Spring on the Farm

1 - snow, then wind
2 - rain, then wind
3 - snow, then wind
4 - sun, then wind
5 - ice, then wind
6 - just wind
... and repeat

Austin prepared for football playoffs this year by dying his hair blue. First he had to get Auntie Margaret to bleach it, then he tried Kool Aid and then Margaret came to the rescue with some real blue dye.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Auntie Hazel playing volleyball

Austin and Max on Thanksgiving weekend

Austin(#10) is playing football again this fall with our high school team, the Outlook Blues. Yesterday, we played against Macklin and won. Austin scored two touchdowns. It is pretty fun to watch!
Mason also celebrated his 13th birthday yesterday and today, he and I are off to Davidson for a junior boys volleyball tournament. I am the substitute coach for the day which should prove to be most interesting as I know very little about that sport!

Women Over 40

Since a few of my close friends are now moving into their 40's, I thought I would I would share this with you. It is taken from Andy Rooney's comments on 60 Minutes. He says, "As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.

If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting.

Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off that you are a jerk if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal.

For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress."


Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're still here, we may as well dance.

Flies, Baggies and Water?

(This was my morning guest yesterday!)


An interesting conversation took place our kitchen table on Sunday when mom, dad, Trent, Cardie and Jordan joined us to celebrate Trent's 35th birthday party.

(Happy Birthday Trent!!!)

Mom and dad had received an email with an unusual suggestion for deterring flies from coming near entrances. The instructions claim the trick is to place three or four pennies in a plastic baggie filled with water; then the baggie is hung near or on the door and voila! - no flies! Apparently, the copper's watery reflection sunlight hurt the malicious little buggers' plentiful eyes and they avoid the baggie and therefore, the door.
So Matthew, willing to try anything to rid the house of the pests, placed one baggie at the front door (facing south) and one near the garden door (west facing). I, being a former Science teacher and all, am not convinced. Where is the scientific proof? And who is going to count flies as they come in, or don't come in, the doors?
Time will tell but in the meantime, I am still swatting ...

Our Barn

A fall picture of our beautiful barn! We love living in the new house and the view is spectacular! This morning, I was having coffee and checking email when a large bull moose sauntered through the yard! How fun is THAT??? We have also had a little fox dart around the yard again this summer so we have unofficially renamed our road "Foxy Lady Lane". We have a red, wood fox nailed to the power pole at the highway as a marker for friends coming to visit. Be sure to stop by ...