice as big as Goliath)